Chapter 22 – Returning to the Village and the Starting of a War [2]
Kneeling in front of the village, blood stained on her face that has fear on it—it was an ugly sight to behold.
[wait author. what did you just say? ugly?]
[Ehem sorry I will change that]
[good that's better]
It was a pitiful sight to behold.
The loyal soldiers she commanded were lying around her, beaten, bruised, and groaning in pain. The ground was littered with broken weapons, torn flags, and the faint shimmer of ether.
She was hopeless, totally questioning the reality of the situation.
The once proud and fierce Kitsu—the war maiden of the demi-humans—now knelt in the dirt, blood dripping down her cheek.
And yes, that was me—the great Kitsu! Let me guess—you're probably thinking, how did I end up beaten so badly? Then let me, the great Kitsu, tell you how I ended up like this. Be proud that I'm even speaking to you.
[Yes, you, who are reading this story!]
Ehem, anyway, it all started a few sixty nights ago, I think.
[2 months if you don't know—study more!]
I went to our village leader, Jack, to give me permission to kill these humans who dared to kill my men.
And so, I begged him.
And of course, Jack rejected the idea.
"Don't you remember what I just said during the meeting?" Jack sighed, rubbing his temples as if my mere existence gave him a headache.
"We should wait first. You need to be patient."
"Patient?" I puffed my cheek, trying my best to look cute. "Pwease?"
Jack looked at me flatly. "That will not work this time, Kitsu."
He waved his hand, dismissing me like an annoying cat swatting at his leg. "Go back to your chambers."
Kitsu huffed and stormed out like a little kitten, her pink hair and tail swaying softly behind her.
The guards who saw her pass by dared not laugh, but their smirks gave them away.
[pfff Did you think I was that easy to listen?] she thought, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief as she stomped down the corridor.
She went to her room, gathered her things that would help her when traveling—her curved blade, some dried meat, and a pouch of mana stones—and then she quietly snuck out with some of her men.
The night was still young, the twin moons glimmering faintly above, and the air held that electric tension before a storm.
She left that night not knowing she had already been discovered.
"This kid really wanted revenge that badly, huh?" Jack murmured as he watched her small figure disappear into the misty horizon.
"Is it wise to let her go like that, Kitsa?" Jack asked, sensing a familiar aura beside him.
Jack looked to his side and nearly flinched—the man who appeared out of nowhere was tall, with long white hair that shimmered faintly under the moonlight.
The man… no, the man who is called Kitsa let out a cold sneer.
"Let her go," Kitsa said, his tone low and sharp.
"Let her see how tough this planet is. She needs to learn that the hard way."
Jack frowned.
"How cold of you, Kitsa. She's your sister, no?"
Kitsa's expression didn't change. "I also learned that after experiencing it myself," he said before disappearing into a swirl of black mist.
Jack stared at the space where he had stood.
"As expected of him… he is cold as always."
He let out a small sigh, turned around, and went back to his work, leaving the night to swallow Kitsu's trail.
[ Damn the brother is terrifying huh ]
Back to Kitsu.
She traveled for fifty-nine nights and finally reached the human village on the sixtieth day.
Her eyes gleamed as she crouched on a nearby cliff, watching the settlement below.
The humans were busy—working, laughing, trading goods.
There was even a place where food seemed to grow from the ground.
(Note: she saw potatoes, tomatoes, and other foods that grow on the soil.)
"What is this?" Kitsu asked herself, ears twitching.
"What are the humans here wearing? Are those clothes—why do they look that good?"
Her tail flicked impatiently.
Enough observation. She quickly regained herself and ordered her men to start the killing spree.
Her beast aura flared, her eyes turning crimson as her claws shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
But after only a few moments, she was shocked—no, horrified—to see her men being overpowered by the humans.
And to make it worse, they didn't even manage to reach the center of the village.
No—that's not it—they didn't even kill a single human or put up a decent fight!
No less, the demi-humans were naturally stronger than normal humans.
That's what she'd been taught since she was little.
"So what the fuck am I seeing!?" she shouted as one of her men was disarmed by a farmer with glowing gloves.
She gritted her teeth. "I admit the demi-humans that I came with were weak… but it shouldn't have been possible to beat them nonetheless!"
Then she heard it—a deep, majestic roar that sent chills down her spine.
A wyvern's cry.
"Wait… a wyvern?" she whispered, tilting her head up.
And then she saw him.
A very handsome man slowly descending from the sky, a white wyvern beneath his feet.
His hands were closed to his chest. (Yes, our MC was aura farming!)
"What is this…" Kitsu murmured under her breath, her voice trembling as she watched.
Then, as the wyverns landed, she saw him—the Keeper of the Forest of Nightmare.
Kyen-Seen, riding a black and red wyvern beside Ashton.
It was well known among the demi-humans and the magical beasts—the strength of the man who lived in that cursed forest was unmatched.
Kitsu knew in that moment she was fucked up.
But in the mind of beastmen and demi-humans, there is no word for "retreat." Their pride doesn't allow it. Their instincts demand combat.
So what choice did she have, other than pulling out her beast form to fight?
She lunged forward, her aura exploding like a crimson storm.
Ashton blinked once—and she was already in front of him, her fist aimed squarely at his face.
He barely dodged, using his skill [Shadow Step] to vanish and appear behind her.
But Kitsu, as a true demi-human warrior, naturally possessed [Instinct]—she spun around mid-motion and kicked him hard across the chest.
Ashton flew several meters before landing on one knee, rubbing his ribs. He looked at her with wide eyes.
"What is wrong with you? I just came back to the village, and you attack me out of nowhere! Are you insane!?"
He glanced at the ruined crops around them and groaned.
"Damn, she ruined my aura farming entrance! But… maybe I should use this chance to test how strong I've become."
With a smirk, Ashton activated his skill [Clairvoyance], the world around him slowing down as golden runes lit his eyes.
He lunged again, faster and sharper.
While this was happening, Kyen-Seen didn't lift a finger. He stood nearby, leaning casually on his wyvern, his cloak fluttering softly in the wind.
"It's not like I'm enjoying this… ya, that's right," Kyen-Seen muttered, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"I'm just looking for a chance to intervene when it gets out of hand. Yes, that's it.
I'm not a bad guy after all! That I would enjoy watching people fight—nay, I simply… observe!"
He grinned, his tone light and cheerful.
"Though truth be told, 'tis quite the entertainment."
Dino and Syph stood beside him, watching in tense silence as Ashton and Kitsu clashed.
"Lord Kyen-Seen…" Dino whispered, glancing sideways. "You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
Kyen-Seen laughed heartily, placing a hand over his chest. "Perish the thought! I merely admire the beauty of battle. Lo, the rhythm, the passion—such vigor! 'Tis like poetry in motion."
Syph sighed. "You're impossible."
Kitsu and Ashton continued their duel—fists, kicks, and roars shaking the very air but Ashton didn't use magic at all. The ground cracked beneath them, energy waves slicing through the dirt.
Finally, Ashton blurred forward, landing a decisive palm strike to her abdomen, sending her crashing into the earth. The dust settled.
And that's how we return to where we started.
Kitsu, kneeling before the village—blood on her face, her pride shattered, her men defeated.
Ashton stood above her, sighing. "Next time, maybe knock before declaring war."
Kyen-Seen chuckled, stepping closer, his cheerful voice carrying through the wind.
"Ah, little fox, thou art fierce indeed.
But take heart—defeat is but the first lesson of greatness.
Rise again, for thou hast spirit!"
Kitsu groaned. "Shut up…"
Kyen-Seen smiled warmly. "As thou wishest, lady warrior."
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