One Week Later

The past couple of days have been a whirlwind for Nyx. For the next few days, she didn’t venture into any dungeons. Instead, she focused on perfecting her new skill, Chrono Collapse, under Drac’s watchful eye. The training was intense, but she was determined to master it.

Every day, Nyx felt the weight of her growing abilities. She was proud of what she’d accomplished, but there was always a small knot of anxiety in her stomach—what if she couldn’t control her new power in real combat?

Still, she had to show the others. She couldn’t wait to see their reactions.

At Griff’s Cave

Len, Ryu, Suli, Nabi, and Guerim were busy cleaning as Nyx sat beside Griff, talking excitedly.

“Drac told me to use Harmonic Convergence and combine two skills!” she announced, practically bouncing as she spoke. “So, I combined Time Dilation and Time Stop, and now I have this new skill called Chrono Collapse!”

Griff, half listening, arched an eyebrow. “Another skill, eh? You’re collecting those faster than anyone I’ve seen.”

Nyx puffed her chest proudly. “Wanna see?”

Griff shrugged, trying to act indifferent but clearly curious. “Go ahead.”

Nyx smiled and summoned the skill in her mind. Immediately, a shimmering temporal field formed around her, slowing time while selectively freezing certain areas. She moved fluidly within it, almost dancing, as the others watched. Time slowed down, and everything except for her and the Aetherlings seemed to freeze. Griff watched her with a mix of amusement and genuine surprise as she demonstrated her control over the temporal field.

When the effect wore off, Griff chuckled. “Well, I’ll be. You’ve grown, Nyx. Just… don’t overdo it. You’re still young.”

Nyx beamed, but her heart fluttered. She was proud, but Griff’s gentle reminder echoed in her mind: You’re still young.

Nearby, Nabi landed on Nyx’s shoulder. “You’re amazing! Every time you do that, it’s like watching magic itself slow down.”

Len grinned as he wiped his hands clean from the cleaning work. “Pretty impressive, Nyx. Just make sure you’re not stuck in slow motion next time.”

Suli nodded, still mesmerized. “It’s like you’re in control of everything. But… you’ll be careful, right?”

Nyx chuckled. “Of course!”

Ryu leaned back, arms crossed. “She’ll be fine. That skill’s powerful, but Nyx knows what she’s doing.”

Guerim hovered close, wings flicking in amusement. “Just make sure not to freeze us next time, Nyx!”

At the Tiger’s Den

The Tiger watched with narrowed eyes as Nyx demonstrated her new skill. His posture was tense, his critical gaze following her every movement.

“So, Drac told you to combine two of your skills, eh?” he mused, scratching his chin. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Nyx tilted her head, unsure of what he was getting at. “What?”

“That means you’re ready for more than practice.”

Nyx blinked up at him, unsure of where he was going. “What do you mean?”

“You’ll need to use this in battle,” the Tiger said, his tone serious. “It’s one thing to practice in a safe space, but using a skill like that against real enemies is a whole different challenge.”

Nyx nodded, a spark of determination lighting in her chest. She was ready for the challenge, but part of her couldn’t shake the thought of messing up. She knew the Tiger wouldn’t go easy on her just because she was a child.

Suli floated by Nyx’s side. “You’ve got this. Just remember to breathe and take it one step at a time.”

Len crossed his arms and gave her a playful smirk. “If anything goes wrong, just freeze time and we’ll make sure to clean up the mess.”

Nabi landed on Nyx’s head, his wings buzzing softly. “Don’t worry! We’ll be here cheering you on!”

Ryu looked at Nyx with a rare, serious expression. “I’m interested to see how you use this skill in battle. It’s one thing to show it off; it’s another to control it when things get tough.”

Guerim, never one to miss a moment of mischief, grinned. “As long as you don’t trap us in a never-ending time loop, we’re good.”

Nyx laughed at her friends’ teasing, her nerves easing a bit.

At Snake’s Cave

When Nyx arrived at the Snake’s cave, she was eager to show off her skill once more. As the temporal field shimmered into existence, the Snake watched with his usual distant gaze, showing no sign of being impressed or concerned.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

After a few moments of silence, Nyx stood there, waiting for some kind of response. “What do you think?”

The Snake’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Another skill to add to your growing list… I wonder how much more your little body can handle.”

