The orangutan stood a towering ten meters tall, its massive body clad in wooden armor that flexed and moved like an extension of its own flesh. Its sheer size and power radiated authority, and the way it wielded its hammer—a massive construct of compressed wood the size of its own body—was a testament to its mastery over earth and wood.
As it roared, the wooden armor extended and solidified, encasing its arms and legs in thicker layers. Every movement it made carried a weight of confidence and calculated lethality. It wasn't just another beast; it was a master hunter that had survived countless battles.
I observed closely, my hands gripping the controls of my visor, resisting the urge to step in. This was Elythia's fight, her moment to prove herself against a foe that was stronger, faster, and more experienced. But it wasn't just her battle. It was my test, too—a test of trust in my team and their abilities.
The orangutan's sharp eyes scanned Elythia as if recognizing her species. It knew the dangers of a tarantula hawk wasp. Her sting wasn't just painful—it was maddening, capable of driving even the strongest creatures to insanity. And yet, it seemed unimpressed, as if mocking her efforts before the fight even began.
The orangutan moved first, leaping high into the air with shocking agility for a creature of its size. Its hammer swung down with brutal force, the ground beneath its impact erupting in a violent shockwave.
"Elythia, to the sky!" I commanded, my voice sharp but calm.
She buzzed upward, her metallic stingers glinting under the light. The orangutan immediately retaliated, hurling earth bullets with rapid precision. Elythia's agility outmatched its aim, each bullet missing her by inches as she maneuvered through the air.
From her position above, she began to emit a low, ominous buzz. The sound waves grew stronger, spreading pain and disorientation through the battlefield.
"Smart," I muttered. "Use its instincts against it."
But the orangutan wasn't so easily outmaneuvered. It planted its feet firmly and waved its massive hand, calling forth spikes from the earth to pierce the sky. The sharp projectiles shot toward Elythia with alarming speed.
"Focus!" I barked. "Break those spikes!"
Her metallic stingers shone as she shattered the spikes midair with causal stabs. The orangutan growled, clearly annoyed, but I could tell it was studying her moves.
"Don't give it time to adapt," I said into the communicator. "Elythia, fire now!"
Her metallic lances charged with energy, and she unleashed a direct laser shot. The beam struck the orangutan square in the chest, pushing it back. But the wooden armor absorbed most of the damage, and the creature growled in frustration more than pain.
"Not enough," Elythia said, her voice tinged with irritation.
"Make it forget," I instructed, my voice calm. "Force it into a rhythm."
Elythia nodded, diving down to unleash a barrage of quick, distracting strikes. Each hit was calculated, aimed to keep the orangutan on its toes. The two clashed repeatedly, the orangutan using its hammer and earth attacks to fend her off while Elythia relied on her speed and agility.
"You're not a soldier anymore," I said softly through the link. "You don't have to sacrifice yourself to win."
For a moment, I thought she wouldn't respond. But then she said, "And what if your kindness makes me weak?"
"It won't," I replied. "Trust me, Elythia. I won't let you fall."
The words seemed to settle something in her, and her movements became sharper, more deliberate. She released smaller wasps from her abdomen—tiny mechanical marvels armed with laser projectors. They swarmed the orangutan, distracting it further as she prepared her next strike.
The orangutan roared in frustration, swatting at the smaller wasps. Taking advantage of the chaos, Elythia launched herself toward it, her stingers glowing with lethal energy.
"Left punch incoming!" I shouted.
She veered to the side, using her left stinger to parry the orangutan's punch while her right stinger drove into its chest. The pain amplification from her venom took effect immediately, causing the beast to roar and thrash wildly.
But it wasn't done yet. In a desperate move, it grabbed her with its massive hand, pulling her into a crushing embrace.
"Boosters! Now!" I yelled.
Her abdomen stinger activated, releasing a burst of yellow energy that created a barrier between her and the beast. The boosters attached to her lower body flared, propelling her out of its grasp.
Once free, she turned and struck again, this time targeting its leg. Her stinger pierced through the wooden armor, injecting a potent dose of neural poison. The orangutan staggered, its movements slowing as the overload of venom and pain began to take its toll.
The orangutan collapsed to its knees, its body trembling under the strain. Elythia hovered above it, her wings buzzing steadily.
"You've won," I said quietly. "Finish it."
She dove one last time, her stinger finding its mark. The orangutan's body went still, its life fading as Elythia stood victorious.
As she fed on her fallen foe, I summoned Nyx and Sangrelis. Nyx wasted no time, consuming the soul and the lingering pain of the creature. Sangrelis, meanwhile, collected its blood in a bottle, muttering about the quality of the drink.
Elythia returned to me, her metallic stingers retracting. "The equipment," she said, her tone contemplative. "It helped more than I expected."
