[Whispers Across the Continents]
The news spread like wildfire.
The Demon Fox Emperor had returned.
Across all seven great continents, in the palaces of kings, in the halls of the strongest sects, in the underground black markets, and even in the distant, forgotten lands, the rumors echoed like a divine proclamation.
It wasn't just any fox.
It was a fox—a legendary existence spoken of only in the oldest myths.
And he didn't just return.
He burned an entire slave trade camp to the ground.
[White Fox Empire - Imperial Palace]
In the frostbitten lands of the Kitsun Empire, where the White Fox Tribe ruled supreme, an icy empress sat upon her throne. Her beauty was otherworldly, her long silver-white hair flowing like a frozen river, her nine tails swaying gently behind her.
Her sharp golden eyes flickered as she read the parchment delivered to her by a trembling messenger.
Mitsuna, Empress of the White Foxes.
Mitsuna (reading aloud): "The Golden Fox Emperor has appeared... and he burned the slave traders responsible for our suffering."
A long silence followed.
Then—
Mitsuna: "Mmm... finally." ??
Her delicate fingers tapped against the armrest of her throne, her expression unreadable.
Mitsuna: "Prepare a banquet."
Messenger: "Your Majesty?" ??
Mitsuna's lips curled into a mysterious smirk.
Mitsuna: "The world moves once again. Let us see whether this 'Golden Fox Emperor' is truly worthy of his title."
She leaned forward, her golden gaze burning with interest.
Mitsuna: "If he is... then perhaps it is time we return to our rightful place in history."
The fox nobles seated in the imperial court exchanged glances. They had long lived in the shadows, crushed by the humans and their powerful sects. Could this be their rising dawn?
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Mitsuna (whispering to herself): "Golden Fox Emperor... what kind of man are you?"
[Meanwhile – Ameer's New Reality]
Ameer, meanwhile, had no idea that he had just sent shockwaves across the entire world.
At this moment?
He was getting dogpiled by fluffy fox children.
Ameer (panicked): "OKAY, OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH!" ????
Hua Mina: "Hehehe~ Mister, you're soft!" ??
Fox Kid 1: "Nooo! We wanna stay!" ??
Fox Kid 2: "Warm! Warm! Fox Daddy is warm!" ????
Ameer: "I AM NOT A FOX DADDY!" ????
System (smirking): "Denial is a disease, and you have it bad." ??
Ameer glared at the System, but before he could start another deathmatch with it, Lin Yue leaned forward with her usual sinister smirk.
Lin Yue: "Master, while you enjoy your new role as the fox kin's Supreme Caregiver—"
Ameer: "I SWEAR TO GOD—" ??
Lin Yue (ignoring him): "—shouldn't we think about a place to establish our empire?"
Ameer blinked.
Ameer: "Hah?"
System (nodding wisely): "She has a point. You can't just be a homeless emperor, after all." ???♂?
Ameer (grumbling): "Since when am I an emperor?"
System: "Oh, I don't know, maybe since you screamed 'THE GOLDEN FOX EMPEROR HAS RETURNED' like a madman while setting people on fire?" ??
Ameer: "..." ??
Damn it. That did happen, huh?
Lin Yue's sinister smirk deepened, her dark eyes gleaming with malice.
Lin Yue: "Master... how about we take the land of the sects responsible for this crime?" ??
Ameer paused.
Lin Yue: "Burn them to the ground. Take what's theirs. Make them pay for what they've done."
The air grew heavy.
Ameer stared at her for a moment, then let out a slow, sinister chuckle.
Ameer: "You're a useful pawn, Lin Yue." ????
System (cackling): "Oh no. She's just like me." ??
Ameer pinched the bridge of his nose.
Ameer: "Even she behaves like you... This is a nightmare." ??
Lin Yue (grinning): "You love it."
Ameer: "...Shut up." ??
[A Decision is Made]
Lin Yue kneeled down in front of Hua Mina, placing a hand on the little fox girl's shoulder.
Lin Yue: "Hua Mina, would you like to become stronger?"
Hua Mina looked up with big, round eyes, unsure.
Hua Mina: "Stronger... like you?"
Lin Yue nodded.
Lin Yue: "Stronger so that no one will ever put you in a cage again."
Hua Mina's little hands clenched into fists. She looked at Ameer for approval.
Hua Mina: "Can I, Mister?" ??
Ameer hesitated. He wasn't sure why, but... he felt protective over this tiny fox girl. The thought of her fighting and bleeding made something twist inside him.
Ameer (sighing): "Fine... but Lin Yue, you better train her well."
Lin Yue (smirking): "Master, don't worry. She will be my sweet little sister." ??
Ameer: "...That's exactly why I'm worried." ??
System: "Yeah, even I'm scared." ??
Lin Yue: "Hehehe~"
Hua Mina (beaming): "Yay! Thank you, Mister! I'll train hard!" ????
Ameer rubbed her fluffy fox ears, making her giggle.
Ameer (softly): "Yeah, yeah... Just don't die on me, alright?"
Epilogue: The Storm Has Begun
?? The world had changed.
?? The Demon Fox Emperor had returned.
?? The Kitsun Empire watched.
?? The Sects trembled.
?? And soon... the lands of the oppressors would burn.
The war for a new empire had begun.
End of Chapter 22 ??
