The following morning, Robert's body grew increasingly feverish as a transformation began to take hold. Thick fur sprouted across his skin, his facial features contorted into a lupine form, and his eyes took on a predatory glint. His nails elongated into sharp claws, sending shivers of fear through those nearby.

Samuel, Kyla, and Shilia, who were close witnesses to the startling change, recoiled in terror. Kyla's scream pierced the air as she beheld her transformed son, prompting Helena, Shilia, and Samuel to rush to her side.

"What's happening?" Samuel exclaimed, his voice fraught with concern.

Helena gasped, her eyes wide with shock. The sight of Robert, now unrecognizable in his bestial form, sent a chill down their spines.

As Kyla collapsed in anguish, tears streaming down her face, Samuel couldn't shake the weight of guilt. It was he who had sent Robert as a novice recruit, unwittingly setting in motion this horrifying metamorphosis.

"Please, heal my son! You have to do something!" Kyla pleaded desperately, her grip tight on Helena's shoulders, her eyes filled with anguish.

"I'm sorry," Helena replied with a heavy heart. "I've already done everything within my power. It seems his energy has somehow intertwined with that of a beast. Perhaps only Beast Masters possess the ability to revert him back to his original form."

"But how did his energy become intertwined with that of a beast? Could he have inadvertently attempted some form of xeno-arcanery?" Samuel pondered aloud, his voice tinged with concern.

"The forest harbors mysterious forces," Shilia interjected, her tone grave. "There's a reason why the Sylvan Vale Forest people avoid venturing too deep into its outer layers. Even as a child, I heard tales of individuals undergoing transformations into animals."

"You monster! Why did you send him to fight mercenaries? Why?" Kyla's accusation cut through the air like a blade as she slapped Samuel across the face. With a heart-wrenching cry, she crumpled to the ground, overwhelmed by grief. "Oh, my beloved son!" she sobbed, her anguish echoing through the forest.

"I will summon Alistar," Samuel declared with regret etched in his eyes and defeat in his tone. "He's an expert in energy manipulation. Perhaps he's the only one who can somehow reverse Robert's transformation."

After an hour or so, Alistar arrived, his brow furrowed in thought as he scratched his beard. "Mmm... I know what happened," he announced, prompting Kyla, Shilia, and Samuel to lean in with hopeful anticipation.

"Can you heal him?" Kyla asked eagerly.

"Mmm... I only said I knew what happened. As for healing him, I'm not so sure," Alistar explained with a hint of uncertainty, tempering their optimism.

"In my opinion, Robert attempted to absorb and manipulate the energies within the forest into his body. A rookie mistake," Alistar surmised solemnly.

"Oh, God!" Kyla exclaimed, her anguish palpable as she teetered on the brink of losing her composure.

"I can't say exactly how it happened," Alistar admitted, his expression thoughtful. "But considering the diverse and intertwined nature of the energies he absorbed, coupled with the pervasive aura of the various beasts saturating the air, soil, and essence of the dirt in that place, it's logical that attempting to morph those energies would begin to alter his body into that of a beast," he explained, providing a comprehensive explanation for Robert's transformation.

"Helena, we're going to have to balance that disequilibrium," Alistar declared with a sense of urgency. "Lucky for him, we have three people from the forest here. Take blood from Shilia and Kyla, then make it into a potion and administer it to Robert. I will channel my energy directly into him," he instructed, outlining the plan to restore equilibrium to Robert's transformed state.

"Oh, thank you, Sage Alistar! Thank you!" Kyla exclaimed with heartfelt gratitude, her relief evident in her voice.

"It's not over yet! Balancing the energies inside his body is just the first step. The rest depends on his will," Alistar cautioned, his tone serious. "Robert, don't give up on your humanity!" he called out, a note of urgency in his voice, emphasizing the crucial role Robert's own choices would play in his ultimate fate.

"Mmm... What if we add more human energy into him? That way, we can ensure the beast's energies won't overpower," Helena suggested, her understanding of the situation evident as she proposed a potential solution to tip the balance in favor of Robert's humanity.

"Hehe, even humans are animals. If we do that, who knows what kind of creature Robert would become. Everything is about balance. If we add more human energy to him, his muscles would atrophy, he'd likely lose his teeth, nails, reproductive organs—everything that defines him as an animal," Alistar elaborated, emphasizing the delicate equilibrium that must be maintained to preserve Robert's humanity while also averting the dominance of beastly traits.

"Oh, that makes sense!" Helena exclaimed.

Alistar observed, "The struggle to determine his path lies within his soul."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"If I weren't preoccupied, I would have prayed for him. Actually, I suggest you pray for him too. Prayer stems from the heart and holds profound power." He glanced at Kyla, seemingly encouraging her to pray for her son.

With a concerned face, she nodded; then she got close to her son took out his hand, and looked up at the sky. And start murmuring some mantras.

Inside Robert’s coma; Robert went into a dream like state:

Robert, lay still, caught between the realms of consciousness and the unknown. The energies he had dared to absorb, each representing a facet of nature's raw power, now coalesced into a swirling, ethereal entity that hovered ominously above him.

"Robert," a voice reverberated within the depths of his consciousness, carrying the harmonious essence of wind, earth, fire, and water. "We are the very spirit of this forest, intertwined as one. You sought to command us against our will, seeking healing through coercion. Now, due to your weakness, we are ensnared alongside you. Are you prepared to face the consequences?"

