Chapter 1
Darius Blackwood, known throughout the galaxy as the Iron Marshal, lay on the brink of death. Just as the whole empire braced itself for his demise, something incredible happened—a small bundle came crashing into his world. This little puffball possessed extraordinary power, jolting the comatose Marshal awake with a single swipe of its tiny paw. If Elena Voss had known that awakening the Iron Marshal would come with the unexpected title of his fiancée, she would have turned it down flat. The notorious stories about Darius said he was a fierce, intimidating figure, but what she soon discovered was that he had a serious weakness: he was a total softy for fluffy creatures. He couldn't go a day without needing to touch something soft, or he felt completely out of sorts. Elena Voss: "Have you had enough? I’m going to lose all my fur at this rate!" Darius Blackwood: "Just ten more minutes." Elena Voss: "Not even a single minute!" Darius Blackwood: "Then how about a kiss?" The fiery tension crackled between a cunning fox spirit and the formidable, dark-faced Marshal. With a whimsical twist, it turns out that Elena was no ordinary companion—she was a spirit fox, a creature of legend who had crossed time and space into a futuristic world, wielding powers that were astonishing yet comically oversized. Also known as the daily life of the Marshal's devoted wife, this tale weaves together the fantastical and the absurd, as an adorable fluffball and a fierce commander find themselves in a whirlwind of affection and unexpected challenges. **Tags:** Time Travel, Industry Elite, Redemption, Feel-Good Story As the tale unfolds, we watch as Elena navigates her new life, discovering what it truly means to be the fiancée of the Iron Marshal while dealing with her own playful but powerful nature. With humor, heart, and a sprinkle of magic, the adventures of Darius and Elena promise to be anything but ordinary. This unique blend of romance and fantasy invites readers to enjoy a journey through intergalactic trials, self-discovery, and the bonds of love that form against all odds.
Chapter 2
The Kingdom of Assyria was enveloped in a somber atmosphere. Its citizens had grown increasingly despondent since their beloved Marshal, just two weeks prior, fell critically ill while combating the Insectoid Tribe. A mere two days ago, the lead physician delivered a dire health report, casting a pall over the entire empire, as though the sun had forsaken the skies. On the Starweb, a post rippled through online forums, igniting a torrent of reactions that were difficult to dismiss. Samantha Rivers: “Oh my God, our Marshal! How could this happen? Does this mean the Empire believes there’s no cure for the Insect Venom? This can't be real! I’m pleading for the Marshal to pull through, and for the doctor, please don’t give up hope!” Hugh the Vagrant: “If we can’t find a solution for the Insect Venom, and if we can’t save the Marshal, what does that spell for Assyria? Are we at the brink of our demise?” Jasper the Bold: “Listen up! I just got word from my cousin at the Gene Discovery Centre. Apparently, he hasn’t returned home in four days! The entire facility is burning the midnight oil, scrambling to analyze a Beast that might match the Marshal's genetic profile. They’re racing against the clock with this research.” Katherine Gold: “You’ve got to be kidding me! A Beast? Has everyone lost their minds? While I want the Marshal to recover more than anyone, how is a Beast supposed to help? We abandoned that approach eight centuries ago!” Dandelion Moss: “I’d rather hold on to the belief in miracles than think the Empire’s leaders would stoop to such methods to save the Marshal. It seems far-fetched. Bonding with a Beast means intertwining life and death. Today's Beasts are nothing like those from the past. Associating the Marshal with a Beast would only heighten the danger. Besides, the mental assistance from such a bond wouldn’t provide any significant value. Who came up with such a ludicrous idea?” • The whirlwind of frantic discussions on the Starweb reached far and wide, all the way to Planet Rebeck, where General Darius Blackwood lay gravely wounded. His incredulous roar shattered the day's tranquility. “Are you kidding me?” Markus Grey, having been reprimanded by superiors, sneezed violently. After seventy hours behind the wheel without rest, he felt utterly drained. Nevertheless, he summoned every shred of awareness as he clutched the cage in his hands and squared his shoulders. He was in the Grand Sanatorium on Planet Rebeck. Initially serving as a shelter for the afflicted during a widespread disease outbreak when the war began, the facility began to clear out about a month ago. After Darius had delivered a decisive blow to the Insectoid Tribe, the Borderlands had calmed, and most patients had been moved elsewhere. Now, this place was under tight security, manned by Darius's loyal troops. Markus had undergone grueling security checks; without his encounter with Admiral Cassius Winter, who was leading the patrols, he likely wouldn’t have gained entry. After overcoming numerous hurdles, seeing his former superior invigorated him. Without hesitation, he laid out his intentions. The previous scene unfolded swiftly after. After chastising Markus, Admiral Cassius appeared to grasp the weight of the moment and the setting. With a fierce glare directed at Markus and his voice laced with urgency, he pointed to the electronic cage in Markus's hands. “A Beast? You just proposed that the Marshal bond with a Beast at such a critical juncture?” Markus, well aware of Admiral Cassius’s brusque nature, felt an unyielding determination swell within him. Clad in military garb, badges gleaming on his chest alongside a distinctive pin, he held steady. That pin was a cherished keepsake from his time under General Darius’s command, shining in the light, a symbol of his unwavering spirit.
