Chapter 221: The Monster
Carter squatted down and examined the cattle. It was a milk cow. This type of cattle would never get butchered. Even if the Wolfmen were stupid, they shouldn't kill a cow.
'The wound... It looks like it was killed by one single claw slash to the middle of the abdomen. No Wolfmen should be able to do this...'
Wolfmen could transform into a wolf, not a wolf hybrid. They moved on four legs and their front legs were very limited. They wouldn't be able to claw something to death.
Richard and the witches rushed out from their houses.
"Who did this?!" Richard screamed in anger. "It must be one of those stupid Farrow Wolfmen again!"
Beatrice frowned. She sawn the same things that Carter saw. A Wolfmen couldn't do this. But Richard was too stupid to see that.
The witch observed Carter. 'Not even a glimpse of fear? You really aren't just a normal human, are you?'
"My apology. My tribe has a branch that is very troublesome. They went out on their own but would occasionally return to bother us. I will find them." Richard said.
"I doubted that this would be the work of a Wolfman." Beatrice said.
Richard scoffed. "Pfft! Of course it is a Wolfman. Only a Wolfman can do such thing. You think a vampire can do this."
Beatrice stayed silent. A vampire would probably be able to do this. But she already realized that Richard was too blind to even listen to a second opinion.
Carter continued to examine the corpse. He noticed the flesh around its wound turned black.
'Necrosis? It shouldn't be like this.'
"Hey, you there. You shouldn't touch it. It may have some kind of disease." Richard said.
The scrawny man shake his head but didn't say anything.
"What is it, John? You can tell us." Dorothy said. She knew John not for long but she already realized his intelligence was no joke.
"What does he even know?" Richard smirked. He didn't think too highly of John at all.
Beatrice, on the other hand, was very interested in him.
"Tell us what you know, John. Anything would help." Beatrice said.
Richard frowned. He didn't understand why these witches were so fond of this weak kid.
"Whatever killed the cow... It caused its flesh to die first." Carter said.
Richard laughed some more. "Of course it died. Whoever killed it made it dead."
Beatrice glanced at Richard, telling him to shut up, before returned to Carter.
"What do you mean?" Beatrice stepped closer.
"Look at this." Carter pointed at the small area on the cow wound. "Its flesh is blackened. The physicians call this necrosis. The state of the flesh dying before the body actually dies. These cells expired even before the cow released its last breath."
Richard's frown deepened. He didn't understand a word of it.
But Beatrice did. "A premature death to the flesh... This could be the work of a Necromancer."
The word caught the attention of Richard immediately.
"You sure? A Necromancer did this?" Richard said.
"I'm not sure. But John is right. This death is not normal. I would advise you to keep your guard up. Whoever did this can return at any moment." Beatrice said.
Richard nodded.
Dorothy and Leah surrounded John. The two young witches jumped in joy.
"You're so smart, John!"
"I didn't even notice that."
"Yeah..." Carter sweated internally. He didn't know if this character was that special. Or these two witches were that easy to be impressed.
Or maybe that Otherworldly Intervention was affecting reality again.
'Having too many powers is not always a good idea.'
Richard went away to command his Wolfmen to guard the ranch. They set up a few guard posts and had people switched shifts in the night to watch the area.
It didn't exactly solve the issue but at least their mind could rest a little bit.
Carter was in his room. He waited for everyone to sleep before sending out multiple shadows.
"Investigate what happened." Carter whispered.
The countless shadows nodded before seeping to the floor and slipping through the crack of the door.
Carter had 10,000 souls at his disposal. He really could wipe out the entire ranch if he wanted to.
The scrawny young man lay on the bed. His shadows were watching him of course. He wouldn't be able to sleep well in this hellhole. Especially since that coward Richard was in charge.
'The Farrow split out of the Wolfmen. I wonder what they're doing.'
In the deep woods, Maisie Farrow draggeg a Wolfman of her tribe on the ground.
"We need to leave, Clay. You can do it."
The Wolfman was heavily injured. A large part of his abdomen was carved away. He coughed up blood.
"Leave, Maisie! Leave! You can't save me. Our people are waiting for you. Go to Richard. He can help us."
"That bastard wouldn't even shed a tear if we die."
"Maybe. But we are the same kind. He's our only hope!"
Maisie bit her lips. He let go of Clay and put her head on his forehead.
"I'm sorry, Clay. I will avenge you."
"Go..."
Maisie turned into a wolf and ran away. At the same time, a large stature shadow approached Clay. It was not a Wolf. It was not an Undead. Its back hunched over and it growled like a monster.
Clay's face went pale. He transformed back into a Wolf.
'Come, bastard!' Clay was determined to buy Maisie some time. One second in front of this creature was the difference between life and death.
The lone wolf stood bravely in front of death. It launched at the wolf.
The wolf avoided its inital attack and jumped at its side.
It was pointless. The monster was much faster. Its hand reached up and caught Clay at the throat.
The wolf whimpered. The monster put his entire head into its mouth and crushed it.
Blood spurted out. Skull was crushed. Clay was dead.
Maisie ran as quickly as she could. Tears flooded in the corners of her eyes. But she didn't stop. The fate of her entire tribe was on her.
Maisie left the deep dark woods. The light of sunrise bathed her.