Chapter 1388: The Fight Comes Today
It was the final day.
At midnight, the core group would lose the ability to transform into their Werewolf forms. The change wouldn’t affect everyone, after all, a large portion of their team consisted of Altered, but it would weaken a vital part of their strength.
Instead of the intense, grueling training they’d been undergoing in preparation, the group had shifted to light exercises. They needed to rest. To recover. There could be no injuries, not now. Because if an attack was coming… it was most likely to strike at midnight.
There would be no time to recover then.
Out in the yard, Gary stood with his usual inner circle. But this time, there was one additional face among them, Tom.
“So, what do you think?” Gary asked, looking toward him.
Tom raised an eyebrow. “Honestly? I don’t want to give you advice just so you can blame me later if it all goes wrong.”
Gary gave a faint chuckle. “When have I ever done that?”
“Do you really want me to list the times?”
“Come on,” Gary said, half-grinning. “Normally, I’d ask Kai about stuff . But right now? Out of everyone here, I think you have the best mind for this. I’ll make the final decision, I just want to hear your opinion.”
Tom was seated cross-legged on a large flat stone, watching the others quietly before finally speaking.
“If I had to guess,” Tom began, “then I’d assume the same rules apply as when you used to forcefully transform.”
He looked directly at Gary. “Back when your transformations weren’t under your control, they always started at midnight and ended at sunrise. So… I’d bet this vow is bound by the same timeline.”
“But remember,” he added, raising a finger, “I said assume. That means we don’t know. For all we know, it could last the entire day. If you want to play it safe, then wait until the sun rises before doing anything.”
He exhaled through his nose. “If you do transform before then, yeah, there might be consequences. But I don’t think it’ll be something like you getting stuck in Werewolf form. The drawback might not be as severe as we think. Especially when you weigh it against what we could lose if we get attacked.”
“If it really was that dangerous,” Tom added, “I feel like Unzoku would’ve gone out of his way to make you break it.”
“Which might be exactly what this fight is for,” Innu said suddenly, the idea hitting him.
“Oh… yeah. You’re right,” Tom nodded. “If you and Unzoku fight during the full moon, it would force you to transform. That’s probably what he wants. He’s trying to make Gary break the vow.”
“But still,” he continued, “just remember what I said.”
Gary nodded silently.
He took it seriously. If the time came and people’s lives were on the line… they might have no choice. When the ritual was made, it had been described as a vow, something that could be broken, but not without consequence.
There was always a chance they could transform, but attempting it might trigger those consequences even if they failed. They had made that vow while desperate, and in the end, it was a deal struck with someone who was now their enemy.
“I’ve got another question,” Gary said, turning to Kevin. “I probably won’t have time to learn it, but… did you and Innu ever try to share your abilities?”
Kevin nodded slowly. “He did. He explained a few things at night. Every time you were training, I was trying to learn it on the side too.”
Kevin paused, his eyes flicking to Gary’s expression. He already felt the daggers in his stare.
“I mean… Qi was easier for me to understand. Not that I’m better at it or anything, just… I grasped the concept quicker. But with Innu’s ability… nothing. I couldn’t feel even a hint of it when I tried.”
“Hmm. Interesting,” Tom said, leaning in. “It’d be good to do more tests. Maybe have another human try to learn it, and maybe another Werewolf or Altered too.”
He looked to Innu. “If we test the variables, we can figure out what’s blocking it, or at least narrow down the why. But only if you’re okay with it.”
Innu gave a small nod. “I’m fine with it. Just has to be someone I trust.”
With everything said and discussed, Gary quietly turned to head back to the manor.
This time, he didn’t go inside. Instead, he waited out front. The large minivan that Park usually drove was already parked and waiting.
One by one, they began to line up, suitcases in hand. The Howlers. The allies. The people who had chosen to stand by them through everything.
But even now, the lineup felt strange, there were two members missing. Two people who should’ve been with them.
Gary stepped forward.
“You all know what today is,” he said. “We originally stayed in the manor not just to train, but to prepare for an attack that could’ve come directly at us. That threat hasn’t passed… but it has shifted.”
“We’re not staying at the manor anymore,” he continued. “We’re adapting. A new threat is coming, and we have to be ready for it, wherever it hits.”
He scanned the faces in front of him.
“There will be scouts watching over the city. I’ll be sending someone ahead to monitor the route toward Ruin City as we get closer to time. From here on out…”
Gary clenched his fist.
“…this is it. The moment of truth. Either the fight comes today, ” he paused, “, or the storm passes.”
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