Chapter 1704: The Monster of the Old Era A catastrophe was unfolding within the heart of the cavern. Jack, the Alpha of his pack and a man revered as one of the legendary Heroes of his time, was losing the battle within himself. Despite his iron will, the feral infection was taking hold. Gary and Lupus watched in horror as thick, silver-grey fur erupted from Jack’s skin, expanding across his muscular frame with violent speed. The transformation was accelerating, and they were running out of seconds. "Lupus! Protect the exits!" Gary roared, his voice already cracking with the strain of his own internal power. "I’ll deal with Jack!" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶 The trio who had traveled back from the future were no strangers to werewolf strength. They had spent countless hours training and sparring against Steve, but they knew all too well that a friendly spar was a world away from a life-or-death struggle against an Alpha going full force. They had heard the tall tales of Jack’s legendary power and had recently witnessed him standing his ground against Unzoku. Jack’s might was storied, famous for its raw, unadulterated savagery. However, because his previous opponent had been a monster like Unzoku, it had been difficult for Gary to gauge Jack’s true ceiling. He could only guess at the hero’s strength, until the moment he felt the displaced air of a real, killing strike. The moment Jack’s transformation hit its peak, the legendary hero stood tall, his hands clenched at his sides. He unleashed a bone-chilling howl that ripped through the air. The heavy iron chains draped across his body didn’t just snap; they shattered into a thousand jagged shards. The force of the sonic blast was so immense that the entire cavern groaned and vibrated, dust raining down from the ceiling. Chills raced down Gary’s spine, a primal fear he hadn’t felt in a long time. ‘Is it because I’m no longer an Alpha myself in this timeline?’ Gary wondered, his claws digging into the dirt. ‘Or is this just his raw power? Maybe this is what others feel when they stand across from me. This isn’t going to be the easy win I hoped for.’ But Gary wasn’t the same cub who had first discovered the system. His powers were fully restored, and more importantly, he had unlocked the secrets of Qi. He had learned to weave the internal energy into his strikes, turning blunt force into something far more surgical and devastating. Jack didn’t wait. He kicked off with such violence that the stone floor beneath his feet disintegrated, launching himself toward Gary like a silver blur. Gary reacted on instinct, swinging his arms in a wide arc to unleash a [Claw Slash]. The glowing lines of energy tore through the air, but Jack didn’t even flinch. He didn’t attempt to dodge or parry. The slashes slammed into his chest and seemed to simply break apart, flickering out of existence as they touched his toughened hide. ‘What... how is that possible?’ Gary’s heart hammered against his ribs. Even when sparring with Lupus, Gary’s attacks always left a mark, regardless of the gap in raw power. Lupus had to at least intercept the strikes to nullify them; he couldn’t just take them point-blank. But Jack’s skin felt like enchanted plate armor. [Lethal Pounce] Gary shifted tactics immediately. He began to bounce from the walls and floor, zig-zagging in a chaotic pattern. With every jump, he funneled more Qi into his legs, increasing his momentum until he was nothing more than a streak of dark fur. With one final, explosive spring, Gary launched himself, crashing directly into Jack’s massive frame. Jack’s reflexes were peerless. He caught Gary’s incoming fists, and the two Alphas locked hands in a brutal test of strength. The sheer momentum of Gary’s pounce pushed Jack back, his heels carving deep furrows into the cavern floor until he finally ground to a halt. They stood chest-to-chest, two apex predators growling into each other’s faces, their hot breath mingling in the cold air. “ARGHH!” Gary screamed, putting every ounce of his soul into the push. This version of Jack didn’t have his famous beast gear or his signature weapons, but in many ways, that made him even more terrifying. The werewolves of this era were a different breed because they understood Qi. Their attacks weren’t just sharp; they were infused with internal energy that bypassed external durability to shred organs and shatter bone from the inside out. Gary realized he was facing his most dangerous opponent to date. As he poured more Qi into his fists, trying to find an opening to break Jack’s guard, he felt a surge of gratitude for the training he had endured. He was thankful for every powerful foe he had consumed to reach this level of strength, but he was still underestimating the man in front of him. Lupus lived in a relatively safe era, training for a threat that might never come, but wishing to break free from the Vampires. Gary had fought his way to the top using a system. But Jack? Jack lived in the most brutal age in history. He had survived a lifetime of combat against unimaginable horrors. And there was one fact that set Jack apart from every other werewolf to ever live: When it came to the sheer volume of Qi, Jack was an absolute, bottomless monster. “ARGHH!” Jack let out a guttural roar. His fur began to vibrate violently, creating a localized tunnel of wind around them. A tidal wave of Qi erupted from Jack’s body, a physical pressure so heavy it felt like the gravity in the room had tripled. The sheer weight of Jack’s aura pressed down on Gary’s shoulders, forcing him down onto one knee as the stone cracked beneath him. “You... you think you’re the only one with tricks?” Gary spat through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing with a desperate, dark light. “I’ll show you the life I’ve lived to get here too!” [Shadow Ash Lycan form has been activated] **** **** 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.