[Chapter 2]

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  Wind rushed past KiAera's face, her hair whipping wildly as she soared above Yveon's forest. Driven by her objective, she invoked {Acceleration}, and her momentum surged until a sonic boom split the sky. Somewhere ahead, the faint presence of the thief flickered like a teasing spark.

  Whoever that scoundrel is, I'll give her a taste of my— The thought died as a distant silhouette came into view.

  The thief! KiAera shot forward.

  She activated her {Spatial Sight}, her vision sharpening by the second, as though the world were sliding beneath a steadily focusing lens. The technique let her see far ahead, and she caught the crook glancing over her shoulder with a sneer, tongue stuck out in mockery.

  "Eh, that's such a devious look on such a gorgeous face," KiAera said, frowning. Yet instead of rising to the bait, she steadied herself and pushed her enhanced sight further, bringing every detail of the woman into dazzling clarity.

  The thief bore one bat-like wing, white as fresh snow, while the other was angelic and feathered, purple as dusk itself. The contrast stood stark against the bright green wash of the afternoon sky. A pale halo hovered above her head, and two elegant horns curved beneath it. Long ginger hair streamed behind her like spilled sunset, and a deep yellow cloak wrapped her body, flecked with silver that shimmered like scattered stars.

  KiAera squinted. This woman belonged to a race rarely seen on this plane. Why would someone of demonic and angelic blood flock to the lower realm of Zeldritzon? Their kind usually presided in the Infernal or Hallow Planes.

  "Stop right there!" KiAera shouted, hoping to jolt her into hesitation.

  The thief only glanced back, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. With a sudden burst of speed, she shot ahead, wings flaring wide.

  KiAera's gaze hardened as she channeled her magic. She had hoped to resolve this through negotiation, but that option had vanished. "You won't get away that easily!" A torrent of fiery blue energy erupted from her fingertips, flames tearing through the air as they raced toward the fleeing figure.

  But the thief was quick. She twisted in mid-air, deftly dodging KiAera's fireball, which exploded harmlessly a distance away, sending a plume of smoke and ash into the sky. The woman banked hard to the left, veering just above a treetop and gaining altitude. She turned her head and shouted back.

  "Hah! I've seen apes throw muck better than that!" the thief taunted. She looped around, her movements fluid and graceful, like a raven weaving amid the clouds. "Is that the best you've got, winged wonder?"

  KiAera seethed. There was something about the thief's smirk. Something so infuriatingly charming about her cocky demeanor that made KiAera's blood boil. "Oh, you want a real firework show?" she challenged. "Let's see if you can dodge this!"

  KiAera conjured a series of small explosive orbs, each {Spectral Sphere} brimming with {Phantasmal} magic. One by one, she released them in a barrage toward the elusive thief. They streaked through the air, unleashing colorful trails lighting up the sky.

  The thief, undaunted, danced through the air, twisting and flipping, narrowly avoiding each explosion. "You really are a terrible shot! Are you sure you're not just trying to make my hair stand on end?" she called back, ruffling her long locks as she expertly evaded.

  "You think I'm trying to impress you?" KiAera shot back, teeth clenched. "News flash. I'm trying to take back GamaGen's feather!"

  "Aw, don't be such a killjoy! You know, if you squint, I could almost be mistaken for a model," the thief replied, striking a pose mid-flight. She flipped upside down and strutted through the air in a mock runway walk.

  KiAera exhaled. This joker…! Fine!

  In a burst of flight, KiAera unleashed all the fiery energy within her palm into a massive spiraling inferno that arched toward the sky. It erupted in a spectacular display, chasing after the thief with blazing intensity.

  The thief ducked and swerved, but one stream of flame clipped her wing. Unlike the earlier attack, this fire froze on contact, coating the thief's feathers in frost.

  "Ouch!" she screeched, flipping back to steady herself. The playful glint in her eyes hardened into a fierce glare as she realized the encounter was no longer a game. "That's it! You're getting on my nerves!"

  "Gee, I thought you'd put up more of a challenge," KiAera said dryly.

  The thief raised her hands, and two lances of {Divine} and {Demonic} energy ignited in her palms. "Fine. Let's play, bunny!"

  …Shit, I'm actually against a fallen angel!

  The woman rushed forward, slicing through the sky like a living embodiment of light. In response, KiAera conjured an {Energy Blade} in her hand, blue light and flames coiling around her arm.

  Without missing a beat, KiAera met the charge head-on. Energy crackled violently between them as their weapons collided. The air grew heavy with magical force while they clashed in a whirlwind of color and fire.

