Chapter 68 King's Will! Whatever That Is...
Jack's Evil Body Turned off.
Under the shell-shocked gaze of the assassins, the naked youngster suddenly turned into a naked baby. The scene was so shocking that they forgot to move and breathe.
"B-Baby?!" Their eyes kept going from the baby to the nearby foxes, questioning their sanity. The great mastermind they had just lost to… was an infant?! This was CRAZY!
But before they could even process the situation, a nearby fox hurriedly grabbed Jack, standing between him and the assassin, preventing another Dagger Assassination.
Suddenly, the assassins came back to their senses!
This… wasn't this the Flame Lord's new adoptive son?! This was earth-shattering news! At this moment, they forgot their mission, they forgot their failures, they forgot everything!
"ESCAPE!" They all rushed out faster than ever.
Forget fighting. They had to tell the Underground about this hidden Monster! Besides, if they fought now with the Seal gone, the Dawn Lords would notice!
"AFTER THEM!" Jack screamed with urgency.
If they made it out alive, his secret would be out. Even if the Flame Lord still protected him, he'd easily become a piece in Dawn City's political struggles… HELL NO!
The foxes hurried after their target, but the fight against the Tentacles had truly exhausted them. They were akin to arrows at the end of their flight, weakly moving on.
"Damn mutts, still trying to play the heroes?!"
The assassins sent a volley of magic and daggers behind them as they rushed through a narrow corridor. Jump above? Impossible! Go through? Plenty of foxes would die!
"Push forward, kid! Sacrifice as many as it takes! Silence them, NOW! Otherwise, you'll be hunted like a rat! Even the Flame Lord may not protect you!" The Old Ghost urged.
At this moment, the foxes felt Jack's panic.
"Woo!" (KEEP GOING!)
They understood they'd die, yet they kept pushing. As long as their Master lived! Today they'd repay every single headpat and all the love he had given them!
After all, they knew that even when he was "bullying" them, he did so with love so they'd survive better in such a cruel world.
That's when the assassins' faces turned ghastly. What the fuck was wrong with those foxes?! Even they, as professional assassins, weren't that resolute?! This was INSANITY!
The assassins saw their doom. It came in the form of fluffy foxes, smiling as they sacrificed themselves for the human they loved the most as they said their goodbyes.
"Woo!" (Grow up well, Master. Live for us!)
"Stop!" Jack screamed.
Yet, they kept running, akin to pigs to the slaughter. They'd do what was best for him, even if he didn't wish for it. They'd—
"STOP!" This time was different.
Jack's scream contained… Mana?! No, that couldn't be either, as he was utterly tapped out. This command had come from the very depth of his being.
[Ding! Leadership and Master of the Foxes Fused!]
[Unlocked King's Will… ERROR ERROR!]
At this moment, the foxes' legs stopped utterly. Their bodies were suddenly overwhelmed by a primordial power that they couldn't go against.
With the foxes stopping, the magical onslaught missed them completely. They could only watch the assassins escape, their hearts thumping relentlessly.
"WOO?!" (D-Did Master do this?!)
"Kid, I don't know how you did that, but—"
But before they could react, Jack had long collapsed. Whatever power he had just used had taken the little energy he still had left. Yet, even now, a mall smile adorned his lips.
He had saved his foxes, and that was all that mattered.
"Old Ghost, I'll leave damage control to you." He mumbled as he slowly sunk into oblivion amidst the panicked woos of his troops. He had made his choice and would stand by it.
"Fine, you reckless kid." The Old Ghost sighed deeply before turning to the remaining foxes. "Tch— What are you all waiting for? Get your Master out, and follow the assassins' trail!"
The chance of them catching up was next to zero, but that didn't mean they shouldn't try. With one last sigh, the Old Ghost removed every trace of his disciple's involvement.
"I just hope we don't all regret this day…."
.
.
.
"Woo!" (Where did they go?!)
"Woo!" (The traces all disappeared?!)
"Woo?!" (B-but… we have to get revenge for Master!)
Jack had the strangest dream. He saw the world from a peculiar POV, his four legs covering so much ground with every leap. He was a fox, and he felt free, so free.
Yet, there was something wrong with the other foxes next to him. They were so worried, distressed, angry, and even confused. Why couldn't they be happy and relaxed like him?
Ah, it seemed like they were troubled by something. They had lost a trail? Was this such a big deal? Jack sniffed, chuckled, and pointed a reassuring paw at a nearby wall.
"Woo!" (You guys, stop freaking out. See? The trail you're looking for is right there. They stopped in this alcove, switched their clothes, and sprayed on some perfume.)
It was so obvious, yet his fellow foxes yelped in shock at the realization. "Woo!" (Wahhh?! You're amazing!) They were even praising his tracking skills.
Tracking skills? It was the first time Jack realized he had some, but dwelling on it didn't seem that relevant at the moment. After all, it seemed like they'd give chase.
The pack rushed forth, and so did he.
The air against his face felt so good. Then there was the feel of the City's stone under his legs, the myriad of smells of the street stalls, and the glow of the stars above their heads.
The world suddenly felt so simple, yet so vast.
He was in a good mood.
They kept running, then at some point reached their target: three assassins— not that they looked like assassins. Also, for some reason, their auras felt oddly familiar.
Jack couldn't help but wonder why they hadn't separated. Wouldn't it have made the disguises even better? They seemed very twitchy... So perhaps they had a reason?
"Woo?" (We found them, what's the plan?)
Jack asked his fellow foxes. They seemed really angry at the targets and ready to jump at their throats. But, with his reminder, they stopped.
"Woo!" (Right, Master always says to plan!)
Jack couldn't agree more. This Master guy seemed like a wise and great chap. Perhaps he'd meet him one day? Just as he was having this thought, his fellow foxes were "planning".
"Woo!" (Attack all at once!)
"Woo!" (Steal people's stuff and bring them here!)
"Woo!" (Distract them from the front and attack from the back!)
Jack came out of his reverie. It seemed like he really had to help them before they got themselves killed stupidly…