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Creature: Grimgem
Faux Nym: None
Brief description: emerged Gremlin.
APeX: [12400 Units]
Attributes: [Grim] [Evil] [Ore]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent] (E)
Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]
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"You're in for it now!" The lead Grimgem cackled, briefly shifting its gaze to Mina. KiAera thought she noticed a flicker of recognition in its dark eyes. She broke off from that thought as she was taken aback by a sharp hiss. Skadi.
Skadicritt crouched low, her fur bristling as she growled, "We don't want any trouble, Gremgems, but we won't back down either. Stay back!"
The Grimgem grinned. "You should listen to your friend. She knows what's good for her." He gestured to his minions. "Get 'em!"
The Gremgems charged, a chorus of cries escaping their throats, claws outstretched and teeth bared.
KiAera gritted her teeth, bracing herself for the impending battle. She didn't want to fight these small monsters, but they left her no choice.
Before the dreadful creatures could reach them, Oath Osseod let out a cry, unleashing crystal spikes from the ground to impede their charge. "Badness, stay back! Back! Oath protect!"
Mina snorted, rolling her shoulders as she stepped forward. "Alright, I guess it’s time to show you punks who's boss." She raised her fist, aiming at the charging Gremgems.
Viz yelped, his wings fluttering nervously as he shot bolts of lightning downward. "H-hey! I don't want to fight! This isn't my fault!"
Skadicritt bounded forward with a hop. "Come on, you grim-grims! Let's do this!” She cheered as she leapt and thrust her ears to strike the Gremgems' faces with [Ear Punches]. They fell over, crushed and crumpled into the ground. The resulting turmoil caused them to scatter in an attempt to save themselves. However, it was not a full retreat; instead, they regrouped despite their losses.
"Die, you vomiting Merecritt!"
"Let's fleece her while she's wide awake! Her kind deserves the worst!"
KiAera turned to see her team had already been surrounded by the hostile Gremgem horde. Several of them already charging toward her, targeting her with knuckles sharpened by their gems.
KiAera keened her focus on them, preparing to defend herself. As the first Gremgem rushed toward her, she ducked and delivered a swift kick to its stomach. The [Mere Kick] sent the creature flying, crashing into the wall with a satisfying thud.
The other Gremgems paused, momentarily stunned by the display. But the heathens quickly recovered, resuming their assault.
"You crappy critter! We'll mince you for what you've done!" One of the Gremgems cried out, arcing a punch at her. Reacting quick, she sidestepped its strike, and with her spear, she jabbed at its head. Before the strike could land, the Gremgem used the gem on its arm to shield its face, instead having its arm pierced, bleeding with particles.
The creature followed up with a crooked grin as it forwarded an elbowed toward her face.
She dodged and countered with a jab to its throat. It fell, and several more took its place.
And so they traded blows, but KiAera's superior skill and experience proved too much for the creatures. With a final blow, she struck down the foremost creature and sent it collapsing onto the ground.
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Name and Status: KiAera
APeX: [3218 Units] → [3563 Units]
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The other Gremgems watched in horror as their comrade fell before them. But their expressions quickly curled into snarls as they cried out in unison, "Kill the Merecritt! Kill the Merecritt! Kill the Merecritt!"
With that, the Gremgems continued with their charge, intent on avenging their fallen comrade.
KiAera recognized them as tenacious little things, and was quick to react, leaping over them as they swiped at her. She then landed on the other side of the group, ready to defend herself. The Gremgems, however, were not deterred, continuing their attack. Engaging in a punching motion, the cluster of Gremgems launched gem-shaped projectiles at her.
The projectiles flew, forcing KiAera to act, easily dodging the attacks, but the Gremgems didn't seem to relent. They continued their assault, launching more gem-shaped projectiles at her.
In her frustration, KiAera growled at the Gremgems' persistence. She needed to put an end to this fight, and quickly. She began to dodge the attacks, ducking and weaving around the gems, all while looking for an opportunity to strike.
