Hamid broke the cuff with ease due to his monstrous strength. Once he was free he took a glance toward the other three, smiling with his fangs showing.
"Even though we were told about this yesterday, I don't think I can get used to it"
"He's showing a friendly smile there, right? He's not going to eat us, right?
When Hamid got close to them, both Teng and Ling quickly hid behind Wong and pushed him forward. Wong tried to keep his composure but looking at the werewolf whom he thought almost killed him before still made him extremely nervous.
With one downward swoop, Hamid broke the cuff that was binding Wong. Then come Teng and Ling, enable them to circulate their mana once more.
While the three of them recovering, Hamid went to the heavy iron door which was keeping them to their room. He concentrated his mana to his claws which made them covered with purplish-black flames. He gently made a swinging motion toward the door, and the flame engulfed it, slowly melting it down. This was the same flame he had been using when he was fighting with Kim. Even a small bit of it was enough to melt this iron door.
--
"Suika."
"Yes, Mika?"
"There's no way they escaped right? The highest rank among them is only a B-rank."
"We still need to check. Let's go."
The two duos were able to sense powerful mana bursting out of the room where they locked up the other mana users that were caught on that night. From outside, it may be exceptionally hard to detect any mana, but inside the basement, they could still slightly rely on their mana sense. For them to sense a powerful amount of mana could only mean that the mana user was not ordinary.
Before they were able to get near the room, the saw a large silhouette walking toward them. Shocked with what they were seeing they stopped in their tracks and circulate their mana to prepare for battle. A monster covered with furs slowly walked towards them. Its fangs and sharp claws looked like it could tear a person in half with ease. Looking directly into its eyes make it feels like it could slice a person soul.
"Suika."
"Yes, Mika?"
"Did one of the dogs was let loose?"
"I don't think any of the dogs are that big!"
"Run!"
Unfortunately, a heavy mana pressure made them kneeled on the ground, stopping any of those twos from running away. They thought it was the werewolf, but the mana pressure was coming from behind. Even the werewolf had stop from getting near. They wanted to see who it was, but the pressure was too much for them to even lift a finger. Their whole body was trembling and soaked with sweats.
Wong went to the front, with his mouth stumbling "M-Ms. Momo?"
The person was Momo. The same Momo who is always bright and showered everyone with her cheerful smile. That night, however, she was different. Even Wong was stunned to see her expressionless face. But deep in her eyes, a hint of sadness was showing. What just happened a few minutes ago which made a girl like Momo to show that kind of terrifying aura?
"Dogs?"
It was a single word but the voice behind sent a chilling sensation which jolted their spine. Not wanting to make matter worst they remain quiet. But not even a second has passed Suika felt a throbbing pain in his arms which he saw was missing! Both of his arms were cleanly sliced off and fell on the ground. The tempered body of a B-rank was easily cut within a single breath. Suika could only scream trying to withstanding the pain as blood gushing out from where his arms were.
"Suika!"
Mika was shocked to see his now limbless partner. But even if he wanted to help, there's nothing he could do at the moment.
"No one asked you to scream. Tell me, who are you calling dogs?!"
Her mana pressure was becoming stronger which even Wong could feel the pressure. He wanted to say something but nothing could come out from his throat. For someone who had a daughter, nothing could break his heart other than seeing the sadness of another girl. It reminded him of his weak past who was unable to protect his family. Now that he is stronger, there was still nothing he could do. Hamid also slowly reverted back into his human form as seeing how he was not needed for the time being. Even his presence as a werewolf was overshadowed by the young girl.
Again another scream. This time it was Mika who lost his arms. He almost fell unconscious due to the shocking pain. Unable to withstand it anymore he asked for forgiveness from Momo, "Please, forgive-" but alas, his head was chopped off instead. Everyone who was there gasped in shock seeing how merciless Momo was.
"M-M-Mika?! Ahhh! Fine! Let me, tell you! Those dogs were the kidnapped children whom we took away from the streets. Since they would die from starving, master Byzark thought it was better to make use of them."
"What do you mean by making use of them?"
"It was an experiment. An experiment to turn a human into a werewolf!"
--
A few hours ago before the incident
The three of them were having some light snacks while chatting with Hamid when Kim joined in to sit with them.
"Young master, what brings you here? Where is Ms. Momo?"
"She's resting. I guess she really enjoyed her day. Thank you."
"No young master. We the one should be thanking you. If it weren't for both of you, we would get killed by that damn werewolf!"
"Yes, that damn werewolf! If it only that thing weren't around we would not be in so much trouble. If it appeared in front of me again, I would kick its ass hard!"
"I'm pretty sure you would run away instead, Teng."
Well about that, there's something I need to tell all of you"
Kim explained everything that happened when they were attacked by the werewolf as well as how Hamid was actually the werewolf. To suddenly said someone who is sitting in front is a monster would surely make anyone shake their heads. Hamid had to release his mana as prove which still made them utter in disbelief.
"No way, how can this be?"
"T-T-Teng, d-didn't you said you want to kick his ass? G-g-go."
"I didn't say anything! I didn't!"
It took them a while before they could get back to their sense before finally believing what Kim had said. But that was not all. Kim also mentioned how Mayor Byzark had sent two people to bring him into his mansion for a simple meeting. During that time, Kim expanded his mana sense and found the kidnapped children. It was not that Kim actually knew the children were there. It was Hamid who told him about it when they were secretly talking in the earth dome at the end of their fight.
