Beast Evolution Forge

Chapter 7 Snap

'Hey, this might be bad. Did we really have to run?'

[Yes, it was too risky to stay there.]

'Shit, I can't believe we ran from the Association, one of the biggest powers in the world.'

[..... we should hide in a dungeon. There you can finally use your skills to their fullest and become stronger.]

'Haahh, damnit, my life is the worst.'

He hid in a rundown building, catching his breath and planning his next move. If he wanted to enter, he needed a way to bypass the verification that was done before people entered. He thought it over long and hard but couldn't think of anything; only registered players were allowed inside.

[I know what you are worried about, but there's no need to fret. You simply need to tame a stealthy beast. Do that, and you will gain that skill for yourself.]Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"But where am I supposed to find a beast outside the dungeons and towers?"

[Hm? Master, what do you think a beast is?]

"What do you mean? A beast is just a monster, right?"

[That's true, but why do you think beasts are only monsters? What is the definition of a beast?]

He thought about it and realized that maybe he was thinking about this the wrong way.

"...I see, so that means any animal can be considered a beast?"

[Now you get it. All living things except humans can be classified as beasts, so you know where I'm going with this, right?]

"Yeah, I get it. I know the perfect animal for the job."

Since he grew up in this city, he knew all the spots where he could find stray or abandoned animals, but that was not his goal. His goal was to go to a special place for him, a large tree close to the edge of the city; there he would find the animal he needed.

He jumped out and ran through the city, avoiding the eyes of people so they wouldn't recognize him. It was an easy enough task; he just took the sewers. Despite what people thought, the sewers in this place were always clean thanks to magic. He navigated the maze-like system with ease; it was as natural as breathing, and for the first time in months, he felt true warmth in his heart.

"I did so much down here: ditching school, stealing, sex... ahhh, the good times."

He came across many familiar spots, especially the carvings they had made. His pace slowed as he let himself feel everything, but as he turned around a corner, he spotted his friends drinking and laughing.

'Shit, I was so distracted that I didn't sense them sooner.'

Before he could turn back, one of them noticed him and called him over, waving like an idiot.

"I wonder... no proof was ever brought forward. I wasn't even given a chance to defend myself. It felt as if this was all planned to ruin my life. But who knows? Maybe I am wrong. I want to know why my best friends didn't give me a chance either, especially you. I expected at least to be asked for my side of the story."

He looked at his ex-girlfriend, who was crying. The moment he stopped talking, he could sense their nervousness as they began stuttering, confirming his suspicions. This was someone's doing. The look in his eyes changed; it turned cold, and he struggled to hold himself back.

[Master, calm down. Remember the objective.]

'You are right. Let's get out of here.'

He began walking past them, but they couldn't keep their mouths shut.

"You killed your best friend, you fucking psycho. He was only . How could you? How could you end such an inn—"

He grabbed one of the girls' mouths and squeezed tightly before throwing her into the wall with such force that it killed her on impact.

'Sorry, system, but I can't let this slide.'

He glared at his friends as they stood there, stunned by the sight of their dead friend.

"You know, I've thought about this for a long time: how should I get my revenge on the people who stabbed me in the back, the people I cared about? I thought really hard about this, but part of me still wanted to try to talk to you guys. I guess it won't work out. I'm not sure what deal you made or with whom, but just for making my life a living hell, you will all pay with your lives."

He disappeared from sight, reappearing among them, grabbing his ex's face, and slamming her to the ground.

"Sorry to ruin your pretty face, bae."

He pressed her deeper into the ground until her head was completely out of sight.

"Now then, guys, what kind of death should I give you?"

They wasted no time and ran.

He watched them scramble, fear and betrayal etched on their faces as they tripped over one another in their frantic escape. His chest heaved with a mix of emotions: rage, sorrow, and something dangerously close to satisfaction. But he couldn't allow himself to lose control completely, not when he was already on the wrong side of this fight. One wrong move, and he'd be hunted down by everyone in the city, labeled even worse than he already was.

[Master, remember your objective. This is a waste of time; we should leave immediately.]

He exhaled slowly; the system was right. Revenge felt good in the moment, but he had a bigger goal. This distraction was tempting, but he couldn't let it control him; however...

"I understand, but I can't let them live after coming this far. If rumors spread, it will be a disaster."

He glanced over to where they were fleeing and slowly walked toward them, picking up two bottles between his fingers. He tightened his grip and threw them with terrifying accuracy, strength, and speed. One of them sensed something heading their way, and the moment he looked back, a bottle pierced his eye, reaching his brain. The last thing he saw was his friend falling lifelessly to the ground.

"...my heart aches. Was this really the right choice?"