Current Location:
[Dareloop Zone]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Region]
----------------------------------------
Striking a Boargrunt with her ear's fist, KiAera caused a froggy-faced beast to crumple into the ground. She darted across the misty battlefield field to get to the riverbank, before the ogres and their mounts had the opportunity to cross the river. Her sprint came to skidding halt as a froggy-boar crashed its head into the ground before her.
The monster recovered quick and two more hopped to its side. They leapt, their heads poised to ram into her.
KiAera did not hesitate to strike. She struck the {1065 Unit} Boargrunt first with her ignited spear, then the {1142 Unit} one, and lastly the {983 Unit} one. Her strikes were aimed at joints, leading to their limbs to burst with abyss particles. But the defeat of the hostile trio did not increase her power as she incapacitated them to allow Beta Osseod to finish off the wounded Boargrunts, allowing the crystalline mouse beside her to strike at them with its [Headbutts].
★ Hostile Boargrunts [3] Defeated!
Beta Osseod's Status
Abyss Particles absorbed: [319 Units]
Accumulated Particles: 686 Units → 1005 Units!
Conquest Limit [10]: 7 Remaining before limit.
One Boargrunt in particular toughened through her strike, and she recognized the threat before her—an Uncommon with an APeX of {1652 Units}. But besides its hide's pattern, there was more to it than merely aesthetic:
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ⚠︎ Danger ⚠︎ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
⚠︎ [Common] vs [Uncommon]:
★ 1.25x Power Boost
APeX Power: [1652 Units] > [2065 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ⚠︎ Danger ⚠︎ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
That spike in power alarmed her. Not risking any chances with the Uncommon Boargrunt, she unsheathed her claws and struck at it with a flurry of flaming swipes. Her nails shallowly piercing into the rugged, amphibious surface; her spear ricocheting against the deceptively smooth hairs.
Darn. She groaned as the Boargrunt leapt, its tusk aiming for her head. A chilling gust swept past her, as the Boargrunt scraped off fur from her cheek. She had evaded with ease and was quicker to turn at the same moment she heard a thud. The Boargrunt's [Leap Crash] cratered where it impacted, leaving it dazed. It recovered fast from its awkward position, bending its muscular froggy legs for another jump.
KiAera pivoted her weight sideways into a roll, striking her spear into its leg before it could jump again. The Boargrunt croaked in surprise as its eyes lit with pain. Without warning, KiAera saw its tongue lash outward. She hopped with a flaming [Leap Kick] that smashed into its tongue, causing it to ignite. It launched higher into the air by the force until KiAera took a page from the Dimetfern by rotating herself by pivoting on her foot.
Extending her ears to grasp the Boargrunt's tongue, she unleashed her [Ignite] and smashed the beast into the ground with an explosive force.
★ Hostile Boargrunts Defeated!
KiAera's Status
Abyss Particles absorbed: [206.5 Units] → Converted: [207 Units]
Accumulated Particles: 2894 Units → 3101 Units!
Conquest Limit [10]: 4 Remaining before limit.
She absorbed the Uncommon Boargrunt's abyss particles, yet something felt off. A strange sensation sizzled within her. It was off putting.
KiAera was unable to properly process the occurrence as another Boargrunt, this one [Common], charged her with a [Leap Crash]. She spun out of the way, kicking it into the air with an ignited [MereKick].
Beta Osseod went ahead and finished it off.
KiAera glanced over her shoulder, spotting Amber the LeapLeap and Dime the Dimetfern cooperating to keep the other Boargrunts at bay. Amber's feather projectiles and [Leap Kicks] sent the Boargrunts flying, while Dime fought with somersaults, bounding into the air to unleash disc-shaped leaves from its sail. Meanwhile, the Boargrunt opposition were bouncing to and fro doing their best to survive the onslaught from the ratite- and Dimetrodon-like monsters.
KiAera acknowledged their numbers were dwindling hastily as the cave defenders—consisting of Saptal, Sapshorla, and Big Osseod's own subordinates—pressed their assault with wood spears and crystal projectiles puncturing into their hides. She watched as the Boargrunts fell between the pincer, collapsing into the mud as their bodies popped into abyss particles.
And to her relief—peering over the heads of Boargrunts—she spotted the other monsters under her wing. Emerging from the cave's entrance was Big Osseod and the twelve other Osseods, along with Saptal and Sapshorla—who had taken upon their gigantic tree forms to strike the other flank of the Boargrunts.
"Big Osseod regroup with—"
Before she could finish calling out to them, a sharp pain rippled through her head. KiAera staggered, clutching her temples tightly as the pain intensified rapidly, threatening to overwhelm her completely.
