Current Location:

[Dareloop Zone]

[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Region]

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Retrieving the Kobolbos? KiAera internalized the thought.

A memory resurfaced from a particular Kobolbo. But... but if it fails, if we build it wrong, then we're useless... just like before.

KiAera recalled Tailza's remark. She had a feeling that the Kobolbo seemed so frightened before than her usual timid self, but if her current adversaries were Tailza and the other kobolds' subjugators then for goodness sakes, she understood their plight more.

The fur along her spine bristled as she let her gaze shift from the female Minokaurbo to the Boarbogrunt. The tremendous frog-boar let its throat inflate again as it spoke with a gruesome bellow.

"We are in search of blue-streak kobolds. A notorious liberator amongst them. Kobold with crisscross across its chest." The Boarbogrunt continued. It shifted ever so slightly to loom over her, gazing straightforward and intently at nowhere particular.

The female Minokaurbo folded her arms. "Boggorc, what's the point of telling the critter about the servants that escaped? We're wasting time by Merecritt preoccupying us."

KiAera's mind raced. Blue streak… crisscross chest… Scarbol? The description fit the Kobolbo leader all too well, and her gut twisted at the implication. They weren't just after random captives—they had a specific target. Why Scarbol? she wondered. What makes him worth all this effort?

The Boarbogrunt—Boggorc, apparently—bulging eyes slowly fell on KiAera. She felt the weight of Boggorc's gaze settle on her like a physical force, her fur standing on end as her heart thudded painfully in her chest. The mist hung thick around them, the icy ground beneath her paws crackling faintly as her claws dug in for stability. She didn't dare move, didn't dare breathe too loudly, as she processed the revelation.

They were hunting her Kobolbos. Scarbol, Tailza, all the others—they were the target. And now this grotesque monster was assessing her.

She tightened her grip on her spear, forcing herself to focus. Keep calm. If they even suspect you know the Kobolbos, this will turn into a bloodbath.

Boggorc's throat inflated again, its grotesque skin stretching to the breaking point. "Merecritt. Do not feign ignorance. Have you seen them? Kobolds with blue streaks and chains across their chests?"

KiAera hesitated, just a beat too long. The Minokaurbo snorted, her breath misting in the cold air, and stepped forward, swinging her jagged club idly as if daring KiAera to lie.

"Answer him, little critter," the Minokaurbo sneered. "Or would you prefer I squeeze the truth out of you?"

Boggorc's grotesque gaze bore into her, his wide, hairy, amphibious mouth curling faintly. "You know of them," he croaked. "You flinch at their mention. Do not deny it."

KiAera's ears flicked, and she tilted her head, forcing a confused expression onto her face. "Kobolds? Blue streaks?" she kept her tone light despite the thumping within her chest. "I've seen plenty of monsters in this forest. But if you're looking for some specific kobolds, I don't think I've crossed paths with them. What makes you think I'd care about some kobolds?"

The Minokaurbo frowned, her dark gaze narrowing in suspicion. "Convenient." The Minokaurbo sneered, her arms rising to her sides, and her massive club rested on her shoulder. "She's lying," she said flatly. "Her scent's all over this territory. She's been hiding them."

KiAera's heart twisted, anger rising in her chest, but she buried it beneath a veneer of calm. The last thing she needed was to let them know she knew anything. If they suspected her connection to the Kobolbos, she'd be signing her companions' death warrants. They don't know exactly where the Kobolbos are. They're fishing for information.

Her gaze darted between her adversaries, and she allowed herself to laugh. "Hiding them? Look at me! I'm barely holding my own against you. Do I look like someone who could tangle with anything that escaped you?"

The Minokaurbo's lips curled into a sneer. "Hah! The critter has a point, Boggorc. It's a pest, not a savior." She shifted her weight, the ice cracking beneath her clawed toes as she rolled her shoulders. "Careful, critter. You tread on thin ice. Tell us everything and Mina will play nice."

Literally and figuratively, KiAera thought, glancing at the fractured riverbank. Her mind raced for a way to stall them further, to steer the conversation in a direction that didn't end with her flattened beneath a massive club.

Boggorc's throat swelled again, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her. "Defiance will serve you poorly, Merecritt. Speak plainly, or we will force the truth from you."

KiAera tensed, her claws tightening around her spear. Think, think! A flicker of movement in the mist caught her eye—a shadow darting between the shattered ice and trees. She didn't dare turn her head, but her hope surged. Was it one of the Sapkins? Or… someone else?

