KiAera's heart pounded as she sprang back to her feet. Her fur still sizzled from the gunky mess the Carnilash had hurled at her, stinging like fire ants crawling across her skin. But there was no time to dwell on the pain.

  Vines were everywhere, whipping through the air like crazed serpents, each one lashing out to snare her again. She growled low, shaking off the sting. "No way, not today!"

  With a burst of [MereSwiftness], she blurred forward, claws igniting as they slashed another vine apart. Her tail lashed behind, its Spectral Flame hissing and scorching the creeping plants that dared close in.

  ?(???)?

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 11 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 11 Abyss Particles.

  ★ [KiAera's APeX]

  Accumulated Particles: 148 Units → 180 Units!

  ?(???)?

  Her gaze snapped toward the real threat. The Carnilash bellowed, a sound so guttural it rattled the trees themselves. Its massive, vine-choked form lunged forward, the ground shuddering with each dragging step.

  "Yo! I'm trying to help here!" Plelepun's voice boomed from behind. The crash of Ravilashes colliding followed, proof the elephant-like beast was holding a line. But the swarm was endless, and even from here KiAera could hear the strain in Plelepun's grunts.

  "Focus, Plelepun!" she barked, dodging another whip of thorned vines.

  Her ears stretched instinctively, tuning to every rustle, every subtle shift of earth. More Ravilashes crept in from the shadows, their movements sharper and hungrier than before. "Didn't you say you were stronger than all of us combined?"

  "Yo! I am!" Plelepun slammed one into the dirt with a bone-shaking thud. "But there's, like, a hundred of these things! Gimme a sec!"

  A vine grazed KiAera's arm, barbed thorns raking across her skin. She hissed in pain, retaliating with a blazing swipe that severed the plant limb and set it alight. But the Carnilash was relentless. For every vine she cut, two more sprouted in its place. It was like battling a forest fire armed with nothing but a bucket of water.

  Her eyes darted to the Osseods, who skittered wildly to avoid the death coils snapping around them.

  "Mu! Nu! Beta! Behind me!" she shouted, ears whipping out to hook their small crystal bodies and drag them to her side.

  Her chest tightened when the Carnilash smashed the ground in front her—and she dashed with abandon. She was strong—she knew that—but this monster was on a completely different level. The Carnilash loomed like a mountain, its APeX power pressing down so hard it suffocated her. No matter how she spun it, raw strength wasn't going to be enough.

  She needed a plan… something clever, fast, decisive.

  "Plelepun!" she yelled, twisting aside from another vine strike. "Get underground! Set a trap!"

  "Yo! Now you're talkin'!" His trunk twitched, and with a thunderous rumble, he stomped hard. The earth trembled, soil collapsing as the Plelepun vanished beneath the surface, tunneling like an unstoppable drill.

  Impressive, but KiAera had no time to admire. More vines lunged. Her only option was to ignite everything around her. Fire roared outward, consuming the underbrush, buying her a narrow pocket of space to breathe.

  "Think, KiAera. Think." She slashed the air, forcing the Carnilash back for a heartbeat. Its vine-wrapped bulk heaved closer, the rage in its glowing eyes unshaken. The thing wasn't just angry—it was furious—and it wouldn't stop until she was broken beneath its roots.

  The flickering flame at her tail caught her eye. A thought burned bright. Risky. Dangerous. But maybe the only chance she had. The Carnilash was plant-born. Plants burned. Her Spectral Flame might not be strong enough to incinerate it entirely, but if she could get close—close enough to strike at its heart—then maybe...

  KiAera steadied her breath, muscles coiling. "Alright, Carnilash. You want a fight? Let's dance."

  She bolted forward, weaving through the storm of vines. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, each step pulling her closer. The Spectral Flame brightened, heat spiraling up her spine until her tail blazed brighter than ever before.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  KiAera's APeX + [Spectral Flame]:

  [220 Units] {[180 Units] + [40 Units]}

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  "Come on!" she roared, tail ablaze as she cut through the wall of vines. They whipped toward her like missiles, but she didn't slow. She slashed, burned, tore—closer and closer still.