However, she gritted her teeth, refusing to succumb to the agonizing shockwaves that attempted to incapacitate her. She mustered every ounce of willpower she could gather, pushing against the foreign presence in her mind.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ⚠︎ Danger ⚠︎ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's Status
🌀 [Uncommon] Particles of the defeated Boargrunt…
…has been Siphoned Successfully!
Siphoning from [Common] to [Uncommon]. Progress: 0% → 2%
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ⚠︎ Danger ⚠︎ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
She felt the stabbing sensation ebb away. She struggled to steady herself, settling down her quivering form as Beta Osseod nuzzled her side. The intensity of the excruciating moment remained as a pulsating headache that refused to subside until she pressed a chilled paw pad to her forehead.
"KiAera good?" Beta asked.
"I'm good, Beta. Thanks. But we need to continue onward or else we'll end up much worse."
Without a word, she bookmarked the harrowing incident as she surveyed her surroundings.
It relieved her that her comrades were able to keep the Boargrunts at bay, so she continued to sprint alongside Beta Osseod to reach the riverside. She could see that the humanoid ogres and their mounts were halfway across the river. There was no room for doubt as she dipped her paws and extendable ears into the cool, misty liquid. She could hear the clamorous cries of the ogre-like monsters, but she ignored them. Instead she allowed herself to concentrate, allowing her mind to be claimed by the calm. Her Spectral Flame matched her mood as the ghostly flames nosedived in temperature, transitioning into a chill that coursed across the river.
The river froze as she channeled her Spectral Flame into it, the icy tendrils creeping outward with an unnatural speed. Frost crystallized across the water's surface, mist hissing and swirling as the sudden cold clashed with the warmth of the ambient air. The river's current slowed, then stilled entirely. For a moment, KiAera's focus was absolute, her energy rippling outward in waves that crackled like splintering glass. The chilling flames glimmered faintly blue as they danced along the frozen water, anchoring the blockade.
KiAera's breath left her in misty puffs, her chest rising and falling sharply with the effort as her limbs trembled from the exertion. She could hear the guttural roars of the ogre-like beasts, their confusion blending with their frustration as the frozen barrier arrested their crossing. She risked a glance up, her ears twitching at the sound, and her pulse spiked at what she saw. Despite witnessing the smaller ogre creatures stumble, their heavy mounts sinking into the fragile ice with each paddle. The ogre leader was not stalled.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creatures: Onikabo
APeX Range: [2010 Units] → [3820 Units]
Attributes: [Brawlers]
Evolution Stage: [Fledglings]
Variant Grades: [Common] and [Uncommon]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera's [Insight] was now able to glean the information about the ogres from their current proximity. They were all horned creatures. The smaller horned ogres were all classified as Onikabo, [Fledglings] weaker than the Minokaurbo. But, for a moment, she thought the shifting haze had tricked her.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
But no—there she was. The female Minokaurbo.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Minokaurbo
APeX Power: [8180 Units]
Attributes: [Brawler]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent]
Variant Grades: [Uncommon]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera was close enough to distinguish the Minokaurbo that she could scrutinize its appearance. It was a she, a monster with the appearance of a young woman with wild, unkempt hair and two horns protruding on each side of her head. Startled, yes, but it perturbed her more to see a monster with wearing such a countenance, like her former self, before her transformation into this small, fluffy Merecritt form.
Leading at the center of her forces, the female Minokaurbo smacked her hand atop her mount, seemingly frustrated by the hindrance of her forces' advance. The mounts, KiAera focused on now, were not Boargrunts after all, but superior in evolution.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Boarbogrunts
APeX Range: [5490 Units] → [6318 Units]
Attributes: [Terra] [Brawler] [Aqua]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent]
Variant Grades: All [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
She acknowledged her current self would not be able to handle them all, particularly the one below the Minokaurbo.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Boarbogrunt
Faux Nym: Boggorc
APeX Range: [10110 Unit]
Attributes: [Terra] [Brawler] [Aqua]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent]
Variant Grades: [Uncommon]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
For the time being, she had them frozen in place. For how long? She wasn't sure. However, her objective at this point was to stall them from reaching her crew. Things would fall into disarray if they were to continue their advance. Her ears twitched as they became attuned to the Onikabo and Minokaurbo's voices.
"Mina mad!" roared the female Minokaurbo. "Boarbogrunts stuck!" She dislodged her encumbered leg from the iced river. Her head tilted slightly along with her locks. "Onikabo! We see, Merecritt, yes? Cute little thing, disturbance for Mina!"
KiAera's blood chilled further—not from the icy Spectral Flame she'd conjured, but from the realization that the Minokaurbo's piercing gaze was now locked on her. The monster's tone was deceptively playful, her sharp-toothed grin stretching wide in a delight. "Mina wants critter! Onikabo! Capture it alive! Don't squash too much—Mina likes her playthings in one piece!"
