Chapter 28: THE FOREST GAME

VIVIAN

The A-Class mutated beast thrashed violently in front of her.

Its enormous fish-like body slammed against the ground, sending dirt flying everywhere.

Vivian tightened her grip. She could use her Lotus.

One attack on its brain would be enough.

The golden flower inside her consciousness stirred more

"Feed me!!"

Vivian was about to release it when Beeny suddenly screamed.

"Pretty sister! Stop!"

Vivian froze. "What?"

"There’s a drone watching you!"

Her eyes immediately flicked toward the small surveillance drone hovering between the trees.

She couldn’t use the Lotus. Not with the academy watching. They could see her as a monster.

Vivian immediately turned away, pretending she hadn’t noticed it.

The beast roared. Its enormous tail whipped toward her.

"Shit!"

She thought of an idea and ran towards the direction of the drone.

As the Fish attacked again with its tail.

Vivian jumped sideways.

The tail smashed into the surveillance drone.

Sparks flew. The drone crashed into the ground.

Vivian stared at it. Then she smiled. "Thank you Fish."

The beast roared again.

Vivian charged forward. She punched its thick scales.

BANG! But the impact barely moved it.

The beast swung its tail again. Vivian was thrown several meters. She rolled across the ground and coughed.

"Damn..."

She wiped the blood from the corner of her lips.

This thing was stronger than she expected.

She attacked again targeting its soft belly.

But it seems the beasts knew its weak point. Every time she got close, the beast struck her away.

Its sharp claw tore through her uniform.

Blood trickled down her side.

The Lotus inside her consciousness trembled impatiently.

Let me out.

"No."

I can kill it.

"I said no."

Eat.

Vivian gritted her teeth. What if another drone was nearby? She couldn’t let the academy see what she could really do.

But another attack sent her crashing into a tree.Pain shot through her body. She slid down the trunk.

She asked Beeny. "Any drone around."

After 30 seconds, she replied. "No. I CANT detect any."

The beast opened its enormous mouth.

Vivian looked up.

"...Fine."

Her eyes hardened.

"Just this once."

She raised her hand. Golden light burst from her palm. The Lotus emerged.

Its golden vines twisted through the air before its enormous flower opened.

Rows of sharp teeth appeared inside.

The beast didn’t even have time to react.

The Lotus shot forward. It pierced directly through the beast’s head.

The creature froze. Its enormous body trembled.

Then...It collapsed. The Lotus immediately wrapped itself around the beast.

Vivian stared.

"Wait..."

Too late. The Lotus swallowed the entire creature.

Not a single piece remained.

Vivian’s mouth dropped open. "You could have left something for Beeny!"

The Lotus disappeared back into her hand.

Beeny puffed her cheeks.

"You should have shared some with me."

Vivian rolled her eyes. "Next time, Beeny. I will keep it for you.? I am seriously surrounded by beast eating monsters."

Beeny said. "Of course."

Vivian walked over and picked up the glowing Beast Core that had fallen onto the ground.

She placed it inside her backpack. "At least I got this."

By evening, Vivian had built a small fire beneath a large tree.

She sat beside it, exhausted.

She closed her eyes.

The Lotus appeared inside her consciousness.

Its golden petals glowed softly.

A stream of spiritual energy flowed from it into her body.

Vivian followed its guidance, circulating the energy through her veins.

Warmth spread through her body.

Her wounds slowly disappeared. Her strength increased.

Vivian opened her eyes.

"What... was that?"

The Lotus remained silent. Then a faint thought reached her.

Still weak.

Vivian frowned. "Can you communicate now?"

It kept silent. She sighed.

"Of course you CAN’T.."

She could feel the power inside her body. It was stronger than before. Much stronger and her hunger had increased. She took some nutrient solution, the strawberry flavor to ease her hunger.

Vivian looked at her hands. "If I keep feeding you, how powerful will you become?"

The Lotus gave no answer. Vivian leaned back.

Then she remembered something. "Beeny."

The little girl appeared beside her.

Vivian looked directly at her. "You said you’ve been following me."

Beeny nodded. "Then tell me."

Vivian’s expression became serious.

"What happened during those three days I can’t remember?"

Beeny’s smile disappeared.

She hesitated.

"Um..."

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "You know something."

Beeny nodded slowly.

"When the transmigrator took your body..."

Vivian froze. Her heart skipped. It’s the real Vivian that took my body. Beeny has no idea I am the transmigrator and not Vivian.

"...What did you say?"

Beeny blinked. "The transmigrator."

Vivian slowly sat upright. "You knew about her?"

"Yes."

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

Beeny lowered her head. "You didn’t ask."

Vivian stared at her. "You watched me spend days thinking I was losing my mind!"

