As they approached the outskirts of what was once Woodland Park, David's keen eyes took in the dramatic transformation. Where there had once been an overgrown expanse of greenery, a small settlement now stood, its crude architecture a testament to the resourcefulness of its inhabitants.

Two guards flanked the entrance, their forms a bizarre fusion of animal traits. One resembled a potbellied pig crossed with a porcupine, its rotund body covered in razor-sharp quills that quivered with each movement. The other looked like a cross between a stickbug and a praying mantis, its elongated neck supporting a triangular head with multifaceted eyes.

"Hey, Thomas! Kai!" the pig-porcupine called out cheerfully. Then, as if struck by lightning, both guards froze. Their eyes, wide with terror, fixed on Claire's massive form.

For a moment, David wondered why they hadn't reacted to him. Then he noticed their gazes sliding past him, as if he were nothing more than a shadow.

Huh, guess the old Mutagens are working overtime today.

Suddenly, the giraffe-mantis's compound eyes locked onto David. Its mandibles clicked in panic as it stumbled backward, long legs tangling comically.

Kai fluffed his metallic feathers, the sound reminiscent of wind chimes in a storm. "Chill, guys. Scaryface and Gigantor here are old friends. No need to wet yourselves."

As they passed through the gates, David's gaze was drawn to the crudely expanded stone wall. It was an eyesore, to put it mildly. Sticks and branches of varying sizes had been haphazardly lashed together and thatched with grass, creating a ramshackle extension that looked about as sturdy as wet tissue paper to David's eyes. He was almost certain that anyone with a decent evolution wouldn't even be slowed by it, guessing that it was only to clearly mark the borders.

Claire let out a snort of amusement, steam curling from her nostrils. David grinned up at her. "Feeling the urge to rise from the ocean and lay waste to Tokyo? Maybe duke it out with a giant pterodactyl?"

"Keep it up, bat-boy, and I'll fight a giant bat right here and now," Claire rumbled, her eyes glinting with mirth.

David cackled at the threat, the sound echoing off the makeshift walls. To his surprise, Captain, perched on his shoulder, attempted to mimic the laugh. The result was a strangled, chittering sound that was equal parts adorable and disturbing.

"Good boy," David cooed, patting Captain's fluffy head. He shot Kai a hideous scowl as he did so, his fangs bared in a grotesque grin.

Kai's enormous eyes zoomed in on the interaction, the pupils dilating comically. "Oh!" he exclaimed, stumbling mid-stride. "So that's how you're supposed to pet a bat. Thomas, I think I petted it too hard earlier!"

Thomas's multiple eyes crinkled with amusement. "Ooh, I'm telling Grandpa Herold on you," he teased, his tails swishing playfully.

As they passed through the main gate, David's attention was caught by the park's welcome sign. It had been cleared of debris and scrubbed nearly clean, save for a few accidental claw marks marring its surface. Below it, a new sign had been affixed to the fence – a repurposed industrial cutting board in a garish salmon color.

The makeshift sign displayed a crude pictograph: stick figures with various animal features were divided into two groups. On one side, figures with sharp teeth and claws represented carnivores. On the other, figures with leaves for heads symbolized herbivores, and below both was a series of tally marks.

The ratio was clear: 30-70, favoring the plant-eaters.

Well, that's unexpected. I feel like most folks I've run into have been carnivores.

"Is that accurate?" he asked, gesturing towards the sign. "Seems a bit skewed."

Kai nodded, his metallic feathers catching the light. "Yep, did an official census at Herold's request. Turns out we're outnumbered."

Thomas stretched lazily, his extra legs rippling with the movement. "Damn good thing, too. Otherwise, us meat-eaters would've starved or had to leave to hunt."

Kai's beak clacked softly. "As it is, we have to cycle carnivores in and out on hunting teams just to make sure everyone gets fed."

David's ears perked up. "Speaking of, how's the Hunting Team doing these days?"

Thomas let out a quiet yowl of frustration. "Overworked doesn't begin to cover it. You thought we were busy before? Hah! That was a vacation compared to now."

Claire's massive head swung towards Thomas. "How overworked are we talking?"

"Well," Kai replied, his tone dry, "we can't exactly grow hamburgers on trees, you know." He paused, his head tilted in thought. "Though we're lucky to be right next to the river. Want to see Herold's solution? It's on the way."

Claire nodded, her scales glinting in the sunlight. As they veered right towards the river, David felt a niggling sense of familiarity. After a few minutes, realization struck, and he burst out laughing.

"Did you turn our little shortcut into an actual pathway?" he asked, gesturing at the well-worn trail beneath their feet.

Thomas grinned, all four eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, Claire flattened everything so thoroughly, it was the easiest place to put it."

As they continued down the path, the scent of the river grew stronger, mingling with the earthy smell of crushed vegetation and the musky odor of countless bodies. The sounds of the settlement faded behind them, replaced by the gentle gurgle of running water and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

David found himself oddly comforted by the familiar route, even as his mind raced with questions about the changes they'd encountered.

Woodland's certainly grown up since we've been gone. Wonder what other surprises they've got in store for us.

