Greenway Passage

WarriorofSpaceBooty · Oct 14, 2026

Clementine walked with her brothers through the greenway passage after being introduced to the Noktis group, as well as Ivy Smirnov and Jiwoo Parks; they all moved together through the area with carefulness akin to tourists traversing through a territory full of lions, predators born to hunt and kill with no hesitation, in a world of prey and predator, survival of the fittest. She looks back at Garciela, who decided to stick by her other twin, worry etched into her face as they both look around and hope nothing happens. Clementine didn't blame them for sticking together cause she stayed by both brothers out of comfort despite being the second oldest; her brothers were bigger and showed a much more intimidating presence. Clementine would quietly nudge Minjae and Benjamin. "How much you wanna bet one of these people among us will lose their cool?" she says with a smirk, clearly masking her fear under a smirk, but she knew the two brothers could see past her bravado. "But I'm confident the three of us will be able to handle mere kryptids, right?" she asks them both, seeking positive reinforcement.
Garciela looks at her sister, Gabriela, with worry on her face, with one hand in the bag where the gun rested in case something were to happen yet she knew the Noktis group were here to protect them and wouldn't falter to do so. "Auē ka pōʻino! Gabriela, we are really walking through Kryptid territory that is between us and the place we are going to learn how to fight them, do you think they can die from a regular gunshot?" she asks while eyeing the other people who are joining them as possible hunters.

CairoOnyx · Oct 15, 2026

𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕛𝕒𝕖
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Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ Wɪʟʟɪᴀᴍs ɪs ᴀ 21-ʏᴇᴀʀ-ᴏʟᴅ Aғʀɪᴄᴀɴ Aᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴ/Kᴏʀᴇᴀɴ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғʀᴏᴍ Fᴏɴᴛᴀɴᴀ, Cᴀʟɪғᴏʀɴɪᴀ. Hᴇ ɪs ᴄᴀʟᴍ, ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ, ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠᴀɴᴛ, Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ ᴘʀᴇғᴇʀs ᴅɪᴘʟᴏᴍᴀᴄʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪs ғɪᴇʀᴄᴇʟʏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴏғ ʜɪs ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs. Dᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀssɪᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛs ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴏʀ ʜɪs ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇs ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟᴅᴇʀ, ʀᴜᴛʜʟᴇssʟʏ ᴇғғɪᴄɪᴇɴᴛ sɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇʟɪᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇs ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴏsᴜʀᴇ. Pʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ, Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ ᴘᴏssᴇssᴇs ᴇxᴛʀᴀᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀʀʏ ᴄᴀᴘᴀʙɪʟɪᴛɪᴇs, ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜɪs ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, Psʏᴄʜᴏᴋɪɴᴇsɪs. Oᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ, Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴡᴇʟʟ-ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴜsɪᴄɪᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏs ʙᴀsᴋᴇᴛʙᴀʟʟ, ғɪsʜɪɴɢ, ʜɪᴋɪɴɢ, ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴜsɪᴄ, ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ. Hɪs sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ʜᴀᴛʀᴇᴅ ᴏғ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅs ɪs ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ, ᴀs ᴀ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅ ᴡᴀs ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsɪʙʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏғ ʜɪs 5 Yᴇᴀʀ-Oʟᴅ ʙᴀʙʏ sɪsᴛᴇʀ, Jᴜʟɪᴀ.

Once Minjae layed eyes on Ivy and Jiwoo, the first thing he thought was how could they be amongst the strongest? The both of them looked just as young as he was if not younger. But listening to what they had to say only made him realize they both had to be much older and they seemed wiser as well. Regardless, whatever the hell a Kryptid was must have been some kind of real menace if this many people were needed just to get them to their destination, especially the strongest amongst them. Though, his process was cut short by his sister nudging him to get his attention and asking him and Benji a couple questions. As much as he wanted to have confidence in the situation, the last thing he wanted was to lose 2 more siblings for being reckless and encouraging them to do something he knows is probably a bad idea.

Minjae: Honestly, a lot of us might not be as cool if something happens, especially since the escorts are already fully armed and in position to attack if something pops off. As for us, I know I probably fuck with you two alot.. But I wouldn't suggest trying to actually do something unless its a last resort. I'm not about to lose another sister or brother.

Minjae was already looking around as the group started walking ahead, eventually his eyes passed by the treelines which gave him a sllight flash back to when he was a kid, causing him to ball up his fists and allowed a bit of his power to reveal itself. It wasn't alot but it was definitely noticeable by those looking at him or standing right beside him.

Minjae (Mumbling to himself): So the giant imp with a face covered in teeth... that's the Kryptid that took her from us.. That's the one i'm going to kill..

─────────── ✦ 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕁𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕟 ✦ ──────────

