Devouring Destiny: Beastmen Evolution

World wide extinction

The human war room was stark, dimly lit by the cold glow of overhead lights. A large rectangular table dominated the room, surrounded by senior officers in military fatigues, their faces hard and drawn from years of war. The flickering holographic map displayed the territories of Erutrus, their eyes narrowing at the advancing rat cities.

Colonel Idris, tall and with sharp, calculating eyes, slammed his fist onto the table, the anger evident in his voice. "The rats are organizing, spreading like a disease. We've underestimated them for too long. They think they're free. They think they've won. We need to remind them who controls this world."

General Elara, her platinum hair slicked back and her voice razor-sharp, nodded grimly. "They're more than just pests now. They're evolving. They're building armies, forging their own weapons. The sewers aren't enough anymore. They're a real threat. And to think these vermins were able to achieve mana."

"Enough talk," Commander Roth spat, his voice low and venomous. "We've wasted too much time playing nice. The rats need to be wiped out, every last one of them. If they won't learn their place, we'll force them to."

He stood up, slamming his palms onto the table, his eyes burning with hatred. "You've all seen it. The rats are everywhere. Their little underground cities, their disgusting little societies. They're no longer scared of us. No more hiding in the shadows. They're coming for us. It's time to remind them that they're nothing but vermin."

Idris leaned forward, his voice low but dripping with contempt. "They were never supposed to be more than scavengers. They belong beneath our feet, scurrying in the filth. The moment they started showing signs of intelligence, they crossed a line. We can't let them think they have a future."

Roth's voice was filled with pure disgust. "They always were a plague on humanity, even before they started getting clever. If it weren't for their infestation, we'd have clean streets, proper cities. Now look at them—they're everywhere. Evolving, taking up space, building their pathetic little cities. It's an abomination. They don't deserve a place in this world."

General Elara's eyes narrowed, her lips pressed tightly together. "So, we do what needs to be done, then. We'll take them down, but this time, we don't just exterminate them. We use them. We enslave them."

Roth grinned, a twisted smile of satisfaction. "Exactly. Every rat, every single one, will be forced into labor camps. They'll build our weapons, work in our factories, do the dirty work we can't be bothered with. The ones that resist… they'll be broken. No exceptions."

The room fell silent for a moment as the officers processed Roth's words. Roth's hatred of the rodents was undeniable, and it had become clear: this was no longer a matter of containment—it was about domination, about subjugating a species that had been a thorn in humanity's side for far too long.

Idris broke the silence, his voice filled with resolve. "We can't afford to hesitate. We need to send a message. If we show the world we can control the rats, we can control everything. We'll harness them, break them down until they're nothing more than tools for us to use."

Roth sneered. "You think they'll listen to reason? We need to crush their spirits. These rats think they're above us. They think they can organize, build their own little empire. They need to be reminded of their place. We need to break them—physically, mentally, every way possible."

Elara's eyes hardened as she crossed her arms. "The public will never stand for it, though. Enslaving animals—especially ones who've shown intelligence. There will be resistance. There's already talk of compassion, of rebellion. But if we don't act now, we risk losing everything."

Roth scoffed. "Compassion? Compassion got us nowhere. Compassion is what made them think they could rise up in the first place. The only thing that will stop them is fear. If we show them their kind will be wiped out unless they fall in line, they'll know their place. We'll crush the ones who resist first, make examples of them, and the rest will fall in line. They always do."

General Elara met his gaze, her expression unwavering. "We've faced worse before. We can handle the backlash. But this needs to be done swiftly. The more we delay, the more they organize. This is a war we can't afford to lose."

Idris nodded, his voice cold with finality. "Then it's settled. The rats are a threat to humanity's future. We'll subdue them, enslave them. They'll build our weapons, serve our needs. And if they dare to rise up, we'll crush them with everything we have."

Roth slammed his fist into the table, a dark fire in his eyes. "Let them try to resist. I'll enjoy watching them beg for mercy. There's no place in this world for them, not anymore."

A heavy silence followed, and the officers exchanged glances, each of them knowing the gravity of what they were about to unleash. The plan was set in motion. The rats would be brought to heel, one way or another. There was no room for mercy. Only domination.

Luke who was oblivious to the full scale of the human's plans, would soon find himself at the center of a war—a war against creatures who had once been seen as nothing more than pests but had now become a symbol of humanity's greatest fear.

The war room fell into a tense silence as the plans took shape. The officers' faces were hard, their gazes fixed on the holographic map, but their minds were already plotting their next steps. A sense of finality hung in the air. The humans had decided. They were going to crush the rodents and reclaim control, no matter the cost.

Colonel Idris glanced at the officers seated around him, his voice sharp and commanding. "We'll need all available forces. The first phase is simple—quarantine the known rodent cities, block off the supply lines, and isolate them. They're not expecting a strike on such a scale."

General Elara raised an eyebrow, her voice cool as ever. "And if they fight back?"

Idris didn't flinch. "Then we remind them who's in charge. We have more firepower than they can imagine. The more we show them that resistance is futile, the faster this will be over. They'll fall in line."

Roth chuckled darkly. "If not, we'll break them. Those rats need to learn their place, and we're not going to coddle them like before. They've had enough chances. From now on, it's submission or destruction."

The thought of them—the rats—resisting, fighting for their lives, made Roth's skin crawl. He could barely stomach the thought of what those filthy creatures had become. He had never seen them as anything but pests. They'd taken advantage of humanity's kindness, misinterpreting it as weakness. Now, they were an obstacle that needed to be wiped out.

"We'll move in with force," Elara said, her eyes cold. "But this time, we don't stop at just capturing them. We'll break their will. Those who are useful can work. The rest will become examples.