-Afternoon. Nefiru's POV-

By the first afternoon quarter, the dark clouds looming over the northern plains had moved far to the west letting the sunshine upon the charred landscape riddled with nearly a hundred corpses, many craters resulting from the clashes and small fires producing trails of smoke still. The wolves continue to arrive carrying beast corpses as others with wounds that were visible from a distance limp towards the healer tending the severely injured outside the perimeter of the beast circle. My group passed through the wolves slowing me down with small talk, greetings, and praises while snarling and snapping their jaws at the foxes behind me with a hostility palpable in the air until we reached the inner part.

*Brrrzzrrzt! Shuah! Poof!!* I squeezed between the last two black wolves who were too slow to get out of the way and left their fur puffed as a prank.

""Eep!!"" The two beasts whimpered and squirmed uncomfortably receiving the message.

*Thump!* I stopped 6 meters away from the beast wall and looked at the foxes behind me before pointing to the left with my snout where the air cannons lie scattered. *Swip!* I turned back to the front and scanned the surroundings from the northeastern quarter of the encirclement.

The prisoners were organized into 3 groups of around dozen foxes sitting obediently in front of certain wolves as two blue and white foxes moved from group to group prioritizing which injury to heal.

Woah... That's a lot of foxes and foxmen... Cool! I glanced around watching diverse expressions on the prisoners and noticed stares inspecting me.

The two fox healers on the north and south glanced at me coldly for an instant, then the foxes behind me who obediently lined up on the east before turning back to mending their people.

Fluffy healers... Me want to pet~ If only they weren't almost twice my size and probably bite... I evaluated the two eye-catching beasts and noticed another glare from the middle.

In the center, a tailless wolf dirties her golden fur lying on the dirt from south to north in front of eight dead wolves at the foot of a corpse pile with more than a dozen fox beats stacked reaching over six meters tall.

*Thursh! Thursh!* I walk on the dry soft dirt of the hilltop and reached the blue and white wolf healing the she-wolf's left foreleg.

"Looking good, Aidan!" I praised the wolf wearing a shiny collar.

"...Please, don't tease me." He glanced behind requesting and continued working.

*Thursh! Thursh!* I nodded and moved past the healer before reaching the Golden head on the south as the wolf growls quiet down. *Shlap! Shlap!* I lowered my head greeting the she-wolf licking each other when new voices and growls reach me from all around.

""Uheee... Ueeeh... Hic! Heuk! Kheeuk. Buh..." The fox people sniveled frightened, had dark expressions fearing the worst, or grieved the deaths of their comrades while others grit their teeth glaring around angered. ""Auu... Hiee!!! Grrr!!!"" The fox beasts whined from injuries or lament their loss while others snarl with their hackles raised at their captors.

Huh...!? I wondered after hearing the gloomy atmosphere clearer and sent my probe to the fox groups before making contact with nearly fifty different energies transmitting a diverse range of emotions. Guah!!? T-this grief and hatred are so intense! Uuugh!! I deciphered the intent received before it started to overwhelm my senses and shook my head with eyes closed. Ugh... Must...reject... I determined the method to recover from the backlash and retracted my probe from a cluster of energies with a higher density than mine which felt like pulling a hand out of a viscous liquid. Phew~ I heaved mentally relieved to free my magic. I didn't think the aftermath of large-scale battles would be like this... I wasn't prepared to stick my magic in there... But I think sympathizing made me more susceptible than normal... I concluded and opened my eyes calmly in front of the golden eye staring back at me.

"Not bad. You regained composure fast..." Erina who noticed my struggle reviewed. "But next time, impose your will instead of feeling sorry for the enemy. It won't be as strong as a high rank but it'll help to mitigate the foreign intent more than just opposing it with your awareness. And considering how fast you'll rank, you better start practicing 'intent transmission' as soon as possible..." She advised in a serious tone.

"Oh? That sounds interesting. How do I start?" I inquired with my curiosity piqued.

"Easy. Spirit originate from thoughts, so think of something like a command or an emotion and channel it with your awareness through the Spirit as if riding a wave." The she-wolf elaborated.

"Uh... That...is...more complicated than it sounds..." I reviewed imagining.