KiAera's heart thundered in her chest as the Onikabo roared in response, rallying behind their leader's command as they began to test the icy surface beneath their feet. The crackle and groan of straining ice sent shivers down KiAera's spine. Not much time left.
She was the target now.
KiAera's mind raced as the situation shifted like quicksand beneath her paws. The river had bought them time, but now she stood alone in its misty shallows, facing creatures far more dangerous than the Boargrunts. Her gaze flicked to the frozen barrier she'd created, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface as the Boarbogrunts struggled against it. They wouldn't remain stalled for long.
Think, KiAera. You can't take them head-on.
The Onikabo, fledgling though they were, some vastly outmatched her current form. And the Minokaurbo… Eight thousand units. The number echoed like a curse. If they reached her position, it was over.
She had to keep them distracted—long enough for her squad and the cave defenders to regroup and fall back.
KiAera's grip on her spear tightened. "Beta Osseod," she called softly. The crystalline creature twitched its ears, its eyes snapping to her. "I need you to return to Amber and Dime. Tell them to fall back toward the Sapkins. This is about to get worse."
Beta Osseod hesitated, but she gave it a sharp look. "Go. Now."
With a reluctant chirrup, the crystalline mouse skittered away, its form a blur as it disappeared into the mist.
KiAera exhaled, her breath misting in the cold air. Alone now, she turned her full attention back to the advancing Onikabo. The horned creatures were moving with alarming speed, their hulking forms bounding across the ice with surprising agility. Their leader, the Minokaurbo, remained still for now, watching the everything unfold with an almost lazy amusement, her wild hair billowing like a dark cloud. The monster woman yawned, fanning her face as she sat cross-legged atop the Boarbogrunt's head.
She's testing me, KiAera realized. She wants to see how far I'll run before she decides to act.
But KiAera wasn't about to give her that satisfaction.
She took a step forward, her ears flicking as her [Spectral Flame] reignited, the chill in the air sharpening into something more biting. Her voice rang out. "You want me? Come and get me!"
The Onikabo snarled, their eyes blazing as they stomped forward in response to her challenge. KiAera shifted into a defensive stance, her small form deceptively still as she let her energy coil within her. Her tail snapped once, twice, as the first Onikabo reached her.
It lunged, its massive claw swiping through the mist toward her. But KiAera was faster.
She moved—a blur of white and silver as she darted beneath its outstretched arm, her ignited spear slicing through its elbow joint. The creature roared as abyss particles burst from the wound, its balance faltering as it crashed to one knee.
KiAera didn't stop.
She struck again, her spear plunging into the back of its calf before she twisted away.
[Onikabo—2108 Units—Incapacitated!]
But the second Onikabo was already on her. It slammed its fists down where she had stood mere seconds before, the impact shaking the ice beneath her paws. KiAera leapt back, her chest heaving as she spun her spear to parry its follow-up strike. The force of the blow jarred her arms, but she planted her feet and held firm, sliding only a short distance.
Too close, she thought, her pulse pounding in her ears. She needed to move—staying in one place would only get her surrounded.
Three more came charging from behind. One slipped, crashing sideways with a splash, but another quickly began crawling its way toward firmer footing.
KiAera's ears twitched at the sound of pounding feet. Two Onikabo broke away from their scattered positions, their massive arms outstretched as they moved to cut off her escape.
KiAera let the momentum carry her, pivoting into a series of rapid [Mereswiftnesses] that left faint trails of icy mist in her wake. The Onikabos stumbled after her, their larger frames struggling to match her speed. She weaved between them, her spear flashing as she struck at their joints and weak points, carving abyssal wounds.
But for every Onikabo she stalled, two more closed the gap. She remained cautious of the Minokaurbo. KiAera was uncertain how it would react if one of its comrades were to actually fall. However, she acknowledged the Onikabos were gathered where she wanted. Shifting the temperature of her Spectral Flames into searing heat, she slammed her spear into the icy ground beneath her. The sudden shift in temperature was explosive.
Flames of blue and black erupted outward, a wave of heat radiating in every direction, meeting the weakened ice and shattering it like glass. Cracks spiderwebbed out instantly, mist thickened as steam rose and jagged shards of ice dropped into the river below, plunging the Onikabo into the frigid, rushing waters. They roared in surprise, their limbs flailing as the currents dragged them downstream. The Boarbogrunts made an attempt to save them. But KiAera blockaded their passage with frosted barriers.
The Onikabos howled as the freezing winds struck them, their limbs slowing as ice crystallized across their bodies. The Boarbogrunts within the waters shuddered, their momentum faltering as the frost crept up their massive legs and bodies.
"Minokaurbo help us! Help us!" one of the floundering Onikabo bellowed, its desperate cry muffled by the crashing of water and cracking ice.
The Minokaurbo glanced at her subordinate with an unamused look on her face. "If Onikabo can't swim, then let self be swept."