  They parried and wheeled through the open sky, every strike echoing like thunder. The shockwaves of their battle rippled outward, sending flocks of birds and even drifting sky-squids scattering in panic.

  KiAera pressed her blade against her opponent’s, impressed despite herself. "Not bad for a flying imp!" A spark of intrigue flashed in her foe's eyes. She barely had time to dodge a swift strike aimed at her side, the blades of the thief just grazing her wing.

  The thief laughed. "You're quick on your feet! But I've got a few tricks up my sleeve too!" She sent forth one of her glowing lances, aiming directly at KiAera's midsection.

  With a deft twist, KiAera evaded, the lance whizzing past her and spiraling off into the distance. "Nice throw, but try harder!" She lunged, swinging her blade in a wide arc aimed at the thief's chest.

  The thief spun away at the last instant, drifting out of reach like smoke on the wind.

  "Close, but no cigar!" she chirped, flipping in the air before slickly maneuvering behind KiAera, her other lance already aimed for KiAera's nape.

  KiAera felt a rush of air as the lance sailed dangerously close. "Who do you think you are?" she spat, turning sharply to face her opponent. "A winged wannabe playing pirate in the skies?"

  "Well, I do have style," the thief shot back, a playful grin plastered across her face. "Too bad you're too busy sulking to even notice! Just look at how dull you are!"

  That remark struck a nerve. KiAera charged forward again, her energy blade blazing brighter. "You've got a big mouth for someone who just stole something sacred!" she shouted, unleashing a rapid flurry of slashes at the sneering thief.

  The thief danced through the air, twisting her body with effortless grace, countering KiAera's strikes with a series of quick sidesteps. "Stealing? Oh, rabbit, this isn't theft! It's more of a… rescue mission," she cooed. "Besides, don't you think it's time for a change? New decor—"

  KiAera crashed her knee against the thief's face and drove her leg forward with force, sending her opponent spiraling backward through the air.

  The thief gasped, momentarily caught off guard, but KiAera could see the glint of excitement sparking in her eyes as she steadied herself with a flutter of her wings.

  KiAera took the breather as opportunity. 'Time to open the Chimera Interface,' she thought. 'Open.'

  [Chimera Interface Open]

  With a mental press, a list of more than a thousand hybrid monster transformations appeared before her eyes; the forms she had unlocked over the years.

  The interface rolled through the options:

  [Naga], [Vampress], [Harpy], [Dryad], [Oni], [Liorex], [Wyvern], [Kobold], [Ore Mouse], [Phoenix], [Siren], [Kappa], [Cerberus], [Abyssal],[Shenlong], [Undead], [Golem], [Angel], [Fallen], [Voltswasp], [Arachnid], [Narwhal], [Unicorn], [Banshee], [Xeno-Wolf], [Dulluhan], [Yuki-Onna], [Pegusus], [Mantis], [Basilisk], [Ifrit], [Diablo], …

  "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, you." KiAera selected her favorite form.

  "[Valkyrie]."

  The {Chimera's Mark} beneath her left eye glowed.

  Like a magical girl's transformation sequence, her attire warped away; the change was instantaneous. The air swirled in a vortex as her outfit was replaced with a leotard and light armor designed for aerodynamic maneuvering. Her hair shifted from dark locks to a lovely blue bob hairstyle, complemented by a winged helmet materializing atop her head.

  She opened her arms and hands, creating wing-shaped daggers. The weaponry orbited around her body as if she were a planetary body and the weapons were her moons.

  KiAera bit her bottom lip. The form revealed a bit too much skin, but it served its purpose.

  This was the {Valkyrie // Chimera Form}.

  And, unlike her {Base} state, it provided her with a significant boost in power and a shift in her stats based on its unique performance scaling.

  ? ATTRIBUTES ?

  ? CORE RESERVES ?

  ? VALKYRIE TRANSFORMATION MODE ?

  KiAera rolled her shoulders. She realized it had been a while since she had transformed into one of her hybrid forms.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The thief narrowed her eyes, annoyance flickering briefly across her features; she looked ready to stop toying with her opponent.

  KiAera gladly accepted the challenge: she could almost hear the gears turning in her head as the thief recalibrated her stance.

  "What's with the outfit swap?" the thief asked. "You're not just going to throw feathers at me and call it a day, are you?"

  KiAera smirked, feeling the surge of power coursing through her. "You're going to love what happens next."

  The thief laughed, brandishing her lances. "Sure. Whatever! Bring it on, ya mighty birdy!"

  "Fine."

  KiAera murmured, casting the spell. "[Brunhild]—[Ring of Vengeance]." The feathers moved on command, rotating seamlessly at a dizzying speed before surging forward in a spiraling vortex, aimed straight at the thief.

