章節 3: Chapter 3: The Journey begins

Few months passed since James arrived in the small Canadian town, life had settled into a comfortable routine. The town itself was quiet, a place where the biggest excitement was the occasional market day or a new shipment of supplies from the city. James found the simplicity refreshing, a stark contrast to the chaotic world he'd been thrust into.

James spent his days helping Henry McCoy with various tasks around the town.

Henry was well-respected, not just for his skills as a doctor but also for his deep understanding of the land and the people who lived on it. Mary McCoy, with her warm demeanor and sharp wit, quickly became a maternal figure for James, reminding him of the family he'd left behind in his old life. Hank, though still in training to follow in his father's footsteps, became a close friend.

Though James kept his true nature hidden, he didn't neglect his powers. He found the nearby woods to be the perfect place to practice, and trained his powers.

Over time, he mastered the control over his Alpha Werewolf form, learning to summon it at will and suppress it when needed. His hybrid form became second nature.

James was especially proud of his bone claws. He had tested them against rocks and trees, finding that they cut through solid stone and wood with ease.

Pushing his experiments further, he tested his claws on various metals he could find in the town, including iron, steel, and even some more obscure alloys and guess what, his claws sliced through all of them effortlessly.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, James began to feel a sense of peace that had eluded him for so long. The world of 1898 was far removed from the threats he knew would one day arise in the future. There were no supervillains, no intergalactic wars, no global catastrophes. Just the simple life of a small town, where his biggest concerns were keeping his secret and helping the McCoy family.

In his quiet moments, James thought he could afford to relax, to enjoy the calm before the inevitable storm in few decades.

---

James lay in bed, the peaceful ambiance of his new home lulling him into a deep sleep after a fulfilling dinner with the McCoy family. The night was quiet, and the only sounds were the soft rustling of winds and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Just as he was drifting off, a sharp, metallic scent pierced the calm—blood, and not just any blood, but human blood.

His eyes snapped open, and instinct took over. He sprang from his bed, moving with the speed of a predator.

In a fluid motion, he leapt through the window and landed softly on the roof of the house.

He looked at a certain direction and leaped from the roof, following the scent of blood which guided him as he darted through the night, moving at speed invisible to human eye.

The trail led him to a secluded alleyway at the edge of town. When James arrived, he froze in shock. A man was hunched over the lifeless body of a young woman, drinking her blood.

"Vampire…" James murmured in disbelief. He had not expected to encounter such a creature here.

The vampire looked up, his eyes glowing with a predatory hunger. His fangs were bared, dripping with blood. "What's a wolf doing in this town?" he sneered. "I thought all your kind went into hiding after Romulus fell."

James felt a jolt at the mention of Romulus, but he didn't fully understand the context. He needed answers but first, he had to deal with this vampire.

The vampire tossed the woman's body aside with casual disdain, her bloodied body hit the ground with a grim thud. He advanced toward James slowly, narrowing his eyes. "Since you're here, let's get rid of you."

James didn't hesitate and extended his claws as he leaped into action. The vampire tried to retaliate, but James found the creature's movements slow and clumsy compared to his own. It was as if he was fighting a child.

James dodged and struck with precision. He overpowered the vampire, slashing at his limbs. With a swift motion, he severed the vampire's arm, the severed limb falling to the ground with a sickening thud. The vampire howled in pain but James's didn't care.

The fight was disappointing to James as he incapacitated the vampire by severing both of its legs. He then grabbed the vampire by the neck and, with a burst of speed, dragged him into the forest to avoid any unwanted attention.

Once they were deep within the woods, James threw the vampire to the ground. The creature, now dismembered, was in no position to fight back. His defiance was met with James's cold, unwavering gaze.

"Who are you?" James demanded, his voice low and fierce. "What did you mean Romulus fall? What's going on?"

The vampire snarled and struggled, but James wasn't interested in his threats. He pressed his foot down on the vampire's remaining arm, applying just enough pressure to crack the bone.

"You're going to tell me everything," James said with his eyes glowing red. "Or you'll wish you had never been born."

The vampire, once confident and menacing, now cowered under the weight of James's fear induction. His bravado had been stripped away, leaving only a desperate creature clinging to its life.

"Alright, alright!" the vampire croaked, his voice trembling. "I'll talk. Just stop that… that thing."

James stopped the fear induction, though he kept a watchful eye on the vampire. "Start from the beginning. What's going on between your kind and the werewolves?"

The vampire swallowed hard, his gaze darting around the dark forest. "It's been a bloody feud for decades. The vampires and werewolves have been at each other's throats for as long as anyone can remember. But things changed when Dracula, the vampire prince, declared full war on the werewolfs and defeated and killed Romulus—the progenitor of the werewolves—years ago."

James listened intently, his eyes narrowing. "Go on."

The vampire continued, his voice shaky. "The fight between Dracula and Romulus was fierce, almost apocalyptic. In the war many vampires and werewolves were slaughtered, leaving both our kinds on the brink of extinction. Dracula emerged victorious, but the battle had drained him. He lost most of his strength and died just a few months after the fight."

