And just like that, he released her.
KiAera plummeted. The rush of air tore at her ears as the ground below rushed to meet her. Her thoughts scrambled, panicked, but she knew one thing for certain: GamaGen would let her hit the ground if she didn't act. He was testing her, pushing her past her limits.
KiAera's breath hitched. She could feel the weightlessness beneath her, the unnerving sensation of the abyss below calling her downward. Her heart pounded against her ribs like a drum of war. The sigil on her forehead tingled faintly, as if responding to her rising fear.
Her instincts screamed at her to react as her body twisted uncontrollably, to do something. But what? How? She wasn't ready for this!
Focus, KiAera!
GamaGen's words echoed in her mind. The sigil on her forehead, the Chimera's Mark, pulsed faintly to her desperation. She clenched her teeth and tried to steady her thoughts, but it was difficult with the ground threatening to turn her into a merecritt-shaped pancake.
Wings. I need wings!
Her mind flashed to the Skyrawsoar's graceful, feathered form. She'd used its traits before—she just had to will them into existence now. She closed her eyes and reached deep into herself, focusing on the Chimera's Mark.
A sudden warmth spread from her forehead, down her spine, and into her shoulders.
The sigil flared to life, blazing with an eerie blue light. Pain surged through her body as the transformation began. Her shoulders burned as skeletal frameworks erupted from her back, quickly enveloped by feathers. The agony was excruciating, but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop.
"Come on, come on, come on!" she urged, willing the transformation to complete.
[Memorized: Skyrawsoar.]
With an audible crack, two massive, leathery wings burst from her back, unfolding in an explosion of energy. The force of the transformation jolted her mid-fall, and she instinctively spread the wings wide, catching the air.
The sudden resistance pulled her from her freefall, and she wobbled awkwardly as she tried to balance. The wings flapped clumsily at first, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. But the Chimera's Mark had imbued her with more than just wings—it had given her a faint echo of the Skyrawsoar's instincts.
With a powerful beat of her newfound wings, she stabilized herself, the ground no longer a looming threat but a distant concern. She hovered midair, panting heavily, her heart pounding in her chest.
Hovering shakily, she looked up to see GamaGen, now perched in his raven-like form on a ledge, clapping his wings together in a mockery of applause. 「'Bravo, KiAera. You've taken your first true flight. And in record time, no less.'」
"Are you insane?" she shouted, her voice cracking as she struggled to keep herself airborne. "You nearly killed me!"
「'Nonsense. I had full confidence in your ability to rise to the occasion. And look—you did not disappoint.'」
GamaGen folded his silver-etched wings elegantly. 「'Now, come back up here. We have more work to do.'」
"You... dropped me!”
「"And yet, here you are. Alive, unbroken, and flying,"」he said matter-of-factly. 「"Take a moment to appreciate the metaphor."」
KiAera glared at him but couldn't suppress the flicker of pride that bubbled within her. She had done it. She'd altered herself, tapping into the Chimera's Mark when it mattered most. But she wasn't about to let GamaGen off the hook for his methods.
She flexed her wings experimentally, feeling the tension in her muscles but also the exhilarating power they granted her. "I swear, GamaGen, if you ever—ever—pull a stunt like that again..."
He cocked his head, clearly unimpressed by her threat. 「"Miss KiAera, your journey will only grow more perilous. Consider this a... gentle prelude."」
“Gentle?!” she barked, flapping closer to him, her wings still unsteady but functional. "You literally threw me into the Abyssal equivalent of a trust fall with no warning!"
GamaGen tilted his head again, his many purple eyes blinking in unison. 「"And yet, you succeeded."」
She sighed, shaking her head as she flapped back toward the ground. "You're impossible." She landed on the nearest hovering platform.
As her feet touched the floor, the wings folded back into her body, the energy retreating to the Chimera's Mark. Her knees wobbled from the effort, and she dropped, curling on the formation.
