Jayden crouched low, knees bent like a prowling wolf, eyes locked on the thick branch high above. Then...
whoosh...
He launched upward with a crisp, controlled leap, catching the branch like it was second nature. He didn't even flinch as the wood groaned beneath his weight.
Another leap. Then another.
And another.
He was practically gliding now, feet bouncing off bark and mossy knuckles of wood like a dancer of the canopy, until he reached the height of fifty meters.. a whopping 164 feet above ground.
A soft ding chimed in his head.
[Climb to a height of 20m] (Complete)
Jayden perched on the thick branch, peering through the leaves at the golden horizon. The sun was dipping low, bleeding orange into the sky. And he knew instinctively, in the marrow of his bones... that the moon was close.
Too close.
"Time's ticking..." he muttered, before springing down from the tree.
He landed with a controlled thud, knees bent, arms spread, like a beast greeting the earth.
Now for the final task.
Jayden glanced around until something massive caught his eye.. a felled tree, thick and heavy like it had once belonged to a prehistoric forest god. The thing must've weighed at least 800 kilograms. Bark cracked and roots jutted like black veins from the soil.
He walked up to it, knelt, and dug his fingers into the rough bark.
"C'mon," he muttered, gritting his teeth.
With a growl and a surge of power, he lifted the whole damn thing... arms trembling slightly, muscles flexed, sweat beading on his brow. He held it above his head like a primal titan, then dropped it back down with a satisfying thud.
*Daily Quest (3/3):
[Lift a total of 200kg] (Complete)
[+10 stat points received]
[+10 Exp received]
Jayden exhaled in relief. That was done. Now it was time to head home, grab some gear, maybe leave a convincing lie behind for the family. But just as he stepped out of the tree line... A wave hit him.
Like a storm of senses slamming into his skull.
His ears rang. His nose twitched violently. His eyes blurred from the flood of details he could suddenly see... the number of flies on a fruit stand across the street, the exact scent of the vendor's sweat.
"Shit," he growled, clutching his temple. "They're back…"
His heightened senses had returned with a vengeance.
And fast.
He staggered forward, trying to hail a cab... but none was in sight. His patience was already threadbare. His emotions started to spike again... rage building like magma in his chest.
So he did the only thing he could.
He ran.
He jogged through the bustling city, weaving between pedestrians, breath ragged, eyes glowing faintly beneath the fading sunlight. Eventually, the sprint gave way to a walk, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his rage gnawing at his insides.
As Jayden walked through the city streets, he felt it. His senses were sharper than ever—he could hear the buzz of neon signs, the murmurs of distant conversations, and even the faint scuttling of a rat in an alleyway across the road.
His breath quickened, the world around him sharpening to an unnatural degree. Every scent in the air became crystal clear, every sound magnified. A stray cat scurried across the street, and Jayden felt it, smelled the fear rolling off it like a physical force.
"Shit," he muttered. His breath hitched as his fingers twitched. For the first time, he could feel it. The thing inside him, stirring, stretching.
"No. Not here. Not yet,"
Jayden clenched his fists and thought of the ways he could control himself. But at the moment, besides pain. There was only one
"Tenebris Luna… Tenebris Luna…" he muttered softly
A cold shiver ran through his spine, and suddenly, his heartbeat steadied. And for the first time since the day began, the mantra worked.
The anger, the hunger, the feral instincts.. suppressed. He took another deep breath, forcing himself to keep walking.
As Jayden turned the corner, the stench of smoke, cheap cologne, and stale beer wafted through the air, signaling the presence of trouble. A group of thugs lounged in the narrow alleyway, their raucous laughter echoing off the walls as they passed bottles and swapped stories. Jayden attempted to walk past them, his stride uninterrupted, but the leader, a burly man with a buzzcut and an oversized smirk, caught sight of him.
"Yo, red tracksuit!" the thug bellowed, his voice dripping with malice. "You deaf or something?"
Jayden didn't flinch. He didn't even break stride. But the thug's ego wouldn't allow him to let Jayden walk away.
"I'm talking to you, boy," the thug sneered, stepping into Jayden's path. "You think you can ignore me?"
