Chapter 19: The Legendary Werewolf! (1)

What on earth does this bastard want?!
With a sense of grievance, Ravia covered her arm and glared angrily at the boy before her. If it hadn’t been for her quick use of a spell to reduce her falling speed with counterforce, things might have turned out badly…
“Damn it!” the girl muttered in a reproachful tone. She struggled to get up from the ground, but due to the impact, she suddenly felt dizzy and fell back down.
Huh?
Propping herself up with her hands, she suddenly focused on the ground beneath her. It wasn’t uneven like the tunnel rocks earlier—it was extremely smooth…
But as smooth as it was, the ground was incredibly hard!
Out of curiosity, she bent down and tapped the stone slabs covering the ground. Her surprise grew even stronger.
Obsidian!
The ground was paved with obsidian—hard enough to rival steel!
If she hadn’t cast that spell earlier…
Ravia shuddered, filled with fear.
But where exactly was this place?
Using obsidian, a precious mineral, as ordinary floor material was simply…
It wasn’t so much about the value of obsidian, as it was just a common, low-grade gem. After all, it was an igneous rock found near volcanoes, formed when volcanic lava rapidly cooled into natural crystals. Yet in terms of hardness, it far surpassed ordinary rocks, even exceeding bluestone.
Besides being hard, obsidian was also very sharp. In ancient times, some people used this crystal to make weapons—its hardness and sharpness were no less than those of metal.
But that was only for weapons. Ravia had never heard of anyone investing so much effort to mine obsidian just to use it as ordinary floor tiles.
“What is this place…?” She looked around in astonishment, her eyes showing slight shock.
Through the still-present dust, she realized this seemed to be a dungeon-like place. In sight were rows of neat black cages, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench of decay.
Taking a shallow breath, the girl managed to stand up and walked over to one of the cages, tapping it with her finger.
The dull thudding sound made her realize these cages were made entirely of black iron.
Good heavens! Black iron was a rare metal!

Both its density and hardness are the highest among all ores, yet its weight is the lowest among all metals. It also does not rust. Just a few pounds of wrought iron can be melted to create armor capable of withstanding heavy piercing attacks. It is the best material for making weapons and armor. In the empire, this metal is classified as a controlled substance and is only used extensively in the military.

And yet, this precious metal is being used as cages here?

What kind of prisoners are locked up here?!

Out of curiosity, the girl glanced into the cage. Due to the lack of light, it was completely dark inside, so she had to use fire to illuminate it.

“…”

Several skeletons covered in dust and cobwebs in the cage made her shudder. From these weathered remains, it was clear they had been there for a very long time—decades, even centuries…

“Tap, tap, tap!” Slow footsteps echoed through the deep dungeon.

Ravia turned around and saw that the boy had already started walking deeper into the dungeon.

“Thos! Thos!” Ravia hurried after him. Although she felt the boy was extremely dangerous now, her subconscious told her he wouldn’t hurt her.

Following just four or five yards behind him, Ravia didn’t dare get too close, as the intense pure darkness surrounding that giant bear made her feel extremely oppressed.

Along the way, the girl continued to observe the cages on both sides. As expected, the poor souls locked inside had long turned into weathered skeletons.

“Huh!” Suddenly, a faint light source ahead caught Ravia’s attention. At the same time, she noticed the boy’s footsteps had stopped.

She carefully circled around that giant dark bear and was surprised to find rows of long tables deep in the dungeon. The tables were cluttered with books, parchment, as well as knives and alchemical instruments.

What place is this?

Why did he come here?

Her mind was filled with one question after another.

But what intrigued her even more was the faint light. She turned to look and realized the dim light came from oil lamps on the walls. Strangely enough, the lamps themselves were covered in dust but still burned.

“It’s unbelievable!” Walking up to one of the walls, the girl murmured as she reached out to touch the lamp.

