Four hundred years ago, the world was divided by two races: humans and Therians.
Therians were once human—until they gained the ability to transform into monsters. This transformation became known as the Forbidden Form.
No one knows what caused the change. There were no warnings. No signs. Only the aftermath.
The world suffered.
Millions were slaughtered, devoured by those who had once walked beside them as friends, neighbors, family. Humanity stood on the brink of extinction until a man named Julius Warden devised a solution.
He created a program dedicated to the eradication of Therians. Thus, the Wardens were born.
The Wardens hunted the monsters relentlessly. They killed them—and from their flesh, they forged weapons designed to slay others of their kind. Blade, armor, and tool were all born from Therian remains.
In time, humans reclaimed their place at the top of the food chain.
The Therians were wiped out… or so it was believed.
Those who survived vanished into the shadows.
Even now, countless Therians remain hidden—watching, waiting, ready to kill.
"You coming or not?" a voice called out.
I had fallen asleep beneath a tall oak tree, its branches stretching wide over the open field. The grass was cool beneath me, the air calm enough to pull me under without warning.
"What?" I muttered, blinking.
"Are you coming or not? Here—take my hand."
I reached up, and my friend hauled me to my feet with ease. His name was Axel.
We'd come out to enjoy the perfect weather, or at least that had been the plan. Somewhere between the warmth of the sun and the quiet of the field, I'd drifted off.
Axel wanted to be a Warden. I did too—but not the way he did.
He wanted to help people. To save lives. He always wore a smile, no matter the situation. Even when a fight was about to break out, he'd step in and stop it before the first punch was thrown. I never understood how he did it. He just… did.
"You enjoy your nap?" Axel asked, grinning.
"Eh. I guess it was so peaceful out here I knocked out."
"Or you got bored of studying," he said. "Did you forget we've got a big test tomorrow?"
"Oh—shit. You're right."
Tomorrow, Axel and I had the written portion of our Warden tests. Most people passed it without much trouble—the real challenge came after: the fitness test. That one decided which branch of the Wardens you'd be assigned to.
There were five branches.
Support Wardens were for the lower scores. They fixed gear and tracked Therians with drones, keeping operations running smoothly behind the scenes.
Sentinels scored in the middle. They watched over cities and handled crowd control during Therian attacks.
Pursuit Wardens, like the branch Axel and I were aiming for, sat between mid and high scores. They hunted Therians in the field, earning the nickname "hunters".
Containment Wardens scored high. They captured Therians alive whenever possible, often leading squads into dangerous operations.
And at the very top, the Execution Wardens—sometimes called assassins. With insane strength and sharp minds, a single Execution Warden could take down a mid-sized threat alone. They led teams, made decisions, and set the pace for the rest of the Wardens.
Most Wardens changed branches after being assigned, usually moving down rather than up. It wasn't uncommon to start in pursuit and end up in support.
Axel and I? We were both aiming for Pursuit, but there was no doubt in my mind that he would soar higher—Execution Wardens was his destiny. Me? I just wanted to fight alongside him, no matter where I ended up.
"Warning: Level Two Therian detected at Outer Residential District, Lower City Block," the announcer blared over the alarm system.
"That's pretty close," Axel said. "Wanna check it out?"
"Got nothing better to do," I replied.
We headed toward the scene, climbing to the rooftop of a tall building overlooking the chaos. Below, the Wardens were already engaged with the Therian.
From up here, I could see him clearly. Vincent Newman, twenty-three, once just another guy at a bar—until a fight broke out and he transformed. Compared to the others we'd trained against, he was weak.
Therians were classified by levels. Level One was the weakest. Level Six was considered the strongest. Beyond that… well, there were always exceptions. Ones strong enough to make even seasoned Wardens think twice.
Vincent didn't look like one of those. But weak or not, the danger was still real.
The alarm blared as the Wardens opened fire. Specialized rounds hissed through the air, striking Vincent's Therian form with sparks and ricochets. Scales shattered and cracked under the impact, but the Therian was still moving—thrashing wildly, claws raking the street.
"Focus on the legs! Don't let him move!" one Warden shouted.
