Werewolf

"What is more terrifying than a hunter who can hide under the guise of a friendly face? Make you feel secure and comfortable with no worries? They are hiding the beast underneath the mask; ready to strike, to hunt and eventually...to devour you. That is a Werewolf; a hunter."

- Werewolves Werewolf (狼男, Ōkamiotoko), also known as Lycanthrope (オオカミ人間, Ōkami Ningen, Greek for "Wolf Man"), are a sub-species of Werebeasts, and are one of the most known and feared among the species. Known most for their ability to shapeshift between their human and beast form, they are believed to be rare, or even non-existent due to their natural ability to hide and disguise themselves as humans, and perfectly fit into human society without being noticed.

They are often, if not always, depicted as being a rival to the Vampire race, but whether that is true or not was never confirmed.

Conversion
A werewolf bite, or even a scratch from their claws, is enough to "infect" a creature, and become a werewolf. However, the transformation varies between races. Unlike popular belief, Werewolves are capable of converting more than just humans into their species. Animals are also affected by this, and are the most vulnerable.

If a human is bit or injured by a werewolf, it would take 24 hours after being bit for it to become permament, and until the next Full Moon for their first transformation to occur. This, however, only happens without intervention of the werewolf who bit them. A werewolf can force its victim to instantly transform into a full fledged werewolf, however, doing so has a massive risk of killing the victim, due to the body not yet adapting fully to the werewolf "venom". Few who can survive the forced transformation are believed to have the potential to become powerful werewolves in the future.

The case is similar with animals, with the only difference being, animals became werewolves much quicker than humans, but are less likely to survive a forced transformation. The reason behind this isn't entirely clear, but is believed to be because werewolves are said to be ancestors of actual wolves, animals themselves, thus the "venom" adapts quicker in animals, unlike humans. But that is still debatable. Animals also lack the ability to become wolf hybrids, instead only having the ability to shapeshift into the complete wolf form.

The only known beings to be immune to the Werewolf venom are Demons, as it proves ineffective, and the venom cannot adapt to the Demon body, and instead fades overtime, with no ill effects. This also applies for those infected with Black Blood for long enough periods of time, as they become immune to the venom as well, much like an actual Demon. Even if a Werewolf and Demon were to have a child, the child would simply lack any Werewolf traits, even if it inherits more from the Werewolf parent, thus a "true" Werewolf-Demon hybrid remains impossible.

Interestingly, the scars left by the Werewolf's bite or claws remain, even after the victim becomes a full fledged Werewolf. While the actual cause or reason behind this is unclear, it serves as a way to tell apart between a Werewolf and a turned Werewolf.

True
A True Werewolf is essentially a Werewolf who wasn't turned by another Werewolf. In short, an "original" Werewolf who was born one. While not vastly different in appearance, True Werewolves are said to have better shapeshifting abilities, and have much more animalistic traits, even in human form, but mainly in their behaviour, rather than their appearance.

Many rumors and theories concern the actual origin of True Werewolves, with many being debatable and none being confirmed. The theories range from being wolves who evolved to become better hunters, while others are the opposite, humans who became wolves. One of the more common theories is that True Werewolves are all wolves who have acquired the ability to use Magic, and thus shapeshift into their monstrous forms. However, it is also dismissed, because it is shown that Werewolves do not rely on Magic energy to shapeshift.

In the end, it is universally accepted that the True Werewolves are the ones who began the cycle of creatures being converted into Werewolves temselves.

Turned
Also known as "False" Werewolf. These are humans, or animals, who were turned into Werewolves by being bit or slashed by a Werewolf. They are commonly viewed as being "inferior", which is false, as the strength of even True Werewolves varies. The only difference between the two is their shapeshifting abilities.

Turned Werewolves are commonly pack members, under the leadership of the one who turned them, being controlled against their will, or having no control whatsoever as wolves. Thus, they are stuck within the pack unwillingly, unless they become capable of controlling their Werewolf powers and form, breaking free and abandoning the pack.

Nutrition
Werewolves are natural hunters, and are carnivores, much like the wolves themselves. As such, they are known to only consume meat, but unlike the animal, they are capable of consuming any meat, even of other wolves, and humans as well. They are known for having a large appetite, and can consume large amounts of meat, even in human form, and even after being full.

This does, however, mean that Werewolves still require their food in order to survive, making their immortality not absolute. A Werewolf, regardless whether it is a "true" or "false" one, can survive almost a year without any food, but only a month without water, but even then, the Werewolf becomes severely weakened after long periods of time without any nutrition, and become easier to kill.

Characteristics
Being shapeshifters, Werewolves can easily change their form between three forms; a human, a wolf, and their famous wolf-human hybrid form, a Werewolf. Their human forms function as disguises, not ones they create, but ones they are born with, and have their own unique face, just like any other human or animal born. Werewolves, most commonly True Werewolves, that are master shapeshifters, can allow their animalistic traits to become visible, even if it is merely their ears, tail, eyes or fangs.

Werewolves tend to keep their canine behaviour, even in Human form, however, it depends solely on the Werewolf's will and capability of holding back their natural instinct and urges.

Physical Prowess
Werewolves are known for being incredibly powerful creatures. Even in human form, a Werewolf's physical strength is enough to overpower a human with ease, and even break bones and walls with punches. A Werewolf's physical strength varies between forms, while the human form being the "weakest" and the full wolf form being the strongest.

Their speed is also remarkable, being capable of outrunning their prey with ease. Their speed also varies, and changes in accordance to their form, with their full wolf form being the fastest, as well as the strongest physically.

However, that applies mostly for the average Werewolf. There exists Werewolves whom are capable of becoming even more powerful than that. Their strength tends to come with their age, the longer they've lived and hunted, the stronger they became.

Even in human form, Werewolves boast inhuman strength and speed, even if their human bodies aren't muscular or well built.

Trivia

 * This was approved by Per.