Current Location:

[Dareloop Zone]

[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Region]

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KiAera stared at the creature that had stepped out of the mist. Its bat-like features were striking—large, leathery wings folded neatly at its sides, a pair of sharp, glinting fangs poking from its smirking mouth, and azure eyes brimming with sly confidence.

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Creature: Nexperbax

Variant Grade: [Rare]

APeX Power: [3560 Units]

Attributes: [Sound] [Wind] [Beast]

Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

The way it carried itself—head held high, chest puffed out—implied it was used to being underestimated. Its confidence made her wary, but she couldn't afford to dismiss any potential aid outright—not with Scarbol's life hanging in the balance.

"Help, huh? What exactly are you offering, Nex of the Nexperbax?"

"Oh, nothing too grand. Just a little... expedited crystal acquisition, shall we say? You're clearly out of your depth, Merecritt. Twelve thousand crystals is a king's ransom. Lucky for you, I happen to be in the business of solving impossible problems."

KiAera's ears twitched as she studied him. The way he carried himself screamed opportunist. But she needed answers, not posturing. "And what's your price?" she asked sharply.

Nex spread his wings dramatically, his form blurring as he moved. Before KiAera knew it he was directly in front of her. "Ah, straight to the point. I like that! My fee is simple—twenty-five percent of whatever you gather. Fair, isn't it? A small cut for saving your little friends."

Her tail flicked irritably behind her, but she kept her expression neutral. Twenty-five percent? It wasn't as bad as the twelve thousand crystals looming over her head, but it was still a steep price. "And what exactly are you doing to earn your cut?" she pressed.

The bat's grin widened. "I know where to find a cache of crystals—lots of them. More than enough to pay off those two goons and still have a little left over. All you've got to do is trust me, and I'll take you there."

KiAera didn't trust him—not for a second. But if he really did know of a crystal cache, it might be her only chance. "How do I know this isn't a scam?"

Nex put a paw to his chest, feigning offense. "Oh, I could be leading you into a trap, sure. But let's be real here—do you have any better options? Unless you're hiding twelve thousand crystals under that cute little fur coat of yours, I'd say you're desperate enough to give me the benefit of the doubt."

Her claws flexed against the shaft of her spear as she held his gaze. He wasn't wrong, and that infuriated her. She hated feeling cornered, forced to rely on someone who clearly thrived on manipulation. But her companions needed her to act.

"Fine," KiAera said at last. "Show me this cache, and I'll consider your terms. But if you're lying..."

Nex clapped his wings together, seemingly unbothered by her warning. "Oh, I like you! All business, no nonsense. Follow me, Merecritt. I promise you won't regret it."

As Nex turned and flitted off into the mist, KiAera took a steadying breath before following. She didn't trust him, but she didn't have the luxury of walking away. Scarbol, hold on. I'll get you out of this. Somehow.

The cold air bit at her as she trudged after the bat-like creature, her mind racing with possibilities and pitfalls. If this gamble didn't pay off, she'd need a backup plan—and fast.

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Following behind Nex, KiAera's gaze swept across her crew as a sigh of relief escaped her lips.

"Big Osseod happy KiAera's safe." said the large crystalline mouse creature. Big Osseod's carapace was cracked and battered but it did not seem too bothered by the damage unlike KiAera's sinking heart. Her gaze turned to the smaller Osseods, accounting for the twelve others scampering beside her and Big Osseod. They too looked like they suffered the same amount of damage, but they chirped about as if the battle against the Boargrunts was nothing more than an afterthought.

"No, no. I should be the one who should be grateful for your getting through that mess, Big Osseod. You guys had me worried when Beta Osseod came to me about your predicament." She brushed her hand against the creature's head as it leaned against her.

"Boargrunts bad. But Big Osseod strong. Beta brave." The large Osseod's gaze fell on the fish-finned like Osseod.

Beta Osseod chirped with a smile. "Beta Osseod no wants Big Osseod hurt. KiAera, Amber-LeapLeap, and Dime-Dimetfern deserved praise-praise!"

KiAera chuckled and held Beta Osseod in her arms. "Nope. You get a significant chunk of the 'praise-praise' as well. Your stunt to seek me out was very commendable, Beta."

Amber the LeapLeap, the ratite monster, whooped as she looked at her side. "LeeLee had fun stomping Boargrunts! Bad froggies were also nice and tasty!"

This elicited a frown from KiAera as she cringed with flattened ears. The burnt smell of a frog-boar monster was bad enough. "I don't want to hear about the taste of a Boargrunt please, Amber. You can keep that to yourself."