Jᴀᴅᴇɴ Kɪɴɢ ɪs ᴀ ᴄʜᴀʀɪsᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ, ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ-ʟᴏᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇᴍᴀᴋᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴍᴀssɪᴠᴇ ᴇɢᴏ, ᴀ sʜᴀʀᴘ ᴇʏᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ's ᴡᴇᴀᴋɴᴇssᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴɪᴘᴜʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴄʜᴀʀᴍ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ. Cᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛɪᴛɪᴠᴇ, sᴀʀᴄᴀsᴛɪᴄ, ᴘᴇᴛᴛʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜɪs ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ ɪs ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴏɴs ғᴏʀ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ᴀᴍᴜsᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ, ʜᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀᴛʜᴇʟᴇss ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ғɪᴇʀᴄᴇʟʏ ʟᴏʏᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏ̨ᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʜᴇ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇʟʏ ᴄᴀʀᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ʜᴇ'ᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀʀɢᴜᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ. Hɪs ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇs ʙᴇɪɴɢ \ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ, ʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴅɪsʟɪᴋᴇs ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ. Aғᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍɪɴɢ ᴀɴ Aʟᴘʜᴀ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅ Cᴏʀᴇ, Jᴀᴅᴇɴ ᴀʟsᴏ ɪɴʜᴇʀɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Aʟᴘʜᴀ's ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ɪᴛs sᴘᴇᴄɪᴇs' ʜɪᴇʀᴀʀᴄʜʏ, ᴀʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴘᴇᴄɪғɪᴄ ʙʀᴇᴇᴅ ᴏғ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅ ᴀs ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ᴘᴀᴄᴋ. Tʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴍɪɴᴅʟᴇss sᴇʀᴠᴀɴᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀɴ ʀᴇsɪsᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴇxᴛʀᴇᴍᴇ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜᴍsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, Jᴀᴅᴇɴ ᴇғғᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴄᴏᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ sᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ. ʟᴇss sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɪɴʜᴇʀɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴ Aʟᴘʜᴀ's ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɪɴʜᴇʀɪᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴛs ᴛʜʀᴏɴᴇ.

Jaden just happened to be walking beside the group as his ears twitched at the mention of a giant imp. The only reason he was able to hear what was being said was due to his alpha Kryptid ability which gave him enhanced hearing. His eyelids squinted as his eyes shifted towards Minjae with a curious glare. There should be no way this kid already knows about a Kusha before getting here, did one actually traverse the ocean to a different area? If so, then that's just one more thing they needed to worry about, but before making any rash decisions and telling the higher ups, he'd confirm the information with him at a later time. For now, his only job was to get them to the school unharmed.

Jaden (Thinking): This kid, he may be useful later on if he survives this journey. If he has that much of a hate towards Kusha, then... wait. They were talking about this before, one did escape the island but it was killed by one of our members, and they were trying to find a few kids that survived... could this be one of them?

Rutaba · Oct 16, 2026

Benjamin walked with Clementine and Minjae through the passage with his duffel bag over his shoulder, his eyes moving between the trees. Something about the place to Benjamin didn’t feel right, like it was unusually quiet. It felt like he was walking into a trap.

When Clementine nudged him and asked how much he wanted to bet someone would lose their cool, and Benjamin looked at her with his signature sneaky grin.

Honestly? Five minutes. Maybe less than that if somebody tries to act tough in front of the escorts. He nudged Clementine back lightly with his elbow. Yeah we can totally handle ourselves there’s no questioning that, but I have a feeling that what we’re gonna find isn’t gonna be ordinary.

Benjamin adjusted the strap on his bag and kept walking, still scanning the area.

Benjamin had a plan it was simple. Stick together, pay attention, and don’t give anything out there a free chance to make him into dinner. Benjamin was nervous and a little excited at the same time even though he had no idea who or what he’s up against.

A quiet laugh slipped out, but it faded the moment he noticed the change in Minjae. The tightened fists. The sudden tension. The quiet power that hadn’t been there a second ago. Then he caught the muttered words about the giant imp with a face full of teeth. The one that took her from them.

Benjamin thought about that sentence and wondered who is her? Who was taken away from us.? Benjamin looked at Minjae and said yeah we’re not letting them get away with this we’re gonna stop them and we’re not giving up neither.

We came here to learn how to fight them. Benjamin kept walking and thinking to himself I gotta be strong and I’m not going to do anything stupid because I don’t want to lose Clementine and Minjae because I made a dumb mistake. I can’t afford to do anything dumb but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being my playful innocent self.

Benjamin kept walking, still alert but not completely serious. He really paid attention to everything around him the rustling leaves, the distant sounds, Benjamin’s felt the energy within himself growing and wanted to defeat anything that was evil.

“Stay close,” Benjamin said to Clementine and Minjae , his voice light again but still serious. “Let’s get where we’re going in one piece. Then we can figure out what we’re actually dealing with. Preferably without anyone becoming a cautionary tale on day one.”

He kept moving forward with them, eyes still checking the trees every so often, that familiar mix of curiosity and cautious optimism still sitting right under the surface.

