Golden Fox Lightning / Golden Fox Fire
Saint Healing
Analysis
Expert Flash Step
Teleport
Sword Domain
Mana Sense
Pseudo-God Blacksmith
Passive Abilities:
Heightened Senses
Soul Regeneration
Eyes of Intimidation
Human Form
Night Vision
Mana Tails
Tail Abilities:
Clone
Spiritual Magic
Illusion Magic
LOCKED
"Those greedy clone bastards sucked up 60k mana... And I only gained thirty levels?" I muttered.
Most of the monsters I'd slaughtered were over level 300. I deserved more than this.
Golden fire and lightning crackled to life in my palms. The spheres pulsed-not with wrath, but healing.
"Hell? Do these things heal?"
"This is the opposite of my devil heritage-hah!"
I laughed, not noticing the footsteps behind me.
"Hmm. I haven't seen those in a long time," said an old voice.
I jumped back instantly, weapons drawn-eyes going wide as I stared.
"No way... fan lady?!"
Standing calmly with a smug smirk and two cattails was a woman I never thought I'd see again.
"The name is Fran, you impudent fox."
"... What's an old hag like you doing here?"
"I was sleeping. But someone's rampage through the ecosystem woke me up."
"I wasn't destroying it. I was culling it," I grumbled and sat back down.
She sat next to me like it was a picnic.
"So. What are you doing here, brat?"
"I should ask you the same, Grandma-walking-contradiction."
"I like quiet places. This forest used to be peaceful."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're not a real beastkin, are you?"
"Correct. I was a cat. Once."
"...So you're as old as you look."
"Older." She chuckled. "You remind me of my wife."
"You're being way too open right now."
"True," she said, stretching her arms. "Want some advice? Or better-training?"
"...Training?"
"That wrath of yours. It's too wild."
"Great. A stalker grandma who reads emotional states."
"She used the same golden fire and lightning you did."
"I don't use those. I use devil fire and lightning."
Fran's gaze sharpened.
"You do understand what devil magic does to souls, right?"
"Yes," I replied, raising a golden flame. "That's why I don't use it casually."
Her eyes softened as she studied the flame.
"You wonder about the golden elements' properties?"
"They heal. But they're fox-based. There's more, isn't there?"
"There is. Foxes embody deception and restoration. Trickery and rebirth. That fire? It's not just healing-it's manipulative essence. You can heal someone... or shatter their will."
"Yikes."
"You'll need to learn to wield it properly. Come with me."
Before I could protest, she stepped forward-and the entire scene shifted.
We were now inside a massive crystal cave, the air rich with mana. A translucent green pool bubbled quietly in the center.
"...Alright. I'll admit it. That was impressive."
"She's not the only one who can manipulate mana," Fran said smugly.
"She?" I blinked. "You mean your wife?"
"She could do that too-but with more effort. And she was younger. Less smug."
"Let's leave her out of this," I muttered.
"Fair enough."
"So... what is this place?"
"My dungeon," she said. "Built over a thousand years ago. You'll train here."
"...Not into that kind of thing."
"I'm married!"
"And you just told me your wife is dead."
Fran's expression sharpened, eyes glowing.
"Just as you dislike it when people mention your wife, I dislike it when people mock mine."
"...Fair."
Looking around again, my eyes landed on the green pool.
"So... that's it?"
"Your best friend. Dive in after each session. You can breathe in it. It heals everything."
"Sounds like I'm going to need it."
"You will," she said, eyes twinkling. "Time to temper your wrath, little fox."
[Later That Night-Campfire]
I sat slumped against a rock, the last of the day's mana reserves flickering inside me like a dying flame. A battered potion flask dangled from my fingers.
Fran, seated cross-legged across from me, sipped her tea with maddening calm.
"You look like hell," she said dryly, not even glancing my way.
I groaned, tossing the empty flask aside. "Feel worse."
"You should. You've burned through three days of stamina in one." She exhaled steam through her nose. "You fight like someone trying to outrun a nightmare."
I eyed the fire. The embers danced in shades of gold and crimson-eerily similar to my Fox Golden Lightning. My fingers twitched at the thought.
"...This lightning," I muttered, "it's not just healing. It's... manipulative. Trickster energy."
