I Can See Evolution Paths

Arthur didn’t have time to wonder what had happened to Vedas. The change in his eyes, the strange purple glow surrounding him, and the way he was gripping his weapon all pointed toward something being terribly wrong, but Arthur couldn’t afford to stop and think about it.

"Vedas," he called again. "It’s me."

Vedas didn’t answer.

Instead, his body suddenly moved.

Arthur barely had time to raise his golden spear before Vedas’s weapon crashed against it with a deafening CLANG!

The impact drove Arthur backward several steps, his boots carving lines through the earth. He steadied himself, but Vedas was already twisting his weapon for another strike, purple energy flashing along the blade.

"Vedas!"

There was no response.

The purple glow in Vedas’s eyes remained fixed on Arthur, while an unfamiliar aura crawled across his armor and weapon.

Arthur tightened his grip around Dusk but still didn’t attack. "Vedas, listen to me."

Vedas’s expression remained empty.

Arthur took a cautious step forward. "It’s me. You know me."

For a brief moment, Vedas’s weapon lowered slightly.

He noticed. "That’s right."

But the purple light in Vedas’s eyes suddenly intensified and his grip tightened around the spear.

Arthur’s expression changed. Whatever part of Vedas had recognized him had disappeared again.

"Vedas..." He raised Dusk. "I’m sorry."

Vedas thrust his spear forward.

[Magic Burst]

A concentrated explosion erupted from the weapon.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

He knew immediately that blocking normally wouldn’t be enough.

Golden light erupted around his body.

[King Aura]

The pressure surrounding Arthur changed instantly. A powerful golden aura spread across the ground, pushing back the smoke and debris around him as he planted his feet and raised Dusk.

"Vedas, I’m not going to hurt you."

The Magic Burst struck.

BOOOOOOM!

The blast swallowed Arthur completely.

Eden screamed from behind him. "Arthur!"

Athena moved immediately, but before she could reach Arthur, movement erupted through the surrounding trees. One Beast Partner lunged at its owner, followed almost immediately by another attack from somewhere behind them.

Then another.

The confusion lasted only a moment before the pattern became clear.

There expression changed.

This wasn’t only Vedas.

Whatever had affected him was spreading through the Beast Partners.

...

Sun barely had time to turn.

Kong was already there.

The Fiery Stone Ape swung its fist.

BOOM!

Sun raised Long just in time.

The impact launched him backward.

He crashed through a tree, snapped through another branch, and finally hit the ground hard enough to roll several meters.

"Ugh..."

Sun pushed himself up.

Then he saw Kong standing several meters away.

Golden metallic fur covered the Beast’s body, while his crimson markings burned beneath a layer of purple energy.

Sun’s expression fell. "Kong?"

Kong roared.

Then he charged.

Sun barely managed to raise Long before Kong’s fist came crashing down. He blocked the blow, but the force still drove him backward through the mud. Kong immediately followed with another strike, forcing Sun to twist aside as the massive fist smashed into the ground where his head had been, cracking the earth beneath them.

Sun took the opening and swept Long toward Kong’s legs.

[Point Shockwave]

The invisible force deliberately missed Kong’s body and struck the ground beside him instead, throwing up enough pressure to disrupt his balance.

Kong stumbled.

Sun rushed forward and wrapped both arms around the Beast’s waist.

"Stop!".

Kong answered by grabbing Sun and throwing him over his shoulder.

BOOM!

Sun hit the ground.

"Okay!"

He rolled away as Kong’s fist smashed down beside him.

"You’re making this really difficult!"

Kong roared again and charged.

Sun didn’t attack.

He kept retreating instead, using Long to redirect Kong’s blows whenever possible while carefully holding back enough power to avoid seriously hurting his partner.

It became harder with every exchange, however. Kong’s punches were powerful enough to tear through trees, and Sun could only avoid them for so long before one finally forced him farther back than he wanted.

He caught another blow against Long and was pushed several steps across the ground. When Kong’s fist smashed through the tree beside him, Sun stared at the splintered trunk for a moment before looking back at the Beast.

That was Kong.

The same Kong who used to steal food whenever nobody was looking, who would show off whenever he found someone stronger, and who seemed happiest whenever a training session turned into a competition.

Sun tightened his grip around Long.

"I’m not fighting you, Kong."