Zerella · Oct 17, 2026

𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝔾𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕝𝕒
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Gᴀʙʙʏ ɪs ᴀ 25-ʏᴇᴀʀ-ᴏʟᴅ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ, sᴜᴄᴄᴇssғᴜʟ sᴜᴘᴇʀᴍᴏᴅᴇʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ Mʏsᴛᴠᴀʟᴇ Uɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ’s sᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇsᴛ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛs, ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ғᴏʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢʟʏ ᴋɪɴᴅ, ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛғᴜʟ, ᴘʟᴀʏғᴜʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜᴀʙʟᴇ ᴅᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴀᴛᴜs. Oᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ, sʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇs ғᴀsʜɪᴏɴ, ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ, ᴏɴʟɪɴᴇ sʜᴏᴘᴘɪɴɢ, ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴄᴄᴀsɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴀʀɢᴜɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴏɴ sᴏᴄɪᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴀ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏsɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ʀᴀʀᴇ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴜsᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴜᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ Mʏsᴛᴠᴀʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ Nᴏᴋᴛɪs ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. Wʜᴇɴ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs, ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, Gᴀʙʀɪᴇʟᴀ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴏ̨ᴜɪᴇᴛ, ᴀɴᴀʟʏᴛɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ғʀɪɢʜᴛᴇɴɪɴɢʟʏ ᴇғғɪᴄɪᴇɴᴛ, ᴘʀɪᴏʀɪᴛɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴜᴛʀᴀʟɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛs ᴏᴠᴇʀ sʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴏғғ. As ᴀ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ᴀʟᴏɴɢsɪᴅᴇ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴜᴍᴀɴs, sʜᴇ ʀᴇʟɪᴇs ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ sᴋɪʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ Wɪᴅᴏᴡ’s Hᴀɴᴅ, ᴄᴜsᴛᴏᴍ Aᴇɢɪs ɢᴀᴜɴᴛʟᴇᴛs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғɪʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴅᴜʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ᴡᴇʙs. Rᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴘᴏᴡᴇʀɪɴɢ sᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʙʀᴜᴛᴇ sᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ, Gᴀʙʀɪᴇʟᴀ ᴇxᴄᴇʟs ᴀᴛ ᴍᴏʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, sᴛʀᴀᴛᴇɢʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ғɪᴇʟᴅ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʟᴀᴍᴏʀᴏᴜs ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ sᴇᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏsʜᴏᴏᴛs ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴜɴʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴀʙʟᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟᴄᴜʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ғɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪᴇʟᴅ.

After starting the walk on the passage along with everyone else, she wasn't the happiest about it especially after what they had just said about them and the precautions they would need to take if anything were to pop off. None of it made her feel any better, and if it did anything at all, it was giving her more anxiety than she honestly could afford to have in a situation like that. She could see how her sister was preparing herself, then she took a look forwards and looked at Minjae while speaking to Garciela.

Gabriela: Auē, ʻae, ʻike nō au, a ʻaʻole au hauʻoli loa i ia mea. I hate it. But i'm not sure, it may be possible depending on what it is. But even some of our normal everyday animals like crocodiles and sharks can kill us before going down by a gunshot. ʻAʻole maopopo, akā e ʻike ʻia ana i kekahi manawa. Manaʻolana nō hoʻi, ʻaʻole ia manawa i kēia manawa.

With that, she'd continue walking with the rest of the group. She kept an eye out on her surroundings to not only enjoy the view but look out for anything that didn't seem like it should be around.

Dorkymoose · Oct 18, 2026

The conversations that were happening around her did nothing to ease the anxiety that was settling in the pit of her stomach her fingers gripped slowly to her bag making her look all the more like she didn't belong here. Why would someone so scare of just the thought of a kriptid be allowed to join Mystvale after all. What would be the point of someone like her joining normally. She knew how it looked to the others that even if they held that hint of fear in their eyes or their stance or let the scent of it waft from their skin, they were not showing it the way she outwardly was.

This was her first time being back in a forest since the incident though and she was struggling not to let herself fully freak out and take off running in the opposite direction, but she knew what the consequences to that would be. Hunted down, probably deemed a danger to others and killed on sight or at least that had been what the Noctis member that first contacted her had warned her of. She didn't exactly doubt them when it came to public safety either.

She kept waking her feet taking her a little faster than intended and she moved closer to the group then she was part way passed most of the other students her footsteps a bit more rushed than the others and keeping her closer to the instructors leading the pack. This made her look all the more insecure of her own abilities as if she was fully dependent on the trained professionals and truthfully, she was. Anything that kept her a little bit safer and a little bit less likely to get hurt was the best outcome for her because the truth was that she wasn't worried about some creature attacking them and killing her she was even more worried about the sort of damage she might do if something happened and glancing around at the others it just gave her chills.

Story · Oct 19, 2026

𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕂𝕣𝕠𝕙𝕝 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕂𝕟𝕖𝕝𝕝
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Kʀᴏʜʟ ᴀɴᴅ Kɴᴇʟʟ ᴀʀᴇ Cᴀᴛᴇɢᴏʀʏ II, Kᴀɪᴊɴ-ᴄʟᴀss Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅs ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ Mᴏʀʀᴏᴡᴍᴇʀᴇ ᴏɴ Pᴀʀʀᴏs Isʟᴀɴᴅ. Bᴏʀɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ Rᴇᴀᴘᴇʀ’s ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴏʀ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅʀᴏᴡɴᴇᴅ sᴇᴛᴛʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴛʜᴇsᴇ sɪɴɪsᴛᴇʀ ᴄʟᴏᴡɴs sʜᴀʀᴇ ʟɪɴᴋᴇᴅ ᴄᴏʀᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʀᴇɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇsᴛᴏʀᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. Tʜᴇɪʀ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, Bʟᴀᴄᴋ Pᴀʀᴀʟʏsᴇs, ᴄᴏᴍʙɪɴᴇs Kʀᴏʜʟ’s ᴡᴀᴋɪɴɢ ғᴇᴀʀ ᴍᴀɴɪғᴇsᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴡɪᴛʜ Kɴᴇʟʟ’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ɪɴᴠᴀsɪᴏɴs, ᴜsɪɴɢ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ʙᴀʟʟᴏᴏɴs ᴛᴏ ɢᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ғᴇᴀʀ, ᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴠɪᴄᴛɪᴍs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇʟᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ. Kʀᴏʜʟ ɪs ᴛʜᴇᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍɪsᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴏᴜs, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ Kɴᴇʟʟ ɪs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴀʟᴄᴜʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ; ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ғᴏʀᴍs ʀᴇsᴇᴍʙʟᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟᴏssᴀʟ ᴡᴏʟғ sᴘɪᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛᴇᴅ ɢɪᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴜʀᴛʟᴇ. Tʜᴇʏ ᴘʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ ᴠɪᴄᴛɪᴍs ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴘᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅʟʏ ғᴇᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴛᴇʀʀᴏʀ, sᴇᴇᴋɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴛʜʀᴏᴡ Tʜᴇ Rᴇᴀᴘᴇʀ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴs. Pᴇʀᴍᴀɴᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴋɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʀᴇᴏ̨ᴜɪʀᴇs ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏɪɴɢ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴄᴏʀᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏxɪᴍᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴛᴇɴ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅs ᴏғ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ.