Jayden's jaw clenched, his voice low and even. "Get out of my way."
The thug's smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. Snapping his fingers, he summoned his crew, and they formed a loose circle around Jayden. The glint of knives and the snick of blades opening sent a chill down Jayden's spine, but he didn't back down.
"Think you're tough, huh?" the thug taunted. "Maybe we'll sell you to the Cartel. You've got a sturdy body; you'd make a fine slave."
Jayden said nothing.
His hands stayed in his pockets. He remained calm.
The leader was furious with Jayden's calm aura. "You think you can act cool, huh? I'll show you who's boss around here," He sneered and shoved Jayden.
Jayden stumbled back, his eyes flashing with discomfort. The leader seized the opportunity, landing a brutal punch that sent Jayden's head snapping sideways.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, a low, menacing growl rumbled from Jayden's throat. His eyes blazed molten gold, and his fangs slid from his gums like razor-sharp knives. Claws burst from his fingertips, gleaming in the dim light.
Everyone froze.
"What the...?" one of them gasped.
Jayden's voice was deep. Cold. "Get out of my way."
Then...
SLAP!
Jayden's clawed hand struck the leader across the face like a meteor.
CRASH!
The man flew sideways, slamming into a brick wall. He crumpled instantly, unconscious.
The rest of the gang charged in fury, but Jayden was already moving.
WHAM!
He delivered a devastating elbow to one thug's ribs, causing him to pass out on the spot
BAM!
A palm strike to another's chin, sending him flying into the wall.
CRACK!
A punch to the jaw, leaving the thug screaming in agony.
One by one, they dropped.
And then he stood over the fourth man, who trembled and held out a knife. He lunged.. but Jayden caught him by the throat, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing.
But suddenly...
STAB!
A sharp prick in his side.
Jayden's breath caught.
He turned.
The fifth thug was standing there, holding a syringe... empty now. Liquid residue still inside it... a sickly green substrate.
Jayden tried to react, but his vision blurred. His bones ached, and he grew tired instantly.
[Alert: High-level sedative detected in bloodstream]
[Defensive stats too low to neutralize effect]
The man he'd been holding was thrown like a doll, smashing into a lamppost and going limp.
The fifth man was already running. But Jayden, with the last burst of his fading strength, blurred and appeared right in front of him.
Jayden growled, fangs dripping. "You're not getting away." he muttered and raised his claws. His rage had taken over, he wasn't thinking straight anymore... he wasn't thinking at all.
The thug's eyes widened.
"No! Wait... "
SCHLICK!
Jayden's claws buried deep in his throat.
Blood sprayed like ink across the alley.
Jayden yanked his claws free.
The man collapsed, gasping, choking… then still.
[You have killed a Level 22 human]
[100 Exp received]
*Hidden Quest Complete
[Kill your fi...]
But Jayden couldn't see the rest. His vision flickered. His knees buckled.
And as the darkness wrapped around him, he managed to see one more rush urgent notifications
[Unauthorised modification detected]
[Forced transformation (Unknown) incoming]
[Warning: One hour to full moon]
Then he hit the pavement, falling unconscious.
********
"Mum, are we going hunting today?" eight-year-old Jayden asked, his small hands reaching out to pluck berries from a bush as he stood beside his mother in the forest.
Cyllene chuckled softly. "No, Jayden. Today's for spending time with both you and Jasmine. And you know she doesn't like hunting."
Jayden pouted. "It's not my fault she can't stand the sight of blood. If you keep letting her be like that, she'll become weak."
Cyllene smiled and reached over to ruffle his dark hair. "Your sister isn't weak, Jayden. Don't say that. Yes, she can't bear to see blood or watch others in pain. She won't even hurt a fly. But that's what makes her strong—her compassion. Don't try to change that, okay?"
Jayden nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Okay, Mummy... but I still wanna hunt."
Cyllene let out a light laugh. "Fufu... I like your spirit. But did you know we are nature's greatest hunters?"
Jayden's eyes widened. "We are?"
She nodded. "Yes. Our family possesses special hunting instincts... gifts that allow us to track and take down prey like apex predators."
