Beast Evolution Forge - Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Defiance
Vell sat in what had been the Guild Leader’s ornate chair, though he’d moved it from its elevated platform to ground level. The remaining guild masters stood before him, their once-proud postures now uncertain.

“Let’s make this simple,” he said, his eyes scanning the group. “The old system is dead. You can either help build the new one, or join your former leader in retirement.” His smile showed teeth. “Permanent retirement.”

A few masters shifted uncomfortably at that. The Guild Leader’s defeat had shaken their world view, but decades of power weren’t easily forgotten.

“What exactly do you expect from us?” asked Chen, one of the older members. Unlike the others, his tone held genuine curiosity rather than fear or resentment.

“First, unlock all restricted training facilities,” he replied. “They belong to everyone now, not just your chosen few. Second, return every coin you’ve extorted from the people. Every. Single. One.”

“That’s preposterous!” Levi burst out. “Those fees maintain order! Without them-”

His words cut off as Vell appeared before him, moving faster than any could follow. “Without them, people might actually prosper?” His voice was soft, but carried an edge that made Levi step back. “Funny how ‘maintaining order’ always seems to involve taking from those who have the least.”

The others watched silently, gauging which way the wind would blow. Levi’s face reddened with anger and embarrassment, but he held his tongue.

“Anyone else want to defend the old ways?” He asked, returning to his seat. No one spoke. “Good. Now, about those training facilities…”

“I’ll handle that,” Chen volunteered. “I know where all the restricted areas are, and which scrolls were kept hidden.” He smiled slightly. “Truth be told, I never agreed with hoarding knowledge.”

Vell nodded approvingly. “See? Change isn’t so hard.” His eyes found Levi again. “Though some seem to need more convincing than others.”

Later that day, as Vell inspected the reconstruction efforts in the market district, a messenger brought urgent news. Levi and two others had been caught trying to move their “personal wealth” out of the section.

“Haaah, why is there is always that one person?”

He found them at the border checkpoint, surrounded by carts laden with gold and artifacts. Levi’s face paled when Vell stepped out of the shadows.

“Going somewhere?” He asked pleasantly… too pleasantly.

“These are my personal possessions!” Levi protested, though his voice shook. “You have no right-”

“No right?” The temperature seemed to drop several degrees. “Like you had no right to burn down shops when their owners couldn’t pay your ‘protection’ fees? Like you had no right to cripple those who spoke against you?”

Levi took a step back. “That- that was different! We were maintaining-”

“If you say ‘order’ one more time,” he cut in, “I might forget my promise about showing mercy to those who want to change.” His eyes glowed faintly. “Do you want to change, Levi? Or should I show you exactly how I dealt with your former leader?”

The other two masters immediately dropped to their knees. “We’ll return everything!” one said quickly. “We were just following Levi’s lead!”

Levi’s face contorted with rage. “Traitors! After all these years-”

His words ended in a choke as Vell’s hand found his throat. “Wrong answer.”

But before he could do more, a voice called out. “Wait!”

Chen approached, looking troubled. “Let me handle this,” he said. “Levi is a proud fool, but he’s not evil. Just… corrupted by power, like many of us were.”

Vell studied Chen’s face, then Levi’s purpling one. After a moment, he released his grip. Levi collapsed, gasping.

“You have one chance,” he told him. “Master Chen seems to think you can change. Prove him right, or our next meeting won’t end with you breathing.” He turned to Chen. “He’s your responsibility now. Don’t make me regret this mercy.”

Chen bowed deeply. “Thank you. I promise you won’t regret it.”

As Vell walked away, leaving Chen to deal with the would-be thieves, he heard the system chime:

[Alert: Multiple resistance factions detected]

[Analyzing threat levels…]

[Recommendation: Monitor closely]

He smiled. Some people never learned. But that was fine – he had plenty of time to teach them.

The next few days showed promising changes. Under Master Chen’s guidance, the training facilities were opened to all. Young talents who had been held back by lack of resources flourished. The market district, despite its battle damage, buzzed with new energy as merchants realized they no longer had to pay protection money.

Even Levi, surprisingly, began to change. Perhaps it was Chen’s influence, or perhaps the near-death experience had truly shaken him, but he threw himself into the reconstruction efforts with unexpected vigor.

But not everyone embraced the new order. His system warnings continued to flash:

[Warning: Detected underground communication networks]

[Multiple section involvement confirmed]

[Threat level: Moderate and rising]

‘Let them plot,’ he thought, watching the sun set over the healing city. ‘Change never comes easily. But it does come.’

He promised to build something better, and he would – whether they liked it or not.

‘Who would have thought I would end up as a leader of a whole city sized town… plan A, complete.’

—-

Elsewhere a girl was being harassed by a group of thugs in a dark alley. They wore the remnants of guild guard uniforms, but their badges had been torn off.

“Think you’re special now?” one sneered, pushing her against the wall. “Just because that monster changed the rules?”

The girl tried to look brave, but her voice trembled. “The new laws say-”

“The new laws?” another spat. “We don’t follow that freak’s laws. We’re going to show everyone what happens when the old order breaks down.”

They moved closer, cruel grins on their faces. The girl closed her eyes, preparing for the worst.

But the worst never came.

A wet gurgle made her open her eyes. One of the thugs was floating in the air, held up by a girl with long yellow hair.

“Now this is interesting,” she said, her voice carrying that dangerous playfulness that preceded violence. “A bunch of players bullying an innocent girl, how vulgar.”

she dropped the first thug, who crumpled to the ground gasping. The others backed away, their former bravado evaporating.

“Wait! We were just-”

She wasted no time in ending their lives, her fingers cover in blood as she looked back with a feline look in her eyes.

“So many bugs trying to ruin his plans.”