Golden chains glowed tightly around the Three-Tailed Fox.
The enormous beast struggled violently, roaring as it continued launching attacks despite being restrained.
Flames erupted.
Shockwaves rippled.
Even bound, it was still a monster capable of destroying armies.
---
John's hands remained over James' chest.
Light poured into his body continuously.
Slowly—
The burns began fading.
The charred skin regenerated.
Blood stopped flowing.
James' breathing steadied little by little.
Ark exhaled in relief.
"He's stabilizing."
John nodded but didn't stop healing.
"He took a direct hit. It'll take time."
---
A few steps away—
Sampon and Martis were still arguing.
"You should've moved faster," Sampon snapped.
"I did," Martis replied coldly.
"Principle Two says protect the summoner at all costs!"
Martis' red eyes narrowed.
"The attack's angle changed."
"That's still not protection!"
Their voices grew louder as the fox continued launching skills in the distance.
---
Meanwhile—
Vishal stood quietly, watching the battlefield.
His eyes followed the fox's movements carefully.
Then something clicked.
"…Interesting."
Gob glanced at him. "What?"
Vishal pointed toward the monster.
"It has exactly three skills."
Gob didn't respond yet.
Vishal continued.
"And three tails."
He tilted his head.
"The number of its skills matches the number of its tails."
Gob's expression sharpened.
Vishal continued calmly.
"If that's true… cutting the tails should remove its abilities."
Gob looked impressed and nodded slowly.
"Correct. Keen observation."
Vishal smirked faintly.
"The tails are the skill cores."
Gob thought of something outrageous then folded his arms.
"Alright then, brat."
Vishal's eyebrow twitched.
"Don't call me that."
Gob ignored him.
"Can you cut them?"
Vishal looked at Gob then toward the fox again.
Then turned back.
"I'll do it."
He paused.
"But I want something."
Gob sighed.
"What?"
"I want to become a high-ranking official in your clan."
Gob blinked.
"…Why?"
Vishal shrugged.
"I can see aura."
He tapped his eye.
"My skill. Eye of Reaper."
His gaze drifted toward the group.
"Martis."
"Sampon."
"Ark."
"John."
"And James."
He smirked slightly.
"You're all powerful."
"Good backing is useful if I plan on causing trouble."
Gob stared at him silently.
Then sighed.
"Disappointing motivation."
Vishal grinned.
Gob glanced at the others.
Sampon and Martis were still arguing.
Ark sat beside the unconscious James.
John kept healing.
Gob's mind ran briefly.
None of these people appeared in the previous regressions.
Not Martis.
Not Sampon.
Not even James.
This timeline had already diverged too far.
"…Fine," Gob said.
He pulled out a small vial.
"All stats +5 potion."
Vishal's eyes lit up instantly.
He snatched it.
Drank it without hesitation.
A surge of energy ran through his body.
"Deal."
---
Vishal moved immediately.
He ran straight toward the battlefield.
The fox roared again, launching fire across the area.
Vishal dodged carefully, weaving between attacks.
He passed injured players lying on the ground—
But didn't stop.
Didn't even look at them.
His focus stayed on the fox.
He jumped.
High.
Mana gathered along his scythe.
"Moonlight Slash."
A pale arc of black with red energy sliced downward.
One tail fell.
The fox screamed violently — loud enough to make the angel on the sky looked impressed.
The battlefield trembled.
Players across the battlefield began cheering for Vishal.
Chanting in unity and boosting morale to keep fighting.
Vishal landed and quickly scanned the area.
He finds it annoying that the players are only getting carried and practically useless to him.
His eyes moved to his cooldown timer.
Still active.
"So annoying."
He lowered his scythe and stabbed it into the ground.
Dark energy spread outward.
Souls of fallen players began flowing toward the weapon.
He absorbed them.
The scythe pulsed with intimidating purple aura.
His stats temporarily increased.
"Much better."
He dashed forward again.
A second leap.
Another strike.
The second tail severed cleanly.
The fox shrieked again, fury shaking the sky.
Only one tail remained.
Vishal landed and prepared to jump again—
But suddenly—
A shadow moved faster than him.
A figure appeared above the final tail.
Slash.
The last tail dropped.
Vishal froze.
Standing on top of the fallen tail—
Was a girl.
Black hair.
Calm eyes.
Vinni.
She balanced lightly on the severed tail as if it were nothing.
Looking down at the battlefield.
Vishal stared at her.
"…Well," he muttered.
"That's rude."