ã€ŠMy Demon Pet Systemã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Breath

    "Aargh... my head... it doesn''t stop spinning!" he whispered, massaging his temples and turning to one side. " I can... I can breathe again!"

    As soon as he opened his eyes, the young, long-haired man looked at the blurry shapes in front of him and then rose his eyes to the ceiling, realizing he was lying on the ground.??

    "What the fuck... where... where am I?" he thought aloud, rubbing his eyes and beginning to focus on the images. Staring at it long enough, he managed to understand that what he was experiencing was too vivid to be a dream.

    When his gaze fell on his callous and ruined hands, a sudden feeling of fear ran through his whole body and, very quickly, he stood up, risking the fall.

    "Don''t... I... I don''t..." he continued to whisper, babbling nonsensical words. His hand instinctively rose to touch his face, frantically tracing his jawline until itnded on his shoulder-length hair. He looked down, unable to recognize the leather clothing, dirty with mud and straw.

    In a hurry, he looked around, focusing his attention on the environment around him: the floor and walls were made of rough damp wood, and the ceiling of that small square room seemed built entirely of straw which rested on long wooden beams.

    A small chair was a few meters away from him, before a modest square wooden table, next to a firece. He could smell pieces of wood burning so intensely that it impregnated everything that was between those four fragile walls.

    "Where the fuck am I?" he whispered to himself. It took him a minute but then it suddenly dawned on him, it''s a... a hut. He remembered that he had been sitting in his chair when¡ª the blond-haired boy continued, unable to retrace his memories beyond that moment, turning backwards and continuing to look around.

    In addition to the table, a firece and arge barrel filled with water, simr to a handmade sink, there was a cluster of soft straw in the other corner of the room, covered with fabrics of various kinds, which had the makings of a bed.

    The boy''s breath became more intense, and a strong feeling of anxiety and contrasting emotions prevented him from moving. That was until his gaze fell on a piece of ss hanging on the wall above the sink.

    Convinced that that strange irregr and damaged object was the most mirror-like thing he could find, the young man positioned himself in front of it and, with his eyes wide open towards the reflected image, stood staring at his new appearance.

    Straight, dirty blonde hair fell on his right shoulder, and brown eyes looking back at him reminded the boy of something he had already seen. His hand immediately touched his face to reiterate to his brain that what his eyes were looking at was in fact real and not imaginary.

    When he touched his cheeks and chin, he realized that the beard once had was not there, and in its ce, were faint stubbles spread in patches across his face.

    "Aaarg! Who the hell is this?! Who the hell am... I?" he eximed suddenly, resting his hands on the water-filled barrel and pushing backwards, stumbling and falling to the floor.

    "Ouch! Uh?!"

    After the thud caused by his back mming against the hardwood of the floor, a strange noise came from behind his shoulders, and his face immediately turned in that direction.

    "What was it? Who''s there?!" he gasped as if he suspected an intruder in his house. He noticed that the strange sound wasing from the bed area.

    Immediately, a small dark creature with a horned head sprang from under one of the sheets. Its two crimson eyes caught sight of him and began to stare at the young man, who returned that gaze.

    He pushed himself up off the ground before retreating until he touched the table with his lower back.

    As soon as he walked away from the bed, the figure hidden under the sheets slowly crept out, revealing its true appearance: it was a kind of ck lizard, equipped with scales all over its body and a long meandering tail, with paws simr to those of a kitten.

    Unable to believe what he was seeing, the boy continued to rub his eyes, hoping that the image would vanish, but it didn''t.

    The strange hybrid animal jumped from the bed and, keeping its eyes on him, when again it screeched.

    "Aaargh! Holy bitch!" the young man said, running across the table, unable to hold back the fright. He wondered what kind of animal the creature before him was. It seemed to be a weird amalgamation of a cat and a lizard. Was it possible that someone had drugged him?

    "Screek!" the strange animal repeated as it began to walk on all fours towards him, with an innocent air despite its not so innocuous appearance.

    "Hey, hey! Stop right there! Don''te any closer, buddy! Stay where you are, okay?!"

    As soon as it heard that phrase, the Nekage stopped moving. It stood still and continued to stare forward with its small, demonic red eyes.

    "Uh?"

    Amazed at its behavior, the young man walked around the table again, making sure that the strange animal who mysteriously hid in the bed did nothing dangerous, being a littlerger than a standard cat.

    "Go to your ce, get back on the bed!" he said, testing the Nekage.

    *tap*tap*tap*

    The sound of the paws, followed by that of the reptile''s tail dangling backwards and tapping the floor, traced its movements until it executed the secondmand it had been given.

    There''s something wrong here, he thought. It must be a dream. That was the only way it could exin this. As if he still felt the aftereffects of a drug, he found himself struggling to recall even the smallest thing. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t remember anything. How old am I? What''s my name?

    As dozens of questions flooded the young farmer''s mind, something else caught his eye.

    A dense red liquid, incredibly simr to blood, exuding from the wooden wall above the firece.

    As if by magic, each of the drops of that blood stopped at an exact point and, in a few seconds, a clearly visible inscription appeared:

    "Wee to your Demon Pet System, your second life''s redemption attempt. Tame a Demon in the next 48 hours or die forever."

 Chapter 2 - Hunger

    What? He was sure he was hallucinating. It must be a dream. He looked at the wall with a confused air about him and kept an eye on the little Nekage, who admired him curiously from his back.

    Almost instantly, the bloody writing was reabsorbed from the wooden wall and within seconds, other red letters took shape in the same way.??

    "This is not a dream, it is reality. You wasted your previous life, you won''t get a third chance."

    "Oh, fuck! Shit! What devilry is this? Taming Demons? I don''t even remember my name!" he said hysterically, "Hey! You¡­ um¡­ stupid inscription on the wall! I''m talking to you!" the young farmer said aloud, while the second inscription also disappeared before his eyes.

    As he continued to think frantically, the young man pinched the skin of his arm. "Ouch! I can''t believe it... the pain seems real... everything around me looks incredibly real, even the smell of burnt wooding from the firece!"

    "Screek, screeek!" the Nekage eximed, drawing his gaze.

    "Train a demon in the next 48 hours? I''ve never even seen a..." he continued before staring at the fiery-red eyes of the little pet sitting on the bed. "You... you are by chance a... a demon?"

    "Screeek!"

    By the vertical movement of its head, the Nekage confirmed that statement.

    "Oh my... oh my goodness..." the farmer whispered, retreating and sitting on the stool, while his head kept spinning. This was all out-of-the-ordinary.

    "What if... what if what was written on the wall was real? What if I''ll really die forever in 48 hours? I can''t just wait and do nothing!" He never thought I''d say that, "I have to figure out where to find a demon and how to tame it!" he continued, talking to the Nekage as if it could answer him.

    "Screek! Screek!"

    "Can you help me, little guy?"

    "Screek?" the little lizard-cat replied, tilting its head and striving to understand his human words.

    "Uff... never mind... I don''t know how I got myself into this trouble, but... it looks like I''ve lost my memory and... okay, calm down. I have to stay calm and think about how to solve this puzzle. I''m sure my mind is ying tricks on me!"

    *rumble*crash*

    The sudden sound of thunder caused the young man to jump from the stool.

    "Great, a storm! That''s all we needed!" he mumbled, approaching the only window of the hut, located next to the front door.

    Beyond the opaque window ss, despite the reduced visibility due to the absent light, he managed to recognize some dense vegetation. It appeared as if the house was immersed in a forest and, less than ten meters from the front door, a dirt road skirted the hut.

    Without thinking twice and driven by pure curiosity, he opened the door and stepped forward, stopping on the edge and looking around.

    Drop by drop, the rain began to wet his face and soon increased in intensity, as the breathtaking view took shape.

    What kind of ce is this, he wondered, "I don''t remember ever being here..."

    *crash*boom*

    The sound of a second thunder echoed in the air, louder than before. He immediately closed the door, sheltering himself from the rain and noting that his little friend, intelligently, had not even got out of bed.

    "You don''t like rain, do you?"

    "Screek!"

    "Well, I don''t me you, who likes it?" he said, approaching the firece and warming his hands as the cold air from the outside prated through the wooden walls, quickly decreasing the temperature, while the night embraced the hut.

    *gurgle*burp* His stomach began to growl.

    "I wonder how I can be hungry in a dream... " he whispered, thinking aloud just to feel less solitude. "Will there be anything to eat here?" he continued, approaching a closed barrel next to that which served as a sink.

    After opening the barrel, a strong rotten smell was released into the air, forcing him to step back.

    "Ugh! That sucks!" The meat was rotten. He grabbed a piece of the meat contained in the barrel and lifted it to his face, noting that the stink came exactly from there.

    *gurgle*

    Maybe by cooking it, it will taste better than its smell, he thought.

    In addition to the three pieces of meat extracted from that barrel, other fabric bags containing goods were piled up on the bottom along with some ss bottles.

    "I hope there''s a good wine among all this stuff..."

    "Grrr..." the Nekage suddenly growled, who a moment earlier was focused on watching its master handle pieces of sulent flesh.

    "What is it? Aren''t you hungry?" he asked, approaching the firece and lifting an old pot resting next to the dry wood.

    The Nekage continued to growl and show its short, sharp teeth, identical to those of an alligator.

    After blowing the dust out of that rusty pot, the boy leaned it on the appropriate support in the firece, consisting of two rudimentary iron cables, and dropped on it the three pieces of purplish meat.

    *tzzz* The meat began to cook, emitting a thin white smoke as the metal surface of the pot reached the right temperature.

    With his stomach still grumbling, the boy turned to the pet and, being sure it wasn''t dangerous, approached it.

    "What''s going on, little guy?" he asked, trying to figure out which direction those two little red eyes without pupils were facing. "The window? What, are you afraid of thunder? Don''t worry, we''re safe from the storm in here. Or at least¡­ I think so," he continued, scratching the nape of his head.

    Without warning, the Nekage jumped from the bed and its growl began to turn into a guttural roar. The ckish scales on its neck rose slightly forward; even those on its back and tail made the same movement.

    What...? the young man whispered in confusion, looking at his little friend out of the corner of his eye and approaching the window fearfully.

    As soon as his gaze fell outwards, he saw a dark figure walking along the road that lined the hut.

    A hooded person held a small torch, the me of which was protected by a kind of small roof at the top of the wooden stick.

 Chapter 3 - Trader

    "Is that a man? That means I''m not alone in this dump!" the young blond-haired man said as he rushed to open the door, dismissing the danger.

    The man stopped in his track when the door squeaked open. It had been loud enough to be heard over the pouring rain. Without uttering a word, the mysterious wanderer pointed the torchlight towards the hut. ??

    "Uhm... hello!" the boy at the side of the door eximed, waving his hand and attracting the attention of that ambiguous figure. "You can''t keep walking in those conditions under the storm... if you want, I can offer you shelter" he repeated, ready to test whether that strange dream allowed him to interact with people.

    The hooded man came up again while the torch''s faint me wavered without ever going out.

    "Hello to you, farmer! I don''t usually ept invitations like that, but... thank you very much. These ck clouds popped up all of a sudden and... well, I was not prepared" the man promptly answered, who, after getting close enough, allowed the farmer to catch a glimpse of his face from under his hood.

    "Grrr... sscreek" the Nekage growled, remaining behind its master, who turned to keep it quiet.

    "Hey, be quiet! Don''t scare this man!" he eximed, inviting his pet to move away and back off.

    "Oh, but you''re a tamer too! Phew! That''s why you weren''t afraid to let a stranger into your house!" the hooded man interrupted, crossing the door and closing it behind him.

    Water flowed from his long tunic, wetting the floor under his feet, and the stranger lowered his hood, finally revealing his appearance.

    The short ck hair and an uncultivated beard made the young homeowner assume that his guest was older than him. When he unfastened his coat and lifted it from his shoulders, suddenly, something that had remained hidden there, sheltering itself from the rain broke free. It flew until it rested on one of the ceiling beams.

    "Grrargh! Grragh!" the Nekage panicked, taking refuge behind its master''s legs and making the scales of its skin curl as he watched the flying demon who had just entered their house.

    "Hey, what''s that thing? A parrot?" the young man asked with an astonished air, looking at the demon of his guest, who was wiping its perched wings over their heads.

    It was a brightly coloured bird, the size of which did not exceed that of a small parrot. The blue beak was small and curved towards its swollen chest. Tworge feathers popped out of his head, extending backwards, almost the entire length of its body.

    As pupil-less as those of the Nekage, its small yellow eyes were surrounded by two stripes of darker, almost ck blue lines. The feathered and colourful wings were perfectly identical to those of a tropical parrot, while the two birds of prey''s legs were hairy and equipped with thin and long ws, simr to those of a badger.

    "Uh? Have you never seen a Waromu? Well, maybe they''re not verymon in these areas, but on the other side of the Southborne Mountains, there are whole flocks of them!" the man replied, amazed that his interlocutor was so shocked. "Oh, what a beautiful specimen! Your Nekage is really gorgeous! I''ve never met one with such red eyes!" the wanderer continued, lowering himself to the little lizard pet and extending his hand toward it.

    Nekage, Southborne Mountains... what the fuck is this guy talking about? Did he really ask me if I''m a Demon Tamer? Me? the young householder thought as he continued to look at his guest without speaking.

    "Oh, well. Now it''s much better," the wanderer said after hanging his wet tunic by the firece. "Excuse me for my rudeness. I thank you for your friendliness and kindness. My name is Enatsu, and I''m a trader from Silvertide Vige, on the other side of the mountains!" he continued, bowing to who had offered him shelter from the rain and extending a hand towards him, ready to make his acquaintance.

    "Er... I''m d to meet you, Enatsu!" the farmer replied, not knowing what to say. "Um, yes! Sorry, my name is... well, my name is..." he stammered, striving to remember his past, but to no avail.

    Just as he tried to dig into the deepest archives of his mind, a timeless and seemingly meaningless images appeared for a moment before his eyes.

    A ss resting on a dark wooden table was filled with a yellowish substance, and behind it, a bottle was resting, full of the same thing.

    ''Yoichi ¨C Fine Whiskey''

    This was the inscription on thebel of the ss bottle which he was drinking during what seemed like thest moments of his most recent memories.

    "Yoichi! My name is Yoichi!" he eximed, shaking Enatsu''s hand and taking a long breath.

    "Nice to meet you, Yoichi and thank you again! You know... you haven''t answered my question before! Is the Nekage yours? Are you a tamer?" Enatsu asked again, insisting on that information.

    "Um... yes, I think so. There''s actually a reason why I behave so strangely, and I beg your pardon. I think... I think I''ve lost my memory!" Yoichi replied, touching his back, almost as if the mere thought of not remembering things made him anxious.

    *tzzz*pfff*

    A strong smell of roasted meat quickly expanded throughout the hut, and as Yoichi remembered leaving the three half-rotten steaks on the fire, he immediately ran to the firece. "Fuck... they were going to burn!"

    "Well, they don''t smell so bad!" Enatsumented, hungry for even the slightest piece. "If I may ask..., what do you not remember exactly?"

    A deep sigh followed that question. "Anything. I don''t remember anything about my past at all. I woke up in this hut with this weird little pet staring at me from the bed. The bizarre thing is that it obeys all mymand and..."

    "Hey, hey, wait a minute... do you really not even remember your Oracle?" the trader asked, sitting on the ground by the fire.

    "My what?"

    "Your Oracle! Oracles are the demons linked to our soul! If that Nekage obeys your every order and does anything to defend you, that means... it is your Oracle Demon!" Enatsu replied, chuckling.

 Chapter 4 - Connection

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Yoichi asked again, grabbing with care the pot left on the fire and moving it to the floor, so he could taste the half-burned meat, while his stomach continued to growl.

    *Phht*??

    Without directly answering that question, Enatsu put two fingers between his lips and whistled forcefully.

    "Tweet! Tweet!"

    After hearing the call of its master, the Waromu perched on the ceiling, let itself fall downward, gliding towards Enatsu and leaning with gracefulness on his shoulder.

    "That''s what I''m talking about. This is Sora, my Oracle Demon," the young merchant continued proudly, smiling and presenting his parrot-demon to Yoichi, who looked at it carefully, struck by its variety of bright colours.

    "Um... Hello! Hey there, Sora!" Yoichi replied, greeting the parrot with his hand.

    "Tweet!" the demon answered.

    "Hahah! This is incredible! And... how... how did I get my Oracle?"

    Enatsu looked at Sora perched on his shoulder, smiling. After a few moments, he took a deep breath and began to speak again. "Okay, it''s obvious that you''ve really lost your memory, young Yoichi! But don''t worry! To thank you for your hospitality, I will help you remember everything you need to know about the demons that popte the World of Lumya!" he affirmed with conviction, standing up and resting his hands on his hips, as if he was a superhero ready to help people.

    Yoichi looked at his Nekage, about a meter behind him, still intimidated by the presence of the two strangers.

    "Er... Sora and I didn''t eat anything since we set out this morning, so it would be easier to talk on a full stomach and..."

    "Don''t worry, Enatsu! You and your colourful friend can get one of these three meat steaks! I''m not sure they taste good, but... that''s all I can offer you!" Yoichi promptly interrupted, who had already figured out what his unexpected guest was referring to.

    Before Enatsu could respond to that kind statement, the homeowner grabbed thergest of the three steaks, taking care to lift it from the bone protruding to one side so as not to get burned. "Here, take this one. It should be enough for both of you!" he continued, behaving kindly towards the first human being he had encountered since his awakening.

    "Uhuhu! Did you hear that, Sora? It''s time to eat!" Enatsu chuckled, bowing his head and voraciously denting the meat, peeling off a piece and throwing it into the air towards his Waromu, who grabbed it in flight and swallowed it in one bite.

    Yoichi took another steak and put it on the ground, looking at the Nekage and making it realize that that meat would be its meal.

    Without contemting it, the lizard-demon came up to him and began munching on it with its sharp teeth.

    "Yum! This meat is delicious! I haven''t eaten meat in a long time! You know, it''s infrequent to find meat so good where I came from!" Enatsu eximed, thanking Yoichi, who was eyeing at his portion scrupulously.

    With great reluctance, he too tasted that strange violet steak, and as soon as his pte came into contact with it, its strong vour intoxicated his senses, causing his body a real physical enjoyment.

    "Oh my goodness... it''s... it''s really good, damn it!" he thought aloud, taking a second bite as if he hadn''t eaten in years.

    Within minutes, Yoichi, Enatsu and their two Oracles finished eating, while the farmer''s hut sheltered their bodies from the rain and the warm firece warmed their souls.

    "Aahh! This was a great meal! I was fortunate to meet you, my friend!" Enatsu eximed satisfied.

    "So, tell me... how did I get my Oracle?" Yoichi asked, pointing to the Nekage.

    "Oracles are not like other demons, and you can''t tame them. In our world, there are two types of people, Yoichi. Those who are born as normal human beings, inheriting the profession of their parents or something... and those like us, the Demon Tamers," Enatsu replied, starting from the very beginning.

    His interlocutor did not interrupt him, merely listening carefully to the speech, while the memory of the strange blood writing on the wall continued to return to his mind.

    "From birth, the soul of us Tamers are inextricably linked to that of our Oracle, a demon that was born at our same moment."

    "Our soul? You mean your soul is tied to that weird parrot? No offense, Sora!" Yoichi asked, pointing his finger at the little winged demon, who looked at him strangely.

    "That''s right. If anything were to happen to Sora, I would suffer its same consequences. The physical pain, the psychological pain... between Sora and me, we share them all", Enatsu exined, cuddling his pet who was currently perched on his shoulder. "Ah, I almost forgot the most important thing! Tamer''s life is closely connected with that of our Oracles!"

    "Hey, hey... wait a second. You''re saying... if Sora is killed or has an ident, you..."

    "I die with it, exactly", Enatsu confirmed, looking at Yoichi with grave eyes and making him realize that, despite his joking character, that was the mere truth.

    Almost automatically, Yoichi''s eyes shifted to his Nekage, who returned the gaze, and twisted its tail on itself, as if trying tomunicate to its master that they were fighting on the same side, for the same interests.

    Yoichi listened well to the young trader''s words and, while he exined to him about tamers and their indissoluble ties to Oracles in such detail, he could only realize, little by little, that he was not living a dream at all, but pure reality.

    His body was reborn, reincarnated in someone else''s body, in a world incredibly different from his own, where strange beings called ''demons'' lived with humans, bonding with their souls and strengthening their spirit.

    In the ssy red eyes of the little Nekage, Yoichi saw for a moment the reflection of his new self: a young Demon Tamer justnded in an extraordinary world to explore.

 Chapter 5 - Basics

    "What was I saying? Ah, yes. Unlike normal demons around the world, oracles cannot be tamed, but they have been part of us Tamers since birth. On the other hand, a Tamer can own an unlimited number of Demons, but summon only one at a time, benefiting from its skill", Enatsu exined, figuring from Yoichi''s gaze that he was hearing those things for the first time.

    "I think I understand... so every demon, including Oracles, has some special skill'', right?" ??

    "Correct."

    "And this skill is passed on to the Tamer, but only while the demon is by his side, one demon at a time."

    "I see you remember quickly, Yoichi! Even if you have a confused look, it just seems like you''re re-settling in!" Enatsumented, satisfied with his memory recovery work.

    "Above all, I''d say I''m a quick learner, but¡­ this is fine..." Yoichi thought as a smile appeared on his face. "And how is it possible to train other demons? I mean, in addition to our Oracles. Do you have any more?" he asked aloud.

    "Yes, I do. But I told you, I''m a tamer, that''s true, yet I dedicated my life tomerce and trade, following in my father''s footsteps... I''ve never been interested in exploration and fighting."

    "Fighting?"

    "Ahahaha! Wait a little, Yoichi, one thing at a time!" Enatsu chuckled, clearing his voice and resumed his narration. "Next to every city, vige or ce settled by us humans, there is a Crimson Lotus ntation, a flower capable of driving out evil demons. Yes, not all demons are as good and friendly as these two!" hemented again, arousing further interest in Yoichi.

    "Not only is the Crimson Lotus the only type of Lotus growing in bushes, surrounded byrge thorns, but it also has another peculiarity; these thorns, called Demon Spines or ''Demon Teeth'', if deprived of thetle liquid they are soaked in, they have the ability to trap the soul and body of demons inside them, allowing the Tamers to tame them and impose their will on them" he continued.

    "How is the thorn of a flower able to trap the soul of a demon? " Yoichi asked, unable to believe those words.

    "No one knows how. That flower is somehow older than humanity itself. It must have been born before the first men when the Ancient Demons still ruled Lumya," Enatsu mumbled, crossing his arms and looking up at the ceiling. "In any case, the procedure of catching a demon is not very simple and consists of several stages. The fight, the killing, the center of gravity, and the ''demon''s whisper''."

    "Mmh... okay...?"

    "In a nutshell, after fighting a demon and defeating it, you have to stick the thorn in its center of gravity and trap its soul inside it. Once you get the demon''s body, you and only you, will be able to hear its voice in your mind. It is precisely this voice that will whisper its real name to you, and thanks to it, you will be able to re-write its fate."

    "Its real name? So, I just need to trap a demon in a strange thorn and know its name tomand its actions? Well, that sounds pretty easy to me!" Yoichi jocked, beginning to think that maybe his end hadn''te yet.

    "The real name of a demon is the most precious thing it has. Also, it''s the only way you can get it back inside its thorn," Enatsu promptly replied, as his interlocutor scratched his head, trying to imagine the young trader''s words put into practice. "Okay, let''s do this way... it''s much better if I give you a demonstration of what I''m saying. All right?"

    "Um... yes. I think so."

    "Well then. Zestrith!" Enatsu yelled, standing up.

    After those words, Sora, his Oracle, released its vtile cry, closed its wings around its body and disappeared into nowhere. In an instant, the bird transformed into a strange aura of colourful light that jumped toward Enatsu, entering his chest.

    "Where... where did it go?" he asked, panicking, "Sora''s disappeared. You... did you call it back using its real name?" Yoichi gasped, standing up and taking a step back, not believing that his interlocutor had just used some kind of magic spell.

    "Yes, right! Oracles don''t need a Demon Tooth that contains them! They use our own body!" Enatsu exined, pulling something out of a small leather bag hidden under his linen shirt.

    "Grr... screek!" the Nekage growled, looking at the bag and warning its master that it could sense the danger.

    "Don''t worry, Yoichi! It''s normal for it to do that. It sensed that a new demon is about to be summoned!" the trader exined enthusiastically, who before Yoichi could answer, raised the Demon Tooth he had just grabbed upwards and stuck it in the wooden floor.

    Under the incredulous eyes of the young farmer, that purple thorn, simr to a small dagger, created many thin purple bundles that spread throughout the floor, quickly widening as if they were the roots of arge tree.

    After a few seconds, those roots vibrated and expanded upwards, emitting a shiny purple aura that thickened to give life to a well-defined and luminous shape.

    When the light disappeared, that strange shape came to life: two elongated arms, equipped with long ws, were resting on the ground, while the sly body ended in arge beaver tail. Its strange beak and two small ck eyes helped to give that demon just over 50 centimeters tall aical look.

    "Wow, that''s cool! What is it?" Yoichi asked, fascinated after his Nekage had calmed down, realizing that the funny demon would not hurt anyone.

    "It''s a Moruba! I captured it about a month ago at Mooke n. It''s beautiful, is it?" Enatsu said, satisfied with exhibiting his demon, which was a kind of hybrid between a mole and a beaver.

    "See? It doesn''t look bad to me, it seems nice!" Yoichi said, turning to his pet and then approaching the Moruba, extending a hand towards it.

    "Moo!" the wacky aquatic demon eximed, banging its tail twice on the ground and greeting Yoichi.

 Chapter 6 - World Map

    "It''s beautiful! I tip my hat to you, Enatsu... even if... I have not yet understood what the meaning of all this is", Yoichi marveled, looking with interest at the Moruba.

    "The meaning? It sounds pretty obvious to me, doesn''t it? Defeat the other Tamers and be the strongest! The most powerful Demon Tamers fight in the most important guilds of our faction and enjoy incredible privileges!" Enatsu replied as if saying something for granted. "There aremon, rare, and epic demons. Of course, the higher the rarity of a demon, the stronger its shared skill with the Tamer!"??

    "So just get rare demons to defeat the other Tamers, right? This also seems quite trivial to me", Yoichimented, looking for a ss to drink some of the water contained in the big barrel.

    "It''s not trivial at all! The rarest demons are on the edge of our world! Only the most adventurous Tamers push themselves beyond the borders of our region, traveling to unknownnds, crossing the seas and other continents just to look for the strongest demons of Lumya! You''re going to understand these things little by little, my friend. If I were you, now I''d focus on the present," Enatsu continued.

    "Mmh, I understand. You talked about factions a few moments ago... could you exin yourself better? How many factions are there? Are they at war with each other?" Yoichi asked again.

    "You don''t remember anything at all, ah? Hahaha! Luckily for you, being a trader, I never move without my world map! It''s not very up-to-date, this is true, but... with this it will be much easier to exin to you where we are and which faction we are part of", Enatsu replied, getting up and heading towards the tunic he had hung near the firece.

    "There you go, look!" he eximed, after extracting a piece of rolled paper and lying it on the table. "There is... is there anything to keep it still?" he asked, failing to keep the paper well stretched out.

    "Um, yes. I think so," Yoichi replied absent-mindedly, grabbing the now cold pot and the wooden cup with which he had drunk some water a few minutes earlier and resting them at the corners of the small table, above the map.

    "Perfect. So, we''re right here right now, in the Bronzeforest," Enatsu affirmed with conviction, pointing his finger east of the world map.

    Yoichi''s eyes, before falling on the specific area indicated by his new friend, focused on the overall view: threerge continents were the protagonists of that ancient hand-drawn map, one to the east, one slightlyrger to the west, and one slightly smaller to the far north.

    "Tent... Tentochu¡­" he whispered, reading aloud the name of the continent under Enatsu''s finger.

    "That''s right! Our nation''s name is Tentochu, and it''s also the name of the faction that all tamers born and raised here are part of!" Enatsu exined, moving his hand westward. "This is the nation of Kamakiri, our enemies'' home."

    "Enemies? Why are they our enemies? What happened?"

    "The ruler of Tentochu and the ruler of Kamakiri, have dered war on each other because of this cursed ind" the trader promptly replied, knowing that his interlocutor would ask that question.

    "Nomi Ind" Yoichi read in his mind, without pronouncing that name.

    "Although it belonged in ancient times to the Kingdom of Tentochu, many years ago, Kamakiri''s warriorsnded on its shores and appropriated it, insulting our King. Since then, Nomi Ind has been a contested territory, perhaps the most dangerous of Lumya.

    "I understand, you''ve been quite clear. What about this one? What about this northern nation?"

    "That is Mukade, an independentnd, without a King andws. Although its deserts and volcanoes are inhospitable and anarchist ces, it is said that the rarest earth and fire demons live right there."

    "Mmmh... judging by its position rtive to the other two nations, I''m not surprised it remained neutral," Yoichimented, looking at the world map as if it was a board game vaguely reminiscent.

    The threerge inds and the smaller one, Nomi, were surrounded by the sea on each front. Among them, the various regions were connected by harbors, marked on the map quite clearly, embellished with small drawings depicting tiny boats floating in the sea.

    A harbor connected the north of Tentochu with the east of Mukade and the west with the small ind of Nomi. The same thing happened between Kamakiri and Mukade, connected from north to west and between Kamakiri and Nomi Ind, but not between the two main factions: Tentochu and Kamariki were not connected by any kind ofnd or sea route and the only way to travel from one to the other seemed to be the Nomi Ind or the wild Mukade.

    An old handwritten lettering at the top, in the middle of the sheet, read the words: "World Of Lumya."

    "So? Do you remember something you''re seeing? I was saying... you live here, in the Bronzeforest and a few kilometers from your home is Goldhaven, the capital of Tentochu, which is where I''m headed," Enatsu continued, helping Yoichi to geolocate himself.

    "I''m sorry, I don''t remember anything. It feels like I''m hearing these names for the first time."

    "Well, that might be a hard problem. If you''re a tamer and don''t remember your Oracle''s real name, you can never tame other demons... or rather, you can never call that Nekage back into your body", Enatsu sighed, bringing Yoichi back to reality.

    Yoichi''s gaze fell on the Nekage, who stood still looking at him, sitting under the table.

    If I cannot remember its name, I will not be able to catch a demon and what was written on the wall with blood wille true. Everything that''s happening to me is real, I can feel it. I don''t want to die, I''m so fucking scared!" the young farmer thought frantically, bringing his eyes back to the map and starting daydreaming.

    While Yoichi was focused on drawings and writing, Enatsu approached the window, peering outside. Drop by drop, a stream of water wet the floor falling from the thatched ceiling, which was unable to hold back all that rain.

    "Um... Yoichi?"

    "Yes?"

    "I have another favor to ask you... can I..."

    "Yes, Enatsu. You can stay here tonight. I think there''s enough room for both of us," Yoichi politely replied, smiling with one hand resting on the table.

 Chapter 7 - Coins

    "Thank you! Really, I don''t know how to thank you," Enatsu replied, bowing slightly in front of Yoichi in gratitude.

    "There might be a way, actually..." ??

    "What is it? Tell me, be honest."

    "Remembering what happened to me is impossible right now. The only thing I know for sure is that I have to tame a demon. To do that, I need to get that Demon Tooth or whatever and I need a hand to get it. If you help me find that item and support me during my first capture, you will have repaid your debt, Enatsu. Are you in?" Yoichi asked, handing him his hand and continuing to smile.

    "Of course, we have a deal! You''reing with me to Goldhaven tomorrow morning. I''ve never been there and it''s a very big city, but I''m sure we will find everything we need at the Old Bazaar!" Enatsu happily replied, shaking his colleague''s hand.

    "The Old Bazaar? Do you mean... we can buy demon teeth?"

    "It seems obvious to me, doesn''t it? If they didn''t keep producing and selling them, how would novice Tamers like you start their careers? Crimson Lotus camp beyond the walls of the capital is thergest in the nation!" Enatsu exined, approaching the table again and taking a look at his map. "Demon Teeth are quite cheap, but... I''m a little short on cash. You have money, don''t you?" the young merchant asked again, looking up.

    "Um... I''m afraid I don''t!" Yoichi eximed, touching his nape embarrassed.

    "Screeek!" the dark little Nekage interrupted, biting its tamer''s pants on his ankle and trying to pull him backwards.

    "Hey, what''s going on, buddy? Can''t you see I''m talking?" Yoichi chuckled, moving his pet with his foot and starting chatting with Enatsu again.

    As soon as the Nekage''s teeth came off his pants, the little reptile demon got the running start and grabbed the pants again, trying tomunicate something to him.

    "What is it? What do you want to tell me?" eximed Yoichi aloud, spreading his arms and scolding the Nekage.

    "Screek! Screek!" after a rapid movement, the Nekage left the ankle and quickly made its way to the bed, running on its feline paws.

    Under the curious gaze of the two boys, it slipped its mouth between the fabric nkets and began to pull something, trying to extract it out of its hiding ce.

    "What''s that?" Enatsu asked, crossing his arms.

    Yoichi approached his little friend and, when the Nekage moved to get him through, he slipped a hand into that straw bed ravine and grabbed something, pulling out a ck leather bag.

    "Screeek!" hopped happily the Nekage, turning on itself and looking at its tamer.

    Without adding a word, feeling the weight of that leather bag on his hands, Yoichi slipped thece that kept it closed and emptied its contents on the bed.

    *din*din*

    Three gold coins fell on the dirty raw cloth nket, illuminating Enatsu''s eyes, who quickly approached.

    "Yoichi! But those... those are three gold coins! Wow! You must have saved your money for a while to raise this nest egg! I mean... living here, I don''t think your work brings you much money..." Enatsu marveled, nodding with his head.

    "I... I have no idea. I think... I think so," the homeowner thoughtfully replied, looking at the Nekage who kept wagging. "What a good little beast... thank you, dude! You heard we needed money and you remembered I hid it inside the bed!" the young blond-haired boy continued, stroking his demon pet for the first time.

    "Eheh! Did you see that? It is definitely your Oracle, there is no more doubt now! A normal demon would never make such a gesture to its master! The Nekage are stubborn and also quite grumpy with the other demons... but they stand out for their loyalty to their Tamer," Enatsu affirmed with conviction, gesticting, d that the Nekage and Yoichi finally began to get along.

    Judging by Enatsu''s reaction, it looks like three gold coins are a lot of money, so... I have to spend it wisely, trying not to squander it all. Yoichi thought, continuing to look at his pet, as his host''s Moruba rubbed its long nails against the wooden floor. "In addition to the Demon Teeth, I''m also going to need one of those," he said, pointing to the map on the table.

    "No problem, Yoichi. You will see, in the capital, we will find everything we need! Yaawn!" Enatsu replied, yawning and stretching his arms upwards. "Well, I don''t know you... but I am so tired... tomorrow will be a long day..."

    "Take one of these nkets and set where you want. If you need water, you know where to find it and the firece fire will stay on to warm us up," Yoichi said, grabbing one of the thickest nkets and handing it over to his new friend, who thanked him with a head movement, and dragged it toward the firece.

    "Onnuth!" Enatsu affirmed out of nowhere, recalling his mole-demon.

    As had happened just before with Sora, but in a slightly different way, the Moruba disappeared into a dark aura, simr to the color of the earth, and a few secondster, his Demon Tooth appeared on the floor, stuck in a damp wooden axis.

    Enatsu approached it and pulled it out, allowing Yoichi to look at it closely. "As you can see, the outer surface of the spine is intact. That''s because my Moruba didn''t suffer any damage. If someone had injured it, the plug would have been damaged and it would have taken a few hours for it to be restored."

    "Restored? How could you restore it?" Yoichi asked curiously, sitting on the bed with his little Nekage.

    "I shouldn''t have done anything. Demon Teeth can automatically restore their damaged tissues in a short time. To make it short, if one of your demons is defeated in battle, leaving it inside its Demon Tooth will restore its health and heal its wounds. The more serious and profound they are, the more time it will take to heal them. Got it?" Enatsu asked, exining to Yoichi one thing at a time, to avoid overloading him with information.

 Chapter 8 - First Night

    "Yes, all clear. The Demon Tooth hosts the body and soul of demons and like them, it can get damaged. So I assume that, being our Oracles directly tied to our body... if they are injured..."

    "We pay the consequences. It''s like you''re your Nekage''s Demon Tooth, if it takes damage, you get damaged too, and if its health goes down... well, I think you understood" Enatsu interrupted,pleting the sentence of Yoichi, who sighed, lying on the bed. ??

    After cing the nket between the table and his friend''s bed, Enatsu uttered the name of his Oracle, summoning it. "Come beside me, Sora. It''s pretty warm down here," he said, making room for its parrot demon on the nket and stretching out along with it.

    The way Enatsu and his petmunicate is intense. They look like brothers. Is my life really tied to this reptile''s? If he gets hurt, I''d be hurt, too... I have to be very careful and treat it with care, Yoichi thought, banging his hand on the bed in front of him and inviting the Nekage to approach.

    Without thinking twice, the little dark monster rolled up on himself and crouched next to its Tamer, wrapping its long tail around is body and ajar his eyes.

    Yoichi''s hand touched its head, causing it to open its eyes, which crossed over his own. That ssy look and those eyes red as two rubies, during those seconds that seemed endless,municated something to Yoichi, something like a strong feeling.

    His soul and that of the Nekage were inextricably linked and, although he could not remember anything about his previous life, something in his mind told him that that little demon was his heritage, it was his chance for redemption.

    "Good night, Yoichi!" Enatsu smirked while Sora crouched next to his belly, rubbing its face with the colored wings and falling slowly asleep.

    "Have a good night!" Yoichi answered, closing his eyes and letting the sound of rain lead him into the dream world.

    This body... I feel that it is not mine from birth. I don''t understand... what did that bloody writing on the wall mean? Is this a second life? But... but... what did I do in the first, what were my mistakes? he wondered, opening his eyes and looking at the faint light that came out of the chimney fire.

    When I woke up there was nothing and no one in here... not even a person or an indication. Who was this guy whose body I took? Where did hee from and what happened to his loved ones, his friends? Looks like the Nekage recognizes my appearance, which means it remembers me. But how? I don''t understand anything anymore and I things are just getting moreplicated... Yoichi thought again, while his eyelids lowered pampered by the warmth emanating from the Nekage.

    ...

    When Yoichi''s eyes reopened, the chimney light was gone and the fire was extinguished. The only light present was that of the moon, which timidly entered through the window, illuminating part of the ceiling and leaving the rest of the room plunged in darkness.

    His gaze was turned right upwards as if he was focusing on studying the details of the wooden beams that supported the thatched roof, which despite looking not much resistant, had protected the two friends from that sudden night storm.

    Yoichi yawned and turned his gaze for a moment, making sure his Nekage was next to him, then looking back at the ceiling.

    A drop of water permeated one of the wooden beams and fell on his cheek, sliding up to his neck.

    Aagh... I can''t... I can''t move... he thought, trying to move a hand to dry his face, but without seeding. What... what''s going on?! Fuck!

    A second drop of water fell from the point of the first, followed by another and then another until one of them touched young Yoichi''s lips.

    But this... this is blood! he thought frightened as soon as his tongue tasted it.

    A drop of an intense red fell on his forehead and soon after, the water stopped falling from above.

    As if going against the force of gravity, the small drop of blood remained attached to the wood and began to flow vertically, attracting other drops of the same size, which mysteriously appeared from the pores of the soaked wood.

    "What the f... still that damn blood?!"

    One bloodstream after another, gathering in crimson streams, the red liquid took the form of a letter and, vertically, the letters formed a single word, written on the wooden beam of the ceiling, right in front of Yoichi''s eyes.

    "I... l... driss... Ildriss...?" he said, finally managing to speak and using his voice to utter the word that had just appeared on the ceiling.

    Momentster an unnatural silence, a strong heat pervaded his chest, then distributed on his arms and legs. "Fuck, it hurts! It burn, burns! Enatsu! Help me!" he eximed, asking his friend for help while his body did not respond tomands.

    The writing of blood was slowly reabsorbed by the wood and, as the particles of red liquid re-indented through the pores, each of them turned into a small fiery spark, which, joining the others, generated thin veins of fire.

    "Enatsu! Fuck, wake up! Sora! Nekage, help me! Let someone help me, I can''t move!" Yoichi yelled as every fiber of his body contracted, failing to counter the invisible force that held him still.

    The fiery veins spread in a few seconds over the entire roof area, taking root on the straw and wood, not caring that it was soaked in water due to rain.

    *crack*sstrack*

    Therge central beams that supported the structure began to break down and, as the mes continued to reflect in the eyes of the young and unconscious Yoichi, the fire ate the roof, which fell down, overwhelming everything.

    "Noo! Naaaah! Aaaargh!" he screamed desperately, totally engulfed in mes.

    "Ildriss" a deep and unknown voice whispered, which spoke as soon as everything turned ck.

    ...

    "Ildriss."

    "Aargh! Anf, anf!" Yoichi gasped, opening his eyes and sitting on the bed, waking up from the most realistic nightmare of his life.

 Chapter 9 - Recall Phase

    The verse of the birds from the outside filled the silence inside the hut during the early hours of the morning, with the sun shone on Enatsu''s face, still sleeping blissfully.

    "Holy bitch... it was just a nightmare!" Yoichi whispered, touching his throat and chest, and realizing that the mes that were engulfing him a few seconds earlier were not real. ??

    "Screek?"

    "Hey, good morning, bud! I''m sorry I woke you up, but I had a bad dream..." he said, talking to the little Nekage, who, still crouching beside him, had just opened its eyes.

    "To be honest... it''s not the only one that was awoken¡­ yawn!" Enatsu eximed, stretching himself and pointing his eyes towards the window, d that the violent storm of the day before was over. "Rather... you started to say some weird words a few moments ago and you seemed very agitated. Is everything okay?" the young merchant asked, sitting on the ground and looking at Sora, who had just opened his eyes.

    "I had a very strange nightmare... this house was on fire and I couldn''t move. Then, just during thest moments, I heard a voice," Yoichi replied, wiping sweat from his forehead and resting his feet on the ground, sitting on the bed. "It was as if someone was whispering in my ear."

    "Really? Wow, it must have been intense. And what did he tell you?"

    "All he did was repeating the same word all the time, a word I had never heard before", Yoichi continued, omitting from the story the part in which he had seen the bloody writing appear on the ceiling.

    "Um... that is?" Enatsu asked curious, with a little shrug.

    "Ildriss."

    *sshh*SSHWOM!*

    As Yoichi uttered that unknown word, the nkets of his bed began to rise and twirl, moving like the waves of a stormy sea: a stream of air that appeared out of nowhere wrapped the bed and spread throughout the room, causing the coffee table to capsize and the weak fire of the firece, which remained lit all night, blew out.

    Both Enatsu and Yoichi covered their faces with their arms and, during those seconds of chaos, the homeowner quickly rose from the bed frightened. Suddenly, the air current raised from the bed turned deep red and, as if it was the tip of a spear, violently pierced Yoichi''s chest, causing him to fall to the ground.

    "Yoichi! Yoichi, are you all right?! What happened?!" Enatsu eximed, quickly getting up and approaching his young friend, lifting his neck with one hand.

    "Aaargh... my... my chest... my chest is burning..." Yoichi answered, raising the white linen tank top he had worn to sleep and looking at his chest to make sure it did not report any kind of wound.

    "Here... there''s nothing here, Yoichi... looks like you''re okay. I saw that strange red air current hitting you too! You had a nice bump! Ahaha!" Enatsu chuckled, trying to take the edge off.

    "The Nekage... where''s my Nekage? Is it okay? Is it hurt?" Yoichi asked, standing up in a hurry and gritting his teeth for the loud burning he felt in his chest.

    The thatched bed had been deprived of the nkets that enveloped it and some pieces of its straw had flown away, dispersing in the corners of the room. On it, there was no trace of the Nekage.

    "It''s not here... where did it end up?" Enatsu asked, who, after helping his friend to get back on his feet, began searching the area looking for the reptile demon.

    At that exact moment, Yoichi touched his chest, standing still, staring into space for a few seconds in absolute silence.

    "Did you... did you happen to see if it dodged the blow? Maybe it took shelter in some corner of the house to... Yoichi, are you all right?" the merchant repeated, noting that his friend was standing in the middle of the room.

    "Its name... what I have pronounced is the real name of my Nekage! It told me during the dream! Ahaha!" Yoichi eximed, opening his eyes wide and moving both hands over his head to rub his hair. "The voice I heard... it was its voice!"

    Enatsu''s confused expression after those words fully expressed what he was thinking. The young merchant continued to look around and, after thest checks, he asked "what did you say? Are you talking about the demon''s whisper?!"

    "Yes, that''s right! Now I know the name of my Oracle and I can finally tame other demons! Wohooo!" Yoichi jumped from joy, punching the air and trying to share his emotion with hisrade, confused more than before.

    "But... but all this is impossible! You can only hear the Demon''s whisper at a specific moment, all the more so if it''s your Oracle''s! I... I think you just remembered it, Yoichi, otherwise all my certainties would go up in smoke", Enatsu replied, while Sora perched on his shoulder.

    "What does it matter if it was told me or I remembered it? What matters is that now my Oracle has been called back inside my body and.. ouch!" Yoichi gulped, interrupting his speech and touching the center of his chest, feeling a sudden burning. "Should it hurt?"

    "What are you talking about? Do you mean... keeping your Oracle inside your body? Of course not!" Enatsu promptly replied, touching his chin and trying to exin that strange phenomenon.

    "Well, then I think there''s something wrong... I feel a strong burninging right from here, in the center of my chest", he replied, straightening his back a little at a time.

    "Maybe my new body has never held back the soul of its Oracle and I feel pain because I just have to get used to it... yes, I think that''s the right answer," Yoichi thought, stretching his arms and neck and approaching the bed again.

    "I don''t really know what to tell you, my friend. Nekage aremon demons, we should ask other Tamers if any of them have ever had this kind of problem! When Sora enters my body, I feel an incredibly pleasant feeling, as if I was under the action of a warm spring breeze" Enatsu rejoiced, looking with affectionate eyes at Sora, who responded with a "tweeet!"

 Chapter 10 - Bronzeforest

    "Do you mean that other tamers might have a Nekage as their Oracle?" Yoichi inquired, intrigued.

    "Of course. The same goes for me: Sora is a Waromu, and while you don''t see many around here, it''s not a very rare demon, like yours. Rather, in addition to its real name, you should give it a brand new one! You can''t keep calling it by the name of its species forever!" Enatsu exined, putting the nket on which he had slept back in its ce and preparing to leave the farm. ??

    "Of course, you''re right... I was already thinking about it... how about ''Kenji''?" Yoichi asked, lifting the wooden table that had fallen during the recall phase of his demon pet.

    "Kenji... has it any particr meaning or¡­?"

    "Mmh... not really. I like how it sounds though and, somehow, it''s the first name that came to mind. Who knows, perhaps, before I lost my memory, I had a friend with that name", the young farmer added, who was now beginning to get used to his new life and the new world that surrounded him.

    "Well then! The name of your Oracle is a very personal thing, you have to be convinced!" Enatsu stated, grabbing the tunic hanging by the firece and approaching the door, waiting for Yoichi to finish preparing.

    "It''s decided. My little Nekage will be called Kenji! I like it!"

    As the twopanions chatted and the burning in Yoichi''s chest gradually disappeared, the sun rose into the sky and the Bronzeforest shone brightly under its rays, while all the animals that inhabited it woke up to face a new day.

    After pulling out therge metal key already inserted in the lock before his awakening in the new world, Yoichi went out with Enatsu and closed the door with the same key, tucking it into the pocket of his leather bag, found amid some junk flown away from under the bed.

    When Yoichi turned his gaze outwards, thendscape before his eyes left him speechless: everything that the day before was barely visible due to the storm that had struck Tentochu region, was perfectly visible on that lovely autumn morning, illuminated by the sun''s rays.

    Magnificent centuries-old oak trees stood majestically on the side of the road, housing hundreds of birds singing in chorus, flying towards the clear blue sky.

    The fresh air and leaves piled on the dirt road, gave thatndscape the typical peaceful countryside aspect, decidedly different from the city and modern chaos to which Yoichi was unconsciously ustomed.

    "Wow! What a wonderful ce!" he said, smiling and looking around.

    "Yes, it is! Bronzeforest has always been one of my favorite ces! Once, when I was just a child, my father took me here and, since then, I never forgot the beautiful colors of its trees and water streams", Enatsu smirked, ensuring that his belt was well tied around his abdomen and beginning to walk down the street.

    Although it was a not very busy country road, after less than fifty meters traveled on foot, a wooden carriage sprang into the trees, climbing the road and follow it in the opposite direction to the two adventurers.

    "Hello!"

    "Hello, good morning!" Yoichi cheered, politely responding to the coachman''s greeting, who held the bridles connected to a beast never seen before, simr to a horse, but with a turtle shell that covered its back. "What kind of animal is that?! Is it a demon like ours?" he asked, addressing his travelingpanion.

    "Ahaha! It''s nice that you''re amazed at everything, I mean it! You need to know that not all demons are used to fight or level up! Over the centuries, we human beings have understood how to make the most of their potential, letting them help us also in our daily lives! What towed the carriage is a Umakame. It''s not a great fighter and as far as I know, it doesn''t have any particr skills, but... unlike normal horses, it can tow three times their weight, tirelessly!"

    "It''s amazing! Hold on... did you just say level up? How..."

    "I''ve already exined it to you, there are many things you don''t know yet, but... it''s best to learn them a little at a time, right?" Enatsu smiled, continuing to walk next to Yoichi, as Sora fluttered left and right, following them from above.

    "Demons can level up and even evolve in some cases. There are several ways to make your demon gain experience, but the mostmon and most widely used method is to defeat other demons in battle, through a real contest of strength and cunning involving both demons and tamers", Enatsu exined, looking upwards and breathing the clear and fresh air of the forest at the top of his lungs.

    "Wait, I think I understand. The Demons fight each other and the tamers do the same, using the skills of their pets to enhance themselves, right?" Yoichi asked, trying to anticipate the exnation.

    "Great! I see you''ve understood perfectly how it works! So when a demon defeats the opposing demon, that is, when the opposing tamer chooses to call it back to its Demon Tooth, the fight ends and the winning demon receives an experience point. By umting experience points, each demon can level up and, in some cases, leveling up, it can evolve, increasing its strength and enhancing the ability shared with its tamer," Enatsu continued, knowing that his interlocutor''s intuitiveness would not disappoint him.

    "Mmh... listen, Enatsu... what is Sora''s skill? Is it the same for all Waromu?"

    "Sora has the same ability as any other Waromu in Lumya, yes. I''d love to show you, but unfortunately, the Waromu''s ability is one of the few that isn''t easy to visually distinguish. I can see with its own eyes," the young trader replied, looking Yoichi in the eye and smiling satisfied.

    "You''re telling me that... can you see with Sora''s eyes? Even now?" Yoichi said astonishedly, implicitly asking him to show him what his pet was capable of.

    Enatsu stopped suddenly and positioned his arms along his hips, rxing them and closing his eyes, without adding a word.

    When his eyes reopened, his brown pupils were gone and the white of his eyes had turned yellow, exactly the same color as those of Sora, his flying demon.

 Chapter 11 - Flying Eyes

    "Wowo! Enatsu! Your eyes!" Yoichi eximed, impressed, taking a step back and ready to admire Sora''s skill used by its tamer.

    "See? It''s nice, isn''t it? The eyes of this colour make me look... stronger! It''s a glorious feeling!" Enatsu replied, who from that moment on began to see the Bronzeforest from above, as if it was inside Sora''s mind. ??

    "Tweet! Tweet, tweeet!" the parrot demon chirped, flitting through the trees and swirling on itself, swooping to the ground and then rising back into the air.

    "It''s beautiful! What... what do you see? With this skill, you can send Sora forward and avoid dangerous situations! Although it''s not a very useful skill during a fight, I think it''s perfect as a utility!" Yoichi affirmed with conviction, beginning to enter thatplex mechanism, excited to learn what the other tamers'' demonic skills were.

    "That''s right. You get it perfectly! Sora and I have never fought together, I''m too afraid it can get hurt. I wouldn''t stand it! The Waromu are used by the lookouts of my vige''s control towers beyond the mountains, in Silvertide," Enatsu exined, moving his head from side to side, though nothing was interesting in front of him apart from his friend.

    "Oh, look at that. It looks like someone''s fighting just outside Ambershire... it''s a perfect opportunity to show you how it works, let''s go!" the young merchant continued, whose eyes suddenly returned to their original color.

    "Ambershire? Where is it? Is it far from Goldhaven?" Yoichi asked, thinking back to the quest assigned to him by the bloody writing. "Remember, I have to tame a demon as soon as possible and..."

    "Don''t worry, it''ll take only a moment! After witnessing some fighting, we will immediately go to Goldhaven. Ambershire is on the road!" Enatsu said, speeding up the pace.

    The two adventurers continued to follow the path between the chirping of birds that popted the forest and the sound of water flowing into several streams that engraved the soil somewhere beyond the oak trees.

    In the distance, after walking for about 30 minutes, behind a hill, some white houses appeared, adorned with gold-coloured domed roofs.

    "Behold, we''re almost there! You''ll see, you will love Ambershire! It''s one of the nicest ces to visit, especially if you don''t know the area! In ancient times, it was a trading hub of the city of Goldhaven and served to increase the effectiveness of their distributionwork of goods of all kinds in the rest of the Tentochu region," Enatsu insisted, beginning to speak out of the blue.

    "I understand... well, maybe I should summon Kenji, don''t you think? Ah, and then... I have another question for you..."

    "Yeah? What is it?"

    Before responding to Enatsu, Yoichi stopped, and after a long breath, making sure there were no passers-by nearby, he uttered his Oracle''s real name aloud.

    "Ildriss! Grr... ouch!" he eximed, beginning to feel the burning in his chest at the very moment when thest syble of that word was pronounced.

    *swiishh*

    A reddish air stream began to swirl, twirling from the ground upwards, carrying dust and small shrubs. After a few seconds, it materialized into a solid, well-defined body, which fell to the ground on all fours, without making any noise, like a true feline.

    "Screeek!" Kenji cheered happily, waking from its sleep and breathing the fresh forest air into its lungs.

    "Hey! Here you are, little guy... aargh... can I know what you''ve done in here? It hurt me a lot..." Yoichi said out of breath, sweating from his forehead and rubbing his chest, waiting for that painful feeling to vanish.

    "Screek?"

    "Never mind, it''s not your fault... don''t worry, buddy", the young tamer continued, believing that that strange phenomenon would subside with a little practice.

    "Are you all right?" Enatsu asked while he watched the scene from afar. "You said you wanted to ask me something, didn''t you?"

    "Ouch... yes. Mmh... okay..." after clearing his voice and straightening his back, Yoichi began to speak again. "You seem to know all the ins and outs about the demons'' skills, even about those who aren''t on your team... how do you do that?"

    "Ahaha! Good question, my friend! Well, I happen to have studied a lot from my father''s bestiary! I almost memorize it!"

    "Bestiary? What is it?" Yoichi inquired, who had never heard that word.

    "The bestiary is a book, Yoichi, or better... is ''the'' book. If you really want to be a tamer and join a Guild, you absolutely have to start studying it! It contains all the information regarding demons known to man: their skills, their evolutions, their strengths and weaknesses... oh, even the location of their centre of gravity, which is the point you have to hit to imprison them in a Demon Tooth! Everything about demons is written in the bestiary, which is produced by Tentochu''s most experienced tamers and updated once a year," Enatsu replied, trying to be as precise as possible.

    "Mmh... then I should buy one..." Yoichi thought aloud, touching his chin and watching Kenji walk proudly beside him out of the corner of his eye.

    "Let''s say it''s not very cheap, ehehe! As I said, I always used my father''s, who received it as a gift from his old instructor... I have never been able to umte the money to buy one of my own..." Enatsu interrupted, speaking for the first time of a member of his family, with his gaze pointing to the ground.

    Yoichi caught a glimpse of the resentment in that sentence and avoided asking about his father or family, merely nodding his head and storing that information.

    "Then can you tell me what Kenji''s skill is?" he suddenly asked, smiling at his friend and trying to lift his spirits.

    "Um... the Nekages are fire and earth type, so if I''m not mistaken, as a first levels'' skill, they should be able to strengthen an area of your body with scales..." the trader answered, trying to remember.

    "Oh, which means? Like a hand or a foot?"

    "Yes, such a thing. During your first fight, simply order Kenji to activate its ability and think intensely about the point of your body you want to enhance. Or at least, this is the general theory that works for all demons," Enatsu concluded.

 Chapter 12 - Stopover

    "Did you hear that, Kenji? Are you really capable of empowering one of my limbs with your scales?" Yoichi joked, smiling and looking at his demon pet.

    "Screek!" it replied, merely saying something iprehensible in its verse. ??

    "Oh, Yoichi! Here we go! Look, someone''s fighting in front of us!" Enatsu interrupted, pointing his finger forward and indicating something in the direction of Ambershire''s gold-coloured castles.

    Two men, facing each other, were in the middle of a fight. The first, after a few moments of pause to recover from thest attack suffered, began to run towards his opponent, holding his halberd, whose de seemed imbued with a strange green liquid.

    In front of him, a much younger boy, with long blue hair tied behind his shoulders, had his nunchaku spinning, waiting to receive that frontal attack.

    "Aaargh!" the charging fighter yelled when a long snake-demon twisted around his halberd a moment before it was swung forward, firing the demon at high speed.

    With its jaws wide open, the snake-demon headed towards the blue-haired young man: just a moment before he was hit, he grabbed both ends of the nunchaku with his hands, and in front of him, something incredible happened.

    Both the snake and the warrior wielding the halberd stopped in mid-air, waving as if trapped by an invisible force.

    "Whoohooo! Go!"

    A small audience was witnessing the fight behind them, and after that scene, someone began to cheer on the favourite.

    "But... he blocked them both of them in mid-air! Was it his demon? Where is it?!" Yoichi gasped, pulling Enatsu''s tunic towards him to get his attention.

    Before the young trader could answer, the blue-haired warrior made a high leap forward, oveing the still immobilized snake-demon and pointing to the enemy tamer, ready to mitigate the blow.

    Rotating his body and giving maximum energy to his nunchaku, the warrior violently hit his opponent''s face, causing him to fly away and disarming him.

    *boom*

    After the thud caused by the heavy armor impacting on the ground, the snake-demon was freed from the grip, and as soon as its tail touched the ground, it used it to jump in the direction of the attacker, ready to ambush him from behind.

    A second before the snake''s venomous jaws reached the mysterious warrior''s body with the nunchaku, a long tentacle grabbed the reptile''s neck, tightening firmly and pulling it backwards.

    "Oh, fuck... that''s a Kuwatako!" Enatsu quaked as soon as the blue-haired boy''s demon came out into the open.

    Under the incredulous gaze of Yoichi and his friend, the tentacle that had juste out of the crowd of spectators joined its own body, which floated towards it.

    An octopus-like demon, with four tentacles and small spikes on itsrge soft head, flew in the direction of the snake-demon, which, desperately, twisted around the tentacle, trying to win the showdown and free itself from the grip.

    Meanwhile, the warrior in heavy armour, seeing his opponent approaching menacingly with a smile printed on his face, kept crawling backwards. The nunchaku swirled in the hands of the skilled blue-haired fighter and, moments beforeunching the final blow, a scream ended the fight.

    "Dil''goth!"

    Suddenly, the snake demon, who was about to lose consciousness trapped in the grip of the strong purple tentacle of the Kuwatako, disappeared into a greenish aura, quickly flying towards its tamer.

    The aura moved in the direction of the ground, thickening in contact with the soil''s surface and materializing a Demon Tooth.

    "Wohoo! Long life to Kato!"

    "Kato, you''re great! You gave him a lesson!" the crowd began to shout again, joyfully cheering the winner of the challenge as if he was an illustrious character.

    Enatsu and Yoichi approached curiously as the blue-haired warrior extended a hand towards the newly defeated tamer, still knocked on the ground.

    Suddenly, a small red sphere a few inches in diameter was ejected from the Demon Tooth''s upper end, irregrly floating towards the Kuwatako.

    When it pierced the surface of the octopus demon''s soft head, it permeated its skin, disappearing inside its body.

    "Have you seen, Yoichi? That''s exactly how a real tamers fight works! That little red droplet is the experience point that the winning demon just received!" Enatsu mumbled, silently exining to Yoichi what he had just seen.

    "Get your hands off me, kid!" the heavy-armed warrior barked with malice, pping Kato''s hand and rising with his own strength.

    "Hey, calm down, man! By acting like this, all you do is make your situation worse... ahaha!" the winner replied aloud, storing his nunchaku and spreading his arms, weing thepliments of the crowd.

    "His demon''s skill was much stronger! Also, he seems to be an experienced tamer, the crowd already knows his name," Yoichimented, responding to his travellingpanion and mingling with the crowd.

    "Fuck it, one day I''ll destroy you and your octo-shit!" the defeated warrior grunted, violently pulling his Demon Tooth out of the ground and picking up his halberd, moving away from the battle site.