  "Yo! I got it!" the Plelepun's voice rumbled from below. "Watch this!"

  The ground convulsed beneath the Carnilash. A massive pit yawned open, swallowing its roots whole. The beast roared, thrashing wildly as it sank.

  "Nice job, Plelepun!" KiAera shouted, lungs burning as she seized the chance. With a feral yell, she leapt, claws hooking deep into the monster's thick vines. She scrambled upward, tail blazing, climbing for its chest. "Time to end this!"

  Her paw thrust forward, plunging a flaming orb into the Carnilash's core. Heat surged, flames racing inward. The creature shrieked, its body igniting from within. KiAera grit her teeth, pressing harder, her entire body trembling from the radiating fire.

  Then, something shifted.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  KiAera's [Spectral Flame] Attribute Shift:

  [Phantom + Fire] → [Phantom + Glacial]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Frost exploded inside the Carnilash's chest. For a heartbeat, she thought it worked…until the beast's twisted lips curled into a mocking grin.

  "Are you serious?!" KiAera shouted, vines whipping around her legs and dragging her down. "I hate plants!" She tried to blast more fire, but her energy sputtered weak. The frost had barely slowed it, and now the vines constricted tighter, pulling her into their crushing embrace.

  Her stomach plummeted. "Oh, come on!" she hissed, struggling as the creature's grin stretched wider. The Carnilash wasn't just resisting, it was savoring her desperation.

  The next squeeze knocked the air from her chest. She bit down hard, fighting the scream, but a small whimper escaped. Her gaze darted to her companions. They watched in horror, helpless. She couldn't die. Not like this. Not while they depended on her.

  "Yo, KiAera!"

  The Plelepun's muffled shout rose from the pit. "Uh... any bright ideas? 'Cause that thing's... not dead!"

  His voice cracked with panic. She would've laughed at the absurdity if her ribs weren't being crushed.

  Her vision blurred. The Carnilash's laughter slithered through her ears, as a sharp and taunting tune, "CAHAHAHAHAH!" Vines resumed to twist around her like a gallows noose, her lungs straining as black spots danced at the edge of her sight.

  "Yo, boss! It's now or never!" The Plelepun's voice rang sharp, snapping her focus back.

  The earth erupted beneath them. Shockwaves hurled her upward, rocks and dirt flying. She hit the ground hard, coughing for breath. Dust cleared, and there the Plelepun stood in the middle of the din, trunk glowing with raw power.

  "Yo! Check this out!" he roared, slamming the earth. Jagged stone spikes burst skyward, skewering Ravilashes by the dozen. The Carnilash reeled as several spears cracked against its body, only to shatter harmlessly.

  Her ears rang at the Carnilash's low, rumbling growl. Vines lashed out, coiling her legs once again. "Not again!" she spat, thrashing to break free, but the grip was iron. The monster slammed her against the dirt, the impact rattling her bones.

  Air fled her lungs. The world spun. She barely heard the mocking laugh as it loomed closer, vines twitching in anticipation.

  "Damn it," she rasped, vision swimming. "I'm gonna die here."

  The Carnilash's grin widened. It wasn't going to kill her quickly. That much was obvious. It was going to enjoy this.

  "Y-yo, KiAera!" the Plelepun's voice shook. "Get up! Uh, uh, um—"

  The beast whipped the ground, tossing her aside like a doll, a spray of debris forcing the Plelepun to roll aside. Around them, the Ravilashes cackled, their shrill chants echoing like nails on glass.

  "Boss! Boss! Boss!"

  "Lash! Lash! Lash!"

  "Rahahaha!"

  KiAera staggered up, breath ragged, limbs trembling. This wasn't how her story ended. Not after everything she'd clawed through to survive. Not after how far she'd come. No.

