My Werewolf System

Chapter 1342 A Troubled Gary

When the group returned to the van, Xin and Gary wearily climbed into their seats. Everyone else was still buzzing from the experience, they were still processing what theyʼd just seen with their own eyes.

”Gary, man, you shouldʼve seen yourself!” Innu said, practically bouncing with excitement. ”At first, I couldnʼt even seeyou clearly, there was this whole swirling darkness around you. But when you started moving? Man, it was insane! Youʼve got so many cool powers compared to the rest of us.”

”Well, he is the head of the pack for a reason,” Marie added with a small smile. ”Still… Garyʼs form was wild, but I think Xinʼs transformation was really beautiful. Honestly, I thought werewolves were supposed to be scary monsters.”

She turned to Xin. ”But you looked like a divine warrior, summoned straight from the moon or something. It was… really cool.”

Xin smiled warmly at the compliment.

”Thank you.”

She couldnʼt help but feel a little guilty, though. Marie had once been a candidate to become the Luna, and she held the same Titan Vanguard class as Xin. In a way, Marie was looking at what could have been hers, and yet she spoke to Xin without a hint of bitterness.

Xin appreciated that. She genuinely liked Marie.

”You were able to remember everything, right?” Kai asked. ”You were in complete control?”

”Correct,” Xin nodded. ”Though it was… strange. I didnʼt feel like myself exactly. My whole body felt calm and powerful, almost detached. But I was definitely in control. Not like someone we know.” She shot a teasing glance toward Gary.

”I canʼt help it,” Gary replied with a shrug, though there was a sharp edge in his tone. ”Itʼs werewolf stuff. I didnʼt make the rules.”

His voice was playful, but Xin picked up on the subtle agitation behind it, something only she seemed to notice.

”I was just thinking,” Kai continued, ”if thereʼs a way we can actually use both your powers tactically. Youʼre powerful together, sure, but if we could split your forces, it would give us more flexibility.”

He leaned forward slightly, thinking aloud.

”From what weʼve heard, a lot of the Lunaʼs powers help protect and empower pack members. If there were a way for Xin to access that form without Gary, then maybe she could lead a separate team. We could use that group to attack the Dark Guild directly.”

”That sounds impossible,” Austin said bluntly. ”No one but Xin can calm Gary in that state. If sheʼs not around, that basically means locking Gary up or restraining him, and I donʼt think all of us combined could hold him back if he went off.”

Kai nodded. That was the same problem he had been considering.

In a way, Gary was like a bomb. An immensely powerful, unstable force.

And Kai wanted to use that power as a deterrent, a threat, against their enemies.

”Itʼs a shame their powers are so tightly linked,” Kai muttered. ”But I guess thatʼs the reality weʼre dealing with.”

Austin frowned. ”You donʼt think weʼre strong enough to take on the Dark Guild? What if we flipped it, leave Gary and Xin to deal with Lupus and Ylva, and the rest of us focus on the Guild?”

”Itʼs not about strength,” Kai replied. ”We might be able to handle them. But itʼs the vampires Iʼm worried about. What happens after all of this? Thatʼs the real problem. Iʼm just thinking out loud here.”

Suddenly, Garyʼs fingers clenched around the back of the seat in front of him.

A loud crack filled the vehicle as part of the seat splintered under his grip.

”SHUT UP!” Gary shouted.

The entire minibus went completely silent.

Everyone turned, eyes wide, staring at him.

No one knew exactly what had triggered it.

Was it Kai? Was Gary upset that they were still talking about fighting Lupus, even after agreeing to speak with him first?

Or was it something else entirely?

Maybe he was just… exhausted.

No one said a word until Xin leaned in gently.

”Gary… are you okay?” she asked softly. ”Is everything alright? We donʼt have to talk. We can stay quiet until we get back.”

Gary let out a slow breath and turned to her. He tapped the side of his head.

”Sorry,” he mumbled. ”My headʼs just… been hurting ever since the transformation. Maybe Iʼm just hungry. Iʼm trying to stay focused, but everything feels… off. Like nothingʼs working.”

He forced a smile, but it was full of pain.

”Youʼre right,” Kai said quietly. ”Weʼve done enough for today. Itʼs late. Iʼll leave you be for now. Sorry, Gary.”

Kai returned to his seat, and the conversations in the van resumed, but at a lower volume, with most of it happening between pairs of people.

Xin stayed beside Gary and gently rubbed his back. His head rested against the seat in front of him, and for a moment, he looked almost… sick.

”Xin,” Gary said, turning his head slightly toward her, ”did anything feel different after you transformed? I mean… do you feel changed in any way?”

”Iʼm tired,” Xin admitted. ”And I feel weaker than usual, sure. But thatʼs about it. I donʼt feel different. Why? Is something wrong?”

Gary was quiet for a moment, as if weighing whether to say anything at all.

”Can you hear something?” he finally asked. ”A voice?”

Xinʼs expression shifted, her body tensing.

”What voice, Gary? Whatʼs it saying?”

She didnʼt dismiss him for even a second.

Strange things had already happened, too many to ignore, and this was right after his transformation.

”Itʼs saying… itʼs expecting me,” Gary said, eyes distant. ”That Iʼm getting close. That it canʼt wait to see me.”

A chill ran down Xinʼs spine.

The way Gary spoke those words… it was like he was repeating something he wished he hadnʼt heard.

”I donʼt know why,” Gary continued, ”but I feel like Iʼve heard this voice before. I just… I canʼt remember when. Or what it is. But it keeps coming back. Every once in a while, it returns, and I canʼt push it out. I canʼt.”

That was when Gary noticed something else.

Heʼd been glancing at his system screen, and it was starting to glitch.

It flickered, distorted, as if something was breaking it down from the inside.

Something… was very wrong.

****

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