The first explosion shattered the night.
A deafening roar tore through the tunnels beneath Olympus Mons, sending dust and debris cascading from the ceiling. Wolves howled in alarm. Humans shouted over comms. And at the heart of it all, Ares stood frozen for only a heartbeat—before instinct took over.
"They're inside!" Kael barked, already drawing his weapon.
Ares turned to Dr. Sophia Patel, who clutched her data pad like a lifeline. "Get Mara's records secured," he ordered. "We need that knowledge more than ever."
Sophia nodded sharply. "Go. I'll hold this chamber."
Kael was already moving toward the entrance. "We fall back to the secondary tunnels. Everyone else—fall in!"
Ares followed him into the chaos.
---
Above Ground – Human Outpost Delta-3
Commander Linh Reyes stood atop the outpost's central tower, watching the sky fill with Federation dropships. Their sleek black forms cut through the crimson haze like knives, deploying armored strike teams onto the Martian surface.
"Reyes," came a voice over her comm. It was Lieutenant Dax, stationed at the eastern perimeter. "They're landing fast. We've got visual on their command unit."
Reyes clenched her jaw. "How many?"
Dax hesitated. "One platoon. But they brought heavy ordnance. If they reach the den—"
"They won't," Reyes interrupted. "Hold your position. We move in five."
She turned to her second-in-command, Captain Veyla. "Tell the resistance units to flank the western ridge. We bottleneck them there."
Veyla saluted. "Yes, ma'am."
As she moved off, Reyes looked out once more across the red plains.
This wasn't just a battle.
It was a last stand.
---
Inside the Den – Defensive Positions
The werewolves had fortified every possible access point. Natural choke points were reinforced with scavenged human tech—energy barriers, sonic disruptors, even makeshift traps designed to disorient enemy forces.
Kael led the defense personally, rallying warriors at the main entrance tunnel. Ranged weapons—some stolen, some repurposed—were positioned along the ridgelines.
Ares arrived beside him, eyes glowing faintly with power still unfamiliar to him.
"They're coming in hard," Kael said grimly.
Ares nodded. "Then we make sure they don't get past us."
A sudden tremor shook the ground. Then another.
From deeper within the tunnels, a new sound emerged—not explosions, but something worse.
Gunfire.
But not from the Federation.
From within the den itself.
Kael's eyes darkened. "Renn."
Ares exhaled sharply. "He's making his move."
---
Rogue Wolf Infiltration
Inside the lower chambers, Renn's forces struck with brutal precision.
They had used the chaos of the siege to infiltrate the den unnoticed. Now, they carved a path through the defenders, striking deep into the heart of the stronghold.
One of Kael's lieutenants fell to his knees, blood staining his fur. "They're heading for the ruins."
Renn's voice echoed through the corridors. "You can't stop what's coming, old friend."
Ares burst into the lower levels, flanked by two elite scouts.
He found Renn standing at the base of the central monolith, his pack circling around him like wolves ready to tear into prey.
"You always were too sentimental," Renn sneered. "Too willing to trust outsiders."
Ares stepped forward. "You could have been part of this."
Renn laughed bitterly. "I never wanted peace, Ares. I wanted power."
Ares's muscles tensed. "Then you chose the wrong time to take it."
Renn signaled his wolves.
Chaos erupted.
Fangs clashed with claws. Bullets sang through the air. Blood stained the stone floor.
Ares fought like a storm unleashed.
With each movement, the ancient energy within him surged stronger. He didn't just rely on strength—he moved with purpose, guided by something beyond instinct.
And when Renn lunged for the kill—
Ares caught him mid-air.
Their eyes met.
"I warned you," Ares growled.
Then he sent Renn flying with a single push of raw force.
Renn crashed against the wall, groaning in pain.
Ares turned to the remaining rogues. "Stand down. Or leave."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, one by one, they dropped their weapons.
Renn spat blood onto the floor. "This isn't over."
Ares met his gaze without flinching. "No. It's just beginning."
---
Outside – The Battle Intensifies
Above ground, the Federation assault reached its peak.
Wave after wave of soldiers advanced under the cover of orbital fire support. Plasma rounds lit up the battlefield, carving trenches into the Martian soil.
Commander Reyes and her human allies held their line with relentless determination. They weren't just fighting for survival—they were buying time.
For Ares.
For the future.
For Mars.
A Federation commander's voice rang out over a loudspeaker. "Surrender the Echo. You cannot win this war."
Reyes smirked. "Try telling that to the dead."
Then came a sound no one expected.
A howl.
Deep. Resonant. Filled with power.
The wind shifted.
And the tide of battle changed.
---
The Turning Point
Ares emerged from the depths of the den, his body radiating an eerie glow.
Behind him, Kael and the surviving loyalists followed, their presence a unified force of nature.
Ares raised his hands.
And the battlefield responded.
The earth trembled. Dust swirled in unnatural patterns. Energy pulsed outward from his core, disrupting enemy targeting systems, shorting out weapons, throwing soldiers off balance.
The Federation halted.
Even Renn, bound and bleeding, watched in stunned silence.
Ares stepped forward, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
"This world is not yours to take."
The Federation commander's voice crackled again. "You are not human. You are not natural. You will be contained."
Ares met his gaze. "Then come and try."
And with that, the final phase of the battle began.