Zeldritzon [Cycle 4] - Afternoon
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Current Location:
[Ungroot Zone]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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Descending from a massive, dewy leaf, KiAera led her group through the dense forest. Its surface was slippery, and she had to tread carefully to avoid slipping. She gently guided each Osseod down to the forest floor as she scanned the ever-shifting environment around them.
With a hop from the dripping leaf, she assisted the Osseods, placing them individually on the forest floor. Yet, upon a brief glance, her gaze met the vegetation around them, noting the change of the ever-undulating cluster.
Here, the blue hue of the flora was replaced with various shades of red, purple, and orange. The trees around them stretched higher, their trunks thickening with layers of thorny vines that seemed to pulse with life. The air grew humid and heavy, and her ears twitched at the incessant buzzing of insects. Then, it appeared in her peripheral.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creatures: Scabbarok
APeX: [158 Units]
Attributes: [Xensect] [Ore]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Insight] - [Rank: F] - TECH: 8% → TECH: 10%!
A large beetle, three times her size, poked its head out from the undergrowth, only to retreat as soon as it appeared.
KiAera breathed a sigh of relief. She felt fortunate that the beetle had retreated.
But it was clear that they had entered a new part of the UvoSath Forest. Every monster in this zone felt stronger, while every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs put her senses on high alert, causing her eyes to flick to the Osseods.
"Keep your eyes clear," she whispered to the little ore monsters. Their eyes darted nervously, scanning the surroundings for threats. "Stay vigilant. Many dangers could be in these parts."
Her [Insight] scanned the environment. Nothing in her radius—good. She sniffed several times; only the scent of earthy soil and the aroma of wildflowers reached her nose. Thank goodness. Her ears twitched as she tilted her head, peering over her shoulder once more.
"Osseods, listen," KiAera said. "We're looking for edible crystals in this area, so stick close while foraging."
The Osseods squeaked in response, their ears twitching in excitement. "Crystals! Crystals!" they cheered. "Osseods, eat! Eat! Eat!"
KiAera chuckled softly. She had to admit, she was looking forward to finding some of those tasty crystals too. The thought of cooking them over a fire made her mouth water, but she quickly reconsidered—would cooking ruin their nutritional properties? She made a mental note to consult GamaGen about it later.
Shaking away the thought, she led the Osseods through the forest, ears perked up, listening for any signs of danger.
Suddenly, she spotted something glimmering on the ground a few meters away. Her nose twitched as she focused her gaze on the object.
A crystal? Her heartbeat quickened as she carefully approached it.
As KiAera neared it, she realized it wasn't just one crystal, but several—a cluster of light-blue, quartz-shaped crystals protruding from a thick, tangled root. They grew from the tree, embedded into the bark like natural gems.
"Eureka!" KiAera cheered in hushed tone. "Come now, let's collect our first batch of crystals!"
The Osseods bounced around excitedly, their eyes sparkling as they bounded forth for their prize. "Crystals!" they squealed in delight. "Crystals!"
KiAera crouched down and reached out to touch one of the glistening blue crystals. She felt the smooth, cool surface under her fingertips, and she smiled.
"This is perfect," she said, then turning, she emphasized. "Harvest. Don't eat. We take them back to camp with us. Don't eat. Collect for later."
The Osseods chirped in understanding and began picking at the crystals, removing them from the root system and placing them in KiAera's makeshift pouch.
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★🌱KiAera's Stash:
[Foraged] Light-Blue Crystals: 19
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
"Osseod, hunt!" Delta chimed with an unnecessary screech. It had finished harvesting a crystal before turning its attention elsewhere.
KiAera glanced over her shoulder to see Delta scampering off into the brush, its triangular ears perked up in alertness. "Wait, where are you going?" she called out to it. "Delta, no. Come back here, now!"
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But the Osseod had already disappeared among the foliage, leaving only a trail of rustling leaves behind it.
"Oh, for goodness' sake," KiAera muttered, shaking her head. She could never keep track of that one. "Come back here, Delta!"