"I already told you," KiAera said, stepping back again to subtly align herself with the movement she'd noticed. "I don't know anything about your kobolds."

The Minokaurbo growled low in her throat, clearly losing patience. But Boggorc's slimy tusks began to glow, his wide mouth splitting into a slow, menacing grin. "Perhaps you are not lying," he rumbled. "But you know something. And we have ways of loosening the tongues of little beasts."

KiAera's ears flattened, and her heart pounded as the two monsters began to advance. The icy air seemed to close in around her, and every instinct screamed at her to run. But she held her ground, teeth bared, her mind whirring. She couldn't let them take another step toward the Crystal Shelter.

If I can't convince them to leave... I'll have to fight.

She let her ears twitch, her tail flick, small motions that conveyed just enough nervous energy to keep them guessing. She needed them to believe she was terrified—but not so terrified as to be useless.

Stall longer. Draw them away. She let her expression shift to one of weary resignation, lowering her spear slightly. "Fine," she said. "I'll tell you what I know."

Both monsters froze, their attention locking onto her.

"If you kill me," she said carefully, "you'll learn nothing. If I were hiding them—and I'm not—you'd lose your only chance to track them down. But if you let me go…" She let the words hang. "Maybe I'll lead you to something useful. Or maybe I'll waste more of your time. Either way, it beats bashing me into paste and walking away empty-handed."

Mina growled and stomped forward, but Boggorc's webbed foot shot out, stopping her. "Do not be baited, Minokaurbo," he croaked, his bulbous eyes narrowing. "This Merecritt plays games."

Smart and cautious. Annoying combination. KiAera's mind raced as she reevaluated. Mina was the emotional, hotheaded one—easier to disconcert. But Boggorc? He was calculating, patient. He wouldn't fall for simple provocations.

Time to switch tactics.

"You're right," she said abruptly. "I am playing games. But can you blame me? Look at you two—huge, powerful, terrifying. What chance does a little thing like me have in a straight fight? My only hope is to outwit you."

Her words gave them pause. "Typical Merecritt. Fluffy crust, clever core…" Mina's sneer faltered, replaced by a flicker of confusion, while Boggorc's gaze turned sharp, suspicious.

"Why admit this now?" he asked slowly. "What are you scheming, Merecritt?"

KiAera shrugged, keeping her movements deliberately casual. "What can I scheme against you? You've already decided I'm hiding something, so why not play along? Maybe I know something. Maybe I don't. Either way, you'll do what you want."

Mina snorted. "You think surrendering will make this easier?"

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"Who said anything about surrendering? I'm just saying you're wasting energy on me. The longer you stand here threatening me, the further those kobolds get."

Mina's grip tightened on her club, but Boggorc's throat swelled again, his croak rumbling like distant thunder. "You are clever, Merecritt. Too clever. Perhaps we should end this charade and extract what you know."

KiAera felt her pulse spike as Boggorc leaned forward, the eerie light emanating from his tusks casting grotesque shadows on the icy ground. Her mind churned. They're dangerous, but they're also greedy for information. Use that.

She exhaled, her breath visible in the frigid air, and forced her voice to steady. "You're right, Boggorc. I am clever, but you should ask yourself something." She tilted her head, letting her ears droop slightly in a show of faux submission. "What's more valuable: breaking me into useless pieces... or using me to your advantage?"

Mina snorted, her clawed hand tightening on her club. "You talk a lot for a tiny thing. Maybe breaking you will be fun." She took a step forward, but Boggorc's hairy snout shot out, halting her.

"Enough, Minokaurbo," he croaked. His bulbous eyes locked onto KiAera with unnerving intensity. "The Merecritt speaks sense. A tool is more useful intact."

KiAera's grip on her spear relaxed slightly, though her heart hammered in her chest. They’re listening. Good. She decided to press her advantage. "Besides, I might know something you don't," she said. "Something about the Kobolbos, or even about this forest."

Mina's lip curled. "And why would you know anything about them?"

KiAera shrugged. "I've been here a while. I've seen things—heard things. But if you're so eager to crush me instead of finding out what I know, that's your choice." She turned slightly, angling her body as if preparing to bolt.

Mina bristled at her audacity, her club lifting slightly in her massive hand. "Arrogant little—"

"Hold," Boggorc interrupted, his slimy tusks glinting faintly. His grotesque form shifted, and his bulbous eyes regarded KiAera "This Merecritt speaks in riddles, but not without purpose. Tell me, fluff-thing, why protect those beneath you? You owe them nothing."

