Zeldritzon [Cycle 4] - Afternoon
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Current Location:
[Ungroot Zone]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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KiAera's pulse quickened as the forest around her darkened, shadows deepening in a way that felt unnatural. The Shugmok's hiss from earlier still echoed in her ears. Easy now. She peered upon it from where she stood, observing from the canopy.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Hostile Creature: Shugmok
APeX: [156 Units] [-10%]
APeX (Frosted): [140 Units]
Status Ailment Impact: [Decreased Speed]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
The creature was enormous, easily towering over Amber. But its bulk and frosted state may become problematic for it.
Every creature within her party tensed. And suddenly from the heart of the twisted trees. The Shugmok lunged. That signaled for her party to spread out.
KiAera flicked her tail, lobbing her black flames. It erupted and crashed into the beast before it reached the others, dancing across its frost-covered fur. The sudden shift in temperature caused the beast's hide to crack and splinter under the extreme conditions. This slowed its pace further, and it stumbled with its assault, missing a Kobolbo by its snout tip. Slow and steady. That way they could come out of this mess alive. KiAera flicked her tail to the others.
"Strike where it's cold!" she called out.
Scarbol lunged, his spear jamming deep into the beast's exposed flesh. The other Kobolbos followed suit, their spears striking in unison, each finding purchase in the cracks that KiAera had created.
The Shugmok let out a deafening roar, staggering under the combined assault, but still it wasn't enough. The creature twisted violently, swinging its tail in a wide arc, knocking two Kobolbos off their feet and sending them crashing into the underbrush.
KiAera gritted her teeth. They needed another push.
Amber let out a savage hiss and launched herself at the Shugmok's exposed flank. Her powerful claws tore into the weakened scales, raking deep gashes into its side. The Shugmok howled, rearing up on its hind legs, exposing its underbelly.
"Osseods, now!" KiAera called, lobbing another [Spectral Flame].
The Osseods responded instantly, the trio rushing forth. Their crystalline bodies glimmered as they skittered across the forest floor, firing crystals at the Shugmok's massive frame. They latched onto the cracks in its skin, digging into the beasts flesh. Meanwhile KAera's flames slammed, blazing across its hide.
The Shugmok let a roar as its massive body crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.
"Amber, circle wide and stay light on your feet!" she barked. "Beta, keep the Kobolbos out of range. I'll need your help soon."
Her eyes darted to the twisted trees above. If she played this right, she could use it all. She leaped from the trees; her ears extended wide as she soared. She ignited herself in [Spectral Flame].
The Shugmok thrashed, its massive tail sweeping the ground in an attempt to crush anything within reach.
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KiAera dodged, her small frame a blur as she darted out of the way, extending her ears to wrap around a nearby branch. She launched herself into the air, gaining a momentary vantage point. From above, she could see the beast more clearly, its thick, mossy fur shimmering as it moved.
A plan began to form in her mind, but she had to weaken it more first. "Amber! Strike low, force it off balance!" she commanded.
Amber lunged at the Shugmok's side, claws raking along its fur, but they slid off without leaving a mark. The creature's tail whipped toward her, but Amber was fast, dodging away with a growl of frustration. KiAera's mind raced, calculating. They couldn't rely on brute strength alone—this thing was built for that. No, they needed a different approach.
She dropped back to the ground, her ears extending wide to act as a buffer between her and the Shugmok's next strike. "Beta!" she called, "Get those plant fibers ready. I have an idea."
As the Osseods and Kobolbos scrambled to obey, KiAera planted her paws firmly into the ground.
The Shugmok and its serpent tail immediately breathed a dark miasma.
In retaliation, KiAera's fur shimmered, and flames began to ripple across her body, swirling around her ears and tail. The blue-black fire hissed against the dark fumes in the air, but it did not falter.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[WIL Boost +4] [APeX -2]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's [APeX]: 60 Units > 58 Units!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Spectral Flame] - Phantom - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
The Shugmok's eyes narrowed, sensing the threat. It lunged again, jaws snapping toward her, but KiAera was already moving.
She darted, unleashing a torrent of flame directly at the beast's face. The flames ignited with a crackling roar, wrapping around the Shugmok's head, licking at its eyes and snout.
It hissed in pain, recoiling, its body writhing in agony as the flames spread. But the fire alone wasn't enough to bring it down. Its fur, while hot, weren't singed. No, she needed to weaken it more.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Hostile Creature: Shugmok
APeX: [156 Units] [-20%]
APeX (Frosted)(Burned): [125 Units]
Status Ailment Impact:
[Decreased Speed] [Decreased Strength]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
"Now!" she shouted. "Amber, herd it toward the tree line!"
Amber moved in an instant, darting to the side and snapping at the creature's flanks. The Shugmok turned to follow, hissing furiously as it pursued the LeapLeap deeper into the twisted grove of trees.
KiAera followed, her ears sweeping low to feel the earth beneath her paws. The air grew colder as she channeled her energy into the ground.
"Beta, bring the fibers!" she yelled. The Kobolbos and Osseods hurried over, throwing the plant material toward her.
In one fluid motion, KiAera froze the plant fibers solid, using her elemental control to weave them into a frozen net.
Her ears extended, wrapping the fibers around the Shugmok's body, anchoring them to the nearby trees. The creature thrashed, but the fibers held firm, freezing further under KiAera's command.
Now was the moment. Her fur ignited once more; the [Spectral Flame] blazing hotter than before.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Spectral Flame] - Phantom - TECH: 3 → TECH: 4!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
"Burn," she hissed, launching herself. She slammed the full force of her flames into the creature's underbelly.
The fire roared to life, blue and black tendrils wrapping around the creature's body, entwining with the freezing fibers she had woven. KiAera drove her ear deeper. The Shugmok howled in pain as the intense combination of heat and cold tore at its flesh.
With a final, enraged thrash, the Shugmok collapsed, its body twitching as the flames consumed it from within.
And succeeding it a bonfire of particles drifted to the dusking horizon.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[ding! [Shugmok] defeated!]
[ApeX obtained: 156 Units]
[Conversion: 15.6 Units > 16 Units!]
[BONUS!] [Reason: Double Power]
[Gama's Benevolence: 16 Units > 32 Units]
KiAera's [APeX]: 58 Units > 90 Units!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
'Gama's… Benevolence…' she mused for just a moment.
Her head throbbed as she panted heavily, stepping back to survey the fallen creature. "It's done," she whispered, watching as the last remnants of her fire flickered and died. The Kobolbos stared in awe, while Amber padded over, her amber eyes glinting with satisfaction.
"LeeLee…"
KiAera stood still for another moment, catching her breath. They had won, but she knew better than to let her guard down now.
A shadow passed overhead—wingbeats. KiAera narrowed her eyes, her body tense once more.
She turned, the Skyrawltal's eyes locked onto hers, and for a tense moment, neither of them moved.
"Stay ready. We don't get to rest yet."