Fran raised an eyebrow, finally looking at me. "Good. You're starting to understand. Fox magic isn't about brute force. It's an influence. Disruption. Masking truth with fire."
I tilted my head. "So what about Wrath, then?"
Her expression turned hard. "That's what we train tonight."
I blinked. "Wait, tonight? As in, right now?"
Fran stood smoothly, her tail fanning out like blades behind her. "If you're strong enough to level half the forest, you're strong enough to handle this."
Groaning, I pushed myself up, joints cracking. "You're a sadist."
She smirked. "Only to my favorites."
She gestured toward the far end of the cavern-a massive stone slab etched with glowing runes. As we approached, the ground trembled faintly beneath our feet.
"That's Wrath's essence," Fran explained. "This entire room feeds off emotional output-rage, grief, vengeance. Every time you lose control, it gets stronger."
I narrowed my eyes at the slab. "So what, I scream into it and hope for enlightenment?"
Fran shook her head. "No. You fight."
With a sharp snap of her fingers, the stone shimmered. A mirror of black glass rose from the slab, swirling with blood-red mist. My reflection shimmered inside it-but it wasn't me.
She had my face.
But her eyes were wild.
Her tails lashed like whips. Blood stained her hands, and golden fire danced around her like a halo of fury.
"That," Fran said softly, "is your Wrath. Born out of your unchecked emotions. Fight her. Survive. And do not become her."
I stared at the reflection-at her. I didn't have time to ask more questions.
The mirror shattered.
And she lunged at me.
"Shit-!"
I barely managed to summon my chakrams in time. Her slash clipped my shoulder, sending a jolt of pain straight through my nerves.
"Fast-!"
She grinned at me-my grin-and slammed her foot into my chest. I went flying, skidding across the cavern floor.
"Get up!" Fran shouted, her voice echoing across the stone walls. "If you let Wrath control you, you lose!"
I coughed, blood in my throat. The clone-my rage-was already charging again, golden lightning flaring off her blades.
I flash-stepped sideways, barely dodging, and brought one chakram around to counter. Sparks exploded between us.
She doesn't stop.
She doesn't think.
She just burns.
My heart pounded. The fire inside me began to swell-urging me to lash out, to tear her apart without thought.
No. Not this time. I'm not her.
I exhaled through my teeth and dropped my illusion armor, focusing everything into raw mana flow. I let the rage come-but I didn't let it take me.
Fran's voice pierced the haze: "Wrath is not rage. Its purpose is sharpened by fury!"
I snarled and caught the next strike between both chakrams. Then, twisting my hips, I slammed my knee into her ribs and flipped her over my back.
She hit the stone hard-and didn't get back up.
Smoke curled off her limbs as her body slowly disintegrated into embers.
Fran stepped forward, her voice quiet this time. "You didn't become her."
I dropped to my knees, panting. My blades flickered, unstable.
"Barely."
She nodded. "That's step one."
"...Step two?" I muttered.
Fran cracked her knuckles. "Tomorrow."
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Chapter 202: Forest to the cave to the death to the Wrath
[Kitsuna — The Next Day]
"What the hell was life like a thousand years ago?" I asked, floating lazily in the green goo. The mana-rich slime clung to my skin, but I didn't have the strength to care.
Fran, Granny Fran barely looked up from where she sat cross-legged, sipping tea like she didn't just throw me through three walls.
"If you want to know that, read a history book. They're surprisingly accurate for once."
"Huh. Figures." I winced as a bubble of the goo popped near my cheek. "So... what's first on the torture schedule?"
Fran set her cup down, smiled faintly, and said, "Simple. Attack me."
Naturally, I did.
[Thirty Minutes Later]
"You're not bad," Fran admitted, casually stretching while I floated half-naked in the goo pit, trying not to drown in exhaustion.
"Even without my clones siphoning my mana," I muttered, "I still wouldn't stand a chance."
"Probably not," she said, smirking. "But let's talk while you recover."
"Sure. What's the lecture this time?"
"You've been trying to split your elements again, haven't you?"
I hesitated. "...Some of them, yeah."
"Have they shown up in your status screen?"
"...No."
"Exactly. That's because you're not forming new elements; you're diluting the one you already have. You're weakening your affinity instead of splitting it properly."
I looked away, scowling. "And you're going to help?"
"Oh, definitely. Kayda could help too, but, well, you know how she is. Terrible teacher."