With fire coursing around her in a cloak, she burned straight through the gems as she accelerated through the cavern and blitzing the Gremgems with a breakneck combination of [Fire Slash] and [MereSwiftness] which obliterated the entire group in one swoop.
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Name and Status: KiAera
APeX: [3563 Units] → [6541 Units] (MAX)
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If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Stored AP: [3154] → [3544]
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After the Gremgems in her vicinity were annihilated by her strike, it gave her enough respite to check on her companions. But, then a particular fuzz of dark fur caught her peripheral. She glared at it as it stumbled back, "I'd advised you to back off."
"Grrghh! You'll pay for that!" the Gremgem snarled as it staggered to its feet, clutching its injured arm. That one, the same one that had been set as bait for the ambush. She rolled over, barely avoiding being stomped on by a new group of peers that had just arrived.
KiAera glanced over to where they were rushing—toward Mina and Skadicritt.
Mina, preoccupied with her own battle, grabbed a Gremgem with her hand and hurled it through the crowd, causing it to explode into particles upon colliding with others. "Darn it! I'm not going to let you outdo me, Pinky. And as for you guys, you messed with the wrong Minokaurbo!" She roared, sprinting forward with a powerful lunge and raising her fist as she targeted the Gremgems.
"Enjoy this!" she slammed her fists into the ground, unleashing her [Tauro Fist] which created a shockwave that sent the Gremgems flying.
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Creature: Mina the Minokaurbo
APeX: [11210 Units] → [13189 Units]
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Oath Osseod, meanwhile, bulldozed through the Gremgems with her [Crystal Charge], mowing them down with her massive body. "Oath breaks through!"
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Creature: Oath the Osseod
[>Evolution Available<]
APeX: [5333 Units] → [8018 Units]
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KiAera saw the Gremgems were still swarming Skadicritt with relentless fury, claws outstretched, teeth bared. She fought them off with ease, yet they just kept coming.
Then, she spotted their leader—the Grimgem—hurtling toward Skadicritt in a wild, cartwheeling motion. Gaining momentum, it transformed into a deadly, gem-shaped wheel. [Gem Wreck].
"You deserve the worst fate, you pesky critter!"
"Skadi!"
The two clashed, but what happened next caught KiAera completely off guard.
To her astonishment, Skadicritt intercepted the Grimgem mid-attack, catching the spinning beast with her ears. With a powerful twist, she lifted the creature—gems and all—and hurled it across the chamber with tremendous force. Unlike when she had slugged the Thornback, this moment revealed something more—a glimpse, a spike—of the girl's true power.
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Creature: Skadicritt
{Celestial Might: Active}
STR: [5100] → [11200]
APeX: [6849 Units] → [13698 Units]
{Celestial Might: Inactive}
STR: [11200] → [5100]
APeX: [13698 Units] → [6849 Units]
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That [Celestial Might] trait—if KiAera hadn't imagined it—had amplified Skadicritt's strength and APeX twofold.
Her thoughts raced. This… this was something else entirely. That ability made Skadicritt the strongest monster she had encountered, especially considering the girl's other specs. She wanted to analyze it further, but there were more pressing matters at hand.
A heavy impact shook the cavern as the Grimgem slammed into the wall. Laughter erupted around her.
"Serves him right!"
The Gremgems hesitated for a split second, eyes flickering with uncertainty.
"Wait. If the boss is out—"
KiAera didn't wait for them to finish. She lunged, slicing through their ranks with scorching claws and flame techniques, their bodies dissolving into shimmering remnants.
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Name and Status: KiAera
Stored AP: [3544] → [4031]
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She quickly advanced to close the distance to Skadi with accelerated speed—until something sharp whizzed past her. A jagged shard of gem slammed into the ground just ahead, forcing her to roll aside.
The large figure before her landed with a thud, leaving her little time to recover before the Grimgem skidded across the stone floor, leaving a glittering trail of shattered fragments. It rose slowly, fury burning in its amethyst eyes.
