Beast Evolution Forge

The time had arrived.

"So you are telling me that once we enter the tower there is no coming out?" Vell asked Regina, though there was no doubt in his voice.

"Yes. No one has ever entered the tower and returned. If you heard anything about players going in and out of towers, its a lie, to establish fear and dominance."

"Hmm, that makes more sense now that I think about it. Someone from the tower should be way more powerful than the people out here." 'And if I am right, that strong woman is also from the tower but how did she exist? That marble... seems there are loop holes.' He looked at the beast girl walking beside him.

"You sure about this?"

"Yeah, I am bonded to you, of course I want to go where you go and I don't want to keep serving bear to those perverts." She replied with a smile. She wore leather armor now, with multiple daggers all over her body.

"Alright, I was going to ask you to come anyways." He patted her head with a slight smile on his face. 'yeah, I still have my family... I am truly sorry everyone. That mistake will never happen again.'

[Yaaaaaawn. Sheesh, what a nice nap. Hello master, what did I miss?]

'... Oh, you are awake. welcome back.'

[Huh, what's up with that greeting, are you angry with me or something?]

'No, I am sorry, you didn't do anything.'

[then what?]

'look around me, do you notice anything different?'

The was silence for a few minutes, [Where are the others? And why is Regina walking alongside you? what the hell is going on?]

'A lot has happened. I know you couldn't help it since Regina sealed you away but as you can see, I have lost most of my family. Kill by the organization...and I was too powerless to do anything.'

[Master... 'this is just like back then.' I am truly sorry.] She didn't know what to say to make him feel better.

'It's alright. Let's look to the future. I am glad you are back. Is your other half back too?'

[Yes, I am here user. I am also sorry for your loss.]

'You are sentient too?'

[Yes, I have always been sentient, you just never spoke to me.]

'oh, I am sorry, I didn't know.'

[It's ok...I will punish you on you next mission.]

'...right.'

The arrived at the imperial city, where one of the towers are located. The guards bowed their heads to Vell as they entered, he was seen as a hero and their true ruler.

[...we have missed so much.]

The king welcomed them and immediately showed them to the tower. They never used it, not that they didn't want but its just that they couldn't. "Forgot to mention, those doors refused to open no matter what we threw at them." The king said, looking nervous as he glanced at Vell.

"It's fine. 'Its' expecting me." He approached the doors, placed a hand on them and waited for a few seconds. 'I am here, just like you asked, now let me in.' Is if his voice was heard, the massive stone doors began to slowly open. He smirked and looked back at his team. "What are you waiting for, an invitation?"

"Coming!!"

Once they were all inside, the massive stone doors slowly closed behind them with a heavy thud. For a moment, they stood in complete darkness.

"Everyone stay close," he warned, his voice echoing slightly in the emptiness.

Suddenly, the dark room lit up with a soft blue glow. The light seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, revealing a vast circular chamber with smooth stone walls that reached up into darkness. In the center of the floor was a strange symbol that pulsed with the same blue light.

A calm, neutral voice filled the chamber:

[Welcome, challengers, to the Tower. What you know as towers across your world are merely gateways to this place.]

Regina tensed. "It's just as the rumors said," she whispered.

The voice continued: [I am the Tower's system. I will explain how things work in this realm. The Tower has many floors, each with its own challenges, creatures, and rewards. You may choose to climb and test yourselves, or you may choose to settle on any floor that suits you."

Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

A three-dimensional image appeared above the symbol, showing a massive structure stretching up beyond sight, with different colored sections.

[Each floor you clear grants you access to the next. At the top awaits the ultimate gift - power beyond your imagination. However, climbing is not required. Many choose to live peaceful lives within the Tower's safe zones.]

Wren looked at Vell. "What do you think, Master?"

Before he could answer, the voice added: [Be warned - once you have entered, there is no returning to your old world. The Tower is your home now.]

Ada crossed her arms. "No going back huh... just like Regina said."

[The first floor is where all players end up when they enter. There you can learn more about the tower and how things work.]@@novelbin@@

The symbol on the floor expanded outward, forming a glowing blue circle around the group.

[Your first choice awaits: Will you proceed to Floor One as a group, or do you wish to learn more about the Tower before beginning?]

Jia's ears twitched nervously. "I don't like this place... it smells wrong."

Jolly nodded in agreement. "Something feels off about this whole setup."

Vell stepped forward onto the symbol. "We stay together. But first, tell us more about these... safe zones. And what exactly happens to those who reach the top?"

The voice paused briefly before responding: [Safe zones exist on each floor - areas where no hostile entities may enter. They vary in size and comfort. As for those who reach the top...] Another pause. [Few have achieved this feat. Those who do are granted their heart's desire and the power to shape reality within the Tower's domain.]

"And outside the Tower?" Regina asked sharply.

[The Tower exists both within and apart from your world. Those who master it gain influence beyond its walls, but are bound to its greater purpose.]

"Which is?" Vell pressed.

The symbol pulsed brighter. [That is for you to discover as you climb. Now, shall you proceed to Floor One, or do you have other questions?]

