Civilization

"Energy Booster!" - Yor

Stepping off the ground, Yor dashes forward, pulling out a short sword, made from a combination of bronze and a Crinzanna Fang. A sharp whistle pierces through my ears as the blade slides out of the leather scabbard as a white half-moon arc approaches Number 88, from below. Noticing the attack, Number 88's body, bloats up, enlarging itself instantly until it was thrice the size of Yor.

Yor's blade makes contact with the blown-up body, producing orange and yellow sparks, as the monster's body hardens upon contact. Like a large black ice sculpture, the monster's body deflects Yor's attack, before a fist is formed in its right hand. Swinging down with speed that does not match its body, Number 88, aims for Yor's head. Blocking in the nick of time by crossing his arms above his head, Yor grunts at the impact as his feet sink into the ground.

At this moment, the several Crinzannas surrounding the monster, attack their skills as their manes light up the surroundings. In conjunction, the Xabarils charge at Number 88, desperately sprinting as they see Yor in trouble. Each one of them activates Charge, gaining a boost in speed as small dirt clouds could be seen as their feet kick up the dirt.

Smiling at the monster's decision without any commands, Yor yells out, breaking free from the attack and jumping on top of the monster, wrapping around its neck, and locking it in place with his legs. Bringing his short sword down at the monster's face, the Xabarils squeal loudly as they reach Number 88's body.

"DISPERSE!" - Number 88

Disappearing like a cloud of smoke, Number 88's body, changes from a solid into a gas, instantly flying away along with the wind.  The Xabarils unable to stop their charge, collide with one another with Yor luckily using their body to escape the entanglement. However, the Crinzannas were unable to stop their skill as well as their manes spun faster, about to launch their attack at the Xabarils.

"AIM FOR THE GATE!" - Celine

Listening to their tamer's orders, they turn their heads to the already destroyed gate, and in the nick of time, their attacks are launched. Another wave of splinters flies out into the darkness, blanketing over Yor and the Xabarils. Looking around, I try to find the monster, but with no sign of the monster in front or to the sides of us, I quickly turn around.

"BEHIND US!" - Rebecca

Swirling out of the ground like a tornado, Number 88 appears, shrieking at the Zivotinjas, as a blast of sound waves hit into all our chests. Taking note of the low damage, I took, I activate my Coin Flip ability. Revealing itself in front of my eyes, a small silver coin flickers into existence. With a portrait of Fortuna on the obverse side of the coin and a number 1 on the inverse side, the coin magically floats in the air for a moment before I quickly grab it.

Placing it slightly above my thumb, resting it against my index finger, I flip the coin upward. A small spark of electricity gathers around the coin as it spins in the air. Catching the coin in my right hand, I place it on the back of my palm on my left, revealing the portrait of Fortuna as I pull my right hand away.

[Successful Coin Flip! Doubling random stat… Agility has been selected! Agility 27 > Agility 54. Will you Coin Flip again?]

"Not yet." - Rebecca

With my increased agility, I dash backward, grabbing onto Celine's waist and pulling her back as well. Making sure not to wander too far away, I position ourselves near the Crinzannas, before Celine issues her commands over the Zivotinjas, who were already very agitated by the appearance of Number 88, behind them.

"Use the stored energy from Energize and activate maximum power Shooting Stars! Surround Number 88, and ATTACK!" - Celine

Following her command, the Zivotinjas' eyes light up as electricity gathers within their bodies. Wrapping around their body is an aura of electricity, travelling from their eyes to their tails as it lights up the surroundings. Within a moment of the electrical currents touching their tails, all 4 Zivotinjas start to move. They gallop toward Number 88, with two Zivotinjas splitting off to the right and left, surrounding Number 88.

However, Number 88 wasn't going to just let the Zivotinjas surround it for free, instead, it starts to form a purple and black ball above its head, with two similar balls on its left and right side. Pointing toward the Zivotinjas that were approaching it from the front, the three balls flash purple before accelerating to the Zivotinjas at frightening speeds. Crashing into the Prismatic shields that were already placed on the Zivotinjas prior to the battle, a small purple cloud is produced from each explosion.

