Current Location:
[Dareloop Zone]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Region]
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KiAera's muscles coiled with tension as she tracked Beta Osseod through the azure grass of the UvoSath Forest. The creature's small, frantic movements guided her, its tiny feet scuttling over the unusual terrain. Her keen eyes swept the area, vigilant for any sign of danger that might threaten their progress. The cries from ahead pressed her onward; her comrades were in peril, and there was no time to waste.
When the forest thinned, KiAera slowed, crouching low. Her gaze locked on the scene unfolding before her—a large cave nestled among the towering trees, with a misty river flowing nearby. The faint scent of damp earth and chaos reached her sensitive nose. Beta Osseod gestured wildly toward the cave entrance, its frontal paw signaling where Big Osseod, the smaller Osseods, and the Sapkins, Saptal and Sapshorla, were entrenched. KiAera's ears picked up a cacophony of sounds: guttural croaks, shrill cries, the splatter of projectiles striking hard surfaces, and the dull thuds of bodies colliding.
Her pupils narrowed. Boargrunts.
The bout had only begun, judging by the chaos. Clutching her crystal spear tightly, KiAera prepared herself. Amber the LeapLeap fluffed up aggressively beside her, while Dime the Dimetfern flexed its claws, the serrated tail whipping back and forth in anticipation of the fight. KiAera's own tail swayed in measured rhythm as she crouched lower, peering through the dense foliage to survey the battlefield.
Her [Insight] flickered to life, overlaying her vision. Insight [F]: 55% → 58%.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creatures: Boargrunts (Estimated: 214)
APeX Range: [600 Units] → [2221 Units]
Attributes: [Terra] [Brawler]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Variant Grades: [Common] and [Uncommon]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
⚠︎ Caution! [Skill] = [Leap Crash]: With its powerful hind legs, the Boargrunt can perform high jumps and deliver devastating headbutts to its opponents.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
The information sharpened KiAera's focus.
She scanned the Boargrunts congregating near the cave's entrance, noting their squat, muscular bodies. Their froggy faces, adorned with wide mouths and sharp tusks, gave them an unsettling appearance, while spiny ridges along their backs made them look even more formidable. Their hind legs resembled those of frogs, powerful and poised for devastating leaps, while their front limbs bore the bulk of their boar-like features, hairy with webbed hooves. Webbed feet slapped against the muddy ground as they croaked and grunted, sending volleys of projectiles—mud balls and dart-like objects—toward the cave.
Inside the cave, flashes of retaliation were visible. Crystal projectiles streaked outward—courtesy of Big Osseod and the smaller Osseods—while sharp, wooden spears thrown by Saptal and Sapshorla struck out with precision. The cries of wounded Boargrunts filled the air as some fell to the ground, their hides pierced or battered. Others charged blindly into the cave, but none emerged; instead, a single squealing croak would echo before silence fell again.
KiAera's mind processed the scene quickly. The Boargrunts' lack of coordination was apparent; they charged and fired without strategy, relying on sheer numbers. Most of their attention was fixated on overwhelming the cave's defenders, leaving their flanks dangerously exposed. She caught another detail—wounds inflicted by the Osseods' crystal projectiles barely seemed to faze the creatures. Though injured, they continued their assault, seemingly more annoyed than hindered.
Her brow furrowed. They're resistant to the Osseods' attacks.
The revelation clicked into place. Boargrunts, attributed with [Terra], likely had natural resistance to [Ore]-based weaponry like crystal projectiles. Yet the wood spears of the Sapkins elicited far more noticeable reactions. The Sapkins' [Plant] Influence... that's their weakness.
She swayed her tail, motioning for Amber, Beta Osseod, and Dime to gather close. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she relayed her observations.
"Boargrunts resist blunt force and crystal projectiles. The Osseods won't bring them down, but Saptal and Sapshorla's spears have an effect. It's likely they're vulnerable to the Sapkins' [Plant] Influence." Her gaze trailed to the Dimetfern. "We can use that."
Amber tilted her feathered head, puffing up her chest. "Plan?" she asked, her wings twitching with anticipation.
KiAera smirked. "Here's what we’re going to do..." She leaned in closer, laying out her strategy in hushed tones, her gaze never leaving the chaotic battlefield beyond the undergrowth.
