Beast Evolution Forge

Yenna crashed through the underbrush, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Vell's voice rang in her memory: "Stay calm!" Easy for him to say. He wasn't the one stumbling alone through a forest that felt alive with hostility.

She clutched her gauntlets, her fingers trembling as she tightened her grip. She had to find Vell. Being alone out here wasn't an option. "Focus, Yenna," she whispered, trying to still the frantic pounding of her heart. "You can do this."

She forced a deep breath, steadying herself, and broke into a run. Every step felt heavy, her fear making her clumsy. She tried to summon the mana Vell had taught her to harness—the strange, powerful energy that thrummed inside her—but it slipped from her grasp like water through her fingers. Panic clamped down on her concentration, and every attempt felt more hopeless than the last.

The writhing roots that attacked before now lay lifeless, but the silence left behind was worse. There was a strange energy in the air, like the calm before a storm. When her foot caught on a gnarled root, she stumbled, landing hard. She bit back a curse, her fear giving way to frustration.

She scrambled to her feet, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. Her chest heaved as her thoughts spiraled. The forest wasn't actively attacking her anymore, but it felt alive in a different way—like it was watching, waiting. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

She clenched her jaw. "No more," she muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I am not helpless, i told myself I have to be strong for him, i can look so pathetic."

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to focus on the mana again. It felt strange, almost alive—raw and potent, but distant, like it didn't trust her yet. Her desperation forged a fragile connection, a spark of understanding between her will and the energy coursing through her.

When she opened her eyes, they glowed faintly, an ethereal light that chased away some of the shadows. The forest seemed to still, its hostility replaced by something more watchful.

This time, she didn't run. She moved deliberately, her footsteps quieter, her breathing calmer. She raised her hands, and the air around her shimmered faintly, as if responding to her.

"Ok, enough hiding, come out."

Her blood ran cold as two glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows. The beast stepped into view—a massive creature with matted fur, its lips pulled back in a snarl that revealed jagged, yellowed teeth. It wasn't just a corrupted beast. It was bigger, more monstrous than any she'd seen before.

Her pulse spiked, but she didn't back down. She planted her feet, her hands steady, the faint glow around her intensifying. When the creature lunged, she moved—not out of panic, but with purpose. Her body flowed like water, dodging the swipe of its claws with a grace that surprised even her.

The beast roared in frustration, its attacks becoming wild, frenzied. But Yenna didn't flinch. She sidestepped its strikes, her movements precise and measured. Each dodge sharpened her focus, and with every heartbeat, she felt the mana within her stir, responding more readily to her will.

She raised a hand, and energy surged from her palm, forming a shimmering shield just in time to block the creature's lunge. The impact sent her skidding back, but the beast recoiled too, its snarl faltering. It hadn't expected that. Neither had she.

Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she pressed her advantage. She moved swiftly, striking with a power that didn't feel entirely her own. Her blows were focused, decisive, each one landing with a force that made the beast stagger.

"Something is strange" she realized, a strange warmth settling over her. 'It's like I am using his power, like he is here with me, guiding me on the next move, I feel...strong and confident.'

The beast lunged again, but this time, she didn't wait. She met it head-on, releasing a burst of energy that sent it reeling. It snarled, but its movements were slower now, its aggression faltering. Yenna didn't stop. Each strike, each burst of mana, made her stronger, more sure of herself.

She circled the beast, her breaths deep and steady, her gauntlets glowing faintly. The creature snarled, shaking its head as if trying to shake off her last strike, but she could see the hesitation in its eyes. It was wounded, tiring.

Her movements shifted, becoming instinctive, fluid. She felt her body responding in ways she had almost forgotten—her muscles coiled, her steps light, deliberate and feline. The mana inside her wasn't just fueling her strength; it was sharpening her senses.

The beast lunged again, its claws swiping in a desperate arc. She leapt to the side, landing on her toes with a predator's grace. Her gauntlets crackled with energy as she crouched low, her glowing eyes locked on the creature. It turned to face her, its heavy breathing matching her own.

She pounced.

Springing forward, she closed the distance in an instant. Her gauntlets swung upward, striking the beast's jaw with a resounding crack. It howled, stumbling back, but se didn't let up. She darted under its guard, her strikes swift and deliberate. She moved like a hunting cat, her body weaving around the beast's claws and fangs with uncanny precision.

Her final blow was decisive. She vaulted over the creature, her gauntlets slashing downward as she flipped, leaving glowing trails of energy in their wake. The beast roared in agony, its massive form crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact. It lay still, its eyes dimming as the corrupted energy drained from its body.

She landed gracefully.

Her chest heaved as she took in the scene, the forest unnaturally quiet now. She had won, but her muscles trembled with the exertion, and her mind reeled from what she had just done.

A moment of triumph flickered within her—before a new sound sent a shiver down her spine.

"Impressive," it drawled, each word dripping with malice. "But you're far from done."

She froze, her eyes darting toward the shadows. Her glowing gauntlets flared brighter as she raised them defensively, scanning the forest for the source of the voice until she disappeared and reappeared somewhere else.

"Welcome to my domain, I choose you as my prey."