I could barely stand as the battle's adrenaline subsided, my weary body trembled with exhaustion and pain, and the thrill of triumph faded away, leaving me to face the harsh reality of what followed.

Collapsing to the ground, I gasped for breath, my muscles aching with every movement. The strain from synchronizing with Zest had drained my strength, leaving me vulnerable and weak.

Fear clutched at my heart as I frantically looked for Zest, but panic struck within me when I couldn't find them. Dread washed over me, threatening to overwhelm my thoughts.

Had something terrible happened to them? Did I lose them during the fight? Was our connection severed? I tried to remain composed as I reassessed what could have happened to Zest.

"Nexus... I need you to activate." I whispered.

Then, a calm and soothing voice resonated within me—the Nexus, the entity that bestowed upon me the power to transform and oversaw our synchronization. "Do not be alarmed, Aera," it said in a neutral tone, "Zest has been placed within the Nexus, in a private dimension, for its own safety."

Hope flickered inside me as I took in their words, "Can I see them? Can I see Zest?" I yearned for even the slightest glimpse of my companion.

"Patience, dear Aera," the Nexus replied, "You shall reunite with Zest in due time. For now, rest and heal your weary soul."

Rest and heal, they say, but how can I possibly do that when I'm bursting with worry about Zest?

"No, I must see Zest now," I insisted, despite the exhaustion weighing me down. "I cannot rest until I see that they are safe and sound."

The Nexus seemed to mull over my request, as if debating the pros and cons, before finally giving in. "Very well," it said.

And just like that, the Nexus granted my command. It conjured a small orb before me—a crimson core that held Zest's essence.

My heart sank as I realized the sacrifice Zest had made during our battle.

"Zest..." I murmured, my voice quivering.

In that moment, the Nexus spoke again, its words both reassuring and stern. "Zest is in the process of recovering after our synchronization. It will take time for them to regain their physical form, so it's best to be diligent and careful," it explained.

The words hit me like a heavy tome, a tough combination of hope and concern flooding my thoughts. Zest was safe, but the road to their full recovery would be arduous. I turned my attention to the core in my paws, my heart weighed with worry.

To my surprise, Zest's voice resonated in my mind, like a soothing lullaby on a stormy night. Their words were gentle yet firm. "Indeed, Aera," Zest confirmed. "Though I may have lost my physical form, my power remains. You can still tap into the strength and abilities I possess. Focus on survival, for our sake."

Appalled by the situation, I felt… reluctant. "But... Zest, you're in this state because of me. I should have protected you better."

Zest sighed. "Aera, survival in this realm is paramount. You must focus on doing whatever it takes to overcome the challenges ahead. Use my power to its fullest extent and keep pushing forward. I believe in you."

"I know, but…"

Even though Zest had urged me to let go of my worries and focus on survival…I shook my head, no, enough with the doubt. I knew that I must.

"Do not be burdened by my absence, Aera," Zest continued. "In this state, you are the vessel of my power. Fight, win, and continue to grow."

Reluctantly, I clutched the core of Zest, pressing them against my chest, feeling its pulsating energy against my skin.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I whispered my gratitude. "Thank you, Zest. I will protect you, no matter what." Zest's essence glowed in my paws. "I will do whatever it takes to survive and thrive in this bewildering world."

─ BOND LEVELED UP:

[⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4-STARS)] → [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5-STARS)] → [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(6-STARS)]

─ Status Changed!

─ CONNECTION STATUS:

Zest's status increased from [Companion] → [FRIEND]

In that moment, our bond deepened. I knew that despite the uncertainty of the future, we would face it together, in whatever form that may be.

Uncaringly, and shakily, I rose to my feet with Zest's core held close to my heart. The path ahead may be treacherous and fraught with danger, but I would not falter.

I would honor Zest's sacrifice and raise my own power to never allow this to happen again. In doing so, I shall remember and honor the memory of Gil and the Perlachirp.

"Gil is here." Zest came to state.

At first, I was surprised to hear such a statement by Zest. But upon examining the Nexus closer. I peered within the space and saw something I couldn't believe.

Inside the Nexus, there was a swirling vortex of colors, like nothing I had ever seen before. It was as if the entire spectrum of light was dancing and twirling together, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that took my breath away.

