Beast Evolution Forge

"Today is the day, the day Vell faces off against Rana," Sara gulped, "I know he is strong but Rana is a whole different story, even the guild masters fear her."

The morning air was thick with tension as crowds filed into the arena. Sara had arrived hours early, yet still barely managed to secure her usual spot. The regular stands had filled up days ago – now people were paying extortionate prices just to stand in the aisles.

She understood why. In 3 years, no one had even scratched Rana's armor, let alone defeated her. The woman was more legend than person now, a shadow that descended into the arena only when truly worthy opponents appeared.

"Quite the turnout," Henry's voice startled her. She hadn't seen him approach.

"You look terrible," she observed. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and his usually immaculate guild uniform was wrinkled.

He attempted a smile that came out more like a grimace. "Haven't been sleeping well."

Before she could press further, a hush fell over the crowd. The arena doors were opening.

Rana entered first, and Sara felt the familiar chill that accompanied her presence. The woman's black armor seemed to devour light itself, each step accompanied by the subtle whir of enhanced joints. No weapon – she hadn't needed one since acquiring that armor. The stories said she'd killed a high-section noble for it, though no one dared ask her the truth.

Sara had seen Rana fight 2 times before. Each battle lasted less than a minute. Her opponents weren't just defeated – they were broken, their bodies and spirits crushed by forces they couldn't comprehend. The lucky ones survived. The others... well, the arena kept detailed records.

"3 years," Henry muttered beside her. "3 years without a single defeat. They say even Guild Master Lyon backed down when she challenged him last winter."

The opposite door opened, and Vell stepped out. Sara leaned forward, studying him intently. Gone was any pretense of the bumbling fighter. He walked with measured steps, his plain sword held loosely at his side. But something was different – there was an eagerness in his posture she hadn't seen before.

The air grew heavy as the two fighters took their positions. Rana's enhanced armor hummed quietly, the sound carrying in the dead silence of the arena. Vell stood perfectly still, watching her with undisguised interest.

"I've heard interesting things about you," she spoke, her voice distorted by her helm's respirator. The mechanical tone did nothing to hide her curiosity. "They say you're not what you appear to be."

"Funny," he replied, his voice carrying easily despite its softness. "I was about to say the same about you."

High above in the VIP section, the guild masters watched with obvious tension. Sara caught fragments of their whispered conversation carried on the breeze:

"...shouldn't have let it get this far..."

"...too late now..."

"...what if he actually..."

The referee, a small man who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else, raised his hand. The crowd held its collective breath.

FIGHT!!

Neither fighter moved.

Seconds stretched like hours as they studied each other, the air between them practically crackling with potential energy. Sara felt her hands growing slick with sweat as she gripped the railing.

"Well?" Rana's mechanical voice held a note of challenge. "Shall we begin?"

Vell's smile was barely perceptible. "Ladies first."

What happened next would be debated in taverns for months to come. Rana moved, her armor carrying her across the arena faster than most eyes could follow. Her first strike could have shattered stone.

It met empty air.

Vell didn't dodged – at least, no one saw him dodge. One moment he was there, the next he simply... wasn't.

"Interesting," his voice came from behind her. "That armor's faster than I expected."

She spun, her next attack already in motion. The ground beneath her feet cracked from the force as she launched a combination that had ended dozens of fights before.

This time, Sara could follow the movement, if barely. Vell wasn't just evading – he was studying, testing, learning with each exchange. His eyes tracked every strike with an intensity that sent chills down her spine.

The dance continued, neither fighter landing a solid blow, but Sara could see something building. Like pressure in a sealed vessel, the energy in the arena was reaching a breaking point.

Then Rana spoke again, and this time there was something new in her voice.

"Stop. Playing. Games."

The mechanical edge in her voice sharpened to a razor's point. Her armor hummed louder, panels sliding open to reveal intricate patterns of light beneath.

"You want to see what this armor can really do?" The ground beneath her feet began to crack, spreading outward in a spider-web pattern. "Fine."

Sara felt the air pressure change, making her ears pop. Henry grabbed her arm, pulling her back from the railing. "We need to move."

"What? Why—"

The explosion of power cut off her words. Rana's armor blazed with energy, the light so intense it left afterimages in Sara's vision. The arena's protective barriers flickered as they struggled to contain the surge.

