my beast change system

---

Athena

My body trembles as I stare at the serpent before me. Its dark, slithering form sends a chill down my spine. Owen steps forward, positioning himself between me and the beast. "This is Seraphis," he warns, his voice steady. "It's deadly venomous." He draws his sword, turning to the others. "Stay back."

Nate, however, strides over to a nearby tree and leans against it, looking entirely unfazed. "Suit yourself," he says with a hint of indifference, closing his eyes and relaxing under the shade.

Owen charges at the serpent, but it's quick to retaliate. The creature's tail swings in a wide arc, crashing into Owen and sending him sprawling into the trees. I'm left vulnerable, staring up as the serpent rears its head, ready to strike.

Just as I brace myself for the impact, a sudden burst of flame tears through the air. Nate, who had been resting, is now standing, his hand raised. "As much as I'd love to take you on, I can't—thanks to the holy knight," he says calmly, lowering his hand. "Better wait for him." The serpent hisses in frustration, its scorched skin a clear sign of Nate's fiery attack.

The beast charges at Nate, moving faster than I can follow. But before it reaches him, something unseen seems to halt it in mid-air. It recoils as though pulled back by an invisible force. What is this man truly capable of?

Nate

I estimate an 80% chance of victory if I transform, but that's only possible if I shift into my beast form or fight alongside my companion. But that's not an option right now—not with Athena, the royal, standing here. I sigh and walk back into the shade, closing my eyes as I attempt to think through my next move.

"Will you really take a nap in this kind of situation?" Athena's voice cuts through the air, laced with concern. But I know worry won't change a thing. Only strategy will.

"Yes, I will," I reply nonchalantly, though my thoughts are elsewhere. Deep down, I know that without my beast, my chances drop to a mere 12%, and that frustrates me to no end.

Owen

I push myself to my feet, shaking off the impact. Dusting myself off, I return to the battlefield. "Owen!" I hear Athena call out, her voice thick with worry. She rushes toward me.

"Are you alright?"

I force a smile to reassure her. "It's nothing. The serpent just caught me off guard," I say, turning to face the beast once more. This time, I'm ready. My attacks are sharper, but the serpent's tough, impenetrable scales are a nightmare to deal with—especially without magic. Its strikes become more vicious, and evading them is growing more difficult by the second. Damn, this beast is strong.

Athena

I can't stand by any longer. Owen is struggling, fighting alone, while Nate simply watches from the shade. It's unbearable. I need to do something.

Nate

Looking at Owen's swordsmanship, I can tell that if it weren't for this particular serpent, he would have already won. But alone, he's no match for it. If he and I fight together, our chances rise to about 30%, but I'm willing to bet it's closer to 15%, thanks to his stubbornness. I glance at the battle, still weighing my options, when I notice Athena stepping forward. Her body begins to glow with a brilliant white aura, and suddenly my system flashes before my eyes.

"No way…" I whisper, shocked by what I'm seeing.

Owen, still locked in his struggle, shouts at her from across the battlefield. "Athena, you can't control your power! Don't do it!"

But Athena doesn't listen. She doesn't even look at him as she continues her stance. I approach her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looks up at me, surprised. I meet her gaze with a reassuring smile. "Do it."

She nods and releases nearly all of her mana, a brilliant energy orb forming in her hands. My mind races. Now's the moment. Let's see if the system's evaluation holds true.

"Second Shadow Panther Evaluation skill…" I murmur under my breath, channeling my mana through my body. "Shadow Seal!" I shout, the shadows twisting and forming a protective circle around us. The air grows thick with tension as a domain of darkness rises, wrapping around us both.

"Athena!!" Owen shouts, momentarily distracted from his battle. The serpent seizes the opportunity, lunging toward him.

Athena

I find myself standing in a pitch-black space. The only light comes from two glowing red eyes in the distance. I instinctively take a step back, confusion flooding my thoughts. "What is this place? Who are you?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

The eyes narrow, and a black panther steps forward, its sleek form gliding through the darkness. "Do you wish to save your friend?" it asks, its voice low and deep.

"Who are you?" I ask again, fear starting to edge into my tone.

"You have 10 seconds to save him," the panther replies, avoiding my question entirely.

I hesitate, but then my resolve hardens. "Fine. I'll do whatever is necessary."

The panther purrs. "Good choice." Its form shifts, transforming into a cloth that wraps itself around me. "Call me Rayes if you remember me one day." The cloth fades into my body, leaving only a whisper of its presence behind.

Nate

I watch as the process unfolds smoothly. Athena's transformation is complete. I remove my hand from her shoulder, the shadows receding as the domain disappears. Athena turns to face me, nodding in silent acknowledgment.

The serpent, meanwhile, has noticed Owen, lying motionless on the ground.

"Owen, can you stand?" Athena asked her voice calm but cold

"I'm fine," Owen insists, rising to his feet, gripping his sword. "I can still fight." He points the weapon at the serpent. "Sorry, but you've done enough."

I raise my hand, and with a sudden motion, shadows sweep over Owen, pulling him toward me. He lands in front of me on his knees. "Now, watch the fun."

Athena steps forward, her energy orb shifting into thousands of razor-sharp ice swords. With a snap of her fingers, the swords begin to rain down on the serpent, each one puncturing its scales. The creature howls in agony as the dust rises around it.

Now, these two... they could be useful to me.

---

---