"Not so. This already happens naturally with a low intensity unless in cases of extreme emotion... It just becomes easier at Higher Ranks to the point where even your intentions could leak in combat and be used against you." The golden beast elaborated convincingly.

"Yikes! Thanks... I'll work on it later..." I expressed my gratitude and lifted my head. "I'll use old fashion eyesight for now..." I informed and reduced the electromagnetic vision while mobilizing light magic.

I inspected the prisoners 15 meters away from the center magnifying the image slightly until it came the turn to look behind the corpse pile where the last group on the west was only partially visible.

Eh?! Those are...Fox girls! I finally saw fox girls! So pretty~ I rejoiced after discovering the 7 vixens kneeling on the ground with their tails on the lap and fixed my gaze like a hawk. Huhu... I want to fondle--lick them! No hands sucks... And get slapped after! No skin to feel it sucks... Haahh... Although I didn't imagine the hair hanging or tied up where human ears would be looks so unnatural... I appraised the fox women and took a better look at the beasts sitting behind them. Wait... Are those beasts, female too?? I thought they were all males... The groups on the west had all females huh? Ah, no, those two are definitely males... I observed the 10 beasts when the golden wolf laying to their right called out.

"Heeey, Dragon~ Impressed by this batch?" Eluana noticed my gaze and asked while blinking slowly.

You sassy wolf! Stop seducing with those cute growls and body language... I retorted to myself and nodded approving of the wolf named after Liana.

"Dragon!" A green wolf growled from the south next to a red wolf. "Will you judge by number, sizes or gender?" Waldo inquired presenting his foxes.

Heeh... It looks like that lazy mutt finally did something impressive. He didn't want to lead and ended up doing that anyway haha... I mused and looked at the red wolf to the right who was smirking. I see... You had something to do with that. This Firdos is pretty smart... I nodded acknowledging and looked at the foxes. So, they got 9 beasts and 6 foxmen totaling 15... Not bad...they seem to be the highest ranks after the ones Erina fought. I counted and compared by height.

*Thump! Thump! Srrrshhh! Srrrshh!* A four and a half meter tall black wolf came out of the northern beast wall behind Erina while dragging a red beast fox by the neck and climbed a few corpses before twisting his body. *Swiiip! Wuak! TWUUOMP!* The darkness beast sprang his neck abruptly and tossed the dead fox on top of the pile with over a dozen corpses increasing the height to 8 meters, then climbed down before staring at me while licking his mouth.

Ah, I think we found what's making the foxes terrified and angry... Dechewy! It's a cringy name considering all beasts enjoy prey, but this guy...is never satisfied by kills... I asserted observing the black beast when he noticed my gaze.

"Dragon! Judge by corpses... It's magnificent, isn't it?" Dechewy asked looking at the pile for a moment before turning back to me wagging his tail.

"Uhhh... Yes... It's no doubt the most impressive corpse pile I've ever seen." I growled back appraising the beast stack. "But we kinda need the foxes alive this time, so could you stop terrorizing them?" I reasoned and reminded.

"Ah... The plan..." Dechewy recalled and stopped wagging his tail. "Well, let's eat some later..." He shrugged saying and laid down on the north.

"SO? Who won the contest?" An earthen wolf demanded from the south with another group of prisoners covered in dirt.

Oh? Elsion who was in charge of the tunnels managed to subdue 14 beats and 5 fox people trapped in the holes...impressive. But not many people survived the fall, huh? Well, this makes a total of 51 foxes here, plus the runaways that Wamu is chasing on the west... I conjectured after counting the southern group and looked to the north.

"Where's Damya?" I asked out loud.

""..."" There was no answer for a few seconds and the wolves look at each other wondering the same while some snuff the air.

"The 4th Elder was busy back at the fortress the last time I saw her." Deiyan popped his head from the northeast and informed.

"What could she possibly be doing to miss this meeting? And did you guys even captured any foxes?" I looked at the north wondering and turned to admonish the beast.

"GWuwuwu... She's--..." Deiyan whined lowering his ears disappointed and stopped what he was going to say. "T-the fortress had deadly traps, so we captured only 2 foxes alive. The 4th Elder will bring them soon if they survive..." He explained meekly under the many glares.

