Chapter One: The Howl in the Dark
The abandoned projects on the outskirts of Vale were a graveyard of crumbling buildings and shattered dreams. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows over the cracked pavement and rusted skeletons of forgotten machinery. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the distant howls of Grimm echoed through the desolate streets, a haunting symphony of danger and death.
Nicholas Blak stood in the center of it all, his breath steady, his fists clenched. He was a man of few words, but his presence spoke volumes. His dark eyes scanned the shadows, searching for movement, for the telltale glow of red eyes that would signal the approach of his enemies. He had come here for a purpose, and he would not leave until it was fulfilled.
The first Beowolf emerged from the darkness, its massive form silhouetted against the moonlight. It charged at him with a guttural roar, its claws slashing through the air with deadly intent. Nicholas sidestepped with precision, his movements fluid and calculated. As the beast stumbled past him, he drove his fist into its gut with a force that sent shockwaves through its body. The Grimm let out a pained howl, but before it could recover, Nicholas followed up with a devastating uppercut. The impact was so powerful that the Beowolf's head tore clean off, its body disintegrating into black smoke that dissipated into the night.
Another Beowolf lunged at him from the side, but Nicholas was ready. He ducked under its swipe, grabbed its leg, and with a grunt of effort, swung the creature like a battering ram. The Grimm became a weapon in his hands, its body smashing into others that dared to approach. The sound of bones crunching and Grimm howling filled the air as Nicholas wielded his makeshift bludgeon with brutal efficiency. But as he swung again, he felt the weight shift—the Beowolf in his grasp was already dead, its body evaporating into nothingness.
Nicholas stumbled slightly, catching his balance just as the last Beowolf lunged at him. He dodged its claw strike with a swift sidestep, his hand shooting out to grab the creature by its throat. With a roar of effort, he slammed the Grimm headfirst into the pavement, the ground cracking beneath the force of the impact. The Beowolf struggled weakly, but Nicholas raised his foot and brought it down hard, crushing the creature's skull and ending its life.
He stood there for a moment, breathing controlled, his eyes scanning the abandoned area. The silence was deafening, save for the faint rustle of wind through broken windows.
Nicholas wiped the sweat from his brow and muttered, "Alright, big guy... Where the hell are you?"
As if in response, a bone-chilling howl erupted from the darkness, so powerful it seemed to shake the very ground beneath his feet. Nicholas turned with a smirk as he spotted his target. Standing atop a crumbling building, silhouetted against the moon, was the Alpha Beowolf. Its glowing red eyes burned with hatred, its massive frame radiating power and menace. This was no ordinary Grimm—it was a leader, a veteran of countless battles, and it had come for him.
"There you are," Nicholas said, his voice low and steady. "The Big Bad Wolf."
The Alpha stepped off the edge of the building, landing with a thunderous crash that shattered the pavement. It rose to its full height, towering over Nicholas, its claws flexing as it let out a guttural growl. Nicholas chuckled, rolling his shoulders and popping his neck. His eyes locked onto the Alpha's, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.
Then they charged.
The clash was explosive, their fists colliding with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Nicholas unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each strike precise and powerful, but the Alpha was no slouch. It countered with equal ferocity, its claws slashing through the air with deadly speed. The two combatants moved like blurs, their battle a whirlwind of destruction.
The Alpha lunged, its jaws wide open, ready to tear Nicholas apart. But he was ready. With a roar, he delivered an uppercut so powerful it sent the Alpha stumbling back, its massive frame shaking from the impact. Nicholas pressed the attack, but the Grimm was faster than he anticipated. It lashed out with a kick that connected squarely with his chest, sending him flying into a nearby wall. The concrete cracked under the force, and Nicholas groaned as he slid to the ground.
Before he could fully recover, the Alpha was on him. It grabbed him by the head and slammed him into the wall again, the structure crumbling around them. Pain shot through Nicholas's body, but he refused to give in. With a snarl, he bit down hard on the Alpha's hand, his teeth sinking into its dark flesh. The Grimm howled in pain, releasing him and throwing him across the street.
Nicholas landed hard but quickly got back to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. "Yeah, how do you like that, bitch?" he spat. "Not so fun tasting your own medicine, huh?"
The Alpha roared in fury, its eyes blazing with rage. It charged again, but this time Nicholas was ready. He ripped a streetlight from the ground and swung it like a club, the metal pole connecting with the Alpha's skull with a sickening crunch. He brought it down again and again, each strike more brutal than the last. On the ninth swing, the Alpha caught the pole, tearing it from Nicholas's grip and hurling it aside.
If the Grimm could speak, it would have cursed him. Instead, it let out a deafening roar and charged once more.
Nicholas Roared back. "COME ON MOTHERFUCKER, LETS FUCKING GO!!!."
They met in the center of the street, their fists flying in a relentless barrage of blows. Neither tried to block; this was a battle of endurance, of sheer willpower. The sound of fists meeting flesh echoed through the night as they traded devastating hits. Blood and sweat flew as the fight dragged on, but eventually, the Alpha began to falter. Its movements slowed, its strikes grew weaker, and finally, it stumbled back and fell to its knees.
Nicholas stood over the defeated Grimm, his body battered and bruised, his clothes torn to shreds. The Alpha looked up at him, its eyes still burning with defiance. Nicholas could respect that—it had fought hard, but in the end, it wasn't enough.
His right hand began to glow with emerald energy, not aura, but something darker, more primal. With a final, decisive strike, he drove his fist into the Alpha's chest. The energy surged, consuming the Grimm, its body dissolving into black smoke that was absorbed into Nicholas. His injuries healed instantly, the Alpha now his to command.
He walked over to a dilapidated bench and sat down, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Raising his hand, he summoned the emerald flames, and within them, the form of the Alpha Beowolf began to take shape. Nicholas chuckled, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.
"Finally," he said, "my first Alpha Grimm to my collection."
The night was quiet once more, but Nicholas knew this was only the beginning. The abandoned projects were just the first step. His army would grow, and with it, his power. The kingdom of Vale would soon learn the name Nicholas Blak.
He stood back up with a stretch and starts heading back to the city, after tonights fight he just wants to sleep. Remnant can wait for another day his rest and recovery comes first.