The Beast Within

The city of Eryndale had always thrived on the edge of innovation. Its towering skyscrapers, shimmering with neon lights, pierced the heavens, and its bustling streets hummed with the pulse of technology. But beneath the veneer of progress, something darker stirred. Hidden in the underground labs of Genovast, the line between science and nature had been crossed—a line that was never meant to be blurred.

It started with a promise. The Beast Protocol, they called it. A groundbreaking project designed to unlock the latent potential within the human genome. The goal was noble: to enhance humanity, to cure diseases, to push the boundaries of evolution. But the protocol didn’t just unlock potential; it tore open a door that should have remained sealed. It awakened the beast within.

The first transformation was chaotic. A test subject, a young soldier desperate for a cure to a terminal illness, became something else entirely. His body twisted, reshaped by the primal instincts embedded deep within his DNA. He didn’t just become stronger; he became feral, a creature driven by instincts he couldn’t control. The project was immediately shut down, but the virus was already out.

In the months that followed, Eryndale descended into chaos. Those infected with the virus, later called the Bio-Shifter Plague, began to change. Each transformation was unique, tied to the individual's genetic code. Wolves, lions, hawks, snakes—the city became a hunting ground for beasts wearing the skin of men. Some managed to maintain their humanity, controlling their newfound powers. Others succumbed, losing themselves entirely to their animalistic nature.

Delgado Stratus watched the world he knew unravel. Once a decorated soldier, he had turned his back on the battlefield, seeking peace in a world that seemed to have none. But when the plague reached his doorstep, peace became a fleeting dream. Infected by the virus during a desperate fight to protect his younger sister Ellie, Delgado discovered he was one of the rare few who could control his transformations. The wolf within him roared to life, granting him strength and speed he had never known. But it came with a price—the burden of responsibility.

Now, Delgado leads the Lycanguard, a team of Bio-Shifters who fight to protect what remains of humanity. Each member of the Lycanguard carries their own scars, their own beasts, and their own reasons for standing against the tide. Together, they face not only the wild chaos of the uncontrolled Bio-Shifters but also a growing threat from within.

The Wild Dawn, a faction of sentient Bio-Shifters and ecoterrorism who believe the virus is the key to humanity’s true destiny. To their leader, the transformations are not a curse but liberation. They seeks to spread the virus to every corner of the globe, ushering in a new era where the primal and the modern coexist in violent harmony.

As the city teeters on the brink, the Lycanguard prepares for war. For Delgado, it’s more than a battle to save humanity—it’s a fight to protect his sister, his team, and the fragile hope that one day, they might find a cure. But deep down, a question gnaws at him: Can the beast within ever truly be tamed?

The air was thick with tension as Delgado stood atop a crumbling skyscraper, the neon lights of Eryndale casting long shadows across his face. The howl of a distant Bio-Shifter echoed through the night, a chilling reminder of the battle to come. His wolf instincts stirred, but he forced them down, focusing on the task ahead. The world had changed, and so had he. Now, it was up to the Lycanguard to ensure there was still a world worth saving.

“Let’s move,” Delgado growled, his voice carrying the weight of his wolf and his humanity.

The hunt had begun.