I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden mention of a visitor. "A girlie Gilbud? You mean there's another Plelepun?"

  "Yes! Her name is Emerapun, and she seems chill. She brings big energy! Oath thinks she could make a good addition to the team, especially with building!"

  Gilbud's ears perked up, and for a moment, the sadness in his expression faded.

  "Yo, a new friend could be cool! I wonder if she'd be up for some mud magic practice!"

  I grinned at the return of his enthusiasm.

  "Sounds like a plan. Let's meet them! We could use some more hands on deck, especially if we're going to build a stronger base after the gem haul."

  Oath's voice crackled through the communicator, brimming with excitement. "Oath suggests we gather everyone and welcome them properly. The Prince's construction crew has great skills! And they bring food!"

  Wait. Did she mention the Prince? As in Queen Zesza's son, who should have been arriving at our shelter alone? Our deal stipulated that only one Zespzap liaison could come at a time. Why would he bring along a crew?

  My stomach growled at the mention of food, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since the morning. Still, I didn't want to make a spectacle about the Prince's crew's unauthorized arrival, but the thought nagged at me.

  "Alright, Oath, we'll head over to meet everyone. But I want to get more details about this construction crew and the Prince's intentions. Keep an eye out."

  "Understood! Oath keep eyes on everything!" came the cheerful response.

  As the transmission ended, Gilbud bounced on his feet, clearly eager. "Let's go, Ki! I want to meet this Emerapun and show her what we can do!"

  "Absolutely! But we need to be mindful. Bringing in more members means we need to ensure everyone's on the same page and committed to our goals."

  Gilbud nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Trust is key, yo! You can't build anything solid without a good foundation."

  "Exactly. Let's head out."

  As we stepped outside, the warm glow of twilight bathed the landscape in hues of orange and pink, transforming everything into a magical panorama. We approached the rendezvous point where Oath and the others were to gather.

  When we arrived, we found Oath bouncing on her toes, excitedly waiting for us. Next to her stood a vibrant group of Osseods, their crystalline fur glimmering in the sunlight. They had arrived first.

  Soon after, Saptal, Sapshorla, and Dime joined them. The team returned with a hefty haul, just as they had promised, delivered by wagon.

  Just when I thought I had seen the last surprise of the day, a low hum echoed through the air.

  From the skies came a swarm of armored wasps—not soldiers this time, but construction-class Zespzap. Their limbs carried crates and kinetic tools, and each one bore a chest band marked not with their hive's seal, but with our insignia: Chimera Crew. Branded as clear as daylight.

  I blinked at the audacity of it all.

  At the center of the swarm, descending with exaggerated flair, was a Zespzap adorned in brilliant obsidian stripes lined with honey-gold fur.

  His chitinous structure made him resemble a samurai. Awesome, sure. However, that was not all. He wore our emblem not on his chest, but as a headband, tied back like a show-off rogue samurai from a B-tier off-world drama. He landed on all six limbs, posing as if a thousand eyes were watching.

  This was Hive-Prince Zazeke, son of Queen Zesza IX. In the flesh.

  My intuition gave me the impression that he was young. Not much older than Nex and his siblings.

  ???

  [Status Analysis] Zazeke the Zespzap

  Courtesy Name: [Zazeke]

  Species: [Ezespzap]

  Alt Species Name: "Zap Wasp Zeldritchmon"

  Dominions: [Disrupt] [Virtuoso]

  APeX: [431,335 Units]

  Attributes: [Xensect] [Voltage]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  Current Variant Grade: [Elite]

  ? [Zeldritch Class] ?

  - [Knight]

  [Description]: Swordsman, or at least excellent with the stinger.

  Seems to be a specialized warrior with skills honed to be samurai-like. Possesses a strong fighting spirit and delivers deadly, swift blows and strikes.

  ? [Zeldritch Traits] ?

  - [Volt Thrust (Rare)]:

  [Description]: Regardless of the skill used, every attack hits with the [Voltage] attribute.

  - [Volt Chain (Rare)]:

  [Description]: Subsequent strikes from [Voltage] attribute attacks deal additional damage. It starts with a 10% multiplier and increases from there, up to ten times the damage of the first successful strike. Damage is calculated from APEX + TECH + STR if the skill is physical, and similarly for magical attacks (replace STR with FPWR). Shenanigans ensue if both types are involved.

  ???

  I crossed my arms.

  "Your mother and I agreed you alone would be staying in the shelter. This doesn't look like alone, Zazeke."

  He gave a slow bow, wings buzzing lightly.

  "My dear Madame KiAera—may your dominions never dim—you wound me with suspicion. This is not a violation. Merely… a clarification of needs."

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  He gestured to his retinue.

