Once he saw she was gone, Minitz decided to rest quietly until his wounds healed. That attack just now had shattered his heart, but he was still alive. This still wasn\u2019t enough to kill somebody like him; given enough time, the wounds would heal. Being able to throw himself into a battle like none before had filled that shattered heart with indescribable joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What an excellent fight that was. I only wish I could have tasted more of it. Then I could have proved I was the strongest\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Still basking in the aftermath, he found he was yet unsatisfied. If anything, his instincts were begging him to fight someone even stronger. Only through challenging and surpassing his limits, he thought, would he ever grow stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, like an answer to Minitz\u2019s prayers, something strange happened. A booming voice echoed across the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Excellent fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The voice had the timbre of a champion, one who had made many of the worthy bow down to him before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy name is Zegion. You now officially have the right to fight me. If that is what you desire, come to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minitz opened his eyes again, as if guided by the voice. A dark vortex had somehow appeared in front of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you going to entertain me? If you do, then it\u2019d be rude not to take up the offer\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n His body still needed healing, but Minitz nonetheless shot to his feet, not even flinching. Without a moment of fear, he headed off to accept the invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Once, there was a hidden settlement known as the Mystic Village. It was said to be one of the world\u2019s secret paradises, a place where spring was everlasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>But not any longer. It was overrun by the imperial army twenty years ago, and now it had been wiped off the map entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recalling that fateful day, Kumara almost lost herself in rage. She had been so helpless then, and thanks to that, she lost her mother and her friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her great mother was a mystic creature, a monster with power comparable to a demon lord\u2019s. But she was a calm, gentle soul, and she never showed any hostility toward humankind. The kings of the magical races who treated humans as enemies collectively called themselves mystic lords, a force different from the Ten Great Demon Lords and just as much of a threat to humankind\u2014but that had nothing to do with the Mystic Village. Magical races and mystic races were not at all the same thing, and mystic lords were merely the tribal kings of species unknown even to most others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But humankind\u2014or the Empire anyway\u2014must not have been willing to accept the existence of Kumara and her kind. So the Mystic Village went on the sacrificial chopping block, a demonstration of the Empire\u2019s military might aimed at its own subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Mystic Village was on the border between the demon lord Clayman\u2019s domain and the Eastern Empire. The area between the foot of the mountains on the Dhistav side and the forest on the imperial side was home to a hidden entrance to another world. Boasting the blessings of the forest, the produce of the mountains, and an eternally mild climate, it truly was a comfortable place, living up to its touted name as the land of everlasting spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being on the border, the inhabitants carelessly assumed they would never be attacked\u2014the Empire and the demon lord Clayman had forged a secret nonaggression treaty. This peaceful situation eliminated their sense of danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suddenly, armed soldiers attacked the Mystic Village, giving them no warning at all. The warriors defending the village could offer little resistance, and all their comrades were killed. Kumara\u2019s mother, the previous generation of Nine-Head, lost her life with them. She had power but never liked to fight\u2014and despite being human, there was no way she could defeat a trained, professional soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>And there was no forgetting that man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour name is Kanzis? Of course I remember it. The name of the man who took my mother and everyone else\u2019s life\u2026,\u201d spoke the vindictive Kumara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bearded man with the loathsome smile was an enemy so hateful that killing him wouldn\u2019t bring Kumara peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a reward to Clayman, Kanzis offered Kumara, the young child of Nine-Head he had captured alive. All the village\u2019s treasure was stashed away in their own pockets. They told their subjects that the threat of the Mystic Village was now over. This \u201cthreat\u201d was a criminal act of the aggressors\u2019 own making. In order to prove the danger of the Mystic Village, they rounded up some nearby residents and merchants and brutally killed them. And at the end of the day, the frightened imperial subjects treated them like heroes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Clayman, of all people, who told Kumara about everything going on behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more resentment Kumara felt toward a human being, the more powerful she became. It boosted her mystic power, and with that, her \u201crank\u201d as a monster. Being such a valuable