Nyx fidgeted slightly, unsure of how to respond. “I think I’m doing okay. Drac says I’m learning fast.”

The Snake flicked his tail lazily. “For now.”

Len, Suli, Nabi, Ryu, and Guerim, hovering nearby, exchanged glances.

Suli spoke up, trying to break the tension. “You should’ve seen her practicing with Drac, Snake. It was really impressive. She’s growing stronger every day!”

Nabi added, “Yeah! She’s like a little warrior now!”

Ryu, ever the realist, interjected, “It’s still a lot of responsibility. But Nyx can handle it. She always does.”

Guerim hovered closer to Nyx, his tail flicking playfully. “You’ve got more skills than anyone I know. Keep it up, and we’ll be calling you ‘Nyx the Great.’”

The Snake remained quiet, his gaze lingering on Nyx a moment longer before he turned away, disinterested.

At the Peacock’s Territory

Nyx’s last stop was the Peacock’s domain. As always, he was waiting elegantly, exuding an aura of sophistication.

The Peacock sat with a smile on his face as Nyx demonstrated her skill. The elegance with which she summoned and controlled the temporal field didn’t escape him, but there was something about his gaze that seemed distant—almost distracted.

“Well done, darling,” he said smoothly. “You’re becoming quite the skilled little hunter,” his voice was warm, but there was a note of something else… concern?

Nyx’s heart swelled with pride, but when she looked up, she noticed the Peacock’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Is something wrong?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

The Peacock hesitated for just a moment, a flicker of worry passing through his eyes before his usual playful expression returned. “Oh, nothing too serious, my dear. Just… be careful.”

“Remember, you’re still just a child. Don’t let the power consume you. Enjoy your youth while you can.”

Nyx frowned, confused by his words. He seemed worried about something, but what could it be? She tried to press further, but the Peacock quickly changed the subject, offering her more of his elaborate snacks.

Despite his cheerful demeanor, Nyx couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering him.

Back at Drac’s Cave

Drac had been watching Nyx’s progress closely. After hearing from the Tiger that Nyx needed more experience in real combat, he decided it was time for another dungeon run.

“You’ve done well, Nyx,” he said gruffly, as they prepared to leave for the dungeon. “But this time, I’ll be there—along with the Tiger. I want to see how you handle this skill in battle.”

Nyx felt a mix of excitement and anxiety swirl in her chest. The thought of fighting with Drac and the Tiger watching her so closely sent a thrill through her, but the fear of making a mistake loomed large.

That day, Nyx, Len, Suli, Nabi, Ryu, Guerim, the Tiger, and Drac ventured out together to a dungeon in Drac’s territory. Nyx clenched her fists, feeling the power of Chrono Collapse simmering beneath the surface. She was ready to prove herself—but more than that, she wanted to show Drac and the others that she could handle the weight of her growing abilities.

This wasn’t just a test of strength. It was a test of control.

********************************************

The Next Day

Nyx’s heart raced as they ventured into the new dungeon. It was marked yellow, signaling a challenge ahead, but she knew she was powerful enough to handle it. Still, the tension was palpable with both Drac and the Tiger watching her every move. Their silent rivalry always added an extra layer of tension, but ever since Nyx had come into their lives, they seemed to tolerate each other more—if only for her sake.

Inside, the dungeon had a different feel from the others she’d explored. The walls shimmered with faint, crystalline veins, and the air buzzed with an eerie energy that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Nyx felt nervous, but the excitement of proving herself in front of Drac and the Tiger kept her focused.

Len and Ryu had scouted ahead and returned with the details.

“The ants… they’re strange. Their bodies are covered in crystals,” Len said, shaking his head. “It’s not like anything we’ve seen before.”

Ryu added, “They seem to communicate without making a sound. It’s like they know what the others are thinking.”

Drac and Tiger exchanged a glance before confirming their suspicions.

“They’re Mindshard Colonists,” Tiger said, his voice low and serious. “These ants have crystalline bodies and are connected by a hive-mind. They emit psychic waves to control nearby creatures, turning them into thralls.”

Drac nodded in agreement, his gaze shifting to Nyx. “This will be a good test for Chrono Collapse. You’ll need to control the battlefield. Use your skill wisely.”

