Beast Evolution Forge

Chapter 117 Section 12

[Master, its been a long time since we arrived in this section, do you really think taking over this small place can make you achieve your goal?]

'Yeah, I am may not be fit to be a leader but that doesn't mean i am just going to seat around while people suffer, it brings back... bitter memories.'

[If its you, I am sure you can do it but I should warn you. The grand leader you killed, he had holy power and that organization doesn't take their people's lives lightly, how do you think you ended up being sealed in the first place.]

'Haha, scary. I will be careful then, I don't want to meet that guy, not in my current state.'

Section 12 loomed before them, its industrial skyline a mass of twisted metal and steam. Unlike the other sections, which at least maintained a pretense of order, this place wore its corruption openly. Pipes leaked toxic fumes into the dark sky, and the buildings seemed to lean inward, as if conspiring with each other.

"Charming place," Yenna remarked, perched on a corroded water tower. Her nose wrinkled at the acrid smell. "Though I suppose it's perfect for hiding unauthorized experiments."

Vell stood beside her, his eyes glowing as they processed the landscape. The system's warnings flickered constantly:

[Multiple unauthorized energy signatures detected]

[Warning: Heavy electromagnetic interference]

[Caution: Environmental toxins exceed safe levels]

"The interference is deliberate," he said, watching the chaotic energy patterns. "They're using the industrial pollution to mask their activities."

[Analyzing pattern dispersal]

[Calculating probable source location...]

[Warning: Multiple decoy signatures identified]

"Clever," he murmured. "But not clever enough."

They moved through the section like shadows, avoiding the sparse patrols. Most were automated drones, their patterns predictable. The few human guards they saw moved with the same jerky motions as the man in red had – puppets dancing to unseen strings.

"There," he pointed to a seemingly abandoned warehouse. Unlike the chaos around it, its energy signature was too ordered, too controlled. "That's our target."

As they approached, his system pinged:

[Alert: Detecting familiar corruption patterns]

[Match: 87% similarity to Section 7 incident]

[Caution: Enhanced security measures likely]

The warehouse's main entrance was conspicuously unguarded. Instead, nearly invisible energy fields crisscrossed the area, forming a deadly net.

Yenna's eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Want me to make some noise elsewhere? Draw them out?"

"No," he studied the security grid. "They already know we're here. Don't you feel it?"

The air changed subtly, becoming charged with anticipation. In the distance, sirens began to wail.

[Warning: Multiple hostile signatures converging]

[Detecting neural enhancement patterns]

"They're all corrupted," Yenna noted as figures emerged from the shadows. Dozens of them, moving with that same unnatural coordination. "Just like our friend in red."

"Not quite," Vell's eyes narrowed. "These are different. More refined you could say... The corruption's almost... elegant."

[Alert: Master's corruption absorption rate exceeding safe levels]

[Warning: Personality shift detected]

[Recommendation: Immediate power reduction]

But he wasn't listening to his system's warnings anymore. He stepped forward, each footfall leaving crackling traces of corrupted energy in his wake. The woman's puppets rushed to intercept him, but they might as well have been trying to stop a tidal wave with paper boats.

"You wanted to understand how different specimens react to corruption right?" He reached out, catching one of the enhanced fighters by the throat. Instead of crushing it, he simply... pulled. The corruption within the fighter flowed into him like water finding its level, leaving behind an empty husk. "Let me show you."

"Stop!" The woman was backing away now, real fear in her eyes. "You'll destabilize the entire-"

"The entire what?" His smile was terrible to behold. "The entire experiment? The entire section? Or perhaps..." his eyes locked onto hers, seeing far too much, "the entire network of corruption you've built across all the sections?"

Her face went pale. "How did you-"

"Because I can taste it," he inhaled deeply, like someone savoring a fine wine. "Every connection, every tendril of corruption you've woven. It's all connected, isn't it? One massive web, with you at the center. Or..." his smile widened, "not quite at the center. You're just another node, aren't you? Another puppet, dancing to someone else's tune."

Yenna watched from far, her usual playful demeanor replaced by cautious observation. Last time she saw him like this, it didn't end well... for the other guy.

"Vell," she called out softly, "the corruption levels..."

"Are perfect," he finished, though his voice had gained an echo that shouldn't have been possible. "For the first time since waking in this cursed place, I can finally taste power that resonates with my core. Pure, undiluted corruption."

The woman had backed herself against the warehouse wall. "What... what are you?"

"Right now?" His form was barely humanoid anymore, a mass of shifting darkness shot through with veins of corrupted energy. "I'm what happens when you try to corrupt something that's already embraced the darkness."

[Emergency Alert: Corruption saturation approaching critical levels]

[Warning: Master's consciousness becoming unstable]

[Implementing emergency protocols...]

The system's warnings finally seemed to penetrate his euphoria. He paused, shaking his head like someone coming out of a dream. Or perhaps a nightmare.

"Ah," he said, his voice slowly returning to normal. "Perhaps I got a bit carried away there."

The woman saw her chance. She slapped her hand against the wall, and a hidden door slid open behind her. But before she could escape, Vell's darkness surged forward, wrapping around her like a cocoon.

"Now, now," his form was solidifying again, though his eyes still swirled with absorbed corruption. "We're not done yet. You still need to tell me about this network of yours. About who really pulls the strings."

He brought her close, his smile now almost gentle. "And about why you're so interested in me, why you ruined my life, I want to know it all."

[System stabilizing]

[Corruption levels: Regulated but elevated]

[Note: Master seems to be back in control... mostly]

"After all," he whispered, "it would be a shame to waste all this wonderful corruption you've given me. I might need to burn some of it off... creatively."

The woman's scream was lost in the darkness that engulfed them both, as Yenna watched with a mixture of relief and concern.

"My my what do we have here."

Yenna sharply looked behind her but a hand connected with her face, sending her flying towards Vell.

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