Beast Hack: Customizing Beasts and Capturing Beauties

Kanos suddenly raised his hand and called out.

"Thalia, do it."

Thalia nodded silently. She stepped forward and spun her twin chakrams.

She launched them high into the air.

As they whirled above the group, the air shimmered and suddenly the mist around them shifted.

The original thick fog faded, replaced by a new kind of mist.

It was cooler, slower, and denser, but strangely still.

Dario blinked. "What the hell did she just do?"

Jenavira frowned. "Yeah, why would you replace the mist with more mist? Doesn't that just make things worse?"

Kanos smirked without turning around. "Don't worry about it."

He gestured to Thalia.

"Her beast is Moonveil. It specializes in blind fields. Its mist can scramble scent trails, mana tracking, and illusion detection."

He pointed to the chakrams circling slowly above.

"Those aren't just weapons. They're her beast's weaponized form."

Colan tilted his head. "So it's… defensive mist?"

Kanos smirked, nodding. "Exactly."

"That layer blocks the trail behind us. Any beast trying to follow will lose our scent entirely."

Dario let out a low whistle. "Alright. I'll admit—that's useful."

Just then, Alaric raised his hand. "Wait. There. Left side. Webbing."

Thin strands shimmered between trees, barely visible in the new mist layer.

Jenavira narrowed her eyes. "What is that? I haven't seen a spider-type beast logged in this forest."

Kanos turned slightly, clearly unbothered. "That's ours."

He pointed toward a high branch, where a figure crouched in the trees.

"That's Elliane. She's with us."

A sleek, black-clad woman gave a small wave from above, holding a long, modified rifle in her lap.

"Her beast is Wraithdrift," Kanos continued.

"Mist Spider-type. It creates webbing that doesn't alert enemies. It conceals itself completely. And when weaponized…"

He gestured toward Elliane's sniper rifle.

"It becomes that. Every bullet can deploy web clouds behind us. Shields our movement and muffles sound."

Dario blinked. "Okay… wow."

Jenavira raised an eyebrow. "You Night Shade people don't mess around."

Kanos smirked. "We don't. We specialize in restricted environments. Fog, night, underground—anywhere visibility's gone."

Alaric gave a rare nod. "Respect."

Kanos pointed ahead. "Let's keep moving. Thalia, keep the chakrams above us. Elliane, backline overwatch."

"Copy," Elliane said from above.

Jenavira leaned toward Dario. "Glad we grouped up with them."

Dario muttered back, "Yeah. This mist maze might actually be beatable now."

They then pushed forward, the mist getting thicker with every step.

Then Marek raised his hand and stopped walking. "Hold."

Everyone froze.

"I've got movement."

Marek looked around, trying to focus on his radar.

"Six beasts approaching. Two Velgrith. Four Silphra. Closing fast."

Kanos frowned. "How the hell are A-Ranks tracking us this cleanly?"

Marek replied without blinking. "They're not normal anymore. We've gone deeper. They have become stronger."

"You know that Velgrith has the abilities to disrupt any concealment zones and defensive structures, right?"

He then continued, "The Velgrith has become stronger and could already locate us."

"They're also not coming at random. The Velgrith should have told Silphra to attack us."

"The Silphra are currently circling to flank us."

Kanos narrowed his eyes. "So they're not only getting stronger but acting tactically now, huh."

He turned his head. "Orlen. Get ready."

Orlen smirked as he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.

"Sure thing, boss."

He pulled out a pair of silver-toned tonfas that shimmered faintly in the mist.

Kanos unlatched the whip sword from his back. It coiled like a serpent in his hand.

"Let's see how well they move in our fog."

Jenavira stepped forward. "We'll help."

Alaric turned toward his team. "Dario, Colan. Get ready."

Kanos held up his hand. "No."

Jenavira paused. "What?"

"The mist here is too thick. Visibility's near zero. You'll be fighting blind. Our beasts are specialized for this."

He motioned toward his sword. "My beast, Mistcoil, is currently weaponized into my whip sword."

"It can scan the enemy and mark the beast even if they vanish again. Nothing escapes once I've tagged it."

He pointed at Orlen. "Driftclaw's fused with him. Short-range combat specialist. Built for mist terrain."

"The mist around can increase his defense and give him mist armor. He can hold off the fast movers."

Dario raised his eyebrow. "You're saying we're in the way?"

Kanos looked at him seriously. "I'm saying one wrong move in this fog gets one of us killed."

Kanos turned to the group. "Anyone here have beasts tuned for this terrain?"

Jenavira nodded. "I do. Duskhound. Tracks through scent memory and distortion fields."

"I am basically an assassin for unseen enemies. Perfect for an ambush kill."

Kanos nodded. "That works."

Jenavira gestured behind her. "Sirelia's with me. Her beast is Crybloom."

"It can generate a cold mist that weakens enemies and slows their movement. Can also cloak allies inside it."

Kanos frowned. "AOE-type?"

"Wide field," Jenavira admitted. "But powerful."

He thought for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Alright. Jenavira, you're in. But tell Sirelia to hold back the paralysis effect. We don't need friendly fire."

Jenavira turned to Sirelia. "Just cloak us. Nothing else."

Sirelia gave a small nod and raised her hand.

Cold mist began to roll across the ground, blending with Thalia's earlier field.

It had become thicker, quieter, and far more dangerous.

Kanos barked quick orders. "Elliane—top watch. Scan for anything that slips by."

Elliane's voice came from above. "Already tracking."

"Thalia," Kanos said.

"Keep the chakrams circling the backline. Maintain cloaking radius. Don't let anything track us from behind."

"Copy," she replied, already adjusting her flight paths.

Marek looked up. "Targets closing. Less than 40 seconds."

Kanos smirked and spun his whip sword once.

"Good. Let them come."

The mist around them thickened again.

Alaric stepped forward slightly, spear still low but ready.

"So… what do we do now?"

Dario responded without looking back. "Stay silent. Be wary."

He slowly drew a second short blade.

"They'll handle the front. We stay alert and cover their backs."

Colan adjusted his stance, readying a light burst in his palm.

"You want us to wait and do nothing?"

Dario shook his head.

"No. We help if something slips past. At the very least, we protect ourselves. You see something move? Don't ask. Just hit it."

Jenavira glanced over her shoulder. "Keep comms clear unless it's urgent. Let Kanos and Orlen take the lead."

Alaric gave a short nod. "Understood."

Thalia's chakrams buzzed slightly above as they slowed into a wide spiral.

Marek's voice came low and steady. "Contact in ten seconds."

Kanos crouched slightly, eyes locked forward.

"Formation holds. First contact… now."