Seriously? They died from that poisonous cocktail and ground spikes? I wondered a little surprised. Well, fire users would have trouble controlling an unknown substance made by wind users or suppress something in the water... Maybe those traps were a little too deadly... But they were supposed to use them when outnumbered and we are fighting pyromaniacs that can make bombs appear out of nowhere. I pondered when the wolfen spoke up once again.

"Ah, but... We did assist Eluana to capture her group and she snatched those two runaways there..." The black wolf tried to save face and recounted causing indistinguishable growls to get louder.

"Is that so? Well, good job then." I commended and drew my conclusions before calling out. "ALRIGHT! I've decided..." I growled out loud to stop the chatter and the canines perk their ears in attention. "Considering the condition of the prisoners, their genders and numbers... The winner of the contest is...ELUANA!" I announced the results dramatically.

"YES! AuWUuoo!" The golden wolf rejoiced and a triumphant howl agitating the foxes momentarily.

"Hmph! I'm fighting you later for this..." Waldo declared glaring at me and laid down next to the foxes calming them down.

"Lucky draw! She also had most earth users and still sought help..." The upper-rank 7 earth user on the south commented.

""HUehh...!! Whyyyy?!?!"" The wolves that were unable to accept protested.

"Because, females are more important... Especially high-rankers..." I explained objectively.

"Of course that we are! The only thing Males do that we can't is provide their seed in child making." A she-wolf declared within the southern crowd attracting attention.

Hmm... Is that why some of the 25 bitches volunteered to fight...? To prove themselves? Cool. Girl powa! I contemplated when a bickering on the west caught my attention.

"Not fair, sister! We've always been a team..." A golden wolf protested on Eluana's right. "Share the dragon!" He demanded and the she-wolf showed no sign of budging.

"Oi! I'm not an object..." I retorted mildly upset.

"And I had to lead when you left the fight looking for more help!" A black beast further on the she-wolf's right pointed out. "If not for us, this wouldn't have been possible!" He announced looking at the fox group in front.

"Bo~ys~ You'll trouble the dragon. Can you not see the size difference?" Eluana insinuated in a kind tone and threw an intimidating look at each wolf. "I'll even have to think how to use him~" She muttered ignoring us all.

"The degenerates want to corrupt the dragon!" Another high-ranking golden wolf on the same group declared triggering a commotion.

Ah, right... Derimil and Eumua were homosexual... I realized and shivered.

"Stop slandering us! Grrr..." Derimil barked looking around and snarled.

"Regardless... Eluana represented your group with the majority's approval. Next time, agree to terms and conditions mutually..." I judged the situation and instructed.

"Dragon... You...won't listen to us?" Eumua called out asking disappointedly.

"Grrr... I'll piss in your Lair if you don't!" The black wolf declared between snarls.

"Uhh... Please don't piss in my Lair..." I pleaded recalling the early incident with the soiled corpse.

"Then spend some time with us!" The angry beast demanded.

"Don't be unreasonable! I don't seek that kind of pleasure..." I opposed and shook my head several times.

"W-wait... We don't mean that! W-we wouldn't dare...such thing... We just want to talk..." The golden male wolf stuttered clarifying.

"Jesh! You don't need a special favor to talk. Just talk--Ah, discrimination?" I said relieved and realized the root of the problem.

""Yes..."" The two wolves nodded slowly with half-opened eyes.

"Sorry... My conclusions were prejudicial..." I apologized and glared at the golden she-wolf who averted her eyes.

"It's okay. The misunderstanding was cleared. But we'd like to know your stand on the...sexual preferences of our pack..." The low-rank 7 earth user accepted and requested.

"There's a whole pack??!" I blurted asking confirmation.

"Yes, 13 males and 8 females..." The golden wolf revealed.

"Hmmmmm... Alright, I'll make it clear for every beast here..." I affirmed and turned my head all around watching those present before looking back at the troubled wolf. " I won't ostracize individuals just because of sexual preferences or any other odd behaviors as long as it doesn't trouble others..." I announced and looked at the corpse pile. "What matters is contributions to the Tribe and Magic progress..." I declared and noticed a positive response on the wolves and turned back to the west. "That being said, can you lot not procreate at all during mating season?" I inquired sternly.