  "You see, my living preferences are... unique. I require an ambient voltage chamber. Ventilation angles must harmonize with my wingbeat patterns. And let's not get started on the humidity protocols. I assure you, this is only standard hive-prince accommodation."

  I stared at him, deadpan.

  He kept talking, "And—if it sweetens the arrangement—I may have taken the liberty of transferring some non-essential funds to the Chimera Crew's discretionary budget. Just enough to expedite the build. For all of us, of course. The whole crew benefits."

  He smiled. Actually smiled with those mandibles, as if bribing me to let him build his gilded palace wasn't a violation of every clause we'd signed nearly a day ago.

  I opened my mouth to tell him exactly what I thought of him and his "ambient voltage chamber"—but I didn't get to.

  Among the Zespzap was a vibrant green Plelepun—perhaps Emerapun. She wore a smile that hinted at a fun-loving spirit.

  I turned when Oath approached. She was practically vibrating with excitement.

  "Oath was just telling everyone about the hauls! We have new friends joining us too!"

  At this, Zazeke’s attention shifted to Gilbud, who was fidgeting with anticipation. "And who do we have here? Another Plelepun? I can see the potential radiating from you, my friend."

  At first Gilbud took a nervous step back. But then he suprised me.

  He puffed out his chest, seemingly emboldened by Zazeke's gaze. "Yo! I'm Gilbud! I'm a Plelepun who can do some serious mud magic!"

  Zazeke chuckled, his twitching wings, I guessed, were a playful sway.

  "Mud magic, you say? Fascinating! With that, you could build not just structures but also formidable defenses. I admire a good craftsperson!"

  He didn't seem so bad… for the most part.

  While Gilbud was basking in the praise, I glanced at the rest of my crew, noticing their reactions to Zazeke's arrival. The little Osseods were intrigued but cautious; they had never encountered a warrior like him before.

  Saptal appeared to be sizing up the Zespzap, while Sapshorla had her eyes glued to the crates being unloaded—her mind likely racing with ideas for their use.

  As the crates landed with a soft thud, Zazeke gestured for us to gather around. "Let's get straight to business. My elite construction team is here to aid your efforts. We have tools, materials, and expertise to share. Together, we can enhance this place beyond your imagination."

  As I turned to Gilbud, I could see the spark of excitement in his eyes.

  "Yo, this could be a chance for you to meet someone who gets your vibe. Maybe he can help you with those skills!"

  "Maybe," I said, my thoughts drifting towards what having extra hands could mean for us, especially if they had experience.

  "Hey, everyone! This is Emerapun!" Oath called out, and the moment her name was mentioned, her gaze met ours, radiating warmth.

  She greeted us with her voice full of cheer.

  "Hi! I'm Emerapun! Boss Zezeke's Construct Deputy! Oath told me about your awesome team and your adventures!"

  Emerapun turned her attention toward me, her grin widening. "Oath told me all about your little mud magician here." She winked at Gilbud, who blushed a deep shade of brown at the attention.

  His typical energy resurfaced as he greeted her back.

  "Yo! Nice to meet you! I hope you like mud and action figures because we're about to have some fun!"

  "I love mud!" she chirped, and the two of them shared a contagious laugh. It felt good to see him so carefree again.

  As introductions were made and the crew began unpacking the delicious food they had brought, I found myself watching the interactions with a keen eye. The construction crew, a mix of industrious Wasps and other Plelepun, seemed eager to get to work. They presented an assortment of shimmering materials and tools that sparkled in the dim light.

  "Once we finish eating," I addressed the group, "we'll discuss the plans for the base expansion and how to incorporate everyone's skills. Emerapun, I assume you have some innovative ideas?"

  "Absolutely! My good friend Jaejade taught me lots!"

  Oh boy, I thought as I caught that name.

  Gilbud practically went statue still when hearing it too.

  "Jade… as in PleleJade?"

  Emerapun's smile faltered, just slightly.

  "Yeah. You know her?"

  She resumed more softly now.

  "Jaejade. That was what the Zespzap called her once she joined their teams. But… she always used to sign notes to me as PleleJade, especially when I was a little grub."

  Gilbud took a step back. His pupils dilated, and his breath caught as if the wind had been knocked clean out of his lungs.

  "Yo… yo, wait. That's… that's not possible. She—she didn't make it. The Burscourge… the tunnels... they collapsed, I saw—"

  Emerapun used her trunk to caress his shoulder.

  "I've heard her tale. But she's alive."

  Gilbud stared, trembling, every emotion from stunned disbelief to desperate hope flickered across his face.

  Emerapun nodded. "Last I saw her was… yesterday. She's still working for the Zespzap's Delta Combs. Even got promoted. She's one of their senior formwrights now. And she told me…"

  She paused, her tone warming even further, "...if I ever ran into a Plelepun named PleleBud, I should give him a message."

