The heavy, metallic clang of the Forge's maintenance door sealed shut behind the four-person crew. Me, Marla, Mothman, and Koba was atop the hand, the massive, multi-jointed appendage that served as our primary transport deep into the Beast Vein tunnels beneath the Gutter Nest.
The hand, guided by my intent and Herja's navigational data, began its controlled descent. The light from our headlamps was swallowed by the thick, organic darkness of the tunnels, revealing a wet, steaming environment lined with pulsing, phosphorescent fungai—the true ecosystem of the Genome Beasts. Herja's voice was a clear, calm presence in my mind, feeding tactical data directly to the team: "The analysis shows we are entering Sector Gamma-7. Expect the first new Genome Beast type immediately.
"Okay gang, lets do this, form up. I'll take rear position, flanked by Koba, Marla you and Mothman take point." We dismounted from the hand, Marla swooping down on her wings while Mothman in the Xun'dral armor skated off the hand on his single large roller wheels. Koba activated his War Bettle wings, which made a great deal of noise as they fluttered with insectoid speed. I flipped off the hand with a flourishing McTwist flip, putting on a show with my agility stat.
The moment our beast feet and wheels hit the steaming ground, the first threat emerged. Four forms, bloated with luminous fungal sacs, detached from the cavern wall.
Herja flashed the battle information in my HUD and read the details.
"Battle Encounter!
Target Name: Abismal Lurker, High Resistance to Piercing type attacks, Spore attack causes severe Stamina Down debuff."
"Battle Start!"
I and my crew stood toe-to-toe with 4 Abismal Lurkers, I watched their turn meters fill rapidly, but before I could process anything else Mothman shouted "Heavenly wheel shift!" I felt a sudden rush of speed, or was it velocity? either way it felt like a bungee jump, like a roller coaster, like going down a huge water slide, I was suddenly ''quickened.''
''Extra Turn!'' Mothman than executed his group debuff technique 'Tarnishing Aura' cutting the Abismal Lurkers defense!
Marla was immediately up next! She leapt into the Air with a flourish and executed "Serpent Flash!" Cutting down three of the four Abismal lurkers!
" I'll need to get Marla's accuracy up, if I want her to be a more effective nuker." I thought to myself.
The fourth Lurker remained, weakened and still focused on preparing its Stamina-draining spore attack.
My accelerated turn arrived. Dashing forward I focused the Dahkra Rod on the single, remaining Lurker. I slammed my rod into it's center mass, easily seizing a sample of its bio-wave signature, I then took control of its orgone and used it to deliver a punishing attack! I could train my Beast Master path while unlocking the Brood Mother Palm.I fragged the Lurker using its own orgone against it, I twisted my Dahkra in the center of its mass, an execution technique instantly killing it.
I received an instant notification: Brood Mother Palm Cultivation: 5/10 And my Dahkra rod gained more essence! 1/6 collected. "The Dahkra must be capable of leveling up as well." I thought to myself.
"EXP Gained! 1300/1300
LEVEL UP! Herjas smokey digital voice read the announcement. "Ash you are now Level 6, Action Point plus 1."
I felt the raw surge of systemic power and noted the new skill point. I pumped my fist up and down as I signaled the crew, "Excellent first encounter everyone! I just leveld up and I hope you did too. Lets press deeper in!"
As we moved deeper in, the terrain changed. The moist, fungoid cavern gave way to a massive, semi-open vault—a sort of subterranean jungle gym. Herja immediately flagged a new, powerful signature entering the area. "Ash, hold your advance. New, unique life form detected, moving with alarming speed," Herja warned. "It's an aggressive primate Genome Beast. Classified: Ramapithicus." A massive, hunched, ape-like figure—all muscle and armored bone—came leaping through the gloom, its footsteps shaking the cavern floor. It looked like a brutal fusion of a gorilla and a mandrill, covered in thick, keratinous plates.
"Battle Encounter!
Target Name: Ramapithicus.
Ramapithicus has high HP and Stamina. With devastating force; he can Stun targets with physical impact." Herja finished.
This creature was a direct, brute-force threat, completely different from the fragile, defensive lurkers. Its raw power could easily flatten me or break through Marla.
"Mid-level fight, everybody look sharp!" I ordered, shifting my focus instantly to the immediate threat."
"Battle Start!"
Mothman with his superior attack speed of 225 Shot forward with Heavenly Wheel Shift to boost us with turn meter boost and speed buff. Mothman immediately launched his 'Tarnishing aura' cutting Ramapithicuses defense by 15%.
