"I-If you mean that big Boss Frog dude, then yeah!"
"What? You? The low-level beast, defeated the King of the Swamp?" Asked Vipermouth, bewildered.
I swallowed pretty hard and tried not to shrink back in fear under that serpent glare of his.
"Y-Yeah? But it was kind of in self-defense, you know? He attacked me first!"
[Well, I did pounce on one of his minions, so I guess that's on me—but it's not like these guys need to know!]
The snake-beast tilted his head like he was holding back a laugh.
"Impossible. Croak'mar was one of Sasobek's appointed Marsh Lords meant to keep this swamp indoctrinated by his laws. Even a single strike from his tongue could impale something like you."
"..." I didn't know what to say, these guys could kill me if I said one bad thing.
Leapmouth, meanwhile, was silent and just watching me. Surprisingly, his eyes weren't mocking like Vipermouth's though.
"She does not lie." He said as Vipermouth turned his head toward him.
"You can't be serious, you fool!"
Leapmouth nodded his head and closed his eyes, even lowering his weapon.
"Her aura carries the trace of Croak'mar's soul. She must've devoured, and assimilated him."
[Wait, WHAT?! Devoured?!]
"Hold up, I didn't devour anyone!" I yelled, standing up on two of my feline feet and pointing my paw like an idiot. "That's gross!"
Leapmouth frowned at me before I stood back on my four paws again.
"When a Boss-Class enemy is defeated, the successor absorbs their soul in order to increase the weight of their own."
Huh? Well, this was new. I had no idea how any of this stuff worked up until now.
"For other enemies who aren't in the Boss-Class category; they merely give you soul fragments, or what we call, EXP. It allows you to become stronger. You may have only a small understanding of this world, considering you are but a cub."
[So basically, he means leveling up. Okay, I think I get it now. Lower-Class enemies give a portion of their soul, and Boss-Class enemies give me their entire soul. Makes perfect sense. So... I guess that Croak'mar guy really is part of me now, huh?]
I looked down in deep thought, feeling kinda bad for the Boss frog, but if that's how the laws of this world work, then so be it. But now I'm curious, how could this guy even tell all of that from my aura alone?
[[Answer. Auras are unique to each individual. They contain the information of the individual's feelings, personality, and ethics. Additionally, auras are influenced, controlled, and manipulated by willpower. The more willpower someone has, the faster they will level up, gain new skills, and evolve. With Keen Senses leveled up, you'd be able to see one's aura and it's properties.]]
Man, I gotta level up some more to see auras?! Lame!
"So it's true then. This little furball somehow killed a Marsh Lord? What's next, you little runt? You'll tell me you plan on taking Lord Sasobek's throne too?"
"I don't even know who this Sasobek guy is!" I said with the weakest stance imaginable. "I-I just kinda wanted to live here, but bad stuff happened, I swear I'm innocent! We all are!" I said, facing my swamp army who looked reliant on me.
Leapmouth opened his eyes again, facing Vipermouth calmly.
"Mock her all you wish, Vipermouth, but the evidence speaks for itself. The aura of Croak'mar's soul lingers inside of her. She has claimed this swamp."
This frog guy was super chill, thank god for someone as awesome as him! I was shaking in my fur at this point, scared to say the wrong thing, or make the wrong move, but he seemed to back me up—despite being on the other side.
"And what of it? She must still suffer the consequences for slaying Croak'mar. He was the King of the Swamp." Said the snake beastlord with a frown.
Leapmouth shook his head in denial.
"There must be a change of plans, it was another beast who did this, not the one we were looking for. We must report back to Lord Sasobek and ask for his guidance once more."
"Tsk..." Vipermouth frowned, shooting a menacing glare at me. "What a lucky runt."
Without another word, the two beastlords walked away as Vipermouth seemed the most agitated.
"Thank goodness everything worked out okay... I was gonna yell for my mom like a crybaby if it got worse." I whispered under my breath, lowering my head in a sigh, but to my surprise, Leapmouth stopped in his tracks.
"Your mother?" He asked, slightly turning to face me.
"Huh? O-Oh, yeah!" I said, lifting my head.
"And what is her name?"
