I carefully move aside the plants that cover the entrance to the fox's burrow and slowly enter it, making sure not to make any noise.
Curiously, this burrow is better excavated than one of the hypnotic butterflies. The crystal fox may have used its tail to flatten the floor and the roof to prevent it from collapsing, or maybe this place was already excavated. He just killed the previous owner and took possession of this place?
Whatever the answer is, I will never know because I don't have the gift of talking to monsters, and I hope I never will because I would feel very bad if these things talked...
As I go deeper and deeper, the temperature drops lower and lower, and just as I'm getting to the end, I see what I was looking for.
The crystal fox has beautiful snow-coloured fur, while its claws seem to be made of a light blue crystal similar to aquamarine. There is even a crystal on its forehead in the shape of a diamond.
The more you see him, the more beautiful he becomes. I think my theory that he comes from another continent becomes more realistic when you think about it. It makes me want him to be my mount or my pet, but I have to be firm, as having him as a sword is more useful than having him as much.
Now I have to think this through carefully. How can I lure it outside and prevent it from escaping?
I could make noise outside the cave and wait for it to come out, but that may also attract other monsters from the surroundings making it more complicated to seal it, another option is to throw the blinding grenade into the burrow to force it to come out, but that may upset it a lot and will make it unpredictable.
Another option is to try the same strategy I used with the father butterfly. The problem is that this burrow is well ventilated, so the gas will escape before it takes effect. I know where the holes are to plug them, so that idea is discarded.
...
After several minutes I come up with an idea, it's risky, but if all goes well, I might be able to catch him.
I take out the portable BBQ grill from my inventory, the forest ent's body and two singing frogs. I set up the portable BBQ grill and used the forest ent's body to light the grill.
I then take out the "butcher" and cut off the hind legs of the singing frogs and start grilling them on the grill to make singing frog legs, making sure they are cooked through.
Two minutes pass and the frog legs release a roasted meat smell similar to chicken. If I had spices or seasonings, I think they would release a more exquisite flavour, but I don't have time for that, so I have to perform the next step.
Possession!
I transform into my vulture version and flap my wings to ensure the smell enters the crystal fox's burrow. It's a tiresome thing to do since my wings are too heavy. However, I still manage to get some of the smoke to enter the burrow.
...
After 3 minutes, when I was about to flap my wings, I heard a sound similar to a howl from the cave. It is then that I hide in the nearby bushes. I take out a blinding grenade and turn the disc to explode 3 seconds after throwing it.
Barely 15 seconds pass, and the fox slowly comes out of its den. It carefully observes the surroundings, but without taking its eyes off the frog legs roasting.
Little by little, he begins to approach the roasting. When he is 1 meter away, he begins to extend his paw, and with his claws, he grabs one of the frog legs.
When he does that, it's time for him to act. I throw the blinding grenade into the air, making sure it's close enough to its face for a greater blinding effect and start counting.
3...2... NOW!
I close my eyes and hear the sound of a beep, which tells me that the grenade has already exploded, so I slowly open my eyes and see how the crystal fox is standing in place, stunned and not knowing what's going on.
So I run in his direction and take out the mountaineering rope, the intertwined rope and a change of clothes to cover his head. This is to make sure that not only he can't move, but it is also to prevent him from using his reflex ability. Since this is the main reason, I want to seal this crystal fox.
I use the mountaineer's rope to bind his paws as quickly as possible, but this is difficult to do as he is recovering from tinnitus and blindness.
As I am tying his paws, I notice that the crystal on his forehead begins to emit a faint flash of light, which may indicate that he is about to use his reflex ability.
Screech!
I use my screech ability, stunning the fox and forcing it to be unable to move for two seconds, which I take advantage of to take the change of clothes and the intertwined rope to cover its eyes and the crystal on its forehead because I don't know if it can release any other ability with its eyes.
Once I finish doing that, I go back to his paws to ensure he can't move.
When I confirm that it can't move, I get rid of my vulture form and pull out a katana-like steel sword to begin the sealing process.
Seal Monster!
As the chains begin to wrap around the crystal fox lying motionless on the ground, I begin to check the surroundings, and I see several wolves around. I don't know if the smell of the frog legs or the glow of the blinding grenade attracted them, but now I'm in a dangerous position one false move, and I'll be dead.
