Beast Hack: Customizing Beasts and Capturing Beauties
Chapter 497 - 497: The Final Lesson

Hadrian's breath was ragged as he stood, the chains gone but the weight of defeat still heavy on his shoulders.

The battlefield was quiet except for the sounds of metal clanking and a faint wind brushing against the scorched ground.

Victor rubbed his wrists where the chains had been.

His eyes burned with fury as he glared at Lucius.

"You think you've won," he spat. "But this isn't over!"

Cassius stayed silent, his drones hovering close.

Sylvia's shields flickered as she steadied herself, eyes narrowed at Lucius.

Lucius smirked, his silver hair catching the light.

He crossed his arms, his grin cold.

"You're free to go," he said. "Consider this my gift to you."

Hadrian's eyes narrowed, his claws flexing. "You'll regret this," he growled.

Lucius's smirk grew wider.

"Oh, I'm sure," he said. He turned, his eyes sharp.

"But I think you need a little more motivation."

Victor's claws dug into the ground.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.

Lucius lifted his hand, fingers glowing faintly.

"Hadrian," he said, his voice smooth, "you still need to remember what it means to lose."

He snapped his fingers.

L-Snake emerged from the shadows, his silver scales glinting.

He moved like liquid metal, slithering up behind Victor.

Victor spun around, eyes wide. "What—?" he started, but L-Snake was too fast.

With a flick of his tail, L-Snake wrapped Victor up and threw him high into the air.

Victor's scream echoed as he flew. "Father!" he shouted, his voice breaking.

L-Hawk appeared in the sky, his wings outstretched, feathers glowing.

With a single, lazy movement, he swung his wing and struck Victor mid-air, sending him hurtling toward L-Shark.

L-Shark's jaws opened wide, his saw-blade teeth spinning.

"Snack time," he said, his voice low.

Victor's eyes widened as L-Shark's jaws closed around him.

He let out one last shout. "No—!"

L-Shark bit down. Silence followed.

Cassius's drones sparked as he reached out.

"Victor!" he shouted, his voice desperate.

Sylvia's shields flickered weakly. "No…," she whispered.

Hadrian's claws trembled, his breath heavy.

"Lucius," he growled, his voice low and deadly. "You—"

Lucius's smirk was cold, his eyes sharp.

"Now remember," he said, his voice like steel, "this was the price."

The chat exploded.

---

@BattleHunter: That's insane!

@SteelEdge: Lucius just—he ate Victor!

@HybridMaster: This is too much!

---

L-Snake coiled around himself, his eyes cold. "One less Aurelius," he hissed.

L-Hawk hovered above, his wings barely moving. "One down," he said.

L-Shark licked his metal lips. "Delicious," he said.

Cassius's eyes burned, his drones whirring furiously.

"Father," he growled. "We have to stop him."

Sylvia's shields glowed faintly, her breath shaky.

"We… we can't fight him now," she said.

Hadrian's claws clenched, his eyes burning with rage.

"Lucius," he spat. "I will never forgive you."

Lucius's grin was sharp as he turned, his eyes glinting.

"Good," he said. "I look forward to it."

He stepped back, his arms crossing over his chest.

"Now go," he ordered. "Go and remember this day."

Hadrian's claws trembled as he turned, his eyes on his remaining children.

"Come," he said, his voice tight. "We're leaving."

Cassius glared at Lucius, his drones sparking. "We will come back," he said.

Sylvia's shields flickered as she nodded. "We will."

Lucius's grin was cold. "I'll be waiting," he said.

---

Vandred stood off to the side, his arms crossed, his eyes heavy with thought.

His breath came in slow, measured beats as he watched Lucius stand tall in the middle of the battlefield.

His gaze drifted to the ground where Victor had fallen, the youngest genius of the Aurelius family.

Vandred's voice was low, filled with disbelief.

"I never thought that you'd kill that one," he said.

His fingers flexed as he looked at Lucius.

"The youngest one who was the genius of the Aurelius family."

Lucius's smirk was cold, his silver hair catching the light as he turned his head slightly.

"Of course," he said, his tone steady.

"I needed them to remember something."

Vandred's eyes narrowed, his arms lowering slightly.

"And what's that?" he asked.

Lucius's smirk widened. "A reminder," he said, his voice low and sure.

"A reminder of what they will become if they lose. And a motivation for them."

The chat buzzed with shock and excitement.

---

@HybridHunter: He's cold!

@SteelEdge: Lucius always plans every move.

@BattleMaster: That was brutal but smart.

---

Lucius turned, his eyes scanning the horizon.

"Now," he said, his tone shifting, "let's go back and party."

Fiona hovered closer, her hoverpack humming as she landed softly.

Lucius turned to her, his smirk steady.

"Fiona," he said, his voice calm but playful, "I changed my mind."

Fiona tilted her head slightly, her visor catching the light.

"About what?" she asked, her tone curious.

Lucius's smirk widened as he crossed his arms.

"Let's change the sale to tomorrow," he said.

"And at the same time, throw a party for all the customers."

Fiona's eyes widened. "A party?" she said, her voice surprised.

The hybrids looked at each other, their eyes gleaming.

L-Snake's coils shifted as he hissed. "A party, huh?" he said.

L-Shark's saw-blade arms clicked together.

"Sounds like a feast," he growled.

L-Hawk's wings fluttered lazily. "As long as I don't have to do too much," he said.

Vandred crossed his arms again, his face calm but curious.

"You're really going to let them go, Lucius?" he asked, his voice low.

Lucius's eyes glowed faintly. "Of course," he said.

"Aurelius will come back stronger. I want to see that."

Hadrian's claws trembled in the distance, his eyes locked on Lucius.

"Lucius," he growled, his voice low, "we will come back."

Lucius's smirk widened. "Good," he said. "I'll be waiting."

Fiona raised her mic, her voice lively.

"Alright, fans!" she shouted. "Tomorrow's the big sale—and a party!"

"Make sure to join us. Luxoria is always full of surprises!"

The chat exploded.

---

@SteelHeart: Party and sale?! Count me in!

@BladeRider: Lucius is unbeatable!

@HybridQueen: Luxoria forever!

---

Lucius turned, his silver hair catching the wind.

"Come on," he said, his voice steady. "Let's celebrate."

The hybrids followed, their steps steady, their eyes forward.

Vandred stayed close behind, his eyes thoughtful.

The battlefield was quiet now, the scars of the fight still fresh.