View attachment Circus of Bones.mp3

Deep in the woods there was quite a lot of commotion going on which sounded more like a feeding frenzy than anything with some disturbing laughing mixed in with the sounds of animals screaming. Far beyond the established trails of Greenway Passage, where the dense canopy prevented much of the afternoon sunlight from reaching the ground, something particularly gruesome was unfolding among the ancient trees. The surrounding vegetation had been trampled into a muddy mess, with broken branches, scattered feathers, and dark crimson stains decorating what had once been a rather peaceful clearing. Several unfortunate Kryptids had found themselves caught in a situation that was becoming increasingly difficult to understand, much less escape, as their frantic movements only seemed to encourage the laughter echoing throughout the woods. Every attempt to flee was met with the sudden appearance of another clown. Somewhere within the chaos, a strangely cheerful voice began humming a familiar carnival melody, although the notes occasionally shifted into something unpleasantly off-key. The humming was soon accompanied by a second voice, considerably deeper and rougher, whose poorly timed attempts at harmonizing made the entire performance sound like a children's birthday party being hosted inside a slaughterhouse.

At the center of this disturbing spectacle stood two figures whose appearances were almost comically inappropriate for the destruction surrounding them, although neither seemed particularly bothered by the contradiction. Krohl, the more theatrical of the pair, was currently crouched atop a fallen tree, balancing himself while admiring the terrified expressions of several creatures struggling beneath him. His clothing had become stained from the earlier commotion, yet he seemed far more concerned with adjusting his appearance than acknowledging the unfortunate Kryptid whose severed tail was dangling from his fingers. Beside him, Knell stood with his arms folded, occasionally glancing toward the treetops whenever another panicked animal attempted to escape through the branches. The slightly taller clown possessed a considerably more restrained demeanor than his companion, although the crooked grin stretching across his face suggested that restraint was hardly the same thing as mercy. A particularly unfortunate Kryptid resembling an oversized fox had managed to wedge itself beneath an exposed root, trembling so violently that loose soil continued falling onto its head. Krohl noticed the creature's predicament almost immediately, his glowing eyes widening with childish excitement as he slowly leaned forward until his head was hanging upside down over the edge of the log. Rather than attacking, he simply waved at the animal before stretching his smile into something physically impossible, exposing several rows of sharp teeth that caused the creature to release another desperate shriek.

Krohl: Awww, look at this one! He's shaking so much I think he's going to die out of fear before we even touch him!

Knell: Then stop showing him your ugly-ass face before you ruin the whole thing.

Krohl: MY FACE?! Bitch, we look just alike remember! If i'm ugly you are too, dumbass.

There was a peculiar method behind the pair's cruelty, one that separated their behavior from the ordinary predatory instincts of the Kryptids inhabiting Parros Island. While most creatures hunted to satisfy hunger, defend territory, or eliminate competition, Krohl and Knell considered the actual killing of their victims a rather disappointing conclusion to an otherwise enjoyable experience. Terror itself was their nourishment, a supernatural resource they could cultivate through prolonged psychological torment before drawing the resulting energy into their cores. Every trembling breath, desperate escape attempt, and overwhelming realization of helplessness contributed to the gradual strengthening of their abilities, making frightened victims considerably more valuable alive than dead. This was precisely why the surrounding clearing contained far more terrified creatures than actual corpses, although the scattered remains suggested that several unfortunate specimens had already exhausted their usefulness. Knell demonstrated this preference by extending one hand toward the struggling foxlike Kryptid, causing the surrounding illusion to dissolve just long enough for the animal to believe it had finally escaped. It managed approximately six frantic strides before another balloon materialized above its head, and the sight of its own enormous shadow transforming into a grotesque, crawling monstrosity sent it collapsing into the dirt. The resulting surge of supernatural energy traveled through the clearing like an invisible current, drawing satisfied expressions from both clowns as the creature's terror seeped into them.

Eventually, Krohl grew bored of tormenting the smaller creatures and casually tossed the severed tail into the surrounding bushes, where something unseen immediately snatched it away. His head tilted backward as he inhaled deeply, savoring the accumulated fear lingering throughout the clearing before releasing an exaggerated sigh of satisfaction. Knell, meanwhile, had begun inspecting the remains of a considerably larger Kryptid whose natural armor had proven surprisingly effective against their earlier attempts at physical intimidation. The creature was still alive despite its injuries, and the taller clown appeared mildly impressed by its stubborn refusal to surrender to the hallucinations he had forced into its consciousness. With an almost affectionate pat against its armored skull, Knell crouched beside the monster and whispered something so quietly that even Krohl failed to hear it. Whatever he said caused the creature's remaining eye to widen in absolute horror, its previously defiant expression collapsing as it began desperately clawing at its own reflection in a nearby puddle. Knell stood again with a satisfied chuckle, brushing dirt from his clothing before casually announcing that they had probably collected enough fear to keep themselves entertained for the remainder of the afternoon.

