{{Внутреннее тестирование Вики|

{{Внутреннее тестирование Вики|

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{{Quotation|''Belenor Nebius, narrator''|

{{Quotation|''Belenor Nebius, narrator''|

So, the kinkoo was pacing back and forth, not hesitating to violate his unfortunate minions on the way. He didn't understand. The area of the Matrix that he had been assigned was, in principle, sparsely populated. It wasn't his choice, it was an order. He would have liked to storm the main nest in the area, but this glorious task had been assigned to a kinkoo devoted to the most ancient and powerful kizarak lord. A pretender to the throne. Yet he had dreamed himself  winning the war many times, receiving the honors of his lord, the corpse of the enemy chief between his paws. Or better yet, the recognition of the Queen herself. But no. He had been assigned to an empty and quiet plot of land… At least, that's what he thought, before he lost contact with his troops. He could already see himself in horror returning to the nest defeated, broken by his inability to carry out a mission that his masters imagined to be trivial. No, he would kill himself first. Such a disgrace was inconceivable.

So, the kinkoo was pacing back and forth, not hesitating to violate his unfortunate minions on the way. He didn't understand. The area of the Matrix that he had been assigned was, in principle, sparsely populated. It wasn't his choice, it was an order. He would have liked to storm the main nest in the area, but this glorious task had been assigned to a kinkoo devoted to the most ancient and powerful kizarak lord. A pretender to the throne. Yet he had dreamed himself  winning the war many times, receiving the honors of his lord, the corpse of the enemy chief between his paws. Or better yet, the recognition of the Queen herself. But no. He had been assigned to an empty and quiet plot of land… At least, that's what he thought, before he lost contact with his troops. He could already see himself in horror returning to the nest defeated, broken by his inability to carry out a mission that his masters imagined to be trivial. No, he would kill himself first. Such a disgrace was inconceivable.

It was a logical answer. Well… the first one that came to his mind, rather. For, in truth, he had not paid much attention to the question that showed his brother's concern. He was thinking of something else. He was thinking about their mother. No matter how much he had been told that she was well, he would have wanted to make sure for himself. Sometimes he looked up to the upper levels of the stump, hoping to see Looï among the villagers busy erasing the scars of the battle. But Without success: at no time did he see passing the figure he knew by heart.

It was a logical answer. Well… the first one that came to his mind, rather. For, in truth, he had not paid much attention to the question that showed his brother's concern. He was thinking of something else. He was thinking about their mother. No matter how much he had been told that she was well, he would have wanted to make sure for himself. Sometimes he looked up to the upper levels of the stump, hoping to see Looï among the villagers busy erasing the scars of the battle. But Without success: at no time did he see passing the figure he knew by heart.

:''"Ke'val and I are worried about the squad we sent to scout the gallery. They should have been back long ago. The orders were very clear and Pia is not in the habit of disobeying them."

:''"Ke'val and I are worried about the squad we sent to scout the gallery. They should have been back long ago. The orders were very clear and Pia is not in the habit of disobeying them."

Other warriors gathered around the four Zorais.

Other warriors gathered around the four Zorais.

The Black Mask nodded sternly.

The Black Mask nodded sternly.

The Black Mask detailed the strategy to his soldiers. And just as he was about to finish his presentation, a noise echoed through the gallery. In a split second, the Zorais drew their weapons and took up their positions, ready to intervene. A deathly silence filled the pit. The soldiers focused all their senses on the dark hole from which the monsters had emerged the first time, and where they now hoped to see their comrades reappear. Pü swallowed. He heard nothing, saw nothing and smelled nothing.

The Black Mask detailed the strategy to his soldiers. And just as he was about to finish his presentation, a noise echoed through the gallery. In a split second, the Zorais drew their weapons and took up their positions, ready to intervene. A deathly silence filled the pit. The soldiers focused all their senses on the dark hole from which the monsters had emerged the first time, and where they now hoped to see their comrades reappear. Pü swallowed. He heard nothing, saw nothing and smelled nothing.

