Fox: Part #3
Kumiho sat in a palanquin. Carried by her Devoted down an empty country road. She watched colorful fall leaves descend from the trees. This time of year always made her think of death and the passing of time. It had been two lifetimes since a simple fox in the forest killed a rabbit for its strange power. Long lifetimes, enhanced vitality ensured health for more than the basic lifespan.
She no longer feared age, the form shifting power let her bypass it. Though, her Devoted withered around her. She looked at those carrying her palanquin. They would need to be replaced soon. An easy task, they chose this freely. Rushing for the opportunity. They praised her and saw it as a great blessing to be given the chance to serve her directly.
While she had bodyguards on the road ahead of her, she didn't fear defeat, few could match her in strength or magic. Her powers had grown considerably since the forest. Bits of power she had acquired over the years. Hunted down and wrenched from their unworthy owners.
She was a kitsune, a new form she found more perfect than the simple fox. A blend of elf and fox. With her expert form shifting skill, it bred true. Her family had grown and spread. Though she often wished she could have saved her family and friends from the past. Watching close ones pass was always difficult. Her power was limited to herself.
Her other powers, however, some of them could help others. She had personally trained many of her family in the use of aura. A devastatingly strong soul power that sheared through opponents like no other. Rare enough that even the System did not categorize it like her other powers.
A long time ago, the Vixen had been frustrated by being unable to use it. She had no soul and could not develop Aura. Luckily, time passed and things changed.
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A shout from her guard alerted her to some incident developing on the road ahead.
"Clear the road, filth!"
"Please alert the Fox. She has a visitor."
"You think you can slander our holy one! To arms!" She heard the rustle of armor and steel weapons. *hurk!* "Augh, how?"
The odd hum of magic could be heard amid the sound of swords striking metal and bodies falling. Then the flick of something wet from a sword blade and a brief pause of silence.
"Miss Fox, a word please." the voice shouted.
Kumiho remembered the voice, and the one who still called her Fox. He had been quite the vile creature last time she saw him. Though, he was strong and persistent in his pursuit of her powers. She signaled her Devoted to put down the palanquin.
She hadn't been expecting him, bit she now suspected today would be their final meeting.
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… and Frog: Part #3
Frog walked down the empty road. Now more man than beast, he wore a wide conical hat and oversized robes. While he could pass as humanoid, he knew his form was still unusual and discomforting to most. So he covered what he could.
His long limbs hid in his sleeves, but his long O-Katana was on clear display at his side. The weapon's bright flourishes contrasted his clothing and ensured none would miss it. He still preferred to be open and direct. Choosing not to deceive, even when it would be an advantage. Though he passed for human, he had never taken a name other than Frog. He felt that even a false name was a form of deception.
He had been told by an oracle that his destiny lay on this road, during this week specifically. He had sensed the oracle's deception with [A Truth of Perspective] then executed the oracle and looted their power.
[A Truth of the Spirit] had not been what he expected from the oracle. It now seemed that true oracle-like powers were unlikely to exist. Instead, this gave insight into spirit magic and he suspected the oracle had been using this to tell his clients what they wanted to hear. A bit of magical research and information scrying could seem a lot like future sight.
He was surprised to find that he did in fact want to be on this road, this particular week. While the oracle had tried to lead him here to his death, it was still the path he sought. He was trying to find the Fox again, or the Vixen, or Goddess Kumiho as she was now called.
She was not a Goddess of course, but many thought she was the closest thing. Though she rarely demonstrated her powers. Her devotees were numerous and absurdly fanatical. Even Frog had to admit, creating an entirely new race of people deserved some praise.
As usual, he patiently waited for this new opportunity to arise. When the palanquin appeared in the distance he simply moved to the center of the road and waited, choosing this location to better favor him in the upcoming conflict.
As he suspected, the few guards were blind to their inadequacy and fervent in their protection. He put them down without struggle, then drained their loose power with another of his collected abilities. While [Energy Drain] was not of the [Truth] variety that he sought out. He had gained it in a similar fashion. Though, he was much more restrained in its use than its past owners. He only used it after he had already defeated an enemy. Stripping only the power granted by the [System], and not the essence of their spirit or soul like some monsters would.
"Miss Fox, a word please." he called.