Krohl: Hold on?! We just got started!

Knell: Last time you made us stall, you brought out something that started screaming louder than the damn victims.

Krohl: THAT'S CALLED PRESENTATION, YOU UNCULTURED TURTLE!

The ridiculous exchange might have continued indefinitely had a faint disturbance not interrupted the surrounding atmosphere, causing several nearby balloons to rotate toward the southeastern section of the forest. Both clowns fell silent almost simultaneously, their expressions changing as an unfamiliar collection of voices drifted through the distant trees. Although the sounds were far too faint for an ordinary person to distinguish, their supernatural senses could recognize the unmistakable presence of numerous living beings traveling together along one of the established routes. Krohl slowly lowered his arms, the childish excitement returning to his face as he realized that the approaching activity was considerably more interesting than the frightened animals scattered throughout their clearing. Knell appeared less enthusiastic, narrowing his eyes while concentrating on the distant disturbance and attempting to determine whether the newcomers were ordinary travelers or something considerably more troublesome. The faint metallic clicking of equipment, intermittent radio transmissions, and organized rhythm of multiple footsteps quickly provided an answer that neither clown particularly enjoyed. Noktis personnel were moving through Greenway Passage, and judging by the number of unfamiliar voices accompanying them, the organization appeared to be escorting a rather sizable group of individuals through the forest. What made the discovery particularly entertaining, however, was the noticeable undercurrent of anxiety carried by several members of the procession, an emotional fragrance that immediately caused Krohl's grin to stretch from ear to ear.

Krohl: Ohohohoooo! You smell that, Knell?! Fresh meat, fresh fear, and a whole lotta little heartbeats!

Knell: I smell Noktis, dumbass. Which means guns, annoying questions, and somebody eventually trying to put a hole through us.

Krohl: Don't be like that! Maybe they brought us presents!

Knell: Yeah, bullets.

As the distant procession continued advancing, the taller clown began bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet, his fingers twitching while several black balloons floated down from the surrounding branches and gathered behind him. Knell immediately recognized that expression, having witnessed it countless times before whenever his companion discovered an opportunity to frighten someone who had absolutely no idea what was coming. Before Krohl could disappear into one of the balloons, however, Knell reached out and seized the back of his clothing, pulling him backward.

Knell: Hold the hell up! We're not charging into an armed escort just because you caught a whiff of somebody being scared.

Krohl: Who said anything about charging?! I was gonna introduce myself! Be polite! Shake some hands! Maybe borrow a couple faces!

Knell: See, that's exactly why you not introducing shit.

Krohl responded with a prolonged, deeply offended stare before slowly turning his attention toward the animals still scattered around the clearing, most of which had become too terrified to move. For a moment, his expression suggested that he was reluctantly considering Knell's warning, although the exaggerated tapping of his fingers against his chin made the entire display rather difficult to take seriously. Then, with the sudden excitement of someone discovering an absolutely brilliant idea, he snapped his fingers and pointed toward a small reptilian Kryptid hiding beneath a cluster of moss-covered stones. The creature was hardly remarkable compared to the larger predators inhabiting the forest, possessing a narrow body, dark scales, and a pair of unusually bright golden eyes. It had spent the majority of the earlier commotion attempting to remain unnoticed, although its unfortunate proximity to the clowns had finally brought it directly into their attention. Krohl crouched before the reptile and began whispering in a strangely affectionate voice, gently stroking its head while a thin strand of reddish-black energy emerged from his fingertips and seeped beneath its scales. The animal immediately stiffened as its eyes darkened into glossy black spheres, leaving only narrow golden slits where its pupils had once been. A twisted smile gradually appeared across its face, resembling smeared clown makeup that curved upward toward its eyes as an unnatural, bubbling laugh escaped its tiny throat.

Krohl: There we goooo! Go on, give our new friends a nice big smile!

Knell: You seriously sending a lizard?

Krohl: What, you wanted me to send a damn invitation?!

Knell: I swear, one of these days I'm feeding you to something.

Knell watched as Krohl placed the altered reptile onto a nearby tree, allowing the creature to scurry upward before disappearing into the dense vegetation overlooking Greenway Passage. The small Kryptid moved around, occasionally stopping to release another faint chuckle as the reddish substance around its mouth seeped farther across its face. It was never intended to defeat the approaching escorts, nor did either clown genuinely believe that such a pathetic specimen could survive a direct confrontation with trained Noktis personnel. Instead, Krohl had infused the creature with a fragment of his supernatural influence, transforming it into a disposable messenger whose strange behavior would inevitably draw attention from anyone unfortunate enough to encounter it. Through that connection, the clown could briefly perceive fragments of the animal's surroundings and savor whatever fear its appearance managed to provoke. Knell reluctantly admitted that the arrangement was considerably less reckless than his companion's usual methods, although he still suspected the ridiculous performance would end with the reptile being reduced to a bloody stain. Somewhere beyond the treeline, the faint sounds of conversation grew clearer as the altered creature finally approached the established pathway, its tiny claws scraping against bark while it searched for somewhere visible to perch. Krohl leaned forward with anticipation, his broad grin returning as the connection revealed the approaching procession and the two familiar figures leading it.

Krohl: Ooooooh, lookie what we got here! A whole school trip! And would you look at that, they brought the principal too!

