> Zeldritzon [Cycle 2] - Dusk Fall
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KiAera gagged at the sight of the carnage.
Everywhere she looked, statued bodies of the Fierants littered the petrified earth, twisted in grotesque shapes. The ground seemed to drink in the aftermath, reclaiming what remained. Even the trees stood as charred skeletons, their branches curling as if in pain.
The Fierants were nothing but husks now. Among them, decayed an exceptionally large one—erected as a fossilized monument.
A shiver crawled down her spine. Pity? For them?
The Fierants were brutal, savage in their attacks. They had torn through the Gnawrats, her group barely surviving. They'd have done the same to anyone else in their path.
Yet. A small voice played in her ear.
You don't know their story.
Maybe they were defending themselves?
Maybe they were just doing what they thought was right?
She shoved the thoughts away. Now wasn't the time.
Breathing deeply, KiAera turned her attention to the present. The Fierants were gone. But what had taken them?
"Snake?" A small Osseod tugged at her attention. "Dead snake?"
KiAera followed its gaze to a massive, coiled body—violet scales shed in a discarded molt.
"No," she whispered, her stomach tightening, "alive."
"Badness?"
KiAera surveyed the devastation. Her hands clenched into fists. "Yes," she muttered, “very bad. We need to move. This place isn't safe."
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
She led the Osseods through the shadowed forest. Every step felt heavier than the last, the fading light of Zeldritzon’s suns giving way to a thick, suffocating darkness.
The smell of damp earth and pine filled her lungs, the familiar yet eerie whispers of the forest stirring around them. Creatures shifted just out of sight, their movements silent but ever-present.
Her ears twitched, feeling the weight of the Liorex egg nestled between them. GamaGen floated beside her, its raven emblem faintly pulsing, casting muted shadows on the ground. The small Osseods huddled close to the larger ones, fear flickering in their crystal eyes.
"Here?" KiAera suggested as they reached a clearing surrounded by the towering obsidian-barked trees. She stopped, glanced around, and whispered to GamaGen, "Here seems as good a place as any to stop, right?"
⎾'Not here.'⏌
KiAera scanned the darkened forest, her eyes narrowing as her ears twitched at the slightest movement. "Yeah, I’ve got that feeling too..." she muttered under her breath, gripping the tip of her tail tightly. The blue flame danced across her face, casting flickering shadows that mirrored her growing unease.
She exhaled softly and glanced at the Big Osseod and the smaller Osseods gathered around her. Their worried eyes were locked onto her, their shimmering forms reflecting the tension that hung in the air.
KiAera forced a smile, trying to ease their fear. "Don't worry, everyone. We'll be fine."
⎾'This place belongs to the night... and those who thrive within it.⏌
Without another word, GamaGen floated ahead, the raven emblem pulsing faintly like a guide through the thickening dark. Big Osseod stayed close though even it seemed on edge.
"Osseods close, Osseods safe. Big Osseod protects. Protects all," it grunted softly, keeping its smaller kin in formation, but its watchful gaze scanned the treetops, as if waiting for something to emerge.
KiAera followed, her spindly tail flicking out, the faint blue light of her Specter Fire illuminating their path. She tried to shake the growing sense of unease gnawing at her. GamaGen was right. She could feel it now—a presence moving just beyond her field of vision, watching. Waiting.
"What exactly are we walking into?"
The book floated closer, its pages shifting, though no words formed immediately. Instead, the raven emblem seemed to dim, as though the answer itself was something it hesitated to share.
KiAera's ears twitched, picking up the faintest sound. A soft rustle from the branches above. She glanced up, freezing as she locked eyes with several creatures perched in the trees, their silver, glowing eyes reflecting her Specter Fire like mirrors. The birds—if they were even birds—didn’t move, their stares unnervingly fixed on her, their bodies blending with the shadows.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Observant] Kravenox
- APeX: [Hidden]
- Species: Kravenox
- Faction: [Anomalies]
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
- Attributes: [Celestial] [Psion] [Cryptic]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
The sensation of being watched tightened around her like a noose. Her gaze flickered from GamaGen to the birds. These creatures and the raven on GamaGen's cover.