A hand appeared from the side and the palanquin was set down. A beautiful woman stepped out. The woman's face and long red hair flowing down her back would have been striking features on their own. She was a kitsune, however, so the fox ears and eight magnificent fox tails caught his breath once again. Even having seen her before he was still starstruck by her. Perhaps this was why she was so revered.
Once recovered, he was amused to find that her perfect elven features and modern fashion style was practically an afterthought when considering her appearance.
"Frog." she simply stated, almost bored.
He nodded, skipping over the pleasantries. "I'd like to make this a simple chat if you will?" He sat and gestured to the road in front of him.
"Tsk." she approached and seemed to summon a simple wooden throne from the earth. "You really expect this to be a simple chat?"
"Never with you, Miss Fox." he swung his hand slowly between them and her form wavered then dissipated. Her true form sitting undisguised some distance directly behind it. "You know those illusions don't work on me."
"And you expect me to sit within your sword's range. Do you think of me as a fool?"
"You are not my opponent. Never in my life would I strike from a position of deception."
"Sure, you said that last time. People change, Frog."
"We are not people." He said with a hint of disgust. He paused to control himself before continuing, "I see you've grown more tails, would that be more Truth you have found then?"
She smiled at the recognition, "They are not simply to track those. But yes, I've acquired [A Truth of The Divine]."
He frowned, "You had that last time as well."
"No, this is a new one, it seems there are duplicates floating around. Though, it did provide new information. Seems we could consider one who strikes down a god to also be divine. And that Order of the True Silence has created a few new transcendents."
"Twisting the truth as always." his [A Truth of Perspective] itching that she was. "Are they really the same as a God, though?" he asked, digging for more.
"No, you next."
He sighed, this is how it usually went. "[A Truth of the Spirit]-"
"No!" she interrupted, "You killed old Saul, what did he do to you?" she seemed honestly upset by this.
"So you already knew of him? Surprised you didn't do it."
"He was an innocent old man. Providing a valuable service to the community."
He frowned at her, "So he was paying you off?"
"Never, however, he had made several significant donations to the church."
"ugh-"
"And had promised me his power when he passed naturally. So I think you owe me that one."
"He tried to set me up, leading me to my 'destiny' which he clearly thought was my death?"
"Oh? Did you go?"
"Yes."
"Pfffffft." she laughed, "and?"
"Well, I haven't died yet." he said.
Kumiho continued to snicker at the foolish Frog. Then she stopped. "Wait, you mean here?"
"Yes, I suppose he thought crossing paths with a supposed goddess would put an end to me."
"Well, the day is still young." She smiled deviously at him.
"Only if you don't run away again."
"That was one time." She insisted, slightly flustered now.
He reflexively smiled at the sight.
"Oh, your human bits are getting the better of you?" She teased.
He schooled his expression, "Hardly, I just enjoy a strike landing true."
"Tssk, and he claims to never use deception."
He frowned at her, more upset by the comment that [A Truth of Perspective] had remained silent. "Your turn." he said flatly, getting back to business.
"Hmm, I don't think so, I already knew about the oracle's power."
"Still your turn, I knew about [A Truth of the Divine] as well."
"Harumph." She blew air at her stray bangs and turned to the side. "Well, answer this then. Can you even use it, surely it has the same issue as [A Truth of Aura]. Beasts not having souls or what-not."
"I certainly cannot use it as easily as Saul did. But it is not restricted by the soul, but by spirit."
"Hmm..? Those are distinct then?" She probed for more.
"Yes, which you already know. You do use magic. The spirit is tied to magic use. We beasts can still use it. I suspect it could vary by creature type, however. Some just being better at it than others. Again, something you should know, considering the Kitsune's magic proficiency."
"Hmmm... I suppose I did create them with that intent. How fortunate of me to give them such a blessing."
"You know I can tell why you lie, why do you still do it?"
She smiled at him, this time with a threat in her eyes and voice, "Have to test the skill to know it better for when it is mine."
[A Truth of Perspective] screamed killing intent at him, forcing him to tense up.
Seeing him react she continued their game, "Next new one would be [A Truth of Identity]."
"Oh? Whose identity?"
"My own."
"Not sure I follow that one."
