Crystalism Survival Ark

Seeing my old highschool friend put a smile on my face. Though seeing as he looked down on me made me embarrassed that I couldn't alter myself like everyone else who chose to be over eight feet tall.

With a sweet voice like honey and a smirk, "Racheal? Hey! It's been a while!" He regarded our size difference before stretching out a closed fist to which I fist bumped sending him a [Friend Invite] with a sheepish smile.

"Ah! Ya change ya name! Same!" He smiled back as the confirmation cleared.

[Renar Accepted Your Friend Request]

As the others got their bearings, Renar crouched down next to me, now looking at the other randoms I almost laughed out loud.

Some wore extravagant dresses with tennis shoes 'I bet high heels weren't in the options', others wore the basic cloth covering, and the few who looked like an ogre and an elf had a kid actually wore decent survival clothes.

Renar whispered close to my ear that made me flinch for it was still too loud so close, "So… Whatcha gut… say we do first?"

Rubbing my ears, "First explore safely then figure out a location to camp for supplies."

He nodded before standing tall, almost reaching nine feet. He looked around before disappearing, guess he put what points he had into [Movement Speed] he reappeared with a dust cloud at his stopping zone.

"We got Dinoz!" He sounded excited like a kid, "They Exist!"

Like on que a roar erupted from over a hill as different sounds reached our ears. Raptors weren't that far from the top of the hill in packs of four, longnecks and triceratops lazily ignored the raptors as they grazed. Different kinds littered the valley below and some flew in the air in packs of two some with kids, all scattered in their own territories.

Vegetation was large to where it looked like it was kneehigh to Renar, but for me at five foot three, it was massive! 

Everyone else was either ecstatic or fearful about the dinosaurs and worked their way into groups accordingly as some tried to explore, some played with their screen in their arms, and a particular group that screamed 'head up arses' tried to take control of everyone else.

Like me, Renar and some who dubbed themselves adventurers didn't care and just absentmindedly quietly moved away from the raptor corner of the hill and slowly and quietly made our way in the other direction before sprinting as short barks from the raptors sounded like they were going for entrapment on where we were just at.

The difference in speed among our small group was apparent as they tried to adjust and run at the same time. Renar kept pace with my small frame and moved aside some foliage from my path. Face red from embarrassment as some others who looked back also realized I couldn't move like them.

Cursing at why I couldn't change like the other humans and had a different placement of my gem then they nagged at me as I tried to run. 

But as luck would have it, my asthma kicked in and made me stumble. Renar, who knew I had asthma probably heard the warning wheezing way before I felt it hit. Catching my gasping for air paralyzed body he scooped me up and quickened his pace so the others wouldn't be left behind.

He led them to a decent size cavern as my health bar in the Clan Tab plummeted, alerting all those who joined my clan before launching, my position and status. Unable to calm down tears streamed down my face as Renar and the adventurers tried to figure out how to stop my rapid breathing.

Shakily I reached out a hand pointing to a bush and clenched my hand repeatedly while trying but failing and choking on my words, "Bl~ack! Nar~co! Na~rco!" Coughing as my body shook harder and eyes flickered on the edge of consciousness, realization hit one of the adventurers.

Running to the bush he touched the bush and made a grabbing motion as a variety of berries filled in inventory in a stacking manner.

"It Works!" She exclaimed and urgency quickly filled her voice, "I'm Not Getting Narco! Or Any Berry That's Black!"

Looking between each other the other adventurers shared a look before darting in different directions trying other odd looking plants and did the same grabbing motion as they searched for Narcoberries.

Pain filled my body as tears filled my vision Renar offered me his large hand as I held onto it like a lifeline. His pulse was steady which pounded against my body as my ecstatic heartbeat tried to match his… but epicly failed.

The adventures called out, "Not Here!" As soon as they finished a section looking for a narcoberry, "Why Is It So Hard To Find Narcoberries?!" One yelled as the once luscious crowded cave entrance now had a clearing in front of it.

In a tree not far away above the cave sat a built man in armor, looking at the scene below him, he was amused and thought on if he should intervene or not if so then how.

As he watched a tall skinny man with black floof on his head come out of the cave and join the others in their frantic search made his blood run cold and his body rigid and his blue eyes became fierce.

White hair! White hair hanging from that man's arms that was attached to the female he saw in his dream! 

But… the female wasn't moving! 

Her breathing was short, sharp, jagged and haggard. 

Determination set in as he launched himself down the mountain tree with a single leap and he landed within arms distance of the man with the white haired girl from his dream.

Snatching her from him in a quick motion and cradling the small frame in his arm, he administered a liquid antidote and four small vials of liquified berries in the sequence of black, yellow, blue, purple.

As soon as he was done her body became relaxed as the effects kicked in rather quickly. Her breathing evened out and he sighed with relief though unsure of why he held his breath.

