Exiting the dungeon with minor incidents along the way, KiAera led her companions to the surface with satchels of blue crystals dangling from Oath's massive frame. The rest of the crew followed suit, carrying their loot of edible crystals from the Dareloop's depths.

  Zeldritzonian Crystals [Harvested]:

  - Dark-blue = 8

  - Blue = 101

  - Light-blue = 4113

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Creature: Oath the Orselith

  Faux Nym: Oath

  Brief description: big odd crystal mouse monster.

  APeX: [8133 Units]

  Dominion: [Augment] [Virtuoso]

  Attributes: [Ore]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: ["Unusual"]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  — — —

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Creature: Skadicritt the Merecritt

  Faux Nym: Skadicritt

  Brief description: star sparkle critter tiger-squirrel.

  APeX: [6849 Units]

  Dominion: [Manifest] [Virtuoso]

  Attributes: [Celestial] [Beast]

  Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

  Current Variant Grade: [Rare]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  — — —

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Creature: Viz the Nexperbax

  Faux Nym: Awaiting Confirmation…

  Brief description: supersonic bat monster.

  APeX: [6133 Units]

  Dominion: [Disrupt] [Virtuoso]

  Attributes: [Sound] [Wind] [Voltage] [Beast]

  Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  — — —

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Creature: 'Mina' the Minokaurbo

  Faux Nym: Minako

  Brief description: oni Minotaur. An Oni woman in her youth with dark eyes, dark messy hair, and an above average stature.

  APeX: [14934 Units]

  Dominion: [Augment] [Generalist]

  Attributes: [Brawl]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  KiAera rode atop Oath Orselith's back, her head rising to spot rays of sunlight pouring down from the canopy around them. The day remained bright and sunny, as far as she could tell, it meant that it was in the late afternoon.

  "We'll head back to base, for the day. Everyone, when we get back, you all have the choice to do whatever you want. Leisure is always important, you know?"

  Skadicritt squirrel-like tail swayed, "Okey-dokey! Oh, I so want to spend some time with you, Ki!"

  Viz stretched his wings out and fidgeted from Skadicritt's gaze. "You can do that, as long as you're no longer bothering me. I'm fine. Just glad to be on the surface again."

  KiAera's gaze flicked down to Oath. "You've gotten so big, I guess we'll have to develop a new space for you when we get back."

  She pursed her lips and wondered to herself. "Do the others get this huge when they evolve?"

  Then, she glanced back at Mina who leaned against an UvoSath tree. "You did great down there, Mina. But I have a question, what was all that about with those Gremgems and Grimgems? The animosity with Merecritts."

  I'm still uncertain about your ties with those creatures Mina… you were a subordinate of Jalkra, and those Grimgems seemed to know you…

  Skadicritt's ears perked up and twitched at the question. "What? Really, KiAera, you've never heard of the rivalry between Gremgems and Merecritts? Skaditty's grandpa always tells those stories from the old days."

  Mina let out a long, exaggerated sigh as her expression darkened slightly. "I figured you'd ask eventually. Guess now's as good a time as any to clear the air."

  Mina straightened up. Her dark hair shifted as the breeze picked up. "The animosity is old, real old. Long before I was even part of Jalkra's crew. And I'll admit, I didn't care much for the lessons when I was in their ranks." She kicked a loose rock aside as her expression tightened.

  "But yeah, the Gremgems and Merecritts have been at each other's throats for centuries. Something about territory, pride, and a whole lot of bad blood."

  KiAera tilted her head, her retractable ears twitching in thought. "But you're not with Jalkra anymore, right?"

  Skadicritt voice rang out, before Mina's response came. "Oh! Oh! Let me explain! See, way back, the Gremgems and Merecritts were rivals for their claim over some UvoSath land. It's been contested land for generations. The Gremgems think the crystals and all are their birthright, and the Merecritts… well, we just think they're being greedy jerks!" She giggled.

  KiAera frowned. "So this isn't just about Jalkra or Mina's past. It's deeper than that."