The group emerged from the treeline, and David's jaw dropped at the sight before him. The riverbank bustled with activity, a stark contrast to the overgrown park he remembered. It was as if someone had dropped a burgeoning Stone Age civilization into the ruins of modern Riverport, and they'd decided to make the most of it.

Workers swarmed up and down the shore, their bizarre forms working together in relative harmony. Some dug, others carried materials in mouths, claws, or improvised baskets. The air hummed with a cacophony of grunts, squawks, and chitters as they yelled to each other.

A main irrigation ditch cut through the landscape, its edges still rough and uneven. Smaller channels branched off from it, creating a crude but effective watering system. Along the riverbank, various earthwork constructions dotted the area - some looked like primitive dams, others like terraced growing areas.

What caught David's eye most were the numerous pools dug into the soft earth near the water's edge. Each was roughly the same size, forming shallow, calm areas where strange plants grew. They resembled lillypads but with an alien twist - their leaves were a deep purple, and what looked like bioluminescent pods pulsed gently at regular intervals.

Claire let out a deep, appreciative rumble that resonated through the air. The sound brought the bustling activity to an abrupt halt as nearly every head turned towards them. David could almost hear the collective intake of breath as they took in Claire's massive, armored form looming at the forest's edge.

For a moment, panic seemed imminent. Then a shrill yell of excitement pierced the air, and a familiar figure came barreling through the crowd. Randal, looking more porcupine-like than ever with a hint of beaver thrown in, raced towards them. His quills rattled like maracas as he ran, a grin splitting his furry face.

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"David! Claire!" Randal shouted, skidding to a halt in front of them. A small group followed in his wake, faces David vaguely recognized from their time in Redfield.

Oh shit! It’s…that guy! I remember him. I almost forgot for a minute, if I'm being honest with myself.

A squirrel-like man David remembered for his acrobatic prowess bounced around them, his energy reminiscent of a caffeine-fueled frenzy. From near the water, a lanky bird-person let out a musical hoot of greeting, choosing to keep its distance but acknowledging their presence all the same.

Randal beamed up at them, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you again for saving us from Viktor," he said, looking for all the world like he wanted to hug David but knew better than to try. Instead, he extended a paw.

David carefully spread his talons, gripping Randal's paw in a gentle handshake. To his credit, Randal only flinched slightly, heroically pushing through what was clearly a strong fight-or-flight response.

After a round of thanks from the gathered Redfield refugees, Randal shooed them back to work. "Alright, folks, show's over. We've got a lot to do!"

As the crowd dispersed, Randal turned back to David and Claire, his expression proud. "Let me give you the tour," he said, gesturing to the busy riverbank. "We've made some real progress in the last three weeks."

He led them closer to the water, explaining as they went. "Those plants? Physical Quest Reward. Crazy right? Someone brought back an entire mouthful of seeds. Damn things were trying to grow by the time they got back with them. They grow like bamboo, but faster. Great food source for us herbivores." He chuckled, shaking his head. "And as a happy accident, they attract fish like crazy. Our smaller carnivores have developed quite the taste for sushi."

As if on cue, the bird that had greeted them earlier plunged its beak into one of the pools. It emerged with a wriggling fish, which it carried over to a large, frog-like creature nearby. The frog opened its mouth wide, and the bird deposited its catch like trash into a bin. David watched, fascinated, as the fish disappeared into what had to be an impressively elastic throat pouch, its outline still visible as it struggled.

"Impressive," David muttered, his wings rustling with interest. He had to concentrate to keep his Cuddlebugs from swarming the area, their excited mental pings overwhelming his senses. ‘Hey, look at this!’ they seemed to shout in unison, flitting from one curiosity to the next.

David noticed, with some surprise, that the Cuddlebugs didn't seem to view most of the gathered transformed humans as threats. Only a select few drew their suspicious gazes.

How the hell did they get so good at judging relative strength?

Then it hit him - they'd been fighting for survival since the moment he'd created them.

Note to self: teach these little gremlins how to play fetch or something. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, after all.

"So, what do you think?" Randal asked, his chest puffed out with pride. "We've come a long way in a short time, haven't we?"

Claire nodded, her massive head bobbing. "It's incredible," she rumbled. "You've done more here in a month than… honestly I'm really impressed."

David had to agree. The sheer ingenuity on display was staggering. He watched as a group of smaller creatures - what looked like a collection of moles and otters - worked in tandem to dig a new irrigation channel. Their clawed hands moved with surprising dexterity, shaping the earth with practiced ease.

Nearby, a cluster of what were clearly Sub-Adult Evolutions– part-plant, part-animal hybrids tending to rows of the strange, purple bamboo-like plants. Their leafy appendages gently caressed the stalks, and David could have sworn he saw the plants lean into the touch, like flowers following the sun.

"How are you managing waste?" David asked, suddenly curious. "With this many people in one place, it must be a challenge. It wasn't exactly fragrant last time I was here but now…"

Kai’s expression turned sheepish. "Ah, well, that's been a bit of a... learning experience," he admitted. "We've got a system set up downstream, but it's not perfect. Herold's been working on some ideas involving certain, uh, specialized Evolved abilities."

