Beast Evolution Forge

Wren's eyes fluttered open, her mind foggy with confusion. The first thing she noticed was the silence - a heavy, unnatural quiet that pressed against her ears. As her vision cleared, she saw the destruction around her, and memories came rushing back like a tidal wave.

The attack. The man in black. Vell's family... her family.

She tried to move and found her body responding strangely. Something felt different, but she couldn't quite place what. There was a new energy flowing through her, dark but not threatening. It felt almost familiar, like Vell's presence but deeper, more primal.

Then she saw him.

Vell lay crumpled on the floor nearby, his body broken and still. Blood had dried on his face, trailing from his nose and ears. The sight sent a jolt of fear through her.

"Master?" Her voice came out as a whisper. When he didn't respond, she crawled toward him, her movements clumsy as she adjusted to her changed body. "Master, please..."

She reached him and pressed trembling fingers to his neck. A pulse - weak and irregular, but there. He was alive, barely.

Looking around, her heart clenched at the sight of the others. Sia and Mia's remains had completely dried up. Yenna, Kana and the others lay where they had fallen, still and silent.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held his hand. The power that brought her back pulsed within her, but she knew it couldn't extend to the others. That kind of miracle only happened once. Their family was gone.

"I'm here," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "I'm still here."

His fingers twitched slightly in response - the smallest movement, but a sign he was fighting to return.

Outside, dawn was breaking over the city. They would need to move soon. The Organization would come looking, and they weren't safe here. But for now, she kept her vigil, watching over the last person she had left in this world.

A soft thud from the roof made Wren tense. Her new form felt strange, but her instincts were still sharp. Three familiar scents reached her - Jolly, Jia, and Ada.

"Master, we've returned with news about Regi-" Jolly's voice cut off as she entered through the window. Her eyes widened at the scene before her.

"No..." Jia pushed past, freezing at the sight of their fallen members. Ada stood silent in the doorway, her usual calm demeanor cracking.

"What happened?" Jia rushed to Vell's side, opposite Wren. Her hands hovered over his broken body, unsure where to even begin helping.

"The Organization," Wren's voice was rough. "A man in black. He was very powerful..." She couldn't bring herself to describe the details.

Jolly knelt beside Kana's body, her hands trembling. "Kana...we shouldn't have left. We should have been here."

"You followed his orders," Wren said quietly. "He sent you to watch Regina. If you'd been here..." She couldn't finish the thought. They would have just been more casualties.

Ada moved silently through the room, checking each of their fallen members. Her nature made her face expressionless, as though she didn't care, but her eyes betrayed her pain. When she reached Vell, she began examining his injuries with care.

"His mana pathways are completely destroyed," she reported, her voice tight. "Multiple internal injuries. But he's fighting."

"Can you help him?" Jolly asked.

Ada nodded slowly. "Some. But we need to move. This place isn't safe."

"Regina," Wren remembered suddenly. "Your mission - is she..."

"Safe," Jia confirmed, still looking at Kana. "We got her to the backup location like he asked. She's waiting peacefully in her prison."

Wren watched as Ada worked on Vell's broken body, her movements precise and gentle. Each minute felt like an hour as they waited for any sign of improvement.

"His body is trying to heal itself," Ada said quietly, her hands hovering over his chest. "But the damage is extensive. The mana pathways..."

"Will he..." Jolly couldn't finish the question.

"He's strong," she replied, though uncertainty crept into her voice. "But I've never seen injuries like this. It's as if something tore through his entire system."

Jolly paced near the door, occasionally glancing at Kana's body. Her usual energy was gone, replaced by a restless grief. "We need to bury them," she said finally. "They deserve that much."

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Wren nodded, but couldn't bring herself to move from Vell's side. The new power within her swirled uneasily, responding to her distress. She still didn't understand what had happened – why she alone had been brought back, or how this strange energy had changed her.

A weak cough from Vell drew everyone's attention. His eyes flickered open, unfocused and clouded with pain.

"Master?" Wren squeezed his hand.

His lips moved, but no sound came out. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as awareness returned, bringing with it the memory of what had happened.

"Don't try to move," Ada instructed, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Your body needs time."

"The... others..." His voice was barely a whisper.

"I'm sorry," Wren said softly. "They're gone. Except... except me. Something brought me back, but I couldn't save the others."

His eyes found hers, filled with a mix of grief and confusion. He seemed to notice something different about her, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The Organization will be looking for us," Jia said, her voice tight. "We need to move somewhere safer."

"There's a hidden shelter," Ada suggested. "About three miles from here. I can treat you better there."

Wren looked around the room one last time, at the family they had lost. "What about..."

"I know a place," Jolly said quietly. "In the forest. They would have liked it there."

Vell's hand tightened weakly around Wren's. When she looked down, his eyes were open again, filled with darkness that gave her chills.

"We'll make them pay," he whispered, his voice rough with pain. "But first, we need to get out of here."

Ada helped him sit up slowly while Wren supported his back. Every movement made him wince, but his eyes stayed focused.

"Jolly, Jia," he said, "take care of the others. They deserve a proper goodbye."@@novelbin@@

The two nodded and began their sad task. Wren wanted to help, but she couldn't bring herself to leave his side.

'Seems my mana pathways are destroyed and my cores are completely empty, it's a miracle I am even alive right now. This has really pissed me off, they will all pay for sure, every single one of them.' His pupils twisted like a vortex as something has changed.