"I still like your rebellious look from a moment ago."
Ryan slowly walked over to the werewolf and looked down at the now half-alive creature.
The werewolf had a strong ability to heal itself. According to movies and TV shows, only silver weapons or items blessed with holy water could truly kill a werewolf.
He had just proven this. The damage inflicted by the revolver had healed within minutes of the werewolf's transformation. Wounds that would be fatal to a human had no effect on the creature.
However, it was clear that even this healing ability had its limits. A shotgun blast at close range had torn half of the werewolf's body apart. No amount of regeneration could save it now.
"Offering you as a sacrifice should yield some good results."
Ryan crouched down, his gaze indifferent as he looked at the terrified werewolf. Slowly, he placed his hand on the werewolf's head.
"Sacrifice."
As light glowed from his palm, the werewolf's face relaxed and its flesh and soul disintegrated into nothing.
After sacrificing the entire werewolf, Rhodes' face lit up with anticipation.
"I wonder what I'll get out of this sacrifice."
The last time he'd sacrificed a Belgian Blue Bull, his strength and physical abilities had increased significantly.
This time, he'd sacrificed a fantasy creature - a werewolf. Surely it would be more beneficial than a bull, right?
As he speculated, Ryan felt an itch spread across his skin. He looked down at his hands and watched as thick, gray-black hairs sprouted from his pores. The coarse hairs shone, hard as steel needles.
His bones twisted and stretched, growing thicker, and his nails grew into sharp claws. His muscles swelled, tearing at his clothes as a raw, violent power coursed through him, almost overwhelming him.
But his body quickly adjusted to the sensation. Instead of pain, he felt an uncontrollable force that demanded release.
"Ooooww!"
Ryan howled at the sky, as if only that roar could soothe the bloodthirsty beast now raging within him.
"So I got the werewolf bloodline this time?"
He shook his head and looked up at the moon.
What had once been an ordinary celestial body now seemed to pulse with magic, stirring a bloodthirsty, violent urge within him.
But that influence wasn't enough to make him lose control.
As he adjusted to his werewolf form, Ryan found that his strength and physical power had nearly doubled from his normal state.
His speed and explosive power had increased the most, along with the werewolf's powerful regeneration ability.
As long as he didn't suffer fatal injuries, he could heal even serious wounds quickly.
In essence, he'd gained all the abilities of a typical werewolf, only stronger.
His naturally larger frame meant that his transformed strength far exceeded that of an average werewolf.
Gradually, Ryan suppressed the violent urges in his heart, and the hair on his body receded. He returned to his human form.
"This ability is useful, but it's hard on the clothes," he mused, taking a new set of clothes from his personal space and putting them on.
In werewolf form, his size grew in proportion to his increased strength, causing any normal clothing to tear.
His last outfit had been reduced to rags. Luckily, he'd packed extra clothes, otherwise he'd be forced to walk around naked.
After changing and sitting by the campfire, Ryan began to think.
Clearly, this world was not as simple as he had imagined. He'd just arrived and already encountered a dangerous creature like a werewolf.
Who knew what other terrifying creatures might lurk here?
But that wasn't necessarily bad news. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Reloading his revolver and restoring himself to peak condition, he continued to explore.
If werewolves were here, there must be human villages nearby, otherwise werewolves would have starved long ago. Simple logic.
After walking for half an hour, he noticed a light in the distance. As he got closer, he saw that it was coming from a small wooden house.
"Is that Little Red Riding Hood outside?" a faint voice called from inside.
Little Red Riding Hood?
A question mark crossed Ryan's mind. He is obviously the 'Big Bad Wolf.'
After a pause, he answered slowly, "I am a lost traveler. It's dark, and I'd like to find a place to rest for the night."
"Traveler?" Muffled footsteps echoed from inside.
The door opened a crack and a pair of amber eyes peered out. A sturdy young man stood outside in the moonlight.
The old woman's eyes lit up, and she opened the door wider with a warm smile. "Come in, young man!"
Ryan glanced at her friendly face and relaxed slightly.
"Thank you," he said and stepped inside.