    "Hey, Yoichi! This way,e!" Enatsu said, making room among the people and walking nonstop towards the entrance to the small borough of Ambershire.

    "Wait a minute," Yoichi interrupted, "it seems like a good opportunity to learn how to fight!" he replied, thinking that more than 24 hours were left before his secret quest expired.

    "You''re kidding me, I hope! That guy just defeated a huge warrior in a few simple moves! I think you should start with something simpler, don''t you think?" Enatsu chuckled, trying to dissuade his inexperienced friend, who was attracting prying eyes.

    "Tell me about that demon, uhm... the Kuwatako. Which are its weaknesses?" Yoichi asked, looking at Kenji, ready to execute his every order.

    "Yoichi, get that out of your head! The Kuwatako is a rare psychic type demon! How can you want to deal with it without even knowing how to use Kenji''s skill? It seems to be a foolish idea! You only gift it with one experience point!" Enatsu muttered in his ear.

    "Tweet!" Sora confirmed.

 Chapter 13 - Plan

    "It''s not a problem, Enatsu! I already have a strategy in mind, and... I think Kenji and I can make this, can we, little guy?" Yoichi smiled, asking a direct question to his demon pet, who looked him in the eye and answered "screek!" with conviction.

    "Uff... I just hope you don''t get hurt, man. Sora and I will stay here and look at you," Enatsu mumbled, annoyed that his friend and ''pupil'' had not listened to him. ??

    As the crowd continued to cheer on Kato, who never stopped strutting like a peacock while receivingpliments of all kinds, Yoichi''s gaze fell on one object in particr, just before his eyes: some of the people in the crowd appeared to be fighters. They wore weapons and armour, both light and heavy.

    In particr, the man in front of him, as he pped, raising his arms, made a dagger tied to his belt visible.

    "Uhm... excuse me, sir... excuse me?" Yoichi requested insistently, drawing the man''s attention by touching his shoulder.

    "Uh? What do you want, kid?" he replied arrogantly, annoyed by the insistence of that unknown young farmer.

    "I don''t want to sound rude, but... I want to face that guy and... Can you lend me your dagger for just a few minutes? You know, I''m a tamer too," Yoichi smiled with conviction, pointing to Kenji, standing next to him.

    The man checked Kenji, then contemted his interlocutor again and burst outughing. "Hahaha! You? Do you want to face Kato? Boy, don''t talk nonsense! Maybe you''re drunk! Hahah!" the moustached man smirked, turning again towards the winner of the fight and keeping pping for him.

    "No, I''m not drunk. I''m just asking you to lend me your weapon to fight him, I don''t think that''s so ridiculous! The fight will take just a few minutes, you know that, too!" Yoichi replied, behind the man, who turned once again annoyed.

    This time, in addition to the man''s gaze, Yoichi''s words also caught other eyes. Two women and another man not far from him began to whisper something, looking at him andughing in their sleeves.

    "So... listen to me well... I don''t know where you''re from, and I don''t care. This is not a game for kids like you, it''s not..."

    "What do I smell? Is there anyone who wants to challenge the great Kato?" a voice suddenly interrupted, shutting up the crowd.

    The moustached man, Yoichi and everyone present looked at the blue-haired tamer, who had just spoken, eavesdropping on the young farmer''s words.

    After taking a deep breath and a step forward, Yoichi responded: "yes! I want to be your next challenger, Kato!"

    An awkward silence followed Yoichi''s words, and the men who had witnessed Kato''sst fight in the front row burst outughing.

    "Yoichi,y off! You''re just going to make fun of yourself! If you really want to be a tamer, you have to maintain a certain level of dignity! Yoichi!" Enatsu whispered, twice trying to pull his friend back by grabbing him from his leather jacket to no avail.

    "You? Do you want to challenge me?" Kato repeated, calming the crowd with a hand movement while his Kuwatako stood still in mid-air just behind him, taking a gander at Yoichi with its piercing purple eyes.

    "That''s right. I was asking this kind gentleman to lend me his dagger because mine broke a few days ago, and I wouldn''t want to fight against you with my bare hands!" Yoichi exined, speaking aloud without any fear.

    The man with a moustache put a hand on his weapon, an ordinary metal dagger, well sharpened and with the handle covered with soft leather strips. Meanwhile, he gawked at Kato as if waiting for his consent.

    "Let the public decide! Haha! So? Do any of you want to watch another fight?" Kato yelled, full of himself, opening his arms and generating more shouts in the audience, which responded positively to that question.

    "You''re wrong, boy. I don''t know what you have in mind, but it won''t work," the moustached man said, pulling the dagger out of its cover and moving it toward Yoichi, who grabbed it firmly.

    "Hey, stop for a second! If you really want to face that guy, why don''t you get a stronger weapon? Could you ask for a hachiwari or a naginata... a katana! There''s a guy over there who has one, look..." Enatsu interrupted once again, grasping Yoichi''s wrist.

    "Enatsu, don''t worry, " he smiled, "it''s no ident that I chose the dagger. You''ll see, I am up to a little something."

    "Aargh... dammit!" the merchant grunted, letting go of his travellingpanion''s wrist with a gesture of constipation.

    "Well, well! It seems that I will have to face another challenger! Phew! What a busy day!" Kato repeated, stretching down on his legs and then performing a perfect backflip, continuing to brag about his skill and drawing more apuse, especially from a group of damsels fascinated by his charm.

    Yoichi squeezed the dagger into his right hand and began to walk forward, making room among the crowd: people widened and let him pass and each of them gawped at him with interest and amazement, trying to figure out whether he was a famous tamer or just a self-confident kid who had just made a stupid decision.

    Kato kept hopping and stretching his arm and leg muscles while his nunchaku hung from his belt.

    His blue hair shone in the sunlight now high in the sky and his eyes of the same colour did not even deign to look at his opponent, knowing that that fight would not be challenging as the previous one.

    When Yoichi walked out of the crowd, entering the ample space that had hosted the previous fight, people''s gaze focused downwards on his pet, which proudly followed its tamer.

    "So... what we have here... a Nekage! Well! It''s not the first time I''ve faced one. Don''t worry, kid, it will notst long," Kato stated, winking at Yoichi and then looking at the group of girls, courting them remotely.

    "Kid? I don''t think you''re much older than me, do you?" Yoichi promptly replied, showing everybody his cheeky and brilliant nature, continuing to smile as if cameras were framing him.

    "Uuuh!"

    The crowd was amazed by that statement, knowing Kato''s touchy character and also that, when someone disrespected him, he tended to lose control.

    "Haha! Did you hear the kid? We are the same age! Hahah! Well, then I won''t hold back my strength in the slightest!" the blue-haired tamer chuckled, doing another flip in the air and wielding his nunchaku with agility, causing it to swirl.

 Chapter 14 - First Level Skill

    Yoichi looked at the dagger in his hands and began to reflect. "I probably should have waited and faced a tamer within my reach first... but this guy is a fucking loudmouth and, I don''t know why, but I can''t stand it! My n can work... right, Kenji?" Yoichi pondered, merely moving his eyes to his Oracle, which, as if it had listened to his thoughts, turned its eyes back and made him realize it was ready to fight.

    "Screek! Screek!" ??

    "Er... even if you look like someone who''s never fought before, can you tell your name to the audience watching us? It''s disrespectful not to show up to them," Kato repeated, who didn''t look away from the crowd for a moment.

    "My name is Yoichi, hello everyone!" he eximed smilingly, raising his hand and greeting the people in front of him without showing any embarrassment.

    Among the many eyes that looked at him, the most attentive were undoubtedly those of Enatsu, who on the contrary was tremendously embarrassed.

    "Hey, you! But who the fuck is your friend? I''ve never seen him around here! Is he really a tamer?" one man inquired, approaching the young merchant from behind.

    "Um... let''s say yes. I just met him, I don''t know how good he is in fighting!" Enatsu answered in a flickering voice, touching his nape.

    "How do you n to defeat a Kuwatako with a Nekage? The Kuwatako is much rarer, and Kato''s is definitely on a higher level" another man suddenly asked, popped out of nowhere.

    "I... I don''t know what came to his mind, okay? Let''s just watch the fight!" Enatsu replied once again, caught in a sudden nervousness, not being used to receiving so many questions one after the other.

    In front of him, the two challengers faced each other, and the fight was about to begin officially. On the one hand, one of the young promises of a famous Goldhaven guild. On the other, Yoichi, a young tamer who had lost his memory.

    Some other people walking out the gates of Ambershire, which was particrly crowded that day, joined the audience, trying to figure out what was going on, smelling defiance.

    Without any warning, a stocky, fat man with a funny straw hat on his head, walked towards Yoichi and Kato, with his hands behind his back.

    Yoichi stood still staring at him with Kenji, not understanding what that little man was doing in the area intended for the sh between two tamers, until he, after a few steps forward, eximed, dies and gentlemen! After winning his first fight, the daredevil Kato is about to face a mysterious challenger named Yoichi! Show your support for these two tamers, who today willpete in front of the golden gates of Ambershire!"

    "Yeeah!"

    "Whohooo! C''mon guys!"

    "We want to see a real fight!"

    After officially introducing the two opponents, the funny little man turned again towards the two challengers and, retreating slowly, yelled, "let the fight begin!"

    "Ah! Bring it on, brat!" Kato muttered, beginning to swirl his nunchaku and looking at Yoichi defiantly, while his Kuwatako remained suspended in the air behind his shoulders.

    "Well, Kenji! It''s time to use your skill, what do you say? Show me what you''re capable of, buddy! Let''s teach this poser a lesson!" Yoichi affirmed, leaving his bag on the ground and sticking the dagger in his belt, stretching both arms forward and closing his eyes.

    "I only need to think about the exact point that I want to strengthen with scales... my hands! Kenji, enhance my hands! Come on, little guy! You can do it!" Yoichi wondered intensely, under the perplexed gaze of people, who had never seen a tamer behave so strangely.

    "Screeeeek!"

    After a few seconds of waiting, a burning-like thrill started from the bottom of Yoichi''s back, ran over his shoulders and arms, extending to the tip of his fingers.

    As if by magic, small, sturdy ck scales identical to those of his Nekage appeared one after the other on both his hands, gradually covering their entire surface on the back and palm.

    "Wohooo! It''s working!" Yoichi gasped,ughing, unable to hold back his amazement, with his gaze fixed on his hands.

    "Screek! SCREEK!" the Nekage repeated, growling with arrogance and increasing the speed of the process.

    Almost instantaneously, the ck scales that had covered both of Yoichi''s hands, strengthening them up to his wrists, continued to grow beyond, enveloping all his arms and stopping a few millimetres after his biceps, almost reaching the shoulders.

    "Whooo!" the crowd cheered in unison, gawking at that memorable scene.

    "Hey, hey! What the fuck happened?! What''s that upgrade?! Nekages of that level are not capable of doing such a thing!" the man with a moustache next to Enatsu gulped.

    "How did he do it? What kind of Nekage is that, where did he find it?!" the other viewer asked, turning again to the merchant, who did not answer either of the question, merely witnessing his friend doing something unbelievable.

    Without saying a word, Enatsu stepped forward, making room and gasped, "What the fuck...".

    "My arms... I feel them as solid as two rocks! It''s a great feeling, and it doesn''t hurt!" Yoichi thought, looking at his pet and knowing it could hear his thoughts.

    After Kenji''s upgrade, the size of Yoichi''s fingers, forearms, and rest of his arms increased a lot, almost doubling.

    "Hey!" Kato shouted in a defiant tone, angry that he was no longer in the spotlight. "Your Nekage has something weird, brat. That upgrade is too strong toe from it. How did you do that?"

    "Uh? What''s the matter... what, are you afraid?" Yoichi chuckled, earning a round of apuse for encouragement from the crowd, who did not expect that sudden power-up.

    "Afraid? Afraif of you? Tsst! I can defeat you with my hands tied behind my shoulders! You don''t know who I am! Don''t you dare provoke me! Aargh!" Kato shouted tenaciously, unable to stand still and snapping towards his opponent, leaving his Kuwatako behind.

 Chapter 15 - Black Scales

    "He''sing! He couldn''t withstand my provocations, not even for a second! That''s great! Go, Kenji! Stick to the n and never lose sight of our goal!" Yoichi thought, taking a typicalbat pose by carrying his fists forward, ready to defend himself from the iing attack.

    "Screek!" the Nekage growled, beginning to retreat, staying a few feet behind its tamer and following his orders. ??

    Turning on himself and spinning the nunchaku at high speed, Kato jumped toward Yoichi, striking a powerful blow.

    Though having no experience inbat and never having tried to use the skill of his demon pet, Yoichi instinctively crossed his arms in front of his face, letting the metallic nunchaku impact them.

    *baam* When Kato''s shot hit the target, it unleashed a small conical shockwave behind his opponent, reflecting the dynamics of the weapon''s movement: Yoichi''s arms, strengthened by Kenji''s scales, totally absorbed the energy released by Kato''s fury, but forced Yoichi to retreat a few steps to maintain bnce.

    "Aaaargh! How dare you! Take this!" the blue-haired warrior ranted again,unching a series of high-speed frontal attacks, constantly hitting the same spot, Yoichi''s wrists, which did not seem to suffer any damage.

    "Fuck, his blows are powerful, but... I don''t feel any pain! Kenji''s skill has made my arms indestructible! I just have to pay attention to my legs and wait for the n to work..." Yoichi reasoned, retreating and moving in the shots'' trajectory, so as to parry them all.

    Meanwhile, the suspense among the audience was palpable. Even Kato''s biggest supporters were beginning to fear the worst, having never known anyone who could resist the power of his nunchaku so easily.

    Even Enatsu, who until shortly before was exining to Yoichi the basics ofbat and the rules for bing a tamer, found himself staring incredulously at his friend as he fought against the tamer of a famous guild.

    "I can''t believe my eyes... Kato''s not holding back his strength, and yet... Yoichi is parrying every shot, dispersing energy in the form of a shockwave! What about Kenji? Hey, where''s Kenji?!" the young merchant mumbled, looking left and right and failing to locate the little Nekage, having focused only on the physical confrontation between the two fighters.

    *baam*boom*

    When the nunchaku''sst shot was struck, Kato made a backflip and quickly distanced himself from Yoichi, who had behaved like a kind of boxing bag, merely absorbing each blow without counterattacking.

    *anf*anf*

    Surprising his supporters, the blue-haired warrior was short of breath and a drop of sweat ran through his forehead while his eyes were fixed on Yoichi, who rxed his arms along his hips.

    "I could try to attack him now that he''s more tired, but it wouldn''t help... with these huge arms, I can''t move as fast as he does, and I''d just end up allowing him to break through my defences... both Kato and his Kuwatako didn''t notice that Kenji is still hidden behind that bush... I just need to be patient and hold on... his demon pet has not yet used its power..." Yoichi pondered, who had studied his opponent''s every move, knowing that he was less skilled than him in closebat.

    "What is it? You don''t know what to do, don''t you?" Kato affirmed aloud, continuing to breathe intensely and catching his breath.

    Yoichi did not respond, limiting himself to opening his arms outwards to tell his opponent and the audience that he was ready to start again.

    "Yeeeah! Nice job, Yoichi! Nice job!"

    "Kato, show us what you are really made of! Come on! Don''t hold back your powers!"

    Someone from the crowd started yelling again, filling the silence that had been created after the loud noise of the nunchaku against the Nekage''s hard scales.

    "He won''t be able to wait much longer, he''s quivering with the desire to start attacking me again and... oh! Here hees!" Yoichi thought frantically, preparing for a frontal attack again as Kato started running again in his direction.

    Still convinced that he could beat his inexperienced opponent with the only use of his weapon, Kato feinted a side swing, causing Yoichi to move his arms that way and then turned on himself, shooting a horizontal blow on the other side, which, due to his physical fatigue, turned out to be much slower and more predictable than his previous attempts.

    Without much effort, Yoichi changed the parry''s direction, waving only one arm outwards and striking Kato''s nunchaku with his elbow, making him loosening his grip on the weapon and disarming him.

    "Now it''s time! I can counterattack him!" Yoichi reasoned, seeing in front of him an open spot where to strike.

    The moment Kato realized that his nunchaku was no longer in his right hand and that Yoichi''s other arm was free, the young farmer-tamer hit his stomach with a violent right hook, causing his opponent to bend over for the pain.

    "Aargh! Cough!"

    After feeling the blow right in his stomach, Kato spat blood under the general buzz of the incredulous crowd.

    Without bothering to have struck first and knowing that Kato had not yet used his Kuwatako''s skill, Yoichi tried to hit him again, but this time with a direct, frontal punch, as if he wanted his opponent to be able to see it in time.

    As expected, Kato, before straightening his back, activated his true powers.

    "Uh?! Aargh! Leave me!" Yoichi stammered, pretending not to expect that kind of defensive manoeuvre, while his arm stopped a few inches from Kato''s face, unable to move anymore.

    The Kuwatako, which had remained several meters away from its tamer, began to float towards him, with two tentacles facing upwards and surrounded by a purple aura, visible despite the strong sunlight.

    "Cough! Cough! Well... *spit*" Kato mumbled, slowly straightening his back and spitting more blood, looking up at Yoichi, whose feet began to rise from the ground. "It could have been a quick and painless defeat... instead, you, vapid farmer, made me look ridiculous. Anf, anf... enough ying."

 Chapter 16 - Unexpected Move

    "I can''t move... it''s easy to ckmail me using that psychic power... but in closebat, I definitely defeated you, face the truth!" Yoichi eximed aloud so that even the growing crowd of people could hear those words.

    As nned, Kato''s gaze followed the voice of Yoichi, who flew as if it was poison towards the faces of all the people who had so far cheered and revered him as if he was a god. From the bottom of his heart, intense envy,bined with a feeling of anger towards the unknown man capable of tarnishing his honor ran through his body, clouding his reason. ??

    "Anf, anf, anf... you... you''re risking a lot, brat! I''m Kato, a member of the Emperor''s Heralds Guild! And no one... no one... can stand between me and the glory I deserve!" Kato thundered, approaching his nunchaku and picking it up with his foot''s ascending movement, trying to strut even in that disadvantageous situation.

    "No, Yoichi... stop the fight, please! My friend now got the lesson, okay?! He''s a novice tamer, you don''t have to punish him like that!" Enatsu panicked, making his way through the crowd and reaching out to the bizarre little man who had started the fight.

    "Stop it? And who am I to stop two warriors contending? The brave Kato does not stop at anything. His will is harder than the iron of his nunchaku! You had to warn your friend in time, I''m sorry, merchant!" the stoky and funny man answered, rotating his silly cap and restarting to look at the final phases of the fight with interest.

    "Fuck, fuck! Yoichi... what did you do?!" Enatsu thought aloud, genuinely sorry for what would happen to the only person who had been kind to him without even knowing him, hosting him in his house and offering him a hot meal and a shelter for the night.

    Under the eyes of his friend and those of the rest of the crowd, Yoichi began to agitate and squirm again, dangerously moving hisrge scaled arms in the direction of his opponent, whose psychic power was busy holding him still in the air, preventing him from getting closer.

    To remedy this troublesome inconvenience, Kato ordered something to his demon pet, turning his gaze towards it: the Kuwatako immediately executed the order and, while two tentacles were busy channelling its psychic powers, the other two stretched out in Yoichi''s direction, wrapping themselves around his arms and immobilizing him for good.

    "Yes, it worked!" Yoichi thought, pretending to be trapped and continuing to wriggle desperately. "That damn octopus has all the tentacles busy on me! Get ready, Kenji!" he wondered, continuing to wait for the right time to execute the n he had engineered from the beginning.

    "Whatever the oue of the fight, these people will know that a tamer as famous as you got beaten up by a rookie like me! I suggest you to act less domineeringly for the next times!" Yoichi chuckled aloud, with the only goal of making his opponent losing control, being too full of himself not to give in to those provocations.

    "Aaargh! That''s enough! That''s enough!" Kato shouted, ready to charge to Yoichi and strike the final blow.

    "Kenji! Now!" the young Bronzeforest tamer screamed, calling his demon pet.

    By using its silent feline movements, the Nekage sprang from a bush in the trees behind the two fighters and ran like lightning towards its tamer, diligently responding to the call.

    Under the confused gazes of Kato and the crowd, Kenji jumped towards Yoichi, rested its paws on his back and did something no one would have expected: with its long reptile tail, the small and agile Nekage pulled the dagger out of his tamer''s belt and continued its upward run, cing its lower paws on Yoichi''s shoulders and jumping into the air, above the heads of their opponents.

    "Woooo!" the audience said in unison, witnessing a Nekage attacking from that position for the first time.

    The gaze of Kato and his Kuwatako rose towards Kenji when the reptile demon, in an incredibly agile movement worthy of a feline, turned on itself and moved its tail like a whip, throwing the dagger at the opposing demon.

    In that instant, as if time had stopped, everyone present watched the dagger de glitter in the sunlight, realizing that its trajectory was perfect and that, in all probability, it would hit the Kuwatako right in the middle of his purple eyes.

    "Alvanoth!" Kato shouted with all the air in his lungs, clearly pronouncing his demon pet''s real name and recalling it.

    The tentacles that held Yoichi''s arms dematerialized, making him fall to the terrain, and the Kuwatako''s body vanished into the air, quickly entering the inside of Kato''s chest, who knelt on the ground.

    Simultaneously, the dagger''s sharp de speared the soil, cutting through the air and missing the target as soon as it disappeared.

    An incredible silence enveloped the outside of Ambershire walls and, for almost a minute, no one dared to utter a word.

    Kenjinded on the ground on its paws without any noise, and Yoichi''s arms returned to their standard size, letting the hard ck scales disappear, while he breathed with difficulty, satisfied that he had aplished what seemed impossible to everyone.

    "He defeated him..." a woman from the audience suddenly whispered, timidly beginning to p her hands, as if that scene hypnotized her.

    "That unknown tamer just defeated Kato..."

    "I can''t believe that... do you see what I see?"

    Little by little, one word after another, all the people in the crowd realized that that fight had an unexpected winner, when, suddenly, someone started yelling again.

    "Hahahaha! Yoichiii! You did it, you won! Whooohooo! Hahahah!" Enatsuughed, waving his arms and running towards his friend, followed by Sora, which fluttered cheerfully, fiddling in the sky.

    When the young merchant''s voice came to Yoichi''s attention, a smile appeared on his face, and his eyes framed Kato, while a small red and liquid spherical particle was ejected out of the middle of his chest, remaining suspended in the air.

 Chapter 17 - Bonus

    The tiny spherical object, just over an inch wide, continued to float forward, as the crowd called Yoichi''s name and hispanion stood next to him,plimenting him.

    "Screek?" Kenji asked, drawing the attention of its master as if it wanted an exnation for that phenomenon, seeing the red particle move in its direction. ??

    Yoichi lowered himself towards his pet, ready to exin to him what had just happened, but the grass under his feet began to move strangely as if going against the direction of the wind: small incisions, simr to subtle scratches damaged the homogeneous grass and filled with blood, taking the form of letters.

    "Oh, no... what''s going on now?" Yoichi mumbled, knowing he was the only one who could see that strange writing as if it was part of a daydream.

    "Mission Complete: Defeat a demon.

    Reward: + 1 extra exp pont"

    "Hey, Yoichi, are you all right? Do you have low blood pressure? Do you want some water?" Enatsu inquired, touching a shoulder of his friend, still crouching on the ground.

    "No, no... don''t worry about me, Enatsu. I''m just checking that Kenji doesn''t have any injuries," Yoichi exined, having ascertained that the blood writing that appeared on the grass was not visible to anyone other than him.

    When he looked up again at the red drop transudate from Kato''s chest, it began to vibrate and fold, ttening itself like a disc and then thinning vertically, as if a pair of invisible forces were acting on both sides, pulling it outwards and then crushing it inwards.

    After a few seconds, it split into two drops of the same color and size, which kept the ''mother drop'' trajectory and got even closer to Kenji, who stood still and sat, wagging with its tail.

    To the surprise of Yoichi, Kenji bowed its head and closed its eyes: both red drops, or the experience points resulting from that fight, touched its head, right in the middle of the two small ck horns, permeating through the scales, as if they had been absorbed into them.

    The writing under his eyes quickly changed, moving the grass and regenerating the previously damaged earth.

    "Kenji: (2/5 pts ¨C level 4)"

    This time, after a few moments, useful to Yoichi to read the whole sentence, it disappeared with a gust of wind, and the grass reappeared before his feet as if by magic.

    "Well, what can I say... I''m impressed, Yoichi! Actually, you surprised everyone! No one expected you to be able to defeat a tamer as famous as Kato!" Enatsu rejoiced again, who soon after knelt next to his friend and whispered in his ear, "he doesn''t seem to be taken it very good. Maybe you should go and tell him something to cheer him up."

    Yoichi looked at his opponent and got up, starting to walk towards him, still motionless on his knees. "Kato!" he said, drawing his attention discreetly.

    Kato did not answer, resting his hands on his legs and standing up, cleaning his ck leather pants dirty with mud.

    Yoichi''s arm was stretched forward, and his hand entered Kato''s field of view in a gesture of friendship, drawing his gaze.

    "I was incredibly lucky to face a tamer like you. It was an honor!" Yoichi smiled, ready to shake his hand despite his opponent''s reluctance.

    Kato''s eyes framed Yoichi first, then the audience, knowing that he would probably bebelled as an honorless tamer if he did not ept the defeat without remorse. Against all odds, his hand grabbed that of the young farmer, clutching it and gaining the crowd''s favour.

    Pretending to act in friendship, the blue-haired tamer pulled Yoichi''s arm towards him, as if he wanted to whisper something in his ear, while the other hand was resting on his shoulder, to show the audience how much he cared topliment a novice tamer who had been able to beat him inbat.

    "Next time we see each other, I''ll kill you and your Nekage. Have a good one!" he muttered, patting Yoichi on the shoulder and smiling at him, remarking on the anger he was feeling and showing his desire for revenge.

    "Good! Well done!"

    "ept the defeat, Kato! You''re not unbeatable!"

    Despite the false smile of the Tamer of the Guild of Emperor''s Heralds, the people who witnessed that gesture began shouting words at him as if the fact that he had been defeated gave them the right to judge him.

    Yoichi, left speechless after what he was told, let go of his hand and walked away from him, who, after greeting the crowd with another false smile, turned back and began to walk, reaching the main road and moving away from Ambershire.

    "Yoichi!" Enatsu called, who seemed to be much more attentive and caring towards him after his victory. "What did he say in your ear? From your expression, it looked like nothing good!"

    "He told me that the next time we''ll meet again, he will kill Kenji and me," he replied, beginning to walk to the crowd separating him and Enatsu from the entrance to the small golden borough.

    "Eh?! And you say it like that?! How can you be so calm?! Dammit... I knew he wouldn''t take it well... the Guilds tamers are always very proud and hate losing battles, especially against the rookies!" Enatsu despaired, touching his forehead and following Yoichi. "Rather... can you exin to me what kind of skill you used? I don''t know Kenji''s level, but... during their first evolution, Nekages can''t create such strong power-ups! You... you knew that before you even faced Kato, didn''t you?"

    Yoichi sighed, watching Kenji as he walked proudly on its little ck paws. "Do you want the truth? I had absolutely no idea! Hahahah!"

    "What?! I can''t believe it!"

    "I swear! I just did what you told me. I thought about Kenji''s skill and then the points of my body that I wanted to upgrade. It was enough to order it to strengthen my hands and... puf! Both my arms have be as hard as rocks!" Yoichi chuckled, touching his nape embarrassed.

 Chapter 18 - Bard

    "All this is amazing... and the greatest thing is that all these people have seen you! You''re going to be famous in no time, my friend! Here, look! Your first fans are already approaching!" Enatsu smirked, smiling and pretending nothing, pointing to Yoichi a group of people walking in their direction.

    "Hello, hello, Yoichi! I''m, I''m, I''m Kondo, the globetrotter bard!" a strange old gentleman stuttered, overtaking the others and bowing before Yoichi as if he was a member of the imperial family. ??

    "Er... hello!" he replied, pausing and listening to what he had to say, noting that behind his back was tied a biwa, a stringed instrument.

    Old Kondo was a weird man, of average height, very thin and with his face dug out of age and wrinkles. His few snow-white hair fluttered in the wind, as did his long bushy, messy beard.

    A deep scar totally covered his left eye, giving his sympathetic face a mncholy and sad air, despite the big smile printed on his mouth and marked by the yellow and worn teeth.

    His tunic of the ssic sand color typical of the cheapest fabrics was dirty with mud and earth at the bottom and highlighted the fact that that old bard did not wear shoes.

    "My greatest passion is travelling and, and, in my travels, I narrate the story of singr people, of, of, of mythical beasts and sovereign tyrants! You, Yoichi! You will be the, the, the new protagonist of my stories! I will take your name north and sing about how a, a, a young blond-haired farmer managed to bring an experienced warrior to his knees!" old Kondo eximed, with his head bent forward as a mark of respect, exining to Yoichi what kind of gift he had in mind for him.

    "Thank you very much, Kondo! I... I don''t know how to thank you, this is great!" Yoichi answered enthusiastically, who had never imagined he could be the subject of a bard''s songs in a world popted by bizarre demons.

    "I, I, I hope that your journey may continue smoothly! And remember! Only warriors without Guild can aplish great things! I, I, I saw something in your eyes! You, you, you can..."

    "All right, old Kondo... I think this is enough. I''m sure young Yoichi understood perfectly!" ady in her fifties interrupted, grabbing the bard from behind and inviting him back to Ambershire. "I apologize on behalf of my father...tely, his mind is not very stable, but he liked you very much and insisted on getting to know you!" the woman smiled, bowing her head and congratting Yoichi.

    "Oh, of course! No problem, Kondo was incredibly kind, thank you again!" Yoichi repeated, greeting both of them with a hand gesture when Enatsu approached the woman and her elderly father.

    "Kondo Senpai! When you sing the songs of the brave Yoichi, remember to add the name of his formidable helper! Enatsu! Enatsu, the trader! Remember this name!" the merchant affirmed, taking advantage of Yoichi''s temporary poprity to emphasize his presence as well.

    "Hahah! What a nice merchant! Come on, Dad! Goodbye, Yoichi!" the woman continued, keeping on smiling and walking away, while Yoichi couldn''t stopughing while looking at his clumsy friend.

    "Hahaha! You''re my helper now? I thought you were just a merchant bound for Goldhaven!" he joked, referring to Enatsu, who shrugged his shoulders.

    Other people rushed to Yoichi to shake his hand and get a closer look. Between them, the gentleman with the mustache who had lent him the dagger, came forward, approaching the two adventurers.

    His big face and double chin showed off his nutritional well-being. Even his light armor, consisting of a light leather jacket and tight-fitting cloth trousers, definitely not suitable for such a corpulent man, was excellent workmanship, probably made of fine materials.

    It only took one moment for Enatsu, who had merchant eyes, to realize that the man, albeit looking not so much threatening, was wealthy and decidedly more cultured than the peasants who roamed around Ambershire.

    "So your name is Yoichi!" he eximed, looking at the young farmer with his arms crossed.

    "Oh, hello! Yes, my name is Yoichi. Nice to meet you! Here, this belongs to you! Thank you very much!" he replied, handing over the dagger to its rightful owner.

    "Yoichi... and? Only Yoichi?" the moustached man inquired, without shaking his hand.

    "Er, yes. Just Yoichi."

    "Well. You can keep the dagger. I''ve never seen anyone use it so masterfully. You have defeated one of the most promising tamers in the capital against all expectations and, even if it is not much, you deserve a prize", the man exined, maintaining a serious expression, as if he was merely reporting the reality of the facts without adding any personal consideration. "However, it seems very strange to me that someone like you has never fought before. Your Nakage... is it your Oracle?"

    After that question, Yoichi looked at Enatsu out of the corner of his eye. The young merchant nodded his head, trying tomunicate with him and telling him that the man was probably rich and, judging by his equipment, had all the cover and the chops to be a tamer.

    "Yes, Kenji is my Oracle. Why this question? Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?" Yoichi inquired, continuing to tighten the dagger in his right hand.

    "My name is Sada Takamori, thest member of the Takamori dynasty and head of the Nightdes of Goldhaven. Pleased to meet you!" the moustached man stated, extending his hand towards him to officially show up.

    Enatsu''s expression failed to mask his thoughts, and with a single nce, he managed to convey to Yoichi his euphoria as he shook hands with one of the most important men he could know in a ce like that.

    "The pleasure is mine and... thank you for the dagger," Yoichi added, sticking the weapon in his belt and epting the gift without thinking twice, knowing that he needed a weapon, albeit a small one, that would allow him to defend himself.

 Chapter 19 - Statue

    "It''s just a simple dagger, nothing but a metal object. I''m d you keep it. Anyway, your skill is too big to stay hidden among the trees of this forest. I can teach you to control your Nekage''s powers and help you start your Demon Tamer career," Sada replied, rxing his arms.

    "Er... yes, why not. I..." Yoichi stammered, failing to understand where that man wanted to go with it. ??

    "If you want to continue this conversation, I''ll be waiting for you at the headquarters of my Guild, in the Tamer District of Goldhaven. You can find it easily; It''s the only building with the roof covered in green tiles," the moustached man interrupted, "it''s not the most important of guilds, but it could be a good start."

    Enatsu remained silent, looking at his friend''s uncertain expression. With a discreet look, he tried in every way to suggest him to ept that unrepeatable proposal.

    "Thank you for the offer, Sada Takamori. See you at Goldhaven," Yoichi replied with conviction, repeating his interlocutor''s full name to remember it more easily.

    "Very well, you look like a determined guy full of potential. Goodbye," Sadamented, greeting both Yoichi and Enatsu with an elegant bow and walking towards the inside of Ambershire''s circr walls.

    "Oh. Wow. Wow! I still can''t believe how you managed to do what you did and... just when you seed, here''s a guild master that pops up and starts courting you! Hahaha! Unbelievable!" Enatsu rejoiced, continuing to watch Takamori walk.

    The two adventurers, still incredulous that they had experienced all those fortunate events one after the other, gawked at the people in the crowd splitting up. Those who until recently were spectators of the fight between him and Kato began to carry out the ordinary tasks of their routine, entering and leaving the golden and white walls of Ambershire. The yellow domes of the two tallest pces continued to shine in the sun.

    "So? Can we go? You said this ce is too good not to be visited!" Yoichi insisted, whose voice seemed imbued with a new positive spirit.

    I don''t know how it''s possible, but I still like living in this world. I wonder what the catch is, he thought, making his way to the entrance of the borough.

    As soon as they entered the radiant Ambershire, the merchant and the farmer opened their eyes and sharpened their eyes, getting trapped in its shimmering colours. People of all ages and rank walked everywhere, moving goods of all kinds on carriages drawn by horses and bulky demons.

    Long wooden stalls containing colourful foods never seen before filled an entire area to the right of the entrance. Talking to each other and trading their merchandise, the merchants who inhabited that happy ce seemed to behave with love and kindness towards their craft and their neighbour.

    Yoichi, initially a little lost in that beautiful chaos, walked slowly forward, looking around. Suddenly, his toe touched a hard object, forcing him to stop. The omnipresent sunlight could not illuminate that precise spot, cut out of the shadow of an imposing statue about five meters high.

    "Hey, watch out! Watch your step. You were about to crash," Enatsu chuckled, grabbing Yoichi''s shoulders, who stepped back, looking up to the top.

    The statue depicted a man in armour with a spear in his hand, facing forward. While in a war position, he rode a giant tiger, from the back pf which four wings popped up, identical to those of an eagle. That majestic vision caught the attention of Yoichi in a special way, making him stay still and look at it for a few seconds, without saying a word.

    "Okay, you don''t have to say that... you don''t remember who you are, I doubt you will remember our Emperor," Enatsu mumbled, interrupting hispanion''s thoughts.

    Yoichi looked at the statue from top to bottom, and an engraving on the square stone at the base of the statue caught his eye.

    ''Emperor Nishiyama ¨C Third Battle of Dragoncliff''

    "Is he the emperor?" he asked, already knowing the answer, tilting his head to look at the statue from another angle.

    "He is Emperor Nishiyama, and that is his oracle, a Torasagi" Enatsu exined, without wasting time, knowing that his friend was a quick learner.

    Wow, a four-winged tiger demon... it''s so much bigger than Kenji and Sora! I''m sure its level is incredibly high, reflected Yoichi, focusing on the raging eyes of that stone tiger.

    "He is the Emperor of Tentochu, I guess. You told me that a different emperor rules the opposite faction", Yoichi replied with uracy, perfectly recalling the young merchant''s exnations when he showed him the world map.

    "Correct. He is not only the emperor of our faction but also the strongest of our warriors. This statue depicts him as riding his Torasagi, he fought against Kamakiri''s army for the conquest of Dragoncliff Ind," Enatsu continued. "This battle is remembered by everyone as the bloodiest in Lumya''s history. That day many tamers lost their lives."

    Enatsu''s expression, which as always could not mask his inner emotions, darkened. Yoichi shifted his gaze to him, realizing that that story just heard had left a void in the soul of that affable and cheerful merchant.

    "I''m afraid to ask you what is that face for, but I can''t hold back," Yoichi muttered, "were you there?"

    "No, Yoichi, I wasn''t even born. My grandfather was there. The great Yanatsu, a warrior in the service of the imperial family," Enatsu sighed, looking up at the statue. "My grandmother told me that he died to save Emperor Nishiyama and that his intervention was fundamental to the fate of the battle. Unfortunately, I wasn''t lucky enough to meet him."

    "I''m so sorry, Enatsu. I''m sure your grandfather was a great man and that his own blood runs through your veins. You know, ever since we left the farm, I always thought you''re wasted as a merchant!" Yoichi eximed with a smile printed on his lips, trying to raise Enatsu''s morale.

    "Me? A fighter? Trust me, you don''t know me well! Ehehe!" the young ck-haired merchant chuckled, scratching his chin under his unshaven beard.

 Chapter 20 - Inspiration

    "I mean it! Sora''s skill is a formidable utility, I think you can use it inbat! And don''t forget that you can always tame other demons, besides the two you have!" Yoichi enthusiastically added.

    "I don''t know, I never even thought about it. After my grandfather died, no one in my family ever talked about fighting and stuff again. My father, if only he wanted to, could have taken my grandfather''s ce in the army, but he refused the call", Enatsu replied, emphasizing the rigid ideals of his family. ??

    "Well, you and your father are two different people, right? You could always change your mind! Join me!" Yoichi insisted, drawing the interested gaze of his friend. "I need someone who is experienced in this world to guide me!" he exined.

    Enatsu''s eyes rose again, framing therge stone statue and touching the sky. Sora was perched on his shoulder as if sharing his concern.

    "Man, listen!" the young tamer replied, grabbing both of Enatsu''s arms and talking to him face to face. "I woke up in an old hut, not remembering who I am or where I am. All I have is Kenji, this curious, little demon following me wherever I go and you know what? I don''t care! I don''t fucking care I can''t remember anything!"

    Enatsu''s face changed expression, recognizing in Yoichi''s speech grit and determination. He shrugged his shoulders, straightened his back, and continued to look his friend in the eye.

    "Our life is an incredible gift. It is worthy of being lived with determination and tenacity. That''s what I gonna do! I want to live to the fullest, I want to travel and discover new ces!" Yoichi eximed again, yfully shaking Enatsu''s shoulders. "What about you? Will you be a merchant for the rest of your life? Will you be a normal person in an exceptional world like this? You have a gift, Enatsu! There, right on your shoulder!" he continued, pointing to Sora.

    "Tweet?"

    "You''re a tamer! Let ordinary people trade goods and other shit like that!"

    Enatsu began breathing with open lungs, closing his eyes and then reopening them in Yoichi''s direction. Those unexpected words had struck the bottom of his soul. The kind boy who offered him shelter on that stormy night had managed to break through his greatest fears without even knowing him.

    "So? Can Kenji and I count on you and Sora?" Yoichi smiled again. His face came even closer to that of his interlocutor, who could no longer escape from his gaze.

    "Yes, I think so... I..." Enatsu stammered as if those words had been drawn forcefully from his heart.

    "I haven''t heard anything! What, have you forgotten how to talk? Will youe with us or not! Try to imagine the mess I could make traveling on my own out there! Hahah!" Yoichi reiterated, pointing with one arm to the sky outside the walls of Ambershire.

    "Yes, yes! Sora and I wille with you! I can''t give you a sure answer about bing a tamer, but... I won''t let you wander around Tentochu alone!" Enatsu answered with determination. As he spoke, the young trader clenched his fists, marking the effort he was making to utter those sincere words.

    "Alright! That''s exactly what I was talking about, my man! Leave your past behind and think about the future!" Yoichi cheered aloud, drawing the gaze of a passerby, who greeted him cordially with his hand.

    He reciprocated the gesture, realizing that kindness was an integral part of the inhabitants and visitors of that ce.

    Looks like my motivational speech convinced Enatsu to help me out. I really need his help, he knows a lot of things about the demon of Lumya! He thought, identally touching his leather pouch with his hand.

    *dling* The metallic sound of the three gold coins resounded in the air, reminding both travelers of the real reason that had pushed them beyond the Bronzeforest.

    Looking around and trying not to care about the majestic statue that had stolen the stage at everything else, Yoichi noticed a face already seen. Sada Takamori, the guild master he met earlier, was riding towards the exit of the rim, on a majestic steed.

    The dark brown and glossy coat was adorned with drapes of green cloth and its horsehair collected in thin braids. Tufts of long hair traced the movements of his mighty stallion hooves.

    "It''s gorgeous, isn''t it?" Enatsu interrupted, after realizing that Yoichi was admiring that magnificent beast.

    "Well, yes. It''s a nice horse. Who knows, maybe we too will have one of our own, one day", he replied, walking around the statue without adding anything else. Behind it, Ambershire''s tallest building, the golden dome of which could be seen from outside the walls.

    ''The Sleepy Owl Tavern'' was the inscription engraved on arge light wooden board. The handmade drawing of an owl clinging to a branch upside down made the sign fun and captivating.

    "We could stop for a typical drink, what do you say?" Yoichi proposed, with his hands resting on his hips, spying on the inside of the room from therge window overlooking the square. Dozens of tables were scattered in an immense oval room with wooden floors and ceilings.

    Behind a long bar, which stretched from the entrance almost to the end of the hall, three innkeepers, two women, and a man served drinks to clients.

    Men and women of all kinds sat at long rectangr tables and along the perimeter of the bar, drinking and eating to satiety. Judging by the rosy cheeks and lost looks of some of them, many were getting drunk, while others were sobering up.

    "Do you want to drink at this hour of the morning? I don''t know about you, but my stomach''s been growling for over half an hour. The Sleepy Owl is a tavern renowned for its great food and low prices. Oh, yeah, they also make a delicious sak¨¨" Enatsu replied, exining to Yoichi the qualities of that ce and implicitly epting his proposal.

 Chapter 21 - Meal

    "Very good. It seems to me one more reason to enter then", Yoichi said, resting a hand on the door, simr to that of a western saloon, but much higher. Pushing forward, it opened.

    The two adventurers entered the tavern. After a single step on that wooden floor, they attracted the gazes of everyone present, none excluded. A bard that was ying a long stringed instrument stopped ying suddenly. ??

    "Good morning!" Enatsu greeted in a low voice, slightly embarrassed by the situation. Yoichi, without adding anything else, followed his friend to the bar to interact with the innkeepers.

    After a few seconds, useful to the drunks scattered around the club to understand that those two new faces were not a threat, the bard began to y a cheerful melody again.

    "Hello, travellers! What brings you here, to the Sleepy Owl tavern?" the only man behind the bar friendly asked. His eyes smiled like his mouth while his hands moved automatically, polishing freshly washed mugs.

    "We''re headed to Goldhaven, and... my friend here had never seen Ambershire. I love this ce, so I decided to pop in, promising to let him taste your delicious sak¨¨," Enatsu promptly replied, showing the same kindness as his interlocutor.

    Yoichi sat on a stool. Beside him, a man with half-closed eyes clutched an empty mug with his right hand. His face was facing the rough wooden surface of the bar, as if he was going to m against it.

    "Is he feeling all right?" Yoichi asked to the innkeeper, pointing to the man in that bad condition.

    "Oh, yes. Don''t worry. He always does that¡­ thing. In half an hour, he will regain his senses, as always", the innkeepermented.

    One of the girls behind the barughed at that statement, crossing her eyes with Yoichi.

    The male innkeeper, judging by the way he behaved, had to be the owner of that ce. The two girls by his side did not look like his peers but decidedly younger.

    He had a short ck beard and a very ssic hairstyle, with medium-length side-split hair.

    After crossing her gaze with Yoichi, the girl to his right looked the other way, embarrassed. She grabbed a tray and headed to the other side of the bar, pretending to be busy.

    Long blonde hair tied in a braid and tworge green eyes made that young woman the most blooming thing Yoichi had seen since waking up.

    "My friend tamer and I take two ramen and to end in beauty our meal, two cups of house sak¨¨", Enatsu ordered, looking out of the corner of his eye Yoichi. The young merchant, ustomed to interacting with men and women of all ages because of his profession, immediately noticed some attraction between his friend and the blond-haired girl.

    Enatsu particrly emphasized the word ''tamer'' referring to his travellingpanion to increase the curiosity of those listening to him.

    "It seems to me that you''re both tamers, don''t you? If you only talk about your friend, your Waromu may be offended! Haha!" the innkeeper chuckled, being funny. Without looking away from Enatsu for not looking rude, he snapped his fingers.

    The other helper girl interrupted what she was doing and approached the innkeeper as if that was a call she could not refuse.

    "Shioko, two ramen and two sakes. Let''s not keep our new guests here waiting," the innkeepermanded, referring to Yoichi and Enatsu as if they were guests at his home.

    The dark-haired girl, with a face very simr to that of her colleague, nodded silently. She turned around and entered the only door behind the counter, essing the kitchen.

    Enatsu''s eyes traced every movement of the young woman and the man in front of him, jokingly eximed, "my daughters are two angels, aren''t they?"

    "Er... Yes! Of course!" Enatsu gulped embarrassedly, immediately turning his gaze on him, trying to pretend nothing. "They''re two beautiful girls, innkeeper!"

    Yoichi also looked at the tavern owner, knowing that that phrase had not been said at random.

    "Hahah! Don''t worry. I''m used to customers gawking at them that way! You two have good guys'' faces. It doesn''t bother me!" the innkeeper continued, putting in ce the mugs he had just dried. "Anyway, my name is Kenzo, and these are Yukiko and Shioko, my beautiful daughters", he proudly reiterated.

    Enatsu and Yoichi looked at each other, relieved that they had not made a bad impression.

    "Nice to meet you, Kenzo Sama! My name is Enatsu. I''m a fortune-seeking trader from Silvertide Vige, on the other side of the mountains" Enatsu showed up, hanging his head in respect.

    "Silvertide! Wow, that''s a nice ce! I don''t have any clients from that area. I think you''re the first one," Kenzomented, crossing his arms and resting his back against the wall. After talking to Enatsu, he looked at Yoichi. "And you? Are you from around here?"

    "Me?" Yoichi asked, pointing to himself. "Yes, I live in the Bronzeforest, a few miles from here. I congratte you on this magnificent tavern. I had never been here. It seemed very weing, so I insisted on getting inside", he exined, trying to reciprocate the courtesy of the innkeeper.

    Yoichi, Enatsu and Kenzo continued to talk about Ambershire and the Bronzeforest for a few minutes, remarking its magnificent views. From the innkeeper''s curiosity, it was evident that he did not often receive ''standard'' guests like the two of them.

    When the dialogue fell into a fairly awkward silence, the two ordered dishes were ced on the wooden bar. Shiko diligently hanged her head and wished the two new customers a good lunch.

    "Thank you" the two adventurers thanked in unison, grabbing the chopsticks and eating the tasty, still steaming ramen.

    "Oh, my god... it''s delicious! Yum!" Yoichi mumbled, speaking with his mouth full. As the ramen descended into his stomach, warming his body, the young tamer realized that despite eating, he continued to be as hungry as after waking up from a long sleep.

    Yoichi devoured every single ingredient on his te within minutes, raising his bowl and gobbling the leftovers.

 Chapter 22 - Cowboy Hat

    "Yum! It was delicious! Aaah!" Yoichi rejoiced, capturing the attention of other customers sitting at the counter. The young tamer acted as if he hadn''t eaten in years and, even the drunk people in that ce were impressed by his strange behaviour.

    "Wow. Are you done yet?" Enatsu chuckled, who should have been the hungrier of the two. Looking into his coloured ceramic bowl, half ramen was still there. ??

    Kenji screaked, resting its two front legs on its tamer''s legs, explicitly asking him to eat something.

    "Oh, I''m so sorry, bud! This ramen was so tasty that I forgot to leave you a piece!" Yoichi answered, lowering his gaze to the Nekage. "Excuse me, Kenzo... could I have another piece of meat for my demon?"

    "Of course, there''s no problem!" Kenzo responded, happy to please his customer.

    After feeding Kenji and Sora with ramen-voured meat, Yoichi and Enatsu grabbed the two small ck ceramic sses resting in front of them. They turned face to face, ready for a toast.

    "Cheers to our new trip, man! May Goldhaven bring us luck!" Yoichi smiled, knowing that Enatsu was not yet convinced to be a tamer.

    "To Goldhaven! Oh, and to the Sleeping Owl!" Enatsu cheered, banging his ss against Yoichi''s.

    *ding* The two sses touched each other, and drops of sak¨¨ fell on the floor.

    A momentter, bothpanions drank the typical liquor down the hatch, mming the empty cups down on the bar.

    Suddenly, as if by magic, something happened in Yoichi''s mind. When the taste of the sak¨¨ spread into his pte and descended into his throat, the young tamer unlocked a memory of his previous life.

    The sensations arising from alcohol and that sour, full-bodied vour restored processes in his mind, and blurry images began to appear before his eyes.

    Withdrawing from reality for a few moments, Yoichi experienced a chaotic sequence of broken memories, each of which had as protagonist his hand clutching one of those ceramic cups.

    One toast after another, his hands had touched hundreds, thousands of sses of sak¨¨. Just then, in his new reality, the same hands began to tremble.

    What are these memories? Those hands... they were mine? Who were all those people? He pondered as the beats of his heart elerated.

    "Hey, Yoichi. Are you feeling all right, man?" Enatsu asked, noting that his eyes were lost in the void.

    It''s not possible. It''s as if these images belonged to another life, a previous life. That was me! I really wasted all that time on... on... drinking?! Yoichi continued to think frantically. When Enatsu''s hand touched his arm, memories suddenly faded.

    His eyelids began to blink again, hydrating his dry eyes. The tavern floor was slowly focused, and his gaze rose, crossing that of Enatsu.

    "All right? Maybe this sak¨¨ was too strong for you," Enatsumented, maintaining eye contact.

    "No, no. In fact, it was yummy! Don''t worry, I''m fine. Thank you for asking," Yoichi replied, without adding any more details, knowing that anyone in that room could hear him.

    After that strange episode, the two adventurers thanked the innkeeper and his beautiful daughters and prepared to foot the bill.

    "Er... I told you before I didn''t have any money, did I? I swear I''ll give them back to you very soon," Enatsu whispered in Yoichi''s ear, then returned to smile at the innkeeper as if nothing had happened.

    "Two silver coins. These sakes are on the house!" Kenzo eximed, with his usual smile printed on his face.

    Yoichi grabbed his leather pouch and opened it, grabbing a gold coin. If such arge meal costs only two silver coins, it means that three gold coins are a lot of money! He realized, surprised.

    "Hey, you! Don''t you dare pay!" a male voiceover boomed,ing from their backs.

    Taken by surprise, Yoichi and Enatsu turned around. A tall, skinny man, walking on a stick, approached the bar. A long leather coat and heavy boots with iron tips gave him a veteran look.

    "You''re Yoichi, right?" he asked, looking at the young tamer. Yellowish medical bandages were wrapped around his neck to the chin.

    Yochi confirmed with his head, not considering it necessary to respond to that strange, not-so-friendly-looking subject.

    "I''ve been waiting for someone to kick the ass of that Kato piece of shit for a long time, and here you are, popped out of nowhere! Haha!" the man joked aloud, suddenly changing his expression and beginning tough. "Let me buy your lunch for you and your friend. It''s the least I can do to pay you back for the show you offered me!" he continued.

    His shoulder-length hair was covered in a quirky leather hat, simr to that of a cowboy, but with a pointed visor at the forward end.

    "Um... okay. I don''t think there''s a problem, thank you," Yoichi stated, squeezing out a friendly smile.

    "Nice! Put it on my tab, Kenzo!" the stranger replied, making a gesture with his hand not resting on the stick that allowed him to stand.

    "Are you fine? Um..." Yoichi inquired, implicitly asking that man for his name.

    "How rude, I swooped here without even showing up! Hyobe, my name is Hyobe," he affirmed, shaking hands with both Yoichi and Enatsu. The merchant looked down on that strange man, confused.

    "What are those wounds? I suppose you weren''t born crippled," Yoichi spoke, interested in knowing the answer.

    The man in the bizarre hat was about fifty years old, but his movements were simr to those of an older man. Yoichi only needed one nce to realize that the wounds on his body werepromising.

    "Come, follow me to the table. Do you want anything else to drink?" Hyobe added, beginning to limp to one side of the room.

    "No, we are fine" Enatsu answered, taking his friend''s ce and following the mysterious man, letting himself be guided by curiosity.

    If this guy was a thug, Kenzo would have warned us. Kenji didn''t have any reaction, too, so I don''t think he has bad intentions. Yoichi thought while the rest of the Sleepy Owl clientele continued to act carefree.

 Chapter 23 - Sorrow

    "Aah... here we are," the man said, sitting on a wooden stool and leaning his stick at the table. With clumsiness, he manually moved his injured leg in a morefortable position.

    The two fellow adventurers sat in front of him, curious about what he had to say. "So... do you want to tell us the real reason why you were hurt or..." Yoichi requested, getting the ball rolling. ??

    "As I told you, I''m a tamer too. Both my Oracle and I were injured by a group of Komoeuru two days ago," the man answered, taking off his hat and cing it in front of him.

    "Komoeru? The bat demons?" Enatsu interrupted, showing that he knew almost all the mostmon demons'' names.

    "Yes, but... let''s take a step back. It''s clear that I didn''t pay for your lunch just to thank you for kicking Kato''s ass. I have a great favour to ask you," Hyobe replied, looking Yoichi in the eye.

    "We''re listening."

    "I had organized an expedition with my friend Yataro: we were heading to ckvault Mines, about twelve miles south of here. Both he and I wanted to capture a Komoeru to expand our demons roster and finally get recruited into a guild, but... I think you''ve already realized that something has gone wrong."

    "Was it the Komoeru who reduced you like this?" Yoichi asked again, not even knowing how those looked like. Based on Enatsu''s words, they had the characteristics of bats.

    "Yes. When we got there, in broad daylight, Yataro decided to enter the cave first, going on ahead. I told him it was a stupid idea because we didn''t know how many specimens lived there, hidden in the darkness. My friend... well, he was devoured by the Komoeru," Hyobe exined, expressing from his gaze the sadness he was feeling.

    "Ugh... I''m sorry, man. What happened to you? Did you run away?" Enatsu intervened, narrowing his eyes as he imagined the raw scene.

    "When I heard Yataro''s screams, I immediately ran into the cave with my Oracle, but what I found left me speechless. We both knew the ckvault Mines was a dungeon for two, maximum three people, but... something must have changed recently."

    "That is? What happened? Go straight to the point," Yoichi remarked, trying to avoid the pointless turn of phrase, which only made that story more heartbreaking.

    "About twenty Komoeru were devouring Yataro''s body, while one of them, much bigger than itspanions, was sitting a few meters from the entrance to the cave. It was more than two meters tall and had huge wings. I will never forget those fierce red eyes staring at me in the darkness! I shudder to think about it!"

    "A boss?! In the ckvalut Mines?!" Enatsu quaked, resting his hands on the table. After the sudden movement of the young merchant, the legs of his chair crawled on the floor. Some men sitting at a table not far away began staring at him.

    A dungeon, a boss... but what the hell are these two talking about? What kind of ce is ckvault Mines? Yoichi pondered, remaining silent to hear every word of that terrifying tale.

    "I would have reacted like you too if someone had told me before! Yes, a giant Komoeru, above average,manded the smaller ones. I think that was the real reason behind their aggression," the man acknowledged, wiping the sweat on his forehead. "When I stood still watching that scene, the Komoerus rushed on me. Because of the darkness, I couldn''t figure out how many there were... five, maybe six. They hurt my Oracle and me, but thankfully, being not very far from the exit, we managed to escape."

    "The Komoerus cannot live in the sunlight. Their eyes have evolved into darkness, and the sun''s rays damage their retinas," Enatsu exined to Yoichi, trying to make him better understand what kind of demons they were talking about.

    "The problem was that... one step away from the cave exit, one of those demons clung around my neck and ripped my ne off.

    "Your ne? What kind of ne?" Yoichi inquired, raising an eyebrow. Their interlocutor''s appearance was very bad, and the only memory of that event visibly troubled him.

    "It''s the only memory I had left of my wife. She died three years ago, too. She was a beautiful and brave tamer... my flower!" Hyobe whimpered, closing his eyes. A tear passed through his cheek, falling on the rough wooden surface of the table.

    Enatsu and Yoichi looked sorry. They tried tomunicate with their gazes, sharing Hyobe''s sorrow and deciding that helping him was the right choice.

    "What exactly do you want us to do?" Yoichi asked, centring the point of the matter.

    "I humbly ask you to bring that ne back to me!" the man cried, resting his hands and forehead on the table, begging the two adventurers. "I''ve seen the way you fight, and I''m sure this is a mission within your reach! Believe me. You will be properly rewarded! Don''t be fooled by my appearance: I''ve worked for a long time as a tamer and I''ve got a lot of money!"

    Despite the loud volume of music yed by the bard, Hyobe''s cry echoed in the tavern. Other unknown people began to look curiously towards their table.

    "Okay, now calm down, man! There''s no need to let everyone know about that, don''t you think?" Enatsu muttered, grabbing Hyobe''s arm and helping him sit still. "There you are, it''s much better now. Take a long breath and try to calm down."

    Showing that he had a pure and generous heart, Enatsu simted an anti-panic manoeuvre in front of Hyobe, causing him to calm down within seconds.

    "I apologize, my friends. But try to understand my pain... I lost my wife, then my best friend... and now... I lost that ne too!" the man repeated as if tears were automaticallying out of his eyes.

    Yoichi remained silent throughout the story, reluctantly witnessing that harrowing scene. A poor man had seen his life turn upside down before his eyes, and his pain was palpable. When Enatsu''s words were no longer enough to fill the silence, he spoke.

    "We will help you."

 Chapter 24 - Disagreement

    "Eh?!" both Hyobe and Enatsu quickly turned to him, trying to figure out if he was speaking seriously.

    The young merchant''s eyes were genuinely concerned, while Hyobe''s gaze reflected hope andfort. ??

    "Are you serious?" the man with the stick asked incredulous, unable to believe what he had just heard.

    "Yes, why not," Yoichi affirmed firmly.

    "Um... wait a second. Let me and my partner argue in private, okay? It will take only a second," Enatsu interrupted, rising from the table and literally dragging Yoichi with him.

    At a quick pace, the trader walked with hispanion to the exit of the tavern. The two friends stopped right by the door, away from the prying ears of the crowd.

    "But are you crazy, Yoichi? Face such a dangerous dungeon on your own? Are you going to die? I don''t! Fuck! I still have a wonderful life ahead of me and..."

    "Hey, Enatsu!" Yoichi interrupted, stopping his friend who was panicking. "Stay calm and try to exin to me. You talked about a boss... what kind of boss?" he requested, trying to understand.

    "You''re right... I should have talked about it earlier, but... I never thought I''d have to exin all these things to anyone. So, there are some very special ces, okay? ces dominated by evil demons, who have no intention of siding with us humans", Enatsu exined, trying to be brief but clear. "Well, these ces are called dungeons. In each dungeon live demons, more or less rare, to defend their territory. Precisely for this reason, in recent years, more and more tamers are pushing themselves in dungeons to capture these demons and embezzle unknown relics."

    "Relics? What do you mean?"

    "Special weapons, magical objects, forms for ancient potions. No one really knows what can be found within dungeons. They are cursed ces, created by ancient demons before man set foot in Lumya!" Enatsu stuttered, emphasizing the danger of the mission proposed to them by that unknown man.

    "You never told me about it. Well, I think this is a good opportunity to getpensation, right? That guy said he''s got a lot of money and..."

    "No, no, no. Maybe you missed the part where I said you would die. What the fuck! We''re talking about our lives, Yoichi! Is your life really worth some gold money?"

    "No, of course not. But are you sure we won''t be able to defeat that boss? I''m convinced that if we fought together and with the right tactics, we''d be able to get that ne back before we knew it!" Yoichi stated with conviction. Despite fighting and winning only one battle, the young tamer seemed to be particrly confident in his abilities.

    "The answer is no. Don''t count on me. If you want to go andmit suicide at ckvault Mines, go ahead, I will not follow you," the merchant repeated, unwilling topromise.

    After venting his tension, Enatsu walked back to Hyobe''s table. Yoichi stood still near the tavern door, thinking.

