Warning: This chapter contains intense gore descriptions that might not be suitable for all readers.
"I... I have finally—cough... cough—protected you once," Yuta murmured as blood spilled from his mouth.
The Ancestor pulled his hand out of Yuta's chest and barked, throwing his heart aside. "How dare you stain my hand with your dirty blood?"
"This sickening fiend," Vyomendra muttered, slamming the Ancestor's head to the ground.
Yuta's body fell backward into Gumiho's embrace, his head resting on her thighs.
"YU... YUTAAA!" Gumiho screamed, touching Yuta's face as tears fell from her eyes.
Yuta gave one final warm smile to Gumiho before his eyes stared into the abyss.
"If you dare kill me, Vyomendra... your son will also die. He touched Ume's hand in the Soul Domain, so he is also poisoned," the Ancestor blurted. "I'm the only one who knows the cure to this poison."
Vyomendra's hands shivered, and his grip on the Ancestor's head softened. He was about to step back, but then a sharp, arrogant voice echoed.
"I would rather die than trade my life for this lowly bastard, Father," Vyaghra declared.
A proud smile appeared on Vyomendra's face, his grip tightening again. "You heard what my son said. And wouldn't it be better for you to give me the cure right now, unless you want your flesh torn apart?"
"Th-there is no need for that," Aruma said, moving toward Vyomendra with trembling steps. "I have a better way to make him talk."
"Lord Aruma, are you going to—"
"Lord Vyomendra, I can't hold for much longer."
Vyomendra sighed and replied, "I understand, Lord Aruma."
He crushed both legs of the Ancestor, grabbed Vyaghra by his robe, and moved back.
Aruma stared down at the Ancestor, whose torn legs were already regenerating.
"Hahaha, you can never make me talk, Aruma," the Ancestor mocked. "You will soon die, and then I will devour your daughter's heart while pissing on your dead body."
Aruma looked into the sky and took a deep breath before whispering in a terrifyingly low voice,
Soul Domain
S
O
U
L
L
A
N
D
A black shadow began spreading on the ground from where Aruma stood. It stretched outward for half a mile before rising upward from all directions, covering the entire space. The domain contained only Aruma's family and the Ancestor inside.
"What kind of Soul Domain is this?" the Ancestor muttered. "There is nothing but darkness everywhere."
The Ancestor was lying on the abyssal black floor while Aruma floated in the sky, with Hana and Gumiho standing on a white platform just behind him.
"Come forth," Aruma ordered.
Hundreds of white souls arose from the dark floor. Some were smiling, laughing, or cheering, while others were angry, crying, or saddened.
All of them ran toward the Ancestor in horrendously twisted postures. Clearly terrified, he tried to run as his legs had completely regenerated.
However, he fell hard as several hands emerged from the floor and clutched his legs tightly.
A soul jumped on his stomach and began tearing his skin while laughing maniacally. Another clutched his neck and tore it away as it cried. Small insects began entering his body through his wounds. Another held his face, pressed its mouth against his, and began eating him, taking away his ability to scream. Below him, out of nowhere, a large metallic plate appeared, burning with white flames.
Without rest, another soul came—angry and screaming—with a pot of boiling oil in its hand, which it poured over his body.
"Don't flinch your eyes, Ume," Aruma ordered. "Watch how this bastard struggles to keep his measly life. This is the fate of anyone who dares hurt a member of the Kitsune family. You are not allowed to be scared of scum like this, even if I'm not around. Carve this moment into your heart."
"As you wish, Father," Gumiho said as she stared at the Ancestor wiping the tears off her face.
After a moment, Aruma clicked his tongue in frustration, and the souls below tore the Ancestor's neck apart.
The Soul Domain started vanishing, and the trio descended to the ground.
A pool of blood came out of Aruma's mouth, and his body was about to fall before Vyomendra held him by the shoulder.
"Did you find the cure, Lord Aruma?"
"Th... The fiend was lying," Aruma declared. "There is no cure for this poison."
Vyomendra's eyes widened, and sweat poured down his face from the shock.
"Don't worry... Lord Vyomendra," Aruma said. "Your son... can be saved. The souls of my Soul Land told me... that if the poison is in its early stage... it can be removed by eating Spirit Grass."
"The Spirit Grass is extremely rare. I don't know if I can find it within such a short time."
Aruma sat down on the ground and took out a jade bottle from his pouch.
"It contains the herb your son requires," he said, offering the bottle to Vyomendra.
Unexpectedly, he didn't take it and gave a reluctant look.
"It can't help me or my family. It's been three days since we were poisoned."
Aruma gave a reassuring look before placing the bottle in Vyomendra's hand.
On the other side, Gumiho and Hana fell to the ground as the poison's effect on them worsened.
"You have my utmost gratitude, Lord Aruma," Vyomendra said, accepting the bottle. "Is there no method to cure you?"
"Have you forgotten what my true form is?"
Suddenly, hope gleamed in Vyomendra's eyes as he answered, "Life and Death Divine Fox."
"Take me to my wife and daughter."
Vyomendra supported him, moving him closer to where Hana and Gumiho were lying.
He kissed Gumiho's forehead and held Hana's hand before speaking, "As a Life and Death Divine Fox... I can overturn one person's death... by offering my life instead. If it's for you, I can sacrifice my life without a second thought. You two are my most precious treasures, whom I equally adore. And yet, the heavens are forcing me to choose one between you."
A tear rolled from the corner of his eye as he spoke further,
"How can I do that?"
"Dear husband... you don't have to choose," Hana murmured. "Come closer."
She whispered something into Aruma's ear, for which Aruma first gave a reluctant expression but then finally nodded in agreement.
Both of them touched Gumiho's forehead simultaneously, and a dual black and white energy began radiating from the point of contact.
"No, Father," Gumiho cried. "Don't throw away your life for a demon like me."
"You are not a demon, Ume," Hana whispered. "You are the future goddess of all beasts."
"After spending my whole life on the battlefield, I have realized that humans and beasts aren't that different," Aruma added. "We both fight for only one thing—to have a better place for our loved ones to live. Ume, I want you to become a turning point in the relationship between humans and beasts. But never forget one thing, my precious daughter..."
Hana and Aruma whispered simultaneously with warm smiles on their faces,
"We love you, Ume. Live a big and cheerful life."
The energy glow on Gumiho's forehead stopped, and the duo began vanishing into thin air.
"FATHER!!! MOTHER!!!" Gumiho's cries echoed through the surroundings until the couple completely faded.
And that was how the tale of Aruma—the Battle God—ended.
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Hello readers!! Please read the author's note.