Beast Evolution Forge

'Something is so strange here.' Vell's words played in her mind once more, suddenly what he said was not sounding so crazy. 'The further we get from the city, the clear my thinking is becoming, as if a fog is being lifted.' She sat up, her wounds still stinging, she looked out the window, noticing that Kana has been driving all night as the sun was beginning to shine upon them.

Her eye color changed from black to dark brown, her mind was hers again and she just sat there in shock. Taking in everything she has done for years. She found it strange how she didn't realise, as if those moments were her true self.

"Hahaha...." It was a soft laugh but Kana still heard it, she looked at her through through the mirror, noticing the smile on her face, something was different, she thought.

".....is the hold on you broken?"

"You knew about this the whole time?" She ignored the question, it was more surprising to her that Kana knew Jolly was under the effect of mind control.

"I mean, I wouldn't be running away from players if i was still under their control now would i?"

"Yeah, that mak-WAIT! Then why did you beat me up so much!" Her voice was too loud, stretching her face and causing her wounds to begin bleeding again. "ouch, see this, this was all your doing, my beautiful face...."

Kana didn't know what to say, whenever she was beating her up, it never crossed her mind that she was corrupted. "Sorry about that...but your corrupted personality is just.....you know....she is annoying."

"Hehe...yeah, can't argue with that. But how did you escape the control?" She leaned back, softly messaging her face to relieve the pain.

"It's a skill of mine, that's all you need to know. how about you, how did someone like you escape such a powerful hold?" She looked at her with a face that scream suspicious.

"Sheesh, you don't need to give the judgmental stare. I don't think I am completely, i think I am just too far from the source for it to work, if i were to return, i would black out again. I wonder if Vell could help with removing it completely."

"Huh, why are you saying that, did he tell you something? speak!" She tried to act serious but Jolly could see through her tough act, she was just a kid wanting to hear more about the person she held dear.

"He didn't say much, he just said if he got strong enough, he could help remove the corrupted mana from our bodies. I was skeptical but still wanted to look into it but I black out and she took over."

A proud but stupid smile crept on her face, showing a side of her that has never been seen by anyone except him of course. "Hihihi, that's my uncle, he is the best. The best I tell you, this one tim-"

"WATCH OUT!"

Kana hit the brake full force, turning the stirring wheel to avoid the figure lying in front. Their eyes were wide with shock and panic but luck was on their side, they managed to avoid it but it was close, too close for comfort.

"The fuck was that!?" Jolly was the first one to rush out of the car, making sure not to making any movements that will inflict pain on her battered body.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Kana was coughing in her, the sudden brake propelled her forward causing her to hit her throat on the wheel. She got out and followed Jolly, approaching the figure, they looked at it, not sure what they were looking at.

"Is it an ostrich?" Kana asked, crouching down to take a better look.

"Are you stupid, where have you seen an ostrich like that? its clearly a some type of bird, a big bird at that, that thing is almost the same size as me."

It was indeed a bird, but not like anything they'd ever seen. Its massive body was covered in feathers that looked beautiful to the eye, giving it a magical look.

"Almost looks like it feel from heaven."

Its wings sprawled out, one of them twisted unnaturally, with feathers that were slicked with blood. Its beak was jagged, not smooth like a regular bird's, and its talons dug deep into the dirt as if it had been struggling to move.

"Hmmm. Maybe it's like... a mutant ostrich? You ever hear about the government making weird hybrid animals or something?"

Jolly squinted at it, tilting her head. "Yeah, you are dumb. Anyways, what should we do with it. Looks like it's dying, should we put if out of it misery?"

She was ready to end it but Kana stopped her. ".....Never, it looks terrible, just kill it."

Jolly was frozen, Kana expected her to be done by now but she was just standing there, lost in thought.

"Dude, any time now."

She returned to normal and approached it, Kana was still expecting a kill but instead, Jolly picked it up and head back to the car. Kana ran after her, confused at what she was doing.

"What are you doing, we can't bring that thing a long with us, like....look at it."

Jolly placed the bird gently onto the backseat, ignoring Kana's protests. She stood back for a moment, observing the creature's labored breathing and the faint shimmer of its strange, otherworldly feathers.

"I don't know why," Her voice steady but soft, "but I feel like we can't just leave it here to die. It's... I don't know. It feels wrong."

Kana threw up her hands in exasperation, pacing in circles near the car. "You've got to be kidding me! That thing could be dangerous! You just told me it looked like it fell from heaven, but for all we know, it could have crawled out of hell instead!"

Jolly shot her a sharp look. "Do you really think I am any better? People would say the same thing about me if they saw what i had done. It's hurt and helpless. Whatever it is, it deserves a chance."

"Ugh, what's up with you all of a sudden, bring the old you back, at least she listened to me. I am telling you, that thing is bad news, i can just feel it."

Jolly gave her a sidelong glance as she carefully adjusted the bird's position on the backseat, her tone calm, not giving up. "Maybe the 'old me' wouldn't have thought twice about leaving something helpless behind, but that's not who I am now. At least, I hope it's not."

Kana groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "Fine, fine, whatever! But when it grows a second head and starts chanting in some ancient language, don't come crying to me."

She smirked faintly, settling into the passenger seat again. "Deal. You can be the one to throw it out the window if that happens but for now, let's at least try to help it."

'Maybe i should just throw both of you out.' Kana thought, taking a sit and turning on the car. They were silent for a moment until Jolly said something.

"You're really soft, aren't you?" Her voice broke the silence, teasing but with a hint of curiosity.

"You little bitc-"

A voice cut her off, almost like an echo.

{Humans.}

"Eh!"

"I fucking knew it!"