"That's...not a request, isn't it?" The golden wolf asked back without blinking.

"What!? You want us to go against our nature...?" The black wolf looked at his partner realizing and then back at me questioning.

"...It's a responsibility of all living creatures. Especially high ranks... You owe it to yourselves, the Tribe, and offsprings that deserve to live..." I listed reasons and encouraged.

"Understood... We'll tell the others to find mates... But the scarcity of females, size problems and talent are the reasons that some partake in these...activities in the first place. Others...just don't want to fight over females..." Eumua described trying to make me understand.

Yeah, that's why most foxes are males... They probably sent the females as last resort to match our numbers... I affirmed and nodded at the two wolves acknowledging.

"GRUFF! You chose to mate with my brother instead of me..." The golden she-wolf snorted and derided looking at the black wolf on her right.

"Shut up! You are annoying... Your brother would make a better female!" Derimil barked looking at the golden she-wolf on his left.

"OOOKAY! Moving on..." I shouted to interrupt the bickering and ran my gaze through the multitude once more. " I must say that I am very pleased with the results of this battle... You all followed my instructions better than expected, employed new magic techniques and combinations, captured 53 foxes and shown good behavior in front of your sworn enemy... I am truly not surrounded by idiots, so... CONGRATULATIONS!" I recognized proudly and growled thunderously making the foxes shudder and the wolves enliven.

""AUWOOOOooohhh!!!"" The Wolves responded in kind with emotional howls of their own and quiet down a few seconds later.

"The Low ranks have not been forgotten either! You guys did a splendid job too..." I commended looking through the purple beast wall.

""HAUUUH!!"" The Low ranks grouped on the south howled making their presence known.

"Now, I need all low ranks to scout the battlefield and collect all metal pieces that you find and bring them to me orderly." I assigned a new task.

""Woof!"" The thirty low ranking wolves accepted and moved east around the circle of high ranks.

"Every beast here fought well, but... HAAF--!" I said and took a deep breath. "YOU LOOK LIKE SHIT!" I let out a thundering growl making all those present flinch.

""WUu... WUOH?!? GRRR!!!"" The wolves whine, growled annoyed or confused by my outburst while the foxes whisper among themselves.

"Eight casualties...!" I spoke up once again waiting for the multitude to quiet down. "We had 8 precious comrades fall in battle..." I declared looking at the wolf corpses behind Erina and turned to the white and blue wolf. "And our Healers prevented that number from growing..." I acknowledged and looked around once more noticing some beasts with lowered ears. "You guys have improved compared to your normal tactics, but don't get conceited! That's nowhere far enough from mere survival. These enemies weren't the best they had to offer, and the battles dragged as if you lot were hunting prey instead of fighting like mighty beasts! Such long fights can makes victory uncertain... I also didn't see enough planning, anticipation or improvisation..." I finish giving feedback and let them process it for a moment.

"Huhum... We got lectured~" Erina mused within the chatter and grinned showing her teeth.

""WUUuuu..."" The wolves whined disappointedly after hearing her.

"Fortunately, you all learn fast, and showed the desire to improve, so I believe this Tribe will accomplish greatness!" I empowered the intelligent beasts.

"Huhum... He's encouraging us now~" The golden she-wolf by my side commented.

""WUUOOOOH!!!"" The wolves shouted in unison excitedly showing their motivation.

"Hehe... That's the spirit!" I chuckled amused and approved before turning serious. "This victory deserve some celebration, but unfortunately, the fight isn't over. So, recover your magic resources, and let's prepare for the worst... I will try to use the foxes..." I pointed out and instructed before reminding.

""HOUU!!"" The wolves acknowledged eagerly and started moving one at a time into the Mana vein to replenish their depleted reserves.

"You speak our language well now..." Erina judged and laid her head down resting.

"Huuuff... Yeah, I never thought learning a language would be this easy, especially growls..." I did a long tired sigh before saying. "But it was exhausting and still gotta deal with the foxes..." I asserted in Stilus and turned around.

