Inside the Crystal Shelter, KiAera spotted Big Osseod and its little Osseods waiting. She scanned for threats out of habit, then relaxed when her eyes found GamaGen and Amber the LeapLeap. The sentient book and cassowary monster were in deep conversation, the Liorex egg snug between them like royalty.

  Mu, Nu, and Beta Osseod went ahead to greet their kin. KiAera took her time, sweeping the room the way a leader should, checking food supplies, morale, and who was about to accidentally eat the furniture.

  Big Osseod's group had already returned from foraging. The storage bags brimmed with light-blue crystals; enough to feed several groups. Her own satchel sagged pitifully in comparison. She opened it with more hope than sense and sighed.

  ??. .??

  ★??KiAera's Crystal Haul:

  Light-Blue Crystals: 21

  ??. .??

  Her chest tightened. The Carnilash, Constellai, and that fox-eared boy had thrown her off course, but excuses wouldn't feed anyone.

  Worse… Nu and Beta had been hurt on her watch.

  She rubbed at her temples. Okay, tomorrow, triple the crystals, zero injuries, no distractions. Easy.

  For now, she would skip her share. A leader ate last… and sometimes not at all.

  She eyed Big Osseod's haul. Not a single crystal eaten before her return. The good discipline surprised her. Pride curled in her chest. They had waited.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Zeldritch: Big Osseod

  APeX: [288 Units]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Big Osseod's ears wagged. "Osseod see KiAera. KiAera, home."

  She grinned. "Yes, I'm back. Did you behave while I was gone?"

  "Osseod, no eat. Osseod, rest."

  She gave the creature a wink. "Good. Saves me from lecturing you in my 'serious leader voice.'"

  Amber's voice cut in, "Leelee! You're back! Did you find crystals?"

  "A few, but not much," KiAera admitted.

  Amber frowned. "You look exhausted."

  "It's nothing. Eat your share with Mu, Nu, and Beta."

  "But you need to eat!"

  She shook her head in refusal. "We're low. I can't waste any."

  Amber gasped. "You're gonna starve?!"

  "I've gone without before. Still have all my limbs."

  Amber's feathers ruffled, but before she could argue again—

  "Yo! No can do," the Plelepun trotted in, ears flapping. "Kyrawl and I found some crystals for you!"

  He dropped a bag with a satisfying thunk.

  "You found crystals? For us?"

  "Yeah! All yours, yo! Didn't eat any. Can't say the same for that winged menace sitting outside," he whispered.

  "Don't push it, Plelepun. You're lucky I chose to not dine on you," Kyrawl the Skyrawsoar's voice rumbled from outside the shelter.

  KiAera stifled her laughter. Paying no heed to the feathered wyvern outside, her eyes widened in surprise at the haul. There were enough to recover their losses.

  ??. .??

  ★??Plelepun's Crystal Haul:

  Light-Blue Crystals: 335

  ??. .??

  "Wow, thank you!" she said, tail flicking like it had its own excitement setting.

  "Yo! You're my friend. I can share."

  "You're the best, Plelepun! Officially promoted to 'Favorite Elephant Calf.'"

  "Yo! I try. Uh… KiAera's your name, yo?"

  "Yes. And you've just made it to the: Knows My Name club. Very exclusive."

  "Yo! Nice to meet ya properly!"

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  New Relationship: Plelepun!

  Bond Level: [Stranger] > [Acquaintance]!

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Amber eyed him warily from the Liorex egg.

  The elephant calf's gaze fell on Amber, who stared back with wide eyes, "Ah, you're KiAera's friend, too, yo?"

  The LeapLeap nodded slowly, "...Yeah. LeeLee her friend."

  The cassowary-like creature took several steps back and sat protectively on the Liorex egg. She didn't hide the suspicion engrossed in her stare.

  The Plelepun turned to KiAera, "Yo! Why is she acting weird?"

  "Amber's just shy," KiAera said, though her brain added, and probably cataloguing your weaknesses.

  GamaGen drifted closer. The book did an equivalent of a nod as it greeted them. 「'Intriguing, Miss KiAera. A Plelepun—rare indeed.'」

  "Yo! What is that?!"

  "He's friendly. This is GamaGen. Do not let him redecorate your brain."

  GamaGen's raven symbol pulsed with light. 「'Please don't startle him, Miss KiAera. Young Plelepun please do not burrow into the floor.'」

  "Yo… it's talking in my head…"

  "He does that.."

  "Yo… weird… but cool."

  「'Likewise. You are interesting.'」

  "Yo! I am interesting!"

  GamaGen turned to her. 「'A powerful ally. You'll do well with their aid.'」

  "Yes, I'm glad I met him too."

  She swept her gaze from Gilbud to Pi Osseod. The two shared a common trait; the two were both gluttons.

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  "You and Pi Osseod both love eating," KiAera teased.

  "Osseod likes eat."

  "Yo! Same!"

  "Food club, population: you two." She passed him a crystal.

  "Yo! Thanks!"

