Born in Blood

The words seemed to have an effect on the Kitsune – it even gave Liam a respite to catch himself.

"Speak."

Heaving multiple breaths, Liam rose from the ground and fixed his gaze to the fox.

"You're stuck here. I don't know how long, but you're at a dead end unless something comes along and changes your circumstances."

"Well, I'm that something."

Liam had to steele his gaze when looking at the Kitsune – who scoffed coldly in response.

"Big words for such a weak little being like yourself. I can kill you with a single thought. What gives you such power?"

Liam creased his brows. He had to make his case, and he couldn't do it by looking weak despite the pressure.

He took out a scroll from his ring.

It was the Primordial Forging method.

"Do you know what this is?"

The Kitsune remained silent, awaiting an explanation.

"My forging method allows me to refine a magical beast's will and imbue it into a weapon or item. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this."

Again, the Kitsune didn't say anything.

"If you give me enough time, I'm sure I can... resuscitate you."

Liam was careful with how he phrased his words, using all his willpower to still his mind.

Basically, he was asking the fox to kill itself – giving him a piece of its core or mental energy, which he didn't even know could work – then somehow giving the Kitsune into a new form.

Liam didn't know what to think of the Kitsune's silence. He decided to further make his point.

"You've been here for how long? You don't plan on attacking the ceiling over and over, do you? You don't look like your greatest aspect is strength, after all."

"All the while, those beasts above are getting stronger and stronger. Some have already made their way to the middle stage of the fourth Rank, it seems."

The Kitsune was uncomfortably silent – staring at him with those bright suns for eyes.

"I'm not promising instant results. I'll need time. Lots of time. If you entrust me with a piece of your core and mental energy, I can do it."

The fox sensed truth and conviction in Liam's mind.

After all, it could read his thoughts.

The boy really thought he could accomplish that feat – resuscitating a magical beast in a new form.

Suddenly, the air around the Kitsune changed – like an iridescent mist had dispersed around it.

Liam's eyes widened. What he'd been seeing was actually an illusion that the Kitsune was hidden behind.

In reality, the frail fox looked much worse – marred with countless bite marks and bruises, four of its tails missing, and one of its eyes blinded – the previous shimmer of its fur gone.

It even breathed with difficulty, and it didn't look like those wounds were healable.

"Cursed Opposition. As soon as I awakened a mind, my body turned weak."

After a long pause, the Kitsune spoke with a much raspier voice.

"Give me your eyes."

Liam blinked, his skin somehow turning paler.

"What?"

The Kitsune shot him a hard glare.

"You've yet to convince me. I want to know how far you're willing to go for it – for survival. As of now, you're far too weak to make grand promises, and I can't entrust my life to someone weak-willed."

"Come closer and give me your eyes."

Liam gulped, letting out a soft breath, making his way towards the fox. The Kitsune was kind enough to remove any pressure it put on him.

Liam took a good look around, the last he would take. Then he frowned, glaring at the Kitsune defiantly – the pressure exuding from him was actually much heavier than what was possible for a Rank 1 magus, but that did nothing to the fox.

Tensing his hand and body, Liam shot his fingers into his right eye socket, wriggling his fingertips to wrap around his eyeball.

Pangs of unadulterated pain assaulted his senses, but he didn't stop – curling his fingers around his eyeball and clenching it.

With one swift motion, he yanked!

"Urk!"

The optic nerves holding his eye in place pulled and snapped, making Liam almost lose his consciousness due to how agonizing it was. Thick blood started to flow from the now empty hole.

Biting on his tongue to steady his mind, he began with his left eye – turning his index, thumb and middle finger into a claw – tearing it out in the same fashion as he did his right.

Liam growled, his eye sockets burning hotter than molten – tears of blood ran across his pale cheeks. Even his regeneration hurt, as pieces of his flesh tried to squirm together and reform.

Obviously, his vision had faded too, leaving him in the dark with only his wavering senses intact.

Liam gripped the bloodied eyeballs in his hands and threw them on the floor, as if they weren't a blessing.

'If this is the price for one more day… then I'll gladly pay it!'

…

With Liam blinded, he couldn't see the contemplative glimmer in the Kitsune's eyes.

That forging method certainly had the potential to do wonders, but it had to have a capable forgemaster behind it.

The fox had been stuck underground for decades – with the darkness beasts above constantly invading its space. It had run out of cards long ago, and by chance, one had come its way.

Though, the idea of a Rank 4 Zenith trusting a Rank 1 Mortal was absolutely unheard of – even myths and legends don't speak of a tale so absurd.

"...Very well."

Those two words sounded more pleasant to Liam than anything he'd heard.