Arslan’s face twisted with anger. His grip on his swords became so tight that his fingertips whitened. His feline ears were perked up. His mouth was open, showing his sharp canines.

“Years passed and you are still as foolish as ever.”

He said without looking at Arslan. His eyes were on escaped beastkin.

“Why. Are. You. Here?”

Arslan spat out his words. His brother turned to him.

“Here for the slaves, of course.”

He said nonchalantly.

“You!”

Arslan stepped forward, his foot digging into the ground.

“After everything our kind faced! After we fought for freedom for years! You talk about our people as slaves!”

“Our people?”

He said mockingly.

“Weaklings like them or you aren’t my kind.”

He watched with a satisfied grin as Arslan’s face twisted further with anger.

“What will you do about-“

He leaned back to dodge Arslan’s slash before he could finish his sentence.

“Slow.”

His fist struck, aiming for Arslan’s stomach. But he blocked it with his sword’s handle and swung the other one. Despite Arslan’s sword being fast enough to create a whistling sound, his brother dodged and took several steps back.

“Hah! You use that coward’s style!”

“You have no right to call Captain Börü a coward! While you sold everyone around to save your own skin, he worked his ass off to protect everyone!”

“And he failed.”

Arslan’s Brother punched nothingness in front of him despite the distance between them. Arslan ducked as something hit the ground behind him.

“You guys escort the prisoners! This one is mine!”

Two beastkin with him looked at each other.

“Come on! We don’t have that much time.”

He laughed.

“You will handle me? You are delusional, Arslan! Can you even use Primal Evocation?”

Rather than answering him with his words, Arslan lowered his stance before catapulting himself forward. A crater was formed where he launched. His swords were covered with golden mana.

“Hah!”

His brother readied his fist. The same golden mana covered his arm. But it was brighter.

Sword against fist.

Brother against brother.

Lion against lion.

Their attacks clashed, creating an immense shockwave. However, the difference between their strength was obvious. Arslan’s sword was thrown to the side and his brother’s fist struck his chest.

Arslan clenched his teeth as he felt at least one of his ribs breaking. Despite the pain, scars all around Arslan’s body weren’t for show. They were a sign that he was a real warrior.

He let out an earth-shattering roar before swinging his other sword to his brother’s chest.

Despite the mana shielding his brother’s chest, he managed to cut it. But his victory was short-lived. The cut was shallow, just enough to draw blood. Unfazed by it, his brother’s fist hit him again, sending him crashing into one of the buildings.

He touched his chest and looked at the blood on his palm.

“Hmfpt.”

He let out an unimpressed groan and started to run to where Ama was helping prisoners.

Amaterasu looked in the direction he felt Arslan’s mana. She was worried.

“Is there a problem?”

Orb holding beastkin asked.

“It is okay. How many have we rescued until now?”

“Around 40.”

“Good. Most of them must be out now.”

Even though not everything went according to plan, they still had quality and element of surprise with them.

“Ama! There is a problem! We were attacked!”

Blaria limped, he was covered with blood and bruised. Ama’s eyes opened wide with shock.

“What?”

“Ursara is down! I don’t know if he is alive!”

Ama ran to his side and cast healing magic.

“They were beastkin! Those bastards! They betrayed their own people! They knew our escape route! We have traitors among us!”

Ama looked around. A traitor? No, not just one! Her comrades were looking at her, waiting for an order. Ama felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders.

What she should do?

“How many there were?”

She asked hurriedly.

“More than twenty!”

Blaria answered.

No, she can’t send anyone. They were too numerous! She also didn’t know who was loyal and who wasn’t. Where was Arslan? If only he was with her she could ask him for help!

As she was thinking of him, a figure approached. Ama nearly jumped forward and called for him.

“That’s not Arslan.”

She muttered. They were similar with golden, wild hair and lion ears and tail. However, the figure was slightly taller and had no scars on his body. He was visibly more muscular when compared to Arslan’s more athletic build. But the most dead giveaway was his face. Unlike Arslan’s frown and serious look, this person looked smug.

“Hello Amaterasu, The Kitsune.”

“Who are you?”

Ama’s man looked on guard against this man.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“My name is Regal.”

“Tyrant Lion!”

