Rusty and Nyx were standing by Reid's side, waiting for the promised "surprise."
"Evo, send us to the Forge Lab," Reid said. This time he was prepared for the flash of light that enveloped them.
His two forged beasts were a bit disoriented because of the light. They curiously looked around the lab when they got back to normal.
"Welcome to the Forge Lab," Reid introduced the lab to them.
"Squeak?" Rusty let out, which was mouse for, "Was this the surprise?"
"Not all of it," Reid answered with a small smile. "You'll get to see the real surprise soon."
Reid walked up to the table and picked up the gloves and glasses, putting them on.
"Alright, Evo, let's begin," he requested.
Although the requirement to evolve both forged beasts was ten cores and ten alloys in total, Evo explained that the amount was lower the higher the tier of the core.
A single Gold-tier core was enough to evolve both Nyx and Rusty—that's what Reid was planning on doing today.
[Please place one of the forged beasts on the circular platform.]
Reid did as instructed, placing Rusty on the platform.
"Squeak," it squeaked nervously.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine, and you'll come out even stronger," Reid assured and stepped back.
[Forge tools activate. Please select a mode:
Forged-beast creation
Forged-beast evolution
Forged-beast repair
Beast scan
Note: More options will unlock when you increase your soul power.]
The options popped up on his glasses, and he selected the Forged-beast Evolution tab.
Just as before, a 3D representation of Rusty showed up, and a small podium rose from the floor—this time with a bigger space for the materials.
He placed the Gold-tier Time Core and five alloys on it before it sank back into the floor again.
Reid decided to give Rusty the Time Core because its ability, [Delayed Reaction], was similar to slowing down time—but for the enemy.
The robotic arms descended again, starting the evolution process.
[Evolution in process.
One evolution path available:
Silver-tier Time Mouse.]
"Silver-tier?" he asked, feeling a bit confused. "Shouldn't it be Gold-tier?"
[Under normal circumstances, Rusty would have evolved into a Gold-tier, but normal circumstances mean using Gold-tier alloys.
With the Bronze-tier ones, this is the highest tier I could push it to,] Evo explained.
"I see," Reid said and clicked on [Silver-tier Time Mouse], which was the only evolution path available.
[Evolution of Rusty to Silver-tier Time Mouse has begun.
Remaining time: 11:59:59.]
"Twelve hours? Can't it be done faster?" he asked, a bit surprised by the time.
[It can, but remember, your soul power evolves alongside your beasts.
So if you don't want to feel like your soul is being ripped out, I suggest you don't ask me to quicken the process,] she advised, making Reid gulp.
He turned to look at the sleeping Rusty and the robotic arms working on it.
Nyx was watching the process curiously from on top of Reid's head.
"So, we'll have to wait for Rusty's evolution to be completed to evolve Nyx?" he asked.
[Not necessarily.]
As soon as Evo completed her sentence, another circular platform rose up beside the one Rusty was on.
"Alright, buddy, it's your turn now," he informed the moth resting on his head. Nyx flapped its wings in excitement and flew to the platform.
The same process for Rusty was repeated for Nyx—the only difference being the Void Core that Reid placed.
[Evolution in process.
One evolution path available:
Silver-tier Void Moth.]
He selected the only option available and watched the timer pop up again.
[Evolution of Nyx to Silver-tier Void Moth has begun.
Remaining time: 11:59:59.]
Reid sat down on a chair that rose from the floor and watched the process for a few minutes before getting bored.
"What else can I do in here, Evo?" he asked, looking for ways to alleviate his boredom, although he was starting to feel lightheaded again.
[Apart from forging, evolving, scanning, or fixing beasts? There's nothing else for now,] Evo informed. [But I suggest you exit the lab for now before strain is caused to your body.]
"You're right. Send me back," Reid said, closing his eyes, prepared to be sent back.
When he opened them next, he was lying on the sofa in his bunker. A knock was suddenly heard on the door.
He moved to open up and found Mia standing there with a light smile on her lips. She held a food container in her hand.
"Good afternoon, Reid," she greeted, still keeping her smile.
"Afternoon, Mia," he replied with a smile of his own. He and Mia had quickly gotten close during the week.
He even started seeing her as family, even though that was a sore topic for him—so he'd never admit it.
"I brought you some food. I hope you haven't eaten yet," she said as she handed the container to him.
"Thank you, Mia, but you know I'm healed now, right? So you don't have to do this," he said.
"But I want to," she said, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Anyway, I have to help my mom in the market, so bye."
She quickly took off after saying that. Honestly, Reid was anything but a good cook.
The meals he prepared, although edible, lacked taste, so Mia's cooking was appreciated by him.
At least, for the first time in a while, he could actually appreciate the flavors in his meal instead of just eating a bland one.
"Thanks, Mia," he whispered before going back into his bunker.
---
Nighttime.
In a dark corner of the Scrapyards stood a hooded figure, and in front of him was a hologram displaying another individual.
The man in the hologram was sitting on what looked like a throne, and his face was covered by the shadows in his location.
The hooded figure quickly went to his knees.
"I'm sorry, master, but our plans have failed," he informed in a respectful tone.
"Correction, my dear follower—your plan failed," the man in the hologram calmly said, but his eyes glowed from within the shadows.
"I apologize, master. My plan failed," the hooded man shivered and quickly rephrased his sentence. Even though his master was not physically here, he could feel a certain pressure on his back.
"How did the old man discover it?" the master asked.
"It seems Reid went into the caves and the old man went to save him," the follower explained. "That's why the beasts didn't have enough time to absorb the energy from the cores to evolve enough to destroy the Scrapyard."
"Reid? You mean the disgrace of the Fletcher family?" The master chuckled, his tone dripping with amusement. "No matter. Proceed with Plan B tomorrow."
"Yes, master," the hooded man replied, his head still bowed. He remained in that position until the hologram vanished.
Straightening up, he muttered to himself, a sinister grin concealed beneath his hood. "The people of the Scrapyard will finally face divine punishment."
With that, he walked away to do his master's bidding.
The residents of the Scrapyard lay asleep, unaware of the impending doom.