As the studio lights rose layer by layer, the giant backdrop screen lit up with the bold title of the program — Walk Among Science.
It was a highly popular science-variety show among younger beastmen audiences, famous for its sharp topics and heated debates.
After delivering a brief and polished introduction, the host raised his tone and turned toward the guest seats.
“Let us welcome today’s two special scholars, Dr.
Chen and Dr.
Li, as they explore the topic: ‘The Fundamental Differences Between Ancient Beastmen and Modern Beastmen.'” The spotlight immediately shifted toward the center stage.
The two doctors seated at the presentation platform appeared on screen simultaneously — Dr.
Chen, an orangutan beastman, and Dr.
Li, a chimpanzee beastman.
Behind them, the projection screen continuously displayed comparison images between ancient beastmen and modern beastmen.
Dr.
Chen spoke first, his tone calm and confident.
“I believe many viewers have wondered what our ancestors truly looked like.
Coincidentally, my research team recently discovered an exceptionally well-preserved set of remains within an ancient ruin.
Using restoration technology, we were able to completely reconstruct its original appearance.” The moment he finished speaking, a holographic projection lit up beside the stage.
A towering ancient beastman materialized next to Dr.
Chen.
Nearly three meters tall, with exposed fangs, bulging muscles, and thick fur covering almost his entire body, the figure radiated an obvious sense of aggression and intimidation.
Even as a hologram, the primal aura made several audience members in the front row instinctively hold their breath.
“This is a typical sample of a primitive tiger beastman,” Dr.
Chen explained.
“Powerful physique, high aggression, explosive strength — the textbook traits of a primal predator.” Then his tone shifted.
“But the important point is this: compared to modern beastmen, there is no essential difference.” A wave of murmurs spread across the audience.
Immediately afterward, a second hologram appeared.
A modern tiger beastman stood beside the primitive projection — neatly groomed fur, dressed in a tidy business uniform, carrying a briefcase, with a rational and restrained expression completely contrasting the savage image beside him.
Dr.
Li stood up at once and approached the two projections, gesturing toward them.
“Dr.
Chen, that conclusion seems rather strange.
Isn’t the difference already obvious?” Dr.
Chen smiled faintly.
“Dr.
Li, you’ve made a very common mistake.
One should never judge purely by appearances.” He turned toward the audience and continued.
“What we call civilization is merely a layer wrapped around instinct.
Whether it’s ancient tribal conflict or modern national warfare, the behavioral patterns of beastmen have never fundamentally changed.” The stage screen rapidly shifted to scenes of fighter aircraft roaring through the skies, armored vehicles advancing, and armed forces suppressing urban riots.
“Thousands of years ago, we fought over territory, resources, and mates.” “Today, we fight over energy, markets, and power.” Dr.
Chen spread his hands.
“The form evolved.
The essence did not.
Modern beastmen are still creatures driven by survival instincts.” Across from him, Dr.
Li’s brows visibly furrowed.
“That conclusion oversimplifies the issue,” he rebutted directly.
“Evolution isn’t merely physical transformation.
It’s also the leap of social structures and cognitive systems.” He pointed toward the modern projection behind him.
“Legal systems, moral restraint, cooperative civilization, technological development — these are capabilities primitive beastmen never possessed.” Then Dr.
Li’s tone grew heavier.
“If we were truly identical to our ancestors, civilization itself would lose all meaning.
We are called modern beastmen precisely because we are no longer the same species we once were.” Dr.
Chen showed no offense at the rebuttal.
Instead, a faintly satisfied smile appeared on his face.
“Excellent.
That leads perfectly into my second point.” He pointed toward the two beastman projections.
“The essence of evolution is adaptation to the environment.
But if you compare these two beastmen carefully, their physical structures have barely changed at all.
What does that imply?” He paused for a second, as if deliberately tightening the tension around the topic.
“It means primal beastliness was never erased.
It was merely suppressed.” Dr.