This thought, however banal, resonated intensely in his mind. As he had reminded his brother earlier, these creatures exhaled a pestilential smell. It was mainly thanks to this that their assault had been so masterfully countered. Their stench had betrayed their approach and allowed the tribe to mount a major defense. He didn't smell anything, so why panic? He didn't know, and yet the mental echo didn't falter. There was something else, lurking in the shadows. An insidious answer, ready to pop up at any moment.

This thought, however banal, resonated intensely in his mind. As he had reminded his brother earlier, these creatures exhaled a pestilential smell. It was mainly thanks to this that their assault had been so masterfully countered. Their stench had betrayed their approach and allowed the tribe to mount a major defense. He didn't smell anything, so why panic? He didn't know, and yet the mental echo didn't falter. There was something else, lurking in the shadows. An insidious answer, ready to pop up at any moment.

As the soldiers dispersed, a huge creature was emerging from the darkness. While its general look was reminiscent of the creatures of the first wave in many respects, there were many others that set it apart. Measuring about five meters, it was on the whole much more imposing. Its legs, much more thick and vigorous, also seemed much more dangerous and deadly. Instead of fangs, two enormous nozzles, oozing with an organic and smoky liquid, crowned the head of the monster. Her abdomen, wigh was for her deprived of sting, was not arched under the legs, but stood proudly at the back of the thorax. Its armour, of a jet black, was coloured of yellow by place. Drawing a pair of sinister eyes on its abdomen and swollen skull, the pigments formed patterns reminiscent of those, intended to ward off predators, that can be found on the wings of certain butterflies. If the giant insects they had defeated a few hours earlier were low-ranking soldiers, this creature seemed to be an elite soldier. The four Zorais backed away cautiously, without taking their eyes off her, while the crash of the first clashes could be heard in the distance. No sooner had she emerged from the darkness than a creature identical in every way to her followed on. Pü swallowed. How many of these horrors were they going to face? He got his answer when a third and final monster struggled out of the breach. When he realized that its legs were even more imposing than the first two, he understood why his father had ordered them to stay. Twice their size, the chitin colossus was an enlarged version of the two kinreys that had preceded him. In addition to the size difference, its carapace was painted in gleaming colors ranging from blue to orange, and its back was studded with sharp spikes. Positioned between his dark armored soldiers, about ten meters from the homins, his presence was all the more overwhelming.

As the soldiers dispersed, a huge creature was emerging from the darkness. While its general look was reminiscent of the creatures of the first wave in many respects, there were many others that set it apart. Measuring about five meters, it was on the whole much more imposing. Its legs, much more thick and vigorous, also seemed much more dangerous and deadly. Instead of fangs, two enormous nozzles, oozing with an organic and smoky liquid, crowned the head of the monster. Her abdomen, wigh was for her deprived of sting, was not arched under the legs, but stood proudly at the back of the thorax. Its armour, of a jet black, was coloured of yellow by place. Drawing a pair of sinister eyes on its abdomen and swollen skull, the pigments formed patterns reminiscent of those, intended to ward off predators, that can be found on the wings of certain butterflies. If the giant insects they had defeated a few hours earlier were low-ranking soldiers, this creature seemed to be an elite soldier. The four Zorais backed away cautiously, without taking their eyes off her, while the crash of the first clashes could be heard in the distance. No sooner had she emerged from the darkness than a creature identical in every way to her followed on. Pü swallowed. How many of these horrors were they going to face? He got his answer when a third and final monster struggled out of the breach. When he realized that its legs were even more imposing than the first two, he understood why his father had ordered them to stay. Twice their size, the chitin colossus was an enlarged version of the two kinreys that had preceded him. In addition to the size difference, its carapace was painted in gleaming colors ranging from blue to orange, and its back was studded with sharp spikes. Positioned between his dark armored soldiers, about ten meters from the homins, his presence was all the more overwhelming.

The kinkoo's skull swept the air from left to right, as if it were looking around. Yet, like all the insectoid creatures they'd encountered so far, it didn't seem to have any visual organs. Nothing except this huge pair of yellow fake eyes, both splendid and terrifying. When he finally turned his head towards the four homins, Pü felt nauseous. The air had just been suddenly charged with odorous effluvia. Beyond their intensity, it was especially their subtle multiplicity which upset the olfactory system of the young Zoraï. Because what he inhaled at the moment did not look like a jumble of odors without tail nor head. It was rather a coherent composition. Yes, the creature seemed to distill selected fragrances in the atmosphere, similar to the notes of a score… It tried to communicate! The nausea turned into dizziness. They had been wrong, all along. As usual, her father did not give in to panic.