The energies coalesced into a majestic form, reminiscent of a Komodo dragon intertwined with the sinuous grace of a serpent. Adorned with gleaming jewels and draped in regal attire befitting a king, the entity exuded an aura of ancient power and wisdom.

Robert, confronted with this conscious energy, found himself manifesting a form of his own, akin to a vision in a dream.

"What... what are you?" Robert's voice quivered as he dared to address the amalgamation of energies.

"We are the essence of life itself," the entity replied, its tone both soothing and commanding. "We are the heartbeat of the forest, the breath of the winds, the fiery passion of the sun, and the tranquil depths of the waters. We are everything that surrounds you."

As Robert grappled with the overwhelming presence before him, a surge of determination ignited within his soul.

"What is it that you seek?" Robert inquired, his voice betraying a mixture of uncertainty and fear, as he cautiously addressed the enigmatic entity before him.

"Bow! Bow before us, you feeble creature!" The command resonated with unmistakable authority, compelling Robert to heed its power.

image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/6e73cc80-edd4-4127-9f61-c35b8f2ac350/0_0.webp]

"I bow before no one!" Robert's defiance echoed and the entity surged towards him, exhaling a dense, black smoke that enveloped him. Within the swirling darkness, Robert was consumed by haunting visions of his mother's suffering and his village engulfed in flames, the vivid imagery striking at the core of his being.”

"Ah, Robert," the entity hissed, its voice dripping with venomous delight. "How utterly predictable you mortals are, with your aspirations and your frailty."

"I will not surrender myself to you," Robert declared, his voice resonating with newfound resolve.

"Very well, mortal," the entity intoned, its tone tinged with both acceptance and warning.

Robert's heart quickened as he gazed upon the entity's manifestation, a creeping sense of unease settling within his chest. "What do you want from me?" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance.

The entity's grin widened, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. "Oh, nothing much," it replied, its tone dripping with mock innocence. "Just your soul, your very essence, to add to my collection."

A cold shiver ran down Robert's spine as he realized the true nature of the entity before him. It sought not only to dominate his body but to consume his very being, leaving nothing but a hollow shell in its wake.

"But fear not, dear Robert," the entity continued, its voice oozing with false reassurance. "Before I claim what is rightfully mine, allow me to offer you a glimpse of your true self, the shadow that lurks within your soul."

With a flick of its ethereal hand, the entity conjured forth a spectral image, revealing Robert's darkest fears and insecurities. His failures, his doubts, his deepest regrets—all laid bare for the entity's twisted amusement.

"You see, Robert," the entity whispered, its voice like a venomous serpent coiling around his mind. "You are but a fragile creature, shackled by your own weaknesses. How pitiful it must be, to cling to the illusion of strength in the face of such overwhelming despair."

Robert's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to resist the suffocating weight of his own inner turmoil. Yet, even amidst the darkness, a flicker of determination ignited within his soul.

"I may be flawed," Robert declared, his voice ringing with newfound resolve. "But I refuse to be defined by my weaknesses. I will rise above the shadows that seek to consume me, and I will emerge stronger than ever before."

A ripple of frustration coursed through the entity's form, its facade of deception momentarily faltering. Yet, it quickly regained its composure, its twisted grin widening into a malevolent smirk.

"The game is far from over, Robert," it hissed with chilling assurance. "The stakes have never been greater. We shall remain dormant within you, observing as your true nature is tested by the depths of darkness that await."

As the entity's words echoed through the depths of Robert's mind, a chill swept through him, sending shivers down his spine. He could feel the weight of its presence, lurking in the shadows of his consciousness like a specter waiting to strike.

"Your threats hold no power over me," Robert countered, his voice laced with defiance, though a hint of uncertainty lingered beneath. "I refuse to succumb to your darkness. Besides, even if I were tempted, I have family and friends who would stand by me, shielding me from your malevolent grasp."

The entity's malevolent smirk widened, its eyes gleaming with wicked amusement. "Oh, Robert, you underestimate the power of the shadows that dwell within you," it taunted, its voice dripping with scorn. "But fear not, for we shall be ever vigilant, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash your true potential."

With a final, mocking laugh, the entity receded into the recesses of Robert's mind, leaving behind a lingering sense of dread. Alone once more, Robert knew that the battle for his soul had only just begun, and that the true test of his strength lay ahead, shrouded in the darkness that threatened to consume him.

Slowly, like a swimmer breaking the surface of a deep, dark pool, Robert emerged from the depths of his unconsciousness. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing the soft, warm glow of candlelight dancing against the walls of a familiar chamber.

As his senses gradually returned, Robert's gaze fell upon the figures gathered around him. His mother, Kyla, knelt by his bedside, her hands clasped in fervent prayer, her eyes brimming with tears of relief.

And there, at the foot of the bed, was Helena, the healer whose gentle touch had guided him back from the brink. Her brow furrowed with concern as she monitored his vital signs, her skilled hands weaving intricate patterns of healing magic.

"Robert!" Kyla exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion as she reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from his brow. "Oh, my dear son, you're awake!"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Robert's lips as he reached out to grasp his mother's hand, feeling the warmth of her touch anchoring him to the present moment. Despite the lingering echoes of his encounter with the entity, he knew that he was not alone—that he had allies who would stand by him in the darkness, guiding him back to the light.