Snap

'Well, that certainly could have gone smoother. Running from the Player Association, one of the world's largest governing bodies, was not precisely on my agenda for the day.' He leaned against the wall of a dilapidated building, taking a moment to let his breathing even out.

[It was far too hazardous to remain there, master. Their methods are suspect.]

'Suspect is one word for it,' he mused. 'Exploding orbs during registration tend to raise questions. Still, I am fairly certain "fleeing the scene" is not standard procedure for new applicants.' He sighed internally. 'My life continues its streak of being remarkably inconvenient.'

He considered his options. The system had suggested a dungeon. To enter one, however, he needed to bypass the official registration and verification process. He mulled it over, but no immediate solution for circumventing heavily guarded, magically secured entrances came to mind. Only registered Players were permitted entry.

[I understand your concern regarding access. However, there is no need for undue distress. You simply need to tame a beast with stealth capabilities. By doing so, you will assimilate that skill for your own use.]

He pushed himself off the wall. "A beast with stealth capabilities? And where, precisely, am I supposed to get such a creature outside of a dungeon or one of those zones? I doubt they sell them at the local pet shop."

[Hm? Master, what is your understanding of the term 'beast'?]

"What do you mean?" he asked. "A beast is simply a monster, is it not?"

[That is a common application of the term, yes. But why limit the definition solely to monsters? What is the fundamental definition of a beast?]

He paused, considering the system's question. He had been fixated on the monstrous creatures Players fought. A different interpretation began to form. 

"...I believe I comprehend your meaning. So, any animal, then, can be classified as a beast?"

[Precisely. All living organisms, with the exception of humans, can be categorized as beasts. You understand the implication, do you not?]

"Yeah, i think i get it," he said, a specific animal already coming to mind. "I know the perfect candidate for the job."

He had grown up in this city; he knew numerous locations where stray or abandoned animals congregated. However, his current objective was not a random stray. He intended to visit a particular place, a large, ancient tree situated near the city's edge. He was confident he would find the creature he needed there.

He moved from the derelict building and began to traverse the city, careful to avoid drawing attention. It was a relatively simple task for him now; he opted for the sewer system. Contrary to common assumptions, the city's sewers were consistently clean, a result of purification magic. He navigated the labyrinthine tunnels with an ingrained familiarity.

It felt almost as natural as breathing, and for a fleeting moment, a sensation resembling warmth touched his heart.

"I certainly had some memorable experiences down here," he muttered to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Skipping school, petty theft, rather awkward adolescent encounters... ah, the supposed good old days." He even passed a few crudely carved initials on a tunnel wall, a relic from a more naive time.

His pace had inadvertently slowed as he allowed himself a moment of reflection. As he rounded a bend, the sounds of laughter and boisterous conversation reached him. He stopped. 

'Damn it,' he thought. 'I was so absorbed in reminiscing that I failed to sense them sooner.'

Before he could retreat, one of the group, a young man with overly enthusiastic waving, spotted him. "Hey, you there! Come on, join us for a drink!"

Another voice, rougher, chimed in, "Hm, who the hell is that supposed to be?"

A third, more guarded, added, "I don't know, but I am not particularly inclined to share my provisions."

"Oh, you two need to relax," the first one said. "What is the harm in offering the fellow a few beers?"

A young woman, unsteady on her feet, detached herself from the group and swayed towards him. He remained stationary, observing her as she leaned against him, attempting an expression she likely thought was alluring. 

"Well, hello there. You are rather attractive, you know. You remind me of—" Her eyes finally focused on his face. She recoiled as if struck, stumbling backward and landing unceremoniously on the damp floor. 

"Y-y-y-you!"

The others, their curiosity piqued by her reaction, approached to investigate. Vell simply stood there, waiting. 

"Hey, Larisa, what is the matter?" one of the young men asked, peering past her at Vell. "Is he that hideous or some—" His voice trailed off as his own eyes widened. "Vell?"

"What? That is Vell?" another exclaimed.

"Yes, there is no mistaking him," the first young man confirmed, his demeanor shifting from curiosity to aggression. "What do you think you are doing back in this city?" 

He advanced, his face contorted with anger, and grabbed the front of Vell's shirt. "Answer me, you degenerate. What in the hell are you doing here? Was being expelled once not sufficient for you? Did you return for another round of condemnation?"

