Chapter 223: Beast human fusion.

When the light faded, the room was filled with thick, suffocating black smoke. Zyra coughed violently, waving her hands in front of her face to clear the dust. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah." People chorused.

Hunter looked around, waving his hand before his nose. "That was not what I expected. What kind of evolution is that?"

Zyra didn’t know, so she couldn’t answer. As the smoke slowly drifted away, everyone froze. The beast standing before them barely resembled a duck anymore. It was gigantic, standing tall_ around eight meters. Its broad, muscular body was covered in layers of sleek midnight-blue, silver, and brilliant white feathers. Radiant golden feathers ran down its chest, shoulders, and neck like an impenetrable set of divine armor, making it look like a heavenly warrior ready for battle.

It almost seemed like they had taken the colors of a peacock and given them to a duck!

Its head still had the unmistakable shape of a drake, but everything about it had been magnified to a terrifying degree. Its glowing blue eyes burned with incredible intelligence.

Then, it spread its wings.

They were huge, stretching far and wide. Thin arcs of blue lightning cackled between the white and dark-blue feathers, jumping from wingtip to wingtip with dangerous hiss. At the center of its broad chest, a brilliant blue core pulsed beneath its feathers, sending visible waves of electricity rippling through its body with every heartbeat.

Its heavy, webbed feet dug into the ground, tipped with razor-sharp curved claws, while a long, magnificent feathered tail rested behind it.

"Holy shit!" Scotty whispered. "Is everyone seeing what I am seeing?"

Hunter looked sharply at his man. "Yes, Scotty we are all seeing it. Do not even think of stealing food from the ducks to change the size of your body and grow a few inches. Humans and beasts are very different creatures. Mutated beasts are even more complicated. The research on them is not enough to answer all our questions." He talked a lot because he wanted to cover up the fact that Zyra had helped Drake evolve.

If others knew she had the ability, they would flock to her. Those she rejected would resent her.

"Drake? How do you feel?" Zyra asked.

The Drake raised its head, throwing its beak wide open to release a sound that literally shook the earth. "QUAAAACK!!!"

The entire pavilion rattled. For a fleeting second.

"I feel fantastic!" It answered.

Slowly, the Drake bowed its heavy head down to the floor right in front of Zyra, lowering itself in absolute submission. "I am honored to serve you master."

The surrounding humans stared, paralyzed. Some were shaking in sheer terror, while others were wide-eyed in shock. Most of them had never seen a beast change from low level to high level. And it had happened right in front of their eyes at that!

The virtual screen before Zyra moved as information was updated.

Beast Info Panel: Drake

​Speed:Can fly faster than a raging lightning storm.

​Control:Master over electricity; capable of completely stunning high-level enemies.

​Passive:Continuously generates an invisible field of static energy around its body.

​Offense:Every single feather functions as a razor-sharp mini sword, which can be detached and supercharged with high-voltage current for deadly ranged attacks.]

​Zyra stared at the panel in awe. A flying duck made of swords and shockwaves? That’s insane!

A crisp, cheerful chime rang out directly in Zyra’s head, making her jump.

[Ding! For assisting in a high level beast evolution, host is rewarded with 1,000,000 Resonance Points and 2 free Beast Trucks! Bonus Reward: 50 Disruptor Rifles added to inventory free of charge!]

Zyra’s eyes practically turned into giant gold coins. One million points?! And heavy artillery?! She couldn’t have been happier if she tried. A massive, goofy grin spread across her face.

[Host, would you like to fuse with the newly evolved beast right now?] Beauty asked, sounding unusually eager.

"Hell yes! Why on earth would I say no?" Zyra replied without missing a beat, practically buzzing with excitement.

She didn’t realize that the system was talking about that very moment. The changes that followed were sudden and shocking.

"AAAGHH! My hands!" Zyra suddenly shrieked, dropping to her knees. She grabbed her hands, tears pricking her eyes as a burning, tearing sensation rushed through her fingertips. "Hunter! Hunter, it hurts! It feels like my fingers are splitting open!"

"Zyra!" Hunter scrambled over instantly, dropping to his knees beside her. He grabbed her wrists carefully, holding her steady. "Deep breaths! Look at me, breathe! I am going to take you to Malia right now."

She cried out, falling to her knees. "No, no Malia. Fusion--fusion." She whispered.

[Host calm down, its not even painful...just a little pressure. There is no beauty without pain.]

"What?" Zyra was confused. What beauty?

Hunter rubbed her shoulders, keeping her grounded until the burning heat in her hands finally subsided. As Zyra panted, wiping sweat from her forehead, the system chime sounded in her head:

[Ding! Resonance with the Drake beast is complete. Human-Beast fusion features have been enabled!]

Hunter stared at her hands, his eyes wide. "Zyra_ look at your nails."

Zyra blinked and looked down. Her soft, normal fingernails had dark, metallic, curved tips that looked like deadly weapons.

"Are those_ talons?" Hunter asked, fascinated.

It wasn’t unheard of for those who fused with their half-life beasts to gain physical traits after full resonance. But it took two to four decades. How was she achieving it with Drake already after such a short time?

"Let me test these_ " Zyra muttered. She leaned down and casually dug her new fingernails into the reinforced tile floor.

Like a razor through ripe fruit, she tore a huge chunk out of the solid stone floor with zero effort.

"Whoa!" Zyra gasped, her eyes popping open. She blinked, pulled her hands back, and with a quick thought, the sharp talons retreated, returning her hands to their completely normal, soft state. "Okay_ that is awesome."

Hunter let out a breathless laugh, offering her a hand. "Are you okay?"

"Never better," Zyra grinned, taking his hand as he pulled her back to her feet. Then, her stomach let out a loud, pathetic rumble that echoed across the quiet room. She flushed bright red. "_Though, I definitely need to eat something before we move to Tyrant. Evolving beasts burns serious calories."

Hunter laughed again, nodding knowingly. "Lead the way, boss. Let’s go get you food."

As Hunter led her out of the Drake’s abode toward the dining area, the human residents instinctively stepped back, clearing a wide path. One by one, they bowed their heads in deep, reverent respect as she passed.

Looking at her now, no one had any doubts left in their minds. She was the real deal_ a true Divine Maiden making the so-called ’divine maiden’ in the Sanctum look like an absolute fraud because she had not reached the legendary stage after many years.