“I wonder why these two lamps can burn for so long? Hey! It’s because someone refilled them with kerosene—that barrel in the corner, made from human fat, hehe…” A cold laugh came from somewhere, sounding extremely terrifying in this dark environment.
Ravia instinctively pulled her hand back and shouted warily, “Who? Who’s there?” Her pale face showed she was frightened, though it was unclear whether it was due to the two oil lamps or the sudden voice.
“Oh, what? I thought it was someone important. It’s just a kid! Oh, two of them!”
“Who?! Who’s here?” Clearly, Ravia was scared by the voice.
“Who?” The mocking voice laughed. “Aren’t I right in front of you, kid?”
“Huh?” Ravia was stunned. Shining the weak light ahead, she was shocked to see a vague figure on the wall at the end of the dungeon.
“Who are you?” Ravia cautiously stepped forward. It seemed there was a man covered in shackles, mocking her.
Seeming to notice the wariness in Ravia’s eyes, the man laughed darkly. “Kid, don’t be so scared. I can’t hurt you!” As he spoke, he raised his arm with great effort, accompanied by a clinking sound.
Ravia then realized that the man kneeling on the ground had his limbs tightly bound by black metal shackles, and his neck, armpits, arms, chest, thighs, and other vital areas were filled with gray, needle-like objects—likely the reason his movements were so difficult.
But those “needles” were as thick as little fingers…
“You… you’re still alive?” Ravia looked puzzled. How could anyone survive with such things inserted into their heart? And not just the heart—every vital part was filled with them.
“Hey!” The man seemed annoyed, saying with a smirk, “Do you think I’m a ghost?”
“No!” Ravia shook her head, both affirming and uncertain. “You’re a werewolf!”
The man narrowed his eyes, then shook his head with a self-mocking laugh, seemingly agreeing.
Yet this only deepened Ravia’s confusion, because she realized the man before her didn’t seem to have lost his mind like those villagers.
Had he attacked those innocent villagers?
With a hint of anger, Ravia asked the question.

“Hm?” The man’s expression was full of confusion, and then he said jokingly, “Do you really think I can still attack someone like this?” He paused for a moment before adding in a low voice, “What you’re talking about must be the work of Ivo Beric!”
“Ivo Beric? Who is that?”
The man seemed unwilling to answer, or perhaps for some other reason.
“Is that brat your companion? He seems a bit off, doesn’t he?” The man spoke in a casual, joking tone, but his eyes were not at all casual. Anyone who were stared at by a giant bear over twenty yards tall, radiating an aura of darkness, would not feel comfortable.
“Him?” Ravia couldn’t help but turn to look at the boy and shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s usually very friendly…”
“Very friendly?” The man interrupted Ravia in a mocking tone. “From the way that brat looks at me, I really can’t tell…” He paused again, then turned to Ravia and said, “Help me pull out those annoying things from my body, and I’ll reward you!”
That tone, which resembled a demon trying to tempt people, made Ravia wary. She stepped back two steps, shook her head, and said firmly, “I don’t know why you’re locked up here, but… my instincts tell me you’re not a good person! So please forgive me for refusing!”
“Ah?” The man was stunned for a moment, then laughed softly twice before saying jokingly, “Then there’s nothing I can do but wait until that brat kills me first, and then kill you… Can’t you see? That brat is now like a wild beast…”
“That won’t happen!” Ravia shook her head. “He didn’t hurt me just now…”
“That’s because I was here!” The man interrupted her, speaking in a serious tone. “That brat sensed my presence! That’s why he didn’t have time to pay attention to you. Don’t blame me for being direct—your strength is nowhere near his. He can kill you anytime he wants! Once he kills me, you’ll realize I was right!”
“…” Clearly, Ravia was shocked by the man’s words. Thinking back, ever since he had changed into this state, it seemed he really hadn’t even glanced at her properly, as if she didn’t exist…
Would he… hurt her?
She bit her lip and turned to look at the boy, but just as the man had said, both he and the giant bear were only staring at the man.

