In the dark, rocky place illuminated by intermittent dim lights, a man wearing a pristine white coat stood, with protective goggles covering his face and black gloves enveloping his hands. He was holding test tubes filled with strange chemicals that shimmered under the weak light. Directly behind him, a transformed human knelt in submission, their features a strange mix of humility and fear.
The man in the white coat spoke with a tone blending curiosity and excitement: "So, you confirm that a true human has finally appeared?"
The subordinate replied in a quiet, submissive voice: "Yes, sir. He appeared in the Kingdom of Laniuso. He met King Aron, accompanied by a transformed gorilla and a transformed human resembling a tiger or feline."
The man in the white coat stomped his foot on the ground excitedly, clasping his hands in front of his chest before bursting into loud laughter that echoed in the cave: "Wonderful! This is amazing! Finally... finally!"
He paused for a moment, turning his gaze toward his kneeling subordinate with a look filled with madness. He added with an air of confidence: "This human will be the key I need to complete my invention."
With steady steps, the man bypassed his kneeling subordinate and stopped in front of a deformed creature confined within a metal cage. The transformed creature appeared as a grotesque amalgamation of mismatched limbs and parts, its eyes filled with pain and despair.
A cold smile spread across the man's face as he raised his hand in front of him. In the dim light, his nails could be seen slowly extending and becoming sharp, resembling needles.
Without hesitation, he plunged his long, sharp fingers into the deformed creature's body, which let out a horrific scream. The man continued his work indifferently, a mad gleam radiating from his eyes.
In the darkness, faintly lit by the weak lamps, the body of the deformed transformed creature began to swell grotesquely. Its muscles bulged until the metal cage was completely filled with it. Suddenly, its terrifying scream ceased when the man in the white coat lifted his hand from the creature. In a strange, silent moment, the metal cage around the creature vanished, as though it had melted away like liquid.
"Stand up," the man in the white coat ordered coldly. The creature obeyed, standing straight, ready for any command.
The man in the white coat turned toward his kneeling subordinate and gestured with his hand. "This person is your master. You are to follow his orders without hesitation."
The scientist lifted his head with an expression full of mad pride, then added sternly, "Get up, Lam."
The subordinate immediately complied, standing upright with steady steps, his face expressionless and filled with seriousness.
"Take this transformed creature with you and go to where the original human is," the man in the white coat continued, his voice dripping with confidence. "At first, try to bring him peacefully. But if he refuses... don't hesitate to use force."
Lam showed no hesitation, replying, "As you command, my lord." He moved with steady steps toward the exit, the distorted creature following him silently like a dark shadow.
As the two disappeared into the dark corridor, the man in the white coat turned toward a room filled with papers and strange devices. He muttered to himself with a suspicious smile, "I'll stop working on the samples... until they bring back the original human."
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In the Kingdom of Lanius, where transformed humans and mutated animals coexist in a shared life, an important meeting was held in a spacious hall with a high ceiling, adorned with columns intricately decorated with images reflecting the kingdom's history. The room was illuminated by crystal chandeliers that cast their light onto a large round table made of solid wood, carved with the kingdom's emblem.
King Aron, the man with the royal aura, sat at the center of the table on a chair slightly larger than the others, presiding over the meeting in the presence of the six tribal leaders.
Leader Gerald
A transformed man with a fully human body but a robust build, his brown skin marked with dark spots scattered across his body. His eyes gleamed strangely, and small fangs protruded when he spoke.
Leader Bong
A massive gorilla with a muscular body covered in shiny black fur. His broad chest displayed extraordinary strength, and his large hands reflected his ability to crush any obstacle in his way.
Leader Lokan
Resembling the mythical creatures in stories, he was covered in dark gray fur, with sharp ears protruding from the top of his head and a wolf-like nose. His glowing yellow eyes gave him an intimidating appearance. His sharp claws and prominent muscles hinted at his strength and danger.
Leader Leonid
A lion transformed into a humanoid form resembling a werewolf, but with the complete head of a lion, including his thick golden mane. His broad shoulders bore the marks of ancient battles, and his dark brown eyes reflected wisdom and power. His claws protruded from his human hands, making him look like a figure from legends.
Leader Zenar
A massive elephant with a human body bearing clear elephant features; long white tusks extended from his mouth, and his broad forehead reflected his strength and stability. His limbs were strong, and his body was covered in thick gray skin.
King Aron opened the discussion with a question about any new movements from the invaders coming from another world. Lokan was the first to speak:
"In the south, we haven't seen any activity from the invaders for a month. This situation is unnatural. Their attacks were always frequent, and it's impossible that they stopped without reason."
Gerald added, "The north is also experiencing the same eerie calm. The invaders have disappeared as if they were never there, but I believe this is nothing but the calm before the storm."
Zenar suggested a possible reason for their disappearance: "In the east, there are signs that the invaders might be regrouping or waiting for something specific. We cannot ignore the possibility that they are planning something big."
Bong concluded the discussion on the topic, saying, "The calm in the west makes me feel more threatened than ever. The invaders are known for their relentlessness. If they're quiet now, there's no doubt they're preparing for something that could be devastating."
Aron began speaking in a serious tone, looking at the leaders seated around the round table: "There is something new and dangerous you all need to know. An original human has appeared."