The kinkoo's skull swept the air from left to right, as if it were looking around. Yet, like all the insectoid creatures they'd encountered so far, it didn't seem to have any visual organs. Nothing except this huge pair of yellow fake eyes, both splendid and terrifying. When he finally turned his head towards the four homins, Pü felt nauseous. The air had just been suddenly charged with odorous effluvia. Beyond their intensity, it was especially their subtle multiplicity which upset the olfactory system of the young Zoraï. Because what he inhaled at the moment did not look like a jumble of odors without tail nor head. It was rather a coherent composition. Yes, the creature seemed to distill selected fragrances in the atmosphere, similar to the notes of a score… It tried to communicate! The nausea turned into dizziness. They had been wrong, all along. As usual, her father did not give in to panic.

In a flash, his uncle tilted his shield backwards, while at the same time, Sang jumped on it with both feet. Holding the protective plate firmly with his left arm, Ke'val had only to infuse Sap into his right arm to multiply his strength, and to crush his hand on the back of the shield to propel his brother toward the titanic insect. The kinkoo, who did not expect that the homins would attack him while he was trying to communicate, and especially not from the air, did not react in time. Thrown like a projectile by his Shadow, the Black Mask hit the creature just as it began to raise one of its gigantic, sharp limbs, ready to strike. Quickly, Sang took advantage of the opportunity so offered to grab it and leap onto the spiky abdomen of the creature. As he drew his sword, Ke'val, who remained on the ground, began to cast neutralizing and debilitating spells, hoping to contain the chitin colossus. A new wave of effluvia, this time much more acerbic, invaded the space: incapacitated by the magician's powers and unable to get rid of the warrior who had just hit the back of its skull with his weapon, the monstrous insect expressed its anger.

In a flash, his uncle tilted his shield backwards, while at the same time, Sang jumped on it with both feet. Holding the protective plate firmly with his left arm, Ke'val had only to infuse Sap into his right arm to multiply his strength, and to crush his hand on the back of the shield to propel his brother toward the titanic insect. The kinkoo, who did not expect that the homins would attack him while he was trying to communicate, and especially not from the air, did not react in time. Thrown like a projectile by his Shadow, the Black Mask hit the creature just as it began to raise one of its gigantic, sharp limbs, ready to strike. Quickly, Sang took advantage of the opportunity so offered to grab it and leap onto the spiky abdomen of the creature. As he drew his sword, Ke'val, who remained on the ground, began to cast neutralizing and debilitating spells, hoping to contain the chitin colossus. A new wave of effluvia, this time much more acerbic, invaded the space: incapacitated by the magician's powers and unable to get rid of the warrior who had just hit the back of its skull with his weapon, the monstrous insect expressed its anger.

Especially since the two guards of the monstrous kitin commander had come dangerously close. Deciding to leave space for their father and uncle, Pü and Niï infused Sap into their thighs and leapt out of the pit in two jumps. The two creatures followed them, keeping their distance as if to gauge them. The two brothers stepped back without taking their gaze off them. Gradually, they moved away from each other, and started to go around the two brothers while advancing. Cornered, Pü and Niï stopped, back to back. The two kinreys were now circling around them. Once again, the way they acted had nothing to do with the first monsters they had met. The fight was going to be much more difficult than the last one. To defeat them, they would have to act in concert with extreme concentration. Their weapons had been enchanted since the beginning of the battle, and their pockets were full of Sap crystals to power them with magic. They were ready. Pü drew his short sword and dagger, Niï his hatchet and buckler, and they each charged at a creature. With his blade bouncing off the ebony carapace at the first blow he struck, Pü knew it would be a long fight. At the first outpouring of blood oozing from Niï's armor, he knew that they would not be allowed to make a mistake. The fight was promising to be grueling, physically and psychologically. First dodging, thanks to small leaps, the attacks of his opponent while watching his brother from the corner of his eye, the young warrior then sheathed his weapons to slip without delay his hands inside his magic amplifiers, without even lowering his eyes. No sooner had he donned them than the first bursts of life-saving magic shot out toward his brother. During the maneuver, and despite his skill, Pü was unable to dodge one of the many pawing blows that his assailant was trying to deliver: a sharp point pierced his breastplate to the flesh. The pain, although intense, was of short duration. Indeed, as soon as he felt the flow of blood, the healing spell sent in response by his brother closed the wound. After healing, the two warriors took up their weapons as quickly as they had sheathed them and charged at their prey again. The two brothers were experienced in this way of fighting, which was the pride of the tribe and explained the fear it inspired. No  formation, no predefined roles. They were at once the shield, the weapon, and the cure.

