Beast Evolution Forge

Electricity crackled through the air as Wren stood before them, transformed. Her small frame was now encased in armor made of pure lightning that hugged her body like a second skin. The brilliant blue-white energy pulsed and danced across her form, outlining her silhouette with a blinding aura that made her difficult to look at directly.

Where her hands should have been, elongated lightning claws extended, crackling with volatile energy and infused with her signature mana—each nearly as long as her forearms. The claws left scorched trails in the air as she moved.

Her eyes had transformed completely, now glowing orbs of concentrated lightning that sparked with intelligence and predatory focus. Electricity arced between her fingers and across her shoulders, and with each step she took, small discharges of energy crackled beneath her feet, leaving momentary scorch marks on the ground.

Her hair, now a mass of charged energy, floated upward as if defying gravity, individual strands merging and separating in a hypnotic dance of power.

The Chimera recoiled, multiple eyes blinking rapidly as it assessed this new threat. One of its arms hung limp, claw marks seared through muscle and bone where Wren had struck.

"What do you think master, do I look cool?" She grinned, her voice carrying an electrical harmonic that seemed to vibrate the air itself.

Vell stared in amazement, momentarily forgetting the exhaustion from using the gauntlets. "Wren... when did you...?"

[She has awakened.]

Luna's eyes widened with recognition. "An elemental awakening. I've heard of these, but never witnessed one firsthand."

Wren flexed her new claws, sending arcs of lightning dancing between her fingers. "I've been feeling it building for days, Master. Ever since that day I died and came back, I have felt different, stronger." Her grin was fierce, predatory. "Guess I just needed the right moment."

The Chimera recovered from its surprise and roared with renewed fury, all its heads focused on Wren. It charged, its massive bulk moving with shocking speed.

"Let me show you what I can do!" she called out, her body seeming to dissolve into pure lightning as she shot forward to meet the monster's charge.

She moved like a bolt from the heavens, zigzagging through the air so quickly she left afterimages. The monster's attacks missed entirely, its claws and jaws snapping at empty air as she danced around it.

"She's so fast," Ruby breathed, watching with undisguised awe.

She reappeared above the creature, her claws extended to their full length. "Let's see how tough you really are!" She plunged downward, her entire body becoming a spear of concentrated electrical energy.

The impact was devastating. Lightning exploded outward as she struck, the shockwave forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When their vision cleared, she stood atop the Chimera's back, her claws buried deep between its armored plates.

Electricity coursed through the monster's body, causing it to convulse violently. Several of its disparate parts seemed to be fighting against each other as the current disrupted whatever dark magic had fused them together.

"Now, Master!" she called out, her voice strained with effort as she maintained the assault. "Hit it while its defenses are compromised!"

He didn't hesitate. Despite the lingering fatigue, he drew his sword, lipped into the air and covered his sword in mana, sending it towards the monster and frightening speed, cutting off its head cleanly.

The severed head fell to the ground with a heavy thud. For a moment, triumph flashed across his face.

But the victory was short-lived.

[That thing's power is rising.]

'shit.'

Instead of collapsing, the monster's body shuddered violently. The wound where its head had been suddenly bubbled and churned, as if something was forcing its way out from inside.

"T knew it, its too strong for us," Luna said, backing up a step.

The creature's form began to change. Its bulky, patchwork body melted and reformed, becoming sleeker, more streamlined. Where the Chimera Lord had been a massive, lumbering beast, this new form was built for pure speed.

Its new form stood tall on four powerful, spring-loaded legs that resembled those of an antelope, but vastly more muscular and tipped with razor-sharp hooves that left deep gashes in the ground. The creature's body stretched upward into a humanoid torso, lean and covered in a strange mix of golden-brown fur.

Where the head should have been, a cluster of twisting horns sprouted - not just two, but a crown of spiraling, knife-like protrusions that curved in impossible directions. Between these horns, eyes opened randomly across what should have been its face - blinking independently of one another, some reptilian, some feline, all filled with malice.

Its arms were unnaturally long, ending in hands with too many fingers, each tipped with a hooked claw that dripped with glowing venom. A set of secondary limbs burst from its ribcage - these were thinner, almost insect-like, and moved with disturbing independence.

