"When you transform, your defense and strength increase, right?" I explained casually, circling her with a predator's patience.
"Yeah, but what the hell does that have to do with that absurd speed you just had?" she growled.
"Well, I am busy explaining," I continued smugly. "Anyways, since those aspects triple for you, what do you think happens to mine?"
"Speed and strength, I guess," Kayda admitted reluctantly, bracing herself.
"You are correct," I said with a sharp grin, vanishing from sight.
"Tsk, I guess there's one place you can beat me in right now," she muttered, scanning frantically.
"Nah," I said, reappearing just long enough to slam her head with my tail.
"Tsk, I can't even see them coming," Kayda complained, shaking it off with irritation rather than pain.
"How annoying. I think I hate tanks more than mages now," I muttered, darting up and raking my claws across her chin with an uppercut.
"Eh, I bit my tongue!" she mumbled through a bitten tongue, refusing to guard against blows that barely scratched her scales.
Finally, I drew back, exhaling hard. "Can we stop now?"
"Yeah, I agree. That only felt like pats more than anything else," Kayda admitted, sounding almost bored.
"Yeah, and using magic won't help much either," I said, annoyed.
"Hmm, probably. Well, your lightning could've hurt a little, but not much."
"Yeah, anyway, I've been holding this in since the devil skirmish," I said, crouching low.
"What?" Kayda asked, confused.
ROAAAAAR!!!
The sound ripped from my throat, shaking the training grounds. Dust rained from the ceiling, cracks spreading across the walls. The sheer force made even Kayda flinch back, her ears flattening.
"Sigh, that's way better," I said, satisfaction coursing through me as I shifted back to human form.
"Haha, my ears hurt, you know," Kayda said, returning to her human shape as well. To my annoyance, not a single scratch marred her skin.
"Man, it's unfair that you stay clothed, but I always need to undress before changing," I grumbled, looking her over.
"Privilege of being a dragon, I guess. Anyways, let's continue," Kayda said, brushing off the dust.
"Yeah, no. Sadly, that's all I'm capable of right now," I admitted, sagging with exhaustion.
"Huh? You're done?"
"Yeah, my head's killing me, and I still need to heal you," I said, beckoning her closer.
"You promise? Kitsu, if you surprise attack me, I'll rip your tails out," Kayda warned darkly.
"Eeh, please don't joke about pulling them out," I whimpered, paling at the thought. "I might actually die from the pain."
"Kitsu."
"I wasn't going to attack you. You're too paranoid."
"You are Stacy's daughter, you know," Kayda sighed before walking toward me.
"Ah, fair point," I chuckled weakly.
"Sigh, now heal me," she demanded.
"Lap."
"Yeah yeah," Kayda muttered, sitting down beside me with her back to the others. I moved closer, resting my head on her lap as I began to heal her leg wound with the warmth of my blood.
"Sorry I shot you in the leg," I murmured, guilt seeping into my voice.
"It's fine. But I can't believe you destroyed my barrier twice. Especially the second time," she said with genuine surprise.
"Haha, thanks. It was just smaller versions of the flower spell I used against the devils," I explained.
"Oh, nice work making it so small," Kayda said, her voice softer now, almost praising.
"Thanks," I muttered shyly, the fight's adrenaline fading as her words settled warmly in my chest.
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Chapter 140:
[Ann POV]
"Kitsuna is the same age as me, right?" Katie asked, baffled, her wide eyes glued to the battlefield. Around us, the training ground echoed with constant detonations, the crackle of ice magic clashing against the hiss of scorching heat. The sight of Kitsuna and Kayda throwing themselves at each other with wild intensity was enough to freeze anyone in place.
"Yes," I affirmed while folding my arms and nodding calmly, although I was also impressed by what I was witnessing. "She is only fourteen years old."
Katie's mouth fell open. "She is a total monster," she muttered, half to herself, her head shaking in disbelief as her gaze followed the endless barrage of ice bullets and scorch beams.
"Well," I said, allowing myself a small grin, "being primordial does make you a monster."
"P-Primordial!?" Katie blurted, her voice rising sharply. Her hands twitched like she didn't know whether to clutch her head or her chest. "She's primordial!?"
"Shh," I warned quickly, giving her a sharp look. My tail flicked once behind me, a warning gesture.
Katie flinched. "S-sorry," she whispered, shrinking down slightly in embarrassment.
"You didn't realize that she was primordial?" I asked, tilting my head toward her, genuinely confused.