I start to put together an escape plan, looking for a way to flee. At the same time, I analyze all the possible situations. I see that the seal fails, and I have to wait a minute to try again, but as things are, I doubt I have 30 seconds left.
While I'm waiting, I see how some wolves try to approach from behind, so I start to charge the mana in me up to the maximum and release it.
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Focused slash!
The laid shoots out and hits the approaching wolves, causing them to hit the mountain wall, but to my misfortune, that Attack only leaves them badly wounded and with some cuts.
But at least I buy myself some time. As the wolves stopped approaching, they were now in alert mode, watching and waiting for the right moment to attack.
At that, my ability is active again, so once more, I try again.
Seal Monster!
The chains come out once again. While this happens, I also watch the surrounding movements and avoid being attacked from behind.
As I watch the wolves, I see the fox disappear and merge with my sword, leaving the wolves in a momentary stupor. Realizing this, it begins to run in the direction of my camp, leaving behind the grill, ropes and change of clothes.
When the wolves come out of their stupor, they realize that I am already more than 20 meters away from them, so they quickly chase me.
* AAUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHH!!!!!
They start howling to call another pack of wolves from the surroundings to catch me but don't think I don't have anything prepared for you.
I start looking around and see that they are getting closer and closer, so I pull out the blinding grenade and set it to explode in just three seconds and throw it over my head.
As I run through the forest, I count the seconds in my head, which feel like they take forever, and then close my eyes.
Peeeeeeee!
As the beep echoes through the air, I can hear various sounds of something heavy falling to the ground. Still, I don't have time to figure out what it is, as now it's time to prepare the distraction.
I take the sponge bomb out of the inventory and wait two seconds, which is the average time for the monsters to recover from the blindness, and throw it.
* FOR THE KRUSTY KRAB!
I take advantage of the war-cry of the sponge bomb and move even further away from the place. And as the wolves recover from the blindness and tinnitus, they start to run in the direction of where they heard the sponge bomb scream.
...
After 30 minutes of running, I finally reach the camp at the top of the mountain, and I am completely exhausted.
While it's true that I lost sight of the wolves in the first 2 minutes since I started running, I didn't want to stop for any reason, as I'm not that familiar with the terrain I was in. If the wolves were just as good at hunting in packs as the wolves are on the ground, then I'm at a distinct disadvantage against them.
The good thing is that it's over, and I'm now safe and sound, so it's time to check out my new sword.
[Katana-type steel sword with no name (You can name it)]
[Attribute: Light/Ice]
[Description: An ordinary steel sword in which is sealed "The Crystal Fox", a clever monster that deceives its opponents with cunning and illusions]
[Characteristics: MP/Stamina +15, Dexterity/Agility/Intelligence +3]
Perfect, from what I can see, these stats are geared towards the assassin or archer profession, which I love since my other two swords don't have the agility boost. However, the best part is still missing: the skills I get from using possession of this sword.
From what I read in the library monster book, the crystal fox has two known abilities: Illusionary Attack and Reflex.
Illusory Attack makes you think you were attacked, but in reality, you were not. It is an ability that plays with your mind because you don't know which Attack can be real and which not. As for his other ability.
Reflection makes you can teleport to an object in which you reflect like a crystal but has a distance limit of 7 meters. This skill is the one I want the most because it serves both as an escape route and to ambush others. Since many objects can reflect like water, glasses, or a polished surface.
OK, it's time to find out what other skills it has besides those two.
Possession!
The moment I use this ability, my mind is transported to a new area; this time, I'm in the middle of a snowy field. The snow is almost up to my knees, and all the surrounding trees and plants are covered in a thin layer of snow.
- Was I transported again? But when I used possession in butcher, it didn't happen again. Could it be that I was transported to this place because the sword is of a higher rank, and I have to pass this test?
I barely finish saying that when I see a crystal fox looking at me hostilely, but it doesn't attack.
As if it wants to measure my level of danger.
* What, you're not going to attack?
* Grrr!
* Don't growl, plushie. I'm not going to attack you, and even if you attacked me, you couldn't hurt me.
No sooner do I say that than the glass fox jumps at me, intending to bite me, so I quickly put my arm over my face.
