Beast Evolution Forge

Henry froze, not daring to move a muscle. In all his years of combat, he'd never felt killing intent like this. It wasn't just the cold steel against his throat—it was the overwhelming presence behind him, a bottomless well of power that made his knees want to buckle.

"I..." He started to speak, but the words died in his throat as the pressure intensified. The air itself seemed to grow heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

"You know," Vell's voice came soft and measured, almost friendly, "I've worked very hard to maintain this little charade. It would be... unfortunate if someone were to compromise that."

The beast girl watched from her position by the fountain, her earlier playful demeanor replaced by an unsettling stillness.

Henry had always prided himself on his strength. He'd fought in countless battles, earned respect in said battles, but this—this was different. The power radiating from Vell felt... wrong, unknowable. Like staring into an abyss that stared right back.

"If even a whisper of my true nature reaches another's ears," he continued, his blade pressing just enough to draw a single drop of blood, "I will ensure that everyone you've ever cared about, everyone you've ever loved, disappears. Slowly. One by one. And you'll live to see it all, knowing it was your loose tongue that condemned them."

The threat wasn't delivered with rage or malice—that would have been easier to handle. Instead, he spoke with the calm certainty of someone stating simple facts, like describing the weather.

"Do we understand each other?"

Henry managed a slight nod, his throat dry. "Y-yes."

"Good." The sword disappeared from his neck as quickly as it had appeared. Henry stumbled forward, catching himself against the wall, his hand instinctively going to his throat. When he turned around, Vell was already walking away, his gait once again assuming that clumsy, uncertain quality he'd shown in the arena.

The beast girl lingered for a moment longer, her eyes meeting Henry's. There was something like pity in her gaze, but also a warning. Then she too was gone, leaving him alone with the weight of what he'd witnessed—and the knowledge that he could never speak of it to anyone.

His legs finally gave out, and he slid down the wall, his whole body trembling. In just a few moments, his entire worldview had been shattered. There were powers in this world far beyond what he'd imagined, and he'd just had a terrifying glimpse of one of them.

'What kind of monster is he?' He thought, watching his own hands shake. 'And what game is he playing at?'

He finally managed to stand, his legs still unsteady beneath him. The walk home felt longer than ever before, each shadow seeming to hide potential threats. His mind kept replaying that moment—the impossible speed with which Vell had appeared behind him, that bottomless well of power that had made breathing itself a challenge.

'I should report this,' the thought crept into his mind as he climbed the stairs to his apartment. 'The guild masters need to know about someone this powerful hiding among us.' But even as he considered it, a chill ran down his spine. Something deep in his gut told him that would be the last mistake he'd ever make.

He reached his apartment door, fumbling with the key several times before managing to unlock it. Inside, he slumped against the closed door, sliding down to sit on the floor. His hands were still shaking.

'What guild master could stand against that?' he wondered, remembering the casual way Vell had delivered his threat. 'That wasn't just strength—that was something else entirely. Something terrifying. Maybe the 10 players can?'

He stayed there for a long while, trying to make sense of what had happened. Finally, he dragged himself to his feet and poured a strong drink. As he stared out his window at the city lights, one thing became crystal clear: he would take this secret to his grave. The alternative didn't bear thinking about.

The next morning, he met his friend outside the guild hall, trying his best to appear normal despite having barely slept.

"Man, did you see that fight yesterday?" his friend exclaimed, slapping him on the back. "That rookie actually won! I lost a bunch of money betting against him."

Henry forced a laugh, "Yeah, quite surprising."

"Hey, want to grab a drink? That beast girl makes the best cocktails in town."

Henry's stomach churned at the suggestion, but refusing would only raise questions. "Sure, why not?"

The familiar warmth of the bar felt different now, tainted by what he knew. As they pushed through the door, the beast girl looked up from wiping glasses, her bright smile exactly as warm and welcoming as always.

"Welcome back!" she called out cheerfully, her tail swishing behind her. "The usual for both of you?"

Henry couldn't help but search her expression for any hint of last night's events, any crack in her cheerful facade. But there was nothing—just the same friendly barmaid everyone knew and loved.

