The man stood before the vine-choked cave entrance, eyes narrowing. "Its spiritual energy is faint… but still traceable," he murmured.
"The talisman strike must've wounded it badly.
It's hiding inside, trying to recover." With a swift arc of his sword, the thick vines were sliced clean, unveiling the cave's dark, yawning mouth.
A small, cold smile touched his lips. Just have to kill it, and that Demonic Core is mine.
He turned to his companion. "Stay alert. Darkness here conceals more than just shadows."
Deep within the cavern, the fox lay curled against a jagged stone, its body humming as spiritual energy flowed in tight, healing spirals. Its ears twitched at the faint sound of footsteps approaching.
Turquoise eyes snapped open—sharp, burning with defiance—and it sprang up, a low, threatening growl vibrating from its throat as the man and woman advanced.
"Damn demonic fox spirit," the woman spat, sword gleaming. "You've run far enough. This ends here."
The fox bared its teeth. "Damn humans! What have I ever done to deserve your hatred?"
The man's smile was thin and cold. "As righteous cultivators, we serve the heavens… to purge this world of evils like you."
"Purge the world of evil?" The fox's glare cut deep. "Don't make me laugh. You bastards only want my Core! Spare me your self-righteous lies."
The man's smile didn't falter. "Call it what you will. Your very existence corrupts. Killing you isn't cruelty — it's justice. Your Core is merely the price for our service."
"If killing me is justice," the fox snarled, its voice dropping to a guttural growl, "then let it be justice!"
Its turquoise eyes flared, pulsing with spiritual energy. For a split second, the glow reflected in the man's gaze — and then he froze.
His breath hitched. His eyes glazed, pupils expanding and swirling with the same ethereal color. His hand loosened around his sword hilt.
He was caught.
The fox's lips pulled back into a wicked grin.
"Let's see how you uphold your justice with your throat torn open."
Its body shimmered and grew, the aura around it thickening. Muscles stretched beneath silvery fur as it lunged, claws extended, jaws opened wide to tear the man's frozen body apart—
—but steel flashed in the dark.
Clang!
The woman's blade intercepted the beast's fangs mid-air. The impact echoed through the cavern like thunder. She gritted her teeth, pushing back with every ounce of strength she had.
"Senior brother!" she shouted, glancing over her shoulder. "Why are you just standing there?!"
His expression was vacant. The turquoise glow dominated his gaze, and he didn't move.
An illusion! she realized.
He's completely under!
The fox skidded backward, snarling as it eyed her warily.
From the shadows, the woman adjusted her stance and narrowed her eyes.
I have to kill her before he breaks free from the illusion, the fox thought, its fury boiling over.
The fox lunged again. The woman steadied herself, heart pounding. Damn it! she thought, and charged forward, sword raised high.