Beast Evolution Forge

Jolly's legs trembled as Kana stepped off her head, landing gracefully on the ground. The weight of her presence was suffocating, like a predator standing over its prey. She glanced back at her fallen companions, each sprawled on the ground, unconscious but alive. The subtle rise and fall of their chests were the only thing assuring her that Kana wasn't here to kill....yet.

"W-What do you want?"

She stammered, taking a shaky step back, her hands instinctively clenching into fists. Her bravado from earlier was nowhere to be found.

Kana tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a mockery of a smile. "What do I want? Let's start with a little honesty. What happened between you and Vell, don't you dare try to bullshit me or you will regret it"

Jolly froze. Her mind raced, searching for an excuse, a deflection, anything to get her out of this situation. "Vell? I—I don't know what you're talking about-." A punch send her flying but she managed to regain her posture, touching her cheek in pain while also glaring at Kana in silence.

"I warned you didn't i, don't try and bullshit your way out of this, i know you met him, so speak or i am going to ruin that pretty face of yours." Her expression was now serious, she meant every word she spoke and Jolly could tell as well.

"....Right, Vell. I remember now, the stu- i mean guy who was being chased by the association. I don't know him much, we met, talked a bit and parted ways."

Kana's face twitched in in anger, her voice came out calm, but the undercurrent of menace was unmistakable. "Wrong answer."

Before she could react, Kana closed the distance between them in a blur. She grabbed Jolly's collar and yanked her forward, their faces inches apart. She could feel the heat radiating from Kana's body, her power pulsating with restrained power.

"You think I don't know?" Her voice was a low growl. "You left him to die. Sold her out for a quick payday and ran off with your little boy band here." She gestured with her free hand to the fallen men, her disgust evident.

She tried to laugh it off, but it came out as a nervous croak. "L-Look, it's not what you think. He—he was trying to manipulate us, claiming things about corrupted mana and bullshit about the association being sketchy. How could i believe something absurd as that?"

Kana's grip tightened, and Jolly winced, her breath hitching as Kana's nails dug into her collarbone. She was slowly losing it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You didn't believe him?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, menacingly low. "Or you didn't 'want' to believe him? Because it was easier to run away, easier to turn your back than face the truth. Did you even look into what he told you, any of it?"

Jolly squirmed but couldn't break free. "You don't understand! He wasn't making sense! Talking about conspiracies, how he is special since his body rejected the so called corrupted mana, he sounded insane! And even if he was telling the truth, what was I supposed to do? Fight against the association? Get myself killed? I didn't sign up for that! All i want to do it make money and have fun."

Kana's expression darkened. "So, you chose yourself. You chose to save your skin and throw him to the wolves. Typical."

Her defiance flared for a moment. "Like you wouldn't have done the same if you were in my position!"

Kana's laugh was sharp and humorless, as she slowly stopped, her grip tightened even further.. "You think you know me? You think I'd abandon someone who trusted me, just because things got hard?" Her voice rose slightly, a dangerous edge creeping into her tone. "No. You're nothing like me. You don't have the spine to stand for anything or anyone."

Jolly clenched her fists, anger briefly overpowering her fear. "Don't act all high and mighty! You weren't there! You don't know what it was like! We were outnumbered, outmatched, if i didn't turn him in, I'd be dead right now!"

Kana's eyes flashed with fury, but she didn't retaliate. Instead, she released Jolly's collar, letting her stumble back and fall to the ground. She gasped, clutching at her throat, but the relief was short lived as Kana took a step forward, towering over her.

"You survived, but should you have? You're alive, sure, but tell me, can you even look at yourself in the mirror anymore? Or do you see what I see? A coward who goes around sleeping with guys because she has nothing better to do in life.."

Jolly flinched as if struck, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She looked away, unable to meet Kana's gaze.

Kana crouched down, her voice softening just slightly. "If you want to justify what you did, go ahead. But don't pretend you didn't have a choice. You did. You just chose wrong."

Jolly's lips trembled, her bravado completely shattered. She looked up at Kana, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I didn't mean for things to go this far. I... I thought he'd be fine, please-."

Kana's hand lashed out before Jolly could finish, striking her across the face with a resounding crack. She crumpled to the ground, clutching her cheek in surprise and confusion Kana's expression was colder than ever.

'this beat dares lie to me....me!?'

"Don't lie to me, I've seen cowards before, but you? You're something worse. You didn't just abandon him, you enjoyed it, didn't you? Knowing he'd be caught. Knowing you were safe."

Jolly shook her head frantically, trying to crawl backward, but Kana grabbed her ankle and yanked her back. "No! I didn't, I swear, I didn't—"

"Liar."

She slammed her fist into Jolly's stomach, making her double over with a choked gasp. "You don't even feel guilty, do you? You're just scared because someone finally called you out."

Jolly coughed, wheezing for breath, but Kana didn't relent. She grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head up so their eyes met. "Admit it, Admit that you turned him in because you wanted to."

"I didn't!" She sobbed, but the panic in her voice betrayed her. "I—I just thought—"

Kana slammed her into the ground, the force of the impact sending cracks spidering through the ground. Jolly screamed in pain, but Kana barely noticed. Her blood was boiling now, her vision red. She could hear Jolly's shallow breaths, feel the tremors in her body, but it wasn't enough. She wanted to hear her confess. She wanted the truth.

"Say it!"

Jolly shrieked, throwing her arms up in a feeble attempt to shield herself. "Fine! Fine! I turned him in, okay?! I did it! I loved it!"

Her voice cracked, equal parts terror and deranged glee. "You have no idea what it was like! Watching his dumb expression, thinking we believed him, thinking it was safe, it felt amazing! I hop-"

Kana's punch landed before she could finish, silencing her with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed from Jolly's nose, her head snapping back as Kana's fist connected. She crumpled to the ground, groaning, but Kana wasn't done. She climbed on top of her, fists flying in a brutal flurry. Each blow landed with a sickening sound, Jolly's cries fading into weak whimpers.

Kana's breath came in ragged gasps as blood splattered her hands, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. The image of Vell's face, betrayed, broken, flashed through her mind, fueling her fury.

She was angry at Jolly yes but this was also about her. She blamed herself for what happened to Vell and this was the only way she thought she could repent, seeking out revenge for him.

"Kana, that's enough!"

A hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her back mid swing. Kana's head snapped around, her blood streaked face twisted in fury. Jay stood behind her, his eyes wide with shock and alarm.

"Let go." Her voice low and dangerous.

Jay didn't flinch, his grip firm despite the clear fear in his eyes. "Kana, you've done enough. She's done. Let it go I thought we came here to speak to them, not kill them."

Kana's eyes narrowed, her body trembling with unspent rage. Her gaze flicked back to Jolly's battered form, then to Jay.

"Hey Jay....have you seen Vell ever since he left the city months ago? have you seen his current condition?"

He hesitated to answer, there was no right answer to this question. "No...."

"I see."

Her eyes locked onto him, glowing red with bloodlust. Jay was scared but he still held on tight, hoping he can get through to her.

"Last chance, let go." she said, her voice icy.

Jay shook his head, his expression hardening. "Not a chance. You're not killing her-"

Jay found himself flying in the air and crushing into the wall with a deafening impact. Dust and rubble crumbled around him as he slid to the ground, groaning in pain.