Chapter 1580: The Race Up the Mountain

Published Mar 30, 2026, 06:07 AM

Chapter 1580: The Race Up the Mountain When Steve mentioned meeting his family, Gary felt a flicker of excitement he hadn’t expected. Part of him couldn’t help but wonder , did his bloodline come from Steve or Jack? Both men carried the Dem family name, and if their children had passed it down through generations, then somewhere along the line, one of their descendants must have given rise to Gary’s own family. The thought of it filled him with curiosity. His brown fur matched Steve’s more than Jack’s, so for now, Gary liked to think he was descended from Steve’s branch of the family tree. But with what he knew about his father , and how his father had managed to suppress his Werewolf side entirely , Gary also knew that guessing by appearances alone meant little. Bloodlines had their mysteries. The group continued the tour, following Steve as he led them toward where his family lived. Oddly enough, they soon found themselves climbing up the mountain again. The path was steep, and as Steve dug his claws into the rock to ascend, he glanced over his shoulder. Behind him, all three of them were keeping pace. He narrowed his eyes with interest. All three of them are climbing easily. One of them knows how to use Qi. Another’s brute strength is incredible. And the blonde one... he’s observant, careful , planning each move before making it. They’re not ordinary at all. A smirk crossed his face. Let’s see how far they can go. With that, Steve’s pace suddenly increased. He launched himself upward, claws scraping stone, moving faster and faster with every leap. The three of them exchanged glances before following, not about to be shown up. Lupus climbed like a true Werewolf , using his claws naturally, his body flowing with the rhythm of the rock. Gary, on the other hand, was pure force. He gripped and launched himself upward again and again, breaking through loose stones, leaving deep claw marks in his wake. Kai’s approach was different. His movements were efficient, almost analytical. He studied the terrain as he climbed, finding the best handholds and footholds before committing to each motion. He wasn’t the fastest, but he never slipped once. Steve, glancing down, found himself quietly impressed. Their climbing styles mirrored their personalities. Each of them revealed who they were through the way they moved. And none of them moved like regular Werewolves. “This might make things interesting,” Steve called down, his grin widening. “You all seemed curious about Unzoku, right? Well then , let’s make this fun. If any of you can beat me to the top, I’ll tell you what I know.” The moment he said it, all three felt their competitive spirit ignite. Gary’s claws dug into the stone, and Lupus snarled as he surged upward. Kai’s eyes sharpened, scanning for a quicker path. The race was on. Gary pushed himself hard, climbing with powerful leaps, his strength tearing chunks of rock loose. One particularly large slab broke free and tumbled downward , missing Lupus by inches. “Watch where you’re climbing, idiot!” Lupus barked. “Sorry!” Gary shouted back, though he didn’t slow down. Using the momentum from the near miss, Lupus swung his body to the side and latched onto another part of the cliff face, continuing upward with renewed determination. Damn it, Gary thought, glancing down. Lupus is faster at this than I am... I’ll have to use what I’ve got. Closing his eyes briefly, Gary focused. Qi surged through his arms, filling his muscles with heat. His claws darkened slightly as he transformed his hands just enough to dig deeper into the mountain. Then, with a burst of power, he launched himself higher. He did it again, and again , each jump carrying him several meters upward. From below, Kai watched the display and frowned. Not all of us have to beat Steve, he thought. Only one of us does. Besides, if I could fully transform, I’d already be past all of you. The climb grew steeper, and the mist thickened as they neared the upper ring of clouds. The air became cooler, thinner, and the sound of claws scraping rock echoed all around. Gary and Lupus were neck and neck, both drenched in sweat but refusing to slow down. The circular cloud layer hovered just above them like a gateway, the same mist that had hidden the mountain’s peak from sight. They were almost there , until a sudden blur of motion shot past them. A figure, fully transformed, darted upward at impossible speed. His red eyes glowed faintly through the mist as his powerful limbs carried him higher, faster, effortlessly. Both Gary and Lupus stopped for a second, stunned. ‘That was fast... that was really fast,’ Gary thought, staring after the vanishing figure. ‘Was that as fast as Kai when he’s fully transformed? Even with our strength suppressed here, I’m not sure any of us could beat that.’ By the time they reached the top, Steve was already there , standing casually on the flat surface, arms folded, waiting. They landed one by one, panting slightly, and took in their surroundings. What they saw next caught them completely off guard. The mountain peak looked nothing like what Steve had described in his story. The top had been sheared off, leaving a wide, circular plateau , almost like a giant stone bowl carved out by some ancient force. The surface was scarred with deep claw marks and cracks. The smell of dust and old sweat lingered in the air. “This place...” Gary muttered. “This,” Steve said, stepping forward, “is where our Werewolves train. Where they fight one another to hone their strength.” The others stood silently, taking it in. The plateau stretched wide enough to hold dozens of combatants. It wasn’t just a training ground , it was an arena built by nature and shaped by claws. Steve turned toward them with a faint grin. “Unfortunately, none of you beat me in the race,” he said. “So I won’t be telling you anything about Unzoku.” Gary groaned. “Seriously? We were that close!” But then Steve’s tone shifted, calm but sharp. “Still,” he said, glancing at each of them in turn, “there’s something else you should know.” His red eyes glimmered faintly under the sunlight. “I heard everything you said.” The air grew tense. Kai’s body stiffened slightly, and Lupus’s claws twitched as if on instinct. Gary’s breath caught in his throat. They had hoped , even convinced themselves , that Steve hadn’t overheard their late-night conversation. But now, hearing him say it aloud, every muscle in their bodies tightened. Steve’s expression, however, was unreadable. Whether he was angry, curious, or amused... they couldn’t tell. And that uncertainty felt far more dangerous than any open threat. **** For updates on MWS and future works, follow me on my social media below. Instagram: jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga When news drops about My Vampire System, My Werewolf System, or any other series, you’ll hear it there first. Feel free to reach out, if I’m not too busy, I tend to reply.

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