"Go... Go end this full-scale invasion..." Erina encouraged and enveloped me with her magic.

*Thursh! Thursh!* I nodded and walked on the soft dirt towards the foxes on the east who looked restless as if wanting to say something.

"Hey, lizard! What was that about?" The spear user riding his beast demanded.

"There was...a contest to capture the most foxes alive and I'm the prize..." I answered stopping a five meters away.

""Wha--ack! You bastards! We aren't trophies!"" The three foxmen complained while their beasts reflect their anger.

"Neither am I! Who knows what that crazy bitch who won will do to me..." I protested and glanced back for a moment. "Why is she still thinking about it?!" I wondered worriedly peering through the corpses blocking the normal view.

"HA! That's what you get for mingling with the wolves." The armored fox ridiculed with a sneer and turned serious. "You should come to our side... We'll forgive what you've done and grant benefits they cannot offer." He offered and pointed to the wolves. "I bet any of our major families would accept a dragon with your potential and it is possible that the Divine's beast Son will want you as his disciple..." The firefox asserted on behalf of his tribe.

"Really? That's tempting... But no can do. I value loyalty enough to die for it. And I belong to a Noble human family already..." I turned down the proposition explaining my origins.

""The humans!? Jyuwuans??"" The foxes questioned making sour expressions.

"Yes. I'm just trading information for Mana crystals with the wolves since a big human war will cause a shortage soon and I need to make a breakthrough, so I'll return in a few days..." I described my motives and parting time.

"...That's a shame. But it's good that you are leaving. There's no need for us to be enemies... Even though you caused a lot of damage and the Divine will be furious--" The spear user affirmed their view about me and grumbled recalling my early actions.

"Gohon! Beast, what's going to happen to us now?" The older-looking fox coughed to interrupt on purpose and inquired.

"Yes, follow me to group up with the others. Then I'll convey the Matriarch's intentions on what you have to do before going back to the border." I ignored the previous remark and answered.

The firefoxes looked at each other, nodded excitedly, and then back at me before nodding again. I turned around and headed for Waldo and Elsion's group giving the same instruction to follow me until we reached Eluana's with the fox healers in tow. They organized once more south from the group of females with the beasts sitting at the back and the people sitting in front facing me with darkened expressions.

"Hello! I know this is a profoundly upsetting ordeal but please remain calm, and let's have a civilized conversation before you go home." I greeted the firefoxes and assured in a calm tone.

The crying and sniveling were replaced with conversations as the foxes exchanged information in growls that I couldn't understand and quickly enlivened before stopping to look at me demanding an explanation.

Damn, they look so cool~ I really want to befriend them...for reasons. Well, mainly because the continuation of my existence depends on allies...but how do I go on about that? The wolves were easy since they were desperate, and their top Rank was just a low talented pre-divine, but the Divine Firefox is a huuuuge obstacle... From what little I've gathered, it seems highly improbable that he'll be of any use to me and just getting involved with him poses many risks... I'll need more events to unfold and gather enough information to deliberate an approach. I deliberated hoping to leave a good impression.

""An interrogation?? Who made you leader? You look out of place... You really speak... Let us go home, now!!!"" The foxes lost patience and showered me with questions.

"Uh... Right... So, I'm the wolves' spoke per--beast, and the Matriarch's advisor. As such, I have some authority in the Tribe, and certain responsibilities..." I stated my position in reply.

""How did that happen? You're gonna get eaten! Humph! Like anyone would believe that. That stubborn bitch hate us to the core! YEAAH!!!"" The prisoners demanded once more and commented spitefully.

"Right... The Elders fought the Matriarch for the right to make decisions in the Tribe, and I am a mediator of sorts... But there's no need to worry about me getting eaten..." I explained the past events leading to this point and noticed their expressions of understanding.

"Who is worried!?" The spear user interjected.

"In any case, let's be friends here and speak casually... You can call me 'Blue.'" I finish my introductions.

"You are more purple than blue though." A fox woman retorted as the others nodded agreeing.

"GRR... Call me stormy then!" I snarled annoyed.