"You'll pay for that, critter!" The Grimgem sneered, then bellowed, "Burscarbane, it's time to feast!"
The moment the words left its mouth, the Gremgems scattered, retreating with alarming speed.
KiAera tensed. Something was wrong. Even Skadicritt looked uneasy.
At the edge of the underground forest, Mina's voice rang out.
"Shit. Of all things to arrive…!"
The ground rumbled. A dreadful sensation crashed over KiAera, as if she had plunged into freezing depths.
Then, the beast erupted from the earth.
A massive, armored pincer struck without warning—slamming KiAera through a crystal pillar before she tumbled across the chamber, pain exploding through her body.
She struggled to find her bearings. Everything stung. Her vision swam, but she forced herself to focus.
Then she saw it.
Her skin crawled.
This… this was the nightmare Gilbud had described. A creature that carved through the subterranean depths, a harbinger of death itself.
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Creature: Burscarbane
Faux Nym: None
Brief description: Subterranean Scourge, a diabolical beast with features similar to a lobster.
APeX: [18966 Units]
Attributes: [Evil] [Xensect]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent]
Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]
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Perched atop the monstrous beast, the Grimgem grinned.
"You will be the first slain for our hatred!"
With a slow, deliberate motion, it dragged a claw across its throat in a mocking gesture before pointing to Skadicritt.
"Execute her."
No!
A sudden voice rang out—clasping her attention.
"KiAera-Aera! Evolve, Oath!"
A searing heat bloomed from KiAera's forehead. She winced. Her gaze flicked toward Skadi—trapped beneath the massive pincer—and then to Oath, rushing to her aid.
There was no time to hesitate.
To save Skadi. To prevent harm from reaching Oath again.
KiAera made her decision.
The moment she allowed it, the [Chimera's Mark] exploded with light.
[Evolution: Initiated]
The light swirled around Oath in radiant streams that lifted her off the ground. Shards of crystal splintered away from her carapace as if her form could no longer contain the power overflowing within.
Then—
CRACK!
Oath Osseod had transformed into a towering crystalline behemoth—an Orselith.
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[Innate Status]:
Creature: Oath Orselith
Faux Nym: [Oath]
Age: [30 Cycles]
Race: [Osseod]
Species: [Orselith]
Special Traits:
[Anti-Fracture]
Evolution Stage: [Emergent]
Variant Grade: [Abnormal Common]
Dominions: [Manifest] [Virtuoso]
Attribute Influence: [Ore]
Current APeX: [8018 Units]
Power Limit Cap (APeX): [330,000 Units]
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[EVOLUTIONS]
Orselith {Emergent}
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+ [Crystal Carapace] [Rank: Mega]
+ Bonus: Boosts defense. Discount APeX cost by 10% when distributing points to defense. Applies a 50% Boost to DEF.
+ [Fire Resistance] [TIER: E] (6%)
+ Bonus: Resist Fire ailments from Zeldritch with a lower APEX.
+ [Poison Resistance] [TIER: E] (23%)
+ Bonus: Resist Poison ailments from Zeldritch with a lower APEX.
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[MISC Skills]
[Insight] - [E] (11%)
--
[Skills] [Max Slots: 8]
[Headbutt] - TECH Lvl. 910
[Roll] - TECH Lvl. 633
[Stomp] - TECH Lvl. 449
[Tail Bash] - TECH Lvl. 100
--
[Species Skills]
[Crystal Chunk] - TECH Lvl. 1133
[Crystal Mend] - TECH Lvl. 915
[Crystal Curl] - TECH Lvl. 812
[Crystal Barrier] - TECH Lvl. 654
[Crystal Charge] - TECH Lvl. 1216
[Crystal Eruption] - TECH Lvl. 845
[Spike Strike] - TECH Lvl. 288
[Carapace Catapult] - TECH Lvl. 100
--
[Ultimate Skills]
[Cataclysmic Chasm] - ULT Lvl. 1 + x2 APEX
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