Third-person POV: Luke grinned in response. They had never felt their blood pump so hard. Something like belief slowly sparked awake inside them. Their sudden confidence even made the veterans freeze for a moment. To the vets, they were just teens—barely adults, with zero real battlefield experience. But right now, the vets felt an invisible power, like their bond had been hammered into steel, holding those kids together as one. Tristan looked down at his wrist. The stone had left a bloody mark. It wasn't deep, but enough to sting. His stare at Thora turned more serious and alert.Her eyes slid over the four veterans in front of them, finally landing on Tristan. She gave a tiny smirk, but her words came out icy. "Get to know me. Thora Green, direct commander of the Wolffang Unit—your only superior." The vets glanced at each other, doubt obvious on their faces. Tristan ripped off part of his sleeve with his teeth and wrapped his wrist. He shot her a sharp look. "Tristan. Major General. Former commander of N103 special operations unit." Thora's voice stayed cool. "Here in Wolffang Unit, you're just a normal soldier." He let out a cold, short laugh. "Wolffang Unit? I thought it'd be impressive. Instead, we've got a messy bunch. Special recruits who are either nuts or losers. No offense—" His smile vanished, his stare turning hard. "I—don't—take—orders." And he wasn't alone. The other vets clearly agreed. Tristan was a special forces—an elite acknowledged by the Astralis Empire itself. His rank and combat skills far outmatched his peers, and pride coursed through his veins. He could follow orders. But answering to someone with no combat record and teaming up with rookies? That was like an insult. "Don't want to obey?" Thora raised a brow, smiling slightly. "Then I'll make you." Amie, who'd been simmering forever, finally burst. "Thora, let me take him!" Ever since being reborn with Thora, Amie had mostly slept, almost forgetting what real battle felt like. This time, finally awake, she felt better than ever. Her strength wasn't just back to what it had been before. She could feel it pushing past that now. She was ready to fight alongside Ash again, who was Thora now."No need," Thora said through the mind-link to Amie. "We go all out against enemies. But these? They're my future teammates." As she spoke, she unbuttoned her military jacket with one hand, shrugged it off, and let it hit the ground, showing a white shirt loose around her collarbone. She rolled her neck. Her joints popped sharply, and a faint blue wolf power washed over her skin. She didn't shift, but the pressure radiating off her was stronger than a normal werewolf's. Tristan's eyes narrowed. He was cautious now. A blue-green wolf power flared around him. His arms tensed, muscles coiling as he took a fighting stance. "Yeah? Show me then." The others stepped back, clearing the field for the two of them. Thora lifted her hands, palms angled in a fighter's stance. Her long fingers curled at the knuckles. Every cell in her body was coiled tight with power.She scanned the veterans across from her. "You can come at me one by one or all together. But whoever loses? You'll face the base cameras and shout three times, 'I'm a loser'." Her words hit like a slap. The three behind Tristan went wide-eyed, fists clenching in anger. Right then, Tristan struck first. In a flash, he was right in front of Thora. Side kicks, hooks, spinning strikes—his movements were fast and fluid, cutting through the air. Every hit tore at the space between them. If even one connected, a normal fighter would have been finished in seconds.