Perking his head up, his visor reflected the sun into their eyes blinding those who tried to move close, he shielded her which made the tall floofer pause in his assessment.

Her eyes flickered open as she saw a screen, weakened by lack of oxygen she couldn't read it, though she noticed the difference in the arms that held her.

[YES]

She thought as she never felt so safe that she went back to bed.

A screen popped up in front of all the players with congratulations,

[CONGRATULATIONS CLAN: SHADOW CRAFTERS!]

[FIRST TO FIND THE FIRST AVATAR! POINTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED!]

[YOUR AVATAR IS ADDED TO YOUR CLAN!]

Renar stared at the fully armored being now knowing full well who was holding who. Unsure if the Avatars could speak, Renar ushered him towards the cave with a frown.

"Stand down! He's the one from the announcement!" Renar cursed his luck hoping this avatar was as stupid as the intel led him to believe.

Everyone quickly retreated to the cave when a Paracer with a saddle crash landed and rolled, almost taking three adventures out with it. 

They became vigilant as they looked high for enemies. The sky was clear blue and drifting clouds and they realized the cave was at the bottom of a slanted mountain.

The Avatar made a few clicking noises as the Paracer croaked in response as it got up, shook itself off and shook like it was laughing as it moved to the cave entrance behind everyone and stood on its hind legs as its head pulsed as enemies lit up in red quite a distance away. 

Renar made a mental note as he too entered to see the others crowding the armored Avatar asking if it knew their Avatars or if they were linked to the others in any way.

The Avatar just ignored them as he wondered how she could withstand these critters!

Tsk

The sharp sound from him startled the others and they figured they would organize their inventory until Zara woke up. Renar kept trying to take her from him without success as he cursed under his breath barely audible,

 "Mother thus is bullshit! If it wasn't for the contract I wouldn't be in this stupid mission! Fucker stand still!"

Their exchange looked like a graceful dance as Renar couldn't lay a finger on them and later became out of breath. He collapsed to the ground in defeat as the armored man stood in triumph with the white haired girl in cargo pants and tank top asleep peacefully in his arms.

Renar began to curse quietly again, "They shouldn't have that high of intelligence! They're supposed to be empty bio shells to control to trick the system! What the hell does it mean The First? The First wasn't made till a few hundred years ago, so how does the System recognize it? I'll make a report once I get The Key back from this brute!"

Shadurel, understanding his words with ease, furrowed his hidden face in anger contemplating to run off with her. But thought against it when he compared the other ones with the floofer haired one, their experience difference was too apparent to be considered the same. 

Shadurel looked at a gold screen as it connected and overridden the other system as it was purging the impurities from her original gem, which had the after effect of purging those gems connected to her Clan as well, which is why it was taking forever and he was glad he didn't hand her back.

Teche Teche Teche

Shadurel chuckled as he held out a hand to help him up, Renar begrudgingly looked at the outstretched gloved hand before grabbing it as he got up he tried again to touch the female.

Failing again as Shadurel yanked down and spun him around and sidestep out of the way, the sharp action woke the female as she stretched and softly moaned at the most peaceful rest she ever had, at the soft sound both men looked at her with faces of longing one behind his helmet and the other with it written on his face.

Rubbing her eyes, still cradled in Shadurels arm, Zara tried to make sense of the multiple golden screens in front of her.

"Aren't they supposed to be blue?" She whispered as Shadurel physically relaxed in triumph, making her turn her head at his helmet; her soft golden eyes now had light blue around the irises, "Hello!" She said with curiosity.

"She's Awake!" Came from behind the hulking figure as Shadurel still tried to keep a distance.

"Bro! You wanna dance like they did?"

"Ha! Bet you couldn't last half of his time!"

"There's no way I'd last even half a day! Much less than a full day!"

Zara waved off the golden screens that became small tabs in her vision, patting her body and doing an asthma attack check up. She sighed in relief that there wasn't much muscle pain and her chest and head weren't on fire.

A green text screen popped up,

{Are you feeling better?}

"Yes I am." She replied softly.

{Good! I wasn't sure what was wrong so I gave you five remedies!}

"Zara?" Renar called out, "Did you say something?"

"Renar it looks like Avatars can only communicate to their handlers via a text chat screen." Giving a pondering face before asking, "Why are we playing keep away?" 

Renar had tried to sneak attack from behind Shadurel as she was talking hoping it would distract the brute…

He was wrong as he got tripped and face planted.

"Uhm… Miss Zara?" A timid voice came from the small group of adventurers, "We gathered a lot in search of Narcoberries… but we couldn't find any," Sounding dejected but added hopefully, "But we got a lot of other stuff if you could help us figure stuff out?"

"Of Course! Let's chat!" She tried to get out of his arms to fail miserably. Looking up at him she asks, "Can you put me down?"

A green screen popped up leaving Zara stunned in co fusion,

{No! Floofer is dangerous! His mission is not the same!}