  Her fists clenched. Her voice broke into a growl. "No."

  The Carnilash towered, vines tightening for the killing strike.

  Just then a shadow cut across the sky, followed by a sharp shriek.

  KiAera's heart jolted. The screech was unmistakable. "Kyrawl?"

  The wyvern dove like a meteor, talons outstretched.

  "Kyrawl! You beautiful, feathered beast!" she gasped, snatched by his claws before the vines could entangle her agai. Finally a full breath that was close enough to relief filled her lungs.

  The wyvern hissed, wings beating furiously as he carried her aloft. Then, with a vicious cry, Kyrawl swung and slammed straight into the Carnilash's side, his talons ripping through its vine-bound limbs. The monster roared in shock, thrashing wildly against the sudden aerial assault.

  "Good boy!" KiAera shouted, clinging to his scales. "Now up!"

  Kyrawl wasn't as strong as the Carnilash, but right now, he was exactly what KiAera needed. However, she just hoped his intentions were good, while he grasped her in his talons.

  The wyvern darted through the sky. Below, the Carnilash roared, lashing its endless vines upward. They whipped and snapped like striking snakes, but Kyrawl was faster, weaving through the barrage.

  "Yo! That bird is nuts!" The Plelepun hollered from below.

  "Tell him that when we're not dying, Plelepun!" KiAera snapped back, severing a vine that nearly caught her.

  The vines only grew faster, longer—an unending tide reaching for them. Kyrawl twisted aside, but the trap closed. KiAera unleashed a blast of Spectral Flame, the fire searing through the living net. The wyvern soared cleanly through the blaze, untouched.

  Kyrawl roared, angling upward, and flung KiAera onto his back.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "Go, Kyrawl! Faster!" she shouted, clinging tight as the ground fell away.

  From her perch above, she saw the whole battlefield unfolded: the Plelepun tunneling to destabilize the ground, Osseods scattering like frightened prey, and at the center: the Carnilash, a writhing mountain of vines and rage, its jagged maw roaring skyward.

  And then something changed.

  Her Chimera's Mark ignited, glowing bright enough to burn her skin. For a heartbeat, her gaze locked with Kyrawl's. His pulse beat in rhythm with hers, energy flooding between them.

  No way…

  A voice pressed into her mind. It belonged to Kyrawl's: "You want power? Then take it."

  The Mark glowed again, harder this time, until she could feel Kyrawl's will inside her own.

  "Kyrawl…" she whispered. Her paw trembled against her forehead.

  The wyvern growled softly.

  "Let's finish this."

  The Mark blazed, and the world exploded in light. Feathers erupted along her arms, her tail stretched longer, her ears sharpened. Fire and wind swept in her veins. When the glow faded, she was something more; a hybrid of Merecritt and Skyrawltal. Wings stretched wide, talons glowed with fire, her tail burned with icy flame.

  It all felt exhilarating. Instinct told her that she had taken Kyrawl's shape. But she was herself and the essence of Kyrawl made her part Skyrawltal.

  However, Kyrawl's mindset enveloped her own. It made her think more like a carnivorous hunter of the sky. She climbed the higher with a beat of her new wings, then plunged. The first Ravilash shrieked as her claws ripped it apart, its vines burning into ash. Energy flooded her body. That's when her [Insight] flickered alive.

  ???

  ★ Ravilash slain. Particles acquired.

  ★ Ravilash slain. Particles acquired.

  Her APeX ticked upward: 749 → 812 Units.

  ???

  She didn't stop. With Kyrawl's instincts driving her, she tore through them in a frenzy. Dozens fell, their particles pouring into her body—ten, twelve, fifteen at a time. Her counter spiked past a thousand, then two, then three. She saw the tide of fallen Ravilashes display her [Insight] as her power spiked. It was rising a significant amount!

