Second Year on the Dumerian Calendar. My mind was foggy. Why am I awake? Shouldn’t I be dead? I got stuck in a black hole. All I could see was a drop-dead gorgeous silver-haired babe resting her head on my chest. Is this what happens when you die? I thought it would be nothingness, a void like…

  That…what was I looking at? A whole lot of black nothingness trapped in a glass dome of enormous proportions. Isn’t death supposed to look like that instead of…

  My gaze shifted to the silver haired beauty.

  …this? Is that why some are rushing to their deaths? If death is a silver haired beauty then I could imagine people rushing to their death. Even Nilah is here.

  I’m sorry Nilah, you ended dying too… why does this place and this woman look so familiar, though?

  Wait isn’t this near Event Horizon and isn’t this babe Giana?

  My mind cleared. I had 3 lives left, but I was still alive, and it might have something to do with the silver haired Giana next to me. She was feeling a bit cold. Did she use frost magic?

  I warmed her up, confident that I made her cry again. Why am I such a bad partner? But I would rather make her cry than see her get torn apart by a demon I can’t do anything about. Or worse…have her see everyone she cares for getting torn apart without being able to do anything.

  I got lucky this time. I succeeded in chucking a demon into a black hole and escaping alive. I stroked Giana’s sleeping face and checked for how long I was out. I felt like I slept for several seconds but centuries might have passed.

  3 months have passed since I chucked the demon into a black hole. So this slow vixen had found a way to move quickly? Traversing half the continent in 3 months is not that impressive though, or am I biased? The problem is… how will I make it up to her? I’m not doing a great job of getting rid of her fears.

  My relationship with Giana is getting strained. How many more times before she has had enough? And it doesn’t help that I now also have Yv. I had become arrogant, thinking I could handle a relationship with not just 1 but 2 people. It might hurt but… maybe we should break up as it would be better for them.

  Then they won't have to cry or worry when I do something reckless again… I just can’t get myself to do it.

  Why am I so weak?

  Giana's body temperature got to a safe range and she stopped shivering. Did she kill herself trying to save me? Maybe we're suited for each other after all; killing ourselves to keep the other safe.

  I set up a barrier and went to nap. It was a short nap because someone was spying on me. At least to a better job!

  Ugh, a fox can't even have a nice nap with his vixen, Nilah, go scare that fool off.

  Nilah ran off and she dragged a sorry sight over by his pants, several frost crystals and explosions later.

  I will bring down this whole continent with me if you pull anything. Might even set that black hole rogue. What do you want, Zack?

  “I want you to seal this mutt away and return my honey or…” He glanced at Giana. “Give me a more than suitable replacement.”

  I had no energy nor mana but boy I want to kick his ass. I would go at it if I was alone, but Giana is with me now.

  I won’t hand Giana over to you. Over my dead body. Have you tried libraries or well-lit places? Being educated or bright seem to be your weaknesses, those places might help.

  Divine energy started to leak out of him,Nilah tackled him and absorbed some. This idiot can mainly use fire, enough frost magic might give me enough mana to do something.

  I tried to get up, but my body didn’t want to cooperate. So this is the end… would Nilah take Giana and flee? I don’t think, so Nilah’s loyalty only lies with me. I wonder… is this the same for Giana? It seems so. Troublesome vixens.

  Even though, vixens are arguably stronger than their male counterparts. The men have mostly died in protected them. I think I finally understand now.

  Nilah. I need assistance.

  “You won’t leave alive. My honey will return to me once I gift her those tails but don’t worry. I will take good care of that woman next to you.”

  Nilah used [Eternal Winter] and sent me mana that came in. [Blood and Thunder] activated to make me move. My body protested, but it moved.

  I’m sorry Deca. You worked so hard to free me for this to happen. I hope you will forgive me, and if you never want to speak to me again…. I will understand.

