The battlefield was still.
Smoke curled from scorched rock. Blood stained the sand in dark crimson streaks. The Federation had pulled back after Ares's display of power—retreating beyond the ridgeline, regrouping, recalibrating.
But they hadn't left.
They were preparing something worse.
Back within the den's central chamber, Ares stood before Mara's monolith, his breath steady but his body trembling with residual energy.
"You have awakened more than you understand," Mara spoke, her voice resonating through the air like a whisper carried on the wind. "The Hollow Moon watches. And now, so does Earth."
Ares clenched his fists. "Tell me everything."
Mara pulsed once, then projected a series of shifting images above the pedestal. They flickered rapidly—scenes of ancient Martian cities, towering spires bathed in golden light. Then came the fall—explosions tearing across the sky, oceans vanishing into dust, life fading into silence.
Then the image changed.
It showed Earth.
Not as it was now—but as it had been long ago. Pristine. Untouched. Teeming with life.
"Earth was not the cradle of humanity," Mara continued. "It was the second experiment. The First Ones seeded many worlds. Mars was the first. Earth was the second. But the cycle was broken before it could complete."
Kael, standing beside Ares, narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying?"
"That Earth did not evolve naturally. That its species were not born of chance. They were planted. Just as you were."
Gasps filled the chamber.
Sophia Patel stepped forward, her face pale. "If that's true… then humans weren't just fleeing Earth when they came here. They were repeating the same mistakes."
"Yes," Mara confirmed. "And now, they threaten Mars the way they threatened Earth."
Ares staggered back. "But why? Why would they do this again?"
"Because they forget," Mara replied. "Because they fear what they cannot control. Because they believe only one kind of life can survive among the stars."
A heavy silence followed.
Then Kael turned to Ares. "They'll never stop coming for you."
Ares met his gaze. "Then we make sure they never reach us."
---
Elsewhere – Federation Command Post
Commander Dain Halberd stared at the holographic feed displaying the Martian battlefield from orbit. His jaw tightened.
"They're resisting harder than expected," he muttered.
Beside him, General Evelyn Voss—commanding officer of the Federation's Special Containment Division—stepped forward.
"It's time to deploy Phase Two," she said coolly.
Halberd hesitated. "Are you certain? We've never tested the containment field under live conditions."
Voss didn't blink. "We don't have time for caution. The Echo must be neutralized. If we fail, we lose Mars—and everything inside its ruins."
She tapped her comm unit. "Initiate Protocol Null."
A low hum vibrated through the command post.
Somewhere deep in orbit, an experimental device powered up—an array of satellites designed to suppress non-human neurological patterns. It had been developed in secret, meant for use against rogue biotech projects gone out of control.
Now, it was aimed at Ares.
And soon, the entire planet would feel its effects.
---
Back at the Den – Preparing for the Endgame
Dr. Patel paced inside the research chamber, cross-referencing data from Mara's archives with Federation communications she had intercepted.
Kael entered, wiping blood from his claws. "What did you find?"
Sophia looked up, her face grim. "They're deploying something called the Null Field. It's a neural suppression array—it's supposed to shut down enhanced biological functions. Like yours. Like Ares's."
Kael cursed under his breath. "What happens if it works?"
Sophia hesitated. "At best, Ares loses his abilities. At worst… it could kill him."
Kael turned sharply. "Where's Ares?"
"He went outside," Sophia said. "Said he needed to clear his head."
Kael stormed out without another word.
---
On the Surface – Ares vs. the Truth
Ares stood alone on a high ridge overlooking the red plains, the wind howling around him like a mourning spirit.
His mind reeled from Mara's revelations.
Earth wasn't natural. Humans weren't native. Mars had been the first attempt. Earth the second. And now—what? Another failed cycle?
He felt the weight of generations pressing down on him. He wasn't just a werewolf. He wasn't just a Martian. He was the result of a plan that spanned galaxies—a final act in a war between survival and extinction.
Behind him, Kael approached silently.
"You knew," Ares said without turning.
Kael stopped beside him. "Only pieces of the truth."
Ares exhaled sharply. "How long have you known we were created?"
Kael studied the horizon. "Long enough to understand that none of us belong here by accident. That doesn't mean we don't deserve to stay."
Ares finally looked at him. "Then help me fight for that right."
Kael nodded once. "Always."
---
The First Wave – The Null Field Activates
The change was subtle at first.
A quiet vibration in the air. A strange pressure behind the eyes. Wolves twitched instinctively, shaking their heads as if clearing fog from their minds.
Then came the pain.
A sharp spike of energy rippled through the den, knocking several warriors off their feet. One collapsed, clutching his head, gasping for breath. His transformation began reversing mid-shift—his body rejecting its own nature.
Kael grabbed Ares' arm. "It's starting."
Ares gritted his teeth. "Then let's end it."
He turned toward the valley below.
Above, the Federation's satellites glowed faintly with violet light.
The Null Field was active.
And it was growing.
---
Inside the Federation Command Post
General Voss watched the readouts closely. "Neural suppression is holding. Hostile subjects are destabilizing."
Halberd frowned. "Casualty rate is higher than anticipated."
Voss didn't flinch. "Irrelevant. As long as the Echo breaches critical failure, we win."
Then the sensors spiked.
BIOMETRIC DETECTION: ECHO STABILITY UNKNOWN. ENERGY OUTPUT INCREASING.
Voss's expression darkened. "No. It shouldn't be possible."
Halberd's voice trembled slightly. "Ma'am… he's pushing back."
---
At the Edge of the Battlefield – Ares Awakens Further
Ares knelt on the ground, hands pressed against the stone.
The Null Field surged through him, trying to sever the connection between his mind and the ancient tech buried beneath Mars.
But instead of breaking him…
It made him stronger.
The energy within him swelled, expanding beyond anything he'd felt before. The symbols on his skin glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with the heartbeat of the planet itself.
He rose slowly, eyes burning with golden fire.
The wind stilled.
And then—
He raised his hands.
The field shuddered.
Cracks formed in its structure.
And with a single pulse of raw willpower, Ares shattered it.
The satellites above flickered—then exploded in bursts of light.
The Null Field collapsed.
And Ares stood taller than ever.