???? ? ????

  [Status] Plelepun's

  = Light-Blue Crystals consumed: 4

  [critical] [critical] [critical] [ULTRA]!

  [+2] [+2] [+2] [+10]!

  [Super Trait: Momentous Muncher]

  Abyss Particles absorbed: 16 Units

  Accumulated Particles: 402 Units → 418 Units!

  ???? ? ????

  KiAera frowned as she watched the Plelepun devour the crystals. A faint unease prickled through her chest, the kind of warning her instincts screamed yet refused to explain. She bit her lower lip, lost in thought.

  Then it struck her. The Plelepun's power eclipsed not only hers but that of her Osseod companions combined. That was the source of her unease. Her intuition warned her that the elephant calf was far stronger than it appeared. What unsettled her even more was how the Plelepun itself seemed wary of her. That contradiction gnawed at her mind.

  She had always known it possessed great strength, but she hadn't considered it a true threat. Until now. Her Merecritt self's prey instincts made her feel queasy. The longer it feasted, the heavier her caution became.

  KiAera narrowed her eyes, ears flattening, tail flicking with restless suspicion as she studied the creature. Would it turn on them later? Should she prepare herself?

  And yet... she couldn't deny its strange allure. Watching it was almost like staring at a zoo animal: captivating, beautiful, and dangerous all at once. A memory flickered of her last zoo visit as a child, barely old enough to start school.

  The Plelepun's trunk twitched as it swallowed the last shard. Its eyes blinked slowly, pupils dilating as they locked onto her—too intelligent, far too calculating for something meant to be beast-like.

  KiAera's stomach tightened. Its stare sank into her like a weight. Goosebumps prickled across her skin, a shiver running down her spine.

  The Plelepun tilted its head, voice ringing out casually.

  "Yo! What's wrong?"

  KiAera cleared her throat, her voice betraying nerves.

  "Um, nothing. Just… feeling a bit uncomfortable. Could you maybe… look somewhere else?"

  The Plelepun frowned.

  "Yo! What's that supposed to mean? You insulting me or something?"

  "No, of course not." She forced herself to speak plainly but carefully. "You're just… making me nervous."

  "Yo! You're making me nervous too! You keep staring like some kind of creep!" the Plelepun snapped back.

  KiAera's gaze dropped instantly, ears drooping in embarrassment.

  "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

  Her expression hardened. She needed clarity.

  "Plelepun. Be honest with me." A pause, then the words fell sharp.

  "Are you a threat to us—me and my companions?"

  The intrusive thought stabbed at her again. What if this elephant calf decided to betray her? To crush them underfoot without warning? Her mind painted vivid images of the gruesome scenes she'd seen in old films... The thought chilled her.

  The Plelepun only shook its head.

  "Nah. I ain't gonna do anything. Yo!"

  Relief washed through her lungs like air after drowning. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Maybe, beneath the bravado, this strange calf truly was a gentle giant. Salt of the earth.

  "Yo! But listen—" the Plelepun puffed its chest proudly. "You and your buddies are strong, sure. But I'm stronger than all of you combined! So don't get any funny ideas about attacking me!"

  KiAera raised a brow, almost amused.

  "Oh? And how do you know that?"

  The Plelepun smirked wide.

  "Yo! Obvious! I can feel it. You and your little friends? No match for me."

  A chuckle slipped past her lips.

  "You're awfully confident. Are you sure you're not just bluffing?"

  "Yo! Bluffing? Me? Never! I'm a mighty Plelepun! I never bluff!"

  KiAera let the laugh linger.

  "Alright, alright. If you say so." She smiled softly. "Thanks for the chat. It was nice talking to you."

  Her gaze lifted to the horizon. The twin suns of Zeldritzon were sinking low, the orange sky melting into violet dusk. Mu, Nu, and Beta Osseods stirred at her side as she nudged them awake.

  "Mu, Nu, Beta. Time to move. It's getting late. We need to return to the Crystal Shelter soon." She slung her satchel over her shoulder.

  The Osseods yawned and stretched in sync, voices chiming in their usual chant:

  "Mu, Osseod. Wake."

  "Nu, Osseod. Wake."

  "Beta, up! Beta, up!"

  The Plelepun's ears perked curiously.

  "Yo! Where are you going?"

  KiAera turned and smiled.

  "Back to base. It's been a long day. I'm tired."

  The Plelepun's ears drooped, trunk sagging.

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  "Yo! You're leaving already? I was having fun talking to you!"

  "Sorry," she shook her head. "But we can't stay any longer. We really do need to go."

  "Yo! That sucks. I liked hanging out with you. You're fun."

  A light laugh escaped her.