    How dangerous can some bats be? I''m sure Kenji and I could grab that ne with our eyes closed! Although I still feel like a stranger in this world, I can bet that earning money would suit me!

    After his remarks, Yoichi and his Oracle reached the table at therge oval room''s end.

    "So? Have you made a decision? Can I count on you?" Hyobe asked, impatient.

    "N..."

    "Of course you can. I''m going to get your wife''s ne back, you better believe it," Yoichi affirmed, anticipating his partner''s response. Keeping his head in his hands, Enatsu made him realize that he absolutely disagreed with his decision.

    "Thank you! Thank you very much, my friend! You will see, the reward that awaits you will not disappoint you! I''m willing to pay you with all my savings to get my wife''s ne back in my hands!" Hyobe replied, grabbing Yoichi''s hands and sincerely thanking him.

    Kenji jumped on his tamer''s legs as if it wanted to take part in the discussion. Itsrge ruby red eyes stared at Hyobe for a few seconds.

    The Nekage''s neck bent left and right, trying to sense the man''s intentions with its instinct. Soon after, it jumped back to the floor, dozing.

    "Well. I think it''s time to go. Enatsu and I are headed to Goldhaven, someone is waiting for us. As soon as I am ready to reach the ckvault Mines, I''ll recover what you''ve lost ande back here. Is that clear?" Yoichimanded, setting out the terms of the deal.

    "Yes, Yoichi. All clear. I will be here waiting for you. Where do you want me to go in these conditions?" Hyobe sobbed, pointing to his leg paralyzed by injuries.

    Onest handshake sanctioned the end of that conversation. Yoichi got up from his stool and walked to the exit. With a bitter taste in his mouth, superficially greeting the unknown man, Enatsu followed him. Sora perched on his right shoulder.

    The innkeeper and his daughters greeted their wee guests, rmending they to keep returning to the Sleepy Owl tavern. Young Yukiko took a gander at Yoichi for onest time, trying to catch his eye, but failing.

    Trapped in his thoughts and determined toplete his next assignments, Yoichi walked out the tavern door.

    The morning sun had slowly descended towards the tall Bronzeforest''s oaks'' tops, giving Ambershire an even more maic look. Its white walls and the statue of Emperor Nishiyama were shrouded in the orange afternoon light.

    "Come on, Enatsu. Our stop herested longer than expected. Do you think we can get to Goldhaven before nightfall?" Yoichi asked, continuing to walk. "Enatsu?"

    The merchant stood still for a moment under the banner of the Sleepy Owl. Continuing to think silently, he followed Yoichi without answering his question.

    "Oh, c''mon. What''s the matter, Enatsu? I thought you were an adventurer! Why the long face?" Yoichiined, walking next to his friend. "Don''t think about the ckvault Mines now, okay? Let''s focus on our next goal. Takamori asked us to join him at the Tamer District, at his guild''s headquarters, remember?"

    "No, Yoichi. He asked you, not me!" Enatsu angrily affirmed, showing a hidden side of his always kind character. "I''m not a tamer, I''m just a merchant. The Nightdes'' guild master has no interest in talking to a merchant. Is it so hard to understand?"

 Chapter 25 - Outer Walls

    That unexpected sentence left Yoichi puzzled. Enatsu looked away, starting to walk again. Between the two adventurers, an unusually tense atmosphere was suddenly felt.

    "All right, Enatsu. Whatever. I didn''t think words of encouragement would make you so angry. Next time I''ll bite my tongue, don''t worry," Yoichimented, disturbed by his merchant friend''s irreverence. ??

    Enatsu was struck by those words and continued to look at him from behind, slowing down the pace.

    The dirt road beneath their feet stretched for several miles, entering an area marked by less dense vegetation than the Bronzeforest.

    "Okay, I apologize!" Enatsu snorted alongside him. "I answered like an asshole. You were just trying to be nice."

    "It''s not a problem. I''m acting like I''ve known you for years, but I haven''t. Maybe I''m just in a hurry to find out new things about this world... apology epted," Yoichi affirmed coolly, without even looking at hispanion.

    The journey continued for about an hour without a hitch: dozens of travelers of all kinds crossed the road of Enatsu and Yoichi,ing from all directions. Some of them were on their way to Ambershire. Others were driving their carriages north, who knows for what destination.

    Yoichi did not stop for a second to be fascinated by the incredible naturalndscape surrounding him, marvelling at every nce. Curved trees and exotic flowers never seen before repeatedly caught his attention, infusing peace in his soul.

    The persistent chirping of birds living in those woods was particrly pleasant, while the orange afternoon sunlight illuminated the street.

    Here and there, modest farms simr to his own were scattered through the trees, joining the main road, to the east.

    "Maybe I overreacted just because I''m scared of bing a tamer," Enatsu confessed, out of the blue.

    "Um? Are you talking about our conversation from a while ago?" Yoichi asked, who had almost forgotten that issue. "Don''t worry. You were just nervous. I didn''t mean to..."

    "No, I mean it. We''ve known each other recently, that''s true. However, you are the first person who truly believed in my potential, Yoichi", Enatsu admitted, looking at the ground before him. "From the first moment you saw me wandering in the rain, you were kind and friendly towards me. You hosted me under your roof without knowing me, and I thanked you with unpleasant words. I''m very sorry, for real."

    "Enatsu, take it easy. You didn''t say anything crazy, it can happen to be a little nervous. When it happens to me, I''m willing to bet you''ll be patient. I know it may sound strange to you, but everything around us seems new to me. I feel like I''ve never been here, I''ve never seen these trees and these breathtakingndscapes up close," Yoichi exined, looking his friend in the eye and smiling.

    "When we drank that good sak¨¨, at the Sleepy Owl tavern... I... I saw something," he continued.

    "What are you talking about? Oh, right. Now I remember. It looked like for a moment you were unconscious."

    "Well, it was like losing my senses. As soon as I tasted that sak¨¨ and squeezed the ss in my hands, an avnche of memories submerged my mind, preventing me from moving or talking. Many images appeared in front of me, zing over my eyesight, and in each of them, there was me drinking sak¨¨."

    "Mmh... I don''t think I got it, " Enatsu answered confusedly, scratching his head.

    "Those pictures I saw were memories. Distant memories of a distant world, so much different from this. In that world, my hands were different, bigger, and wrinkled. Those very hands carried hundreds of sses of that damn sak¨¨ to my mouth," Yoichi repeated, trying to exin himself to the best of his ability.

    "A world other than this? You mean... that you''re not from Lumya?"

    "That''s right."

    "Wow. This is weird, brother! Are you sure they were memories and not just hallucinations due to alcohol?" the merchant chuckled.

    As much as I try to exin what I saw, I doubt Enatsu will understand me. If I told him that I think I was reborn in this world, he''d think I''m crazy, and maybe he wouldn''t talk to me anymore. Yoichi pondered before answering.

    "It may be. Yes, maybe that sak¨¨ had a strange effect on me. I don''t think I''m going to drink any of it for a while," Yoichi stated, pretending to agree.

    "There are so many other tasty drinks I need to let you taste! Sak¨¨ is just the icing on the cake! Eheh!" Enatsumented. "Oh, look over there."

    Yoichi''s eyes traced hispanion''s hand, pointed forward along the way. Besides the tall green trees, simr to conifers, huge white stone walls popped out.

    "Is that Goldhaven? It looks like Ambershire, just bigger!" Yoichi joked. The sun was about to set over the woods, and the young tamer realized that speaking to Enatsu, time had passed faster than expected.

    "Hahaha! I''ve never heard anyone say that! Well, maybe looking at it from the outside... yes, it may vaguely remember the circr walls of Ambershire. But I assure you that once you walk through them, you will be stunned", Enatsu affirmed, excited to have reached his destination.

    The journey of the young ck-bearded merchant, unlike Yoichi''s, had begun four days earlier. Alone, Enatsu had crossed half of Tentochu, passing the Southborne Mountains, the great mountain range that split the region into two parts and entering the Bronzeforest.

    The two adventurers elerated the pace without wasting any more time, covering the distance separating them from Goldhaven in just under half an hour.

    The white stone walls, dominated by tall cylindrical towers equidistant from each other, were evenrger seen up close.

    At the tip of each watchtower, a small lit bonfire helped the lookouts distinguish shapes in the darkness of the evening.

    The pristine vegetation gradually faded, making way for an artificial road, tiled with lots of small rectangr stones. The natural elevations of the woods were also wiped out, smoothed by the great green in on which stood the magnificent capital of the Tentochu region.

 Chapter 26 - Legend

    "It''s the most dazzling thing I''ve ever seen!" Yoichi marvelled. "The top of its walls looks like a crown! Spectacr!"

    "Eheh. I knew you''d like it. And you haven''t seen its interior yet," Enatsumented, pausing to admire that masterpiece of architecture. "Thest time I was here, in front of these walls, I was just a child. I often apanied my father on his business trips," he continued. ??

    Colossal bricks, several meters wide and stacked on each other, stood more than 40 meters high. Goldhaven''s outer walls were as tall as mountains, and, admiring them from below, it was impossible to distinguish what was inside them.

    The whole city was a great stronghold, in the middle of an immense in. Behind it, at the farthest point where Yoichi''s gaze managed to arrive, there was an expanse of ocean-like water.

    "Goldhaven was the first man-made city on thesends when Tentochu was still a wild and exotic ce, dominated by mysterious and ancient creatures", Enatsu exined, almost automatically starting a history lesson. "It is said to have been built above thergest gold mines in Lumya, from which it took its name."

    "This is ravishing. I can''t wait to get in!" Yoichi impatiently replied. "Although it is a peaceful ce, these walls seem to have suffered many battles. Am I right?" he asked.

    On the external facade of what appeared to be the main entrance to the city, the white rock had suffered obvious damage. Grooves and scratches scattered here and there on its surface gave that high wall a worn look. It was as if Goldhaven had gained by force the right to stay there, to exist and prosper.

    "Actually, that''s a good point. The capital has undergone numerous attacks by the Kamakiri faction, the army of the far east. The most valiant warriors defended Goldhaven, sacrificing their lives and that of their demons to save the people of Tentochu from the enemies," Enatsu promptly replied, as if waiting to receive that question.

    "Kamakiri''s warriors are such sons of bitches, are they? Every time you talk about them, you turn up your nose," Yoichimented, trying to extrapte additional information.

    "There is no Tentochu citizen who would not hesitate to give his life to exterminate those outcasts, Yoichi. The war between the two great factions of Lumya never ended. It is not just a matter of territories to be plundered and conquered. No... what''s at stake is the honor, my young friend."

    Yoichi made no answer, eating out of his hand.

    "The Nishiyama Imperial Family has been fighting for centuries the Kamakiri faction, ruled by Emperor Gonshiro, the Usurper", Enatsu affirmed in a serious tone. After uttering that name, the merchant changed his expression, darkening.

    "The usurper? You mean it''s not up to him to rule Kamakiri?" Yoichi asked naively, based on the nickname of the enemy ruler.

    "That man''s wickedness knows no end, Yoichi. Legend has it that Gonshiro, hundreds of years ago, sacrificed his older brother and heir to the throne and that in return... he gained immortality."

    "What?! Immortality? Come on, I''ve heard a lot of strange things since I woke up, but this takes the cake!" Yoichi gasped, unable to believe those words.

    "In a time now too far to remember, Emperor Seitaro reigned unchallenged in thends of the west, the frozen Kingdom of Kamakiri. He was a good and far-sighted ruler. His people and Tentochu prospered in harmony, and although the Vast Ocean separated the two continents, there were no factions, no wars," Enatsu spoke.

    "However, like any story, Seitaro''s had its ups and downs. The glorious Emperor of Kamakiri had more than ten wives and as many children. Empress Yawara, the only one he recognized as his wife, gave birth to Nashiro, his eldest son. Scrupulous schr from an early age, at just ten years old, Nashiro knew science and mathematics like the insides of his own pockets, thanks to the careful teaching of Lumya''s most experienced masters."

    Enatsu knows this story by heart. I wonder how many times he''s been told. Yoichi wondered, never stopping listening to him.

    "Everything seemed to be going well, but the seed of discord had already been born. Genshiro, son of Seitaro and one of Kamakiri''s most desired Oirans, reached the imperial pce, dering that he was the emperor''s true eldest son, the rightful heir to the throne."

    "Oiran? What do you mean, I''ve never heard that word..." Yoichi interrupted.

    "A prostitute, to make it short," Enatsu answered, beginning to speak again. "Seitaro disowned Gonshiro''s fatherhood and exiled him from the pce. About ten years after that event, he, forced to live in misery and mud in remote countryside, returned to the pce, finding the young Nashiro at the end of histe father''s bed," the trader continued, pausing to catch his breath.

    "ording to legend, that day, Gonshiro killed Nashiro, Empress Yawara, and all of Emperor Seitaro''s army with his bare hands. He became the new, immortal Emperor of Kamakiri."

    "Hey, hey. Hold on for a second. I think you got confused, or maybe I heard you wrong. You said ''with his bare hands,''" Yoichi specified, carefully listening to every little word.

    "You heard perfectly, Yoichi!" Enatsu repeated, proving to be aware of what he had just told.

    "A 30-year-old warrior who kills an entire army with his bare hands. Yes, why not. Maybe you''ve gone too far with sak¨¨ too," Yoichimented. With a gesture of the hand, he teased his merchant friend.

    "When he killed Kamakiri''s rightful heir to the throne, Gonshiro honoured the divine pact of Valgoth, an ancient evil demon, born at his same moment, begotten by the anger and frustration of the prostitute who had cursed that day", Enatsu exined. "The divine skill of his Oracle, in fact, was just that. Immortality."

    Yoichi opened his eyes wide and swallowed empty. A strange shiver ran through his back, and his hands suddenly became cold. "Are you serious? His Oracle was an ancient demon that made him immortal?!"

    "No, it wasn''t. It is," Enatsu affirmed, looking his interlocutor in the eye. "No one has seen Gonshiro again in thest fifty years, but it is said that he is still alive and that he ns to destroy Tentochu, erasing the peace that the Seitaro dynasty had created with exertion."

 Chapter 27 - Main Gates

    "None of this makes sense. What''s the point of fighting against someone who can''t be defeated?" Yoichi asked, referring to Emperor Nishiyama.

    "I''ve already told you, Yoichi. Our faction is not just fighting for victory. The moment Tentochu stops fighting, our honor will be lost forever," Enatsu stated, upromising in that speech. ??

    "That Valgoth you talked about... you called it ''ancient demon''. What''s the difference between him and Nishiyama''s four-winged tiger, the Torasagi? Is Gonshiro''s Oracle really that strong? I''m sure it too has a weakness!"

    "The Torasagi is an epic demon. It is the Oracle of the Supreme Emperor Nishiyama and no one else in the world besides him owns it. Or at least, none that we know," Enatsu exined. The trader began to touch his beard, thinking deeply about Yoichi''s question. "Although Gonshiro is immortal, Kamakiri''s army is not. As I''ve already told you, Nomi Ind, the ind between Tentochu and Kamakiri, has recently be the scene of bloody battles between the two factions."

    "So, you mean that... as long as the wars are only fought on that ind, there is no risk that Gonshiro''s army will attack Tentochu, right? I vaguely remember the world map. Nomi Ind is the only junction between the eastern and western continents," Yoichi replied.

    "Mmh, let''s say yes. The guilds scattered throughout the territory have precisely this task. Training tamers and sent them into battle in that hellish ce, hoping that sooner orter the war wille to an end" Enatsu confessed discouraged, looking up at the sky. Sora fluttered in a circle above their heads.

    "Don''t train them, but send them to die," Yoichi corrected, setting out his considerations. "Emperor Nishiyama is a selfish man. Sacrificing thousands of lives on an ind doesn''t seem like a good way to win a warsting from hundreds of years."

    "Shhh! Yoichi! Do you want to get killed?!" Enatsu trembled in fear. He approached his friend and looked around, verifying that there was no one nearby. "When we enter Goldhaven, never insult the Emperor again, or you will find yourself hanging from a rope in the central square! The guards in the capital are really intransigent about this, try to remember that!"

    Yoichi''s astonished expression became deluded after a few seconds. The image of the one who in his mind was a just and courageous ruler had turned into that of a selfish and proud tyrant.

    Emperor Nishiyama was worshipped as a god by all the inhabitants of Tentochu. If he really wanted a say, Yoichi would have to climb the ranks of that society still bound to ancient and empiricalws, totally based on the absolute monarchy.

    "I think it''s time to get into Goldhaven. As always, I thank you for your story, Enatsu. I told you, I need someone like you by my side. Think of my proposal," the young tamer said, beginning to walk.

    The merchant stood still for about ten seconds, thinking back to those words.

    The sun had now set behind the city walls, diving into the great ocean of the west.

    The two adventurers, looking for luck, joined another group of travelers, who arrived at the same time at the foot of Goldhaven''s massive iron gate.

    The main entrance to the capital was guarded by dozens of guards, neatly arranged in a single file next to the two heavy gate wings.

    Metallic armor with golden edges, equipped with helmets with showy red feathers above the head gave those warriors armed with halberd a solemn appearance. Their gazes were pointed forward as if they were ready to fight at all times.

    Two at a time, dozens of newly arrived travelers walked through that corridor of guards, reaching the gates. Yoichi and Enatsu closed the line, witnessing the procedure to get through the entrance.

    A guard more muscr and taller than the others was stationary in the middle of the door. His equipment was slightly different from those of the simple guards, with two huge pauldrons of heavy steel to strengthen his shoulders and a double-headed axe popping up from behind his back.

    That man in his fifties was not wearing any helmets and his expression instilled fear. His face was covered in scratches and knife wounds, which made his sulky expression irregr.

    Like a true military man, he had no beard and no hair. On his head, a ck tribal symbol-like tattoo stretched from his forehead to his neck, continuing under the armor.

    "We are travelers from Edgemere, who havee here to meet distant rtives" the first of the travelers stammered. He was a middle-aged man, dressed in humble worker clothes. He was holding hands with a blond-haired little girl, probably his young daughter.

    Behind him, a woman and two other youngsters, a boy and a girl.

    The older guard slightly cocked his head, verifying his interlocutor''s statement. His eyes framed the entire family, focusing on a detail in the rear: the older boy, probably the firstborn of the man who was talking, held a rope attached to a donkey.

    On the back of the workhorse, several straw containers and objects wrapped in cloth sheets were meticulously tied, so as not to disperse the load.

    "Anything to say? What''s in there?" the guard inquired, in a deep and rude voice.

    "Nothing, sir. There are supplies and little freebies for my sister''s family. She lives with her husband and two children not far from Demon Cathedral Square", the traveler responded with conviction, evidently prepared for those kinds of questions.

    "Go," the guard replied, moving sideways and letting the whole family pass by. The man, his wife and children, thanked with a movement of the head.

    "Next!" the bald-headed warrior yelled, making a gesture with his hand.

    Another couple of people approached the door. This time they were a younger man and woman.

    "Psst! Enatsu!" Yoichi whispered in hispanion''s ear, trying not to be discovered by the watchful eyes of the dozens of guards that surrounded them.

 Chapter 28 - Goldhaven

    "What is it?"

    "What shall we answer to that guard? He filled that poor man with questions, and he was just asking his permission toe in. His children were terrified," Yoichi asked, pretending to look forward. ??

    "I don''t know. Honestly, I didn''t remember the controls being so invasive. My father never told me about it, something must have happened..." the merchant admitted, barely opening his lips to speak.

    "And so what? You didn''t answer my question and..." Yoichi spoke, immediately interrupting his words. One of the guards in line began to look at him.

    "Don''t worry. Just be quiet, let me talk," Enatsumanded, coughing and restoring order.

    "Next!" the chief of the guards eximed, inviting the two adventurers to step forward.

    Sora was perched on the merchant''s shoulder, while Kenji followed Yoichi near his feet, never losing sight of him.

    Before speaking, the man in heavy armor looked at the two demons, then crossed his eyes with their tamers. "Yes?" he asked, waiting for either of them to start talking.

    "Hello. We are here in Goldhaven to shop at the Old Bazaar. I''m from Silvertide Vige and my friend is a Bronzeforest farmer," Enatsu broke the ice, with a fake smile painted on his lips.

    "What about these little ones?" the guard inquired, pointing to Kenji and Sora with his hand.

    "Um... are our Oracles, sir. I am a merchant, not a fighter, while my friend is..."

    "Is he deaf?" the head of the guards interrupted, squaring Yoichi from head to toe.

    After that statement, one of the guards in line chuckled. Kenji''s menacing gaze remained fixed on the man in front of its master.

    "No, he... he..."

    "I am just a farmer, sir. My Nekage helps me drive the wolves off the farm and gives me a hand with the sheep", Yoichi affirmed with conviction. Although that excuse was invented at that very moment, the serious tone with which it was said made it seem incredibly believable.

    Enatsu was amazed at hispanion''s ability to improvise. Not knowing what else to add, he limited himself to confirm with his head.

    "Impart on your pet to stop looking at me like that, otherwise I''ll send you back to the Bronzeforest kicking your ass" the guard ordered, referring to Kenji.

    Yoichi''s foot gently hit his Oracle''s side, making it sat next to him, showing itself to be obedient. "I beg your pardon. It is not used to seeing people in armor. It''s just scared," Yoichi promptly exined, bowing his head slightly out of respect.

    Unlike his permissive behavior with the other travelers, the chief of guards began to walk around the two adventurers, verifying that they had nothing to hide.

    "A farmer, ah?" he asked, awaiting Yoichi''s answer. The young tamer chose to remain silent, implicitly confirming that question.

    The guard stood behind the twopanions, who remained with their eyes turned towards the door. Yoichi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

    "You are an unusual couple," the guardmented, crossing his arms. "Go, get off mywn" he continued, allowing them to get through the Main Gates.

    "Th... thank you!" Enatsu stammered. Yoichi remained silent and, along with his friend, finally entered Goldhaven.

    When the two adventurers were far enough away from the men guarding the entrance, Enatsu vented the tension umted in those interminable moments. "Holy shit! I nearly soiled myself! I thought your words didn''t convince that guy."

    "Well, I thought so too," Yoichi added, lowering himself to Kenji and petting its head. "Mmh... this is so annoying..." he mumbled, getting up and sticking a hand in his trousers.

    "Yoichi! Does it feel like the time to get naked? People can see you and..." the trader immediately shut up when hispanion pulled out the dagger hidden in his trousers.

    "The de kept moving up and down. It cut all my leg hair! Hahaha!" Yoichiughed.

    Beneath Enatsu''s astonished gaze, the young tamer had managed to trick the chief of guards into hiding his weapon in advance. Before interacting with that giant in armor, he had ced the dagger into the backside of his belt. When that man started walking around them, he managed to slide it in the direction of one leg, hiding it.

    "I must admit, my friend: you''ll never stop surprising me!" Enatsu cheered, sighing.

    "Did you think I was going to let that guy see the dagger? Hey there, I''m a farmer and I brought with me the de I use to harvest wheat... hahaha! I''m not stupid!" the young tamer chuckled, simting the talk with the guard at the Main Gates.

    After a few genuineughs, useful to strengthen the bond of friendship in that bizarre couple of friends, they found themselves beyond the great white walls of the capital.

    Thousands of small torches hung here and there on the walls and streets, made Goldhaven an incredibly atmospheric ce: its tall buildings were highlighted by the same white stone as the outer walls, durable and elegant. A lot of people walked left and right, for work or just for pleasure.

    The tiled street decorated with flowers and curved streetmps was full of people and the confused chatter was enriched by pleasant background music,ing from some bard looking for alms.

    The real Goldhaven was much prettier than that described by Enatsu. Its warm evening colors infused the spirit of the two travelers with an unexpected serenity, estranging them for a few moments from the raw reality.

    The capital was thergest city in Tentochu, yet, every spot was treated in the smallest detail. Nothing seemed to be built randomly. The streets, bridges, and shape of the buildings were in perfect harmony, making such an immense ce on a human scale.

    Admiring the surrounding sight, Yoichi and Enatsu approached arge wooden sign. Arrows pointed to ces of interest, helping foreigners like them to orientate.

    "The Old Bazaar is that way," Yoichi announced, trying to go back to reality. Although the atmosphere was calm and rxed, he had never forgotten his true mission.

 Chapter 29 - Old Bazaar

    "Oh, yes. Sure. I almost forgot. This ce is really maic," Enatsu replied.

    The merchant and Yoichi walked down one of Goldhaven''s widest roads. Another signboard attached to the wall of a building gave the name of that street. ??

    ''Imperial Road'' ¨C read the inscription engraved on the wood.

    "So this is the famous Imperial Road. Do you know why it''s called that?" Enatsu asked, already knowing the answer to that question.

    "You''re kidding, aren''t you?" Yoichi chuckled.

    "Goldhaven has four entrances: one to the south, one to the west and one to the east. The Imperial Road connects the gates to Emperor Nishiyama''s Pce."

    "Well, I thought this story was more interesting. It seems like a fairly banal meaning", the young tamermented. In front of him, a group of old people enjoyed the walk.

    "Tentochu guild warriors usually go down this road when they return from their battles. You know, every single tile of the Imperial Road has a story to tell," the merchant added. "Look, the Old Bazaar is that way, right ahead of us!"

    Yoichi''s gaze looted in the direction indicated by his friend. A chaotic set of old ruins covered an entire area of the city. Between the old columns and copsed vaults of what looked like an ancient square, many stalls and wooden hovels next to each other.

    Torches, candles and other unknown light objects decorated Tentochu''srgest Bazaar, famous for its merchants from all over the world. On top of each other, sometimes even in very little space, the stalls upied every corner of the yellowish stone ruins.

    The columns and arches of broken stone, once of the same white stone typical of the area, were yellowed with time. The roof of that bizarre structure was made of huge tarps of colourful cloth. Blue, green, yellow: intertwined and tied to each other, the wide curtains kept traders and their customers safe from rain and weather phenomena.

    The Old Bazaar didn''t have an entrance and exit. Anyone could enter where the space between the stalls was wider, not to hinder the passage of some workhorse loaded with goods.

    The faces of the workers in that multicultural neighbourhood were decidedly more exotic than those of the people of Ambershire. Darker or more oliveplexion, brightly-coloured demons, and improbable-shaped dresses enriched their zany personalities.

    Anyone entering Tentochu''srgest open market followed the yelling of traders, intent on advertising their goods. Even those who had no intention of buying anything specific went into that ce, enjoying that multitude of smells and views.

    "Holy shit! I''ve heard a lot about this ce, but I admit I didn''t think it was so huge," Enatsu affirmed, open-mouthed. Merchant since he was just a kid, for him that Bazaar was like an earthly paradise.

    Yoichi and his friend entered that chaotic cluster of objects and people, mingling with the crowd. Visitors from all over the world reached the Old Bazaar even just to see it once in a lifetime, intrigued by the food specialties for sale and the ancient relics on disy.

    The road tiles under their eyes were not visible due to the thousands of feet walking on them. Little flying demons fluttered here and there, swaying among the colourful tarps above the ruins.

    Sora, intimidated by all those people concentrated in one ce, decided to stay on Enatsu''s shoulder. Kenji did the same, letting Yoichi pick it up. The little Nekage chose to cling to the small leather bag its tamer carried on a shoulder.

    "But... what''s that? It looks like we just got into another world! Where do all these peoplee from?" Yoichi yelled, trying to drown out the buzz of the crowd.

    "It sounds like magic, doesn''t it? Haha! I told you it would be worth it!" Enatsu remarked, continuing to walk forward.

    The two adventurers walked aimlessly for more than half an hour. At one point, strange glittering objects caught the young tamer''s attention.

    What appeared to be ancient weapons were neatly arranged on a stall. A rough wooden beam was resting on two boulders of the same size, ensuring stability to the entire rudimentary structure.

    A man with a very darkplexion was sitting behind it, on arge red pillow resting on the ground. His head was wrapped in a turban that resembled the sand of the desert with its light colour. On his forehead, a stain of red paint.

    "Good afternoon, travellers. What can I do for you?" the man suddenly demanded. Expert merchant, he had noticed Yoichi''s interested gaze from yards away.

    "Hello. I was getting a load of these weapons and... I was wondering where they came from. I''ve never seen anything like this before," Yoichi affirmed. Enatsu approached his friend, fearing that that cunning merchant might cheat him.

    "You''re not the first one to ask me, and you won''t be thest!" the man in a turban chuckled, touching his long ck moustache and standing up.

    When he got up from hisrge pillow, the merchant revealed to his customers his true stature, which exceeded that of his stall by a few inches.

    "There are no weapons like mine in the surroundings. Thesee from one of the darkest dungeons in the north. Their des were forged in the magma of ckhorn Mountain, the volcano north of Mukade. There is no warrior from the region of fire who does not worship this steel", the moustached little man exined, opening his arms and illustrating to the two young friends his merchandise.

    "Mukade? He''s talking about the independent nation, right?" Yoichi said, asking Enatsu for confirmation. The merchant nodded, confirming his question.

    "They''re gorgeous. I guess it was hard to bring them here and..."

    "The youngest is about 3000 years old, and its first owner was a powerful demon tamer. It is said to have been the master of a fire demon powerful enough to turn ckhorn Mountain into a volcano," the man with the turban interrupted again. As a good merchant, he would also sell an old iron as the rarest of items.

 Chapter 30 - Mirror

    "Eheh! I know that trick! Forget about it, Yoichi. These old weapons are probably just imitations. This man would say anything to sell them. Come on, let''s continue our walk!" Enatsu mumbled, acknowledging the tricks of the trade.

    "Don''t listen to your friend,d. Apparently, he''s not a connoisseur of fine des like you! Here, try this one. Lift this sword and assess its handling. I''m sure you won''t find anything better here at the Bazaar," the sly merchant affirmed with conviction.??

    Before Yoichi could answer, he picked up a short sword from the stall and handed it to him.

    Yoichi looked at Enatsu, intent on walking away to visit other stalls, which he thought were more interesting. The merchant''s insistence and his small lively eyes convinced him to grab that ancient, dusty weapon.

    The young tamer''s hand shook the hilt and held the sword with its tip pointing upwards. The dim light of the torch hanging on the wall behind the stall illuminated it, revealing its carved details.

    The de reflected Yoichi''s face, who turned the sword in his hands, taking care not to hit anyone. Despite its size, it was light as a feather and cut through the air like a razor.

    "How much does it cost?" the ambitious farmer asked.

    "Mmh... my young friend, this is a unique weapon in the world. Only a fool would give it up for a few pennies. It costs two gold coins, but only for you," the little man replied, crossing his arms. "Your careful eyes remind me of my son''s," he added.

    "Oh, just what we needed! Now he also uses the ''poor son strategy''!" Enatsu fumed, approaching hisrade again.

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Yoichi mumbled, looking at Enatsu in a confused air.

    "With his son''s story, this merchant is just trying to soft you up. He''ll probably tell you that he died years ago from a serious illness or that someone killed him. In our business, this is one of the oldest gimmicks in the book," he replied, with a mocking smile printed on his face.

    The moustached merchant wrested the sword from Yoichi''s hands. With extreme delicacy, as if handling a porcin vase, he ced it back on the stall.

    "I wish you a good continuation, " he concluded with a sulky expression.

    Enatsu seems pretty convinced of what he says. Maybe I should just listen to him. This sword looks good, but its price is definitely too high. I can''t afford to spend two gold coins now; I have more urgent purchases to make. He thought.

    When the moustached merchant returned to hisrge red pillow, Yoichi and Enatsu greeted him politely. Soon after, they walked away into the crowd.

    Various yellings echoed through the ancient ruins of the Bazaar when Enatsu began to speak again. "I''m d you listened to me. Believe me, my friend, I just saved you a bad deal."

    "You know, that sword was easy to handle. However, its price was too high, and I''m not a good fighter yet," Yoichi exined, setting out his reasons. "Kenji''s skill can strengthen my limbs, and maybe a sword is not the right choice" he reiterated, imagining using it inbat.

    "Very good observation. With those giant hands, you wouldn''t even be able to pull it out of the sheath!" Enatsu joked. "When you meet the Nightdes guild leader, I''m sure he''ll guide you to your bestbat style."

    Yoichi nodded and continued to walk. A huge stall full of junk of all kinds caught his eye.

    His gaze fell on a vertical mirror, adorned with a frame of precious wood carved and decorated by hand. As Enatsu continued to speak, praising Soda Takamori''s guild, Yoichi''s eyes kept on staring at his reflection.

    Suddenly, blood writing appeared on the smooth surface of the ss.

    ''Remaining time: 24 hours'' ¨C Without doing so on purpose, young Yoichi began to sweat cold, taking a deep breath. His face turned pale, and the shaking of his hands became more intense.

    "Enatsu!" he called out of the blue.

    "Yes? Oh my god, what''s going on with you? You look awful," Enatsu trembled, approaching Yoichi. Dozens of people were around the stall, chatting to each other.

    "Where can I find the Demon Teeth?" he asked, quickly moving away from the mirror.

    "Why are you asking me that? Is it all right? A moment ago, your face looked like a dead man''s face."

    "When I''ll tame a demon, everything will be fine. I need your help finding what I''m looking for, remember? Just don''t waste any more time! Let''s go," Yoichi stammered, making his way through the people.

    Enatsu followed him, avoiding the looks of those who had heard those strange words. The chaos of that ce increased the flow of fear that was running through his friend''s veins. It was as if someone had threatened him or, worse, as if someone very dangerous was chasing him.

    Those damn bloody writings. I can''t believe it. They appeared again! Yoichi thought, scared. I can''t talk to Enatsu about it. I have to try to behave normally, remembering that time is running out. It''s already been a whole day; I only have 24 hours left!

    "Yoichi, wait! I can''t keep up with you if you walk that fast!" the merchant panted, trying to catch his breath. "Tweet!" Sora added. "That''s it! Those people sell what you''re looking for!"

    Enatsu''s words grab Yoichi''s attention, making him turn suddenly.

    Arge stall administered by two men and a woman was lit up more than the others. The light of the torches scattered around the Old Bazaar made that store look like a divine vision.

    Many small ss bottles filled with a violet liquid were stacked next to each other on the long counter. Next to them, separated by a thin wooden barrier, dozens of Demon Teeth.

    "There they are!" Yoichi gulped, unable to hold back the emotion.

    The famous spines capable of trapping the soul and body of demons were right there, before his eyes. Despite their great magical properties, they were sold asmon and cheap goods.

    While Yoichi admired them as if they were part of a hallucination, one of the women sitting behind the counter was intent on chopping the stem and leaves of a Crimson Lotus, separating them from its purple thorns. A dense, sticky and smelly liquid dripped to the ground during the process.

 Chapter 31 - Dead End

    The thorns filled with that sticky liquid were inserted into special ss jars. Inside them, a less dense yellowish liquid covered them in full.

    One jar after another, that experienced woman soaked the Demon Teeth. Yoichi watched her hands carefully, noting that the jars were carefully stored inside a small wooden cab ced behind her.??

    "Hello!" the woman greeted, looking forward and staring at Yoichi. Without doing it on purpose, he hade so close to the stall that he attracted her attention.

    "Good evening, ma''am. Sorry I was gawking at you without saying anything, but I never witnessed the creation of Demon Teeth personally," Yoichi apologized, justifying his ambiguous gaze.

    Enatsu stood beside him, looking at the other items disyed on the stall.

    "Well, it''s very strange. Mine is one of the mostmon jobs in the world," that sweet-faced woman smiled.

    "Let''s say I haven''t been out of the Bronzeforest in a while. Anyway, I''d like to buy some. How much are they?" Yoichi insisted without wasting any more time.

    "A silver coin each. How many do you need?"

    "Mmh. Fine. Five of them will be fine," he affirmed. With one hand, he slightly moved Kenji and opened the leather pouch, pulling out a gold coin and handing it to the woman.

    "Hey, boys! My hands are dirty, serve our customers, please," she eximed, directing her voice to her two helpers.

    "Of course!" the only man behind the counter eximed eagerly. "I hear you want five, right? Here they are."

    When Yoichi handed the gold coin to the man, he stood still and looked at it. "Um... if you want the change, I think you''ll need a bigger bag than that," he chuckled, saying something obvious.

    "Oh, you''re right. How stupid, I hadn''t thought about it!" Yoichi responded hastily. "Do you also sell bags? Can I buy it here?"

    "Here you are. My sister sewed this one. She is one of the most skilled seamstresses in the whole Bazaar. Although it looks much thinner than ordinary travel backpacks, it is very capacious andfortable to carry. The leather with which it was made is light and resistant and..."

    "How much do I owe you for everything?" Yoichi interrupted, smiling.

    "Fifteen silver coins!" the merchant stated, tucking the Demon Teeth inside the bag. He ced it on the stall, moving away a few meters to scrape together the change.

    Two coins at a time, the merchant counted 85 silver coins and carefully slipped them into the backpack''s inside pocket. "Okay, here we are. Sorry to keep you waiting."

    The purchase of Demon Teeth was sessful, and Yoichi put his brand new backpack on his shoulders. "Perfect, now I can call myself satisfied," he reported, greeting the merchants with education.

    "You still haven''t told me yet what the urgency of taming another demon is, but... fine, I''m not going to talk about it," Enatsu mumbled, walking among the people. "Now, let''s get out of here. My head can''t stop spinning because of all this confusion."

    Within minutes, retracing in reverse the same route they entered the ruins, the two adventurers left the Old Bazaar. Although the moon was high in the sky, none of the stalls in the big market seemed intent on being closed.

    Fewer and fewer people were walking through the streets of Goldhaven and, finally, the two friends were able to enjoy the free view of the capital.

    "I think it''s a bitte to get to the Tamer District. It''s not very far from here, but it''ste at night," Enatsumented, looking up.

    "I was thinking the same. Maybe we should find a ce to spend the night," Yoichi acknowledged. "You could use Sora''s skill to look for an inn, what do you say?" he asked.

    "Of course. Let me sit on that bench."

    The crickets continued to y their typical melodies, hidden among the branches of the trees and the atmosphere that was breathed in the street was calm and pleasant. When both of them were sitting on a bench next to flower-filled vases, Enatsu stroked the little head of his feathered demon.

    "Okay, Sora. You know what to do. Let''s go," he ordered, closing his eyes.

    The young merchant''s pupils reced those of the Waromu, and Sora took flight. Its small coloured wings pped frantically. Within seconds, it disappeared behind two tall buildings.

    "This ce is fucking huge; it won''t be easy" Enatsu gulped. His hands sped the wooden bars of the bench. His bust moved to trace the movements of his Oracle and, judging by his fearful expression, it seemed that he was living a nightmare.

    "You''re afraid of heights, don''t you?" Yoichi asked, resting his tired feet.

    "How... how did you figure it out?" Enatsu answered astonishedly, continuing to look around with his pet''s eyes.

    "You look scared."

    "I know, it''s a ridiculous thing. My oracle is a Waromu and I suffer from vertigo. Phew... I''m just hopeless," Enatsu chuckled, showing an innate self-irony.

    The two friends sat on the bench for a few minutes and Yoichi closed his eyes, trying to rx.

    Suddenly, an unexpected sound frightened him, causing him to jump.

    "Screek!" Kenji gasped, jumping to the ground to attention.

    "What was it?! Did you hear that too?" Yoichi asked, positioning himself next to his Oracle and looking around.

    "Heard what? Wait, Yoichi... I''m trying to focus," Enatsu muttered, whose gaze was facing the ground.

    "Aaargh! Help!"

    A female scream echoed again among the buildings lining the street. "Again! Now you''ve heard it, I''m sure! It''s a woman''s voice; I''m sure she''s in danger!" the young tamer gulped, stepping forward.

    Enatsu''s eyes returned to their normal colour, and he got up from the bench. "Where does ite from? What... where..."

    "Help me! Help!" the woman screamed again, desperate.

    "That way, quick! Come, Kenji!" ¨C Yoichi began to run in the direction of the yelling, realizing that the road that until recently was teeming with people was now deserted.

    In a hurry, the two adventurers circled arge square pce. In front of them, a wall blocked the road.

    "It''s a dead-end!" Enatsu quaked. "We''ve got the wrong way!"

    Yoichi approached the wall, touching it with the palm of his hand. Meanwhile, Kenji was left behind. The Nekage''s ears turned to a narrow alleyway between two houses.

 Chapter 32 - Alleyway

    "Screek! Screeeek!" Kenji barked worriedly, drawing the attention of its tamer.

    "Somebody help me! Get your hands off me!" ??

    What until a few moments before were just confused screams were now much sharper. Yoichi and Enatsu''s gazes fell in the direction of the alley before Kenji. It was a narrow, dark road, probably a dead end.

    Enatsu''s hand forcefully grabbed Yoichi''s wrist, preventing him from walking. "Yoichi, you can''t see anything in there. It could be a trap! What if there''s more than one criminal? How do you propose on doing that?" the merchant inquired, trembling with fear.

    Without answering those unnecessary questions, Yoichi pulled his arm forward, wresting it from Enatsu''s hand. During those confusing moments, an uncontroble fire burned in the young tamer''s eyes.

    Enatsu stood still, frozen by that piercing gaze. By the next moment, his friend had already entered the alley.

    The thick darkness that enveloped that road about two meters wide, greatly limited Yoichi''s field of view. He and Kenji proceeded with circumspection, trying not to make any sound.

    The screams had been reced by the chilling sound of drops of water continuing to fall into a puddle.

    *bloop*bloop* - That redundant, regr sound seemed toe from the farthest point of the alley.

    Yoichi was terrified. Until just before he was enjoying the fresh air and clear night sky of Goldhaven, then those screams. They had broken the magic, triggering something in him.

    What am I doing? I can''t see anything here, and without that voice, I don''t know where I need to go. No, I can''t leave! That woman was in danger, and I must figure out what''s going on! Yoichi reasoned, clenching his fists and continuing to walk slowly, tiptoeing.

    The perpetual noise of the drop of water continued to break the silence, but just as the young tamer was about to lose hope, his ears and those of his Nekage picked up something else.

    *anf*anf* "Yes,e here... let me see what''s down here..."

    A male voice never heard before was panting, whispering iprehensible words. Yoichi stopped suddenly. He turned his gaze backwards, realizing that Enatsu had decided not to follow him.

    Okay, there''s someone over there. I have to stop shaking, and I have to focus! The woman stopped screaming and that man... no, it can''t be! He thought when a shiver ran through his back.

    As if that consideration had cleared his clouded mind, Yoichi closed his eyes and focused intensely on his Nekage. With his arms outstretched forward, he tried for the second time to activate its power.

    Within seconds, hundreds of ck scales covered both of the young tamer''s upper limbs, wrapping his hands and making them big and strong.

    If what I think is true, I can''t waste any more time! I''m going to y on the surprise factor. I have to hit first! He thought a moment beforeunching the attack.

    Yoichi''s feet snapped on the wet tiles of the floor, and his body snapped forward: to vent the umted fear, Yoichi relied on his instincts, doing what any person would do in that situation.

    "Aaargh! Leave her alone!" he yelled loudly, loading a direct punch and throwing it forward blindly.

    The armoured knuckles of his right hand hit someone, and the energy released hurled him at the wall in front of him.

    *boom*crash* - the noise of the thud followed by that of the split bricks of the wall created a sudden banging. Kenji and Yoichi stood still at the scene, unable to see anything.

    "Ouch... that hurt... and you? Who the fuck are you?!" the male voice suddenly fumed, turning to Yoichi.

    "What were you doing to this woman?" he asked, sure the woman was there, passed out somewhere.

    That question received no answer. The sound of the mysterious man''s feet among the fragments of the bricks scattered on the ground echoed through the narrow walls of the alley.

    "Kenji! Behind me!" Yoichi added suddenly, ordering Kenji to switch its position. As soon as the little Nekage took cover, the tamer crossed his arms in front of him, and a powerful blow hit his forearms, causing him to fly backwards.

    "Aaargh... fuck!" he murmured, crawling with his back to the ground for several yards. Hisrge armoured hands stopped that involuntary movement, creating friction on the floor and helping him get back on his feet.

    "I''m sorry, kid. You were wrong toe here. You will never get out of this alley again!" the unknown voice affirmed with conviction.

    Making a whip-like noise, something immobilized Yoichi''s ankle, pulling him forward and making him lose his bnce. The young tamer fell with his back to the ground, and his body was slowly dragged forward.

    Even his strong hands were unable to withstand that traction, and one centimetre at a time, the enemy came closer and closer.

    "Screek! Screek!" Kenji growled, escaping the control of its master and leaping forward, in the direction of that evil voice.

    "No, Kenji! Stop," Yoichi screamed, extending his arm towards the darkness.

    The little Nekage violently scratched the enemy''s face, forcing him to retreat and give up his grip on Yoichi.

    "What the hell you doing?! Die!" the enemy shouted. When Yoichi got up, a sudden pain shook his neck, preventing him from breathing.

    "Ghhaaagh... Kenji..." he muttered, kneeling on the ground and realizing that the man in front of him was clutching his Nekage''s neck with both hands, using the pain shared between Oracle and tamer to knock him out.

    Just as hope in Yoichi''s eyes began to fade and his voice could no longere out of his mouth, the young tamer caught a glimpse of his hands on the floor.

    A dim light illuminated the area, bing closer and more intense. A noise of quick strides awakened his instincts, giving him the courage to look forward.

    "Yoichi! I''ming!" Enatsu desperately screamed, running at his top speed with a torch tight in his hand.

    The merchant''s lopsided trajectory, caused by the slippery floor of that alley, slowed his advance. When Yoichi''s eyes framed the mysterious man clutching Kenji''s neck, an angry expression appeared on his face.

 Chapter 33 - Woman

    A long greenish liana was on the ground, near Yoichi''s hand. In less than a second, the young tamer realized it was an extension of his enemy''s body, which had used it to block his ankle.

    The man before his eyes was young, perhaps a few years older than him. In his hands, he clenched Kenji''s neck. The poor Nekage''s back was attached to the wall and its tail clinging to the enemy''s wrist, trying to free itself from the grip without sess.??

    Yoichi''s inner rage caused an adrenaline rush in his body: he grabbed the end of the long liana and wrapped it around his wrist. Soon after, in a quick gesture, he pulled it backwards, dragging the mysterious man towards him.

    Kenji fell to the ground stunned, and the feeling of suffocation blocking Yoichi''s movements suddenly disappeared.

    Taking advantage of his opponent''s backward fall movement, Yoichi snapped up and grabbed his head with one of his huge scaled hands. Without thinking twice, dominated by a wave of strong anger toward that unknown man, he threw him against the wall.

    *crash* - other bricks crumbled on impact and the enemy''s back entered the wall, causing severe damage to his spine. His head got stuck in Yoichi''s grip, who repeated the operation after mming him like a puppet.

    *boom*

    The second blow hit the target once again. When the man''s hands dropped his grip on Yoichi''s wrist, he turned his gaze towards the end of the alley. As he suspected, a young womany on the ground unconscious.

    Her clothes were ripped at the bottom, and fragments of her underwear were piled up in a muddy, dirty corner.

    "Yoichi! Hey, stop, man! You going to kill him like that!" Enatsu yelled, progressively lowering the tone of his voice. The merchant rushed, albeitte, to help his friend.

    The torch finally managed to illuminate the entire area, erasing the dense darkness in which it was immersed.

    Yoichi realized that for a moment he had lost control and let go of his enemy''s head, which slipped along the wall, leaving a trail of blood.

    What the hell did I do?! Is he dead?! Yoichi frantically thought, fearing he had gone too far with violence. This son of a bitch was raping a woman, I couldn''t stand still without intervening! She was screaming for help and...

    "Hey! Hey, wake up!" ¨C Enatsu''s words brought Yoichi down-to-earth. The merchant grabbed the woman''s neck lying on the ground, pping her face slightly and trying to let here to her senses.

    Yoichi once again looked at the man on the ground in front of him: he had short red hair, buzz cut, and a shaggy goatee. The pressure of Yoichi''s hand had slightly damaged his face.

    The only detail that left him puzzled was the green liana that came out of the long sleeve of his leather coat. It must be the skill of his pet demon, he thought. But if he lies here unconscious, where''s his demon?

    "Yoichi, are you going to help me or not? Quick, help me dress this girl. We need to get her out of here as soon as possible!" Enatsu rushed, noting that the young ck-haired woman was slowly recovering her senses.

    He took onest look at the rest of the alley. There was nowhere that man''s demon could hide. Shaking his head, he approached his friend and Kenji, who was sitting next to the woman.

    Obvious red marks caused by the squeeze of the attacker''s fingers stained the poor victim''s thighs. She wore a long ripped flower dress andrge steel bracelets on her arms.

    A carved metal hairpin was wedged between her long hair, shiny as obsidian. Judging by her fine clothing and her well-groomed appearance despite the damage she suffered, she seemed to belong to the noble ss.

    "How did she end down here? And who is that guy?" Enatsu inquired, continuing to watch the enemy sitting in front of the wall out of the corner of his eye. "You wrecked him pretty good, man!" he added.

    "If you hadn''t arrived, I could have gotten killed here. Kenji tried to save me, but that son of a bitch grabbed its neck and... well, good thing you''ve arrived. Thank you, Enatsu," Yoichi admitted in a serious tone, petting Kenji''s head. Fortunately, the little Nekage had not suffered serious injuries.

    "I... I..." the girl suddenly muttered, moving her head slightly. "Leave me... leave me... leave me alone!" she screamed, waving her arms forward and striking Entasu''s face with a p.

    The young merchant''s head suffered the unexpected recoil damage and his hands grabbed the girl''s. "Hey! Calm down! Calm down, miss! Nobody here is going to hurt you. It''s all over; we''re here to help you," he exined, trying to calm her down and to dodge her arms and legs that kept wriggling.

    When she opened herrge deep-blue eyes, dark as the evening sky, Enatsu and Yoichi''s faces popped up. It didn''t take long for her to realize that they were two nice guys with good intentions.

    "What... what happened?! Where''s that... aaargh!" she screamed suddenly, rising from the ground on her arms and discovering that her attacker was a few feet from her, unconscious, sitting on the ground. "That man! That man tried to rape me!" she repeated, covering her legs with her ripped dress, embarrassed.

    "Shh! The danger is over. We weren''t far from here when we heard your screams. My friend Yoichi ran to the rescue " Enatsu smiled, pointing at his partner and calming the girl with a silly thumbs-up gesture.

    As if the merchant''sst words had not reached the young woman''s ears, she took a step forward. One kick after another, she hit the unconscious enemy on the testicles, causing him to keel over from his position. "Fuck you! Cocksucker! Take this!" she railed uncontrobly.

    Yoichi''s hands grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her backwards and restraining her fury. When the young woman felt warm hands in contact with her skin, she let herself go to her instincts.

 Chapter 34 - Treasure Trove

    A moment aftershing out at the knocked-out enemy, she threw himself into the young tamer''s arms, hugging him tightly. "Thank you! I was afraid I was going to die... that man would not stop in front of anything!"

    Yoichi remained motionless for a few seconds. His astonished gaze framed Enatsu, who shrugged his shoulders. The young tamer spontaneously reciprocated the girl''s hug, knowing that it would help her feelfortable. ??

    "I only did what anyone else would do. The important thing is that you are all right and that your wounds are just superficial", hemented, stroking her back and then detaching himself from her. "Rather... what were you doing alone at this time of night?" he inquired, centring the point.

    The eyes of the two interlocutors were very close, and her cheeks suddenly turned red. "I... well, I was... phew. It''s a long story," she answered evasively, looking to the floor in embarrassment.

    "I don''t want to cause you any more trauma, but... I''d like to know more about that viin who attacked you. Did he use the powers of a demon? Where is it now?" Yoichi insisted, determined to receive that information.

    After those words, all three of them looked around as if none of them had thought of that detail. The noise of the drop of water remained the only one present. The atmosphere of the alley, despite the dim light of the torch, was still ghostly.

    "Yes, he was a tamer, just like you and your friend. His demon... well, I can''t describe it. After forcibly dragging me into this alley, he summoned it and used its powers to immobilize me. I couldn''t see what it looked like and..."

    Distracted by the girl''s frightening tale, the two adventurers did not realize that something was wrapping the body lying on the ground. Green tentacles from the high roof of the building were sticking under its arms.

    The sudden noise of those coarse vines, the same one Yoichi heard when the enemy immobilized him, caught his attention. "Hey! What the hell is going on?" he asked.

    His gaze traced the sturdy green vines wrapped around the mysterious man''s arms. Tight on his armpits, they lifted his body, causing it to crawl on the wall upwards.

    "For fuck''s sake! We have to stop him; he''s running away!" Yoichi boomed, running towards him and jumping on the wall. For a few inches, his hand failed to grasp the enemy''s foot. As if he were a lifeless puppet, he continued his upward trajectory along the wall until he reached the roof of the building.

    Once at the top, his body was dragged where Yoichi''s and hispanions could not reach: a mysterious force had rescued him, taking up his body and dispersing its traces.

    A trail of blood along the filthy wall of that damp alley was all that remained of the attacker.

    "Damn it!" Yoichi fumed, banging a fist on the wall. "That son of a bitch ran away. I knew his demon was still here somewhere," he continued. Even if he had found a way to climb to the top of that slippery-walled tall building, he wouldn''t have been able to track him down in time.

    "Don''t worry, Yoichi. I''m sure that bastard will think twice before raping a girl, next time," the young woman interjected, referring to his rescue operation.

    "He should not have escaped. He tried to kill me and my demon... and I let him go. Umpf..." Yoichi mumbled. The young tamer took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

    "Um... are you going to spend here all night? I don''t," Enatsu interrupted, beginning to walk with determination to the exit of the alley. Yoichi and the girl followed him without adding anything else.

    The illuminated and more than a few meter wide streets were like a breath of fresh air for the two adventurers. That cramped, dirty alley seemed to belong to another city.

    "Oh, dear. I was drowning in there," Enatsumented, looking at the wooden torch in his hands.

    "What about that? Where did you get it?" Yoichi chuckled, trying to break the tension.

    "I didn''t know how to do it and... well, I took it off that wall" Enatsu confessed. The merchant pointed to an iron hook on a wall in front of them. His words exerted a burst of liberatingughter and a smile in the young girl.

    "I thank you infinitely for saving me, and I apologize for putting you in danger" she remarked, bowing her head as a mark of respect. "Oh, I also apologize for pping you in the face. Hahah!" she chuckled, referring to Enatsu.

    "Being pped by such a beautiful and kind girl does not happen every day. Apology epted!" the merchant answered, winking and taking an elegant and yful bow.

    "Anyway, I didn''t even get a chance to introduce myself. My name is Sui Nishiyama," the young woman affirmed. She tied her hair in a ponytail with ace of white cloth with her snow-white hands.

    After those words, an awkward silence enveloped the two adventurers. Yoichi and Enatsu looked at each other with wide eyes and a half-open mouth.

    The same hands that a moment earlier tied the soft ck and long hair detached the metalb-shaped hairpin. "So? Have you lost your word?" she asked, smiling with her eyes.

    "Nish... Nishiyama?" Enatsu stammered, incredulous.

    "Yes. I am the youngest daughter of Tentochu''s Emperor. The only daughter, actually," Sui replied, touching her chin and looking up at the sky.

    "I humbly apologize for speaking irreverently, mydy! I didn''t know you were the Emperor''s daughter, I beg forgiveness!" Enatsu theatrically gulped, kneeling and resting his hands and forehead on the cold floor as if he were in the presence of a goddess.

    Did I hear right? The Emperor''s daughter? Did I just save the daughter of the divine Emperor Nishiyama?! Yoichi pondered, couldn''t believe his ears.

    "Yoichi! What are you waiting for! Bow before her!" Enatsu whispered, making a gesture with his hand and grabbing hispanion''s trousers.

    "Hahah, stop it. Please, you embarrass me like that," Sui replied, begging her new friends to behave normally. "You may wonder what the Princess is doing around the streets of Goldhaven. Well, the least I can do is tell you the whole truth."

 Chapter 35 - One Last Thing

    "Being the daughter of Tentochu''s most important person requires great fortitude, and I assure you that it is not an easy thing. Unlike my three brothers, I was born without an Oracle. Yes, I am an ordinary human being", Sui confessed. "You can''t imagine my father''s disappointment when my mother gave birth to me."

    "Disappointment for what? Just because you''re not a tamer like your brothers?" Yoichi asked in amazement, marvelling at the Emperor''s superficiality. ??

    "Psst! Yoichi! Don''t make thesements!" Enatsu begged him, whispering. He sat, looking towards the tiles of the street.

    "Don''t worry, Enatsu. For the first time in my life, I met someone who isn''t afraid to talk to me. I feel like I can trust you and Yoichi, so get up," Sui ordered in a friendly tone.

    The merchant obeyed right then and there, standing up, but avoiding eye contact. Sora and Kenji stood next to each other behind their tamers. They too, seemed interested in hearing the Princess''s story.

    "The mere fact that I was born without an Oracle was the greatest disappointment for the Emperor. So great that he never says in public that he has a daughter," Suimented, with a blunt expression painted on her face. "Because of this, fights with my parents have be more and more frequent and my high position in the social ranks has turned into captivity. Why should the ''Powerless Princess'' ever be free to walk the streets of her kingdom?''

    Yoichi and Enatsu listened, not knowing what to say.

    "When I realized that the Emperor''s desire to be recognized as ''the father of Tentochu''s three strongest tamers'' was greater than the love he felt for his only daughter, I began to rebel against him. When I was a kid, I used to y hide-and-seek in the Imperial Pce, and I know every corner of it by heart. The first time I ran away, I was ten years old. They found me by the sea, right after the East Gates," Sui sobbed.

    "It must have been a horrible feeling," Yoichi added. Somehow, the young tamer''s strong empathy made him share the Princess''s intense feelings.

    "It was. I''ve never seen the sea, Yoichi. When that gigantic mass of borderless water appeared before me, I understood the meaning of ''freedom'' and finally realized my purpose," she replied. With those deep words, she tried to create a vivid picture of her memories in the minds of her interlocutors.

    "And what''s your purpose, Princess?" Yoichi asked again, not listening to hispanion''s advice.

    "I want to see the world. I want to discover new ces, meet new people, smell new scents and listen to new sounds. I''m 21 years old, but I never really grew up. I got trapped in my childhood inside that building."

    Yoichi stepped forward, approaching Sui. Enatsu tried to stop him but failed. "You''re sad because you know your father''s men will find you soon, aren''t you?" he sorrowfully acknowledged.

    Princess Sui''s blue eyes became watery, and a tear ran over her cheek. Her resigned gaze crossed with Yoichi''s, and it was worth more than a thousand words.

    A strong painful aura surrounded that beautiful girl. It was evident that her intelligence and passions had always been imprisoned and limited by the irremovable figure of her father, the supreme Emperor Nishiyama.

    "I... I don''t know what to say..." Yoichi murmured.

    "Don''t say anything. This time it''s going to be different. I will return to the pce of my own free will. I''m going to use one of the secret passages I know, and they won''t even notice my absence," she interrupted, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Here, take this."

    Gently, Sui handed Yoichi the metal hairpin. It was a smallb with hand-carved symbols on the widest part. In addition to some curved lines and small lotus flowers, the predominant design was a tiger''s face in the center.

    "I don''t understand..." he mumbled, taking the object and clutching it in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure.

    "This is the symbol of the imperial family, Yoichi" she exined, pointing to the tiger''s face on the sp. "Judging by the way you fight, it looks like you want to be a professional tamer, right? By showing this symbol, you can join every guild you want," she continued. Her shiny eyes continued to look at Yoichi, implicitly thanking him for saving her.

    Enatsu put his hand in front of his mouth, holding back a scream. His eyes, wide open, kept witnessing that incredible scene.

    Join any guild? I can''t believe it! That''s the luckiest thing that ever happened to me... or at least, I think so. Do I really have to show this littleb to join any guild as I please? Yoichi wondered, continuing to watch the imperial symbol.

    "It''s the least I can do for you. By entering a guild, you''ll be able to train your Nekage. I''m sure you''re going to do great things together. I''ve never seen anyone face an unknown danger with your tenacity," Sui added, bringing her hands back down her hips.

    A warm wind gently touched the ripped edges of her dress, and her long ck hair fluttered free in the air. The Princess closed her eyes. She seemed to be enjoying thest moments of freedom before returning to the captivity of her room in the Imperial Pce.

    "I... I don''t know how to thank you, Sui. This is the most beautiful gift I have ever received," Yoichi thanked, clutching the hairpin on his chest. "If there''s anything else I can do for you... I mean anything... just ask."

    "Actually, there''s something, " the Princess promptly replied.

    Enatsu and Yoichi were amazed at that statement. "You will take me with you," Sui affirmed.

    "What?!" Enatsu gasped, panicking. "I mean... Princess, are you sure about this?" he repeated, reducing the tone of his voice.

    "From my pce room, I can see a magnificent cherry tree. It''s my favourite tree, and I admire it every night before I go to sleep, since I was little. My gaze will look for you under that tree every night, Yoichi. When you''re ready to help me, all you''ll need to do is stay there and wait," she exined, enigmatically but concretely.

 Chapter 36 - Purpose

    "Ready? You mean... ready to leave Goldhaven?" Yoichi inquired.

