UvoSath Rainforest

Zone 1

Cycle 20

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CRASH! The colossal tree echoed on impact as the rocky ground trembled, kicking up a massive cloud of debris mingling with the blazing flames of the (F+) Ilosphat.

This is getting ridiculous! I couldn't help but think as I surveyed the rocky landscape.

I turned around and spotted the battered (F+) Ilosphat, seething with fury yet oddly satisfied in its wickedness. True to its impatient nature, the reptilian creature charged towards us recklessly, paying no heed to its surroundings.

The Doervus braced itself, its antlers crackling with tension, while I adjusted my ears and readied my spear. Might as well put an end to this creature while we have the opportunity!

The (F+) Ilosphat's legs bulked up as it prepared to pounce on us, but the Thornback crashed into the venomous beast with furious force. Unprovoked with rage, the Thornback's quills bristled as it emitted a series of distinct squeals from its thorn-crossed mouth.

Gradually, while maintaining a cautious stance, I felt slightly relieved as the Thornback recognized the (F+) Ilosphat as a greater threat than us, and the two creatures circled and spat at each other, their incomprehensible exchanges filled with animosity.

This, however, only further enraged the (F+) Ilosphat as it swiftly gained the upper hand by engulfing the Thornback in its deadly toxic fumes known as the [Toxic Haze].

The Thornback resisted as it forcefully slashed a protruding thorn through the haze, which the Ilosphat leapt back with an angered hiss once the thorn sliced into its chest.

Both creatures charged forward, the (F+) Ilosphat darting and skillfully outmaneuvering the Thornback, until it found an opportunity and sank its fangs deep into the leg of the spiky beast.

In response, the Thornback let out a piercing squeal, before leveraging its larger size to shove the (F+) Ilosphat into a nearby tree.

Soon, the clash between the (F+) Ilosphat and the Thornback escalated into a chaotic maelstrom, causing trees to sway and rocks to burst. The air thickened with noxious fumes as the (F+) Ilosphat's toxic breath once again enveloped the Thornback, penetrating its defenses with the lethal gas. The Thornback writhed and thrashed, its furious roars reverberating through the UvoSath rainforest.

With the fallen tree temporarily blocking our path, I had no choice but to observe the unfolding battle, ensuring that the Doervus and I were not caught up in their brawl.

I watched in despair, witnessing the battle between the (F+) beasts.

Dreadful, wild, brutal and…

Despite its smaller size, the (F+) Ilosphat possessed a cunning ferocity that surpassed even the Thornback's aggression. Like a nimble serpent, the (F+) Ilosphat's venomous fangs sank deep into the Thornback's flesh, injecting its malicious toxins with wicked delight.

In succession, the Thornback unleashed a pained squeal and it took this opportunity to stab back into the (F+) Ilosphat's shoulder.

A pained hiss emitted from the Ilosphat.

This might be our chance!

Recognizing that our escape depended on seizing the opportune moment, the Doervus and I focused on finding any possible exit routes. Not there (Ilosphat)! Not there either (Thornback)! A barricade of rocks!

I quickly realized none were visible that didn't involve crossing paths with either the Thornback, the (F+) Ilosphat, or the calamities unfurling in the battleground.

"Doervus!" I exclaimed. "Let us make our way toward the tree! We shall forge a path!"

Without a word, the Doervus and I charged toward the fallen tree, our desperation propelling us forward with the only thought to continue our momentum, refusing to get caught up in this mess.

As we neared the obstacle, I leaped onto the Doervus's head, using it as a sturdy platform to elevate myself and gain a better vantage point.

Spear in-ear, I drove the weapon into the massive tree trunk after the Doervus fired several rounds of [Doom Zaps] at it, scorching its resilient bark.

With a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, both of my ears firmly grasped the spear, swirling and coiling around it. Employing a maneuver I dubbed the [MereEar TwistPierce], I forcefully twisted and drove the crystalline tip deeper into the enormous tree trunk, relentlessly puncturing and drilling with a powerful spin!

Splinters scattered in all directions as the tree finally yielded to my ceaseless assault, eventually creating a narrow path for us to continue our escape.

Yet, the battle between the (F+) Ilosphat and the Thornback only intensified, as evidenced by a thorn whizzing dangerously close to our heads, demanding my full attention.

The Thornback, despite sustaining severe injuries and burns, fought back with unyielding tenacity, lengthened spikes slashing left and right. Its quills finally pierced the (F+) Ilosphat's scaled hide, leaving deep wounds that oozed toxic venom.

However, the (F+) Ilosphat's resilience and speed allowed it to weather the Thornback's assault, retaliating with every opportunity, claws and fangs, slashing and snapping.

Eyes glinting, the (F+) Ilosphat unleashed another frenzied onslaught, nearly overwhelming the Thornback.

