Beast Evolution Forge-Chapter 199: I am dropping this book 9

The team laughed, the sound bouncing off the stone walls. It felt warm, light, after the swamp's slimy chaos. But Vell stayed quiet, his mind spinning. The tower wasn't just about beating monsters—it was a game, a test. Every floor had a catch, a secret to crack. Floor 13 would hit them with something new. He had to stay sharp.

"Sleep," he said, standing. "We climb in an hour."

They nodded, curling up with their damp cloaks. Regina's fire flickered, keeping the chill away. Vell paced the room, his boots tapping softly. The tower was too still—no growls, no drips. That silence meant danger was building.

An hour later, they were up, packs slung over their shoulders, standing at the stairs. The steps looked worn now, cracked and uneven. The air hummed louder, a buzz that prickled their skin like static.

"Ready?" Vell asked, his voice steady.

"Always," Jolly said, cracking her knuckles.

They climbed. The air shifted—dry and hot, then cold, then hot again, like the tower couldn't decide. The walls shimmered, the black stone turning glassy, reflecting their faces in weird, warped shapes. The glowing symbols faded, replaced by faint cracks that pulsed with red light.

"This is weird," Regina said, her breath puffing out. "The walls—they're alive."

"Keep going," Vell replied, his dagger in hand. "We'll see what's up there."

The stairs ended at a door—tall, made of smooth glass, streaked with red veins like blood. A faint hum came from it, low and deep, vibrating in their chests. The glass reflected them, but twisted—Ruby's ears looked huge, Wren's claws stretched long, Jolly's fists giant.

"Whoa," Ruby whispered, stepping back. "That's creepy!"

"Open it," Vell said, his voice firm.

Jolly tapped the glass, then pushed. It slid open silently, and a rush of hot, dry air blasted out, carrying the smell of ash and metal. Floor 13 stretched ahead—a blazing nightmare.

The ground was cracked black rock, glowing red where lava bubbled up. Sharp cliffs rose like broken teeth, their tips lost in a sky of swirling orange clouds. Lightning—red and jagged—crackled overhead, striking the ground with loud booms. In the distance, a massive forge glowed—huge, built of dark iron, with smoke pouring from its top. Hammers banged inside, a steady rhythm that shook the air.

"Whoa!" Ruby said, her tail puffing up. "This place is loud!"

"Loud and hot," Vell said, scanning the chaos. "Stay tight. This floor's got teeth."

They stepped out, the heat hitting like a wall. The rock burned their boots, and ash stung their eyes. The banging grew louder, and the ground trembled—something big was moving.

"Master, look!" Ruby pointed, her ears flattening.

Shapes stomped out of the smoke—tall, blocky figures made of iron and fire. Their bodies glowed orange where molten metal ran through cracks, and their arms ended in huge hammers. Red eyes glared from square heads, and they roared like furnaces.

"Forge golems!" Regina shouted, her grimoire glowing. "Heat and strength!"

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"Spread out!" Vell yelled as one swung its hammer.

The ground cracked where it hit, sparks flying. Ruby shot a water blast, but it hissed into steam before reaching the golem. Wren slashed its leg, claws sparking, but the iron barely dented. Jolly punched back, her fists glowing, chipping its arm.

"Physical's weak!" Vell called, dodging a swing. "Regina, magic!"

She nodded, casting an ice bolt. It struck the golem's chest, steam exploding as the fire dimmed. The golem slowed, cracking. Vell shadow-stepped behind, stabbing the cooled spot with his dagger. It roared and broke apart, molten bits splashing.

[Forge Golem defeated. 1500 points earned.]

"Next!" Jolly cheered, grinning through the sweat.

Two more stomped up, faster than the first. Regina hit one with ice, while Wren and Jia teamed on the other, claws and daggers glowing. Jolly smashed the iced one, and Vell finished it with a stab. Ruby's mana blasts distracted the second, letting Wren claw its core. It melted into slag.

[Forge Golems defeated. 3000 points earned.]

A path opened, leading to the forge. "That's our target," Vell said, wiping ash from his face. "Let's move."

They trekked across the burning rock, dodging lava pools. More golems rose, but the team was smooth—ice, mana, teamwork. The forge loomed bigger, its smoke choking the air. The banging was deafening now, a beat that rattled their bones.