  Her voice rang out, doubled with Kyrawl's: "DIE!" Flames burst from her maw, sweeping the forest floor in blue inferno. The swarm shriveled in a tidal wave of screams.

  Another hundred fell. A sea of particles flowed toward her. She stared in disbelief as the [Insight] fed her the ridiculous amount of information that she did her best to ignore. Because it dizzied her.

  ???

  [Glitch]

  [GamaGen's Note: Do not read. This is an exact count of the massacre.]

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 15 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 11 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 15 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 11 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 15 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 11 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 13 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 15 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 11 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 12 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 15 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 11 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 16 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 14 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 12 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 13 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 15 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 11 Abyss Particles. ★ Ravilash slain. Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 20 Abyss Particles.

  ★ [KiAera's APeX]

  {+2558 APeX}

  ???

  Her APeX skyrocketed once again from the vortex she had siphoned: [812] → [3429 Units].

  It broke against her limiter, she was certain that it'd been a glitch. But in this world? That seemed ridiculous.

  Her contemplation broke as she heard the Carnilash bellows from beneath, its vines flailing at her slaughter. Still, she devoured everything in reach.

  [Time remaining: 4 seconds.]

  Her gaze whipped toward the Carnilash.

  "I won't let you hurt my friends," she snarled, the Spectral Flames at her talons crackling. "Not now, not ever!"

  The Carnilash roared in rage, its vines flailing uselessly as she slashed through them. She could feel the power surging through her veins. It was unlike anything she'd ever experienced—an indescribable feeling of strength and power, mixed with an intense sense of purpose. Yet it still was not enough to beat this Emergent.

  The shrieks of another flood of Ravilashes reached her ears. They were arriving to assist their Boss.

  ["Three seconds remain."]

  She retreated from the Carnilashes and keened her focus on the Ravilashes. She was going to take advantage of the time that remained of this fusion; she would carve through them until she evolved. Knowing that there was no limitation cap to the power she could gain in this form, she would annihilate. Her instincts made her feel that it was necessary that she'd wipe them out till she evolved into an [Emergent]!

  She swooped toward the creatures with the desire to devour their particles. The clusters of Ravilashes broke. Some tried to flee. She didn't allow it. With a single sweep of her wings she carved through them, drinking their particles until her body vibrated with power.

  Her APeX climbed again: [3429] → [6221 Units].

  The Carnilash's gaze followed her. Its body convulsed, vines repairing themselves. It wasn't beaten… yet.

  It struck. A single vine hammered her from the air, slamming her into the ground with bone-crushing force. She gasped, stars bursting in her vision. The blow was meant to kill.

  But she rose.

  Her flames ignited, roaring back into the sky as she carved down the last of the spawn. That had initiated her evolution prompt.

  ???

  [Evolution requirement met.]

  [Shall KiAera evolve?]

  [Shall Kyrawl evolve?]

  → [YES]

  ???

  [Time remaining: 1 second.]

  "Do it!" she screamed.

  The Mark pulsed, and the world twisted again.

  Her form re-forged itself. Wings thickened with scales, her feathers hardened into quills, her ears stretched long and sharp. She flexed her claws—Kyrawl's voice echoed within.

  "Let's take this bastard down."

  "Tear it down!"

  ???

  [Chimera Synchronization]

  Stage: Hybrid / Emergent

  APeX: [6221 Units]

  ???

  The evolution had been finalized.

  The Carnilash erupted like a living jungle, vines lashing in every direction.

  She cut through them, a blazing spiral of fire and wind. Her talons plunged deep into its core, fire exploding outward. The monster screamed, writhing as her will burned through its body. With a final slash, she cleaved the Carnilash in two.

  Her body split from Kyrawl's. Weakness rushed in, her strength halved. She plummeted toward the forest floor.

  The Carnilash's body convulsed. Its jagged maw opened wide, energy boiling at its core. Even torn apart, it stitched itself back together, preparing to fire its [Biollant Bomb].

  And she was falling.