Beast Evolution Forge

Kana turned around at high speed, ready to attack but Jolly blocked her, signaling her to wait a moment.

"Move, I told you that thing was bad news. Only high ranked monsters are capable of speech."

She wanted to force jolly aside but did not want to hurt her more. "Please wait, at least let it explain before we do anything, please!"

Kana noticed that Jolly was standing strongly on her point and the only way around her was force. "Haahhh, fine, but one wrong move and i am ending that thing."

The bird stared directly at Kana, clearly not liking her attitude. {A mere human dares threaten me? it seems humans are as arrogant as ever.}

"Hmph, says the dying bird." She got comfortable in her seat, ready to hear its story so she could kill it. Jolly was also ready for it to start talking, "what happened to you?" It shifted its gaze to Jolly, staring at her for a few seconds before lifting one of its wings directly above her head.

"You-" Jolly stopped, telling her it was alright, she trusted it.

{Hmm, how interesting, your body is tainted with corrupted mana. This is interesting, who did this to you human?}

"Ah, the association, they do this to all players that register there. though we don't even realise that we are being controlled, I myself only got free not long ago."

{The association? is that so? which city are you from?}

"Zenith city."

{Zenith...hmm, i see. I will return the favor for helping me.} It's feathers glowed bright yellow, lighting up the entire car. A few moments later the light disappears and Kana then saw it, above her head was the cause of everything.

"corrupted mana....." She said, shocked at how much came out of her. "How... how is this possible?" she whispered, her usual bravado faltering.

The bird's glowing feathers dimmed, and it lowered its wing, its piercing eyes fixating on Kana with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. {Foolish human. You play with forces you do not understand and wonder why you are consumed by them. This corruption has rooted itself deep within you, fed by your arrogance and your ignorance.}

Kana's fists tightened, her fiery attitude returning. "Watch your mouth, bird. we didn't choose this, alright? You have no idea of how much we have suffered."

Jolly remained quiet, not wishing to cause more trouble with her words. The birds gaze was still locked onto her, as if gazing into her soul.

{Suffered you say?} It almost laughed, but the sound was cold, devoid of humor. {Oh, how predictable. Humans, always draping themselves in the shroud of their own pain, proclaiming themselves the victims of forces they barely comprehend. Do you think your suffering is unique? That it justifies your weakness and the harm you have done?}

Kana glared at the bird, her expression was serious but this was all a mask for her unease. ".....We ...." She didn't know how to respond.

{Tell me human, what is a monster to you?}

"Huh, monsters are evil things that kill humans, they all deserve to die for the world to be at peace."

Jolly looked at the anger in Kana's eyes, but this did not stop the bad from educating her.

{Such naivety. You know nothing about the workings of the world. I will ask you this, what is corrupted mana?}Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"its the mana found in monsters, its disgusting and evil."

{Good, now think about what that mana did to you. Has it ever crossed your mind that the monsters you hunt maybe have been infected like you?}

"....." she was speechless.

Its gaze now felt like a weight on Kana, waiting for her to spit back but she did not have an answer. {Speechless, are we? I thought as much. You humans see the world in black and white, yet you swim in shades of gray. You hunt, you kill, you destroy, all under the guise of righteousness, never once questioning the foundation of your so-called morality.}

Kana's fists clenched tightly, her usual fiery retorts absent. The words dug deep, stirring something uncomfortable within her.

Jolly finally spoke, her voice tentative but steady. "Are you saying... the monsters we fight, they might have been victims too? Like us?"

The bird turned its sharp gaze to Jolly, a faint glimmer of acknowledgment in its eyes. {Precisely. Do you think corruption chooses its hosts with malice or intent? No. It spreads indiscriminately, consuming all it touches. And yet, you humans, blinded by your self-importance, declare yourselves saviors while condemning those who were less fortunate.}

Kana finally found her voice, though it was quieter than usual. "Then... what are we supposed to do? Let them roam free? Let them kill us?" She looked at the bird, not with anger this time but with curiosity.

{I am not suggesting passivity. Survival often demands violence. But understanding, that is what sets apart those who seek true change. Your hands may wield blades, but your minds must wield discernment. There are monsters born of malice, creatures that embody destruction. There are those whose evil has been twisted into something greater by the corruption, amplifying their hunger for chaos. And then, there are the innocents, the beings who lived their lives in balance with the wild until the corruption seeped into them, filling them with an unnatural thirst for blood. You do not face a war against all monsters. What you truly battle is the corruption that taints them, and yourselves.}

"If what you're saying is true, then the Association…is just the tip of the iceberg?"

Kana also joined in, "I fear we...are nothing but ants in this world."

The bird let out a chuckle, {Poor things. You think you understand the world, but you are trapped in a bubble, small and fragile, built on limited truths. Beyond Zenith, beyond the borders of the Association's control, there are places, cities and continents where humans have embraced the corruption you fear. you have no idea how far humans have gone, judging from you mana levels, you two are but ants. }

These words hit so hard that Kana did not want to believe them. "What are you talking about? Nobody embraces corrupted mana. It's dangerous. It ruins everything it touches."

{Hmmm} It stared at them, noticing that they had a lot going on in their minds. {I believe this should be enough for now, think over what I have told you and as for you fiery one, unlike the other girl, your corrupted mana is going to need a delicate touch, one i can not do in my current state.}

"I see, so I am not free yet huh.....Am i beyond saving?"

{Not beyond saving, no. But the corruption within you has taken root deeply, intertwining with your own essence. A simple cleansing would shatter you.}

Jolly gasped, "S-Shatter her?"

Kana stared at her hands, flexing them as if trying to feel the corruption pulsing through her veins. "You're saying this... this thing inside me is part of who I am now? That without it, I might not even be me?"

{As i have said, that is all for now, think over my words.}

Jolly noticed that Kana was feeling down, things just got more complicated for her. "Hey, its ok, Vell might still be able to help, let's go find him."

A weak smile crept up her face, "You are right, there is still hope."

The birds voice chirped in, shocked at that name.

{Did you just say Vell?}