KiAera's mind latched onto his phrasing. Beneath me… She could use that. She tilted her head, letting one ear flick lazily. "Who says I'm protecting anyone?"

KiAera hesitated, letting the silence stretch just long enough to seem reluctant. "I've heard whispers," she said carefully. "Of a Kobolbo with scars across his chest. A leader of some kind, one who doesn't bow easily. Sounds like he gave you a lot of trouble."

Mina sneered. "That little wretch did more than trouble. He humiliated us. Led his miserable pack out from under Minokaurbo's control, costing us resources and territory. If not for his cowardice, I would have crushed him myself."

KiAera's ears twitched. Scarbol led an uprising? She filed the revelation away, her respect for the Kobolbo leader deepening. No wonder they're hunting him so relentlessly.

Boggorc's throat deflated slightly, his expression unreadable. He exchanged a glance with Mina, who hesitated, her rage cooling into something more calculating.

KiAera pressed on. "Let me guess. This 'blue-streak kobold' embarrassed you somehow? Or maybe it wasn't just you. Maybe it was someone above you."

The Minokaurbo’s expression darkened, her grip tightening on her club. Boggorc's webbed hooves twitched, but he remained silent, his eyes narrowing.

Gotcha, KiAera thought.

"You're not from here, are you?" she continued. "You don't belong in the UvoSath Forest. So why come all this way? Did this kobold flee here? Or were you sent to clean up someone else's mess?"

Mina growled, but it was Boggorc who answered, his deep voice rumbling. "You ask many questions for one so small. Perhaps we should enlighten you… before we remove your head."

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

Boggorc leaned closer, his grotesque form casting a shadow over her. "We are subordinates of the great Minokaurbo. Our master demands submission, and those who resist are… corrected. The blue-streak kobold led an uprising, scattering his kind and stealing what belongs to us."

"And your master?" she asked, tilting her head. "What's their stake in all this?"

Mina sneered. "Jalkra— Our boss competes for dominance among the six Oni tribes. The blue-streak kobold's defiance insulted not just him, but all of us. Retrieving him is a matter of pride and punishment."

KiAera's mind raced, piecing the fragments together. These creatures were part of a larger power struggle—one that Scarbol had somehow become entangled in. No wonder he and the others are so skittish.

Oni clans… Minokaurbos aren't just some brutes. "And Mina?" she asked. "What's your stake in all this? You seem like someone who doesn't follow orders lightly."

The Minokaurbo's eyes flashed with a gleam. "My stake?" she echoed. "I seek strength. Worthy subordinates to serve me, to elevate me above the others. A pack of cowards is beneath me, but a Merecritt like you…" Her gaze raked over KiAera appraisingly. "You might prove useful."

KiAera forced herself not to react, though her fur bristled at the implication. She's sizing me up as a pawn. The thought disgusted her, but it also gave her an idea. If Mina wanted to recruit her, she might hesitate to attack outright. "Useful?" KiAera said, letting amusement creep into her voice.

Mina snarled, but Boggorc interrupted with a guttural laugh. "Bold words for a creature cornered." He leaned closer, his rancid breath wafting over her. "But you amuse me, Merecritt. Tell us where the Kobolbos hide, and perhaps Mina will spare you."

KiAera met his gaze.

They still don't know. As long as I keep them guessing, there’s a chance. She let her tail flick lazily, feigning indifference. "I might know something. But if you want answers, you'll have to work for them."

Mina growled, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Enough of this game! I'll tear the truth out of her!"

But Boggorc held up a slimy leg. "No, Mina. Let her speak. For now." His bulbous eyes narrowed. "But choose your words carefully, Merecritt. My patience has limits."

KiAera's heart pounded in her chest as she held her ground. Her instincts screamed at her to run, to lash out, to do anything but talk.

Yet she forced herself to remain calm, her spear resting lightly in her curled tail. She could feel the weight of their eyes, the oppressive presence of her monstrous adversaries as they loomed over her. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," KiAera began. "You're here for the Kobolbo leader, right? What if we cut a deal?"

Mina tilted her head, her jagged horns catching the faint light of the ice-crusted riverbank. The sneer on her face deepened as she raised her hand, spreading her five fingers wide. "Five thousand crystals," she said in a tone dripping with mockery. "For the blue-streaked runt. Think you can manage that, little critter?"