  Gilbud looked like he was about to collapse.

  Emerapun took a few steps forward, until she was nose to nose with him. She smiled.

  "She said: 'Tell my favorite mud magician to stop blaming himself. He's still my best buddy, even if he's a stubborn little boulder.'"

  Gilbud swallowed, his throat sounded dry like sun-baked soil.

  "Yo... we were partners, best friends. She used to call me her co-digger. Said we were gonna make the underground safe for everyone."

  His voice hitched, and for a moment, it sounded like it might break completely. But he held steady.

  Emerapun continued, gently. "That sounds about right. She said you were the only one who could beat her at mud sculpting. Said you made tunnels like no one else could. She even told me your favorite snack—candied river bark soaked in silt juice, right?"

  There was a beat of silence. Gilbud's whole body shuddered, his breath hitching.

  Then the dam broke.

  He buried his face into his paws with a choked gasp, and the tears spilled out into great, muddy globs, falling onto the dusty earth.

  "I thought… I thought I lost her forever. Yo… I thought I left her behind…"

  Emerapun knelt beside him, wrapping her trunk around him in a comforting hug. "You didn't. You never did. She never stopped believing in you, Gilbud. She never even blamed you."

  I turned away slightly, giving them space, but I couldn't stop the knot rising in my throat.

  Oath, sensing the shift in mood, gently directed the rest of the crew to begin unloading food and supplies away from the two Plelepun.

  I turned slightly to Zazeke, who, surprisingly, remained respectfully quiet through it all. He folded his limbs and watched with the solemn air of someone who understood loss, though masked beneath princely grace.

  Oath sniffled beside me. "Oath is… glad we are all here. So glad."

  After a while, Gilbud looked up again. His face was blotchy, but his eyes were bright—no longer haunted by the weight he had carried for so long.

  He sniffled, then stood shakily.

  "Yo… Ki… Forget waiting."

  I had a guess on his proposal. But still asked. "What do you mean?"

  Gilbud grinned through damp eyes and looked back at me. "Yo, Ki… I mean I'm ready to evolve again. For her. For both of them!"

  I nodded once. "Then let's do it together."

  ???

  [Initiating Emergent Evolution…]

  Target: [Gilbud]

  Species: [Plelepun] → [Terrelepun]

  Status: [Confirmed]

  Requirements: [All Met]

  Emotional Link: [Catalyzed]

  Companion Bond: [Present: Emerapun]

  Bonus: [+Resonant Core Trait Acquired]

  ???

  A ring of sigils spun beneath Gilbud's feet, formed from equal parts mud, stone, and psionic dust. His body lifted slowly, wrapped in spiraling bands of hardened soil.

  The clouds of his Plelepun self burned away, revealing a new, larger, heavier, broader shape taking form. His ears unfurled like shields, and his tusks spiraled forward with a gleaming twist. His feet split into sturdy, drill-like hooves, and armor-like patterns of sediment locked into place along his back.

  ???

  [Evolution Complete!]

  Species: [Terrelepun]

  Attributes: [Terra] [Psion]

  Stage: [Emergent]

  — Description: Earth-Digging Elephant Zeldritchmon. Reinforced earshields, drill-tusks, and psionic ground manipulation. Creates tunnels and domain layers for shelter and strategy. Specializes in siege-break defense and terrain control.

  Form Type: [Legacy-Linked Evolution]

  Trait Acquired: ? Resonant Core ?

  — Description: Bonds of past and present echo through the earth. Emotional ties enhance skill precision and structural integrity. Stronger when working with those tied to your lineage. Includes passive resistance to despair-type status effects.

  New Skills Unlocked:

  - ? Drill Tusk ?

  - ? Drill Pit ?

  - ? Earthen Echo ?

  - ? Earthen Bind ?

  - ? Resonant Quake ?

  - ? Geopsion Net ?

  - ? Psycho Burrow ?

  - ? Earthshard Bastion ?

  ???

  Gilbud—no, Terrelepun Gilbud—landed with a thunderous, but strangely harmonious thud.

  Zazeke and the other Zespzap stared in awe as the evolution and my Chimera's Mark glow settled. He and his subordinates inclined themselves into the equivalent of a wasp motioning a samurai's bow. Zazeke's mandibles moved in a slow rhythm as he spoke.

  "You are one of a kind. Worth following, Illustrious KiAera."

  ???

  [Status] Zazeke's

  Companion Bond: [Present: KiAera]

  Bond Level: [Rank: E] → [Rank: D]

  Unlocked:

  ? This Zeldritch can now join your party ?

  ???