  "Oh, way deeper," Skadicritt continued. "Gremgems are always scheming, and they love to provoke fights. They're sneaky, like little weasels made of gems!" She puffed out her chest. "But we Merecritts? We fight back no matter what! We don't let them push us around."

  Viz shuffled awkwardly as he turned to her. "Skadicritt, maybe tone it down a bit. Not all Gremgems are bad, you know…"

  Skadicritt's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh, Vizzy, you're too nice. Gremgems are the worst! Mina knows it too, don't you?"

  "First off," Mina began, glancing at Skadicritt with a raised brow, "your gramps isn't wrong."

  "The Grimgems?" She brushed a glance back at the cavern. "I used to roll with a group that made deals with them. Jalkra's lot worked alongside the Grimgore Warlord for mutual gain—until I saw how little they cared about casualties. Subordinates, allies… it didn't matter. All they wanted was more power. More crystals. I wasn't having it."

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  She seemed to linger on an additional piece when she fell silent. "They're pests, sure. But they hold grudges. Don't underestimate them, even the small ones. Like that little gremlin who ran off earlier. Give it a week, and she'll probably show up with friends."

  KiAera sighed, glancing at the satchels of crystals Oath carried. "Great. Just what we need—more enemies. As if things aren't complicated enough."

  Her ears twitched as she absorbed Mina's explanation, watching her carefully. "So, you broke away from Jalkra. But they'll be after you now, won't they?"

  Mina's grin returned. "Yeah. Guess I'm a loose end they never got around to tying up. And they won't like that I've been carving out my own path, away from their rules. Honestly, I think that little scrap down there was just a warm-up. If the Grimgore Warlord's still around, they're not gonna stop sending their dogs after us."

  Skadicritt puffed out her chest. "If they come, we'll stomp 'em! Right, KiAera?"

  KiAera smiled at Skadicritt's enthusiasm. "We'll handle it, Skadi. But Mina's right—this is bigger than just one fight. If we're gonna keep running into these guys, we need to be prepared." She turned back to Mina, her expression softening. "Thanks for sharing. I get why you're cautious. Just know that you've got us at your back, Mina."

  Mina shrugged, but there was a flicker of appreciation in her eyes. "Don't get sappy on me, Merecritt. I'm here because it's convenient. That's all."

  "Sure," KiAera said, smirking. "Convenience. Got it."

  Skadicritt bounced in place, her mood brightening again. "So, snacks when we get back, right? And story time! Skaditty wants to hear more about this Grimgore Warlord creep!"

  Viz groaned, muttering under his breath as he stretched his wings. "Snacks, fine. But no more dragging me around, okay?"

  This is what I have to deal with, huh. KiAera glanced up at the sky, the sun filtering through the trees and warming her fur.

  This journey's only going to get tougher, she thought. But with them by my side, I think we might actually stand a chance.

  With that thought, she leaned her head against Oath's sturdy crest, letting the steady rhythm of their steps carry her forward.

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Zeldritzon [Cycle 17] - Morning

  Current Location:

  [Lylore Zone]

  [Crystal Shelter]

  [UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]

  'Floor 2. Multiplier x5.'

  Zeldritch Monsters in [Strength] Chamber:

  - Skadicritt

  - Oath Orselith

  - Delta Osseod

  - Scarbol the Kobolbo

  - Mina the Minokaurbo

  Inside the training facility, KiAera dedicated herself to supervising the drills within the [Strength] chamber, watching as the others struck and jabbed at the targets before them.

  Mina the Minokaurbo was seen performing her reps with a dumbbell. The Minokaurbo gained her strength by completing her sets. And KiAera could glimpse the fruits of her gains.

  Mina's [STR Boost +10]! Mina's [APeX +10]!

  Curiosity piqued, KiAera pried deeper into Mina's parameters with her [Insight]:

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  Creature: 'Mina' the Minokaurbo

  Faux Nym: Minako

  Brief description: oni Minotaur. An Oni woman in her youth with dark eyes, dark messy hair, and an above average stature.

