Beast Evolution Forge

As they studied the swirling vortex at the center of the depression, the corrupted patterns began to shift. The symbols that were hurting their eyes to look at started arranging themselves into more ordered formations.

"Something’s responding to our presence," Regina said, her hand steady on her sword.

Jia’s nose twitched. "The scent’s changing. There’s... someone else here."

Through the layers of distorted space, they could make out a figure standing within the vortex. Not a monster or aberration, but a human form. As they watched, the figure took slow steps forward, each movement causing small ripples in the corrupted air around them.

The man who emerged looked unexpectedly ordinary - dressed in worn researcher’s clothes, with graying hair and tired eyes. But there was something off about him, the way corrupted energy seemed to cling to his skin like a second shadow.

"Visitors," he said, his voice carrying that slight distortion they’d come to associate with heavy corruption exposure. "I don’t get many of those anymore. Not since the accidents."

Ruby shifted closer to Vell, her newfound confidence tempered by caution. There was something about this man that set her instincts on edge.

[His corruption signature is strange. It’s perfectly controlled - I’ve never seen anything like it.]

"Hmm, are you the cause of all this?" Vell asked, walking closer to the man without fear. The man seeing this smiled, amused that someone can handle being so close to him.

"You could say that but the truth is much deeper, do you want to know?" The way he spoke was beginning to get on Vell’s nerves.

"Not really, I am simply here to do my first job, I don’t have time nor do I wish to hear your bs story. Let’s just get this over with." Mana orbs appeared around his body, circling him like bullets ready to strike at his command.

The man looked at the orbs and smiled, "Fascinating. You actually managed to fused aura with mana? truly outstanding." He looked at the girls, "Very well but I don’t want our play being interrupted." He clapped his hands and monster appeared out of thin air, surrounding the girls.

"Good, now its just the two of us."

Vell looked back at the girls, assessing the monsters power levels, [They should be fine, you should focus on this guy, he is dangerous. The last time we saw someone this strong was in the dungeon back in the forest.]

’Yeah and a close second would be that girl at the facility but you were not awaken yet back then. You probably know her, she had cross shape pupils.’

[Hmm, I don’t know, she is probably a new player or she emerged when we were sealed away.]

’Well, we can figure that out later, for now we have bigger problems.’

The man had imitated him, creating his own version of mana orbs that floated around him as well.

He studied the man’s mana orbs carefully. They looked just like his own, but something felt off about them.

"Copying my technique? That’s cute," he said with a smirk. Behind him, he could hear the sounds of battle as the girls fought the summoned monsters.

The man laughed. "Copy? No, I’m improving it." His orbs began to pulse with a sickly purple light, corrupted mana swirling within them.

[His control over corruption is incredible. Be careful.]

’Don’t worry, I’ve got this.’ He took a fighting stance, his own orbs glowing brighter.

The man struck first, sending three orbs flying at Vell. They moved strangely, leaving trails of warped space behind them. He dodged the first two and blocked the third with one of his own orbs. The collision created a small explosion of mixed energies.

"Not bad," the man said, already forming more orbs. "But how do you handle this?" He gestured, and his remaining orbs began to multiply, splitting like cells until dozens surrounded him.

Vell remained calm. "Quantity isn’t everything." He infused his orbs with more power, making them shine like small suns. "Quality matters more."

The air crackled with energy as they clashed again. Orbs collided in midair, creating bursts of light and waves of force. The corrupted ground beneath them began to crack from the power being thrown around.

Ruby glanced over while fighting her monster. She has never seen her master fight seriously before. His movements were efficient, each action calculated.

However, Vell was being pushed back, as he barely managed to dodge an orb. One clipped his shoulder, and pain exploded through his arm – the corruption in the orb was eating through his defensive mana.

"First lesson," the researcher said calmly, forming more orbs. "Corruption isn’t just power. It’s hunger given form."

Vell grunted, quickly purging the corruption from his wound. He launched his own counterattack, sending five orbs in a complex pattern he developed. The researcher didn’t even try to dodge – his orbs simply formed a shield, absorbing the impact.

"Second lesson." The man’s voice remained eerily calm as his orbs multiplied, filling the air around them. "Quantity and quality aren’t opposing forces. They’re complementary."

The air itself seemed to warp as dozens of orbs rained down. Vell rolled and jumped, calling up barriers, but they shattered under the assault. Three orbs caught him in quick succession – leg, back, chest. Each hit felt like acid burning through his flesh.

[This is bad. His corruption is bypassing your defenses!]

He spat blood, "Not done yet." He gathered his orbs, merging them into a single, massive sphere. "Let’s see if you can still talk after this one!"

The researcher’s eyes lit up with genuine interest. "Ah, compression. A basic but effective approach." He raised one hand lazily. "Final lesson. True mastery means breaking the rules you think you know."

His orbs suddenly collapsed inward, forming not one, but three pulsing spheres of condensed corruption. The air around them began to crack like glass.

Vell launched his attack.

The massive orb rocketed forward, leaving a trail of distorted space in its wake. At the same time, the researcher released his three spheres.

The resulting collision was catastrophic. corrupted mana met corrupted mana in a clash that shook the entire fracture. For a moment, Vell thought his attack might break through – but then the corruption began to eat through his mana sphere like acid through paper.

The explosion threw him backward, slamming him into the ground hard enough to crater it. Pain wracked his body as corruption from the blast began seeping into his wounds. He tried to stand but his legs wouldn’t respond.

"How...?" He coughed, tasting blood.

The researcher walked toward him slowly, corruption swirling around his form like a cloak. "You have talent, boy. But you’re too young to challenge someone who’s spent lifetimes perfecting their art."

[Uhh...master, what are you doing playing around.]

"Haha, I was just testing the waters." He sucked up the corrupted mana around his wounds, healing himself.

"Oh-" The man’s words were cut short after a punch connected with his face, sending him flying. While mid air, Vell appeared above him and stomped him into the ground, causing a massive crater.

"How about that professor, not too bad right?" He said mockingly. Your journey continues on novelbuddy

"Hahahahaha, yes, not bad at all, boy." He emerged from the crater, barely harmed by the attack. "Seems you were playing with me... I do not like that." His tone went cold, "I hate being looked down at, for that, I am going to kill you."

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"Oh?" Vell’s smirk widened as a sword slowly materialized in his hand. The power it gave off made even the man’s body twitch. "I have never used this one. It was a gift, I can’t simply let it root away now can I?"

[Is that-]

’Yep, the sword I got from mother, power right? I never used it before since it was too powerful for my mind but now...’ He swung it lazily and it cut the ground like butter, ’now I can use it without any issue and he is the perfect practice dummy.’

The sword hummed in his grip, as if happy to finally being used.

The researcher’s eyes narrowed, studying the blade. "Interesting. But a weapon is only as good as its wielder." He gathered corruption around himself like armor, the air crackling with distorted energy.

Vell’s only response was movement.

One moment he stood ready, the next he had crossed the distance between them. The sword traced an arc so fast it seemed to bend space, cutting through the researcher’s corruption shield like it wasn’t there.

The man barely managed to leap backward, but that was not enough. The attack had already landed, the man just didn’t realize it yet. "You are obviously strong, so please, don’t disappoint me." Vell said, tossing the arm he cut off. The man finally realised he had a missing arm and he cried out in pain before healing the wound.

"so you can’t regenerate? how boring. This will be over fast then." He crouched down and looked at the man with amusement on his close, "Ready?"