The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven Chapter 682: The Great War (II)

In Draven, the previous hesitation and restraint vanished entirely. This transformation rendered him significantly more perilous than before.

Just then, Estella's gaze flickered momentarily, enough to notice another detail amidst the fray.

Draven continued his assault, slicing through adversaries. His attention, however, would periodically divert, drawn towards a specific point in the distance – Meredith's direction.

Even amidst the pandemonium, his focus remained on her, ensuring her safety.

A faint smile touched Estella's lips. "Still distracted," she murmured under her breath.

Yet, her contemplation was brief, as a new development began to unfold.

On another part of the battlefield, a familiar figure materialized once more. It appeared to be Meredith, though her actions were different this time.

She moved with a new purpose, drawing closer to the epicenter of the conflict and deliberately capturing attention.

The vampires immediately detected her, their gazes snapping towards her with renewed intensity.

"The Queen!" one of them bellowed.

They converged upon her in a massive wave, but she did not yield.

She advanced just enough to maintain their focus, luring them deeper into the most intense fighting.

The pressure intensified around her as enemies closed in from all sides, their coordinated and aggressive movements overwhelming.

For a fleeting moment, this strategy proved effective; they were entirely fixated on her.

However, a vampire faltered mid-stride, his eyes narrowing as he inadvertently spotted the other Meredith.

"Something is wrong," he grunted.

At that precise moment, the illusion flickered momentarily. But it was enough for the realization to dawn.

"It's not her!" another vampire yelled.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The surrounding vampires attacked simultaneously, their previous caution discarded for decisive, lethal strikes.

Xamira did not falter; she stood her ground.

Her form instantly morphed into something else, something unstable, shifting between appearances as she moved.

"What the fuck..." Estella drawled, her surprised eyes fixed on the unfolding spectacle a short distance away. "...is that?"

Just then, a blade pierced Xamira's side, but she contorted through the pain, her hand shooting forward to seize an attacker and propel him into the path of another's incoming blow.

They fell together. But more vampires surged forward.

Her breathing grew labored, her movements becoming sharper yet noticeably slower. Blood stained her attire, her strength visibly waning, but her gaze remained steadfastly focused.

Survival was not her objective; she was determined to complete a mission.

With the last vestiges of her strength, her form shifted once more, this time taking on Estella's appearance.

Her voice resonated, clear and commanding. "Fall back to the northern ridge—now!"

The vampires nearest to her obeyed without question.

They retreated directly into a concealed ambush – wolves erupted from their hiding places, tearing into the vampires before they could possibly regroup.

Their screams pierced the air briefly, quickly swallowed by the overwhelming cacophony.

Behind them, the imitation Estella staggered. Her form dissolved, reverting back to the original Xamira.

She dropped to one knee, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as her strength finally gave out.

Slow, deliberate footsteps approached. Then, a shadow fell over her.

"Well... well..." a voice drawled softly, tinged with admiration. "You were useful."

Xamira looked up, finding the real Estella standing before her.

"You almost made it convincing," Estella added, her expression impassive.

Xamira released a faint breath that might have been a laugh. "Good... enough."

Estella tilted her head slightly. "For a shapeshifter, perhaps." There was no malice in her tone.

Swiftly, a clean, final strike was delivered, and Xamira's body went still.

—

Not far from this scene, Meredith faltered for a brief instant as a sudden void washed over her. A presence that had been subtly traversing the battlefield – elusive, shifting, and alive – had ceased to exist.

Her eyes instantly sharpened. "...Xamira."

The moment Xamira's presence vanished from the battlefield, a profound change occurred within Meredith.

The self-imposed restraint she had maintained since the war commenced loosened, then completely dissipated.

She stepped forward deliberately.

This time, she did not remain within the safety of the rear lines; she moved beyond them, into the thick of the conflict.

Her silver hair glinted under the light as she advanced, her form now fully exposed to the battlefield's fury.

There was no longer any pretense of concealment, no illusion to divert attention. If Estella sought her, then she would be seen.

Almost immediately, the shift in focus was undeniable.

"There!" a voice cried out from the opposing ranks. "The real one!"

The human soldiers reacted first. Rifles were raised, and a volley of gunfire erupted. The sound ripped across the battlefield once more, sharp and unyielding, but this time Meredith made no move to evade it.

She did not retreat or attempt to outrun the impossible speed of the incoming projectiles. Instead, she stood perfectly still.

The energy within her gathered, controlled, precisely as she had been trained. And just moments before the bullets would have struck her, they abruptly halted in mid-air.

A subtle distortion rippled through the air before her, the unseen force bending light as projectiles impacted an invisible barrier. The assault was repelled.

Simultaneously, a protective field expanded just enough to encompass the nearby wolves, who would have otherwise been struck by the same volley.

For a fleeting instant, the surrounding chaos ceased. Then, Meredith acted.

As she lowered her hand, the energy construct dissipated. In a fluid transition, she surged forward, breaching the enemy ranks.

A vampire lunged, only to meet her blade; the swift, lethal strike ended its advance.

Another attacker, originating from her blind spot and moving with alarming speed, was met by Meredith's counter. Her free hand pulsed with nascent power as she pivoted.

The blow landed with considerable force, propelling the vampire backward into two companions. They tumbled in a heap of limbs. Yet, her assault continued.

Her fighting style blended martial prowess with innate abilities. One moment, she moved like a seasoned warrior; the next, a gesture unleashed an unseen force, creating a zone of devastation around her.

However, the battlefield offered little respite. Enemy soldiers recalibrated their aim, unleashing a crossfire from numerous positions.

Anticipating the trajectory and intent before visual confirmation, Meredith intensified her concentration.

The defensive shield materialized with increased speed and resilience, growing to shield not only herself but also the allied wolves advancing alongside her.

Projectiles hammered against the barrier, their kinetic energy absorbed and nullified.

Maintaining the shield just long enough, she released it once more and continued her advance.

Observing from afar, it became apparent that she was a pivotal force, a destabilizing element that amplified her threat level.