Xander:

Alex’s information was both a scary and lucky break. Me and a few of the other Guildmasters had been noticing some discrepancies in some reports about demon numbers. We were pretty sure that they were getting through our armies but we could never find a trace of them.

Still, no one believed my information. Saying that the kingdom’s barrier was infallible. That it could never fall or be breached. After badgering two of them to no end, they agreed to humor me. As soon as we passed the barrier’s edge, nothing happened.

We were all way overpowered for the barrier to let us through without a suppression item. If we tried the barrier would drain the excess mana until the offending party passed out or died. It wasn’t a nice spell either. The thing hurt, or at least I had been told it did. I wasn’t a masochist so I personally didn’t go out of my way to experience it. Pretty sure that no one had. At least not recently.

As it became clear that the barrier that should have been in the area was missing, my companions split off. One returned to the front lines while the other raced to the capital to see what the fuck was going on.

Me, I kept flying. Reading over the forums as I raced toward Proxima to retrieve Alex before he did something stupid. “Message Alex: ‘I am almost to your location. Have you been paying attention to the in-game forums? – Xander’”

It didn’t take the guy long to respond. My AI’s voice interrupted the page of gibberish that I was reading. “Incoming message from user Kyren: ‘Not really, been a bit busy. Can we talk later? I am in a bit of a situation right now.’”

See what I mean? He always seems to find trouble. Closing the window, I replied. “Reply, ‘Anything I can help with? I should be there in…’” I checked the clock and did some quick math before continuing. “‘Ten, maybe twenty minutes.’”

“Incoming message from user Kyren: ‘Thank you for trying but by then it will be too late.’” Fuck. If only I hadn’t stopped to try and convince those two to come with me. Fuck.

Looking through my spell repertoire, I tried to find a simple haste spell. Or anything else I could use as a boost. Nothing I found would work. I was just stuck praying that the griffin I borrowed would be fast enough. Sitting back, I chewed on my nails as I willed the creature to go faster.

The creature must have felt my need to get to my destination as fast as possible because it sped up. Cutting the ten-minute journey down to just under four. We approached the north gate where plumes of smoke lifted high into the air, obscuring most of the chaos down below. The few fighters I did see go at it were pitifully slow. Looking like they were playing as they struck out at each other. Even their spells look like they were more for show than for battle.

The sight reminded me as to why none of those with power were allowed to wield said power anywhere near such places. The place would be wiped out with a simple spell. Even without the barrier, one needed permission to enter the region. Permission I did not have. Permission I didn’t have time to get. If I had, I would likely be waiting for the next week for the bureaucracy that is the guild council to decide if I would be allowed to make the trip. It was a major pain in the ass and I would be punished for ignoring the rules.

Oh, the punishment wouldn’t be anything permanent. It would likely be something akin to a slap on the wrist. None of the guild leaders would be stupid enough to do anything more. Not when they needed my, and my guild's, skills to scout areas and dungeons. I would probably be ordered to do some border patrols. Maybe pay a few fines. Nothing hard.

After a good half a minute of looking around for Alex here, I gave up on this location. He was either dead, hiding, or somewhere else. Directing the griffin to the southern gate, I found the demon standing over a fox girl. The demon was standing over the girl, gloating as every demon does when they have you cornered and alone.

They were not the only ones in the clearing. A horde of beastman were by the gate, blasting at the locking bar in an attempt to move it. Too bad it would never work. Their spells were too weak and the bars used in gates were sourced from a forest seeped in magic. As they grew, they soaked the stuff up. Becoming tougher and denser as they aged.

Suddenly, a burst of mana emanated from the nearby gate. While the bar merely splintered, the gate and wall around it exploded outward. Out of habit, I traced the spell back to find the fox girl sporting a malicious grin. To my surprise, the demon reverted to his human form, looking nonplussed. As if it didn’t matter that people were getting away.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

He said something and she started to get up only to falter moments later. Crashing to the ground. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a wolfkin being dragged through the destroyed gate as he fought to get to the two of them. Soon enough, I was close enough to hear the demon curse as the girl screamed. Moments later, she stopped. Likely having passed out from whatever was causing her so much pain.

