Chapter 683: The Fox Demon King, Tushan's Changes!
"So what exactly do you want to do with me and my world?"
The Chaos Dragon, Tohru, didn't want to think deeply about complex politics or dimensional mechanics. Her massive dragon head lowered slightly, the scales shifting with the sound of grinding tectonic plates. Her burning orange eyes locked onto the small human before her, asking Ren directly for his stance.
Ren stood calmly under the moonlight, the cool mountain breeze tugging at his clothes. He looked up at the behemoth that could level cities with a sneeze, his expression unfazed.
"For now, we'll observe. If you want to stay in this world, you can, but you can't let ordinary people discover your existence as a dragon. The masquerade must be maintained."
"Can you do that?"
...
Tohru pondered for a moment, thick plumes of sulfurous smoke curling from her nostrils. The concept of hiding was foreign to a dragon of her lineage, but she owed him her life. The wound on her side, now healed by his intervention, throbbed with a phantom ache—a reminder of her debt.
She whispered, her voice like grinding stones softening into a rumble, "My name is Tohru. And yours?"
Ren glanced at her, sensing the shift in her aura from hostility to curiosity. "Ren."
"Ren..."
She tested the name on her massive tongue, finding the sound surprisingly pleasant. It held power, though different from the raw mana she was used to.
"I don't know where I can go in this world. It smells strange, the mana is thin, and the humans look tasty but annoying. So... can I stay at your place?"
"Oh?"
Ren couldn't help but feel surprised, raising an eyebrow.
"I can sense from your words and your aura that you dislike humans very much. You view them as lower life forms, perhaps even insects. Why do you have such a thought?"
"I feel that you are different from other humans."
Tohru bowed her massive head further, her bell-like eyes gazing at Ren with a mixture of curiosity and primal respect.
"And you saved me. Even though I dislike humans, as a dragon, I know how to repay kindness. A debt of life must be paid with service."
Her claws dug into the earth, carving deep furrows in the soil.
"If there's anything you need done, you can tell me. I will crush it for you."
"What can you do?"
Ren was quite curious about the way a Chaos Dragon would repay his kindness. He crossed his arms, waiting.
"Fighting, killing, arson, destroying cities, spreading curses, bringing about the apocalypse..."
This was Tohru's instinctive and unhesitating reply. As she listed her "skills," she even symbolically breathed out a puff of scorching flames from her mouth, instantly turning a nearby boulder into a puddle of molten slag.
"I can also guard treasure. And curse your enemies' bloodlines for seven generations!"
...
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose, looking exasperated.
This guy really couldn't change her dragon nature. To her, violence was the universal key to every lock.
He said irritably, waving the smoke away, "I don't need you for enemies I can't handle. And honestly, for the enemies I can't handle, you're too weak."
"Roar?"
A huge, visible question mark seemed to appear above Tohru's forehead. Her scales bristled, rattling like armor.
She wouldn't admit that she was weak. That was an insult to her lineage!
After all, she was the daughter of the Emperor of the Demise, a being of immense power. To be called weak by a human was unprecedented.
Seeing her defiant look, the way her tail lashed out and pulverized a tree, Ren didn't say much more. He knew dragons were prideful creatures.
"I don't need you to kill or commit arson. I have enough people for that."
"I'll see what exactly I need you to do when the time comes, but first, you have to become human."
He gestured to her massive, building-sized body.
"I don't want a dragon of such a large size living in my house. You'd crush the garden, and the neighbors would definitely call the police."
"Become human?"
Tohru lowered her head and looked herself over.
From her perspective, humans were indeed too small, fragile, and squishy. And she was very conspicuous, a beacon of magical power in the night.
"Okay~."
She nodded, accepting the condition. If it was for the savior, she would demean herself into this lesser form.
The next moment, a huge, intricate magic circle unfolded beneath Tohru, glowing with a vibrant, toxic green light.
"Change!"
Light bloomed in the dark night, blindingly bright. The air hummed with the displacement of mass, the sound of magic rewriting biology.
Then the green giant dragon disappeared, shrinking rapidly as the mana condensed.
