The number of flame foxes seems to increase. I continue to slash at them while dodging the incoming tongues of flames. It is really straining as I don't have that much energy left in my lost body. I am not even in a considerably high condition as I sense a deep feeling of fatigue. The lack of my dantian always seems to prove how weak I am whenever I'm faced with such situations. The great feeling of danger in my head never dwindles as more flame foxes in higher tiers start ascending from the dark holes on the ground. No more time for tactics or plans, a single thought crosses my mind, 'RUN!!' , I don't hesitate to follow. I run quickly, dashing my way towards one of the holes n arest toy position. A peak rank 1 flame fox stands at the entrance ready to spew flames from it's mouth, but I cut it short of it's action as I slash diagonally at it's skull, severing it's eyes from the rest of it's face. The foxes chase after me, using the heat and smoke they emit to hinder my senses as they are blocked by the constant sea of smoke and fog. My lungs beg for air but I still hold on as I try to not inhale the deadly smoke lingering around. It's hard to tell where I'm going, so I use my swords to clang on the surfaces of the tunnel to tell where I'm heading or to which direction I am running towards. The foxes are relentless in their chase as they are still behind me spitting tongues of flames in my direction. I envelope myself with a barrage of mental energy enabling me to accurately predict where the flames are about to hit and how to dodge them. The cloud of smoke seems to also disturb the flame foxes signalling at the weakness they possess. There flames don't seem to have a target as it hits random areas and I'm only forced to dodge once in a while. However, they make up for it using their sense of smell and hearing to tell where I'm going.
They continuously howl, signalling that there is food within their midst while alerting their companions to join them in the fray. The number of fire balls heading towards me never stops increasing as the foxes try their best roast me alive. Dodging becomes far harder, but I still focus on the path in front of me. There is a trace of light at the end of the dark and foggy tunnel and towards it, the tunnel seems to be a lot clearer than it is currently. I run forward hoping to outrun the foxes and escape this damned tunnel. As I am about to reach the end of the tunnel, a fast creature comes running from it and dashes towards my position making my survival instincts scream with great fear. It leaps forward, and I duck just in time to see what it was. The shock still sends shivers down my spine, if it weren't for my survival instincts and my mind, I would've been dead within seconds. I turn to see a human size fox staring me in the eye from only a few meters behind me. The heat it exudes seems to be hotter than that of it's other companions. It's far larger in size and the glow of it's burning yellow eyes send cold shivers down my spine. It possessed larger claws and sharper teeth and bigger fur than the other foxes. I don't need anyone to tell me that I'm in front of a rank 2 flame fox which is definitely not at the bottom of the lower tier. It snarls as it takes quiet steps toward me. I hear the footsteps of the other foxes nearing, if they reach me I'm certainly doomed and I am sure the rank 2 fox is also aware of that. I can't outrun it, and I am not to sure if I can fight it but I point my blades directly in it's hairy face as I await it's next move. When there's a sudden shift in it's limbs, I duck while slashing my blades upward to see the fox right behind me with a long cut on its stomach. I can't outrun it neither can I confidently fight it, so I'll try to predict it's moves while looking for openings to strike.
............................
The cut is long but it isn't deep, it's barely shallow even yet blood drips from it. If it were any other fox, their guts would already be spilling on the floor but this one's body is far superior than theirs. It growls before charging again. I repeat the same process, but this time I'm slowly making my way towards the end of the cave. The tunnel becomes brighter as I approach it's exit. I can now see the entirety of the rank 2 fox's figure. The fox has multiple cuts already and it howls in pain. It realizes what I am trying to do and stops charging recklessly. It halts while looking for various places to strike before leaping forward again. This time I cut one of it's eyes in the process but there's a great pain in my right arm and I turn to see a long cut stretching from the my all the way up to my shoulder. It bleeds making me lose even more blood in the process and I see my movement staggering. The fox lunges again but this time my eyes glow with a faint dark blood-red light as I put in all my effort to slash as it's neck. It seems like I'm hitting a rock, and I break some of the bones in my wrist in the process but I smile when I realize that the cut is deep enough to make it stop moving. I run towards the exit as the the sounds of the hordes of foxes get closer with each passing second. My senses dull gradually, and the environment around me seems to rotate in my mind as I become dizzy from all the blood loss. I'm finally at the exit but what I see makes me lose hope of my escape from the cave.
In front of me, there are two large foxes, both rank 2 foxes which seem to be even stronger than the last one I had faced. The cave loses its darkness as there is a large hole at the ceiling of the cave which allows sunlight to pass through, illuminating the cave and the various tunnels. The mist frightening sight is that there are tens, if not close to a hundred foxes behind them. I still hopelessly move forward as I reach the center of the cave. There's also a water fall on one of the surfaces of the tall and steep rocky walls of the caves. All the water and streams on the different tunnels seem to converge towards a specific river at the bottom. The sunlight shines directly on my figure as the foxes which were once far behind are now at directly behind me. They halt there advance as they wait for their leader's instructions.
Amongst the two leaders, there is one that seems to be the above the other. It has a larger mane and fur than the other and it's claws and far longer and sharper than the rest of the pack. It eyes seemed to burn brighter than the other as it shines golden yellow which seems to glow even under in dark but dense cloud of smoke of envelopes it figure. I ignore the constant scream of fear in my mental sphere as I already know that there isn't a possible way to defeat such a creature at my current level. There seems to be a bright metal behind the creature, directly in front of the river. Other foxes avoid the bright metal as only the leader stands before the it. The innate pressure and presence around it seems to call me towards it as even the foxes' mouths seems to water before it.
Only the pressure and pride of the leader seems to keep to the pack at bay as the leaders growls continuously at the pack. There seems to be different skulls which resembles that of the foxes behind the leader. That seems to be the punishment of whoever dares to defy the leader. Only the the second rank 2 fox seem to have the right to go close to that metal. I'm sure the third would have also had the right if I hadn't killed it.
The key to unlock what I have been constantly waiting for stands in front of, but alas I'm unable to reach it. I feel nothing but despair and hopelessness as I stare at the metal. 'Am I really going to die like this, after my second chance at life'. The thought crosses my mind as the leader growls and pack comes charging towards me.