Chapter 39 – First Challenge

Chapter 39 – First Challenge

"That little one is kinda cute." A girl watching a large projection said.

"I know right? It makes you want to cuddle her, I wonder how she will look in her human form." Another girl also said.

"A beauty, of course." A guy chimed in.

"Go away! Nobody likes you!" The first girl glared at the handsome youth.

"That's right! Go and fight your harem you ugly cat!" The second joined.

Nobody liked the males in this Village, since they would take all the pretty females and others wouldn't be able to enjoy them. This caused quite the internal strife, slowing down the Cultivation progress of this Village.

What's more, the Elders also encouraged those pairings as they would birth powerful and beautiful fox cubs, but the fertility rate was too low to actually cause any impact.

That was the reason why they relied on external factors, like foxes that just gained intelligence. The thought of joining a large Village of the same race appealed to them greatly since most of them didn't really like other races as they were much uglier than the foxes.

As such most males in this Village had around 10 mates, but only a few were cherished...

"I will get her." The first girl said.

"What about the yellow one? Isn't that closer to your element?" The second girl asked, also eyeing the small cute furball.

"Aren't you closer to the purple one?" The girl asked instead of answering.

"You should know we got the first pick." The youth smiled, licking his lips and both of the girls rolled their eyes.

A pressure descended upon the youth. He grasped his heart and was sweating buckets, reverting back to a Blazing Fox.

The youth was wary as he looked towards the pressure, only for his heart to palpitate. He was mesmerised by the glaring beauty, but couldn't speak as the pressure was not small.

The girls were mesmerised too, but soon heard their peers speak.

"Isn't that the mate of the little one?" One not-so-handsome boy chuckled with glee.

"That's right." Another average girl giggled, also with glee.

The girls stiffened, they almost went after someone else mate. While it was not against the rules to try to poach others' mates, there was an unfortunate accident because of it.

A girl was stolen from a somewhat promising youth, by a prodigy. That promising Youth worked hard to catch up and that he did. Not only did he torture that handsome prodigy, but he also tortured his mates. It was a bloody scene before the elders got there since they were too busy bickering.

From that point on there was an unwritten rule about stealing others' mates. Unless you seek death, don't.

That was especially true with this ravishing beauty which was already at Spirit Beast Rank. They couldn't compare to her, both in energy and spirit.

The beauty stopped the pursuit once she felt he was already half gone and returned to watch the screen. Surprisingly there were 2 other Foxes near her, but it was a strange sight...

"Are you finally giving up snowgirl?" The handsome fire youth chuckled.

"Are you perhaps joking, you should increase the fire, I'm freezing over here." The girl softly glared.

They both were beautiful, but unfortunately, nobody could approach them, because their energies were currently fighting. Unless someone would be able to suppress both of them at the same time, one of them would be hurt and since they are part of the prodigies... they would get severely punished if something happened to them.

The Queen ignored them, while they were strong their brains weren't all that developed and didn't know that they had the hots for each other.

...

Aiko was lying in the shade with the other Foxes, although Aiko was still some ways away since the other Foxes were constantly glancing at her strangely.

Aiko was disturbed by this fact at first, but now she just kept her ears perked for anyone approaching her.

The Yellow Fox also laid in the shade even if it made her weaker, but that was only because she was overheated. She spent too much energy against the desert and now had very little.

The Purple Fox was even more miserable as she looked like a wet cat, her illusions gone, her beauty gone, and all that was left was a pitiful wet cat.

Meanwhile, the girl was blushing.

'Hehehe, what a pretty girl.'

'Hahaha, what cute ears.'

The girl was sensitive about her ears since they were a lot smaller than her peers and was often ridiculed by them.

Aiko snorted. Patting the girl's leg. The girl's heart almost jumped out of her chest when she saw that cute action.

She coughed several times trying to look serious, but she was constantly grinning like a pervert.

"The next stage is about crossing the grassy fields, river and mountain. There are plenty of dangers around, not just animals so be careful." The girl spoke more than necessary as she was completely taken in by Aiko.

Aiko nodded towards her and ran forward. None of the participants finished yet, but since she started so late, there was no point in telling her about the first prize.

Aiko dashed into the field as soon as she finished. She was not as quick since she was out in the open without any shadows, but that didn't mean she was weak.

Her [Intention Perception] screamed at her danger. She was currently near the Yellow Fox and Blood Fox, but that danger came from the front and not from the side.

She was confused but still used her [Prehensile tail] to slap the ground and change her trajectory out of the danger.

-50HP

She felt pain in her tail. It felt like something sliced her tail several times.

Aiko landed and warily looked forward. The grass was bloodied by her tail.

'Is the grass sharp or am I too weak?' Aiko thought, when her [Intention Perception] screamed again, this time from the side.

The Blood Fox didn't like this little shit, so she wanted to get rid of Aiko.

Aiko jumped just enough to dodge her which startled both the Blood Fox and Yellow Fox. Neither of them was expecting Aiko to be so quick.

The Blood Fox turned around aiming at Aiko who would be defenceless once she landed.

The Blood Fox used her Blood Ability to speed up. She caught up to Aiko who was about to land.

Aiko was smarter than her and even before landing she was already using [Burrow] and she sank into the ground where she couldn't be attacked.

The Blood Fox couldn't stop with her speed and she was not even intelligent enough to do that.

She crashed into the ground, burrowing part of her head in. She was stunned by the impact and dizzy from the aftermath.

She was confused because instead of tasty blood she had a mouth full of dirt.

Aiko's head popped up near the Yellow Fox, startling her again.

Aiko grinned at the Blood Fox before disappearing again.

The Blood Fox roared in anger, but couldn't find Aiko.

...

"Don't bite her you bitch!" One girl shouted.

"I will castrate you!" Another girl yelled.

"I will beat you on my bed!" The youth joined.

The girls looked at the youth strangely. They knew he was partially sadistic, but this...

On the wide projection, Aiko disappeared. The Blood Fox was looking around.

Aiko's head popped up again and those who were watching laughed out loud. Queen also had a hard time holding her laughter as Aiko was grinning towards the Blood Fox.

'This will be a messy stay...' The Queen thought. 'I have really overdone it with that medicine bath...' She sighed at her own perfection.