"Fine," she muttered. "What's next?"
GamaGen landed beside her, shifting back into his book form. 「"Next, we begin your lessons in altering external elements. Let's see if you can teach fire to flow like water. Shall we?"」
KiAera groaned, but despite her exhaustion, a small smile tugged at her lips. If nothing else, this was going to be one hell of a ride.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera exhaled deeply, her LeapLeap talons digging into the stone floor as her Skyrawsoar wings unfurled, stretching wide. Her Chimera's Mark pulsed faintly on her forehead, and with a single beat of her wings, she launched toward GamaGen with dizzying speed.
But the moment she reached him—he wasn't there.
A blur of black and silver slipped past her vision, and when she twisted to strike again, GamaGen was perched behind her, one wing neatly folded over his beak, as if he were stifling a yawn.
「'A bold start, KiAera. But you're leaning too much on raw speed. Precision is just as important, if not more so.'」
KiAera gritted her teeth, whirling around and swinging one of her elongated Merecritt ears like a whip. The appendage shot toward him, glowing faintly with her Spectral Flames. This time, she adjusted her trajectory mid-attack, anticipating his movement.
But GamaGen didn't move—he vanished.
Not teleported—vanished.
Her ear struck nothing but air, and a moment later, GamaGen reappeared above her, wings spread, looking down with an infuriating calm.
「'Better. But you're thinking too linearly. I'm not a target to hit, but a puzzle to solve. Or perhaps… a reflection to understand.'」
"Stop talking in riddles!" KiAera snarled, crouching low before launching herself upward, her talons slashing in an arc. Her wings flapped hard, creating a gust of wind to throw him off balance, while her Spectral Flames spiraled around her claws in icy ribbons.
This time, her strategy was layered—a direct assault masked by an elemental feint. She was certain she had him.
But GamaGen's form shimmered, dissolving like mist as her talons cut through the space he'd occupied. He reappeared just outside her reach, casually adjusting his feathers.
「'You're overcomplicating things now. Combat is as much about instinct as it is about planning. When you second-guess yourself, you create hesitation—and hesitation is a crack in your armor.'」
KiAera growled in frustration, diving toward him again. Her wings flared, and with a burst of energy, she shifted mid-flight, her LeapLeap form enhancing her speed and agility. She zigzagged unpredictably, closing the gap between them in an instant.
This time, she didn't aim for him directly. Instead, she swung her talons at the ground, sending shards of stone flying toward him like shrapnel. As the debris closed in, she lunged, her ears whipping forward in tandem.
But once again, GamaGen was gone. He drifted lazily to the side, his movements impossibly fluid, as if he were a shadow slipping through cracks in the light. The shards scattered harmlessly against the far wall, and KiAera's ears snapped through empty air.
「'You're trying too hard to force a reaction from me. I'm not bound by the same instincts as you or your enemies. Adaptation is your greatest strength, KiAera, but it must be wielded with clarity, not desperation.'」
"I'll show you clarity…" her wings began beating furiously as she hovered midair. Spectral Flames surged around her, oscillating between freezing and burning as she compressed them into a single sphere of raw energy.
She hurled it toward GamaGen, the attack spiraling with chaotic intensity. It was a reckless move, but she hoped the sheer unpredictability of the flames would catch him off guard.
The sphere exploded in a brilliant cascade of fire and frost, engulfing the area where GamaGen had stood. KiAera shielded her eyes against the dazzling light, her heart pounding as she awaited the outcome.
When the smoke cleared, GamaGen stood unscathed, perched atop a jagged shard of stone, his feathers glowing faintly.
「'Spectacular display. But ultimately futile. Tell me, KiAera—what have you learned so far?'」
KiAera landed heavily, her chest heaving as she glared up at him. "That you're impossible to hit and annoyingly smug about it."
