The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Chapter 80

Karamir’s meticulously planned first strike, based on his strategic advice, had dealt significant damage to the Ungwi.

Its massive form struggled to rise, but even so, Lin did not relent. Raising her index and middle fingers, she clasped her hands together, sending her blue foxfire soaring into the sky.

The foxfires, glowing blue orbs wrapped in flame, began to fall one by one from above, raining down like shooting stars. The barrage, akin to a meteor shower, pummeled Ungwi relentlessly.

Boom!

Blue flames burst forth like crashing waves, scattering in all directions.

Currently, Lin could control up to seven foxfires at once. However, with each one that disappeared, she could summon another, effectively creating an endless onslaught. The foxfire continued to pour down.

Black smoke rose from the Ungwi, filling the sky, and the creature’s howls echoed through the valley, swallowed by the thunderous explosion.

Lin only ceased her attack when it seemed the mountain and valley might be flattened to plains.

She watched the rising smoke. As it gradually cleared, she saw Ungwi lying motionless on the ground. Lin did not immediately approach but instead continued to observe cautiously.

Then, a new transformation began in the Ungwi. As the so-called guardian deity of Baekun Valley, it drew strength from the earth and mountains.

The energy of the land flowed into it. Its singed fur gradually returned to its original color, and its charred wounds began to heal.

This, too, had been part of Karamir’s strategy. It marked the beginning of Phase 2.

Ungwi, now fully healed, rose to its feet. Steam-like breath leaked from its mouth.

In this berserk state, Ungwi’s aggression and agility surged, and its attack patterns shifted.

As it clenched its massive fists and swung them, the ground itself was torn up and hurled skyward, creating a spectacle as if the world had grown a ceiling of earth and stone.

It seemed as though gravity itself were drawing the earth towards Lin.

This was Ungwi’s rock-sealing attack, which could paralyze four characters for three turns. The counter was to position Lin in the back row and keep four others in the front to absorb the attack.

The stones targeted the front, so with a decoy in place, Lin could avoid being sealed.

But now, Lin was alone. She had to bear the full brunt of the attack.

This was where Karamir and Lin’s strategy came into play.

Lin conjured a spell. Her five tails swayed. A doppelgänger, identical to Lin, appeared.

‘If there’s no scarecrow, I’ll just create one. After all, the saying goes that bears are slow-witted. As if that beast can tell the difference between the real one and the decoys.’

Her prediction was spot-on.

Lin created four clones and sent them forward, where, sure enough, the rocks crashed down on the hapless decoys. Stones entombed the clones, then fell to the ground.

That had been the critical move Karamir had warned her about. After this, the attacks would be relatively minor. Now, the only thing left to do was...

‘Beat it to death.’

With all her might.

Fwoosh.

Fox-shaped flames covered Lin’s fists. The flaming fox, yawning lazily, grinned alongside Lin, both of them excited for the playtime ahead.

It was time to dance.

What followed was nothing special.

Lin’s relentless 64-hit combo, masquerading as a "massage," pounded into the Ungwi. It groaned, sounding almost like an old man soaking in a hot bath, before rolling over with a groan, deciding it was time to stop moving.

It died, just like that.

Even though it was a guardian deity, it didn’t have an endless reservoir of spiritual energy to tap into. Ultimately, the Ungwi could no longer recover and was reduced to little more than fertilizer for the earth—if even that.@@@@

“Huff...”

Lin had struck like a bolt of lightning, grabbing the fox by the neck and slamming him into the ground.

“Aaagh!”

She’d hit him so hard his body bounced off the ground. Lin’s grip on his neck tightened as if she might crush it.

“Where did you take my Master?”

“W-What are you...?”

Crack.

“Tell me. Where did you take him?”

“T-The elder took him. I don’t know where... there weren’t any traces left behind...”

He wasn’t lying.

If they’d moved as a group, they’d have left a trail, but Lin couldn’t detect any traces. It had to be the work of some spell.

“N-Now that I told you, could you let me go?”

The fox chuckled nervously, tapping Lin’s arm. Without a word, Lin tightened her grip, snapping his neck effortlessly.

“Guh.”

Lin didn’t spare a glance at his lifeless body. She didn’t absorb his energy, either. The thought of his essence mixing with hers was revolting.

Her gaze turned toward a point not far from there. For family, tracking would be difficult, but they shared a closer bond—Master and slave.

No matter how far apart, she could find him.

Lin took off, heading in the direction her instincts guided her.

“Ugh.”

My wrists were bound with vines as I traversed a rough mountain path. Hoyo clan members surrounded me, guarding me closely.

I had been watching Lin’s battle with great interest when the Hoyo clan suddenly ambushed me. At first, I thought they were after my liver, but instead, they dragged me outside the village.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Anywhere, really. The idea is to put some distance between you and the Gumiho.”

“Why? Now that Ungwi is defeated, shouldn’t you be free to live as you please?”

“I don’t know what you plan to do with the Gumiho, but I know it won’t benefit us. Whatever happens, the repercussions will surely affect the Hoyo clan.”

In other words, they couldn’t stop Lin, so they intended to deal with me instead. Since I was the one nurturing Lin’s power, they figured removing me would be a minimal safeguard.

I suppose they were keeping me alive in case Lin came after them—a kind of insurance.

They were also placing strange talismans marked with incomprehensible symbols on the trees as we moved. I couldn’t understand them, but I guessed they were for hiding our tracks.

They even set up a mobile barrier that muffled sound and concealed our trail, fully aware of what Lin would do if she caught up.

‘Pretty thorough.’

At this rate, Lin might not be able to find me. Then what?

“Oh? What’s that?”

One of the foxes pointed at the sky, alarmed. Against the clear sky, silhouetted by the moon, a pink fox with five tails spread like wings floated above us.

Its gaze was devoid of emotion as it looked down at us.

I didn’t know much, but one thing was clear.

You’re all screwed.