KiAera blinked, suppressing the urge to gape.

Five thousand crystals? Her mind raced. That was an absurdly high price for a single Kobolbo, let alone a hypothetical transaction. She barely had enough resources to keep her companions fed and sheltered. Still, she schooled her features into neutrality.

Play along. Keep them talking.

"Five thousand?" she tilted her head thoughtfully. "That's… a hefty sum. It might be worth considering."

Mina's sneer turned into a full grin. "Oh, worth it, is it? You've got deep pockets for a critter." Her dark eyes sparkled with amusement.

Boggorc, however, didn't share Mina's levity. The boar-like monster shifted, his grotesque throat swelling as he studied KiAera with those bulbous, unblinking eyes. "Five thousand is generous," he croaked, his voice heavy with disdain. "But I think twelve thousand crystals would better reflect the damage caused by the leader's rebellion."

"Twelve thousand?" KiAera blurted before she could stop herself. Her ears twitched. That's outrageous! she thought, struggling to keep her expression neutral.

Boggorc's tusks glowed faintly as his wide mouth stretched into a grim smile. "Twelve thousand. That is the price for his transgressions. His actions brought disgrace upon his former masters. If you value him, you'll find a way to pay."

KiAera's grip on her spear tightened. The absurdity of the price wasn't lost on her, but neither was the implication. They weren't after all the Kobolbos—just Scarbol. She couldn't let them know how much that revelation mattered to her.

She tilted her head, forcing a look of consideration onto her face. "Twelve thousand is steep," she said carefully. "But it's not impossible. You're saying that's just for the leader, though? The others… they don't matter to you?"

Mina chuckled. "The others are fodder. Pets for their so-called liberator. It's the one with the scars we want." She swung her club lazily, as if imagining the weight of it smashing down on her target. "He's the one who needs to answer for his defiance."

KiAera nodded slowly, pretending to mull it over. Inside, her thoughts churned. They only care about Scarbol. If I can divert their attention, buy time… maybe I can figure out a way to save him and the others.

"And if I pay," she said, keeping her voice measured, "you'll leave him—and the others—alone? No tricks, no tracking, no coming back?"

Boggorc's eyes narrowed. "We are not thieves, Merecritt. A deal struck is a deal kept." His tone carried a weight of finality, and she wondered if it was a truth he genuinely believed or just a convenient lie.

KiAera glanced between the two monsters, her expression betraying just enough hesitation to sell her act. "Twelve thousand is… a lot. But if it's the price for peace, maybe we can work something out."

Mina snorted. "You talk big for a critter who probably doesn't even have two thousand crystals to her name." She leaned forward, her frame casting a shadow over KiAera. "Do you even know what twelve thousand crystals looks like?"

KiAera shrugged, forcing a confident smile. "I've got resources. Friends. If I decide it's worth it, I'll find a way."

The Minokaurbo stared at her for a long moment before laughing, the sound echoing off the icy terrain. "You're either stupid or bold, critter. I can't decide which."

Boggorc, on the other hand, remained silent, his gaze heavy and calculating. "You have three days," he said finally. "Bring the crystals to the ruins west of here. If you fail… we will find the leader ourselves. And when we do, there will be no mercy."

KiAera's chest tightened, but she nodded. "Three days," she repeated. "I'll see what I can do."

Mina smirked, straightening to her full height. "Good luck, critter. You'll need it." She turned, her massive club resting on her shoulder as she began to stride away. Boggorc followed, his wide, hunched frame casting a grotesque silhouette in the fading light.

"Onikabo!" Mina roared. "Quit your needless shivering and let's head out!"

As the two monsters and their subordinates disappeared into the mist, KiAera let out a slow, shaky breath. Her mind raced, already piecing together a plan. Twelve thousand crystals. Three days. How in the world am I going to pull this off?

But one thing was certain—she wouldn't abandon Scarbol or the others. Not now, not ever.

She turned toward the faint shadow in the mist. "You'd better have a good reason for being here," she said, her ears swiveling to catch any reply. The footsteps were too light to belong to anyone she knew.

Silence caught her ears first before a small figure approached from the mist. The creature was no larger than her and it had the appearance of a bat with jet black fur tinged with blue. However, the smug expression on its face was ever present. "Hey you. It appears you're in a spicy dilemma. The name's Nex of the Nexperbax and I can be of help… for a nice scrumptious fee." It ran a paw atop its head, smoothing out strands of sleek fur.