David raised an eyebrow, deciding he probably didn't want to know the details. Instead, he gestured to the pools. "And these? They seem pretty uniform for digging with your face."

Randal nodded enthusiastically. "Good eye! We found that the lilly-fish - that's what we're calling them for now - grow best in specific conditions. The pools are all the same depth and size to maximize yield."

As they continued their tour, David couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for what these people had accomplished. They'd taken the chaos of the Integration and turned it into something productive, even beautiful in its own bizarre way.

Maybe there's hope for us after all. If we can adapt this well to utter insanity, who knows? Maybe we'll bounce back and put the first wombat on the moon.

As Randal trundled off to resume his duties, Kai and Thomas basked in the stunned silence of their friends. David's jaw hung open, his fangs glinting in the sunlight, while Claire's massive head swiveled back and forth, taking in the scope of their accomplishments.

Kai puffed out his chest, metallic feathers catching the light. "Pretty impressive, eh?"

Thomas's tails swished with pride. "You should've seen your faces. Priceless."

David shook his head, ears twitching. "I'll be damned. You guys have been busy."

"Speaking of busy," Kai said, gesturing back towards the settlement, "we should head to the Arena. Got some things to show you there."

Claire's brow ridges furrowed. "Arena?"

Kai's beak clicked in amusement. "Uh…the Warehouse. We've got much better accommodations now, thanks to Herold. The Arena is mostly for training and meetings these days."

As they started back through the wooded trail, Kai elaborated. "Combat training's mandatory now, no matter how big or small you are. Carnivore, herbivore – doesn't matter. Everyone learns to defend themselves and work as a team."

Thomas nodded, all four eyes blinking in sync. "Unlike the bad old days, we focus on small group tactics instead of individual showboating. Though," he added with a chuckle, "the old-timers on the Hunting Team still love their duels. Got a whole ranking system and everything."

David's ears perked up. "Oh yeah? Who's won the most-"

"Herold!" Kai and Thomas shouted in unison, then burst into laughter. "Jinx!" they cried, pointing at each other.

David's brow furrowed. "Is that because of his ridiculous armor or something?"

Kai shook his head, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You'll see," he said, looking like the cat that ate the canary. It was clear he was relishing the chance to surprise them.

As they left the path and set out across the field of the park, David's jaw dropped at the sight before them as they rounded a small hill.

In the middle of the park, some distance from the familiar warehouse, stood an enormous mound of earth. It wasn't just big – it was colossal, easily the size of a building. Even Claire let her jaws hang open in shock at the sheer scale of it.

A few teams of monsters were skirmishing in the field next to the warehouse, chasing each other around while trying to protect or steal a stick wrapped in brightly colored plastic. They paused at the sight of the newcomers, but Kai flared his wings in greeting. After a moment's hesitation, they returned to their practice.

David's eyes darted around, taking in the changes. Various nests and shelters filled the trees surrounding the field, with curious avian and rodent-like heads poking out to observe them.

Just as David was about to ask what the hell was up with all the dirt, the ground rumbled beneath their feet. David's first thought was that it felt like Claire charging something, but... bigger. Much bigger.

Claire quickly asked, "Kai, what the fuck is that?" But her question died in her throat as the source of the tremors revealed itself.

From the other side of the dirt mound, a massive form began to emerge. At first, David thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. But as more of the creature came into view, his mind reeled at the sheer scale of what he was seeing.

It was Herold, but not as they remembered him. The once-large beetle was now truly gargantuan. He easily dwarfed Claire, breaking into multi-ton territory without breaking a sweat. His body was the size of a small house, an armored colossus that made the earth shake with each movement.

As Herold pulled himself fully from the hole, David's eyes widened in disbelief. The beetle's iridescent green coloration, while still present, had taken on a more muted, earthy tone. His armor, already impressive before, now looked like it could shrug off…well, whatever the hell he wanted. The mandibles extending from his head were massive, easily capable of bulldozing full-grown trees.

David's mind raced as he tried to process what he was seeing. How would you even begin to fight something like that? It'd be like taking on an Area Boss.

The colossal beetle shifted its body clockwise, antennae twitching as it peered down at them. For a moment, there was silence. Then, a booming voice that David recognized despite its increased volume rang out across the field.

"Young David! And Miss Claire! Oh, my heavens, it's so good to see you!" Herold's refined, antiquated speech very much at odds with his monstrous appearance. "David, my boy, you look positively ferocious! Good show!"

David found himself at a loss for words, a rare occurrence for him. He glanced at Claire, seeing his own shock mirrored in her reptilian features. For the first time since her transformation, Claire wasn't the biggest thing around – not by a long shot.

As Herold's massive form loomed over them, casting a shadow that seemed to stretch for miles, David couldn't help but think that Woodland had changed far more than he could have ever imagined. And he had a feeling the surprises were far from over.

“Why are you so damn big?!" David crowed incredulously. “You know what? Doesn't matter. Guys, we need to talk."

Herold cocked an antennae curiously.

“What? Speak up, you're very tiny you know!"