"Have we been walking all this time for NOTHING?!"

  The fearless party of three stepped through the yellow-crystal tunnels for almost an hour. Even after facing the intersection with other sikpha-colored pathways, there was no sight of the Frog sentry. Did he call it a day? After almost losing an eye, Stella couldn't blame him for taking a siesta.

  It wasn't all that bad, however. The Human took the opportunity to explore a good chunk of the underground atelier, littered with sikpha crystals that were utilized for more than just a light source - arches, sculptures of important figures of Spider society and more abstract shapes, weapons, and mage staffs, the latter two sold on smaller, humble stores. They even glanced at an Ant Monoke, a species that apparently has a feud with the arachnids. Something about an old bet between their leaders, which escalated beyond proportion, Anut explained.

  Stella once asked why so many Spider males roamed around these tunnels while the larger females were so reclusive in their spacious offices. Their arachnid guide answered that, on average, one female Spider was born every five egg sacks, each family ceasing to reproduce once this happens to avoid overcrowding. The disparity in size, silk production, and distribution puts females on a high pedestal, making them responsible for creating the products they traded with the rest of Sayama. The smaller males were responsible for protecting and... producing the brood with their bigger counterparts.

  Still, countless males rejected this power dynamic, fleeing to the surface world, forming lives in its towns, and creating families with other males or members of different species. The dwindling numbers pushed the decision to hire outsiders to compensate, like Akuru and other Frog Monoke as sentries. Anut finished by assuring them he was not unhappy with his wife. Jakaang was a bright gem in his life, or whatever cheesy metaphor. Blegh.

  Maro's scowl grew by the moment, but Stella held interest in his guide's babbling. She wasn't sure why, exactly, but she always was a nosy kid. That benefitted her throughout her life, introducing her to plenty of knowledge and fictional works that children like her were deprived of. On the other hand, her life hung in the balance more times than she was comfortable disclosing because of that...

  "I went along with you so I could spend less time next to you, but here we are!" the Wolf shouted sarcastically. "Waste of my friggin' time!"

  "Oh, stop bitching already!" Stella berated. "This last hour wasn't even that bad! I guess it's because I wasn't hearing your voice..."

  Maro growled, pushing Stella's shoulder with enough strength to make it sore. "Watch your tongue, Human! Or do you want to lose it!?"

  The girl rotated her shoulder, grimacing. "Why are you such an asshole?" She shoved him to a wall with both hands. "You know what?! Fuck the Frog! I want to cave my fist into your skull!"

  Anut jumped on her shoulder. "Hey! It is for the best that you-"

  "YOU'RE WHAT?!"

  All eyes quickly darted toward their backs, gazing at Akuru, whose eyes looked as good as new. His jaw was wide open as he bent his knees and clutched his head in visible shock.

  "I can't believe it..." the sentry muttered. "A Human... invaded my tunnel..."

  Stella slapped Maro's arm. "Nice going, genius." Irritation soaked her words. "Why don't you go ahead and tell him the time I spooked your pee out of your-"

  "I WAS HOLDING IT IN FOR A LONG WHILE! YOU CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE!" the pup explained himself for the hundredth time.

  Before the Human could torture him further, the sentry started to madly cackle, a sound that reverberated so strongly the sikpha crystals shook and clattered against the walls.

  Akuru's eyes quivered at a concerning degree. "This is PERFECT! A chance in a lifetime!" He stood up and inflated his throat, croaking with excitement. "I WILL CAPTURE THIS HUMAN AND RECEIVE GREAT PRAISE FROM THE GOLDEN MATRIARCH! I WILL BE REWARDED WITH THE MOST LUXURIOUS DRESSES SHE CAN CREATE!!!"

  Huh. At least the sentry had the right energy for a rematch?

  "YOU!" He pointed at Stella. "You dare to try to fool me into thinking you're a hideous Oni?!" He shook his head. "Your deception will weigh on the judgment the Matriarch will impose on you!" He clenched his hand into a fist, inflating his throat further. "And everyone will know the greatest sentry in the history of these caverns!"

  The girl stared at him briefly before finding the words to retort. "I always accept indulging an adoring fan!" She used her best attempt at a cheesy, heroic voice like the Knight's. "My schedule is full, but lucky for you..." She bashed her knuckles together, flaring with golden Saniya. "My fists are hungry for a rematch!"

  "And don't you forget about me!" Maro unsheathed his claws. "I'll shut your trap for good!"

  Akuru laughed. "That's cute!" He bent his knees and body, ready to pounce. "You're weaklings when by yourselves. You won't be much better together!"

  He darted toward them but was intercepted by the fast pup, who slashed at him with his claw. However, the Frog counterattacked with a brisk, powerful strike from his tongue, connecting directly with the canine's forehead and sending him far away.

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  Stella swallowed hard, facing the sentry alone for now. She summoned a barrage of rocks, which the sentry swiftly dodged, ending with an impressive frontflip, landing behind the girl and striking her with a powerful kick on her back! The Human girl's face scraped on the harsh, jagged surface as she was pushed back.

  "Do not give up!" said Anut as he covered her face in silk like a mummy. Her superficial cuts were healed as the sticky substance dissolved. "It's now too late to retreat!"

  Stella coughed out a pebble as she stood up. "No shit." She turned back to the sentry, fists blazing with energy. "All according to plan, dear Anut..."

  Akuru beckoned Stella with a finger. "I know what you're capable of. Nothing you do can truly hurt me."

  Her knuckles shone brighter. "That so?!" She ran towards the Frog. "Have you tried THIS?!"

  The amphibian carelessly swerved through Stella's barrage of golden punches. Each time her fist hit a wall, a gaping crater was formed. Nevertheless, Akuru remained as serene as the Sun starting its rise, confident that its power would snuff out the darkness by its sheer presence.

