The air crackled with tension, the heat of the flames licking at KiAera's fur as she darted through the burning forest. She could still hear the Ilosphat snapping at her heels, its frills hissing as it pursued her relentlessly. The earth under her feet felt hot, unstable, as if the forest itself was a living, burning entity trying to swallow her whole. And the wailing Kobolbol screeches had finally faded into the distance, abandoning her to her fate with the monstrous reptile.

Her mind raced, weighing options that felt futile. The Ilosphat was gaining ground, her abilities were too weak, and GamaGen was still in its dormant state—do something. Anything! For a moment, she wondered if this was how it would end. From a war-torn Earth, to this absurd world, where she would die in the jaws of a fire-breathing dinosaur.

But then, without warning, a massive force slammed into the Ilosphat from the side.

The creature let out a screeching roar as it was knocked off balance, skidding across the charred forest floor. KiAera spun around, ears retracting instinctively, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Through the thick smoke, a figure emerged. At first, KiAera's instincts flared with alarm—a hulking beast, covered in a coat of thick, dark fur, bipedal but unmistakably monstrous. He looked like another predator, with sharp claws and glowing eyes. Her claws instinctively slid out, and she crouched, preparing for yet another fight.

The Ilosphat scrambled to its feet, hissing in fury. The new creature didn't hesitate. It moved with alarming speed, faster than anything she'd seen, its fur rippling as it leapt onto the frilled horror and sank its claws deep into the scaly flesh. The Ilosphat screeched again, thrashing wildly as its attacker dug in with terrifying precision.

KiAera blinked, momentarily stunned by the ferocity of the attack. This… this was no ordinary monster. It fought like a seasoned predator but with a kind of deliberate grace that felt out of place in this wild world. There was a certain… control in its movements.

The Ilosphat finally managed to throw the beast off, sending it crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. But as soon as it hit the ground, the furred creature was back on its feet, unfazed.

"Stay down!" The voice came from the creature—a low, rough growl, but unmistakably human in tone.

KiAera froze, her mind trying to process what she was seeing. Was this… a person? But before she could react, the furred figure launched itself at the Ilosphat again. This time, it didn't hold back. There was a sudden shift in the air, a palpable surge of energy that sent a shiver down her spine.

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The monster's APeX level… it was rising. Rapidly.

KiAera's eyes widened as she instinctively activated her [Insight]. The readings she received left her breathless.

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Creature: Bilpefur (Dariel)

APeX: [130 Units]

Attributes: [Beast] [???]

Variant Grade: [Fledgling] (F)

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

She stared in disbelief. 130 APeX? That was insane. Even the Ilosphat, formidable as it was, only measured at 48.

Dariel, or whatever this thing was, didn't waste any more time. He moved with a speed that blurred, his claws flashing as he tore into the Ilosphat, slashing its frills and striking with such force that the ground beneath them seemed to shudder. The Ilosphat fought back, but it was no match. The fight was over almost as quickly as it began. With one final swipe, Dariel drove his claws into the creature's throat, cutting through sinew and bone with ease.

The Ilosphat crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

[ding! [Ilosphat] defeated!]

[ApeX obtained: 48 Units]

[Conversion: 4.8 Units > 5 Units!]

[PENALIZED] [Reason: Double Power]

[Depreaciorl's Rule: 5 Units > 2.5 Units]

[Conversion: 3 Units!]

Dariel's [APeX]: 130 Units > 133 Units!

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Dariel stood over the fallen creature, his breathing heavy but controlled, as if the exertion hadn't fazed him at all. Slowly, he turned toward KiAera, his glowing eyes meeting hers through the haze of smoke.

"You alright?" His voice, still rough, carried a strange warmth. It was so incongruous with his bestial appearance that KiAera found herself staring, unable to form words.

Her heart raced, instincts screaming at her to either run or fight, but neither option felt right. She'd seen monsters, sure, but nothing like this. She tried to process what had just happened. A creature that looked like a wild beast, yet spoke like a human, fought with skill, and had the APeX power to level half a forest.

"I—" She hesitated, narrowing her eyes. "Who… what are you?"

The creature—Dariel—chuckled, and the sound was almost… friendly. He wiped some blood off his fur and gave her a small, almost apologetic grin. "Yeah, I get that a lot. It's… complicated." He scratched the back of his head, his demeanor suddenly far less threatening. "Let's just say I’ve been around a little longer than I look."

KiAera took a step back, her claws still out, her mind racing. This wasn't some wild beast. This was someone… something far more dangerous.

"I'm not here to hurt you," Dariel said, raising his hands as if to show he meant no harm. "Just passing through. Saw you were in a bit of trouble."

KiAera wasn't sure what to say. She had questions. A lot of questions. But for now, she focused on one. "Why help me?"

Dariel looked down at the Ilosphat’s corpse and then back at her. His eyes softened, though the beastly glow still lingered. "Because," he said simply, "you looked like you needed it."

The world around them smoldered, the smoke beginning to clear, but in that moment, KiAera felt the weight of the chaos lift. Just slightly.

"Besides," Dariel added with a half-smile, "you remind me of someone."