It made every step I made alongside the Doervus excruciating as I feared and recognized our opportunity to escape became increasingly dire by the moment.

I had no choice but to leap off the Doervus and carve a wider crevice in the narrow path, allowing it to squeeze through. Each strike was fueled by desperation, knowing that our opportunity to escape was slipping away. And then, at last, I broke through!

The Doervus followed close behind, its powerful strides covering ground with astonishing speed.

The boisterous battle between the (F+) Ilosphat and the Thornback raged on, their roars and the clash of their formidable powers fading into the distance as we pressed onward.

"Quick, Doervus! Through there!" I shouted, using my tail to point towards another narrow passage.

I tensed up as the superior Eldriyssal’s deafening roars and screeches reverberated through the forest as we maneuvered through the passage.

Slowly, I began to calm down as we made it outside the hazardous terrain.

Please, please, please be over.

The Doervus's hooves resumed to clop against the crystal-laden ground, each rhythmic step steadily relieving me as the two of us drew closer to our plausible refuge.

“WAAAaaaaaAAAHHH!!!” A horrific wail pierced the air, causing me to instinctively curl my ears.

I turned back to see the Mournfoons, swooping down from above, their talons reaching out in a frantic attempt to halt our progress.

But with a combination of swift reflexes and well-timed spear strikes, I fended off their attacks, driving them back with each blow.

Can these bothersome creatures not leave us in peace?!

Ripping through foliage, we ventured deeper into the eerie vegetation of the UvoSath, the delicate glow of bioluminescent plants bathed our surroundings in an unsettling luminescence.

It was both captivating and haunting, casting elongated shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own. The forest became denser, the twisted trees intertwining their gnarled branches above us, forming an intricate labyrinth.

I hopped onto the Doervus's back, clutching its fur tightly as it continued to sprint away from the pursuing Mournfoons.

These balloon-like creatures were swift, but we were swifter, thanks to the Doervus's nimble, zigzagging movements through the forest.

However, it was not long before the Mournfoons began to catch up, their talons reaching out to snatch at us from the air like hooks attached to spectral strings with a sorrowful sound chiming from them. It… it was hard to describe. But the air began to dampen once again from their assault, their [Echo of Lament].

From my elevated position on the Doervus's back, I guided its movements, helping it navigate the tangled web of talons attempting to ensnare us.

With the Doervus's robust strides and my sharpened senses utilizing [Critical Observation], we maneuvered through the swarm of Mournfoon, their talons and wings continuously slicing through the air.

SKILL LEVEL UP:

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[CRITICAL OBSERVATION (Lv 1)] → has leveled up to [CRITICAL OBSERVATION (Lv 2)]

We could feel their mournful cries reverberating around us, their piercing notes threatening to disorient us.

As the Doervus leaped over fallen logs and dodged branches, the Mournfoons swooped in from all directions, their wings and talons reaching out, seeking to strike at any vulnerabilities.

We fought back, the Doervus using its powerful antlers and electrifying charges [Doom Zap] and [Regal Ram] to fend off the Mournfoons, while I wielded my spear and my Merecritt ears lengthened, penetrating Mournfoons within my vicinity.

The Doervus and I pressed forward, my ears spinning and blasting the Mournfoons with [Doom Zap], reducing their numbers with each passing moment.

We anticipated the Mournfoons' next aerial assaults, evading their water droplets [Sorrow Shower] with a combination of speed and swift maneuvering. We retaliated, striking as the air became inhospitable with electricity and the incessant swinging of blurred ears, aiming to weaken the swarm and create an opening for escape.

I then noticed that the Doervus was beginning to tire, its movements becoming sluggish and less agile. It was then that I realized I had to step in and do more to help.

I leapt off the Doervus's back and unleashed a barrage of [MereSphere] blasts at the Mournfoons, causing them to scatter and lose focus.

With my ears retracting to the utmost length with [MereEar Elongation], I used them to grasp the tree branches and the ears contracted as they pulled my small form to an elevated level.

As I swung through the dense forest canopy with my Merecritt ears stretching outward and truncating with as much control I could muster, they morphed into flexible, whip-like appendages.

Continually maneuvering tree branch by branch in rapid and deliberate motions, I unleashed a series of [MereSpheres], each orb of energy surging forth from my agape mouth with dazzling brilliance. They burst like radiant firecrackers upon colliding with the Mournfoons in destructive succession, creating explosions of light and sound.

The Mournfoons faltered under the assault, their spectral bodies dispersing and reforming in disarray. The ghastly strings that connected their talons to their bodies weakened, temporarily disrupting their coordinated assault.

I found this pleasing to occur. With each strike, I resumed to aim to disrupt their coordinated pursuit, which gave a momentary respite for the Doervus within their [Echo of Lament] technique.

The Mournfoon, still taken aback and recovering from my unexpected counterattack, struggled to regain their composure and regroup.

