'Defeat is inevitable.'
In a world where magic exists, it was only a matter of time before I was faced with a threat I couldn't overcome with brute strength alone.
'The Lynx! The Ravager!'
I have encountered such threats in this world so far, and each encounter proved too difficult to run away from. I didn't have my friends' support now. Mikangleo, though useful at times, proved more detrimental than I expected. That man requires immense training, but I knew that the moment I laid eyes on him. Yet, still, he is not to blame for this situation. There is only one individual to pin the blame on.
'Drajkovane!'
The so-called Great Vampire, who decided to bring me to this low point. A man who rejected my reasonable proposals and decided that this battle was worth staking our lives. It wasn't. This battle was unnecessary in my eyes, but for him, he had something to prove. That is what scares me right now. A Kitsune's physical prowess is likely among the highest in this world, but I can already see that vampires are on that level.
It is likely the reason they were hunted down and devastated by the practitioners of the Cyto religion. They are dangerous, but not solely because of their brute strength. They are harmful for another reason. A reason simpler, yet I often find myself neglecting it.
'Magic!'
A world of magic, which I have used, but I am a stranger. It is ludicrous to believe that I, a man foreign to the true concepts of magic, could overpower a being who was born in this world. It is the great equalizer of this world. A force of nature untethered by bias, but could be molded to fit an individual's desires with enchanted names.
The miasmic blast's power brought me to my knees, but I wasn't entirely out yet. Had Drajkovane used this spell prior, when he was stronger, it is entirely possible that I would've met the same fate as the vegetation around us. My flesh was beginning to wither, and anguish brought screams from my throat. It was condensed agony, but I survived.
'How did I survive? Why do I survive?!'
There were more questions that I could think of, but I found my answer straightforward; I wanted to. I needed to survive, not only for my sake but also for my brothers. They needed me. I am their elder brother, and as their elder, I can not die in some magical cave when we have yet to walk the path I have envisioned for us. They trusted me to guide them, and I cannot lead them to ruin. That is not my way, nor my desire.
The roar of the miasma battered my furry ears, and I found myself being pushed back. My skin bubbled, then flaked, merging with the supernatural force. This bastard vampire wanted to turn me into ashes, and he was succeeding. Each second that went by, I could sense a part of myself was fading away. It was a fleeting sense, an almost ethereal feeling, tied to my instincts. It was those same instincts that told me when attacks were coming and alarmed me when bad shit was going down. It was a nagging feeling, but it is thanks to that feeling that I have survived thus far.
The roar of the miasma died down, and with it, the attack ceased. My body stiffened, not out of rigor, but something else entirely. My veins burned to a boil as I tried to gather my bearings, no, I willed myself to collect them. Despite the anguish and the cries from my legs, I stood.
"Limitation is a luxury, Mikangleo," I croaked, my words more blood than air. "And you were right. I was delusional prior, but I needed to be."
My eyes began to water, but I fought back the tears that threatened to spill. I caught a glance at the man's wide eyes, and in them I found a raw fear. I could smell the desperation reeking from him more so than the blood spilling from my wounds. That is what I focused on. I brought this man and Claire to this area in hopes of becoming stronger. I tried to find crystals to empower myself, and in that pursuit, I spread our forces thin. What a tactical blunder that turned out to be.
This world isn't as forgiving as I hoped; I knew that, and yet I made that call. It was the wrong one, filled with arrogance and negligence. I am to blame for our current struggles, and he was correct about his assessment. I understood that the longer I stared at Drajkovane. The vampire's bugling crimson eyes were as large as saucers, but he was not filled with shock. He was shaking with rage. Rage, not at me, but at himself, I could sense it.
"You still dare to stand, after everything?!" Drajkovane roared before blood exploded from his mouth.
"I dare," I responded breathily. "I fear for you, vampire. I do, but... I will not die to you today. My life is just beginning, and I have responsibilities."
Drajkovane's brow wrinkled as he recovered from his coughing fit. He bared his elongated nails and pointed towards Mikangleo.
"That human... Your survival, and the survival of those rodents and the girl, in exchange for the human."
"Your life. You get to keep it," I responded.
"Iarus.."
"You borrow power from your god, Vampire, that much is obvious, but still..."