A moment of silence followed, but the signs of shock and surprise were evident on the leaders' faces. Bong furrowed his brows, while Gerald sat stiffly in his chair, and Zenar raised his eyebrows in astonishment.
Aron continued, trying to clear up the confusion: "I met him myself. He was in a deep slumber beneath a destroyed city located south of the kingdom. But things have changed. That city is no longer just ruins; it has now become a kingdom under the control of a bear at the level of a King. And as you know, beasts at the level of Kings have a unique influence—they attract weaker monsters and form armies of ordinary monsters, leaders, and chiefs around them."
Aron turned to Lokan, speaking firmly: "Lokan, I want you to send a scouting team to the area. We need to assess the situation accurately. Explore the destroyed city and count the number of monsters there, focusing on how many are at the level of leaders and chiefs. Any failure in this task could put the kingdom in danger."
Lokan nodded, his eyes carrying a mix of challenge and commitment: "The scouts will be sent immediately, and I will ensure that we get a detailed report as soon as possible."
"Once you send me a detailed report on the enemy's situation in the destroyed city, we will begin formulating a plan to deal with it. The presence of a King-level bear poses an internal threat that cannot be ignored, especially if it continues to strengthen itself and its army. We cannot afford an internal threat alongside the danger of the invaders from the other world. We must take advantage of the invader's quiet period to eliminate this bear before it becomes an uncontrollable threat."
His words were clear, carrying a sense of necessity and urgency. Lokan nodded, while Bong, Gerald, and Zenar remained deep in thought.
Aron ended the meeting with a decisive tone: "Alright, that's all for today. You may leave now."
The leaders rose one by one, casting a final glance at King Aron before leaving the hall. The atmosphere was charged with tension, and minds were preoccupied with the upcoming decisions that would determine the kingdom's fate.
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In a dense tree-covered area in the heart of the forest, Adam walked with steady steps alongside Beebo, the transformed gorilla, and Kath, the cat-like or tiger-like transformed human. The sunlight barely filtered through the thick leaves, casting a mysterious and vibrant atmosphere on the place.
As they moved silently, Beebo broke the silence, speaking with enthusiasm: "So, how many monsters did you kill?"
Adam, looking up at the sky through the trees, replied with a slight smile: "I don't remember, I lost count. But I enjoyed it a lot. Having superhuman powers is an incredible feeling! I feel like I'm getting better control over my fiery transformation." He paused for a moment, then added, "By the way, are we close to the gorilla village?"
Beebo nodded eagerly, saying, "Almost there."
A wide grin spread across his face as he continued: "I'm excited to see my brother Jojo's reaction when he finds out I brought an original human with me!"
Adam, grinning with excitement, said, "And I'm excited to see a village full of talking monkeys, just like in the movies!"
After a while of walking, the three of them arrived at the village, where they all stood in front of an unusual sight.
Beebo said, pointing to the village, "We've arrived."
Adam responded enthusiastically, "Awesome!"
The village before them was a magnificent sight, with homes built on the ground and others hanging from the large trees that marked the forest.
But something caught Kath's attention, as there was a gorilla carrying a heavy load of resources on its back, moving steadily. It was walking seriously, as if performing a specific task.
Kath said in surprise, "Hey!! What are they doing?"
Beebo, who was walking beside them, hesitated and replied, "I don't know?"
Beebo moved closer to one of the gorillas walking in the same direction. He called out, "Hey! Hi, what are you doing with all these things?"
The gorilla suddenly stopped and looked at Beebo with deep eyes, which contained a strange symbol.
Then, after a moment of silence, its gaze shifted to Adam and Kath, who were walking quietly toward them. The gorilla's eyes seemed a little confused, as if reflecting a sense of mystery or reservation.
Beebo continued to stare at the gorilla with his sharp eyes, unaffected by the silence between them, until he began to notice something strange in the gorilla's eyes. There was a distinctive symbol on its eyes, three overlapping circles, each smaller than the last, surrounded by three parallel lines on each side of the outer circle, as if wings were extending around it.
Beebo said, furrowing his brow, "Hmm? Why are your eyes like that?"
Then Beebo got closer to the gorilla, until his face was very close to hers. He stared intently at her eyes, trying to remember where he had seen this symbol before. He said, continuing his examination, "Hey, this shape... I feel like I've seen it before."
Beebo was staring at the gorilla in front of him, trying to understand the strange symbol he saw on her eyes, when Kath's voice interrupted his focus, speaking in a gruff tone: "Ummm, Beebo..."
Beebo slowly turned his head towards Kath, his eyes still on the gorilla, "What?"
Kath said, carefully eyeing the surrounding gorillas: "Why are the gorillas surrounding us?"
Beebo turned around to find that the gorillas had surrounded them on all sides. Their glowing eyes, carrying the same strange symbol, were watching them silently. The silence began to feel heavier as red lines started to appear on their bodies, signaling that they were in a combat-ready state.
Kath, Beebo, and Adam each took a step back, each assessing the situation, then they began to turn their backs to each other, as if preparing for a defensive stance.
Kath revealed the blue lines across his body, his facial expression growing more serious. Beebo was no less enthusiastic, with red lines appearing on his body, ready for battle.
As for Adam, he felt the pressure building around him. He quickly summoned the transformation page in front of him, and as he prepared to transform, he said the line his favorite cartoon hero used to say every time he transformed:
"It's hero time."