Dime the Dimetfern then added. "Amber-LeapLeap speaks truth. Boargrunt delicious." The Dimetrodon-like monster blinked at Amber with a contented nod.

"Yer gotta stop being predacious new guy," spoke Saptal the Sapkin, the humanoid plant-monster chuckling. He winced as he pressed a leafy hand over a crack surfaced on his waist. "Those boarhoppers got me good, but we managed to get through that mess thanks to ya, KiAera. Can't wait to settle down, heh."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Sapshorla, the other Sapkin, nodded as her leafy hair flapped. "Agreed. We truly appreciate your sunny aid. Without your arrival, we may have been lost to a withering fate." Her soft smile faltered momentarily as trailed from Saptal's injury then to the others. "Could have done more…"

KiAera shifted her gaze toward Sapshorla. "You did enough, Sapshorla. All of you did. We're still standing, and that's what matters." She placed a hand lightly on Sapshorla's shoulder. "Save the guilt for when we have the luxury to dwell on it, okay? Right now, we're alive, and that's what counts."

Sapshorla gave a small nod, though the lingering shadow of doubt didn’t leave her eyes. Saptal, noticing this, gave her a gentle nudge with his leafy elbow. "She's right, y'know. No need to carry the weight of a bad harvest on yer back. Ain't like we could've sprouted shields mid-fight."

This earned a faint chuckle from Sapshorla, and KiAera felt a flicker of relief. Keeping morale up was just as important as planning their next move. But her thoughts snapped back to the immediate situation as Nex's voice broke through.

"Touching, really," the bat-like creature called over his shoulder. "If you're done with the group hug, we've got a long way to go. Time isn't exactly on your side, Merecritt."

KiAera shot him a sharp look, her ears flattening briefly. "We're moving, Nex. Just lead the way."

Her expression curled into a confounded frown as Nex led her toward the entrance of the cave where the Sapkins and Big Osseod's group fought their last stand against the Boargrunts.

The bat-like monster's blue eyes gleamed as he gestured toward it. "Here we are, the Dareloop Cave which should lead towards the depths, the Dareloop Dungeon."

Before she could voice herself, KiAera caught shadowy figures moving extremely fast toward her position. Everyone in her crew reacted, poised to defend themselves until the figures zoomed by as inconceivable blurs, until they appeared on either side of Nex. They were both Nexperbaxes —two of them with similar features as Nex. However with unique colors streaking their coats.

And the way they stood by Nex, KiAera wagered a guess that the Nexperbax trio were triplets.

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Creature: Nexperbax (Hot Pink)

Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

APeX Power: [3190 Units]

Attributes: [Sound] [Wind] [Beast]

Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Creature: Nexperbax (Yellow)

Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

APeX Power: [3020 Units]

Attributes: [Sound] [Wind] [Beast] [Voltage]

Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Like Nex, the other two were bat-like creatures. One was a girl with hot-pink streaks across her jet black fur. She leaned against a tree with a smirk, vocalizing a tune similar to a beatbox kept several leaves adrift. The vibe she gave off was not exactly of smugness unlike her peer but rather a type of enthusiasm—she held herself with a different confidence—a rebellious spirit that made her stand out from Nex and the other one.

The other one, she guessed a male, was streak with yellow fur. Pressing closely to Nex, he fidgeted and avoided eye contact. He lifted his head, only to seem uncomfortable when meeting her gaze. "Uh, Nex… what's with the big group…"

Nex pushed him forward with a grin. "You guys, these two are my siblings, Nexbro and Nexsis."

KiAera watched as the one dubbed Nexbro fell in front her by the shove. She saw him gasp, then tensed up, before moving faster than her eyes could follow as he rushed to hide behind the pink-streak Nexperbax.

The one KiAera considered to have been Nexsis smirked. "Hiya, nice to meet ya! You guys were spectacularly amazing dealing with Mina's Boargrunts. Oh. As my brother mentioned, I'm Nexsis! I overheard y'all were willin' to rock with us down deep in Dareloop's underground, right Meresis?"

KiAera tilted her head, her ears perking slightly at the nickname. Meresis? It wasn't the worst thing she'd been called, but it was clear these Nexperbaxes didn't miss a chance to sprinkle in their own flair. Her gaze shifted to Nexsis, whose vibrant energy almost rivaled Amber's. The rhythmic tune she vocalized kept the suspended leaves bobbing, creating an almost hypnotic effect in the air around her.

"KiAera," she corrected gently. "And I'd appreciate a bit more clarity before we start 'rocking' anywhere. What's your stake in all this, Nexsis? And you too, Nexbro."

