AN: Again, no jokes, just the end of the short story within the main story during the first part of the chapter. From here on out, you folks will be seeing a whole lot more of the kitsune, and how much of an evil prick he can be to others. For those of whom are confused as to the sudden shift in personality between the gold and dark furred kitsune, you have to realise something. The village inside the Great Forest of Nu'Bai is there to keep him sane and calm, just like the children from the first arc kept him sane and calm with their adorableness.

I do apologise if it's still confusing for some of you, but if you can recall the personality of the skeletal MC of the last arc, just increase his acceptance of all things dark by about tenfold, spice it up with apathy and boredom for it all, and you now have the dark furred kitsune.

Anyways folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know down below. Oh, try not to do anything rash with your pranks today, and always remember to have fun.

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Within a full turn of the blue day star, we found ourselves within the ruined anti-chamber/throne room with the king of humans sitting upon a ruined, gilded throne. The expression upon its face was haggard, but jovial, as we had brought back its daughter within such a short time. "Lock her up in the tower next to her mother," he growled low and dangerous, "Should have done this in the beginning, as I've done to her other sisters."

"Father, please," she begged, clutching at the hem of his tunic, but was struck away with the back of his ringed right hand. This left trails of torn flesh and blood upon her cheek, as she fell and gripped the wound whilst crying heavily. Guards had appeared at this point, wearing heavy leathers under an iron laced surcoat with a black dragon dancing upon a white background. These humans dragged the crying princess away, who was kicking and screaming to let her go.

"I cannot thank you enough, My Lord God," its voice was gruff, but humbled, as its body fell to its hands and knees in worship towards my person.

"The next time you have an offspring, human," my own voice shook the whole of the castle, as circles of white light appeared beneath our feet. This signified we had only a few short moments before we leave this world called Nova, and its blue sun, "Make sure it is locked away so that this never happens again."

With this statement did we vanish, and in our place was a single vial filled with a silvery substance. Next to it was a note with the words of, "Drink this; for it is my blood. Know that it will give you the strength necessary to protect those you care for, and enough to kill all others who stand in your way."

*

For the return trip back towards the world called Azzarath, my form was not of a sword as it had been through the journey to other world. No. Instead, it was of my skeletal form, and would be thus no matter which form I had become upon other worlds. Most of you are curious as to why this is, so allow me to explain what I had learned upon Azzarath.

There are two major portals within such a place, one for summoning, the other for returning. It is nothing new, to be sure, but each has its own laws etched into their entirety. When one uses a summoning portal for the first time, the laws of such a portal is imprinted within the person in such a way that it essentially creates a template by which the user must follow. In essence, I had become a sword in order to pass through the first summoning portal. Because of this act, each portal forces my body to become the same sword over and over, time and time again until it is changed. As to why I chose to become a sword, it is because I did not know what the world I was being summoned to was like. So, I became a sword to allow my person time to analyze the situation at hand to better understand which path would allow my person to progress smoothly.

As to the return portals, much of its laws are the same, yet still different. For instance, if one returned the first time as a whole of mind and body, but the second time you were missing a leg, an eye, or something internal, then it would regenerate what was lost. However, the same can be said if you were returned the first time with something missing. Then you would lose it again and again every time you returned to Azzarath. Of which would cause many to lose their minds, when all is said and done, but I would never fear such things.

In any case, we had returned to an endarkened room, and had been there for some time. I was not amused by such actions of the "tribunal" not facing us, and had sent the others to search for them. For you see, my dear audience, they had tried this on several occasions, and had always been found within mere moments. Such was the case, but we were met with something more.

"They have an army of human paladins, My Lord God," spoke Brutus, who had summoned up a great host of ghostly skeletons, banshees, and a few wendigos who were eager for a chance to kill said paladins.

"Bring me five slain paladins, Brutus," my voice was thoughtful, as I recalled a spell from my earlier days. This spell, as many would recognise, is an animation spell which allows my person to create living dolls, of a sort. These sorts of creatures held no feelings of remorse, anger, or joy, but were of killing machines who would complete their tasks until they were either completely destroyed, or the other was.

"Yes, My Lord God," his primary right clawed hand struck his solar plexus with a resounding bang, and left to direct his troops as any good general within my armies would. "Forward," he cried out to his host, "Leave nothing in your wake of destruction. For our god has spoken, and He declares their lives forfeit." His host grew larger at the end of his speech, making their number far too great for even the "holy paladins" under the "tribunal". Though, I will commend them for trying their best, by turning five of their number into semi-living dolls.