At the forge's base, a huge gate stood—iron, glowing red, with chains hanging loose. Inside, fire roared, and shadows moved. A narrow bridge led over a lava river to a wide platform. There, a giant waited—massive, with arms like pistons and a chest of molten steel. A blue key glowed in its core, pulsing with every hammer strike it made on an anvil.

"Forge titan!" Regina said, her voice sharp. "Boss of Floor 13!"

"Big and hot," Wren grinned, claws ready. "Let's melt it!"

"Careful," Vell warned. "That key's ours."

The titan turned, its eyes flaring red. It swung a hammer—bigger than Jolly—and a wave of fire rushed out. "Scatter!" Vell shouted.

They dodged, the heat searing their cloaks. Regina cast ice, hitting its arm. Steam hissed, and the molten steel cracked. Jolly charged, punching the cooled spot, breaking chunks off. Wren and Jia hit its legs, claws and daggers sparking through iron.

Ruby fired mana blasts at its head, making it flinch. Vell shadow-stepped to its back, stabbing at the key. The dagger hit steel, chipping it, but the key stayed stuck.

"Chest!" he yelled. "Focus the chest!"

Regina unleashed an ice storm, slamming its front. The steel froze, cracking wide. Jolly leaped, smashing the chest with both fists. The key flickered, loosening. The titan roared, swinging wild. Lava splashed, forcing them back.

"Keep going!" Vell called, dodging a fiery chunk.

Wren and Jia clawed the chest, metal flying. Ruby's blasts kept it off balance. Regina's ice pinned its arms, and Jolly punched again. The chest split, and the key clattered to the ground.

"Grab it!" Vell shouted, diving through the heat.

The titan roared, fire exploding everywhere. Vell snatched the key as the team hit hard—ice, claws, fists, mana. The titan froze, cracked, and burst into slag and ash.

[Forge Titan defeated. 4500 points earned.]

[Floor 13 Key earned. 6000 points awarded.]

A portal glowed on the platform, blue and shimmering. The team panted, soaked in sweat and ash, but grinning wide.

"Thirteen floors!" Jolly whooped, pumping a fist. "We're legends now!"

"Not yet," Vell said, holding the blue key. "The tower's still climbing."

Regina wiped her brow, her grimoire steaming. "Each boss is tougher. Floor 14's gonna push us hard."

Ruby hugged Vell, her tail wagging through the soot. "We'll win, Master! Together!"

He nodded, a small smile breaking through. "Yeah. Together."

They stepped through the portal, back to the base. The forge's heat faded, but the buzz stayed—stronger now, like the tower was waking up. The stairs loomed, leading to Floor 14—more fights, more tests. Vell's team was beat-up but unbeatable. The tower could throw anything. They'd keep going—higher, always higher.

---

Back at the base, the air felt heavier, like the tower was pressing down. They slumped by the fire, peeling off scorched cloaks. Ruby shook ash from her hat, giggling. "That titan was huge! My blasts barely tickled it!"

"You did good," Vell said, ruffling her ears. "Kept it dizzy."

Wren smirked, stretching out. "Yeah, gave me time to claw its guts. Teamwork makes the dream work."

Jia snorted, cleaning her daggers. "Dream's not done. Floor 14's next."

Jolly grinned, flexing her hands. "Bet it's got something bigger. I'm ready to punch it."

Regina flipped her grimoire open, frowning. "The tower's alive—I feel it. Floor 13 was loud, chaotic. Floor 14 might be… darker."

"Dark's fine," Vell said, leaning against the wall. "We've got light."

They ate—dried meat and fruit, washed down with water from their canteens. The fire crackled, and the team rested, letting the heat fade from their bones. Vell watched the stairs, the blue key heavy in his pocket. Thirteen floors, thirteen wins. But the tower wasn't slowing down—it was speeding up, throwing harder punches. He had to think ahead.

"Sleep," he said after a while. "We climb soon."

They curled up, the fire's glow soft on their faces. Regina muttered spells in her sleep, her grimoire open beside her. Ruby snuggled close to Vell, her tail draped over his leg. Wren and Jia stayed alert, eyes half-open. Jolly snored, loud and steady.

Vell didn't sleep. He paced, the hum of the walls sinking into his head. The tower was alive—Regina was right. It watched them, tested them. Floor 14 would be a new trap. He gripped the key, its pulse matching his own.