Knell: Don't get excited. Those two at the front aren't ordinary women.

Krohl: Even better! I LOVE a good audience!

Knell: Then watch quietly before you get us both dragged into something stupid.

Approximately thirty minutes into the students' journey through Greenway Passage, the tiny reptile finally emerged from the vegetation and positioned itself along the trunk of a tree overlooking the procession. Its peculiar black eyes and golden slit pupils were the first indications that something about the apparently harmless animal was terribly wrong, prompting Ivy Smirnov to draw Jiwoo Parks' attention toward its position. The creature remained motionless for several moments before suddenly scrambling several feet higher, stopping approximately eight feet above the ground as an increasingly manic laugh erupted from its throat. Its body began swelling beneath its darkening scales, while the crimson markings across its face stretched into a grotesque smile that threatened to split its head apart. Before the transformation could progress any further, however, one of the Noktis soldiers raised his weapon and fired, sending a powerful round directly through the creature's expanding body. A thick spray of red liquid splattered across the surrounding grass and tree bark as the lifeless reptile tumbled downward, landing among the vegetation with a damp, unpleasant impact. Back within the distant clearing, Krohl abruptly stopped laughing as the supernatural connection snapped, leaving him staring blankly toward the passage while Knell slowly turned his head in anticipation of the inevitable reaction. Yet Knell realized that the dead reptile's blackened remains had begun bubbling almost imperceptibly beneath the grass, releasing a faint vapor that carried one final fragment of Krohl's laughter into the surrounding air, which was leading to something much worse to come.

𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕁𝕚𝕨𝕠𝕠 & 𝕀𝕧𝕪
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Jɪᴡᴏᴏ Pᴀʀᴋs ᴀɴᴅ Iᴠʏ Sᴍɪʀɴᴏᴠ ʀᴇᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴋɪɴᴅs ᴏғ ʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀsʜɪᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ Nᴏᴋᴛɪs ᴀɴᴅ Mʏsᴛᴠᴀʟᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴇғɪɴᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ, ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsɪʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴ ᴜɴᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢɴᴇss ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴛ ʀᴀᴡ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ʀᴇᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ sᴋɪʟʟ. Jɪᴡᴏᴏ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴏsᴇᴅ, ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ-ʜᴀʀᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ Dɪʀᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ-Gᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴏғ Nᴏᴋᴛɪs ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴏsᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴ ᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀʀʏ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɢᴀɴɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ’s ᴍᴏsᴛ ғᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ Sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴜᴍᴀɴs ᴀғᴛᴇʀ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ Bʟᴜᴇ Mᴏᴏɴ Iɴᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀssɪᴍɪʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀ Cᴀᴛᴇɢᴏʀʏ 4 ᴄᴏʀᴇ. Eᴠᴇɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ɢᴀɪɴɪɴɢ Pʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ Dʀɪᴠᴇ, sʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ᴍᴇᴛʜᴏᴅɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟʟʏ ᴇғғɪᴄɪᴇɴᴛ, ʀᴇʟʏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴅɪsᴄɪᴘʟɪɴᴇ, ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴏғ Mᴏᴏɴғᴀɴɢ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀʀʀᴏɢᴀɴᴄᴇ. Iᴠʏ, ʙʏ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀsᴛ, ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴇʀɢᴇᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴄᴄᴇɴᴛʀɪᴄ ᴘʀɪɴᴄɪᴘᴀʟ ᴏғ Mʏsᴛᴠᴀʟᴇ Uɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ, ᴜsɪɴɢ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ, sᴀʀᴄᴀsᴍ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛs ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ғᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ. Tʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴘʟᴀʏғᴜʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴘʀᴇᴅɪᴄᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ ʟɪғᴇ, sʜᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇʟʏ sᴇʀɪᴏᴜs ᴡʜᴇɴ ʟɪᴠᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ʀɪsᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇs ғᴀɪʟᴜʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ɪs ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ. Tᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, Jɪᴡᴏᴏ ᴀɴᴅ Iᴠʏ ᴇᴍʙᴏᴅʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜʏ ɪɴ ᴏᴘᴘᴏsɪᴛᴇ ᴡᴀʏs: ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴘʀᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴄʜᴀᴏs, ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʀᴅ-ᴇᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ʟᴇssᴏɴs.

The further the students traveled into Greenway Passage, the more apparent it became that the beautiful wilderness surrounding them was anything but an ordinary forest. The distant crashing of waves from Horizon Terminal had gradually disappeared, replaced by the gentle movement of running water, the occasional chirping of unfamiliar birds, and the unmistakable rustling of something moving beyond the tree line. Despite the rather peaceful atmosphere, the Noktis personnel accompanying the students maintained their disciplined formation, with several members positioned along the sides of the procession while others remained stationed at the front and rear. Their equipment was far more sophisticated than anything an ordinary security detail would carry, with specialized firearms, reinforced armor, and various instruments designed specifically for dealing with supernatural threats. At the head of the procession walked Principal Ivy Smirnov and Jiwoo Parks, neither woman appeared particularly concerned about their environment, although the occasional exchange of glances between them suggested they were paying far more attention to their surroundings than their relaxed expressions would imply.

