The sun began to set, probably an hour passing by. But who knew the exact extent of how time transitioned in this world.

  The trees grew sparser as Dariel led KiAera through the smoldering remnants of the forest. The Ilosphat had been defeated, but KiAera couldn't shake the surreal encounter from her mind. Dariel, a Bilpefur, had fought with an intensity she hadn't expected, his power far beyond the meek facade he'd worn earlier. And now, here they were, heading towards his camp; something she hadn't envisioned when she first saw him.

  "Watch your step," Dariel said, glancing back. "The terrain gets tricky around here."

  KiAera snorted quietly but obliged, her retractable ears twitching as the sounds of the burning forest slowly faded. Dariel moved ahead confidently, his thick fur and casual manner a stark contrast to her jittery, survival-honed instincts.

  Finally, they reached a small clearing, where Dariel's so-called camp stood. It wasn't much, just a few makeshift shelters constructed from salvaged materials and dried foliage, surrounded by a crude stone circle that served as a fire pit. A small flicker of light burned weakly, the scent of charred wood clinging to the air.

  "Welcome to my humble abode," Dariel said with a smirk. "It's not much, but it keeps us safe."

  KiAera scanned the area, still feeling a little alert. Then she noticed a shape near the fire—a creature with sleek silver fur that almost glowed in the dim light. It looked like a fox, but there was something off, something eerie, like it was balancing light and shadow in its very existence.

  The Yitxune.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Creature: Yitxune

  APeX: [244 Units]

  Attributes: [Celestial]

  Faction: [Predator]

  Variant Grade: [Rare]

  Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  KiAera felt an immediate shift in the atmosphere. In the shadows, the fox's fur rippled with a strange energy. Its two-toned eyes opened slowly, one glowing faintly silver, the other dark as night, fixing on KiAera with thinly veiled displeasure.

  "Rina," Dariel said softly, walking toward her with an easy familiarity. The Yitxune—Rina—lifted her head, and her expression softened the moment she saw him.

  "You're late," she murmured in a tone that carried a distinct edge. The tone wasn't one of anger but more of an unspoken claim, as though his tardiness was an inconvenience only she should address.

  "I ran into some trouble," Dariel replied, gesturing vaguely to KiAera. "This is KiAera. She helped out with the Ilosphat."

  Rina's gaze flicked back to KiAera, her glow dimming slightly as her eyes narrowed. The air around them seemed to hum with tension, the Yitxune's energy coiling around her like a protective shield. She rose to her feet in one smooth motion, her fur rippling with each step as she moved closer to Dariel, subtly positioning herself between him and KiAera.

  "A Merekit?" Rina’s voice was even, but the disdain was unmistakable. "How quaint."

  KiAera raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "A Yitxune, huh? Never seen one of those before. Guess there's a first for everything."

  Dariel, sensing the tension, quickly interjected. "KiAera's new here, like me. We're both just trying to figure this place out."

  Rina's eyes never left KiAera, though her posture relaxed slightly as she pressed closer to Dariel, as though drawing strength from his presence. "I've been teaching him how to survive in Zelzon," she said, her voice dripping with subtle pride. "He doesn’t need anyone else."

  Dariel grimaced yet chuckled, sidestepping Rina.

  KiAera smirked, though she felt the weight of Rina’s energy pressing down on her like a lead blanket. "Funny. I'm not here for him. We just crossed paths."

  Rina's expression remained unreadable, her energies swirling with quiet intensity—positive and negative forces intertwining in the air. "I see." There was a pause, then she added, "Just don't forget your place, Merekit. This world doesn't care for tagalongs."

  KiAera's ears twitched, half-retracting as she suppressed the urge to snap back. She wasn't about to let a fledgling monster fox dictate terms to her. Not after everything she'd survived.

  Dariel, oblivious to the silent battle between them, simply sighed. "Let's all just calm down. We're in this strange world together, and the more allies we have, the better, right?"

  KiAera gave a small shrug, but Rina remained quiet, her eyes lingering on KiAera a moment longer before she finally stepped back. "For now," she muttered under her breath, settling down near the fire once again.

  Dariel, rubbing the back of his neck, smiled awkwardly. "So… anyone hungry?"

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  The fire crackled in the dim light, casting flickering shadows across the makeshift camp. KiAera crouched near the flame, feeling the warmth on her furred skin as her retractable ears twitched. Dariel, now seated across from her, eyed the object in her grasp with curiosity.

  "That book… GamaGen, right?" Dariel leaned forward, his furred fingers resting on his knees. "I couldn’t help but notice how it clings to you. It's... weird."