An hour later, they were up, packs ready, at the stairs. The steps gleamed now—black and slick, like wet glass. The air shimmered, thick with a strange chill.

"Ready?" Vell asked.

"Let's do it," Jolly said, stepping up.

They climbed. The air turned cold, then hot, then cold again—unstable, wild. The walls pulsed, red veins glowing brighter, then fading. A faint whisper started—soft, like wind through cracks, but growing sharper.

"This isn't normal," Regina said, her voice tight. "The tower's… talking."

"Keep moving," Vell said, his dagger out. "We'll hear it soon."

The stairs ended at a door—tall, black, smooth as a mirror. Red cracks ran through it, glowing like embers. The whispers turned into words—"turn back," "you'll break"—echoing in their heads.

"Spooky!" Ruby squeaked, grabbing Vell's arm.

"Open it," he said, steady as rock.

Jolly pushed, and the door split apart, revealing Floor 14—a world of shadows and ruin.

The ground was gray stone, cracked and dusty. Broken towers rose—old, crumbling, their tops lost in a sky of swirling black clouds. Red lightning flashed, silent but bright. The air buzzed with a low hum, and shadows moved—fast, flickering, like ghosts.

"Whoa," Ruby whispered, her tail wrapping around her leg. "This place is dead!"

"Dead but alive," Vell said, stepping in. "Stay close."

They moved, boots crunching on stone. The hum grew, vibrating in their chests. Shadows darted—small at first, then bigger. A shape lunged—a wolf, but made of black mist, its eyes red and glowing.

"Shadow beasts!" Regina shouted, her grimoire flaring. "Light and mana!"

"Dodge!" Vell yelled as it snapped.

Wren slashed, her claws cutting mist. The wolf howled and faded. Ruby fired a mana blast, popping another. Jolly punched a third, her fists glowing, scattering it. Jia's daggers sliced a fourth, clean and fast. Vell shadow-stepped to the last, stabbing its core. It dissolved.

[Shadow Beasts defeated. 1400 points earned.]

"Easy," Wren said, grinning.

"Path's that way," Vell said, nodding toward a broken road. "Let's go."

They walked, dodging crumbling walls. More beasts attacked—wolves, birds, cats—but the team was quick—light, mana, teamwork. The road led to a plaza—a wide circle of stone with a ruined fountain. In its center floated a red key, glowing bright, surrounded by swirling shadows.

"There!" Jolly said, stepping forward.

"Wait," Vell warned. "Trap."

The ground shook, and the shadows merged—forming a giant figure, tall and cloaked, with red eyes burning. It held a scythe of mist, and its laugh cut through the air.

"Shadow reaper!" Regina said, her voice sharp. "Boss of Floor 14!"

"Big points," Wren grinned, claws out.

"Careful," Vell said. "We need that key."

The reaper swung its scythe, a wave of shadow rushing out. "Scatter!" Vell shouted.

They dodged, the shadow slicing stone. Regina cast light, hitting its chest. It hissed, stumbling. Ruby fired mana blasts, peppering its cloak. Wren and Jia slashed its sides, claws and daggers glowing. Jolly punched its leg, cracking the ground.

The reaper swung again, faster. Vell shadow-stepped to the fountain, grabbing the key. "Got it!" he yelled.

It roared, growing bigger, shadows swirling. "Finish it!" Vell called.

Regina's light exploded, blinding it. Wren and Jia tore its cloak, mist spilling. Jolly smashed its head, and Ruby's blasts hit its eyes. Vell stabbed its core, and it shattered into dust.

[Shadow Reaper defeated. 5000 points earned.]

[Floor 14 Key earned. 7000 points awarded.]

A portal glowed, red and swirling. The team panted, dusty but alive.

"Fourteen floors!" Jolly cheered. "We're unstoppable!"

"Not yet," Vell said, holding the red key. "Tower's got more."

Regina closed her grimoire. "It's evolving. Floor 15's next."

Ruby hugged Vell, grinning. "We'll win, Master! Together!"

He smiled, small but real. "Yeah. Together."

They stepped through, back to the base. The shadows faded, but the hum grew. The stairs waited—Floor 15, more fights, more wins. Vell's team was bruised but bold. The tower could try anything. They'd climb higher—always higher.