Zeldritzon [Cycle 22] - Afternoon

  Current Location:

  [Pittusk Zone]

  [Campsite]

  [DreaGoth Barrens of the DreaGoth Realm]

  "KiAera! I'm evolving! Look!" Amber whooped. I turned to watch her. My Chimera's Mark started to shimmer, and her body radiated a brilliant light as the transformation began. Moments later, she had evolved from a LeapLeap into an [Emergent]—a Leagleap.

  Amber danced on the spot—well, as much as a newly-evolved ratite beast could dance. As she did, her tail feathers fanned wide like a banner, and her sleek new form shimmered beneath the pale Barrens sun. It was nice. The Leagueleap form looked powerful, almost streamlined; her legs longer, her talons sharper, and her crest now a row of wind-split quills that fluttered every time she bounced with glee.

  In the end, I analyzed her new status; proud of her, of course.

  ???

  Companion: Amber the Leagleap

  Faux Nym: [Amber]

  Affiliations: "[Tier A] Friend" "Chimera Crew"

  APeX: [11119 Units]

  Attributes: [Wind] [Beast]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  Brief description: field-runner ratite monster.

  Personal note: can run great distances without tiring. I promised to find her siblings at the plains. I adore how she cherish Liozel as her own.

  ???

  "I knew I could do it! I knew I'd evolve before the triplets!" she cried.

  Nex had grumbled, but I remained keen on Amber. "You had some motivation," I said, one eye still on the egg. Liozel, if I could even still call him that, was wriggling with a persistence that made my fur stand on end. I turned away to Mellow.

  ???

  Companion: Mellow the Mezmeic

  Faux Nym: [Mellow]

  Affiliations: "[Tier A] Friend" "Chimera Crew"

  APeX: [233 Units]

  Attributes: [Xensect]

  Evolution Stage: [Genesis]

  Current Variant Grade: [Common]

  Brief description: mesmerizing caterpillar monster.

  Personal note: Her leaf capelet reminds me of watermelons. She's the first of the caterpillars I rescued from those flies all those days ago. Appears to be the eldest. And despite her sweetness, she can get a bit fussy if her duties are interrupted.

  ???

  Meanwhile, Mellow flitted between wounded friends, her little paws deftly sealing cuts with a leaf and a soft glow. There, Scarbol leaned back against a jagged boulder, bandages swaddling his arms. Nex, Viz, and Rox shared a relieved look, dabbing at bruises. Even Kyrawl gave a satisfied shrug as he stretched his wings.

  And Mina? She had slipped away, claiming she had some business to attend to. I noted it but soon returned my focus to Mellow, who was busy patching everyone up. Then, my attention drifted to another pressing matter: Liozel. His status had changed.

  ???

  Companion: Liozel the Liorex Egg

  Faux Nym: [Liozel]

  Affiliations: "Familial Bind" "Chimera Crew"

  APeX: [??? Units]

  Attributes: [Deino] [Spatial]

  Evolution Stage: [Genesis]

  Current Variant Grade: [Alpha]

  Brief description: unhatched lion T-Rex monster.

  Personal note: For an unhatched child, he seems surprisingly aware of his surroundings. We still don't know who his parents are, and if the time comes… I would hate to separate from him. On another note, I think he's been learning a lot from GamaGen. The kid's smart.

  ???

  I had placed him in a nest made from the fur shed by my Pluffcritt form. It was the best option for now, especially given his unexpected arrival. Although that baffled me, it wasn't just his ability to teleport that intrigued me. As I scrutinized his shell, I noticed the various cracks. And going lower, it was the sight of dino feet protruding from the bottom of the egg.

  It made it look like an egg monster sat before me.

  All I could have done was stifle my laughter.

  Still, he heard me. I watched him tremor as his feet flailed, kicking up dust and fluff from the makeshift nest. He ceased, the egg wobbled in place, and I swore I heard a little huff from inside.

  〔〔"You laughed at me."〕〕

  "I didn't laugh. That was… encouragement." I poked his shell gently. "Very proud of your flair."

  Amber trotted over and nestled down beside me and Liozel, pecking curiously at his shell.

  "I think he's waiting for the right moment."

  "Isn't that what we all do?" I said.

  I sighed and sat down at last. I reached for Liozel and gently tugged him closer into the Pluffcritt-fur nest.

  His feet curled as I brushed one.

  "They're big," I said. "You're going to be big, aren't you?"

