Zeldritzon [Cycle 4] - Afternoon
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Current Location:
[Ungroot Zone]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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KiAera hacked through a bunch of ferns and finally stepped into a clearing where the plants grew dense and wild. The Kobolbos didn't waste a second, diving into the greenery and gathering up leaves and roots like their lives depended on it.
KiAera watched them, her paw absently going to her chin. What was so special about these plants that made the Kobold creatures rush here?
She crouched down and inspected the flora, her curiosity piqued. These plants were nothing like the ones back on Earth. Their leaves shimmered with purples and blues, and their roots—twisting in weird spirals—glowed faintly in the dim light of the forest. She plucked a strand from one of the plants, rolling it between her claws. The texture was... off. Tough but warm. Something about it felt valuable.
KiAera's ears twitched at a faint rustling from the bushes. Not a threat, just movement. The whole forest was teeming with life, and it always made her uneasy. Overhead, the trees twisted together, their bark gleaming like polished metal. Useful, maybe. Her ears reached out, tearing bark and snapping off some branches. It took some effort, but she knew she'd need that material for armor—or a spear.
As she stuffed the bark into her satchel, now nearly bursting, she glanced at the Kobolbos. They were busy stuffing their pouches, too, their blue-painted faces glowing eerily in the light of the plants. Scarbol, their leader with a jagged chest scar, sniffed at one of the larger roots, like it was some kind of treasure.
"What is this stuff?" KiAera muttered to herself, not really expecting an answer.
But Beta Osseod chirped from her side. "Osseod hear Kobolbo say 'Yithrean Root,'" it squeaked. "Yummy. Kobolbo also say… cloth."
Her ears perked up. "Cloth?" She looked down at the root she was holding. If the Kobolbos used it for cloth, she sure as hell could, too. A good set of armor or at least some protective clothing was a necessity. This world was way too dangerous to rely on claws and fire alone.
"Amber, sorry, but I need to load this on you," she said, turning to her LeapLeap companion. The ratite monster didn't even flinch as she draped the heavy bags over it. She gave Amber a thankful pat.
"KiAera, look!" Beta Osseod pointed at some tall, ribbon-like plants that swayed as if they had a mind of their own. The ends of the stalks curled and twisted like living things. Cautiously, she extended her ears toward them. There was something... humming. Like the plants had their own heartbeat.
Her eyes narrowed. These things were weird, but useful. Their fibers were strong, maybe stronger than anything she'd found so far. She cut one down with her claws, the ribbon falling smoothly into her hand.
"Get as much of this as you can," she ordered. The Kobolbos moved fast, slicing down the ribbons, but their movements were jittery—something had them spooked.
KiAera felt it too. There was a vibration in the ground. Faint but growing. Amber stiffened, her feathers bristling. "LeeLee!" the LeapLeap hissed low.
KiAera's ears shot up, scanning the forest like radars. Something was moving, something big.
She turned toward a massive tree whose roots twisted deep into the earth. From beneath it, a shape started to slither out. First a tail, then the bulk of the creature. It was some kind of ape-serpent hybrid, covered in moss and vines, its eyes glowing a sickly green.
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꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Shugmok
APeX: [156 Units]
Attributes: [Evil] [Grim]
Faction: [Evil]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Her breath caught. She'd heard stories like this before, back on Earth, about a creature that haunted Cambridgeshire. A creature believed to have the appearance of a jet-black beast with harrowing eyes. Legends she'd shrugged off. But here, staring down this creature, those old fears rushed back.
Jeez. Thanks, Rick.
The thing hissed, and the sound reverberated through the ground. Amber crouched low, her muscles tense and ready. The Kobolbos froze, wide-eyed with terror.
"Beta," KiAera whispered, keeping her eyes locked on the creature, "tell them not to panic. Don't run."
Beta squeaked rapidly, but the Kobolbos weren't listening. One had already dropped its plant bundles and taken a step back.
KiAera growled under her breath. If they scattered now, they were done for. "Stay put," she muttered, her ears signaling them to hold their ground.
The serpent-tailed ape moved closer, vines hanging from its body like tentacles. It was sizing them up, like they were prey.
"Scarbol," she called softly to the scarred Kobolbo. "Stand your ground. We face it together." She flicked her tail, and her [Spectral Flame] sparked to life, burning blue and black, crackling in the air.
The creature hissed again, drawing back slightly at the sight of the flames. KiAera smirked. That’s right—this thing feared fire.
"Amber, circle it. Keep it busy," she ordered. Amber was already in motion, darting around the creature. The beast snapped at her but missed by inches. Amber's claws grazed its moss-covered skin, distracting it just enough.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Amber's APeX: [62 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Scarbol's APeX: [49 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Beta Osseod's APeX: [32 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Pi Osseod's APeX: [40 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Delta Osseod's APeX: [35 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Hostile] Shugmok's APeX: [156 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's mind raced. This thing was strong—its APeX far outclassed them all—but it was slow. And that was something she could use.
"Scarbol, go for the legs. Osseods, support them from the back. Amber, keep moving," she barked, her tail burning brighter as she gathered power. Her flame could do more than just burn. She could feel it building inside her—a cold, focused force. She had to time this perfectly.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's [Spectral Flame] Attribute Shift:
[Phantom + Fire] → [Phantom + Glacial]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's APeX + [Spectral Flame]:
[80 Units] {[60 Units] + [20 Units]}
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's ears shot forward, latching onto a branch, and she swung up, gaining height. Below her, the battle unfolded. Amber was a blur, darting in and out of the monster's reach. Scarbol and his crew jabbed at the beast's legs, barely scratching its hide but slowing it down.
Now or never.
She unleashed her Spectral Flame, sending a wave of icy fire cascading over the Shugmok's legs. The flames weren't hot—they were cold, freezing the creature in place. Frost formed over its skin, and it roared in frustration as its movements slowed.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Shugmok
APeX: [156 Units] [-10%]
APeX (Frosted): [140 Units]
Status Ailment Impact: [Decreased Speed]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
But it wasn't enough. KiAera landed on a branch, balancing herself as she shifted her fire. The cold flames turned black, the chill morphing into searing heat. She could feel the heat building inside her as she prepared to strike.
This fight wasn't over, but she had the upper hand now. And that was all she needed.