"GamaGen," she whispered again, her voice catching slightly, "Are they…?"
This time, the book's voice was lower, more restrained, as though it, too, felt the weight of those unnatural eyes. ⎾'Kravenox... Fledglings. Their gaze sees far more than it should.' ⏌
Its gaze lingered on the creatures, as if a silent exchange occurred.⎾'Noted,'⏌the book hummed. ⎾'You have my gratitude, younglings. You may depart now.⏌
The Kravenox blinked in unison before, one by one, they broke their stillness and flapped noiselessly into the night.
"Depart?" she echoed, her eyes narrowing at GamaGen. "You… were one of them?” Her eyes darted to where the Kravenox had vanished. She imagined their silver eyes, their eerie stillness, and the weight of their gaze.
⎾'Once. Before my transformation. Before...'⏌ The book paused, as if sorting through the murky threads of its past. ⎾'Before DeNultra sealed me.'⏌
KiAera glanced around, ensuring nothing else lurked in the shadows, then lowered her voice. “And they still respect you?"
⎾'Because, in their eyes, I remain their superior. A dormant legend. They were merely confirming... whether I still lived.'⏌
KiAera tried to reconcile the image of the hovering book with the creatures. Her mind swirled with questions, but the night's thick silence allowed no room for further inquiry.
Big Osseod shifted behind her, the smaller Osseods gathered close to its sturdy form. Even they seemed relieved as the presence of the Kravenox faded, their earlier whimpers quieting.
“Then why did they leave? If they see you as superior, wouldn’t they want to follow?” KiAera asked, glancing at GamaGen’s dimly glowing emblem.
⎾'They serve a different master now.'⏌ The book’s voice was low, solemn. ⎾'One who walks in the shadows of Zeldritzon. They were not here to test me, but to see if I still hold relevance.'⏌
KiAera frowned, her unease deepening. "And? Do you?"
There was a pause, an uncomfortable stretch of silence before GamaGen responded. ⎾'I do, but that is not necessarily a comfort. They will report back to their master... and they may return with less polite intentions.'⏌
KiAera's heart sank. "Great. So, we have a ticking clock on our safety?"
⎾'Precisely.'⏌ The book drifted slightly ahead again, the raven symbol pulsing as it led the way.
She nodded, not needing more encouragement to keep moving.
Big Osseod lumbered close behind, murmuring reassurances to the small ones, while KiAera adjusted the Liorex egg in her ears, her tail's fire flickering brighter.
Scrape…
Her ears twitched suddenly at a faint noise—a scurrying sound, low to the ground, barely perceptible. Her head snapped toward the source, her eyes narrowing as she strained to see through the dim light. Shadows slithered in the corners of her vision, darting too quickly to be real. Her pulse quickened.
Behind her, the small Osseods whimpered, clustering tighter around the Big Osseod. Their crystal ears twitched, picking up on the same sound.
KiAera forced a smile, hoping to ease their anxiety. "We'll be alright, don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
The Big Osseod rumbled. "Badness. No good."
"Osseod knows," the large creature rumbled, shifting protectively. "Smells...bad."
KiAera frowned, stepping closer to the Big Osseod. "What do you smell?" She pressed a paw gently against its gleaming carapace.
"Big Osseod no knows," it sniffed the air again, its eyes narrowing with worry. "But Big Osseod protects. Protects small Osseods. Protects KiAera."
KiAera offered the Big Osseod a small smile. "Thank you. I appreciate it." Her gaze sharpened as she straightened. "But whatever's coming, I’m ready for it."
KiAera took a breath, nodding. "Let’s go."
They hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a sound stopped her cold.