Amaterasu recognized the man’s nickname. She showed her fangs to him. The man in front of him was a renegade. A slaver who sold his own people to other races.

“Traitor! Kill him!”

With her shout several of her men came forward, attacking Regal. However, one of them stabbed his comrade in the back and took Regal’s side. Another beastkin appeared from the shadow and blocked another one. He was one of the 12, one of the 3 stealthy ones they sent out to free prisoners. Gears turned on Amaterasu’s brain. That explosion! He must have caused it.

“You…”

Ama gasped. Regal shook his head.

“You don’t pay your man enough.”

He opened his arms wide.

“All of this. All of this for what? For weaklings who can’t defend themselves! They should just blame themselves for being weak!”

He pointed his finger at Amaterasu.

“Friendship? Kinship? Brotherhood? All of it is created by weaklings who can’t defend themselves! Just so they can survive! Those parasites!”

He laughed.

“You want to survive? You don’t want to be enslaved? Be strong! Be rich! Be smart!”

He extended his hand to them.

“Since you are strong enough I will give you chance to join me.”

“You killed our comrade, you traitor!”

One of the beastkin on Amaterasu’s side attacked without waiting. Regal took one step forward and punched through his chest. Blaria grabbed Amaterasu’s clothes.

“I am fine. Go show him who is the boss.”

He forced himself to stand up despite his injuries.

Beaskin on Amaterasu’s side got closer to her.

“I’ll handle him. You guys take care of those two.”

Excluding Ama and Blaria, it was 3 to 4. Amaterasu wasn’t sure where others were or if they were alive. Considering where he came from he maybe met and killed the remaining beastkin on her side.

Maybe even Arslan…

She shook her head.

“Cinder Shot!”

Several smaller-than-fist-sized fireballs flew toward Regal. She had to focus on the enemy in front of her. Her fireballs were deflected by his mana-covered forearm. Amaterasu never intended them to do damage. She was gauging her enemy's skill.

Fights between a mage and a warrior were usually decided by the distance between them.

If a mage could create distance and keep that distance while blasting warrior with spells, they would win.

If a warrior could close that distance while tanking or dodging those spells, they would win.

Both Amaterasu and Regal knew this. Ama also knew that she was at a disadvantage. She had allies and if she used a spell with a large range she could hurt her allies. She thought of taking this fight somewhere else but human guards were also still around. Unless he and others killed all of them.

Amaterasu kept firing Cinder Shots. All of which were deflected effortlessly by him.

“Is that all you can do? Where is the huge spell you used to blast the gate?”

He ran toward her while deflecting everything she threw. Amaterasu backed away while firing.

“Cinder Burst.”

She shot another one, this one slightly bigger than the rest. Regal laughed and moved his arm to block. However, as soon as his arm touched the fireball it exploded. The explosion caused him to stumble. Taking advantage of this Amaterasu cast another type of magic:

“Sunfire Orb.”

A sun-like sphere surrounded by several circles of fire appeared on her hand. It was smaller than Greater Fireball while being bigger than previous spells she cast. She threw it. Several explosions rang out. Despite the shockwaves creating winds strong enough to throw an average person off balance, Amaterasu looked on guard.

“No.”

Amaterasu looked at the figure shifting his form in front of her.

Golden fur covered most of his body.

Mane covered his shoulders.

His muscles expanded and he got taller.

His face morphed to resemble and lion.

His torn clothes revealed claws on his feet and hands.

He let out a roar, extinguishing all the flames around him. Amaterasu felt immense mana pushing her down.

“That was smart.”

Despite the hit he have taken only minor burns were present on his body. He jumped towards Amaterasu. He was faster now.

“Fire Pillar.”

Several pillars of fire appeared between them. Despite that Regal jumped through the flames and grabbed Amaterasu’s throat.

Her face reddened as the hand around her throat got tighter. Regal pulled her closer, close enough to breathe on her face.

“Come on. I heard you can also use Primal Evocation. Come on. Show me!”

He tightened his grip. Amaterasu tried to blast him but he grabbed her hands with his free hand.

“Get your shitty paws off her!”

A golden blur struck his elbow. Blood flowed and the impact caused Regal to let her go. Arslan grabbed her and kicked Regal to get some distance.