What appeared before Ren when the light faded was a blonde, busty beautiful girl. Her skin was flawless, glowing under the moonlight like alabaster.
If one ignored the huge, thick green dragon tail swaying behind her and the curved horns on her head, she was truly a perfect human beauty. Her red eyes sparkled with vitality.
And she was naked.
Completely, unapologetically naked.
Her curves were exaggerated, a testament to her draconic vitality translated into human form. The moonlight danced on her skin, highlighting every contour, from the slope of her neck to the curve of her hips.
Hmm, no clothes. Not a stitch.
Tohru's big, watery eyes stared at him, innocent yet intense. She put her hands on her hips, striking a pose that flaunted her new form.
"Is this enough? Do I look human?"
...
Although Ren was willing to appreciate the view for a while longer—she was objectively stunning, a masterpiece of transformation magic—he wouldn't let a girl remain naked in the cool night air for too long.
With a gentle wave of his hand, reality warped slightly.
"Here."
Tohru's body was instantly enveloped in a fabric construct.
A black and white maid outfit, complete with a frilled headband and a white apron, materialized over her curves. It fit her perfectly, hugging her figure while providing modesty.
After much thought, a dragon maid seemed to suit her best. It was a classic combination, and given her desire to serve, appropriate.
"Eh?"
Tohru curiously touched the clothes that had appeared on her body. She tugged at the skirt, feeling the texture of the fabric.
"It feels... soft. It doesn't seem to be magic. Did you weave this instantly?"
"A friendly reminder, there are many people in my house, so whether you want to stay or not will be your own choice then. But you need to wear clothes."
Considering her aversion to humans, Ren still made this clear beforehand. His household was... unique, to say the least.
"Many people?"
Tohru didn't understand what that meant. She tilted her head, her horns catching the light.
From her understanding, apart from royal estates and such, an ordinary human family should only have five or six people. How many could he possibly have?
Ren didn't explain in much detail; she would understand once she saw the harem.
As for Kobayashi.
Ren turned to look at the woman lying on the grass nearby.
"Hoo~"
Even breathing could be heard; this office worker was completely asleep, oblivious to the dragon standing nearby or the dimension-hopping savior.
Tohru also walked to his side at this moment, her gaze burning like a torch. She sniffed the air around Kobayashi, her dragon senses picking up something unusual.
Kobayashi's body was now extraordinary.
Because Ren had completely integrated the power of the Holy Sword—Durandal, or perhaps the concept of the Holy Blade itself—into her body.
Not only did it enhance her physique, repairing her bad back and strained eyes from years of coding, but it also allowed her to gain control over the power of the Holy Sword. She was a sleeping warrior now, a vessel of holy light.
Tohru felt a faint suppression from this human. A holy aura that pricked at her chaotic nature.
She narrowed her eyes, her claws extending slightly from her manicured fingers.
She asked, her voice dropping to a low growl, "How should this human be dealt with? Erase her memory? Or should I just... dispose of her? She smells dangerous."
Ren shook his head, stepping between them. "No need. She's with me. Let's take her back together first."
With that, Ren bent down and gently picked up Kobayashi in his arms, carrying her princess-style.
"Click!"
This scene made Tohru instinctively clench her fists. Her tail lashed out, cracking a nearby boulder with a sharp crack.
Annoying!
Why wasn't she the one being held by Ren? She was the one who offered her service! She was the powerful dragon!
Undoubtedly, Tohru was both curious about and had developed a fondness for Ren, who had saved her from death. His scent was intoxicating, full of power and mystery, unlike the rotten stench of other humans.
Moreover, because she was a giant dragon, greedy possessiveness was an instinct. Dragons hoarded treasure, and Ren was the shiniest treasure she had ever found.
So Tohru felt jealous of Kobayashi, who had intimate contact with Ren. She glared at the sleeping woman with envious eyes.
"Let's go, to my house."
As Ren's words fell, space distorted around them.
The figures of the three instantly disappeared, swallowed by the void.
The mountain forest also returned to peace.
The traces of destruction caused by Tohru's fall—the crater, the burnt trees, the melted rock—also returned to their original state in the blink of an eye, repaired by Ren's reality manipulation.
...
