Beast Evolution Forge - Chapter 193

Chapter 193: I am dropping this book 3
The sand giant loomed closer, its glowing eyes locked on Vell and his team. The ground shook with every step it took, cracks spreading through the tunnel floor. Outside, the sandstorm roared like an angry beast, trapping them between two dangers. The five medallions in the giant’s chest pulsed—blue, green, red, purple, and yellow—lighting up the dark chamber like tiny suns.

Vell tightened his grip on the Desert Fang dagger. “We take it down,” he said, voice steady despite the chaos. “Get the medallions back and run for the tower.”

Ruby’s ears flattened, but she nodded, her bracers glowing blue. “How do we even hurt that thing?”

“It’s got the medallions,” Regina said, flipping her grimoire open fast. “They’re its power. We break them loose, it might weaken.”

“Good enough for me,” Wren grinned, her mana claws sparking to life. “Let’s smash it!”

Jia twirled her daggers, eyes sharp. “I’ll aim for the cracks. There’s always a weak spot.”

Jolly cracked her knuckles, stepping up beside Vell. “Time to punch something big.”

The giant reached the tunnel’s end and stepped into the open, towering over them. Sand poured off its body, swirling around its legs like a living cloak. It raised one massive arm, ready to crush them.

“Now!” Vell shouted.

The team split apart, dodging as the giant’s fist slammed down. The ground cracked where they’d stood, sending rocks flying. Ruby fired a water blast at its chest, aiming for the medallions. The water hit, but the sand soaked it up, and the giant didn’t even flinch.

“Water’s no good!” Ruby yelled, jumping back.

Wren darted in, fast as a shadow, slashing at the giant’s leg. Her claws cut through sand, but it reformed instantly. “It’s like fighting a dune!” she growled.

Vell circled behind, eyes scanning the giant’s body. The medallions glowed brightest in its chest, set deep in a plate of cracked stone. That was the target. He shadow-stepped closer, dodging a swinging arm, and stabbed his dagger into the stone. The blade bit in, chipping off a piece, but the giant roared and swung at him.

He rolled away just in time, sand spraying everywhere. “The chest!” he called. “Focus there!”

Jia joined him, her daggers flashing as she struck the same spot. Sparks flew where her blades hit stone, and tiny cracks spread. “It’s working!” she said.

Regina raised her hands, a spell circle glowing in front of her. “Hold it still for a second!” A beam of light shot from her hands, wrapping around the giant’s arms like ropes. It fought back, pulling hard, but the ropes held—for now.

Jolly charged in, leaping high and slamming her fists into the chest plate. The impact echoed, and more cracks appeared. “Keep hitting it!” she shouted.

The giant roared again, louder this time, and the sandstorm outside grew wilder. The calm circle under the arch started to shrink, wind and sand creeping closer.

“It’s waking the storm!” Regina warned, her voice tight as she held the spell.

“Then we end this fast,” Vell said. He gripped his dagger with both hands and jumped, aiming for the biggest crack. The blade sank deep, and the stone plate split with a loud *crack*. The medallions flickered, their glow dimming for a split second.

The giant stumbled, one arm dropping limp. Sand poured from its chest like blood.

“It’s weakening!” Ruby cheered, firing another water blast. This time, the sand didn’t soak it up—the water splashed across the cracks, making the giant hiss and steam.

Wren and Jia attacked together, claws and daggers tearing into the chest. Jolly punched again, and with a final *boom*, the stone plate shattered completely. The five medallions flew out, spinning in the air before clattering to the ground.

The giant froze, then began to crumble. Its arms fell apart, its legs sank into the sand, and its glowing eyes faded. In seconds, it was just a pile of dust, silent and still.

[Sand Giant defeated. 2000 points earned.]

Vell landed lightly, breathing hard. “Grab them,” he said, pointing at the medallions.

Ruby and Jolly scooped them up—blue, green, red, purple, and yellow—all five safe again. The storm outside calmed a little, the wind slowing as the giant’s power faded.

“We’ve got them,” Regina said, letting her spell drop. She looked tired but relieved. “Now what?”

“Back to the tower,” Vell replied, wiping sand from his face. “We finish this.”

They didn’t waste time. The Desert Kings were gone—either crushed by the giant or fled into the storm. The team climbed out of the mountain ruin, stepping into a desert that was finally quiet. The twin suns hung low, painting the sand orange and gold.

The journey back took two days, and they moved fast, avoiding monsters and resting only when they had to. The medallions stayed in Vell’s pocket, their glow steady now, like they knew their purpose was close.

When they reached the tower again, it looked the same—black stone rising into the sky, surrounded by broken statues. The big doors were still open from their last visit, waiting.

Inside, the air hummed with energy. They descended the stairs to the machine room, where the tall device stood, its five slots dark and empty. Vell pulled out the medallions, holding them up.

“Moment of truth,” he said.

