A strange energy swirled violently within Xin as she took a shaky step backward. Her body began to transform again, but this time, it was different from her earlier shift. It wasn't something she was in control of. No, this transformation felt like it was being forced upon her. Her body grew larger, far more than during her previous change. Her shoulders expanded, becoming broader and more defined with every passing second. The brown fur covering her form began to change too. The very tips of each strand were turning silver, like they'd been dipped in moonlight. The sheen gave her fur a hardened, metallic look, as though it had become as tough as steel. Beneath her fur, faintly glowing marks began to show, luminescent runes that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat. They weren't static either. The glow shifted beneath her skin, reacting to every breath she took, mirroring her emotions as the Luna's energy continued to surge. The most eye-catching markings were along Xin's arms. From the front, the glowing patterns formed a perfect crescent moon emblem across both limbs. But perhaps the most surreal change of all was the armor, if it could even be called that. What manifested on Xin's chest appeared to be semi-ethereal moonlight energy, condensing into a translucent armor that shimmered like crystal. It spread from her chest to her shoulders, and even lightly traced down her limbs. Despite its crystalline appearance, the armor looked weightless, crafted not to restrict her speed or movement in battle. If anything, it seemed to enhance it. Then there were Xin's eyes. They glowed fiercely, their silver-white hue blindingly pure. But when anyone looked into them… there was something else. A strange sense of warmth and familiarity. A quiet comfort, even in the face of her immense power. "It's… beautiful," Marie whispered, completely mesmerized. "It really is. I can't look away." "But… what about Gary?" Innu asked, panic rising in his voice. "What about Gary?!" Their attention turned toward him, and what they saw was nothing short of terrifying. Darkness swirled violently in his direction, consuming the area like a void. It looked as if a massive shadow was absorbing every ounce of light around it, except for the glow radiating from Xin's body. "I've got a bad feeling… we might be standing a little too close," Kai muttered, and the others silently agreed. Explosive crashes echoed through the air, sounding like erupting volcanoes. Even those in the distant town of Slough felt a faint rumble beneath their feet. Confused, some glanced out their windows, only to see nothing visible in the skies or streets. Many brushed it off as a small, random earthquake. But near the mountain itself, the destruction was clear. Giant shockwaves had rippled outward, the very peak of the mountain completely annihilated. The entire scene looked eerily similar to the aftermath of Gary's battle with Lupus, but now, the fighting had ended. It had been no more than ten minutes. And yet, the destruction was massive. Thankfully, the test was over. Xin had made the decision to stop it. One thing became clear from the experience: Xin, the Luna, had the ability to halt Gary in his berserk state, whenever she wanted to. When she approached Gary in that monstrous form, her presence alone seemed to calm him. And when she touched him, she could draw the energy out of his body. As Gary's power drained, so did hers in response. Now, both of them, completely exhausted, lay on the ground, side by side. As the others rushed down from the mountain, they hurried to check on the pair. "Do you remember what happened?" Xin asked, her voice soft as she sat beside him. "I do," Gary replied, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. "But it's like Midwak said… I wasn't in control." "The forms you both used… they were incredibly powerful," Xin said. "How would you compare that one to your others? Or to the form Lupus used?" Gary thought back. There had been a problem during his Nocturne Apex transformation, he'd been unable to access his system. Maybe he still had access, but in that state, he lacked the ability to consciously use it. "That form…" Gary began, "It's on par with Lupus. Or with the Dragon Form I can use. But there's a catch, " He paused to catch his breath. "I can only use it if you're by my side. If we get separated… it could put the rest of the Howlers in danger." He wasn't lying. From what he remembered, the form had its advantages, but it also had significant drawbacks. There would still be times where his Dragon Form or even his Ash Lycan Form would be the better choice. For one, Gary currently had zero energy. Like the Dragon Form, it took everything he had just to use it. However, he did notice something different. I could've kept going… longer than ten minutes, maybe, he thought. So unlike the Dragon Form, this one might not have a strict time limit. But once it ended, it drained him completely. Still… I can transform into the Dragon right now if I wanted to. If I were in a real fight, I could use both forms, using this one first, then leaving the Dragon Form as a final resort. Eventually, the rest of the group made it to them. Carefully, they helped lift both Gary and Xin off the ground. "Come on," Kai said, offering Gary a hand. "Let's get you back to Slough. You need to rest." "I'm a bit hungry too," Gary mumbled, trying to force a smile. "I don't think there's anything open at this hour," Kai replied. "But we can hit up the Wolf's Pool Club. I stashed some emergency rations there." Gary brightened up at the sound of that. Slowly but surely, they made their way back to the van. As they walked, a whisper echoed in Gary's mind. "I'm waiting for you…" He blinked, stopping in his tracks. "Waiting? Waiting for what?" Kai looked over, raising an eyebrow. "Did going into that form make you lose your mind? I didn't say anything." Gary looked around, but no one else had spoken. And the voice was already gone. **** Author's Note: For updates on My Werewolf System and future works, follow me on social media: Instagram: @jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: patreon.com/jksmanga Whenever news drops for MVS, MWS, or my other series, you'll see it there first. Feel free to reach out, I usually reply if I'm not too busy!