Good.

I took advantage of their momentary confusion, maneuvering swiftly through the treetops, evading their talons that clawed at the air.

In their frustration to grasp me, the Mournfoons' let out sorrowful wails that echoed through the forest, their haunting sound creating an eerie symphony that filled the air.

Carefully I halted my movements and examined my surroundings, before evading a hulking blast of water from an (Uncommon) Mournfoon and sustained my tree-bouncing momentum with my Merecritt ears stretched out as makeshift grappling hooks.

I swung from tree to tree, deftly maneuvering through the branches. The Mournfoons attempted to give chase, their [Sorrow Shower] piercing trees, their talons slashing through the air. But my nimble movements allowed me to evade torrential downpour after downpour and their spiritless grasps.

Come on, keep following me, I dare you.

Refusing to back down, the Mournfoons' pursuit continued.

Come on, I'm right here!

Allowing them to gather up, I screamed with the [Melodious Shout], releasing harmonious frequencies that reverberated through the air. The sound-waves disrupted the Mournfoons' spectral forms, causing them to momentarily dissipate, buying even more precious seconds of respite for the Doervus.

However, the Mournfoons' persistence was unwavering. They reappeared, their spectral bodies shimmering with obvious disdain as they gyrated in unison.

Their assault intensified, as they unleashed water droplets and pellets, aiming to dampen our movements and slow our escape in a intertwining manner of [Sorrow Shower] and [Echo of Lament]. Aware of this, I knew how to prevent this.

My entire body tensed as I focused my energy, my chest resonating with the echoes of my inner abyssal particles. With a resounding cry, I unleashed the power of the [Melodious Shout]!

SCREEEECH!

The harmonious vibrations cut through the dampened air, shattering and disrupting the Mournfoons' spectral cohesion again.

But the ones in the (Uncommon) classification were far more resilient to the powerful cry I emitted and hastily drew near me.

I dashed through the trees, a fierce wind sweeping through my fur and back as I pushed harder and faster.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of crimson lightning split the sky; a crackling surge of electricity striking the (Uncommon) Mournfoons, disorienting them.

Silently nodding my thanks, the Doervus's [Doom Zap] struck the (Uncommon) Mournfoons, the Mournfoons momentarily lost their focus, granting me a crucial opening.

With thrusts combined with the might of the [Regal Ram], I drove my spear into the dazed Mournfoons, piercing numerous times through their spectral forms.

"WAAAaaaaaHHHhhh!!!"

The fluttering creatures let out haunting shrieks, their bodies dissipating into nothingness and particles that I successively absorbed.

[1.8 APex (Abyssal Particles) Gained]

I frowned, realizing that a single (Uncommon) variant with a [180 APU] converted to such a small boost in growth; at least five of them were taken down. However, I could not maintain such thoughts for long as my attention shifted to the remaining Mournfoons that regrouped, every one of them swirling around me with increased aggression.

Undeterred, I continued to utilize the fury of my Merecritt ears, swinging from tree to tree, my spear striking left-right, up and down, piercing everything in their path.

I found that the damage was only applicable against the (Common) Mournfoon and the remaining, superior (Uncommon) Mournfoon lunged and swiped at me, their talons carving through the wind and scraping against the bark.

Ouch! A talon cut through fur and my flesh, but I had to push myself, not to allow myself to be caught within their grasps.

Pushing my reflexes to their limits, my agility—alongside [MereSwiftness], allowed me to evade the rest of their attacks. And yet, I did not break out of their wrath unscathed.

As I swung through the trees, I targeted the Mournfoons with a few precise [MereSphere] blasts.

The energy-infused orbs collided with their spectral forms, causing some to dissipate while others were temporarily staggered—the felled Mournfoons' mournful cries reverberated as they were eradicated.

Still there was no relief, the (Uncommon) Mournfoon shrugged off the detonating impacts of the [MereSpheres] and retaliated with resumed ferocity.

The air around me grew denser, dampened by their mournful wails, slowing my movements and making it increasingly challenging to evade their relentless assaults.

I was uncertain whether I would make it through this.

Outside my anticipation, the Doervus, who must have sensed the escalating danger around me, charged forward with a tremendous burst of speed. Its antlers crackled with electricity, bolts of crimson lightning arcing through the air as it broke through its own adversaries. The (Uncommon) Mournfoons, caught off guard by the Doervus's lightning assault, were temporarily incapacitated, giving me another opportunity to strike.

With a swift thrust of my spear, I aimed for a (Uncommon) Mournfoon's core—a concentrated point of abyssal energy infused to the tip of my spear with my [Regal Ram] technique.

The spear pierced through its form, causing it to dissipate in a burst of particles.

Arising in frustration, the remaining Mournfoon shrieked in anguish, their coordinated assault faltering as they faced the loss of their own.

