Chapter 249

Chapter 249

Warriors transformed into werewolves, howling eerily, their eyes scattering a blood-red glow.

Perhaps on any other day, even with the curse manifesting, they might have retained their sanity.

But tonight was a full moon. The sky was illuminated by the fullness of the moon.

Sanity was lost, replaced by sheer wildness.

The werewolves drooled from their mouths, their eyes darting in search of prey.

Under the grip of such wildness, they needed to hunt.

Naturally, their targets were their kin who still retained human forms.

Thud! Thump!

"Arghhhhh!"

"St-stop! Please, come to your senses... ughh!"

The sharp claws of the werewolves sliced through armor, and their enormous fangs dug into flesh.

The fate of the warriors yet to transform was twofold. Either be brutally slaughtered by those who were once allies or

Shiver, shudder...

Ahhhhhh!

Become one of them.

Those who didnt perish from the first blow were all turned into werewolves.

After a momentary violent gust, only fallen humans and bipedal wolves remained.

Gasp, gasping...

Growling!

The now vicious-looking werewolves divided into two groups.

One group began moving towards a village abundant with prey.

They began by walking on two legs, but soon they started galloping like beasts on all fours.

"We need to stop them...!"

Kureha, who intended to chase after them, was blocked by another group of werewolves.

Their eyes locked onto the last human in the vicinity, drooling with anticipation.

Kureha clenched his fists, ready to fight.

Swoosh.

Kuilan stood in front of Kureha.

A werewolf monster, bigger than any other, positioned itself protectively in front of Kureha. Kureha, startled, looked up at him.

Though bleeding from his wounds, Kuilan whispered, "Hey... Im... fine."

"..."

Kureha, his fist clenched tightly, stared ahead.

"Help me, Kuilan. We have to stop them."

In the distance, the group of werewolves running towards the village was visible.

They must be stopped.

If they reach the village, who knows what disaster will unfold...!

Kureha, with a powerful stride, charged towards the werewolves in front of him.

Kuilan, seemingly unsure at first, clumsily followed him with his massive form.

The werewolves claws were as sharp as blades, and their limbs exuded monstrous strength. However, their attacks were merely wild swings led by instinct.

One hit could be fatal! But if I can dodge...!

Kureha narrowly dodged the werewolves attacks and retaliated by smashing their jaws with his fists.

Kuilan, too, swung his arms awkwardly, catching and smashing the werewolves into the ground one by one.

The stand against the werewolves was over in a flash. Without pausing, Kureha sprinted onward.

The ones heading towards the village had gotten significantly farther.

Too far! At this rate, I cant stop them...!

Then it happened.

Whoosh!

Kuilan grabbed Kureha by the waist, pulling him to his side, and with a giant leap, they began covering several meters in a single bound.

In no time, they were closing in on the werewolves. Kureha wanted to thank his younger brother, but there was no time.

The village was just ahead.

Kureha, propelled forward by pushing off from Kuilans arm, leapt.

Landing firmly on the back of a running werewolf, he wrapped both arms around its neck andsnapped it.

Thud!

The desperate werewolf crumpled, and using its body as leverage, Kureha lunged forward again.

Over there, Kuilan was seen smacking down two other werewolves.

Three more to go...

There were three werewolves ahead of Kureha.

Drawing from all her strength, Kureha caught up with the closest werewolf and tripped it.

With the creatures momentum, it tumbled headfirst into the ground, the sound of its neck breaking eerily echoing around.

Two!

The next one sensed Kurehas presence and charged at him.

The wolfs sharp claws swiped the air. Kureha dodged and counter-attacked, striking its jaw and side with a fierce punch.

A short yet intense clash ensued, and the victor was Kureha.

The werewolf, with Kurehas fist embedded from its forehead to its nose, spat blood and fell.

Last one...!

Hope flashed across Kurehas face. If she took down the last one, there would be no more casualties!

Kureha looked straight ahead to spot the last werewolf.

But then.

Whoosh-!

The last werewolf rushed madly into the village square, attacking the townsfolk who were warming themselves by a fire and chatting.

Blood and flesh scattered. The screams and cries of the attacked villagers pierced the night.

"...No, ah...!"

Kureha gasped.

It was too late. Within seconds, around ten villagers had been brutally attacked by the werewolfs swift onslaught, their blood painting the ground.