"Y-yeah, thanks," he managed, sliding onto his usual stool. His friend immediately launched into animated chatter about the tournament's other matches, but Henry found himself watching the beast girl as she prepared their drinks. Her movements were graceful and precise, just like always. If he hadn't seen her last night, hadn't heard her speaking to Vell...

She set their drinks down, flashing another bright smile. "Here you go! By the way, did you catch yesterday's matches? That rookie's victory was quite something, wasn't it?"

Her eyes met his for just a fraction of a second—long enough for him to catch the faintest glimmer of amusement, a knowing look that made his blood run cold.

"Yeah, really unexpected," Henry's friend continued, oblivious to the tension. "I heard he's fighting again today. Maybe lightning will strike twice, eh?"

The beast girl giggled, polishing a glass with practiced ease. "Who knows? Sometimes people can really surprise you." She winked at Henry, who nearly choked on his drink.

"You okay there?" his friend asked, patting his back.

"Fine, just went down the wrong way," he coughed, avoiding the girl's gaze.

The door chimed as more customers entered, and the beast girl moved away to serve them. He watched as she effortlessly charmed the newcomers, her laugh ringing through the bar. How many others in this city were like her and Vell? Hidden powers walking among them, wearing friendly masks?

"Earth to Henry!" His friend waved a hand in front of his face. "You've been spacing out all morning. What's up with you?"

"Just... tired. Didn't sleep well."

"Thinking about recruiting again? You know, after yesterday's matches, maybe you should try approaching some of the rookies. That Vell guy might be worth—"

"No!" He said too quickly, too loudly. Several heads turned their way. He lowered his voice, "I mean, no, I don't think that's a good idea."

His friend raised an eyebrow. "Why not? He won his match, didn't he? Better than the last few recruits you tried to get."

The beast girl drifted back their way, seemingly focused on arranging bottles but clearly within earshot. Henry could feel a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"I just... don't think he'd be a good fit. That's all."

"Since when are you so picky? Your guild needs—"

"I said no!" He snapped, then immediately regretted it as his friend stared at him in shock. From the corner of his eye, he saw the beast girl pause in her work, just for a moment.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them. He took a long drink, wishing he could take back his outburst. But how could he explain? How could he tell his friend that approaching Vell would be like walking into a dragon's den?

Suddenly, the bar's crystal display flickered to life, the tournament's flashy logo spinning across the screen. The announcer's booming voice filled the room, breaking the tension.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Day two of our grand tournament is about to begin! After yesterday's shocking upsets, what surprises await us today?"

The entire bar's attention turned to the display, where highlights from yesterday's matches played. Henry's stomach turned as they showed clips of Vell's "lucky" victory.

"Today's matches promise even more excitement! Starting in just one hour, we have—first up, the mysterious rookie sensation Vell, taking on the 'Lightning Blade' Sara! Will his incredible luck hold out against her famous speed?"

The beast girl turned up the volume slightly, her tail swishing with apparent interest.

"Following that match, we have..."

Henry barely heard the rest of the announcements. Sara was ranked in the top 50. She was known for ending matches in seconds, her sword strikes too fast for most opponents to even see. And yet...

"Oh man," his friend whistled, "Sara's going to destroy him. No amount of luck can save him from her speed. Want to place a bet? I'm definitely putting money on Sara this time."

Several other patrons voiced their agreement, already pulling out betting slips. The beast girl hummed to herself as she started collecting wagers.

"Coming up to the betting counter?" his friend asked, standing up.

Henry gripped his glass tighter, "No... no, I think I'll sit this one out."

"Your loss," his friend shrugged, making his way to where the beast girl was cheerfully recording bets with that same innocent smile.

The announcer's voice continued to fill the bar: "Just forty-five minutes until the first match! Don't miss what could be the fastest victory in tournament history! Will our lucky rookie's cinderella story come to an end?"

'No,' Henry thought, watching the beast girl collect bet after bet, her knowing smile never wavering. 'It won't.'