"It seemed a bit sparse, to be honest. But it has some power to it, even lets me sneak things past certain troublesome lie detection powers."
He tensed up again, upset that he found no lie to her words, this was not going how he expected. "How so?" he said, a slight waver in his voice giving him away. She did not let on if she caught it or not.
"Hmmm, your turn." she said, feigning boredom. Glad that Frog had wasted his first question.
Frog paused to regain his mental state. Knowing his lie detection was flawed shook him considerably.
"That was all of them, unfortunately."
Kumiho looked back at her dead guards, their corpses shriveled from some power. "No, you have another." she gestured at the bodies, unbothered by the sight.
"That's not a [Truth] power."
"How did you get it?"
"..." Frog shifted uncomfortably, irritated that she seemed to know something about him that he didn't. "Same way as the others."
"And your sword skills."
"...your point being?"
Kumiho sighed at him, clearly disappointed. "I still have another. Do you want to share the info, or skip to the end. Seems you will be at the same disadvantage."
"Hrmmm." he thought, he thought the power was evident, so it was no loss to share it. "[Energy Drain]steals power from entities, especially [System] power. How can you tell it's the same?"
"My question first. Why did you only use it after killing them?"
"I'm no demon. Would be unsporting to not give them a chance." Frog replied completely earnestly.
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"Pshh. Fool."
"And yours?"
"[The Truth of the Source], it's how I know [Energy Drain] and your sword skill are both the same as the [Truth] scraps."
"Huh, did it tell you what the source was?"
"Yes, I was always surprised you never claimed [Truth of the Blade] or similar."
"It's not named like that, never considered other powers would be the same. So where do they come from?"
"Hmmm, you had your one." she smiled and teased him again. "But I'll give you a hint. From one of those gods my powers informed me of. The specifics don't truly matter."
"Don't matter? Even the Truth powers?"
"Oh those are an interesting case. They are not even full powers like the other unnamed kind, or my own shifting power. They are scraps of a greater whole. Though, tracking the source seems to be a challenge."
"I'm sure we could do it together?" he offered flatly.
"After all this time you think it would be so simple. No, your greed would get the better of both of us."
"My greed?" he accused.
Kumiho nodded at him, "Yes, you don't even see it, do you?"
Frog seethed with rage. Again, she insulted his offer of friendship. Not even considering it. "Advantage yours, what will you have?"
"Prep time. Before that, however, witnesses might be an issue." she turned to her devoted, waiting by the palanquin. One still in shock from observing the conversation. "Come." she demanded and they quickly approached and bowed.
"You don't have to." Frog stated.
"I do, you would agree if you could win." She taunted before addressing her followers. "Thank you for your years of service. While you might have once considered yourself lucky to serve, today that luck has turned sour."
She let the words soak in. "I'm going to fight this Frog here; do not interfere." Another pause, "I am uncertain of the outcome, however it is likely that in the aftermath, witnesses to this fight will be a liability, thus your lives will be forfeit."
One of them spoke up, shakily, "We live to serve Goddess."
"True, and now you will die also. Yet I give you a choice. You may die now, or die to whatever comes after."
Frog interrupted. "I will not strike them down needlessly."
"You say that now, you will not say that afterwards. But to be sure." She turned back to the kneeling followers. "If he refuses to execute you afterwards, you are commanded to attack him to force his hand. But do not strike rashly or with vengeance, give him time to make the decision."
"May I ask, why? Goddess."
"Yes. Because of what you just said. 'Goddess' it wouldn't do for my people to hear that their goddess was killed by a stray swordsman."
This seemed to be enough to set their minds, "Yes Goddess, we will do as you command." they echoed. Each choosing to witness the coming moments in their own words. One claiming that she could not be defeated, and that they would spread word of her glorious victory afterwards. She did not correct their oversight.
"They do not lie, they will do as you wish." Frog stated, somewhat baffled by their devotion.
"I know." she replied with a somber tone.
Dismissing them back to the palanquin, she turned to face Frog and began preparations. As she wove magic into the air, her dress shifted to battle garb. Simpler armored clothing, light and easy to fight in. It was clearly still extravagant and expensive in nature, but was brutish and lacking in comparison to her previous outfit.