  No answer, but I didn't expect one. Instead, he simply leaned against my hand and the cracks deepened, spidering across the shell. His little claws kicked again, one of them brushing the moss-lined edge of the nest. Another tremor passed through his body, and the shell shivered. My ears perked, focused. I could feel the same ambient build-up of energy that I'd seen around Amber.

  "Don't force it," I whispered.

  But of course he didn't listen. Because a moment later, a chunk of shell popped off with a soft plop, revealing a small, slightly damp, furred snout with a sleepy emerald eye blinking back at me.

  〔〔"I'm almost out. But I'm tuckered out…"〕〕 he said, flopping back down.

  "You stuck?" I knelt beside the nest.

  〔〔"Define 'stuck.'"〕〕

  "Stuck as in… half-born? And teleporting? I didn't expect you to develop so quickly."

  〔〔"Neither did your ears when they started punching things."〕〕

  "…Fair enough."

  Mellow peeked over my shoulder. "He's hatching right here? But… didn't we still have a few cycles before—?"

  "I'm back," Mina's voice sang as she approached, looking more bruised than the last time I saw her.

  ???

  Companion: Mina the Minokaurbo

  Faux Nym: [Mina]

  Affiliations: "[Tier C] Comrade" "Chimera Crew" "Jalkra's ex-Subordinate"

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  APeX: [28200 Units]

  Attributes: [Brawl]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  Brief description: Oni woman.

  Personal note: Former subordinate to Jalkra. Still wary of her loyalties. Can be brash, yet possesses an honesty that often makes her endearing.

  ???

  Beside her was a woman walking closely alongside her. She appeared almost human, except for wolf-like ears that had a vaguely bird-like quality.

  There was no doubt about it. She was a tengu. Dressed in flowing robes, her face was painted, and her arms were hidden within the voluminous sleeves.

  ???

  Creature: Lowatengu

  Faux Nym: [None]

  Affiliations: "???"

  APeX: [13103 Units]

  Attributes: [Psion] [Grim]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  Brief description: solitary dog-crow monster. Currently in [Humanoid] form.

  ???

  Mina slapped her back, causing the woman to snarl and lurch, particles trickling from her nose.

  "Quit pushing me around, Kijo!" the tengu yelled, twisting to face Mina. "I understand you've become stronger, but this treatment is quite unwelcoming!"

  "Who's this?" I asked.

  "Who're you?" the tengu shot back.

  I raised a brow, ears twitching slightly, and stared at her. "I'm the one whose camp you just walked into. And the one with a hatching dino-lion in her lap. Want to try that again?"

  Mina casually stepped between us before things could escalate. "This is Loa. Used to be my strategist when I ran with Jalkra. Don't let the shrieking act fool you. She's sharp."

  The tengu grimaced, brushing her robe and straightening her back. Her feathers fluffed out along the edges of her sleeves like a bird trying to regain composure. "Hmph. I meant no offense. A pleasure." She bowed low, though I noted the stiffness in her movement. More a courtesy, not a concession.

  "Why's she here?" I asked.

  Mina shrugged. "You said we’re going into Tilz and Berylgem's canyon fortress, right? It's rigged, Ki. They don't just let people walk in, and they sure as spit don't let them walk out. Loa's good at sniffing out traps…" "And breaking people's minds if it comes to that."

  I stared at Loa a moment longer, letting the silence settle just enough to tighten. I saw the tiniest blink of her tired eyes, the subtle tension behind the serene fa?ade.

  "You're not here of your own free will, are you?" I said.

  Mina winced.

  Loa squinted. "I'm here because it’s strategically beneficial."

  "Meaning she owes me," Mina added. "And maybe wants to make amends."

  "I do not 'owe' you," Loa said. "But I do have regrets. I… have been on the wrong side of things. And I would prefer not to repeat that mistake."

  Liozel wobbled in the nest beside me, his tail poking out now and flicking with sleepy annoyance. I smoothed the fur around his skin absently, never breaking eye contact with Loa.

  "Mistakes tend to cost others more than the one making them."

  That got her. Her ears flattened ever so slightly. "Yes. I'm aware."

  "You're Psion-type," I resumed. "What's to stop you from turning on us mid-operation?"

  "My pride. And the fact that I'm not an idiot. I've seen what happens to those who cross someone with a mark."

  Mina chuckled. "She's got a sharp tongue, doesn't she? But she's solid, Ki. Really. Like, er, Boggorc. She saved my hide more than once. And right now, you need someone who knows the canyons. She's the best map we've got."

