Chapter 1643: A New Issue Bluebird and the others watched the person, if they could still be called that, continue to run. The creature’s limbs flailed as it sprinted mindlessly across the open space of the village. But after only a dozen steps, its pace began to weaken. The shriveled skin on its arms tightened, clinging unnaturally close to its bones. A moment later, its legs buckled, and the body collapsed into the dirt with a dull thud. It didn’t move again. “Was... was that a humanoid beast?” Rike asked hesitantly, still gripping his sword hilt tightly. “That can’t be,” the other knight replied, leaning forward slightly but keeping a cautious distance. “Humanoid beasts are far stronger than that. Look at the clothes, it’s torn, but still proper villager attire. I think that was one of the townsfolk.” “One of the villagers? Then... were they the ones who wiped out the rest? This entire place is completely deserted.” While the two knights exchanged theories, Bluebird stood silent. His eyes slowly closed, his breathing deep and controlled. He focused his Qi, letting it stretch outward like invisible threads through the village, brushing against every structure, every shadow, every flicker of movement. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞 He didn’t possess the supernatural hearing of Jack’s Werewolf form, but through Qi he could get close, amplifying every subtle sound. “I hear more,” Bluebird finally said. “Not just in this tent, there are people in nearly every house in this village.” Rike’s face brightened with sudden hope. “Are they hiding? If they were scared of that creature we just saw, they might just be waiting for help. We should let them know it’s safe, ” “No!” Bluebird barked. But the knight had already swept the tent flap aside. In an instant, multiple figures lunged toward the opening. Bluebird reacted faster than any of the snarling shapes. He grabbed the back of Rike’s collar and yanked him backward just as a twisted hand swiped across the air where Rike’s face had been. The other knight stumbled backward as Bluebird leapt in front of them, sword drawn. But nothing emerged. The creatures remained inside, growling, hissing, clawing just short of the sunlight that illuminated the ground outside the tent. Bluebird exhaled slowly. “Did you forget all your training?” Rike’s face flushed red with embarrassment. “We just fought a creature that sprinted out of this exact tent. If anything else hiding inside was capable of leaving, it would have attacked or already be dead from the sun. The fact that they stopped themselves means the ones inside are the same as the one outside.” Rike lowered his head. “My apologies. I was... careless.” “You were overconfident,” Bluebird corrected with a calmer tone. “Confidence is fine. Carelessness is not.” The other knight raised a hand. “Sir... they couldn’t leave because they burned, right? When the first one ran out, its skin boiled. These... creatures, whatever they are, they can’t step into sunlight. So everyone’s hiding inside because the daylight hurts them.” “Exactly,” Bluebird replied. “If the villagers are all in this condition, then something dangerous is happening here. And it may be similar to the Shadow Plague all over again.” That name sent chills down both knights’ spines. “Let’s move to another building,” Bluebird continued. “We need a clearer look without walking into a horde. That cabin, there are fewer movements inside.” The three of them approached a wooden cabin near the edge of the village. The door hung crooked, as if clawed or smashed from within. Bluebird pushed it open, leading the way with quiet steps. As soon as they entered, SNAP! HISS! GRAAAH! Three figures launched themselves in frenzied motions. The creatures moved on all fours, fingers curled like claws, eyes wide and unfocused with hunger. The knights reacted with trained precision. Rike ducked, narrowly avoiding a swipe. He brought his elbow up, striking the creature’s jaw before pushing it back with a kick. The other knight twisted his body, blocking an incoming bite with the hilt of his sword before delivering a hard kick to the creature’s midsection. “These guys are strong!” the knight shouted. “I can’t tell if they’re using Qi or just raw instinct!” Bluebird deflected another strike with his blade, sending the creature stumbling back into the shadows. He didn’t counterattack with lethal force, he needed information, not corpses. “Outside! Move!” Bluebird ordered. The three retreated in unison, slipping through the door and jumping back several meters. As soon as their bodies touched sunlight, the creatures froze inside the cabin, snarling but unwilling, or unable, to pursue. Rike wiped sweat from his brow. “So they really can’t leave. Everyone in this village really has turned into... whatever that is.” “What happened here... how did it start?” Bluebird murmured, scanning the quiet houses of the deserted village. “These people are strong, far stronger than regular villagers. But strong enough to kill a Knight Captain?” The thought made all of them stiffen. “If the villagers were already like this when the Captain arrived,” Bluebird continued, “he might have been overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Or... maybe he wasn’t prepared. Maybe he didn’t realize what they were until they were already on him.” “Or maybe...” Rike whispered, “...maybe he turned into one of them too.” That was the possibility none of them wanted to say aloud. If a knight of Captain rank had turned, what would he look like now? How strong would such a creature be? What would it be capable of? A silence settled over the three, heavy and grim. “There are two options,” Bluebird said calmly, bringing structure back to their spiraling thoughts. “Either the person responsible for this was incredibly powerful, powerful enough to infect or defeat a Knight Captain... or the Captain was taken by surprise before he understood the threat.” He sheathed his sword partially, letting it rest. “What we do know,” he continued, “is that we must act before nightfall.” Rike stiffened. “Because when the sun goes down...” “Whatever is restraining them now won’t restrain them then,” Bluebird finished. “These creatures are confined only by sunlight. When darkness comes, a hundred of them will be able to move freely.” The other knight swallowed hard. “Rike... how many villagers live here again?” Rike glanced at his notes, though he already knew the answer. “Roughly a hundred. Maybe a few more.” Bluebird exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing as he surveyed the empty village. “One hundred infected villagers,” he repeated. “Nightfall approaching. A missing Knight Captain. And a beast or source capable of turning an entire settlement into this.” **** ***** 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.