A small oval of teal magic gathered in front of her. The hilt of a sword protruding from its surface. She grabbed and pulled, withdrawing a very large glass sword. Was far too large for her to wield, yet seemed light in her hands. Its ornate gold and teal glasswork complimenting her new armor.
"Ah, a conjured Zwiehander. I do always enjoy your newest choice of fighting style."
"Is that how it's said, the craftsman called it a Shwee-hander. I had simply been calling it a greatsword."
"Greatsword is appropriate, it would need a similar style to those." Frog replied, eager to share his sword knowledge.
Kumiho held the sword one handed, at an angle in front of her, then passed her other hand along the blade. Runes appeared on the surface, glowing with faint purple light. Signaling their power.
Frog felt an oddly vacant power source from the blade. His Truth powers telling him just how deadly a strike from the blade would be. He would need to be wary of the thing. As he fiddled with the hilt of his own sword, he was glad she only had the one.
Kumiho spotted his movement, now seeing more of Frog that his arms were uncovered. "Oh, that Witch finally finished her gruesome work on you?"
He glanced down at his left arm, slightly more twisted and disproportionate than his right. "Not quite, she passed. I had to finish it myself. It was quite difficult."
"Sigh, I knew she was near the end of her rope. She shouldn't have taken so much time with you."
"She had no regrets." He said, feeling defensive.
"None? I would regret that arm, for a start."
"Well, we can't all have perfect shifting now can we." Frog replied indignantly. "Could you not speak I'll of the dead."
Kumiho paused, swallowing her pride "Apologies, not my intent." she said with a hint of remorse.
Frog relaxed and nodded back "I can see that, you are forgiven."
"Ready?" she asked, now with an additional magic effect pouring off herself.
Frog saw it was similar to that of the blade, which he thought odd. "Ready." He gripped his sword and dashed towards her, not yet withdrawing it from its scabbard.
As he did, she swung the greatsword around her to build momentum then released it in a spin towards him.
Somewhat surprised, he adjusted his run to get the timing correct. Jumped over the blade then off the hilt of the flying sword with one foot. Propelling him quickly forwards towards Kumiho.
She held her ground as his sword withdrew from its scabbard. Timed perfectly with his approach. She smiled just before the blade landed. She had suddenly disappeared, replaced by the glass greatsword. It deflected his blow quite effectively, but he halted the swing to maintain the sword lock.
He knew the change had not been an illusion, and assumed it was some sort of teleport swap. He kicked off the ground to flip over the greatsword and look behind him. He was startled to see a second glass greatsword approaching at speed. No, it was the first returning in the same spinning fashion.
Frog had just enough time to adjust to the returning attack, using his long O-Katana to block the sword and use the impact to gain some distance.
"That's a new trick." He said, as he evaluated the two identical greatswords. His lost hat floating to the ground between them.
"Not really." Kumiho's voice came from the side where her Devoted watched. A distraction.
Frog glanced to the side to confirm she wasn't there and the swords took the opportunity to go on the offensive. They spun and cleaved the air around them with a high pitched hum. They spun and sliced as though wielded by an invisible figure. He danced back, avoiding the deadly strikes. The strange nullification magic was a clear threat. He checked his sword for damage before sheathing it again, his Iaido style habits kicking in. A small nick in the blade told him he would need to reinforce it more in their next exchange.
He used his new spirit magic and charged the Aura within the blade. Which is when he saw the difference between the two glass greatswords. One held a small amount of Aura in it, telling him which was which.
He would time his attack to strike the conjured blade. As it was without Aura and was the weaker of the two. He dashed into the spinning whirlwind of glass. Striking the very center of the greatsword. It shattered from his Aura empowered blow. The second blade swinging around to follow up.
Frog kicked himself back just enough to correct the timing of his swing, his blade flicking around in a tight circle before clashing with the second greatsword. He regretted it immediately as Kumiho had spotted his Aura use and increased her own. Preventing a fatal blow.
As the second glass blade flared with a red light it contacted his sword the battle abruptly changed. A cracking noise was heard from the glass and the sword was swiftly replaced by Kumiho herself with a shocked expression. She quickly grabbed Frog's arm to prevent him moving the sword.
"Aura," she gasped for air, "since when?"
