The temperature in the clearing raised several degrees as Húwáng stepped into view, his nine tails flowing behind him.
Blue flames wreathed his hands, and his eyes carried a cold fury.
"Xùyán," the Fox King said with deceptive calm, "step away from Lord Ambrose immediately."
"Your Majesty," Xùyán replied with a mocking bow that never took his attention off Grim. "How good of you to join us. I was just dealing with the human problem you've been too weak to address."
The insult to royal authority sent ripples of shock through the forest itself. Even corrupted by dark mana, openly defying the Fox King was tantamount to declaring war on the entire realm.
"Last warning," Húwáng said, blue flames intensifying around his hands. "Stand down."
"Or what?" Xùyán laughed, dark energy crackling around his body. "You'll fight me? The old king against the new power?"
"If necessary," Húwáng replied with deadly calm.