Vell's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained impassive as he looked at the faces of his former companions. Each one wore a look of revulsion. The girl, Larisa, scrambled to her feet and approached him, her gaze fixed on the ground before him. 

After a moment of silence, she slapped him across the face. Tears welled in her eyes.

"You are disgusting."

He was shoved backward, and the group formed a loose semi-circle in front of him, their postures suggesting they were prepared for a confrontation. 

"We trusted you," one of them spat. "And you turned out to be a murderer... no, even that term is too lenient for a creature like you. Just leave. Your presence is not welcome in this city."

He regarded them for several long moments before he finally spoke, his voice even and devoid of overt emotion.

"I find it curious... no tangible proof was ever presented. I was not even afforded an opportunity to offer a defense. The entire affair felt meticulously orchestrated to dismantle my life. But perhaps I am mistaken. I wish to understand why my closest friends, people I considered family, did not extend even the courtesy of hearing my side of the story. Especially you, Marek." He looked at the young man who still clutched his shirt, then his gaze shifted to Larisa, who was now openly weeping.

As he finished speaking, he detected a subtle shift in their demeanors. A flicker of nervousness, a slight stammer as one started to speak then stopped. It was enough to confirm his suspicions. Someone had indeed manipulated events. 

The look in his eyes changed, a coldness settling within them, and he felt a significant effort was required to maintain his composure.

[Master, remain calm. Remember the objective.]

'You are correct,' he conceded internally. 'This is a diversion. Let us depart from here.'

He began to walk past them. However, one of the more belligerent members of the group could not resist a parting shot.

"You killed your best friend, you damn psycho! Rynn was only nineteen! How could you? How could you extinguish such an innocent—"

He stopped and turned slowly. Before anyone could react, he moved with a speed that was a blur to their eyes. He did not strike them. Instead, he simply stood very close to the one who had spoken, his presence suddenly immense, radiating an almost palpable pressure. 

The young man, who had been puffing his chest out moments before, found himself unable to breathe, his eyes wide with a primal terror he had never known.

Vell leaned in, his voice a low whisper that cut through the sudden, terrified silence. "Innocent? You speak of innocence after participating in a city-wide slander campaign based on hearsay and a single, tearful accusation? After turning your backs on someone you called a friend for years?" 

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Perhaps you should reconsider your definitions."

He then made a small, almost dismissive gesture with his hand. A nearby stack of discarded metal pipes, remnants of some forgotten construction, rattled violently and then, one by one, began to bend and twist as if squeezed by an invisible giant. The screech of tortured metal filled the sewer tunnel.

The group stared, frozen. The loudmouth who had provoked him began to tremble uncontrollably, a dark stain spreading rapidly on the front of his trousers. Another one whimpered, and Larisa covered her mouth, stifling a scream.

Vell straightened up, his expression unreadable. "I was contemplating a rather elaborate series of retaliatory actions for those who so eagerly betrayed me. I had given it considerable thought, actually. I even entertained the notion of a calm discussion, believe it or not. Clearly," he gestured to the now thoroughly terrified group and the mangled pipes, "that would have been a suboptimal approach."

He took a step back. "Consider this a... preliminary warning. Spread rumors, call the authorities, attempt to inconvenience me further, and I assure you, the consequences will be far less metaphorical and considerably more personal." He allowed a thin, humorless smile to touch his lips. "And much, much messier."

They did not need further encouragement. With choked cries and frantic scrambles, they turned and fled, stumbling over each other in their haste to escape, the stench of fear and urine lingering in the air behind them.

He watched them go. 'Well,' he thought, 'that was a mild overreaction. Still, their newfound appreciation for bladder control is a step in the right direction. And I believe I made my point about unwelcome commentary.'

[Master, your objective remains. This diversion was unproductive.]

"Unproductive?" He mused, already turning to continue his original journey. "Perhaps. But I must admit, there is a certain satisfaction in seeing abject terror in the eyes of those who so readily condemned me. Small victories, system. Small victories."

He then added, almost as an afterthought, 'And I think I actually managed not to get any of their... effluence... on my new slippers. So, all in all, a net positive, I would say.'