Jayden's face lit up, his eyes sparkling with wonder. "Wow, that's so cool! So that means I'm gonna be one of the best hunters in the world... like you!"
Cyllene laughed and pulled him in for a snuggle. "Yes, like me. But do you know who else was a great hunter?"
Jayden shook his head eagerly.
"Orion," she said with a fond smile.
"Orion?" he echoed, tilting his head.
Cyllene nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. He was said to be the greatest hunter to ever live... even greater than me. And now, he lives amongst the stars as a constellation."
Jayden's jaw dropped in awe. "Whoa... I wanna be a star someday."
Cyllene laughed at her son's innocent dream. "I'm sure you will, darling. You'll grow up to be a great hunter... just like Orion. And yes, you'll shine bright like a star."
Jayden looked down at his small fists and clenched them in quiet determination. He was going to become a star. No matter what.
"Now come on," Cyllene said, rising to her feet and picking up her basket full of blueberries. "Let's head back home before Jasmine starts to panic."
Jayden nodded and lifted his own tiny basket, waddling beside her as they walked toward the edge of the woods.
The end... Or not.
Just as they were about to leave the forest...
A low growl rolled across the trees like thunder.
Jayden froze, his small hands tightening around the basket. Cyllene's eyes flicked to the left. Her expression shifted in an instant.
From the shadows, a beast emerged.
A massive grey wolf stepped into view, its glowing eyes narrowed and fixed on them. Muscles rippled beneath its thick fur. It was tall... about eight feet... with long, powerful legs and jagged claws. Drool dripped from its fangs as it bared them with malicious intent. A heavy aura spilled from its presence, dark and oppressive.
Jayden didn't need anyone to tell him what it was. His instincts screamed it.
It was a C-Rank Howler. A beast of incredible strength, one who's aura spread across the area like a thick, choking fog.
His knees buckled. His breath hitched. Fear swallowed him whole.
The basket fell from his hands, the blueberries scattering like little purple marbles. His fingers trembled. His jaw quivered. He couldn't even find his voice—couldn't call for help, couldn't scream, couldn't move.
But then… he looked at his mother.
She wasn't scared. Not even a little.
Cyllene stared at the wolf, eyes sharp, focused, almost… offended. She stepped forward, slow and deliberate, placing herself between her son and the predator.
"M-Mum…" Jayden mouthed, but nothing came out. He wanted to pull her back, to tell her to stop. But his body was frozen, locked in place by fear. So all he could do was hope... hope that his mother, the strongest person he knew, would be okay.
The wolf growled louder, lowering into a stalking crouch.
And then.. Cyllene's eyes began to glow.
Amber light bled from her irises like rising embers.
Her cheekbones sharpened. Brown fur traced down the sides of her face. Her canines lengthened into elegant fangs. She didn't roar. She didn't snarl. She didn't flinch.
She growled.
A low, guttural, spine-crawling growl that rumbled through the air like a freight train made of thunder and command.
The Howler flinched.
Its eyes widened. The pressure in the air changed instantly. It had felt strong, confident just moments ago. But now… now it felt something it hadn't expected.
Fear.
Cyllene's aura surged like a tidal wave. Her golden eyes locked onto the wolf's. And the Howler… whimpered.
Its ears flattened. Its tail dropped between its legs. It lowered itself completely to the ground and let out a soft, submissive whine.
It understood. She wasn't a random prey.
She was Alpha.
Without a second thought, the Howler spun around and bolted back into the forest, disappearing into the trees like it had never been there at all.
And just like that, it was over.
Cyllene exhaled softly, and as she turned to face Jayden, all traces of the beast vanished. Her eyes returned to their usual warmth. Her features softened. She looked like a mother again—no claws, no fangs. Just a woman with a gentle smile.
Jayden stood there, jaw hanging.
He blinked once.
Twice.
His eyes darted to the path where the wolf had run… then back to his mother.
"You… you didn't even touch it," he whispered in awe. "You just… looked at it, and it ran."
Cyllene chuckled and walked over to him, kneeling down and brushing the dirt and leaves from his clothes. "Sometimes, Jayden… you don't need to fight to win," she said with a wink.