  Stella took notice of his relaxed state and struck his foot, stepping on them with extreme force. The anuran hissed with the unexpected pain, allowing a perfect opening for the girl to relocate the Saniya from his left arm to her right, giving it an extra kick for her next blow on his stomach.

  "ROCKET-"

  Akuru inflated his throat to such an extreme degree that it covered his entire belly.

  "CRASH!"

  The shining punch clashed against the Frog's throat, creating a shockwave that shook every bone and tendon in her arm! Stella's eyes widened as she felt herself losing ground against her opponent. How durable was this guy?!

  Eventually, Akuru's protective technique won against the Human's offensive, pushing her back a couple of meters. "T-That's new..." She growled as the Saniya in her right arm faded away. Still, a smile slowly crept onto her features. "Just when I think I've seen everything..." She wiped the sweat off her forehead. "You got some tricks, Froggy! At least you know how to keep this interesting."

  The sentry returned the grin. "I'll give it to you. You're fighting a lot better than last time." He started to make short hops to psych himself up. "I expect a lot more from you, Human!"

  Before Akuru could take the lead, Maro's howl was heard from miles away. The furious pup ran as fast as the wind on all fours, his eyes flaring with the desire for revenge and his whiteish aura almost blinding both the Human and the Frog. "YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM ME!!!"

  The Frog's expression showed a shred of concern, which Stella used as a sign to press on the offensive. The sentry was forced to weave through shining fists and claws until his back was pushed to a wall. Before Maro could connect a slashing attack, however, rather than his throat technique, Akuru resorted to a Saniya barrier to negate damage.

  Stella raised an eyebrow in confusion. Maro's attacks were about as potent as hers. However, the Frog still wasn't confident in his natural means of defense. Then, quickly, it dawned on her - the claws were the differentiating factor. It was like poking a balloon with a pin - it's easier than trying to smash it with your foot or bare hands.

  Of course, the girl was unwilling to destroy the Frog's throat, but that meant Maro could be used to keep him at bay and dependent on his magic shield. She hoped that'd drain his stamina faster than theirs, taking Anut's support into consideration.

  "Stella! It's time!" Maro shouted as he attacked the shield repeatedly to keep their opponent in place. "Join them in a single point!"

  She nodded, concentrating a good chunk of her Saniya to manipulate every piece of rock displaced and torn by the battle to coalesce near her left hand, forming a sphere roughly the size of her head. Still, even if she flung it with all the speed she could muster, the girl wasn't sure it was enough to get the job done...

  And so, she started summoning more rubble, bigger and bigger chunks, swallowing the initial spell until it quadrupled in size. Rivers of sweat trickled down her forehead, her breath becoming ragged from the limit-breaking effort and Saniya's control overwhelming her mind.

  Her vision blurred slightly. Nonetheless, her target radiated an inconspicuous violet energy, so this wasn't much of an issue.

  "MARO!" Stella shouted. "GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!"

  The white light quickly disappeared, leaving the sentry's Saniya barrier ripe for the breaking...

  "TASTE THIS METEOR, MOTHERFUCKER!!!" She threw the massive cluster of rocks at the energy shield! Her eyes regained their fire when the satisfying sound of the protective spell cracking into countless shards ravaged her eardrums.

  "Hang on, Stella!" As Stella fell to her knees, Anut's soothing voice was followed by a welcome warm. "I can't replenish your Saniya reserves with mine, but I can ease the strain."

  That seemed to do the trick, thankfully. The Human stood back to her feet as her mind cleared. "Thanks a lot, little buddy."

  Maro approached her. "That was... a lot more than I expected." She swore there was a hint of concern buried deep in his words. "Don't waste all your energy yet..." he warned as he watched Akuru. "...we will need it."

  The impact of Stella's earth spell was much more extensive than anticipated, creating a crater so deep one could confuse it with a tunnel entrance. The anuran trembled and weakly croaked with pain, slowly stepping out of the hole. His body bled from numerous cuts on his forehead, arms, and legs, created by the jagged fragments of the rock clump.

  "You..." Akuru's voice, while still wavering, grew louder, more charged with emotion. "You're not a regular kid, are you?" His eyes locked on Stella's. "That's what a Human's power is all about..." His croak grew louder as a faint, violet aura wrapped around his body like a second layer of skin. "Impressive, but..." His face twisted with an ardent mixture of frustration and excitement. "NO ONE GETS IN THE WAY OF MY FUTURE GLORY!!!" His Saniya erupted in a powerful burst, forcing both tweens to brace themselves so they couldn't be pushed by the shockwave.

  The Human grimaced at the sight. This reminded her of Gryla, of all Monoke. However, she wouldn't play second fiddle to anyone this time. If this Frog was so willing to get his skull bashed onto the floor, who was her to deny him that?

  "Anut. Get on Maro's back." Stella ordered.

  The Spider stuttered. "A-Are you-"

  "Yes, I'm sure!" she snapped. "I need Maro in top shape! Don't screw this up!"

  He quickly complied. The pup's eyes darted between the glowy anuran and his companion. "I don't think he'll fall for the same trick anymore..."

  Stella cracked her knuckles before uttering a mighty roar, exploding her golden aura! "Then it's time for Plan B! Don't forget to keep your distance!"

  The Wolf flinched for a moment before his eyes focused on Akuru. "I got this." His determination returned as he readied himself to charge at the anuran.

  As her companion and the sentry were about to clash, Stella took a deep breath, summoned a few tiny rocks, and urged them to rotate around her wrists.

  "Keep your damn eyes open, Maro. He'll use his tongue for sure."