  The thief's smirk faltered for a fleeting moment as she realized the gravity of the incoming assault. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening.

  She darted to the side, narrowly evading the first wave of feathers that sliced through the air like razor-sharp projectiles.

  "You call that a feather storm? I've seen rainstorms with less bite!" she jeered, but her bravado waned as she quickly dodged the second wave of feathers, which whistled past her and struck nearby trees, splintering the wood with explosive force.

  With that, KiAera commanded her feathers to shift, twisting in the air like a flock of wild birds. They resumed their path, weaving between the tree branches, adjusting for the thief's evasive maneuvers.

  The thief, now visibly annoyed, unleashed her remaining lance, channeling both divine and demonic energies as she thrust it toward the incoming barrage. "Try this on for size!" The lance erupted into a radiant beam of light, colliding with the feather storm.

  The resultant explosion sent shockwaves through the skies, enveloping both combatants in a blinding haze. KiAera gritted her teeth and pushed forward, using her enhanced speed to weave through the smoke and debris, determined not to let the thief escape.

  Just as the smoke began to clear, KiAera spotted the thief regaining her balance, preparing another strike with her newly conjured lances. This time, however, KiAera anticipated the move.

  Channeling her mana, KiAera aimed to deliver a definitive blow. The feathers circled her fiercely, ready to act on her command. "Let's finish this!"

  She dove toward the thief, activating her wings to create a gust of wind that sent swirling plumes of debris around them.

  The thief propelled herself upward, her wings flaring out with a brilliant luminosity. She whooshed through the air, darting like an arrow, then suddenly stopped mid-flight.

  She twisted around and unleashed a barrage of shimmering sparks that exploded like fireworks in the sky, momentarily blinding KiAera.

  Shielding her eyes, KiAera flapped her wings to regain her sight, only to find shadows looming closer. "Not this time!" she shouted, channeling her magic into a defensive barrier. It surrounded her just as the sparks burst against it, splattering harmlessly in a magnificent display of light.

  As the smoke cleared, KiAera grinned. "I've seen fairground performers with flashier tricks! Is that all you've got?"

  "Gutsy, aren't we?" the thief retorted. With a mischievous smile, she dove straight for KiAera.

  KiAera launched herself forward. The thief barely had time to react before KiAera was upon her.

  KiAera slashed, her energy blade shimmering as it clashed against the glowing lances.

  "Why did you take the feather!?" she yelled amidst the flurry of strikes, her eyes narrowing in focus. "What do you hope to achieve?"

  "You'll find out soon enough~!" the thief called back. "But let's just say it wouldn't do to have a bunch of 'heroes' in possession of something so powerful! You see, I have some unfinished business with a certain group of 'villains' who think they can control the feather for their own gain."

  That revelation ignited a fire within KiAera. "Powerful? So you know what it is!" Anger flared through her veins, fueling her resolve.

  The thief broke free from their clash and fled. Yet KiAera pumped her wings harder, propelling herself forward with renewed fervor. If there was any chance of recovering the feather, she couldn't let the damn thief escape!

  Navigating through the dense canopy of trees, the chase led KiAera over rivers and valleys, through narrow canyons where the air turned crisp. The thief was skilled, darting through narrow crevices and utilizing the landscape to her advantage, but KiAera was equally formidable in her pursuit.

  Suddenly, as they neared the edge of the Yveon border, the thief perched on a crooked rock formation and clutched the feather tightly to her chest; its former brilliance glowed with a pulsating black light that cast shadows across her face.

  KiAera halted, her heels clicking on top of a pillar opposite the thief.

  "This should be far enough, Ki."

  KiAera flinched. The woman's tone was laced with familiarity, but that couldn't have been possible.

  This was their first meeting.

  "Answers. Now," KiAera demanded. With a mental command, the air crackled as streams of light and heat pulsed from the spinning wings under her control, targeting the thief's throat with anticipation. KiAera needed to look as intimidating as possible.

  A stern expression shone on her face.

  "For crying out loud, chill!" the woman said, raising her arms in mock surrender. "Come on. Don't tell me you're unable to recognize me?"

  KiAera tried. She scrutinized the woman's features: her smug expression, lithe stature, and the depth of her magenta eyes.

  Nothing.

  "Nope. Never seen you before."

  The woman gasped, then pouted, biting the bottom of her lip like a scolded child. She actually looked as if she were about to burst into tears, her face reddening with what appeared to be rage.

  "You're an asshole, Ki!" The thief's grip tightened on GamaGen's feather. "After all we've been through on Earth—" She cupped her hand to her lips in a sob.

  "—not to mention all the battles we've fought side by side!"