  "I liked hanging out with you too."

  She hesitated, then added, "If you'd like… you can come with us. I'm sure the others wouldn't mind."

  The Plelepun's eyes widened, nearly glowing.

  "Yo! Really? Even though I tried to steal your crystals earlier?"

  "Of course," KiAera nodded. "As long as you promise not to steal more of our crystals." She wagged a finger, stern but teasing. "And no trying to eat my companions either."

  The Plelepun's ears twitched wildly with excitement.

  "Yo! Deal! I promise! No stealing, no eating! Thank you so much! I won't let you down!"

  KiAera's smile warmed.

  "You're welcome, Plelepun." She turned to the Osseods. "What do you think, everyone? Do you mind if Plelepun joins us?"

  The Osseods tilted their heads in unison, voices chiming together:

  "Plelepun, Osseod. Friend?"

  "Nu, Plelepun. Friend?"

  "Beta Osseod, new friend?"

  "Friend! Friend!"

  The Plelepun's entire body lit up with delight.

  "Yo! Your buddies are awesome! I like them!"

  KiAera chuckled, patting its trunk affectionately.

  "I'm glad you think so. Well then—let's go."

  She took the lead, the Osseods trailing close behind. The Plelepun trotted happily at her side, its chatter filling the air with wild tales of adventure. She listened, while remaining wary and half enchanted.

  But not toward her new companion. The day had been long and draining, yet somehow lighter with the Plelepun among them. Strange how quickly her anxiety faded... though not enough to let her guard fall completely.

  As they neared their destination, the Osseods grew restless, their movements quickening with eagerness to return home.

  KiAera, however, slowed as a sharp concern pricked at her senses. She peeked into her satchel and her heart sank—the crystals were almost gone. Only a handful remained, barely enough for her Osseods, Amber... and now the Plelepun.

  She let out a heavy sigh of defeat.

  Most of today's stock had been used to placate the Plelepun earlier. Her face darkened with regret, ears drooping as the weight of that decision pressed on her. She hoped her new companion wouldn't be upset... or worse.

  Taking a steadying breath, KiAera decided there was no point in hiding it. She pulled the remaining crystals from her bag and laid them on the ground. The Plelepun halted mid-step, trunk swinging as it eyed her curiously.

  "Yo! What are you doing?"

  It didn't stop there. Its voice carried a strange concern.

  "What's wrong? Why are you frowning? Are you worried about something?"

  KiAera bit her lower lip, nerves betraying her.

  "I'm sorry... but I don't have any more crystals to give you."

  The Plelepun tilted its head.

  "Yo! Why not? I thought you said you had plenty."

  She shook her head, guilt settling deep.

  "I'm sorry. I lied. I only had enough to feed my companions and myself. I didn't expect you to be with us. I'm truly sorry."

  The Plelepun's ears drooped, its voice softening.

  "Yo... that sucks. Are you gonna leave me behind? I thought we were friends."

  The sting of guilt cut through her chest. The thought of abandoning him felt unbearable.

  "No! Of course not. I won't leave you. I'll figure something out. I promise."

  "Yo! Really? You mean it?" the Plelepun asked, trunk lifting slightly with hope.

  "I mean it," KiAera said firmly, her eyes steady. "I'll do everything in my power to make sure you have enough crystals to eat."

  The Plelepun's wide smile returned.

  "Yo! Thanks! I appreciate it!" It glanced down at the few crystals she'd set on the ground. "What should I do with those?"

  KiAera picked one up and offered it to him.

  "Here, take this. It's all I can spare right now, but I'll try to get more later."

  Its eyes lit up as it accepted the crystal.

  "Yo! Thanks!" It paused, gaze flicking from the crystal to the Osseods huddled by her feet. Then its trunk curled as a sympathetic frown crossed its face. "You seem tired. You should rest. I can go scout for more crystals."

  Her eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected offer.

  "Are you sure? I don't want to trouble you."

  The Plelepun waved her concern away with a flap of its ears.

  "Yo! It's no trouble. You're my friend now. I want to help."

  Warmth softened KiAera's expression.

  "Thank you, Plelepun."

  "Yo! No problem. You rest while I look for crystals." With that, it trotted off, ears flapping with excited determination.

  KiAera exhaled in relief as she watched him go. She was glad he understood her predicament, glad he wanted to help. And yet, doubt still gnawed at her. Had she made the right choice bringing him along? His strength made him a potential ally, yes—but his unpredictability left her uneasy.

  The Plelepun was still unpredictable.

  The thought cut off as a foul scent stung her nose. Rotten flowers. Her whiskers twitched, fur bristling as the forest's atmosphere shifted. KiAera's ears extended on reflex, straining. Something was wrong. Danger lingered in the air.