Pain shot throughout my body as Drajkovane appeared and attempted to pierce my chest. Sharpened nails threatened my life, but he didn't find the heart he was aiming for. He realized the bones of my ribcage had denied him access. However, I didn't allow him to escape. Against my better judgment, I embraced the vampire in a hug. It was not one of kindness or camaraderie, but one in which his body creaked from the pressure of my grip. I interlocked my fingers and flexed my biceps.
"I have no mana left, vampire, I can admit that. You have pushed me to the brink. You have tested me in ways that I would have never considered possible, and for that, you have my gratitude."
That gratitude was recropicated as Drajkovane lashed in my grasp before burying his fangs into my neck. I did not deny him that desire. My blood was his to consume, but he needed to make a decision. Would he fade into mist, or will he heal himself from the constant breaking of his bones?
"Your gratitude... means... nothing..." he grumbled, before the vampire faded from my grasp.
He had chosen escape, but as I assumed, he didn't go far. He had barely moved a yard away, and he nearly tripped over his own footing. The blackened spots had reached Drajkovane's chin, covering him like a leper. Yet, still, he burdened himself with the crystal.
"You were... a fool.. to tell me that... Fox Man!" Drajkovane spluttered.
Undeterred by his words, I forced my hands into fists and limped to the right of my opponent. The weight of countless injuries shackled, but it was clear that we must settle this between us. His focus zoned onto me as he watched me expectantly. There was no fear in his eyes as if he was sure that I would fall soon. A part of me knew he was right: I would fall quickly if I were left to my own devices, but that was because both of us had misunderstood how my power truly worked.
"I haven't forgotten about you, human!" Drajkovane roared, but he was far too late.
The vampire's body turned to face him, but Mikangleo managed to close the distance between them. A dagger arched through the air before piercing his unscathed forearm. He had attempted to sever the arm, but to our dismay, he had failed. Drajkovane's brow knitted with pained frustration before his eyes widened in realization. Undeterred, Mikangleo attempted to step backward, but Drajkovane proved to be his superior in speed still. He backhanded Mikangleo, separating the human from his dagger.
Mikangleo braced himself, but the strength of the blow sent the man rolling across the ground. That was the opportunity I was searching for, and I seized it. I pushed forward in a sprint. My legs cried from exertion, but this had to be it. I had a chance, and now I must take it or else. Drajkovane's crimson gaze snapped in my direction immediately.
Drajkovane snarled as my hand reached for the crystal in his hand, but that did not deter me. I adjusted as he shifted his hand away to deny me my goal. Clenching my fist, I delivered a left hook so powerful that my body reverberated from the impact with his jaw. His head snapped to the side, but his foot caught me in my knee. My vertical base was destroyed, and I tripped forward. I hit the ground with a grunt, but I forced myself to roll to my side.
"Curse you, Fox!" Drajkovane roared, but my roll thwarted his attempt to pierce my body.
His arm was stuck in the ground like an Ostrich's head, but he plucked it out of its hole with surprising speed. I stood quickly, and before I could regroup fully, his shattered forearm slammed into my face. His broken bones slashed my cheek wide open. I was inexperienced in combat, but I always assumed I could handle myself. Thus far, I have done so thanks to my enhanced physiology, but once again, I had met my match.
There was a thrill in fighting for one's life, I could admit that. Each cut across my face, and the punches I landed in his gut lit something within me. It was something primal and made my heart skip a beat. Here I was staring death in the face, and I only had one thought on my mind.
'How can I end this?'
I reached for the crystal again, but settled for his unbroken wrist. He realized my intent and leaned forward to blast me with a skull-rattling headbutt. As God as my witness, I thought I had passed out midfight once again. When I came to, Drajkovane's head snapped forward, and he lunged his fangs forward. I was too late to deny him his target, and his fangs buried themselves in my collar. I was certain his goal was my check, but he took what was given.
My strength began slipping as the vampire slurped at my already thinning blood. Bones began snapping into place, which told me that he was draining me to heal himself. I hated that aspect almost as much as I despised that overpowering miasma that continued to burn my flesh. Even the air that graced my lungs burned upon entry, and now I was a snack from him.
