Chapter 36: A Loose Tongue Meets a Minor Reprimand

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for slaying LV3 extraordinary creature: werewolf. Source Energy +20 points.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on accumulating 40 points of Source Energy, meeting the requirements for leveling up. Would you like to level up now?]

"Level up immediately!"

With a thought, Lin Xiao shook the blood off the axe blade, glanced at the collapsing corpse of the werewolf, and calmly confirmed the upgrade.

After being stagnant for so long, and having become thoroughly familiar with the powers of level 3, it was time to ascend again, to cope with the increasingly complex situation.

A surge of heat rushed through his body, flowing from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, then down from his head to his torso, from his torso to his limbs, and finally, like rivers converging into a sea, it formed a circular network that slowly seeped into his muscles, blood vessels, and bones.

The continuous cracking sounds echoed as his body underwent a transformation, the extraordinary power tempering him inch by inch. Under the magical refinement, his physique became tougher, more vigorous, and even his height increased slightly without him noticing.

According to the system's explanation, the first five levels of magical power would repeatedly refine the body, creating an extraordinary physique. After level five, further upgrades would no longer cause such obvious physical changes, but rather trigger a deeper evolution—strengthening at the level of bloodlines and genes.

Lin Xiao understood this well enough: without a superhuman physique, one could not contain ever-increasing magical power. This extraordinary energy would simply burst open an ordinary body.

Once his physique evolved to superhuman levels, magic would spread throughout, forming a powerful defense. At that point, his healing abilities would be no less than a werewolf’s; even regrowing severed limbs would not be out of reach.

His gaze once again fell upon his slain companion. Lucien, filled with grief, howled mournfully at the moon before launching a frenzied attack on Nick and Eddie, forcing them to retreat. Then, turning, he fled deep into the forest, vanishing into the heavy darkness.

Eddie was about to give chase, but Nick hurriedly stopped him, crouching down and coughing violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

It turned out that during the earlier attack, he had suffered serious internal injuries. He had been suppressing the pain, but any further pursuit, especially if ambushed by Lucien, would mean risking his life.

As the leader of the werewolves, Lucien’s strength was formidable. With the full moon above and the area saturated with dark energy, the odds were stacked against them.

The main reason for their victory this time was, of course, the two people who had appeared on the mountain.

Lin Xiao once again hoisted Lucas onto his back and headed down the mountain, the Stellar Annihilation Battle Axe stowed away in his inventory. No. 11 and Will supported Michael as they came forward to meet them.

"Who exactly are you two?"

Lin Xiao stopped, turning to face the pair. It was clear they were no ordinary detectives.

"Rather than who we are, we’re more curious—how did you come by such powers?"

Eddie, supporting Nick, scrutinized the group with great interest, especially lingering on No. 11 for several seconds.

Their earlier coordinated attack, unnoticed by others, had been plain to them: it was this young girl’s strange technique to bind the two werewolves that enabled Lin Xiao’s lethal strike.

"No comment. Though, I think I heard them call you Green Hunters. Are you an organization dedicated to hunting dark creatures?"

Lin Xiao turned the tables, refusing to follow their lead.

"Kid, even if you have special powers, there are some things you’re better off not knowing. Anyway, let me check your companions—they may have been bitten by werewolves."

Eddie strode forward to examine Lucas and Michael, but Lin Xiao immediately stepped in to block him, displeased.

"My companions are none of your concern. If you won’t reveal your identities, then let’s go our separate ways."

Lin Xiao was clearly irritated by this black youth, who seemed to act as if the world revolved around him, always expecting everyone to follow his arrangements.

"Eddie, stop being so brash. Sorry, everyone, that's just his personality—he means well, really. I hope you can forgive him."

Nick, who had a much better temper, clutched his chest as he stepped forward to apologize, quickly sensing the subtle dynamics at play.

Eddie shrugged and made a face, stepping back to let Nick handle things.

With that, Lin Xiao relaxed, set Lucas down, and No. 11 and Will helped Michael over as well.

Nick had them open their shirts, revealing two sets of bite marks on their shoulders, still stained with fresh blood—clearly bitten not long ago.

"They’ve been bitten by werewolves, and bitten during the full moon. There’s no cure. By the next full moon, they’ll become werewolves themselves."

Nick looked up, his tone grave.

"What should we do then? Are they in danger?"

No. 11 asked anxiously, on the verge of tears. If she hadn’t been so headstrong, Michael wouldn’t have been captured and bitten.

"No, they’re not in danger. The ones around them are. I advise you to kill them now, or lock them in a basement cage, so they don’t harm the innocent.

Let me be clear: we don’t execute werewolves who haven’t hurt anyone. But the moment they harm or kill, they go on our blacklist—no exceptions."

Eddie stoked the fire again. Nick shook his head in exasperation. If you’d just shut up, no one would think you were mute.

No. 11 spun around and glared at Eddie. A surge of invisible force blasted him off his feet, sending him flying more than twenty meters, crashing through three or four trees.

Nick looked on in shock. The little girl’s power was several times greater than before. It seemed her strength soared to terrifying levels when she was angry.

Lin Xiao shrugged, keeping a close eye on Nick to prevent any attack on No. 11.

Nick neither tried to save face for his companion nor checked his injuries, as if confident he’d be fine. He apologized again.

"Sorry, he does have a big mouth, but he’s not wrong. Once someone transforms into a werewolf, it’s easy to lose control and cause carnage.

I recommend you lock them up during the full moon. It’s for your safety—and the safety of others. Of course, the safest method is the one you probably can’t accept."

Lin Xiao understood perfectly. The safest thing would be to kill the two now, since once changed, it was almost impossible to become human again.

He also realized that if they hadn’t demonstrated their power by slaying two adult werewolves, Nick and Eddie might have intercepted them and killed the bitten Lucas and Michael themselves.

"Oh, shit, little lady, don’t be so violent. Who’ll dare to fall for you in the future?"

Eddie limped back, gasping in pain, yet clearly not seriously hurt. His resilience put Lin Xiao to shame.

No. 11 glared daggers at him, ready to attack again, but Lin Xiao stopped her. A little punishment was enough; he had no wish to make enemies everywhere or bring unnecessary trouble on themselves.

That escaped werewolf chief would likely return for revenge, which would be trouble enough. These two were, after all, on the same side; there was no need to worsen relations.

"Enough, Eddie, not another word. In any case, the choice is yours. Take it seriously. We’ll be staying in Hawkins for a while—handle it soon."

With that, Nick turned and headed up the mountain. Eddie shot them a wink, but seeing No. 11 raise her hand again, he bolted, unwilling to risk another free flying lesson.