Especially since the two guards of the monstrous kitin commander had come dangerously close. Deciding to leave space for their father and uncle, Pü and Niï infused Sap into their thighs and leapt out of the pit in two jumps. The two creatures followed them, keeping their distance as if to gauge them. The two brothers stepped back without taking their gaze off them. Gradually, they moved away from each other, and started to go around the two brothers while advancing. Cornered, Pü and Niï stopped, back to back. The two kinreys were now circling around them. Once again, the way they acted had nothing to do with the first monsters they had met. The fight was going to be much more difficult than the last one. To defeat them, they would have to act in concert with extreme concentration. Their weapons had been enchanted since the beginning of the battle, and their pockets were full of Sap crystals to power them with magic. They were ready. Pü drew his short sword and dagger, Niï his hatchet and buckler, and they each charged at a creature. With his blade bouncing off the ebony carapace at the first blow he struck, Pü knew it would be a long fight. At the first outpouring of blood oozing from Niï's armor, he knew that they would not be allowed to make a mistake. The fight was promising to be grueling, physically and psychologically. First dodging, thanks to small leaps, the attacks of his opponent while watching his brother from the corner of his eye, the young warrior then sheathed his weapons to slip without delay his hands inside his magic amplifiers, without even lowering his eyes. No sooner had he donned them than the first bursts of life-saving magic shot out toward his brother. During the maneuver, and despite his skill, Pü was unable to dodge one of the many pawing blows that his assailant was trying to deliver: a sharp point pierced his breastplate to the flesh. The pain, although intense, was of short duration. Indeed, as soon as he felt the flow of blood, the healing spell sent in response by his brother closed the wound. After healing, the two warriors took up their weapons as quickly as they had sheathed them and charged at their prey again. The two brothers were experienced in this way of fighting, which was the pride of the tribe and explained the fear it inspired. No  formation, no predefined roles. They were at once the shield, the weapon, and the cure.

:''"I'll take care of it Pü."

:''"I'll take care of it Pü."

:''"It doesn't matter, go find Mom and Grandma Bä-Bä. Their safety is our priority."

:''"It doesn't matter, go find Mom and Grandma Bä-Bä. Their safety is our priority."

Too focused on the fight, Pü had, for a moment, forgotten his mother. But several bearing roots had now caught fire at the top of the village. Fights were raging there. Was Looï all right? His youngest son's throat tightened.

Too focused on the fight, Pü had, for a moment, forgotten his mother. But several bearing roots had now caught fire at the top of the village. Fights were raging there. Was Looï all right? His youngest son's throat tightened.

Without even looking at him, his brother slapped him hard. Pü froze.

Without even looking at him, his brother slapped him hard. Pü froze.

Niï was still staring at the pit. He continued, and his voice went off the rails.

Niï was still staring at the pit. He continued, and his voice went off the rails.

Pü rubbed his mask and stammered.

Pü rubbed his mask and stammered.

Then his brother looked at him. His eyes shone with an unusual brightness and tears were streaming down his mask.

Then his brother looked at him. His eyes shone with an unusual brightness and tears were streaming down his mask.

:''"I trust you. Go! Find them! May the Kamis guide your rush, Pü! Run there fast!"

:''"I trust you. Go! Find them! May the Kamis guide your rush, Pü! Run there fast!"

:''"No! Niï!"

:''"No! Niï!"

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