  KiAera's fingers tightened around the small, ancient tome. GamaGen, with its worn raven symbol on the cover, felt cold in her grasp. She still wasn't sure what to make of it, the way it whispered in her mind or how it seemed to possess a life of its own. It was as much a mystery to her as it was to him.

  "Yeah, weird doesn't even begin to describe it," she muttered, avoiding his gaze. Her eyes focused on the fire, lost in thought. She had been through too much—monsters, this chaotic dimension, and now this.

  KiAera shook off the memory, blinking back to the present. "It was [redacted]'s doing," she finally admitted, voice low. "Some kind of twisted 'gift.' It talks to me. Sometimes."

  Dariel’s eyes widened slightly, though he tried to hide it behind a reassuring smile. "[Redacted], huh? That's not exactly comforting."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "No, it's not," KiAera said dryly, running a hand over the raven symbol. "But it hasn't killed me yet. So… there's that."

  Dariel leaned back, crossing his arms, his eyes still on the book. "Well, I guess as long as it’s not exploding or something, we can focus on more immediate concerns—like food."

  He stood, moving to one of the nearby sacks piled by the crude shelters. KiAera watched as he pulled out a cluster of small, light-blue crystals, each one radiating a faint glow. "Ever seen these?"

  KiAera frowned, shaking her head. "No, what are they?"

  "These are Zelzon’s crystals," Dariel explained, holding one up to the light. "This is what keeps us alive here. They grant one unit per consumption—enough to keep us from, well, withering away. The monsters here devour these to absorb particles and evolve."

  He extended the crystal towards her. "Go ahead. You’ll need it, especially after that fight."

  Just as KiAera reached out, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Wait." Rina’s delicate, yet commanding tone halted KiAera’s hand mid-air.

  The Yitxune, still radiating her dignified energy, stood poised with her two-toned eyes fixed on the crystal in Dariel’s hand. She approached, each step measured and deliberate, her silver fur rippling with celestial energy. "You think I’ll let some stray Merekit consume one of our crystals?" she scoffed, her tone so condescending. "Not a chance."

  KiAera narrowed her eyes, her muscles tensing. "What's your problem?"

  Rina's eyes flicked to KiAera with an almost pitying look. "You really don't get it, do you? You don't just walk into Zelzon and start eating the food of this dimension like you're entitled to it. These crystals—" she gestured at them, "—are survival. They are evolution. You've done nothing to earn them."

  "Rina," Dariel interrupted, trying to inject some reason into the conversation. "She just helped me take down an Ilosphat. She’s not trying to steal anything."

  Rina turned, her fox-like face softening only slightly as she gazed at Dariel. "You’ve always been too kind, Dariel. Too trusting." She cast a side-glance at KiAera, her expression unreadable. "She is not one of us. She doesn’t understand how things work here. You, of all people, should know how dangerous it is to just... share."

  KiAera's grip tightened, her retractable ears twitching in frustration. "I didn’t ask for your approval."

  "Approval?" Rina let out a delicate laugh, her celestial energies swirling around her like a storm. "Approval would be too generous. I simply refuse to watch a foreigner devour something she doesn't deserve."

  KiAera opened her mouth to retort, but Dariel stepped between them, raising a hand. "Both of you, relax." His eyes were on Rina, his tone gentle but firm. “Rina, I get it, okay? But she’s like me—lost, confused, trying to survive in a world she didn’t ask to be a part of."

  Rina’s eyes softened for a split second, her gaze drifting between Dariel and KiAera. She sighed, her usual dignified composure slipping just slightly. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but still carrying its trademark sass. "But remember, Dariel—I am the one who taught you to survive here. Don’t forget that."

  With that, she turned on her heel, her tails flicking gracefully behind her as she retreated to the fire. The tension in the air lingered, thick and palpable.

  Dariel handed the crystal to KiAera once more, offering her a small smile. "Here. Don't mind her."

  KiAera took it, feeling the cool surface of the crystal in her grasp. "Thanks. But something tells me that was just round one."

  She held the light-blue crystal in her paws, examining its shimmering surface. She hesitated for a moment, her retractable ears flicking back slightly as she considered what Rina had said. But hunger gnawed at her, and Dariel had assured her it was safe. Her thumb brushed over the smooth edges of the crystal, and her stomach growled.

  "Well, here goes nothing," she murmured, raising the crystal to her mouth.

  The moment her teeth made contact with the surface, an explosion of energy burst through the air—an electric, crackling sensation that shot through her spine. But it wasn't the crystal's power.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  APeX: [244]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  It was Rina's.