Scrape… scrape… whisper…
Her heart skipped a beat, her ears flicking at the strange noise echoing through the forest. She swallowed, eyes darting around in the oppressive blackness. "Did you hear that?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Scrape… whisper… scrape…
"Osseods heard…" the small creatures squeaked, their voices trembling as they pressed against the Big Osseod.
GamaGen’s emblem glowed faintly in the dark. ⎾'Orcusith.'⏌
KiAera's breath quickened as she strained her ears. The sound—scraping, whispering—grew louder, closing in. Her tail’s flame burned brighter, casting light that barely touched the looming shadows.
Scrape… scrape… scrape…
Her heart pounded. Whatever was out there was getting closer.
⎾'Prepare yourself, KiAera. They approach.'⏌
KiAera steeled herself, her muscles tensing as the oppressive silence pressed down around them. Her ears flicked up, catching the subtlest shift in the air.
Suddenly, the moon disappeared, vanished. Lights out. Pitch black.
"W-what the—?" KiAera gasped, staring up at the blank sky. Dread washed over her like a freezing wave.
The scraping sound intensified, whispering growing louder, surrounding them.
Big Osseod let out a panicked cry, its massive body turning toward KiAera as it braced for whatever was coming. "KiAera! Badness!" it bellowed.
From her own shadow, something rose—a creature formed of darkness, its small humanoid body coated in inky blackness, with a skeletal tail and needle-sharp claws. A Shazathei.
It lunged, claws aimed for her throat.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Hostile] Shazathei
- APeX: [21 Units]
- Species: Shazathei
- Faction: [Predator]
- Attribute Influence: [Doom] [Phantom]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera barely dodged the swipe, her muscles coiling as she leapt back, rolling and shielding the Liorex egg. "Shit!"
"Big Osseod, protect!" Big Osseod roared, barreling into the Shazathei, collapsing into a heap. "Off! Back off! Off! Off!" It snarled, pressing the Shazathei beneath its bulk.
The Shazathei let out a furious hiss as it struggled against the Big Osseod. "Sha! Sha! Sha!" It attempted to sink its claw into the Big Osseod's carapace.
KiAera scrambled to her feet, observing the scuffle. She witnessed the Big Osseod's jaws clamping around the creature's torso. Yet her eyes widened when the creature's body passed through the attack like liquid.
"What the—" KiAera snarled. "An apparition…"
The Shazathei's hollow eyes glowed as its shadowy body reformed, and it immediately pounced onto the Big Osseod, attempting to penetrate its carapace.
"Sha! Sha! Sha!" It shrieked in anger while trying to get at the Big Osseod.
"Big Osseod no feel, no fear!" The Big Osseod roared furiously. Its carapace shimmered before it spat shiny crystal projectiles at the Shazathei. "Osseods, protect KiAera!" It cried out as it pressed its assault.
"Screeeeeeech! Screeeeeeech! Screeeeeeech!" Cried the Shazathei, as crystal projectiles punctured its chest.
It collapsed, knocked back. "Sha!" It screeched, clutching its wounds before bursting into a mass of light blue particles.
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Big Osseod's [APeX]:
Abyss Particles absorbed: 2.1 Units
ROUNDS RULE activated...
Conversion: 2.1 Units → 2 Units
Accumulated Particles: 16 Units → 18 Units!
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
The Big Osseod swiveled frantically, searching for any signs of the Shazathei.
"Relax. You've defeated it," KiAera assured as she approached.
Whisper...
But the relief was short-lived.
Scrape...Scrape...Scrape...Whisper...
"They're here..." KiAera murmured, her eyes darting to and fro. Her tail's flame flickered brightly as she strained her eyes to peer into the darkness.
Scrape...whisper...
Scrape...Scrape...Scrape...Whisper...
Scrape...
Scrape...whisper...
The Shazathei were everywhere now. Dozens of them, hundreds, emerging from every shadow in sight.
KiAera's breath caught in her throat as shadows closed in from every direction.