  “Ooh, she’s prettier than I initially thought. Look at those knockers!” Zack said with a lecherous stare and threw fire attacks imbued with divine energy at me which I blocked them with my tails. It hurt, but not as much as imagining what he would do with Giana.

  A [Sealed Cup] appeared. To seal her away after all this… I’m so cruel.

  My tails covered the both of us and I sealed her inside. Getting out would be easy for her. I just have to hide her for a bit.

  My tails blew the fire away. They were all on fire, but [Blood and Thunder] numbed my pain. My tails unfolded and only I emerged. My 9th tail was holding the [Sealed Cup] and Zack had no clue what was going on.

  “Huh, where did she go?!”

  She was just an illusion to lure you in. Nilah! It’s time for [Hattrick]!

  9 swords appeared around me. 1 took the [Sealed Cup] and flew away. Its destination would be Raishin.

  Right Zack, you’ve been a menace for Isi, for long enough. So how about this. You get the fuck out of here or taste my new ultimate technique!

  My clones had 3 months to draw the circle, and they didn’t disappoint. I am met with a big problem though. Will I be able to use all the skills to prime it? I’m missing the skill which would represent Yv. I have learned [Wind Rope] but not mastered it. The enormous mana requirement is also an issue but more importantly… will my body hold out long enough?

  Zack doesn’t seem impressed. Probably because I’m bluffing super hard.

  “Fine by me, let’s see it. I will break it and rip out your tails.” Zack turned into an enormous red flaming…. What is it? He’s red, but not quite demon. Although human depictions of red demons come close. He was just big, scarred and red. The flames were no joke, though.

  I made 25 2 months ago…25 is a nice number…

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  A wave of lava rushed at me as Zack was turning the mountain range into a soup. I can deal with fire, lava however… An illusion layer shattered and a [Paradox Teleport] helped me evade. The intention was to teleport to the other side of the continent though…

  Guess that didn’t work.

  I climbed on a sword and flew off. It wasn’t my stylish sword surfing. I was clinging to it, quite exhausted and looked quite pathetic.

  “Haha! Where did all that confidence go! I can see it! Those tails are mine soon!”

  The sky brightened and a [Meteor] dropped. It was way larger than any [Meteor] I had ever cast. God’s are such cheaters. He knows he can’t catch me, so he just nukes the whole area?

  4 of my tails disappeared with the intent to preserve energy.

  “Hahaha! You already look like you’re on death's door, and I haven’t even warmed up yet!”

  The [Meteor] got very close. I took out the crystal Noelle had given me a while back. 3 second invincibility should be enough.

  A loud crash and bright flashes. I took no damage, but the shockwave sent me flying. I rode the shockwave south. I might be able to escape if I can reach the ocean. I had only 1 cheat item yet but calling Azu now might not be optimal. She got sealed away, partly because of this guy.

  I’m sorry Azu. I will use this item another time or…never. Zack had narrowly missed [Event Horizon] so the black hole was still contained. I said I wanted to tear the continent down but… I don’t have the energy for that. I also wish to see Giana’s face once more, and that might not be possible if everything is destroyed.

  Have I grown soft?

  The swords gathered behind me and blocked an enormous volume of lava. It added to my momentum and the ocean came in sight.

  “Ooh! No! You’re not escaping to the ocean!”

  The swords flew at Zack and carved runes in his body.

  Cessanam!

  “You! How do you know that language! Come here! Aargh! I can’t move!” Zack flailed and hurled enormous [Lava Bombs] at me.

  My tails formed a barrier and wrote runes on it.

  Yire paro, yire paro. Mali agaccede adpe me. Mali agaccede adpe me necha pagrediku idac rekhea. Reverhitum, yire paro. Manesa durabs

  Familiar runes and familiar chants. The execution was flawless despite my fatigue. Practice makes perfect, after all.

