Chapter 1716: Back Home Although they were leaving that world and everything associated with it, Gary, Kai, and Lupus knew their journey was far from over. As Jack sent them off, a new sense of clarity settled over the group. They knew they still had a mountain of work to do back in their own reality, but their main priority had shifted. After witnessing the true history of the werewolves, they knew they could no longer afford to fight against each other. The petty squabbles between packs had to end. Their true mission was now to eliminate Unzoku once and for all. He was the root of the rot, the one who had spent lifetimes trying to build a bridge of hatred between their kinds. He was the one who had forcibly turned Kai into an Alpha and the one who had manipulated Lupus’s hand against his own will. Unzoku was the biggest threat the Howlers and the werewolf race currently faced, and Gary wasn’t about to let the wisdom of the past go to waste. As Jack began to disappear right in front of him, a sudden thought struck Gary. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖 “Wait!” Gary shouted, reaching out toward the fading ghost. “The weapons! All of the items and the legendary armor you guys forged... where is it? You hid it somewhere for future generations to find, right? We’re going to need that strength.” Jack’s fading image offered a small, knowing smile. “After the devastation and the attack on those from the Red Wing Kingdom, we no longer felt like we could live among the general public. We chose to move away to find peace. We forged our own hidden area and built our own castle on a jagged cliffside. We built restaurants and facilities for our own kind so we wouldn’t affect the lives of the humans around us. Everything we made... everything we were... should be there.” Lupus immediately knew what Jack was referring to. He imagined the land Jack described was the very same Ruin City that Lupus’s pack had occupied in their time. However, a grim reality set in. While they did have some ancient items, the hoard was incomplete. Many had been lost to time, and others had only been obtained through the shady dealings of the Black Guild. “Things must have happened after you were gone, Jack,” Lupus answered sadly. “There is next to nothing left there anymore. The city is a ruin, and the treasures are gone.” Jack’s body continued to fade into the grey mist, and it looked like he would vanish completely at any second. “I wouldn’t worry about that,” Jack’s voice echoed, sounding more distant now. “Remember what I said. I was able to see everything that you guys went through in that world, and I have to say, Lupus... you might be one of the best forgers I have ever seen. I don’t know if the history was kept accurately, but the Werewolves were once proud forgers. In your time, you should put those skills to use. Find beast crystals that can be used to fuel your craft. If you can’t find the ancient armor, then do what we did, create your own.” Those were the last words spoken by Jack. As the final traces of his body disappeared, a strange, swirling sensation overcame all three of them. It felt as if their very souls were being pulled through a straw. Their vision went pitch black for a long, silent moment, and then, suddenly, the world rushed back in. As their eyes adjusted, they realized their other senses were returning in full force. They could smell the air around them, it was the familiar scent of the city, sharp and metallic, vastly different from the ancient air they had breathed just moments ago. They could feel a light wind brushing against their skin. “We’re at the park,” Kai said, looking around in a daze. “And it’s during the day. We’re back right where we disappeared on the night of the fight.” The three of them were standing in the exact same spots they had occupied when the simulation took them, but it clearly wasn’t the same time. The moon was gone, replaced by the bright, midday sun, and there were people all around them. “I’m so happy... I’m so happy,” Gary said, his voice trembling as tears of joy filled his eyes. While an outsider might have thought Gary was simply relieved to be back in Slough, it was deeper than that. He was happy that Slough still existed at all. Seeing families walking their dogs in the park and children playing with their pets felt like a miracle. The buildings were still standing; they hadn’t been burnt to the ground in some apocalyptic war. During his time away, his head had been filled with endless worries about what he would return to. Seeing it all in one piece brought a massive wave of relief. “Now, I just need to see if all of the Howlers are okay,” Gary stated, his focus returning. “Right, and I guess Lupus will need to see if his pack members are alright as well,” Kai mentioned, glancing at Lupus. “I think you can get an update from our side first, though, since we’re already here.” The group was about to decide where to go first, but there was no need. A few people nearby suddenly began shouting, their voices filled with shock. “They’re here! Report back immediately! They’re back! They really came back!” One of the men who was shouting started rushing over to them. He was wearing a sharp black and gold uniform, the colors of the Howlers. He was a member who had been stationed at the park around the clock, tasked with watching the site where the leaders had vanished just in case they ever returned to that exact location. “Boss! You’re back!” the member cried out, his eyes wide and smiling. “You really just appeared out of thin air, exactly like when you disappeared!” “Ah, it’s good you’re here,” Gary said, regaining his composure. “I guess we should head back to the base. I want to make sure no one has to worry about us anymore and get a full update on how things are on both sides.” Gary paused, a sudden thought occurring to him. “Just wanted to know... how long have we been gone for?” The member looked at them, his expression turning serious. “It’s been about two months, sir.” **** *** 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.