Michael and Lara charged into the forest as soon as they were done dealing with the guards. They expected it would take some time to catch up to Damon, but to their surprise, a twenty-minute run was all it took.
Upon arriving at the scene, they were first alarmed by Danger's condition and Lara rushed to inspect its injuries, thinking it was alone. However, a few seconds into their inspection, they felt the surrounding shadows lighten, revealing three figures.
Damon stood over the cloaked magus and one-tailed fox spirit. Both sat on the ground, bound together by a blood whip attached to Damon's right arm.
"Don't tell me…" Michael was stunned.
If Damon had just captured the Magus, Michael wouldn't have considered it amazing because mages were not all that special. In war, they could cast destructive spells from the safety of the backline, devastating armies and destroying lives, but in a one-on-one confrontation, they were weak.
What they found amazing was he actually subdued the fox spirit. Unlike the Magus, the fox spirit possessed improved physical capabilities alongside their Fox fire ability; they were generally much harder to deal with.
When Michael and Lara got closer, their eyes dilated with surprise as they noticed whip wounds riddled all over the bodies of their targets. Each injury festered and worsened with each passing moment, and they all carried a repulsive stench.
"Darkness magic that blocks out all light…. Blood whip represents immense control over the blood element and curse magic laced to the whip to worsen injuries inflicted by it. Your affinity for dark magic is quite terrifying. I guess that is where your talents lie." Michael said to Damon as they approached.
People Damon's age normally stuck to the base elements when using primary magic, so they found it strange seeing someone use the primary versions of blood and curse magic.
"What can I say? I'm blessed." Damon responded with a shrug.
Lara and Michael could only abandon the topic, seeing Damon was not interested in talking about it. He handed over Luna and the Magus to Michael.
The two were placed on Slaughter while Lara helped Danger return to its feet. It didn't take long before they began their journey back to the kingdom of Valtheris with their prisoners.
While Michael and Lara helped Danger move, Damon was placed on guard duty, holding down Magus and Luna with his blood whip. He followed them from a respectable distance behind.
"How do you know the name, Valysara?" Luna suddenly asked in a low whisper under her breath. Her eyes looked lifeless, and her strength drained under the constant exposure to Damon's curse affinity.
"You are in no position to ask questions. Give me answers and I will find a way to spare your lives." Damon retorted in a low tone, only audible to its target.
Luna seemed to hesitate while looking into Damon's crimson-red eyes. There was something about this boy that made her feel uncomfortable, it felt like she was missing a very important piece of information.
"Valysara was deposed by her brother, Hector, a century ago… We follow his commands now." Luna said hesitantly.
Her pensive gaze was fixed on Damon in search of a reaction. If this mysterious youth knew about Valysara, then he should know about Hector.
And as expected, Damon grimaced at her words. Hector was Valysara's older brother, who overestimated himself and made numerous stupid mistakes that aided in Damon's ultimate defeat at the hands of the coalition army. The only reason Damon had not killed him back then was that Valysara always pleaded for his life.
Now he was gone, he dared to turn on Demon's favorite concubine.
"That bastard… I will kill him this time!" Damon snarled in a hushed tone, his eyes glowing with murderous light.
Damon turned his murderous gaze, causing Luna to shudder. Behind the youth was a massive, singular eye peering deep into her soul. Its penetrating gaze paralyzed her with fear.
"Tell me everything that happened in the past millennium!" Damon demanded.
Listening to Damon and Luna speak, the cloaked Magus was left confused. How could this boy at least five years younger talk about matters that occurred in the last thousand years?
On the journey back, Luna told Damon how the Forbidden Palace was built under Valysara's orders. Her plan was to remain in the human empire, where the God of Death would reincarnate.
After five hundred heads had passed, the fox spirits became restless. They felt uncertain that the God of Death would return according to the prophecy, but Valysara was able to calm them. She assured them that Damon would return and would find his way to her as soon as he was reborn.
Four hundred years passed, and the fox spirits became restless again, but this time Hector took advantage of it. He added fuel to the fire, turning the forbidden palace chaotic, and this almost led to a civil war.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Hector stole the fox queen's fox pearls.
Hearing this, Damon's eyes widened in shock because even he did not think Hector would sink so low. While a human's core determines how a magus's mana cumulation speed and mana reserves.
For fox spirits, it determines how fast a fox can generate fox pearls, and these fox pearls represent the core and power of each fox. That is why Damon never expected Hector would use such underhanded methods.
He didn't take the throne by beating her in combat, instead, he stole Valysara's pearls and stole her core.
"Hector consumed her core, fusing it with his and gained…"
"Demon fox core… It seems your little plan to take this kingdom is not a rash decision. There is a chance it is possible." Damon muttered under his breath.
To attain a demon fox core, one needed to steal and consume the core of a family member. This was a fox spirit's way of crossing over to the dark side.
But could a nine-tailed demon fox defeat the Hail family?"
How strong were werewolves?
These beasts were considered guardians of nature and Damon never crossed paths with them until his demise, so he knew little about their strengths and weaknesses.