"Yes... I'm sorry, Mr. Stormy... We aren't going to attack the messenger, so you can stop wasting Mana on Lightning." The previous vixen apologized and advice. "I'm Karla." The dark-skinned tall woman looking in her 30s, introduced.

"No, no, I'm not afraid, Karla... I just survived a magic rampage and received some...enlightenment, but I lost full control of Elementals since then. So, I'm not really doing this..." I explained the lightning clad and causing murmur in the fox group.

""OOHhh...! You survived Monsterification? That explains a lot... Certainly... No wonder he's so weird. Strange beastie..."" The prisoners drew their conclusions.

"Then, Stormy, what do the wolves want?" Karla inquired stroking her thick fluffy tail.

"Right. The first thing we want you to do is...strip." I revealed and watched the foxes freeze for a moment.

""Huh?? Eh? Wh--! Eh? What?"" The prisoners uttered shocked and stared with mouths agape in disbelief.

"C-could you repeat that?" The dark-skinned vixen stammered asking.

"Take your wears off and make a pile...there." I reiterated and pointed to my left.

""..."" The silent foxes looked at me dazed.

"...Wh-why...?" The vixen stammered perturbed glancing at the wolves around.

"Be at ease. Huuff~ We'll just keep all the metal you guys have." I assured and sighed before clarifying.

"...We don't need to get naked for that!" Karla's face relaxed and retorted taking a rebellious attitude.

"Tsk! I want to see Fox girls without those outfits getting in the way..." I muttered looking at the ground lamenting.

""W-what!? How vulgar! Indecent beast! Fiend! Pervert! Go die... His head isn't working well! Have some shame... C-c-cute...?!"" The girls on my right insulted with threatening expressions and turning crimson while the males observe their reactions.

*FSSssss...* The air above the group on the right becomes distorted from the rising temperature.

"Alright, alright, alright!" I lifted a paw conceding in a hurry. "Just take off the armors and weapons. Jesh..." I compromised and the girls eased their attitude.

"So... You want to see naked men too, eh?" An older firefox teased on the left.

"GUH! But seven nude vixens is totally worth it..." I countered with determination.

""Pfft! Hahaha! Hohoho!"" A few foxes on my left laughed either mocking or amused.

""Kyufufu! Gyururu!!"" The fox beasts mused looking down at us losing their tension.

""Well, let's get this over with... Yeah!!!"" The foxmen accepted without much thought.

"Alright, girls--..." The leader of the foxwomen got up saying and turned around.

*PAK! PAK!* The dark-skinned vixen clapped twice and commanded.

"Let's give up our gear...it's not our lives." She ordered glaring at each one of them.

""NOOO!!! My savings! We might die without them! It's too hard getting vixen armors..."" The fox women complained glaring at me or their leader unwilling to part with their light armors.

"You'll be fine... Your Elders will appreciate the information I'm disclosing here..." I declared walking closer and noticed the foxes twitch visibly. "Now, chop chop! I'm waiting for the unveiling of your cute foxy figures~" I hurried the girls and stayed observing their group up close.

""UUUUUuuuggh!!!"" The foxwomen disgruntled with contorted faces.

*Swiss~ Clink! Tarak! Ka-chk! Klrash! Thonk! Fwsh!* The males stood up first and started helping each other remove their heavy armors before the girls followed along.

"I'm c-cute...me?!" A short-haired fox woman asked taking peaks at me through the group and flickering her ears around while fidgeting.

Hm? This reaction...!!? Did I hit the jackpot on a possible ally? Huhuhu... I ignored the other foxes and rejoiced watching the timid girl squirm under my examining gaze.

The slender Firefox had light brown skin with a small chest, sharp nails almost beast-like and wide hips with attractive curves, but her face had scars and even freckles that made her very unattractive.

My...God... I wanna tap dat ass... I mused observing the light-brown girl turn sideways for a moment giving space for the others. But why is she so scarred when some healers can fix that? Money? No, wait, some bruises are recent and those--...are those rope marks on her wrists? Someone has been abusing her for years... Uff! Me and my disposition to find broken girls... Regardless, I failed with Hilda, but I think my chances to befriend this fox and steal her away are high... I analyzed while the prisoners undress and decided to convince a prisoner.