Chapter 1481: Claws of the Pack Instantly, Gary could feel it. The aura. It pressed against his skin like a heavy blanket, not suffocating but empowering, an overwhelming tide of strength that was not his alone. The essence of his entire pack was flowing into him, their combined energy weaving itself into his own body. Even when he lifted his hand and turned it before his eyes, he could see the faint shimmer of it , a slightly green aura that wrapped around his flesh, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. It felt alive, as though countless voices, countless bonds, were resonating within him, all lending their strength to the Alpha. His body trembled, not from weakness but from sheer potency. It was hard to say if he felt stronger than in his full transformation, but the sensation reminded him of the golden form , that fleeting, devastating power he had once wielded. This was different, though. This was the hammer’s gift. The bond of the pack. I was worried, Gary thought, tightening his grip around the Lycantide Warhammer. I thought this weapon wouldn’t work properly unless I was transformed myself. After all, it’s meant to be used by pack members, by those who embody the bond of the wolf. I thought maybe it wouldn’t accept me unless I was in my wolf form. He flexed his hand around the shaft of the weapon. The aura flared. But it’s working. It’s really working. And yet, a shadow lingered in his chest. I was saving this. Saving it for Lupus. If he came here in his true Alpha form, if we had no other choice... I wanted to use this against him. This power is once per day. One chance. That’s why I didn’t use it against Ylva, even against her overwhelming Luna form. But now, Gary exhaled sharply. No more hesitation. He had no choice. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚 The power was his, and the hammer no longer felt like a weapon at all. It felt weightless, seamless , as though it were an extension of his very soul. “I’m sorry, Kai,” Gary whispered, though his words carried with them a heavy resolve. He clenched his jaw, raised the warhammer, and started forward. His feet pounded against the broken ground as he ran. He leapt with explosive force, both legs propelling him high into the air, the warhammer lifted above his head, aura crackling around it like a storm. “I need to do this. For your sake as well!” The green aura swelled, condensing, reshaping. As the hammer reached the peak of its arc, the energy transformed , becoming a claw, massive and spectral, glowing bright green as though a phantom wolf towered above him. Kai, even in his wolf form, tried to dodge. His instincts screamed danger, and his body moved in a blur. But it wasn’t enough. The hammer , no, the claw , came down too fast, its range far too wide. The strike landed. The ground split open beneath the impact. The shock of the blow cracked stone and earth alike, fissures spiderwebbing outward as chunks of debris lifted into the air. A thunderous crack tore through the battlefield, the sound so violent it shook the walls of the restaurant nearby. Inside, those still recovering heard appliances rattle and crash to the floor. It was as though an earthquake had struck, rolling through the building and shaking its very foundation. Gary landed hard, the ground crunching under his feet. He exhaled through gritted teeth as the energy retracted, flowing back into him, the hammer pulsing in his hands. “Damn it,” Gary muttered, his eyes darting toward where the attack had landed. “Don... did I hit him too?” A strained groan answered him. Don emerged from the rubble, his body glistening, his scales shimmering faintly though cracked in several places. Blood streaked from his lips, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. “You did,” Don admitted, voice rough. He spat more blood into the dirt, but his eyes gleamed with fire. “And it hurt like hell. Out of everything I’ve taken so far, that one... that one almost killed me.” Gary’s stomach tightened in guilt, but Don only smirked, straightening his back despite the blood dripping from his mouth. “But I’m still alive. Still standing. Still ready to fight.” The growl returned , low, primal, and furious. Kai. The massive wolf’s form tore across the battlefield, charging Gary like a beast possessed. His glowing eyes burned red, his mouth parted to reveal sharp fangs dripping with blood. He was hurt , blood still dripped from his maw, staining the fur around his jaws , but it only seemed to fuel his fury. Midway through his leap, Kai shifted. His body twisted, bones snapping, muscles reshaping until he stood tall on two legs, his claws gleaming with frost. Ice formed instantly in his hands. Jagged spears of frozen death shot forward, hurtling toward Gary’s feet. But Gary was ready. His grip tightened on the warhammer, and he swung. The weapon came down with devastating precision, smashing the shards apart. They shattered into a storm of icy fragments that scattered harmlessly across the ground. There was no time to breathe. Kai lunged again, his claw slashing down, but Gary lifted the hammer in time. The two blows collided with a crash that sent a shockwave rippling outward, a burst of raw energy that cracked the ground beneath their feet. Gary grunted, straining against the force. He realized with a sharp clarity: Before this, I couldn’t have done it. If it were just me... I wouldn’t have had the speed to block, the strength to stand against him. I would’ve been knocked back instantly. But now , now he stood his ground. The aura of the pack surged through him, steadying him, pushing him further. He pushed back. Hard. Kai stumbled a step as Gary forced his claws away. The warhammer whirled, swinging back toward Kai’s chest, but the wolf twisted at the last second, the weapon missing by inches. Kai snarled, his body blurring forward again. Gary’s instincts screamed, and he raised his arm, swinging on reflex. And then something extraordinary happened. The green aura that wrapped around him seemed to peel away from his body. It moved on its own, surging forward. For an instant it shaped itself , claws, massive and spectral, mirroring the strike he had made with the hammer. The claw struck Kai, slamming into his chest and sending him crashing back through the ground. Dirt and stone erupted as his body skidded across the earth. Gary froze, his eyes wide. He hadn’t expected it. He hadn’t even known it was possible. He looked down at his hand, then back at the hammer, his heart pounding. That... that wasn’t just me. The hammer’s power. The pack’s aura. Combined with my own... Just how powerful is this? For a moment, silence fell. Then Don’s laugh rang out through the rain-soaked air. “This is good!” Don bellowed, blood still staining his teeth as he grinned. “I knew there was something special about you, Gary. With that hammer in your hands, with the pack behind you... and with me fighting by your side, ” His scales shimmered again as he lifted his arms. “, this beast doesn’t stand a chance! Together, this will be easy work!” Gary lifted the hammer again, his aura glowing bright against the storm-dark sky. The rain had stopped. The battlefield lay drenched and broken. Kai, bloodied but unrelenting, rose once more. **** ***** 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.