Beast Evolution Forge-Chapter 186: Floor 4

After a few more days of hunting and gathering points, Vell gathered his team at their table in the inn. They had all grown stronger from their time on this floor.

"We've met all the requirements to move on," he said, looking at each of his girls. "Tomorrow, we'll head to the portal and go to the next floor."

"Finally!" Wren stretched, a satisfied smile on her face. "I was starting to get bored fighting the same monsters over and over."

Regina nodded in agreement. "The Thunder Twin Wolves were fun at first, but they're too easy now."

"Don't get overconfident," he warned, his voice firm but kind. "Each floor will be harder than the last. We need to stay sharp."

Ruby's tail swished happily behind her. "How many more floors do we need to clear before we reach our goal, Master?"

"Many more," he replied, taking a sip from his cup. "But we're making good progress."

Jolly leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Have you noticed? That tall man and his team haven't shown their faces since you taught them a lesson."

"Word spreads fast," Jia added. "No one has tried to challenge us for days."

"Fear can be useful, but don't rely on it. Always be ready for a fight."

As they talked, other players in the inn glanced their way with respect and fear in their eyes. Stories about Vell's power had spread quickly after his encounter with the four attackers.

"Master, what should we expect on the next floor?" Ruby asked.

"I am not sure but we are still too strong for these lower floors. We should get a move on, I am getting tired of this place."

They got up and went straight to the portal without looking back.

The light from the portal surrounded them as they stepped through. Their bodies felt weightless for a moment before their feet touched solid ground again. The familiar feeling of transportation faded as they looked around at their new surroundings.

"Floor 4," he announced, taking in the scene.

Unlike the grassy fields of the previous floor, this one appeared to be a vast desert landscape. The sky above was a deep orange, with two small suns hanging low on the horizon. Strange rock formations rose from the sand in the distance.

Before they could move toward the nearby settlement visible through the heat waves, a soft chime sounded around them. Blue light swirled in the air, forming into a floating message that everyone could see.

[Welcome to Floor 4: The Twin Sun Desert]

[Calculating contributions from Floor 3...]

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

The light pulsed once, then expanded into separate streams that flowed toward each member of the team.

[Vell: 1,240 points earned. Highest monster defeat count. Special tactics used. Leadership bonus applied.]

A small chest materialized in front of him. When he opened it, inside lay a silvery dagger with runes carved along its blade.

[Desert Fang - Rare Weapon. Damage increases in desert environments. Can cut through stone as if it were cloth.]

"Not bad," he murmured, testing the weight of the blade in his hand.

The light moved to Ruby next.

[Ruby: 980 points earned. Successful rare monster defeat without weapons. Teamwork bonus applied.]

Her chest appeared, revealing a pair of blue metal bracers.

[Mana Conductor Bracers - Rare Equipment. Reduces mana cost of projectile skills by 20%. Grants +5% accuracy to all ranged attacks.]

She slipped them on immediately, her tail wagging with excitement. "They're perfect, Master! Thank you for giving me that training method, it paid off!"

Next came Wren's rewards.

[Wren: 1,050 points earned. Highest solo hunt count. Transformation expertise noted.]

Her chest contained a necklace with a small crystal pendant shaped like a fang.

[Shifter's Pendant - Rare Accessory. Grants additional strength boost for 5 seconds after transformation.]

"Now this I like," she said, putting it on with a grin.

Regina was next.

[Regina: 890 points earned. Tactical support excellence. Resource gathering bonus applied.]

She received a thick book bound in dark leather.

[Grimoire of Magic - Rare Spellbook.]

She immediately began flipping through its pages, her eyes lighting up. "These spells will be very useful here."

For Jolly, the light formed into:

[Jolly: 920 points earned. Jia: 870 points earned.]

They all received their gifts and moved on to the settlement where the mission would be announced.

As they entered the settlement, they noticed how different it was from the previous floors. The buildings were made of hardened sand and stone, designed to withstand the harsh desert conditions. People wore loose clothing that covered most of their bodies to protect from the heat.

"We should find somewhere to rest first," he said, looking around at the busy marketplace ahead of them. "Then we can learn about the challenges on this floor."

The girls nodded in agreement, following him through the crowded streets. Many players turned to look at them as they passed, whispering among themselves.

"Looks like our reputation has followed us here," Regina said quietly.

"Good," Wren replied with a small smile. "Maybe they'll think twice before bothering us."

They found an inn near the center of town. Inside, it was cool and dimly lit, with fans turning slowly on the ceiling. A woman with scales on her arms greeted them.

"Welcome to Floor 4," she said, looking them over. "You must be new arrivals. Would you like rooms?"

"Yes," he replied. "One for me and one large room for my companions."