  KiAera's eyes widened with shock, confusion washing over her. She genuinely had no memory of the woman in front of her. What tricks was this one playing?

  "I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped. "I've never met you in my life! Now quit stalling for time!"

  The thief's expression turned from anger to disbelief. "You seriously don't remember? We faced down mechdemons, stormed starships, and even—" She hesitated, glancing at the glowing feather in her grasp, which seemed to pulse in response to her emotions. "And even saved each other's lives countless times."

  KiAera narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of the chaos swirling within her head. It throbbed painfully as she tried to remember. The name 'Earth' felt like a distant memory, one buried beneath layers of war and conflict. "What are you talking about? I've never met you," she insisted.

  KiAera recalled faces: there was Lizzie, there was Mirage, there was Hope, and finally, there were the few hundred survivors who managed to depart Earth during the Exodus. They escaped because of her sacrifice. She would have done it again without a second thought.

  Yet her chest ached. Where have they gone?

  The thief's frustration morphed into a smirk. "Oh, but you did! You just don't remember. How convenient for you, huh?"

  "Stop playing games," KiAera warned. "You have something that belongs to me. Return it, and maybe we can clear up this apparent misunderstanding." She didn't drop her guard. She levitated forward, readying her wings, her feathers and energy blade at a moment's notice.

  "Well, if you're really serious about getting it back," the thief said, shifting her weight and launching herself off the rock formation, landing gracefully on the ground below. "Maybe we can strike a deal instead?"

  "A deal?" KiAera scoffed, glancing at GamaGen's feather; it pulsed with an otherworldly energy. "You're in no position to negotiate."

  "Am I? You see, there's a reason I took the feather," the thief said, her voice lowering, eyes narrowing. "And it has everything to do with what's coming."

  KiAera hesitated, noting the urgency in the thief's tone. "What do you mean?"

  The thief crossed her arms, leaning casually against the rock. "You know about the tensions between realms, right? Things are about to escalate. If you don't think the feather can make a difference, you're more naive than I thought."

  KiAera's expression softened slightly, the mention of impending conflict igniting concern. "What do you know?"

  "The feather has the power to revise the rules tied to our realm," she explained. "In the wrong hands, it could spell disaster! And trust me, there are forces that want this chaos."

  KiAera studied her, weighing the thief's words carefully. Despite her rebellious demeanor, there was a sincerity beneath the bravado. "So, you're trying to protect it?" she asked skeptically.

  "Something like that. I need it for… a mission," the thief admitted.

  'You're one to talk, you're probably the incarnation of mayhem.' KiAera pressed her lips together. So this woman wasn't just some random monster pilfering valuables. Certainly, very few would know about the capabilities of GamaGen's feather. If anything, KiAera had no concerns about the feather's powers being unleashed. Not now.

  The thief would need a peculiar ink, a vast reservoir of mana, and a specific book sealed within the depths of the Chimeron Domain. It wasn't located here in this dimension; instead, it was inside Szylla's Domain. Szylla would have had it sealed, locked, and meticulously warded inside her desk.

  The thief stared at KiAera, a glimmer of vulnerability in her eyes. "I'd appreciate it if you'd help me."

  A faint sense of familiarity washed over KiAera, like a half-remembered dream, but it slipped away as quickly as it came. "Why should I trust you? You broke into our treasury, attacked my crew—"

  "You're right," the thief interrupted. "But you're also the only one who can help me. We share the same goal, even if you can't remember it."

  KiAera stood frozen, the weight of the thief's words pressing down on her. Could she trust this mysterious woman? Or would she be leading her into a trap?

  "So tell me," KiAera said, "what's this mission? And why does it require GamaGen's feather?"

  "I've already told you that their's a group of dumbass villains wanting to use it for themselves," the thief snapped.

  KiAera couldn't help but frown. "That's a classic. Every villain and their uncle has some grand objective they're trying to fulfill or prevent. Give me something concrete." Her voice turned ice-cold. "Or else I'm taking back what's mine."

  "Then listen carefully," the thief said, taking a step closer. "You've heard of the Overlords of Omega V, haven't you?"

  The name hit KiAera like a physical blow. The world tilted. The vibrant orange of the Yveon border, the jagged rocks, the thief's defiant face; it all dissolved into a haze of red and black. A different sky. A different world. Screaming. The smell of burnt plastique and ozone. The crunch of bone under metallic boots. A silhouette, vast and terrible, against a backdrop of shattered skyscrapers.

  Lorgagore.

  The name echoed in the hollow chambers of her memory. The tearing of flesh. The crushing of hope. The final, suffocating darkness of her own death.