James listened intently, piecing together the history. "So after Dracula's death, what happened to the vampires?"

"Without Dracula, the vampires were left in disarray," the vampire explained. "we were hunted down by humans who saw them as a threat. With our numbers dwindling and no leader to guide us, we were driven into hiding. I am one of the few remaining."

James absorbed this information, his mind racing. "If vampires are so few, why don't they just make more vampires? Isn't that how you usually increase your numbers?"

The vampire's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you a fool? Only Dracula had the power to turn humans into vampires. Similarly, Romulus could turn humans into werewolves. With both of them dead, our ability to reproduce our kind effectively vanished. It's not as simple as you might think."

"So," James said, his voice steady, "you're saying the fight has nearly wiped out both species, and now you're just trying to survive."

"Exactly," the vampire admitted, his tone resigned. "With the leaders gone, our people have been scattered. Many were killed by humans or other predators. The few of us left are trying to make do, hiding from the world and avoiding attention."

The vampire's confession gave James a clearer understanding of the fragile state of both species.

James tightened his foot on the Vampire body, then he used his fear induction to intensify the vampire's terror. "And what happened to the werewolves after that?Speak! What else do you know?"

The vampire, his face twisted in agony, stammered out his final secrets. "The daughter of Romulus, she's the one keeping the werewolves in hiding."

James's eyes narrowed. "The daughter of Romulus?"

"She has led the remaining werewolves," the vampire explained, his voice trembling. "She's kept them hidden"

He now suspects Thai guy maybe here for her.

"Why are you here?" James asked. "What's the reason for your presence in this town?"

The vampire's gaze dropped to the ground. "I was hiding. I thought this town would be safe. But my hunger… it drove me to desperation. I didn't mean to draw attention."

James stood in silence, contemplating the vampire's words.

"So," James said finally, "you've told me what I needed to know. But don't think this means you're getting off easy."

The vampire looked up, his eyes pleading. "Please… I've told you everything. Let me go."

James shook his head. "You're a danger to anyone you encounter. I can't let you go. I'm sorry."

James didn't want to kill anyone, he is not a Chinese protagonist who kills someone if they sneeze.

But he knew that if this guy survived, he will different tell others about him and that will bring trouble. He's not afraid of it but he wants to have a peaceful life and prepare for what's about to come.

James unsheathed his bone claws and in one swift motion he sliced the neck, ending the vampire's life.

He then grabbed the vampire's body and dragged it to a nearby clearing. He set it alight, the flames quickly engulfing the corpse and casting an eerie glow in the surrounding darkness.

As the fire blazed, James stood in silence, watching the flames dance. He knows now this really is alternative universe and many things won't go as planned.

As the last of the flames flickered out, James made his way back toward the town. The night had brought him new knowledge and new challenges, and he was prepared to face whatever came next.

---

The days following the discovery of the young woman's body were fraught with unease. The town was abuzz with speculation and whispers.

Many residents feared that vampires or werewolves were responsible for the gruesome act, but most dismissed these as mere fairy tales.

The police, unable to find any solid leads, quickly moved on, leaving the town with a lingering sense of dread.

As time passed, the town began to return to a semblance of normalcy. The months turned into years, and the once-urgent whispers faded into the backdrop of everyday life.

Hank MacCoy, after years of rigorous training, finally completed his internship and became a full-fledged doctor. He took up a position in the clinic alongside his father, Henry MacCoy, marking a significant milestone in his career. The MacCoy family continued their work, contributing to the health and well-being of the town's residents.

James, for his part, spent the years both observing and actively shaping his new world. He took occasional trips outside the town.

One of the trip involved a group of robbers who crossed paths with him.

The confrontation was swift and decisive. James, using his enhanced abilities, not only dealt with the robbers but he often turned the tables, robbing the robbers and leaving a trail of misfortune for those they knew.

Then he choose the career of bounty hunter and rob the robbers and all those they know of. Leaving him with lots of money.

With his newfound wealth, James made a significant investment in the town. He purchased a plot of land and began constructing a house. The process was extensive, taking nearly two years to complete, but James's patience and determination paid off. By the end of the construction, he had a residence that suited his needs and preferences.

Throughout this period, James continued to monitor the town, remaining vigilant for any signs of werewolves or vampires. However, his efforts yielded no new encounters. The supernatural threats he had once feared seemed to be in hiding, leaving James to focus on his new life.

With his house completed and his vigilance maintained, James decided it was time for a new adventure.

He bid farewell to the MacCoy family, expressing his gratitude for their hospitality and friendship. He also left the house for them, keeping it safe untill he comes back.

The MacCoys, though saddened by his departure, understood his desire for exploration and wished him well.

Hank patted James on the back. "Safe travels, my friend. We'll be here if you ever need to come back."

James took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "Goodbye, everyone. I'll see you again."

James set out on a world trip, leaving the town behind.