Zeldritzon [Cycle 20] - Afternoon

  Current Location:

  [Lylore Zone]

  [Crystal Shelter]

  [UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]

  One look… one hard look into GamaGen's shifting irises and his [Memorial Dive] had been invoked.

  "Hisss!" A theropod monster, resembling a Dilophosaurus, sped furiously across the fiery field of hazardous greens.

  Smoke billowed from the blackened expanse as several more of its kind rushed forth, a compact congregation in the dozens. They spat viscous gunk from their throats, sending it splattering through the air toward their advancing adversaries: a thundering herd of monstrous, mouthless deer charging at the Ilosphats with electrified, crackling antlers.

  One deer at the forefront bellowed, "You shall not claim our lands, you Ilosphat blights!" It lunged its head with a thrust, unleashing a blast of lightning across the blazing field. Ilosphats screeched, the Dorvuses cried, and the dissonance intensified.

  KiAera swiveled her head around, trying to make sense of her newfound location. She realized she was no longer standing in the Crystal Shelter's glades with the others; they were nowhere in sight. Where were they? Had she been teleported? Everything around her resembled a battlefield.

  Her ears popped as she registered the whistle of a projectile. She twisted and leaped from her position just in time to evade it as it flew past her head. A heartbeat later, she rolled to avoid the hooves of a Doom Deer—another Dorvus?—that nearly trampled her underfoot. She quickly regained her bearings and scampered across the field.

  A bolt of lightning struck nearby, startling her and halting her in her tracks. She stumbled on her feet, eyes wide as she watched the grass charred where she had just stood.

  "Hey, bucko! You almost fried me there!" she yelled, expressing her irritation at the Dorvus that had fired at her. However, she was the least of its concerns as it wrestled with two Ilosphats that were half its height.

  That worried her. She realized that the Dorvus engaged in battle with those Ilosphats was not the same one she and GamaGen had been conversing with just moments ago. The more she thought about it, the more perplexed she became. Where was she? This place was definitely not the Crystal Shelter glades. No, it was an entirely different environment, and she was left wondering how she had ended up here.

  GamaGen. That was correct! He had mentioned something about her visualizing a phantasm of the past. This skirmish—she hoped—must have been an illusion, cast to replay the Dorvus's memories.

  But she never knew GamaGen had the capability to project memories this vividly—or to even have the ability to enact spells of this magnitude in the first place—but she could feel the heat of the fire, the static in the air, and the tension rippling through the battlefield as if she were truly there.

  The clash of antlers and the sharp hiss of the Ilosphats' venomous spit echoed in her ears. Each stomp of a Dorvus's hoof sent tremors through the ground, and she felt the vibrations all the way to her bones.

  She ducked again as another Dorvus, its antlers crackling with green electricity, charged past her, its eyes wild with fury and desperation. The sky above was a swirling uproar of dark clouds and ash, illuminated by sporadic bursts of lightning, as if the heavens themselves were raging against the violence below.

  KiAera's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to keep up with the turmoil unfolding around her.

  Suddenly, a shrill cry pierced the din of battle. KiAera whipped her head around to see a young Dorvus, smaller than the others, being surrounded by a group of Ilosphats. The youngling's antlers were barely sparking, its energy seemed depleted, and it looked terrified as the Ilosphats closed in.

  Without thinking, KiAera bolted toward the young Dorvus, her [Mereswiftness] making her nimble and quick. She weaved through the flames, her small size allowing her to slip between the legs of the larger creatures. As she neared the young Dorvus, she saw one of the Ilosphats rear back, ready to spit its venom.

  "No!" she shouted, launching herself at the creature. She tackled it to the ground, her claws raking across its scaly hide. The Ilosphat screeched in pain, thrashing as it tried to shake her off. But KiAera held on. She sunk her fangs deep into its nape before her ears gripped and tightened around its neck until she felt it go limp beneath her.

  She barely had time to register her victory as another Ilosphat lunged at her. She dropped low and rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. The young Dorvus charged at the Ilosphat, its antlers sparking back to life as it impaled the creature with a surge of electricity.

  Together, they fought off the remaining Ilosphats, the young Dorvus gaining strength with each victory. When the last of the Ilosphats had been driven back, the young Dorvus turned to KiAera, its eyes wide with gratitude.