And somehow…somehow Gilbud managed to reside within the bounds of the Nexus. I understood now as I stared upon the faint zone within my mind's eye.

For a moment it was difficult to make out until the space shifted to a holographic screen that I could examine more closely. It was as if a window had opened into a separate dimension, revealing the inner workings of this mysterious realm.

I contemplated the presence of Gilbud within the Nexus, and I couldn't help but wonder about its latent capabilities.

"Is that really you, Gil?" I whispered, not expecting a response.

To my surprise, a mischievous yet warm voice echoed in my mind, saying, "Yo! Indeed, Aera! I'm still here, but, uh, yo, I'm not sure how this happened...?" The elephant creature chuckled. "All I remember is you grabbing me and POOF, I found myself lost in this abyss!"

I processed this information as a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "I never thought I'd hear your voice again."

Gilbud continued with their usual enthusiasm as they responded, "Yo, you know me, Aera. I always find a way to sneak into the most unexpected places!" Then, there was a pause. "I...I'm just a little anxious," emphasized the Plelepun, "after all, you placed me in here, and I couldn't get hold of you until now...but it's not too bad. It's actually quite spacious in here!"

I was not aware as to how such an arrangement occurred or how it worked in the first place. As far as I remembered… I had far more to learn about it and its potential. Synchronization…storage…and it was capable of placing entire creatures within itself…

I let out a relieved sigh as I continued to speak with Gil. "All I can say is thank goodness that you're safe, Gil. And don't worry, I wouldn't leave you hanging for too long. I had to make sure everything was in order." My eyes narrowed. "I have important matters to discuss."

"Of course." It was a familiar voice, Vaida's voice, that spoke up behind me. "All it took was a simple push, however, to facilitate the activation of your abilities."

I gritted my teeth, expecting the sight of a small, ghostly fox.

"I warned you to watch closely, had I not, dear Aera?" Vaida continued.

I turned. But instead, I was greeted by a boy garbed in a tuxedo and an intricately decorated witch's hat; bandages on one half of his face, more wrapped upon one of his arms. His clothing held the same color palette and aesthetic as Vaida's pelt, and not only that, he exuded a ghastly aura, which radiated from his clothes. His presence was overpowering…unsettling.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Vaida slowly raised his hands and muttered an incantation under his breath. Suddenly, the air around him seemed to shimmer and crackle with a strange energy. It was then that I noticed them—two small ghostly foxes materialized out of thin air.

Those foxes were kin of Vaida.

The first fox, with fur as white as freshly fallen snow, had eyes that shimmered like sapphires. It bore a serene expression, as if it held ancient wisdom beyond its mortal form. Its staff was adorned with delicate moon-shaped charms that jingled softly with every movement.

< Restricted Form >

The second fox, its coat a mesmerizing shade of grays, had eyes that glowed like embers. Its gaze burned with an intensity that almost triggered my fighting response. Its staff was adorned with intricate flame-like carvings, pulsating with an eerie fiery glow.

< Restricted Form >

Each of these spectral foxes floated effortlessly in the air, their tiny paws gripping delicate staffs, their bodies encircled with intricate runes and mystical symbols.

Just as suddenly as they had appeared, the foxes ceased their movements and floated back towards Vaida. He lowered his hands, his intense gaze fixed upon me. It was only then that I noticed the faint smile playing on his lips.

< Supreme EPITHET: Specter of the Lunar Radiance >

Vaida proceeded to clear his throat, and his next response was a chilling whisper that sent shivers down my spine. "Impressive, I must admit, Aera. You've come so far," he said, his tone devoid of any warmth. "But you still have much to learn, much to endure."

"You..." I hissed through gritted teeth, while my grip tightened on Zest's core.

I exhaled slowly, trying to regain my composure. "What do you want from me now, Vaida?" I demanded, my tone slightly softened.

Vaida's single eye bore into mines. "I want to see if you're truly worthy of the power you possess—"

"Enough, Vaida. The bet. You have clearly lost, so it's time to gracefully accept defeat and leave."

I jolted and slowly turned. That voice; I was certain that it should have only occurred in my thoughts. But there, as pink flower petals swirled around the figure, the entity delicately pointed their fan at Vaida.

