Chapter 1550: The New Guys Are Monsters The moment Gary heard the word Qi leave Steve’s mouth, his entire body stiffened. He hadn’t expected that. Not here. Qi was something he had only learned about recently, from Innu and Blake, and even then, it was knowledge that almost no one in his current world understood. Yet somehow, this man, standing centuries in the past, had recognized it instantly. Steve hadn’t just mentioned Qi. He’d identified it. He’d known exactly what Gary was using from a single glance. That meant he wasn’t just familiar, he was experienced. “I didn’t know you could tell,” Gary said awkwardly. “I’m sorry... was that against the rules or something?” Kai nearly slapped his forehead. Steve’s reaction had already made it clear that the arm-wrestling match was the last thing on his mind. His focus was entirely on Gary. “Everyone’s body carries Qi,” Steve explained. “But for Werewolves, it’s more common, stronger than you’d think. The problem is, the more Qi you have, the harder it is to control. It was the same for someone I once knew.” He looked thoughtful for a moment, eyes distant, before smiling again. “So it’s not too surprising that you can use it. What is surprising is that an Omega Wolf can. Usually, it takes time to ever refine it properly. With your background, I just didn’t expect it.” He patted Gary’s shoulder, smiling warmly. “I guess you must be a natural.” Gary forced a laugh. “Yeah... a natural.” Inside, though, he winced. Natural? Hardly. It had taken him ages to even grasp the basics, and even now, he barely felt in control of it. But he couldn’t say that now, not when this man clearly respected strength. Still, one thought wouldn’t leave his mind: if Steve understood Qi, what else did this era know that his didn’t? Magic. Artifacts. Qi. The Adventurers using magical tools, none of it made sense. How had all this knowledge been lost in the future? And why? The arm-wrestling matches eventually died down, and the group started returning to camp. The Werewolf who had witnessed Gary’s earlier match followed close behind, still glancing at him like he’d seen a ghost. When they reached the clearing, it became obvious that no one wanted to challenge Lupus anymore. But the moment their leader returned, energy rippled through the crowd again. “Hey, Steve! Come on, show this guy who’s boss!” one shouted. “He’s beaten nearly everyone already!” “Yeah!” another called. “We need our Alpha to knock him down a peg before he gets ideas. You never know what an Omega might try if he thinks he’s the strongest one around.” Steve laughed softly, shaking his head. “Easy, easy. Remember, they’re our guests. Don’t go scaring them off with your jokes before they even reach the camp.” Still, he walked over to the stump where Lupus sat waiting. The two locked eyes, a silent exchange between predators sizing each other up. Then they clasped hands, forearms tense, muscles coiling. Kai leaned toward Gary. “So... who do you think’s going to win?” Gary smirked. “Honestly? I’m rooting for Steve. If he wins, my own loss won’t look that bad. And, well, I guess I’ll have to put my bet on him.” The crowd hushed as the match began. Their arms trembled, perfectly balanced. Neither side moved an inch. Lupus’s face was stone, focused and unyielding. Steve, meanwhile, smiled faintly, his expression calm, too calm. Some of the onlookers murmured. “Are they even trying?” Then Steve spoke, voice low but confident. “It’s no wonder you beat the others. You’ve got strength, and spirit. But I’ve had to claw my way through too much to get where I am. Let me show you what that looks like.” He pushed harder. Slowly, Lupus’s hand began to tilt, inch by inch, toward the stump. The ground seemed to tense with every shift of their muscles. Gasps rippled through the crowd as Steve continued pressing forward. Lupus’s knuckles hovered just above the wood, but then, incredibly, he stopped them. His arm shook violently, veins bulging, his jaw clenched tight. “You’ve got tenacity,” Steve said, a flicker of admiration in his tone. “Even when you know it’s over, you still won’t give up.” With a final surge, he slammed Lupus’s hand against the stump. The crack of impact echoed across the clearing. For a second, no one spoke. Then the Werewolves erupted, howling and cheering. They had never seen Lupus lose before. To them, it wasn’t just a match, it was reassurance. Their Alpha had proven once again why he stood at the top. In the middle of the noise, one Werewolf nudged Gary’s shoulder. “Hey, want to give it a try? Just for fun?” Before Gary could answer, another voice cut in. It was the same one who had watched his earlier match. “Are you insane?” he hissed. “Did you see what he did before? Forget it. You’ll only embarrass us all. Those three aren’t normal, they’d wipe the floor with you.” Gary just smiled faintly, saying nothing. The excitement eventually died down. The campfire crackled to life, orange flames dancing in the cool night air. Broken tree stumps became seats, the smell of charred wood mixing with the faint musk of fur and earth. Steve sat on one of the larger logs near the center, right beside Gary, Kai, and Lupus. The firelight flickered across his face, casting long shadows beneath his eyes. He glanced around at his people, some laughing, some quietly sharpening weapons, and then back at the three travelers. “I was going to save this story for when we reached camp,” he said, smiling faintly. “But since no one seems ready to sleep just yet... why don’t I tell you now?” He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, gaze distant as if looking back through time. “I’ll tell you how I became an Alpha Werewolf, and how I built my own pack.” The chatter died instantly. The crackling fire was the only sound that remained. Gary, Kai, and Lupus exchanged glances. They knew that tone, one that carried pain, pride, and memory all at once. And as Steve began to speak, the forest itself seemed to quiet, as though even the night was listening. *** 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.