Shoutout to Bruh_Vista and Equinoxes for beta-reading and providing extensive feedback for this chapter!
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Shuri drew closer to the hollowed tree with cautious steps. The target of her troublesome search was somewhere beneath the roots of the creepy-looking monolith that was also housing a newborn hybrid creature with the powers of apex insectoid magical beasts.
"Well, I guess that's it," Shuri declared with a shrug and turned to leave. Things had risen above her metaphorical "pay grade" and it was no longer worth the trouble to pursue her curiosity.
"Where are you going?" Marie yelped before grabbing Shuri's shoulder. "You're just giving up?"