"And besides, what did i tell you earlier?"
Jayden blinked. "That... we are nature's greatest hunters?"
Cyllene nodded. "Indeed, we are. And that means every beast... including predators, must submit in our presence. We do not submit to them, understood?"
Jayden nodded with a sad face, he was disappointed in himself for being so afraid of the Howler.
Cyllene saw his expression and smiled. "Aww, don't beat yourself up. It's okay to be scared... Even i get scared sometimes,"
Jayden's blinked up. "You do?" he asked in disbelief
Cyllene nodded. "Yes, Jayden. Every hunter feels fear. But you just have to be brave enough to face those fears... that's what matters. And that's what makes a great hunter,"
Jayden nodded with a brightened face. "Then I want to brave like mummy," he muttered with a smile
"Fufu... You surely will," Cyllene chuckled. "But for now, mummy will protect you,"
She lifted him easily into her arms. "Come on, my little hunter. Let's get these blueberries home before your sister starts to get worried."
Jayden stared over her shoulder, still shocked. The image of the Howler submitting, the way it ran, the power in his mother's presence... it would stay with him forever.
He didn't know what exactly happened. But one thing was clear. His mother… was more than just strong.
She was something else entirely.
Something terrifyingly powerful.
And deep down, a question began to grow inside of him.
Who exactly is mother?
*******
Jayden's eyes snapped open, his breath ragged like as if he'd just run for miles through a storm. His heart pounded in his ears as his gaze darted upward to the ceiling.
His eyes widened. The ceiling was rather familiar. It was he's.
He blinked, chest rising and falling fast, his hands gripping the sheets beneath him. Confusion slammed into him like a freight train.
"W-What the… how?" Jayden muttered, eyes scanning his familiar surroundings.
He was home. In his room. In his bed.
But… how?!
The last thing he remembered was passing out in that alley after being injected with a strange syring.
His thoughts were spinning when...
Click—
the door swung open.
"Thank goodness, you're awake," Harleen's voice floated in, tinged with pure relief.
Jayden's head snapped toward her. "H–Harleen?"
She smiled weakly and moved to sit beside him, brushing his messy hair back, her hand warm against his clammy forehead.
"Oh good," she breathed out, visibly relaxing. "Your temperature's down. You were burning up like crazy a few minutes ago."
Jayden's brow creased. "I… I was? Wait—what happened? How did I get here?"
Harleen exhaled, smoothing his hair again like she used to when he was little. "You weren't home, and we got worried. So Jacob and the girls went out to look for you. They eventually found you passed out in an alley and brought you back."
Jayden's shoulders sank with a mix of relief and dread. But then—
His mind snapped back.
The fight. The thugs.
His eyes shot wide open. "Wait… did you see anyone else...? People near me?"
Harleen shook her head slowly. "No… you were alone. Just you."
Jayden frowned. His gut twisted. Alone? But he'd… there had been... those thugs. That guy he clawed.
"What the hell happened to them?" he thought, just before a notification resurfaced.
Harleen's voice cut through his spiral. "But… there was blood on your hands, Jayden." Her eyes searched his face. "Were you hunting again?"
Jayden barely heard her. His eyes were glued to the system screen floating in front of him.
*Hidden Quest Complete.
[Kill your first human]
*Reward: One giftbox.
[One giftbox has been added to inventory]
Jayden's breath hitched hard. The words blurred for a second, his heart jackhammering.
"I… killed… someone?" he muttered to himself
Then, the memory flashed back like lightning—the claws sinking into the thug's throat, the spray of blood, the lifeless collapse.
"Oh... Fuck! I really killed him…"
"Jayden!" Harleen's sharp voice jolted him back to the room. "What's wrong?!"
He blinked at her, forcing himself to breathe, to pretend. "N-No, it's nothing," he lied weakly. "I'm just… tired."
Harleen watched him, concern still knitted into her brow, but after a beat she sighed. "Okay. Get some rest then, yeah? I'll see you tomorrow?"