Bullets flew in tight, coordinated bursts. Vincent leapt, twisting midair to avoid the volleys, but the Wardens anticipated his moves. One rolled forward, firing a grappling net that wrapped around the Therian's torso, slowing him down. Another Warden vaulted over a car, landing behind Vincent to deliver a bone-crunching kick to the back.
Vincent's roar echoed through the city block, shaking the windows and sending shards of glass flying. He swiped at a Warden, sending them skidding across the pavement, but another tackled him from the opposite side. The squad moved like a single organism, strikes and counter-strikes flowing in a deadly rhythm.
I jumped forward, aiming for a weak spot near his shoulder. The bullets hit true, piercing soft scales, and Vincent staggered, screeching in pain. A Warden above him propelled himself off a lamppost, spinning through the air and slamming into the Therian's chest with explosive force. The impact sent him flying into a wall, concrete cracking under the blow.
Vincent struggled to rise, but coordinated attacks cut off every escape. Energy from the specialized Wardens' weapons arced around him, tethering him to the ground while another blast tore through the air, sending him sprawling.
Finally, with a synchronized push from all sides, Vincent crumpled, landing hard on the pavement. Dust and debris hung in the air, and the Wardens didn't move immediately—watching, alert, ready for a last desperate strike.
But it never came. Vincent lay still, beaten and broken.
The Wardens stepped back, catching their breath. The street smelled of ozone and smoke, and for a brief moment, the city block was silent except for the ringing in our ears.
"Good work," one Warden muttered, scanning the horizon. "Level Two down. Keep moving. There's more out there."
Even in victory, the fight felt far from over
We were neighbors—just across the street from each other. Over the years, he'd become more than a friend. Axel was like a brother to me.
"There you are! I was worried sick about you," Mom said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Mom, I'm fine. Just a small attack on the way home—nothing major."
"I know… but that was the second one today, and you were right there. I'm just glad you're safe."
"Mom, I'm going to join the Wardens. A small Level Two Therian isn't going to hurt me," I said. Then I added, "After dinner, could Axel and I go to the library? We want to study for our exams tomorrow."
"Sure—but be back by nine."
"You're the best."
I stepped outside, and Axel was already walking up to my front door.
"Guess your mom said yes," he said with a grin.
"Yep. Let's go," I said.
The library was about a ten-minute walk from my house. We liked the exercise—and the chance to quiz each other along the way. The streets were quiet, but the library promised plenty of books to study from.
As we walked, I noticed a figure trailing us. A guy in a dark gray jacket, keeping his distance but following every turn.
"You studying for your Warden test too?" I asked.
"Yes, sir. I just want to pass the written part. Have either of you heard anything about it?"
"Nope. Not a thing," I said.
Axel chimed in, "It's super classified. They don't want cheaters, so every exam is different. What you hear one day is useless the next."
The guy scratched the back of his head. "That… doesn't help much."
I glanced at Axel. His usual grin was gone. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes narrowing. He was worried.
"Care to join us?" I asked, keeping my voice casual.
"Might as well," he said, sliding a hand into his pocket as he fell into step beside us.
"Marc—look out!" he shouted, shoving me aside just in time.
The stranger pulled a gun and fired. The bullet tore into Marc's leg, and he collapsed with a cry of pain.
"Somebody call the cops!" I yelled, panic rising. "My friend's been shot!"
The librarian fumbled for the phone and began dialing.
"I hate to break it to you," the man said, raising the gun, "but you're going to need more than the cops."
Before anyone could react, he fired again. The librarian crumpled to the floor, lifeless.
Chaos erupted. A bystander screamed into a phone. But luck was on our side. An off-duty Warden happened to be nearby. Most likely a Sentinel, but he still had a weapon ready.
"Freeze! Drop the weapon!" the Warden shouted, stepping forward.
"You're going to need more than that puny gun to stop me… Transform!"
In an instant, the man we'd just met convulsed. His body twisted, muscles bulging unnaturally, skin shifting into scales. He wasn't human anymore—he was a Therian.
"I've got a Therian at Downtown Caldwell Central Library!" the Warden barked into his radio. "One's already infected. Two civilians trapped inside!"
Chaos erupted. I didn't hesitate. Axel couldn't use one of his legs—he was still wounded—so I helped him to his feet, looping his arm over my shoulder. With a grunt, I carried him toward safety.
