Chillet #14

Hiding in a dense thicket of bushes, I crouched low, my breath shallow and deliberate. Elena was beside me, her eyes sharp and focused on the clearing atop the hill. The early morning sun cast long shadows, dappling the forest floor and bathing the clearing in a soft, golden light.

Within the clearing, a peculiar creature roamed carelessly. It was an odd mixture of a ferret and a wyrm, resembling a wingless, long-bodied dragon. Its body was cyan with a pale blue underbelly and dark blue markings, some of which resembled scales or ice crystals.

The creature had two cheek tufts on each side of its face and long, twitching ears. Its wide eyes, which seemed to hold no thoughts at all, scanned the surroundings with an almost comical curiosity.

I couldn't help but voice my skepticism, whispering to Elena, "Are you sure this thing is as strong as you say it is?"

Elena didn't take her eyes off the creature. "Don't be deceived by its appearance," she said quietly. "It's an actual dragon. It might not be as dangerous as other Pals from the same species, but it can still tear us to pieces if we're not careful."

Vito appeared beside me, nodding along. "Yeah, John. Don't judge a book by its cover," he added, his tone laced with amusement.

I studied the creature again, trying to see past its seemingly harmless exterior. It continued to wander around the clearing, occasionally stopping to sniff at the ground or nibble on a plant.

I couldn't help but frown. Despite its innocent exterior, there was an undeniable grace to its movements, a hint of the latent power that lay beneath its cyan scales.

"Alright," I muttered, "so what's the plan?"

Elena crouched down beside me, her eyes scanning the clearing with the same intensity as a seasoned hunter. "My team had numerous tactics for hunting these kinds of Pals," she began, her voice low and steady. "We usually required at least a team of four, but since it's just the two of us, we'll need to adapt."

Vito, leaning against a nearby tree, nodded appreciatively. "This chick knows exactly what she's doing," he commented, his voice a low murmur only I could hear.

I ignored him, focusing on Elena's explanation. She went into intricate details about how her team used distractions, traps, and coordinated attacks to capture creatures like the one we were after. I tried to absorb as much of her knowledge as possible, mentally cataloging every strategy and contingency plan she mentioned.

Seeing my lack of response, Vito frowned. "I've noticed you've been ignoring me ever since we ran into Elena," he said, his tone shifting from casual to slightly accusatory.

My expression shifted slightly, but I continued to tune him out, determined not to let him distract me.

Unbothered by my silence, Vito pressed on. "It's strange, considering you were perfectly fine with raging at me in front of Carlo. But now? Nothing. It's like I'm not even here." He paused, a look of shocked realization spreading across his face. "Oh, I get it. It's a dick move, but I totally get it."

Finally, I snapped. "Will you shut the fuck up already?!" I hissed through clenched teeth.

Elena, who couldn't see or hear Vito, gave me a strange look. "Am I boring you?" she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"No, no," I quickly reassured her, throwing a glare at Vito, who was now chuckling with a smug expression. "I'm just... just a bit nervous, that's all," I said, giving her a sheepish smile.

Elena raised an eyebrow but continued with her explanation. "Since we lack the manpower, we can use the two Eikthyrdeer we captured to make up for our lacking numbers..."

The Eikthyrdeer were impressive creatures we had captured while passing through the Grassy Behemoth Hills. Their deep purple fur, creamy white underbellies, and massive purple antlers with blue tips made them stand out dramatically from any normal deer. Their long tails added to their unique appearance, and their sheer size, several times bigger than typical deer, made them formidable.

I nodded, trying to piece together the plan. "So, basically, we use the Eikthyrdeer as front liners while we sit back and fire away from a distance?"

"Exactly," Elena confirmed, though she added with a smirk, "Except I won't be joining the fight. You'll take care of it by yourself."

Vito chuckled beside me. "I like this chick more and more," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

I, however, was far less amused. "You just said the Chillet could tear us to shreds if we're not careful," I pointed out, my voice tinged with irritation.

Elena shrugged, unfazed by my concern. "I did, but the Chillet is hardly the most dangerous Pal out there. There are far more dangerous and stronger creatures. I might not always be around to fight for you, so you might as well get some practice with something like a Chillet."

Her nonchalant attitude grated on me, but I knew she had a point. If I was going to survive in this world, I needed to learn to handle these situations on my own. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Alright, I'll do it."

Elena gave me a reassuring smile. "Good. Now, let's take out the Eikthyrdeer and put them in position."

We moved quietly, letting the Eikthyrdeer out of their spheres and leading them to the edge of the clearing. The creatures were surprisingly docile, their massive antlers gleaming under the sunlight. Once they were in place, I hid behind a boulder near them while Elena remained in the bushes.

"Remember," she whispered, "the Eikthyrdeer will keep the Chillet busy while you hold your position and fire your arrows. When you feel the time is right, take out the Mega sphere and use it."

I nodded, my grip tightening around my bow. I watched as the Eikthyrdeer pawed at the ground, the docile looks in their eyes long gone, replaced by ferocious, battle-ready glares. The Chillet, oblivious to the danger, continued to roam the clearing, its icy blue body shimmering with an ethereal glow.

Elena gave another whistle, and the Eikthyrdeer charged. They moved with surprising speed and grace for their size, their hooves thundering against the ground. As they closed in on the Chillet, the creature's head snapped up, and it let out a high-pitched screech.

The first Eikthyrdeer lowered its head, its antlers glowing as it fired compressed air bullets from its horns. The Chillet dodged the first few shots, but one struck it in the side, knocking it off balance.

The second Eikthyrdeer followed up with a powerful charge, its antlers aimed directly at the Chillet. The creature responded by summoning three icy javelins, which materialized over its head and shot out one after the other. The Eikthyrdeer deftly dodged the first, but the second and the third struck its midsection and behind, sending it skidding to the side.

Taking advantage of the distraction, I drew an arrow and fired, aiming for the Chillet's exposed underbelly. The arrow struck true, embedding itself in the creature's flesh. The Chillet screeched again, this time in pain, and turned its attention towards me. Its eyes narrowed, and it summoned a ball of black and purple energy, which it hurled in my direction.

I ducked behind the boulder just in time, the energy ball exploding against the rock and sending shards of stone flying. My heart pounded as I peeked out from behind cover, watching the battle unfold. The Eikthyrdeer continued their assault, firing more air bullets and charging the Chillet whenever they had the chance.

The Chillet retaliated with more icy javelins and energy balls, but it was clearly struggling to keep up with the relentless attacks. It then tried a new tactic, leaping into the air and attempting to land on one of the Eikthyrdeer, intent on making use of its body weight.

The creature seemed scared of heights, its eyes squeezed shut as it fell. The Eikthyrdeer easily dodged the clumsy attack, and the Chillet crashed to the ground, dazed.

Seeing my opportunity, I notched another arrow and fired, hitting the Chillet in the leg. The creature roared in pain, but before it could recover, the Eikthyrdeer were on it again, their antlers glowing as they fired more air bullets. The Chillet staggered, clearly weakening under the combined assault.

"Now!" Elena's voice cut through the chaos, urging me to act.

I reached for the Mega Sphere, my heart racing. I held it tightly, feeling its weight and the power it contained. With a deep breath, I stepped out from behind the boulder and hurled the sphere at the Chillet. It sailed through the air, glowing brightly as it struck the creature.

There was a blinding flash of light, and the Chillet let out one final screech as it was engulfed by the sphere's energy.

...

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