The yellow-streaked Nexperbax—Nexbro—peered from behind Nexsis, his eyes flickering nervously between KiAera and the rest of her group. "Uh, well… I—I don't really have a stake, honestly. Nex just, um, sort of dragged me into this." He fidgeted, his claws scraping at the dirt. "But if it helps us all get out of here faster, then, uh… I'm in?"

Nexsis chuckled, giving Nexbro a playful nudge with her wing. "He's a little shy, but he's got the speed of a lightning strike when it counts. Me? I just like a good adventure, and it looks like you've got one brewing, Meresi—err, KiAera." She grinned wide enough to show her fangs. "What do you say? You game?"

KiAera crossed her arms, her tail flicking behind her as she studied the trio. Nexsis seemed genuine, though her energy might prove a bit unpredictable. Nexbro, on the other hand, looked like he might bolt at the first sign of trouble. And Nex? Well, she still wasn't entirely sure where his loyalties lay.

"I'm game," she said finally. "But let's get one thing straight. I don't trust easily, and I don't have the luxury of time to sort out anyone’s personal drama. If we're working together, we're all in—no second-guessing or running off mid-fight. Understood?"

Amber whooped her agreement, hopping from one clawed foot to the other. "LeeLee says no chicken-bats allowed!"

"Chicken-bats…" Nex muttered with a scowl. "We'll show you who the real chickens are when this is over, LeapLeap."

Big Osseod stepped forward. "Big Osseod trusts KiAera's judgment. If new bat-friends help, Big Osseod protect."

Beta Osseod chirped excitedly, running circles around Amber. "Beta says more friends, more fun! Beta likes new bats!"

Saptal groaned, leaning on Sapshorla for support. "Long as the new 'friends' don't make us deal with more boarhoppers, I'm fine. My stems need some serious rest."

Nexsis clapped her wings together with enthusiasm. "Awesome! You've got yourself a deal, KiAera. Now, let's get movin' before—"

KiAera shook her head. "Not this evening."

She turned to observe her battered comrades. "My friends and I will be returning to our base for the night. I'd like to hold off from this dungeon exploration until tomorrow." Her gaze fell on Nex, who's gaze lingered on her with an irritable gleam. "I refuse to risk my crew, that should be understandable, right?"

Nex's ears twitched, his irritable gleam hardening into something sharper. He folded his arms and tilted his head, letting his wings hang loosely at his sides. "Understandable? Sure. But wasting time when we're this close? That's the part I don't get."

KiAera's tail swished behind her as she met his glare. "Close or not, I won't lead my crew into a dungeon while they're battered. If you're so eager, feel free to scout ahead without us."

Amber stomped a clawed foot. "LeeLee agrees! Nex-bat can fly ahead like big brave chicken-bird while LeeLee and KiAera rest!"

Nexsis burst into laughter. "Oh, I like her," she said, pointing a wing toward Amber. "You're spicy. We're gonna get along just fine."

Nex shot his sister a glare before redirecting his attention to KiAera. "Fine," he growled. "Take your rest. But don't expect me to play babysitter tomorrow if you fall behind."

KiAera stepped closer to him, her eyes narrowing. "I don't need you to babysit me or my crew, Nex. If anything, you're the one with something to prove here. Or am I wrong?"

A tense silence hung in the air as the two stared each other down. Nex's wings twitched, his claws scraping faintly against the dirt. Finally, he smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Guess we'll see who's got something to prove tomorrow, won't we?"

Nexbro peeked out from behind Nexsis. "Uh, Nex… maybe we should just let them rest? It's been a long day for everyone…"

Nex sighed, running a claw through his fur. "Fine. But don't drag your tails tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, he leapt into the air, his wings beating hard as he perched on a tree branch above them. Nexsis gave a lazy shrug before following, while Nexbro hesitated, offering KiAera and her crew an awkward smile before scampering after his siblings.

KiAera turned back to her group, noting the exhaustion etched into every face, despite their attempts to hide it.

"Alright," she said. "Let’s head back to base. We'll regroup, rest, and tackle this dungeon on our terms tomorrow."

Big Osseod gave an approving nod. "Big Osseod likes KiAera's plan. Rest good for everyone."

Saptal groaned but managed a grin. "Finally, some rest. My stems thank you."

Sapshorla offered a small, weary smile. "The sun always rises brighter after rest. Let us make the most of it."

Amber let out a triumphant whoop, hopping forward. "LeeLee says home time is food time!"

KiAera chuckled softly. She cast one last glance at Nex, who perched silently above, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

Tomorrow, she thought. We'll see what lies ahead. But tonight? Tonight, we heal.