No! I don't want to be a Super Necromancer!

At the heart of the great basin a few days later, deep within the darkened forest, an ancient presence stirred from its slumber. A dense fog seeped outward, thick enough to drown any who breathed it, laced with the sickly-sweet scent of mana-infused decay.

Slowly, a colossal form rose, sinews cracking like thunder, shaking centuries-old trees and scattering terrified creatures in every direction. Twin eyes, glowing an infernal shade of violet, snapped open, piercing through the shadows like twin stars burning with cold fury.

The Demon Fox was awake.

Its titanic form shifted, fur black as obsidian and shimmering faintly with eerie mana. The beast stretched slowly, lazily at first, but each movement radiated barely-contained power.

The air tasted metallic, thick with bloodlust, tinged with the acrid scent of ozone from the sheer mana saturation. Even the air around the fox trembled, as if afraid to touch the creature.

Then it froze.

"My daughter…" the Demon Fox snarled, voice deep and distorted, reverberating through the basin like a rolling storm.

Its senses expanded instantly, racing outward through the forest, each breath and heartbeat amplifying its terrifying awareness. In seconds, the fox saw every broken body, smelled the spilled blood, tasted the lingering bitterness of death in the air.

Thousands had fallen.

Its daughter was gone.

The fox's roar shook the entire basin, ripping through the trees, exploding into a blast of sound powerful enough to rend the sky itself. Leaves disintegrated in midair, and even the mightiest mana trees trembled violently, shedding crystalline blossoms in panic.

Twelve shadows immediately appeared around it, silent and swift, each exuding an oppressive aura that pressed down like gravity.

They were massive, terrifying, drenched in mana potent enough to twist reality itself. Each was a nightmarish beast, ranging from towering armored gorillas to sleek panthers shimmering with ghostly mana flames. The air around them warped, shimmering like heat waves, heavy with their combined strength.

"Prepare the army," the Demon Fox snarled, his voice heavy with killing intent. "We invade the human realm at dawn!"

But before his generals could acknowledge the command, space itself shivered and twisted.

An aura even more overwhelming descended upon them, suffocating in its intensity. It tasted of sun-baked fur, rich earth, and ancient authority.

From within the twisting energy stepped forth a majestic lioness, golden fur gleaming, mane-like flames dancing gently around her neck. Her golden eyes regarded the fox calmly, yet with the silent threat of absolute power behind them. Her voice, though quiet, echoed clearly, dangerous and commanding.

"We are not ready yet," she said firmly, each word vibrating with restrained power. "Wait a while longer. When the Lion Emperor awakens fully, we will strike and crush the humans in one fell swoop."

"But they took my daughter!" the Demon Fox snarled, eyes flashing dangerously, mana pouring from him like a tidal wave, scenting the air with bitter rage.

The lioness's golden eyes narrowed just slightly, her calm demeanor unwavering.

"Then send a small team to search and retrieve her," the lioness said coldly. "But do not kill more than one hundred humans. And do not destroy any buildings like that reckless rogue beast. This human incursion was nothing more than petty retaliation. We do not want them sniffing too deeply into our territory… lest they uncover the truth."

The Demon Fox growled deep in his chest, the bass notes shaking the air. But even he recognized her authority. With a reluctant snarl, he relented.

"Fine." the Demon Fox growled, his voice laced with divine malice.

Turning toward the circle of monstrous beasts kneeling before him, he snapped, "Six of you. Go. Find my daughter and bring her back. Minimize collateral damage. If you can."

At once, six titanic figures stepped forward, their presence swelling until the very air buckled under their combined might. The basin dimmed under their collective aura, as if the sunlight itself refused to shine upon them.

Each exuded an intensity so vast it could be felt with every sense, like heat licking the skin, pressure crawling through bone, and the sound of invisible drums pounding through the blood.

First was Blackhowl, the gorilla general—massive, twelve meters tall, with granite-colored fur threaded with glowing red veins. His muscles were corded like steel cables, and his gauntlets were fused with obsidian runes that pulsed with volcanic power. He could crush tanks with his bare fists, and his [Seismic Pulse] could split the land open with a single blow.

Next came Mistveil, the panther—sleek, ethereal, her fur woven from moonlight and shadow. She moved like fog, her presence flickering between seen and unseen. Her eyes glowed a pale silver, and her breath carried a faint, cold sweetness. She was a master of [Voidstep], able to traverse distance in a heartbeat, assassinating without warning.

The third was Ashmaw, the molten bear. His body was built like a fortress, plates of living basalt covering a frame pulsing with inner fire. Cracks in his armor glowed orange and gold, leaking embers with each breath. His roar caused combustion, and his [Infernal Grasp] melted weapons, armor, and bone alike.

Fourth stepped forward Thornback, the insectoid horror. Towering on six legs, his chitin shimmered with reflective mana crystals. Vines and thorns wrapped around his limbs, shifting constantly. His ability, [Blooming Carnage], allowed him to turn entire forests into living traps that drained the life from his prey.

Then came Sleetfang, a wolf-thing with fur of frozen mist and a mane made of jagged ice crystals. His eyes were like twin glaciers, and his breath froze the ground beneath him. He radiated silence and stillness. With his [Frozen Echo] technique, his kills often occurred before his howls reached your ears.

Last was Bloodmist, the bat general—gaunt, skeletal, yet terrifyingly regal. His wings stretched wider than the canopy, tipped with crimson blades. Blood ran through his skin in open channels like dark tattoos. His gift was [Hemolock], a power that allowed him to siphon vitality directly from the air, using the blood of the fallen to cast devastating spells.

"We will not fail you, my lord," Blackhowl rumbled, pounding a fist into his chest. The ground trembled in answer.

The Demon Fox's eyes narrowed into slits of violet fire. "See that you don't."

Without another word, the six titans transformed into human beings, then blurred into mist, into wind, into nothing at all.

The lioness said nothing, only watching the void they left behind, her gaze flickering with an inscrutable light.

The Demon Fox lowered himself once more, his enormous body curling around the cracked stone dais. His breathing deepened, slow and heavy, shaking the forest floor. Mana surged around him in pulses.

The forest held its breath. Its beasts cowered in silence. And the world beyond remained unaware of the storm quietly, inevitably, coiling to strike.