No response. KiAera's heart swelled with fear for the little creature. What if it was in danger? She couldn't just leave it.
She took a few steps after Delta, but the Osseod suddenly reappeared, sprinting back towards her with wide, frantic eyes.
"Delta, what is it?" KiAera hissed, her ears perking up and claws unsheathing.
"Big, big! Big!" Delta cried out. "Big monster! Big monster!"
KiAera's eyes widened in alarm as she comprehended Delta's delirious cries. Without a second thought, she howled her command. "Hurry, get into formation!"
"LEELEE! LEELEE!"
KiAera's ears twitched in recognition, and her heart raced. She knew that voice. A LeapLeap? she paused, pondering a moment longer, 'Amber!'
KiAera heard the rustling shift of leaves as an entity rummaged fast through the forest. Then, she saw it—Amber, the LeapLeap Zeozon, rushing them with an unbridled rage on her face. Her amber eyes were wide, and her feathers ruffled in fury.
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
[Hostile] Zeozon Detected!
Creature: LeapLeap
Species: LeapLeap
Sobriquet: "Sprinting Ratite"
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Variant Grade: [Common]
Attribute Influence: [Beast] [Wind]
Faction: [Praieon]
APeX Power: [35 Units]
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
[Insight] - [Rank: F] - TECH: 10% → TECH: 11%!
"LEELEE!" Amber shrieked again. "LEELEE!"
KiAera quickly placed herself in front of the Osseods, shielding them with her body. Then, she shouted. "Amber, what's wrong?"
"LEELEE! LEELEE!" Amber cried out as she drew closer. "LEELEE!" The LeapLeap seemed pissed. Her gaze directed hard on Delta.
KiAera held out her arms and ears, waving in a manner to try and calm the enraged LeapLeap. "Amber, calm down," she said in a soothing voice. "We're not going to hurt you."
Amber stopped in her tracks and eyed KiAera warily. Her amber eyes were narrowed, filled with rage. "LEELEE! LEELEE!" she shrieked again.
"Amber, please," KiAera pleaded. "What's wrong?"
Amber poised herself to peck KiAera, but then her head tilted before her eyes twinkled in recognition. "LeeLee?" she asked.
KiAera nodded. "Yes, it's me."
Amber's gaze softened as she lowered her head, allowing KiAera to approach her. "LeeLee, LeeLee," she murmured.
"What's wrong, Amber?" KiAera asked, stroking the LeapLeap's head gently.
"LEELEE! LEELEE!" Amber shrieked as she lifted her head. "LEELEE!"
KiAera frowned. "What is it, Amber? What happened?"
Amber pointed a talon at Delta. "LEELEE!"
KiAera followed the direction of Amber's gaze, turning her head to see Delta cowering behind her, its eyes wide with fear.
"Delta?" KiAera asked, puzzled. "What's the matter?"
"LEELEE! LEELEE!" Amber shrieked, shaking her head angrily.
KiAera sighed. She had no idea what was wrong with Amber. She should have taken GamaGen's damn offer on learning Zeozonian. "Can you please calm down, Amber?"
Amber let out a soft sigh and relaxed her muscles. "LeeLee..." she murmured.
KiAera stroked Amber's head soothingly. "Please, tell me what's wrong," she repeated.
Amber hesitated, then glanced at Delta once more. "LEELEE!" she cried out with a winged point. "LEELEE!"
KiAera frowned and turned to Delta. "DELTA the OSSEOD. Explain."
Delta looked at KiAera, its eyes filled with shame. "Delta, attack," it confessed. "Delta, attack."
KiAera's heart dropped. "Delta, why?"
"Delta, attack LeapLeap," Delta muttered, its ears drooping in embarrassment. "Attack."
"LEELEE!" Amber shouted again; her gaze filled with rage. "LEELEE!"
"It's okay, Amber," KiAera said, raising her ears out again to calm the furious LeapLeap. "Delta didn't mean any harm. I swear upon it. Ease up."
"LEELEE!" Amber shrieked once more.
