Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

The contract's power manifested in a way that defied all expectations.

As Grim stepped forward, energy coalesced beside him, taking shape with startling speed.

A fox materialized next to him. This was not an illusion or projection, but a creature born from the realm's essence itself.

The fox stood nearly three feet tall at the shoulder, its fur a striking combination of blue and white with orange highlights.

Its eyes showed it had intelligence that was clearly beyond that of any normal animal, studying Grim with what appeared to be recognition and acceptance.

"What is that?" Elder Míngzhì gasped from the circle of observers, his voice carrying genuine shock. "I've never seen such a manifestation."

"Neither have I," Húxiān admitted, her divine perception unable to fully categorize what Grim had summoned. "The contract was designed to grant power, not create life."

The fox turned its attention to Xùyán, who had paused his assault on Húwáng to stare at the unexpected development. The corrupted fox spirit's expression showed confusion mixed with growing unease.

"A pet?" Xùyán sneered, though his voice lacked its previous confidence. "You think a magical animal can help you against my power?"

Grim didn't respond verbally. Instead, he found himself understanding the fox on an instinctive level, as if their minds were partially connected. The creature understood his intentions without the need for words or commands.

"Let's test your new toy," Xùyán snarled, launching a barrage of dark flames toward both Grim and his summoned companion.

The fox moved with gracefully, weaving between the attacks while Grim drew Echo and advanced alongside it.

Their coordination was perfect, as if they had trained together for years rather than meeting moments ago.

"Celestial Mist: Cross-Cut," Grim called out, his blade creating an X-shaped slash while the fox darted in from the side, its claws raking across Xùyán's thigh. The combined attack forced the corrupted fox spirit to retreat several steps.

"Interesting," Xùyán admitted, dark energy swirling around his wounds to heal them. "But tricks won't save you."

As the battle intensified, Grim began to unconsciously channel mana to his companion.

Water mana flowed from his body into the fox, and its blue coloring became more vibrant, its movements even more graceful.

But then something unexpected happened. The dark mana contained in Grim's fourth heart, already agitated by the nearby corruption, began to leak into the connection.

Purple energy mixed with the blue and white fur, and the fox's entire demeanor changed.

The creature's eyes shifted from intelligent calm to predatory hunger. Its body began to expand, muscles growing and bones lengthening until it stood six feet tall.

What had been a graceful companion became a vicious predator, its enlarged claws gleaming with dark energy and its fangs extending into proper weapons.

"Now that's more like it," the enlarged fox seemed to communicate through their connection.

Xùyán's confidence faltered as he faced not just Grim, but a creature that radiated the same dark corruption he carried. "What have you done?"

"Given you an equal opponent," Grim replied, feeling the fox's violent impulses mixing with his own emotions.

The dark mana was affecting both of them, but in his companion's case, it seemed to unlock primal instincts that had been suppressed by its initial form.

The enlarged fox leaped forward with inhuman speed, its claws extended and wreathed in purple mana.

Xùyán barely managed to block with a barrier of dark flames, but the impact sent him sliding backward across the churned earth.

"Dark Flame: Consuming Pyre," Xùyán shouted, trying to engulf both Grim and the fox in corrupted fire.

But the fox's enhanced size came with enhanced resistance to magical attacks.

It charged through the flames with minimal damage, while Grim used "Celestial Mist: Thousand Paths" to create a corridor through the fire.

They attacked from opposite sides, forcing Xùyán to split his attention between two equally dangerous opponents. The fox's claws tore through his dark energy armor while Grim's blade found gaps in his defenses.

"This is impossible," Xùyán gasped, blood streaming from multiple wounds. "You're just a human!"

"Maybe," Grim agreed, water rising from the nearby stream at his call. "But I'm a dangerous human."

He gestured toward the water, intending to create a binding technique that would hold Xùyán in place for a finishing blow. But as the liquid responded to his will, the dark mana in his body contaminated his control.

Instead of normal water magic, a spear of corrupted liquid formed. The latest chapters are always available first on MV5LEMPYR.

It wasn't wafter at all, but something darker and more viscous. The spear moved with its own will.

"What—" Xùyán started, but the dark spear was already in motion.

It pierced his left shoulder, driving completely through his body and pinning him to a tree behind. But instead of simply causing physical damage, the spear began draining his life force, the dark mana treating him as fuel for its continued existence.

"I didn't mean to do that," Grim said with genuine shock, staring at his own hands in confusion.

"But you did," Xùyán replied with bitter laughter, trying unsuccessfully to free himself from the draining spear. "The corruption has you too. You're becoming like me."

The observation was uncomfortably accurate. Grim could feel the dark mana's influence growing stronger, fed by the violence of combat and the proximity to Xùyán's own corruption.

His rational mind was being pushed aside by impulses that whispered of darker possibilities.

As Xùyán struggled against the spear, blood ran down the tree trunk where he was pinned. Without conscious thought, Grim found himself reaching out with his senses, following the trail of spilled blood back to its source.

Suddenly, he could feel Xùyán's body as if it were his own. Every muscle, every bone, every movement was laid bare to his perception through the blood connection. The sensation was intoxicating and terrifying in equal measure.

"What are you—" Xùyán began, then his eyes widened in horror as his own right hand began to move against his will.

Grim watched in fascination as he unconsciously controlled Xùyán's movements, forcing his claws to extend and position themselves over his own shoulder.

The blood magic was responding to his subconscious desires, turning his enemy into a weapon against himself.

"Stop," Xùyán gasped, fighting desperately against the foreign control. "This isn't possible. Humans can't—"

His words cut off in a scream as Grim forced his claws to pierce his own shoulder, driving through muscle and bone with supernatural strength.

More blood flowed down the tree now forming a pude at his feet.

Grim turned to look and saw no one was interfering with his duel.

The moment of conscious recognition broke his concentration, and Xùyán regained control of his body.

With desperate fury, he lashed out with his free arm, dark energy wreathing his claws as they extended they reached four paces away. It raked across Grim's chest, opening another set of wounds on his chest.

The attack sent Grim stumbling backward, blood streaming from fresh wounds that burned with corruption.

But the damage was done, Xùyán was hurt and not healing from the spear and Grim's body was slowly bleeding.

"Blood magic," Xùyán spat with revulsion and fear. "You're learning blood magic without even trying. The corruption is teaching you techniques that should be impossible for a human."

The fox, now fully under the dark mana's influence, stalked closer to the pinned Xùyán with predatory intent. Its enlarged form radiated malevolence, and its eyes held no trace of the intelligence and restraint it had shown initially.

"Finish him," the fox's mental voice urged Grim. "He's weak now. End this."

"No," Grim replied aloud, trying to assert control over both the fox and his own darkening impulses. "We've won. There's no need for murder."

"There's every need," the fox growled, its voice now audible to everyone present. "He would have killed you without hesitation. He deserves the same mercy."

From the circle of observers, Elder Míngzhì watched with obvious fascination and growing concern. "The human is losing control of his own summoned creature," he murmured to his fellow elders. "The dark mana is corrupting both of them."

"Perhaps," Princess Ruxi said quietly, her voice carrying hope despite the circumstances, "but he's still fighting it. That has to count for something."

Húxiān remained silent, her divine perception tracking the complex interplay of energies around Grim and his companion.

What she saw concerned her, but not for the reasons the elders assumed.