The creature's chest split open vertically, revealing a gaping maw lined with concentric rings of teeth that pulsated hungrily. Strange symbols crawled across its skin like living tattoos.

When it moved, it didn't just run - it practically teleported short distances, leaving behind afterimages as its powerful legs propelled it faster than the eye could track. The air around it distorted, as if reality itself was struggling to keep up with its impossible speed.

"What in the Tower is that thing?" Ruby whispered, backing away instinctively.

"Speed form," Luna muttered, her face pale. "The Chimera Lord has adapted to counter Wren's awakening."

The monster's chest-mouth let out a sound that was not quite a roar and not quite a laugh - a disturbing, multi-toned noise that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Then it tensed its powerful legs, ready to pounce.

It was now too fast. One second it stood still, the next it smashed into Wren, sending her flying across the clearing. Her lightning armor flickered as she hit a tree with a sickening crack.

"Wren!" Ruby rushed toward her fallen friend but didn't make it halfway before the beast appeared in front of her.

She slashed with her claws but hit nothing but air. The monster was already behind her. It kicked her hard in the back. She screamed as she fell face-first into the dirt.

"Formation!" He shouted, but it was too late. The monster moved like a blur, darting between his team members faster than they could react.

Regina swung her sword in a wide arc, hoping to catch the creature by chance. The beast ducked under it and rammed its horned head into her stomach. She doubled over, gasping for air.

"It's too fast," Luna said, firing bolt after bolt from her crossbow. Not a single one hit its target.

Ada tried to track it with her corrupted mana, sending dark energy in all directions. "I can't lock on to it!"

Jia and Jolly stood back-to-back, daggers ready, but they never had a chance. The monster knocked their legs out from under them with a single sweep.

He watched helplessly as his team was taken apart. His gauntlets felt heavy on his arms. He was still tired from his last attack. The monster was beating his friends, his family.

Family.

Suddenly, his mind filled with images he tried to forget. Yenna, sia and Mia, Lira, Alex, all of his family.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "Not now."

The monster paused its rampage and turned to look at him. Its many eyes blinked. It seemed to sense his distress.

"You're mine!" it growled through its chest-mouth, the first words it had spoken. Its voice sounded like many people talking at once.

The images wouldn't stop. More memories flooded back. Their smiles, laughter. The day it all ended. The day he failed to protect them.

"Master, look out!" Ada called.

The monster charged straight at him, its clawed hands reaching for his throat.

Rage replaced fear. His eyes darkened. The pain of loss burned away his exhaustion. His gauntlets began to glow with blue energy again.

"You want to see speed?" he snarled.

He folded space around himself, appearing behind the monster. Before it could turn, he struck it hard between the shoulders.

The beast stumbled forward.

"You think you can take my family from me? I won't let that happen again!" He shouted.

He punched the monster over and over again, sending it flying into a tree but he knew this was not enough. He summoned his swords and exhaled, "1st and 2nd limiters, off."

As he removed his limiters, a wave of power surged through his body. His muscles tensed and his eyes glowed with renewed determination.

"Everyone, stay back," he commanded, his voice steady but firm.

Luna's eyes widened. "Vell, be careful. The current you can't—"

"I know what I'm doing," he interrupted, stepping forward to face the monster.

The beast recovered quickly from being thrown against the tree. It shook itself and focused its many eyes on him. With incredible speed, it charged toward him again, expecting to catch him off guard.

But he was ready. His reflexes were different now. He sidestepped the charge with ease, his movements fluid and precise. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

"My turn," he said simply.

He struck with his gauntlets, creating distortions in space that slowed the monster's movements. Each time it tried to attack, he countered, using his swords to strike at the weak points he now easily identified.

The monster let out a frustrated howl through its chest and attempted to retreat, sensing that the battle had shifted against it. But Vell wouldn't allow it.

"You don't get to run," he said, folding space again to appear directly in the creature's path.

His swords glowed with corrupted mana as he delivered a series of precise cuts to its legs, reducing its speed advantage.

It stumbled, no longer able to move as quickly as before.

Meanwhile, his team began to recover. Wren pushed herself up, her armor flickering back to life. Ruby and Regina regained their footing, watching their master with that knowing look.

"Master is so back." Wren said with a smile.