  Its voice trembled a "Thank you."

  KiAera nodded, panting as she wiped the blood from her mouth. "Stay close to the others," she urged. "This battle isn't over yet."

  The young Dorvus nodded and bolted away toward the safety of the herd, leaving KiAera to catch her breath.

  She glanced around, trying to gain her bearings. The battlefield was a mess of bodies and smoke, but something in the distance caught her eye—a massive Dorvus, larger than any of the others, its antlers glowing with a fierce, dusky light.

  It was locked in combat with a monstrous Ilosphat, thrice the size of the others. This was no ordinary Ilosphat—it was the leader, its scales glistening with a sickly purple hue, its golden frills aflame, its jaws dripping with venom. The two titans clashed, their power shaking the very ground beneath them.

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  KiAera felt an overwhelming urge to go to the Dorvus's aid, but before she could move, the world around her began to distort again. The sounds of battle faded, the heat of the flames dissipated, and the smell of smoke and ash was replaced by the familiar scent of the Crystal Shelter.

  She blinked, finding herself back in the glades, GamaGen still perched atop her head, the Dorvus standing before her, its eyes distant as if lost in its memories.

  "That... was your past," KiAera whispered, still trying to process what she had witnessed.

  She understood now. It had seemed so stoic, almost aloof, but perhaps it was just hiding its true feelings beneath a mask of indifference…

  "…as the sole survivor of my herd, I vowed revenge," the Dorvus peered at the glades, its red orbs dulled. "I have traveled far and wide, searching for the Ilosphats that killed everyone. My only goal is to eradicate the Ilosphats. Nothing more."

  Skadicritt sniffled as she shook her head, ears flopping as she padded closer toward the doom deer. "You're not throwing your life away are you? The others…your family…I… I think you should carry on for their sake…"

  The Dorvus nodded. "Yes. That was the day I lost my family. The Ilosphats decimated my herd, leaving only a survivor. I've been hunting them ever since, seeking justice for those we lost."

  GamaGen gave his response. "Revenge is a dangerous path, young Dorvus. It can consume you, cloud your judgment. But I understand your pain, and I will offer you my guidance."

  The Dorvus looked at GamaGen and the flicker of hope shone in its eyes. "What must I do?"

  "You will fail in your endeavors, young Dorvus." GamaGen was blunt with his response. "Your goal is impossible."

  "And why is that?" the Dorvus asked, exposing its fangs with a snarl.

  "The Ilosphats are a vicious and perilous species, not to be underestimated. Indeed, the Ilosphats you seek are well beyond your current status," GamaGen said, eyes closed in contemplation.

  "Yes, I foresee it," GamaGen's eyes glowed with an ominous intensity, "a fledgling such as yourself would surely meet your demise against the myriad of emergent-stage Ilosphats, led by their leader, a dominant-stage Ilosphat with a notorious reputation. His name is Xeldraptos, the Venerable Bane."

  The Dorvus looked furious, its antlers sparked. "I do not care! I will find them and eliminate them. Even if it costs me my life, I must avenge my family!"

  "Foolishness!" KiAera exclaimed, she knew all too well what it was like to be blinded by revenge. "Doing so will only result in a needless death, and the loss of your life will not bring back those who have passed! You will accomplish nothing and the loss will never be forgotten."

  The Dorvus lowered its head, ears flattened. "Merecritt, you dare say this to me. You, who knows nothing of loss and despair."

  KiAera gritted her teeth. She had endured a lot, and she had lost a lot as well.

  "I would temper your judgment, young Dorvus," GamaGen spoke with a tone of reverence and wisdom. "Appearances can be deceiving, and Miss KiAera is far more than she seems. Her life has been filled with suffering and sorrow. I would go as far as to say that she's endured more than anyone in our camp here."

  The Dorvus snorted, smoke pouring from its nostrils. "And just how do you know that?"

  "I have lived for many cycles, child of Yrstagkoth. And I am well versed in the ways of the world. I can sense that Miss KiAera has seen much hardship and suffering, even though she appears to be young."

  "To vouch for such a Merecritt…" the Dorvus's antlers sparked, its head tilted. "I'll give her a chance, but I won't hesitate to strike her down if she's a threat."