He would continue to cling to me, wrapping his arms around my body with desperation. It was difficult to break his grip, but I managed to do so with the forearm to his chest. Pain shot through my neck as his fangs ripped through my collar when I shoved him backward. His smugness returned briefly as he wiped his mouth with his recently healed forearm.
"We have done this dance long enough, Fox Man. You are all out of mana, you have no tricks, and your wounds are healing slowly. Your day is done, even you have to accept it!" Drajkovane declared through panted breaths.
His eyes shifted to his side, and I knew he was watching Mikangleo as well. I could see him circling our opponent while he spoke. Mikangleo's face was chiseled with indecision, and I do not blame him. There was not much either of us could do to overcome him. Drajkovane was correct in his analysis. I was out of mana to the point that I'm surprised that I was crippled with mana exhaustion now. I was far beyond the mana fatigue level, which meant I should be dead now...
'So why amn't I unconscious from the lack of mana?'
That question bounced in my head for only a second before a realization struck as hard as lightning. My eyes widened on their own before I reconsidered my environment. With no guide at this crucial moment, I realized I had failed to apply the knowledge I had gained. Fawkes told me in our first encounter what made me different from the rest.
"I do not need to rely on my own strength when the strength of others is right before me. You don't mind, right?" I asked Drajkovane
The vampire's face twisted between confusion and confidence before he erupted in coughs. His body was failing him, but he was not the only one capable of stealing from his enemies. I focused deep, not for my mana, but the spell ingrained in my being. I funneled my will into the one thing that could salvage this situation. I need a miracle from God, but I've had one all along. I was too brutish to realize it. The Almighty granted a holy grail: Mana Command.
The answer was in my face this entire time. I had used it in one way, but I failed to consider its true versatility. I outstretched my arms, presenting myself not only to the possibility of being attacked, but I felt this was the appropriate maneuver. Drajkovane saw the hole in my defense and pounced on it with no hesitation. The crystal in his possession glowed, and miasma erupted from his fingertips. Mikangleo was too slow to stop him, but he moved anyway to attempt.
Everyone moved in slow motion as if the world had been warped by time itself. The hairs on my arms stood on end as a feeling akin to electricity ran up and down my spine. I focused that power and diverted it to my forearms as my instinct dictated. Right before my eyes, orange fur exploded from my flesh, coating it with a marvelous sheen. My tail wagged frantically as the air around me thickened. My neck burned with that same power, and I felt the same experience from my forearm across my throat, down to my chest.
At that moment, Drajkovane's nails swiped for my chest, but I managed to snatch his forearm out of the air. He kicked me in my thigh, which buckled my legs briefly. However, he didn't get away without taking any damage from our exchange. I squeezed his forearm, and his bones snapped like a drumstick. He howled curses in another language.
As sweet as that sound was, the sound of a blade piercing his back was more than enough to give me an encore. Mikangleo stabbed Drajkovane not once, not twice, but three times in his lower back. Blood spilled from his frustrated mouth before he gritted his teeth and counterattacked. The vampire back-elbowed Mikangleo so hard in his forehead that I feared he had cracked the man's skull. Mikangleo was forced to take a step back, and his dagger was scattered by a flailing back fist from our adversary.
When Mikangleo managed to recover from his stupor, he found a back-kick barreling his way. He was too late to react. I tried to yank him off his trajectory, but the impact sent my human companion tumbling away again. He rolled onto his back, but he desperately tried to stand again. He wanted to help, but his body was about to give.
My lips twitched, but I forced the frown off my face. I squeezed again, and Drajkovane immediately looked my way. Blackened bruises reached his exposed arms, but I realized it was not my doing.
I bared my canines and barked, "Mana Siphon!"
The devil is always in the details, and when my incantation hit his ears, Drajkovane's eyes nearly popped out of his head. His mouth went agape, but there was nothing he could do about it. There was something akin to a burst of wind around us, pushing the clustering miasma away like a fog. I could feel something foreign, yet familiar, rush from the vampire into my body.
"No! What is this?!" Drajkovane growled.
He became frantic as he attempted to yank his arm from my possession. It was unfortunate for him that my grip was tighter than the jaws of life. I would not allow him to go anywhere as I drained him of what little mana he had. My reserves slowly trickled in, but I felt there was more to take.