KiAera sighed and took out a [Light-Blue Crystal] from her pouch. She offered it to Amber. "Here, take this."
Amber eyed the crystal hungrily, then snatched it away and quickly devoured it. "LeeLee..." she murmured as she licked her beak clean. "LeeLee..." She seemed contented now.
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Amber the LeapLeap's Status:
Abyss Particles absorbed: 1 Unit
Accumulated Particles: 35 Units > 36 Units!
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
New Relationship: Amber.
Trust increased!
★ [Acquaintance] [Tier E (100%)] > [Allied] [Tier D (100%)]
Bond leveled up!
★ [Allied] [Tier D (100%)] > [Comrade] [Tier C (30%)]
KiAera shook her head. This wasn't the first time Amber had come to her for help, and it was not the first time she had seen the LeapLeap so upset.
"LeeLee," Amber cooed as she nuzzled against KiAera. "LeeLee."
KiAera chuckled and scratched the LeapLeap's head affectionately. "You're welcome, Amber."
"LeeLee..." Amber murmured as she closed her eyes, enjoying KiAera's touch.
KiAera sighed and continued stroking Amber's head. "Alright guys. With this settled, lets continue our search for more edible crystals."
The Osseods nodded in agreement and resumed their task.
"Come on, Amber," KiAera said as she walked off with the Osseods. "Let's go."
Amber let out a soft sigh and followed after her.
"LeeLee..." she nuzzled KiAera's cheek again.
KiAera smiled at the LeapLeap's cute antics, glad that everything had turned out all right. A thought then struck her as she peered around her surroundings. "What happened to your two buddies? The other LeapLeaps?"
Amber's amber eyes grew wide in horror as she paused. She shook her head and let out a cry of despair.
KiAera frowned, not understanding what the LeapLeap was trying to communicate.
"LeeLee... LeeLee..." Amber mumbled as she hung her head.
"Damn. What happened, Amber?" KiAera asked as her ears flattened against her head. "Don't tell me they..."
Amber let out another mournful cry, then pointed a talon toward the east. "LeeLee... LeeLee..."
KiAera peered the direction the LeapLeap pointed. She saw nothing but trees and shrubs.
"I don't see them," KiAera said, shaking her head. "Where are they?"
Amber whimpered and hung her head again. "LeeLee..." she mumbled.
KiAera sighed, unsure how to proceed. 'They're gone aren't they...' she thought sadly. "Amber... I'm so sorry."
Amber looked up at KiAera, her amber eyes filled with an abundance of sorrow. "LeeLee..." she murmured.
KiAera stroked Amber's head . "It's okay, Amber," she cooed. "We'll find them."
Amber's gaze softened at KiAera's words before she shook her head again, as if to say, 'No, we won't'.
"Come on, Amber," KiAera said as she began walking away. "Let's go."
Amber hesitated, then reluctantly followed after KiAera and the Osseods.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Mind emblazoned with despair, KiAera led her group. Clenching her paws, she miraged the fate of Amber's peers.
'I wonder where they are...and what happened to them.' Suddenly, she shivered as she recalled the ferocious Archliorex; a powerful, lion T-Rex beast she encountered in the UvoSath Plains. 'Please let them be alive...'
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Creature: Archliorex
Faux Nym: "Dominus the Archliorex"
◦ Species: [Liorex]
◦ Sub-Species: [Archliorex]
◦ APeX Power: [??? ??? ??? Units]
◦ Destruction Scale: Continental
◦ Evolution Stage: [Dominant] (D)
◦ Variant Grade: [Alpha]
◦ Alignment: [Predator]
◦ Attribute Influence: [Spatial] [Deino] [Fire]
◦ Bestowed Title: "Tyrant King of the Mountains"
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
She shuddered at the thought. If the Archliorex had got to them...
She shook her head. Hissing under her breath, she forced aside those unpleasant thoughts. She shouldn't think of such things. Not now. She had a mission to complete, and the Archliorex was the least of her problems… for now.