  "Yo! You feel that?" Plelepun's voice returned, its ears swiveling and trunk twitching uneasily.

  "Yeah..." KiAera muttered, her instincts screaming. "Stay close."

  Just then, the eerie chant cut through the forest.

  "RA! RA! RAVILASH!"

  The sound of lashing vines and snapping twigs followed in chorus.

  "Great..." KiAera muttered under her breath, ears rising. That chant was unmistakable.

  The trees shook violently, and from the shadows burst several Ravilashes, their whip-like arms flailing with wild fury.

  The Osseods froze, chirping anxiously. KiAera immediately dropped into a defensive stance.

  "Don't panic!" she barked. "We've dealt with them before."

  But this time, it wasn't just Ravilashes.

  An earth-shaking roar split the air, so powerful the ground trembled beneath her feet. From behind the smaller creatures rose a monstrous figure, a towering wall of writhing vines and thorns.

  The Carnilash.

  "RAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" it bellowed, the sheer force of its voice swaying the trees.

  Enormous. Twisted. An evolved terror born from the lesser plant beasts. KiAera knew instantly what it was—an Emergent, a beast of vengeance, come for retribution after the Ravilashes she had cut down.

  "KiAera..." Plelepun whispered, trunk lowering. "Yo... that thing looks like bad news."

  "You think?" KiAera snapped, tail twitching. The Carnilash's power radiated like a storm, setting every hair on her body on end.

  Her mind's eye flashed its stats before her:

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Carnilash

  APeX: [6989 Units]

  Attributes: [Plant] [Hazard] [Evil]

  Faction: [Predator]

  Variant Grade: [Common]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent] {E}

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  6,989 Units. No. Fucking. Way. She had never faced anything remotely that powerful.

  ??. .?? ?? Danger ?? ??. .??

  Hostile Carnilash #1 Status:

  APeX Power: [6989 Units]

  ?? [Fledgling] vs [Emergent] → ★ 1.3x Boost

  Final Power: [9086 Units]

  ??. .?? ?? Danger ?? ??. .??

  KiAera blinked. Once. Twice. What in the actual world...

  "Yo, I'm gonna sit this one out..." Plelepun muttered, stepping back.

  Her glare snapped to him like a whip.

  "You think you can just leave us? You're stronger than you let on. We need you."

  The Plelepun froze, then reluctantly squared up, trunk swinging forward.

  "Alright, alright. But I'm not getting eaten by some overgrown salad."

  KiAera's mind spun as the Ravilashes advanced, snapping jaws and flailing vines tightening their circle. Behind them, the Carnilash loomed, blotting out what little sunlight remained.

  "Osseods, stay back! Don't let the vines grab you!" she commanded.

  The Osseods chirped and clustered tightly as the Ravilashes lunged.

  KiAera ducked beneath a vine, rabbit-cat reflexes snapping into action.

  "Plelepun, take the right! I'll cover the left!"

  "Yo! On it!" Plelepun thundered forward, trunk smashing a Ravilash clean into a tree.

  KiAera darted left, her ears slapping away a whipping vine as she leapt onto a log. She quickly assessed the battlefield. If they took down the smaller ones fast, maybe—just maybe—they'd stand a chance against the Carnilash.

  ?(???)?

  ★ Ravilash slain.

  Acquired 10 Abyss Particles.

  ★ [KiAera's APeX]

  138 Units → 148 Units

  ?(???)?

  But victory was brief. A thick thorny vine lashed out from the Carnilash, coiling around her leg. Thorns dug deep as it hoisted her into the air.

  "Yo! KiAera!" Plelepun shouted, smashing through another Ravilash, but the Carnilash's focus was locked on her.

  She gritted her teeth, flaming claws bursting to life. "Not today, plant monster!" She slashed through the vine, dropping to the ground in a crouch. Her ears flicked in all directions, scanning for more strikes.

  The Carnilash roared again, its rage manifesting in a storm of vines whipping outward.

  "Plelepun! I could use some of that 'I'm stronger than all of you' energy right about now!" She shouted as another tendril smashed the earth beside her, exploding dirt and debris across the clearing. Her spectral tail flame shielded the Osseods from flying fragments, but a burning substance splattered her fur, sizzling on contact.

  "Ugh." She hit the ground with a groan.

  "Yo! I'm working on it!" Plelepun grunted, bashing two Ravilashes together like cymbals. "This thing's tougher than it looks!"

  Of course it was. Nothing in Zeldritzon ever came easy.

  And now, from the undergrowth, an entire throng of Ravilashes was closing in.