Chapter 3
Markus swallowed hard, standing tall and saluting with the precision of a soldier. His gaze remained steady as he said, "This is a suggestion, Admiral Horn. As a warrior of Assyria, I present it after careful thought for the future glory of our Empire." "Careful thought, my foot." Cassius slammed his hand on the table, glaring at Markus, but he struggled to find the words to continue. As Markus braced for a reprimand, he noticed Cassius—typically reckless in battle—had reddened eyes. Markus understood well the temper of his superior. He doubted Cassius would show such emotion merely due to the Insectoids' strength; Cassius's fearless nature could only be affected by one reason. "Admiral, the Marshal—" Markus's eyes widened in shock, and he suddenly froze. Rumors he'd heard earlier swirled in his mind. Seeing the grim expression on Cassius's face, Markus's heart sank. Just then, a clear voice cut through the tension. "Give it a try." The meeting room door opened unnoticed as Archibald entered, dressed in a pristine white medical uniform. Markus quickly straightened and saluted, "Major Archibald." He was a childhood friend of General Darius Blackwood and had rushed into battle as a doctor at the onset of the Insectoid War. After Darius was gravely injured, Archibald had stayed in Rebeck as the attending physician. Recalling the three words Archibald had just spoken, Markus couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Archibald approached him, seemingly ignoring Cassius's uncertain gaze, and tapped on the black surface of an electronic cage twice. The dark shell rapidly became transparent. Inside was a low-grade Beast. "Fox." Looking at the creature quietly sleeping with visible wounds, Archibald showed a glimmer of astonishment. "I haven’t seen this breed in ages; it looks rather appealing." "...It's a low-level Beast. The image analysis isn't promising, but there are too few Beasts compatible with the Marshal. I thought maybe, just maybe, there could be a miracle." Markus hesitated, then asked, "A-Archibald, what is the Marshal’s condition like now...?" Archibald's eyes displayed a hint of sadness. "In two hours, the toxins will reach the heart." As he spoke, he turned to look out the window. A colorful bird flew across the sky—the same Beast that had accompanied Archibald for over twenty years. "The barrier we imposed has failed. The toxins seeping into his organs will directly invade the heart. Coupled with the destabilized energy core, we face two critical threats at once. No one can do a thing; the elders have already given up." After Archibald's somber statement, a brief silence enveloped the meeting room, but it was quickly shattered. "Give up? What do you mean by that? Are we just leaving it like this?" Markus exclaimed, the pent-up frustration of over a month pouring out. Forgetting his rank, he clenched his fists, agitation evident in his tone. "That’s the Marshal we’re talking about! How can we give up before the last moment? He has fought for the Empire’s safety at the cost of his life, enduring the poison’s torment. How can we stop when he hasn’t surrendered—" "Markus." Cassius interrupted him. Archibald paused before responding, glancing at the cage in Markus's hands with a hint of determination. "I don’t want to give up either." • With Cassius accompanying him, Markus sat in the observation room that Archibald had arranged, lost in thought.
Chapter 4
In the heavily secured room where Darius Blackwood lay incapacitated, access was strictly forbidden to anyone not fully armed, and even then, entry was limited to specific times. This led to the establishment of an observation area—not that it made Markus Grey feel any better. As he watched a handful of suited personnel finish the protective contract circle, mixing the blood of Little Fox and Darius Blackwood before stepping back, his mind began to wander. He couldn’t fathom how Archibald Swift had managed to convince the elders, but there was no doubt that he had faced tremendous pressure to achieve this result. Truthfully, Markus felt a whirlwind of chaos in his mind when he saw others mention that the contracted beast resembled Marshal Grant's. He had acted almost impulsively; this past month had been a shadow hanging over them all because of Marshal Grant’s severe injuries—everyone was tense and on edge. The magnitude of the Insectoid’s threat was only known on the surface; only those who had faced them in battle truly understood the dire situation. The latest generation of Insectoids not only hit the Empire hard with their Insect Venom but surpassed it militarily and in physical prowess—especially in the latter aspect, leaving soldiers who had engaged them deeply traumatized. Before Darius Blackwood took command in the frontline against the Insectoids, the Empire had suffered multiple defeats, losing countless soldiers, and their defensive lines were rapidly collapsing. It was only when Darius donned his armor that they managed to barely reach a standoff with the enemy. Considering all of this, Markus sighed, peering down at the report in his hands, personally inspected by Archibald Swift, detailing Little Fox’s condition. Severely injured, barely functional, life-threatening injuries. He should have known… the little fox had been wounded before being sent to the Gene Discovery Centre, with rumors saying it was during the capture. The veterinarian had also warned him that given the Empire’s level of beast medicine, the prognosis was grim. Sending a battered beast to save a high-level psychic whose inner shell was nearly destroyed felt reckless. For the first time, Markus Grey felt the absurdity of his own thoughts as he sat in front of the monitor. Silence enveloped the observation area, the weight of the atmosphere becoming more pronounced with each minute that passed. Suddenly, as Markus pulled himself away from the report, he