Chen turned toward Dr.
Li and pointed at him.
“Suppose law and order vanished instantly.
When lives are truly threatened, what do you think modern beastmen would do?” Without waiting for a reply, he answered himself.
“The result would be identical to primitive beastmen.
In order to survive, they will throw away those layers of modernity and become the beasts we always are.” The atmosphere in the studio heated up rapidly as discussions erupted among the audience.
As the clash between the two scholars intensified, the program’s live ratings continued climbing.
As for who was right and who was wrong, very few people actually cared.
Behind the cameras, it was ultimately just a group of animals watching two monkeys passionately argue over whether they had truly escaped their primal nature… … A cold droplet of water landed on his forehead.
Bone-piercing cold and overwhelming pain exploded through his body simultaneously as Lidi jolted awake from unconsciousness.
“…What happened to me…” The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced before, as though his entire body had been thrown into molten lava before being dragged back out.
His body burned with feverish heat.
His throat felt dry enough to tear apart.
Every tiny movement of his joints sent needle-like agony through him.
“Where… is this…” Gritting his teeth, he struggled upright from a puddle of filthy water.
Darkness surrounded him completely, but as a fox, his night vision gradually began to adjust, slowly bringing shapes into focus.
Bent pipes.
Damp walls.
Slow-moving sewage water.
“…A sewer…” The foul stench slammed into his nose instantly.
He held his breath on reflex and could only force himself to breathe through his mouth, though even that made him dizzy.
“I remember… being taken by a group of Black Guards, and then…” Before he could finish the thought, a violent headache suddenly erupted.
His body curled inward as a silent scream forced itself from his throat.
The body he had barely managed to prop up collapsed heavily back into the filthy water, splashing murky droplets everywhere.
Only a few seconds passed, yet it felt like an entire century.
When the pain finally subsided, his entire body was drenched in cold sweat.
His clothes had already been soaked before.
Now they clung to his skin together with the sewer filth, making him nauseous.
Fragmented memories flashed through his mind — a glaring red background, chaotic screams, shattered images.
Only then did Lidi notice his hands covering his face.
Dark red liquid stained his claws, and the thick metallic scent of blood still lingered.
“This is… blood?
But it’s not mine…” His hands trembled as an unnatural terror spread through his chest.
It felt as though he had done something unforgivable… yet he could not remember what.
“…Did it happen again?
It hasn’t relapsed in so long…” Tears seeped from the corners of his eyes, but no sobs came out.
He simply endured the crushing weight pressing against his chest in silence.
Anger.
Frustration.
Helplessness.
The emotions tangled together until his thoughts became a complete mess.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Where am I supposed to go?
A meme he once laughed at online had now become the cruelest reality imaginable.
The government was targeting him now.
The Black Guards had come for him.
He could not return home.
If only all of this were a dream.
But the burning pain in his nerves constantly reminded him otherwise.
“Follow the red road signs to find us.” The woman on the phone had said those words earlier, and Lidi clung to them like the tiniest shred of hope, finally forcing himself awake mentally.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black card, wrinkled and softened by filthy water.
The card was damp, but the silver number printed on it remained perfectly clear.
Lidi let out a bitter laugh.
“How ironic… after going in circles, I still ended up jumping straight into this vortex.” Leaning against the wall, he slowly pushed himself back onto his feet.
His strength had recovered slightly, but every step felt like walking barefoot across shattered glass.
He originally wanted to use his phone to check his location, but scenes from countless movies flashed through his head — tracking devices, signal tracing.
Suppressing the pain, he stopped hesitating.
The pineapple phone he had spent 899 Tera buying was thrown directly into the sewage water, disappearing beneath the surface almost instantly.
Lowering his head to stare at the black card in his hand, his voice became barely audible.
“Whether I survive from here onward… depends on you now.” Dragging his still-aching body behind him, he limped deeper into the sewer.
Toward the only future left before him — whether it was hope or an abyss, he no longer knew.