Being a Divine Glowstick Has Consequences

"Oh no. Oh no no no no—"

I took one look at the massive demon beast standing in front of me, licking its chops like I was an all-you-can-eat celestial buffet, and immediately bolted.

"I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!"

The beast roared, shaking the forest as it charged.

I screamed.

And thus began the most intense chase of my tiny squirrel life.

—*

How to Escape Certain Death: A Guide for Divine Squirrels

Step One: PANIC. (Check.)

Step Two: Run faster than you have ever run in your life. (Check.)

Step Three: Don't die. (Working on it.)

I bounced off branches, skidded across tree trunks, and leaped through the air like a sugar-fueled ninja, but the demon beast was relentless.

Every step it took shook the ground, snapping trees like twigs.

I tried Shadow Dash—but the beast had four legs, and its strides were too big.

I tried Cherry Blossom Mirage—but it sensed my real body immediately.

"WHY WON'T YOU BE FOOLED LIKE A NORMAL STUPID MONSTER?!" I screeched.

It snarled in response, its massive claws swiping at me—

I dodged just in time, feeling the rush of air as its talons sliced clean through the tree I had just leaped from.

"Nope nope nope NOPE—"

Then—a cliff.

I skidded to a halt, my tiny paws gripping the edge as I stared into the endless void of darkness below.

Great.

I glanced back.

The demon beast grinned.

Even better.

"This is how I die," I muttered. "As a shiny, glowing idiot squirrel."

—*

Meanwhile, Back in Velistra's Throne Room

Velistra watched with great amusement as her tiny, glowing squirrel tried to escape a very hungry death.

She lazily swirled her wine.

"She's learning," she mused.

Zareth sighed, arms crossed. "She's going to fall off that cliff."

Velistra smirked. "Good."

Zareth blinked. "You… planned this?"

Velistra chuckled. "She has a new skill, does she not? Let's see if she figures it out in time."

—*

Back to Me, About to Fall to My Doom

The beast lunged.

I had seconds to act.

Panic mode engaged.

I scrambled through my new abilities in my mind—

Crimson Bloom Strike? Nope. Not enough power to counterattack.

Luminous Veil? It would block one hit, not help me escape.

Sakura Surge? It would only give me a short burst of speed.

Then I saw it.

Sky Step.

My heart pounded.

The description flashed through my mind.

"Briefly walk on air, defying gravity."

It was a huge gamble.

But I was out of options.

"Oh gods, please work—"

The beast swiped.

I jumped.

And—

I did not fall.

Instead—my paws touched something solid in midair.

The air itself shimmered beneath my feet, forming a barely visible golden pathway.

I sprinted across the sky.

"HOLY SHIT, IT WORKED—"

The beast roared in frustration, watching its glowing meal literally run away through the air.

I laughed, half-hysterical, half-triumphant.

"I AM A GOD NOW!"

And then I promptly tripped over my own paws and faceplanted into the sky.

—*

Meanwhile, Velistra Was Absolutely Dying of Laughter

"She—" Velistra wiped a tear from her eye. "She tripped! She actually tripped!"

Zareth shook her head. "Are you sure this is the one you want, Mistress?"

Velistra smirked, watching as Koko picked herself up and kept running.

"Oh yes," she purred. "She's going to be magnificent."

—*

Back in the Forest: New Skill, Same Stupidity

I finally escaped, landing in a "safe zone" deep in the forest.

My paws trembled, my chest heaving.

I had survived.

I had unlocked a freaking flight ability.

And most importantly?

I was never eating another golden peach again.

Probably.

Maybe.

Okay, fine, we all know by now that I have no self-control.

I lay sprawled across a thick tree branch, my fluffy divine form twitching from exhaustion.

I had done the impossible.

I ran across the damn sky.

I escaped a demon beast that wanted to turn me into celestial roadkill.

I survived.

And yet—

"I am never doing that again," I muttered into the wood.

I could still feel the phantom sensation of my paws slamming into air like it was a real surface. It was the weirdest thing I had ever experienced.

And that included dying, reincarnating, getting hunted by wolves, and nearly getting murdered over a peach.

"Why is my life like this," I groaned.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves around me, carrying the faint scent of blossoms and—

Wait.

My ear twitched.

Something was coming.

I snapped upright, tail flaring, my new divine senses tingling.

The air shifted.

A presence. Powerful. Too powerful.

And then—

A voice.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

I whipped around—

And found myself staring at a woman.

No—not a woman.

A fox.