Zooming out of the cloud were the Zivotinjas, and with a quick turn with their front legs, they swing their tails at Number 88 at the same time as the Zivotinjas on the left and right were attacking. A galaxy of spinning electric stars fly toward the monster from all directions, creating a web of electricity as the stars produce small sparks between each other, seemingly dancing in the air.

In response with the attack, a thin purple barrier appears around Number 88, expanding out to meet the stars as the same three purple and black balls form around him again. With each star colliding with the barrier, small explosions litter the surroundings as flashes of light blind our eyes, forcing both Celine and me to turn away slightly from the fight. The moment the explosion were done, three balls race out of the smoke, crashing into the Zivotinjas on the side but landing in between the two Zivotinjas in the front.

The unexpected attack breaks the Zivotinjas Prismatic barriers, and unfortunately for the Zivotinja on the right side, Number 88, lunges from the shadows behind it. Opening its mouth wide, showcasing an endless void, Number 88 swallows the Zivotinja whole, becoming a black ball in the process as small sparks of electricity could be seen flashing inside the body.

"NO! Attack! Use Discharge!" - Celine

The remaining three Zivotinjas body light up as a bolt of lightning is produced out of their bodies, zapping through the air toward Number 88, but as if there was an invisible barrier around it, the attack deflects away landing on the ground and the surrounding tree. Yor arrives beside us at that moment, standing in front of us, in his battle stance, as the Xabarils he commands line up in front of him. The Crinzannas eyes glow as they growl in the direction of the monster.

"What is it doing? Celine, can you hear the Zivotinja inside of Number 88?" - Rebecca

"I can't but the connection between us is still there and all I feel is the immense pain the Zivotinja is feeling. Its bones are being crushes, the flesh pulled from the bones, skin sliced from the flesh but it… It's kept conscious throughout the process. THAT MONSTER IS KEEPING THE ZIVOTINJA ALIVE WHILE IT KILLS IT!!" - Celine

For the first time, I see Celine furious and upset. Clenching her fists to the point that blood is dripping down to the ground. Turning back to the monster, we finally see that it finished killing the Zivotinja as its body reverts back to the humanoid shape, however, this time there was a slight addition. Swaying around behind it is a tail, with a very familiar star shaped end.

"No way…" - Yor

"This… This monster-" - Celine

"It absorbed the Zivotinja…" - Rebecca

"Which means its humanoid appearance is from absorbing humans and with how accurate the appearance is, it must have absorbed a good amount of humans." - Yor

"It doesn't explain its powers, though. What about the balls that explode on contact?" - Celine

"What if it absorbed a mage? Or a human that knew some sort of magic? Nina and Lynn are able to use magic and while it isn't creating a ball and firing it, it isn't that much different." - Rebecca

"Regardless, knowing that it absorb us is already quite terrifying, especially since the attack from the Zivotinjas weren't able to make contact with the monster while it was absorbing the dead Zivotinja." - Yor

"You don't think it becomes invincible during the absorbing process, do you?" - Rebecca

"No, that would be too unreasonable. However, a theory that I have right now is that while the monster is absorbing something, it can not be attacked by the same species, but like I said it is just a theory. We have no way of putting that theory to practice until it absorbs another monster, and to be honest, I would rather we defeat it somehow before it becomes too strong." - Yor

"Agreed. I don't want any of my monsters to go through the pain that the Zivotinja just felt." - Celine

"So far, it has a barrier skill, a projectile attack, a teleportation technique and the absorbing skill. We don't know what other abilities and skill it might have, but we should be ready for an attack from our flanks as much as possible." - Rebecca

"Alright, I'll lead the attack first with a few Xabarils, the rest will stay around in a circle, with the Crinzanna inside the circle. The Zivotinjas will move around outside the circle, since they are more agile. Celine, command the ranged attacks whenever you see fit." - Yor

"On it." - Celine

"Don't worry, Yor. I'll keep her safe, I happen to be quite fast myself now." - Rebecca

"Thank you, Becca. We need Celine to be as safe as possible if we want to win this fight and be careful, we still don't know what is inside the village." - Yor

"I know." - Rebecca

Glancing toward the village, I swallow my saliva silently. I can feel something is going to happen inside the village, but what it was, I have no idea.