"<>," I intoned, as my primary clawed hands waved over five mangled corpses of five different paladins, "<>." Golden daggers appeared above the five bodies, and were absorbed therein. These daggers would contain their souls to fuel their everlasting hatred for all things living, as they continued to walk upon the world in search of prey, and if I did not command them, they would wander to and fro in search of such things. For you see, my dear audience, these "dolls" are what many would call Zombies and they have an insatiable appetite for living flesh.

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Upon my first world, a world without mysticism and magicks, these creatures were greatly feared. For they had an ability to infect the living, transforming them into one of their number within moments of biting their flesh. Of course, these "dolls" of mine were capable of such a thing, but could not unless I willed it so.

As to their daggers, they replaced their primary hands. Of which allowed them to infect others more rapidly than a bite ever could, and each was proficient in their use. This was their greatest strength, as well as their greatest weakness. For their souls were entrapped within such blades, and once they were broken, would they be released from the torment of endlessly watching their bodies massacre the living.

"How many do I have?" Mused the kitsune, as others around his person nodded with great curiosity, "I have conquered three worlds the size of our Terra with them in tow. In other words, I have three worlds full in number of these 'dolls'." Nearly all paled at the thought of such a host, whilst their Ageless simply chuckled at their fear.

Ah, but once I released such creatures upon their brethren, my eyes did spy a few of my Undying bringing forth two of the seven "tribunal" members. One I did not care about, and injected its body with my acidic poisons. Its scream was heavenly upon my person, and became curious once I noticed little Gahn rolling around in the pool that was the body of a "tribunal" member. However, the other was of great importance to my person, which was, "Roj, so good to see you once more."

The creature named Roj was the leader of the group, and as such, wore a scarlet, hooded robe to cover its features. Or rather, lack thereof. For you see, this creature did not have a corporeal head, nor did it have any limbs. Instead, it had a torso and abdomen with an ethereal head and limbs, much like Vegas the wyrm I ride.

"Undead Karastak," it growled towards my person, hate dripping venomously as it struggled against the grip of two Undying, "Why are you doing this to us? Haven't we suffered enough? You've stolen everything from us, yet you still demand more."

"Ah, but that is where you are wrong, little godling," my voice shook the space we occupied, and many bodies fell because of the quake, "For you see, you have stolen what was mine by rights, and until it is given back to me and mine, we shall continue this song and dance forevermore." After such words were spoken, I began to drain it of everything it deemed personal. From spells and abilities, to knowledge of every world other "heroes" have come across. Everything was taken into my mind, so that I may do what I see fit.

*****

"What did you take?" Asked a black furred Nekotar, whose sapphire-like eyes were wide with curiosity. Each of the small host of monsters had gathered themselves about their Ageless, who was preparing to open a way out of the barrier which surrounded the forest's edge. The barrier was set in place in retaliation to those who would seek to plunder its secrets and attack those of whom had claimed such a place as their own. Namely, the small village near the heart of the forest proper.

"Everything," replied the dark furred kitsune, who had raised his right paw in order to create a small opening for which they may pass through with relative ease. "Although the memories of the one called Roj was insignificant compared to the mortal insects whose lives are as long as a lit match, it was still enough to garner my curiosity."

"What do you mean, My Lord High God?" This question was voiced by the Naga, as it made its way through the barrier.

"What I mean is those upon the 'tribunal' were naught, but newborns given a task by an older generation. They had no true memories to call their own, only of what was given to them, and what extracted by those of whom had traversed the multitude of worlds outside of their little space," many nodded to his words with understanding, but there were still a few who did not. For this he sighed greatly, just as the ethereal wyrm and himself passed through the barrier's small hole, then closed it off.

"In layman's terms, my dear audience, that which was called the 'tribunal' did not have a true life. In other words, they've only known each other, and not the world outside their space. For now, though, we shall continue this tale another time. For I believe we shall soon fight another army upon the outskirts of the Great Forest of Nu'bai."

Indeed, there was such another army before them, and were of humans, dwarves, and Kin, but were not large in number. No, they numbered in the hundreds with a few odd humans standing in front wearing some sort of flashy arms and armour about their persons.

"Ah," sighed the kitsune, whose face split into a wide and feral grin, "It seems the pathetic alliance has found a way to summon heroes to this world. Well, no matter." His right paw was raised high into the air once his voice concluded its thoughts, then lowered it until it was pointing straight towards the large host in front of them. "Leave none alive," he commanded, as a bolt of shadowed crimson leapt from his outstretched clawed fingers, striking dead a male human in golden armour through its chest. "For they have broken the laws set upon this world by the will of I."