The Doervus continued its relentless assault, unleashing bolts of crimson lightning that crackled through the air, striking the other (Uncommon) Mournfoons with precise accuracy.

The electrified onslaught disrupted their ghostly forms, momentarily throwing them off balance and creating openings for my own counterattack.

I swung through the trees, my Merecritt ears extending and retracting with fluid grace, propelling me through the air as I unleashed a barrage of [MereSpheres].

The energy-infused spheres streaked through the forest, colliding with the (Uncommon) Mournfoons and shattering their phantasmal defenses.

But the (Uncommon) Mournfoon swiftly regrouped, their watery forms rippling with power.

Floating at high speed, they closed in on me, their talons extended, ready to seize and dampen my movements.

Discontented and ready for them, I unleashed a half-powered [Melodious Shout].

The harmonious resonance reverberated through the forest, rippling through the air and disrupting the (Uncommon) Mournfoons on the spot.

I may not have much means to harm them much but seeing as their forms flickered and faltered; their presence weakening under the onslaught of my empowered voice, was encouraging enough to ignore the toll of this prolonged battle.

Almost taking a knee, after feeling my reserves drained, I forced myself to continue to remain standing.

I pivoted on my heel, spinning with agility and grace, ready to face the approaching Mournfoons head-on. With every swing of my spear, I unleashed a flurry of attacks, targeting their vulnerable spots and exploiting their weakened forms.

The forest became a blur of motion and sound as I clashed with the Mournfoon, each strike found its mark, shattering the weakened forms of the (Uncommon) Mournfoon. Their watery bodies dispersed, dissipating into the eldritch mist that pervaded the rainforest.

Meanwhile, the Doervus, had became a beacon of electrifying power, as it continued to unleash bolts of crimson lightning, their [Doom Zap] cutting through the air and striking the Mournfoons with exploding lights, creating a light show.

[Doom Zap] after [Doom Zap]; Its hooves pounded across the forest floor, creating devastation throughout the Mournfoons' ranks. Dozens gone in a blink of an eye!

I sought not to fall behind. Using my Merecritt ears, I grasped the talons of a Mournfoon and swung it around, colliding with several of its companions before releasing it, sending it soaring into the distance, never to be seen again.

Infusing my spear with [Lightning], I began to thrust it at the (Uncommon) variants approaching me, this time finding success in bringing down the (Uncommon) Mournfoons.

Now only one remained, standing defiantly before me as weariness began to take its toll; But I could not stop now as sprinted and jabbed with all the might I had.

I ignited the tip of my spear as I pierced the rectangular creature, causing the Mournfoon to explode and plummet to the ground.

Acknowledging my victory, my gaze swept the floor below.

Aha!

With a powerful leap, I dove towards another dull-colored cluster of Mournfoons that threatened to surround the Doervus.

Together, we flanked the Mournfoons, unleashing an intense surge of [Doom Zap] that became violet and stunned every Mournfoon caught between us.

The fusion of electricity from both myself and the Doervus proved overwhelming for them to handle; our coordinated assault devastating.

Mournfoon after faltering Mournfoon dissipated, unable to withstand the onslaught of our combined lightning. Their ghastly forms soon flickered and faded into fragments; their mournful cries silenced as we electrified our way through their ranks.

I soon landed on the ground and positioned myself by the side of the Doervus, carefully examining our surroundings. To my dismay, more Mournfoons were arriving, and it was infuriating to see them.

The Doervus spoke to my surprise, "I must say, Aera, you have come a long way in your combat skills and adaptability to this world." The deer-like creature's voice carried a hint of astonishment as it swung its electrified antlers, striking down the Mournfoons closing in on us.

"Oh, really now?" I replied, slightly breathless. I leaped and twisted through the air, delivering a flurry of ear-fist strikes that punctured holes and inflated the bodies of the Mournfoon.

However, I was quick to note that the balloon-bird Eldriyssals around us were the (Common) variants. It was these (Common) Mournfoons that spearheaded the assault, while the surviving (Uncommon) Mournfoons hovered at a safe distance in the air.

I noticed that the (Uncommon) Mournfoon, perched high above, remained unharmed by our electrical barrage.

Causing me to shudder, their watchful eyes gleamed with malicious intent, indicating their dominance over the lesser (Common) Mournfoons.

Something ominous was brewing, and I swiftly assessed the situation…

Realizing that I had no other option, I rapidly extended my Merecritt ears and grabbed hold of the much larger Doervus's midsection.

That was the only course of action I could take as the (Uncommon) Mournfoons vigorously flapped their wings, emanating an eerie glow:

[[CASCADE PENUMBRAE]]

Came forth the skill…

Resembling crescent moons, these bladed ripples sliced through the nocturnal air, undulating like threatening waves, poised to engulf us in their dampening misfortune.