There stood G.A.I.A.'s physical manifestation, a revelation that left me stunned. She had always hidden herself within my mind, posing as a "guiding voice" all the while having her own agenda and secrets.

Her intervention in this encounter with Vaida was unexpected, and it sent a clear message to both me and the fox creature.

Vaida, for his part, regarded G.A.I.A. with intrigued irritation as he bowed. "You've always been an enigma, G.A.I.A.," he smirked, his eye narrowing. "Interfering in affairs that shouldn't concern you."

Face concealed under a hood, G.A.I.A. maintained her composed demeanor, her fan still concealing her expression. "This matter does concern me, Vaida. Aera is now under my protection."

A tense silence hung in the air as the two entities faced off. I watched, torn between the desire to learn more about G.A.I.A.'s true nature and the fear of the consequences of this confrontation.

Soon, Vaida's lips curled into a sly smile as he crossed his arms, "Very well, G.A.I.A. You may have won this round, but remember, our paths will cross again. Know that I will be relaying these events to M̴̲̆ǫ̷͈̕͘t̶̯̍͜ḥ̸̖̌̃ȩ̵̈́́r̶̙̍."

With those cryptic words, Vaida and his kin began to fade, dissipating into swirling mist, leaving me alone with G.A.I.A.

I gave my attention to G.A.I.A. The pink petals continued to dance around her, creating an ethereal aura that was both beautiful and disturbingly familiar.

No. It couldn't be…

"G.A.I.A.," I finally spoke. "Who are you really? What is your connection to Vaida, and what do you want from me?"

G.A.I.A. lowered her fan, revealing a single, striking golden eye that held a depth of emotion. "Aera, there are secrets that I've kept from you, and for that, I apologize. But know this, I am here to protect you, to guide you on a path of your own choosing."

Her gaze remained fixated upon me. However, it seemed like it was on a single area: the symbol on my head.

"Aion's Mark..." she mused, her voice holding a cryptic and knowing delightfulness that sent a chill through me. Her gaze remained locked on the symbol, and her demeanor became even more unnerving.

G.A.I.A.'s fixation on the symbol on my forehead perturbed me. Aion's Mark, as she had proclaimed, had always been a source of both power and mystery, and I had come to understand its significance over time. But G.A.I.A.'s reaction to it was bizarre, to say the least.

I couldn't help but scrutinize G.A.I.A. in return, noticing the subtle differences that set her apart from a human. Her pointed ears, luminous hair, and the faint yet almost demonic presence she exuded. Behind her fan, I could sense a hidden grin forming, and her aura seemed to shift, becoming more unsettling by the moment.

Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I asked the question that had been burning in my mind. "G.A.I.A., what are you? You're not human, and your intentions are far from ordinary. What is your true purpose?"

G.A.I.A.'s hidden grin widened as she spoke, her eyes now glowing with an eerie pink hue.

Her response was delivered with an unparalleled smugness that sent a bone-chilling shiver through me. "Aera," she declared, her voice dripping with self-assuredness, "it's quite simple—I seek to become a Goddess."

A… Goddess…

G.A.I.A.'s examination of me left me feeling exposed and vulnerable, as if she could see every hidden facet of my being. Her grim fascination remained unchanged, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was a pawn in a game I barely understood.

"I want you to make your own choices, Aera. To break free from Aion's influence and forge your own path. You have the power within you, and it's time you learned to wield it for your own sake."

"Now, evolve."

Her words about evolving weighed heavily on me, but before I could respond or ask for clarification, she took a drastic step. With a swift gesture, G.A.I.A. cut the tip of her finger, and her purple "blood" dripped onto my forehead, seeping into the symbol of Aion's Mark.

As the strange substance made contact with my skin, I felt an immediate rush of discomfort. The purple "blood" seemed to seep into my very pores, and I could sense it brimming with abyssal particles. Dizziness overcame me, and the world around me started to spin and distort. Panic surged through my veins as I struggled to maintain my composure.

G.A.I.A.'s frowned as she observed my ordeal. "Survive this, Aera," she said, her voice echoing in my disoriented mind. "And if you are able to... head north. This is where we part ways for awhile. I cannot reside in the open for long... or else the others..."