The Aetherlings looked at Nyx with encouraging smiles. Suli flitted close to her shoulder. “You’ve got this. We’re right here with you.”

Nabi hovered beside her. “Show them what you’ve got!”

Taking a deep breath, Nyx ventured deeper into the dungeon with her companions. The eerie buzzing of the ants’ hive-mind grew louder, and soon enough, they came upon two Mindshard Colonists, standing together as if communicating silently.

“Remember, crowd control,” Drac instructed, his deep voice steadying her nerves. “Let them come to you and use Chrono Collapse to control the field.”

Nyx nodded, her heart pounding. She let the two ants approach, closing the distance between them. As they neared, she activated Chrono Collapse in her mind, and everything around her shifted. Time slowed for her, and the ants froze mid-movement within the temporal field she created.

She moved quickly, activating her Lightning Mastery to strike the frozen ants. Their crystalline bodies shattered as she took their cores, one after another. A wave of relief washed over her as the ants dissolved into shards.

This strategy continued as they moved deeper into the dungeon, facing groups of two, three, and sometimes four ants at a time. With each encounter, Nyx grew more confident, but the eerie psychic pressure of the ants’ hive-mind weighed on her. It was a constant reminder of the challenge ahead.

Finally, they reached the boss room. The door loomed before them, massive and imposing as always. Nabi and Guerim fluttered forward and opened it, revealing the ant queen and her swarm of worker ants. A large, pulsating hive sat in the back of the chamber, sending out psychic pulses that reverberated through the room.

The sight of the queen and her minions sent a shiver down Nyx’s spine. This was going to be harder than anything she had faced before.

Tiger’s voice was calm but firm. “Remember, you need to disrupt the hive-mind. Use Chrono Collapse to slow or freeze them. Target the key Mindshard Colonists and break their connection to the hive.”

Drac stepped in with more advice. “Create a safe zone. Slow their movements with Time Dilation and stop the leaders with Time Stop. Hit quickly and retreat. Don’t let them overwhelm you.”

Nyx nodded, her nerves steeling. She knew this would be her toughest fight yet, but she trusted Drac and Tiger’s guidance. The Aetherlings gave her encouraging looks, and she could feel their support like a warm glow around her.

She stepped forward and activated Chrono Collapse, slowing time in the immediate area while freezing the more dangerous ants. The air around her seemed to shimmer as time warped. She moved quickly, striking at the workers and taking their cores with precise slashes of her Claw of Eternal.

The ants fought back fiercely, their psychic waves trying to cloud her mind, but she pushed through the haze, using her training to stay focused. Each time she was hurt, her Restoration Mastery healed her wounds, and she continued the fight with renewed vigor.

Drac’s voice echoed in her mind, reminding her to use Hit-and-Run Tactics. She slowed the swarm with Time Dilation, struck at the nearest Mindshard Colonists, and then retreated to a safer position. Bit by bit, she wore down their numbers.

Finally, it was just her and the queen ant. The air crackled with tension as they squared off. The queen’s massive form loomed over Nyx, its crystalline body radiating power.

Nyx took a deep breath, calming her nerves. She knew this would be the hardest part of the battle. The queen’s psychic influence was strong, but Nyx activated Chrono Collapse once more, freezing the queen’s psychic pulses while slowing her movements.

She moved swiftly, her daggers glowing with lightning as she struck at the queen’s core. The queen fought back, her mandibles snapping at Nyx, but Nyx dodged and struck again, each blow bringing her closer to victory.

After what felt like an eternity, Nyx saw her chance. She focused all her energy into one final strike, shattering the queen’s core with a powerful blow. The queen let out a piercing screech before dissolving into crystalline dust.

Nyx stood there, panting and covered in cuts, but victorious. The treasure chest appeared where the queen had fallen, glowing with golden light.

Drac and Tiger approached her, both nodding in approval.

“You did well,” Tiger said, his voice full of pride.

Drac’s gaze softened slightly. “You’re getting stronger, Nyx. You’ve shown that you’re ready.”

Len, Nabi, Suli, Ryu, and Guerim all rushed to Nyx, cheering and congratulating her. “You did it!” they cried, their voices full of joy and excitement.

Nyx smiled, exhaustion washing over her, but she couldn’t help feeling proud. She had passed the test. She was ready for the next step.