Whispers of the forgotten

Under the crimson moonlight that illuminated the bloodstained snow, the battle between Morpheus, Lunara, and the suspected criminal had reached its peak. The criminal fought with ferocity, his skills far exceeding their expectations. This wasn't unusual for someone from "The Forgotten," but something about him was undeniably different this time.

"Lunara, this isn't an ordinary fighter! He's faster and stronger than we thought!" Morpheus shouted as he narrowly avoided a lethal strike.

"I know! But we can't back down! We have to end this here!" Lunara responded as she blocked a strike from his ether-coated dagger, her eyes scanning for an opening.

The criminal sneered beneath his demonic mask before suddenly pausing. His body began to tremble violently, and his bones shifted in unnatural ways. Beneath his black robes, his frame expanded, his limbs elongating grotesquely. Claws sharp as steel erupted from his hands, and his mask shattered to reveal the snarling visage of a feral wolf. His eyes glowed with fiery red ether, and his growls filled the air with dread.

"He's... transforming?!" Lunara gasped in shock.

Morpheus froze for a moment, a shiver running down his spine. A werewolf. But how? Everything he had learned at the Academy suggested that the werewolf race was neutral, living in isolation and avoiding human and ether conflicts entirely.

"This can't be happening," Morpheus muttered, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of it.

The werewolf, once human moments ago, let out a deafening roar that shook the mountains around them. It lunged at Lunara with terrifying speed, and she barely managed to dodge as its claws tore through the frozen ground, leaving deep gouges in the earth.

"Morpheus! This isn't an opponent we can handle easily!" Lunara shouted, her voice strained as she parried another swipe.

"I know! But we can't let him win!"

Morpheus's mind whirred as he analyzed the situation. Pure strength wouldn't be enough against this monster. The werewolf was growing more savage with each passing second, and every strike could be the one that ended them.

"Lunara!" Morpheus called out as he dodged a swipe from the creature. "I need time! Can you cover me?"

"What are you planning?" she asked, her movements becoming more defensive.

"Just trust me!"

Lunara nodded, charging at the werewolf with determination. She unleashed a flurry of attacks to distract it, using her agility and skill to keep it occupied. Meanwhile, Morpheus knelt on the snow-covered ground, gathering his ether energy. Shadows began to coil around him, swirling like a living vortex. His hand burned with a dark glow as he began forming a compact sphere of pure shadow energy.

"A shadow bomb…" he muttered under his breath, beads of sweat dripping from his brow as the strain of concentrating the energy increased.

The werewolf wasn't stupid. It sensed the surge of power coming from Morpheus and turned its attention toward him. Ignoring Lunara's strikes, it lunged at Morpheus with incredible speed.

"Not so fast!" Lunara yelled, intercepting the beast and striking it with her blade. Though the attack landed, the werewolf's immense strength sent her sprawling back into the snow.

With Morpheus vulnerable, the beast closed the gap and sank its fangs into his right arm.

"Morpheus!" Lunara screamed, panic evident in her voice as she struggled to rise.

Despite the searing pain, Morpheus didn't falter. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed the shadow bomb. The compact sphere of energy expanded rapidly, creating a swirling, destructive void.

"Now!" Morpheus whispered through gritted teeth. Using his unique ability, he slipped into the shadows just as the explosion erupted.

The detonation was devastating. A wave of dark energy engulfed the area, shaking the mountain and sending debris flying. Lunara dove behind a large rock for cover, shielding herself from the blast. The werewolf let out a blood-curdling howl that echoed through the mountains before its voice was drowned out by the roar of the explosion.

When the dust settled, Morpheus emerged from a distant shadow, clutching his injured arm and breathing heavily.

"Morpheus!" Lunara ran to him, relief washing over her face.

"I'm fine… but that thing was stronger than anything we've faced before," he said, wincing as he examined the bite wound on his arm.

The area where the werewolf had stood was now a smoldering crater, its body reduced to charred remains scattered across the blood-stained snow.

"What was that? How could a werewolf be here?" Lunara asked, her voice low and tinged with unease.

"I don't know…" Morpheus replied, shaking his head. "But this changes everything. The Forgotten... the werewolves… something bigger is happening here."

As the two began to leave the battlefield, an ominous silence fell over the mountain. The presence of a werewolf in the Forgotten's ranks was no mere anomaly—it was a warning of the greater darkness lurking ahead.