Chapter 57: Revenge

The battle was over. And the outcome was clear, Doggo had utterly crushed the three super soldiers. What once looked like a brutal three-on-one ambush quickly turned into a gruesome feeding frenzy. One by one, the towering soldiers were swallowed whole by the three Doggo's monstrous jaws, reduced to nothing more than snacks for the green beasts. The stench of blood filled the street. Among the crowd of onlookers, many couldn't take the gore. Several doubled over and vomited on the spot. Even though the super soldiers had inhuman strength and durability, they were still men. And now, three humans had been devoured alive by these monstrous dogs with flaming green fur. Blood ran down the muzzles of each dog, thick and vivid, hissing as it dripped onto the seared asphalt and evaporated in the heat. No one would forget this scene. Then, without fanfare, the three dogs began to move again. The three great beasts stood shoulder to shoulder in eerie unison before stepping toward one another. Their green muscles squirmed and pulsed like writhing worms, twisting together, reforming. A grotesque yet seamless fusion. The three became one once more. The extra heads slowly receded, melting back into Doggo's shoulders, disappearing into fur and flesh. His size shrank rapidly as well, and in mere moments, the monstrous Cerberus of green flames was gone, replaced by a pudgy husky the color of mint, standing in the middle of scorched asphalt. Even in the midst of the dense crowd, Doggo's sharp eyes found Luke immediately. Luke gave a subtle nod. The green husky wagged his tail once, then trotted into the alley beside him and vanished from sight. The temperature in the air dropped noticeably. The heavy weight of tension that had blanketed the street seemed to lift all at once. People crept forward with cautious steps, then, realizing the danger had passed, rushed in to see the aftermath. Phones came out. Cameras flashed. What they found left them stunned. The street had been ravaged. The asphalt had bubbled, cracked, and partially dissolved. Patches of melted pavement still steamed faintly. But of the three towering super soldiers, there was nothing. Not a boot, not a belt, not even a bone. Only blackened gravel and the scorched outline of where the monsters had stood remained. The monster dogs had appeared for less than two minutes... and completely erased three elite soldiers. If they had chosen to run through the city, no one doubted they could have reduced Manhattan to rubble. Thankfully, the dogs seemed to have a leash and didn't spread their rampage. The chaos stirred massive waves online, and for days the footage would flood social media feeds, newscasts, and conspiracy forums. But life goes on. People still had to pay rent, attend meetings, and punch time clocks. So the streets filled again. New scandals would soon replace the old. And since Luke had quietly slipped away before the chaos peaked, no one caught his face on camera. Once again, he escaped attention, just the way he liked it. ... In a dark alley a few blocks away, Luke crouched beside Doggo, gently scratching the green fur behind his ears. Every day, he grew more satisfied with Doggo's evolution. A loyal bodyguard, a brutal executioner, and a playful companion all in one. He still remembered when he first found the little guy, weak, sickly, hiding behind a trash can. He didn't even want to take the dog at first, because as an orphan he could barely take care of himself. But Wanda's puppy eyes were more dangerous than Doggo's future bite. And now? That helpless pup had turned into a walking natural disaster. But strangely, Luke was beginning to suspect that Doggo's power wasn't entirely from the system. It felt more like the system had just unlocked something already inside him. Something ancient. Something monstrous. Well, the system itself said it had only awakened his cerberus bloodline, not granted it. Luke smiled faintly and said, "Hey, Doggo. You remember the military base from last time? The one with all the tanks and fighter jets?" Doggo tilted his head and wagged his tail. "Great. I want you to head over there and play for a bit," Luke said, rising to his feet. "Try not to kill unless you have to. I mean, most of the soldiers are just doing their job. But if you see an old guy with a mustache who looks like he thinks he owns the world... Well, you've got my blessing to have a midnight snack." Doggo's ears perked up. Tanks? Planes? Late-night snacks? This was shaping up to be a great day. Luke watched with amusement as the green husky waddled off down the alley and disappeared into the shadows, tail swishing with excitement. He crossed his arms and smirked. "Ross, you old bastard. Let's see how lucky you get this time." He didn't bother checking to see how it would go. He already knew the outcome. If Doggo made it to that base and let all three heads loose again, there wouldn't be a single building left standing. As for General Ross? Whether he lives or dies, it didn't really matter to him. If the old man was lucky, he'd survive just long enough to regret his actions. ...