She stood perched effortlessly on a branch across from me, nine luxurious tails swaying behind her. Her silvery-white hair cascaded over her shoulders, her golden eyes practically glowing.

A kitsune. I think. I can't be sure, since my memories of my first life are a bit fuzzy.

A powerful one.

And she was grinning at me.

"A celestial squirrel?" she mused, tilting her head. "Now that is rare."

I gulped.

"Uhhh… hi?"

The fox's grin widened. "I saw you running through the sky."

I tensed. "Oh. Uh. Yeah, that. Just… testing a new ability. Nothing crazy."

She chuckled, clearly amused. "Mm. Quite an impressive skill for such a small creature."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're not here to eat me, are you?"

She laughed, tails flicking. "No, little one. If I wanted you dead, you would be."

Comforting.

"I am merely… curious," she continued. "Beasts do not simply ascend to celestial status without reason. So tell me, little squirrel—"

Her golden eyes gleamed.

"Who exactly are you?"

—*

Meanwhile, Back in Velistra's Throne Room

Velistra's smirk widened.

"Ah… finally," she murmured, watching the scene unfold in her projection.

Zareth glanced at her. "You knew the fox would find her."

Velistra took a sip of her wine. "Of course."

Zareth hesitated. "Should we intervene?"

Velistra chuckled. "No, no… let us see how Koko handles this one."

Her crimson eyes shimmered with intrigue.

"After all, fate is beginning to take notice of our little celestial squirrel."

—*

I had faced wolves, demon birds, shadow beasts, and a giant murder snake.

But somehow, this fox lady was the scariest one yet.

She perched effortlessly on the branch across from me, her golden eyes gleaming with an intelligence that saw right through me.

And worst of all?

She was amused.

"Who exactly are you, little squirrel?" she asked, voice smooth as silk.

I straightened, fluffing up aggressively. "I'm Koko. And I am NOT little!"

The fox raised a delicate brow. "Mm. You are glowing like a divine artifact and leave cherry blossoms in your wake. But yes, very intimidating."

I sputtered. "Okay, first of all, rude—"

"Second," she continued, cutting me off, "you reek of celestial energy. Which means either you were blessed…"

She leaned closer.

"Or you stole something you weren't meant to."

I froze.

She knew.

SHE KNEW.

My brain went into full-on panic mode.

Lie! Make something up! Play dumb!

"Uhh—" I cleared my throat. "Define 'stole.'"

The fox chuckled, clearly entertained. "You ate a golden peach, did you not?"

I gulped.

"Noooo," I said slowly. "'Ate' is such a strong word—"

"Your divine aura says otherwise."

"Okay, maybe I nibbled it. A little. Just a tiny bite—"

The fox grinned. "And now the divine beasts that fought over it will hunt you to the ends of the earth."

I went completely still.

"Wait… what?"

The fox smiled, all teeth and mischief. "Did you truly think there would be no consequences, little squirrel?"

Oh. Oh no.

I screwed up.

—*

Meanwhile, Back at Velistra's Castle

Velistra was grinning.

"Ah, she's realizing it now," she murmured, watching as Koko's tiny squirrel soul left her body in horror.

Zareth crossed her arms. "So the beasts will come for her, then?"

"Of course," Velistra said, sipping her wine. "But if she is truly worthy of her evolution… she will find a way to survive."

—*

Back in the Forest: Panic Mode

"They're going to HUNT ME?" I shrieked.

"Mm," the fox hummed, looking entirely too pleased. "The golden peach is a rare celestial fruit. Consuming it grants immense power, but it also marks you as a target. Divine beasts do not like their meals being stolen."

"BUT I WAS HUNGRY!"

"And they are angry."

I groaned into my tiny paws. "I am so dead."

"Not necessarily," the fox mused. "If you grow strong enough, they will see you as an equal rather than prey."

I stared at her. "You're telling me to power-level so I don't get eaten."

"Precisely."

I threw my paws up. "Of course. Of COURSE this is my life now."

The fox chuckled, clearly enjoying my suffering.

"Well then, little celestial squirrel," she purred, standing gracefully. "Shall we see what you are capable of?"

I blinked. "Wait. What?"

She smirked.

And then—she lunged.

I screamed.

—*

Back in the Castle, Velistra Just Kept Laughing

"She really is delightful," Velistra purred, watching as Koko ran for her tiny glowing life.

Zareth shook her head. "And yet, you will not warn her?"

Velistra's eyes gleamed. "Why would I ruin the fun?"

And with that, she sat back and enjoyed the show.