    "Ready to leave Tentochu if necessary. I''ll never run away again until I see you through my window. The guards will stop keeping an eye on me day and night, and I will sneak away easily. This is what you can do to help the Emperor''s daughter for good," Sui concluded. The beautiful, young woman stepped back. ??

    In the movements of her hands, Yoichi was able to read a strong emotion: it was as if, moving away from him and Enatsu, Sui wanted to keep on hoping to be saved.

    "Princess, forgive my intrusion. I don''t think it''s a good idea," Enatsu interrupted, forcibly entering the conversation. "All of us will be ouws, bandits! Yoichi and I would be used of kidnapping the Princess of Tentochu, and your father''s men would hunt us for life! The consequences of such a reckless gesture would be catastrophic, to say the least..."

    The merchant''s fearful voice did not belittle the truth of his words. Yoichi and Sui reflected for a few seconds in silence, thinking back to that phrase.

    "What mypanion says is true, Princess. Helping you escape the Imperial Pce would be like buying a one-way ticket to the afterlife. An event that would forever change the course of our lives", Yoichi said. Enatsu breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that, for once, his words were worth something.

    "However..." the young tamer added, generating sudden suspense.

    Before continuing to speak, Yoichi''s eyes remained pointed on Sui. Her hopeful expression and her hands clenched to her chest forced him to make the only decision that would save his soul from damnation.

    The consequences of that gesture came before Yoichi''s eyes in the form of sharp images. He was fully aware that he would be an ouw, but the Princess''s freedom had no price.

    If I were to reject her proposal, I would be just a cowardly opportunist. Right now, she is not a Princess but a simple girl desperately asking for help. Which ignoble being would refuse to reach her out? He thought, hesitating before giving his definitive answer.

    "However, I have decided that, for the first time, I will obey my heart. Strong mixed feelings grip my soul; I won''t hide it... but... I''m not selfish. I''m not like your father. I will help you, Sui," Yoichi stated with conviction, breathing deeply.

    "I can''t believe it!" Enatsu boomed, turning the other way. Looking towards the wall at the end of the street, the merchant grabbed his head with both hands, desperate.

    Sui jumped into Yoichi''s arms. A warm hug wrapped around his neck while her face rested on his cheek.

    Trying to act carefree, he reciprocated the hug. He let his hands slide down the lower back of the Princess, closing his eyes and trapping that moment of sincerity in his mind.

    Time seemed to have stopped. The thin dress of Tentochu''s finest silk allowed the young tamer''s hands to follow the perfect curves of her back. The Emperor''s daughter, the nation''s most desired woman, was right there, in his arms.

    "Onest thing!" Sui whispered in Yoichi''s ear. "There is an inn called ''White Rose'' about two miles from here. It belongs to an old friend. You can spend the night there if you want."

    When the magic of that hug was broken by the next moment, Yoichi and Sui looked each other in the eye for onest time. Her feet crawled backwards on the floor of that anonymous street. Step by step, the Princess began to move away.

    "Don''t forget me, brave Yoichi. I will be within the four walls of my room, ready to run away with you", she repeated, continuing to move with gracefulness. Her sinuous movements were close to perfection, imitating those of a true goddess.

    Yoichi once again tightened her hairpin to his chest. "I won''t forget you, Sui. When I''m ready, you''ll see me."

    After thest exchange of words between the two young dreamers, Sui Nishiyama walked down the street. Under the incredulous and confused gaze of the two adventurers, she disappeared among the pces of Goldhaven.

    "Screek?" Kenji suddenly asked, breaking the silence. Sora flew over Enatsu''s shoulder, intending tofort its master. He was visibly shaken by what had happened.

    "What the fuck just happened, Yoichi? Do you have any idea how serious that is?" the merchant murmured. Sora''s small feathered face petted his cheek.

    "You are free not to follow me, Enatsu" Yoichi unexpectedly responded, drawing the gaze of hispanion. "I mean it. I made up my mind without considering your opinion. If I really help the Princess escape from the Imperial Pce, they will look for me everywhere and... if you tell me you don''t want your life to be turned inside out, I understand you."

    "Grr... dammit... dammit!" Enatsu barked aloud, moving his head and turning on himself. "The fucking daughter of the Emperor! What are the odds?! One in a million!" he grunted, venting all the thoughts he had held back in Sui''s presence.

    "Evidently, my destiny in this life is just that, my friend..."

    "Eh? In this life? What are you talking about?"

    "Of my new life, Enatsu. This life. My memories don''t go beyond my awakening. I can only rely on my instincts. They will tell me who I am," Yoichi affirmed. "Until recently, I was frightened and confused. That''s enough. I finally know what I have to do. I have a serious purpose."

    "And what is is? Be an ouw? Nice purpose!" the merchant countered, spreading his arms wide. Emphasizing his physical gestures helped him to express his dissent more easily.

    "No, my friend. I''m going to be a true tamer. If fighting is my destiny, I will travel the world and fulfil it. Whatever the cost."

    A different light shone through Yoichi''s eyes as his mouth uttered those words. With the help of his Oracle and exploiting his knowledge, he was determined to climb the rankings of that society, fighting for his ideals.

 Chapter 37 - White Rose

    "I''ve never met anyone like you, Yoichi. You''re as stubborn as a mule! Listen... what did the Princess say in your ear?" Enatsu inquired, angry and intrigued at the same time.

    "She said that not far from here, there is a tavern that can offer us shelter for the night. It belongs to an old friend of hers. I think we should go and take a look," Yoichi answered. "She made me understand that it''s about two miles in that direction," he added, pointing his finger toward the road. ??

    "Well. Let''s go. I''m very tired. My feet aren''t resisting anymore," Enatsuined. The merchant made a gesture with his hand, suggesting hispanion to lead the way.

    As the full moon rose higher and higher in the sky, the two adventurers continued to walk through the capital''s deserted streets. Without people walking, Goldhaven looked even bigger.

    Yoichi thought back to the words of the Princess and the mysterious man who had attacked her. Having such an important person on his side could be good, but also a heavy burden.

    Step by step, the feet of the twopanions advanced along the road powered by inertia, having travelled tens of kilometres in a single day. Just as the merchant was about to lose hope and his knees were ready to sumb to fatigue, a vision brought him back to his senses.

    ''White Rose'' - a small damaged sign read, hanging from a wall via a thick rusty iron beam. The wind made it swing back and forth. A constant creaking followed its movements.

    "Oh... finally, here we are. C''mon, you go first" Enatsu insisted, petting Sora. The little parrot demon was already sleeping, perched on his shoulder.

    Holding Kenji on his leather pouch, Yoichi put his hand on the cold metal ring of the door. The symbol of a rose was engraved on its wooden wings.

    A strong creak echoed in the room in front of them: furniture with natural wood, minimal and aged, gave that ce a particrly dated appearance. An old ''reception'', consisting of a rectangr, dusty counter, hid a man behind it.

    He was sleeping with his legs resting on the counter and the body resting on the backrest. The noise of his snoring was so loud that it covered that of the steps of the two travellers; not even the creaking of the door had seeded in waking him up.

    "Wow. As a friend of the Imperial Family, this guy isn''t doing so well," Enatsu mumbled, noticing dozens of cobwebs in a corner of the ruined wooden ceiling.

    "Um... hello, " Yoichi greeted, stopping about a meter from the counter.

    The man continued to snore blissfully. On his part, no answer.

    "Hello!" the young tamer repeated aloud. Suddenly, with an uncoordinated quick gesture, the innkeeper awoke, clumsily falling from his chair.

    *boom* - a dull thud, cushioned by the thousand junks behind that old counter, broke the fall. "Hey! Hi, adventurers!" that funny old man stammered, standing up and shaking the dust off his clothes.

    The innkeeper was a likeable gentleman more or less in his sixties. A long braid of greyish hair hung from the back of his bald head, filled with due-to-age skin patches.

    Long, thin moustaches, simr to cat whiskers, started from the sides of his wrinkled mouth and his narrowed but lively eyes framed the new guests.

    "What can I do for you? I''m sorry, I had dozed off for a moment. I''m not used to receiving guests at this time of night. I never receive guests, actually" the innkeeper added, whispering thest part of the sentence.

    "Oh, that''s¡­ great" Enatsu murmured, speaking behind his friend''s back.

    Before speaking openly, Yoichi pulled out the Princess''s hairpin. He ced it gently on the counter, just before the eyes of the old innkeeper.

    The artificial lighting of that inn''s main room was poor, if not almost absent. The only light source came from two half consumed candles hanging on the wall behind the counter on two small handmade wooden shelves.

    The geezer looked at Yoichi, then had his eyes on theb. Unable to figure out what it was, he grabbed it and approached it a few inches from his face.

    His expression became even more corrugated in an attempt to focus on that little object. When he saw the symbol of the Imperial Family, he looked back at Yoichi.

    "Did Sui send you here?" he suddenly asked, looking intently at the two travellers from head to toe.

    What? He called the Princess by name. Does he really know her so well? Yoichi thought, amazed by that statement.

    "Yes. I know you''re an old friend of hers and... well, we arrived a little while ago in Goldhaven, and we are looking for a ce to spend the night," he spoke, implicitly asking the innkeeper for a room.

    "Of course, of course! Come, I will apany you to your room. Follow me!" he smirked, without needing any other exnation. Starting to walk very slowly, the old man walked to the only stairway of the room, near the wall to the right of the entrance.

    Everything creaked in that ce forgotten by the world, even the stairs. Every object or piece of furniture seemed left to itself, and judging by the absence of noise, that innkeeper was the only person in the whole building.

    Regardless of the poor state of abandonment of the ''White Rose'', the two adventurers followed the man to the end of the staircase, reaching the second floor. Enatsu kept looking around in amazement as if walking through a museum.

    "Behold, gentlemen. This is the key to your room. When this inn was the gship of the neighbourhood, it was reserved only for the wealthiest customers. I''m sorry, but it''s the best I can offer you," the old man boomed out of the blue, giving Yoichi a golden key and bowing his head, apologetic.

    Acting instinctively, the young tamer put a hand on his shoulder. An old man stink came from his clothes, perhaps as old as he was. "My friend and I thank you infinitely for your hospitality" he smiled, showing gratitude. Enatsu confirmed that sentence with a nod of his head.

    "That''s why I''m here. I''d do anything for the Princess''s friends. I wish you a good night. When you leave, you can leave the key on the counter, even if I am not there," the innkeeper concluded, heading for the stairs.

 Chapter 38 - Feather Bed

    "Um... excuse me?" Yoichi called. The young tamer drew the attention of the innkeeper, who slowly turned to him. "Tell me, son. Do you need anything else?" he asked.

    "May I ask how you know Princess Sui?" ??

    The man''s gaze focused on Yoichi''s face. Before answering that question, he waited a few seconds.

    "Let me exin... I met her a short time ago. She didn''t have time to tell me who you are and... I mean..."

    "You''re curious what connection there is between a lonely old man like me and the Princess of Tentochu. It seems fair" the innkeeper interrupted, anticipating his interlocutor''s question.

    Yoichi confirmed, nodding his head.

    "I met Sui when she was just a little girl. It was during her first escape from the Imperial Pce. I saw a little girl with dark hair and mboyant clothes walk into my inn in broad daylight. When she asked me if she could hide in one of my rooms, I thought she was just the daughter of some wealthy man who was ying hide-and-seek, so¡­ I agreed. She reminded me of my granddaughter; I always had a soft spot for wild, lively children..." the innkeeper recounted, getting lost in memories.

    "After a few minutes, three men in armour broke into this ce, stepping on the same floor that warmly weed you a few minutes ago. When they asked me if I had seen a ck-haired little girl, I couldn''t believe my ears."

    "Did you tell them that Sui was hiding here?" Yoichi asked, intrigued by the tale.

    "Of course not. She was just a scared little girl, and those ugly mugs didn''t look like babysitters," the innkeeper chuckled. "Luckily, I managed to be convincing enough to get them out of here. Coming out of her hiding ce, the little girl looked me in the eye and told me that I was her only friend. This broke my heart," he sobbed.

    That old man''s reaction was so spontaneous that sweet tears came down from his eyes. "After that day, I never saw that pretty little girl again. I remember she had theb you showed me in her hair."

    "This one?" Yoichi asked again, looking at the metalb with the imperial symbol.

    "If she gave you an object that she has been carrying with her since her childhood, it means that she cares a lot about you, boy" the old man reflected out loud. "I wish you a good night" he added, walking up the creaking stairs of the inn.

    Yoichi remained speechless. His hands tightened Sui''s hairpin while his mind disyed the memories of that old innkeeper, flipping through them like the pages of a dusty book.

    Enatsu''s hand touched his shoulder. "I think it''s time to end this day. What do you say? Too many things have happened out of the ordinary and, I don''t know about you, but I''m very tired," he admitted, politely asking him to open the room door.

    "You''re right. Let''s go," he answered, approaching the door and sticking the key into the old lock. Despite being old and a bit rusty, the key easily turned inside the gear, urately oiled.

    When the door opened, what was once the best room in the White Rose, took shape in front of the eyes of the two adventurers: the central wall of that square room, located in front of the entrance, was enriched by arge ss window that offered a magnificent view of the neighbourhood.

    The white moonlight came through that window, allowing Enatsu and Yoichi to move smoothly through the sparsely furnished room. Despite the upholstery in very bad condition, the view offered by that ss window was lovely and gave that ce a warm and weing air.

    Arge, soft mattress of feathersy on the floor, just under the window. Without thinking twice, Enatsu let his cloak fall to the ground and threw himself on it.

    *puff* - the softness of that bed gently apanied the free fall of the young merchant, whose face sank into one of the pillows. "Oh, my goodness... this bed is the softest I''ve ever touched," he mumbled in a muffled voice.

    Yoichi chuckled, letting Kenji down to the ground and taking off his backpack. The young tamer, who until the day before was a simple farmer, put all his equipment in a corner of the room, not far from the bed.

    After also removing his sweaty jacket and shirt under it, Yoichiy down next to his friend. A long sigh followed his gaze, which gradually rose to the ceiling.

    Kenji climbed on to the soft feather-stuffed bed, crouching beside its master. On the other side of the room, Sora perched on a half-broken bedside table, watching over Enatsu.

    The strong drowsiness of the two travellers prevailed over their desire toment on recent events. Within minutes, the farmer and the merchant fell into a deep sleep, pampered by the warmth of that room, well isted from the outside.

    ...

    "Tweet! Tweet, tweet!" ¨C Sora''s chirping sanctioned the beginning of a new day.

    Yoichi''s eyes opened slowly, noting that the intense sunlighting from therge window illuminated his feet and the rest of the room.

    Enatsu continued to snore, sleeping blissfully. Kenji''s tail unrolled on the bed, and the little Nekage stretched out, mirroring the movements of its tamer.

    "Aaah... what a great sleep. This bed is much morefortable than that pile of straw on my farm," Yoichi pondered, sitting down and rubbing his eyes.

    Suddenly, with the birds singing in the background, an incredibly sharp pain went through his chest. With one hand tight on it, he was forced to keel over in pain.

    "Aarrgh... help... my chest... aargh!" he cried painfully, his voice blocked by the intense burning that seemed to envelop his internal organs.

    In a desperate gesture, Yoichi tried to move his arm to wake Enatsu, but the pain suddenly spread to his whole body, preventing him from any movement.

    It''s not a dream, this time! I can''t move, and I feel like dying! What the hell is going on?! He thought in panic, looking worried at Kenji. The little Nekage had stopped moving, sharing his every pain: its tail was twisted on itself, and its body was bent in two as if a sharp de had just pierced it.

 Chapter 39 - Last Warning

    "K... Kenji... aargh!" Yoichi uttered, using the little air in his lungs. His Nekage seemed to suffer a lot, and with its feline paws, it pressed on its scaled chest.

    With a slight twist of his torso, Yoichiy down with his eyes turned upwards, believing that in that way, he would be able to relieve the severe pain. ??

    Before he could perform any other action, blood writing appeared on the ceiling of the room.

    ''Train a demon or die forever: 12 hours left.''

    What?! Only twelve hours?! How much did I sleep?! He thought, frightened. His heart began to beat forcefully, irregrly. Each beat seemed to be powerful enough to break through his rib cage.

    "Aaargh... stop it! Please! I can''t take it anymore!" he murmured to the extreme of his strengths. Unable to shake, with his hand pressed on his chest, Yoichi began to cry.

    Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the severe pain disappeared.

    *anf*anf* - Yoichi breathed heavily, getting out of bed. The young tamer touched his chest and legs, not believing that he could move again. Before his eyes, Kenji also seemed to be back to normal.

    His frightened red eyes crossed its master''s gaze as if they wanted tomunicate something to him. Yoichi''s hearing, which until a moment earlier was totally stuffed due to the whistle in his head caused by that excruciating pain, finally seeded to pick up the external sounds.

    "Tweet, tweet!" Sora chirped again, waking Enatsu.

    The merchant opened his eyes, moving his arms on the soft bed. The two adventurers had slept longer than expected precisely because of that mattress, sofortable that it held their tired bodies after the time.

    "Ohi... Yoichi" Enatsu whispered, his eyes still sticky. "What''s that face? You seem to have seen death in person," he yawned.

    "What is the easiest demon to catch?" Yoichi asked, looking out the window.

    "Eh? Good morning to you too!" the merchant eximed, sitting on the bed and scratching his head. "I can''t give you an answer now, off the bat... I should think about it and..."

    "If it weren''t urgent, I wouldn''t have asked you that way. Don''t you think?" Yoichi coldly insisted, ring at his friend. Enatsu sensed the intense tension and stood up, worried.

    "I will never understand why you are in such a hurry... okay, so... if I remember correctly, the Bronzeforest is home to bucks of wild Inoshumas" he answered, lifting his cloak off the ground and scrolling away the dust. "The Inoshuma is a peaceful demon, very close to a horse, but equipped with long fangs... like those of wild boars, to be clear..." Enatsu continued, trying to ess the archive of his mind despite having just woken up.

    "What''s the fastest way to get to the Bronzeforest? The same gates we came from, right?" Yoichi inquired, beginning to get dressed.

    "Um, no. We came from Ambershire, entering through the Main Gates, the entrance west of Goldhaven. The quickest way to get to Bronzeforest is through the North Gates, passing next to the Tamer District walls," Enatsu exined. "So you decided you didn''t want to meet the Nightdes guild master anymore?"

    "No, on the contrary," Yoichi countered. "I don''t want to introduce myself to him with just my Oracle. I''m sure owning more than one demon will increase my credibility. Remember, Enatsu... with the imperial symbol, I should be able to ess any guild and... I think the first impression is the most important one," he replied promptly, inventing a credible excuse on the spot.

    "Mmh... well, Inoshumas are not excellent fighters but can be used as mounts. Entering the Tamer District riding a mighty Inoshuma could enrich your rag farmer-look, admittedly," Enatsu thought out loud, touching his beard. "No offence, Yoichi."

    "No offence. I look like a farmer because I''m dressed like one of them, but imagine if they saw me riding, with my dagger in my belt and a good deal of self-esteem. All these elements would only increase my credibility, right?"

    "Yes, that''s probably the case, " Enatsumented with a suspicious air. The young merchant did not believe Yoichi''s words within himself, but he knew that capturing an Inoshuma was a rtively simple, risk-free thing.

    "There is no time to waste then. Let''s go to the North Gates and look for one of those demons,e on!" Yoichi dictated, clenching his fist to instil courage on his friend.

    The two adventurers got dressed and recovered all their scattered things on the floor of the old room. Enatsu looked at the bed, touching it for onest time and greeting it as an old friend.

    "I will miss you, magnificent bed with proverbial softness" he whispered with his eyes closed as if he uttered the words of a sacred rite.

    "Haha... I''m sure you will sleep on other beds like these if you keep travelling with me. Remember that if we came in here, in this little joint''s best room, it''s only thanks to Princess Sui. You didn''t even want to save her," Yoichimented, walking out the door.

    "What? And who was the guy who started running with a torch in his hand to help you? Do you know him, by any chance?" Enatsu replied, jokingly referring to Sui''s rescue.

    Upon arriving on the ground floor of the White Rose, the two adventurers noticed that the main room was deserted. The old innkeeper was not there, as he had announced that night.

    Yoichi ced the golden key on the wooden counter, taking onest look at that strange but cosy ce.

    "Goodbye and thank you!" he mumbled, though no one but Enatsu could hear his words.

    Thete morning sun was already shining high in the sky, illuminating the charming Goldhaven neighbourhood. Colourful flowers and nts of all kinds adorned the corners of the pces and the balconies of white stone.

    "This city bes more beautiful every day. Living here would be a dream, don''t you think?" Enatsu said. The merchant followed his friend and breathed that clean air with his lungs.

    "It wouldn''t hurt, it''s true. But when I''ll help Sui escape the Imperial Pce, it may not be the best solution," Yoichi chuckled, thinking intensely about his promise.

 Chapter 40 - North Gates

    "Oh... then you haven''t forgotten it" Enatsu snorted. Laughing and joking, the twopanions continued to walk the streets of Goldhaven, trapped in its beauty.

    In the middle of the morning, the capital citizens were intent on carrying out the most diverse works: from cksmiths who forged weapons and utensils of everyday use to tailors who sewed fine clothes to disy on the streets. ??

    Numerous groups of children yed and chased each other, regardless of the people around them. yful screams,bined with general buzz, contributed to the capital''s charm, Tentochu''s most populous city.

    Without stopping for a second, Yoichi continued to follow a sign he encountered just before, a few meters from the White Rose exit. Like so many other simr signs, it indicated the most significant points of interest. Among them, the North Gates.

    Goldhaven was simr to arge jewellery box: the round walls of the city were divided into many inner neighbourhoods, in their turn, enclosed in small walls, lower and less robust.

    The beginning of each neighbourhood was sanctioned by imposing inscriptions carved into the rock, several meters high. From their location, the two friends could see, between two buildings, a giant stone arch reading the words: ''Tamer District''.

    Letting their careful looks precede words, Enatsu and Yoichi saw dozens of tamers crossing the threshold of that giant door always open, more than ten meters wide and twenty meters high.

    Each of them was followed by his demon, perhaps an Oracle or maybe not. I wonder how many of them are part of guilds. Maybe everyone, judging by their shiny armour and the giant demon pets by their side, Yoichi pondered, daydreaming.

    "Who knows, maybe, one day, you will be in the midst of all those people too," Enatsumented, noting the gaze of his friend lost in the crowd.

    "I''m very curious about the real benefits of being part of a guild. I wonder how many there are," Yoichi replied.

    "Do you mean the guilds of Goldhaven?" Enatsu asked, awaiting confirmation. "So, they should be about twenty. The most famous is undoubtedly that of the Emperor''s Heralds", he exined.

    "The one Kato is part of?" Yoichi said, recalling that name.

    "Yes, that''s right. That''s why your victory aroused all that interest, Yoichi. It''s not every day that you see a rookie defeat a tamer from such a famous guild. You know, as you can deduce from its name, it is directly linked to Emperor Nishiyama."

    "Are you saying that the tamers of that guild fight at the front? I remember the Nomi Ind story. You told me that thest wars between the two factions took ce right there", the young tamer continued.

    "It is no coincidence that the Emperor''s Heralds are the strongest warriors in Tentochu. You know, tamers from all over the country travel to Goldhaven trying to join it," Enatsu answered. "Fighting for the Emperor and his own faction is the greatest honour a tamer can aspire. There are hundreds of guilds scattered throughout the territory, of course, there must be one to refer to in case of sudden attacks by Kamakiri''s army."

    "Mmm... I understand. They are the true champions of justice," Yoichi jokinglymented, referring to the Emperor''s Heralds guild. "However, it''s not all gold that glitters. Emperor Nishiyama has hidden from everyone that he has a powers-less daughter. Imagine how many other things he can hide. After all, it enjoys a privileged position. No one can question his word," he reflected.

    "I''ve already exined it to you, my friend. Watch what you say. The Emperor''s men may be among us, ready to kick your ass," Enatsu replied fearlessly. Out of the corner of his eye, the merchant looked left and right.

    "I wonder if Sui has returned to the Pce safely..." he replied, continuing to walk with his backpack.

    After about four miles travelled through the streets of the immense Goldhaven, the North Gates were finally visible. An architectural structure simr to that of the Main Gates, but less evident, stood imposingly beyond the buildings.

    Carved into the thick outer walls, the enormous wings of the iron door were wide open towards the Bronzeforest, geographically north of the city.

    "Here we go, we''re almost there" Enatsu pointed out. "ording to what I remember from my father''s bestiary, the Inoshumas usually water at theke in the middle of the forest. Do you remember how to get there?"

    "Er... no!" Yoichi replied, scratching his head. An innocent expression appeared on his face. "Come on, it''ll be a child''s y for you and Sora to find it, right?" he asked, turning the tables in his favour.

    Enatsu responded with a disliked grimace. Yoichi''s statement made sense, but he did not want to give him the satisfaction of being right once again.

    The two adventurers reached the foot of therge gates north of the walls. Many people were queuing towards them, arranged in two neat rows, one headed outwards and another towards the city''s interior.

    As with the main gates, the guards closely monitored every movement of citizens and travellers from the north of Tentochu. Unlike that grumpy guy they met upon their arrival, those men in armour seemed much kinder and friendlier towards the neighbour.

    Very quickly and without too many questions, the people in line came out one after the other. When Yoichi and Enatsu''s turn came, one of the guards greeted them cordially.

    "See you soon, travellers! Glory to Emperor Nishiyama!" the man greeted, clenching a fist on his chest.

    The two friends, not knowing how to react to that harmless statement, stood still for a few moments. "Glory to the Emperor!" Yoichi affirmed, imitating the guard''s gesture and emphasizing it with a false smile.

    "Glory to the Emperor" Enatsu repeated, confused as always.

    The Bronzeforest''s colours gradually reappeared in front of them like patches of green paint on a canvas. The chaos of the city, step by step, was reced by the cheerful chirping of birds and the sound of wind in the treetops.

    "Finally, some piece and quiet around here. All that chaos was clouding my mind," Yoichi breathed, enjoying that long-awaited peace.

 Chapter 41 - Hunting

    "It seems obvious to me that you feel closer to this ce. After all, this is where you woke up," Enatsu reported, walking quietly. "Mm... so" he murmured, trying to orient himself from that exit.

    "If Ambershire is that way, to the west, we just have to continue north to reach the heart of the forest. Right?" Yoichi asked. ??

    "And how do you know that theke is in the middle of the forest? You told me you didn''t remember its location!" Enatsu hissed, turning to his friend.

    "Well, usuallykes and springs are located where vegetation is denser. In ces where there is no man. I just guessed it with a little logic, that''s all," Yoichi exined.

    "Uh, we have a natural sciences expert here... well, good to know" Enatsu joked, implicitlyplimenting him. "If we walk north for an hour or maybe two... we should reach the wildest area. We just have to diverge from the main road, it shouldn''t be very difficult," he continued, picking up the pace.

    Yoichi and Kenji were right on his heels, walking down the tiled road. On it, dozens of caravans and people from the north of Tentochu made their way to Goldhaven.

    "Tell me something else about these Inoshumas. What do I need to know to tame one of them with a Demon Tooth?" Yoichi asked, out of nowhere.

    "Ah, right. You were right to tell me. First, you need to make sure that you prevent the specimen you want to catch from escaping. Most of them are coward and prefer to run away rather than fight," Enatsu exined. "Once you do that, you''ll have to kill it and then go for its center of gravity."

    "Okay... do we already know where it is? I mean... the point where I have to stick the Demon Tooth", the young tamer insisted, listening with interest.

    "Fortunately for you, I know by heart the bestiary of the mostmon demons. So yes, I know where the center of gravity of the Inoshumas is. Right on its forehead, between its eyes," Enatsu replied, bragging about his knowledge.

    "Got it. So I have to kill it and then plug the spine in the middle of its forehead. It doesn''t seem particrly difficult, I can do it! Why don''t you catch one too?" Yoichi joked. "We can go back to Goldhaven in half the time on horseback, right?"

    After that question, Enatsu''s expression became uncertain. For matters rted to his family''s past, he had never thought of using his tamer skills.

    "I don''t have any Demon Teeth. I can''t," he answered.

    "Stop saying gibberish. I''m going to give you one. Here, take this" Yoichi said, pulling out one of the Demon Teeth purchased at the Old Bazaar and handing it to his friend. A smile printed on the young tamer''s face encouraged the merchant to take the object.

    "Yoichi... I don''t..."

    "Hey, rx. I should be the scared one. I''ve never caught a demon and I don''t know if I can do that, so I assure you you won''t be judged or mocked by anyone. I promise!" he cheered, with one hand on his chest. "We''ll learn together, my friend. We will be tamers of all respect, you''ll see" he continued, confident of his words.

    "If my father knew what I''m going to do..." Enatsu thought aloud, looking at the Demon Tooth in his hands. The thorn of the Crimson Lotus was so long and sharp that it looked like a dagger. Small purple veins were concentrated on its tip.

    "Forget about your father, for a single instant. You''re hundreds of miles away from home, acting as an independent man. One thing for sure is that your grandfather would be proud of you if you became a tamer," Yoichi repeated, knowing he had brought up a sore spot.

    "Nah, you don''t know my parents. They''ve always been very protective of me since I was a kid. For them, tamers are evil and unscrupulous people. Although both my father and I were born with our Oracles, I was always prevented from fighting", the merchant exined. His gaze rose towards Sora, who fluttered happily.

    "Sora is still at level one of its first evolution, did you know?" he confessed, trusting his friend.

    "What?! I mean, how is that fair?" Yoichi gasped, not believing those words. "Your demon pet deserves so much more! I don''t know any more Waromu, but... I can tell you that Sora would be a very good fighter. I notice it from the way it tends to protect you and..."

    "All right, Yoichi. You convinced me. I''m gonna try to tame an Inoshuma, but..." Enatsu affirmed, pausing his sentence. "If the taming process is not sessful and Sora suffers serious injuries, I will never try again" he concluded.

    "It sounds like a very good start. We have a deal," Yoichi answered, winking.

    Time continued to flow inexorable and the midday sun lost altitude, descending gently towards the western horizon of the forest. Having skipped the meal the night before, the two adventurers began to feel a sudden hunger.

    "We were crazy not to buy anything to eat! *growl*" Enatsu whined, touching his grumpy stomach. "At the Old Bazaar we could have bought all kinds of food, we had endless possibilities! It was because of your hurry, Yoichi!" he mumbled.

    "Maybe you''re right. However, you too could have worried about the food issue, don''t you think?" he abruptly replied. On an empty stomach, the two friends'' answers suddenly became scurvy.

    "How about using Sora''s skill? The sooner we find theke, the sooner we can find something to eat," Yoichi suggested.

    Without adding a word, continuing to puff like a lotive, Enatsu stopped by a tree. He let his back slip on its hard bark, sitting on the ground. A slight breeze blew through his hair, moving the grass around them.

    Activating his Waromu''s ability, Enatsu''s eyes turn yellow.

    Yoichi couldn''t help but be fascinated by that exotic parrot demon. Although it wasn''t the first time he witnessed that show, he wondered what it felt like to fly, to move in the sky without limits and frontiers.

    This enchanted forest is worth to be explored in its entirety, he thought. Who knows how many rare demons lurk among its nts or underground.

    "I can see it!" Enatsu gulped, breaking Yoichi''s daydream. "Theke is right there, in front of us."

 Chapter 42 - Pack

    "Great! It took us less time than I thought. Can you see the Inoshumas?" Yoichi asked. To his astonishment, the young tamer was happy with hispanion''s affirmative answer.

    When Enatsu disconnected from his pet, the two friends continued to walk north. The vegetation that until a few miles before skirted the road, was now increasingly dense. ??

    Trees and climbing nts grew undisturbed at that point in the forest, reaching impressive heights. The afternoon sunlight, in that stretch, could not reach the ground.

    "Be careful, Yoichi. Visibility is very limited in here, a wild demon could pop up any minute," Enatsu rmended. Moving the shrubs that stood in their way, the young merchant continued to advance with circumspection.

    The cheerful and colorful Bronzeforest had suddenly changed its appearance. Even birdsong had been reced by strange sounds from the branches of the trees.

    The soil had be totally invisible, covered with broken vines and crushed shrubs. It was as if every corner and hidden ravine could house a lurking demon.

    Despite the goosebumps that ran on the young tamer''s arms, Yoichi knew that Kenji''s animal instincts would sense any menacing presence. nking Enatsu, he kept walking north.

    "Theke looked much closer seen from above and this vegetation seemed less thick. I''m pretty sure no one''s set foot in this area of the forest for a very long time," Enatsumented. Speaking, the merchant discharged the tension.

    "Look. Beyond those nts over there. I can see something," Yoichi muttered. Communicating with each other as if they were inside a library, the two adventurers made their way through thest nts that separated them from the light spot.

    Breaking yet another branch that obstructed their sight, a breath-taking vision blinded them: illuminated by the early afternoon red sun, a vast circr clearing suddenly opened in the center of the Bronzeforest.

    Undisputed protagonist of that magical ce, theke. The light reflected on the surface of the water and the small insects that fluttered from flower to flower made that pristine ce a real oasis.

    Like the columns of an amphitheater, rows of trees ran along the perimeter of the area, enclosing it within an ellipse made of vegetation.

    Yoichi and Enatsu walked forward, finally managing to move smoothly in that soft tall grass. After each step, small clouds of pollen and microscopic insects hovered in the air.

    "There they are! The Inoshumas are over there, do you see them?" Enatsu rejoiced. He pointed his finger in the direction of the opposite shore of theke.

    As calcted, two packs of big horse demons were drinking undisturbed in the blue water of theke. Although hundreds of meters separated him from those magnificent beasts, Yoichi was able to notice their details.

    Their yellowish bodies were sculpted into a dry, well-defined muscture. The four legs, identical to those of horses, were connected to mighty thighs. Large red manes adorned the necks of those demons, bent over to the water surface.

    Long tails, equipped with a me-shaped red tuft on their tips, wagged carefreely.

    The young tamer noticed that some of the pack''s specimens were bigger than others. Among them, an animal hierarchy was based on the survival of the fittest: therger and adult Inoshumas, took precedence over the younger ones, drinking first from the body of freshwater.

    One demon, in particr, caught Yoichi''s attention. It was an adult stallion, whose neck was visibly damaged, covered in scars.

    "Fuck, I remembered them smaller" Enatsu whispered, frightened.

    "Eh? What do you mean?" Yoichi inquired.

    "Do you remember the story of docile demons who do not defend themselves and tend to run away? Well, forget it," the merchant reiterated. "Those two guys over there have the makings of pack masters," he exined. In a hand gesture, Enatsu pointed to the two biggest Inoshumas.

    One of them was the one with scars.

    "Okay, apparently, this will not be a child''s y. The young and the females will probably cut and run, but the males¡­ they don''t seem to have any intention of leaving this ce," Yoichi spoke, expressing his opinion.

    "We have to sneak closer, walking through the clearing perimeter. When we''re close enough, I''ll go on the offensive with Kenji. You will follow me soon after," the young tamermanded. After a simple look, he already came up to a n.

    "Why do I always agree to follow you on these suicide missions? Damn it, I''m shitting my pants," Enatsu stammered, touching his forehead. Receiving no response, the merchant noted that Yoichi had already begun to walk.

    Trying to limit the noise of nts cracking under his footsteps, Yoichi kept looking at the two packs of demons, now even closer. In total, they numbered about twenty units.

    If those horses were to attack me and Kenji simultaneously, our chances of survival would be drastically reduced. But if I don''t tame a demon right away, I''ll die anyway. He reflected, thinking back to the bloody writings on the ceiling of the inn.

    After about ten minutes, Yoichi and Enatsu reached an advantageous hideout to observe the Inoshumas. Paying the utmost attention to each of their movements, they noticed that the little ones tended to stroll around.

    While the less muscr cubs and specimens munched the grass and sniffed wild nts in search of food, the two pack masters remained near the edge of theke.

    The Inoshuma with scars on its neck carefully looked at its herd, rotating its neck left and right. Four huge boar fangs sprang out of the lower jaw of its mouth. The big ck nose was identical to that of a massive wild boar.

    "Psst... psst!" Enatsu whispered, drawing his friend''s attention. "Why do you keep looking at the most menacing of them? I know that face... what do you have in mind, Yoichi?" he asked fearfully.

    "That Inoshuma looks like a survivor. Look at the scratches on its neck... it must have fought many battles," Yoichi thought aloud. "If I really have to catch one of them, I''d better try to defeat the strongest."

    Yoichi''s convinced words generated a shiver down his friend''s back. With that statement, the young tamer confirmed Enatsu''s fears, terrified at the mere idea of approaching that yellow-haired demon, almost two meters high.

 Chapter 43 - Scarred Horse

    "Are you sure you want to tame an Inoshuma just to look good? It seems to me that you are trying in every way to risk your life", Enatsumented in a low voice, looking at the horse demon leader out of the corner of his eye.

    Yoichi hesitated a second more than usual before answering that question. Although Enatsu had always been loyal and friendly, he did not know whether the secret of the blood writing would remain safe with him. ??

    So far, he has shown that he is always on my side, relying on every decision. When I was in that alley, he ran to my aid despite being a chicken. Maybe he deserves to know. The young tamer thought, looking for an adequate answer to that question.

    "Let''s say yes. If I can capture that Inoshuma, I''ll tell you the whole truth, Enatsu," he answered with confidence. In his gaze, the fear of having said too much.

    "I knew it! I knew you were hiding something from me! I bet it has something to do with what happened to you this morning," the merchant replied. Moving without looking around, Enatsu stepped on a thin twig, breaking it and causing a slight noise.

    *crack* - The faint noise, partially masked by the sounds of the dense forest surrounding the two adventurers, was perceived by the Inoshumas pack.

    In particr, females and smaller specimens raised their necks and ears. They looked towards the position of the two travellers, moving their pointed horse ears and trying to pick up other sounds.

    The next moment, the scarred Inoshuma moved away from thekeshore. With a pride worthy of the most real of steeds, the horse-demon passed the weaker members of the herd and stopped a few meters from Yoichi and Enatsu.

    The two friends remained in total silence, covering their mouths with their hands. Yoichi noted that the deep scars from the demon''s neck extended along with his ochre-coloured coat. Many of them seemed to have been caused by something sharp, perhaps des, perhaps ws of other monsters.

    That Inoshuma was different from itspanions, but not only in size: its gaze was like an old soul, simr to that of a human who had fought and won a thousand battles, protecting his loved ones and defeating enemies stronger than him.

    For a moment, Yoichi focused on the specimens behind the pack leader. The little ones and the females remained motionless to observe their leader as if waiting formands.

    The other pack master remained standing near the body of water. It was evident that it was only worrying about its herd, too far from the noise source to be in real danger.

    "I''ll attack first. I''m sure this beast won''t run away and try to strike back. You will focus on one of the weakest horses," Yoichimanded, whispering orders in Enatsu''s ear. "Don''t worry about you and Sora... the important thing is that you block one of them and don''t let it rush off," he continued.

    "Forget about it! The bestiary described them as docile and coward demons, but looking closely, it doesn''t seem to me!" Enatsu quaked. A moment after his response, Yoichi and Kenji snapped forward, oveing a thick bush and running in the direction of the clearing.

    This time, the merchant did not even try to intervene. Within himself, he knew that Yoichi''s stubbornness knew no bounds and that nothing and no one could stand between him and his goal.

    However, the chance of encountering that pack of Inoshumas was an opportunity to prove to himself that he could be a real tamer, following his secret wish.

    Enatsu took a step forward, positioning himself on the edge of dense vegetation. With his eyes, he carefully traced Yoichi''s movements, waiting for the right moment toe out into the open.

    Running on its four feline paws, Kenji surpassed its tamer. Its red predatory eyes spotted the target.

    As soon as the Inoshuma''s pack saw a human being running with a Nekage in their direction, a wave of panic broke out in the air.

    "Hiii! Hiii!" ¨C wild boar-horse nitrite echoed in the clearing, scaring off birds and insects hidden in vegetation. In a general panic, almost all specimens of the herd, male and female, began to run in the opposite direction to Yoichi''s.

    Even the other pack master, regardless of the danger until a few minutes before, began to nitrite, drawing the attention of its subordinates. Within seconds, even the smallest herd vanished, grinding the ground under their sturdy hooves.

    The prediction announced by Enatsu, who believed the Inoshumas to be afraid of humans, had been confirmed for all the specimens present. All but one of them: the demon covered in scars.

    *rrrf*rrrf* - Its wide boar nostrils vented the warm, rabid air umted in his big lungs. Its angry gaze turned to Yoichi, focusing on him as if the rest of the forest had suddenly disappeared.

    It raised one of its heavy hooves made of hard bone material. With a circr movement of the leg, the bulky yellowish-coated demon lifted arge plot of ground, preparing for the charge.

    "Grrr... screek! Screek!" Kenji growled as if to answer the verse of the Inoshuma. The four fangs that sprang from the horse demon''s lower jaw were chipped and damaged.

    Trying to imagine how that demon would try to attack them, Yoichi pulled the dagger out of his belt. His hand squeezed the hilt, holding the weapon hidden behind his back.

    Under the frightened gaze of Enatsu, who in the general bustle had not dared toe out into the open, Yoichi and the Inoshumas pack leader looked each other in the eye for a few seconds. Around them, even the forest was in religious silence.

    "Let me tame you, Inoshuma. If you join my team, you will no longer be forced to fight alone," Yoichi affirmed aloud. The young tamer knew that the demon could not understand hisnguage, but those words spontaneously came out of his mouth before the fight began.

    For Yoichi, that moment was particrly sacred. With that phrase, he was proving to his opponent that he had a pure heart, ready to take good care of it.

 Chapter 44 - Neighing

    "I can hardly believe it. I''ve never seen anyone act that way," Enatsu thought aloud, still hidden among the trees.

    About ten meters away from his position, Yoichi seemed tomunicate with the Inoshuma. With its neck raised upwards, the massive horse demon was much taller than him. Its yellow eyes red at Kenji and its tamer. ??

    "I have no choice, my friend!" Yoichi repeated, advancing slowly. "The only way I can tame you is to kill you."

    As soon as the Inoshuma saw the human being in front of it stepping forward, it rose on its hind legs. The forehooves waved vigorously and, when they touched the ground, the horse started charging.

    Exhaling air condensed in vapour from its bear nostrils, the horse-demon charged towards Yoichi. A moment before he was struck by its chipped fangs, the young tamer seeded to dodge the hit.

    He threw himself to the ground, moving away a few feet with a quick somersault. Until recently hidden behind his back, the dagger was now stationary in his right hand, pointed at the enemy.

    "Hiiii!" the horse neighed angrily, starting again to run with its head pointed down. Kenji kept its distance, waiting for the right moment to help its tamer.

    *swishh* - For the second time, the Inoshuma fangs lunge was deftly dodged by Yoichi. After the second dodge, the young tamer turned on himself and snapped at his opponent.

    With a quick twist of his arm, he stabbed the back of the beast with the dagger. Using the weapon as a handhold to get on its back, Yoichi jumped.

    After that blow, the nitrite of pain was so strong that the air vibrated: seeing that human being who was trying to climb on its back, the Inoshuma rose again on its hind legs.

    It unbnced Yoichi, who, fearing he would end up squashed by that massive lump of muscle, was forced to loosen his grip on the dagger.

    Abandoning the weapon and rolling backwards, the young tamer returned at a safe distance, leaving the dagger stuck in the demon''s body.

    Fuck! Its body is much more resilient than I thought. Although I hit it full-on with the dagger, its reflexes remained attentive and fast. Yoichi pondered, realizing that the one he was using was not the right tactic.

    The small dagger ran away from its owner along with the Inoshuma, which returned to the charging position. The long-fanged horse began moving the soil again with hooves, keeping its neck down and focusing on its objective.

    "Kenji! It''s your turn, bud!" Yoichi yelled, knowing that his little Nekage was just waiting for an order to activate its skill. The tamer spread his arms and closed his eyes for a moment.

    The time between charges of the Inoshuma was sufficient for Kenji to enhance his arms: from the shoulders to the fingertips, the reptile scales wrapped every millimetre of his skin, wearing the incredulous power of the Nekage.

    As Yoichi reopened his eyes, the Inoshuma was already running in his direction. Fast as lightning, Kenji intercepted its trajectory.

    Growling wildly, the Nekage forced the horse demon to look in its direction for a moment, distracting it from Yoichi and causing it to lose speed at its charge.

    Kenji stepped out of range of the pack leader''s fangs with a feline dash, letting it turn its head forward. A momentter, the unthinkable happened.

    Taking advantage of the demon''s moment of distraction, Yoichi pulled an arm backwards, loading a mighty blow. Aiming undisturbed, the tamer punched directly, hitting the Inoshuma right on his head.

    "Woooo!" Enatsu shouted when the shockwave between the horse''s hard skull and the scaled knuckles of Yoichi''s hand was unleashed on impact.

    *boom* - a loud roar followed the blow. The heavy body of the horse, despite its bulk, crumpled on its neck. On contact with the fist, its head tilted downwards, acting as a lever for the rest of the body, which got off the ground.

    As if it were a train derailed by the tracks, the Inoshuma flew above Yoichi''s head, waving its legs in the air and losing grip with the ground.

    The demon''s parabolic flight ended with the impact of its back on the ground. Due to the violent trauma suffered by the spine, the horse''s muscles suddenly stiffened, preventing it from getting up further.

    "Hii! Hiiiii! Hiii!"

    With a desperate neighing, it tried to agitate, knowing that Yoichi was close. The Inoshuma''s back was visibly damaged, and two of its strong legs had stopped moving, crushed by the weight of its runner''s muscture.

    "Oh, fuck! For fuck sake! Yoichi!" Enatsu yelled, popping up among the nts along with Sora.

    *anf*anf* - The young tamer''s anxious breath began to regrize. His vision, after the shockwave unleashed by his fist, darkened slightly.

    "Screek!" Kenij called, drawing his attention and trying to make hime to his senses.

    Regardless of his friend''s yelling, Yoichi ran towards the horse. During the dash, the scales on his arms suddenly disappeared, entering the skin.

    He grabbed the dagger stuck in its back and violently pulled it out. "Hiii!" the horse screamed, exasperated at the severe pain its was feeling.

    Continuing to gasp, Yoichi rotated the dagger, cing the blood-tainting de downwards. His feet stopped in front of the Inoshuma''s head.

    "I''m sorry! I''m so sorry!" he dered, closing his eyes and skewering his weapon on the demon''s forehead. A final rush of adrenaline ran into the steed''s body, and the muscle memory desperately attempted to reactivate the nerves of the legs, but without sess.

    Within seconds, the agony of the mighty Inoshuma was interrupted, as were his spasmodic movements.

    "Yoichi, the Demon Tooth! Quickly!" Enatsu rushed.

    Yoichi''s hands dug out the bloody dagger, dropping it to the ground. In a hurry, they opened the backpack and pulled out one of the Demon Teeth.

    The centre of gravity is between its eyes, right where I just hit it. I hope to seed¡­ I have no choice! He thought with determination. The following moment, he knelt on the horse''s head and sank the sizeable ck thorn inside the wound.

 Chapter 45 - Main Quest

    As soon as the purple tip of the Demon Tooth touched the walls of the Inoshuma wound, a vortex enveloped it. Not knowing how to behave, Yoichi left the spine, getting up and taking a step back.

    Enatsu stood beside him, waiting and witnessing the scene. ??

    Inoshuma''s body began to crumble from the tip of its tail up. As if it were made of sand, one grain after another, every part of its magnificent yellowish body disintegrated, hovering in the air.

    In a harmonious circr movement, all the fragments conversed towards the Demon Tooth, still stationary inside the wound. Thest part to crumble was the head of the Inoshuma, which was blown away.

    That somewhat macabre vision lifted Yoichi''s spirit. The moment of truth had finally arrived: the anxiety to discover the truthfulness of those blood writings would no longer haunt his days.

    While his mind was inundated with conflicting thoughts and emotions, the Inoshuma''s entire body took the form of a yellowish dust cloud and was sucked into the Demon Tooth. The thorn of the mythical Crimson Lotus, when also the horse''s head disappeared, fell to the ground.

    After a slight aftershock, the purple veins on the tip assumed a colour simr to that of the newly captured demon''s coat. When the plug stopped vibrating, Yoichi heard a strange voice in his head.

    "Azron!" that profound and warm voice uttered. Like a breath of wind, it suddenly vanished without giving the young tamer a chance to replicate.

    Yoichi exhaled the air held up to that point in his lungs because of the fear. His eyes framed his leather boots. His toes were dirty with the demon-horse''s blood.

    "I made it..." the tamer muttered, looking up at Enatsu. "I made it!" he yelled incredulously. Caught in a sudden euphoria, he lowered himself towards Kenji and congratted it, stroking its head.

    "Screek!" the Nekage rejoiced.

    "Hahaha! You gave me such a fright! For a moment, you were skating on thin ice, admit it!" the merchantughed happily. Enatsu approached Yoichi and hugged him in a fraternal embrace.

    That unconditional act of friendshipsted only a few seconds, but it was helpful for Yoichi to realize that Enatsu, the odd merchant met by chance, had be so fond of him that he followed him to the heart of Bronzeforest.

    Yoichi looked at theke, taking a step forward. His gaze began to frantically search for a blood writing announcing that he hadpleted his mission.

    His heart was beating wildly, pumping blood into the veins of his arms and legs, which did not stop shaking. Finally, just over a minute after the capture of the Inoshuma, something appeared near the shore of the clear, peaceful water body.

    Vast writings of thick blood materialized under Yoichi''s hopeful gaze.

    ''Train a demon in 48 hours: questpleted ¨C reward: your new life.''

    Yoichi held his head in his hands, incredulous that he had seeded in his intent before the clock ran out. As Enatsu observed him without understanding, the blood writing updated, and the letters changed shape.

    ''New quest: enter a guild ¨C reward: unknown.''

    [Kenji: (3/5 pts ¨C level 4)]

    [Inoshuma: (8/12 pts ¨C level 10)]

    After explicitly dering thepletion of Yoichi''s main quest, the blood writing announced a new one. Other additional, smaller, lower-level writings expressed the report of his team''s experience points.

    "Wohooo!" Yoichi boomed with joy, jumping and punching upwards. "In the hurry, I didn''t notice Kenji got one XP point!" he said, looking at his little Nekage.

    "Screek!" Kenji confirmed, wagging joyfully.

    "Hey, hey! Hold your horses. How do you know it''s taken an XP point? I didn''t notice it, and your gaze was on the Inoshuma. I saw it!" Enatsu pointed out carefully watching the whole scene.

    Evidently, the merchant had seen Yoichi looking at the green grass of thewn near theke. Realizing that the tamer had remained silent with an empty look, Enatsu reminded him that the time to confess the truth hade.

    Yoichi took a long breath, "okay. I promised you. I''ll tell you the whole truth, Enastu," he affirmed, smiling. "Just one thing..."

    "What?" the merchant asked.

    "Promise me not to y me for a fool. I need your help, brother," Yoichi replied, approaching his friend and cing a hand on his shoulder.

    "Yes, yes, of course. Now spit it out. I''m looking forward to knowing what you''re hiding so far," Enatsu added. He crossed his arms, ready to listen to the words of hispanion.

    "It all started after I woke up on the farm..." Yoichi began.

    In about twenty minutes, the young tamer came clean. He told his friend about the blood writings and mission that, oncepleted, would allow him to stay alive. She told him about the nightmares and memories of his past life, specifying that he didn''t know how he obtained his ''demon pet system''.

    "Also, after each fight, the writing tells me how much experience Kenji has gained. Or rather, I thought it was only valid for Kenji, but... apparently, it also works for the other pets of my team," Yoichi concluded, catching his breath.

    Moments of silence followed his narration. During those awkward moments, Enatsu''s wide-open didn''t bode well. After knowing the whole truth, the young merchant had to make a choice: stay by his friend''s side or run away.

    "Enatsu?" Yoichi whispered, narrowing his eyes and trying to cross his gaze with his friend.

    "Hahaha! No way! Why the fuck didn''t you tell me right away?! All this is crazy cool!" the merchant marvelled, waving his arms and touching his cheeks with his hands.

    Enatsu''s happy and spontaneous reaction drew a smile from Yoichi. Did he really react so well? Didn''t he believe for a second that I was a crazy guy saying bullshit? He thought.

    "Do you know how many things you can do with your incredible powers? You can be a famous tamer in no time and... no, better... no one can know exactly how many XP points your pet receive, so... you''re potentially the most powerful tamer of the world! Hahah!" Enatsu rejoiced, as if he had won the lottery.

 Chapter 46 - Fairy Tale

    "Eheh. Don''t you think you jumped to conclusions here?" Yoichi chuckled, scratching the back of his head. Hispanion''s euphoria seemed out of control.

    "Absolutely not. I''m serious! I just feel fortunate to have the honour of travelling by your side, Yoichi-Sama!" Enatsu chuckled, hanging his head. ??

    Enatsu may be exaggerating, but... what he says is not wrong. If no other tamer in the world can know the exact evolutionary stage of his demons, I have a huge advantage. Yoichi reflected, who had not immediately realized that aspect of his unknown powers.

    "Um... in the euphoria of the moment, I forgot to tell you that the level of the Inoshuma is higher than Kenji''s", Yoichi stated. "It''s more than midway to level 10" he chuckled.

    "That''s not so hard to understand. You didn''t tame an ordinary Inoshuma. The one you fought against was a unique specimen, forged by a thousand battles", Enatsu acknowledged, thinking back to the battle.

    "It fought honourably until thest second," Yoichi answered. "Without Kenji''s skill, I would never have been able to knock it out," he added.

    "That''s one other piece of business."

    "What do you mean?" he asked.

    "I mean Kenji''s powers are definitely above average. I''ve seen other tamers fight with the Nekages during my travels, but none of them had that power," Enatsu remarked with conviction. "What level is Kenji?" he continued.

    "Er... level four" Yoichi said. His statement gave Enatsu something to think about.

    "So... a Nekage evolves once level 15 is reached, then level 35. That means Kenji is not even close to its highest level. If its powers are so strong already from this level... I dare not imagine what may happen at level 50!" Enatsu eximed, shaking his head.

    "Is level 50 the maximum level of a demon?"

    "As for the ''normal'' demons, yes. Old legends tell that ancient demons were able to cross that threshold. However, not having a master, their high level made their capture practically impossible", Enatsu exined.

    "Is Valgoth an ancient demon?" Yoichi interrupted. "I am referring to the demon that made Emperor Gonshiro immortal" he specified.

    Enatsu looked intently at his friend, astonished at his keen memory. "Correct. Valgoth is an ancient demon. You don''t have to be an expert to imagine that their skills are much stronger than those of other demons", the merchant confirmed.

    "You told me that Valgoth was Gonshiro''s Oracle. That means he didn''t tame it," Yoichi reflected, crossing his arms.

    "Yoichi... that was just a legend. None of us ordinary mortals have ever met Emperor Gonshiro and his Oracle. You know, that was my favourite story when I was a kid. the idea that there could be beings so powerful that no one could kill them made me daydream," Enatsu remembered, looking upwards. "Then my father broke my every dream, teaching me the trader profession and weighed myself down" he continued, going back to reality.

    "Well, I am not a child, but knowing nothing of this world, I might as well be. Is there really anything that can kill Emperor Gonshiro and his evil Oracle? If there were a way to do that, I am sure his death would mark the end of the war that hassted for hundreds of years.

    "When I was a kid, my favourite storyteller was my grandfather. I am almost sure that, to make me happy, he modified the legends so that I liked them more. If I think about it now, it makes me smile, but... he believed that only the me of a dragon-demon could kill Gonshiro," Enatsu said with watery eyes.

    "Eh? This dragon thing is new to me. You never told me about it!"

    "As I told you, it''s just a fairy tale invented by Grandfather Yanatsu. ording to him, before humans walked thends of the world we know today, dragon demons ruled undisputedly,manding all other demons, including ancient ones," Enatsu began, resuming his narration.

    "They were the undisputed rulers of Lumya, and their goal was to maintain the bnce between light and darkness, peace and chaos. On a cold winter''s day, Kogath, the King of ancient evil demons, gathered in a single army all those who intended to rebel against the hegemony of dragons."

    "Hold on. Didn''t you say dragon demons kept the bnce? Why would anyone rebel against the bnce of things?" Yoichi inquired, astonished and interested in the tale.

    "As usual, Yoichi... everything happened because of us."

    "Because of us? You mean... us ''human beings''?"

    "Theryon, the youngest and most visionary of the dragon demons that ruled Lumya decided, in agreement with his brothers, to create a new race of living beings. That race was us, human beings. ording to his view of things, humans would be so intelligent and wise that they maintained world peace, helping dragons to hold that heavy burden," Enatsu continued.

    "Did dragon demons create humans? Okay, this is definitely a fairy tale!" Yoichi stated with conviction. Just as he uttered those incredulous words, the young tamer realized that anything he believed impossible was possible in the magical world of Lumya. Trying to think outside the box, he waited for an answer from his friend.

    "I told you. It was a way to keep me good when I was a kid and prevent me from whimpering," the merchant chuckled. "However, ording to my grandfather''s story, the dragon lineage was totally exterminated that day. When humans were born, they inherited Lumya and its energy, but it was imbued with the wickedness of ancient demons. In conclusion, Grandfather Yanatsu imed that Kogath, the most evil of demons, had reincarnated himself in Valgoth, who was born at the same time as Gonshiro."

    "Wow. Well, apparently, in your grandfather''s words... no one can ever stop the rule of the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri. Maybe I wouldn''t have preferred to get an answer to my question," Yoichi thought aloud. A strong feeling of unknown ran through his body, turning into goosebumps on his arms.

 Chapter 47 - Ichiro

    "Unless one of the dragon demons extinct thousands of years ago resurrects... no. No one can stop Gonshiro. Of course, my grandfather never travelled over Nomi Ind, so he could never see Emperor Gonshiro with his own eyes. Moral of this story, the war never ended," Enatsu replied. "The fighting that has always trapped Tentochu and Kamakiri factions is real, Yoichi. The tamers of the nation''s strongest guilds die, abandoning their families, their children."

    "I understand, my friend. Although I feel like a fish out of water when you tell these ancient stories, I''m sure there''s a solution. I am convinced that if Emperor Gonshiro is still alive, there is a way to stop him forever," Yoichi stated, clenching his fist.??

    The determination of the young tamer did not stop surprising the merchant. The way Yoichi faced those ancestral problems, which were bigger than him, was enviable.

    He spoke of Gonshiro as if he were any ordinary person, even though he was worshipped as a god by the people of Kamakiri. After many years of monotony, Enatsu''s spirit seemed to have been reborn: a curious warrior had popped out of nowhere, ready to listen to every story passed down through his family.

    "Yes, surely there will be one" the merchant smiled, without adding anything else.

    *growl* - both of the stomachs of the two adventurers growled from hunger.

    "Uff... I''m starving. I think it''s time to go back to Goldhaven," Yoichi spoked. He lowered himself towards Kenji and looked it in the eye. "Hey, buddy. You did great, as always. Don''t be offended if I recall you, but I need a hand to get to the capital faster. Are you in?" he asked.

    "Screek, screek!" Kenji answered, smiling with its eyes and approving that decision. In all likelihood, even the little Nekage needed some rest.

    "Well then!" Yoichi continued, taking a long breath. "Ildriss!"

    *swish*whoosh* - The grass uprooted from the ground due to the recent battle, and the small shrubs scattered here and there began to fly it with a swirling motion. A small tornado made of fragments of soil started to rotate around the young tamer.

    Kenji''s call turned out to be as theatrical as it used to be: when the demon''s body became dematerialized into an airstream, it travelled at great speed to Yoichi, piercing his chest.

    The impact between Kenji''s ''ethereal'' version and Yoichi''s body knocked him to the ground. The usual intense burning spread throughout his chest, but he got back on his feet unharmed.

    "Little by little, I''m going to get used to this weird feeling... cough!" the tamer coughed, pulling back his blond hair. Breathing slowly, Yoichi calmed down. That improvised antipanic manoeuvre relieved the pain, which gradually disappeared.

    "Aren''t you excited about summoning your new demon?" Enatsu curiously asked. In the merchant''s gaze, the impatience to see the leader of the Inoshumas up close.

    "Of course. Let''s see what it feels like," Yoichi responded, clutching the yellowish Demon Tooth in his hands. As exined by hispanion, the demon summoning phase was quite simple. All he had to do was to stick the sharp spine into the ground.

    Without overthinking about it, the young tamer pointed the tip of the Demon Tooth towards the terrain. With a rapid gesture, he nailed it among the cracks in the ground, freeing the spirit of the new demon who had joined his team.

    The same airstream trapped in that magical object at the time of capture underwent the reverse process. Vibrating in the air, the coloured wake of the Inoshuma took shape: therge hooves and the stocky build, the red mane like the tip of the tail.

    Thest area to materialize was the horse''s head, which appeared before the two adventurers with its eyes half-closed as if the summoning process had awakened it from a long sleep.

    The wound to its spine a moment before capture had been fully healed inside the Demon Tooth. Being rtively mild damaged, it had taken only a few minutes.

    Yoichi looked in amazement at his new steed, noting that the wound in the middle of his head had disappeared too. Although the Inoshuma looked in perfect shape, the deep scars on its neck and back were still there.