"...We agreed not to bring up our wives."
Fran nodded once, eyes closing. "Right. My bad."
"So how do we start?"
"Like before. But with better guidance this time."
"And this goo pit?" I asked, flicking a finger through the glowing green sludge.
"It's a soul-restoration fluid. Designed specifically for users of Wrath. Helps you recover from spiritual backlash. It was made by a former Wrath bearer, one who created this dungeon."
'Probably her wife,' I thought silently, checking my mana reserves. Still only around 10,000.
"I'd have more if my clones weren't draining me back in the capital," I muttered.
That made Fran blink. "You what?"
"I left clones behind for the tournament. Can't just vanish and let everyone think I chickened out."
Fran groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Ugh. Okay, explain everything."
[Ten Minutes Later]
"...And that's the situation," I finished.
"To think that child is involved," Fran muttered.
"Child?"
"You call him the God of Light. But when I met him, a few hundred years ago, he was just a snot-nosed brat."
I tilted my head. "Why are you surprised he's back?"
"He approached me a few months ago and asked me to join his side. I declined, but I see now... it's more personal than I thought."
"How so?"
"He still holds a grudge. Against your mother's family."
"The Draigs?"
"No. Her birth parents."
"...I see."
"And before you ask, I don't know why. That family's always been weird."
I nodded. "Fair."
"Anyway," Fran said, shifting topics, "you came here to level up, right? But you're going up against one of his strongest soul fragments. He'll definitely send the Light clone. And probably two others."
"Wait... clones like mine?"
"No. Very different. His clones aren't copies of himself; they're splinters of his soul."
"What the hell?"
Fran leaned forward, her tone serious. "He breaks down his soul into fragments and implants them into newborns. Sometimes they even send them through the mothers. As they grow, those fragments develop powers and personalities like his."
"So he's a parasite."
She gave me a sharp glare. "Yes. But don't be flippant. It's dangerous magic. Especially because his clones grow stronger over time."
"And half-breeds destroy the fragments?"
"Correct. His soul fragments don't seem to survive well in mixed-blood hosts. It's a flaw."
"Interesting. And how many can he make?"
"No idea. Probably unlimited; he's a god. But with your fox lineage, you might be able to replicate a version of that magic. Eventually."
"...You want to train me harder, don't you?"
Fran grinned. "Of course. You're going to fight him, after all."
[Later-Theory Session]
"Alright," Fran said, placing a glowing stone on the ground, "let's start with theory."
I groaned. "Ugh, no."
"Too bad. You need it. Let's talk about elemental purity."
After two hours of ranting, scribbling symbols, and comparing mana flows, something clicked.
"Wait, my ice magic is the purest because it's fully developed, right?"
"Correct. If you break it down, you'll get high-purity wind and water affinities."
"And my dimension and lightning affinities?"
"Low purity. But I can teach you how to wield them more effectively."
I smirked. "You haven't even seen my lightning."
"Who's the teacher here?"
I summoned a plasma blade in response. Lightning surged across the cave, crackling against the walls with feral energy.
Fran's eyes widened. "You... made a plasma sword?"
"Yeah. I've got pseudo-god blacksmithing."
"You what?!"
"I can forge demigod weapons."
I summoned a few more and dropped them at her feet.
Fran stared. "...You're a monster. That's a compliment."
"I'll take it as one."
[Dimensional Magic Training]
"So," Fran said, holding up a worn shoe for some reason, "for dimension control: close your eyes. Toss an item from one hand into storage and pull it into the other. Feel the distortions in the mana around you."
I raised a brow. "...Did you just give me a shoe?"
Fran didn't even blink. "The item doesn't matter. The principle does."
"Okay, weird cat lady." I took the shoe, closed my eyes, and focused. "Toss it in, then yank it out with the other hand. Got it."
I tossed.
Nothing came out.
I opened my eyes and looked at my empty hands.
Fran blinked. "Did you just lose the shoe?"
"...Maybe."
"It was my favorite napping shoe."
"...You nap on your shoes?"
"You nap with tails. We all have our weird things. Now focus!"
I tried again. This time with a metal spoon.
I tossed it in, yanked, CLANG!
It smacked me in the forehead.
Fran winced. "Maybe you shouldn't yank so hard."