"I should ask you the same." Frog struggled to retrieve his sword. Her hand clamped down on his arm and squeezed, claws biting into his skin. He could tell she was trying to shapeshift again, but was struggling. He couldn't resist a smirk.
"People change."
"We are not people." He insisted.
She shook her head, then looked down at his sword. "Ah, it's not even yours, is it?"
He smiled again, as he pushed his cursed sword deeper towards her heart. "Why aren't you your true form, Fox?" he had realized the important question.
"This is my true form." She rasped at him, spitting a mouthful of blood to the side. She surged aura into her hand and claw-like fingers tore his arm off. Then she collapsed to a knee and coughed two more mouthfuls of blood. She tossed the arm to the side but it was too late. Frog's sword had already nicked her heart and magic core.
"What!" Frog was startled, not by losing his arm but by her reveal. Finally, he noticed the slight differences in her appearance. Younger, different eyes, hair and ear fur color lighter shades of red, and only a single tail. "You're not her, not the Vixen?"
"I'm her daughter." She said, carefully removing the katana from her chest wound.
"Why? Why the ruse, why not tell me? This could have been avoided. I- I would have given-" He stuttered, and swallowed his words, feeling [A Truth of Perspective] telling him his own lies.
"Ahhh, now you see it. You see, you would not give up so easily. No matter what you have said before."
He ground his jaw, seething as he confronted the wretched truth. "How did you know?"
"As soon as you said you killed old Saul, I knew."
He hated that she was correct, but he had to accept it. His mind now set, Frog returned to the attack, reaching for his scabbard with his off hand and pulling it from his side for a sword strike. As it was when he first learned, anything could be his blade.
As he lunged towards her, Kumiho's shifting powers began to return, she added scales to her arm to block his strike, but felt a drain on her power. "Demon!" she accused, throwing his words at him. She guessed Frog was using the power he had sworn not to. The scabbard breaking her arm and slamming into her wound again. She coughed again, too little blood to spit up this time.
"I am ashamed to admit you were correct." he said with victory in his eyes "But we have been at this far too long."
"Yes." she agreed. With her remaining hand she made a gesture towards herself: blood and glass erupted from Frog's chest as the Void infused shards of her conjured blade pierced his back. Sliding through his [System] defenses like arrows through straw targets.
She took the opportunity to fill her good arm with Aura and struck the side of Frog's head, crushing his skull and brain. He toppled to the ground, a shocked expression on his malformed face.
[You have killed: Frog, XX?X-touched Awakened Frog Familiar - Level 67]
[A Truth of Identity: You are dying]
She groaned at the second notification. Her energy-drained shifting ability was acting too slow. She glanced at the large wound in her side, deciding how to prioritize her actions.
Large teeth sprouted along the edge of the wound as she walked to Frog's corpse. Picking it up she stripped the rags off it and jammed the body into her new larger mouth, then it chewed.
As the strange mouth chewed she tried to seal the outside of the wound, hoping this would count as consuming the Frog's power.
As she blacked out she saw the blue boxes start to appear.
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The taste of Healing Potion lingered in her mouth as she awoke. The things had always tasted awful.
"G- Goddess" a quavering voice spoke beside her. Yes, she had once been a Goddess hadn't she.
She felt considerably different. The near death and amalgamation of their powers hadn't been kind to her psyche.
"Are you alright, Goddess, you look different." The man looked concerned, but afraid. The others were not there. She looked to her side and saw two shriveled corpses in the same uniforms as the scared man. "They tried to help first. I- I made sure the second used a potion at least."
"Where is the fourth?"
"He ran to get help."
She shook her head, "Forgot your orders so soon did you?" The man was stunned by her words. "What was his name? And which way?"
The man looked offended that she didn't know their names. She gestured to the two corpses, shriveled beyond recognition. "Ah, sorry Goddess, He was Ralph." He gestured down the road, the way they came from.
The name triggered the memories of the man, and the others, "Thank you, Donny." She sat up and looked around at the battlefield. Large trenches dug across the road and the acres of trees in the surrounding area had been toppled by the short battle. She was surprised her Devoted had survived. "Gather the bodies to be burnt with the palanquin, would you?"
He stood to leave, then stopped "Uhm, you're -ah- different." he gestured to her side.