Ivy had spent much of the journey enjoying the scenery, occasionally brushing aside low-hanging branches while listening to the scattered conversations taking place among the students behind her. She could hear the nervous laughter, whispered concerns, and occasional attempts at humor that naturally came from throwing a collection of unfamiliar individuals into a situation they barely understood. Some students appeared excited by the prospect of encountering a Kryptid, while others seemed perfectly content with reaching the university without witnessing anything remotely dangerous. The principal found the contrasting reactions rather entertaining, particularly considering how many of these same individuals would eventually be expected to confront creatures far more terrifying than anything currently inhabiting this particular stretch of wilderness. Still, she understood their apprehension better than most, having witnessed countless recruits arrive with similar expectations before discovering just how unforgiving the supernatural world could become. Eventually, she turned her upper body slightly, continuing to walk backward for several steps while offering the group a rather mischievous smile.

Principal Ivy: You know, I can practically hear some of you wondering whether we've brought you all the way out here just to feed you to something with particularly sharp teeth. I assure you, the university's orientation program is considerably more expensive than that, and Jiwoo would be absolutely furious with me if I started losing students before their first class.

Jiwoo responded with a brief sideways glance that suggested she was already regretting allowing Ivy to entertain herself at the students' expense. Unlike the principal, she maintained a much more composed demeanor, keeping her attention divided between the pathway ahead and the communication device secured near her shoulder. There was no particular urgency in her movements, but every adjustment of her posture seemed to reflect the habits of someone who had spent years operating in environments where even the smallest mistake could prove fatal.

Jiwoo: What Principal Smirnov is attempting to explain is that this passage is dangerous, but not nearly as unpredictable as some of you might believe. Greenway Passage is one of the few established routes connecting Valtetti City's harbor district to Mystvale University, and Noktis has spent considerable resources studying the creatures that inhabit its surrounding territory. A Category One Kryptid can still kill an inexperienced individual, and stronger specimens occasionally wander into the region, so I strongly recommend that none of you mistake a lower classification for permission to become careless.

As the procession continued, the pathway gradually narrowed around a series of enormous trees whose exposed roots had formed natural obstacles across the forest floor. A shallow stream could be heard somewhere nearby, its gentle movement accompanied by the faint calls of creatures hidden among the branches overhead. Ivy allowed Jiwoo's warning to settle before raising one hand and casually pointing toward several unusually deep markings carved into the bark of a nearby tree. The scratches extended considerably higher than those left by any ordinary animal, with portions of the surrounding wood appearing almost deliberately stripped away. Her playful expression softened into something more instructive.

Principal Ivy: The strongest person in the forest isn't necessarily the one who survives, because strength becomes rather meaningless when you don't recognize a threat until its teeth are already around your throat.

With that rather unpleasant observation delivered, Ivy turned forward once again, allowing the group to continue while the armed escorts maintained their careful spacing. However, soon after she finished that sentence. She noticed something appear in the treelines which she pointed out to Jiwoo. Just like that, the situation had gone from a simple stroll to an alarming situation after traveling only 30 minutes into the passage. Normally, something as simple as a little lizard wouldn't have warned for any kind of trouble, but upon further inspection, this lizard had black eyes with a golden slit pupil. The little lizard scurried up a tree only to about 8 feet until it began to let out a loud a manic laugh. Just as it began to grow bigger, it had noticeable red paint smeared on its face almost like a smile that curved up through the eyes. However, things didn't last very long as it was immediately shot down by one of the noktis soldiers, a red thick liquid sprayed over the grass and trees but the actual body itself fell to the ground as it's all black body began bubbling very subtly within the grass which made it hard to notice.

WarriorofSpaceBooty · Oct 23, 2026

Clementine listens to both of the women talk after listening to what everyone else has said, which made Clementine chuckle at some of the comments spoken by others around them, especially when Principal Ivy mentioned how furious Jiwoo would be if she lost students before reaching the school, which made Clementine think these two women have done this many times together, given how they act with each other and their

personalities clashing, professional and playful seriousness. "Clearly this isn't the first time those two have done this type of show and tell together." she whispers to Benjamin. She heard the other woman speak, mentioning how this path is dangerous and has long been established, along with other routes connecting Valtetti City's harbor to Mystvale University. Noktis's extensive knowledge of the Kryptids living in this area has given her some ease, but knowing they all can die from a category one Kryptid made Clementine feel more nervous; the thought of something capable of piercing through her superhuman dense skin brought a chill up her spine. She turned to see anxiety etched on Ada's face, even as the woman's pace quickened and she drew closer to the instructors. "I'll be back," Clementine told her brothers before she walked after the redhead and lightly tapped her shoulder. "Hey, you okay?" she asked with concern and sincerity laced together. "I don't mind helping with keeping your mind occupied from whatever is bothering you," she said, but lightly bops her head upon forgetting to introduce herself. "I'm Clementine Williams, by the way, in case you don't know," she said and offered a handshake to the woman.
Garciela looks to see Clementine following a redhead, who left a spot to squeeze close to Benjamin, so without a word, she grabs Gabriela's hand and leads them both to the brothers. "Come on, i feel safer with the boys," she said before walking close and nudging Benjamin, then letting her twin sister interact with Minjae. "Hey, Benjamin, how do you feel about the Kryptids they mentioned?" she asked while leaning close to feel any form of safety, since she doesn't have any form of defense other than a gun in a purse. "Knowing a category one can kill one of us with ease is fucking terrifying to me, like he aha lā, I don't know how anyone would feel confident," she said, but looked around to see each Noktis member maintaining a professional and calm demeanor, guarding everyone and herself from threats that have yet to be seen. "What do you guys think of what kind of Kryptid will appear?" she asked both brothers this time

