A bite.

Before long, the evening finally made its presence known, signaling the moment for Devon's leave. After switching back into his typical daytime attire, which primarily consisted of hooded sweatshirts, Devon settled his financial dues for the day's services.

While on his way, Devon found himself compelled to repeatedly recount the stack of money within his grasp. "Fifty dollars," he pondered silently, considering its adequacy in keeping potential threats at bay, his foremost concern.

Devon and his sister narrowly evaded the possibility of being relocated to an orphanage following their father's incarceration. Fortunately, their local neighborhood harbored a protective faction in the form of a nearby gang, serving as their shield against adversity.

Certainly, this situation put Devon in a financial bind, and since his associates weren't known for their polite payment requests, they often resorted to using force when collecting debts from others. Ultimately, Devon had no choice but to work twice as hard in order to settle his outstanding bill.

As night rapidly approached, numerous neighborhoods were shutting down for the evening. At this moment, Devon had to make a detour to a grocery store to purchase a few items for his sister.

"I've already dined at the restaurant; there's no need to worry about myself," Devon contemplated quietly. He exited the store with only a bag filled with groceries for his sister.

Although Devon could have purchased more for himself, he exercised prudence in how he spent his money, keeping an eye on future needs.

Now it was time for him to head home directly. By the time his shopping was completed, the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon, and the moon was now prominently visible in the sky.

Devon proceeded along his usual path when, out of the blue, a strong gust of wind swept past him. Something incredibly swift zipped by, but he still managed to catch a brief glimpse of it. However, all he discerned was a person with a curved back before they disappeared into the distance.

Perplexed, Devon pondered aloud, "What could that have been?"

Right at that moment, though, two cyclists raced down the street as if engaged in an impromptu contest, with the peculiar distinction that this was no ordinary street race. Devon took note of the hefty weapons slung behind them as they whizzed by.

Devon came to an abrupt halt, utterly flabbergasted.

"Why on earth would beast fighters be here in Vanceburg, a city with only three stars?" he mused, his astonishment deepening.

Cities and nations, he recalled, were categorized by stars, which correlated with their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the extent of development occurring within them. A one-star city possessed the lowest GDP and consequently experienced minimal development, while a two-star city represented a modest improvement over a one-star city.

The city with a three-star rating is a reasonably pleasant place to live in because it offers all the necessities one might require. While it may not be the absolute best place to reside, it certainly surpasses the quality of life in one-star or two-star cities.

When it comes to the four and five-star cities, Devon could only fantasize about ever residing in such luxurious locales. His surprise was palpable as he observed two bikers racing through the city streets.

It became increasingly clear to Devon that the bikers were on a mission, searching for someone. As for their intended target, he cast his gaze over the various pathways the mysterious figure had just dashed into.

"I might have the chance to witness a genuine beastly brawl," Devon pondered excitedly. With that thought in mind, he hastily retrieved his smartphone, poised to capture any potential clashes that might transpire.

"I can't let this opportunity slip away. Tomorrow, I'll undoubtedly boast about this to Kelvin," Devon mused about his friend, who possessed a fervent interest in beastly battles. He wondered how Kelvin would react upon learning that he had watched a live beastly showdown and even recorded it as undeniable proof...

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Devon cautiously made his way toward the maze-like pathway and cautiously peered inside. However, the sight that greeted him left him utterly bewildered.

What he beheld appeared to be an unclothed man, huddled on the ground, emitting peculiar, guttural sounds from his mouth.

A sudden surge of fear coursed through Devon, compelling him to consider fleeing from the eerie scene. Nonetheless, against his instincts, he inexplicably found himself inching closer to the enigmatic figure.

"Excuse me, sir... Are you alright, sir?" Devon inquired hesitantly, taking one measured step after another.

Abruptly, the unsettling groans ceased, and the figure slowly tilted its head to the side. Devon's gaze locked with the man's eerie, yellow eyes. At that moment, Devon couldn't shake the eerie sensation that he was gazing directly into the eyes of a formidable beast.

Before he could take any action, the unclothed man suddenly leaped onto him. His long fingernails viciously clawed at him.

Devon managed to evade the attack, stumbling backward onto his feet. However, without delay, he attempted to lift himself back up, yet he was met with an intense, stabbing pain in his neck.

His entire body tensed as the savage man sank his teeth into his neck.

In that very moment, Devon found himself witnessing his entire life rapidly flashing before his eyes.

"Is this the end? Is this how I meet my demise at the hands of a savage?" Devon pondered.

A flurry of images began to flicker before his eyes, and the tearful gaze of his sister appeared vividly. "No... I must survive. She cannot endure alone. I must be there for her," Devon thought to himself.

"Please," he managed to utter.

Meanwhile, the man who had sunk his teeth into Devon's neck ceased his assault as his sharp claws retreated.

"The unfortunate truth is, the young lad desires life, and I, too, have a longing for survival, necessitating your flesh," the man articulated, and concurrently, a faint radiance began to emanate from beneath Devon's garments.

Upon a more meticulous examination, the man swiftly ascertained the source of this glow.

"How...!" he began to question, yet before he could complete his sentence, the luminosity intensified, ultimately engulfing both him and Devon in its brilliance.

Meanwhile, several kilometers distant from the thoroughfare, two individuals clad in dark leather attire discerned a distant cry.

"Quickly," urged one of them, gesturing toward a specific direction. Without delay, they hastened their steps until they reached a wide path. Here, they were confronted with a disturbing sight - bloodstains were strewn across the ground, and there lay an only partially consumed corpse, drenched in a blood pool.

The two newcomers hurriedly approached the lifeless body. "This is rather peculiar," mused one, a man with a snowy-white mane of hair and a substantial axe slung across his back. "Despite the chaos, there are no clues to be found."

His companion voiced their concern, "Moreover, my beast detector is failing to detect any scent of a creature."

"It could be a malfunction," reasoned the white-bearded man, taking another contemplative look at the gruesome scene. "For now, we must contact the authorities, let them decide the course of action."

---

Meanwhile, deep within the woods, a young boy lay unconscious on the ground, vulnerable to the biting cold wind that sent shivers rippling through his body.

Before long, his eyelids began to flutter, and he slowly regained his awareness. As his vision cleared, he pondered, "What just happened?" Gently, his hand moved to his neck.

"Could it have been a dream?" Devon questioned.

Suddenly, an interface materialized before him. It displayed a message that left him bewildered:

[Congratulations, you have transformed into a werewolf]

Name - Devon Matt

Age - 16

Race - werewolf

Class - ???

Title - Shadow

[Hp 100]

[Strengths 5]

[Dexterity 5]

[Endurance 5]

"Werewolf?" Devon muttered, his mind racing with questions.