The glass fox's teeth dig into my arm. Still, it only feels slightly itchy, just like when I sealed the fat mouse, except that the itchy area is a little bigger, and now I have a 110-centimetre animal clinging to my arm.
The fox continues to bite, but I do nothing; instead, I lower my arm and walk to a nearby tree to sit down as if I don't care what it does.
If someone were to see this scene, they would think the fox is chewing on a toy, and I am trying to get it to let go, which results in me dragging it across the ground like a dog that doesn't want to let go of its bone.
Only instead of a dog, it's a fox, and instead of chewing on a bone, it's my arm.
Once I get to the tree, I sit down on its roots and settle the fox into my lap, which is difficult, but somehow I manage.
* Well, when will I get my right arm back?
* Grrr!
* I don't understand that I can't speak fox, speak Spanish or English or Portuguese.
* Grrr!!!
* OK, that Grrr; what does that mean? Is it not in slutty language or what?
* Grrr!
* OK, I'll take that as a yes, but then what is no?
* Grrr!
* Stop grunting, or I'll have to spank you to teach you!
* GRRR!!!
* You know what? Fuck it.
I take my left hand, start to open the glass fox's mouth, and release my right arm with ease, leaving the fox surprised.
I then use my right arm to grab the fox and start stroking its fur, which is very soft to the touch. I think I might get addicted to this.
* Wow, such soft fur. It's like hugging a husky.
* Grrr!
* Growling won't release you from my grip. Better stop fighting and enjoy the moment.
* ...grrr...
* Okey, stop growling, or I'll have to spank you for being a spoiled fox.
* ...
* Have you calmed down?
* ...grrr
* I'm glad, look don't take it badly, think that this will be a temporary home.
* ...
* OK, I know this is not your real home, but I promise you that I'll set you free when I find the place you come from.
* ...grr?
* Of course, I will, but I can't promise it will be soon because I'm not strong enough to explore another continent yet, but if I already promised you, I won't back out.
* Wu!!!
After that, I went back to the place where I was. I still don't understand that strange space to which I am sent. I don't know if what goes to that place is my soul or my mind. Now that I have passed the test, I can use the C rank swords, so it's time to try my new transformation.
Possession!
I use the possession skill, and my body starts to change in just a second, so I quickly check the physical changes.
First of all, my arms have a white fur like that of the crystal fox that goes from my elbows to my hands, and my nails are now light blue. The same happens with my legs. I have also grown a very fluffy foxtail. As for the changes in my head, I now have a diamond-shaped crystal on my forehead, and the colour of my hair changed because it is now a combination of white and light blue.
OK, now it's time to see the internal changes.
* Status
[Name: Marco Diaz - Adventurer]
[HP: 620/630]
[MP: 490/500] +15
[Stamina: 40/500] +15
[Strength: 28]
[Dexterity: 26] +3
[Agility: 24] +3
[Intelligence: 29] +3
[Profession: None]
[Active Skills: Illusionary Attack - Reflex - Optical Illusion]
[Passive Skills: Cold Mind - Fox Nature - Environment - Strong Senses]
[Pet: Floral Hedgehog]
[Titles: Novice Herb Seeker - Ruthless - Crafty Dog - Provocateur]
[Current purse: 16-34-40-99]
[Active Abilities]
[Attack: Illusionary Attack].
[The following basic Attack will leave a mark on your opponent's body, by activating the mark, the opponent will feel that Attack again even if you haven't attacked that area again]
[Cost: 50 MP]
[Cooldown: 30 Seconds]
[Defense: Reflex]
[You teleport to the object in which you see yourself reflected (This is only possible to use on objects) maximum of 7 meters]
[Cost: 200 MP]
[Cooldown: 2 minutes]
[Buff: Optical Illusion]
[You use mana to make your opponent believe you are a terrifying monster and scare him, this lasts 30 seconds, the stronger your opponent is, the less chance they have to threaten him]
[Cost: 100 MP]
[Cooldown: 5 minutes]
[Passive Abilities]
[Fox Nature: Fox monsters will not attack you and treat you as part of their family] [Environment: In snowy areas, fox monsters will not attack you.
[Environment: In snowy areas, the power of your illusions increases by 30%, and you also become harder to detect]
[Strong senses: Your five senses become more sensitive].