Beast Evolution Forge

Chapter 16 Hate

The burning in Vell's muscles was excruciating, the air whipping past him a searing reminder of the strain he was putting on his body. His vision blurred, the world a dizzying swirl of colors as he pushed himself beyond his limits. Every strained breath was a gasp of agony, but he couldn't afford to slow down. His instincts urged him to get as far away as possible; he still thought they might catch up, even though they were leagues behind.

[Master, your core is destabilizing! You must stop this technique immediately!]

"Shut up!"

He wheezed, the words barely audible over the rushing wind. "I'm not stopping... not now... not yet."

He glanced back for a split second; the city was nowhere in sight. He was finally out. He had actually made it. A surge of triumph, albeit a pained one, coursed through him. But the victory was short-lived.

A searing pain erupted from his core, a sensation like being pierced by a thousand needles. He stumbled, his speed faltering, and the world tilted precariously. He crashed to the ground, the impact sending jolts of agony through his battered body. Wren tumbled beside him, her runes no longer glowing. She looked exhausted and whimpered softly.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Damn it..." he muttered, clutching his chest. He could feel his mana leaking out; his core was fractured and strained. He knew the cost would be dangerous, but he hadn't expected this.

[I warned you, master. You have severely damaged your core. If you do not rest and recover, the consequences will be serious.]

He gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the pain. "Just... tell me... how bad is it?"

[Your core is fractured, on the verge of shattering. Your mana pathways are severely strained, and your overall energy reserves are depleted. Your physical body is also pushed to its limits. You are essentially running on fumes.]

He closed his eyes, trying to regulate his breathing. "How long... until I can use my powers again?"

[With proper rest and nourishment, perhaps a week. However, the full recovery of your core will take considerably longer. And even then, there may be permanent repercussions.]

A week. An entire week where he would be vulnerable, unable to rely on his powers. It was a daunting prospect, especially considering he was now a target.

"What about Yenna?" He opened his eyes, looking at her unconscious body with barely open eyes.

[Her vitals are stable. She is unharmed, though it's strange that she is still not up.]

"He's also reckless," the first player added, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Did you see how he overloaded his core? He must be insane."

"Perhaps," he mused, turning to face the city. "But that kind of recklessness can also be dangerous. We need to report this to the higher-ups. I am still not sure why they want him so badly, but one thing is for sure: he's not just an insect anymore. He's a threat."

A few hours later.

"That's all, ma'am."

The two players didn't wait for a reply. They turned and left quickly, knowing better than to linger in front of the head secretary. She sat silently behind her desk, but the tension in the room was thick. Without a word, she opened her drawer and pulled out a photo frame. It held a picture of Vell, herself, and another boy, all of them smiling and holding onto Vell with carefree joy.

"How dare you come back after what you did to my son?" she whispered, her voice sharp with anger. "Did you think I'd forgotten? That anyone would?"

Her grip on the frame tightened, a small crack splintering through the glass. A knock at the door interrupted her dark thoughts.

"Come in," she called, her voice flat.

A young man with red hair stormed into the room. His frustration was written all over his face, and he didn't waste time getting to the point. He slammed his hand on her desk.

"You let him get away? Why? We can still catch him, so why hold back?"

His outburst lacked control, and he quickly realized he had crossed a line. One sharp look from her was enough to make him step back and falter. He tried to recover, coughing awkwardly, but she cut him off.

"He's my business. Stay out of it."

Her words were final, and he could feel the growing tension. He stood there for a few more moments, debating whether to push back, but she wasn't even looking at him anymore. Defeated, he turned and headed for the door, his frustration simmering.

As he reached for the handle, she spoke again. "Jay, don't do anything stupid."

He paused, clenched his jaw, and left without another word. She knew he wouldn't let this go, and that unsettled her more than she cared to admit.