Reborn as the Ancestor of Werewolves

In the private study of Eagle Castle, Kain, Catherine, and Marcus huddled over a map of Venlay Fortress. The mood was tense.

Catherine slammed her hand on the table, pointing at the map. "My lord, our soldiers are not without hope. My deputy, Reed, is close to becoming an apprentice swordsman. With just a few more days, he might advance!"

Kain nodded, signaling her to continue.

"Furthermore, while our extraordinary powers are lacking, we can make up for it with numbers and coordination. If we wait for Horst to expose a weakness, we can strike and injure him."

Marcus, ever the realist, shook his head. "Captain Catherine, you know as well as I do that a second-tier knight can use the Spirit Source Armor. No matter how we attack, it won't make a dent."

The Spirit Source Armor, a hallmark of second-tier knights, allowed them to manifest their inner spirit energy as an impenetrable shield. It could withstand physical attacks and even magic.

Catherine persisted. "True, but the armor isn't infinite. Continuous attacks can wear it down. Once it's gone, we'll have our opening."

Marcus frowned. "I've seen this strategy work on the battlefield, but only when more than five extraordinary individuals are involved. With just the three of us? It's suicide."

The two argued until Kain intervened, raising his hand to silence them.

"Enough," he said. "Both your suggestions have merit. We'll integrate them. Here's what I need from you in the coming days:

Train the soldiers harder. We need another apprentice extraordinary as soon as possible.Spend each morning sparring with me to build our coordination.Send scouts to monitor Venlay Fortress. I want to know how they're reacting to the assassin's disappearance and my survival."

Both nodded, their resolve renewed. They left the study to carry out his orders, leaving Kain alone.

Kain leaned back in his chair, staring at the ornate letter opener on his desk. His thoughts turned inward, fixating on the strange transformations his body had undergone since the assassination attempt.

He picked up the blade and made a shallow cut on his arm. Golden-red blood welled up and dripped to the floor. Almost immediately, a tingling sensation spread through the wound as the flesh stitched itself back together. Within moments, there was no trace of the injury.

"Just as I thought," Kain murmured. The speed of his healing was astonishing, a clear advantage in any battle.

He bent down to examine the blood pooling on the floor. The golden hue shimmered in the light, as though brimming with untapped energy.

Kain recalled a childhood memory from his family's library: a book called The Travels of Lester. The legendary elf adventurer described encountering dragons, whose golden blood was said to possess immense power. Potions crafted from dragon blood could elevate beings beyond their natural limits.

But this wasn't dragon blood, Kain concluded. The color wasn't a perfect match, and his strength, while enhanced, hadn't skyrocketed to legendary levels. Still, Lester's Travels mentioned that any creature with golden blood harbored a powerful bloodline.

"A powerful bloodline," Kain mused, running a hand over his healed arm.

He had always thought of himself as a regular human, yet his survival and transformation suggested otherwise. His newfound abilities—rapid healing, enhanced strength, and the wolf-like traits he had exhibited—pointed to something far more extraordinary.

The truth became clear: the night he was attacked, his bloodline had awakened. He had become a werewolf.

While the transformation offered clear advantages, Kain felt both exhilarated and fearful. The power was undeniable, having saved his life during the assassin's attack. Yet, its visible effects—white fur, sharp claws, and fangs—were impossible to hide.

Werewolves were unknown in this world. There were no legends or records of their existence, unlike the widely documented vampires. If his nature was discovered, he might become a target of fear and hatred.

To protect himself, Kain resolved to keep his werewolf identity a secret until he reached the fifth tier of power. Until then, he would minimize transformations and explore the source of his newfound strength in secret.

As he looked out the window, the full moon hung high in the night sky—a silent witness to his transformation and the challenges yet to come.