Chapter 1686: A New Quest? The group stood perfectly still, their eyes locked on the exact location where Unzoku had been moments before. For a long while, no one dared to move or even breathe heavily. They had an uneasy feeling, a prickling sensation on the back of their necks, as if he was about to pop out of the ground at any second to continue his reign of terror. But he didn’t. The dust settled, the magical hum in the air faded, and the earth remained still. The sealing was successful. They had finally done it. The smiles that slowly broke across their faces were born from the pure realization that the nightmare had finally come to an end. For a moment, Steve and Jack, brothers who had been pitted against each other by fate, came together. Resisting the urge to let the old tensions flare, they both clapped each other’s hands, holding them firm in a powerful grip. They were proud of what they had accomplished together. “With this... things should be able to go back to the way they were,” Steve said, his voice sounding weary but relieved. “Peaceful. Between the two of us and our people.” Jack nodded solemnly. “That’s all I’ve wanted since this started.” “But the issue with the... what are we calling them now? The Vampires?” Bluebird asked, breaking the silence. “Will that threat still persist even though he’s gone?” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶 “You are correct to be concerned,” Lenny answered as he walked over to the center of the group. “As I said to you before, that is a separate matter entirely. It was something Unzoku was using to trick all of you, to weave his own web of chaos. I will try my best to make sure the matter of the vampires doesn’t go out of control in the shadows. You might run into these issues again in the future, but hopefully, they won’t be used in the same way against you as they have been today. For now, you can all rest in the hope that your families are safe.” Although Lenny said those words with confidence, Bliss remained oddly silent. She stood off to the side, her expression unreadable. It almost felt like she was holding something back, as if she didn’t want to ruin the rare moment of happiness they were all sharing. The group finally exited the mouth of the cave, squinting as the natural light hit their eyes. They started the long trek back toward the pack’s territory. While they were walking, Bliss finally spoke up, knowing she had important information that couldn’t wait. “I want to give one of you the medallion to keep,” Bliss said, pulling the ancient object from her robes. “The medallion is what allowed you to fight against Unzoku in the first place. But as I told you before, he is only sealed, not destroyed. There is a good chance that he can come back one day, even if it is hundreds of years from now. For the sake of the future generations, it is best that you keep that medallion safe.” Bliss paused for a moment, her eyes shifting between the two leaders as if she was waiting for them to decide who would bear the burden. “I think you should keep it, Jack,” Steve said, surprising his brother. “Out of the two of us, I think the pack of the Red Wings will end up prospering more in the long run. Besides, you have a whole city and a kingdom that can be used to look after a thing like that. You have secure places to keep items, just like the legendary weapons you already have in your vault. If it gets left with me out in the wild, I’m just worried I would end up losing it.” Jack accepted the responsibility with no further argument. He reached out and took the medallion, holding it firmly in his palm. But the moment his skin made contact with the metal, his brow furrowed. He felt like it held no power at all. It was odd, because even the most basic beast weapons he had encountered held a certain hum of energy when he touched them. This, however, felt like a plain piece of junk. “I can see the look on your face, Jack,” Bliss answered, noticing his confusion. “When the time is right, I will come visit you again. There is more to be done for that medallion to work again. It needs a specific catalyst, but now is not the right time for that. You will need to make a difficult decision when that time comes. There is no reason for me to tell you the details now, because the immediate threat of Unzoku is gone.” As the group walked back together, the tension that had defined their journey was replaced by a quiet exhaustion. Eventually, they returned to the borders of Steve’s Pack. It was time for them all to say their goodbyes and return to their respective lives. Lenny and Bliss were the first to prepare for departure. Bliss reiterated that she would be the one to seek out Jack when the medallion was ready to have its final touches. Lenny also took Jack aside for a final word. He promised that if he found any more information or new ways to help Lilly with her condition, he would return to the kingdom immediately to inform him. Just before the two mysterious figures disappeared, they did have one more thing to mention, a warning that hung heavy in the air. “Unzoku... at the very end, right before the seal took hold, he seemed to use his powers on the two of you,” Bliss said, looking at Steve and Jack. “I don’t know exactly what he tried to do, but please, make note if you notice any changes in your bodies or your spirits. It’s not something I can figure out just by touching you, and the two of you seem fine for now. That was honestly why I stayed with you for a bit longer, just to observe. Just... take note of anything strange.” After the two left, it was time for Jack and his brother to part ways. There were a lot of apologies, mainly coming from Jack’s side as he looked back at the conflict they had endured. But it was fine. Steve was a leader, and he knew he would have to spend the coming weeks quelling his pack and making sure they didn’t do anything stupid now that the war was over. The best part of it all was that they didn’t have to worry about attacking each other anymore. “So, what are you three going to do now?” Steve asked, looking toward the trio of travelers. The three were smiling as they watched everyone get along. It was almost like they were reading the happy ending of a novel where every loose end was tied up and everything worked out perfectly. But when Steve asked the question, the smiles suddenly vanished as a realization hit them. “Wait a second!” Gary shouted, looking around frantically. “Why the heck are we still stuck here? Unzoku is gone, the seal is set... why haven’t we been sent back? What the heck is going on?!” **** **** 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.