Turning toward the Dimetfern, she issued her orders. "Dimetfern, your [Wind Discs] and [Fern Spirals] will cut through their resistance. Their [Terra] influence makes them vulnerable to your attacks. Amber, your feather projectiles will pierce their defenses if you aim for their soft points. Beta Osseod, focus on their eyes, mouths, and noses—hit where it hurts. We'll need to thin their numbers as much as possible before a full charge."
The Dimetfern dipped its angular head in acknowledgment, its sail flaring slightly as it readied itself. Beta Osseod gave a nervous squeak, its tiny frame quivering, but a gentle pat from KiAera's ear steadied it. Amber fluffed her feathers with a determined chirp, her wings twitching in anticipation. KiAera gave her neck a pat as well.
KiAera's gaze shifted back to the Boargrunts, her eyes assessing their positions and movements. The beasts remained oblivious, their attention wholly consumed by the relentless attack on the cave. Her eyes narrowed as she watched a few reckless attackers crumple before reaching the entrance, speared mid-charge by the Sapkins' precise aim. Yet there were still too many, their aggression undeterred by the mounting casualties. Her tail swayed in a calculated rhythm.
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But she questioned herself. There was more, right? Her gaze diverted to the misty river across the field. KiAera saw movement, there were more Boargrunts stationed on the other side of the river. Her breath hitched. She spotted other silhouettes, but they were human-like. Their sheer size dwarfed the frog-boars, and one figure in particular stood out—a massive creature gripping a spiked club.
Ogres? She wasn't sure. She hadn't encountered anything like them since arriving in Zeldritzon. Her mind raced, recalling every scrap of knowledge she'd gathered about the UvoSath region. Her eyes swept over the scene, her [Insight] flickering faintly as she struggled to glean more details. The mist distorted her vision, but there was no mistaking the leader's deliberate gestures, its thick arm raising the club and pointing toward the cave. The Boargrunts on the far side began to shift, their movements now more organized, more purposeful.
KiAera's fangs clenched. They're not acting on instinct anymore.
Her mind raced to recalibrate the plan. The Boargrunts she had observed earlier were a mindless rabble, but this… this suggested direction. Coordination. If the creatures across the river joined the fray, it would overwhelm the Osseods and Sapkins, no matter how resilient their defenses.
The situation was more dire than she'd initially thought. If these humanoids were commanding the Boargrunts, the cave defenders weren't simply under siege—they were being systematically eradicated. The reckless charging of the Boargrunts wasn't mindless after all.
It was an intentional strategy, designed to overwhelm and exhaust the cave's defenders before the larger threat moved in for the kill.
She paused, assessing her options. There were too many unknowns—were these creatures Ogres? What were their capabilities? How strong was the leader with the spiked club? She clenched her spear tighter.
No time for doubts.
She turned to her squad, her tail swaying with agitation. "We've got a problem," she muttered, keeping her voice low but firm. "Across the river—there are more Boargrunts, but they're not alone."
She gestured subtly with her spear toward the looming figures. "Ogres, or something similar. They're organizing them." KiAera's gaze returned to the battlefield, her mind already formulating adjustments. The mist gave them some cover, but it also concealed the new enemy's true numbers and movements. She couldn't afford to engage both fronts at once, not with so many unknowns.
"Listen carefully," she continued. "We'll execute the initial plan to thin the Boargrunts here, but we have to remain mobile. If those figures cross the river, we'll be caught in a pincer. We need to create an opening for Saptal, Sapshorla, and Big Osseod's forces to fall back if necessary." KiAera caught a glimpse of the plant-entangled crystal formation that barricaded the Boargrunts from the cave entrance.
"We need to act before they cross the river," she muttered. "Amber, you're the fastest. I need you to circle around and get a closer look. Count their numbers, see if there's more than one leader. Run back if you're spotted."
Amber's wings twitched in readiness. "And if they see me?"
KiAera's smirk was all fangs. "If they see you, lead them somewhere else. Away from the river. They'll be in for a surprise."
The LeapLeap nodded and darted off, her feathered form disappearing into the underbrush in near silence.
KiAera turned to Dime. "Dime, you'll hold the left flank. Use [Wind Discs] to scatter any reinforcements that try to cross. Keep them away from the cave."
Dime the Dimetfern rumbled in acknowledgment, its claws flexing as it moved to take position.