"Full Enhancement: Liberation," her voice lost all humanity, becoming pure machine. Her armor shifted and expanded, pieces realigning into something more monstrous than protective. "Show me what you're hiding."

Vell didn't moved, but his expression changed. The casual interest was gone, replaced by something harder to read. "Finally getting serious?"

She answered with movement. The ground where she'd been standing exploded, unable to withstand the force of her launch. Her fist carried the power of a siege weapon.

This time, he moved to meet her.

The impact sent shockwaves through the arena. Those who had not retreated to safer distances were thrown off their feet. Sara braced herself against a pillar, refusing to look away.

Through the dust and debris, she saw something that made her blood run cold. Vell had caught Rana's punch. Not deflected, not dodged – caught it... bare-handed.

"Impossible," Rana's mechanical voice actually cracked. "This armor can shatter mountains."

"Can it?" His voice had changed too. Gone was any pretense of humanity. "How disappointing."

His grip tightened. Metal groaned.

"What... what are you?"

He smiled, "I have been so patient this past months, going along with this normal way of doing things but you have no idea how pissed off I was, losing on purpose made me want to kill everyone in this section but I held back, for my family's sake." His eyes changed color as he activated predator eyes.

"I was promised someone strong if I just make it up the ranks, so I kept up the facade but what is this? I was looking forward to facing you, thinking I can finally face someone strong but you are weak, just like all of them and my patience has run thin, I am tired of waiting." He gripped her so hard that her arm broke and then he threw her at the VIP room with so much force the barrier broke.

"Get down here you fuckers, I am sick of all this bullshit, I will just force you all into submission, no more slow plans." He threw a mana ball at them, destroying the entire room. They jumped into the arena, carrying the severely injured body of Rana.

"What's going on?"

"Has he lost his mind."

"Rana lost?"

"My money."

People began whispering among themselves on the situations but their voices meant nothing, Vell was focused on the players in front of him.

"What is the meaning of this?" One of them asked, trying to look calm to not drop his reputation with the audience.

Vell's laughter echoed through the arena, a sound devoid of warmth. "The meaning? I thought I made that quite clear." His eyes swept over the gathered guild masters, predatory and gleaming. "Your pitiful hierarchy ends today."

The guild master in golden armor stepped forward, his expression a mix of anger and curiosity. "You dare challenge all of us at once? Even you must realize the foolishness of such an action." Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

"Foolishness?" His smile widened. "No. What's foolish is how you've all grown complacent, hiding behind your titles and traditions." He gestured to Rana's broken form. "Look how easily your strongest warrior fell. You're all just as weak as she is."

The air crackled with tension as the guild masters spread out, forming a loose circle around him. Sara watched from above, her heart pounding. This was madness – even if Vell was stronger than they thought, facing all the guild masters at once was suicide.

"I'll make this simple," he continued, his voice carrying to every corner of the arena. "Submit to my authority now, and I'll let you keep your positions – under my leadership, of course. Refuse..." His eyes flashed dangerously. "Well, I'm sure you can guess the alternative."

The guild master in the shadowy cloak spoke, his voice razor-sharp. "You speak of breaking traditions, yet you're nothing but a common thug seeking power. We've dealt with your kind before."

"My kind? No. You've never dealt with anything like me." He raised his hand, and the air itself seemed to grow heavy. "Allow me to demonstrate the difference."

The first strike came from the guild master in golden armor – a blade of pure light that could cut through steel like paper. Vell didn't dodge. The attack hit him squarely in the chest... and dissipated like mist.

"Is that all?" He asked, disappointment evident in his voice.

"What's wrong with you? I was on your side, rooting for you so why are you causing all this chaos?

"You will thank me eventually, this all for your sake."

The arena erupted into chaos. The guild masters attacked as one. Light, shadow, fire, and forces beyond normal understanding converged on Vell's position.

For a moment, he disappeared in the maelstrom of power. The crowd held their breath, many believing they had just witnessed his end.

Then came the laughter.

The energies swirling around him were pushed back, scattered like leaves in a hurricane. He stood unchanged, not a hair out of place. "not bad."

He moved.

The guild master in golden armor barely had time to raise his defense before Vell's fist connected with his chest. The sound of breaking ribs echoed through the arena, followed by his body crashing into the far wall.

"One."