More Wardens arrived, their weapons ready. The Therian roared, a guttural sound that made the windows rattle, but we had backup now. The fight wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
"You two! Get out of here—NOW!" a Warden screamed, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Before I could react, he was gone—decapitated in an instant. Flames roared around us as the helicopter above dropped to the ground, exploding in a shower of fire and debris.
We didn't hesitate. The inferno became cover as we sprinted, our legs pumping like our lives depended on it—because they did.
The alert system cut out mid-warning:
"Warning: Multiple… Spotted… Immedia—"
I barely registered the words. Everything around me was burning. Streets, cars, trees—blazing orange and black smoke choking the sky. We ran past the ruins, past screaming civilians, past everything I had known.
And then I looked down the road I lived on. My street. My home. My house… completely caved in, swallowed by flames.
"Marc… you've got to leave. Just go. Save yourself," Axel gasped, staggering, blood streaked down his face.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. But I couldn't just leave. I ran forward, toward the wreckage that had once been my home.
Inside, the heat was unbearable, smoke curling around me like fingers. I saw her immediately—my mother, lying lifeless on the floor, eyes wide in terror.
The world had changed in a heartbeat. And I knew, with sick certainty, there would be no going back.
"Marc, I—dammit. Listen to me," Axel gasped. "You leave. Now. LEAVE ME HERE. Please… do it for my sake."
"I won't," I sobbed, tears blurring my vision. "You're the only person I have left. I won't lose you. I refuse."
I tightened my grip and kept running.
"There you are," a familiar voice echoed behind us. "I almost thought I'd lost the two of you."
My heart dropped.
In an instant, my right leg was gone.
I hit the ground hard, shock stealing the breath from my lungs. There was no pain at first—just emptiness where my leg had been, the severed limb lying a short distance away. Whatever had done it hadn't torn or crushed. It was a clean cut. Precise. Effortless.
"Dammit, Marc!" Axel shouted, panic breaking through his voice. "I told you to leave me!"
I kept moving—hopping on one leg, refusing to stop, refusing to fall.
"This is incredible," the Therian laughed. "I love it. Not giving up, no matter what. It's beautiful."
Then everything shattered.
In the next second, my left hip was gone. My body twisted violently as I crashed to the ground, warmth spilling out of me faster than I could comprehend. I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. The world narrowed to pain, pressure, and panic.
"There's only so much a simple human can endure," the Therian said calmly.
"Dammit, Marc…" Axel whispered.
The Therian loomed over us, claws raised, eyes blazing with malice. Its next strike was meant to end us.
Axel didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and blocked the punch, his body taking the full force. Sparks of pain flashed across his face, but he didn't flinch. With a roar, he lashed out, punching the Therian square in the jaw.
The impact sent the creature flying, crashing into a wall about a yard away. Dust and debris rained down around it as it staggered to its feet, momentarily stunned.
"How the hell are you so strong?!" the Therian bellowed, rage flashing in its eyes.
Axel planted his feet, chest heaving, gaze locked on the monster. "Because I'm not giving up," he spat back.
"I'm sorry for keeping my strength hidden from you, Marc," Axel said, his voice steady but heavy. "I was going to tell you one day… I didn't expect that day to come like this. Marc, after today, I hope you can forgive me. I hope you don't see me as my enemy.
Now… watch the show. Front-row seats. You're about to see a Therian get his ass whooped. Transform."
Axel's body twisted violently, muscles bulging and skin darkening until every inch of him seemed to absorb the shadows around him. Condensed air hissed from his lungs, sharp and chilling, like the world itself recoiling from his presence.
His form was pure black, like obsidian forged from darkness, with two jagged horns curling from his skull. His teeth glowed harsh red, and a whip-like tail lashed behind him with preternatural speed. Every movement radiated raw power and fury; even the wind seemed to bend around him.
The Level Six Therian froze, sensing the storm Axel had become. It had fought humans and wardens for decades, but it had never faced anything like this.
Axel roared—a sound that shattered the nearby windows, rattled debris, and made the air itself vibrate. Shadows twisted around him, coalescing into jagged streaks of black lightning that danced along the street. Sparks crackled and snapped as massive energy condensed into his fists, glowing hotter and hotter with every heartbeat.
Then he lunged.
Time seemed to stretch.