    "Hey!" the tamer mumbled, drawing the attention of his horse-demon.

    The Inoshuma''s eyes opened and framed Enatsu and Yoichi. Shaking its head, it proved that it was ready to serve its new master, the man who had been worthy of capturing it, ending its suffering.

    "Hello, dude!" Yoichi repeated, approaching it fearlessly. Moving his hand forward, he prepared to caress its snout.

    After a moment of hesitation, the horse approached its huge boar nose to Yoichi''s hand, allowing him to touch its soft coat.

    "Wow. It''s magnificent," Enatsu muttered, enchanted by that vision.

    "How is it possible that the wounds I caused it have alreadypletely healed?" Yoichi inquired. Still inexperienced, he needed his merchant friend''s tips.

    "You said this Inoshuma almost reached level ten, right? Well, the higher the level of a demon, the less time it takes a Demon Tooth to heal its wounds. It only took a few minutes and... puf! Magic!" the merchant chuckled, approaching the stallion to admire it up close.

    "Like Kenji, you deserve a name too. Don''t you think?"

    "Hii!" the horse replied, confirming its tamer''s question.

    "You are the first demon I have ever tamed. In a way, you''re like a firstborn to me. I''m going to call you Ichiro," Yoichi affirmed with conviction.

    "Hii! Hiii!" the horse neighed, waving its upper legs for a few moments. Although itcked the word, Ichiro made Yoichi realize that it liked its new name.

    "See? It likes the name ''Ichiro''! Hahah!" heughed. Stopping petting its face, his hand followed the deep scars to its back.

    With a small jump, Yoichi clung to the back of the steed. Ichiro lowered itself slightly, allowing its tamer to mount on it effortlessly.

    "Shh... easy, Ichiro. I''m here. I''m here with you. You will never fight alone again, my friend," Yoichi stated, whispering in the horse''s ear and stroking its thick fire-red mane.

 Chapter 48 - Tamer District

    "What are you waiting for, Enatsu? Come on, hop up!" Yoichi rejoiced. Stretching his arm towards his friend, he invited him to climb to the mighty Ichiro.

    "Are you sure it doesn''t bother it? It''s part of the team now, that''s true, but... it looks shifty..." Enatsu stammered. Taking courage, he grabbed hispanion''s hand and clung forcefully to the back of the horse. ??

    Ichiro did a slight rotation of the body, allowing its two riders to settle down. Yoichi stayed ahead and Enatsu behind,ying hold of his partner''s back.

    "When we reach Goldhaven, I''ll buy a saddle big enough to hold us both! Hahah!" the young tamer chuckled. Due to its massive muscture, Ichiro''s back was not veryfortable to clench between their legs.

    "I''d say... I think you''re ri¡­ iiight!" Enatsu''s words were interrupted by the horse''s departure. Without any effort, it started towards the dense vegetation that bounded the clearing.

    The two adventurers left theke behind them. Sora followed them from above, fluttering as nimbly as ever.

    Therge bushes and low branches of the trees did not seem to hinder Ichiro''s advance. The steed had inherited part of its geographical memory: knowing that ce by heart, it used its bulk to crush the shrubs under its hooves, heading south.

    A new sunset illuminated the delightful Bronzeforest with its reddish light. Knowing himself safely, Yoichi was travelling to Goldhaven with a new spirit.

    Although his new quest explicitly required joining a guild, he had not forgotten the ckvault Mines issue. The man who had entrusted him with the recovery of the mysterious missing ne seemed ready to shell out arge reward.

    Guild or not, I''m sure a little money would suit me. Yoichi thought, clinging to Ichiro''s mane to stay in bnce.

    Half the timepared to the outward journey, the two adventurers travelled through the stretch of forest that separated them from the North Gates of the capital of Tentochu.

    As if it were a piece of art painted on canvas, Goldhaven sprang over the trees. Its high white walls were enriched by the shades of sunset red, which made all colours warmer and breathtaking.

    Fewer people than that morning were lined up near therge gates of the northern entrance. Gradually slowing down the pace, Ichiro led Yoichi and Enatsu to the foot of the walls.

    "Perhaps it is appropriate to get off the horse," Enatsu suggested in a low voice. "The guards are already ring at us," he added.

    In addition to the men in armour who took care of controlling the outgoing and iing people, Ichiro''s majestic appearance also drew the gazes of other travellers.

    Yoichi and Enatsu dismounted with a jump,nding on the ground.

    Without having reins to guide Ichiro in the right direction, Yoichi kept on walking. As if he were a trained hound, the Inoshuma followed his every movement, staying less than a meter away from him.

    "Mom, look! That horse is huge!" the voice of a child from the people in line to enter gasped. The appearance of the wild scarred steed had already aroused someone''s interest.

    "If a child''s watchful eyes have recognized Ichiro''s otherness, imagine how much its presence can increase our credibility," Enatsu thought aloud. Initially hesitant about searching for the Inoshumas herd, now the young merchant seemed to support Yoichi''s thesis.

    In about twenty minutes, while the red sun was still visible behind the west walls, the two adventurers reached the North Gates. "Hello!" one of the guards weed, raising a hand as a gesture of greeting.

    "Glory to Emperor Nishiyama" Yoichi promptly replied. Emting the same gesture as the guard, the young tamer had now realized that that sentence was like a pass.

    "Glory to the Emperor. Where do youe from, travellers?" the man in heavy armor inquired, holding a long halberd with his right hand.

    "From the Bronzeforest. We came to Goldhaven to meet Sada Takamori, guild master of the Nightdes..." *growl* - "... and to put something under our teeth" Yoichi smiled, when the grumbling of his stomach interrupted his speech.

    "All right, get in. Next!" the guard called, without further investigating the identity of the two. Their ''good guys'' faces had convinced him before he even heard them speak.

    "Thank you!" Enatsu and Yoichi answered in chorus, apanying the words with a bow of the head.

    "Goldhaven is home to Tentochu''s best taverns. You will undoubtedly find a ce to fill your stomachs. Nice horse, by the way," the guard continued.

    Once they crossed the heavy iron gates of the northern entrance to the walls, the two travellers found themselves in the city''s crowded streets. The stillness of the forest was now only a memory.

    "We are still in time to reach the Tamer District. I''m sure Takamori-Sama can show us a ce to eat. Who knows, maybe he could even offer us dinner," Yoichi said, walking next to Ichiro and Enatsu.

    The Tamer District, the walled neighbourhood that housed most of the guild operating bases in the capital, was just a few hundred yards from the North Gates. Considering that distance, Yoichi felt it appropriate not to get on the horse and continued to walk in thepany of his friend.

    Various smells of food fluttered freely through the streets, while the fire of the torches hanging from walls reced sunlight. Yoichi continued to follow directions to his destination with much effort, trying not to diverge from the main road.

    Without listening to his physiological needs, eager to meet the man who had implicitly offered him a job, Yoichi crossed the neighbourhood''s arched stone. He entered the walls of the Tamer District, where hundreds of tamers were intent on carrying out all kinds of tasks.

    Despite being part of Goldhaven, that ce seemed to be a microcosm with its ownws. Even time seemed to flow differently: while in the rest of the city, people had stopped working for a warm meal, in the tamers'' quarter, heavy caravans filled with materials of all kinds were pulled by massive Umakames.

 Chapter 49 - Green Tiles

    "See, now that''s cool!" Yoichi rejoiced, satisfied. "Come, Enatsu. We must look for the green tiles building", he continued, recalling by heart the words of Sada Takamori.

    Unlike the tamers met by chance on the streets of Goldhaven and the Bronzeforest trees, those who inhabited the Tamer District looked different. Glittering armour and weapons of all kinds gave them a much more professional air. ??

    So these are the warriors of the Emperor''s army? Some of them look really weird! Yoichi thought, referring to a little man just over a meter tall, busy talking to an olddy.

    A row of buildings, next to each other, ran along the perimeter of the district walls. Each building was the headquarters of a different guild, the names of which were engraved on the entries.

    In the centre of the Tamer District, a very tall tower stood above the other buildings. Driven by curiosity, Yoichi walked right in front of its entrance, reading the name on a stone que a few steps from the door.

    ''Emperor''s Heralds Guild'' ¨C it read.

    "Eheh... I knew this huge pce would get your attention," Enatsu chuckled. "I am sure that with the imperial symbol of the Princess, you could be part of Tentochu''s most famous guild if you like" he whispered in Yoichi''s ears, continuing to walk.

    "After Sui''s story of her father, thest thing I want is to submit to his direct orders. You exined to me the difference between Emperor''s Heralds and other tamers. I would say that for now, it will not be my choice", Yoichi answered firmly, confident of his words.

    After about half an hour spent circling the central tower of the neighbourhood, the two adventurers found themselves back at the starting point.

    "We came right in from there, didn''t we?" Enatsu asked confusedly, pointing to therge stone arch.

    "Yes. We''re going round in circles," Yoichi confirmed, pausing and looking around. "I have not seen any pce with green tiles" he said.

    Motionless as two children dispersed in the crowd, Enatsu and Yoichi remained silent to observe their surroundings. Their eyes continued to search for the Nightdes'' headquarter, but without sess.

    "Excuse me" Yoichi called, drawing the attention of a passerby. He was a grown man in his fifties. Beside him, a kind of rabid-looking boar grunted out of nothing.

    "We''re looking for the Nightdes guild building. Can you tell me where it is?" the young tamer politely asked. Before answering, the unknown man stared at the two adventurers from head to toe.

    "Hahahaha!" ¨C without warning, heughed outright. "It''s right behind you! Hahah!" he eximed, keepingughing and walking away without adding anything else.

    "What? What''s wrong with that guy?" Enatsu gulped in a low voice, annoyed by all that irreverence.

    Yoichi turned around, looking behind his back. Between two majestic colourful buildings, a tall and narrow hovel. The roof of that structure consisted of a tiny square about ten meters high. On it, small greenish tiles, now discoloured by time.

    "Are you kidding me?" Enatsu spoke again, approaching Yoichi. Next to him, the merchant stared up to the top of that building. It was so battered that it looked like some warehouse.

    On its wooden door, a wooden beam, probably recycled from a tavern, read: ''Nightdes Guild''.

    "Didn''t you say the Nightdes guild was a famous Goldhaven guild?" Yoichi inquired, looking at hispanion. "The rat hole we slept inst night was much more eye-catching " he chuckled.

    "I... I can''t believe it. The Nightdes are known all over the country; how can such a ce be their headquarter?" Enatsu mumbled, distraught.

    "Mmmh. Not too bad, let''s go in," Yoichi continued, touching Ichiro''s neck and inviting it to approach the entrance.

    "Hey, hey. Wait a second. Do you still want to meet Sada Takamori? I remind you that with the imperial symbol, you can aspire to much more important guilds and..."

    "And then what?" Yoichi interrupted. "Takamori showed a genuine interest in my skills. Although it is a gift of little value, he gave me his dagger and was kind to me despite my clumsiness," he continued.

    "Okay¡­ and? I still can''t get the point."

    "I want to talk to him. Returning the favour, it''s the least I can do. I told him I woulde personally here to Goldhaven to continue the speech we started in Ambershire, and I intend to keep my word," the young tamer affirmed. Before the merchant could reply, he stepped forward and knocked at the door.

    *toc*toc* - The noise of Yoichi''s knuckles on the old door wood rumbled inside the narrow, crumbling little tower.

    After about thirty seconds, someone opened the door: a bald, big guy looked at Yoichi from head to toe. Despite his constitution, the expression of his face reflected his docile and kind nature.

    He wore rather everyday clothes, namely a greasy t-shirt, with ck stains all over, and leather trousers. Under his pants, hisrge bare feet rested on the tepid wooden floor.

    "Hello!" the man cheered, moving hisrge square jaw.

    "Um... hi there. I''m looking for Sada Takamori. Is he here?" Yoichi asked, smiling. The young tamer''s words struggled to get out of his mouth due to the bizarre appearance of his interlocutor.

    "Oh, you must be Yoichi!" the big man giggled, grabbing his hand and squeezing it forcefully. "The master has told us a lot about you! And you are?" he asked, looking at Enatsu in the background.

    "I am Enatsu, his assistant" the merchant replied, beginning to get used to the idea of introduce himself as the tamer''s helper.

    "Oh, sure, sure. How stupid, I almost forgot. Come in! You arrived just in time for dinner," the man happily smiled, walking inside the dark building and leaving the door open.

    Enatsu and Yoichi looked at each other, sharing their amazement.

    "Okay, bud. It''s time to rest," the young tamer spoke, petting Ichiro''s neck. The horse demon stretched its back, tired after riding through the thick vegetation of the Bronzeforest.

    "Azron!" Yoichi eximed, recalling Ichiro. Within seconds, the horse''s body dissolved in the air, thickening with a downward trajectory and turning into its Demon Tooth.

 Chapter 50 - Dinner

    *tac* - Yoichi detached Ichiro''s Demon Tooth off the floor and slipped it into his leather pouch. For convenience, the young tamer had decided to keep the ''full'' Demon Tooth in there and leave those still empty in his backpack.

    "All right... I believe that Kenji''s presence will soon be necessary... just in case," Yoichi mumbled, narrowing his eyes. Preparing for the burning pain resulting from the evocation of his Oracle, without thinking twice, Yoichi uttered its real name. ??

    "Ildriss!" ¨C In less than a second, an air beam was released from his chest, impacting the floor in front of the ramshackle building. Yoichi resisted the acute pain, simr to the red-hot de of a sword spearing his internal organs.

    "Screek!" Kenji cheered, appearing before his eyes.

    *anf*anf* - "Hey... hello little guy... uff..." Yoichi huffed, wiping the sweat on his forehead. "Go, Kenji. Lead the way," he added, ordering his demon pet to go in first.

    Wondering what motivated his friend to meet Soda Takamori at all costs, Enatsu followed Kenji and Yoichi, apanied by the omnipresent Sora. The parrot demon, perched on his shoulder, looked curiously at the inside of the room.

    The entrance to the Nightdes headquarter was bare andcking in d¨¦cor: a torn old wallpaper was attached to the four wooden walls, and a pile of weapons and pieces of armour were stacked in an old trunk.

    The room lighting, because of therge buildings that nked it, was almost absent. The wax of some candles resting on a dangling shelf was dripping downwards to the floor, melted by their weak mes.

    "I don''t know what you''re thinking, but this ce is macabre. If I didn''t know we were in the middle of a famous Goldhaven neighbourhood, I wouldn''t trust it," Enatsumented, expressing his opinion.

    The sturdy man who weed them shortly before, walked down the room and reached a steep staircase in front of the entrance. As they could guess from the outside of the building, it was characterized by many equidimensional floors one on top of the other.

    Yoichi tried not to dwell on appearances, thinking back to the old innkeeper who was friends with the Princess. He was slowly learning that he could expect anything from the strange characters that popted that peculiar world. The weirder they were, the more surprises they reserved.

    The two friends began to climb the narrow steps, shorter than the soles of their feet. About three meters high, the staircase without any handrails popped upstairs.

    Indistinct voices became louder and louder. After climbing along with their pets, Yoichi and Enatsu find themselves in front of arge table full of people.

    The wooden horseshoe-shaped table was the size of the whole room on the first floor, mirrored to that downstairs. With greed, Sada Takamori was intent on picking a chicken leg from arge ceramic te.

    "Master!" the weing big guy called, who had remained standing near the staircase. "Yoichi and his friend Enatsu have arrived" he continued, introducing the guests to the rest of the guild.

    Ten people were sitting at the table. In addition to Takamori and that gentle giant, there were two women and eight men.

    "Yoichi! You finally decided toe!" the guild leader rejoiced, rising from his privileged seat and walking towards his new guests. With a quick gesture, he wiped his dirty hand of food on the tablecloth.

    "Um... hello, Takamori-Sama. Hello everyone!" Yoichi smiled, raising his hand and greeting everyone present. Some of them reciprocated the greeting; others beauteously ignored it, continuing to eat.

    "Rinji, take two stools for our guests. From the way they gape at the food, they look hungry like two wild beasts. Hahaha!" Takamori chuckled, resting a hand on Yoichi''s shoulder. The approach of that fat, moustached man waspletely different from his behaviour in Ambershire.

    Evidently, he feels morefortable in here. Yoichi thought, repaying the kindness with a smile.

    Rinji, the good giant who had opened the door, grabbed two dusty stools from one corner of the room and ced them by the table at the tips of the horseshoe shape.

    Without too much embarrassment, Yoichi and Enatsu dly epted the invitation to join the dinner. Even though that ce smelled old, the dishes at the centre of the table looked exquisite.

    "So, Yoichi... I''m d you came here to continue our talk. I guess after your big win against Kato, lots of people asked you to join them, right?" the guild leader inquired, sitting in front of his guests.

    "No one, actually!" Yoichi replied, denting a piece of hot bread. All the tamers sitting at the table looked at him curiously. Trying not to cross his eyes with any of them, keeping his tough-guy air, the young tamer continued to eat.

    "What?! This is crazy! Such a young tamer, so promising... I have always said that the other guild masters are ipetent in their job", Takamoriined. "I apologize if our headquarter is not as you expected, Yoichi" he added, eagerly sipping sak¨¨.

    Everyone present tried to eat in absolute silence, waiting for Yoichi''s response. He realized that those weird-looking tamers were not used to have many guests.

    Although none of them seemed to be a stronger warrior than him, the happy family atmosphere that reigned in that room made him feel at ease.

    "It''s the first time I''vee here in the Tamer District. Yes, it''s true... Enatsu and I immediately noticed the differences between your pce and that of the other guilds, but... I''m not one to judge by appearances," Yoichi wisely stated. His words were well-chosen and impartial. "What''s the real reason you asked me toe here?"

    "Eheh... see, boys? I told you Yoichi''s a smart guy," Takamori chuckled, addressing the two unknown tamers sitting next to him. "It seems obvious to me, doesn''t it? I invited you here to ask if you want to join us."

    The woman''s gaze next to the guild chief caught Yoichi''s attention. Unlike herrades, she had stopped eating to observe him.

 Chapter 51 - Deal

    Red hair and big, green eyes. That young woman''s rabid gaze reflected her surly character. A light leather armour wrapped her chest and shoulders, tight with straps.

    What''s that girl looking at? Anyway, I can''t just ept Takamori''s invitation and join the guild without knowing what I''m up against. It''s time to raise the bar, Yochi thought, slightly embarrassed by the woman''s insistent gaze. ??

    "I am delighted that you are asking me to join your guild, Takamori-Sama. Tell me, what would my obligations towards the Nightdes be?" Yoichi questioned, interested.

    "Well, you''d do the same assignments as yourrades, of course!" the moustached man smirked. "Besides me, if you epted, you would be our twelfth warrior. You know, we Nightdes don''t like to consider ourselves a simple guild. We''re a real family, Yoichi. We help each other."

    "I see it. I got it since the moment I saw you all sitting at this table. Anyway, maybe I didn''t exin myself well. I mean, what am I supposed to do when I agree to join the guild? It''s the first time I''m receiving an offer like this, so I''d like to understand every detail specifically," Yoichi specified, maintaining a calm and rxed tone.

    "Since you''re novice tamers, I''ll give you a hard training to follow. Once you''vepleted the first stages, you''ll start nking your teammates in the field, and then... then you will be able to achieve missions on your own," Takamori exined.

    "What kind of missions? Do you fight at the front too?"

    After that question, the guild master''s gaze suddenly saddened. "Let''s say the Nightdes guild is going through a difficult period. My warriors deal with exploratory missions. Let me exin in detail", Takamori replied, coughing. "Current missions consist of journeys to the territories north and west of Tentochu. Our goal is to fortify our arsenal of demons and be able to nk the most powerful guilds to the front, against Kamakiri''s army", he exined.

    It was as I imagined. These guys are no match for the Emperor''s Heralds and the other guilds fighting on Nomi Ind. Nheless, joining the Nightdes could be an excellent ce to start. Yoichi pondered, reflecting on the words of his interlocutor.

    "I understand..." the young tamer confirmed. Before continuing to speak, he slipped his hand into his pouch. During that gesture, Sada Takamori''s warriors watched him closely, staying alert.

    Under the astonished eyes of Enatsu, who had not yet figured out what his friend had in mind, Yoichi pulled out the Princess''sb. Making room between the food in the centre of the table, he put it under Takamori''s eyes.

    Everyone present remained silent. The guild chief grabbed the small metal object and approached it to his eyes, looking closely. Yoichi''s goal was to make his interlocutor understand that he should make the offer more appealing if he really wanted him to join his warriors.

    When Takamori''s gaze traced the lines of the imperial symbol carved into the metal, his eyes opened wide. The guild master mmed theb on the table in a sudden gesture, covering it with his hand.

    "How did you get this item, Yoichi?" he trembled, not believing his eyes. The interest of his subordinates, who had failed to see the imperial symbol, was at the highest level.

    "I was told that I could join any guild by possessing that rare object," Yoichi affirmed. The young tamer did not answer Takamori''s question on purpose. "If you really want me among your warriors, you must ept my conditions" he added, approaching his hand to that of the guild master and taking the Princess''sb.

    "What conditions?" Takamori inquired, crossing his arms. Judging by his gaze, he seemed slightly fearful.

    Yoichi''s finger pointed towards Enatsu, who looked around naively. "He will enter the guild with me, and you will pay both of us as the strongest of your warriors," he dictated with conviction. Speaking as a veteran fighter, Yoichi made his interlocutor feel that he wasn''t going to negotiate.

    "Both of you?" Takamori gulped, drinking in one draught all the sake in his ss.

    "You heard me."

    "Master, who does he think he is, this toddler?" one of the warriors sitting at the table suddenly interrupted. His face was as pale as that of a dead man, and his long, ck hair covered half of it.

    "I got this, Toshi. Please be nice to Yoichi. He came here because I explicitly invited him," Takamori immediately replied, shutting down his subordinate.

    The filthy and sickly appearance of that man instilled fear. After the reproach of his master, he did not say a word.

    "So, Yoichi. Like I told you before, our guild hasn''t had it easytely. My highest paid warrior, he earns one gold coin every ten days", the guild leader exined, touching his moustache. "I offer you the samepensation once a week," he added with conviction, knowing that he had pushed to the limit of his possibilities.

    The tamers sitting at the table mumbled something iprehensible to each other. Their eyes turned on Yoichi and Enatsu. The merchant stood still staring at the table, not knowing what to say.

    It looks like this man''s going beyond his limit. He is willing to pay me as an experienced warrior, risking losing control over his team just to recruit me. I did not expect such a reaction. Thought the young tamer, surprised by that answer.

    "A gold coin for me and one for my friend Enatsu. Two gold coins a week," Yoichi reported, asking the guild master to confirm what he had just said.

    "Uff... yes. But your training will be fast and very intense. You''re going to start tomorrow morning," Takamori confirmed. The guild chief reached out a hand to Yoichi, waiting for him to shake it and ratify the deal.

    "No problem. Enatsu and I are quick learners," hemented, shifting his gaze to his friend. Enatsu did not believe his ears: from being a simple merchant, his life was really going to be turned upside down in just two days.

 Chapter 52 - Welcome

    During those fleeting moments, Yoichi was implicitly giving Enatsu a chance to respond. The merchant''s silence would have been worth a thousand words.

    Visibly thoughtful, with the tip of his ears reddened from the tension, Enatsu nodded his head. He looked at Yoichi and confirmed his proposal. ??

    A spontaneous smile illuminated the young tamer''s face. He came back serious momentster and looked at Takamori''s outstretched hand.

    "Onest thing, " he added, knowing he could dare beyond.

    "I hear you" Takamori snorted. The moustached man slightly narrowed his eyes as if preparing to receive a punch in the face.

    "One of you wille with me to the ckvault Mines. I have toplete a mission there, but as you know, it''s not a dungeon that two people only can face," Yoichi exined, looking Takamori in the eye.

    "It''s a done deal. You in?" he interrupted, straining his arm to stay in ce.

    "Yes. From today, you can rely on us" Yoichi smiled, shaking Sada Takamori''s hand and confirming their recruitment in the Nightdes guild.

    "Hahaha! Great!" the guild chiefughed. Acting like someone who had just won a bet, Takamori got out of his chair and stretched his hand to Enatsu.

    The merchant, who had not spoken all the time, got up and did the same. Onest handshake sanctioned the end of the negotiation: Yoichi and Enatsu were finally part of a guild.

    "A very warm wee, boys!" the mighty Rinji timidly mumbled. The Nightdes giant approached the two adventurers from behind.

    "Oh, thank you... urgh!" Yoichi uttered as soon as his feet came off the floor. Rinji squeezed the twopanions on his chest with a mighty embrace, lifting them like toothpicks and sharing his joy with them.

    "Haha! Don''t pay attention to Rinji. He shows his affection spontaneously," Takamori chuckled. He urged the rest of the warriors sitting at the table to wee their two newpanions in a hand gesture.

    In chorus, they greeted Yoichi and Enatsu, showing their enthusiasm. Although they did not expect the sudden recruitment of two other guild members, they seemed happy to wee them to their team.

    All excited, except for two of them: the red-haired girl and the pale man sat at the table. Their sharp looks framed that scene full of joy, creating imperceptible negative friction.

    "Yoichi, Enatsu! Come on, a toast!" Takamori rejoiced, filling three cups of sak¨¨. He delivered the little liquor-filled sses into the hands of his two new followers, who, after a loud toast, drank their contents.

    That sudden confusion unnerved Kenji. The little Nekage, to escape the eyes of those unknown people, sought shelter under therge wooden table.

    "Where are your demons?" Yoichi asked, lowering himself to Kenji and urging it out of its hiding ce.

    "We usually try not to summon them during dinner. They would create a lot of confusion! My name is Yoshiko, by the way!" a female voice eximed.

    A blue-haired woman sprang up in front of the two adventurers, enchanting them with her charm. A scent of wildflowers came from her long hair, adorned with braids and small green-lotus flowers.

    "Nice to meet you, Yoshiko!" Yoichi greeted, lifting Kenji and holding it in his arms. The little Nekage''s tail twisted on his bicep.

    "Hello, little one! You have to be stronger than you look, right?" Yoshiko smiled again, closing her blue eyes in a charming smile.

    "It''s a... a real pleasure to meet you. I am Enatsu..." the merchant stammered, extending his hand towards the young woman. Her delicate beauty had bewitched so much that he seemed drunk.

    "Hey, hi! Yes, I already know your name. Your friend told everyone a few minutes ago!" Yoshiko replied. Without knowing it, Enatsu looked like an idiot as every time he talked to beautiful women.

    Judging by the impassive way he was addressing the blue-haired girl, the merchant was clearly attracted to her.

    "Listen, Yoichi" Takamori called, stepping further. "If I may ask... what kind of mission do you have toplete at the ckvault Mines? You know, it''s not a dungeon for beginners."

    "A man offered me a fat reward to recover an object dear to him. The Komoerus who live there identally stole a ne belonging to histe wife. In addition, his best friend also lost his life in that ident," Yoichi exined, summarizing the whole thing.

    "Mmh... I understand. It seems strange to me that a Komoeru has been interested in a glittering object like a jewel. Usually, bat demons loathe everything that reflects light. Well, anyway, I''m going to keep my promise. I already know who of my warrior is right for you", Takamori spoke, showing off his knowledge.

    "Really? Who are you talking about?"

    "Shioko! Come,e closer," Takamori called aloud. His gaze was pointed towards the grumpy red-haired girl. She was still sitting at the table, intent on finishing her meal.

    As if forced to execute thatmand, she got up from her chair and reached her master,ining inside.

    "Yoichi... she is Shioko, one of the strongest warriors of the Nightdes. When you''re ready, she''ll follow you to the ckvault Mines and help you aplish your mission, as agreed," the guild master ordered. The moustached man crossed his arms and waited for Shioko and Yoichi to interact to each other.

    "Hi", she spoke coldly. Her green, piercing eyes remained focused on Yoichi''s. Despite the small upturned nose and the gentle and delicate traits, the sulky expression on her face expressed her belligerence.

    A row of freckles ran from one side of her cheekbones to the other, oveing her nose.

    Before answering the greeting, Yoichi slipped his hand back into his leather pouch. He pulled out Princess Sui''sb and handed it over to the red-haired girl.

    Her sulking disappeared for a few moments, reced by an astonished expression. "Hi, Shioko. So that''s what I handed over to your guild master a little while ago," Yoichi remarked. Knowing that ordinary kind words would not work with her, the young tamer had thought of rifying all her doubts before conversing.

 Chapter 53 - Reward

    "How do you get an item with the imperial symbol? Are you friends with Emperor Nishiyama?" Shioko inquired, giving Yoichi the stink eye.

    "I''ve never met the Emperor, and I don''t want to do that. A member of his family gave me this metalb, but it''s a long story," he replied. From his words, his anger towards the Emperor was implicitlying to the surface. ??

    "Yoichi! Er, excuse him. Sometimes, his words go overboard. I''m sure he respects the Emperor as much as we do," Enatsu interrupted, always ready to correct hispanion''s impulsive phrases. The merchant looked at his friend out of the corner of his eye, trying to make him realize that he did not yet have the right confidence with those people to express his genuine opinion about the imperial family.

    "Don''t worry. There''s no need to apologize. I only met him once, but I wish it didn''t happen," Shioko replied, returning theb to her interlocutor. "Despite my powers, it seems that a ''woman'' like me is not fit to fight alongside his valiant men."

    Enatsu gasped. During his travels, he had always met only people who ttered the figure of Nishiyama, worshipping him as if he were the god of Tentochu.

    "I''m sorry. I''m sure the Emperor was wrong to judge you, Shioko," Yoichimented. His words broke through the tough face of the red-haired girl. From her eyes, she seemed, atst, to ept his presence within the guild.

    "Well, I see you have something inmon," Takamori rejoiced, with his usual smile printed under his moustache. "You must know that Shioko left the Emperor''s Heralds guild to join us, Yoichi," the guild master added.

    "What?" Enatsu unintentionally gasped. The merchant could not hold his amazement.

    "You got it right. Master Sada was the only one who understood my true potential. When I realized that among the Heralds I would remain forever a ''woman who dreams of fighting at the front'', I epted his proposal to join the Nightdes", Shioko confirmed, crossing her arms.

    From the world in which she spoke of Takamori, it was evident that she had the warmest regard for him. The funny and awkward appearance of that short and moustached man had to hide incredible skills worthy of a true guild leader.

    "What are your powers?" Yoichi asked, breaking the speech. "Don''t get me wrong. I just want to understand why Takamori... uhm... why the Master said that you are the best suited to my mission," he justified himself.

    "Your practical sense is enviable, young Yoichi. So, Shioko''s Oracle is a Hotasuka, the evolution of the Hotasagi. Its skills are perfect for a dark environment like the ckvaul Mines cave," Takamori replied, anticipating his pupil.

    "Wow!" Enatsu spoke. "The Hotasuka is a light-type demon, Yoichi. Usually, these types of demons are not born as Oracles," he added, showing everyone to be an informed person.

    A light-type demon. Is she going to make our way into the darkness with some skill that generates a light source? If light frightens the Komoerus, Shioko''s skills could be crucial. Yoichi thought, nodding his head.

    After a few moments, Yoichi''s gaze was captured by something in the background. Behind Shioko and Takamori, a blood writing was about to appear on the battered wall of the Nightdes headquarter.

    As Takamori began topliment Enatsu, asking him how much time of his life he had devoted to studying those notions, Yoichi was enchanted to look at the wall.

    The young tamer, seized by the euphoria of the moment, had forgotten that entering a guild was his new quest''s objective. The Demon Pet System, once again, spoke through the bloody writing.

    ''Enter a guild: questpleted ¨C reward: 2 extra XP pts to your Oracle.''

    Under Yoichi''s astonished gaze, the unknown reward had finally been revealed. While reading every red letter of the inscription, he felt a strange tingling in his hands and feet.

    For some strange reason, his attention was drawn to Kenji, clinging to his leather pouch: the little Nekage stretched its scaled body, turning its neck and looking into its tamer''s eyes. The writing of blood changed shape.

    [Kenji: (5/5 pts ¨C level up) ¨C (level 5 reached)]

    When Kenji shook its head, emitting one of its faint guttural sounds, Yoichi nodded to Takamori, who was still talking. Pretending to listen to the speech, he continued to look at the wall out of the corner of his eye.

    ''New quest: travel 80 miles in Tentochu ¨C reward: one extra skill.''

    With thest words announcing a new quest, the writing on the wall disappeared for good.

    "All clear, Yoichi?" Takamori suddenly requested, keeping the tamer with his feet on the ground.

    "Um? What? Sorry, I''m a little tired, and I got distracted," Yoichi stammered, touching his nape. Without focusing on his interlocutors, he had not noticed that Shioko had been watching him the whole time.

    "Master Sada said that we will start our training tomorrow morning, at dawn. We will follow him to Goldhaven''s arena and practice with our demons," Enatsu reported. The enthusiasm in the young merchant''s voice had never been more evident.

    "Oh, well. All right, I''m in. Um... the real question is... any beds in here?" Yoichi asked awkwardly.

    "Hahaha! What do you think? That my warriors sleep on the floor?" Takamoriughed loudly. "The top two floors of the tower are the bedrooms. Ask yourpanions what beds are avable and choose the one you please. Make yourself at home," the guild master exined.

    Meanwhile, in addition to the four of them, only Rinji and Yoshiko remained in the room. All the other tamers had disappeared, walking up the staircase leading to the upper floors.

    "Thank you, Master. I can''t wait to get started," Yoichi added, with a slight bow, just hinted. As the young tamer tried to show respect, his eyes framed the red-haired girl. She had never taken her eyes off him as if she figured out that something special was hiding under that good country-boy face.

 Chapter 54 - Insect

    "How can a Nekage defeat a Tuwatako?" Shioko suddenly asked, breaking the silence. That question explicitly referred to the duel between Kenji and the demon of Kato, the defeated warrior on the outskirts of Ambershire.

    "Shioko! Don''t be rude. Remember, who doesn''t know the facts, refrain from speaking" Takamori stated, reproaching his subordinate. "I witnessed the whole duel. I met your new partner because he asked me to lend him my dagger. I assure you... I''ve never seen anyone use a weapon like that. He and his Nekage moved and fought as one," he added. ??

    "Nah, ignore Master Sada. I just exploited Kato''s arrogance, using it against him. That guy was too focused on making a good impression in front of the audience to look closely at Kenji''s movements. With an effective tactic and a bit of luck, I managed to win the fight," Yoichi exined.

    The humility of that blond-haired, scruffy-looking boy particrly caught Shioko''s attention. For the first time in a long time, the people around her did not seem empty and monotonous.

    That guy who said he came from the Bronzeforest acted like he didn''t belong to that world. On every asion, making the most of every word of his speeches, he could always put his interlocutors at ease.

    "Well, I don''t know about you, but I''m very sleepy, " Enatsu yawned, sleepy before everyone else, as usual. "We''ll put in a full day tomorrow. We really should go to sleep," he insisted.

    "Of course, of course. Follow yourpanions. They will guide you to the bedrooms."

    "What about you?" Yoichi asked as his new friends began to climb the stairs.

    "Me?" Takamori smiled. "I use to sleep right here, in this room. In a few minutes, Akai and I will have cleaned things up, and we''ll go to sleep. This is part of the routine: as the father of a family, a true Master takes care of his children", the guild master replied with conviction, using another of his figures of speech.

    "Who is Akai?"

    After Yoichi''s question, Takamori opened up the sleeve of the long white shirt he was wearing under his leather armour with his hand. A weird-looking insect walked on his wrist, reaching his hand and letting everyone admire its oddity.

    Enatsu grabbed Yoichi''s shoulder, moving him backwards and walking with arrogance over him. The merchant looked at the green insect on Takamori''s hand with extreme interest, as if looking at a trunk full of gold doubloons.

    "I can''t believe it..." Enatsu mumbled, resting both hands before his mouth.

    "It''s a... a mantis?" Yoichi inquired, slightly turning his head.

    "That''s not just a mantis... that''s a Gokirama, an epic demon-mantis! It''s so cool!" Enatsu boomed, getting closer and closer to the insect on Takamori''s hand. The moustached man chuckled, satisfied.

    "Catching this wingeddy was not easy. I''ve been looking for it for months in the peaks of the Southborne Mountains. It is also thanks to it that a little man like me managed to found a guild on his own," Takamori giggled again.

    Akai was a magnificent specimen of praying mantis: unlike themon carnivorous insects known by that name, the spines on its front paws were snow-white, as were itsrge spherical eyes.

    On the outer surface of its wings, gathered behind its elongated and pointed back, white and blue fments decorated its insect spine.

    "I had seen such beautiful specimens only in my father''s books! This demon is said to be one of the strongest of the ice demons!" Enatsumented, using his knowledge and praising the little Gokirama, who looked absolutely harmless.

    "Alright! Guys, everybody to bed! It''ste, and tomorrow morning I want you at your best. You will start your training with Rinji and me" Takamori said, pointing to the stairs and inviting his tamers to reach the tower''s third level.

    After saying goodnight to their new Master, Yoichi and Enatsu followed theirpanions into the bedrooms. The creaking staircase, like the one downstairs, popped up on a new square room.

    Unlike the other rooms that smelled old and were half-destroyed, the first bedroom looked much more clean-cut and decent.

    Toshi, the pale-faced tamer, was lying on his bed. Next to it, a candle resting on the bedside table allowed him to read a book and iste himself from his surroundings. In addition to his location, five more beds were neatly arranged in the room: three on the opposite side of the stairs, and one on each side wall.

    "Yoichi, Enatsu" Shioko called. "Follow Rinji. Your room is upstairs," the red-haired girl added, approaching her bed, in front of Yoshiko''s.

    "All right. See you tomorrow morning," Yoichi thanked, keeping on climbing the stairs behind the bald, gentle giant of the Nightdes.

    The fourth and top floor of that rickety tower housed the second bedroom. Much like the first, it was more deprived of furniture and less decorated, amodating fewer people.

    Five of the seven beds were already upied by someone. Unknown warriors were plunged into a deep sleep, blissfully snoring under their thick fur nkets.

    Rinji turned to his two newpanions and pointed with his hand two beds resting in the far corner of the square room. Soon after, having carried out his task, the big guy sat on his bed, making the mattress bend from his weight.

    Rinji''s bed was different from the others: metal beams were ced parallel to the wooden legs to support all his mass. Looking at the scene, Yoichi wondered if that squeaky floor was able to support the giant, who probably weighed more than 330 pounds.

    The two empty beds, consisting of only two thatched mattresses and two nkets, were soaked in darkness. Trying not to make too much noise, Enatsu and Yoichi moved them from their original location, detaching them from the wall and dragging them on the wooden floor.

    The dim moonlight entered from a rectangr window on the south side of the building, the only one overlooking the Tamer District square.

 Chapter 55 - Friendship

    "A lot has happened since you woke up, didn''t it?" Enatsu asked. Pulling up the nkets, he checked the condition of the mattress hidden under them.

    "Um? Are you talking to me?" Yoichi spoke, whose gaze was lost in thendscape visible from the window. ??

    "No, I''m talking to myself. Of course, I speak to you!" the merchant joked, in a low voice. Tiptoeing, careful not to wake anyone up, he approached hispanion, stopping with him to look at the Tamer District''s Square. "I mean... from the moment you woke up, your life suddenly turned hectic. I admit that I''ve never experienced days so busy and full of absurd events, too!"

    "You''re absolutely right... if it''s weird for you, imagine what it''s like for me! I woke up without even remembering my name. Hahaha!" Yoichi chuckled.

    "And yet, despite this... you defeated a guild tamer without ever having fought before, you saved the Princess of Tentochu, you tamed a level ten Inoshuma as your first demon... should I add something else?" Enatsu smiled,plimenting his friend. His gaze was genuinely empathetic as if sharing the happiness for his sesses.

    "But¡­ okay, listen. Let''s talk about you. Do we want to talk about the fact that you just joined a guild? If anyone has made progress in these two days, that guy is you, Enatsu!" Yoichi countered. In his words, the young tamer emphasized the ease with which the merchant had agreed to be a Nightdes warrior.

    "Eh... I still don''t know if I made the right choice. My father would kill me if he found it," Enatsu anxiously answered, scratching his head andpulsively touching his beard. The Silvertide Vige merchant used to dump the tension on his body, letting himself go to that strange gesture.

    "I''m sure you do really. Inside of you, you know what the truth is. Think of your grandfather Yanatsu. What would he say if he knew you''d decided to spend your whole life trading precious goods or other junk? I''m sure he''d disapprove of your father''s decision." Having be familiar with his friend, Yoichi told Enatsu what he really thought of his family, without filtering his words.

    Those simple but precise words echoed in his friend''s head, who continued to look outside the window. Enatsu''s gaze was lost in the grayish clouds illuminated by moonlight. "Do you think I''m really going to be a tamer?" he asked. In his eyes, the hope of receiving an encouraging response.

    "I wouldn''t have spurred you on to follow this path if I hadn''t believed in you and Sora. The two of us will travel the world, Enatsu. We will be strong enough to go where all the other tamers have never dared to go," Yoichi affirmed with conviction. "And when the timees, we will fight for the people of Tentochu."

    "Wow. No one is better than you with this kind of talk. You''re pretty persuasive, I must say," Enatsu smiled.

    "I''m not the convincing one. You just needed someone to tell you out loud what you''ve been thinking for who knows how long. Let''s say... you are particrly ''convincible''. Hahaha!"

    The two friends continued to giggle in silence for a few more minutes, staying close to the window. Soon after, to avoid making too much noise, they approached their beds.

    On Yoichi''s mattress, Kenji and Sora were sleeping next to each other. The little Nekage was wrapped on itself, with its tail covering its eye; a few inches from it, Sora was standing on its badger paws, its head wedged between its shoulders and his eyes closed.

    "See? Our Oracles are telling us we can''t split up, brother," Yoichi grinned, resting a hand on Enatsu''s shoulder. That gesture of friendship made the young merchant smile.

    "I do hope tomorrow goes well," Enatsu mumbled, referring to training with Hakamori and Rinji.

    After thete-night chat, interspersed with some yawning, the two adventurersy down on their respective beds. The cold air of that night subtly prated from some holes in the roof tiles.

    However, the presence of all those people inside the room, generated a heat that contrasted the cold, making the sensation on the skin almost pleasant.

    Thinking back to recent events and the bizarre mantis-demon of his new guild master, Yoichi fell asleep. Next to him, Sora and Kenji, and on the next bed, Enatsu.

    ...

    "Hey. Hey, Yoichi!" a deep, baritone voice trembled. Arge hand touched the young tamer''s shoulder, making his body shaking up under the covers. "Yoichi, wake up" the voice repeated.

    "Um... what... who..." Yoichi stammered, forciblying out of the dream world. His eyes opened weakly, limiting the ess of the dim sunlight that was rising beyond the east walls of the capital.

    "Come on, sleepyhead. The Sensei hatesters. We have to hurry," Rinji stated, standing in front of his new guild mate''s bed.

    "Whooo!" Yoichi gulped, as soon as his eyes framed the Nightdes giant. "Are you crazy? You scared the shit out of me! No offense, Rinji... but I didn''t expect to wake up with your face in front of me!" Yoichi uttered, sitting on the bed, frightened.

    Without exaggeration, the young tamer had limited himself to reporting the facts: Rinji''s face was actually a few inches from his and his hard and masculine features had scared him.

    "Mmh... no, father... let me go, let me go, please..." Enatsu murmured, turning under the nkets. Still immersed in some deep dream, the merchant''s sleep was disturbed by the words of hisrades. Renji and Yoichi looked confused.

    "Don''t... don''t touch me... leave me and... um?" the merchant spoke, still in his sleep. As soon as he realized his twilight sleep, he turned his face towards Yoichi and Rinji.

    His eyes still closed and his cheek still in the shape of the pillow, made the two observers burst into heartyughter.

    "Hahah! Good morning, Enatsu. Are you done talking to your father?" Yoichiughed, rising from bed. The young tamer woke Kenji with a pat on its head, right in the middle of its short ck horns.

    "With whom? Oh, gosh... is it already dawn? It looks like we went to sleep a minute ago... *yaaawn*" a long yawn followed Enatsu''s answer. As if lifting a two-ton boulder, the merchant got out of bed. The eyelids were still sleep-stuck.

 Chapter 56 - Lateness

    "I''m sure Sada-sensei is already on the ground floor waiting for us. I won''t tell you again, he doesn''t like to wait," Rinji added. His voice sounded more serious than the previous day. In his hasty movements, there was some anxiety about keep them on schedule.

    "We''reing, we''reing right now, Rinji" Yoichi spoke, stretching himself and beginning to walk towards the staircase. Clumsily, Enatsu got dressed, took off his pocket-filled coat, and followed hispanion. ??

    The rest of the Nightdes still slept blissfully in their beds. On the third floor, Shioko''s red hair and Yoshiko''s blue hair popped up from under their nkets.

    That still warm and dormant vibe, which smelled of sleep and tranquility, instilled a certain peace in the hearts of the two adventurers. Unlike the previous days, during which Yoichi was dominated by anxiety about capturing his first demon since the morning, the young tamer had woken up in a different spirit.

    The first floor, that is, the dining room, was unrecognizable: the tables had been emptied from every te and junk, the food residues were gone along with the tablecloths, and the chairs were arranged in line under the table like trained soldiers.

    Faced with that vision, Yoichi couldn''t help but think about how Takamori managed to tidy up all that mess with the only help of Ayaka, his mantis-demon.

    Upon reaching the ground floor of the green-tiled tower, Yoichi, Enatsu, and Rinji found themselves alone within the building entrance hall''s four squeaky walls.

    "I knew it, we''re sote. The Master will be very angry! Come on, move!" Rinji quaked, fearful like a rabbit. In a hurry, the three tamers walk out the front door.

    The birdsong and the red sunlight that caressed the roofs of the buildings, gave Goldhaven a different, perhaps even more striking, look.

    The streets of the Tamer District were deserted: stray cats chased undisturbed rats popping up throughout the city''s ancient sewer system. It was reassumed up in some cramped hole at the foot of the pces, useful for collecting rainwater.

    A few meters from the Nightdes tower, Sada Takamori was standing in the middle of the road. His hands crossed behind his back and his gaze turned forward, towards the Emperor''s Heralds headquarter.

    "Sensei. I humbly apologize for the dy. I am ready to suffer all kinds of punishments and I swear it will never happen again!" Rinji groaned. The gentle giant knelt down, his gaze pointed at the tiled floor of the road.

    Not knowing how to react to that apparently exaggerated gesture, Yoichi and Enatsu stood still behind Rinji.

    "You may dy, but time will not. Every moment of my life spent waiting, it''s a moment less that I can devote to my purpose" Takamori replied. The voice of the Master of the Nightdes sounded particrly solemn as if he were reciting the passage of a sacred book.

    He turned to his three disciples and continued, "do you believe that your time is more precious than mine?" he inquired, addressing Enatsu and Yoichi face to face. Although his mustache gave him the usual funny appearance, Takamori''s expression was now sharp and severe.

    "Absolutely not, Sada-sensei. As ourrade Rinji said, it will never happen again," Yoichi promptly repeated. ying the game and trying to behave respectfully, he bowed his head. Enatsu did the same, holding yet another yawn.

    "We only have a few hours to peacefully train in the arena, before the Heraldse to disturb our quietness. This was the first andst time I gave you some of my time. C''mon, let''s go," Takamori stated, epting an apology from his tamers and starting to walk down the street.

    Last night he looked like a chatty, yful guy. His character changes drastically during training time. Honestly, I don''t mind a little discipline. Yoichi thought, recognizing in Takamori''s seemingly bipr behavior, maturity of thought, and great professionalism.

    Dominated by a deep meditative silence, time passed quickly. The distance separating the Nightdes'' base of operations and the training arena, located on the other side of the Tamer District, was traveled at a decisive and steady pace.

    Marching like soldiers behind their Sensei, Yoichi and Enatsu reached the huge structure that housed the training area. Rinji was closing the line.

    Takamori stopped. When the guild chief turned to his pupils, Ayaka scampered on his head. The demon-mantis stood motionless on its tamer''s balding head, looking at the three men in front of him with its big white eyes.

    "Goldhaven''s training arena is the most graded and oldest in the nation of Tentochu. This sacred ce has hosted the most important warriors in history, those who have changed the course of events, fighting for our people and allowing them to thrive", Takamori exined. His hands crossed behind his back. "It consists of two areas: thergest is called the ''arena'' and is the geographical ce where tamers can train their fighting techniques and unleash the maximum powers of their demons" he continued.

    Yoichi and Enatsu nodded politely. Standing still, they respected the silence, hanging from the lips of their Master.

    "The area enclosed within the only building beyond these walls is the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven. The use of weapons or fights of all kinds is strictly forbidden within it. Anyone who wants to meditate and cultivate their inner power will be able to go to the Dojo and stay there without any time limit", the guild master added, pointing to the sturdy grayish walls that surrounded the area, discordant with the white rock that adorned the rest of the city.

    That sacred ce was sorge that it upied a good chunk of the western sector of the Tamer District. The hexagonal structure of its walls reflected the geometric bnce beyond them.

    Peach flowers hung from their long branches of dark wood, popping out beyond the edges of the walls, about three meters high.

    Yoichi and Enatsu continued to respect the religious silence, waiting for further instructions from their Sensei.

 Chapter 57 - Gatekeeper

    "Follow me," Takamori affirmed, without adding anything else. The moustached guild chief approached the heavy gates of the arena. They wereposed of two massive wings of wood from which rusty iron spikes sprang up.

    While most of Goldhaven''s streets and pces were treated in detail, that ce seemed to have suffered more from the wear and tear of the time. ??

    *boom*boom*boom* - Takamori''s hand knocked three times on the big door. His pupils waited for an answer on the other side of the walls.

    After a couple of minutes spent listening to the chirping of birds flying happily through the peach trees, the door finally began to open. Crawling on the ruined floor, the blunt iron rod of the old lock follow its groove.

    A man dressed in a red tunic with gold edges showed up in front of Takamori. A tall cylindrical hat covered his bald head, and a red veil, the same colour as his clothes, was hanging in front of his face.

    That monk, perhaps the keeper of the training arena, looked creepy. He rested his skinny, wrinkled hand on the closed door wing, leaning on his long wooden stick with his other hand.

    "Glory to Emperor Nashiyama," Takamori greeted, bowing in front of the monk. Like puppets, all three tamers deployed behind him mirrored his gestures.

    "Glory to the Emperor. Takamori, you arrived earlier than usual today", the old monk answered, as the veil that covered his face swung under the faint blowing of the morning wind.

    "Training new guild members takes longer, wise guardian of the Dojo. With your permission, I wish I could ess the training arena with my warriors," the guild leader replied, looking down on the man''s covered face, much taller than him.

    After those words, the guardian monk''s face shifted to Yoichi and Enatsu. Without being able to cross their eyes with him, the two adventurers were trapped in a feeling of unconsciousness. The veil and the slow movements of the monk made the appearance of that older man macabre and dark.

    As if that were not enough, he took a step forward, breaking away from the door and advancing towards Takamori''s recruits. Enatsu, afraid as usual, broke in a cold sweat. The sound of the wood of the monk''s getas echoed outside the grey walls of the arena.

    Dragging one foot after another, very slowly, the old man stopped in front of Yoichi. Holding a steady hand over Kenji''s head to prevent it from growling, the young tamer stood still. His gaze pointed forward towards the door.

    When the monk was in front of him, Yoichi realized that the man was more than two meters tall. The long noble dresses swayed wide around his lean, time-eaten body. The index and middle finger of his right hand gently caressed the chipped wood of his stick.

    "He is one of the recruits I just told you about, wise Ryutaro. He was a Bronzeforest farmer, but in no time, he proved to..."

    "Who are you?" the monk suddenly interrupted, turning to Yoichi. The young tamer closed his eyes for a moment. That dry, cold voice seemed toe from a demon''s lungs, not a human being.

    "My name is Yoichi, supreme keeper. Sada-sensei offered me a ce among the warriors in his guild," Yoichi responded, struggling to speak. Suddenly, Kenji began to growl.

    "Grrr... grrrr!" the little Nekage continued, looking at Ryutaro''s covered face fearlessly.

    The gaze of the elderly arena warden fell on Yoichi''s lizard demon. Evidently, his high rank in that city''s society gave him the right to speak above Takamori and all the others. The guild leader remained silent, knowing that he could not interrupt the monk''s words in any way.

    "Shut up! Shh! Shut up, Kenji!" Yoichi whispered, slightly clutching his Nekage''s neck and making it realize that that was the worst opportunity to show itself grumpy.

    "Where did you get this demon, young Yoichi?" the monk inquired. The veil in front of his face moved again on the young tamer, framing his eyes. Beside him, Enatsu and Sora were immobilized by fear.

    Even the mighty Rinji, who could lift that old man and break it like a wooden stick, trembled like a rabbit in his presence. His gaze remained pointed downwards.

    "Kenji is my Oracle, sir. I didn''t tame it, it''s... it''s just my Oracle," Yoichi remarked with conviction, merely telling the truth.

    After about thirty seconds spent silently by those words, the old Ryutaro turned back, walking towards the arena door.

    "The first me eradicates the soul of the ancient lords of darkness. It represents fear, strength, light. Please, Takamori. You and your warriors cane in," the guardian monk suddenly replied. An aura of mystery surrounded his solemn figure.

    "Thank you, Ryutaro-sama. Yoichi, Enatsu. Follow me," the guild chiefmanded. From the haste of his words, he seemed not to have given too much importance to what the monk had just said.

    Greeting the gatekeeper with onest bow, Rinji, Enatsu, and Yoichi followed Takamori over the arena''s wooden door. Driven by curiosity, Yoichi turned his head slightly. The gaze of that frightful monk was tracing his every movement.

    "Fuck!" he muttered, turning forward again. Yoichi sped up the pace while a drop of sweat slipped down his forehead, stopping on his eyebrows.

    As the guild master of the Nightdes had previously described, the interior of the walls was divided into two distinct areas. A vast paved square, raised from the ground, stretched for hundreds of meters to the right. On the left, the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven stood fearlessly, in all its splendour.

    Peach trees were distributed along the inner perimeter of the hexagonal walls. Judging by their chaotic disposition, they must have grown up in that ce naturally. Maybe they were born before the arena itself.

    The four of the Nightdes walked along the tiled avenue leading to the junction between the two areas of the training arena. Takamori, without further hesitation, turned to the vast stone tatami.

 Chapter 58 - Training

    The sun rose more and more beyond the eastern walls of the city, rising in all its brightness. The rays of sunlight struck the pink flowers of the peaches, on whose petals flowed the drops of the cold morning dew.

    After about ten meters from the crossroads, Yoichi and Enatsu''s eyes could not break away from the Dojo, which got further away behind them. ??

    It was built entirely of wood, and it was not too high, with three pointed roofs at the corners, as per tradition. Between roofs, decreasing in size from bottom to top, rows of small squared windows allowed natural light to filter inside the structure.

    The architectural details of that building were well defined and shy. However, what caught the attention of the two adventurers were the two huge gold statues nking the entrance.

    Next to a wooden and stone staircase, two huge gold tigers rested their front paws on the sides of the square door. As an imperial symbol, they resembled the mighty Torasagi, the demon with which Emperor Nishiyama had defeated thousands of enemies.

    In a sacred ce like that, imperial symbols helped enhance the Nishiyama dynasty in all its forms: every tile of the roofs and wooden beams of the walls had delicate handmade engravings. Clutching his eyes, Yoichi was able to vaguely glimpse flowers, simr to those carved on the Princess''s hairpin.

    On the highest tip of the Dojo''s top, the stone statue of a heron with its wings wide open. Its long, tapered beak pointed northward.

    Yoichi''s vision was interrupted by a sudden collision. His toe smudged against a step, forcing him to look forward. After the pathway flourished and adorned with wooden torches set in the ground, they had finally reached the edge of the stone tatami.

    The extensive training area stretched over several hundred square meters, upying the entire east sector within those grey and cold walls.

    Therge rectangr bricks that constituted the walkable surface were wedged next to each other, maintaining their cohesion only thanks to the strength of their weight.

    The outer surface of those boulders was very damaged: dark spots and fractures in the rocks told the countless stories of the fights that took ce there. As anticipated by Sada Takamori, the Goldhaven training arena had housed Tentochu''s strongest warriors, who were only apprentices before being such.

    Apprentices such as Yoichi and Enatsu, who climbed the three stone steps and walked on the sacred tatami.

    "Behold, tamers! This arena will be your new home. This rock will be stained with your sweat, even your blood, if necessary", Takamori announced aloud, spreading his arms wide. "During today''s training, you will show me what kind of skills you share with your demon pets. To do so, you will face the mighty Rinji, also known as ''the titan''!"

    The guild master''s words echoed within the arena walls, bouncing towards the ears of his adepts. After the unpleasant encounter with the keeper of that sacred ce, Yoichi and Enatsu seemed ready to begin their tamers'' training.

    The two adventurers looked each other in the eye. Kenji jumped off its tamer leather pouch, and Sora took flight, chirping happily.

    The mighty Rinji, after the words of his Sensei, walked towards the centre of the tatami. The Nightdes gentle giant kept his shy smile printed on his face, stopping in front of the two rookies.

    "Who wants to go first?" Takamori asked, moving away from Rinji and nking the two friends. "Do you start, Yoichi? I''d be really curious to see you fight alongside Kenji one again," he smiled. The guild master crossed his hands behind his back, waiting for an answer.

    "I''m ready" Yoichi affirmed with conviction. The young tamer took off his backpack and pouch to the benefit of his mobility. He took a few steps back, resting them on the ground: just as he bent to the floor, his gaze fell on the old Ryutaro.

    The guardian monk was still standing in front of the main door. His face was directed towards the training tatami, tracing every movement of Yoichi, who tried not to focus on that ghostly vision, taking a deep breath.

    Trying not to think of that scary keeper watching him from far away, Yoichi approached Rinji. On his side, Kenji looked ready to fight.

    "Rinji, you can start," Takamori ordered, without adding anything else to his exnation of training.

    "Start?" Yoichi mumbled, not knowing how to behave.

    "Bullmoth!" Rinji called aloud, pronouncing the name of his demon. A trail of greyish air enveloped the giant''s body, still and focused on his opponent.

    When the air current channelled to the ground, it shaped its Oracle. Four heavy legs with three triangr ws each popped up on the stone tatami. Above them, a sturdy zigzagged carapace covered the demon''s body with rough greyish skin.

    In addition to a short reptile tail that swung from the back area to the carapace, it housed the head of that stocky, sturdy being: the neck, longer than the legs, stretched forward, unfolding its head.

    The face of Rinji''s demon pet was very simr to that of a dinosaur, consisting of a short serrated beak of bone material and two small ck eyes, protected by ayer of the same material around it.

    Huh? A turtle? Yoichi thought, marvelling that the demon of such a big man looked like the ssic, harmless shelled reptile.

    "Enatsu!" Takamori suddenly called, drawing the young merchant''s attention.

    "Master!" Enatsu diligently replied, ready to execute orders.

    "Since you brag about having a good memory, tell me, do you know Rinji''s Oracle?" Takamori inquired. With his ubiquitous mocking smile, the moustached guild master looked Enatsu straight into his eyes.

    The young merchant exhaled deeply, narrowing his eyes and framing the turtle demon. After a few seconds of searching for helpful information in the assorted archives of his memory, he acknowledged, "that''s a Kumiwa, Sada-sensei. It is a rare demon native to the nation of Mukade. It type is rock and... I think that''s its first evolutionary stage."

 Chapter 59 - Stone

    "Very well, Enatsu. Yet, you didn''t tell us what its main skill is," Takamori questioned. His sudden questions put Enatsu, who was not ready, in serious trouble.

    The merchant was visibly focused, racking his brains. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t answer that question. "As I said, the Kumiwa is a demon native of Mukade. Today I see it in front of me for the first time. I''m sorry, Sensei, but I don''t know its skill," Enatsu answered, genuinely disappointed at his own self. ??

    "Admitting one''s limits is the first step to bing a rightful tamer. Good job, Enatsu," Takamori added. With those words, the guild master returned the smile to the merchant''s face, satisfied with having the approval of his Master.

    Without any warning, as if he had studied an action n with the cunning guild leader, Rinji activated the power of its demon. Before Yoichi''s eyes, ready to fight, the Kumiwa began to perform a strange movement.

    The turtle demon shortened up its neck, withdrawing its head into the sturdy carapace. A slow movement at a time, even its limbs took refuge in it. Simultaneously, something happened to Rinji''s body, standing behind his pet.

    The Nightdes giant''s massive muscture was covered with ayer of hard rock: within seconds, his entire body assumed the same structure as that of the Kumiwa, making his skin imprable.

    On top of that, a giant carapace, identical to that of the turtle demon, appeared behind his back, adding additional protection to his rocky body.

    What the fuck?! Rinji turned into a statue! Yoichi thought, realizing that his guildmate''s demon had a strengthening skill simr to Kenji''s.

    "Grrr... screek!" the Nekage growled, looking at the turtle, holed up at its shell. Yoichi''s gaze was visibly surprised by that vision.