"Call... upon... us..."
A ghostly voice, so low that it was barely perceivable, touched my furry ears.
"Call... upon us..."
It repeated, but this time I was able to comprehend it. My ears flicked in a vain attempt to locate the source, but that proved to be a mistake. The moment my gaze flicked elsewhere, a pit formed in my stomach. The blood red crystal erupted in a wave of miasma so dense that I broke my grip upon activation. I was sent flying backward, crashing into a withered tree. The air around us darkened with a tainted red.
"Iarus, grant me the power to overcome! Miasma Veil: Black Collapse!"
Despite my draining of his mana, the vampire had enough to reactivate his trump card. I attempted to step forward, but I was hit by a sudden wave of fear. My body began to tense, and my heart was jumping so hard that it might've been trying to jump into my opponent's palm. The veil of miasmic energy was so dense that the air was thick as jelly. It blasted omnidirectionally, and the strained grunts of Mikangleo deafened my ears. The flesh on our bodies was peeling as if we were inflicted with nasty third-degree burns. Yet, I remained standing, unmoved by his last-ditch effort.
As quickly as the burst erupted, it had subsided. The reason was Drajkovane's collapse onto his knees. The blankened bruise had gripped half of his face, and the vampire wheezed as if his lungs had collapsed.
"Nature...decrees... that I-" the vampire strained to stand, placing his faded gaze onto my shivering body. "I... must win today. A Fox Man can never kill... his better!"
"I stand at the top of my race, Drajkovane, not as a God, but the lone decider of his fate. You've brought destruction to this land, and for that, I forgive you. Arrogance plagues both of us… However," I remarked, pointing toward the sky.
Emerald flames consumed my forearms and dripped onto the barren ground. Those voices from earlier, they called to me again, and my flames heeded them. The fire spread with no set course and even raced toward my struggling ally. Mikangleo collapsed onto his rear as the fire roared into life. His eyes widened, but in them was not fear, only intrigue.
The air sparkled around my body, whipping the flames into a frenzy. I felt it at that moment, truly for the first time. My left eye began to burgeon with power, but not from my depleted reserves. My power was not solely my own; it was drawn from nature itself. Mana Command: The ability to command mana itself, not solely from my body or its reserves, but the environment.
Drajkovane snarled as the flames encircled him, leaving no exit. His hand shielded his face, but he realized there was no heat to be fearful of. He scoffed and bared his fangs arrogantly. He swayed wildly on his feet before pointing the tainted crystal in my direction. At that moment, the threat of imminent death washed over me. My flames flickered as if the miasma were choking the life out of them.
His grin stretched his cracked lips while his face was encapsulated with those sickly, blackened bruises. This would be the final clash between the two of us that we both were certain of. His miamsa surged, meeting my emerald flames in a clash of dominance.
"I did not want to kill you, Drajkovane. It didn't have to come to this. However, the needs of the many outweigh the needs-"
"Iarus, I grant you the harvest-"
"Mikangleo!" I roared, startling the man into action. He scrambled with his arm, desperately searching for any remaining knife on his body.
Drajkovane's incantation nearly reached its completion, but at the buzzer, a knife was launched from half court. The blade twirled in the air before the vampire swatted it down into the sprouting grass. It was a failure, at least that is what Drajkovane thought at first. Realization struck him like a lightning bolt when he realized that we stood not on dirt, but on sprouting grass and blooming flowers.
"You are not the only person with a God to borrow power from!" I declared with a mischievous smirk.
The flames exploded in size, combating, no, consuming the miasma that tainted the region. Roots erupted from the ground, forming an arch behind my body. My thoughts went to the fearsome Lynx, a creature that attempted to take me out with a spell designed to elevate its power.
I called up on its strategy for myself. My body drew mana from the environment to fuel the rejuvenation of my mana reserves. This was not the power of a Fox Man as Drajkovane knew it. This was the unmistakable power of a kitsune, but I needed more. I needed help from my new partner, so I called upon her.
"Sine! I'll make our dreams a reality! Vine- No…" I dug deep, willing the mana in the environment to rush into the creation of "Sine! Deceit Realm!"