Jayden nodded absentmindedly, his brain still spinning out of control. That nagging feeling of guilt was there, but it was buried under something worse. Something bigger.
Panic.
Harleen stood up, smoothing her dress. "Jacob and I are heading to a party. It started at six-thirty, but i insisted on waiting till you woke up,"
Jayden managed a smile. He was grateful. But there was something that bothered him more, something even worse than the fact that he killed someone.
"Six-thirty?" he muttered. "So... what's the time now?"
Harleen raised a brow. "It's seven already," she replied
Jayden's eyes widened, his stomach twisted. The time was six o'clock when he began heading home, and he could remember the last message he'd received from the system just before losing consciousness.
It'd been one hour already.
Which meant... he could begin transformation at any moment.
His eyes glanced outside, towards the sky. And there it was... the moon. Glinting down from between wisps of clouds that kept it hidden. It wasn't fully out yet.
Jayden's mind raced, he didn't know what to do. When the moon fully comes out, the forced transformation would begin.
"Anyways," Harleen continued, heading towards the door. "Dinner's in the freezer if you get hungry. And... oh, that reminds me. Tasha and Jessica are sleeping over at a friend's place tonight. Don't get too lonely, okay?"
Jayden's fake smile stayed plastered. "Sure… enjoy the party."
Harleen nodded with a smile. "Have a good night, Jayden!" she called as she closed the door behind her.
The moment it clicked shut, Jayden snapped into action. The smile dropped like a mask. He jumped out of bed, stripping off the tracksuit Miss Kate had lent him, and rummaged for a pair of black shorts. He yanked them on, eyes darting to the window.
His chest tightened. The moon was close to being fully revealed.
"Shit…" Jayden cursed under his breath, sprinting to the glass doors that led to the balcony. He peered out fast—eyes scanning the yard below.
There. Jacob and Harleen were getting into the car. He watched them… watched the car lift and whoosh off into the city sky.
Jayden let out a shaky sigh. "Good," he muttered. "That's one problem out of the way,"
But there was no time to breathe.
No time at all.
He glanced back at the moon... it was almost fully visible now, that pale, haunting glow intensifying.
Jayden clenched his fists, pacing in circles. He couldn't think about going back to the container now, it was too late to do that.
He contemplated running into the forest like Miss Kate adviced, but even that wasn't a good enough solution.
It would take some time before reaching the forest, and if the transformation were to begin while he was in the middle of the street... He would be practically fucked.
Jayden paused at a sudden realization, his heart racing.
He had no choice. He had to do it here.
At home.
Right in his room.
Luckily.. no one was around. The girls were out. Jacob and Harleen were gone.
It was… perfect. Horrifying, but perfect.
Jayden took a deep breath and cursed inwardly. At this point, he wasn't even thinking about the man he had killed anymore. That was a minor and irrelevant thing at the moment.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he yelled. Thinking back to how he should have just ran away when those thugs confronted him. If he had done so, he would be back in the container by now and none of this would be happening.
"Okay, okay. Calm down, Jayden," he muttered, his chest heaving. He stared at the moon through the balcony door, feeling his body tighten with anticipation. He needed a plan. He gripped the doorframe, squeezing his eyes shut, trying to focus.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
"Okay… I'm ready…"
His eyes opened. The moon was fully out now. It was finally here. It was finally time.
His stomach twisted. His pulse spiked.
He quickly opened the glass door that led to balcony and grabbed a handkerchief from his nightstand. He was planning to stuff it in his mouth once the transformation began... to maybe reduce his screams.
Jayden took a deep breath and awaited for the transformation to begin... awaited the worst.
But the worst never came.
He blinked in confusion. His heart thudded louder.
Seconds ticked by...
One minute...
Two minutes.
Still nothing.
Jayden's brow furrowed. "Was Miss Kate messing with me?"
He clenched his jaw, glaring at the moon. "No… that's impossible. I saw the system's notification... and the container proves a lot. So what..."
DING.
His heart dropped.
The golden glow of the system screen flared up, like a hammer dropping straight from the heavens.
[A full moon has appeared]
[All stats have been tripled]
[Full transformation (Lycanthrope) has begun.]