After getting their keys, they sat at a table in the corner to discuss their next steps.

"I'll check what challenges are available," Jia said, bringing up her interface.

[Available Challenges on Floor 4:

1. Water Search: Find and secure water sources in the desert. 100 points per source.

2. Sand Demon Hunt: Defeat the demons that appear during sand storms. 200 points per demon.

3. Ancient Ruins: Explore the buried temples and retrieve artifacts. 300 points per artifact.

4. Caravan Protection: Guard traveling merchants from bandits and monsters. 150 points per successful journey.

5. Twin Sun Trial: Survive three days in the deep desert with limited supplies. 500 points upon completion.]

"The Sand Demon Hunt sounds interesting," Ruby said, her tail swishing behind her.

"I'm more curious about the Ancient Ruins," Regina added. "Those artifacts might contain useful knowledge."

Vell considered their options. "We should start with the Water Search. It's practical and will help us learn the layout of this floor."

As they discussed their plans, a group of players at another table kept glancing their way. Finally, one of them, a woman with fire-red hair and burn marks on her face, approached them.

"You're the team from Floor 3 that everyone's talking about, aren't you?" she asked, her voice rough but not unfriendly.

He looked up at her. "Word travels fast."

"It does when someone makes as big an impression as you did." She extended her hand. "I'm Ember. My team and I have been on this floor for two weeks now."

He shook her hand. "Any advice?"

"Don't underestimate the sand storms," she said seriously. "They're not just bad weather—they change the landscape and bring out the worst monsters. And the twin suns..." she pointed to her burn scars, "they're not like normal sunlight. They'll burn right through regular protection."

"Thanks for the warning," he replied.

"One more thing—there's a group here called the Desert Kings. They've been around the longest and consider themselves in charge. They don't take kindly to new strong teams."

"We'll keep that in mind," he said.

After she returned to her table, he turned to his team. "Let's rest tonight and start the Water Search challenge tomorrow morning, before the suns are too high."

That night, as the others slept, Vell stood on the balcony of his room, looking out at the strange desert night. The two suns had set, but the sky glowed with countless stars and three small moons.

[You're thinking about what Ember said, aren't you?]

"Yes," he replied quietly. "Every floor has its politics. I'd rather avoid them, but it seems they'll find us anyway."

[The Desert Kings. Looking to maintain control through intimidation, most likely.]

"Most likely," he agreed. "But we're not here to challenge anyone's authority. We just need to clear the floor and move on."

[You know it won't be that simple.]

He smiled slightly. "It never is." He turned back toward his room. "But for now, we focus on the challenges. One step at a time."

Morning came quickly, bringing with it the harsh light of the twin suns. Vell and his team set out early, carrying special water containers provided for the Water Search challenge.

"The map shows several possible locations," Regina said, projecting a holographic image for everyone to see. "I suggest we start with this area here." She pointed to a spot about two hours' walk from the settlement.

They moved through the desert carefully, getting used to the shifting sands under their feet. The heat grew stronger as the suns climbed higher.

"This place is worse than I expected," Jolly complained, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"Use your mana to cool yourself," he instructed. "Create a thin barrier just above your skin to reflect the worst of the heat."

They practiced this technique as they walked, gradually getting better at maintaining the cooling barrier without using too much mana.

By midday, they reached the first location. It was a rocky outcropping surrounded by dead trees.

"Water should be underground here," Regina said, consulting her map.

"Let me check," Wren offered. She transformed into her weasel form and began digging rapidly in the sand.

After a few minutes, she popped back up, transformed to human again, and shook her head. "Nothing yet."

"Keep going," he encouraged. "We'll help."

They all started digging, using both hands and mana to move the sand faster. Suddenly, Ruby's hand hit something hard.

"I found something!" she called.

They cleared away more sand to reveal a large stone slab with strange markings.

"This wasn't on the map," Regina said, studying the symbols. "It looks like a seal of some kind."

He knelt next to it, running his fingers over the markings. "Move back," he ordered suddenly.

Just as they stepped away, the slab cracked. Sand poured into the opening, and a low growl emerged from below.

"Get ready," he said, drawing his new Desert Fang dagger. "We're about to have company."

A creature burst from the sand—a massive scorpion with stones covering its shell and pincers that glowed with intense heat.

"Flame Scorpion!" Regina identified it. "Very rare on this floor I read!"

The monster's tail lashed forward, striking the ground where Ruby had been standing a moment before. She dodged just in time, the sand turning to glass where the stinger hit.

"So who wants it?" He asked, turning to them. To his surprise, the girls were all already raising their hands. He looked at Jia, "Take this one."

"Yes!" She stepped forward, her daggers spinning in her hands.