Chapter 86: Lycoptera!
Tessa let the moon's power flow through her, her senses sharpening as she scanned the unsettling green waters below. Suddenly, a sharp gasp from the moon goddess echoed in the recesses of her mind.
"That is no ordinary water or sea…" the goddess said, her tone filled with alarm.
Tessa's mind raced. "What is it then?" she asked, her mental voice edged with concern.
"That body of water," the goddess explained, "is a living being. It's called a Lycoptera…"
Tessa's brow furrowed. "A lyco-what now?" Her apprehension began to rise, not so much for herself—she had the moon's power coursing through her veins—but for the 43 people behind her. Adrian, at least, she wasn't worried about. He was an alien, after all. He could probably fend off anything.
"The Lycoptera is a shapeshifter," the goddess continued, "an entity that can alter its form at will. Like you, it's not of this world. It was born on Planet Kael, like Adrian, Ikehara, and yourself. But this creature feeds on souls to survive. To cross this bridge, you may have to fight it… and kill it."
As the moon goddess's voice faded, Tessa's gaze snapped to Ikehara, who was already halfway across the bridge, strolling as though on a leisurely walk.
"This slimy bastard…" Tessa seethed, her teeth clenched. "He must have struck a deal with Lycoptera, knowing full well that the Rhemonic people aren't aliens like we are. He's using them as bait…"
Her inner fury simmered as the rest of the group gathered: Nyala, Adrian, Abdel, Nymff, Ecdy, Lhize, and Lhaze arrived, their faces tense as they sought answers.
Tessa explained what the green sea really was, and the group gasped collectively.
"So this thing is alive?" Ecdy looked at the eerie green mass of water, shock evident in his voice.
Nyala's fists tightened. "If we didn't know this, we'd have thought it was just some creepy river… How many of us would have died?" Her eyes shot to Ikehara, who now stood safely on the other side, grinning as though he hadn't just led them into a death trap. "I wish we could kill that snake."
Adrian, however, stood with a carefree smile, arms crossed, completely unfazed. "You know," he began, "it takes an alien to handle an alien problem. Guess it's time we teach Lycoptera some manners, huh? Rule number one—don't block the elders when they're crossing a bridge."
Even under the tension, Adrian's humor cut through the air, making the others wonder. Was this guy born in a comedy club or something? Nothing fazed him anymore, not even soul-eating shapeshifters.
Tessa shook her head but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. Adrian's confidence had a way of lightening even the darkest moments. But she knew this was no joke.
Steeling herself, she glanced back at the remaining 42, nodding for them to hold back. She and Adrian stepped forward, their presence commanding the space. The moonlight intensified as Tessa's power surged, and the air around Adrian crackled with an otherworldly energy.
Together, they strode toward the Lycoptera, ready for whatever alien terror lurked beneath the surface. The bridge groaned beneath their feet, the green water below rippling ominously as though the creature was awakening, sensing the approach of its next challengers.
The others stood back, holding their breaths. The battle was coming, and the tension in the air was almost unbearable. This time, the Lycoptera would face beings of its own caliber.
And they weren't here to negotiate.
The green sea below began to churn, its surface rippling violently before receding like a television screen flipping through static, revealing something far worse than just water. From the ground, a mass of green ooze shot upward, twisting and reshaping itself until it stood as a towering skeletal ape, its empty eye sockets burning with a blue fire—the unmistakable mark of its Kaelrian origin.
Tessa's breath caught, but only for a moment before she steeled herself. "LYCOPTERA!" Her voice, laced with the power of the moon goddess, echoed through the air like a thunderclap, shaking the very bones of the monstrous being before her.
The Lycoptera froze, its skeletal body twitching in response to her voice. It had been promised something far easier by Ikehara—a few mortals it could devour without struggle. But this? This was not what he had bargained for. The scent of ancient power, older than even his long existence, hung thick in the air. He sniffed, and the realization hit him like a wave—the Moon Goddess. No, that couldn't be… The face was different, the presence dimmer than the deity he remembered from Kaelria. Still, there was no mistaking the aura that clung to this girl.
"Hey, bones and sticks!" Adrian called out with his usual irreverence, breaking the tension. His voice dripped with nonchalance as he stepped forward, hands in his pockets, that lazy smirk still plastered on his face. "Why don't you let us pass, and maybe, just maybe, we won't turn you into a glorified lawn ornament." He lazily drew a finger across his throat in a mock-beheading motion. "Otherwise… well, it's been a while since I've shattered some bones."
The Lycoptera's empty eye sockets flickered with blue fire, and an eerie grin stretched across its bony face, a rasping voice forming in its hollow throat. "A Kaelrian… through and through." It mused, almost as if to itself. There was something almost amusing about Adrian's bravado, and for a brief moment, the creature felt a flicker of respect for the lowly creatures of the Kaelrian race, its race. He had dealt with their kind before, but this one seemed different—more reckless, more daring, as if death were a minor inconvenience.
Tessa, still radiating her newfound power, took a step forward, her eyes narrowing at the creature. The others held their breaths, their eyes shifting between Tessa, Adrian, and the Lycoptera, waiting for the inevitable clash.
"Listen, monster," Tessa said, her voice now calm but authoritative. "You've fed long enough, but we are not here for your meal. Let us pass, or face the consequences." The glow of the moon intensified above her, as though amplifying her threat.
Lycoptera chuckled, the sound rattling like dry bones grinding together. "You speak of consequences, little one? I am older than this pathetic human world, and I have devoured thousands. What consequence could you offer me?"
Adrian leaned in closer to Tessa, whispering loud enough for the others to hear. "Looks like someone's in need of a reality check. Want to teach him some manners or should I?" He flashed a grin, though his eyes were hard, daring the Lycoptera to make the first move.
Nymff, standing with the rest of the group, could hardly contain her own nerves, though she managed a smirk. "That thing's not even going to know what hit it…"
But the Lycoptera, even in its ancient arrogance, could sense it—the shift in the air, the palpable tension building between Tessa and Adrian, as if the very moon itself was preparing for a reckoning.
The battle had not yet begun, but the storm was already gathering.