Mina's grin had faded, replaced with a sharp scowl, her eyes narrowed into slits. "Clever little critter," she growled. She pushed herself upright, standing tall atop her Boarbogrunt's head. "Mina sees now. This one is trouble."
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ⚠︎ Danger ⚠︎ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
⚠︎ [Fledgling] vs [Emergent]:
★ 1.3x Power Boost
APeX Power: [8180 Units] > [10634 Units]
⚠︎ [Common] vs [Uncommon]:
★ 1.25x Power Boost
APeX Power: [10634 Units] > [13293 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ⚠︎ Danger ⚠︎ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera could see the Minokaurbo's APeX Power gleam like a beacon in her mind, and the hairs along her spine rose as Mina crouched. The Boarbogrunt beneath her shifted, growling low as its weight cracked the remaining ice beneath it. And then, without warning—
The Minokaurbo leapt.
KiAera barely had time to react before Mina came crashing down. The impact was cataclysmic. Ice, mist, and shards of stone exploded outward, the sheer force of her landing sending a concussive shockwave through the riverbank. KiAera was thrown back, tumbling end over end until she slammed hard into the ground. Pain jolted through her body, and she gasped as the wind was knocked from her lungs. For a brief moment, the world was nothing but ringing silence and swirling mist.
KiAera forced herself to move, every muscle within her form screaming as she rolled onto her side and pushed herself upright. Her vision blurred, but she could make out the dark, imposing silhouette of the Minokaurbo rising from the crater she'd created. Her horns gleamed in the faint light, her wild hair rippling like a shadowy storm.
KiAera's breath came in shorter bursts now, the strain of maintaining her pace beginning to take its toll. She risked a glance upward—and her heart sank. The Minokaurbo had risen to her feet, her gaze locked unerringly on KiAera as a slow smile curved her lips.
"Little critter fast," the Minokaurbo said. "But not fast enough."
For a beat, neither moved. The only sound was the groaning river ice and the Minokaurbo's heavy breaths. Then she spoke.
"You—" She lifted her club, pointing it at KiAera, droplets of water flinging from its jagged edges. "—you think you can stop me?"
KiAera stiffened but held her ground. Her tail flicked behind her, betraying her nerves even as she kept her voice steady. "I had to try. You're not giving me much choice."
The Minokaurbo tilted her head, her tangled hair sliding across one horn as she regarded KiAera. Her expression was somewhere between a sneer and a grin, lips curling over faintly elongated teeth. "You're talking to me now? Little creature—did you think words would save you where ice has failed?"
KiAera's grip on her spear tightened, her eyes narrowing. "I didn't come here to die today. And neither did my allies." She stepped cautiously forward. "You're powerful—I can see that. But this attack… these Boargrunts, your forces—they're mindlessly throwing themselves at us. You don't need to do this."
The Minokaurbo's brow furrowed. For a fleeting moment, her expression softened—not with kindness, but with curiosity, as though KiAera's words had pricked something she hadn’t expected. "Need? What do you know of need, little beast?"
KiAera's ears flicked forward. Her instincts screamed at her to stay on guard, to prepare for another strike, but something in the Minokaurbo's voice gave her pause. There was bitterness there. She risked pushing further.
"I know you're not like the others," KiAera said carefully. “You're not a mindless Boargrunt. You're not a beast driven only by instinct. You think. You choose. Why are you leading this attack? What do you want?"
The Minokaurbo froze mid-step, her black eyes narrowing to slits. For a heartbeat, KiAera feared she'd said too much, pushed too far. Then, slowly, the Minokaurbo exhaled, her breath a steaming cloud against the icy air.
"I want what was stolen," the Minokaurbo growled.
Stolen?
Before KiAera could respond, a deep, throaty ribbit echoed across the frozen landscape. The sound reverberated unnaturally, vibrating through the mist and rattling KiAera's chest. She turned sharply toward the noise, and her eyes widened.
Emerging from the shattered river was Mina's Boarbogrunt. It was massive, its form towering even beside the Minokaurbo. Its muscular body was covered in coarse, matted fur streaked with mud and frost, and its wide frog-like face bore a cruel intelligence.
Its throat inflated grotesquely as it bellowed again, the sound vibrating across the battlefield.
The creature's yellow eyes fixed on the Minokaurbo, and KiAera felt a strange tension in the air.
The Boarbogrunt let out another resounding ribbit, its wide mouth opening as if to speak. KiAera blinked, ears twitching as the guttural sound slowly formed words she could comprehend.
"Your objective, Minokaurbo." The creature's voice was slow, deliberate, like rocks grinding together. Its throat swelled again as it continued. "The kobold servants. We must reclaim them."
KiAera's breath hitched. The kobolds?
This is going to get worse before it gets better.