  APeX: [15119 Units]

  Dominion: [Augment] [Generalist]

  Attributes: [Brawl]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  ??. .??

  Mina's Parameters:

  STR: [5529]

  DEF: [100]

  PWR: [100]

  WIL: [100]

  RES: [100]

  SPD: [100]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  That… was expected. KiAera turned away as she brought her attention to Skadicritt and the others who were active in their respective sessions. Skadicritt appeared hyper focused in the act as she waggled herself in a crouch, while jabbing her ears at the target before her.

  KiAera became curious about the other Merecritt, now that she had a chance to properly observe the girl, she found herself entranced in the animalistic nature that Skadicritt moved. That was the way a Merecritt truly fought?

  That little bundle of adorableness: was fearsome.

  It was like watching a giggling kitten pouncing and swiping, but with bounds and movements that were also very similar to a squirrel's leaping and reaching. Then, the way her ears swooped and arched. The movements were… more fluid despite the playfulness in her maneuvers. That was the best way to describe it. Watching intently, KiAera was no stranger in admitting that someone was better than herself; Skadicritt could have possibly been a far superior fighter than her as a Merecritt.

  With a wide grin Skadicritt darted towards nearby weights, her tiny paws propelling her with astonishing speed. "Skaditty dash! I'm Skadicritt, the fastest critter in these parts!" In one swift motion, she leaped into the air, her tiny body twisting and contorting mid-air.

  KiAera's eyes widened in astonishment as she watched Skadicritt effortlessly lift several hundred tons of weights along with her in the air, carrying them in the grasp of her ear limbs. She held the weights with ease, before hurling them at targets.

  The same targets were obliterated with those tosses. Before she landed, she grasped a bar, performing intricate flips and twists, then she inhaled and with a sharp spat, Skadi released a sparkling pink orb of energy from her mouth—the [MereSphere].

  A [MereSphere] without reciting the incantation.

  The sphere sliced through air before it struck a reinforced target at the end of the chamber with a resounding BOOM! The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the room, leaving a scorched crater in the once-pristine surface of the target.

  Skadicritt landed, then flipped on her back, pawing at the air with her meowing and purring. "Hehe! That was super-duper fun! Did you see KiAera? Bet you were surprised!"

  KiAera's jaw almost dropped, but she quickly composed herself, giving an approving nod. "Surprised doesn't even cover it. You're an absolute dynamo, Skadicritt. That [MereSphere] was incredible—no chant, flawless aim, and with that much power behind it? Color me impressed."

  Skadicritt giggled, rolling onto her paws and springing upright with a flick of her striped tail. "Told ya I'm the best Merecritt! You could learn a thing or two from me, KiAera. Wanna spar? I'll even go easy on you!"

  KiAera crouched beside her, resting a hand on the fuzzy creature's head. "I think you're already strong and scary enough, especially with moves like that. You didn't even use the chant for the [MereSphere]. How'd you manage that?"

  Skadicritt puffed out her chest proudly with her ear-limbs curled inwards to flex. "Hehe, it's a secret technique! You gotta feel it in your whiskers, ya know? Like, zing! Pow! And then—Skaditty BOOM!" She mimicked an explosion with her paws.

  Then her ears twitched as her head tilted slightly. "Wait. Chant? Why would I… You mean…" she gasped. "That forbidden thing of the Merecritts?!"

  KiAera raised a brow. "Forbidden thing?"

  Skadicritt's expression briefly became serious. "My gramps says its forbidden to do. Back at the Merecritt settlement we were taught that it was a taboo. A little chant is fine… but the other thing…"

  Her cheerful expression returned. "Usually, us Merecritts need to chant a little rhyme to focus our energy, but I don't need to anymore. I'm just that good! But you say you need a chant. Show me yours! Show me, please~!" Skadicritt bounced on her tail.

