Beast Evolution Forge

Chapter 155 1st Floor

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 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."