"No," Katie admitted, guilt and bafflement mixing on her face. "I don't really know much about them."
"I see." My voice softened. "Do remind me to teach you about primordials later."
"Yes, Mother," Katie said obediently, her voice firm now, though her eyes were still wide.
I hummed softly, keeping my eyes trained on the battle. Sparks of mana danced in the air like fireworks, the two combatants refusing to let up. The raw chaos of the clash was enough to make the training field feel too small.
"...Mother, I am a bit confused?" Katie asked hesitantly, her tone uncertain, like she didn't want to interrupt my focus.
"About what?" I asked, though I kept my eyes on Kitsuna as she darted through Kayda's flames.
"Why is Kayda under so much pressure from Kitsuna? Isn't her level way higher than Kitsuna's?" Katie asked, gesturing weakly toward the ongoing fight.
"This might have been called a spar," I explained, shifting my stance slightly, "but it's more to test Kitsuna's class. Kayda isn't just fighting for dominance-she's probing, seeing what Kitsu can really do."
"But even then," Katie pressed, "Kayda is struggling there. Ah-never mind, she made a barrier." Relief softened her expression as a shimmering wall of flame encased Kayda.
"Hmm. "Interesting," I began, leaning forward slightly. "Now how will-" My words cut off, my eyes widening in shock as Kitsuna's attack tore through the barrier with frightening ease.
"She destroyed it that easily?" Katie gasped, baffled.
"Way too easily," I admitted, frowning. "That wasn't just brute strength. That was... something else. That spell was really powerful. But where-where did it come from?"
"I don't know," Katie said, her eyes darting left and right, searching for something invisible.
"There," I said at last, narrowing my gaze. "It was one of her clones."
"Where?" Katie demanded, spinning her head frantically.
"You won't see her," I told her calmly, "but she is about seven hundred and fifty meters to the right."
"Oh, that far," Katie muttered, giving up, her shoulders slumping.
"It's quite impressive that she hit from there," I said, acknowledging the skill required. Even the best elven marksmen would've struggled at that distance.
"I agree. Oh-Kayda made her barrier stronger than before," Katie noted, sounding hopeful again.
"...And the barrier was destroyed again," I sighed, shaking my head in bafflement.
"She even hit Kayda this time," Katie whispered, still stunned.
"Yes, but it seems the clone isn't going to shoot again," I said, sensing the mana signature flicker before disappearing.
"Just three shots?"
"Yes, it seems she is still limited to that."
"But-"
"I agree," I cut her off gently, watching the clash escalate once again. "How will Kitsuna deal with Kayda's barrier now?"
"...Uhm," Katie hesitated. "I know that Kitsuna's mother is a weapon master in her own right, but isn't Kitsuna too adaptable with weapons already?"
"I heard Stacy fully trained Kitsuna for three years," I said evenly.
"I see... but still, that adaptability is unreal."
"No, this is understandable," I countered, my voice growing softer as old memories surfaced. "You might not know her well, but Stacy is a training god." A sigh slipped past my lips. "I remember the time we tried to train together..."
Katie perked up. "What do you mean by that, Mother?"
"You see, Stacy is a devil in a cat tribe skin," I said, my lips twitching into a rueful smile. "She won't give up on you or give you proper breaks until she thinks you are at the right level."
"Wouldn't that burn someone out?" Katie asked, her brows furrowing.
"You might think that," I admitted, "but Stacy knows when to ease up and when to push harder. That's why she is a training god."
"I've never heard people call her that."
"Not many people are aware of those she has trained."
"Hmm. But isn't Kitsuna her only disciple?"
"She is, but she isn't the first person Stacy trained."
"...Was Amari also?"
"No. Amari is a mage type, so Stacy couldn't train her properly."
"I see." Katie fell silent, eyes darting back to the fight.
"Uh oh, Kayda is making another barrier," I said, noticing the telltale flicker of mana gathering around her again.
"Now, to see how Kitsuna will-"
"... "
"... "
"... "
Katie frowned. "Isn't she preparing to counter Kayda?"
"I must agree with you, my daughter," I said, my voice quiet, my eyes narrowing. Kitsuna wasn't moving the way I expected.
"...High." Katie made a small, distracted sound.
"Anyways, let's see how she deals with the distance now," I said, choosing to ignore her odd noise.
"... "
"... "
"... "
"She's just running around dodging Kayda's attacks," Katie muttered.
"Yes, now she's hiding in a dust cloud," I explained, my tone flat. At first glance, it may not seem impressive, but I knew better than to underestimate Kitsuna's planning.