    "Rinji''s ability allows him to change the external and internal structure of his body. Every type of cutting weapon does not affect his rocky skin, and thanks to his carapace, Rinji can parry blunt weapon strikes," Takamori exined. "His level of strength is notparable to that of Kato, Yoichi. Rinji is one of the strongest of my warriors," the guild leader continued, highlighting the giant''s powers.

    "I congratte you, Rinji. Your skill is mind-blowing. Combined with your physical strength, it makes you a real war machine," Yoichi admitted. "Now I understand why they nicknamed you that way."

    One of Rinji''s heavy stone feet rose from the floor, taking a step toward his opponent. The Kumiwa remained stationary in its position without moving a muscle.

    Yochi looked the warrior in front of him in the eye, realizing that even his face had be stony. Through a confrontation with Rinji, the young tamer thought that Takamori wanted to show him how immature Kenji''s power was still.

    Enatsu and Takamori remained silent, ready to witness the duel. Rinji ced his mighty arms in front of his face. Simultaneously, one of his feet was moved backwards, taking the same fighting position as a boxer.

    Now Rinji really looks like an armoured giant. I''m pretty sure any frontal attack wouldn''t affect him. Yoichi pondered, trying to imagine what his weakness might be.

    Without activating Kenji''s powers, the young tamer began to walk around Rinji, ready to move quickly and dodge any attack. The giant followed him with his eyes, turning backwards when Yoichi passed behind him.

    Every time they moved on the stone floor of the tatami, the rocky feet of the titanic warrior consumed its surface. "So? What are you waiting for, Yoichi? We don''t have all day!" Takamori eximed, inciting his new warrior to attack Rinji.

    The Master wants me to attack first because he knows in that way, I''d benefit my opponent. Carrying all that weight, he can''t afford to move fast and... oh, shit! While Yoichi thought about how to engage inbat, the unexpected happened.

    Contrary to his calctions, Rinji leaned over his knees and put his hands on the ground. After less than a second of charging on his knees, the stone giant made a big leap forward, flying over Yoichi''s head.

    During those moments, the young tamer''s eyes rose to the sky: the outline of the giant''s heavy arms took shape as his fists joined over his head, ready to take a big swing at him.

    Fragments of rock crumbled down the feet and ankles of the giant, who with that jump, was defying thews of gravity. Moments before Rinji''s hands impacted the ground, Yoichi jumped sideways.

    The young tamer dodged the blow, rolling with his back onto the rocky ground. When he clumsily got up, he was forced to cover his mouth from the dust.

    *boom* - The impact of Rinji''s stone body on the arena tatami unleashed a cloud of greyish dust. Breathing deeply, Yoichi and Enatsu realized that Takamori was going in heavy despite that was their first training session.

    Holy shit! If he had hit me, he would have shattered my skull like the shell of a walnut! This is the real deal! Yoichi quickly reflected, noting that Kenji had mirrored his every movement.

    The little Nekage''s tail was high and pointed forward. Kenji had sensed the danger and was ready to counterattack, activating its power.

    "So, are we going to do this, Kenji?" Yoichi smiled, looking at his pet. The Nekage screecked vigorously, waving its tail and widening its feline paws.

    Takamori''s gaze filled with interest: although Yoichi was facing an experienced warrior out of his reach, he had reacted with courage and optimism. Against all expectations, that young country boy was about to activate the powers of his demon.

    The noise of the stone giant''s heavy footsteps echoed throughout the walls. Rinji walked out of the cloud of dust, which dispersed into the air. His huge hands touched the floor again, taking the same position before charging.

    Yoichi nted his feet firmly on the ground. Unlike the previous times, when the best option was to enhance his upper limbs, the young tamer chose to adopt a different strategy.

 Chapter 60 - Punch

    Closing his eyes for an instant and opening his ears well, he focused on his legs. He moved his toes into his leather boots, trying to sense every inch of his ankles and calves.

    Kenji''s was activated. Just as the Nekage transferred its energy to its tamer, Rinji snapped forward. ??

    *vrooom* - With the tonnage of a tank and the speed of a gazelle, the Nightdes giantshed out at Yoichi, leaving a straight groove in the stone surface of the tatami.

    Enatsu put his hand in front of his mouth, fearing the worst. Just as his friend was activating his power, the stone warrior had attacked him, leaving him no time to reason.

    When the dust lifted by Rinji''s impetus dissolved, under the astonished looks of Enatsu and Takamori, the giant''s hands were once again resting on the ground.

    "Did you lose something, my friend?" Yoichi''s cheerful voice eximed,ing from the opposite corner of the tatami. The young tamer''s legs hadpleted their transformation in no time: Kenji''s ck scales covered them entirely, and his feet had adapted to the new reptilian legs, equipped with sharp ws on the fingertips.

    Every inch of his new lower limbs had been upgraded, allowing him to dodge that quick attack easily. "If your strategy is speed, I will try to be faster than you!" Yoichi challenged, determined.

    Fearlessly, he pointed a hand at Rinji, who looked in his direction. Moving his fingers towards himself, he invited him to try again with the same attack.

    Rinji stood still for a few moments, focusing on his opponent''s unexpected power-up. Emitting the sound of rock rubbing other rock, his neck rotated in the direction of sensei.

    Takamori, visibly amused by the ident, nodded to Renji. With that gesture, the Nightdes guild master gave his warrior a quickmand without speaking.

    "You can run as far as you want, little Yoichi. But be careful, the ground is uneven" the rock giant grunted, walking towards him. "One misstep and my stone hands could crush you" he added, changing tactics.

    He''s provoking me. He''s trying to use against me the exact strategy I used against Kato. Is your fighting style really that trivial? Yoichi thought. Springing on his strong legs, the young tamer continued to hopping, ready to dash in every direction.

    "Bring it on!" he shouted with arrogance, inviting Rinji to attack with a hand gesture. If he keeps on attacking me without thinking, sooner orter, I will find a corner to hit him, he reasoned.

    Without loading on his legs, this time, the giant began to run awkwardly towards him. Travelling about two meters with each stride, the titanic warrior came closer and closer to Yoichi.

    When the distance between the two warriors became small enough for Rinji to attack, the Nightdes giant punched, without thinking twice.

    Yoichi''s reptile-foot ws, helpful in increasing his grip on the rough tatami stone, allowed him to move nimbly to the side. The young tamer easily dodged the blow without counterattacking.

    Rinji''s fist hit the air, unleashing a shockwave in front of him that spread several metres forward. With a slow and rtively predictable movement, the giant attempted a second attack, turning on himself and trying to hit Yoichi with the back of the other hand.

    With perfect timing, Yoichi bent his legs, passing under the giant''s mighty arm. I can try to hit him! His side is uncovered! He thought quickly, noting that Rinji''s rib was helpless due to the attack he had justunched.

    Exceeding the expectations of his master, who, until a moment earlier, believed he had put him in trouble, Yoichi again activated Kenji''s power. During the dodge, hisnding leg remained wrapped in scales, while the leg that had been lifted from the ground returned to its standard shape.

    Concurrently, the Nekage''srge ck scales appeared on his arm: from the upper shoulder to the fingertips, it was enhanced, absorbing the energying from the leg.

    "Aaaargh!" Yoichi shouted,shing out at a powerful right hook on Rinji''s side to the maximum of his power. The strike scored, hitting the target with a clean shot.

    The scaled knuckles of Yoichi''srge hand impacted the rock of Rinji''s body, unleashing all the umted energy on it.

    "Wooo!" Enatsu yelled, unable to believe his eyes. Without ever training that particr skill, hisrade had managed to switch the upgrade target from leg to arm. To do so, it only took him a few moments.

    The noise that followed the blow was thunderous. Rinji''s body remained motionless, in the same position. Yoichi''s gaze and that of the stone giant crossed.

    "I told you I was going to catch you" Rinji smiled, with his square stone jaw. Before Yoichi could make any other movement, the giant took advantage of the young tamer''s moment of recovery.

    Having transiently channelled all his strength in his fist, Yoichi could not move on a single foot. The young tamer''s hand broke away from Renji''s abdomen: his body had not suffered any damage.

    Oh, shit. Yoichi thought while a stone fist took shape before his eyes.

    *baam* - Making full use of the advantage of his opponent''s lowered position, Rinji mercilessly punched Yoichi in the face.

    The young warrior''s feet broke off the ground, and his body was catapulted metres away. When he crashed to the floor, he rolled over the tatami, suffering further damage.

    "No, Yoichi! Yoichi!" Enatsu gasped, frightened. The young merchant, caught in the rush to help his friend, took a step forward. Before he could advance further, a massive ice de appeared in front of his chest, blocking his run.

    Without moving from his position as an observer, Takamori had raised an arm in the direction of the young merchant. From his forearm, a sharp snow-white de had grown in less than a second.

    "Don''t you dare interfere, Enatsu. When your turnes, you''ll show me what you''re capable of," the guild master ordered. His gaze pointed towards the two fighters.

 Chapter 61 - Rinji

    "But... Sada-sensei... he will kill him!" Enatsu eximed. With frightened eyes, the merchant looked at Rinji, who had just knocked Yoichi down.

    "It means that I will have been wrong to judge your friend!" the guild master coolly replied. During their first encounters with Takamori, Enatsu could not imagine that under those funny moustaches, and that harmless smile lurked a stern and reckless leader. ??

    Unable to move further, Enatsu was forced to stay by Takamori''s side, unable to intervene in any way to help hisrade.

    Yoichi put his elbows on the ground, trying to regain consciousness. His vision was blurred due to the violent blow to his cheekbone, covered in blood. Many minor horizontal cuts under his left eye had been caused by the rough surface of the rock that covered Rinji''s fists.

    "Kenji... Kenji!" the young tamer murmured. Frantically turning his head from side to side, he managed to locate his pet: the little Nekage was a few meters away from him, on the ground. Its tail was moving with difficulty, trying to help the rest of its body get back on its feet.

    "Aaargh... fuck!" Yoichi stuttered, resting his hands on his knees and getting up. Rinji continued to walk towards him slowly.

    "Sensei!" the stone giant yelled, stopping suddenly. "If I hit Yoichi again, I could cause him permanent damage," Rinji added, speaking remotely with Takamori.

    "Go ahead, Rinji!" the guild chief promptly responded. With a fast downward movement of his arm, he retracted the ice de that was blocking Enatsu.

    "What are you saying? He said he could cause permanent damage to my friend. Are you nuts?! This was supposed to be a training session, not a murder! You''re just making a fool of him¡­ he''s a sitting duck!" Enatsu thundered, waving his arms at his master.

    Takamori did not move a muscle. That funny little man knew the merchant would never do anything reckless towards him.

    As Enatsu continued to scream and agitate, Takamori''s order reached Rinji''s ears. The armoured giant looked at Yoichi.

    He let the scales disappear around his leg, transferring their energy to the other arm. When both of his arms were enhanced, Kenji was back on its feet.

    Despite the violent blow suffered by its tamer, the Nekage was more resilient than it seemed. About two meters behind him, the Kumiwa inside its shell.

    Yoichi''s eyes framed the turtle demon for a moment. After a superficial first nce, the young tamer carefully stared at Rinji''s pet.

    His pet has been stuck in that position the whole time. Of course! Why didn''t I think of that?! If I can''t scratch Rinji''s rocky armour, maybe I can attack that turtle-thing! Yoichi realized. The young tamer, until then, had focused only on dodges and counterattacks, not learning that his opponent''s only weakness, perhaps, was not on that giant body.

    However, despite his sudden idea, Yoichi did not know how to damage the Kumiwa: its paws and head were sheltered within its thick carapace. It was made of the same scratchproof material as Rinji''s body.

    "I''m sorry, Yoichi. I didn''t think I had to fight you using my powers. I''m really sorry," Rinji sobbed in a low voice. The true nature of the gentle giant came to light with that statement.

    "Don''t worry, Rinji!" Yoichi smiled, looking him in the eye. "Don''t be so sure to got it won," he added, winking.

    With a friendly smile, the Nightdes stone giant crossed his mighty arms in front of his face. Although that gesture had the makings of a defensive technique, Rinji was loading one of his most potent attacks.

    From the massive, zigzagged carapace behind his back, sharp rock spikes popped up. About half a meter long, they totally covered the giant''s back, making it look like a morning star''s head.

    It gets rough here. I have to hurry on... I must take advantage of Kenji''s position to damage his pet and stop its upgrade. But how? How do I scratch its... just as Yoichi was frantically pondering about how to get out of that situation, the morning sunlight envelopped the training arena.

    The yellow rays of light illuminated every corner of the stone tatami. Thanks to them, Yoichi''s eyes were able to see something that shortly before, in the dawn light, they had not been able to notice.

    Behind the turtle demon''s thick carapace, its short reptile tail swung downwards. Unlike all other soft parts of its body, it protruded outwards, representing his enemy''s only truly vulnerable target.

    The tail! The tail of the Kumiwa is the real target! Kenji can easily reach it and interrupt Rinji''s power-up! The young tamer reasoned, finding a possible solution. It''s the only hope I have against this colossus. I have no choice!

    The little Nekage somehow felt the thoughts of its tamer. Kenji''s red eyes slowly turned to the turtle, spotting the small greyish tail popping up from the back of its carapace.

    Having toe up with a quick diversion to trigger Rinji''s attack and engaging him away from Kenji, Yoichi shouted, "Kenji! I need all the energy in my legs, quick!"

    The Nekage, without having it asked a second time, stretched out its four feline legs and made the scales of the back and tail curled. Activating each fibre of its muscles, it tried to push its enhancement powers to the limit.

    For the umpteenth time during that fight, the ck scales changed positions on Yoichi''s body. They switched from arms to legs, and each time, the activation of that skill was faster than before.

    "Your speed won''t save you this time! I''m sorry, Yoichi, but I have to execute the master''s orders!" Rinji''s voice boomed. The stone giant opened his arms and performed a strange rotation of his body.

    Bringing a knee to his chest, he stayed in bnce on the toe of the other foot, resting on the ground like the metal tip of a spinning top. With his arms speeding up the rotational movement, Rinji''s body started spinning dizzily.

 Chapter 62 - Backlash

    The face and details of the giant''s chest and neck were no longer distinguishable. Thanks to the spikes on his carapace, helpful in increasing the volume of the rotating area, Rinji had be a massive top ready to destroy everything in its path.

    "This is just mindblowing... I''ve never seen anything like this," Enatsu stammered. "Taking advantage of his Kumiwa''s upgrade skill, Rinji turned his body into a stone top! Those spikes will tear Yoichi apart if he does not dodge them!" the merchant thought aloud. ??

    "That''s Rinji''s strong point. He is called ''the titan'' for this very reason. His spinning top-attack''s destructive force can destroy everything, even the defensive structures of enemy armies. No wall or palisade can withstand that hard rock", Takamori acknowledged, satisfied with the abilities of his warrior.

    "Enemy armies? Does that mean Rinji fought at the front?" Enatsu asked once again, take note of the Nightdes giant''s extraordinary talent.

    "More than once. And he''s alwayse back with a winner," the guild leader stated, crossing his arms. Enatsu''s worried gaze reached Yoichi, who felt the sensation of being watched.

    Inside his heart, the young merchant was eagerly hoping that his friend had a n. If that stone top had hit him, the shreds of his body would have dispersed all over that sacred tatami.

    "Kenji! Get ready!" Yoichi called, looking at his Nekage, ever closer to the turtle demon. The Kumiwa, busy empowering Rinji''s body, was not on its guard against Kenji''s stealthy steps.

    "Come on... don''t let me down right now," Yoichi whispered as if he were talking with his legs. The young tamer repeatedly hit his quadriceps with light punches, triggering maximum responsiveness of his lower limbs.

    Keeping on swirling on the rock toe of his foot, the human-top hunched at him at great speed. The airpressed by Rinji''s arms and carapace gave rise to a little tornado, gathering dust rising from the floor into the air.

    Acting against all odds, Yoichi began to charge towards his opponent. Takamori narrowed his eyes, unable to understand what kind of tactics his student was employing.

    Yoichi''s wed feet mmed to the ground in quick session, increasing his dash speed. The muscles of his legs and feet harnessed all that power, pulsing under the ck scales.

    Just as the sharp air released by Rinji''s spikes was about to reach his body, Yoichi stomped his left foot on the tatami, getting off the ground.

    His body hovered in the air, over nine feet high. Just below his feet, the rotating Rinji reached his position, missing the target.

    "Kenji!" Yoichi thundered with all his might while his body was suspended in mid-air.

    Obeying promptly at themands of its tamer, Kenji assaulted the Kumiwa. The Nekage, who had sneakily approached the turtle-demon until a moment earlier, clenched its tail in its teeth.

    "Raaaar!" the Kumiwa roared, whose head suddenly sprang out of the carapace. Rinji''s demon red at the Nekage. Its sharp teeth, simr to those of a small alligator, were stained with the blood of its tail.

    At the same time, under the incredulous gaze of Enatsu and Takamori, Renji''s body stopped spinning: the rock that covered the outside and internal organs of his body suddenly vanished.

    The Nightdes giant abruptly found himself tiptoeing, unbnced due to the rapid movement that suddenly ceased. Looking for a handhold while his arms waved in the air, Rinji lost his bnce and fell with his knees to the ground.

    As calcted, Yoichi transferred the energy umted in his legs to his upper limbs. Harnessing the maximum power of Kenji''s skill, his biceps and forearm muscles swelled and pulsated.

    Screaming loudly, the young tamer fell down, joining his fists upwards and exploiting the downward movement to hit Rinji. The giant, who until a moment earlier believed he had everything under control, sensed the iing attack and shielded his nape with his hands.

    *boom* - The impact of Yoichi''s fist on Rinji''s back was so strong that it caused a bacsh. A vertical shockwave bounced over the giant''s massive body and hit Yoichi, who was pushed back.

    Unbnced by the immense energy he himself had unleashed, Yoichi rolled onto to the ground. Hisrge armoured fingers made friction on the floor, stopping his rolling motion.

    At the same time, Kenji, who had immobilized the Kumiwa by blocking it by the tail, was unbnced sideways. When the little Nekage fell to the ground, the turtle demon pulled all its limbs out of the carapace, immobilized because of the pain.

    "Eh?! Yeeeeah! Hahahaha! He hit him! Yoichi has sessfully deactivated Rinji''s upgrade! Hahaha!" Enatsu rejoiced, throwing a fist in the air and jumping for joy.

    The Nightdes'' mighty ''titan'' had just received a powerful shot in the middle of his spine. The severe trauma of his nerves forced him to the ground for about ten seconds. His thick fingers crawled on the floor, holding back his rage.

    *anf*anf*anf* - Yoichi''s intense and intermittent breathing released the tension. The young tamer looked at his right hand, the one with which he had hit Rinji behind his back: his knuckles were damaged and bleeding, despite being covered with hard reptile scales.

    Unable to speak, Yoichi looked forward. He touched his arm, slightly sore from the bacsh suffered earlier. Although he had managed to turn the tables in his favour, he feared that the fight was not over yet.

    He and Kenji got up, approaching each other. Rinji put his big hands on the ground, followed by his knees and then his feet. With extreme effort, the giant got up, breathing hard and rubbing his back.

    Yoichi''s eyes immediately framed his Sensei. The expression on Takamori''s face was unbelieving. With his mouth half open and his eyes narrowed, the guild master realized that that young Bronzeforest warrior had measured up to Rinji, the armoured titan.

    All those who had witnessed the fight were amazed by the unexpected twist. Ryutaro, the gatekeeper, stood by the temple door. With his long arms down his hips, he was looking in the direction of the tatami.

 Chapter 63 - Too Slow!

    Although the Nightdes giant and his demon pet did not seem to be able to keep on fighting, the duel was not over yet. Until Rinji recalled his Kumiwa, Kenji would not receive experience points, and Yoichi could not celebrate the victory.

    Silence floated in the air, in the form of wind among the branches of the peach trees. After the rumble unleashed by Rinji''s attack and the final blow of the young tamer, the noises of the city beginning to wake up, flying over the training arena walls. ??

    Yoichi ced his hands in front of his face, returning to thebat position. His right hand was wounded. If he had thrown a second punch like the one that knocked out Rinji, he would undoubtedly have suffered some severe, irreversible damage.

    The giant stood up and opened his bloodshot eyes. His gaze immediately moved to his demon pet. The Kumiwa was progressively regaining its senses, but the holes caused by Kenji''s teeth were clearly visible on its tail.

    Before receiving the explicitmand from the guild master, Rinji started screaming. He spread his arms and looked up at the sky, unleashing all the umted anger.

    After that un unbridled gesture, the Nightdes giant bent his neck left and right. His back and sore bones creaked as if his physique had already forgotten the trauma it had just suffered. Rinji''s eyes were now pointed on Yoichi.

    His gaze says nothing good. I''m going to wait here, hoping he doesn''t attack me again. My hand hurts, Yoichi thought, clenching a fist in his right hand and wiping the blood that kept dripping from his cheekbone.

    Not satisfied with the result of the fight, Rinji activated the power of his Kumiwa once again. The turtle demon slowly got back in the shell, giving its tamer the requested enhancement.

    The Nightdes warrior''s body became stony as if nothing had happened. The hard rock created from scratch by the Kumiwa wrapped him all from the joints to the bones.

    Kenji growled, having never lowered its guard like a real feline. Yoichi took a deep breath. Within himself, he was aware that, despite the oue of the battle being in his favour, his body was more damaged than that of his opponent.

    Surprisingly, the stone-top shape Rinji had used to fight Yoichi was not his strongest technique. Suddenly, piece by piece, his arms significantly increased in size: two huge cylinders of hard rock enveloped his forearms. The hands, to adapt to the new physical proportions, grew in size too.

    The carapace behind his back thinned, growing selectively only along his spine. Triangr and pointed scales ran through the back of his body, from the neck to the tailbone.

    While the spinning-top transformation looked more defence-oriented, the new one appeared to be studied in detail for the offence.

    Yoichi realized that Rinji''s Kumiwa, although its tortoiseshell appearance made it seem harmless, had a much higher level than Kenji.

    The young tamer was aware that he still had to learn a lot about the leveling system and evolutionary stages of the demons, but he was sure that, in any case, Kenji would fight beside him.

    "Your transformations are incredible, Rinji. Before I saw them with my own eyes, I would never have believed that anyone was capable of doing such things," Yoichimented, stabilizing his wheezing. "I''d love to learn how to fight as you do, I mean it" he smiled.

    That sudden sentence further caught Takamori''s attention. The guild master, since Rinji had stood up, had not said a single word. The honesty of that young, blond-haired boy was enviable, and his constant desire to learn and be part of something made him look like a veteran, experienced warrior.

    "Mh. I don''t know if this is a tactic to make me lower my guard or if you''re honest. Anyway, it has been a pleasure to fight you, Yoichi," Rinji proudly answered. "However, you still have much to learn! Aaargh!" the giant yelled.

    Without further notice, Rinji dashed towards his opponent, moving the two huge hands alternately to use charging momentum. Kenji ran away from his tamer, moving at great speed towards the Kumiwa.

    The Nekage wasted no more time already knowing what to do, leaving its tamer room to dodge that heavy strike.

    In his new attack stance, Rinji''s movements were much faster and less predictable. The amount of energy needed by Yoichi to shift the scales from his arms to his legs was too high for his current condition.

    My mighty punch didn''t even scratch him! It''s not possible¡­ there was all my strength inside that fist! The young tamer thought, not knowing what to do. Even if I enhance my legs, I can dodge only one, maybe two of his attacks. How the hell do I do that?!

    "Too slow!" Rinji shouted angrily, taking advantage of his opponent''s moment of uncertainty to increase his charge speed.

    The armoured giant''s huge stone hand tried to hit him: the area of the palm of that hand was sorge that it covered Yoichi''s entire body. He knew that by dodging sideways, he would end up crushed and taking a step backwards, his long fingers would still reach him.

    Having exhausted his hopes for a counterattack and looking at Kenji out of the corner of his eye, still far from the Kumiwa, Yoichi used his powers in the only way he felt right.

    The ck scales disappeared from his arms and instantly wrapped his chest: the pectoral muscles, abdominals and hips became hard and resistant. When Rinji''s reached the target, his stone hand hit the centre of Yoichi''s chest.

    In addition to the increased stamina, his enhanced chest could dissipate some of the energy received. Suffering a blow that could potentially make him fly over the tatami, Yoichi''s physique reacted strongly.

    His feet crawled on the rocky floor, travelling more than thirty meters in a matter of seconds. Unable to restrain his inadvertent backwards trajectory, Yoichi soon found himself at the edge of the training tatami.

 Chapter 64 - Win Condition

    When his heel slipped over the edge of the tatami, the weight of his scales-covered chest prevented him from staying on his feet. As if holding a boulder, Yoichi fell backwards, mming with his back on the softwn surrounding that rocky square.

    Meanwhile, Kenji reached out to the turtle demon. Learning from its mistakes, the armoured reptile showed itself well-prepared: quickly pulling out its head and a w, it tried to hit the little Nekage. ??

    The lizard-demon dodged the w swing with a backward jump and continued to step back, fearing that he would not be able to cope with that primal being. The bone beak of that sauropod opened and closedpulsively, sounding like a metal shear.

    With his body only half-enhanced, Rinji made use of his human physical strength hold the heavy stone arms. As Enatsu watched him in disbelief, the Nightdes giant, whose body had returned to its standard size, lifted his big arms with ease.

    He again charged in Yoichi''s direction. The young tamer, to get up, was forced to disable Kenji''s powers: when the ck scales on his chest disappeared, Rinji was already on the edge of the tatami. His massive stone fists were ready to hit the target at close range.

    At the exact moment he saw the fear of dying in the eyes of his new pupil, Takamori stopped the fight. "Rinji!" the guild master yelled.

    The big guy turned to his Sensei. Due to physical effort to support the heavy rocky cylinders, rivers of sweat poured from his forehead. "Enough, that will do. Help yourrade get up from the ground," Takamorimanded.

    After giving orders, the moustached little man walked to the centre of the tatami. Yoichi''s hands, which until a moment earlier were covering his face, moved trembling. The young tamer began to breathe again, realizing that he was safe and sound.

    Kumiwa''s power was deactivated, and Rinji''s arms returned to his muscr ones, stretched out in the direction of hispanion. Yoichi grabbed his ally''s hand, returning to his feet.

    Rinji''s look seemed happy and kind. The eyes of that mighty titan, who until a moment earlier had risked killing the young tamer, expressed the same joy as when he weed him and Enatsu into the guild tower.

    Yoichi nodded his head, implicitly thanking Rinji for the friendly gesture. Next to each other, the two tamers reached Takamori in the middle of the tatami.

    Thick blood continued to flow from the wounds still open on Yoichi''s face. Due to the rush of raw adrenaline still in cirction in his body, he felt only a slight burning under his right eye.

    "I haven''t witnessed such a good fight in a while, I must say," the guild leader stated,plimenting his followers. "I chose to get you to fight Rinji because I wanted to see how you would behave without using the dagger," Takamori exined. His hands crossed behind his back.

    "No cutting weapon would have affected Rinji''s rocky body or that of his demon pet. When I noticed that he too would fight without weapons, I imagined that the Kumiwa''s skill was a body upgrading... just like Kenji''s," Yoichi acknowledged. As his heartbeats returned to the normal rhythm, the young tamer tried to respond adequately.

    "Although it may seem like a titude, no one has ever fought Rinji by bothering his pet. I knew you wouldn''t let me down, but still, your strategy exceeded my expectations," Takamori repeated. "Rinji, recall Mamoru. Yoichi won the fight."

    After the indisputable words of his master, an astonished expression appeared on Rinji''s face. Mamoru, his Kumiwa, had no other wounds than those on its tail. "But... Sensei! Mamoru hasn''t been defeated! It can still keep fighting," Rinjiined.

    Takamori, continuing to smile, crossed his eyes with the Nightdes giant. "Do you intend to challenge my order, Rinji?" the guild master inquired, twisting one of his moustaches around his finger.

    Rinji clenched his fists and turned his gaze towards the ground, saddened. Yoichi and Enatsu remained silent. "No, Sensei. Bull... Bullmoth!" the giant called, moving his square jaw.

    Uttering the real name of his demon pet, Rinji recalled it inside his body. With that gesture, Yoichi was officially the winner of that fight.

    Arge blood-red sphere gushed out the centre of Rinji''s chest. That weird fluid, containing the XP point just gained, floated towards Kenji. The Nekage bent its head, letting the sphere touch its forehead.

    *plop* - With the typical sound of a drop of water falling into a pond, Kenji received the reward for fighting Mamoru to the fullest.

    Yoichi''s attentive eyes promptly identified the blood writing that appeared on the tatami. Right in front of Takamori Sada''s feet, it read:

    [Kenji: (1/6 pts ¨C level 5)]

    ''Current mission: 4.3/80 miles travelled in Tentochu''

    As soon as the young tamer''s gaze read thest letter, the writing was absorbed by the fractures of the rough stone floor.

    "Thank you, Sada-Sensei. This victory means a lot to me," Yoichi affirmed, bowing his head to his master.

    "To be the first session of your training, you did pretty well. Anyway, I think you''re perfectly aware that your fighting style has a lot of weaknesses," Takamori spoke. "If you fought at the front right now, you wouldn''tst a second," he added, pointing out his student''s technical gaps.

    "I joined the Nightdes to learn, Sensei. Every time you test me, I won''t let you down," the young tamer replied, showing self-confidence.

    "Very well. Enatsu?" the guild chief called, attracting the merchant''s attention.

    "Me?" Enatsu replied. Until a moment earlier, he was immersed in his thoughts, reflecting on how Yoichi had managed to get away with a few scratches against an opponent that, on paper, was stronger than Kato.

    "I don''t know any other Enatsu" Takamori chuckled. "Yourpanion insisted that I epted you into my guild. Yoichi showed me what he''s capable of. Now it''s your turn."

    "Um... my turn. Sure. I... I... what should I do?" the young merchant stammered, trying not to panic.

 Chapter 65 - Grandmother

    Enatsu''s hands trembled slightly. After hearing his namee out of the mouth of his new Sensei, his breathing became irregr. Clenching his fists, he prepared to follow the orders.

    "You can rx, Enatsu. You''re not going to face Rinji," Takamori spoke, calming down his second recruit. "Not all tamers are good fighters. Get it through your head," he added.??

    Yoichi and Rinji remained silent to listen. Judging by his unsuspecting gaze, even the good giant seemed not to know what his master had in mind.

    "That means... I don''t have to fight anyone?" Enatsu asked, catching his breath. For a moment, the merchant had feared that his opponent would be Takamori himself.

    The guild master began to walk around his three warriors. Never stopping to touch his moustache, he exined, "Tentochu''s most famous guilds, deploy hundreds of tamers at the front. Warriors of all kinds fight on the front line, fighting enemies face-to-face. Behind them, in the closest area to the Emperor, battle phases are established by wizards."

    "By wizards?" the merchant eximed, surprised. His eyes were on Takamori, who walked round and round. Yoichi silently shared hispanion''s amazement, marvelling that even an egghead like him had never heard of Tentochu''s ''wizards''.

    "The wizards are the emperor''s closest councillors. People with superior intellect and memory skills than others. Thanks to their advice and observations, the wizards help the leader of the faction choose when to attack and when to defend, when to advance and when to retreat" the guild leader continued.

    "Does the Emperor''s Herald guild also have magicians?" Enatsu asked naively. A ray of hope illuminated his eyes, realizing that his Sensei was not the sadistic and callous little man who had looked like just before.

    "Of course, Enatsu. It has many more wizards than all other guilds. Being the first reference guild of Emperor Nishiyama, it is also what all those like you aspire to," Takamori confirmed. The guild master looked Enatsu in the eye, "your friend Yoichi is one of the most promising warriors I have known. However, he wouldn''t havee all this way if there wasn''t someone like you by his side."

    Unable to believe that the harsh master of the Nightdes had justplimented him, the merchant turned his gaze towards hispanion. Right next to the bloody wounds on his cheekbones, Yoichi was smiling, implicitly confirming that im.

    "Is that true, Yoichi?" Takamori Sada spoke again.

    "It''s the truth. Enatsu knows exactly what I think of him. I''ve told him several times. Believe me, Sada-sensei... this man has incredible potential," Yoichi affirmed. In a hidden gesture of the hand, the young tamer made his friend realize that he needed to give his all to win Takamori''s trust.

    "I... I don''t know what to say, Sensei. Before I met Yoichi, no one ever praised my intelligence and knowledge. I''ve studied a lot, that''s true, but... I''m not sure I''ll meet your expectations," Enatsu admitted, looking down. "Tweet?" Sora chirped, touching its tamer''s cheek with the beak.

    "I think you understand that our guild has no wizards. I''ve never actually looked for one, but it seems the first candidate has independently knocked on my door," Takamori chuckled. The guild master crossed his hands behind his back, stopping in front of the subject of his sentence. "I won''t force you in any way. The arena door is open. But remember: once you get out, there''s no going back."

    Enatsu''s eyes continued to stare at the cold rectangr rocks of the tatami. When his gaze framed the gates that Ryutaro had opened, a strong feeling in his chest forced him to sink into his memories.

    The young Silvertide Vige citizen thought of his childhood, lived in the stories about his grandfather''s deeds. The great Yanatsu was his undisputed hero and one of the most loved by hispatriots. Fighting alongside Emperor Nishiyama, he had sacrificed his life for the good of his people.

    His grandmother''s stories were the only legacy Enatsu had received from Yanatsu. In order to bring the memory of histe grandfather to life in her grandson''s mind, Enatsu''s grandmother told him that old stories when his father was away from home, travelling for work. They were tales of won and lost battles, intrigue and betrayal. Thanks to them, the then young Enatsu became interested in the Ancient Demons.

    They were the obsession of his warlike grandfather, the only real reason why he had decided to give his life to the Emperor. Traveling with the Imperial Army to unknown territories, Yanatsu wanted to meet in person one of the Ancient Demons who so intrigued him, to savour their true power, at the cost of being thest thing he had seen.

    Enatsu''s father, on the other hand, had immediately followed in the footsteps of his uncle, a spice merchant from southwest Tentochu. ''Money is worth more than any battle'', he constantly repeated, discrediting anything that was not for profit.

    Precisely on these principles, his father would have built his family. The savings, personal enrichment and repudiation of tamers. They were deemed to be ignoble brutes who chose violence to culture. Ignoring his son''s true dreams, he had forced him to hide his tamer attitudes, making him believe that the merchant was the only thing he was really good at.

    As Enatsu''s gaze framed the arena door, on the veins of its wood, the merchant was able to see his grandmother''s face among the iron spikes. A sweet, old woman, whose white hair was gathered in a long braid, was smiling at him.

    As far back as Enatsu could remember, his grandmother had been the only one who really believed in his tamer potential. Going against his father and mother, thete Yanatsu''s elderly wife knew that her only grandson was a smart, demon-passionate boy.

    She was sure that, if her husband were still alive, Enatsu would abandon the idea of wasting his life on stupidmodity trades and follow in his footsteps, taking his ce alongside the Emperor.

 Chapter 66 - Redemption

    Unfortunately, his grandmother''s fantasies died with her memory. Although she was still alive, senile dementia had reduced her to a drooling vegetable, locking her in a chair and preventing her from recognizing her own nephew.

    A shiver ran through Enatsu''s back. On the one hand, the stability of his family and a regr job. On the other, the uncertainty of a tamer career, following the memories of his grandfather Yanatsu. ??

    He took a deep breath, clenching his fists. He looked at Yoichi and thought back to the unfortunate events that that boy, perhaps younger than him, had experienced. That Bronzeforest farmer had woken up on a farm without remembering anything about himself and his past. All he had was the consciousness of being able to live, starting to discover things one step at a time.

    Refusing the offer to pursue his dreams would have been an insult to himself, histe grandfather and his friend. While Sora''s little winged body gradually shared his courage, Enatu wholeheartedly stated, "I will be the wizard of the Nightdes, Sada-sensei."

    After that statement, Yoichi managed with great effort to hold back his enthusiasm. The young tamer merely whispered a ''yes!'' of encouragement.

    A smile appeared beneath Takamori''s moustache, who nodded satisfied. Although he looked insensitive, the guild master understood that Enatsu''s response resulted from thoughtful and profound reflection.

    "As I did with Yoichi, I need you to show me what you''re capable of," the Sensei spoke. "As you may already know, Waromus and all other demons, when they evolve, can develop new talents. They can learn new skills. Your Waromu allows you to see with its own eyes. Tentochu schrs have described its skill as ''trantion''," the guild leader affirmed with conviction, exploiting his knowledge.

    "That''s right," Enatsu confirmed.

    "At level 15, the Waromu evolves into Warashi. If until then, it has improved enough the trantion ability with its tamer, it learns a second skill. Do you remember its name?" Takamori inquired. Under the interested gaze of Yochi and Rinji, the guild leader was questioning Enatsu as if he were among school desks.

    "irvoyance, if I''m not mistaken," Enatsu promptly replied. His gaze expressed an unusual determination.

    "Excellent. Using irvoyance, the tamer not only takes advantage of his demon pet''s eyes but can go further. The Warashis'' ability allows them to predict the future for a split second," Takamori added, continuing the exnation.

    "What?" Rinji mumbled. The Nightdes giant, who was not an expert on demonology, shared his amazement with Yoichi.

    "I know what you''re hinting at, Sada-sensei. Such a skill could be handy during all the war phases and beyond... by managing to predict little bits of the immediate future, our guild could benefit on several fronts," Enatsu acknowledged, using his insight. "But still I miss a detail."

    "What, exactly?"

    "Why me? I mean... Waromus are not rare demons nor particrly difficult to tame. Why do you think Sora and I are so special?" the merchant insisted. In his determined gaze, the fear of expressing all his perplexities seemed to have disappeared.

    "I don''t think so, indeed. That''s why we''re here, Enatsu. If I were already sure of your abilities, I wouldn''t ask you to show them to me, right?" Takamori chuckled. "I would never dare to tell you what you can and can''t do, but I can decide whether you''re worthy of staying in my guild or not."

    After Sensei''s harsh words, Yoichi felt drawn. Stating that he still had to ''choose'' the fate of his friend, Takamori had hinted that he was not sure he could ept an inexperienced aspiring mage like Enatsu among his warriors.

    "Sada-sensei" Yoichi interrupted. When he had won the attention of his interlocutor, he stepped forward. "Remember, we made a deal. If he leaves the Nightdes, I''m going with him and..."

    "It doesn''t matter, Yoichi. You said you could enter any guild you please just by showing the Imperial Family symbol, right? I guess you''ll have no problem to leave," the guild master interrupted.

    Yoichi was speechless. He did not imagine that the reaction of the man who had formally invited him to enter the guild could be so severe and intransigent. Takamori Sada knew that the Nightdes guild was one of the least numerous and important among Goldhaven''s guilds, but he considered it a hidden gem of inestimable value.

    On this principle, he was surrounded by incredible warriors of the caliber of Rinji, the titan. All his guild members seemed to have a unique nature, and each of them was special in his own way.

    At that moment, Yoichi could simply turn around and leave, but he decided to follow his instincts, merely uttering an unexpected phrase: "I beg your pardon, Sada-sensei. I''m sure Enatsu will stand the test."

    With a slightly annoyed expression, Takamori pulled a white cloth from the pocket of his leather jacket. The short moustached man handed it to Yoichi, "clean the blood on your face, for God''s sake" he sighed.

    Yoichi grabbed the cloth and obeyed orders with remission.

    "Let''s go back to us, Enatsu. The challenge I''m proposing to you today is pretty simple, and, as I was exining to you before, it won''t require any kind ofbat," Takamori spoke.

    "I''m ready, Sensei."

    "So... this morning, like most mornings, Shioko left the tower and ran errands out in the city. To pass the test, you will have to tell me where she is using the skill of your demon pet", the guild master exined. His hands crossed behind his back.

    "Um... maybe I didn''t get it right, Sensei. Do I have to look for Shioko all over Goldhaven?" Enatsu panicked. The merchant began to sweat cold again.

    "That''s what I said, yes. I ordered her to buy a specific item. I can''t tell you anything else. If you are brilliant as your partner ims, you will have no problempleting the test in less than ten minutes. Starting now," Takamorimanded. His eyes smiled mockingly along with his mouth.

 Chapter 67 - Searching

    The sweat on Enatsu''s forehead increased. The test that would decide his ess to the Nightdes guild had just begun, and he didn''t know how to do it. "Sensei. Goldhaven has millions of inhabitants and stretches for several miles. How can I identify a person in just ten minutes, not knowing where to look for her?" he stammered.

    "Your test has begun, Enatsu. It''s almost been a minute," Takamori replied coolly. The guild chief stepped back. He did not seem to have any intention of providing any other clues to his student. ??

    As Enatsu tried to control his breath and decrease the frequency of heartbeats, Yoichi watched him closely. The young tamer was convinced that with his insight, his friend could pass that test. Just like his fight against Rinji, the Enatsu test must have had a specific reading key.

    If Yoichi had continued to fight the armoured giant without spotting his weakness, he would probably have been wiped out by his strength.

    The cunning Takamori had studied those two tests to perfection, calcting every variable in one night. The test to which Enatsu was subjected seemed apparently impossible, but a clue, a hidden detail, could have helped his friend find Shioko.

    "Enatsu!" Yoichi boomed. He attracted the merchant''s lost gaze, "stay focused, my friend. If Sada-sensei gave you this test, it means you canplete it easily. You just have to stay focused!" he eximed, urging his partner to leverage his full intellectual potential.

    "I... I... okay, fuck. That''s enough, Enatsu. Try to focus, for once!" the young merchant trembled, shutting his eyes and clenching his fists.

    Two minutes after the start of the test, Sora took flight in the air. The parrot demon gave itself a boost on his badger paws, jumping upwards from its tamer''s shoulder. pping its feathered wings, it rose in altitude and flew hastily over the arena walls.

    Enatsu''s eyes reopened: his pupils were now yellow, his demon''s skill had been activated. His gaze frantically moved from left to right, using the Waromu''s developed eyesight to spot the target.

    Under Sora''s eyes, Goldhven extended in all its immensity. Its buildings were illuminated by the rays of the morning sun and repeated next to each other to the horizon.

    Fortunately, the first test of his training took ce during the early morning hours. Most of the capital citizens still slept blissfully in their beds, and those of the rehearsal were thest minutes of quiet before their awakening.

    Reflecting on this detail, Enatsu flew with Sora to the Tamer District. Knowing that few people crowded the streets, the merchant thought he could retrace the road that came out from the Nightdes tower.

    Yoichi, Takamori and Rinji continued to look at him, puzzled. While in the arena, the warm morning wind blew softly, Sora and Enatsu were facing hectic, tense moments.

    Taking advantage of the air currents that blew above the city, Sora was able to move quickly from ce to ce, limiting itself to gliding with its wings wide open. After about a minute and a half, the parrot demon reached the Nightdes headquarters.

    When it perched on the small squared window overlooking Shioko''s room, it noticed that all the warriors were still in their beds except her.

    "Fuck" Enatsu muttered, who for a brief moment had hoped that the red-haired tamer would bete and still in her room.

    Rising up into the air with Sora, the merchant began to reason frantically again, studying the present and the past details. In the Tamer District square, some warriors from other guilds were chatting with each other.

    While the young recruits were intent on doing manual and heavier jobs from the early hours of the morning, veteran warriors enjoyed a calm and rxed awakening, giggling among themselves and judging the work of their subordinates.

    Beyond the neighbourhood''s stone arch, still no trace of Shioko. The white smoke from a bakery not far away incensed Sora''s wings, intoxicating it with its scent of hot bread.

    Compulsively changing direction, Enatsu''s demon flew among the buildings, following the main road. Roads were beginning to get crowded, slowing down the research.

    "Two minutes to go, Enatsu. I hope you''re following the right track," Takamori affirmed, with his eyes closed. While the guild chief counted down the seconds in silence, the young merchant jumped scared, sure he could notplete the test in time.

    Ten minutes is very little time. It''s like looking for a needle in a haystack. If Enatsu is forced to leave the guild, I will go with him. I can''t abandon my friend. Yoichi pondered, continuing to look at the merchant.

    His friend''s time was almost over, and the young tamer was slowly losing confidence in his abilities. Enatsu was a bright, smart young man, but ten minutes wasn''t enough to cover the entire Goldhaven area.

    Drop by drop, sweat continued to seep from his forehead, slipping on the tip of his nose. Enatsu kept controlling Sora, who was flying at its top speed.

    Just as the parrot demon was flying over the main road leading to the capital''s south gates, it stopped in mid-air. Its colourful wings continued to p, illuminated by the sun, keeping its body still in that position.

    "I got this!" Enatsu gulped, who had so far remained immersed in his thoughts. His listeners were amazed by that statement. In particr, Yoichi looked at Takamori: a mocking smile had appeared under his moustache soon after hearing those words.

    With his eyes closed to stay focused, the guild master was keeping counting. Second after second, Enatsu only had one minute left.

    Sora radically changed direction, quickly flying over the area it checked a few minutes before. Once it reached the ce pictured in Enatsu''s mind, the demon followed themands of its tamer and swooped towards the target.

    Enatsu knelt on the ground, caught in anxiety. He leaned his hands ahead on the cold rock of the tatami: his pupils moved berserkly at a superhuman speed.

 Chapter 68 - Test Result

    Takamori took a deep breath. "Ten, nine, eight..." he began the countdown.

    "Aaargh! Come on, fuck!" ¨C Enatsu''s fingernails scratched the rough surface of the stone, chipping and starting to bleed. Tears began to drip from his eyes once again. ??

    During thosest seconds, Sora''s flight had reached an astonishing speed. Moving nimbly and making incredible aerial evolutions, the parrot demon spotted a person who could match the target.

    pping his light wings and pointing his head forward for maximum aerodynamics, Sora jetted like a bullet towards those long red hair.

    "Three, two, one..." Takamori reported, ready to end the test.

    "It''s her! Shioko! Stall number 102 of the Old Bazaar! She¡­ she''s wearing a long dark green cape!" Enatsu shouted. His demon''s skill deactivated because of the acute emotional strain, and his eyes returned to their standard colour.

    That of the breath of the wind was the only sound that echoed within the walls. For about ten seconds, all those present did not dare to utter a word, waiting for the verdict of the guild master.

    Enatsu looked at his fingers covered in blood. Pushing on his hands and knees, he stood up, while his gaze crossed with Takamori''s.

    After more interminable seconds of waiting, the guild master spoke, "congrattions, Enatsu. You passed your admission test."

    "What? Did I make it? Did I really make it?" the young merchant asked incredulously, looking at his friend. Yoichi raised his arms to heaven, exulting happily.

    "I give you my official wee to the Nightdes" the moustached Sensei smiled. Hanging his head forward, he paid his respects to the first aspiring wizard of his guild.

    "Whohoo!" Enatsu yelled with joy, hopping. "I can''t believe it!" he added, weeping for happiness. Soon after, the pain unleashed by the broken nails on his fingers contained his enthusiasm for a moment.

    Like aet star, Sora flew over the walls of the training arena, losing altitude to its tamer. pping its wings in the opposite direction to the swoop, the parrot demon leaned on his shoulder, chirping satisfied.

    "You were great, my friend! You''ve never flown so fast," the merchant rejoiced, petting his Waromu''s head andplimenting it.

    "Enatsu" Yoichi called. The young tamer approached his friend. "How did you do it? Time was running out and... well, none of us could see what you saw. I''m curious to know how you found Shioko in just ten minutes" he smiled.

    "Yes, so would I," Takamori spoke, continuing Yoichi''s speech.

    "Well, it wasn''t easy. During the first few minutes of the search, when I saw that Shioko was not in her bed, nor in the vicinity of the Nightdes tower, I seriously feared that I would not be able toplete the test", Enatsu admitted, with his usual modesty.

    "After following the banalest path that had urred to me, I began to think about what could be the most useful details for my purposes. In the end, the answer was sak¨¨," he stated, chuckling.

    "The sak¨¨?" Yoichi and Rinji asked in chorus, standing still to listen.

    "Hahahaha! Nice one, Enatsu! Truly remarkable," Takamoriughed. The guild chief put both hands on his big belly, amused.

    "Yes, the sak¨¨. Yesterday, during dinner, I noticed that when Sada-sensei had finished his cup of sak¨¨, he had ced the bottle on the table right in front of him. That pale-faced guy, Toshi, if I''m not mistaken, grabbed the bottle. Intent on drinking some of that good homemade liquor, he was disappointed when thest drop fell into his ss," Enatsu exined, chuckling.

    Yoichi continued to listen to him without understanding. His index finger was under his nose as if helping him concentrate.

    "When the sake finished, after dinner, Shioko took the empty bottle and stuffed it inside a basket full of other identical bottles, also empty. The basket, which was shelved in the corner of the room, had somebel attached. ''Satow Liquor Shop ¨C Old Bazaar,'' Enatsu remarked, examining every detail of his reasoning.

    "Sada-sensei said he sent Shioko to buy a specific object. When I thought about what it could be, I linked his passion for liquor tost night''s scene and... well, I just had to look for the name of that stall inside the Old Bazaar."

    After his story, Enatsu stood still with his fists resting on his hips and his chin up. With his proud look, he was waiting for thepliments of hispanions.

    "What? And when did you notice all these things? I haven''t seen any of this," Yoichimented incredulously.

    "If I''m not mistaken, you were talking to Yoshiko, or maybe someone else," the merchant answered. With extreme uracy, making the most of his good eidetic memory, he had managed toplete the admission test, gaining the trust of his Sensei.

    *p*p*p*

    The indistinct sound of slight apuse caught the eye of all those present. Takamori and his warriors turned in the direction of that sound, right next to the tatami entrance stairs.

    "Your new warriors have been pretty excellent, Takamori," Ryutaro, the gatekeeper, affirmed. Wrapped in his usual dark aura, the sacred guardian of the arena had approached them.

    Yoichi and Enatsu were immediately filled with a sense of mise as if the man''s mere presence disturbed their spiritual stillness.

    "Your words tter me, supreme Ryutaro. Yes, my new warriors were able to impress even a disillusioned outcast like me," the guild leader replied, proudly looking at the two rookies.

    The cloth veil that covered the gatekeeper''s face swung moved by the wind. Still, his face remained invisible, irradiating in the air a disturbing sense of unconsciousness.

    Looking closely at him for the second time, the two adventurers noticed Ruytaro''s details that had previously escaped their attention. The long stick he was holding consisted of a simple wooden rod with reinforced edges.

    Gold-ted metal rings enveloped the lower and upper end of the stick. In the grain of its wood, a dim green light pulsed as if it were a reflection of the heartbeat of some strange magical relic.

 Chapter 69 - Offer

    "I am sure that by cultivating their spirit in the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven, they may ascend to a higher level. Especially the golden-haired boy, Yoichi," Ruytaro stated, pointing the tip of the stick in the direction of the young tamer.

    "What? I am a little surprised by what I''m hearing. You never encouraged anyone to enter the Dojo. Yoichi and Enatsu don''t know meditation techniques and I don''t have time to teach them," Takamori spoke, answering for the two warriors behind him.??

    While Enatsu was still shaken by the strong anxiety felt during his test, Yoichi focused on the old gatekeeper''s words. Unable to see his gaze under the cloth veil, it was impossible to perceive his true intentions.

    Cultivate my powers with meditation? What the hell are these two talking about? He thought. In his hands, the blood-filled handkerchief with which he had cleaned the wounds on his face.

    "I can teach my techniques, then!" Ryutaro added.

    "You mean that... do you want Enatsu and Yoichi to be your students at the Dojo?" Takamori asked astonishedly. The guild master''s gaze turned for a moment towards his pupils.

    "No, not both of them. Only Yoichi, if he wants to," the gatekeeper affirmed. The wind kept moving his kasaya and the veil on his face.

    Judging by his Sensei''s impressed response, Yoichi suspected that the old Ryutaro''s request was unusual and unexpected. About a hundred meters behind him, the gold statues of the Dojo sparkled under the warm sun.

    "Well, Yoichi is a Nightdes warrior now. I''m sure your teachings can speed up his path to bing a professional tamer, but... it has to be his decision," Takamori replied, bowing his head. With that gesture, the mustached Sensei thanked the gatekeeper for the offer. "What do you say, Yoichi?" he asked.

    When he was addressed, Yoichi hesitated for a moment before answering. Not knowing what to say, his mind was flooded with hundreds of thoughts. What did that gloomy and mysterious old man want from him? Why was he watching him insistently from the moment he set foot in the arena?

    "Thank you for the offer, Ryutaro-sama. I never used any meditation technique, nor did I ever get into a Dojo. I feel like my demon pet and I are good fighters, but I don''t know how to behave in this situation," Yoichi admitted. Knowing that that strange faceless man could read his every look and expression, the young tamer merely told the truth.

    "You will remain a member of your guild, Yoichi. You will continue to follow the orders of your Sensei, Sada Takamori. Meditation in the Dojo can only increase your powers, it will not harm you in any way", the old guardian continued. One hand clutched the stick resting on the ground, the other was behind his back.

    "Yoichi" Takamori interrupted. His gaze remained on Ryutaro, so as not to disrespect him. "I''ve known Ruytaro since I was just a kid. This is the first time he has offered to teach his meditation techniques to one of my students. To be honest, I think he probably never offered it to anyone."

    In his words, the guild chief emphasized the importance of that offer. But Yoichi''s mind remained full of the same questions. Why would he trust that strange character? What would have been the consequences if he rejected the offer? What if he agreed?

    From the way Sada Takamori talked about it, the bond between him and Ryutaro was not dictated only by their difference in social ranks. It was evident that that mysterious old man had been like a parent to him.

    "The warriors of other guilds are about to knock on the doors of the arena. I can''t stay here anymore, I have to do my job, as always," the old gatekeeper remarked. Helping himself with his stick, he turned back and began to walk. "If you ept my proposal, you will find me inside the Dojo, Yoichi" he eximed, moving away.

    Yoichi did not have time to reply to that statement. Ryutaro was already too far to hear his words.

    Enatsu and Rinji looked at theirpanion in amazement, trying to figure out what he had in mind. Unlike the young merchant, the Nightdes giant knew who Ryutaro was and how well his name was known in Goldhaven.

    Without any warning, the guild rushed upon Yoichi, grabbing his shoulders in his hands. Being short and squat, Takamori raised his gaze to look him in the eye.

    "Boy. I don''t know you and you don''t know me. But I can tell you one thing: if the gatekeeper has shown interest in you, you can''t refuse his offer!" the guild chief boomed. Clutching Yoichi''s shoulders, his hands flickered unusually.

    The young tamer, still confused by that sudden request, stammered something iprehensible. His Sensei seemed incredibly excited at the idea that one of his pupils could be trained by the supreme Ryutaro, the keeper of the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven.

    "Sada-sensei... I... I don''t put much trust in that man. He gives off a strange negative aura and looks scary. Tell me, what do you think he has in mind?" Yoichi inquired, humbly seeking answers.

    "The Dojo is essible to everyone. Whoever, as he please, can meditate within its walls. However, there is a particr room, at the highest point of the building, to which ess is strictly forbidden. Only those who are chosen by Ryutaro himself can enter it", Takamori exined. His hands continued to tighten the shoulders of his young pupil.

    "But... I don''t understand... is this Ryutaro that strong? Master, the way you talk about him, you seem to be afraid of him," Yoichimented.

    "Only fools are not afraid of the gatekeeper. Listen, Yoichi... he''s not just the guardian of this ce. Once, decades ago, Ryutaro was the first councilor to Tatsui Nishiyama, the father of our Emperor, Shinzo," Takamori spoke, using history to exin to Yoichi the importance of that offer.

    "When Tatsui died, he gave his kingdom into the hands of his first son. The inheritance of the Emperor of Tentochu also embraced all his servants, including the imperial family councillor, Ryutaro. At that time, he was one of the strongest warriors in our faction, perhaps the strongest ever."

 Chapter 70 - Nasty Surprise

    "What happened to him? How did it end up here?" Enatsu interrupted, who was passionate about stories like that.

    "Shinzo Nishiyama, the emperor who now rules the nation of Tentochu, used Ryutaro of corrupting his father''s mind with his fiendish thoughts, forcing him to provoke a war and leading him to death. Angered, the Emperor decided to exile him outside the nation''s borders, but his mother, Empress Yoko, did not allow him." ??

    As Takamori kept narrating, the gatekeeper opened the arena door. Behind it, dozens and dozens of warriors waited for his consent to enter the training area.

    "Knowing that he could not contend with the will of his mother and histe father, Shinzo chose to confine Ryutaro within these four walls, thus making him the keeper of the sacred Dojo and the arena. From that day on, he decided to cover his face forever, to erase his memory from the inhabitants of the capital, honoring the will of Tatsui''s family" concluded Takamori.

    "But... was it true what Shinzo insinuated? Is Ryutaro really a wicked man?" Yoichi asked.

    "I only had to look at him and I could feel the sense of anguish he carries on his shoulders" Enatsu added, supporting his friend''s thesis.

    "No one knows. What is known is that Ryutaro has always had a great influence on the Emperor''s father. He yed the most important role to aspire to and I am sure the Imperial Family has no secrets for him. However, he is no longer the valiant warrior he once was, but his wisdom and knowledge should not be underestimated," the guild leader remarked.

    Those words made Yoichi reason. When he first met him at dawn, even Kenji had growled at that man. Within him, hatred and resentment towards the Emperor had grown to such a point that they turned into pure wickedness. Ryutaro oozed his dark feelings out of his body.

    What am I supposed to do now? Being trained by a legendary warrior like him would only benefit me. Besides, if I will be able to go back to the Nightdes headquarter whenever I please, I wouldn''t abandon my friend Enatsu. But Kenji... why does Kenji growl every time he looks at him? Yoichi wondered, referring to the gatekeeper.

    "I think I''ll take that offer," the young tamer affirmed with conviction. Enatsu looked at him puzzled, waiting for a worthy exnation. "I''m going to give it a try, and if I consider his meditation techniques risky or unsafe, I''ll never set foot in that Dojo again," he exined.

    "That sounds like a good answer, Yoichi. I''m sure..."

    "Look who I found! Takamori, what an unexpected surprise!" a voice-over interrupted, breaking the speech between the Sensei and his pupil.

    Takamori''s gaze darkened as soon as the recognizable timbre of that voice reached his ears. Hiding a rictus of loathing beneath his mustache, the Nightdes guild chief turned to the man who had just greeted him.

    "Yozo-sama, it''s a pleasure to meet you again," he spoke, with a false smile printed on his lips and his head slightly bent forward.

    Before him, just below the steps of the tatami, a tall, muscr man was nked by dozens of warriors. Both he and his men wore shining red armor.

    His chest and shoulders were covered with medium-weight armor, decorated with red and ck drapes and small metal spikes. On his samurai helmet, tworge ck horns extended upwards, bending slightly forward.

    At the back of the helmet, a long braid of hair ck as night hung along his back. His piercing orange eyes, almost red, were pointed at Takamori.

    The warriors of that man, who looked like a guild leader, wore armor simr to his, but more basic. On the front of their chests, the symbol of a tiger face with its jaws wide open was clearly visible.

    The Emperor''s Heralds. There is no doubt, that is the symbol of the Imperial Family. Yoichi thought, looking intently at the faces of the warriors arranged in neat rows behind their captain.

    Suddenly, during the brief moments of silence between Yozo''s and Takamori''s greetings, someone in the crowd caught Yoichi''s attention. The blue hair of Kato, the warrior he had defeated in front of the gates of Ambershire, sparkled in the sunlight.

    The Emperor''s Heralds, unlike their guild leader, wore no helmets. Their armor covered their entire body, except for the head. A slight thrill ran down Enatsu''s back, who as soon as he identified Kato among the warriors of that guild, turned his worried gaze towards his friend.

    Kato, along with all his guildmates, stood still like a statue. When his gaze crossed with Yoichi''s, the air was imbued with strong tension, so intense that it was perceived even by those who knew nothing about the defeat of the blue-haired warrior.

    "I thought you wouldn''t set foot in this ce anymore, Takamori. I''m d I was wrong, your face puts me in a good mood," Yozo giggled. His face, fully shaven, was marked by dozens of scars.

    The most noticeable of them was a deep cut that stretched from the left side of his forehead to the right cheek, crossing an eye and nose.

    "Your smile willst little, then. We are leaving," Takamori answered, implicitly ordering his warriors to follow him out of the stone tatami. Without hesitation, they followed him in line.

    "Ohi, ohi... what''s the rush?" Yozo chuckled, resting his hand on his interlocutor''s shoulder. Attentive to every detail, Yoichi for a moment looked away from Kato and noticed that the Heralds chief''s hand was equipped with long dark red ws.

    "Is that any way to greet an old friend? Don''t you stop for a small talk either, Takamori-kun?" Yozo repeated, amicably pping Takamori''s shoulder and forcing him to stop.

    "My warriors and I are done, for today. Your turn has arrived, so we take our leave. Our headquarters are a few meters away from each other, so if you feel like having a chat, I''ll see you in the square", replied the mustached guild master, with his hands crossed behind his back.

 Chapter 71 - Yozo

    Freeing himself from Yozo''s arm, Takamori continued to walk forward. Just as he was about to walk down the steps of the tatami, three great warriors from the Emperor''s Heralds blocked his way.

