Chapter 61: The Final Howl
A wave of dread rippled through the air. Silence descended. No one could breathe or move. Every pair of eyes remained locked on the savage werewolf standing before them.
Amidst their shock and terror, they heard the commander of the knights mutter with a terrified expression, "The Final Howl..."
They wanted to ask what he meant—but none of them dared take their eyes off the feral Thorne for even a second.
In contrast, the commander quickly regained his courage. With a trembling hand, he gripped his sword tightly and stepped in front of Arvan, saying, "My lord, run! I’ll distract him!"
Unlike the others, he was the only one who had a vague idea of what they were witnessing. And that alone told him the disaster they had walked into was far greater than anyone realized.
He didn’t possess extensive knowledge about half-beast races, but a few months back, he had met a traveling bard from the Kingdom of Gravehold, which bordered the Wild Plains. Over drinks and a long conversation, the bard had shared rare knowledge, secrets only the people of Gravehold knew, thanks to their endless wars with half-beasts.
He spoke of unique abilities possessed by certain races—among them, a skill called "The Final Howl," a technique that only male werewolves with specific traits could use. He warned that facing a werewolf mid-howl was sheer madness—suicidal, even.
Those warnings, which he had dismissed at the time, now echoed in his mind. He cursed his fate, and seethed with anger toward Arvan. Inwardly, he spat, ’I can’t believe I’m going to die for this filthy animal. He’s the reason all this is happening, and yet we’re supposed to protect him.’
The knights followed strict codes. They were bound to give their lives for their lords, even if that lord was no better than a sack of garbage.
As these thoughts swirled, he suddenly noticed that Arvan hadn’t moved an inch. His fury deepened, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Run, you piece of shit! Didn’t you hear me?!"
Arvan’s body trembled. He stared blankly at the knight for a moment, then scrambled backward, finally standing and fleeing. The mage and the healer immediately followed after him.