The next thing I knew Ramapithicus was ignited by twenty-four beams of seething green orgone energy, by the twelve vipers that adorned Marla's head. As the crackling green beams erupted from the vipers gaze they hissed mouths open, pink tongues out.
The Ramapithicus staggered, bellowing in pain as the green Orgone seared through its keratinous plates and into the vulnerable areas exposed by Mothman's debuff. Its high HP and Stamina prevented an immediate kill, but the brute was critically wounded, its charge completely broken by the unexpected coordination of the assault.
The turn meter cycle continued, accelerated by Mothman's shift. It was my turn next, and I was determined on cultivating required beast essence with both my rod and palm. I dashed forward while the Ramapithicus was still Staggered, snapping my rod into its prodigious pecs, The siphon with my Dahkra was near instantaneous by this point and I immediately sent out a punishing wave of the wild apes own orgone signature! I saw red damage numbers appear in my HUD!
The Ramapithicus was staggered and critically wounded, "Koba! Finish it now!" I commanded, quickly pulling back.
Koba was up next. Koba roared, his insectoid wings beating with urgency. He closed the distance, his movements solid and defensive. Koba knew his role was clean-up and protection. "Shell Shock!" Koba shouted as he launched a heavy physical strike designed to disrupt and deal high Stagger damage, stunning opponents'!
The Ramapithicus was hit with a stun debuff by Koba's technique, and the creatures turn was skipped over! It was now Mothmans turn! Mothman wheeled in the Xun'dral unit leaping off the ground in a triple twist launching three sonic arcs with his sonic elbow blades, the three crescent sonic strikes lit up my vision with critical yellow damage numbers! The wild Ape man's form crumpled to the ground. The immediate objective was complete.
"Ramapithicus Defeated!" Herja announced.
I read my system messages:
Brood Mother Palm Cultivation: 6/10
Dahkra Rod Essence 2/6 collected."
AP Available: 1
SP Available: 2
"Two down," I confirmed "Nice hit, Koba. I gave his pincer a high-five as we continued deeper into Gamma 7. The tunnels here narrowed into cramped, crystalline veins before abruptly opening into a massive, echoing chamber that smelled sharply of burnt metal.
"We have reached an unknown habitat," Herja announced. "Proceed with caution. I detect small, highly volatile variants, 'Detonating Scuttle Bugs.'"
Dozens of insectoid Genome Beasts, no larger than a dog but encased in polished black chitin, skittered across the cavern floor.
My HUD lit up with information:
Detonating Scuttle Bugs Low HP, High Attack Self-Detonate when HP is low. Extremely valuable Kamikaze essence.
I immediately recognized the tactical and cultivation value of these creatures. A creature that sacrificed itself for damage was a potent, if disposable, unit for my Brood Mother arsenal. I only needed one essence, but I had to secure the kill before the detonation was triggered.
I signaled the attack, demanding perfect synchronization to secure the third essence. I targeted a Nearby swarm.
"Battle Start!"
Mothman Shot forward on his blazing wheels "Heavenly Wheel Shift!" We all felt the rush of speed again as Mothman shouted "Tarnish Aura!" The group of scuttle bugs were all hit with 15% defense debuff! Marla rushed in with her accelerated speed!
"Serpent Flash!" She fired a highly controlled, low-power Serpent Flash—just enough to drop the target's HP to the detonation threshold. The targeted Scuttle Bug's HP plummeted as her jagged beams found their targets.
"DETONATION SEQUENCE INITIATED!" Herja shouted.
The Swarm of scuttle bugs began to pulse red, their self-destruct timers beginning.
My accelerated turn arrived. The bugs turn meters were half way full and I knew Koba could take the lot out before they detonated on us. I lashed out with the Dahkra Rod and acquired the scuttle bugs bio-wave signature with the Dahkra rod, earning me a third Skill point. I released a devastating wave into the scuttle bug downing it, the detonation sequence aborted.
Essence Secured!
Brood Mother Palm Cultivation: 7/10
Dahkra rod essence 3/6 collected.
AP: 1
SP: 3
The remaining swarm of Scuttle Bugs, alerted by the attack, scattered and began preparing their own charges.
"One down, a wave to go!" I yelled over the rising buzz of the swarm. "Marla, Mothman—full blast! Clear the immediate area! Koba, shield us!"
The rest of the fight became a chaotic mop-up, with Marla and Mothman carving swathes through the bugs, while I hid behind Koba, who activated his carapace to absorb the few suicidal explosions that triggered.