    "Aaah... you always do this, Takamori. When someone provokes you, you run away like a rabbit. How do you call yourself a guild master?" Yozo belted, chuckling and looking at Yoichi and hispanions. Takamori''s three warriors had remained a few feet behind their master. ??

    The wind, which had so far blown calmly, increased its intensity. The branches of peach trees were shaken by its strength, releasing the pink petals of their lovely flowers.

    Like soldiers in a peacekeeping army, the petals rested gently in the corners of the tatami, continuing to twirl under the action of the morning wind.

    Takamori Sada clenched his fists and closed his eyes. Above his shoulder, his mantis demon was watching the orange-eyed man.

    "Perhaps your warriors do not know that, in the past, you too wanted to be a member of the guild that now is under mymand. Why don''t you tell them how it went, Takamori-kun?" Yozo repeated, with his hands down his hips. The Heralds guild chief turned to his interlocutor.

    "What''s your problem, Yozo? My warriors have no interest in knowing stories from the past. What they see now is an arrogant and overbearing man who does not let them get off the arena", Takamori answered. With the three enemy warriors behind him, he turned to Yozo and looked at him with fierce eyes.

    "Overbearing? Ahahaha! That''s a good one! So that''s how you call who''s stronger than you, right?" after those words, Yozo approached the Nightdes guild master. "Look at you... you look like an old wino. You had the opportunity to be very famous and respected, but you chose to live in the shadows and remorse because of your innate stupidity," the man in the red armourmented.

    Yozo came closer and closer to Takamori, defiantly. When their faces were a few inches away, he stopped. In their eyes, the me of hatred burned ardently.

    "What is it? Can''t you even talk now? Are you afraid, Takamori-kun?" he whispered, chuckling. As he made fun of him, the scars on his face bent, tracing his every expression.

    "I remind you that I voluntarily chose not to follow the Emperor anymore. If I hadn''t made that choice, I''d be in your ce now. Fear? I will never be afraid of you, poor Yozo. You are and will always be the Emperor''s second choice," Takamori remarked.

    When his usual mocking smile appeared on his face, the tip of his moustache was pointed upwards. As he used to do whenever he treated someone superficially, the Sensei of the Nightdes also smiled with his eyes, narrowing them.

    After that bold statement, Yoichi, Enatsu and Rinji followed the scene very closely. Afraid of the possible reaction of that arrogant guild leader, they feared that Takamori''s careless way of doing things could trigger Yozo''s fury.

    As expected, in fact, when the moustached man''s response came out of his mouth, Yozo''s arms began to tremble with anger. What Takamori had just told aloud must have touched a still open wound in the Heralds leader''s soul.

    "Let me and my warriors leave this ce. You can train in peace, and we will return to our headquarter. Order your men to back off, please," Takamori continued pretentiously.

    When he walked another step towards the tatami stairs, the three warriors blocking the way had be six.

    "I''d love to teach you a lesson, Takamori-kun, but I''m not going to embarrass you in front of everyone. Despite everything, I still have deep esteem for you," Yozo spoke,ing up with an excuse. "You''re right. We shouldn''t bore our warriors with stories too old to remember. If I came here a few minutes earlier than scheduled, it''s because I was hoping to meet you."

    Yozo''s sentence raised suspicions in Yoichi. Taking a deep breath, the young tamer tried to keep calm. Although the Heralds guild leader was an arrogant bully, his guild was protected by the Emperor''s untouchable hand.

    Yoichi realized that any action against them was equivalent to an insult to the imperial family. In that feudal society based on the rank and demons strength, the Emperor''s Heralds seemed to be the most influential congregation.

    "Tell me, then. So then we can leave this ce. We have important things to do," Takamori urged. Crossing his arms, he invited his interlocutor to cut right to the chase.

    "What''s that expression? The student makes the teacher... right? Do I remember correctly?" Yozo asked, pumping up his own tyres in front of his warriors. "So, that''s why I came here today. Kato! Step forward!" he yelled.

    Yoichi''s fear materialized in those words. Enatsu''s suggestions, telling him to think about the consequences of his gesture, suddenly umted in the corner of his mind. When in Ambershire, the young merchant repeatedly suggested that he should not challenge Kato, knowing that he was linked to that renowed guild.

    Obeying the call of his Sensei, the blue-haired warrior moved forward. Hispanions made room for him, letting him on the tatami. Within seconds, he stopped next to Yozo, in front of Takamori and his students.

    "Who did it?" his guild master angrily inquired. With a slow movement of his hand, Kato pointed his finger at Yoichi. In the Heralds warrior''s gaze, the shame he was feeling was palpable.

    "Who? He?!" Yozo astonishedly shouted. He looked at Kato, then Yoichi. Then Kato, then Yoichi again. "That gracile little boy in the second row? The one with the blonde hair? I hope that''s a joke!"

    "No, Sensei. No jokes, it''s him" ¨C Kato''s voice was full of resentment. Like a child resorting to his father''s help, the blue-haired warrior had told Yozo about his defeat before the news came to him from the outside.

    Kato''s hand lowered, and the expression on his face became increasingly angrier. Yoichi kept hisposure, knowing that whatever he did or said could only make the situation worse.

 Chapter 72 - Personal Issues

    When he decided to face Kato in Ambershire, he wanted to test Kenji''s power, having never activated it before. Yoichi could never have imagined that such a gesture would affect his tamer career.

    Luckily for him, Takamori Sada was also present that day. Subconsciously, the Nightdes leader was his supporter before meeting him at Goldhaven. ??

    "What is it, Yozo? Are you surprised that one of my warriors beat that whining kid? Mmh... well, I would have been surprised if the situation were reversed," Takamori stated, provoking his interlocutor.

    Unnerved by Takamori''s irreverent behaviour and the fact that Kato''s defeat could never again be erased from the mind of those who had witnessed it, Yozo stomped forward.

    His feet mmed to the ground with force, leading his body in the presence of Takamori, much shorter than him. "How dare you talk to me like that? That boy wasn''t one of your warriors yet when he defeated Kato. I just have to look at his appearance to see that he''s a loser," Yozo roared.

    "You can''t go back. What is done, it is done. They are old enough to solve their problems. You and I must not meddle in what is not our business. I won''t tell you again, Yozo... let us through," Takamori ordered.

    Ayaka, his mantis, climbed on his head. Its little white eyes squared Yozo as if trying to figure out what his real intentions were.

    "Don''t try to be smart with me. That guy hiding behind you is worth less than an insect. Now, in front of everyone, he will face Kato!" Yozo shouted, raising his arms and inciting the crowd behind him.

    His warriors, as if they were fans in a stadium, began to scream. Some of them cheered the name of their guildmate. Others insulted Yoichi, though they never knew him.

    "Yoichi fought a few minutes ago against a professional tamer. The boy is tired and suffered minor injuries. He can not fight right now", Takamori replied, taking the young tamer''s side.

    A drop of sweat fell from Yoichi''s forehead. His breaths became increasingly intense and frequent. Without ever diverting his gaze from those who strutted in front of his master, Yoichi realized that he had made a real enemy: Kato.

    Driven by envy, Kato had never epted that defeat. Although Yoichi had behaved sportingly even after the duel, he had rejected his friendship, holding a grudge. Since then, the blue-haired warrior had plotted his revenge, studying it in detail.

    In such a situation, with two guild masters sharing mutual hate for each other, his opponent already exhausted, and his teammates supporting him, Kato was definitely the favourite. He knew that he could unleash his full potential in the training arena, already knowing Yoichi''s fighting style.

    "What?! Can''t he fight? Don''t be silly, Takamori. He can''t choose. If he doesn''t fight, you''ll stay here until he changes his mind," Yozoined, determined to go through with it. At that moment, the Heralds guild chief was not acting in the interests of his warrior: the old personal issues still outstanding between him and Takamori dulled his sight.

    "There are no conditions for a fight on equal terms. It makes more sense to move this to tomorrow. You can choose the time. Tomorrow Yoichi and Kato can..."

    "So face me, Takamori! We''ll fight against each other, like the old days, huh? What do you say? Are you still going to flee like a rabbit?" Yozo boomed, screaming like a madman. Publically throwing down the gauntlet to Takamori, he demanded an answer.

    Behind the two leaders, who were squabbling like two children, Yoichi still couldn''t speak. "Hey, Yoichi! What do you want to do? Let Sada-sensei do this, don''t get any ideas!" Enatsu whispered, resting his hand on his mouth.

    Hispanion''s hearing rejected his words. Yoichi was feeling a sense of anger too intense to be appeased. The superiority of the Emperor''s Heralds was putting a strain on his patience.

    Not wanting to put his promising new student at risk, Takamori began to take thebat position. He stretched out his arm forward, spreading his hand wide open and shifter the other arm over his head. The legs harmoniously apanied that movement, opening and letting his feet slide on the floor.

    Within seconds, Takamori''s posture perfectly emted that of his mantis, still stationary on his balding head.

    "Hahah! Finally! I couldn''t wait to kick your ass in front of my men. I will give you a lesson that you will not easily forget, Takamori-kun!" Yozo angrily thundered, smiling with wickedness.

    In a quick hand gesture, the Heralds guild master tore the red cloth that adorned his armour, dropping it to the ground. Kato, with his tail between his legs, turned back and began to walk away. His gaze pointed to the floor.

    The sun shone high in the sky during those moments of extreme tension. Under the watchful eyes of Ryutaro, who witnessed the scene sitting next to the Dojo, Yozo and Takamori were about to face each other in unrecoverablebat.

    In his master''s rusty movements, Yoichi caught a glimpse of something terrible. His instincts, somehow, were telling him that the oue of that duel would not be at all pleasant for Takamori.

    The mighty Yozo, the warrior in the good graces of Emperor Nishiyama''s, wouldn''t have stopped. Unleashing his fury, he would seriously endanger the future of the Nightdes and their guild leader.

    Before the red-armoured warrior could summon his demon pet, Yoichi stopped shaking from nervousness and took a step forward. "No, Yoichi! Stop it! Not again!" Enatsu muttered, trying to grab his arm, without sess.

    "With all due respect, supreme masters..." the young tamer boomed. The tone of his voice was loud enough to capture the attention of both veterans. Kato stopped, turning astonished.

    "Kato implicitly challenged me to a duel and I have not yet answered his request. It''s not a matter between the two of you. It''s between him and me," Yoichi spoke, holding his still sore arm.

 Chapter 73 - Switch

    Yoichi''s words caused amazement in the Emperor''s Heralds. The crowd of warriors suddenly stopped yelling nonsense and paid the utmost attention to the one who dared to break the dispute between the two guild masters.

    "Oh, well... what have we here? The country kid ying the big shot? Takamori, apparently you haven''t been able to teach your warriors some true discipline," Yozo remarked. "However, I really appreciate that there is someone braver than you in that shit you call guild. Come on, kid. Come forward." ??

    Yozo gestured with his hand towards Yoichi, inviting him to join his master. To his amazement, Kato could not believe what he had just witnessed: that country boy, despite evidently being tired and wounded, had taken up the gauntlet.

    Takamori turned to his pupil, looking at him from head to toe. With one nce, Yoichimunicated his real intentions to him, making him realize that even if he would lose that fight, the honor of his Sensei would remain intact.

    The anger that the Nightdes guild leader felt at Yoichi''s disobedient behavior was ovee by the respect for his choice. The new acquisition of his ''personal army'' had figured out that the honor of the guild and the master was worth more than anything else.

    Unable to thank or scold Yoichi, Takamori stepped aside. The guild leader moved sideways, letting the young warrior pass by and thinking about the consequences of that gesture.

    "Y... Yoichi..." he stammered in a low voice, breaking thebat position.

    "Don''t worry, Sensei. It''s all right. I will fight Kato and put an end to this, with your permission," the young tamer replied. With a slight bow to Takamori, Yoichi showed to all those present the deep respect he felt for him.

    Rinji and Enatsu were visibly upset by what was going on. The Emperor''s Heralds, much acimed by the people of Tentochu, had behaved like a pack of hungry wolves ready to use numerical superiority to subdue their prey.

    On the other side of the tatami, Kato retraced his steps. He approached his master and waited for new orders.

    Takamori, before taking a step back, epted Yoichi''s proposal. In the gaze of that chubby man, the fear of being defeated by the younger and more trained Yozo was clearly visible.

    "That''s a guy with attributes! I wonder what you''re doing among those losers," Yozo chuckled, speaking directly to Yoichi.

    Without answering, he stopped in front of his opponent. With its usual stealthy step, Kenji nked its tamer, growling in a low voice against the enemies and preparing for the fight.

    "Let the fight begin! Come on, Kato. Show this insolent brat what the Emperor''s Heralds are capable of!" Yozo yelled once again, officially starting the duel.

    The members of the Nightdes and the Heralds leader moved away from the center of the tatami. Yoichi''s breath became warmer while he eyed his opponent.

    Kato was so amazed by the courage of the warrior in front of him, that he hesitated a few seconds before starting the match.

    "Go, Kato!"

    "Come on Kato, tear him up!" ¨C the warriors behind him, howling like ravenous wolves, incited theirpanion. As in Ambershire, Kato couldn''t resist the praise of the ''public''.

    "Alvanoth!" he shouted, extending his arm forward.

    After uttering his demon''s real name, a purple airstream came out of his chest and reached the floor. A luminous sphere took shape: around it, four long tentacles unrolled in the air, allowing the demon''s body to float.

    Remaining suspended in the air due to its psychic powers, the Kuwatako was ready to fight alongside its master.

    "Oh, shit. I''d hoped to never see that abominable face again," Enatsu whimpered. The merchant vented his fear with Rinji, who was frozen, witnessing the scene with his arms folded.

    In front of them, Takamori Sada was in the front row, ready to support his young pupil.

    "Only a few days have passed, and yet... it feels like an eternity. Isn''t it?" Yoichi asked, peacefully. After his words, the young tamer clenched his fists and assumed his fighting position, simr to that of a boxer.

    Incited by the fierce screams of the crowd, Kato angrily looked at his opponent. "Shut up! I don''t care if you got into a guild or something... I''ll make you pay for what you did to me," he grunted, ordering something to his demon.

    The Kuwatako floated behind his shoulders, reaching the usual safe position, far from Kenji. Unlike their first meeting, during which the Nekage was able to exploit the surrounding environment in his favor, the absence of hiding ces on the tatami implied a change of tactics on the part of Yoichi.

    "Before I start, I would like to ask the masters something" the young tamer smiled, continuing to behave naturally.

    Kato drew his nunchaku, causing it to deftly tingle in his hands and arms, locking it under an armpit and approving his opponent''s request. "What is it, brat?" Yozo asked with the usual insolence. The Heralds guild master was already tasting his adept''s victory.

    "I would like to change my demon" Yoichi affirmed, pointing a hand to his backpack and the rest of his equipment, resting on the ground.

    "Permission granted!" eximed Takamori suddenly, anticipating Yozo''s response. The orange-eyed warrior could not refuse the proposal, aware of Yoichi''s considerable disadvantage. With a movement of his hand, he showed his indifference.

    Yoichi nodded politely and approached hispanions. Enatsu and Rinji did not say a word, merely observing theirrade lowering himself towards his backpack.

    "Better not to be safe. I don''t want you to lose XP points... what do you think, Kenji?" he whispered, looking at the Nekage out of the corner of his eye. Kenji didn''t seem to agree: despite sharing fatigue and injuries with its tamer, it wanted to teach Kato''s octopus demon another lesson.

    "Don''t be angry, it''s not up to you, it''s up to me. I really don''t know what strategy to use and, if I have to lose the duel, I prefer you to be unharmed, my friend," Yoichi exined. The young tamer spoke to Kenji as if he were a person.

 Chapter 74 - Telekinesis

    After grabbing Ichiro''s Demon Tooth, he closed his handmade backpack and approached Kato again. Enatsu stammered something iprehensible, attracting Takamori''s gaze.

    "What''s the matter, Enatsu?" the guild chief asked. ??

    "Yoichi ns to fight with an Inoshuma by his side, but he doesn''t even what its ability is! I mean... he just tamed it yesterday, I''m not sure he can give his best", the merchant mumbled, speaking in confidence with his Sensei.

    "In his present condition, Yoichi is conscious of being the underdog. I''m sure he''ll figure something out," Takamori replied. In his chest, the remorse of not taking his ce pulsated insistently.

    Upon reaching the center of the arena, Yoichi pronounced the real name of his Oracle, recalling it inside his body. "Ildriss!" he yelled. In a whirlwind of reddish air, Kenji dematerialized from the tatami. Like a red-tipped spear, the air condensed into current pierced Yoichi''s heart, making him kneeling in pain.

    However, despite the intensity of the burning, that horrible feelingsted less than expected. His new and young body was getting used to the Oracle''s recall phase , a particrly dramatic event during the first attempts.

    The warriors of the crowd burst into a great peal ofughter, mocking Yoichi. Along with them, Yozo did the same, unable to believe that Kato could lose the fight against someone like him.

    Without further ado, Yoichi, before even getting up, stuck the yellowish Demon Tooth between two bs of the floor stones, summoning his Inoshuma.

    "Azron!" ¨C Wrapped in a less turbulent and destructive air current than that unleashed by Kenji, Ichiro raised on its hind legs, prancing and neighing mightily.

    "Hiii!" the horse demon boomed,nding with all four hooves on the tatami and looking around. Under the warm sun of that morning, the scars on his neck and back were even more visible than the previous day.

    "What? Are you serious? Do you really want to face me with a horse?" Kato chuckled, gaining courage. Looking back and taking advantage of the yellings of hisrades, the blue-haired warrior continued to belittle his opponent.

    "Hey, Takamori-kun!" Yozo predictably called. "Perhaps you haven''t exined to your toddler that the Inoshumas are incapable of fighting. Hahaha!" he continued tough.

    From the Nightdes guild chief came no answer.

    "Hiii... hiii!" Ichiro continued to whinny, waving its tail and moving its neck to the right and left. With one hand, Yoichi stroked his steed''s muscr thigh.

    "Hey, hello buddy... I know, I got into a lot of trouble. I need your help," the young tamer exined, approaching the ear of the Inoshuma. "Do you see all these people around us? Well, they think you can''t fight, Ichiro."

    Ichir¨° neighed surprised. Shaking its thick red hair, it blew a jet of hot steam from its nostrils. Yoichi smiled, happy to find that his steed was ready to prove they were wrong.

    With a jump, the young tamer climbed on the horseback, clinging to its mane. Continuing to heavily breathe like a lotive before departure, Ichiro hit the ground with the tip of its hooves, loading the charge.

    The bone material, in contact with the cold tatami stone, produced little reddish sparks. "Go, Ichiro!" Yoichi shouted, charging ahead with his massive pet.

    With an economy of motion, the Inoshuma began to run frantically against its target. Its long fangs and big boar nose frightened the warriors behind Kato, all of which took a step back.

    Kato himself, who until a moment earlier believed that the horse would not venture a single step forward, was forced to move from its trajectory. Taking a suddenteral leap, the blue-haired warrior was unbnced by the weight of his armor and rolled towards his side.

    *klopp*klopp*klopp* - the noise of Ichiro''s heavy hooves echoed through the walls of the arena. Rather clumsily, Kato managed to dodge the charge, followed by his omnipresent Kuwatako.

    "Hii!" Ichiro neighed, drifting on the stone floor and suddenly changing direction. Thanks to the strong muscles of its legs, it did not hesitate even a moment before starting charging again.

    Kato got up in a hurry: because of its speed, Ichiro was already a few meters away from him. Seeing no alternative, he was forced to activate the power of his demon pet, pointing his free arm in Yoichi''s direction.

    The Kuwatako raised all its four tentacles to the sky, letting an intense purple aura envelop its body. Under the incredulous eyes of Enatsu, who had already seen it fight, Kato proved that his demon''s power did not fear confrontation with demons heavier than it.

    Moments before Ichiro''s fangs touched Kato''s armor, the horse''s hooves lost their grip on the ground. Shaking sharply, the horse was wrapped in the same purple aura as the octopus demon and its body was lifted into the air, more than two meters high.

    "Wooo!" the Emperor''s Heralds eximed in unison, bewitched by the telekic powers activated by their guildmate. Yozo''s face was still lit up by his devil-may-care smile.

    "What the fuck?! How did he do that? Ichiro looks so heavy, how the fuck did he do that?!" Enatsu yelled, unable to hold back the amazement. Rinji and Takamori remained frozen, not focusing on the horse, but on the rider.

    Yoichi, who had managed to predict the counterattack moments before being lifted into the air with the horse, put both his feet on the back of the Inoshuma.

    Aware that his body was not enhanced by Kenji, the young tamer flung himself towards his opponent, intent on controlling his demon to restrain Ichiro''s fury.

    When Kato saw Yoichi''s body fall on him like a boulder, he did not have time to counter his freefall. Before he could pull out the nunchaku stuck under his arm, the young promise of the Emperor''s Heralds was hit by a direct punch right in the face.

    Releasing all the strength of his body, Yoichi''s knuckles hit the cheekbone on Kato''s face and the young tamer fell on him, cushioning the fall.

 Chapter 75 - Fighting Spirit

    Kato and Yoichi rolled to the ground in two different directions: on one side, the blue-haired warrior moved after the blow; on the other, Yochi got away from him, trying to regain his strength.

    The knuckle of his right hand was yed and reddened. The wounds still open on his face burned, and his muscles were highly sore as after intense physical activity. ??

    Kato''s demon suddenly dropped the horse, rushing to the rescue of its tamer. With an unusual agility for beasts of his size, Ichironded with all four hooves on the ground.

    Stunned by telekinesis, Yoichi''s horse bowed his head towards him, trying to help him somehow. Under the astonished eyes of the spectators, Yoichi clung to the horse''s red mane and was lifted back to his feet.

    Just then, when his attention was too low to perceive what was happening around him, his enemy quickly charged in his direction.

    Being fresh and rested, Kato had quickly recovered the damage suffered by the fist. Caught in anger and knowing that dozens of people were watching the match, he wanted to win at all costs.

    *punch* - The blue-haired warrior''s right hook hit Yoichi''s jaw, causing him to turn on himself. The young tamer spat thick blood from his mouth.

    At the sight of its tamer''s blood, Ichiro pranced threateningly, pointing its front hooves at the enemy: with superhuman speed, Kato snapped backwards, taking his feet off the ground and dodging the Inoshuma shot.

    *stomp* Ichiro''s heavy hooves impacted the ground, releasing a cloud of greyish dust. Takamori, Enatsu, and Rinji couldn''t believe their eyes.

    Around Kato''s body, the purple aura of his Kuwatako allowed him to float in the air. After the shot, his feet were longer on the floor, using the best of his techniques.

    Yoichi spat blood again and, with great effort, put his hands on the ground in front of him. When he got up, he realized that his opponent had dodged Ichiro''s blow only thanks to a ''cheat'' derived from the powers of his octopus demon.

    He used the power of his pet on himself, and now he can float in the air! Yoichi thought, unable to figure out how to counter that intelligent move. From the security with which the Kuwatako kept its tamer suspended as if he were a puppet, Kato must have perfected that skill in a long time.

    "What''s up, farmer? Are you surprised? When we were in Ambershire, I underestimated you, I''ll give you that. But now I''m not going to hold back, especially in front of my guildmates!" Kato chuckled, having the nunchaku twirl in his right hand.

    The Emperor''s Heralds began yelling his name once again.

    Yoichi did not respond to those words, knowing that his opponent''s only goal was to provoke him. On the outskirts of Ambershire, the young tamer had used this very principle to distance himself, thus allowing Kenji to hide among the vegetation.

    But now, on the stone tatami of the training arena, any simr attempt would have been totally useless. The enemy''s eyes were pointed at him, tracing his every movement. His blue hair wrapped in the purple aura fluttered under the sun.

    The mighty Ichiro once again approached its master, allowing him to get up. Every area of Yoichi''s body was damaged and made his movements clumsy and slow.

    I don''t have a chance in a melee fight. I have to let him think he got it won... only then I will try to counterattack. He reflected, aware that his tactics would cause him further damage.

    Suddenly, just during all the thoughts that ovepped in his mind, the young tamer noticed a detail: Ichiro, even though he was wounded, seemed to endure the pain very well, reacting to that stimulus with the same anger that he felt when he tried to capture it.

    Taken from its pack, its family, the Inoshuma pack master, had reacted to the fear of humans with anger. From the first moment Yoichi proved himself hostile, Ichiro had done nothing but fight to thest breath.

    Seized with a strong empathy for his demon, Yoichi looked the horse in the eye. For a moment, time seemed to slow down, and the feelings of the demon pet and its tamer were finally shared.

    In Ichiro''s mind, Yoichi found a sudden desire to fight, not to give up in front of that warrior stronger and less tired than he was. Taking advantage of that feeling, the young tamer shut his eyes, focusing on the injured muscles of his body.

    Dozens of warriors are watching me, convinced that I won''t be able to defeat Kato, the young Heralds'' promise. Maybe they''re right. Maybe I''ll lose this match, but... I can''t stop fighting. Ichiro could choose to run away like all the other Inoshumas¡­ he could leave with its family. Instead, it stayed. It deliberately chose to fight me against all expectations.

    Yoichi''s thoughts suddenly became clearer. When he opened his eyes and watched Kato flying in front of him, he again assumed thebat position.

    "Come on, Yoichi! Don''t give up, little brother!" a voice yelled, drowning out the screams of the crowd. Incredulously, Rinji, who had not said a word until a few moments before, had begun to cheer for his teammate.

    The Nightdes titan was well known by all the warriors of the other guild. His strength and incredible rock powers were feared and esteemed by tamers of all ages. When Rinji began to lift Yoichi''s morale, Enatsu joined him.

    "Come on, brother! Never stop fighting, Yoichi! Fight with your head held high!" the merchant shouted, clenching his fists. "You always told me to believe in myself... what are you waiting for? Now it''s your turn!"

    Takamori reacted with a genuine smile.

    For a few moments, the Nightdes'' screams caught Kato''s attention. The blue-haired warrior turned angrily towards his opponent: in that instant, the Kuwatako raised one of its tentacles in front of it, throwing his body forward like a bullet.

 Chapter 76 - Explosion

    Travelling about ten meters in less than a second, Kato waved the nunchaku at Yoichi. Although the strike was urate and fast, the young tamer moved sideways, dodging it.

    The Kuwatako appeared in his field of view. Kato''s demon pet was a long way from the two fighters, controlling its tamer''s body as if he were a lifeless puppet. ??

    A second low blow from the nunchaku caught Yoichi off guard, hitting him on the leg and forcing him to kneel. With a quick twist of the body, made even faster by theck of gravity that enveloped him, Kato tried to strike the coup de grace.

    He directed the nunchaku''s blunt force towards Yoichi''s temple, knowing that it would risk causing him some severe head trauma if his shot got a hit.

    Against the odds of all those present, Ichiro took a step forward, getting in the way of the two warriors. The nunchaku, which had already been moved, hit the neck full of scars of the horse.

    The Inoshuma''s hard skin dispersed the weapon''s energy, but the horse was slightly unbncedterally.

    In the act of true love for its tamer, Ichiro exploited the bacsh to lower the neck towards Yoichi, allowing him to jump on its back.

    mming the hind hooves onto the floor, it snapped forward, exiting Kato''s range. "Where do you think you''re going? Running away like a coward will only slow down your defeat! Sooner orter, I will catch you," the blue-haired warrior screamed, following Ichiro in flight.

    Avoiding at all costs that his enemies approached his Kuwatako, Kato reached them quick as lightning,unching yet another blow, this time directed to the horse''s nks.

    Returning the favour, Yoichi slipped from Ichiro''s back and grabbed the nunchaku with both hands. Clumsily, he hit Kato''s chest with a kick and used the lever of his arms to disarm him.

    Taking the nunchaku with him, he fell to the ground and rolled on it for several meters, suffering further damage. Suddenly, Kato''s winning situation was turned upside down: on one side of the tatami, his opponenty helpless with his weapon in his hands; on the other hand, the Inoshuma was charging its demon pet at great speed, ready to interrupt its skill.

    "Aaargh, fuck!" he grunted, using the power of the Kuwatako to fly to Ichiro, trying to stop its run.

    Yoichi looked up, pointing his clouded gaze in the direction of his opponent. The fear that Ichiro might be blindsided generated a shiver of fear that ran through his body.

    Stretching out his arm towards his demon and not knowing exactly what to do, he screamed with all the breath he could find. "Ichirooo!"

    After his scream, just when Kato''s hand touched the horse''s golden coat, the unthinkable happened: making a big leap and exhaling hot air from its nostrils, Ichiro stomped its hooves on the tatami for the umpteenth time.

    The blow was so violent that it quickly spread underground. In front of the horse, in the direction of its fangs, the heavy stone blocks of the floor became glowing, swelling slightly along the edges.

    Gasping, Kato missed his target, slowing down his flight to witness the scene. Block by block, lots of small geyser-like fire fountains exploded with an upward trajectory, travelling in a straight line to the opposing demon.

    As during a fireworks disy, everyone present was astonished to see a notoriously peaceful and meek Inoshuma use a fire-type ability of that power.

    *boom*boom*boom* - When the penultimate explosion hit one of Kuwatako''s tentacles, the octopus demon was forced to break its skill and move off the fiery trajectory.

    Without telekic power, the aura that enveloped Kato''s body suddenly disappeared, and the blue-haired warrior fell with his knees to the ground, helpless.

    Making the most of that moment of confusion, Yoichi used the remaining strength in his legs to get up and dash in that direction. When he was close enough, he threw Kato''s nunchaku at its owner, hitting him right in the nape.

    Fighting like a drunk during a brawl, the young tamer threw himself over his opponent, mming him with his back to the ground. Trying to straddle on him, Yoichi was kicked on his already damaged leg and was forced to back down to remain standing.

    Kato, clouded by rage, got up and pounced on him, ignoring the nunchaku and continuing to fight with his bare hands. Under the critical gaze of their respective guild masters, the two tamers kept on fighting in an old-fashioned way, repeatedly hitting each other with punches and kicks.

    Kato plunged a right hook into Yoichi''s stomach, causing him to bow to his toes. Not satisfied, he used his elbow to hit him on the forehead, making the best of his martial arts to make him lose his bnce.

    Despite the clunkybat style of the new Nightdes member, he managed to parry Kato''s elbow, blocking it with his hand. "Grrr! Do you really think you have a chance to win?!" he yelled, hooking Yoichi''s ankle with his leg and dropping him on his knees.

    While the two demons were intent on chasing each other, Yoichi''s fight seemed toe to an end. Without strength and running out of breath, he remained on his knees in front of Kato, who began to hit him with a series of punches in the face.

    *punch*punch* - The blue-haired warrior''s knuckles were yed in contact with Yoichi''s hispid blonde beard, which turned red.

    "Yoichii! Stop! Enough!" Enatsu screamed, noting that hispanion was about to pass out. "The fight is over, that''s enough! He''s going to kill you like that!"

    Under the pleased gaze of Yozo, who looked proudly at his pupil, after every punch suffered by Yoichi, Ichiro limped more and more, weakening.

    The young tamer''s face waspletely covered in blood, as were Kato''s knuckles. When Yoichi narrowed his eyes, the Heralds warrior squeezed his neck and yelled, "why don''t you give up, asshole?! Do you want to die, you bastard?!"

    "I have already... I''ve already won..." Yoichi whispered while a thick blood clot dripped down his neck.

 Chapter 77 - Card Table

    "What?! What the hell are you saying?! How dare you mock me even though you''re close to death? You''re ying with fire!" Kato screamed, throwing yet another punch in Yoichi''s face.

    The blood of the young tamer''s wounds sttered over the blue-haired warrior''s face. Yoichi''s hands, which initially tried to push back his opponent, were now hanging without strength along his hips. ??

    One eye was so swollen that it could not see, while the other was injected with blood, barely distinguishing Kato''s shape.

    In the background, Enatsu''s screams. The merchant kept yelling and wriggling, trying to put a stop to the fight.

    After yet another punch, Kato took a gander at Yozo. With that gaze, the Heralds warrior asked his guild master for permission to go further. He agreed, smiling maliciously and nodding with his head.

    On the other hand, despite Enatsu''s loud screams and the apparent oue of that battle, Takamori had no power to interrupt the fight. Yoichi was supposed to surrender to get his life spared.

    Receiving a sudden burst of adrenaline from the centre of his body, the young tamer used his opponent''s moment of distraction to hit him: no longer managing to move his arms or legs easily, Yoichi head-butted his face.

    *crack* - With an unprecedented level of violence, Kato''s nose bent under his forehead, breaking. "Aaaargh! Fuck! Fuck!" he screamed, loosening his grip on his opponent''s neck and taking a step back.

    Kato''s hand filled with blood while his nasal septum was slightly crooked to the left, causing him acute pain.

    Yoichi remained on his knees, his gaze turned downwards. As he continued to cough up blood, a chuckle echoed in the air. Despite knowing that that provocation would trigger a strong reaction in his enemy, the young Nightdes tamer did not seem to fear death, taking advantage of every useful moment to strike.

    "You''re dead meat, Yoichi!" Kato roared, dashing at him and loading all his strength into one punch. The coup de grace struck Yoichi right in the face, causing him to turn on himself and crash with his face to the ground.

    The moment Kato''s hand hit him, a vision trapped his mind, unlocking an old memory.

    ...

    Hit by a punch identical to the one just suffered, Yoichi stumbled upon a marble step and fell backwards, hitting the asphalt.

    Somehow managing to interact with the memory, he looked around. A rundown alley overlooked a particrly busy street of a metropolis. The sound of horns and other noises of the city rumbled in his ears.

    In front of him, a moustached and muscr man with elegant trousers and a ck tank top was looking at him from the top of the stairs. A pair of ck-lensed sses covered his eyes, and one of hisrge hands was resting on a door behind his back.

    "Next time I''ming at you hard, motherfucker!" the man grunted, bringing his hair back with one hand and spitting on him, still lying on the ground.

    Beyond the open door from which he had just been kicked out, the ''self'' of his previous life saw arge round table. It was covered with a green game tablecloth with hundreds of cards and other items scattered on its surface. Around the table, about ten salty looking men.

    *m* - A loud noise followed the closing of that door, bringing Yoichi back to reality.

    ...

    *gasp*anf*anf* - Breathing hard, Yoichi opened the only eye still capable of watching. In front of his mouth, the tatami dust was blown away from his breath, mingling with blood.

    Yoichi could not move a single muscle, but blurry images appeared before his eyes. Several meters away, Ichiro was on the ground. The steed''s abdomen swelled and deted, marking itsst breaths.

    In front of it, the Kuwatako floated menacingly, waiting for the order of its tamer to end the suffering of the Inoshuma.

    Suddenly, a sensation pervaded the young tamer''s body, freeing him from anger. After experiencing hisst memory, he realized that, for the umpteenth time, something was telling him that he hadpletely wasted his previous life.

    It was as if those strange blood writings appeared every now and then came directly from his subconscious. For some arcane reason, he was given a chance to be reborn in a new body. In a new world.

    My second life''s redemption attempt... Yoichi recalled, referring to the first inscription that appeared on the wooden wall of his farm. I don''t want to die again. Ichiro and Kenji don''t deserve my own fate... I... I will live for them, too.

    Kato''s steps became closer and closer. Trying to keep his eyes open, Yoichi whispered hisst words. "Az... Azron."

    After uttering Ichiro''s real name, the horse demon was wrapped in his own aura, dematerializing. Its Demon Tooth appeared wedged into the floor, under the scary purple eyes of the Kuwatako.

    The tip of the magical object was the only part left undamaged: the side surface of the spine was scratched and corrupted and its top was broken because of the extensive damage suffered.

    As Yoichi realized that Ichiro''s life was no longer at risk, he shut his eyes, unconscious.

    Surrendering in the presence of Kato, the young tamer had decided to save his life and that of his demon pets. With that gesture, he wanted to prove to himself that the old Yoichi, that good-for-nothing who had wasted his life with alcohol and gambling, did not exist anymore.

    ...

    When his heartbeat echoed in his rib cage and his lungs restart to breathe fresh air, Yoichi awoke from his long sleep.

    Both of his eyes barely opened, gradually returning the senses to his body and mind. Even the muscles of the face were numb and sore: his mouth was half open and his face numb, marked by a aching expression.

    The young tamer slightly closed his dehydrated lips, swallowing emptiness. Finally, after a few seconds, his eyes managed to focus on the ceiling above his head.

 Chapter 78 - Incense

    His breath warmed his throat,ing out of his mouth in the form of confused and suffocated verses. Right in front of him, a square ceiling was made of thousands of rhombic red tiles.

    The dim morning light entered the room from a tall, narrow rectangr window to the right of the bed he was lying on. As a first reaction after his awakening, Yoichi tried to detach his head from the soft pillow, shifting his gaze towards the rest of his body.??

    Deprived of clothes at both the top and the bottom, he was wearing only a kind of small mawashi, the ssic clothing of sumo wrestlers. Its soft cotton wrapped his intimate parts.

    However, it was not the unusual underwear that caught the young tamer''s attention:rge needles were tucked into his knees, ankles, hips, wrists, shoulders and even in the centre of his chest.

    After that vision, Yoichi held back a scream, trying to control his breath. A thin, fragrant smoke touched the tip of his nose, which followed his direction.

    A bedside table was next to the bed, and above it, from the holes on a small gold-ted metal jar, incense floated free in the air. When Yoichi''s gaze shifted with difficulty in the direction of his feet, he was able to notice the other details of the room.

    There was a kind of dark stone sink in the middle of the ck wooden floor, iid and adorned with many small golden objects. Being taller than his field of view, Yoichi could not look at the inside of the weird sink resting at the top of a thin column.

    That piece of great artistic, antique-looking workmanship seemed to lie there meaninglessly, in the middle of that small, perfectly square room.

    Smoke from the incense continued to dance in the air, crossing the light beaming from the window and leading Yoichi''s gaze towards the wall beyond the stone sink.

    The wall on the other side of the room was simr to the floor, and its empty, clean appearance emphasized the minimal decor of the room. Devoid of shelves or furniture of any kind, it housed two ancient memorabilia.

    A long katana was hanging in the centre of the wall, along with its scabbard. Its chrome and shiny de reflected the surroundings, and its guard, round and regr, bnced its weight.

    Orangeces were braided over the dark red handle, giving that ancient weapon an eye-catching look. Its scabbard remembered those colours, depicting magnificent drawings on its glossy surface.

    Next to the katana, where the wall bent over to make way for the window, a samurai armor was carefully resting on a metal pedestal.

    Painted almost entirely red with small orange details, it wasplemented by a showy horned kabuto. The corrugated expression of that old helmet looked like an angry face.

    Just as Yoichi began putting together the pieces of that intricate puzzle to understand where he was, a familiar voice broke the silence.

    "You''re awake," it affirmed, making the young warrior jump. Unable to move due to the needles stuck in his body, Yoichi closed his eyes for effort.

    After the rounded sink in the centre of the room, someone was sitting in front of the entrance door. When Yoichi noticed the long cylindrical hair popping up beyond the surface of that stone object, he began to churn.

    Ruytaro''s meditation had been interrupted by his awakening. Next to the gatekeeper, two small jars released the same incense that intoxicated Yoichi''s smelling from the nightstand.

    Hisrge wrinkled hands were resting on his legs, crossed in the seat. His straight back expressed the rigour of that sacred ritual.

    Right in front of him, next to the door, his stick was resting on the wall.

    Oh, shit! What the heck am I doing in here? Where''s everybody else?! the young tamer frantically thought, waving on the bed without being able to move.

    "Well, I guess so" Ryutaro sighed, responding to his own statement. After speaking, the gatekeeper''s slender and unsettling body raised from the ground, continuing to face the door.

    "I... I shouldn''t be here! What... what happened?" Yoichi inquired, visibly upset. His eyes traced every slow movement of the tall guardian, who gently turned in his direction.

    As during theirst meeting, Ryutaro''s face was covered with a cloth veil, making it impossible to distinguish his facial features.

    "The more you keep moving, the more the needles hold you still, boy" the old man added, stopping by the bed leaning against the wall on one side.

    Realizing little by little that if Ryutaro wanted to kill him, he would have done so during his sleep, Yoichi managed to calm his nerves. He controlled his breath and stretched out every fibre of his muscles, decreasing the pressure of needles on the skin.

    "Supreme Ryutaro... I... I remember I lost the duel against Kato and... and then..."

    "Then you passed out. You lost your senses, and you slept for three days", the gatekeeper interrupted, concluding his interlocutor''s sentence.

    "For three days?! Fuck, I have to keep training and... ouch!" Yoichi gasped, trying to move his arms stuck by needles.

    "Don''t worry, Yoichi. Takamori and your merchant friend are aware of your location. If I hadn''t brought you here, you''d probably be dead," Ryutaro acknowledged, standing by the bed. "Your wounds were very serious. Without my help, no one could have saved you in time," he added.

    "Ichiro? Where''s Ichiro''s Demon Tooth? And the rest of my stuff?" Yoichi asked again, increasing the frequency of his breaths.

    "I put all your equipment in that corner. You can rest easy. Your Inoshuma is safe. When you can calm down, I''ll give you back your movements," the old man replied.

    After about a minute spent in silence, Yoichi took courage and looked Ryutaro in the face, trying tomunicate his inner calm beyond that veil.

    Without adding anything else, the old Dojo guardian approached the young tamer''s chest, making him close his eyes. With extreme uracy, Ryutaro began to extract the needles from Yoichi''s body, one by one.

    Every time the tip of a needle was extracted from his skin, an incredible feeling of muscle rxation pervaded the area subject to the acupuncture.

 Chapter 79 - Abode

    "Ouch! It hurts," Yoichi trembled, narrowing his eyes and waiting for that torture to end. Within minutes, all the needles were pulled out of his body and ced on the nightstand next to the bed.

    Ryutaro''s safe and precise gestures made the young tamer realize that that old guardian was a prodigious healer. Perhaps his ominous appearance was just a mask useful not to draw unwanted attention. ??

    Yoichi began to move his wrists and arms, then his legs and lower body. Every point subjected to the healing power of needles returned in perfect shape. Three days off and Ryutaro''s ancient acupuncture technique was enough to get him back at his strongest.

    "My wounds... they don''t hurt me anymore. How..."

    "When you fight hundreds of battles, you learn to heal your body with alternative methods. I was taught the acupuncture by my first master, a monk from the mountains of the far north", the gatekeeper spoke, resting thest needle on the bedside table.

    Soon after, he grabbed all the needles and tied them with a cottonce. He opened the drawer of the small cab next to the bed and slipped them into a wooden box, neatly.

    "Thank you for saving me, supreme Ryutaro," Yoichi affirmed with conviction, hanging his head out of respect. After an intense stretching phase, he finally managed to get out of bed.

    Creaking his sore bones, he regained full control of his body. Although Ryutaro''s bed was very simr to that of his farm, his long sleep allowed him to recover his strength fully.

    I''m not sure, but... I think this room is the ce that Sensei talked about. Takamori said Ryutaro''s private room is at the top of the Dojo and that no one without his permission can is allowed in there. Yoichi pondered, being able to admire the room from a better perspective.

    "Where are we?" he inquired, pretending not to know the answer.

    "We are in the most sacred room of the Dojo of Goldhaven, boy. Wee to my humble abode," Ryutaro replied, crossing his hands behind his back and walking away from the bed. "I witnessed your duel against Kato," he added.

    "Well, it wasn''t my best fight. I ran out of energy against Rinji, so I just tried to survive as long as I could. I couldn''t let Sada-sensei face Yozo, the head of Emperor''s Heralds" Yoichi reported, scratching his head.

    "You could have done it, but you still chose to fight for him. You acted like a true warrior and honourable man, boy. That''s one of the reasons I brought you here," Ryutaro stated, turning to him.

    Yoichi continued to look at his face veil, not saying a word.

    "When I saw you face the mighty Rinji, I proposed to you to be my student, and you epted. In so many years living in this ce, I have never seen an inexperienced warrior like you behave with such tenacity," the old guardianplimented. "However, there''s another reason you''re here, boy."

    "Another reason?" Yoichi astonishedly asked, bending his neck and crossing his arms.

    Ryutaro approached the stone sink in the centre of the room. Inside of it, clear, motionless water upied its space.

    "If I may ask... why is there water in here, in the middle of the room?" Yoichi continued, overindulging in curiosity. Taking a careful look inside the sink, the young tamer noticed no drains or special hydraulic systems below the water surface.

    The stone sink was a simple container.

    "The name of your Oracle, Yoichi. That''s why I chose to train you," Ryutaro acknowledged. The smoke of incense from his shoulders gave him a particrly solemn aura.

    "Kenji? I don''t understand... what does its name have to do with it?"

    "I''m not talking about that one. I''m referring to its real name. You don''t have to summon it now; let me exin," the gatekeeper continued, pointing a hand at his interlocutor and suggesting not to say that word. "Ildriss is not a name suitable for a Nekage" he exined.

    Yoichi narrowed his eyes, unable to figure out what was his point.

    "Tell me, boy. Where exactly do youe from?"

    "Uh? I... I''m from Bronzeforest. I am a farmer", replied the young tamer with conviction. "When I met my friend Entasu, I decided to leave with him for Goldhaven, hoping to cultivate my dream of bing a tamer", he added, trying to make his story credible.

    "If you are a farmer, you will be able to tell me what the wheat harvest period is. When do you sow, and when do you harvest?" Ryutaro questioned, subjecting Yoichi to an unusual interrogation.

    What kind of question is that? What does this weird man want from me? I thought he wanted to teach me his meditation techniques... Yoichi pondered, hesitating before answering. "Um... wheat harvesting takes ce in the summer months when the sun is warmer," he answered.

    "July. Wheat is harvested only in July. The ears of the wheat bend under their weight, ready to give us food and ensure prosperity for us human beings. You''ve never been a farmer, Yoichi," the gatekeeper disputed. With that statement, the old man cornered the young tamer.

    "Yes, July! I knew it, I just wasn''t ready to ask the question," Yoichi stammered, struggling to correct his wrong answer. Trying to make sense of those words, he thought that question was part of some admission test to be Ryutaro''s student.

    "Maybe the people around you have never noticed, but the way you behave betrays your words. I realized you weren''t from this world from the first moment I saw you, boy," Ryutaro spoke, leaving his young interlocutor speechless.

    "I... I don''t know what you''re talking about, supreme Ryutaro!"

    "Never mind, Yoichi. This is just an unnecessary detail. What matters is that you find out who you really are. What I''m going to tell you could change your life forever, so please pay attention to my words and prepare your mind and body for the truth."

    A sh of cold ran through Yoichi''s back, and goosebumps appeared on his arms.

 Chapter 80 - Tsukamoto

    The gatekeeper''s heavy words deeply affected Yoichi''s soul, who did not stop looking at him for a moment. Enatsu was the only one who knew about the visions and the bloody writings, but he would never confess those secrets to Ryutaro. His best friend was terrified of the gatekeeper, so he would never dare to do such a thing.

    Although the old guardian was aware that Yoichi was not born in his own world, he remained as calm as water in the stone sink and motionless as a statue. That shocking news did not seem to upset him in any way. ??

    "Do you know my past, supreme Ryutaro?" he mumbled, unable to believe he had asked such a question.

    "I have dedicated my life to the service of the imperial family. Emperor Tatsui Nishiyama was not only my master but also the only true friend I ever had. Together with him, I faced countless battles, defeated powerful enemies and explored unknown territories," the gatekeeper answered, evading Yoichi''s question.

    "Years after our first battles against the Kamakiri faction, we were finally able to reach its shores. At that time, the Nomi Ind was a bare and uninhabited ce, with no tactical value."

    "Are you telling me that you reached Kamakiri to fight against Gonshiro''s army?" Yoichi gulped, unable to restrain his curiosity. With those words, the young tamer showed his wise interlocutor that he briefly knew the war story.

    "That was our goal, yes. But we failed," Ryutaro admitted, taking a deep breath. "The immortal Emperor of Kamakiri was still alive, and all the stories about him were not mere legends, but pure, bitter truth."

    I can''t believe it. I remember Enatsu''s story in vivid detail, but I didn''t think it was all real! Ryutaro saw Gonshiro with his own eyes; that dude survived thousands of years! Yoichi thought, struggling to hold back the feeling of dismay he was feeling.

    "If you know Gonshiro''s story, you also know about his Oracle, the evil Valgoth. When we approached the capital of Kamakiri, home to its Ruler''s Imperial castle, we suffered a surprise attack. Our army, which had already endured heavy casualties, was surrounded by thousands of enemy warriors. Taking advantage of the geography of their territory, they trapped us within a deep valley, blocking us in every direction."

    As he told the story of that battle, Ryutaro walked towards the katana hanging on the wall. The old gatekeeper looked at the weapon, admiring the beauty of its sharp de and letting the reflected light hit the veil before her eyes.

    "Although in a numerical minority, our warriors were stronger than those of Gonshiro. I fought on the front line with Tsukamoto, the general of the imperial army, protecting Emperor Tatsui. Just as the battle was about to turn in our favour, he appeared. That image is soaked in my mind and is in my dreams every night since then."

    "Gonshiro?" Yoichi inquired, imagining who was the subject of Ryutaro''s tale.

    "The legendary Emperor of Kamariki was right there, on a hill in front of us. His evil eyes were pointed at Tatsui, and his body oozed the desire to eliminate the ruler of our faction", the gatekeeper replied. Continuing to walk, he approached his armour. "As hundreds of enemy soldiers continued to arrive from behind the mountains, I decided to rescue the Emperor, fearing that our army, if we kept on fighting, would be exterminated."

    "What happened to Gonshiro? Was Valgoth with him?" Yoichi asked again, seeking the truth from Ryutaro''s mouth.

    "When I grabbed Tatsui''s arm and started running in the opposite direction to that evil presence, Tsukamoto couldn''t restrain his momentum. The general was the strongest warrior I had known, as well as the one who taught me to fight. He ran to Gonshiro, killing every enemy warrior who obstructed his path. When he finally reached the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri, something incredible happened.

    Yoichi continued to listen in silence.

    "The powerful Tsukamoto activated the power of his demon, capable of increasing the size of his sword. He leapt towards Gonshiro and, fast as lightning, the sword pierced his chest", Ryutaro spoke. His hand approached the horned kabuto of his armour as if he wanted to touch a fragment of that memory.

    "The great general of Tentochu''s army had finally defeated our nation''s evil enemy. This is what we thought a moment before we realized that ancient Valgoth was right back there, hidden in the shadow of its master. As his power pervaded Gonshiro''s body while the huge de of the sword sank deeper and deeper into his chest, he grabbed Tsukamoto''s head with both hands.

    Continuing to tell the story, Ryutaro put both hands on the helmet to emte what happened that day. Without speaking, the gatekeeper squeezed the object and lifted it forcefully, detaching it from the rest of the armour.

    "No..." Yoichi reflexively whispered. The story of that battle ended with the beheading of the only Tentochu''s warrior who had been able to hit the evil Gonshiro. "He was truly immortal¡­" Yoichi murmured, struggling to imagine the scene.

    "When Tsukamoto''s body fell to the ground lifeless, Gonshiro lifted his head. Holding it like a trophy, he showed it to his warriors, inciting them to battle. Uff..." the gatekeeper sighed, returning to the centre of the room. "I don''t know how Tatsui and I saved ourselves that day, but that experience changed our lives forever. The war lost all its meanings: as long as Gonshiro was alive, Kamakiri would always win against Tentochu."

    The heavy words of the old dojo keeper were imbued with pain and mncholy. Yoichi, sensing those bitter feelings, tried to discuss it. "This is not fair. Such an evil being cannot live forever! There must be a way... someone must be able to put an end to his hegemony!"

    Letting the wordse out of his mouth like a flooded river, Yoichi remembered Enatsu''s tale. His friend told him about Therion and the dragons that once ruled Lumya. ording to the stories of Yanatsu, the young merchant''s grandfather, their me was the only way to salvation.

 Chapter 81 - Ancient Tome

    "I already told you, Yoichi. Ildriss is not a Nekage name," Ryutaro insisted.

    Struck by that statement, linking the gatekeeper''s speech to Enatsu''s story, Yoichi trembled with emotion. Suddenly, he thought back to the feeling of intense burning he felt every time he summoned Kenji.??

    "What do you mean? I''m... I''m not quite clear on that, supreme Ryutaro..." he stammered, as if he wanted to realize that that conversation was real. The gatekeeper continued to gawp at him.

    "What do you feel when you fight alongside Kenji? Do you think your Nekage is the same as the other demons? Didn''t you wonder why, despite its low level, it manages to empower your body that way?" Ryutaro inquired, still standing before the mirror of water.

    Everyone always thought Kenji''s powers were above average,e to think of it. I''ve never met any other Nekage, so I''ve never had any other basis forparison. But what is he implying? What does Gonshiro have to do with Kenji? Nah, I''m sure I''m misinterpreting his speech. Yoichi pondered, paying close attention to the guardian''s words.

    "Summon it."

    "What?"

    "Summon Kenji. Here, in front of me, " the gatekeeper repeated.

    "Um... I don''t think that''s a good idea, Ryutaro. I still can''t control his summoning phase and I''d risk breaking everything. This room is so tidy and..."

    "Yoichi. I just gave you an order. Show some discipline," Ryutaromanded, showing his stricter side.

    Yoichi nodded and stepped back, moving away from the stone sink. Making sure there were no particrly fragile objects in his immediate vicinity, he clenched his fists and shut his eyes.

    "Ildriss!" he yelled, starting the summoning phase: a red air current enveloped him from the bottom to the top, channelling itself first towards his chest, then towards the floor.

    The wind released during the process blew forcefully along the walls, extinguishing all three incense matches and shaking the armour, which oscited over its wooden support. Even the water contained between the smooth stone walls of the sink waved slightly.

    Taking shape on the ck wooden floor, the red air materialized Kenji, who awoke from its sleep, screaking. Distending its lizard tail and feline limbs, the Nekage stretched out, looking around and focusing its attention on Ryutaro.

    As Kenji realized he was in the same room as the Dojo''s guardian, he snapped at it tamer and stood in front of him as if he wanted to protect him. "Screek! Screek!" he growled, showing its teeth to the gatekeeper.

    "Umpf... no, Kenji... you can rest easy. The supreme Ryutaro will not hurt us; he is not an enemy," Yoichi murmured, resting his hands on the ground and standing up. Noticing that the young tamer was clutching his chest in his hands, Ryutaro realized that the evocation of his Oracle caused him pain in that spot.

    "Does it hurt?" he asked, not minding the Nekage''s provocations. Kenji''s red eyes were still pointed at him, and its high tail let its aggression against him shine through.

    "It depends... sometimes I feel a simple difort, other times a real burning. It''s like my body temperature is going up dramatically, but only when I''m summoning Kenji," Yoichi exined, trying to focus on breathing.

    "Everything matches... everything is exactly in its ce", Ryutaro eerilymented. Suddenly, the old gatekeeper turned to the room''s door and lowered himself towards a small wooden shelf.

    On a rectangr shelf located a few inches from the floor, near the mat on which he was meditating, there was a stack of dusty books. In a hurry, the gatekeeper grabbed a particrly heavy one.

    Holding the thick tome in his hands, Ryutar¨° approached Yoichi again. The young tamer stood still waiting for the guardian''s words, but he waited a few more seconds than expected. "Kenji is not a Nekage, boy," he affirmed.

    With his long fingers, he grabbed a silkce that popped up from the pages of the tome, acting as a bookmark. Moving with surgical precision, he used it to reach the desired page, treating that object like an invaluable heirloom.

    The cover was made of red leather, and on it, there was no title or inscription.

    Before Yoichi could respond to that statement, Ryutaro showed him something. "Behold, here," he said, opening the book in the direction of his interlocutor.

    On the right page, a text written in an ancient and iprehensiblenguage. On the left, a clear and colorful image portrayed a huge winged beast spitting mes from its mouth.

    Eyes red as the hellfire, ck wings like the rest of its body. The long ck tail was covered with triangr scales that ended in a sword-sharp de. Under the divine body of that draconic demon, paws simr to those of a panther traced the motions of its flight.

    Yoichi, enchanted by that image, focused his attention on the face of the painted dragon. The long white, sharp teeth, small nostrils, ck horns and predominant colours looked remarkably familiar.

    Ryutaro turned the page of the book, showing Yoichi the previous one. Other hand-painted images in the same style depicted the evolutionary stages of dragons of different colours and sizes: one white dragon with golden wings, another green with a scrunched face, another one wingless, equipped with six long legs.

    "Supreme Ryutaro, why are you showing me this? How can Kenji be a..."

    "Dragon?" Ryutaro interrupted, closing the book and releasing a cloud of dust. "If I told you I know every answer, I''d be a vile liar. I don''t know how it''s possible, but even though your Oracle looks a lot like a Nekage, its above-average appearance and powers give evidence to its true identity."

    Yoichi was paralyzed, believing that that wise monk was actually just an old chatan. ording to Yoichi, although his behaviour was calm and his words were precise and pungent, Ryutaro was not telling the truth.

    "Dragons became extinct thousands of years ago, supreme Ryutaro. It''s true, Kenji is stronger than average, but it''s also true that I''ve never faced another Nekage before. When Enatsu first saw it, he thought it was a beautiful specimen, nothing more. If it was so different, everyone might have noticed that, don''t you think?" Yoichi affirmed with conviction, trying to reason with his interlocutor.

 Chapter 82 - Jump

    "Don''t say gibberish!" Ryutaro boomed, raising the tone of his voice. He mmed the palm of his hand on the surface of the tome with a decisive gesture, releasing another cloud of greyish dust.

    The sudden noise scared Yoichi, ever closer to the idea that Ryutaro was just an old war veteran maddened by loneliness. ??

    "No one besides me owns this book, boy. It is a gift from Emperor Tatsui Nishiyama. This sacred tome tells the true story of Lumya''s first dragon lineage and was handed down by all the Emperors of the Nishiyama dynasty", the gatekeeper spoke, gradually lowering the tone of the voice. "Tatsui considered his son Shinzo unworthy of such knowledge, which is why he entrusted it to me. No one knows and understands dragons like me, Yoichi."

    Somehow, the words spoken by the old monk made the young tamer reason. Although he seemed to be saying nonsense, what he insinuated about Kenji did not deviate too much from reality. When Yoichi stopped countering Ryutaro''s ims, the monk continued to speak.

    "Your skepticism does you credit, young warrior. However, faith is what makes a simple man the strongest of tamers," he added, resting the book on the mat behind him. Soon after, he extended a hand forward, waiting for Yoichi to grab it.

    Ryutaro''s hand was wide: his long, wrinkled fingers, ruined by a thousand scars, narrated the battles fought for the people of Tentochu. The fingertips were so worn out that the fingerprints have been erased. Despite the age of the gatekeeper, his hand did not tremble like that of any other older man. It was confident and motionless.

    "Give me your hand, boy. I''m going to show you something, and you''re going to tell me what you''ll see," he affirmed, asking Yoichi to touch his hand.

    The tamer''s curiosity exceeded his hesitancy and, after thinking it over and over, he put his hand on that of the gatekeeper. Both their hands remained suspended for a few seconds above the body of water of the stone sink.

    With extreme delicacy, Ryutaro closed his fingers, squeezing Yoichi''s hand. Slowly, as if he were performing a sacred ritual, he plunged it into the water.

    When the surface of the water reached his wrist, the old monk let it go, pulling out his wet hand. Unprecedented magic enveloped Yoichi''s full body: his head dangled forward, and his mind entered a stasis as if someone had disconnected the power cord from his body."

    ...

    His perception of things broke away from reality, and his spirit distanced itself from his body. Observing the process with his own eyes, Yoichi saw his soul being catapulted into that cold water, so deep that it looked like an ocean.

    Suddenly, he found himself wrapped in thick darkness. Flying through space at an almost supersonic speed, his every movement seemed tost only a few moments. As after an explosion, the darkness disappeared, and Yoichi''s body was catapulted to another dimension.

    "Ouch! Pff... pff!" ¨C Regaining his senses, he sped his hands, sinking them into dense, hot sand. Spitting the same sand from his mouth, Yoichi knelt down, trying to wipe his face and open his eyes.

    With his heart beating wildly, the young tamer had trouble opening his eyes. Strong light illuminated the surrounding environment, and his sight took longer than usual to focus on thendscape.

    Sand dunes were regrly repeated themselves up to the horizon, illuminated by the hot midday sun. The same sand as that arid desert covered half his legs, which were sinking under his bodyweight.

    "Aargh! What the fuck!" Yoichi gasped, pulling his legs out of the sand and rolling down the dune. When his feet managed to stay in bnce on that soft, malleable surface, the young tamer looked around frantically, coughing and covering his eyes from the intense sun rays.

    "What the fuck is going on? What is this ce? Ryutaroo! Ryutaroooo!" he screamed, using all the breath in his lungs, calling for help. The desert extended in every direction, beyond his field of view. A moment earlier, Yoichi was in the highest room of the Goldhaven Dojo; a momentter, he was in the middle of a desert as vast as a sand ocean.

    "This is not possible, what kind of magic is this? Damn old man, what did you do to me?" Yoichi panicked, starting to walk forward aimlessly. "Kenji! Where are you, buddy? Where did you go? Kenjiii!" he kept yelling, cing his hands beside his mouth to limit the dispersion of his voice.