CairoOnyx · Oct 23, 2026

𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕛𝕒𝕖
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Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ Wɪʟʟɪᴀᴍs ɪs ᴀ 21-ʏᴇᴀʀ-ᴏʟᴅ Aғʀɪᴄᴀɴ Aᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴ/Kᴏʀᴇᴀɴ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғʀᴏᴍ Fᴏɴᴛᴀɴᴀ, Cᴀʟɪғᴏʀɴɪᴀ. Hᴇ ɪs ᴄᴀʟᴍ, ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ, ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠᴀɴᴛ, Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ ᴘʀᴇғᴇʀs ᴅɪᴘʟᴏᴍᴀᴄʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪs ғɪᴇʀᴄᴇʟʏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴏғ ʜɪs ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs. Dᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀssɪᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛs ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴏʀ ʜɪs ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇs ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟᴅᴇʀ, ʀᴜᴛʜʟᴇssʟʏ ᴇғғɪᴄɪᴇɴᴛ sɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇʟɪᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇs ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴏsᴜʀᴇ. Pʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ, Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ ᴘᴏssᴇssᴇs ᴇxᴛʀᴀᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀʀʏ ᴄᴀᴘᴀʙɪʟɪᴛɪᴇs, ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜɪs ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, Psʏᴄʜᴏᴋɪɴᴇsɪs. Oᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ, Mɪɴᴊᴀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴡᴇʟʟ-ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴜsɪᴄɪᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏs ʙᴀsᴋᴇᴛʙᴀʟʟ, ғɪsʜɪɴɢ, ʜɪᴋɪɴɢ, ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴜsɪᴄ, ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ. Hɪs sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ʜᴀᴛʀᴇᴅ ᴏғ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅs ɪs ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ, ᴀs ᴀ Kʀʏᴘᴛɪᴅ ᴡᴀs ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsɪʙʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏғ ʜɪs 5 Yᴇᴀʀ-Oʟᴅ ʙᴀʙʏ sɪsᴛᴇʀ, Jᴜʟɪᴀ.

Minjae had been oblivious for a good portion of the walk since he wasn't really comfortable with being out in the woods again. But just as he was beginning to calm himself down a bit, his attention to diverted to what Ivy pointed out; The lizard did in fact look unusual and once they shot it he noticed something else entirely. The amount of blood that fell from it was more than it should have been and by the way they were talking about the Kryptids to begin with and the formation they took; Minjae figured it couldn't have been that easy. As such, he walked up to Clementine and grabbed her by the back of her shirt and pulled her back. This wasn't him being his usual self to mess with her, he had a serious expression, and it wasn't one he held unless he felt things were getting bad. The first thing he noticed was that the girl his sister went to check up on was someone dear to him until he paid closer attention to her figure and demeanor. The way she stood, moved, and the style was unmistakable; That was Ada, his bestfriend and the only person who knew what really happened that night, at least that's what he thought. Honestly, he was glad to finally see her again and he wondered just how much stronger she'd gotten since they last spoke.

However, since he had been put in a position that put him closer to the front, his eyes looked at the ground where the Lizard had fallen and noticed the body beginning to bubble. He knew that wasn't something that should happen since he saw one right after it's death and the body didn't bubble like that.

Minjae: Hey, uhhh.. I might not know much about Kryptids. BUT, im pretty sure they aren't supposed to bubble.

Minjae Whispering: Ada, get back. This might not end good.

Soon as he said the first thing, the soldiers made another formation around the students as well as Ivy and Jiwoo.

Soldier: Stay inside the formation. This is something we haven't encountered before, this could be a new species.

Rutaba · Oct 23, 2026

Benjamin had been half-listening to Garciela while he was looking at the trees. Benjamin was a little bit confused about the Kryptids, especially when she said “ Category One,” and Benjamin said, “Category One?” “What are you talking about?” “Aren’t all Kryptids the same?”

“Wait, wait, wait, the Category Ones can kill you?” Benjamin asked Garciela. Benjamin shrugged his shoulders nervously and said, “So these Kryptids are gonna kill us. Not gonna lie, that’s kind of scary to think about but also exciting. Yeah, Garciela, but the part where you said they can kill us isn’t great.”

Benjamin smiled again with his sneaky grin and said, “ I do wonder how these Kryptids fight and what sets them off.” Benjamin didn’t know what was going to happen, and he was excited but nervous at the same time.

Benjamin heard the soldier say to stay in formation and also heard Minjae warn Ada to get back. Benjamin was completely in guard mode; he was ready to defend himself in any way he could possibly do. Benjamin asked Minjae, “ I know you said you don’t know much about Kryptids, but have you seen some before?”

Benjamin stayed behind the soldiers and leaned forward a little to get a better view without getting too close. Benjamin said, “Yeah, you’re right; that doesn’t look normal.” Benjamin thought to himself,

“This doesn’t look good or sound good.” Benjamin stayed as close as he could to the group and didn’t want to separate under no circumstances.

Benjamin was still watching the body when a faint sound drifted up from the grass. Something was laughing???… Benjamin froze.

“Okay. Did anybody else hear that?”

Benjamin looked toward Ivy and Jiwoo in his curious tone but still a little nervous. “ I don’t think that’s a random animal.”

Benjamin took some steps, getting even closer to the soldiers, making sure he still had protection from whatever or whoever it was.

Benjamin thought to himself, “ I hope that whatever is going on, I hope it’s only to scare us and not pull us into the woods as a trap.”

Greenway Passage

WarriorofSpaceBooty

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CairoOnyx

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Rutaba

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Zerella

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Rutaba

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