Chapter 1548: A Test Of Strength (Part 1)

It was rare for Gary and the others to be surrounded by Werewolves outside their own pack. The sounds were different here, growls mixed with laughter, the scent of fur and earth heavy in the air. No matter how long he stayed, he still wasn’t used to the way every heartbeat could be heard, every small breath or whisper carried through the forest like an echo.

If he spoke at a normal volume, half the pack would probably hear it.

“Haha...” Gary laughed awkwardly, scratching the side of his neck. “Are you suggesting I go up against you? You’re the Alpha of the pack, right? Doesn’t that mean you’re the strongest out of everyone here?”

“Strongest when it comes to overall strength, yes,” Steve replied, his tone calm but his smile sharp. “But this is just an arm wrestle. There’s more to it than brute power. You need a bit of technique, a touch of strategy, knowing whether to go all out from the start, to conserve your strength, or to pulse it in waves. It’s not as mindless as it looks.”

He placed his thick arm on the stump, the muscles flexing under his rolled-up sleeve. “Still,” he added, “raw strength plays the biggest part. And just because someone beats you in an arm wrestle doesn’t mean they’d beat you in a real fight. Remember that.”

Before Gary could reply, another slam shook the air. A loud cheer erupted around them as one of the competitors was thrown back from the table.

“That’s the fourth one he’s beaten in a row!” someone yelled.

“Even if he’s strong, he should be worn out by now!” another said. “But he’s still taking down everyone. What’s this guy been through as an Omega Wolf?”

“How many beasts has he consumed to get that strong?”

The Werewolves surrounded the large stump, watching Lupus, his arm raised in victory, grin confidently. His victories came fast, almost too fast, and even the spectators who were usually rowdy had grown quieter, waiting for the next challenger.

Kai stood just behind the crowd, his expression unreadable. His golden eyes tracked every motion Lupus made, every flex of muscle. Lupus was also the only one who had managed to break out of the magic spell that had been restraining them earlier.

Was he less suppressed than the others? Or was his raw power simply that much greater?

Kai considered another possibility. Maybe during his struggle to escape the magic circle, part of his sealed strength had slipped through. If that was true, then his current dominance made sense. Still, even if that were the case, Lupus’s sheer force was undeniable.

Steve chuckled, turning his attention back to Gary. “You sounded pretty confident before,” he said. “But now it seems like you’re making excuses. Tell you what, if you’re nervous, you don’t have to go up against me right away. Try a few of the others first.”

Gary frowned, lowering his head slightly. If he was going to lose, he’d rather lose to the Alpha himself. Beating someone else might only make things complicated in the group, and the last thing he wanted was to create unnecessary tension among the pack. He could already feel several pairs of eyes watching him curiously.

“I’d rather face you,” he muttered under his breath.

Steve smirked, hearing him easily. “Fair enough,” he said. “Then let’s do it somewhere quieter. No point in making a big scene.”

The three of them, Gary, Kai, and Steve, stepped away from the lively crowd. They found another stump a short distance away, where the others wouldn’t notice. The muffled sounds of laughter and taunts faded behind them.

Before they started, Kai placed a hand on Gary’s shoulder, his grip steady. “Use everything you’ve learned,” he said quietly. “Everything that got you this far.”

Gary frowned slightly. “Everything?” he thought. “But we’re still under suppression. I can’t even use my full strength.”

Still, he nodded. There was something in Kai’s tone that made him straighten his back, a reminder that strength wasn’t only about power, but control, focus, and instinct.

Steve rolled his wrist and placed his elbow down firmly on the stump. “Alright,” he said. “The only rule is no transformations. And no dirty tricks either, no spitting, no headbutts, no hitting your opponent with the other hand.” He chuckled. “I know it sounds stupid to say it out loud, but trust me, you’d be surprised how competitive some people can get with this game.”

Gary grinned slightly, shaking out his arm. The excitement in his chest was growing. It wasn’t just a game anymore, it felt like the old generation was facing the new. A silent test between two Alphas who didn’t belong to the same time.

He took a deep breath. Losing didn’t scare him, but the thought of giving up without giving his all did.

“Alright,” Kai said, raising his hand. “Start!”

Gary moved instantly. He poured every ounce of strength he could muster into his arm, his muscles tensing, veins pushing against his skin. The table creaked under the pressure as he forced Steve’s hand down, just a few centimeters, but enough to make the Alpha’s eyes widen in surprise.

Then, Steve stopped the movement entirely. Their arms locked in place, trembling slightly from the tension.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The quiet strain between them was louder than the cheering had been.

“Hah,” Steve finally said, his voice steady but amused. “Looks like you really are strong. You look younger than your friend earlier, smaller frame too. Makes me wonder what kind of muscles you’re hiding under that shirt.”

Gary’s grin widened, his teeth showing as he glared at Steve across the stump. Sweat trickled down the side of his face, but his arm didn’t falter.

“I knew I should’ve taken my shirt off first,” Gary said, his voice playful but steady.

Steve laughed softly. “Careful,” he said. “Confidence can be dangerous.”

****

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