Nine-Head mystic beast, she was regarded as a great asset by Clayman\u2014and so she survived, as his pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as Clayman predicted, Kumara\u2019s grudge ballooned over the years\u2014and with it, her power. He even made her the thumb of the five fingers, as his top officers were called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then fate took another turn for her, and she was picked up by Rimuru. With him, she found out what happiness was, her emotional scars healed by contact with the children he helped out\u2026 And right at that point, she met her mortal enemy once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll kill you. I will use every bit of my might to kill you where you stand\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that whispered oath, Kumara waited for Kanzis\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colonel Kanzis, on the other hand, didn\u2019t seem fazed at all to be thrown into a spot in the middle of nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was a self-made career military officer, a symbol of the meritocracy the Empire prided itself on, and it was with a single fist that <\/a>he rose to his current rank. He never thought twice about getting involved in evil deeds; in many ways, he was the embodiment of career ambition. Even the whole Mystic Village affair, in his eyes, was a legitimate move to strengthen his position and power. For the greater peace, a small sacrifice was insignificant. He didn\u2019t feel guilty about it at all, seeing his actions strictly as a necessary evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But despite any lack of conscience he had, there was no doubting his abilities. If he actively participated in the ranking duels, he\u2019d definitely be selected for the top hundred. But Kanzis wasn\u2019t, strictly because he had no interest in joining the Imperial Guardians. His own interests would always come ahead of his loyalty to Emperor Ludora\u2014and above all, Kanzis had a commanding officer he trusted with all his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That man\u2019s name was Major General Minitz. He was an equal to Kanzis in skill, and he was the first to scout him out and push him to the top. Kanzis\u2019s goal in life was to bring Minitz to the upper echelon of the military, then take full control while serving underneath him. It was a dream he worked hard to achieve, and that was why he thought this invasion was such a perfect opportunity for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caligulio\u2019s blundering in the Forest of Jura was clear to everyone; he\u2019d face severe punishment for it, no doubt. The groundwork for that moment was laid by him in Minitz, a secret conspiracy whose goal was to unify support within the Armored Division around them instead. If he could rescue the hundreds of thousands of soldiers stranded in the labyrinth and win their loyalty, that\u2019d vastly increase the membership in his faction overnight\u2014and once that happened, Caligulio would become redundant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeh-heh! Don\u2019t make me laugh. You think anyone would let you climb to the top of the military through political maneuvering alone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis sneered at his superiors. They weren\u2019t here anyway, so he felt safe enough doing so. Then, mind free of all concern, he set off to search for his surviving troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After about a day of that, Kanzis began to think something was amiss. Ignoring the fact that this \u201clabyrinth\u201d had entire forests <\/a>and deserts inside it, he couldn\u2019t find a single other human being anywhere\u2014or for that matter, a single monster. Every floor he journeyed through was eerily quiet, the sheer undisturbed stillness making it seem silly to expect a battle around every corner. Kanzis wasn\u2019t the sort to let up because of that, but his Predict Danger skill wasn\u2019t giving him anything at all, filling his mind with anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmm\u2026 Seems like they\u2019re trying to catch me off guard. Maybe they\u2019re concentrating their forces somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis\u2019s insight was impeccable. He was exactly right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHa-ha-ha! Well, I\u2019m glad to be receiving such a royal welcome! In that case, allow me to bask in it, then!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His boldness really was his greatest asset. He began sprinting ahead, making a beeline for the descending stairs, certain he could kick aside any trap in his way. His speed left the wind trailing him, a single stride bringing him several yards forward, and that let him reach the stairs in short order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few hours later, Kanzis found himself at the gates of a vast mansion, an opulent structure that seemed designed to intimidate all would-be visitors. Without a sound, the gates opened\u2014and the battle began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Kumara, in all her courtesan-esque beauty, greeted her visitor with a ghastly, hair-raising grin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAllow me to welcome you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis responded with a smile. \u201cWell, thank you very much. It\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve seen you. You\u2019re the little fox from way back when, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou remember me? I\u2019m greatly honored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow could I ever forget? Your mother played an instrumental part in my rise to fame.