  "She tries anything," I said, brushing Liozel's shell, "she'll learn firsthand how much control I've gotten over my Spectral Flames."

  〔〔"Don't threaten guests while hatching your child,"〕〕 Liozel mumbled, half-asleep.

  "Noted," I sighed. "Loa. Fine. But if you touch any of mine, I will pluck you bald."

  Loa lifted her chin. "Understood."

  "And one more thing," I added, rising to my feet. Amber perked up beside me. "You'll share everything you know. Every trap, every patrol, every mole or lurking beast between here and their base. I don't care how loyal you were to your past. You're either with us now, or you're in the way."

  Loa inclined her head. "I can work with that."

  Mina looked between us with something close to amusement and concern. "This is going to be fun."

  Behind me, Mellow started humming again as she tucked a blanket of moss over Liozel's egg-body. And off to the side, Nex was watching the exchange with arms crossed and a suspicious glare fixed on Loa. Rox and Viz whispered behind him.

  Loa had entered the den of monsters, and they were all watching.

  "How soon can you brief us?" I asked.

  Loa's eyes glinted. "Now." "I doubt we can wait until the little Rex is finished being born." She turned slightly, nodding toward Liozel with a rare softness. "You're making a strange army, Chimera."

  "For them," I said. "We're fighting a strange war."

  ??? ???

  "Alright, let's get going," I said, trying my best to sound confident. With that, we began our trek down the path, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. It was Scarbol, Lowa, and Mina's guidance that we were able to safely navigate toward the canyons of DreaGoth—the region ruled by Tilz, the Kolkobalt clan leader.

  The sky above was clear, with faint traces of a rising sun visible through the thick layer of mist that blanketed the ground. A few minutes later, we reached the edge of a vast canyon, its walls looming high above us. At the bottom, a river of dark green water flowed sluggishly through the middle of the canyon. On both sides of the canyon were deep grooves in the rock—signs of recently fought skirmishes.

  "We're almost there," Mina said, pointing toward the top of the canyon. "We just need to climb down to the bottom."

  I nodded and followed her lead. As we descended, I kept my eyes peeled for any signs of danger. The ground was soft, covered with a layer of moss, making it difficult to walk on. As we approached the bottom of the canyon, the mist cleared a little, revealing a large, spacious basin. We remained on a plateau, hidden.

  "That's where Tilz lives," Mina whispered.

  Scarbol let out a low whistle. "Well, this should be interesting."

  Mina shot him a glare before turning to me. "You ready?"

  "As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, taking a deep breath. My gaze swept across the basin, where an outpost was nestled, surrounded by tall, spiky obsidian fences. A gate stood at the entrance, guarded by at least ten kolkobalts, armed with crystal blades and clad in metallic armor. Beside them loomed the grisly sight of even larger, praying mantis-like monsters: the Praiyeblasis.

  "Yeah. I don't think we can just waltz in there," Rox commented, crossing her arms. "Not unless we want to get our asses handed."

  "That's why we're going to sneak in," Mina said.

  "How? There are guards everywhere," Scarbol pointed out, frowning slightly.

  "That's where you come in," Mina replied, gesturing to Nex. "You have abilities that could help us avoid detection. We just need to find a way to sneak past the guards and into the camp."

  "Trust me," Nex said. "I've got this."

  "Well, if you're sure," I said. "Just be careful, okay? We don't want to risk getting caught."

  "Of course. I've got this all under control. Viz, Rox. It's showtime." With that, he jumped forward, vanishing into thin air, his form slipping away into the shadows. Viz and Rox followed suit, disappearing from view toward the outpost.

  It took them a few minutes to reach its edge. Then, Nex began his assault. Immediately he used his power to unleash a blast of noise directly at the guards. They clutched their heads in pain, dropping their weapons and staggering backwards. Nex took advantage of the distraction, darting through the air with his siblings.

  There, I noticed the strange, thin tendrils traveling behind his back, almost invisible. Like strings made of shadow, they were placed purposefully around the guards long before they realized what was happening.

  Meanwhile, Viz and Rox had slipped into the shadows, making their way toward the entrance of the base. As they reached the gate, Viz used his sonic speed to create a gust of wind, blowing the doors open. The kolkobalts and the praiyedges whirled around, raising their weapons. But before they could react, Nex's strings were already upon them, entangling them tightly. A few seconds later, they dropped to the ground, unconscious.

  My eyes widened. Though I barely pieced together the entire scenario. I wagered that when Nex grasped and tapped the strings, a vibration coursed along them, creating a frequency that struck the guards' eardrums like an explosion of noise.