Her last words became distorted and distant, as if she was speaking from a great distance. My vision blurred, and I felt myself falling into a deep slumber, unable to resist the overwhelming effects of the abyssal substance that now coursed through my veins.

As my consciousness slipped away, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me.

Though the path ahead remained uncertain, one thing was clear:

I had no choice but to trust in my own strength to survive whatever lay ahead, and I could only hope that G.A.I.A.'s intentions were indeed in my best interest.

"For now, I know that all monsters of Zeldritzon are my power."

----------------------------------------

Within the surreal realm of my own mind, I found myself standing before a crystal unlike anything I had ever seen before. It glowed with an eerie radiance that illuminated the space around it. Inside the crystal, I could make out the faint silhouette of my human self, confined in a state of suspended animation.

I approached the crystal containing my human self, confusion gnawing at me. What did this mean? How was it possible that my human form was trapped within this strange realm within my own mind? The questions swirled in my thoughts like a relentless storm.

With every passing moment in this odd dimension, I could feel my strength waning. It was as if the longer I remained here, the more tasking it became on my soul. Panic clawed at the edges of my consciousness as I realized the urgency of the situation: I couldn't afford to linger here much longer.

Instinctively as I drew nearer, I reached out with my paw and touched the surface of the crystal that held my human form captive. The moment contact was made, a blinding, grand light engulfed me, momentarily obliterating all sense of self.

A sensation like electricity coursed through my tiny form.

It was as if I had touched the very essence of my existence, and the world around me blurred and shifted.

The blinding light continued to engulf me, and for a moment, my mind was: clear.

I could feel a tremendous surge of energy coursing through me, and I watched in astonishment as angelic wings momentarily sprouted from my back, their radiance illuminating the dark void that surrounded me. The crystal that had contained my human self cracked slightly.

But such a moment of clarity was fleeting, and as the light faded, I found myself back within the desolate landscape where I had first fainted.

< ASCENSION to RANK E… >

< SUCCESSFUL >

My form remained that of a Merecritt, albeit slightly altered, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of confusion and disappointment. What had just happened? Why was my human self trapped within that crystal?

But I was soon disturbed as a chilly wind blew through the wasteland, carrying with it an eerie rain; its droplets falling with an abnormal hue.

As the rain began to fall, an unsettling sight greeted me.

I glanced up, and for a moment, my eyes widened in terror. There, amidst the falling rain, I caught a glimpse of a monstrous entity—a tentacled horror, its form composed of writhing shadows.

It seemed to emerge from the depths of the sinister forest, only to vanish as quickly as it appeared. I shook my head, convincing myself that it was a figment of my imagination, a trick played by my own mind.

But deep down, I knew it had been real, a lurking presence within the sinister forest. A surge of gratitude washed over me, grateful that I had escaped its clutches, even if only by sheer luck.

Though the creature vanished as quickly as it had appeared, a sensation of unease kindled within me. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of unseen eyes following my every move.

Yet, even as I tried to dismiss the encounter, a lingering sense of being watched gnawed at my senses, like unseen eyes boring into my very soul.

My gaze swept through the bleak wasteland before me, its rocky terrain and barren landscape offering little solace. I knew I had to move, to distance myself from the sinister forest that loomed across from me.

The idea of entering that wicked forest tugged at my mind, tempting me with the chance of finding my way back home. However, the time wasn't right.

With each step I took, I could not shake the continual feeling of being watched, a presence lurking just beyond my vision. But I pressed on, driven by the resolve to uncover the truth and find a way back to my dimension. For the time being, I had to prioritize my survival and gather more strength and knowledge before venturing into the unknown.

The rain continued to fall, its eerie color staining the world around me.

The weight of the unknown hung heavy in the air, and I steeled myself for the harrowing journey ahead, knowing that I was merely scratching the surface of Zeldritzon's true horrors. My demise? I refused to succumb once again.

Suddenly, a delicate cascade of pink flower petals captured my attention, pirouetting gracefully as they fluttered towards the earth. In that fleeting moment, the world's malevolence receded, and I found solace in the ephemeral beauty against the backdrop of gloom.