Chapter 1531: Meeting Humans (Part 2) “BEAST!!!” Caram’s roar split the quiet village like a thunderclap. His voice boomed across the dirt streets, carrying a weight of panic that spread instantly among the people. The villagers froze for only a second before chaos erupted. Mothers screamed as they scooped up their children, men shouted warnings as they bolted toward their homes, and the air filled with the sound of pounding feet. Doors slammed, shutters banged closed, and the once peaceful village square dissolved into terror. “A-adventurers!” Caram barked, his deep voice firm even through the fear. “Grab your weapons! To your battle stations!” Three men rushed forward at his command. Their equipment was meager, little more than patchwork scraps of armor clinging to their shoulders and chests. One clutched a spear, another a heavy axe, while the third hurriedly strung a bow. A fourth, slightly older, unsheathed a sword with trembling hands. They looked brave enough, but their gear was flimsy, barely suited for standing against the monster that lurked at the village’s edge. Caram spun toward Gary, Kai, and Lupus, his expression grave. “You three, stay inside one of the homes! Or if it gets too dangerous, throw yourselves into the river. Not everyone here knows how to swim, but perhaps you city folk are different.” With a quick, almost nervous smile, the bearded man tightened his grip on his blade and sprinted forward. His feet pounded against the dirt, his body rushing toward the monstrous shadow now stepping into view. Gary, Kai, and Lupus were left by the well, staring after him. “That’s a real beast, right?” Gary asked, his voice sharp with disbelief. “It’s not an illusion, it’s there, just like in those special AFA lessons. What’s one doing here? Did it break out of a lab?” “No, Gary.” Kai’s tone was tense, his eyes locked on the looming creature. “Something seriously different is going on here. Can’t you tell? The villagers acted like this is normal. The weapons, the way they prepared, it looks like they live with beasts as a fact of life. “With everything around us, I see two possibilities. Either we’re no longer on Earth, we’re on a world like Earth where this is just… reality. Or, we’ve been sent back in time, to an age where beasts still roamed and humanity survived like this.” The beast charged. The ground shook beneath its enormous weight, and its guttural roar tore through the square. Caram dodged to the side at the last possible second, rolling over the dirt as the monster thundered past him. Its massive tusks gouged trenches in the earth. One of the adventurers lunged with his spear, aiming for the soft flesh beneath its neck. The weapon struck true, but instead of piercing, the blade clanged off the beast’s hide like it had struck solid rock. The creature swung its massive head, one jagged tusk slicing through the air with deadly force. Metal shrieked as the tusk sheared straight through a raised sword, and the unfortunate adventurer staggered back, blood spilling from a gash that opened across his chest. Now the beast fixed its sights on Caram. It roared, muscles bunching as it charged again. Its tusks tore the ground, slicing dirt and stone like butter. The sheer sharpness of its monstrous weapons was terrifying. “I have to stop this!” Caram gasped. His grip tightened on his blade as sweat streamed down his forehead. “Otherwise it will slice the villagers apart! I don’t know why a high-tier beast is here, but I have no choice. As leader, I must protect them!” He lifted his sword, bracing for a suicidal strike. But before he could swing, a shadow dropped from the sky. A figure crashed onto the beast’s thick neck, his bright green hair flashing in the sunlight. Gary. He slammed his fist down with all the force his body could muster. The impact rattled the monster, its head veering sharply to the side as its rampage diverted. Caram staggered back, stunned, as the beast barreled past him. Gary didn’t hesitate. He leapt from its neck, twisting in mid-air. With all his momentum, he brought his heel crashing down onto the beast’s face. The ground trembled as the creature’s massive body hit the dirt. Dust and debris burst upward. The villagers gasped, unable to believe what they were seeing. A man, barehanded, unarmored, had just struck down a beast with nothing but raw power. The creature shook its head, dazed, but not finished. It began to push itself back up, muscles rippling beneath its hide. And before it could fully rise, two more figures rushed in. “Oi! You think you get to take all the glory for yourself?” Kai shouted. Lupus snarled, charging alongside him. Both men slammed their fists into the beast’s flanks at the same moment. The impact was thunderous, their combined strength flipping the monster’s massive bulk onto its side. It crashed against the dirt with an earth-shaking thud. Gary blinked, startled, then grinned as he recognized them. “Lupus. Kai.” They had arrived, joining the fight at last. The adventurers who had been backing away stopped in their tracks, mouths hanging open. “Wha, what? They flipped it! With just a punch! Who… who are these people?!” one gasped. Caram’s eyes gleamed with awe, his chest heaving. “They… they’re city folk. From Slough.” The beast let out a guttural growl, rolling onto its legs. Its hide was scratched, but far from broken. It shook itself violently, eyes burning with rage. Their combined strikes had barely slowed it. The three men exchanged looks. “You’ve figured it out, right?” Lupus growled. “With our strength the way it is now, we won’t be able to kill that thing like this.” “Right,” Gary said, his voice low and determined. “I guess we have no choice.” His forearms ignited with flickering fire, his body swelling as muscle surged. Fur began to sprout across his arms, his size growing larger, broader. Beside him, Lupus’s body rippled with transformation, and Kai’s form shifted in tandem. Their human shells gave way, their Werewolf strength beginning to take shape. *** I am at an International Literature Event for the Next Three days. Giving speeches among other things on behalf of Webnovel. (Chapters will be a little all over the place with timings.) **** 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. 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