  A low, guttural growl emerged from the Yitxune, her eyes glowing an unsettling silver as her celestial aura flared violently around her. The energy shifted from calm and regal to something savage—uncontrolled. KiAera could feel it before she even turned her head. It was a predator's fury.

  “You dare?” Rina's voice was no longer calm. It was filled with primal rage. "I told you not to touch it!"

  KiAera barely had time to react before Rina lunged, her form blurring with speed as her claws shot out toward KiAera's throat. KiAera stumbled backward, instinctively trying to dodge, but Rina was too fast. Her sharp claws grazed KiAera's shoulder, sending a burning sensation through her as she cried out in pain.

  "Rina, stop!" Dariel's voice broke through the chaos as he rushed forward, trying to grab the Yitxune's arm before she could strike again. "It's just a crystal! This isn't worth it!"

  Rina shook him off with a snarl, her predatory instincts fully unleashed. Her once-dignified form now seemed terrifying, her tails bristling with an overwhelming, chaotic energy. "Stay out of this, Dariel! She doesn't belong here!"

  KiAera scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to summon her own strength, but the pain in her shoulder, combined with the raw terror coursing through her, made it impossible to focus. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

  Rina didn't respond with words. She responded with another attack. Her movements were precise, fueled by an instinct KiAera could barely comprehend. She was faster, stronger, and completely intent on eliminating KiAera.

  KiAera tried to fight back, claws swiping at the air, but it was pathetic compared to Rina's calculated blows. Her body felt heavy, her movements clumsy as the Yitxune closed in again, forcing her to retreat with each strike. It wasn't a battle—it was a hunt. And Rina was the predator.

  Desperate, KiAera turned and bolted toward the trees, her legs carrying her as fast as they could. She didn’t look back. The sound of Rina's growl echoed in her ears, followed by the pounding of her paws against the earth. The Yitxune was chasing her, and no matter how fast KiAera ran, she could feel Rina closing in.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  [MereSwiftness] - Beast - TECH: 1% > TECH: 2%

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Dariel's voice called out in the distance, his words muffled by the sound of her own heartbeat. "Rina! Stop, this is insane!"

  But Rina wasn't listening. Her only focus was KiAera, and KiAera knew it.

  She pushed through the underbrush, her breath ragged as she weaved between trees and ducked under low-hanging branches. Rina's energy was relentless, and the farther KiAera ran, the more hopeless the situation felt. Her legs burned, her body aching from the wounds Rina had already inflicted.

  Just as she thought she might be able to escape, a sharp shadow swooped down from above. Before she could react, talons wrapped around her torso, yanking her violently off the ground. KiAera gasped, her eyes widening as the earth beneath her disappeared.

  She was being carried through the air—fast.

  Her eyes darted upward, and there it was: a Sparwaro.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Name: Sparwaro

  APeX: [33 Units]

  Attributes: [Wind] [Brawl]

  Variant Grade: [Common]

  Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Its spiked wings flapped powerfully as it ascended. The creature's talons gripped her tighter, but not enough to break her skin.

  Panic surged through KiAera as she struggled in the bird's grasp.

  "Let go of me!" she shouted, writhing as much as she could without risking a fall from the dizzying height. But the Sparwaro didn't flinch, its fierce gaze set on a distant peak as it carried her farther from Rina's reach.

  Behind her, KiAera could faintly hear Rina's victorious scoff echoing through the trees. "Good riddance," she sneered, her voice full of disdain.

  The chase was over—for now.

  ??. .????. .????. .????. .????. .????. .??

  The distant sound of arguing reached KiAera's ears as she was carried higher. Rina's voice, sharp and angry, carried on the wind.

  "You always do this, Dariel!" Rina snapped. "Every time we encounter someone new, you insist on helping them. First that girl, A, and now this... Merekit?! You know how dangerous this world is! They can't be trusted!"

  Dariel's response was harder to hear, but his frustration was evident. "Not everyone is out to get us, Rina. You can't just keep chasing people off!"

  "You've seen what happens! A was just the start of it!"

  KiAera's ears perked at the mention of this mysterious A, but before she could dwell on it, the Sparwaro let out a sharp cry, jerking her back to her immediate situation.

  The wind whipped through her fur as the Sparwaro continued its flight, carrying her to an unknown destination. With each beat of its wings, KiAera felt her body grow heavier, exhaustion from the chase and her injuries settling in.

  Whatever this strange, spiky-winged bird had in store for her, she could only hope it wasn't as predatory as Rina had been.

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