Beeny’s little shoulders dropped. "Sorry."

Vivian rubbed her forehead. "Just tell me everything you remember."

Beeny thought for a moment. "The first day, you left your house to meet someone."

"Who?"

"I don’t know."

"Then?"

"I heard someone talking."

"What did they say?"

Beeny’s expression became unusually serious. "She said she would kill you..."

Vivian’s fingers tightened.

"...and take full control of your body."

Silence. Vivian’s breathing slowed.

"And the second and third day?"

"You stayed with Caelan."

Vivian’s face went blank.

"Caelan?"

Beeny nodded. "You cried a lot."

Vivian swallowed. "I did?"

"You begged him."

"For what?"

Beeny tilted her head.

"I don’t remember everything. But you kept telling him not to leave you. That you were his real lover."

Vivian stared into the fire. That wasn’t her.

She had never done that. She didn’t even want Caelan.

So it’s the real Vivian acting all stupid again. She must really love Caelan a lot to say that. But who is that man she met?

Her stomach tightened. "The original Vivian..."

She whispered. "She was still there."

Vivian looked up sharply. "You’re saying the transmigrator can control my body? How did she gain control of those three days?"

"I think umm...you fell into a coma because you were weak. You couldn’t fight her off. Your body carries two souls but her soul isn’t strong enough to gain full control."

Vivian’s blood ran cold.

Then Beeny added quietly. "They attacked me too."

Vivian frowned.

"Who?"

"The Transmigrators."

Beeny’s little hands curled into fists. "They took many insects from my hive."

"Why?"

"I heard them talking about creating their own humans and beasts."

Vivian’s eyes narrowed. "Creating?"

Beeny nodded. "They want their own army."

Vivian stared at her.

"And they blamed someone else for the attacks."

"Who?"

Beeny pointed at her.

"Your people ."

Vivian’s expression hardened.

Beeny nodded. "You need to become stronger, pretty sister."

Vivian looked toward the dark forest.

A sound suddenly came from the distance.

Vivian’s head snapped toward it.

She instantly put out the fire with her boot. It was heavy and thick.

She jumped into the nearest tree.

Another fire burned several hundred meters away.

Vivian moved silently from branch to branch.

When she got closer, she stopped.

Her eyes widened.

"...Elena?"

Below her, several students and beastmen were gathered around a campfire.

Elena sat among them. Everyone surrounded her. Vivian sighed. "The protagonist Halo makes people like her."

A girl beside Elena smiled foolishly.. "You look beautiful tonight."

Elena smiled shyly.

Then another girl suddenly asked, "Is it true that Wolf King Aston donated an entire building to you?"

Vivian’s eyebrow twitched.

Elena tucked her hair behind her ear.

"He’s just a friend."

"A friend?"

The girl pushed her playfully. "That’s what you call him?"

Another girl laughed. "You’re hiding something!"

Vivian’s expression darkened.

A friend? She doesn’t know him!!!

She clenched her fist around the branch.

He donated a building to her? He must still think she is me. Look at her all thinking the gift was truly hers?

Beeny whispered beside her.

"Pretty sister?"

"Shh."

"But..."

"Shh!"

Vivian’s eye twitched.

That bastard I hope he won’t make me pay for it when he finds out. It’s not my business. He was donating buildings to his future wife Elena.

Her lips curled. "Disgusting!"

She slapped her cheek lightly. "Was that jealousy? No no!! I am not jealous. It’s the real Vivian’s emotions, not mine." She touched her chest.

She remained hidden and continued listening.

Then another girl said,

"Have you heard about the 4S-Class female that was detected?"

Everyone became excited.

"I heard!"

"yes I heard."

"They say her awakening is extraordinary."

"I wonder who she is."

Elena smiled mysteriously.

Vivian rolled her eyes.

Of course she knows how to look mysterious. The book never said she awakened any 4S rank. Maybe it did because I didn’t finish the book.

She stayed there until exhaustion finally overcame her.

Her eyes slowly closed.

She didn’t even realize she had fallen asleep.

A tree beside her shook violently.

Vivian’s eyes snapped open.

The entire trees around were shaking.

"What the..."

A violent tremor nearly threw her from the branch.

She grabbed the trunk. Leaves rained down around her.

"Beeny?"

The little girl suddenly appeared.

Her face was pale.

"Pretty sister..."

Vivian looked down. "What?"

Beeny pointed into the darkness.

Her voice trembled.

"An S-Class beast is here."

Vivian’s pupils contracted.

Something enormous moved between the trees.The walking shaked the ground. It felt like an earthquake was coming.

Then two enormous eyes slowly opened in the darkness.

Vivian’s breath caught. "...That’s a huge Crocodile!!!"