"Her name?" I repeated, widening my eyes. "Uhhh... her name's Bubastis, why-?"
Before I could even think of saying something else, a gust of wind hit me so hard it nearly sent me tumbling backward. Leapmouth moved, or rather, disappeared, and the next thing I knew, he was standing in front of me, sword already drawn and swinging at my neck.
I was about to die—there was no time to react. He was too fast, far faster than I imagined... but to my surprise, there was a loud metallic sound, as if something parried his blade.
Sparks flew about, scattering across the mud as I froze with wide eyes. I soon realized the sword that was meant for my neck had been stopped mid-swing. Leapmouth's blade trembled against another weapon; it was a long, Khopesh sword, and holding it... was someone that felt familiar.
She was tall, draped in a white hood with a hole at the back for her tail to stick through, and two more holes at the top for her ears.
"Enough, Leapmouth." She spoke with a clear voice. It sounded calm and commanding, like it didn't need volume to demand obedience.
[W-wait... that voice... that aura?!]
My tail shot straight up, and my mouth hung wide open. I didn't wanna believe it, but there was no question about it.
"M-Mom?!"
Her gaze alternated to me as she released a small sigh of relief.
"It seems my emergency teleportation failsafe worked." She said with a smile under her hood.
[What the hell is going on?! How is my mom humanoid right now!? She's a freaking cat girl!]
Leapmouth took a step back, holding his sword graciously. "So I see..." His tone, once full of self-assurance, now sounded like disbelief struggling to take form. "You were the one who defeated Croak'mar, alongside your daughter."
"So it seems." She said, lowering her blade in her hand.
Was my mom crazy or what? This Leapmouth guy was battle-stance and ready, and you're letting your guard down?!
"So you finally show yourself at last, Bubastis!" Vipermouth slithered forward with a crude smile, releasing an ominous aura from his body. "The traitor of the Beast Kingdom, Animalia. I was wondering when you'd show yourself."
[Traitor?! My mom's a what?!]
Bubastis' grip tightened around her khopesh, though her expression didn't waver, not one bit.
"If that's what your master calls one who broke his leash, then yes, call me a traitor. I'll wear it proudly."
Leapmouth's stance lowered ever so slightly.
"You know what your actions caused, Bubastis. After you betrayed Animalia, the Primeval War between the Inner Beasts and Outer Beasts ruined this land! And now, the only Outer Beast who remains, is you!"
My mom stood there, completely still with her tail swaying in a slow, deliberate motion that meant something bad was about to freaking happen.
[Okay... maybe I should, uh... hide behind a rock or something? Yeah, hiding sounds like a great idea right now!] I ran for it, hiding behind the turtle.
Vipermouth's smirk widened.
"You've run long enough, Bubastis!" He yelled angrily. "Lord Sasobek will devour you for what you've done!"
"And you think you can deliver me to him?" She asked calmly with her tone almost mocking him.
Wasting no time, Vipermouth lunged before she even finished. It was A blur of motion as he shot forward like an arrow. His entire body turned into a silver-green streak as his long tail soared through the air, aiming for her neck.
But Mom didn't flinch.
Her khopesh sword rose in a single—and almost effortless motion—and with a clang that echoed across the swamp, she parried him.
The force shook the air around them, sending droplets of murky water exploding outward and across the swamp army who all watched in awe.
"What a battle!" Said the turtle, widening his eyes.
Mom then twisted on one foot before grabbing his scales and using his own momentum to flip him over her shoulder. She slammed the massive serpent straight into the ground before the earth crumbled like cardboard.
Vipermouth let out a guttural groan of pain before recovering and snapping his tail like a whip, barely missing her face.
Then Leapmouth joined in.
He moved like lightning—but was much more graceful, swinging his blade masterfully at a rapid pace. Each slash was sharp, precise, and aimed to kill, but my mom danced between them like she'd done this a thousand times before.
Every dodge she made was fluid before she found an opening, kicking him in the stomach.
"Kuhoooh!" Leapmouth let out a strangled cry as he was launched backwards, flipping multiple times in midair to recover.
I couldn't believe my eyes—I knew my mom was a Divine Beast, but who would've known that they were this strong?!
"Whoa!"