When I examined the demon closer, I found he was holding onto something round. It was the size of a decently large marble. Blue flames licked along the inside as he rubbed it between his thumb and fingers.

Even from where I sat, I did not like the look he was giving the girl. Glancing down, I figured that the dust cloud was large enough to cover me dropping in. So I jumped. Activating Feather Fall, Light Step, Obscure, Mana Sense, and a few other skills in quick succession.

A lack of reaction from the demon was the confirmation I needed. Shifting to the side, I approached the two from the side. The fangs on the creature hinted at what kind of demon he was. That coupled with the fact that he was crouched over the girl preparing to drink from her wrist secured his species. Fucking demonic vampires.

Vampires were annoying enough, but demonic vampires were a bitch. Most of them had some sort of blood-related class. Using the blood of friend and foe alike to attack. Not that this one seemed to think that was necessary. There were little to no blood sprays from him throwing the stuff around.

Not that it would matter against me. Not when he didn’t notice me walking up on him. One of my knives stabbed through his skull and into his brain. With a twist, his brain turned to mush and he died. Unfortunately for us, not permanently. There were theories on how to go about killing a demon permanently, but none of them have been confirmed.

On queue, its body burst into crimson flames. Turning to ash as its body was consumed to fuel the Demonking’s spell. Then again, this was speculation based on information someone managed to get after interrogating a few demons.

Like usual, the demon dropped an item, or in this case three. A useless sword meant for show rather than use, a small bauble, and the orb. Picking up all three, I tried to put them into my inventory. The first two went in fine, but the orb refused to go in. Pulling up the information had me both laughing and cursing. “Oh fuck, he is going to kill someone over this.”

Item:

Kyren’s Kitsune Orb

Rank:

Unique

Special:

Permanently bound to Kyren Vulpier (Alex Morgan).

Cannot be placed in spatial inventories.

Use (Anyone):

Gives the holder control over the orb’s bound creature.

Use (Bound Only):

Transform into a fox – 25 mana

Transform into a human – 50 mana

Transform into a Kitsune – 10 mana (Current Form)

Special Use:

Locked

100 mana

Limit 4 hours

Mana Charge:

10/100

Charge Rate:

+5 mana per hour in the current location.

Description:

A Kitsune Orb is part of their spirit, their soul. Those that are smart protect it fiercely as those who possess it have full control over them. Warning to those who would dare to steal it. The moment they are free, they will get revenge. No matter how long it takes or what they have to do.

They tend to not forgive or forget.

Pocketing the orb, I sighed as I picked up the beautiful Kitsune. Knowing that it was my friend dimmed the feeling of lust, but it didn’t diminish it. The sounds of breaking bones as I moved him, her, him, fuck it, I was going to stick with her for now, killed what little infatuation was left. At least for now.

Though, I was fairly sure she will kill me the moment she wakes up. Even if not in one hit, then with a thousand cuts. Honestly though, maybe it would be better if she could kill me in one hit. Then I wouldn’t have to suffer. It would be over and done and we could both move on.

The griffin chose that moment to land in the courtyard with a loud thud. Its beating wings blew what was left of the dust cloud as the ground buckled beneath it. Holding Alex in a princess carry, I lightly lept onto the back of the creature. Settling down into the saddle with her cradled against me. The creature beat its wings a few times before leaping into the sky.

I winced at the sight of several nearby buildings falling down as the air blast knocked them over. This city was not built for anything stronger than maybe level thirty-five. Yet here I was, a level forty-seven and that was considered low for where we were heading.

As we flew, my mind wandered off, taking my emotions with it. Fear, joy, excitement, trepidation, and more flit through me as I thought about what had happened. What could have happened if I had been even a minute later. I also had to worry about Alex and whoever she took her anger out on. Which, given that I wouldn’t just dump her with a stranger, would likely be me. Maybe I should just keep the orb until she calmed down.

Then again, that description about grudges…