  2 sections of the 11 empty [Foxfire Lunacy] clusters had been completed as [Hattrick] had been used as offense and Protia as utility. 7 offensive slots and 2 utility slots were left to finalize the magic circle of [Foxfire Lunacy]. It doesn’t have to be finished now or in this battle but… preferably before I die.

  I dropped into the ocean and mentally prepared for the azure mist combo. Setting up triple clones or other measures would have been wise, but... I was so tired.

  My life is on the line, but all I did was rest.

  The incoming [Lave Bombs] had terrible accuracy, so not much evading was needed. I was just laying on my back floating on the surface. I couldn’t drown even if I tried, I would have to use my underwater setup to get a shot at drowning.

  “Are you mocking me?!”

  Zack stood at the shore, towering over me with his gigantic, red-hot body. Oof that sounds wrong, I’m not into that stuff!

  I’m confident enough in kicking your ass that I can afford to relax a bit. Here take a [Tsunami]!

  The ocean welled and a wall of water made it for Zack.

  “Ha! I’ve seen [Tsunami] stronger than this!” Zack stomped, a heatwave evaporated and a tiny wave hit his toe.

  “Haha! At least, I admire your act of toughness. Defeating you might be easy, but it was enjoyable at least!” A foot stepped into the ocean, steam erupted and created turbulence,

  [Tsunami] just has to hit, it doesn’t matter if it’s the real deal or a left-over wave that tickles toes.

  [Azure Sharks] went out to bite Zack’s toes, and my swords brought me further from the shore. A shame that the Hurricane Path is too far away, but the ambient wind mana might have helped me out pulling off [Wind Rope].

  The next skill would be very important. It needed to be strong, but I had no juice left.

  This was a bad idea…

  I dipped my tails in the ocean as they started putting a magic skill together, which was the magic equivalent of [Dragon]. The efficiency and power of magic volumes was needed, so I had to stall time and stay cool until they were done.

  Screw this, I will dive down.

  Years of dealing with the ocean and underwater adventures must have been all for this moment. Being exhausted didn’t make this more difficult than I remember.

  [Lava Bombs] dropped into the ocean, but none found their target. I had submerged to a depth where Zack would reach to his chest if he followed me enough to have a shot at hitting me.

  Fighting the god of fire in the ocean. The only way to make this remotely fair for me. The currents created by the emergence of an enormous mass of hot water raised an issue, though.

  Please ocean. You’re overpowered too, please cool this guy off enough to the point I don’t have to deal with freak currents.

  A familiar mana signature traveled through the water. This asshole had cast [Meteor] again.

  What would be the recommended depth to completely avoid a [Meteor]? Surely 50 meters isn’t enough…

  I descended as fast as I could. I couldn’t use any offensive magic skill as it would eat a charge toward [Azure Mist] my tails were too busy and tired to use Dragonvein but using my tails as propellers cooled them down immensely.

  A depth of 999 meters was deemed safe and a [Magic: Water Dragon] went out and swam toward Zack's knees.

  What a pussy, only going knee-deep into the ocean, but that works for me. Your kneecaps are mine!

  The dragon crashed into his knee, and it only made him wobble. My tails were making excuses about how we are almost out of mana. That’s fine. [Azure Mist] went out and didn’t care.

  The use of magic got punished by these dragons. The ocean was getting filled with them and all assaulted Zack.

  “Come out you coward!” was his response. Expecting a 9t to play fair is like expecting a fish to run the marathon.

  My mind had calmed down. It may have been the ocean. Water had been my element for so long, but I also have hardly used it for a while.

  Another box had been checked as [Azure Mist] had been used. Visibility for him had dropped to 0, and he was getting tickled by water dragons.

  The [Hatrick] swords flew off to shoot frost magic at him to fix my mana issues.

  I may have been bluffing and putting up a false bravado but if nothing changes, I might be able to knock him a peg down.

  The fog allowed me to surface, and I took out and ignited a phoenix flower, inhaled its pollen and recovered stamina. I still need a healer, but I can fight for a bit longer now.