At first, Kim did not want to get involved but hearing about the innocent children becoming victim, it was hard for him refusing to lend a hand. But Kim still had to make sure whether Hamid was actually telling him the truth or not. So Hamid told him about a hotel he was managing at let Kim and Momo stay for a while until Kim found out about it.
"But, how did you know it was Mayor Byzark?"
"A mere coincidence. I heard a boy shouting from one house and decided to check it out. Turns out, some mana users whom I don't recognize were trying to kidnap the boy."
Hamid didn't waste a moment to change into his werewolf form to chase the mana users away. Without their notice, he silently followed them and found out that they actually came from the mansion where Mayor Byzark was living. From that day, he spent his night observing any suspicious activities coming in and out of the mansion. He noticed that every time there were several mana users would go out and the next day, news of children missing would spread. He managed to help some of the children, but alone, he could not save everyone.
He continued the pattern every night until one day, rumours about a werewolf walking around in the city to kidnap children for food spread. One time he was caught by the parents of the kid he was trying to save and that was beginning of the wolf hunt. He had to flee to the forest.
"How about those monster wolves that were with you?"
"Oh. They are my cute puppies that I took care in the past. They grew so fast."
"..."
"Ehem"
Kim then explained what happened when he was 'invited' to the mansion earlier this day. It must be because of the sudden turn of event when Kiria turned into a monster. The guild has told him that Kiria often went to the mansion since Mayor Byzark was endorsing him as the number one mana user in Kuala Terengganu. Is that really was the case?
Abiding with what Hamid has told him, he expanded his mana sense and found the children. However, there was one problem. There was no way anyone would trust him if he said the Mayor was the one who kidnapped all those children. So, instead, he left a trace of his mana so he will get caught by other mana users that he detected with his mana sense as well. Kim knew Byzark was going to get him tonight. That was why he told everyone about the plan to expose Byzark.
But there was one question left unanswered. Why were the children kidnapped? Why did Kiria turn into a werewolf? Why hunt all the monster wolves when they could just go for the werewolf instead? Even if that was the way to lure the werewolf, was it really the truth? Even the guild master never heard of such a method. However, no one dared to question the benevolent Mayor Byzark.
Until Byzark comes to get them, none of these would be answered.
--
"The wolf hunt was a spontaneous idea to cover-up the real intention to gather the wolves heart. Gathering those hearts has already started even before that."
"What does this have to do with the experiment?"
"There was a legend saying that you would befall with a curse from discriminately killing a wolf without a reason. This legend was actually true, except that it wasn't just the killing that gets you the curse. It was the wolf heart! The wolf blood was known to be one of the ingredients for a power-boosting potion. However, it will make the consumer becoming berserk which disables them to differentiate between a friend and a foe. Just like drinking the wolf blood, you would gain incredible strength from directly eating its heart. However, the side-effect was viler than just losing our mind. It is the curse part of the legend. The person will transform into a hideous monster which has features like the wolf that was killed. It is the curse of Werewolf!"
They thought they heard it wrong when Suika told them that the children were kidnapped for some kind of an experiment. But the more Suika explained what they did, the more disbelief they became on how disgusting a person could be. They kidnapped the children who have lost their parents knowing that no one would pay much attention to them.
They caged them inside this underground basement and every day they feed the children with only wolves heart. Left with no choice, the children finally gave in and ate it. After a few days, their features started to change as if they were becoming a wolf themselves. However, some of their human features still remain unchanged. Even so, not all of them was able to consume the heart and actually die. Those who survive become a test subject for some more experimentation. They were cut open, got their blood taken and even tested with several medicines to understand more how their body actually manage to change. Every single day, those children are living as guinea pigs. Because of their looks, and how they lived like an animal every day, they were called dogs.
After several months, they manage to make a serum which could possibly turn a person into a werewolf when injected. Kiria unknowingly became a test subject when the serum was mixed into the food that was served to him every time he visited the mansion. Unfortunately, he was killed the day he turned into a werewolf and they could not get any sample.
Since Kim already stepped into his landmine not once but twice but killing Kiria and there to check on the children the day he stepped into his mansion, Byzark thought that Kim should be the next test subject.
"Enough"
"I-I told you everything. Would you let me free?"
"Free you? Yes, I will set you free."
Suika was about to let out joyous tears after he was told he would be free when an immeasurable pain travelling from his back into his whole body. Momo has hit him with her palm which caused his entire spinal cord to smash into pieces. She then grabbed his hair to pull his head behind so that he could see her. The moment their eyes met, Suika felt like his soul was trying to escape just by the amount of killing intent emanating from her gaze.
"Since you treat them like dogs, then you deserve to die like an animal."
When Momo put her face away, Suika could see a sword was floating above him. With a flick of a finger, the sword fell down and pierced through his body like a pike. Since the sword was falling to slow, Suika did not die instantly. He could feel the sword going down inside him. The pain was unbearable that he actually past out. But when the sword struck his lung, he got suffocated which forced him to wake up to relive the pain again and again until the sword past through his entire body and left him dead.
As if the whole thing does not even bother her, Momo slowly walked past the others.
"Please, take care of the children. I will go ahead to my master."
Wong wanted to say something, but not a single can he said to Momo that time. He could only watch her back which slowly faded into the dark hallway.