Hero of war : The divine beast

The room was suffocatingly dark, and young Kael sat trembling, his body soaked in blood. His shallow breaths echoed in the oppressive silence. The door creaked open, revealing a man clad in a pristine black suit. He stepped in with deliberate precision, a black sphere cradled in his gloved hands. Without a word, the man placed the sphere on the cold floor.

"Experiment commencing in five," he announced, his voice devoid of emotion.

Kael's heart seized with terror. His wide, fearful eyes darted between the man and the ominous sphere. He scrambled to his feet, his legs trembling. "No! Please, stop!" he cried, his voice cracking.

"Four."

Kael fell to his knees, clasping his hands together. "I'm begging you, don't do this!"

"Three."

Desperation overtook him, and he lunged at the man, clutching his leg. "Please! I can't take it anymore! I—"

"Two."

The man kicked him away with brutal indifference. Kael's frail body flew across the room, colliding with the wall. Pain shot through him, but the anguish in his heart was far worse.

"One."

The man exited the room, locking the steel door behind him. "Commencing experiment," came his dispassionate voice through the intercom.

The sphere began to emit a thick, black miasma, filling the room with an acrid stench. Kael cowered in the corner, his back pressed against the wall, his small frame shaking violently. From the swirling miasma emerged grotesque beasts, their fangs glistening in the dim light. One lunged at him, its teeth sinking deep into his neck. Kael screamed in agony.

From beyond the room, a voice echoed: "Releasing limiter on Subject One."

Kael's body convulsed as unbearable heat coursed through him. His hair turned snow-white, and fur sprouted from his arms. His ears elongated, turning sharp and wolf-like. For a fleeting moment, he looked divine—a beast of unparalleled beauty and strength. But then, his body began to disintegrate. Flesh melted, limbs twisted, and blood poured from his wounds.

"Tch. Another failure," the man outside muttered. "Regenerating subject."

White steam filled the room, consuming the chaos. When it dissipated, Kael lay there, fully healed, but his spirit shattered.

---

Kael drifted in an endless white void, no sound, no warmth, only emptiness. He caught sight of his reflection, but it moved independently, stepping forward with an air of authority.

"Pathetic," it sneered, its voice booming with disdain. "How dare you waste your life like this? We are the Divine Beast—kings among kings. And here you are, groveling in the dirt."

Kael shook his head, tears spilling down his face. "I never asked for this... I didn't choose to be this!"

"Oh, but you had a choice?" the reflection taunted, stepping closer. "You lost everything, and now you dare cling to this wretched existence? Hand me control, Kael. Let me show you what true power is."

Kael's knees buckled as the reflection gripped his throat, lifting him effortlessly. Its voice turned icy. "Close your eyes. Next time you open them, perhaps you'll still have some dignity. Perhaps you'll have a chance to love again."

---

Kael's eyes fluttered open. The scent of herbs and fabric filled his senses. He was lying on a cot in a dimly lit tent.

"Am I... in a tent?" he murmured weakly.

A voice answered. "Yes, Kael. You're in my tent."

Kael turned to see Asmodius, his eyes scrutinizing him with suspicion. "What happened?" Kael asked, his voice hoarse.

"That's my question," Asmodius said, folding his arms. "Are you a demi-human?"

Kael's breath hitched. His body instinctively stiffened, his hands shaking as he tried to edge toward the exit. Memories of the experiments flooded his mind, and his heart raced with panic.

"Stop!" Asmodius commanded. "You're not going anywhere."

Kael backed into a corner, his arms wrapping around himself as if trying to shield his body. A voice, sharp and cruel, echoed in his head. **Pathetic. You're such a weakling.**

His body shifted, and his true form emerged. White ears adorned his head, a tail unfurled from his back, and scars from the experiments marked his body. His transformation radiated strength, but his voice was laced with sorrow.

"So what if I'm a beast?" Kael muttered, his tone defiant but trembling.

Asmodius recoiled, shock and anger twisting his features. "How dare you deceive Ellia?"

Kael's eyes widened. "Deceive? I never deceived her! All I ever wanted was..." His voice broke. "...a motherly embrace. Nothing more."

Asmodius hesitated, the raw pain in Kael's voice catching him off guard. But he shook his head, anger returning. "You expect me to believe that? You're lying!"

Kael's gaze hardened. "If I were lying, would I have stayed in the mountains? Would I have stayed in Master's cabin? I could've left any time, Asmodius. But I didn't. Why? Because I'm a child... and I needed love. Something you clearly know nothing about."

"How dare you!" Asmodius roared, grabbing Kael by the collar.

"Tch. You're Wasting my time," Kael muttered coldly. "Unhand me, Asmodius."

"Why should I?"

Kael's eyes bore into him, ice-cold and resolute. "I won't harm Ellia. But do you think you're safe?

Blood suddenly poured from Kael's mouth, and his body convulsed violently. He collapsed to the ground, twitching as blood streamed from his eyes and nose, Pain filling his being.

Asmodius smirked cruelly. "Well deserved, scum."

"HOW DARE YOU!"

The tent flap flew open, and Ellia stormed in. With a swift punch, she sent Asmodius sprawling.

"Ellia!" he barked, stunned. "He's a monster! Let him go!"

Ellia knelt by Kael's side, tending to his wounds with trembling hands. Her voice was cold and commanding. "You think I didn't know he was a demi-human?"

Asmodius froze. "What? If you knew, why save him?"

Ellia glared at him, her eyes blazing with fury. "Because he's not a monster! He's a child—a victim. How dare you judge him based on his appearance? He's kinder than you could ever hope to be!"

Asmodius opened his mouth to argue, but Ellia silenced him with a sharp glare. She lifted Kael into her arms, cradling him protectively.

As she carried him out of the tent, Asmodius called after her. "Ellia! You'll regret trusting that beast!"

Ellia didn't look back. Her voice rang clear. "The only thing I regret is trusting you."