One by one, he placed them in the slots—blue, green, red, purple, yellow. Each one clicked into place, and the machine began to glow. Lines of light ran across its surface, connecting the medallions like a web.

The ground shook, but not like before. This was steady, controlled. The tower walls lit up, symbols glowing bright. A low hum filled the air, growing louder until it was a song—a deep, ancient sound that echoed in their chests.

“What’s happening?” Ruby asked, stepping closer to Vell.

Regina’s eyes widened as she read the glowing symbols. “It’s activating! The machine—it’s sealing the desert’s power!”

The light from the machine shot upward, piercing the ceiling and disappearing into the tower’s heights. Outside, they heard a rumble, like the desert itself was shifting. Sand poured away from the tower, revealing hidden paths and ruins buried for years. The twin suns seemed to dim, just a little, their heat easing.

[Quest Complete: Desert Seal Activated. Floor 4 Cleared. 5000 points earned.]

The machine slowed, its hum fading. The medallions stayed in their slots, their glow soft now, like they were at peace.

“We did it,” Jolly said, grinning wide. “We cleared the floor!”

“Not just us,” Vell said, looking at the machine. “This was the desert’s test. We passed.”

Wren stretched, her claws retracting. “So, what’s next? Floor 5?”

“First, we rest,” he replied. “Then we climb.”

They stepped outside, and the desert looked different—calmer, less angry. Paths stretched out in every direction, leading to new places they hadn’t explored. The tower loomed above, its top lost in the sky, calling them upward.

At the inn that night, Ember found them at their usual table. “Heard you made some noise out there,” she said, leaning against a chair. “Desert Kings are gone, storm’s quiet, and the tower’s open. Not bad.”

“Thanks to you for the heads-up,” Vell said. “What’s Floor 5 like?”

She smirked. “Cold. Wet. Opposite of this place. Better pack warm.”

The team laughed, relieved and ready. They’d faced sand demons, storms, and giants—and come out stronger. Floor 5 was next, and whatever it threw at them, they’d handle it together.

Vell leaned back, the medallions’ weight gone from his pocket but their victory heavy in his mind. The tower stretched ahead, endless and full of secrets. And he couldn’t wait to see what was waiting.

The twin suns of Floor 4 faded behind them as Vell and his team stepped through the glowing portal at the tower’s base. A cold wind hit them hard, like a slap from an icy hand. The desert’s heat was gone, replaced by a biting chill that made their breath puff out in little clouds.

“Whoa!” Ruby shivered, hugging herself. Her fox ears flattened against her head, and her tail wrapped around her waist like a scarf. “Ember wasn’t kidding about the cold!”

They stood on a cliff’s edge, looking out over Floor 5. It was a world of ice and water—jagged mountains covered in snow, rivers cutting through valleys, and a gray sky heavy with clouds. Far below, a frozen lake sparkled under faint sunlight, its surface cracked like broken glass. The air smelled wet and sharp, nothing like the dry dust of the desert.

“Pretty, but freezing,” Wren said, rubbing her hands together. Her mana claws flickered weakly, as if the cold dulled their power.

Regina pulled her cloak tighter, her grimoire tucked under her arm. “The tower’s rules are the same—find the key to clear the floor. But this place feels… heavier.”

Vell nodded, scanning the horizon. His Desert Fang dagger hung at his side, useless against the cold but ready for whatever else came. “Let’s move. Standing here won’t warm us up.”

They started down a narrow path carved into the cliff, snow crunching under their boots. Jolly took the lead, her strength breaking through drifts that blocked the way. Jia stayed at the back, daggers out, watching for trouble. The team had learned to expect ambushes after Floor 4.

Halfway down, the wind picked up, howling through the rocks. Ruby stumbled, and Vell caught her arm. “Careful,” he said. “This floor’s already testing us.”

“Thanks, Master!” she chirped, her tail wagging despite the cold.

At the cliff’s base, they reached a small cave—barely more than a hollow in the rock. It wasn’t much, but it blocked the wind. They huddled inside, and Regina conjured a small fire with her magic, its blue flames giving off just enough heat to stop their teeth from chattering.

“First things first,” Vell said, sitting against the wall. “We need info. Regina, what’s your map say?”

She opened her interface, a glowing screen floating in front of her. “Not much yet. This floor’s bigger than the last—more spread out. There’s a settlement south of here, near the lake. Might be a good place to start.”

“Players?” Jia asked, sharpening her daggers on a stone.

“Probably,” Regina replied. “And monsters. The carvings in the tower mentioned ‘frost beasts’ and ‘water spirits.’ No details, though.”

“Great,” Wren muttered. “More things that want to kill us.”

Vell smirked. “You’d be bored otherwise.”

They rested for an hour, eating rations and warming up. Then they set out again, heading south toward the lake. The snow deepened as they walked, slowing them down. The mountains loomed on either side, their peaks lost in the clouds. It was quiet—too quiet, like the floor was holding its breath.