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sparks flew between the two of them\u2014literally. The violent clash between mystic spirit and fighting spirit created physical tension heavy enough to trigger electric surges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>\u201cYou are shameless!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHa-ha-ha! So you were fine all along, then? Although, I suppose that\u2019s only because I sold you over to Clayman. You ought to thank me for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I\u2019ll kill you,\u201d Kumara barked back with another surge of murderous rage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As if in response, the White Monkey appeared, opening with a flurry of club strikes at Kanzis to demonstrate his majesty as leader of the eight creatures under Kumara\u2019s control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you\u2019re a mystic survivor, then? Well, let me show you something interesting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as he said it, Kanzis summoned a monster with no advance casting\u2014another simian, this one covered in dark fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2026 You\u2019re one of my mother\u2019s servants\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was no doubt about it. It was one of Kumara\u2019s mother\u2019s tail beasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou see? There\u2019s a sight for sore eyes, huh? Here, take him on for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dark Ape was a kind beast as well. Kumara remembered playing with him as a child. But now that familiar old ape was baring his fangs menacingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve forgotten about me?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara\u2019s voice didn\u2019t reach him. With a high-pitched screech, the Dark Ape overwhelmed the White Monkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t bother. That monkey\u2019s become my<\/em> loyal servant. He doesn\u2019t remember a thing about you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis took a cigarette out of his pocket, uninterested in joining this fight himself. Lighting it and taking a drag, he gave Kumara a bemused smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat did you do to the Dark Ape?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmm? Now, what\u2019s that<\/em> supposed to mean? Do you suspect me of something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He seemed to be mocking Kumara. Realizing Kanzis had no intention of taking her seriously, she let her anger drive her to the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>\u201cMoon Rabbit! Black Mouse! Come on out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two more of Kumara\u2019s tails transformed. Now it was three against one, putting the situation back in her favor\u2014but only for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDark Rabbit, Dark Mouse, you\u2019re up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis summoned mystic creatures to match Kumara\u2019s. Now she couldn\u2019t even hide her astonishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, surprised? But then again, so am I. I never thought a kid like you could ever summon three tail beasts at once. Clayman must\u2019ve trained you very well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis\u2019s tone of voice indicated he still thought of Kumara as a fool. He couldn\u2019t have been more confident, and there was a reason for that\u2014the magical beasts he summoned were stronger than the eight at Kumara\u2019s disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, but enough of this. Let\u2019s end the playtime here, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that, Kanzis added more creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo! The Dark Tiger\u2014and the Dark Snake, too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each one of Kanzis\u2019s dark summons was stronger than the equivalent from Kumara. It was no wonder. These were, after all, the loyal bodyguards of the previous Nine-Head, Kumara\u2019s own mother. A single tail beast was incredibly powerful, and now there were five. Their formerly calm, gentle temperaments were gone; their maniacal instincts were fully unleashed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, Kanzis thought he had as good as won. No matter how much that fox kit Kumara had grown, he assumed that three tail beasts at once was about the best she could do. Even her own mother maxed out at controlling five at once, and she was a fox spirit who had lived for thousands of years. How could Kumara, with only centuries to her life span, ever produce that<\/em> much force?<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why he felt safe in his arrogance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you want, I\u2019d be happy to keep you<\/em> as my pet now. You\u2019re cordially invited to switch sides, from the demon lord Rimuru to me. Do it, and I\u2019ll spare your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was more of an order than a negotiation, one based on the absolute certainty of his own victory. But that was a fatal mistake. <\/a>Kumara was furious, her smile growing ever deeper and ever more beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow amusing. If you\u2019ve made me this angry, you must have come prepared for the consequences, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n No answer was needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara immediately unleashed all her tail beasts at once, producing the full array of eight. The Thunder Tiger, Winged Snake, Sleeping Ram, Fire Bird, and Mirror Dog came out, completing the entire ensemble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?! Eight of them? You\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was the first time all day Kanzis demonstrated any alarm, but even then, it was only for a moment. Quickly regaining his composure, he flashed a fearless smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I commend you for your surprising growth\u2026 But we still have the strength advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSilence!