Beast Evolution Forge

Chapter 98 Guardians 5

Kana moved like a shadow, every sense sharp, trying to find everyone else. Her surroundings was quiet, too quiet. It wasn't peace; it was a threat, the kind that tightened her grip on her sword, its familiar weight grounding her.

"Vell?" she called, her voice barely carrying through the dense foliage. Silence. Unease coiled in her stomach. They were separated, scattered like leaves in a storm. Exactly what they'd been trying to avoid. She cursed under her breath and kept moving.

Every step was careful, her eyes sweeping the shadows. The air smelled damp and earthy, but something else clung to it too—sharp, acrid, like burnt sugar. It turned her stomach.

'Focus.' she told herself. 'Panicking won't help.'

She had to find the others—especially Vell. Not that he needed protection; he was more than capable. But the thought of being alone in this cursed forest, surrounded by creatures that could rip her apart, chilled her. And deep down, she needed to prove herself—to him, to herself—that she wasn't the same reckless girl he once knew.

A low growl cut through the silence. Her heart slammed against her ribs as she spun, sword raised. From the shadows, two crimson eyes glowed like embers. A shape emerged, hulking and shifting as if made of living smoke.

She froze. The creature's body, was a patchwork of fur and scales, its limbs ending in claws dripping with thick, black ichor. The acrid stench grew stronger, making her gag. Its head—a grotesque wolf-like mockery—split open to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth.

"What... are you?" she muttered, fear and disgust tightening her throat.

The creature didn't answer. It lunged.

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She dove to the side just as its claws slashed through the air where she had been. The smell of its ichor burned her nose. She rolled to her feet, sword at the ready.

"Alright, ugly," she snarled, gripping the hilt tighter. "Let's do this."

She charged, her blade slicing toward its flank. The creature twisted, deflecting the strike with a scaled arm. The impact jarred her arm, sending pain shooting up to her shoulder. Gritting her teeth, she fought on, her sword moving in fluid arcs. Thrusts, feints, slashes—her every move was sharp and practiced.

But the creature was relentless. It absorbed her attacks, its body shifting like liquid shadow. Its claws lashed out, forcing her to dodge and retreat, her breaths coming quicker. It was faster than she'd expected, more dangerous. And worse, it was toying with her—its movements almost... amused.

Anger flared inside her.

"I'm not afraid of you!" she roared. Her voice echoed through the trees as she poured her fury into her attacks.

The monster's response a growl so deep it shook the air. It moved in a flash, and she barely dodged its claws. They still caught her side, making her gasp in pain. But she fought through the pain.

She swung back with her sword, catching moonlight as she struck hard. This time she hit it, cutting into its strange body. Black goo splattered her arm, burning her skin. The monster screamed and pulled back.

But hurting it just made it angrier. It came at her like crazy, slashing so fast she could barely block. Each hit made her arms shake. The monster was too quick, too strong - and worse, it seemed to be learning her moves.

"Right," she said, crossing her arms. "It's just... too risky. Who knows what she'll do next?"

Kana's vision blurred, not from blood loss this time, but from the weight of their words. Her chest tightened, and she bit her lip to keep from crying. She couldn't blame them, not really. They were right to hate her. She deserved it.

"I understand," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll... figure it out. Thanks anyway."

The twins exchanged another glance, their expressions softening. Then, like a dam breaking, they burst into laughter, loud and genuine, doubling over as if Kana's despair was the funniest thing in the world.

"What—?" Kana blinked, confused and angry all at once.

"You actually believed us?!" Sia wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh, that's priceless!"

"She was 'this' close to crying!" Mia added, mimicking a tiny gap with her fingers. "We couldn't resist!"

She glared at them, the anger in her eyes cutting through her exhaustion. "Are you serious? You think this is funny?"

"Of course!" Sia grinned, stepping closer and offering a hand. "But come on, we were just teasing. You think we'd actually leave you like this?"

Mia crouched beside her, pulling out a small vial filled with a glowing, golden liquid. "Here, drink this. It'll stop the bleeding."

She hesitated, staring at the vial. "You're not... messing with me again, are you?"

"Relax," Mia said with a wink. "If we wanted you dead, we'd have let Smokey over there finish the job."

"Or we'd do it ourselves," Sia added cheerfully. "But seriously, you're one of us now, whether you like it or not. So drink up."

She accepted the vial, her fingers trembling as she uncorked it. The liquid tasted bitter but warm, spreading through her body and dulling the pain. She let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her.

"Thanks," she said softly, the weight in her chest lifting just a little.

"Don't mention it," Sia said, pulling her to her feet. "But seriously, next time? Try not to get yourself killed before we find Daddy, okay?"

"Yeah," Mia added, throwing an arm around Kana's shoulders. "We need all the help we can get. Even yours... well, not really, but you know."

Kana couldn't help but smile, despite herself. "You two are the worst, you know that?"

"Obviously," the twins said in unison, grinning.