Chapter 1383: Without Kai

When the morning sun rose over Ruin, it marked the beginning of a new day—and brought with it the silent countdown to the full moon.

There were only two full days left.

In the past, full moon nights had been filled with fear, anxiety, and a need for restraint. Now, that same fear returned—but for entirely different reasons. The stakes were higher. The threats more unpredictable. And everyone could feel the shift in the air.

Following the large-scale event from the day before, Gary had called for a gathering. He stood in the large dining and living area of the manor—a space that had slowly become the heart of their operations. Most were already there, as they usually were for breakfast. It was the perfect moment to speak. To give clarity before speculation and whispers could take root.

Everyone was present, seated at the long dining table, sprawled across couches and benches, or leaning quietly against the walls. The murmur of conversation quickly faded as Gary stood up. He didn’t need to say a word. The solemn look in his eyes did all the speaking for him.

Silence fell.

“I want to talk about Kai and Marie,” Gary began.

Heads lifted. Eyes sharpened.

“A lot of you have probably noticed by now… but the two of them aren’t here. They’ve left the manor.”

There were quiet gasps—soft, restrained.

“But,” Gary continued, “I want you to understand—this isn’t a betrayal. They didn’t walk away from the Howlers. In fact, everything they’re doing now is for the Howlers. For us. Their goal is the same as ours: to keep Slough safe… to protect the future we’re trying to build.”

He looked around the room, eyes landing on every person one by one.

“I want all of us to remember why Kai called us here in the first place. This manor—this space—was his idea. He saw ahead when the rest of us didn’t. He created something that allowed us to grow together, to become stronger, and to prepare for moments like this. Let’s not waste what he built.”

Gary paused, letting his words sink in.

The truth was, Kai had always seen something in Gary—believed in him as a leader. But Gary felt the same. He never would have thought to create a place like this himself. Kai had seen the cracks forming long before anyone else and laid the groundwork to protect them.

Now, with Kai and Marie gone, the responsibility to think ahead—to lead—had shifted.

Still, no one questioned Gary when he finished speaking. There were no follow-up doubts or protests. Everyone simply nodded in understanding and silently promised themselves they’d work harder.

The atmosphere in the manor changed.

There was a new sense of focus. A quiet urgency. Training resumed quickly, and this time it was fiercer, more intense than ever before.

Having seen what had happened to Apollo and Ice—two of their strongest—it left no illusions about the threat they were facing. If they could be hurt, then no one was safe. But it also gave the group clarity. They now had a clearer image of their opponent—and what it would take to win.

Apollo and Ice themselves had changed. Their partnership had grown beyond just fighting side by side. They were experimenting—testing combinations of their powers, weaving them together in tandem.

Two of the most powerful Altered were learning how to truly fight as one.

That thought alone was terrifying—and inspiring.

The energy spread like wildfire. Everyone began pushing themselves harder. And that included Gary.

Gary continued his Qi training, honing the control and flow of energy throughout his body, all while practicing with the war hammer. He moved through exercises with ruthless intent, channeling everything he had.

At one point, he was sparring with Kanu.

A clawed strike came from above, fast and brutal—but Gary reacted in a flash. The war hammer appeared in his hands, summoned into existence just in time to block the attack. The shaft of the weapon absorbed the force with a crackling boom.

Then Gary moved.

With explosive strength, he launched himself forward using only his legs. His body slammed into Kanu like a freight train, sending the older fighter sliding backward across the ground.

‘That was strong… and he didn’t even transform his legs?’ Kanu thought, wide-eyed.

Before he could recover, Gary was on him again.

This time, the war hammer was no longer in Gary’s hands—but was suddenly swinging toward Kanu from the side, as if summoned mid-motion. Gary held it high, the weapon trembling with energy as it halted mere inches from Kanu’s face.

A heavy pulse of raw Qi flowed from the hammer. Kanu felt it hit him like a gust of wind—powerful, concentrated. His body shivered at the thought of what would’ve happened if the blow had landed.

“Whoa!” Innu called out from the sidelines. “Gary! Did you even realize what you just did?”

Gary blinked.

“You used Qi in your legs too—without transforming. You can totally fight like this now, even with the hammer. You’re combining both!”

Gary’s heart was racing—but not from exhaustion. There was something different today. Ever since Kai left, something inside him had clicked. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been trying before, but now… he felt it.

The energy moved through him effortlessly, not just to his arms or fists, but through his legs, his core—his entire body.

“I can use it now,” Gary said, half to himself. “In my legs. My arms. With this weapon… I can fight without transforming.”

“Not just fight,” Kanu corrected, still staring at the hammer’s edge. “I reckon you could beat most Altered without transforming at all. Even on the night of the full moon… whatever you’re worried about, I think you’ll be ready.”

Gary nodded slowly. He wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.

Now that he could wield his Qi more freely, there were two more steps ahead of him.

First, he had to master the abilities of the weapon itself—not just swing it, but use it, activate its hidden powers. Second… he had to combine everything. His Qi, his Werewolf form, and the war hammer.

Only then would he be truly ready.

He turned toward the darkened hallway, eyes narrowed with purpose.

“Unzoku,” he whispered, “after the night of the full moon… whether the vampires are a problem, whether Lupus interferes or not… you’ve become my target.”

He clenched his fists.

“You came after my family. And I’ll do whatever it takes… to take you down.”

As the day came to a close, darkness fell once more.

[24 hours until the day the moon is at its strongest.]

****

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