The Osseods stood behind her, their chittering betraying their nervousness. She could feel their collective tension, their small bodies trembling in anticipation, each of them counting on her to keep them alive.
KiAera surveyed the Osseods and motioned with a flick of her paw. "Listen closely. We're going to form a line and hold them off," she said, eyes narrowing at the approaching ants. "I'll take the left flank. You focus on a barrage. And be careful—fire's in play." She cast a glance over her shoulder. "You Osseods may be tough, but I will do what I can to keep you safe."
A scattered chorus of chirps and squeaks filled the air as they readied themselves. They trust me. I can't afford to falter.
She nodded. "Good. Let's make this quick." With that, she placed an injured Gnawrat on Big Osseod's back. "Keep an eye on him, alright?"
She crouched. Her claws flexed, digging slightly into the soft earth beneath her paws. Not today. Today, no one else dies.
The Fierants were closing in, their fiery mandibles snapping with violent intent, the air thick with the acrid scent of smoke and burning earth. Her pulse quickened, but KiAera forced her breath to steady.
The Fierants charged.
"Now!" she shouted, and a volley of crystals tore through the air, striking the lead ants. Two dropped, writhing and flailing, but more pressed on.
Their retaliation was swift. The Fierants snapped their mandibles, hurling fireballs in response, scorching the ground around them. KiAera lunged into the line of fire, countering with a blast of her own flames. Her paws burned from the impact, but she gritted her teeth and stayed firm.
Her gaze locked onto a particularly fierce Fierant, likely the leader.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Name: Fierant
Race: [Fierant]
Species: [Fierant]
APeX: [16 Units]
Attributes: [Xensect] [Fire]
Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
"That's the one…the head of the snake," she muttered, already moving. Without hesitation, she lobbed a [Spectral Flame] at it.
The Fierant hissed, dodging, and snapped at her. KiAera twisted away, but a flash of pain told her she'd been nipped. She barely registered it, eyes still on the target.
The others tried to close in, but Big Osseod and the rest held them off, their crystal projectiles forcing the ants to hesitate.
"Go!" she barked. "Push them back!"
Big Osseod squealed in agreement, leading the charge. It headbutted a Fierant, causing it to crumble into fiery specks.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Big Osseod's [APeX]: 15 Units > 16 Units
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
More ants pressed forward, undeterred by their fallen comrades. Shouting, Big Osseod charged the Fierant leader, while the Gnawrat clung desperately onto its back.
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Otherwise for KiAera, her heart pounded in her chest as she leaped into the fray, her paws burning as they slammed into the ground, sending a blast of fire toward the advancing ants.
Pain lanced through her, but KiAera gritted her teeth and held her ground. Pain means I'm still here. Focus. Keep moving. She struck a snapping Fierant with her ear, her [Ear Punch] snapping off its antennae.
She hit it again, with another [Ear Punch], shattering its resolve. She cut into it with a claw swipe, and with a final blow, her [MereHeadbutt] eradicated the ant!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[ding! [Fierant] defeated!]
[ApeX obtained: 10 Units]
[Conversion: 1.0 Units > 1 Unit!]
KiAera's [APeX]: 7 Units > 8 Units
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
She zeroed in on another ant—a larger one, its movements sharper, more deliberate.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Name: Fierant
APeX: [12 Units]
Attributes: [Xensect] [Fire]
Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Her gut twisted with unease. That ones different. Smarter. Stronger. Her instincts flared as she hurled a [Spectral Flame] in its direction, but the Fierant was quick, dodging the attack and spitting a fireball in return.
KiAera twisted her body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blast, but pain flared up her side where the fire had clipped her. The searing heat burned through her fur, but she barely registered it. Her focus was absolute, her mind a razor's edge. Ignore it. You've faced worse. Keep your eyes on the prize.
She dashed away with her [MereSwiftness], allowing the Fierant to chase. A crystal sliced through the air, demolising several of its legs. KiAera smashed its head with an [Ear Punch], crushing it, thankful for the intervention. She turned, redirecting her gaze to the battlefield.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[ding! [Fierant] defeated!]
[ApeX obtained: 12 Units]
[Conversion: 1.2 Units > 1 Unit!]
KiAera's [APeX]: 8 Units > 9 Units
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Behind her, Big Osseod and the others were holding their own, their barrage of crystals forcing the ants to slow, to stumble back. Her orders rang in her ears, echoing louder than the chaos of battle. "Keep it up! Maintain the pressure!" The Osseods, bolstered by her command, waddled forth, forcing the Fierants into a retreat.
For a moment, KiAera allowed herself a breath, a single heartbeat where the world narrowed down to the sound of her own pulse. The flames around them still crackled, the air still heavy with smoke, but the battle was over—for now.
We survived. This time.
Suddenly, she winced. Her arm throbbed where the Fierant leader had bit her, but she barely glanced at it. GamaGen floated near. | 'You are injured, Miss KiAera,' | it observed, its voice even and unbothered. | 'Crystals would speed your recovery.' |
She exhaled sharply, not quite a sigh, not quite a laugh. "You're right. But I've had worse." She glanced at the injured Gnawrat on Big Osseod's back, its small body trembling in pain. "Besides, someone else could use them more."
She glanced over at GamaGen, who had floated over to inspect her burnt ear. The damage, however, seemed minimal. Only her fur had been singed. She assumed her [Fire]-attribute gave her natural resistance to fire, though it was not perfect.
| 'But, Miss KiAera, you are still injured,' | the Sage book repeated. | 'I suggest eating a few crystals to hasten your recovery.' |
KiAera turned her attention to the Gnawrat. It cowered under her gaze, its nose trembling. "This guy need those crystals more than me. His leg was eaten. Can they help him?"
| 'No, but they can bolster him,' | the book responded.
Her gaze returned to the Gnawrat, a small smile tugging at her lips. "How's your condition?" she asked gently. "We've got some crystals that might help."
The Gnawrat squeaked. "Miss Merecritt, thank you, thank you."
"You're welcome," KiAera said, "but please call me KiAera. I can't have any of my friends calling me Miss Merecritt. Do you have a name, little guy?"
The Gnawrat grimaced, pursing its lips, but answered through its pain. "Gnawrat is Gnawrat."
She frowned, "You're named after yourself?"
It nodded.
KiAera gestured for the Osseods, who eagerly brought forward a small pile of crystals. "Go ahead," she said to the Gnawrat. "These should help."
Gnawrat hesitated for a moment before diving into the crystals, devouring them eagerly. As it ate, its wounds began to close, and its trembling eased.
By the time it finished the fourth crystal, the bleeding had stopped. It took a few more bites, and then every wound vanished.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Name: Gnawrat
APeX: 9 Units → 14 Units!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Yet its hind leg remained missing. KiAera's ears drooped.
She continued to smile, stroking its back. "You should be fine now."
Big Osseod lumbered closer. "Osseod helps. Can give new leg."
KiAera's ears twitched. "You can?" she asked, intrigued. She scrutinized Big Osseod with her [Insight]. How?