The dense spread of buckshot tore through the werewolf like a storm, ripping apart half its body in an instant.
Alexander watched the creature collapse, his expression calm and steady.
This was the power of preparation.
All fear came from insufficient firepower.
He approached the fallen werewolf, looking down at the barely-living beast with clinical interest.
Werewolves, according to the stories he remembered, had incredible regenerative abilities.
Only silver or holy weapons could truly finish them.
His earlier revolver shots had healed in minutes after its transformation, but the close-range shotgun blast had clearly exceeded its limits.
“Sacrificing you should yield something worthwhile, right?” Alexander murmured.
He crouched and pressed his palm firmly against the werewolf’s head.
“Sacrifice.”
A soft light bloomed.
The terror on the werewolf’s face faded as its body and essence dissolved completely into nothingness.
Alexander waited, anticipation building.
Sacrificing the Belgian Blue bull had dramatically enhanced his physique.
What would a supernatural creature like this provide?
Suddenly an intense itch spread across his skin.
Thick, steel-like gray-black fur erupted from his pores.
His bones cracked and thickened, muscles swelled powerfully, and his nails elongated into sharp claws.
Rip!
His clothes tore as raw, wild energy surged through him like a tidal wave.
“Awooo!”
The howl tore from his throat, releasing the primal urge boiling inside.
Yet his mind remained mostly clear, he could control the bloodthirsty impulses with focused will.
The feedback this time was a werewolf bloodline.
His strength and physique had roughly doubled compared to his normal enhanced state.
Speed and explosiveness improved dramatically, along with powerful regenerative abilities.
As long as the injury wasn’t instantly fatal, he could heal rapidly.
His already superior base made this new form far stronger than a typical werewolf.
Alexander shook off the transformation, suppressing the wild urges until the fur receded and he returned to human shape.
He quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes from his Personal Space.
The previous outfit had been shredded.
“Useful ability,” he noted, “but hell on wardrobe.”
He sat by the dying campfire, revolver reloaded and resting across his lap, deep in thought.
This world was far more dangerous than he imagined.
Werewolves on his first night meant bigger threats likely lurked ahead but greater risks also promised greater rewards.
After resting and restoring his condition, Alexander continued forward.
Where there were werewolves, human settlements couldn’t be far; otherwise the beasts would have nothing to hunt.
Half an hour later, a faint light appeared through the trees.
It came from a modest wooden cabin.
As he drew near, an elderly woman’s voice called out from inside.
“Little Red Ruby is that you?”
Alexander paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
‘More like the wolf in this story.’
“I’m a lost traveler,” he replied clearly.
“It’s getting dark, and I was hoping for a place to rest for the night.”
“A traveler?” The door creaked open a crack.
A pair of wary amber eyes peered out, then widened with relief at the sight of the sturdy young man standing politely outside.
“Come in quickly, young man!” the old woman said warmly, opening the door fully.
Alexander stepped inside, his guard easing slightly at her kind expression.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
The fireplace immediately chased away the forest chill.
The cabin was simple: a sofa, bed, table, a few stools, and a dividing screen.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
“Have some water and warm yourself,” the old woman offered, bustling to fetch a cup from the inner room.
Alexander accepted it with a nod, but a flicker of caution returned.
In these dangerous woods, an old woman living alone and welcoming a stranger so readily felt… off.
Especially with werewolves prowling nearby.