Vell looked at each member of his group. "Everyone ready?"

They nodded one by one, determination in their eyes.

"Then we proceed," he declared. "As a group."

The symbol beneath them flared brilliantly, and the chamber began to dissolve around them.

[Floor One awaits,] the voice announced. [May you find what you truly seek. And system user, we shall talk soon.]

"Sure, I will be waiting. I have complete your mission, so don't forget my reward." His body disappeared, teleported to the 1st floor.

[...yes.]

---

They found themselves standing in what looked exactly like an ordinary world - but they knew it wasn't.

The sky was a perfect blue with fluffy white clouds drifting lazily across it. A warm sun shone down on them. The air felt fresh and clean, carrying scents of grass, flowers, and cooking food.

"This... looks like the world we left behind," Wren said, turning slowly to take it all in.

They stood on the grassy hill, overlooking the bustling fantasy city below. The buildings were a mix of medieval and magical architecture - stone structures with impossibly tall spires, floating platforms connected by shimmering bridges, and marketplaces filled with colorful stalls and strange creatures.

"This is... not what I expected," Ada said, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.

Jolly nodded in agreement. "I thought the first floor would be some kind of tutorial area or a dangerous challenge. This looks like a normal city."

Vell studied the landscape carefully. The city sprawled out below them, surrounded by lush forests, mountains in the distance, and what appeared to be farmland in the valleys. It all looked peaceful, even idyllic.

Regina stepped forward, her hand instinctively resting on her sword hilt. "In all the stories I've heard, the Tower is never what it seems. There are always hidden dangers, even in safe zones."

"Master," Wren said, pointing toward the city, "look at those people. They seem... happy. Like they've been living here for generations."

Indeed, as they observed the city more carefully, they could see people going about their daily lives - merchants hawking their wares, children playing in the streets, guards patrolling the walls. It all seemed so ordinary.

"Let's go down there," he decided. "But stay alert. Jia, what do your senses tell you?"

She inhaled deeply, her ears twitching. "The scents are...normal. There is nothing off."

"Well then, let's head into town," he said, stretching his arms above his head. "If things here work like back in our world, there should be an players guild or something similar."

[Master, you seem... surprisingly relaxed about this.]

'Why wouldn't I be? This is exactly what we needed - a fresh start.' He glanced at his companions. 'Plus, it's kind of exciting, isn't it?'

[This place is interesting. The mana concentration here is unlike anything I've sensed before.]

'Yeah, I can feel it too.' He glanced at his companions. "How are you all feeling?"

"It's... different," Wren said, looking around curiously. "The air feels thicker somehow, but not in a bad way."

As they walked down the hill toward the city, the sounds of bustling life grew louder. The streets were filled with all sorts of people - humans, elves, dwarves, and even some beast-folk like some of his girls. Merchants called out their wares, advertising everything from magical weapons to fresh-baked bread.

"Look, look!" Wren pointed excitedly at a floating crystal display board near the city entrance. "It really is just like those stories - there's even a status board!"

The crystal showed various announcements and indeed, quest postings just like his systems. Current missions ranged from herb gathering to monster subjugation, each with their respective rewards listed.

[A quest-based system, I see that nothing has changed. Oh and master, only you can see the full detailed information.]

Indeed, while the others could see the basic quest descriptions, only he could see the full details - difficulty ratings, exact reward amounts, and special conditions.

"The guild would be our best bet," Regina suggested, watching a group of armed warriors pass by. "That's where most people seem to be heading."

"Yeah, let's go check it out."

The guild hall was a large, wooden building with a sign depicting crossed swords. Inside, players gathered around tables, discussing quests and sharing drinks. A receptionist welcomed them with a bright smile.

"Welcome to the player's Guild! Are you here to register?"

"Yes, we'd like to register as a party," he replied.

"Wonderful!" The receptionist pulled out some forms, then paused as she looked at Vell. Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh! You're... special. One moment please." She hurried to the back room.

"What was that about?" Ada asked.

"No idea," he lied, though his system already told him that he is unique, though, even he already knew.

The receptionist returned with an older man - clearly someone of authority in the guild. He studied Vell carefully before speaking. "We don't often see those with unique mana. You'll need a different registration process. The rest of your party can register normally."

As the others filled out their standard forms, Vell was taken to a separate room. The guild master explained that while normal players operated on a simple rank system, those with special abilities - like his dark energy manipulation - had different rules and opportunities.

"Your companions will start at the usual human-rank," the guild master explained. "But you... you're something else entirely. The Tower marks you as special."

[He is pretty powerful for an old man.]

'its always the old men that are at the top for some reason.'

When they rejoined the others, they found them excitedly discussing their first quest - a pack of dire wolves threatening a nearby farm.

"It's perfect for new adventurers," Jolly said. "Though I suppose we're not exactly beginners, are we?"

Jia's tail swished excitedly. "After those corrupted monsters, regular wolves will be easy!"

"Don't get overconfident," Regina cautioned, though she was smiling slightly. "We still need to learn how this world works."