Meanwhile, in another dimension, or perhaps a hidden realm deep within the spiritual fabric of the world.
Tushan.
The dwelling place of the Fox Spirits.
It was also the legendary "Matchmaker Haven," a place of ancient magic and eternal trees, where the Fox Spirits practiced the art of reincarnation and love.
It was one of the forces that ruled in parallel with the One-Qi Dao Alliance and the Southern Kingdom, a superpower in the yokai world.
The massive Divine Tree of Tushan loomed over the landscape, its pink petals drifting eternally in the wind.
High up on a branch of a giant cherry blossom tree, the little fox, Tushan Yaya, sat swinging her legs.
She clutched a large jug of wine, taking a swig. Her face was flushed, but her expression was one of deep depression.
"Why did Sister and Rongrong grow up, but only I didn't!"
She slammed the jug down on the branch. She was truly too envious of Tushan Honghong and Tushan Rongrong.
They were all sisters, born of the same spiritual lineage. But not long ago, Honghong and Rongrong suddenly underwent a metamorphosis. They grew taller, more beautiful, more powerful.
And Honghong's demon power became very powerful. Terrifyingly so.
Honghong became the ruler of Tushan, the Fox Demon King, and also the leader of the Demon Alliance, and currently the strongest person in the demon world. Her aura alone could crush lesser demons, and her fists were immune to all magic.
The power of the fox demon originates from profound emotion.
Love, hate, sorrow, joy. Where emotion reaches, power is born. It was the absolute law of their race.
Therefore, Honghong's demon power becoming stronger must be because of emotion. Intense, life-altering emotion.
Once a fox demon has emotion, she will grow up. Her body adapts to contain the power of her heart.
This means that both Honghong and Rongrong have someone they love. Someone who moved their hearts deeply.
But... who could it be?
Yaya racked her brain but couldn't figure it out. She scratched her fox ears in frustration.
Because she had never seen Honghong or Rongrong interact with any other men. They were always together, always protecting Tushan. They despised the hypocrisy of the Daoist humans.
The only one she remembered…
A man suddenly flashed through Yaya's mind. A figure cloaked in mystery, wielding power that defied logic. The one who had saved them both from the human Daoists years ago, when they were captured and helpless.
Ren!
"Could it be him?"
Yaya was startled, nearly dropping her wine jug.
She felt as if she had guessed the truth. The pieces fit. The secret smiles, the longing gazes her sisters sometimes cast towards the horizon when they thought no one was looking.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, she sensed something. The air shifted. The spiritual pressure in the atmosphere trembled, sending ripples through the mana of Tushan.
She gazed into the distance, her eyes narrowing.
"What's going on? Is Tushan's barrier loosening?"
Her elder sister and younger sister were not in Tushan now; they were out on a mission. So she had to protect Tushan. She was the acting guardian.
So, without a word, she leaped from the tree, rushing towards the place where the barrier had changed. Her small figure moved like a bolt of blue lightning, ice forming in her wake.
At the same time, miles away from Tushan.
Tushan Honghong and Tushan Rongrong stood on a cliff edge, their robes fluttering in the wind.
They were looking in shock at a human city below.
Or rather, what used to be a human city.
It had been reduced to scorched earth. Smoke rose in thick, black columns, choking the sky. The smell of burning timber and flesh was overwhelming.
There was no life left in the city. No screams, no movement. Just death and silence.
"What happened here? There's an evil aura lingering in the air. It's not human, and it's not yokai."
Rongrong frowned, her usually smiling face serious. She opened her eyes, usually kept closed in a squint, revealing the sharp intellect behind them.
Honghong was equally puzzled. Her red and white robes were unstained, but her heart was heavy.
"Why is it that a human city was annihilated, and why did no one from the One-Qi Dao Alliance or other humans come? Where are the guardians?"
"It's very strange. It's as if... this city was erased from perception before it was destroyed."
Suddenly, Honghong's expression changed. Her ears twitched.
She felt a disturbance in the spiritual link to her home.
"Wait, the Tushan barrier has changed. Something is attacking the perimeter."
She turned around, her red eyes glowing with power.
"Let's go back! Yaya is alone!"
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