The Therian barely had a moment to react before Axel's fists struck like twin meteors, each punch exploding outward in bursts of kinetic shock. Fingers were crushed. Arms shattered. Limbs flew free, shredded by raw, unstoppable force. Concrete cracked beneath the impact, sending jagged shards into the air. Sparks and smoke filled the street, the scent of ozone and scorched asphalt choking anyone nearby.
Axel didn't stop. He grabbed the Therian by its torso, hurling it across the street like a ragdoll. Cars were flattened beneath its body as it slammed into a building, sending bricks and steel raining down in a cloud of dust.
He rose, energy radiating like a living storm. Every sinew, every muscle, coiled like a spring ready to explode.
The Therian struggled, barely alive, swiping at him with claws that could rip steel, but Axel was already in motion again. His final strike wasn't a punch—it was the sum of everything he was: fury, desperation, grief, power, and the promise of protection.
The energy condensed, forming a blinding sphere around his fist, pulsing and spinning with lethal intensity. The world seemed to pause for a heartbeat. Then he roared again and swung.
He grabbed the Therian one last time and hurled it skyward. As it reached him midair, Axel launched upward, meeting it with a cataclysmic uppercut that split the clouds and shook the horizon.
The impact was unimaginable.
A blinding explosion erupted, white-hot and incandescent, dwarfing the sun's brightness for a brief instant. Energy surged outward, compressing into a single beam that shot through the sky and struck the moon, carving a crater so massive it glowed like molten metal.
The shockwave returned to Earth like a tidal wave of destruction. Buildings buckled, asphalt splintered, windows shattered, and the air screamed past like a hurricane. Dust and debris whirled around Axel, but he stood tall, shadow and power coiling around him, unshaken.
When the dust settled, the Level Six Therian lay obliterated, nothing but fragments of rock and scorched pavement remaining. Axel's chest heaved, the black energy dissipating into the night, leaving only the faint glow of red horns in the aftermath.
Around him, the street was a wasteland, a testament to the sheer scale of his fury. And yet, even amid this devastation, there was purpose and restraint—he had destroyed the threat without losing himself entirely.
The world had seen the true power of the Forbidden Form.
And nothing would ever be the same again.
When it was over, silence followed—heavy and unreal.
Axel landed amid the ruins. Without ceremony, he drank the blood of the Therian he had killed, the last traces of its power fading away with its life.
Then he looked around.
At the burning city.
At the destruction.
At me.
The rage drained from his eyes.
Axel's form shifted, shadows peeling away as he returned to human skin. He rushed to my side and knelt, lifting me gently. I'd lost too much blood—far too much. Even I knew it. If he tried to take me to a hospital, I wouldn't make it. And even if I did… whatever survived wouldn't really be living.
Axel sat down and pulled me into his lap. My head rested against him, my vision dimming.
He was crying.
"I'm glad you're the one I get to give it to," Axel whispered.
"What…?" My voice barely came out.
Axel didn't answer. He raised his arm and dragged his hand across it. Blood spilled freely, dark and warm. Before I could react, he brought it to my lips.
I choked, instinctively pulling back—but it was already too late.
The moment his blood touched my tongue, something moved inside me. Not pain. Not heat. Something deeper. It slipped into my chest and hid itself there, settling around my heart like it had always belonged.
"My core is inside you now," Axel said softly. "It lets you transform into a Therian whenever you want. Your injuries will heal. Everything will regenerate."
His voice shook.
"But in about an hour… I'll be dead. Giving you my power takes everything I have."
I tried to speak. Tried to stop him. Nothing came out.
"Goodbye, Marc," he said, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you… for being in my life."
The world faded as my eyes closed.
The hospital staff told me Axel was dead.
I nodded. I thanked them. I pretended I didn't already know the truth.
Axel didn't just die. He gave himself to me—his power, his core, his life. The ability to transform into a Therian now lived inside my chest.
After that day, I was never the same.
I became a lone wolf.
I never joined the Wardens. The moment they discovered what I was, I knew they'd put me down without hesitation. So I stayed in the shadows. I used my power quietly. Carefully. To protect people when no one else could.
That's what Axel wanted.
Goodbye, Axel. Thank you for being my best friend.
I hope you're watching—because I'll carry your will with me until the end.
And I won't stop until every last Therian that threatens humanity is gone.