Devouring Destiny: Beastmen Evolution

Theres no such thing as normal here

Ren led Luke through the labyrinth of tunnels, the air thick with the scent of earth and damp stone. The deeper they went, the more the rough walls gave way to something else—smooth metal, faintly glowing lights embedded in the ceiling, and strange, humming machinery. Luke’s paws twitched nervously, his mind racing with questions, but he kept silent, unwilling to show more weakness than he already had.

At last, they emerged into a cavern so vast it took Luke’s breath away.

It wasn’t what he expected. Not at all.

Towering skyscrapers built from scavenged human metal and polished stone lined the streets, their neon signs buzzing with strange symbols. Rats—no, humanoid rats—strode confidently through the bustling city, walking upright like humans. They wore patchwork clothes, some sleek and modern, others pieced together from human discards. Markets thrived with vendors selling food, weapons, and trinkets.

Vehicles zipped overhead, sleek, rat-sized versions of human cars. The city was alive with an energy Luke couldn’t quite comprehend.

“This…” Luke’s voice trembled. “This is where rats live?”

Ren smirked, his scarred face catching the glow of the neon lights. “Welcome to Erutrus, human. Not what you imagined, huh?”

Luke shook his head, whiskers twitching in disbelief. “How… how is this even possible?”

Ren chuckled. “Humans think we’re still scurrying around in sewers, hiding in the shadows. But we’ve evolved. While you were poisoning us, chasing us, we built this.”

As they walked, Luke noticed how different these rats were. Unlike him, still awkwardly shuffling on all fours, the residents of Erutrus stood tall, their humanoid forms graceful and confident. They moved with purpose, their eyes sharp and intelligent.

Luke felt small and out of place.

A group of rats had gathered around a flickering holographic display. One, a young rat with gray ears, pointed at Luke and snickered. “Ren, you brought another one? They still come in looking like they crawled out of the trash.”

Ren shot him a sharp glare. “An Yu, shut up.”

An Yu grinned, undeterred. “Come on, look at him! Can’t even walk upright. Bet he doesn’t last a week.”

Luke bristled. “I can hear you, you know.”

An Yu smirked. “Good. Then you can hear me say this: you don’t belong here. None of you humans do.”

Ren sighed, rubbing his temples. “Enough. He’s here now. He’ll survive or fail like the rest.”

“Meh… even Rang Wu, who we all thought would be the savior, is laying dead in Tsang City.”

Ren sighed. He had no hope, but his job was to provide hope to the newcomers.

“An Yu, you only just learned to control your two-leg form, so don’t be cocky. He just got here—give him time. Erutrus wasn’t built in a day.”

An Yu clicked his tongue and walked away, the crowd following him.

They stopped at a high balcony overlooking the heart of the city. Below, the streets buzzed with activity—training arenas, markets, towering buildings gleaming under artificial lights. But Luke’s eyes were drawn to the far end of the city, where massive, humanoid rats clad in black armor stood in formation, their movements precise and deadly.

Ren gestured toward them. “Those are the troops. We’re preparing for war.”

Luke’s stomach churned. “Against humans?”

Ren nodded. “We’re done hiding. Done running. It’s time we reclaim what’s ours. Veltheria originally belonged to us. We roamed this world first, so why do humans claim to be superior?”

“But isn’t there another way?” Luke asked, his voice desperate. “Negotiation? Peace?”

Ren turned to him, eyes cold. “Would you have listened to a rat when you were human?”

Luke swallowed hard, knowing the answer. No, he wouldn’t have. He hated rats. Feared them. He would’ve laughed at the idea of treating them as equals.

Ren’s expression softened, just slightly. “That’s why you’re here. Every human who ends up in Erutrus is supposed to bridge the gap between us. But none have succeeded, and I don’t think anyone ever will.”

“And if I fail…” Luke whispered, “I forget.”

Ren nodded. “You give up, you stop trying to become human. You like the rat traits take over you and become one of us.”

Luke’s heart raced. “How do I stop it? Do you think a revolution will solve it?”

Ren’s voice was steady. “You’ll figure it out—if you want to survive. But for now, prove you’re worth keeping alive. They are no longer keen on accepting humans, knowing they’ll fail.”

Luke stared out at the bustling city, the troops, the lights of Erutrus gleaming like stars underground. There was no clever loophole to escape this.

Ren turned and walked away. “Come on. We have work to do.”

Luke trailed behind him, still wide-eyed as they moved deeper into the city. The air seemed to hum, the neon lights flickering overhead, casting eerie glows across the polished streets. Then he felt it—a strange sensation beneath his skin, like an unseen current buzzing through him.

Ren glanced back, noticing his expression. “You feel it, don’t you?”

Luke shook himself, trying to brush it off. “Yeah… what is that?”

Ren smirked. “Mana.”

“Mana?” Luke echoed, blinking. “Like magic?”

Ren nodded. “Sort of. Mana’s the lifeblood of this world. It’s in all of us—rats, humans, everything. It’s what makes us more than what we were. When humans drove us underground, we discovered it. And it’s the reason we survived. Some are born with the ability to wield it naturally, while others need… help.”

Luke’s mind raced. He’d read about magic in games and fantasy novels, but this felt far more real—and far more dangerous. “So, everyone here can use magic?”

Ren chuckled. “Not exactly. Mana manifests in different ways. Some have raw magical power. They can bend fire, summon shadows, control the wind. Others gain strength beyond what should be possible. Some have heightened intelligence—strategists, engineers, inventors.” He paused, giving Luke a hard look. “And then, there are those whose mana is… different. Unpredictable. Unnamable.”

Luke’s ears perked up. “Unnamable?”

Ren’s expression darkened. “Their power doesn’t follow the usual rules. It’s dangerous, even to themselves. They’re the ones we watch closely. If their mana can’t be controlled or expressed, they’re given weapons—special ones, forged from the essence of mana itself.”

They turned a corner, and the noise of the city faded slightly, replaced by the sound of clashing metal and barked orders. They had arrived at the training grounds.

The troops Ren had pointed out earlier were lined up in neat formations, their armor gleaming under the artificial light. They moved with precision, each strike and parry executed with lethal efficiency. Some wielded weapons crackling with energy—swords wreathed in lightning, spears glowing with a soft, green luminescence. Others conjured magic from their hands, fireballs and shimmering barriers flickering into existence with ease.

Luke swallowed hard. “These are the troops?”

Ren nodded. “The best fighters in Erutrus. Each one is attuned to their mana, whether through magic or sheer physical prowess.” He gestured to a group near the edge of the field. “See that?”

Luke followed his gaze. A rat, smaller than the rest, stood alone, holding a dagger that pulsed with dark energy. She moved gracefully, her strikes swift and precise. But there was something different about her. The shadows around her seemed to bend and writhe with each movement, as if alive.

Ren’s voice was low. “That’s Mao. One of the unnamable ones. Her mana controls the shadows themselves. She doesn’t need a weapon, but the dagger keeps her grounded. Without it, the shadows might consume her.”

Luke shivered. “And what about the ones who can’t do any of that? The ones without magic?”

Ren’s eyes gleamed. “They’re given weapons infused with mana—tools to channel what they can’t manifest. But make no mistake—weapon or no weapon, everyone here fights. And if you’re going to survive, you’ll need to find your own way to wield mana.”

Luke’s heart pounded. “But… what if I don’t have any? What if I’m just… normal?”

Ren smirked. “There’s no such thing as normal down here. Everyone has mana. You just haven’t figured out how yours works yet.”