And then, mere moments later, they began to rise.

His younger brother, Kuilan, had borne much more of the curse with a far weaker body.

Kureha thought to himself that if he couldnt endure this much, hed be failing as an elder brother.

Once the ritual concluded, Kuilans face appeared much more tranquil.

His mother, clutching her staff, spoke in her human voice, "Having been a vessel for the curse all his life... your brothers spirit core is steeped in it. He will likely remain frail for the remainder of his days."

Struggling to his feet, Kureha gave a weak smile, "Ill take good care of him."

"And you... you should choose. Choose wisely."

"Choose what?"

"How the curse manifests."

The tip of the mothers staff lightly poked Kurehas chest.

"With my magic, Ive sealed the curse deep within you. However, if you sustain a severe injury or exert yourself too much, the curse will try to resurface."

"And what will happen then?"

"Normally, youd turn into a werewolf monster. But with my magic suppressing it, you wont transform. Instead... you wont be able to use that part of your body."

"..."

"Which would you prefer?"

He didnt need long to decide.

"Id rather lose the use of a body part. If I became a werewolf monster... I might hurt Kuilan."

"...Very well."

Watching her son willingly embrace his torment, the mother turned her gaze away, conflicted.

"The Empires forces are coming."

Beyond the burnt wooden barriers of the village, the sight of the Empires troops marching orderly was visible.

They had lost their warriors and now, they had lost what they were protecting.

The Leaf Tribes end was near.

"Go, Kureha. Dont look back, just leave. Ill handle things here."

Staring blankly at the approaching enemy, the mother said to Kureha, "Youre his elder brother. Teach Kuilan... the joys of living as a human."

With immense pain coursing through him, Kureha cradled Kuilan. His brother, reduced to skin and bones, felt shockingly light.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of the enemys footsteps grew closer. The booming voice of the Empires commander echoed through the air.

The brilliant shine of war badges and the spreading flames of magic...

Leaving their burning hometown behind, his mother whispered softly to her two departing sons,

"Im sorry for being such a wretched parent."

Without looking back, Kureha too whispered,

"Im sorry for being a terrible child."

Holding his younger brother and staggering forward, Kureha couldnt be sure.

Had his choice been the right one?

Had leaving his hometown, his tribe, and his parents all behind been worth it?

His mind was in turmoil. The curse inside him stirred like a pest, fueling his confusion.

His entire value system was tangled up.

What was I even fighting for...

Thats when it happened.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Kuilan, nestled in his arms, coughed dryly and opened his eyes.

Kureha gave him a weary smile and looked down at him.

"How are you feeling, Kuilan?"

"...Who... are you?"

Kuilan asked in a fading voice, his unfocused eyes suggesting he didnt remember his time as a wolf.

"Its me, your brother Kureha. Remember?"

"...Im not... sure. Where are we? And wheres father?"

Kureha, with a broad smile, took off the coin necklace he was wearing and placed it around Kuilans neck.

"Kuilan. Youre a very lucky kid."

"...Huh? But it hurts so much..."

To a child whose entire life had been pain, Kureha asserted with conviction,

"You were born into this world."

"...What?"

"Ill make you lots of delicious food."

Supporting his frail brother, whose weight felt like he could float away, Kureha vowed,

"Cold? Ill get you warm clothes. Ever slept under a soft blanket? Ill get you one. Ill buy you a feathered pillow too."

This world is infinitely broader than that cramped Leaf tree hollow.

"In spring, well sunbathe. In summer, well go to the riverside. In fall, well pick apples. In winter, well watch the snowfall by the heater."

Its filled with things far more beautiful than any curse.

"Well fish together. And, you know our tribes traditional songs? Oh! Ill also teach you martial arts, and..."

What else could he give?

What could he offer this child who had taken on the worlds curses for his entire life?

Kurehas words faltered. Facing his younger brothers innocent gaze, he suddenly felt like crying.

For the rest of our lives, Ill give back all the good fortunes Ive been blessed with to you.

So, please-

Dont ever regret being born into this world.

Hugging his brother tightly, Kureha clenched his teeth.

"Im sorry."

"For what?"

"I didnt know you were suffering... Im sorry."

Rubbing his teary eyes vigorously, Kureha grinned.

"Ill protect you from now on."

To his brother, who looked puzzled, Kureha declared,

"Protecting my little brother is my job!"