Humming an entrancing tune, the giant sea turtle came to a slow, deliberate halt at the shores of the UvoSath Plains, the once-distant crimson grasslands now stretched out before KiAera in vivid detail. The eerie expanse seemed almost to breathe with life, the blood-red grasses swaying gently in the wind, casting a surreal glow under the faint purple light of the distant horizon. It was an unsettling beauty—both ominous and captivating.
Before KiAera could fully take it in, GamaGen hovered slightly closer to the turtle's great head, its raven symbol flickering with a faint glow.
⎾"Thank you, venerable Zal'Quorra,"⏌ GamaGen's voice carried an uncharacteristic note of respect. ⎾"Your assistance is most appreciated. Your guidance has spared us from further confrontation with the horrors that lurk within these waters."⏌
The sea turtle, Zal'Quorra, bowed its head slightly, the island-shell on its back rippling as it adjusted its weight in the shallow waters. Its eyes focused on GamaGen with a gaze that seemed to see far beyond the present moment.
⎾"It is an honor to serve one such as you, GamaGen,"⏌ Zal'Quorra's voice rumbled through the air. ⎾"The ocean remembers the currents you once commanded. Should you ever require passage again, I will be here."⏌
KiAera watched the exchange in silence. The reverence in Zal'Quorra's voice was unmistakable, and she felt intrigued by how GamaGen seemed to hold such significance in this world.
GamaGen gave a final, solemn nod before turning its focus back to KiAera, who was now cautiously stepping onto the grasses of the UvoSath Plains. As her feet touched the ground, she felt a slight hum beneath the surface, as though the very land was alive with latent energy.
⎾"Better here than anywhere else,"⏌ GamaGen remarked, its tone lighter now. ⎾"A far more suitable start than most."⏌
KiAera glanced around at the plains, her eyes scanning the horizon. The air was still, save for the faint rustle of the grass in the breeze, but the tension in the atmosphere was palpable. She could sense the strangeness of this place, the way it seemed to shift and breathe with an unseen pulse.
"Why here?" she asked, her voice cautious, still trying to make sense of her surroundings.
GamaGen drifted beside her, the faint glow of its symbol illuminating her face in the dim light.
⎾"This place,"⏌ it began, ⎾"while dangerous, is far less treacherous than most of Zeldritzon. It holds secrets, yes, but those secrets are not yet aimed at your destruction. You will have time here, KiAera—time to find your bearings, time to learn. A rare luxury in this world."⏌
KiAera exhaled slowly, her mind racing. She had barely begun to understand the nature of Zeldritzon and the forces at play within it, and already she was standing on ground that felt as alien as the misty sky above.
The crimson grass brushed against her legs as she took another step forward, GamaGen floating by her side.
"Where do we go from here?" she asked quietly, eyes fixed on the far horizon.
GamaGen hummed softly, almost amused.
⎾"Forward, of course."⏌
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
"Depreaciorl's? Rounds Rule? Conquest Limits?" She asked as she examined the text, walking with GamaGen in her paws. Her gaze flicked from page to page. "I see." She muttered. "I think I understand."
⎾'Indeed. And remember, these are rules that govern every single Zeozon. No matter how strong they become. Even I am not exempt from them.'⏌
KiAera frowned. "So, there's a limit to how much power you can have?" She looked up at the sky, noting that the sun seemed to be slowly rising above the horizon. "And it sounds like I can only attack accordingly once a day. So, if I defeat ten Zeozons a day, then I get no more units until the next day."
⎾'Yes, that's right,'⏌ GamaGen confirmed. ⎾'In other words, it's best to take your time and not rush through battles. The goal is to survive and grow stronger. And to do so, you need to accumulate particles. That means choosing your fights wisely.'⏌
KiAera nodded, "I understand. It's a system that favors those who are patient and smart. The ones who can use their power wisely," she stated, recalling the book's previous words. "But what about you? Why would you need to follow these rules? Aren't you a special case? You mentioned being a former Omega staged Zeozon..."
⎾'That's correct, KiAera,'⏌ GamaGen's voice took on a strange tone. It sounded both prideful and sad at the same time, a hint of longing in its words.
⎾'I was once an [Omega] Zeozon, the highest level of Zeozon. Yet, I was more than that; I was hailed as GamaGen the Sage, an entity steeped in the wisdom and enlightenment of ages past. A being that had reached the zenith of Zeozon evolution and knowledge, once the esteemed right wing to a Sovereign IX of great renown.'⏌
The book's cover gleamed with an eerie glow. Its emblem flickered in a slow, rhythmic pattern.⎾'But the winds of fate, ever capricious, led to the dimming of my luminance. DeNultra, in her inscrutable designs, stripped me of my might. Thus, I am consigned to this bound form, a tome enshrining the echoes of my once-potent being.'⏌
KiAera could only stare in stunned silence, her mind trying to process what GamaGen had just revealed. She felt sympathetic for the book. To be reduced to such a state, to be reduced to nothing but a tome... It was truly…tragic?