GamaGen chuckled, his many eyes narrowing in amusement. 「'True. But that's not the lesson here. You're focusing too much on me. My movements, my position, my actions. You've forgotten the most important element of combat.'」
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
KiAera frowned, her frustration giving way to curiosity. "…Which is?"
The Kravenox spread his wings wide, thrusting them toward her.
「'Yourself. Before you can defeat an opponent, you must first master your own limitations. Know your strengths, your weaknesses, and how to turn both into assets. Only then will you find the clarity you seek.'」
KiAera stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. She clenched her fists, her flames flickering uncertainly around her. She had been so focused on proving herself to GamaGen—on landing a single hit—that she hadn't stopped to consider the bigger picture.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened, her wings folding neatly behind her. "Alright… Let's try this again."
GamaGen nodded approvingly, his many eyes glinting with something like pride. 「'That's the spirit. Now, show me what you've learned.'」
—꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱—
Post Training Session Growth…
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Name and Status: KiAera
APeX: [2500 Units] → [3300 Units]
Insight [F+]: 1% → 100%. [F+] → [E]
WIL Parameter: [290 Will] → [360 Will]
SPD Parameter: [50 Speed] → [95 Speed]
Mental Resilience [Ultra]: 28% → 53%…
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Amber the LeapLeap
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief Description: large ratite monster.
APeX: [2451 Units] → [2851 Units]
Dominion: [Perception]
Attributes: [Wind] [Beast]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Plelepun the Plelepun
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: tunneling elephant calf.
APeX: [4289 Units] → [4689 Units]
Dominion: [Revise]
Attributes: [Terra]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Kyrawl the Skyrawsoar
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: evolved wing crawling wyvern.
APeX: [7392 Units] → [8092 Units]
Dominion: [Augment] [Generalist]
Attributes: [Deino] [Wind]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent] (E)
Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Scarbol the Kobolbo
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: fledgling kobold monster.
APeX: [1514 Units] → [2115 Units]
Dominion: [Generalist]
Attributes: [Brawler] [Cryptic]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Tailza the Kobolbo
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: fledgling kobold monster.
APeX: [1001 Units] → [1602 Units]
Dominion: [Generalist]
Attributes: [Brawler] [Cryptic]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Saptal the Sapkin
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: plant sapling monster.
APeX: [2125 Units] → [2655 Units]
Dominion: [Manifest]
Attributes: [Plant]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Sapshorla the Sapkin
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: plant sapling monster.
APeX: [2122 Units] → [2652 Units]
Dominion: [Manifest] [Augment]
Attributes: [Plant]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Dime the Dimetfern
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: fledgling dimetrodon monster.
APeX: [3865 Units] → [4185 Units]
Dominion: [Unleash] [Manifest]
Attributes: [Plant] [Relic] [Wind]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Pi the Osseod
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: crystal mouse monster.
APeX: [1616 Units] → [2016 Units]
Dominion: [Perception]
Attributes: [Ore]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Beta the Osseod
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: crystal mouse monster.
APeX: [1414 Units] → [1814 Units]
Dominion: [Generalist]
Attributes: [Ore]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
— — —
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Delta the Osseod
Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…
Brief description: crystal mouse monster.
APeX: [1818 Units] → [2218 Units]
Dominion: [Generalist]
Attributes: [Ore]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
Current Variant Grade: [Common]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
—꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱—
The sun hung low over the glades, its light filtering through the canopy of UvoSath trees. The soft golden rays danced across the vibrant mosses and shimmering crystal formations that dotted the terrain. KiAera led her companions back from the Monster Domain's station, her pace relaxed but her mind restless.
She'd long since reverted to her original Merecritt form, her ears swaying gently with each step.
The group trailed behind her. Amber the LeapLeap clucked softly to the Liorex egg cradled in her makeshift pouch. The Osseods scurried alongside the Dimetfern, who kept bumping into rocks but cheerfully bounced back. Scarbol and the Kobolbos formed a loose perimeter, while the Plelepun trotted near KiAera, occasionally snorting playfully at the glimmering crystals in the underbrush.