"...M-Mother, how can you learn the cloning skill?" Katie asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I will need to find out as well," I admitted.
"Let's learn it together, then."
"Uh, I agree," I said while nodding in approval.
"They seem more at a standstill now."
"Yes, I wonder if they will..."
"Will?" Katie tilted her head.
"You will see," I said simply.
"Okay," Katie answered uncertainly.
[Five minutes later]
"... "
"They looked so cool in their monster forms," Katie said, eyes sparkling.
"Yeah," I replied with a faint smile.
"But their fight looked like some weird slum cat fight."
"Yeah," I admitted, chuckling softly.
"At least they didn't keep it up."
"Yeah."
"Moooom, say something else," Katie whined, clearly annoyed.
"What? What do you want me to say?"
"Something other than 'yeah.'"
"Fine. It seems they are done anyways."
"Are we going to join them?"
"And be the third wheel? No, not a chance."
"Yeah, that doesn't sound fun."
"Oh right, you asked about Kayda not attacking or using skills, right?"
"Uh, something like that, yes."
"Okay, so what do you think would happen if Kayda went all out against Kitsuna?"
"Kitsuna would be demolished?" Katie guessed, her tone hesitant.
I sighed. "You're not wrong. If Kayda went all out, Kitsuna wouldn't even be able to use mana. So yes, she would be demolished."
"Wait, Kitsuna wouldn't even be able to use mana?"
"Sages are legendary classes, Katie. Do you not think they have something special about themselves?"
"I know that, but how can Scorch racial magic stop Ice racial magic?"
"Oh, you already know that racial skills can cancel normal and rare magic out just by existing, right?"
"Yeah, but to do that, you need enough mana to make a carpet of mana over the entire area where you fight."
"I guess that's one way to see it. Anyways, the reason racial magic can cancel others is because, in Kitsuna's case, she does have the mana to make this 'carpet,' but she doesn't have the control."
"Oh, so if Kayda makes her carpet, Kitsuna can't counter with her own."
"Correct."
"I see. Is this the reason Kayda couldn't see through Kitsune's illusions?
"Ah. Hmm. Good question. I think it wouldn't really matter. Kayda might realize faster that she's in an illusion, but she wouldn't be able to break it."
"Why?"
"Because Kitsuna can use illusions without any skill."
"Really!"
"Yes. Her illusions are very strong and well-constructed. Even we in this barrier couldn't see through them."
"Huh? Why would the barrier change anything?"
"Because mana can't get through this barrier."
"Ah, it can't?"
"Yes. I am also confused about how she did it."
"I see. Oh-she's got three tails again!" Katie exclaimed, pointing at Kitsuna, whose tails were wagging happily while she lay in Kayda's lap.
"Hmm, yes," I said, chuckling softly at the sight.
"Umm, are we going to them?" Katie asked.
'This daughter of mine can't read the room,' I thought, amused.
"Nah, let them talk first. It seems Kitsuna is being pampered," I said, chuckling as I discreetly pulled out a scroll and captured a few photos.
Are you going to send it to Kitsuna's mom? Katie asked.
"Yeah. She'll tease her to death with it."
"Oh right, Kayda's barrier-did Kitsuna really destroy it twice?"
"Hmm, yes. However, I am unsure how she was able to destroy the second barrier. Kayda made it much stronger than the first."
"But she still made a hole in it."
"Yes. We'll need to ask when they're done."
"I agree. But what do you think of her class so far?"
"Nothing too special, really. All she got was more mana and some elements. A few skills, too. It's like her class is only meant to reinforce what she already had. But that makes sense. If you look only at her skills, they are terrifying for her age. You forget she is only fourteen."
"Yeah~. When do you think they'll be done?" Katie asked, eyes drifting back to the pair.
"Ah, there. I think they're done," I mumbled, watching Kitsuna kiss Kayda before stretching lazily.
"Oh, before we go-do you think you could win against Kitsuna right now?" Katie asked.
"Yes, I would win. But only if she doesn't use Wrath."
"Why?"
"Because the only real advantage I have over her right now is stats."
"Not skill or experience?"
"That too. But it wouldn't give me a big advantage. She's smart, and she was trained by that monster of a mother."
"So you're saying she covered that in her training."
"Yes. And Kitsuna has a strange past. It's not just her mother. She's learned her own counters, too."
"So a long fight wouldn't be the best for you."
"Nope. Especially since she uses ice, and I use water."
"I see. Do you think I'll ever reach her level?"