She looked down, most of her chest armor had been torn apart revealing the left side of her torso. Instead of normal flesh, a large canine mouth full of sharp teeth smiled back at her. It stretched from her heart down to just below her ribcage. A bright green tattoo of a frog's foot was drawn hanging from the bottom lip.
"Ah," she started, deciding how much to tell the man, "sometimes when I sleep, especially when I dream, the powers have a bit of a mind of their own." She gestured to the two dead beside her, "Sometimes it is necessary. Thank you for your concern."
This seemed to placate the man, seeing he was dismissed he began his morbid task.
Kumiho, focused on her shifting power, it was sluggish to respond, still shredded by the [Energy Drain]. She should have had the rest of it now, she knew. Searching through Frog's powers she pieced her favorite power back together. Soon she was whole and properly presentable again. As she went to return to her Goddess form. She considered her future.
Ever since she had gained her mother's powers, she had been concerned that she wasn't the same person anymore. The Void powers carried too much information, and most of the memories of their past owners with them. So, she was concerned she was more her mother than herself.
Once she found [A Truth of Identity] she knew this was partly true. She was no longer her former self, but neither was she her mother. She was an amalgam of the two. It worked well for her position as Goddess, and was enough to fool Frog.
Now, once again, she had to consider who she was. She could be the Goddess again, a figurehead for a church and family. A superfluous role, she hadn't been needed there in decades. She could be her old self again, but that would largely be the same role. Perhaps with less ostentatious formality, but still the same.
She didn't even consider being Frog, she still struggled to determine what drove that thing. It seemed a mockery of noble sword masters everywhere. She picked up his weapon, the sword would be useful, even it was a mockery. Soul bound to blade to allow the soulless to wield Aura. She released the witch's soul from the blade. She had been willfully bound, yet seemed relieved to move on.
With the added [Truth] powers from Frog she had all the tools to resurrect the old Voidgod. The source of these powers. [..Identity] and [..Perspective] held her self identity firm, preventing the corruption that the Void powers usually chained their owners with. She smirked knowing she could likely raise herself to true divinity now. Not the smoke and mirrors one she had been playing at for a century.
It seemed as good a path as any, but a fresh start would be good.
She looked at her last servant who was nearly finished with his task. She quickly scavenged a few precious belongings from her palanquin before they lit it on fire. He used some of his magic to ensure flames worthy of a pyre.
As they watched the flames burn. She suddenly charged aura into her tail and killed the man. Draining him to dry bones and adding him to the flames. "You forgot our agreement." she said, disappointed.
She started her trek down the road, back the way they came from. She conjured another weapon. A glass Kris, the wavy blade looking especially unsettling in glass. It floated before her as she whispered an incantation at it, ending with "Ralph." It streaked off ahead of her.
As she considered how to start her new life she realized she needed a new look. Kitsune, especially red haired kitsune, were too distinct. She should try something new, but still something... important? She smirked as she went over her memories of powerful figures.
She settled on one of the most powerful figures she knew. Not the transcendent monks, they were too plain. Not the weird stick-insect deity that seemed to only exist in the Void memories. Nor the Voidgod itself, that one was a bit too much, really. She chose a third figure, possibly the strongest of them all.
She changed into a simple human, a brown haired, average looking woman. She took out a mirror to sculpt her face to perfectly match her memories. Then sighed at the average looks. She was so accustomed to looking stunning this seemed too plain to her, and the lack of fox ears was just upsetting. Well, it wasn't like anyone knew her anyway, she made herself a bit more attractive. Taking satisfaction in the subtle manipulations, slowly changing and improving her looks like applying makeup. She decided to restore her Fox ears and tail anyways, then concealed them with an illusion. She was just more comfortable this way.
Next was the clothes. The sword was fine. A bit too long and not nearly rusted enough, but a sword was a sword, really. She wondered if the odd clothing style would make her stick out too much, did she want to stick out? If not the clothes than the cloak probably would. She had a normal cloak and couldn't really shred it and make the bits float properly. So instead she simply made parts invisible to get a similar effect.
She smiled as she walked down the road, excited to start her new life as Amelia. For who better to be, who could be stronger, than the one who had killed a god? Now she just wished she knew the woman's personality.
The End
Thank you for reading!
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