"I'm sorry, GamaGen. I had no idea." She said, rubbing the back of her head softly.
GamaGen gave a rumbling laugh. ⎾'It's quite alright, dear KiAera. Now, we have some things to go over before you start your journey. Let us not delay any further.'⏌
With that, GamaGen closed its pages, and the book hovered slightly, satisfied.
KiAera scampered after the sagely book. Her paws pressed into the earth, and she felt awkward traversing on her fours, deciding instead to walk upright in order to feel normal.
The strange sensation of having a tail swished behind her. She glanced back at the tail. It was spindly, and it twitched on its own accord or so she assumed. She found it rather cute, but she was also perplexed that the blue and black flame at its tail tip hadn't caught the grasses in the field ablaze. She had thought that it would have ignited them. Of course, it wasn't a normal fire.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
GamaGen hummed.
KiAera blinked. "Pardon?"
⎾'Will it,'⏌ GamaGen stated matter-of-factly.
"I see," she replied, somewhat baffled. Still, she was thankful that it didn't burn anything.
As the two traversed the crimson fields, KiAera noticed something peculiar amidst the fiery landscape. A light-blue crystal stood out against the red and orange hues, its subtle glow drawing her gaze. It beckoned to her, whispering promises of power and possibility.
"GamaGen, I'll be right back," she informed the sentient book before adding with a glance. "Watch my tail."
She took a couple steps forward, the urge to rush towards the crystal tugged at her, primal and insistent. Yet, she resisted. Instead, she first swiveled her head, meticulously searching for any signs of danger. Her [Insight] picked up nothing. Satisfied, she let excitement fuel her steps as she hurried through the tall, velvety grass towards the crystal.
Her tail swayed with anticipation; her eyes gleaming with exhilaration.
Upon reaching the crystal, she plucked it from the soft earth.
It was small but exquisite, with a faint glow that reminded her of a blue rose quartz, though it was somewhat transparent. Holding it up triumphantly, she grinned.
'Score! Another [Abyss Crystal]!' KiAera mused to herself, her heart brimming with joy. That vixen can't harass her now!
"GamaGen, look at what I've found!" KiAera squealed in glee. "It's a—"
She stopped mid-sentence, an adorable squeak catching her ears. She peered down to see a tiny creature with large, round eyes, twitching ears, and a crystalline body staring back.
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
| [Insight] activated!
| Zeozon Detected!
Basic Information
◦ Species: [Osseod]
◦ APeX Power: [5 Units]
◦ Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
◦ Variant Grade: [Common]
◦ Alignment: [Praieon]
◦ Attribute Influence: [Ore]
◦ Sobriquet: "Mouse Mite"; "Mineral Mouse"
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
KiAera froze, unsure how to react. She had never encountered a creature like this before. The creature looked more mite than a mouse.
Its large, hollow eyes blinked up at her, its ears clacking together. She couldn't help but adore its cuteness.
"Is this thing…a threat?" KiAera whispered to GamaGen.
⎾'That would be an Osseod,'⏌ the book explained as it drifted towards her. ⎾'That reminds me. I owe Croztal its gems back...'⏌
The Osseod tilted its head, studying KiAera with curiosity. It seemed unafraid of her, despite her looming stature. She noted that it was attentive to the crystal in her paw and wondered if it was somehow attracted to it.
"Hey there, cutie," she greeted, trying to sound friendly. "My name is KiAera. What's your name?"
The Osseod stared at her blankly, then squeaked.
KiAera smiled. "You're so cute. Do you want the crystal I found?" She asked, holding it out for the Osseod.
The Osseod's eyes widened, and it squeaked louder. It hopped forward, eagerly reaching for the crystal. But before it could snatch it from her grasp, a shadowy figure appeared from the grasses behind the Osseod.
KiAera whistled upon seeing the big fella.
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
| [Insight] activated!
| Zeozon Detected!
Basic Information
◦ Species: [Osseod]
◦ APeX Power: [10 Units]
◦ Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)
◦ Alignment: [Praieon]
◦ Attribute Influence: [Ore]
◦ Sobriquet: "Odd Osseous"; "Mineral Muncher"
◦ Variant Grade: [Common...Common...Common?]
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
"Merecritt?" Interestingly, the big fella spoke instead of squeaking like its smaller companion.
The large Osseod, which KiAera decided to call "Big Osseod" for the time being, approached her.
But as it did, KiAera's [Insight] appeared to question itself, malfunctioning. She had no control over it whatsoever. She had no clue of its origin either. This was entirely atypical and had never happened before. That perplexed her.