“Speaking of which, this little brat is truly terrifyingly strong!” the man chuckled mischievously and coaxed, “Let me go, and I’ll restore him to normal. How about that?”
After a long silence, Ravia shook her head firmly and said, “No! I trust him! I believe he won’t hurt me…”
“What if he does hurt you?” For some reason, the man’s tone became strangely odd.
“Then… he’s saved me once. If he really does hurt me, it’s just taking my life back…”
“…” Watching Ravia speak so calmly about her own life, the man’s expression gradually changed. It seemed as though distant painful memories were stirred in him; his gloomy eyes flickered with sorrow as he stared at her inexplicably.
Suddenly, the man’s expression froze, as if he had realized something. The sorrow in his eyes vanished instantly, and he snapped, “Then get lost! You annoying little brat!”
“You…” Ravia was shocked by the man’s sudden change in tone. She said angrily, “You’re definitely not a good person!”
“Stop talking nonsense! Damn little brat! Get out of here!” the man growled in a low voice.
Ravia’s chest heaved rapidly. Clearly, the man’s rude tone made her extremely angry. Just then, a strange voice interrupted what she was about to say.
“So you’ve found us here? Damn little rats! I thought I’d spare you, but since that’s not the case, die right here!” The voice was filled with panic and anger at having his secret exposed.
“Who?” Ravia turned sharply and saw a figure in a magic robe standing not far behind her. Judging by his panting, it seemed he had come all the way from somewhere else.
“Tch!” The man in shackles sneered, “Ivo Beric, you bastard, are you still alive? It seems your so-called ‘remarkable achievements’ have been greatly damaged!”
So this man in the magic robe was pharmacist Ivo Beric.
“Shut up, you lowly werewolf!”
“Ivo Beric… is he the one who attacked the villagers?” Ravia stared in surprise at the figure dressed like a mage in the distance. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned back to the man and asked, “Werewolf? Are you a werewolf?”
The man glanced at Ravia but didn’t answer, implying his agreement.
“That’s right! He’s a real werewolf!” With a sinister laugh, Ivo Beric’s words sent shivers through Ravia.

“It seems you two are having a great conversation! It’s rare to be able to chat so happily with a werewolf, haha. But it’s not your fault—you still don’t know this guy’s identity. Actually, I was shocked too when I first met him! The legendary werewolf, the first one to appear hundreds of years ago—Jean Cornille!”
Indeed, this name seemed too terrifying, leaving Ravia in disbelief. Pointing at the man, she exclaimed in shock, “You… you’re Jean Cornille?”
“Hmph!” A hint of disappointment and frustration appeared in the man’s eyes. With a self-mocking smile, he snapped, “Yes! I am Jean Cornille! What? Are you already scared just by hearing my name?” He even gave a sinister smile, and combined with the shackles on him, it indeed exuded a strong sense of terror.
“Weren’t you already dead? Ancient texts state, ‘The evil werewolf ultimately died in the alchemist’s experiments.’ It’s impossible you’re still alive!” Ravia asked in astonishment.
Before Jean Cornille could speak, Ivo Beric burst into laughter. “Dead? What a joke! For those alchemists back then, this guy was an extremely valuable research subject! I totally understand that!”
“You…” Ravia stared at Ivo Beric in disbelief, shocked. “Could it be… could it be you…” Overwhelmed by shock, she stammered.
“That’s right!” Seeming to read Ravia’s thoughts, Ivo Beric said nonchalantly, “Because of some baseless rumor, those stupid, greedy commoners dug around here for their own desires. Unexpectedly, they uncovered the underground prison the alchemists used to study werewolves hundreds of years ago… What a great discovery!”
“Are you the magician who went in here alone?”
“Oh?” Ivo Beric showed a hint of surprise but replied indifferently, “Has anyone mentioned me?”
“You…” Looking at Ivo Beric before her, Ravia, recalling the words of the guard captain, was filled with anger.
“They… including those kind villagers, they’ve always remembered you. They were sad that you didn’t return and even organized people to search for you…”
“To search for me?” Ivo Beric’s face showed an inexplicable sense of relief, as if years of confusion had been resolved.
“I wondered why those stupid folks kept digging deeper into this underground place from the start…”
“Stupid folks…” Extreme anger made Ravia’s body tremble slightly.

“Alright, enough friendly chatting!” Ivo Beric snapped his fingers, and with that sound came the low growls of countless Gungro lurking in the prison. “I didn’t originally plan to kill you all—blame your curiosity… Kill those two brats!” As soon as Ivo Beric spoke, Lavia saw countless Gungro charging at them, but in an instant, they were all sent flying far away. “What… how is this possible?” Ivo Beric stared in shock as over a dozen Gungro were sent flying at the same time. Then he suddenly turned his head in a certain direction—due to the lighting, he hadn’t noticed before—that the boy was surrounded by a thick aura of darkness, like a giant beast… No! It was indeed a beast, with those blood-red eyes… “Showing hostility at a time like this? Foolish!” Jean Connel sneered softly, his laughter filled with delight. “Hm?” Lavia looked at this legendary werewolf in confusion. He was grinning and said, pointing at the boy not far away, “That brat… will instinctively attack anyone who shows hostility toward him. And thanks to him, I didn’t even dare to breathe just now!” “He?” Lavia gazed at the boy, who seemed like a giant mountain, not moving at all. The dark bear surrounding him blocked all of the Gungro’s attacks, seemingly acting purely on instinct, just as Jean Connel had said. “So, Sos came looking for you because you showed hostility toward him?” “Hey, hey,” Jean Connel protested, “When have I ever shown hostility toward you guys?” He paused, then added thoughtfully, “To be more precise, it should be anyone who shows hostility toward him or could pose a threat to him… But what about that terrifying brat! What’s with that bear that emits an ominous aura? Did the brat trade with demons in pursuit of power?” “He wouldn’t do that!” Lavia’s angry expression stunned Jean Connel. The legendary werewolf glanced at the boy in the distance and then at the girl, revealing a strange smile as he said in an indescribable tone, “What annoying brats!” Although he said that, Lavia strangely felt that there was no trace of annoyance in his words. Out of curiosity, she cautiously approached Connel and studied this legendary werewolf.