  The request made KiAera hesitant, but with a nod, KiAera focused her attention on a target. "I learned this from GamaGen. This was the only way for me to activate my [MereSphere]. I never knew there was another method, one without going through an entire verse to start it." She gave Skadi a small smile.

  "Ohhh! Let's see what you got!" Skadicritt circled around her.

  "Sit still, Skadi. Here goes…" KiAera took in a deep breath, inhaling the abyssal ambience around her.

  "Gathered strength, a potent mass,

  A weapon forged from creature's grasp.

  In the beast's maw, it finds its aim,

  To strike with force, to quench the flame.

  A sphere of pure destruction,

  Borne of a monster's ire toward obstruction.

  I call upon the power of the Abyss, to help me vanquish my foes.

  [MereSphere]!"

  As KiAera's chant reached its crescendo, an orb of shimmering black and violet energy began forming between her extended ear-limbs. It pulsated with an ominous hum, its core crackling with raw energy as if the abyss itself had been captured within it. She steadied her stance, aiming at a reinforced target across the chamber.

  KiAera released the [MereSphere]. The orb spiraled through the air, leaving a trail of void-like energy in its wake. It struck the target dead center, erupting in a controlled yet deafening blast. A wave of heatless pressure washed over the room, and when the smoke cleared, the reinforced target bore deep cracks spiderwebbing from the point of impact.

  Scarbol had paused mid-swing with his training mace, his expression caught somewhere between admiration and disbelief. "That's not the kind of power you see every day," he muttered, nodding approvingly. "I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that."

  Mina watched in silence as she side-eyed KiAera. "Agreed."

  "Whoa…" Skadicritt froze mid-bounce, her mouth agape. Her fluffy tail twitched with excitement. "KiAera! That was amazing! You got all fancy and serious with that chant! But it totally worked!" She darted closer, stopping short in front of KiAera's face. "That's the forbidden incantation! That's exactly how my Gramps and Papacritt does theirs! You're doing the taboo…" her eyes widened.

  KiAera blinked, stunned by Skadicritt's revelation. "Wait... what do you mean taboo? This is just how GamaGen taught me. It's efficient, and honestly, it works. What's so forbidden about it?"

  Skadicritt's fluffy tail bristled as she leaned in closer, her wide, glittering eyes locked onto KiAera's. "Gramps always said the chant draws too deep into the abyssy stuff. Something about it being too... dangerous. Like, it makes the [MereSphere] hungry. It's, like, super bad juju. He said you could lose control if you're not careful. But you—" She tilted her head, examining KiAera like she was an unusual artifact. "You made it look easy! You're weird, KiAera. Super weird."

  KiAera crossed her arms, her gaze drifting to the faintly smoking target she had obliterated moments ago. The idea that her chant—a technique taught by GamaGen—could carry such a heavy stigma in Merecritt culture made her stomach twist. She trusted GamaGen implicitly, but had he known about this taboo? Or had she unknowingly stumbled into something deeper?

  Skadicritt licked her shoulder, her tail flicking against KiAera's cheek. "Don't worry! I won't snitch. I'm not a tattletail—promise. Besides, your version of the [MereSphere] is super flashy. The others back home would probably freak out and faint if they saw it."

  "But…" Skadicritt head tilted in curiosity. "Do you really need a whole poem for it? What if a big bad monster is charging at you? You're just standing there rhyming while it smacks your face. Not very practical, ya know?"

  KiAera gave a modest shrug. "You've clearly mastered the technique. How about teaching me how to skip the chant?"

  Skadicritt grinned as she hopped in a circle. "Oh, you just gotta try it! But it's not gonna be easy, sis. You'll have to practice a lot—like, really feel it in your whiskers and let the energy flow naturally. No shortcuts!"

  KiAera chuckled, nodding. "I'm ready to learn. Let's see what this Merecritt form can really do."

  Skadicritt beamed, her tail swishing happily. "You're gonna love it! Just wait, KiAera—soon, you’ll be the second-best Merecritt in the world!"

  "Second-best, huh?" KiAera smirked, folding her arms. "We'll see about that, Skadi."