All nine tails fanned outward, and seven colossal kitsune burst into existence across the sky, each one three meters at the shoulder and sprinting at full speed.
The eighth tail curled around Celeste, and a phantom fox swallowed the foxkin maid whole, wrapping her in an illusion so complete that even the golden hair and eight tails vanished inside a kitsune indistinguishable from the rest.
Eight identical foxes charged the tear through open air.
Dwarven halberds swung through images that scattered like smoke and reassembled behind the men who'd committed to the swing.
Then an elven commander's eyes narrowed.
"That one! Focus fire!" she shouted, pointing at the one who swallowed Celeste.
Every archer in range pivoted toward the eighth fox, and the volley that followed was concentrated enough to black out the sky above it.