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOoh, scary. In that case, I\u2019ll say no more, then. In fact, the next thing I\u2019ll do is strip you limb from limb. You\u2019ll make lovely decorations for my room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The negotiations were over\u2014and so the battle of eight against five began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Kumara\u2019s ensemble had the numerical advantage, their opponents were elites who had served her own predecessor for untold numbers of years. The sheer amount of magicule energy inside them was unparalleled, as was their experience. The White Monkey and its friends were far from weaklings, but their dark counterparts were more than powerful enough to counteract being outnumbered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As time went on, Kumara\u2019s beasts began to be pushed back. But she didn\u2019t give up. And some careful observation of Kanzis revealed something. Each of the magic beasts Kanzis summoned was quite powerful solo\u2014and while they had fully lost their memories, they still seemed to retain their sense of reason, reacting quickly to Kanzis\u2019s instructions. In other words, if she could beat their commander in Kanzis, that might give Kumara a chance to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides, she still had one more trick up her sleeve. Once she <\/a>brought all eight tail beasts back to herself, she could take her true form\u2014and by her judgment, that\u2019d give her the edge of Kanzis and his team. It was thus with little to no panic that Kumara carefully judged her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about Kanzis? Although it looked like he was on top of his game, he was actually pretty close to the edge of his limits. There was a good reason why he was commanding all these dark beasts. He had a secret power as well\u2014the unique skill Looter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This skill had no power on its own; it required something to build on. Kanzis first stumbled upon it as a child. He had gotten into a fight with a friend over some petty issue, and to get back at him, he killed his friend\u2019s pet dog. After that, he was able to summon a dark incarnation of the dog anytime he wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That alone was only slightly useful in a fight, but the true value of Looter actually lay elsewhere. He discovered it not long after he joined the army, fighting against guerrillas on the Empire\u2019s far-flung frontiers. Whenever he killed one of them, he was able to summon \u201cdarkness\u201d just as powerful as his victims. That\u2019s when it dawned on him\u2014he could only call upon those he killed by his own hand. The more he killed, then, the stronger he got.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there were limits. This wasn\u2019t a cumulative deal, where you were as strong as everyone you killed in your life; it only let you tap the dark powers of the greatest adversary you ever took down. It let him perfectly re-create the appearance and skills of his victim\u2014a versatile trait, useful for disguising himself in undercover missions. But even then, there was only so much \u201cdarkness\u201d Kanzis could handle summoning at once. If there wasn\u2019t, he could likely control entire armies by himself, but sadly Looter was apparently too dependent on Kanzis\u2019s own life force for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara had accurately guessed that was the case, and even with her current disadvantage, she was not particularly concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow I can tell\u2014you\u2019ve reached your limit, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd what if I have?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how you\u2019ve taken control of the Dark Ape and the rest, but that\u2019s not an issue. I\u2019m going to kill you anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was her analysis of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Their respective band of servants were evenly matched in strength, but neither of the commanders were in the fray. If Kumara took on Kanzis then and there, he wouldn\u2019t be able to give orders to his dark creatures\u2014and in terms of magicule energy, Kumara far outclassed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, now. I\u2019m not going to make this easy for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon saying that, Kumara disappeared, only to instantly reappear behind Kanzis\u2019s back. Then she swiped at him, attempting to slash his neck with her claws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis reacted in time, privately admitting she was right but still maintaining his detached attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou sure are<\/em> scary, huh? If you were going to grow this<\/em> much, I should\u2019ve killed you twenty years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSilence!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeh-heh-heh\u2026 Now, now, don\u2019t be so angry. To make up for it, why don\u2019t I show you something real interesting?