There are many different beliefs on the types of powers kitsune possess, though all are known to have certain powers regardless: Superior intellect, the ability to shape-shift into a human form, and magical powers.
In American Kitsune, kitsune are given three basic abilities. Known as enhancements, illusions, and enchantments, these are abilities that all kitsune learn to one degree or another. Beyond these three powers, each kitsune has a specific affinity for one element based on the principle of thirteen elements: Fire, earth, river, wind, thunder, forest, ocean, mountain, spirit, time, sound, celestial, and void. Outside of their element and the three aforementioned abilities, a kitsune is no more powerful than a human.
I tell you this now to explain how a kitsune with six tails can be killed by a mere gun. Kitsune are not all-powerful beings. If a kitsune is cut, they will bleed. If hit, they will bruise. If shot through the heart or head, they will die. A kitsune's physical defense is no more powerful than those of a human's. Even when using enhancement to increase their strength, they do not receive a major boost in defensive capabilities. The only way a kitsune could survive being shot was if they were using their affinity to create armor. For example: If an ocean kitsune had encased their body in armor hardened with their own youki, they could theoretically block bullets, depending on how much youki they had fed the armor. That said, without the armor, no kitsune can withstand getting shot.
This also explains how Luna Mul was killed by Kevin Swift. Without any sort of armor protecting her, Luna was left open to attack. Perhaps if she had been aware of him from the beginning, she wouldn't have died. However, kitsune live for hundreds of years, and Luna, with six tails to her name, had been around for over 600 years.
Something interesting about a race of tricksters that live for generations is that they tend to grow arrogant. The longer they live, the more arrogant they become. This is due partly to age giving them a sense of superiority over the homosapien race, but it is also because of the boost in power they receive. A kitsune gains another tail every 100 years. This tail multiplies their power by the number of their tails. A three-tails has three times the power of a two-tails, and a four-tails has four times the power of a three-tails. By six tails, kitsune are powerful enough that very few yokai can match them in terms of raw youki. That sort of unbridled power is bound to make anyone arrogant.
Well, now. I hope you all had as much fun reading this book as I had writing it. This story took a dark turn, but I believe it made for an interesting twist. If you did enjoy this story, I would be grateful if you could leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, or wherever you bought this from. Thank you all again for supporting me!
A Fox's Vacation (American Kitsune Book 5) Page 46