  Skadicritt stepped up. "You will have to get through Skaditty first, Doomy!"

  KiAera's ears twitched. "Skadicritt let's not—"

  Skadicritt smiled. "Well, you're my best friend, KiAera! And I don't want to see you get hurt."

  The Dorvus stamped its hoof. "You really think a fledgling Merecritt like yourself can protect your so-called 'best friend'? I'd like to see you try. Zeldritzon's rules dictate that the strong thrive; you won't be the first [Rare] Zeldritch I shall overcome."

  "Challenge accepted!" Skadicritt declared, her fur glistening despite the sun's dusking rays.

  KiAera could only sigh. It seemed that the situation was quickly escalating, and there was little she could do to stop it. "Skadicritt, let's not provoke the Dorvus."

  She nudged the other Merecritt with her nose, hoping she would back down.

  Saptal who remained silent for most of the conversation, stepped forth, "As much as I would do the same for KiAera, I am in agreement that we should avoid conflict." His gaze fell on the Dorvus, his voice shook at the start but eased as he continued.

  "Yer not a bad fella, Dorvus. Not long before I had been recruited into KiAera's ranks, Sapshorla and I had seen ya roamin' these parts of the UvoSath. You'd done a good job cleaning up the predators that preyed on the innocent." Saptal's gaze fell on Sapshorla who nodded.

  The Dorvus huffed. "I have no interest in fighting any of you. My sole purpose for coming here was to find the esteemed GamaGen. But don't go around believing that I won't fight back if you try to attack me."

  GamaGen tilted his head. "So, you mean to say you don't wish to join our flock? Surely it would be beneficial to your cause if you allied with us."

  "No, I will not join your herd," the Dorvus answered. "I am not interested in working together with others. I am a loner, and I always will be."

  The Dorvus's gaze lingered on the dusking horizon. "Besides my inquires have been answered."

  Its gaze fell back on GamaGen. "My greatest gratitude's goes toward you, wise GamaGen. You have reaffirmed that I need more power to accomplish my goal. Power I shall acquire and will seek by all means. By my own aim."

  "Ah, it is no trouble at all, child of Yrstagkoth. I am happy to have helped," GamaGen chuckled. "But let it be known, a lonesome path toward power is a dangerous road. It is a path that could potentially lead to ruin and despair."

  With a sigh, GamaGen continued. "Remember, vengeance should not be your only goal. Seek to protect those who remain, to ensure that no other suffers as you have."

  "I am aware of such, but it is a path I must take. A path I choose to take." The Dorvus responded.

  "Well, if you insist," GamaGen nodded. "I wish you the best of luck on your journey. And remember, if you ever change your mind, our group is always open to new members."

  "Dorvus," KiAera spoke up. "Since you're planning on getting stronger, I suggest you join us. We could really use a powerful ally like yourself."

  The Dorvus snorted. "I already told you; I am not interested in joining your group. I will get stronger on my own."

  Skadicritt frowned. "Well, if you're not going to join our pack, then take care. Oh! And thank you very much, Doomy! You're not a bad Zeldritch, and I really, really, really appreciated it when you arrived before those Ilosphats had the chance to finish me off! Really, Skaditty is serious about that!"

  The Dorvus remained silent. It turned its head away from the group. "You're welcome. And for what it's worth, I'm glad you survived. If I had been any later, those monsters would've finished the job."

  "Indeed, young Dorvus. I wish you well in your endeavors," GamaGen dipped his head.

  The Dorvus nodded. "I will take my leave now. Farewell."

  With that, the Dorvus turned completely and padded toward the forest.

  KiAera watched the Dorvus depart, and she couldn't help but feel empathetic for it.

  Despite its stoic demeanor, it seemed as if the Dorvus was really hurting inside.

  She could relate to that feeling of loneliness, of being separated from everything you knew and loved. It led to memories resurfacing, and she breathed.

  "Just don't die out there, Dorvus. You know where to find us." She voiced loud enough for the departing deer to hear, hopefully.

  It appeared that it ignored her, but the crimson crackling of its antlers signaled that she was heard.

  She smiled, but the gloom in her heart and mind lingered. It made her ears droop—as she was reminded herself once again that these monsters weren't all that different from her.