noticed the little fox getting up slowly on the screen, five minutes after everyone had left the room. To his astonishment, it managed to free itself from the protective mask Archibald had placed on it. The little creature's wounds seemed to have been treated, yet the injuries remained stark against its soft, white fur stained with traces of blood. When Markus had brought it out from the Gene Discovery Centre, he had felt a strange mix of anxiety and helplessness—this was the first time he had encountered such a small contracted beast. It was almost the size of his palm, and throughout the arduous journey, as the medic had said, it had remained completely unconscious, refusing to open its eyes—until it had been placed in the care unit. Until then, it had given a faint whimper before curling up into a comfortable position and sinking into a deep sleep. For over seventy hours of travel, it hadn’t opened its eyes. But there it was, standing beside Darius Blackwood. Markus straightened in his seat as he realized this, his heart racing, fully focused on the monitor. The little fox, unsteady on its feet, began to walk towards Darius Blackwood, making Markus feel as if time had stopped. On the screen, the tiny creature continued to approach Darius, its fluffy tail trailing behind like a banner of vulnerability. After a few steps, its wavering feet came to a halt, and it gazed up at Darius with its big, watery eyes, appearing almost furious… Markus couldn’t quite understand why he had this notion; a low-level beast confronting a high-level psychic without fear but rather with anger? How could that be! Yet, the fire in the little fox’s eyes seemed undeniably real. Just as Markus was lost in the intensity of that gaze, the little fox suddenly raised its paw. From the angle of the monitor, he could even see the soft pink pads beneath its fur. In an explosive moment, the seemingly frail creature sprang into action. With a fierce swipe, it struck Darius Blackwood right across the face.
Chapter 5
Markus wasn't the only one focused on the screen. Archibald, along with several others, lingered at the doorway, holding their breath in anticipation. As Little Fox slowly made its way to Darius Blackwood, Archibald sensed someone behind him itching to rush inside. He quickly stopped them, and just as that little creature's paw came down, a loud crash echoed behind him—it seemed someone had lost their footing. Archibald didn’t turn around. He held his breath, his gaze fixed on the room through the glass. He didn’t dare remove his protective gear, fearing he might miss something crucial. Then, under his watch, Little Fox stealthily shifted its paw from Darius's face to his mouth, its dark eyes glimmering with confusion, as if it had no clue about the chaos that had just occurred. Soon, Archibald began to hear a couple of disappointed sighs from behind him, but he remained still. Someone stepped forward, their voice laced with frustration. “Major, maybe it’s time to bring that Beast out. It didn’t even react when the pact was formed. This Beast seems pretty low-tier.” “You could never expect much from a Beast like that,” another murmured. “None of these Beasts are worthy of Marshal Grant's attention, especially not the weakest among them.” As the murmurs continued, more people began to shrug off their protective gear, but Archibald stayed rooted in place, eyes locked on the scene inside. His brow furrowed deeply; a nagging premonition tugged at him... Suddenly, a small movement in the room caught Archibald's eye. He leaned closer, squinting through the glass. Underneath that white paw, Darius Blackwood—who had been comatose for a month—was suddenly gasping for breath. After a few moments of struggle, he violently retched out a foul substance, and shockingly, his tightly shut eyes began to flutter open, revealing eerie blue orbs laced with blood. The people behind him gaped at the scene unfolding, but Archibald charged into the room like a whirlwind. Little Fox, caught off guard as its paw inadvertently smeared blood, looked highly displeased. At first, it tried to suppress its frustration, but ultimately, it couldn’t hold back its ire. “Awwoooooo—!” What do you think I am, ungrateful? After letting out its shout, the fatigued Elena Voss felt her vision blur and succumbed to unconsciousness, casting a final disappointed glance at her filthy paws as she drifted away. She was a mystical creature, a thousand-year-old fox spirit—patient, understanding, and generally mild-tempered. Although she had her flaws... Elena Voss still prided herself on being a good-natured, cultured spirit. But right now, she was furious. Lately, it felt like she had fallen victim to an overwhelming spell of bad luck—one misfortune after another. It was just a simple tribulation! Failing was one thing, but getting injured and having her demon core crack was another. To make matters worse, during the most critical moment of her tribulation, Elena Voss had unwittingly slipped into a void, only to be unceremoniously shredded by warped space. This led her to a world with exceedingly thin spiritual energy. With her demon core damaged, her bones aching, and the spiritual energy so sparse, Elena Voss found herself unable to even tend to her minor injuries. She didn’t have the strength to harness her powers. A thousand years of cultivation made her a step away from death due to blood loss. After that, her mind turned to mush—drifting in and out of haze, she sensed someone carrying her back and forth. Though she wanted desperately to jump out and have a serious conversation with her carrier, she couldn't muster the strength to wake up. Just as she believed she was being placed in something, she sensed an increase in surrounding spiritual energy. Even a slight enhancement felt immensely enticing for Elena Voss at that moment.
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