Above them, Kyrawl the Skyrawsoar glided gracefully, casting a massive shadow that stretched and rippled across the forest floor.
GamaGen hovered at KiAera's side in his book form, his raven sigil faintly glowing on the cover. His voice resonated telepathically in her thoughts, breaking the silence.
「'You performed admirably today.'」
KiAera scoffed, shaking her head. "Admirably? You mean I flailed around like an idiot while you dodged everything."
「'That's one interpretation,'」 GamaGen said with a hint of amusement. 「'But you showed persistence. And you learned something, didn't you?'」
She sighed, glancing down at her feet as she walked. "Yeah, I guess. Focus on myself, not just the enemy. It's easier said than done."
GamaGen’s voice softened. 「'Growth is a gradual process, KiAera. You have the will, and that is what matters most.'」
As they approached the Crystal Shelter, the towering walls of light-blue crystal sparkled in the daylight, their surfaces lined with the dark logs of UvoSath trees.
The group began to disperse naturally—Amber settled by the shelter's entrance, while the Kobolbos broke into groups, some heading inside, others standing watch. The Plelepun sauntered off toward its latest tunnel project, muttering something about "better reinforcements, yo." Kyrawl swooped down, folding his massive wings as he perched on a rocky outcrop nearby.
KiAera stopped by the shelter's threshold, leaning against one of the smooth crystal walls. She crossed her arms, staring out at the glades. In her peripheral—GamaGen drifted closer, his presence quiet but insistent.
「'There's something else I wish to discuss.'」
KiAera glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "This about my fighting again?"
「'In a way. Have you noticed how your demeanor shifts when you take on your chimera forms?'」
She frowned, the question catching her off guard. "My demeanor? You mean my tactics?"
「'Not your tactics, no. Your personality.'」
KiAera blinked, her mind racing as she tried to recall her behavior during the sparring session. Her talons digging into the stone, her snarls, the sharpness of her words… She had felt different, but she'd chalked it up to the heat of the moment.
"I... guess I get more intense," she admitted hesitantly. "Isn't that normal for a fight?"
She began to recall that her mind had felt different—alien—when she underwent the pure fusion with Amber and Kyrawl in the past. The new process, however, felt more subtle. Could it be that without them in the equation, she had become the manifestation of that intensity on her own?
GamaGen's voice was measured, as though he were treading carefully. 「'It's more than intensity. You become ferocious. Instinctive. Almost… primal. Your decisions are sharp, but your restraint fades. You embody the traits of the forms you assume—speed, aggression, hunger.'」
KiAera shivered despite the warmth of the sunlight. "You're saying I lose control?"
「'Not entirely. But you walk a fine line. The power of the Chimera's Mark is immense, but it's also dangerous. If you aren't careful, the instincts of those forms could overwhelm your sense of self.'」
She bit her lip, her gaze dropping to her hands. They looked so small and harmless now, a far cry from the talons and wings she wielded earlier. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
「'Because you needed to experience it firsthand. Words alone wouldn't convey the gravity of what you're dealing with.'」
KiAera let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening into fists. "So what do I do? Stop using the chimera forms?"
「'No,'」 GamaGen said firmly. 「'They are a part of you now. To deny them would be to deny your growth. But you must learn to master them. That is the true challenge of the Chimera’s Mark.'」
She nodded slowly, the weight of his words settling over her. "Alright. But you'll help me, right? I mean, that's what you're here for."
GamaGen's many-eyed sigil glowed faintly. 「'Of course. I have guided you this far, haven't I? And besides, I find your journey… fascinating.'」
KiAera rolled her eyes, yet a small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, yeah, GGen. Just don't get too smug about it."
She pushed herself off the wall and strode into the Crystal Shelter. There was much to think about, but for now, she focused on one thing: she wasn't facing this challenge alone. Now, regarding that dungeon the Nexperbax mentioned...