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis laughed at her. It was true that his Looter skill could summon only those he had killed, and there were limits both to who it summoned and how much of its power Kanzis could personally tap. But there was still one more trick to it, and without a moment\u2019s hesitation, he revealed it to Kumara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave you ever wondered why I sold you to Clayman? Why I let go of you despite how much of a powerful asset I knew you\u2019d be? Well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was because he had already gained immense power\u2014far more easily than he ever would trying to tame and raise Kumara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Banishing his dark beasts, Kanzis summoned a single large beast in their place. This creature was the source of his strength, the reason he didn\u2019t need Kumara at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTh-that figure\u2026 Mother\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before her was a dark fox spirit bearing five thick tails and four thinner ones. She was the master of the Mystic Village, but she looked so ominous now, the kind of visage she had throughout her life gone without a trace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaaaa-ha-ha-ha! You guessed it! It\u2019s your mother. And now that she\u2019s under my command, she\u2019s able to handle and unleash all <\/a>her violent forces with abandon. It\u2019s amazing! Wouldn\u2019t you like to see it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara\u2019s mother possessed a gentle nature that caused her to show mercy to her foes, an act of charity that came back to bite her. Even with the powers of a demon lord, she chose a modest life hidden away from the world, interacting with it only when absolutely necessary. That was Kumara\u2019s predecessor, and now, by the hand of Kanzis, she was going to unleash her true powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you dare to make a mockery of the dead, too\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot mockery. Respect. I\u2019m going to put her powers to good use. You should thank me for it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dark Nine-Head summoned by Kanzis flared with rage as it saw Kumara. There was no emotion in its eyes\u2014Kumara was merely the enemy, nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKill her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heeding the order, Nine-Head went on the move. The next moment, the full force of the combined dark beasts lashed out at Kumara\u2019s own team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWinged Snake! Mirror Dog\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two that reacted a moment too late were seriously injured by the blow, returning to Kumara in tail form. That\u2019s how powerful it was. Her group clearly didn\u2019t stand a chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHa-ha-ha! What do you think? Pretty neat, huh? And that power\u2019s exactly why I never needed you. But looking at the number of tails you have, you might even be better than your mother. You may lack experience still, but I can help you make up for it. Heh-heh-heh\u2026 Now I\u2019m glad I kept you alive. If I can obtain you here, I\u2019ll have even more power in my hands!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanzis rejoiced. Defeat wasn\u2019t even a concept in his mind. With an ally as strong as Nine-Head and his own augmented body, there was no way he could lose to a little fox\u2014he was convinced of it. In fact, he even considered Clayman to be beneath him. Kanzis had planned to dispatch him once he fully tapped Nine-Head\u2019s powers, but then the newcomer demon lord Rimuru went and killed him first. Maybe, Kanzis joked to himself, Clayman wasn\u2019t any great <\/a>shakes after all. But Kumara had just revealed she could wrangle eight tail beasts at once! And while their inexperience made it hard for them to beat anyone alone, with time and maturity, there was no telling what they could accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s why I\u2019m so lucky. I\u2019m going to kill this girl here, and then I\u2019ll douse her in my own power!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That, in turn, would power up Kanzis even further\u2014and some upstart demon lord shouldn\u2019t be any kind of match for that. With that thought driving his imagination, he began his attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara, just standing there, shook her head and muttered to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf I lose my cool, I lose it all\u2026is how it went. I must have forgotten Lady Hinata\u2019s lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then she looked at the man and beast slowly approaching her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone, fall back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Answering the call, her tail beasts vanished into balls of light that were sucked back into her. Then her nine tails began to glow with a mesmerizing radiance. The man and his beast were already just in front of her\u2014but Kumara was in no hurry. Her tail beasts might be inexperienced; that much she was willing to admit. But she herself was not. She had an excellent teacher, along with a hardworking group of diligent friends. It was a wonderful environment for Kumara, and it had done wonders to refine her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara gently stopped the sharpened claws and well-honed knife approaching her with both hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY-you\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI haven\u2019t given you my name yet, have I? I am Kumara\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY-you have a name\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Nine-Head Kumara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The claws shattered; the knife snapped in two. Hurriedly, Kanzis reared back as Kumara gave him her bewitching smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut no need to remember it. I was going to give you a slow and gruesome death, but that would too much for us to bear. So\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n