Kong lunged again.

Sun planted his staff into the ground and activated [Buff], mana surging through his body as he slipped beneath the incoming punch. He managed to get behind Kong and wrapped both arms around the Beast’s waist.

"I’m bringing you back!"

Kong’s muscles tensed.

His crimson markings suddenly blazed.

[Fiery Rage]

Golden flames erupted around Kong’s fists.

Sun’s eyes widened.

"Oh, come on!"

Kong’s elbow slammed backward.

BOOM!

Sun was thrown away. He landed on his feet this time, although the force still sent him sliding several meters.

Then he looked down at Long and then at Kong. "You know, I was trying to save you without hurting you."

Kong roared.

Sun sighed. "Apparently you disagree."

...

Across the battlefield, Athena barely had time to recover before Athy appeared.

Across the battlefield, Athena barely had time to recover before Athy appeared again. Golden light spread around the owl and divided into multiple forms until several identical copies surrounded Athena from different directions.

The clones attacked almost simultaneously.

Athena raised Aegis just in time. One struck the shield, then another followed from the opposite side, forcing her to turn and redirect each attack before the next one reached her.

The assault quickly pushed her across the clearing.

"Athy!"

There was no response.

Athena blocked another strike and spun, using the shield to redirect the clone into another. But the real Athy was already behind her. Athena turned and then a golden wing struck Aegis.

BOOM!

The impact sent her sliding backward.

Athena steadied herself and looked carefully at the surrounding copies.

Athena quickly realized that the attacks weren’t random. Athy’s clones were coordinating with one another, forcing Athena’s attention toward one direction before another attack came from her blind spot. Even when Athena managed to redirect one of them, the others immediately adjusted their positions.

Athena’s expression tightened.

This wasn’t instinct.

Athy was still analyzing her opponent. She was still using the same precision she had always shown in battle. Which meant that somewhere beneath that purple glow, the Beast Athena knew was still there.

Athena lowered her spear slightly. "You can still recognize me."

Athy’s golden eyes remained fixed on her.

Then every clone attacked at once.

Athena thrust Aegis forward.

A golden barrier expanded from the shield.

BOOOOM!

The entire formation crashed into it.

The barrier held.

Athena immediately created several golden copies of herself, sending them in different directions.

The copies scattered through the ruins.

Athy’s head turned.

One by one, the owl’s eyes tracked them.

Then she disappeared.

Athena’s expression changed.

"...You found me."

Athy reappeared directly beside her.

Athena raised Aegis.

CLANG!

The wing-blade struck the shield.

Athena staggered.

Athy attacked again.

Athena blocked.

Again.

Blocked.

Again.

Athena deliberately left an opening.

Athy took it.

The instant the owl moved inside her guard, Athena dropped her spear and caught Athy around the body.

"Got you."

Golden energy spread across Athena’s arms.

Athy’s body began glowing.

For one brief moment, Athena smiled.

"Come back."

Athy suddenly screamed.

The light around her exploded.

BOOOOOOM!

Athena was thrown backward.

She rolled across the ground, stopped against a broken pillar, and slowly pushed herself upright.

Her hair was covered in dust.

Her shield was scratched.

Her expression was deeply annoyed.

"You’re really making this difficult."

Athy spread her wings.

Golden light gathered around the edges.

Athena raised Aegis.

Then Athy vanished.

Athena’s eyes widened.

She turned too late.

Athy appeared behind her, one wing glowing with concentrated light.

[Brave Light]

The wing swept toward Athena’s neck.

CLANG!

Athena barely turned Aegis in time.

The concentrated blade of light slammed into the shield and was redirected upward, carving a glowing line through the branches overhead.

Athena’s arms trembled from the impact.

Athena looked directly into Athy’s golden eyes.

"Athy."

For the first time, something changed.

The tension around the owl’s eyes softened, and for the briefest moment, the purple glow seemed to weaken.

Athena froze.

She knew that expression. It was the same look Athy gave her whenever she was confused by something Athena said.

Recognition.

Then the moment disappeared, swallowed once again by the purple light. Athena tightened her grip around Aegis. "You’re still in there."

Athy’s wings slowly spread again and purple light gathered around her body. Athena raised her shield.

She knew this fight wasn’t over but now she knew something else.

Athy was still fighting too.