"Beta Osseod," she continued, crouching to meet the smaller creature's wide, uncertain eyes. "Stay with me. We'll handle the main force and keep them off the Osseods and Sapkins. They might be bigger, but we'll take them down piece by piece."
The small creature chirped hesitantly but nodded, its tiny frame trembling slightly.
Her eyes flicked to the cave's entrance, where flashes of crystal projectiles and wooden spears continued to pierce the fray. Hold on, Sapkins. Big Osseod. Just a little longer.
She glanced one last time toward the riverbank. The towering ogre-like figure hadn't moved from its commanding stance, but its presence loomed like a storm on the horizon.
KiAera straightened, her gaze returning to the horde. This will work. She swayed her tail in signal. "Let's begin." Together, they moved through the dense UvoSath foliage, their forms blending into the shadows of the vibrant forest. KiAera's ears twitched as she scanned the area. The Boargrunts, entirely fixated on their assault against the cave's defenders, had left their flanks wide open. It was reckless, a fatal mistake KiAera intended to exploit.
Good, she thought.
Once her team was within range, KiAera silently motioned for Dimetfern to move forward.
"Dimetfern, move out," she commanded.
The Dimetfern burst from the cover of trees, claws unsheathed and tail lashing as it rushed the Boargrunts.
Leaping into a somersault, it unleashed a barrage of [Wind Discs] and [Fern Spirals] from its sail. The discs hummed as they sliced through the air, their edges keen enough to shear through the thick hides of the Boargrunts. The spirals followed in a flurry, carving into the creatures' ranks. Shrill, guttural cries filled the air as several were severed in two, while others collapsed with abyss particles splashing from their injuries.
★ Hostile Boargrunts [19] Defeated!
KiAera didn't flinch. "Amber, Beta—go!"
Amber had returned and she leapt forward, wings flaring wide as she launched feather projectiles in a deadly cascade. They struck true, blinding and puncturing the Boargrunts, many choking on the sharp quills that lodged in their throats. Beta Osseod scuttled after her, its ears glowing as it fired crystal chunks. The projectiles pierced eyes and snouts, eliciting staggered, shrieking movements from the Boargrunts.
KiAera observed the mayhem. The rear ranks of the Boargrunts began to panic, their initial confidence shattered. Some broke formation, scattering in an attempt to flee the Dimetfern's relentless assault. KiAera's grip tightened on her spear.
Her gaze flicked to the riverbank where the ogres flailed their limbs. Several massive Boargrunts appeared by their side. Unlike their lesser counterparts, these Boargrunts were hulking, their spiny ridges broader and jagged, their tusks gleaming with a metallic sheen that glinted even through the haze. KiAera's tail lashed involuntarily as her pulse quickened.
We're running out of time.
With a powerful leap, she emerged from the underbrush, crystal spear blazing with Spectral Flame. The blade glinted as she slashed through the throat of one Boargrunt, its lifeblood spraying in a dark arc before it crumpled. Abyssal particles spilled into the air, drawn toward her like a vortex. She pivoted, stabbing another Boargrunt through the chest before it could react, its dying croak cut short.
Her spear swung in a wide arc, its flaming tip leaving a trail of destruction as it cleaved through the horde. Boargrunts fell before her, their thick hides no match for the burning fury of her weapon. For every step she took, more Abyssal particles surged into her, bolstering her strength even as the horde's numbers dwindled.
★ Hostile Boargrunts [5] Defeated!
KiAera's Status
Abyss Particles absorbed: [205.8 Units] → Converted: [206 Units]
Accumulated Particles: 2688 Units → 2894 Units!
She whirled back to her group, her voice slicing through the din of the battle. "Stand firm! Remain merciless!"
★ Hostile Boargrunts Remaining: 158
KiAera's lips curled into a snarl. The tide was turning, but the battle was far from over. No mercy, she reminded herself. Not until the last of them falls.
KiAera's gaze remained locked on the riverbank as the ogres began to stir. The towering leader raised its spiked club, pointing toward the chaotic scene.
One by one, the other ogres started to mount their abnormally large Boargrunts, which waded into the misty river, They're coming.
She needed to take control of the battlefield before the Emergents crossed the river. The longer this fight dragged on, the more momentum their enemies would gain. A decisive strike... we need something bold.