I smiled. "You did the work, Elythia. The equipment just gave you the edge you needed."
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "This path is... different. But maybe not as weak as I thought."
"Good," I said. "Because this was just the first step. We have bigger challenges ahead."
As we prepared to move on, I glanced back at the fallen orangutan. This victory wasn't just Elythia's—it was a testament to the bond we were building as a team. And I knew it was only the beginning.
Elythia:
From Elythia's perspective, the battle was both a test and an opportunity. The towering orangutan, with its wooden armor and mastery over earth and wood, was undoubtedly a formidable foe. But it wasn't fear she felt—fear was for prey, for those destined to be consumed.
What filled her mind instead was calculation, a hunter's instinct sharpened over countless hunts. The orangutan was strong, stronger than her by rank and natural prowess, but it was also bloated with overconfidence. That arrogance would be its downfall, as it had been for so many others who underestimated her.
Yet, this battle wasn't just about proving her own strength. It was a test for Akira as much as for herself. She watched him from the corner of her compound vision, noting how he monitored her movements, issuing commands in that calm, steady voice of his.
Does he truly understand power? she wondered. Or is this just another hollow promise?
He spoke of paths, of strength, of bonds. Words she had heard before from those who sought to tame her kind. But Elythia was not one to be tamed. If Akira wanted her loyalty, he would need to prove himself—not through kindness or empty assurances, but through results.
The orangutan roared, its earth-shattering presence commanding the battlefield. Elythia instinctively took to the sky, her wings buzzing with precision as she evaded the first barrage of earth bullets.
"Elythia, focus!" Akira's voice cut through her thoughts.
I don't need your reminders, she thought, annoyed but unwilling to voice her irritation. His commands were accurate, even helpful, but she resented the idea that she needed them.
She retaliated with a soundwave attack, her buzzing wings creating a sonic disruption that disoriented weaker prey. The orangutan, however, dodged with surprising agility. Elythia noted its reaction speed and adjusted her strategy.
"Shoot now," Akira said, and she obeyed—reluctantly.
Her stinger lances fired a laser beam, striking the orangutan's chest. The blow pushed it back, but it wasn't enough. The wooden armor had absorbed most of the impact.
He's relying on this equipment too much, Elythia thought, her irritation growing. Still, she fired again, testing the limits of her new weapons.
The orangutan adapted quickly, using the forest to its advantage. Elythia darted through the trees, weaving around its attacks. As the battle dragged on, she realized Akira's voice was guiding her into a rhythm—not just hers, but the orangutan's as well.
"Make it forget what kind of creature you are," Akira muttered.
His words gave her pause. It wasn't an order, but an observation—a hunter's insight. For a moment, she saw the battle through his eyes, understanding his strategy. She would feign weakness, lull the orangutan into a pattern, and then strike with the full force of her predatory instincts.
As the orangutan swatted at the swarm of smaller wasps she released, Elythia prepared her dive. Akira's voice guided her through the motions, warning of incoming attacks and directing her stinger strikes.
"Left punch incoming," he called out.
She parried with her left stinger and drove her right into the orangutan's chest. The venom worked instantly, amplifying the creature's pain to maddening levels. Its roar echoed through the battlefield, a sound she relished.
But it wasn't over. The orangutan grabbed her in a crushing embrace, and for a moment, she felt genuine panic.
"Boosters! Now!" Akira's command was sharp and immediate.
Elythia activated her abdomen stinger, the boosters propelling her free from the creature's grasp. She retaliated with another venomous strike to its leg, watching as the orangutan's movements grew sluggish.
Perhaps he does understand power, she admitted grudgingly. The equipment he provided had saved her, but more than that, his guidance had sharpened her instincts. He wasn't just relying on tools; he was using them to complement her natural abilities.
With the orangutan incapacitated, Elythia hovered above it, her stinger poised for the final blow.
"You've won," Akira said, his voice softer now. "Finish it."
She hesitated, not out of mercy but to savor the moment. This was the culmination of the hunt, the ultimate proof of her superiority.
Her stinger drove deep, and the orangutan went still. As she fed on the defeated foe, her thoughts returned to Akira.
He's different from the others, she thought. But different doesn't mean worthy.
She glanced at him as he directed Nyx and Sangrelis to collect the spoils. His calm demeanor, his focus on the team's progress—it was... unusual. He wasn't like the queen who ruled through domination, nor like the humans who sought to control her with chains of kindness.
"Elythia," he said, meeting her gaze. "You did well."
His words were simple, almost mundane, but they carried a weight that surprised her.
Perhaps he is worth following, she thought, though she remained wary. Akira had shown her a glimpse of the path to power, but she would continue to test him. Only if he proved himself over and over would she truly believe in his promises. Until then, she would remain the hunter, watching and waiting for any sign of weakness.