A crash was heard in the distance, arousing the attention of everyone who was outside of the palace. The group immediately looked in the sounds direction and viewed a large cloud of dust rising in the air and heading their direction. Varick squinted his eyes before suddenly widening them in shock. He bolted forward unleashing his short sword and preparing himself for a big clash.
The rest of course followed suit, even Ao Qing woke up abruptly, peeping at Jun and then focusing her little gaze at the incoming danger. In all honesty she looked about as dangerous as a box full of kittens with her big orbs and tiny body of feathers, Ao Qing didn't think so, though.
As the disruption became more clear the group saw what was making the disturbance. A giant horde of beasts in a wild dash as if possessed by some unknown demon, urging them to continue on no matter what.
"Sh*t, Varick what do we do, fight or run?" Ruishi asked while preparing himself, before Varick could respond to him to fight a flash of black shot past them like a bolt of lightning. A swirl of silver quickly sliced, and gouged the incoming beasts. The figure of black robes, nine tails, and a double bladed bow staff twirled in rhythm and blended together in a harmonious fashion while emitting a faint glow as shadowy images began to rise up from the beasts in the most horrifying anguish while being pulled towards the staff. Because of this the staff glowed even further while creating an eerie glow within those golden orbs of it's master.
She dodged and struck as if in a dance, each soul she pulled from the beasts increased her power even more as it was a non stop flurry of attacks and dodges. Her footwork was light as a feather pivoting and shifting her weight too and fro. The look on her face grew more and more seductive with each kill, the pure enjoyment and laughter in her eyes was clearly visible. By the time all of the beasts were dead and she turned around forgetting she was no longer alone.
She lowered her head and shyly walked back to the group as if she had just done something wrong, all the while the shocked visages of the rest of the group were still in place as they attempted to process what they had just seen.
'I didn't just imagine that or did we?'
'Akane is actually stronger than that horde!!!'
'That shy gorgeous young girl seriously just did that right?'
Ji was the first to snap out of his daze as he stared at Akane as if he was seeing her for the first time in his life. He simply couldn't believe it.
"I'm sorry, it had been such a long sleep that I had wanted to test myself… I think maybe I should have shared that with everyone else? I am so used to being alone I forgot the rest of you were here. Please forgive me." Akane lowered her head even further as if she were awaiting punishment from the rest of those present that she didn't share her kills with.
Ji walked over to her slowly, placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face in order to meet her gaze. the beaming smile on his face was entrancing and the glimmer in his eyes showed amazement, reverence, and many more untold emotions the young dragon prince has never felt before.
"Never lower your gaze my lady, there is nothing to ever feel ashamed for. we simply did not realize how powerful you were." He cupped her cheek and gazed even further into her eyes, almost as if he were attempting to read her soul. when Akane met with those deep emerald eyes she could no longer turn away from them. they entrapped her now as they had when she first laid her golden gaze on them before.
Nodding her head slightly she beamed a huge smile at Ji, that smile could blind anyone who looked at it too long. Ji let her face go and turned his gaze away from fear of never letting her go again and began to return back to the palace. now that the danger is no longer here there was no longer a reason to remain.
Once his back was facing the rest the smile on his lips grew even further, which remained until they returned to the palace. This was no time to be love struck, he shook his head a bit and readjusted himself. The rest followed suit and remained to stand guard to await Kirin and Shou, though they still had not stopped talking about the amazing thing they had just witnessed.
It almost sounded like a pack of high school fan-girls after their idol. 'We definitely didn't make a mistake allowing her to join us. I don't think we will have any problems from here on out.' Varick mused to himself at the new revelation they had just discovered.
Chatting away happily, Akane had a new emotion begin to bubble within her chest. She never really had anyone else in her life. She had always traveled alone so when she did not get scolded and instead received praise. She felt as if she was finally home, she couldn't stop the blush creeping up on her face as the rain of praises continued.
On the other hand, the prince was now in a conflict with himself. This new emotion he was feeling made him feel perplexed in all honesty. He simply couldn't take his gaze away from that shy, seductive, and powerful fox. He knows she's a fox deity, but typically they don't have powers like that. But the way she executed each move with flawless precision, grace, and hint of excitement… it just enraptured him. But then another question came up in his mind due to the strength of her attacks, the skillful moves, and that aura… it wasn't normally seen in the clans.
'I wonder if she is from a royal bloodline, that strength is absolutely not from the lower members in the clan.'