However, a moment later, it stopped, and like a roulette, the [Insight] seemed to give up, coming to a begrudging conclusion.
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
Distinction: [Unusual Common]
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა
"Huh? What does that even mean?" KiAera wondered.
"Merecritt?" Big Osseod repeated.
She snapped out of her thoughts and gazed at the large Osseod. It was almost twice the size of her current form, and its ears were more profoundly shaped.
It cocked its head to the side. "Merecritt?"
"Um, yes?" KiAera responded, unsure how to answer.
"Squeak!" Its smaller companion peered at the Big Osseod.
Big Osseod shook its head. "Osseod, no. Osseod." It then pointed a stubby leg at KiAera. "You Merecritt, you not? Strange, Merecritt."
KiAera nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm a Merecritt."
"I'm KiAera," She introduced herself again, feeling a little awkward. "Seems like you speak my language?"
The creature nodded and made a soft, purring noise. "You Merecritt, same language. Basic Zeozon language. We speak."
"Oh, that's great! So, um, what's your name?" She asked.
The creature seemed to hesitate for a moment, then let out a small, squeaky response.
"What? I didn't understand you." KiAera furrowed a brow.
"Osseod. Osseod is Osseod. Defender of other Osseods," it gestured to the small Osseod. "Name is Osseod."
KiAera chuckled softly. "Okay, Osseod, nice to meet you," she smiled, her tail twitching slightly.
"Here, perhaps as a gesture of goodwill, I'll give you this crystal? Interested?" She motioned the crystal toward the Osseods.
The Big Osseod’s hollow eyes glimmered as it gasped. It accepted the [Light-Blue Crystal] and chowed on it the moment KiAera placed it on the soiled ground. The Big Osseod let out a satisfied sigh and licked its face.
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Big Osseod's Status:
Accumulated Particles: 10 Units → 11 Units!
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
"Mm, thank you, Merecritt. Very nice Merecritt. You are kind, Merecritt," it said between bites.
KiAera grinned upon hearing its praise. "Shucks, I should thank you. You're the first creature I held a proper conversation with," she tilted her head in contemplation, "well, besides GamaGen but that's different."
"GamaGen?" Big Osseod's ears twitched.
⎾'Right here, child.'⏌ GamaGen hovered nearby, observing the creatures with keen interest. ⎾'Ah, KiAera, perhaps you should learn the language of the Zeozons.'⏌
KiAera noted that the book kept its distance.
"Translating again, huh?" KiAera glanced at the bewildered Osseods, then back to GamaGen.
KiAera smiled. "That's...good to know."
The two Osseods exchanged glances, then looked at her curiously.
She scratched her chin with one paw, pondering how to explain things without causing any misunderstandings. Before she could utter another word, a dozen smaller Osseods scurried from the confines of the tall grasses.
They squeaked and clicked their ears excitedly, their hollow eyes gleaming with curiosity as they surrounded her. Their crystalline bodies shimmered under the light of the twin suns.
KiAera glanced around at the tiny creatures surrounding her, then at the Big Osseod, who seemed to be the leader.
"Um, hello there, little ones," KiAera greeted.
The Big Osseod observed the little ones, "KiAera is KiAera. KiAera, good. KiAera, friend."
KiAera's mouth twitched into a smile upon hearing that. She felt a sudden surge of happiness and relief being accepted.
"Ki! Ki! Ki!" The other creatures began to chant, surrounding her and the Big Osseod. They sounded almost like little children.
The Big Osseod let out a high-pitched whistle, and the tiny creatures stopped.
"Merecritt, we go," it announced. It then waddled backwards on its fours, its gaze lingering on her. "Merecritt, good," it said before turning around.
The little ones scurried after the Big Osseod as the crystal monster led the group through the grasses.
KiAera smiled as she watched them depart. "It was a pleasure meeting you Osseods!" She cried out and waved goodbye.
She turned to GamaGen, who was still hovering beside her, and grinned. "GamaGen, it seems like I made some friends here."
"Perhaps, this world isn't so bad," she added.
⎾'Indeed.'⏌
KiAera nodded, then turned away, her eyes focused on the twin suns overhead. From what she could perceive from the blue and white suns, it seemed like half the day have passed. She hoped that by the time it was over, she would have at least a dozen or more crystals.
'If only I could find more crystals,' KiAera thought to herself. 'Maybe I should follow those Osseods?'
She glanced the Osseods' direction. The creatures had long since disappeared through the grasses. Disappointing.
⎾'We should move on.'⏌GamaGen suggested, interrupting her thoughts. ⎾'We can explore the area further, perhaps we'll find more crystals.'⏌
KiAera nodded and twitched her ears in agreement. "Yeah, I suppose we can do that," she replied, a tinge of sadness in her voice.
She took several steps, and with a glance over her shoulder, she gave a silent vow to visit the Osseods again, someday.