Lucas pushed lightly on the stone door—
and it swung open immediately.
Inside, he saw Jack Russell.
"Don't—!"
Jack tried to warn him,
but Lucas had already stepped inside.
BANG!
The stone door slammed shut behind him.
Lucas blinked.
"Don't what?
You shout 'don't' right when I appear—
you make it sound like I'm some creepy old perv sneaking in."
Jack sighed helplessly.
"I meant—don't open the door."
Too late.
Lucas turned.
The door was sealed shut, as if locked by ancient mechanisms.
"Huh…?"
He pushed it.
Didn't budge.
So even Americans knew how to install tomb traps.
Amazing.
Jack shook his head.
"You won't open it from the inside.
I tried everything.
No mechanism.
It's locked tight."
Lucas studied him.
"You don't seem worried at all."
Jack's expression was weary—
but not afraid.
"You should be the one worried.
Tonight… is the full moon.
That means trouble.
For you."
Lucas raised a brow.
"Oh?
From the way you say that,
you gonna transform at midnight or something?
You a werewolf?"
He even imitated a wolf howl.
Jack did not find it funny.
"Yes.
I am a werewolf.
When the time comes, I lose control.
I will attack you.
I don't want that to happen."
Lucas froze.
Jack Russell.
Werewolf.
Jack Russell.
"Oh sh—!!"
He suddenly yelled,
startling Jack.
Jack flinched.
What the hell? I haven't transformed yet. Why is HE freaking out first?
Lucas slapped his forehead.
Jack Russell…
the protagonist of the Marvel special Werewolf by Night.
No wonder his name sounded familiar.
Cursed family.
Transforms under the full moon.
Loses consciousness.
Becomes a primal hunting beast.
Eventually regains his human mind in beast form,
joins the Midnight Sons,
becomes a hero—
But this Jack clearly hadn't reached that point yet.
Hence the warning.
Lucas wasn't worried, though.
He was more concerned about accidentally stabbing Jack to death.
"Relax.
When you attack me later,
I'll beat you back to your senses."
Jack blinked.
That made absolutely no sense.
Jack suddenly sniffed.
As a werewolf, his instincts told him—
Lucas wasn't here for inheritance.
"I don't think you're here for the Bloodstone.
So I want to cooperate."
"Oh?" Lucas asked.
"How?"
"I'm here to save my friend.
I need your help."
Lucas's expression changed slightly.
"You mean the Man-Thing?
He's your friend?"
Jack hesitated—
then nodded.
"You know him?"
"Of course.
I came here for him."
Lucas explained everything.
The interdimensional breach.
The vampires leaking through.
The need to return Man-Thing to the dimensional gate.
Jack was stunned—
Lucas even knew the gate's secret.
He fully believed him now.
"Then please—help me save him first.
Then I'll leave with him."
Lucas nodded.
"Let's get out of here."
Winds circled his body.
Twin blades of air formed—
BOOM!!
The stone door sliced apart cleanly as tofu,
toppling with a shake.
The cut was mirror-smooth.
Jack stepped out behind Lucas just as the full moon rose overhead.
A burning sensation tore through him—
he dropped to his knees.
Lucas glanced up.
Perfect full moon.
Jack's transformation had begun.
"Lucas—
remember—
when you see me later—
look me in the eyes.
Don't forget—!"
He staggered away into the shadows—
hair sprouting, limbs bending—
leaving Lucas standing in the wind, speechless.
---
Elsewhere
Elsa entered a hedge maze.
Midway through,
a huge hand shot out—
grabbing her.
A tentacled, bulbous head rose from the foliage.
Man-Thing.
Elsa jolted—
but quickly steadied herself.
She had seen far worse monsters.
Then she noticed the red gem embedded in his back—
glowing in rhythm with the Bloodstone over her heart.
The two pieces resonated.
Just then—
Jack lunged out of the bushes.
"Ted! Stop!
She's a friend!"
Man-Thing instantly released her.
Jack staggered forward—
fur already covering his face.
"I'll make it quick—
Lucas and I are working together to get you out."
He fumbled in his pocket—
pulling out a small bomb
with hands that were already turning into claws.
"I'm going to blast the Bloodstone off your back,
then blow a hole in the wall.
Then we run."
He reached toward Man-Thing's back—
bomb in hand.
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