Chapter 10: Dark Dragon Eyes.
The black fox demon's eyes glowed a faint red the next moment.
Su Ping, who was trying to hatch a plan of escape, felt a sudden pressure in his mind as the black fox unleashed its skill,
[F rank skill: Fox Illusion]
[Warning: You've been hit by a skill]
His muscles stiffened, his glowing purple eyes narrowing as he braced for the disorienting pull of the illusion.
[Skill is in the form of a psychic attack]
[Dark Dragon Eyes negates psychic attacks]
[Skill effects negated]
To his surprise, the skill washed over him like water over stone, leaving his senses untouched, his mind clear.
'
A flicker of triumph sparked within him, but before he could act, he recalled he was still surrounded and strange haze clouded his vision, his eyes growing dazed, his body unnaturally still, as if caught in a trap he couldn't see.
The black fox demon, its sleek fur streaked with blood-red markings, let out a low, mocking sneer, its lips curling to reveal sharp fangs as it flashed a triumphant grin at its companion.
The white fox demon, her fur pristine save for the crimson streaks that mirrored her counterpart's, rolled her eyes with a subtle flick, her black sclera and red irises gleaming with a mix of exasperation and indifference, her posture relaxed yet poised, as if she were accustomed to the black fox's theatrics.
Her demeanor was cooler, more composed than the other, her tail swaying slightly as she watched the scene unfold, her silence speaking volumes about her confidence in their dominance over the intruder.
The black fox, emboldened by Su Ping's apparent stupor, approached with a swagger, its padded feet squishing softly against the stone, its breath hot and filled with anticipation, as it came closer.
The black fox licked it's lips at the sight of the immobile Su Ping, judging by his size, he was sure the lizard would keep them well fed for awhile.
But in a split moment, Su Ping's jaws snapped forward, his sharp teeth sinking into the black fox's snout with a sickening crunch, tearing through flesh and bone to rip away half its jaw in a spray of dark red blood that splattered across the cave floor.
The black fox let out a shrill, agonized cry, its voice echoing like a banshee's wail, but Su Ping, driven by primal instinct and his will to survive, gave it no quarter.
His jaws clamped down on the creature's throat, his teeth piercing through fur and muscle with a wet snap, and with a savage twist, he broke its neck, the fox's body going limp in his grasp.
The white fox stiffened, her red irises widening with fear, her earlier composure shattered as she stared at the sudden violence which ended before she could react, her body tensing as if poised to flee.
' Good, she looks intimidated.'
' Maybe she'll leave on her own now.'
Su Ping released the black fox's corpse, letting it slump to the ground, its blood pooling beneath it, the metallic scent mingling with the cave's damp earthiness.
' Come on, leave already.' Su Ping hoped, he had managed to kill the male fox demon by catching it off guard, he knew the same trick wouldn't work on the other so instead of wracking up injuries again, it would be for the best if he let the other demon flee.
His glowing purple eyes locked onto the white fox, he feigned a cold and fierce expression, a predator's gaze that carried the weight of his survival in this merciless Abyss.
The white fox's gaze darted to the lifeless body of her companion, her ears twitching as she processed the loss, then back to Su Ping, her expression filled with wariness but mixed with contemplation.
For a moment, the cave was silent, save for the faint demon cries in the distance and the soft rustle of her fur as she shifted, her tail stilling.
Then, with a deliberate slowness, she turned and slipped out of the cave, her white form vanishing into the crimson-tinted shadows beyond the entrance, leaving Su Ping alone with the corpse and the pounding of his own heart.
' Great, she left. For a second there I thought we'd have to fight.'
He exhaled, a shaky sigh of relief escaping his scaled lips, the tension draining from his body as the immediate threat receded.
His attention turned to the black fox's corpse, its broken form a grim reminder of his hunger, which gnawed at him with renewed ferocity.
Steeling himself, he tore into the flesh, his jaws working quickly, the taste of warm blood and sinew both revolting and satisfying, thanks to his Dragon taste buds, as he devoured the creature in moments, his hunger sated in the blink of an eye.
Licking the blood from his muzzle, with his tongue. Su Ping then called up his status window, the black panel materializing with its familiar purple glow.
• Mana: 100
The panel reveled just what he has hoped for. His mana had fully replenished, which was a good thing, now he could continue healing his injuries.
He lay down on the cave floor, the cool stone soothing his battered scales, and focused inward, mimicking the Abyssal blood tree sprouts regenerative technique.
He used his mana to heal the remaining cuts and bruises that marred his body, the faint glow of his purple-black energy knitting his flesh together.
His tail as well, which was partially regrown from his earlier efforts, continued to mend and kneed new flesh, nerve and bones, the scales forming with a gnarly sound.
Su Ping wasn't happy with the grotesque looking healing but he knew beggers couldn't be choosers.
• Mana: 50/100.
He continued using his mana to heal his wounds, until it was whole once more, though the process drained half his mana, leaving him with a lingering sense of vulnerability.
Just as he settled into the quiet, the sound of approaching footsteps jolted him into a state of alertness, his glowing eyes snapping open as he crouched, ready to defend his fragile sanctuary.