  Big Osseod bounced over. "Osseod eats with new friend!"

  "Yo! Sure!"

  "Osseod happy KiAera home!"

  KiAera raised her voice, "Everyone, gather around! It's time to eat before someone chews the carpet!"

  They gathered, chittering and wagging. She counted their hauls.

  ??. .??

  KiAera's: 21

  Plelepun's: 335

  Big Osseod's: 159 + 1 Blue Crystal

  KiAera's Stash: 65

  ??. .??

  "We have five hundred eighty light-blue crystals… and this." She lifted the Blue Crystal to GamaGen.

  「'Ah. Rare and valuable.'」

  "Big Osseod, did you find this?"

  "One Blue Crystal. Pretty."

  KiAera examined the [Blue Crystal] again. She noticed the sparkling difference between the Blue Crystal and the Light-Blue Crystals.

  The Blue Crystal seemed to radiate with a subtle, entrancing glow, whereas the [Light-Blue] crystals did not. She recalled that all crystals had tiers.

  To elaborate, it meant that they were divided into three distinct hues for each color. For instance, blue crystals were in the three states of: [Light], [Blue] (the basic color), and [Dark].

  [Light Blue] crystals when consumed gave [1 Unit] of power. The next tier [Blue] gave [10 Units]. Lastly, [Dark Blue] crystals granted an outstanding [50 Units]. She recalled GamaGen teaching her the values.

  Rule: Monsters can only consume crystals based upon their rank. I.e: Fledgling can only consume any blue crystals.

  Consumption: Eat (consume) crystals to gain units/APUs—up to 10% of your current APeX per cycle.

  She handed the [Blue] crystal to Big Osseod. A grateful smile tugged at her lips.

  "Thank you for finding this crystal. Here, you deserve it."

  Big Osseod's ears wagged happily as it accepted the Blue Crystal.

  "Osseod happy!" With a wide grin, Big Osseod brought the crystal closer to its snout, taking a deep whiff.

  Without warning the crystal mouse monster raised a limb that began to glow. With a precise step, it sliced through the Blue Crystal's center, cleaving it in two.

  "Yo! Not the Blue Crystal!"

  "Leelee!" Amber's eyes widened.

  KiAera stared down in horror at the shattered fragments of the blue crystal.

  "Big Osseod… That was rare…" She frowned her disappointment, but she acknowledged that there would be another time to discover more.

  "Osseod share."

  KiAera raised a brow. She wasn't sure there was any nourishing value to the crystal anymore.

  Though her eyes softened as she accepted the Blue Crystal half, "Thank you for sharing this with me." Inspecting the halved crystal...it was fascinating that the crystal did not leak any of its power.

  It simply was broke in half, revealing its pristine interior structure. She admired Big Osseod's ability to precisely cut through the crystal without spilling any of its contents.

  She became curious if that inference mattered much.

  She accepted the half, sniffed it like a suspicious cat, then popped it into her mouth—and shuddered as abyss energy rippled through her.

  ???? ? ????

  ★ KiAera's Status:

  Accumulated Particles: 2123 > 2128

  ???? ? ????

  She tasted the potent abyss energy that rushed through her entire body! The flavors of blueberries, mint, and honey filled her senses. She felt herself growing stronger by the second!

  "Wow! That felt amazing!" Her tail whipped like it was conducting a symphony.

  Big Osseod glowed after eating its half.

  ???? ? ????

  ★ Big Osseod's Status:

  Accumulated Particles: 228 > 233

  ???? ? ????

  "Leelee!" Amber squealed happily. "Me next! Me next!" The LeapLeap wiggled in place eagerly.

  The Plelepun, seeming unimpressed with Amber's outburst, tilted its big-ole adorable elephant head.

  "Yo, Amber, seriously, you gotta grasp this concept. It's like trying to snag the last berry from the bush when it's already in someone else's belly. The Blue Crystal's a onetime deal, not a replenishable plum on a tree."

  「'What a great analogy, Plelepun,'」 GamaGen praised; the book turned to the puzzled Amber.

  「'Sorry, youngling. There's no more.'」

  Amber's eyes became wide-saucers. "Whaaaaaat?!"

  KiAera nodded. "Yeah, thanks again Big Osseod."

  "Maybe next time, Amber," KiAera said. "We still have plenty of light-blue crystals."

  Amber crossed her wings with a huff. "Fiiiiiiiiine..." The LeapLeap's eyes glistened sadly.

  KiAera chuckled at the Plelepun's analogies and Amber's adorable antics.

  "Okay everyone, calm down! There is still plenty of light-blue crystals for everyone to enjoy." She distributed the remaining light-blue crystals to each monster.

  Dinner had been served! Everyone tucked into their crystals with gusto!

  KiAera watched contently as her monsters ate heartily. Her ears flapped with joy. They did well today! She could feel her team growing stronger with each meal they consumed together.

  Her gaze drifted to Amber sulking with her crystal. Poor thing. Tomorrow she'd make it up to her…unless GamaGen roped her into something first.