  Nex glanced over at us and gave a smug thumbs up before running into the base.

  "Damn," I said. "That was... something else."

  Mina chuckled. "Yeah, those guys are pretty impressive. I think we might actually pull this off."

  "Disappointing," Kyrawl bellowed. "I was expecting some form of resistance from our prey, but alas, breaking in will have to suffice."

  "Well then, let's not waste any more time. We need to get in there before the guards wake up," Mina said, gesturing for us to follow her.

  We made our way into the base, moving as quietly as possible. There were plenty of dens and structures, yet not a soul was in sight. It was almost too easy, which worried me. I couldn't help but wonder where everyone had gone. As we continued and reached the center of the base, we came upon a large twisted spire that served as a HQ den. A flag bearing a strange symbol—a roaring skull of an Oni's head—fluttered atop it, its fabric rippling softly in the breeze.

  "This must be Tilz's den," Mina whispered.

  My gaze drifted downward, and I spotted the Dorvus, pinned against a gem-obelisk, its limbs bound by chains. A collar fastened around its neck and antlers prevented it from moving or speaking. Its eyes blazed with rage as it glared at us, struggling futilely against the restraints. Whimpering atop its head was the girl—Willow, the Mezmeic they had been searching for.

  "Dorvus, you're hurt! You're hurt!" she sobbed. I could see the wounds covering the Dorvus's body—some fresh while others had healed but remained visible. The Mezmeic herself looked bruised and battered, clearly having endured her own share of punishment.

  My heart sank as I stared at the scene before me. What kind of monsters could do such a thing? Who could possibly be so cruel as to harm a poor creature like this?

  Then, all at once, I heard something—a faint voice whispering in my ear. "Ah, so you must be the Merecritt my liege seeks."

  I turned to see who was speaking. Emerging from behind my group was a large, dark-orange kolkobalt, his horns curving sharply upward. Dressed in dark armor and hide, he bore a curved sword strapped to his back. His eyes glimmered with a gentle malice as he grinned at me, then at Mina and the others.

  "Tilz..." Mina hissed through gritted teeth.

  ???

  Creature: Kolkobalt

  Faux Nym: [Tilz] the Kolkobalt

  Titles: "Commander" "Ten Pillars"

  APeX: [53950 Units]

  Attributes: [Brawl] [Cryptic]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Rare]

  Brief description: greater kobold monster.

  ???

  Tilz's Parameters:

  STR Parameter: [15000]

  DEF Parameter: [10000]

  PWR Parameter: [100]

  WIL Parameter: [5000]

  RES Parameter: [10000]

  SPD Parameter: [6000]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  "Hello again, Mina. It's been too long," he said. "And look, you've brought your friends along with you. How nice of you. We were just about to have dinner." With a snap of his fingers, a group of kolkobalts appeared from the shadows and atop buildings, armed with slingshots and large, razor-sharp boomerangs. They encircled my crewmates, their weapons glinting ominously as they trained them on us.

  ???

  Creatures: Kolkobalts

  Faux Nyms: [None]

  Brief description: greater kobold monsters.

  APeX Range: [9000] → [15000 Units]

  Attributes: [Brawl] [Cryptic]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Common]; [Uncommon]

  ???

  I glanced around, searching for a way out. The situation seemed hopeless—we were surrounded by hundreds of enemies, with nowhere to run or hide. My heart raced as I struggled to devise a plan.

  Tilz laughter disrupted my thoughts. "You know you can always surrender."

  Scarbol stepped forth, and I found his sudden outburst unlike himself. "Tilz! Face me one-on-one! No tricks!"

  "Hm, and who might you be?" Tilz raised a brow as he scrutinized Scarbol. "You know I would never stoop so low." He flashed a smile before turning his back on us. "Alright, boys. Show them what you've got!" he ordered his soldiers, who immediately began firing their slingshot rounds at us.

  Simultaneously, the kolkobalts on the ground charged, hurling their boomerangs. The deadly projectiles whistled through the air, narrowly missing my crewmates and me. I dodged out of the way, barely avoiding one of the boomerangs.

  Tilz watched from a safe distance as the battle unfolded. He seemed to enjoy watching the carnage, and he didn't even flinch when one of the boomerangs flew directly toward him. He simply raised a hand and caught it effortlessly.

  I gritted my teeth as I continued to dodge the incoming attacks. While I weaved and fortified my companions' position as the battle raged on, I noticed that Tilz was paying close attention to me.