“Stay away from me, kid!” It seemed that Raviya’s proximity made Connel extremely uncomfortable. “Haven’t your parents told you that staring at people like that is very rude?”
“Parents…” Hearing this, Raviya’s expression immediately darkened as she lost herself in thought.
Suddenly, she felt a gust of wind behind her. Instinctively, she turned around and was shocked.
Somehow, a Gungro had crossed past the boy and was charging at her…
“Tch!”
In the blink of an eye, before Raviya could react, an arm chained with heavy shackles reached out and grabbed the Gungro’s arm…
“Getting close to me… is dangerous!” Connel calmly stated a fact under Raviya’s astonished gaze.
“Whoosh!” At that moment, several streams of black energy swept over and tightly wrapped around the Gungro…
If Connel hadn’t quickly withdrawn his hand, he too might have been caught up in it.
“Phew! I told you this kid had lost his mind!” Shaking his head, Connel glanced at Raviya, who was worriedly watching the boy, and said softly, “But it seems he’s actually protecting you…”
“Really?” For some reason, Raviya felt a sense of joy.
“Ah!” Connel shrugged reluctantly and smiled. “I just wanted you to help me remove these damn things, so I deceived you… Since that kid can tolerate you hanging around him, it shows he has no hostility toward you. Not only will he not hurt you, but he’s also protecting you… I think even if I hadn’t intervened, that guy wouldn’t have been able to hurt you… Did that kid really not make a deal with a demon? How could he have such powerful strength?”
“Of course not!” Raviya shook her head vigorously before looking deeply at Connel and saying hesitantly, “Thank you!”
“Didn’t I say? Even without me, you wouldn’t get hurt!” Saying this, Connel frowned at the girl who had somehow stood beside him and said in a complex tone, “As you saw just now, I’m not completely unable to move…”
This sentence was clearly a reminder to the girl. Amidst Connel’s sinister laughter, the girl quickly stepped back two steps before saying hesitantly, “Are you really Jean Connel? I feel like you… And also, you asked me to leave earlier—not because I refused to help you, but because you sensed someone coming in, right?”

“Do you really think so?” Connel grinned wickedly. “I’m a evil werewolf, after all!”
Indeed, every record of Connel in those texts described him as an evil werewolf. But at that moment, Ravia had a strange feeling—that this guy might not be as described in the texts…
“I think you seem…”
Stared at by a teenage girl, Connel felt extremely uncomfortable. He coughed and changed the subject. “Hey, shouldn’t you be more concerned about that kid than me? Haven’t you noticed? That kid’s power is starting to weaken…”
“Huh?” Ravia turned back in confusion and saw that the body of the dark bear was indeed much less hazy and transparent than before—the dark energy had diminished… No, it was constantly diminishing! Only after devouring a Gungro would the bear’s body become clearer before gradually becoming hazy again.
It seemed this dark bear couldn’t gather dark elements from the atmosphere…
How was that possible? As long as there was magic power, how could it be unable to gather dark elements?
Moreover, that guy’s magic power recovered much faster than others.
Suddenly, Ravia noticed again the faint white light around the boy. Perhaps it was this white light that completely severed his magical connection to that dark bear…
Was it returning to normal? Ravia felt a bit pleased, but soon followed by deep concern…
If that strange dark force wasn’t there, then…
Damn it!
If only she could help him…
If only…
Just as Ravia felt helpless due to her weak power, a voice that sounded somewhat familiar came from beside her.
“Kid, help me pull out those annoying things from my body. I’ll reward you! I swear!”