My Werewolf System

Chapter 1788  The Evolving Threat

The Evolving Threat

Wasting no time, the large group of survivors huddled tightly together as they finally stepped out of the subway and onto the ruined streets. Despite their significant numbers, the wide, multi-lane avenues of Centerfield provided plenty of space for them to move as a cohesive unit.

At the vanguard, Luzen led the way alongside Gary. The Werewolf was utilizing his enhanced senses to carve out the safest possible path, intentionally steering them away from roaming Glutton packs as they headed toward the central train station, a location rumored to house a heavily fortified shelter, far superior to the underground tunnels.

Positioned strategically in the center of the civilian formation were Marie and Kai. If the beasts managed to flank or jump from the rooftops, they could immediately intercept and protect the vulnerable middle. Bringing up the rear, acting as the final line of defense, were Austin and Innu.

“So... what type of Altered are you?” a young boy, who looked to be around eleven years old, asked nervously as he glanced up at Innuʼs weapons.

“Oh, me?” Innu replied with a casual shrug. “Well, the truth is, I’m not actually an Altered.”

“What?!” the kid almost yelled in panic. His father quickly clamped a hand over the boyʼs mouth, shushing him frantically as several terrified eyes darted their way. Everyone knew the creatures hunting them were incredibly sensitive to sound.

“But I thought they said you were all a group of strong Altereds,” the kid whispered, his voice trembling. “If those monsters attack us from the back, weʼre completely screwed if we donʼt even have one protecting us!”

“Hey, donʼt you see the heavy hardware Iʼm carrying on my back? If those ugly creatures come sniffing around, I’ll just chop them into pieces,” Innu claimed confidently, adjusting his grip. “Seriously, what is with everyone constantly underestimating me these days?”

The kid still looked genuinely frightened, though. Hearing that his rearguard wasnʼt superhuman left a pale, terrified look on his face, and his small hands wouldnʼt stop shaking.

“Look, donʼt worry,” Innu sighed, pointing a thumb over at Austin. “If push comes to shove, my friend right here is one of the strongest Altereds out there, so you really donʼt have to stress. And I’m sure some of your parents might have noticed already, but the green-haired guy leading us at the front... if you used to watch the AFC tournaments, I’m sure you’ve heard of him, right?”

“Wait, that’s really him? I thought he looked familiar, but I just assumed...” another man whispered, his eyes widening in sudden realization. “He’s really Gary Dem! The kid who took down the undefeated AFC champion, Harvor... Well, if we have him on our side, I’m actually confident we can make it through this alive.”

Suddenly, Luzen halted and fluidly pulled his bow from his shoulder. Gary instantly recognized the silent signal. He immediately raised his fist in the air, silently commanding the entire civilian column to stop moving.

“I did my absolute best to steer us clear of the roaming packs, but avoiding them entirely seems impossible now,” Luzen whispered, his eyes scanning the rooftops. “I think they have this specific perimeter surrounded because they know there is a guarded shelter up ahead. They are cutting off the refugees. The only way through this checkpoint is to fight.”

“Everyone!” Gary ordered, keeping his voice low but urgent. “Just as we planned to the sides. Break formation and move inside the storefronts. Fast!”

Before they had left the subway, Gary had strategically explained the drill. Rather than the Howlers trying to directly shield a dense, slow-moving crowd in the open street, it was vastly safer if the civilians instantly scattered and hid inside the abandoned buildings at the first sign of trouble.

Luzen would have already smelled if any enemies were lurking inside those specific shops. So while the humans barricaded themselves indoors, the fighters would have the open street space they needed to unleash their full power without worrying about collateral damage.

The crowd scrambled, rushing toward the shattered glass doors of the nearby apartments. But the hunters were terrifyingly fast, and they were already descending.

Luzen spotted two beasts sprinting horizontally across the brick side of an apartment building. He drew his bowstring back and fired several arrows in rapid succession, a blur of deadly precision.

The leading monster was struck mid-stride, deep puncture wounds erupting across its chest and shoulder before it tumbled limply to the concrete below. They were incredibly forceful strikes, and Luzen had calculated the trajectory perfectly despite the target moving at superhuman speeds.

‘I’m definitely happy youʼre on our side,’ Gary thought, watching the ex Iron Fangʼs lethal archery. He called out to his Pack. “Let’s try our absolute best not to fully transform! Otherwise, weʼll just terrify the civilians weʼre trying to protect!”

More Gluttons began pouring into the street from various directions, cutting off the rear. Spotting a beast charging the stragglers, Innu hurled his heavy axe through the air. The spinning blade buried itself deeply into the monsterʼs torso, the sheer momentum forcing the creature backward until it crashed heavily against a brick wall, pinning it in place.

“See? I told you I was pretty handy with this stuff,” Innu winked at the trembling kid, who immediately scrambled to safety inside a nearby doorway.

However, the pinned monster didnʼt die. Growling, it forcefully pulled itself forward, carelessly allowing the embedded axe blade to tear through its own mutated flesh and muscle just to free itself. Blood pouring down its chest, it continued its relentless charge toward Innu.

“Right, okay. These guys are getting really, really annoying!” Innu grunted, abandoning the pinned weapon. He vaulted nimbly onto the dented roof of an abandoned sedan, drawing his second axe and preparing to fight the approaching beast head-on.

But before he could swing, a thick, rubbery arm stretched out from the shadows, attempting to swat him from his blind side.

Innu reacted purely on instinct, bringing his remaining axe up to block the incoming strike and counter. But just as the weapon met flesh, the creatureʼs elongated arm bizarrely split apart into several shifting segments.

It almost looked as if the monsterʼs limb was constructed of thick, intertwined branches. Innu swung his axe down, slicing through a section of the grotesque flesh, but it only severed a small piece. The remaining tendrils extended rapidly, wrapping like iron snakes around Innu’s ankles and wrists, forcefully stretching his limbs apart.

“What the hell is that?” Austin shouted, rushing over. “Thatʼs the first time weʼve seen a Glutton do something like that! That doesnʼt look like an ordinary mutation... it’s almost like the beast still possesses some Altered powers!”

The monstrous, stretching arm that had completely entangled Innu suddenly hoisted him high into the air. He struggled helplessly against the grip. Just as the beast opened its jaws to bite, Innu caught a flash of green hair in the corner of his eye.

Gary leaped into the fray, wielding a heavy, customized hammer. He swung the weapon down with bone-shattering force, crashing it into the concrete floor directly over the monsterʼs elongated arm, completely crushing the mutated limb.

Instantly, the constricting strength of the branch-like appendages weakened, dropping Innu safely onto the roof of the car.

“Iʼve gotten a bit better at swinging this thing,” Gary said casually, hoisting the heavy hammer over his shoulder as the crushed beast whimpered.

Innu looked past the Alpha, realizing with awe that the rest of the attacking pack had already been completely dealt with while he was tangled up.

Seeing the carnage Gary had left in his wake, Innu just rubbed his bruised wrists and smiled.

“Just how much stronger did you actually get, man?”

**