    The warm wind changed the shape of the dunes, whose grains made a slight noise sliding on each other. Besides those muted sounds, that desert was devoid of anything other than sand.

    "This is a fucking nightmare. Kenji! Kenji!"

    Noticing that time kept flowing, but nothing happened around him, Yoichi stopped screaming, trying to refocus. Sweat began to flow copiously from his forehead due to the excessive heat of the desert. Looking at the rest of his body, the young tamer noticed that he was wearing his standard clothing.

    The mawashi he was wearing when he had woken up in Ryutaro''s room had disappeared. Through that observation, he finally realized that he was within a vision despite the heat and the real sensations he was feeling.

    That desert was a parallel world, the material manifestation of his thoughts or those of someone else. Regrizing his breath, as he used to do every time he had to keep calm, Yoichi affirmed aloud, "Ildriss!" summoning his Oracle.

    Waiting for the strong burning to burst into his chest, he shut his eyes, hardening all the body muscles to increase pain resistance. After about five seconds, he opened his eyes again.

    Besides from the wind and sand, nothing had moved around him. "Ildriss! Ildriss!" Yoichi called again, beginning to lose hope. His eyes kept looking around, hoping something would happen.

    Just as the sun was dulling his sight and hope was about to abandon him, a sudden sound broke the silence of the desert.

 Chapter 83 - Flames

    Unable to distinguish the sounding from afar, Yoichi stood motionless to look in that direction. His breathing became weaker, helping his hearing to be focused.

    *swing*swing* - That indistinct sound became clearer and more intermittent. Shortly before he could identify it, Yoichi finally saw something on the horizon. ??

    A ck spot was flying in the air right in its direction: travelling at incredible speed, its diameter grew more and more. "Oh, fuck..." Yoichi whispered, taking a step back. His legs trembled with fear.

    Little by little, in addition to the central body of that unidentified object, two huge wings waved sideways. Yoichi continued to walk backwards, failing to look away from that stunning vision.

    The high-flying being continued to approach as fast as a rocket, travelling most of the desert within seconds. Finally, the young tamer managed to recognize its features: between the two ck horns on top of the elongated head, a long sharp tail swung behind the body as if it were the rudder of that divine being.

    The ck reptile body was covered with hard scales, which extended to the chest, also covering part of the wings. They were ck and red in the inner section.

    The area below that colossal being, with a wingspan of almost twenty meters, was identical to that of arge feline. Paws simr to those of a fierce lion were equipped with sharp, shiny obsidian ws.

    When it was close enough to perfectly spot Yoichi''s outline among the reddish sand of the desert, the dragon roared strongly.

    "Graaargh!" ¨C pping its wings even more, it unleashed a strong shockwave that disintegrated the dunes in its trajectory. "Holy bitch! Fuck!" Yoichi gasped, falling backwards and getting up quickly.

    Trying to find grips in the sand and continuing to stumble, the young tamer began to run away with all the energy of his body. His heart was beating so hard that it rumbled into the rib cage.

    His feet sank into the thickyer of sand while that colossal ck dragon descended more and more in altitude. Feeling like a prey fleeing from the predator, Yoichi knew that if he failed to dodge the attack, that dragon would shred him.

    The young tamer advanced about ten meters. "Kenji! Kenji, is that you?!" he yelled desperately, waving his arms upwards and trying to get the full attention of the ck dragon.

    "It''s me, Kenji! I''m Yoichi, your tamer!" ¨C knowing that the dragon would take a few seconds to reach him, Yoichi took courage and stopped. He turned to the giant winged reptile and raised his arms to the sky.

    "Grooargh!" *swing*swing*swing* ¨C the pping of the wings in the background enriched that tenacious roar. No human being or demon could have countered that ancient and invincible being, whose size reflected its arcane power.

    "Stop, Kenji! Please!" Yoichi yelled again as the dragon arrived a hundred yards away from him, above his head. After the words of the young and unwitting warrior, the dragon''s red eyes zed, shining in the sunlight like two rubies.

    Its wide sharp-toothed jaws closed, and its chest began to swell. The swelling spread in the upper part of its body, moving from the centre of the chest to the long neck, then to the chin.

    Suddenly, swooping towards Yoichi, the ck dragon slightly opened its mouth. Between its teeth, a trail of mes cut the air behind it.

    "Kenji?! Kenji! Oh, holy bitch! Yoichi screamed once again, with his heart in his throat. Believing he was at death''s door, he leapt over a sand dune,nding behind it.

    At the same time, the colossal ck dragon opened its jaws wide. A giant ray of fire was fired from his mouth, hitting the desert sand and disintegrating it in its path.

    The fiery beam cut the dune behind which Yoichi was hidden in half, reducing the sand to ck ash. "Aargh! Holy bitch, what the fuck!"

    Yoichi continued to run, changing direction and abandoning the dune, shouting all the profanities in his personal vocabry. Behind him, after its destructive passage, the dragon interrupted the fire beam, continuing to fly hundreds of meters further forward.

    Behind it, a trail of ck ash had cut that desert area into two parts. "How do I do it now? None of this is real, it¡­ it can''t be real! The dragons went extinct and that... that must be Kenji!" Yoichi thought aloud, try to be as rational as possible.

    The dragon folded its wings sideways, diverting its trajectory. Forcefully, it regained altitude, returning in the previous direction. Once again, Yoichi stood by and waited for it to attack for the second time.

    "I can''t just die like this, Kenji!" he yelled at the dragon. "Against Kato, I chose to live and save you, my friend! If I die, you die too! Please, stop your rush!"

    "Graaaargh! Screeek!" ¨C the young tamer''s words did not seem to worry the dragon, who, pointing with his snout in his direction, was intent onunching another of his powerful fire attacks.

    Channelling the draconic mes between the jaws, the mouth of the winged reptile filled up, ready to disintegrate everything in its path.

    A flood of memories in the form of images overwhelmed Yoichi''s mind. The words of his best friend Enatsu, the promise made to Princess Sui, the little time dedicated to his new guildpanions. None of this would have made sense if he had died consumed by the mes of his own Oracle.

    Knowing that those words would be hisst hope, Yoichi cleared his throat and screamed, "Ildriss!" shutting his eyes.

    Suddenly, the fire in the dragon''s mouth died out and its wings bent forward. Curbing its advance, the shockwave caused by the huge red wings wiped out Yoichi, causing his body to roll on the sand backwards.

    "Ouch! Aargh!" ¨C continuing to roll on his back for more than ten meters, he turned raised his gaze to the dragon and what he had hoped for before uttering those words, happened.

 Chapter 84 - Vision

    Starting from the outer tip of the wings, the great ck dragon began to disintegrate. Fragment after fragment, its body was trapped in a dense stream of red-hot air.

    Sparks and burning gs pulsated inside that ckish mass, which remained suspended in the air in a circr motion. When also the dragon''s neck and head were sucked into it, it began to wave sinuously. ??

    The ck and red air current took a downward trajectory, swiftly meandering towards Yoichi. The young warrior could not believe his eyes: although it did not obey hismands and behaved in a hostile manner, that ck dragon was Kenji, his little Nekage.

    "Hahah! So it''s all real! It''s all true! Kenji! You''re a... a..." Yoichi''s happy words were interrupted by the massive fiery shadow that swooped in his direction. Having no way out, he looked around, unnecessarily hoping to find a ce to escape that shadow-shaped nightmare.

    Resigned to his fate, Yoichi opened his arms wide. Bravely awaiting the impact, a smile appeared on his face.

    *vooom* - Like a sharp, ethereal weapon, the air current pierced the young tamer''s chest, impaling him. A pain so intense that it could bepared to death caused him to lose his senses.

    ...

    "Aaargh!" Yoichi screamed, falling backwards and mming his back on the room bed. He pushed his body away from the stone sink and pulled his hands out of the water.

    *anf*anf*anf* - exhaling fear-soaked air from his lungs, the young tamer touched his arms and chest. Looking up at the ceiling, he still couldn''t realize he was back in the world he called ''reality''.

    "Screek? Screek!" Kenji eximed, worried. The baby Dragon jumped on the bed in a hurry, assisting its master.

    Yoichi turned his gaze towards his pet, continuing to gasp. Grabbing its ck reptile body, he lifted it above his head.

    "Hey, buddy... you have no idea what I just saw," he smiled, trying to convey to his Oracle the strong emotions that pervaded his body.

    "You''re back, Yoichi" Ryutaro''s voice echoed in the room. Believing he was close to the end of everything, the young Nightdes warrior had almost forgotten the presence of the old monk.

    He left Kenji on the bed and slowly stood up, fixing his wrinkled clothes. He wiped his hands on his trousers and pulled back his hair, taking onest, deep breath.

    His gaze fell over the stone sink in the direction of the veil on the gatekeeper''s face. The monky in the middle of the room, his hands crossed behind his back and his appearance calm and focused.

    "Judging by the face you made when you came out of the Tear Vision, you must have discovered something upsetting," Ryutaromented.

    "How was that possible? How did you teleport me to a desert?" Yoichi inquired. Naively, he had not yet realized that his soul was the only thing that left the Dojo''s room.

    "Desert?"

    When Ryutaro showed his surprise at hearing his answer, Yoichi stood still to think. If he has no idea where I''ve been, he can''t imagine what I saw. There''s no doubt, what I experienced was only in my head. It can''t really have happened.

    Thinking of the smallest details of that strange phenomenon, the young tamer looked out the window. The morning sun lit up the training arena. On the stone tatami, tens of warriors of some guild were intent on carrying out their daily training.

    "Tell me, boy. What did you see?" Ryutaro spoke again. The gatekeeper slowly approached his young guest. "Fear not. Everything you tell me will remain within these four walls. I have no interest in betraying your trust," he added.

    The words of this old monk sound sincere. When he showed me the ancient tome that was given to him by the Emperor''s father, he did not hesitate for a moment, blindly trusting me. Yoichi continued to think.

    The eerie aura that enveloped Ryutaro''s dark figure had never disappeared. However, despite the huge age difference between them, the empathy in their speeches was palpable.

    "I was in a desert, supreme Ryutaro. There was no one with me... only me and the sand, an infinite expanse of sand," the young tamer replied, approaching the stone sink. "I tried to call you and call Kenji, but no one answered me. Everything changed when I pronounced its real name..."

    "Ildriss..." the gatekeeper interrupted, whispering the name which had got his attention from the beginning.

    "It looked like nothing had happened, but... suddenly a huge ck dragon appeared on the horizon."

    "A ck dragon? Like that of drawing?" Ryutaro inquired again, astonished by the tale.

    "Very simr to that one, yes. Although I immediately realized that the ce I ended up in was just a parallel world created in my mind, the warmth of the sun, the desert sand and the anxiety I felt when I was about to be killed seemed real", Yoichi exined. "At first, I didn''t understand why such a big and powerful being wanted to kill me, but when I tried to call my Oracle back inside me..."

    "It disappeared and returned to your body... I understand, I understand everything..." Ryutaro murmured. Yoichi''s confusing story seemed to havepletely caught the old monk''s attention.

    After those words, he began to walk back and forth around the room. It was as if, what Yoichi had just said, was the answer he had been looking for for so long that he couldn''t remember.

    "And now? What does all this mean? Is Kenji a dragon for real? How is it possible? I thought the dragons were extinct!" the young tamer boomed, waiting for a concrete response from his interlocutor.

    "You said it tried to kill you. How?" the old man asked. His head quickly turned towards Yoichi, causing the cloth veil to move in front of his nose.

    "Um... he... well, he breathed a fire beam! Luckily I managed to dodge it, otherwise, it would have pulverized me. Howe Kenji wanted to kill me? He has always protected me and always obeyed my orders, so far! That''s what Oracles do, right?"

 Chapter 85 - Old Drawing

    "And above all... what is the stuff in the sink?" Yoichi spoke, waiting for exnations.

    "In this ancient stone sink lies the real reason why I do not let anyone into this room, Yoichi," the gatekeeper answered, surrounded by his usual halo of mystery. ??

    Yoichi gawked at the liquid in front of him. Even struggling with its details, it still looked like normal water.

    "This is Therion''s Tear, boy."

    "Uh? Therion? If I remember correctly, it''s the name of the Dragon King. The ruler who in ancient times ruled Lumya and drove the ancient evil demons out". Yoichi exploited the knowledge gained from Enatsu''s stories.

    "Correct. Goldhaven''s Dojo is open to everyone, as you''ve already been told. Any guild warrior or simple citizen of the capital can enter and meditate without a time limit. However, the secret to ascending to true power is contained in here." After hinting at the true meaning of that strange transparent liquid, Ryutaro dipped his index finger, causing it to swing.

    His wrinkled hand traced an elliptical and regr movement, drawing in that strange water a simple geometric shape. At that precise moment, the deepest part of that substance shone with a celestial light, simr to the color of the sky on a sunny summer day.

    "Oh. I don''t know if I''ve been going mad, but I thought I saw that substance shine," Yoichi mumbled, scratching his nape. All the recent information umted in his head needed more time to be efficiently catalogued in his mind''s archives.

    "It is said that the Dragon King of Lumya died right here, in Goldhaven. Its huge, winged body crashed right in the centre of our city, on a rocky cliff. Built around that precise spot, the central square took the name of ''Dragonfall Square'', for this very reason", the old gatekeeper exined.

    "Did Therion fall in the centre of Goldahaven?"

    "Yes, but Goldhaven did not exist yet. Humanity had recently taken its first steps among the wilnds of Lumya," he pointed out.

    "And what about its tear? How did it end up here? How did it manage to make me travel in space?"

    "No one knows the real reason why thest dragon tear ended here, in this area. It belonged to Emperor Tatsui. Along with the ancient tome I showed you, it''s part of the inheritance he left me."

    I still can''t believe it. The father of the current Emperor of Tentochu has chosen to give these intestimable relics to Ryutaro and not to his son, Shinzo. This old monk is being honest... he and Tatsui were good friends, now I have no more doubts. Yoichi pondered, dwelling over thest words.

    "Therion''s Tear allows those who dip their hands into it to travel to the deepest part of their subconscious, beyond the limits of rationality. In a nutshell, Yoichi, you fought against your ego," Ryutaro exined. With those words, the old Dojo guardian tried to make his interlocutor understand that being one of his pupils was a privilege.

    "My ego? You mean that the desert and that dragon... they were built up in my own mind?" the young tamer gulped.

    "The vision of the Tear never shows anything by ident. Every object, ce and detail of what you''ve seen has a precise meaning for you. I allowed a few people to ess this power, but none of them ever experienced what you saw, Yoichi."

    The overload of emotions prevailed over calm, and Yoichi stepped back. He failed to control his heartbeat, which elerated for a moment. How is it that my Oracle is a dragon? How can I have all this power and remember nothing from my past? Who am I then? These were the questions that squeezed his brain in a vice.

    Shaking his head and trying to continue that important conversation, Yoichi asked, "can you tell me why Kenji tried to kill me in that vision?"

    "I can''t tell you for sure, but... probably, your Oracle doesn''t feel ready to let go because you''re not ready yet, young Yoichi" the monk coldly replied. From his straight answer, it was evident that he had been thinking about what to say for a few minutes. "You described Kenji as a red-winged ck dragon, right?" Ryutaro asked.

    "Um... yes, but what does that have to do with my question?" Yoichi requested.

    Ryutaro did not answer. He lowered himself to the mat and grabbed the ancient tome. Leafing slowly and carefully through ten pages of the book, he reached the one he was thinking about and showed it to Yoichi.

    "This is Therion, the King of the Lumya Dragon Dynasty!" he proudly stated. On the page of that ancient book, yellowed like an old scroll, a detailed drawing portrayed Therion in all its majesty.

    Equipped with four wings, the colossal ck dragon was the anathema of strength and power. The shiny, muscr body was supported by huge dragon-wed legs, behind which popped a long, very familiar-looking tail.

    The long, scaled neck held the elongated head, whose wide nostrils blew fire and scorchingpilli. Two pointed ck horns were slightly bent forward, two smaller ones were straight in the middle of the head.

    Letting himself go to curiosity, Yoichi approached that picture, appreciating its details. Therion''s pupilless red eyes drew his attention. All his amazement resulted in a feverish shiver that hastily ran behind his back.

    "It... it looks like..." Yoichi stared at Kenji. Ryutaro nodded, letting his interlocutor watch the drawing for a few more seconds.

    "If you ept to be trained by me, I will be happy to answer all your questions. I kept having some doubts about you, but after you told me about the dragon in the desert¡­ well, there can be no other answer," Ryutaro spoke. The monk left Yoichi a moment to reflect on his choice, making him realize that that decision could change his life forever.

    The thought of the young tamer flew away. In his mind, he was a valiant tamer and touched the skies of Lumya riding Kenji, thest of the dragon demons.

 Chapter 86 - Dojo

    Closing his eyes and letting his mind travel without chains, the image of Princess Sui''s face popped before his eyes. The beautiful eyes of the Princess of Tentochu looked at him closely, transferring positivity and sending a message of hope.

    His entry into a guild, the future mission to the ckvault mines. All this had never made him forget the promise he made to Sui in that Goldhaven dead-end street. ??

    He knew that Sui Nishiyama, the Emperor''s only daughter, would stay by that open window, no matter what happened. Under the tree that had assisted her childhood, she would wait to see Yoichi.

    "You have already asked me this question, and I have already told you my choice, supreme Ryutaro. We were in front of my Sensei when I epted," he confirmed. "Anyway, I still haven''t figured out what kind of training you''re talking about."

    Ryutaro closed the book with both hands. Moving with his usual slowness, he ced it back on its shelf. The old warden dusted off his long red tunic with his wrinkled hands and fixed his headgear.

    "Takamori is an exceptional warrior. If he teaches you how to fight, I will teach you my spirit cultivation technique", he affirmed, crossing his hands behind his back.

    "Cultivation?" Yoichi inquired. The young tamer was always attentive to everything that was going on around him, but he had never heard of that word beyond Ryutaro.

    "You will face your ego until you defeat it. When you are ready, Ildriss''s true power will be unlocked, and, together, you will shine in the glint of its me."

    Ryutaro''s profound speech instigated his interlocutor. Although Yoichi had an always-thoughtful way of behaving and never tended to exaggerate, the awareness of having such great power that he could fulfil his every dream made a smile appear on his face.

    "And Kenji? What happens when Kenji levels up and evolves? It''s going to evolve, won''t he?" he asked.

    "As far as I know, dragon-type demons follow the normal evolutionary stages of everyone else. So the answer is yes, it will evolve." Ryutaro answered the second question first, knowing that the first one was the most delicate.

    "I''m not sure the world is ready for a dragon, boy, not after all this time. However, what I told you about the immortal Emperor Gonshiro is all true: ording to ancient legend, the me of a dragon is the only weapon capable of killing him," the monk continued. "Some will support you. Others will hunt you down and try to kill you. The job that Takamori and I are going to is to train Tentochu''s best warrior."

    Yoichi''s got a load of Kenji. The little dragon unconsciously looked back at its tamer, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

    Suddenly, Yoichi''s stomach began to grumble. A severe cramp due to hunger forced him to bend from pain.

    *grooarg* - "I beg your pardon, supreme Ryutaro, but... after sleeping for three days, I desperately need to eat something" he confessed. Showing sincere displeasure at interrupting that serious talk, Yoichi tried to maintain eye contact with his second Sensei.

    "It''s all right, boy. As promised, you can return to your guild''s headquarter. Whenever you want, the Dojo will be here, waiting for you. And along with it, so do I", Ryutaro firmly replied. Slowly raising one arm, the handing out of the wide sleeve of the tunic pointed at the front door of the room.

    Yoichi leaned further forward, turning the hunger cramp into a heartfelt bow. "Thank you, supreme Ryutaro. I''lle back to the Dojo as soon as I can," he stated, taking his leave.

    "I hope so, Yoichi. I really hope so," Ryutaro spoke in a low voice. Step by step, the old watchman came up to the window. Without adding anything else, he looked with interest at the warriors in the arena.

    When Yoichi left the gatekeeper''s private room along with Kenji, he found himself in front of a wooden wall, about a meter from the door. That incredibly cramped space was the wall of a corridor that continued on the left.

    Being the way to go, the young tamer deduced that it was the one that would lead him to the exit of the Dojo. After the first andst bend of that short corridor, a narrow staircase appeared before him.

    Without hesitation and with his stomach grumbling nonstop, Yoichi descended the three flights of stairs separating the building''s top floor from the floor below.

    A square room, muchrger than Ryutaro''s opened in front of them. Throughout its perimeter and centre, dozens of monks and warriors were intent on meditating in absolute silence.

    Thanks to its feline paws, Kenji was able to walk without causing any sound; on the contrary, Yoichi''s legs, still aching because of the acupuncture, clumsily moved one after the other.

    Striving not to bang his feet on the wooden floor of the Dojo, Yoichi walked to the next stairway. Threerge rectangr horizontal windows were arranged on each side of the room, letting in a good amount of light.

    Like those in the gatekeeper''s room, the walls and floors were made of ck wood and carefully clean. Although that sacred ce was very busy and ancient, everything seemed new and brilliant, thanks to Ryutaro''s scrupulous care.

    The meditating men were sitting on the ground, on mats simr to that of the Dojo''s guardian. Next to each of them, a jar with incense.

    Their legs were perfectly crossed on each other, and their barefoot feet were hanging off the floor. The forearms rested gently on the thighs, and the hands were so rxed that they looked like tree leaves.

    Respecting the religious silence of that ancient and sacred practice, Yoichi walked on tiptoe to the staircase, essing the floor below. Not having thought about what the Dojo looked like from the outside, the young tamer had not realized that there were five rooms used for meditation.

    The floors areas increased towards the base and decreased towards the top of the building. The smallest of them was Ryutaro''s.

 Chapter 87 - Way Back Home

    Yoichi inadvertently captured the attention of some of the warriors who were meditating on the ground floor, the widest of the structure. Apologizing with a bow and making them realize that the noise was unintentional, he finally reached the exit of the Dojo.

    In front of the door, a rectangr atrium was scattered with shoes and boots of all kinds. Without realizing it, the young tamer had also broken that rule, walking with his muddy boots on the wooden floor. ??

    Fortunately, one of the heavy door leaves was already open. Yoichi walked out, finding himself next to the golden statue portraying the imperial tiger. That feline''srge wed paws were resting on the sides of the door, and the details of the sculpture were so urate that it looked real.

    Looking up, Yoichi took onest gander at Goldhaven''s Dojo. At the top, the heron statue rested on the pointed roof, the same roof that had sheltered him for three days.

    It was as if Ryutaro''s room was the ''nest'' of that heron, the gatekeeper''s secret hideout. A ce where time seemed to stand still.

    Dozens of warriors in light green armour were fighting on the tatami, chatting cheerfully to each other. Being busy in their personal growth, no one noticed Yoichi walking to the gates of the arena.

    He thought back to everything he had discovered: Kenji''s true nature was a dead giveaway that he had the power to change the fate of the war. The bnce of constant battles between Tentochu and Kamakiri, the two factions that had long since fought against each other, would begin to weigh in Tentochu''s favour.

    A dragon demon would overthrow the destiny of the nation in which he was reborn, his home nation. However, he appeased his euphoria, rethinking the unclear details of that discovery. Ryutaro had immediately specified that many warriors would oppose him: possessing a dragon would not only give him power, it would also endanger him and all his friends.

    When Kenji evolved, he would probably take the appearance of a real dragon. At that point, no one would mistake it for a Nekage, and his life would change forever. Was it really a wise choice to travel the world with Enatsu and Princess Sui? How could he carry that heavy burden?

    Ryutaro''s wisdom and calmness in providing him with information a little at a time had made him realize that everything he had seen was not a joke. If he concentrated, he could still sense the heat of those mes on his skin.

    But why the desert? Of all the ces he could have imagined, why had his mind teleported him to a dry, lifeless ce?

    Ryutaro told me that in the vision created by Therion''s Tear, nothing is left to chance. He exined that every detail, sound and smell, has a precise meaning and connects to something in my mind. Yoichi thought. Maybe I was in a dessert because I don''t remember who I am?

    As the young tamer continued to examine recent events, looking forward to talking about it to his best friend, his feet moved fast through the city streets.

    Goldhaven, as every morning, was teeming with joy and vitality. Its citizens crowded the busy streets, causing pleasant chaos.

    Kenji was clinging to its master''s leather pouch, as always. As hard as he tried, Yoichi had not yet realized that such a small demon, which always looked like an angry lizard, could be more than six meters tall.

    Deep in thoughts and with his stomach continuing to growl, he had forgotten to summon Ichiro. Although he was not far away, he would reach the Nightdes headquarter in half the time on horseback.

    "Let me say hello to Ichiro, okay? I haven''t met it since thest battle... I''d like to check on its condition," Yoichi spoke in a low voice. Every time he had to recall Kenji inside his body, he apologized as if he was disappointing it.

    The little dragon nodded the horned head, preparing for the recall phase. Yoichi took a deep breath and, without stopping walking, uttered Kenji''s real name.

    Being already close to his chest, the transformation of his body into an air current was practically imperceptible from the outside. However, Yoichi was forced to bend forward when it entered his chest, resting his hand on the ground.

    In the Tamer District, where people were used to seeing demons everywhere, no one noticed him too much. As if nothing had happened, before he started walking again, he pulled his Inoshuma''s Demon Tooth out of his backpack.

    In a natural gesture, as Kenji''s burning continued to pervade his chest, he stuck the Demon Tooth between the street tiles. Ichiro took shape in a yellow aura, neighing, happy to see his tamer again.

    "Hey, Ichiro! Hi, dude!" Yoichi rejoiced, stroking the big snout of the Inoshuma. "How are you?"

    Ichiro approached its nose to its master''s hand, inviting him to keep on petting. Despite its proud and hard character, the horse demon seemed to have missed its tamer.

    Checking on the good physical condition of his steed, which after the fight against Kato''s Kuwatako had lost an XP point, Yoichi jumped on his back.

    He headed to the Nightdes headquarters. He could think of nothing but the goodies that awaited him in the dining room. Although the morning was the busiest time of the day, perhaps breakfast leftovers were still on that horseshoe table.

    As Ichiro trotted proudly through the streets of the Tamer District, a group of soldiers caught his eye. Four men and two women spoke in confidence, gathered in a circle on the street corner. They were wearing the Emperor''s Heralds read armour.

    One of them, a brown, helmet-haired boy, stood still with his back resting on the wall. Beside his feet, a strange little demon looked like the stump of a tree.

    In addition to the oak-like bark, small bumps looked to act as limbs. Instead of arms, two thick green vines.

 Chapter 88 - Fugitive

    Despite not being able to think of anything other than what was not edible, Yoichi continued to stare at that strange demon. He didn''t know why yet, but it reminded him of something.

    When the trunk-demon''s vines moved on the floor, they crawled slightly on the helmet-haired boy''s foot. He took his back off the wall, continuing to listen silently to the speech of his colleagues. ??

    The slow movement of that kind of short liana unlocked a memory in Yoichi''s mind. Riding a few feet from those warriors, Ichiro slowed down the pace.

    That... that looks like the same liana that stuck my ankles in that alley! That guy... his face... I have no doubts! He''s the piece of shit that raped Sui! Yoichi thought, wringing his hands.

    The gaze of that young boy, his own age, crossed Yoichi''s. For a fraction of a second, the air filled with pure tension. An invisible electric current thundered between the two of them, terrorizing the Emperor''s Heralds warrior.

    Yoichi slowly passed right next to him on horseback. The helmet-haired boy, trying to turn to hispanions and look away from his observer, showed his side, not covered in armour.

    White bandaging covered his hips and part of his ribs. They were tight at the exact points where Yoichi had hit him, mming him against the alley wall.

    The trunk-demon put both of his vines on the ground, turning what looked like its ''face'' in the same direction as its master. It was impossible to distinguish a defined face and body in that strange demon. Its body looked like a wooden cylinder. It had no eyes or ears, only arge smiling mouth that went from one side of the cylinder to the other.

    Large square teeth came slightly out of that mouth, while a sticky, greenish substance was attached to the sides of the oral cavity.

    Both the criminal and his demon looked creepy and weird. "Bunjiro!" one of the two girls next to him suddenly called, distracting him from Yoichi. "Are you deaf? I asked you the same question three times!"

    That weird guy turned to his colleague, continuing to look at Yoichi out of the corner of his eye. The young tamer stopped in the middle of the road, remaining on Ichiro''s back.

    After whispering something iprehensible to hisrades, the undercover criminal quickly moved away from his position. He delved among some huge wooden crates full of supplies, trying to disappear into the crowd.

    Knowing that the hapless viin had recognized his identity, Yoichi spurred Ichiro with his heels, gently hitting the side of its belly. Without hesitation, the Inoshuma, as if it understood its knight''s intentions, followed Bunjiro''s trail.

    Does the viin who raped the Emperor''s daughter belong to the Emperor''s Heralds? None of this makes sense! How could they not notice? Yoichi carefully pondered. After a few seconds of reasoning, he concluded: as she had told him when he saved her, Sui had no intention of revealing to her mother or father what had happened that night.

    Tentochu''s most important young woman had been raped by one of the warriors who was supposed to protect her, and no one knew. That helmet-haired, bizarre boy would continue to wander the streets of the capital undisturbed.

    There''s no doubt about it, it''s him. He took off as soon as he recognized my eyes. You escaped the first time, you piece of shit... but this time... this time I know your name, Bunjiro. You''re screwed! Yoichi continued to reason, thinking about the most effective way to denounce that crime against the imperial family.

    The images of the princess lying on the ground in ripped clothes showed up in his mind: the memory of what that powerless girl had been forced to endure was bothering him since then.

    "Excuse me! Sorry, let me through, please!" he boomed, trying to make room among the people crowding the streets of the Tamer District. Ichiro''srge bulk helped him thrive amid people as his eyes continued to trace the target.

    Bunjiro, realizing that Yoichi could easily reach him with a dash on horseback, used his demon to disperse his traces: the trunk-demon, advancing quickly on the vines he used both as arms and legs, waved them sideways.

    Therge wooden crates containing newly forged armature parts, probably intended for some guild that had required their production, were pushed by the supernatural strength of those thick green lianas. The same lianas who managed to trap Yoichi''s ankles in that cursed alley, despite Kenji''s enhancement.

    *boom*baam*crash* - Metal objects and other more fragile goods crashed noisily to the floor, attracting the attention of everyone present. A big, sweaty man, who looked like a cksmith, approached Yoichi along with his helpers.

    The cksmith began toin about what had just happened. He turned backwards and loudly called the neighbourhood guards. Bunjiro gained time and space, generating momentary confusion and quickly fleeing away.

    Beyond the wooden crates, a high wall of white brick stood upwards. Its shadow covered the street around the corner where Bunjiro''s colleagues were still chatting.

    Yoichi quickly dismounted off Ichiro, implicitly ordering it to stand still and wait for him. The young tamer wriggled among the crates, in a hidden area of the neighbourhood, away from prying eyes.

    Continuing to drop objects in his path, Bjakugo kept on running towards the wall. "Hey, you! Stop! I know who you are! I know what you did, I remember your face!" Yoichi shouted frantically. "If you are a real man, stop and face me! I challenge you to a duel, Bunjiro!"

    After that sentence, the fugitive viin reached the building, climbed a short staircase and entered a door. Violently, he mmed the door behind him, turning the key into the lock.

    Yoichi slowed his run until he stopped. He put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "To be still hurt, he ran fast as lightning. He managed to escape once more," he thought aloud. His gaze framed the door and then went up to the roof of the massive building.

    That wall and door belonged to Emperor''s Heralds headquarters.

 Chapter 89 - Preparation

    "Fuck this! How do I do it now? Son of a bitch..." Yoichi gasped, stretching out his back muscles.

    Entering the Heralds tower, Bunjiro knew his pursuer would stop his rush. The headquarters of Goldhaven''s most famous guild was an imprable fortress. Anyone who was not part of the guild was not allowed to enter. ??

    Yoichi was aware that even if he followed him inside the building, he would have no concrete evidence. That would have been his word against Bunjiro''s. Who would the Heralds believe? To one of their warriors or a stranger who blindly threw usations?

    Losing his temper and irritated by what had just happened, Yoichi reached the main road. He avoided crossing the guards called by the cksmith and called Ichiro in a low voice. Inoshuma reached him at a blind spot, behind arge barrel, and escorted him to the Nightdes tower.

    When Yoichi reached his guild''s headquarters, he recalled the Inoshuma and walked in. He pushed the door wing, freely essing the ground floor of the tower.

    As usual, the entrance was lightless and deserted. Puffing, he climbed the stairs and reached the first floor, hoping to get something to eat.

    The dining room was empty, too. As calcted, the table was stillden with breakfast food. When his nose smelled the hot bread, Yoichi grabbed a piece of it without thinking twice.

    The hungry young tamer sat at the table and began to gobble everything he had under his eyes. Both sweet and savoury food, cold and hot drinks: everything edible entered his hungry mouth, satiating his appetite.

    "Yoichi? Dude, it''s you! You''re back!" Enatsu''s voice rumbled into the table room,ing from the staircase leading to the upper floor.

    "Enatsu" the young tamer smiled, biting yet another piece of hot bread and approaching his friend.

    "How are you? We haven''t seen each other for days and... well, you made me worry!" the merchant eximed. "Tweeet!" Sora added, perched on his shoulder.

    "I know, brother. After the fight against Kato, I lost my senses. I woke up this morning in Ryutaro''s private room," he replied.

    "Yes, Sada-sensei had told us that the gatekeeper would heal your wounds. Honestly, I was afraid you wouldn''t make it. Tell me everything, brother. What happened to you? How is the highest room in the Dojo?" Enatsu inquired. The merchant began to grill his friend about the recent events.

    "Are you the only one in here?" Yoichi asked before answering questions.

    "Eh? Um... no, Shioko is with me. Today is our turn to guard the tower. Why are you asking me?" Enatsu responded. After that sentence, a sound of footsteps echoed from the stairway.

    The red-haired girl went down into the table room. Her hands in her pocket and an angry look as always. "Hey!" she said, greeting Yoichi with minimal effort.

    "Hello!" the young tamer answered. Thinking back to the words of the wise Ryutaro, Yoichi knew he could not tell anyone about Kenji''s true nature. From then on, he had to choose who to trust meticulously.

    "Is that the truth?" Shioko asked out of the blue. Noisily crawling a chair on the floor, she sat at the other end of the table.

    Yoichi sipped the still hot tea. "What?" he said.

    "What your friend said. Ryutaro really allowed you to enter the highest room of the Dojo?" with a masculine and grumpy attitude, the red-haired girl looked her interlocutor in the eye. She sat in a disorderly way in her chair, with her hands still in the pockets.

    "Yes. The gatekeeper healed my wounded body. Apparently, if they brought me here after my fight, I would have seriously risked dying." Yoichi drank his tea again.

    Enatsu stood next to his friend. Knowing his extroverted way of doing things, he figured that Yoichi could not say what he wanted in Shioko''s presence.

    "Ryutaro offered me the chance to be his student. He believes that bybining my training in the arena with the cultivation of my spirit, I can elerate my path as a professional tamer," he continued, merely reporting the facts superficially.

    "I understand. Well, then I wish you luck. After all, we y in the same team, right?" in Shioko''s question, there was a hint of malice. Before Yoichi could answer, the red-haired tamer continued, "it''s no coincidence that your friend and I stayed here waiting for you. Sada-sensei ordered me to help you with your mission at the ckvault Mines."

    "I know. When you''re ready to go, we can start collecting the supplies," Yoichi diligently suggested.

    Shioko opened her arms, raising her shoulders. With that gesture, she made it clear to the young tamer that she was only waiting for his return to go on. "Thanks to your ''special request'', the master has cancelled all the missions on my quest log. The sooner we leave, the sooner I can go back to my business," sheined.

    Enatsu and Yoichi looked at each other. Communicating only with his eyes, the merchant made his friend guess that he had failed to establish a bond of friendship with her during his days of absence.

    "Well then!" Yoichi spoke, drinking all the tea in the cup and wiping his mouth with his shirt sleeve "We''ll leave right away. With your field experience, we should be able toplete the quest in record time. Of course, we''re going to split the loot."

    That word aroused an obvious interest in his interlocutor. Shioko''s eyes, hearing of the ''loot'' shone like those of a magpie in front of a bunch of jewelry.

    Without adding anything else, knowing that that was not the best time to talk to Enatsu about Bunjiro, Yoichi began packing all the food still intact left on the table.

    He wrapped the piece of bread he didn''t bite using a piece of fabric. Tucking it into his backpack along with two apples, three onigiris and a portion of wakame seaweed carefully closed in earthenware, he prepared everything necessary for the long journey.

    "How long will it take us to reach the ckvault Mines?" he asked to break the awkward silence.

    Shioko was intent on filling a leather sk with water. Careful not to waste a single drop, she decanted the well water from a heavy carboy in the corner of the room.

 Chapter 90 - Shes Got A Temper

    "On horseback, we should be there in about two days. Sada-sensei allowed me to rent a horse from the city stable," Shioko replied. She vigorously tightened the water sk cap, putting her head and arm under thece with which she would carry it.

    "The city stable? You mean we''re going to get horses that don''t belong to the guild?" Enatsu asked, not knowing that the capital offered that possibility. ??

    "I own a horse, as well as your friend, from what I know," Shioko spoke, referring to Yoichi. "It is not convenient to travel in two on a single steed. The master decided to pay a horse for you. When wee back, we will return it to the city stable," she confirmed.

    Enatsu nodded his head. He did not imagine that Takamori could be so aodating, making it easier for them to achieve their ''personal'' quest. The search for the ne at the ckvault Mines was not in the guild''s interest but was part of the pact between the guild leader and Yoichi.

    When all three tamers were ready to go, they made their way to the exit. The noises of food in their bags and the metal equipment echoed in the tower''s narrow square rooms.

    Before reaching her fellow travellers at the front door, Shioko went up to her room. When she came back, a short bow was tied behind her shoulders. Next to it, leatherces held a quiver, tied on one shoulder. Inside of it, no arrows.

    Enatsu avoided asking that grumpy girl any more questions. On the contrary, Yoichi did not hold back his curiosity. "I know it''s probably a meaningless question, but... why are there no arrows in the quiver?" he asked, smiling.

    Shioko did not answer. She grabbed a door handle and pulled it hard. The leaf of the old door crept on the uneven wooden floor.

    "If we travel together for two days, maybe it''s better if we improve ourmunication, don''t you think?" Yoichi continued, following his guildmate. "I understand that you are not very chatty, but..."

    Before the young tamer could finish the sentence, Shioko lowered herself on her knees. In an incredibly fast movement, she performed a low kick backwards, striking Yoichi''s ankle. Unbnced by the kick, he fell with his back to the ground.

    The next moment, the red-haired girl rode on his abdomen, pulling out the bow and pointing the edge of its wooden rod at his throat.

    In less than three seconds, Shioko had immobilized Yoichi, showing an incredibly fast and uratebat technique.

    "What the fuck are you doing?!" Enatsu gasped, stepping back in fear.

    Yoichi looked at Shioko. Their faces were a few inches from each other. The Nightdes tamer''s red hair hung to one side, touching the worn floor.

    "I don''t care if the master saw something in you. You and your friend are just losers, so don''t you dare talk to me like that. We''re not friends, and we never will be, so drop that smiling expression from your face. It hits my nervous system," the girl grunted. After getting even closer to Yoichi''s face, she detached the bow from his neck.

    Yoichi began breathing again, and Shioko raised from the ground. Resting one hand on the floor and getting up in a handstand, shended on her feet and with the bow on her back.

    As Enatsu helped hisrade get up, she walked out the door.

    "That girl creeps me out, Yoichi... these days, I seriously believed that Sada-sensei did it on purpose. Rinji could havee with us or... I don''t know... the charming Yoishiko maybe! Why her?" Enatsu mumbled, squeezing his friend''s hand.

    "Uff... she''s got a temper, but... she''s wearing a mask," Yoichi replied, walking out the door.

    "What do you mean?"

    "That little girl is aggressive and behaves like a wild beast, that''s true. But I''m sure over time she''ll get used to work with us. All she needs is a little calm..." the young tamermented again.

    Enatsu closed the tower door. Just as the three adventurers moved away from the headquarter, Toshi was walking from the opposite direction. The pale Nightdes warrior relieved Shioko and Enatsu, guarding the tower in Takamori''s absence.

    "Arf! Arf!" he barked, passing by Enatsu and making him jump with fear. "Hahahah! Schmuck! Hahaha!" giggling like a bully, that strange-looking warrior headed to the tower.

    "Fuck him! We''ve been here less than a week, and we''re still being treated like the vige idiots! One day I''m going to show that guy what I''m capable of, I promise!" Enatsu growled. The merchant vented his frustration as soon as the pale-faced warrior was far enough not to hear his words.

    Yoichi continued to watch Shioko. She walked carelessly through the streets of the Tamer District. With her hands in her pockets and her long red hair covering part of her face, anyone who saw her moved to let her through.

    He thought that if only he had told everyone of his true power, she too would begin to treat him with due respect. However, the old monk had been clear about it. From such huge powers, enormous responsibilities and pressures would havee.

    Biting his tongue and breathing deeply to soothe his spirit, Yoichi continued to follow hispanion beyond the district walls. Staying about ten feet away, he used the loudness of the crowd to talk to Enatsu in confidence.

    "Hey, Enatsu... now that Shioko can''t hear us, I have something extremely delicate to tell you," he whispered, following Shioko out of the corner of his eye.

    "Uhuh! I knew this time woulde," the merchant rejoiced. "Tell me. I''m all ears!"

    Yoichi told him in broad terms what had happened that morning as he made his way from the Dojo to their guild tower. He told him he had spotted the viin, learned his name and discovered his belonging to the Emperor''s Heralds guild.

    Enatsu tried to disguise his amazement, avoiding attracting Shioko''s attention. "What?! A member of the Heralds? I knew those pieces of shit smell like the bad guys, but I could never imagine such a thing!" he said in a low voice.

    "Princess Sui must have kept the secret about the events of that night. We know many people are not even aware that the Emperor has a daughter, so how can we frame her attacker?" Yoichi spoke, asking his smart friend for advice.

 Chapter 91 - Gardens

    "Um... I guess the only way to do that is by catching him red-handed. But how? We don''t know if the guy you''re talking about is used to behave that bad, and our word is worthless. We''re just two rookies who have been in Goldhaven for a few days," Enatsumented, touching his beard. "I''m sure we''ll find a way, but for now, I''m afraid we''ll have to wait."

    "We could send an anonymous letter to the Emperor, but then we risk putting Sui in trouble. Grr! Dang it! We should never have let him run away that day. Who knows how many other innocent girls he can ****" Yoichi silently roared, clenching his fists in anger. ??

    "What matters is that the Princess is safe in the pce now. Let''s think aboutpleting our quest," the merchant continued. In his eyes, the reflection of the reward promised by Hyobe, the mysterious man they met in the Ambershire inn.

    Enatsu seems to be more focused on the mission than on the viin issue. I don''t want to sound like the pdin of justice of the situation, but the very idea that Bunjiro walks the streets of Goldhaven undisturbed makes me sick, Yoichi thought. In front of him, Shioko kept walking resolutely.

    For a moment, the young tamer thought of telling her that story too. After a few seconds, he changed his mind. Telling such a delicate thing to a person he couldn''t easilymunicate with wasn''t a wise move.

    After leaving the Tamer District and passing the Old Bazaar, the three Nightdes warriors followed the main road. The Royal Road, which connected every point of the city to the imperial pce, ran around the walls of the central square.

    Arge signpost appeared on the side of the road.

    ''Dragonfall Square ¨C left arrow

    Neverstorm Gardens ¨C right arrow

    South Gates ¨C forward arrow''

    The name of each ce was followed by an arrow indicating its direction. When Yoichi read ''Dragonfall Square'', he remembered Ryutaro''s story. In that sacred ce, ording to legend, Therion would have fallen from the sky.

    The Dragon King of Lumya had met its death right there, in the centre of the capital of Tentochu. Yoichi had never known a dragon, but he thought that such a supreme and intelligent being would never fight in the skies of Tentochu by chance.

    It was as if, since ancient times, the two factions represented two sides of the same coin. Kamakiri and Tentochu, evil and good, the Yin and the Yang.

    The magical world in which he was reborn was not just made up of battles for supremacy and hard training. The real power of a tamer was his sense of ethics, his spirit. Only by knowing Lumya''s endless and bleed secrets it was possible to ascend.

    After passing the information cartel, the two rookies followed Shioko to the right, toward the Neverstorm Gardens. As the sunzily began its descent into the afternoon, all three of them arrived at the entrance to one of the capital''s most beautiful and quaint neighbourhoods.

    A stone arch identical to that of the Tamer District opened onto a huge expanse of lush vegetation. From the first moment they set foot inside the green district, Yoichi and Enatsu felt a sense of peace and freshness.

    The sound of water in the background, the singing of birds among the exotic trees scattered here and there. Goldhaven''srgest gardens gave the two adventurers a kind of Bronzeforest''s vibes.

    As big as the other neighbourhoods, the Neverstorm Gardens were teeming with natural elements, letting their visitors forget they were inside a city.

    On the inner surface of the walls, thin roots and shrubs of all sorts climbed overbearingly, creeping forcefully into the heavy white stone boulders. That ce was a demonstration of the strength of nature against that of men.

    Hundreds of people walked along the main road, unpaved and devoid of architectural elements. nts of non-native species were carefully nted near each other, releasing an explosion of colours with their flowers.

    In that peaceful chaos, the city and nature seemed to coexist harmoniously, as if they had reached apromise. Scattered here and there, small wooden shops offered food and drinks to visitors, as well as unique souvenirs from the capital.

    The only building structures were square wooden huts, the windows of which were beautified with fragrant flowers.

    Continuing to walk enchanted by the view, the adventurers followed the road and entered the trees. Meanwhile, the noise of the water that assisted their entrance became increasingly intense.

    "Wait a minute... it must absolutely see this," Yoichi whispered, speaking in the third person. The young tamer stopped, drawing the gaze of hispanion, while Shioko kept on walking.

    "Ildriss!" he eximed, summoning Kenji. The little dragon was fired from his chest, impacting the ground anding to life. Incredibly, the strong burning in the young tamer''s chest had subsided, allowing him to remain standing.

    By contracting his abdominal and chest muscles, Yoichi had managed to summon his Oracle for the first time without bending over the pain.

    "Screeek!" Kenji rejoiced.

    "Look where we are, bud. It''s cool, isn''t it?" Yoichi asked.

    Kenji confirmed, screeking and jumping on his leather bag. Walking next to Enatsu, Yoichi began to follow the road again, while Sora fluttered happily through the trees.

    The dirt road branched out in several directions, remotely emting the shape of the branches of a tree. Hundreds of families strolled happily with their children, showing them the exotic birds and insects that popted that ce. In addition to them, many other people had chosen to enjoy the warmth of the sun, lying onrge expanses of grass.

    "At this rate, it''ll take us a week" Shioko scoffed, turning her gaze towards her guildmates. Reprimanding them, the experienced tamer ordered them to speed up the pace.

    Finally, almost an hour after they left the Nightdes tower, the three adventurers reached their destination.

    The vegetation opened abruptly into a circr clearing at the foot of a breathtaking waterfall. The water flowed forcefully from a mountain a few tens of meters high, feeding a smallke.

    In front of theke, arge wooden structure lined three wide fences full of horses. The city stable, despite being part of themon services offered to the inhabitants of the capital, seemed an enchanted ce.

 Chapter 92 - Forewarned Is Forearmed

    Two or three stablemen guarded each of the fences, and about ten people weed customers to the central counter. It was ced along the longest side of the building, inside of which it was not allowed to enter.

    As always, arge wooden banner near the roof read ''City Stable''. Yoichi and Enatsu approached Shioko together. ??

    "Greetings, Miss Shioko. I see you''re in thepany of new traveller friends," a middle-aged, skinny, clean-shaven man eximed with a smile.

    "Good morning. Besides Taya, I''d like to rent an additional horse," Shioko affirmed, resting an elbow on the counter. She forced another customer who was paying one of the cashiers to move half a meter in her rude manner.

    "Of course, Miss Shioko. Just one extra horse? If you take two, the price is discounted and..."

    "As I said. Besides Taya, we just need one more. You can put it in the guild''s tab, thank you," the red-haired girl woman. In a gesture of annoyance, she banged her hand twice on the counter and walked away to thergest of the fences.

    The man who cordially weed her looked at Yoichi and Enatsu, holding the same smile. "I guess you''ve recently known Miss Shioko. Don''t be afraid, even if she has some rough ways, she''s a true warrior of honor!" he cheered.

    The twopanions thanked him nodding and then followed theirrade. As soon as he saw her arrive, one of the fence''s stablemen automatically walked up to the horses.

    Free to run and munching the grass constantly irrigated by the waterfall water, which flowed underground, more than fifty stallion horses were scattered beyond the high wooden fence.

    The groom, a low-fat man wearing a funny leather cap, pulled reins and a saddle out of arge trunk. Soon after, he approached a white horse and spuced it up with all the necessary essories for the trip.

    "Miss Shioko, Taya is ready to go" the little man spoke, approaching the stallion at the gate of the fence and handing over its reins to the warrior-woman.

    "Hey, hello, baby. I missed my girl, you know that?" with a rather unusual way of behaving, Shioko petted her horse''s muzzle, kissing its soft ck nose. "We need another one. Round trip, we''ll be gone at least four days", she added, treating the groom as if he were her subordinate.

    "Um... of course, mydy. I got it. I think I got just the thing for you," he replied, taking a look at Yoichi and Enatsu, still to wait in the rear.

    Approaching the horses again, the groom equipped a dark brown stallion. He stroked its mane and slipped the reins with a speed and professionalism worthy of his expertise.

    "It is tireless, a real fury. Unlike Taya, quite lighter, it needs to drink more water. He is a trained horse and obeys most standard controls. Here it is" the little man in a leather cap exined.

    Opening the gate, Shioko let Taya and the other horse out. The brown stallion was taller and heavier. Without even looking at him, she delivered its reins into Enatsu''s hands.

    "Thank you, Shioko. And thanks to you too!" the merchant spoke, hanging his head in respect.

    "Part of the job, dear customer. I wish you a pleasant journey!"

    The sweetness with which Shioko deal with her horse makes me think. As I imagined, that girl isn''t as bad as she looks. Piece by piece, her mask will fall, Yoichi pondered. Grumpy with anyone, the red-haired girl treated her horse like a daughter.

    With backpacks full of supplies and horses ready to ride, the three adventurers were eager to go on their mission. Enatsu and Yoichi''s first real outdoor quest was ready to be faced under the watchful eye of an experienced warrior.

    After thanking and greeting the groom, they walked away from the city stable. The sound of waterfall water sshing over the quiet surface of theke got further and further away.

    While the orange sunlight painted the outlines of the buildings and city walls, the Nightdes warriors left the Main Gates of Goldhaven. Yoichi recalled Kenji and summoned Ichiro, the only demon among their mounts.

    Although the Inoshumacked reins and a saddle, Yoichi''s legs had be ustomed to the shape of its back. Without any effort, the young tamer would be able to travel great distances andplete the new quest of his system.

    In addition to finding the ne, in fact, he would have far exceeded the 80 miles that would grant him a secret reward: an extra skill for his Oracle. Without wondering why, Yoichi knew that the writings of blood, until then, had never lied, and he intended to do every thing they asked with determination.

    Just as he and Enatsu were immersed in their thoughts, reflecting on what kind of ce the ckvault Mines might be, Shioko broke the silence. "I guess you''ve never faced a dungeon before. Don''t you?" she inquired.

    "No, never" Enatsu answered, after a moment of hesitation.

    "So, there are a few things you need to know. The ce where we are headed is an intermediate difficulty dungeon, suitable for three people. The number of tamers is not binding. It is a piece of simple advice. If you two faced it yourself, you''d be brutally killed in a few minutes, but if Sada-sensei came in alone, he''d be able toplete it without any problems," Shioko exined, riding.

    Yoichi and Enatsu remained silent to listen.

    "Once you enter, if you choose to get out without having itpleted before, your demons'' XP points will be halved."

    "What?!" the merchant gasped. "I''ve never heard such a thing! I thought dungeons were simple ces where tamers go to catch rare demons!"

    "Well, it''s clear that those who told you such nonsense had neverpleted one. By my ount, I''ve already finished the ckvaul Mines three times," Shioko chuckled.

    "How can youplete a dungeon?" Yoichi interrupted, trying to get straight to the point.

 Chapter 93 - Farmlands

    "Toplete a dungeon, you have to defeat the boss. Larger dungeons can have even more than one," Shioko exined.

    "Defeating a boss..." Yoichi thought aloud. "So, in addition to reaching the rmended number of tamers, it is crucial to choose the demon type that can have a better chance of sess. Now I understand why Sada-sensei chose you toe with us to the ckvault Mines", hemented. ??

    Ichiro approached Taya, continuing to advance along the way, while Enatsu stayed behind, struggling with his new horse. Continuing to show genuine interest in the cause, Yoichi drew the young woman''s gaze to himself.

    As soon as their eyes crossed, Shioko looked forward. "Komoerus are dark-type demons, and I have a light-type demon. It sounds like a fairly simple thing to understand, my dear ''strategist''." With her usual sulky look, the red-haired tamer responded to her colleague''s statement.

    "I''m just trying to figure out how things work. It''s not easy to wake up without even remembering your name," he replied. His voice had a rather submissive tone.

    That statement stunned Enatsu, too. The merchant did not imagine that his friend would use the poor victim''s tactics to soften Shioko''s cold heart. Against all expectations, the young woman looked again at Yoichi, genuinely impressed by his words.

    "If I want to be a skilled tamer like you and others, I have to learn everything in half the time. Thanks to the knowledge I have learned from Enatsu and from you, all I need is a little practice", Yoichi repeated, looking up at his guildmate.

    This time Shioko managed to capture the determination in his eyes. Looking back on what had happened that morning, perhaps it would have been good for her to have someone to talk to on the journey to their destination.

    "What exactly is this quest? There''s an item to retrieve if I remember correctly. Something else?" she asked, puffing.

    Yoichi smiled, realizing that that of Shioko was a strange way to apologize for her hostile behaviour. "The man who promised us a reward is called Hyobe. He lost his wife and best friend, and I promised him I''d bring the lost ne back to his hands. That''s all," the young tamer exined.

    "Well. Even though it''s an intermediate dungeon, I think it''s a good training for both of you. I would have started with something easier, but... you said you''re quick learners, didn''t you?" Shioko chuckled, testing his interlocutor.

    "You will be amazed, Shioko!" Yoichi replied with conviction. He looked at his friend a few feet behind, noting that his expression conveyed no safety but fear. As usual, Enatsu was not sure he could make it, and, with his long silences, he was diving deeper and deeper into thoughts.

    As the sun began to set on the horizon, Goldhaven''s high white walls disappeared into the vegetation. The mild temperature along that road was particrly pleasant, and the fresh wind caressed the shaggy coat of the horses.

    Skirting farnds, the three adventurers crossed an area popted by farmers and hard-working peasantry. The southern area of Tentochu''s capital seemed to be characterized by fertile soil and flourishing harvests.

    Large workdemons towed wagons to plough thend and sow roots, seeds and vegetables of all kinds. After about two hours of slow riding, a giant red ntation sprang up behind a hill as if protected from the wind.

    Large lotus flowers with mboyant petals popped out from massive intertwined bushes. Long and poisonous thorns contrasted the beauty of the flowers: the roots of those wonderful nts were partially tucked into the ground, partially twisted on vertical sticks of wood.

    "The Crimson Lotus" Enatsumented, breathing with open lungs.

    Receiving the confirmation of his supposition, Yoichi saw the raw material from which Demon Teeth were produced for the first time. A strange dark aura came from that flowering field as if each of those lotus flowers irradiated a hidden power.

    "So that''s why evil demons don''t approach the capital, right?" Yoichi asked. "I guess Goldhaven is surrounded by these fields, given its greatness."

    "There are fields simr to this on each side of the capital, at each of its four entrances. Yes, what you say is correct, Yoichi!" Shioko answered, who after the long hours of silence looked more rxed.

    "This means that from now on, we will no longer be under the protection of the Crimson Lotus" Enatsu added, breaking in a cold sweat. The young merchant''s words were always precise and pungent.

    "That too is correct. Get used to the idea of not being protected... that''s what being a tamer means," the red-haired woman spoke, slightly spurring Taya to speed up the pace.

    "The ckvault Mines are about a hundred miles from the capital. If the weather conditions are favourable, we can arrive earlier than expected, in just over twenty-four hours. However, since it is your first experience, I have decided that we will pause for an intermediate stop", Shioko continued, anticipating to her most inexperienced colleagues the things to do.

    "Do you mean a ce to spend the night?" Yoichi asked.

    "Over there, there is ckborough, a vige of farmers and fishermen. Not far from the town should be the ruins of an old observation tower. Tonight we will stay there, leaving again at dawn."

    The eyes of Yoichi and Enatsu followed the direction pointed by Shioko. The dirt road that lined the cultivated fields became increasingly bumpy and irregr: the lush vegetation surrounding the capital was reced by uglier and thinner trees, with few leaves and long greyish branches.

    The green of the meadows increasingly assumed dull shades, homologating to the mountain''s rock, which increasingly appeared on the sides of the road.

    The end of the Crimson Lotus camp sanctioned the end of the ''safe zone'' and a radical change in the biome. The sharp contrast of colours andndscape ckened the mood of the Nightdes'' two rookies: even though it was their first real guild tamers experience, they felt ready to face the looming dangers.

 Chapter 94 - Observation Tower

    With the awareness that the demons they would find from then on could be hostile and dangerous, Yoichi, Enatsu, and Shioko kept on advance on horseback.

    The Crimson Lotus'' camp disappeared behind them, crossing the hill. Small wooden stakes that outlined the dirt road travelled until that time disappeared after the downhill, giving way to a in of reddish earth, decidedly drier than the previous biome. ??

    The tireless Ichiro strongly supported its knight without everining or asking for anything in return.

    "The evening ising, and the horses need to rest and quench their thirst. We have to hurry up and reach the vige," Shioko affirmed, breaking the silence of the sunset. In addition to the sound of Taya''s hooves trampling on dry ground, that of crickets and other insects intonating their loud melodies echoed through the scarce vegetation.

    Along the road from northeast to southwest, the rough sea swayed in the distance to the left of the three travelers. To the right, however, the mountains had gained groundpared to the previous in: the traces ofndslides falling from the steep slopes were clearly visible, with huge boulders with angr tips and tree trunks broken in half.

    Although the view was not very reassuring, what really worried Yoichi was the absoluteck of people. No one, besides them, was visible in the distance.

    Now I understand the real reason Shioko wants to take a break. Staying out overnight, away from the Crimson Lotus ntation, can be very dangerous, Yoichi pondered. He noticed unusual anxiety in the expression of the red-haired tamer.

    Darkness began to embrace the south of Tentochu, which in that area looked like a ce light years away from the beauty of Goldhaven. The horses'' pace became less and less fast due to their joints tried by the journey.

    Enatsu, contrary to his usual, had neverined, waiting patiently to reach his destination. Just as he was about to open his mouth, a dim light appeared to the east.

    Beyond a hill with steep slopes opened the coastal stretch: right there, on that huge beach of greyish sand, a small vige.

    "There it is, that''s ckborough!" Shioko rejoiced, waving Taya''s bridles. "Hii!" the horse neighed, inciting the other two to get in the slipstream.

    Isted from everything else, about twenty wooden huts with thatched roofs were built next to each other. Beyond the vige, a crumbling marina housed three fishing boats.

    The greyish sand interspersed with stretches covered with pebbles and other sediments carried by the action of sea waves and small tufts of wild nts popped up here and there.

    The proximity to the sea alone contributed to making the temperature milder and the air more humid: thend breezeing from the top of the mountains flowed gently into the valley and caressed the sea''s surface, swinging the torches hanging from the vige wooden walls.

    Inside the houses, yellow lights glowed in the windows, witnessing life in that godforsaken ce. Riding to the right side of the vige, moving from the main trajectory, Shioko headed for the ancient ruins shrouded in darkness.

    As she said, what remained of an old observation tower, including a small fort at its feet, stood imposingly near the coastline.

    "We''re almost there. That''s where we''re headed," she affirmed, leading herpanions. Enatsu and Yoichi narrowed their eyes, preventing sand lifted from the horses'' hooves from blinding them during the rush.

    "All the people in the vige seem to be in their huts... are we sure that none of them can host us for the night? We can offer them a silver coin or..."

    "The people of that ce are not as hospitable as you think. Trust me, you''d regret not reaching the tower," Shioko abruptly interrupted, breaking Enatsu''s speech.

    Yoichi did notment, taking a final gander at the vige. The moon illuminated the greyish beach that stretched for tens and tens of kilometres to the north and south.

    When they entered the shadow of the observation tower, the three warriors stopped the horses. Raising her hand in a decisive gesture, Shioko ordered them to stay behind.

    The red-haired tamer came down Taya''s back, stroking its coat. After whispering something in its ear, she left the reins. The horse behaved like a true human being, standing still and waiting for its rider.

    "What the hell is she doing? Why did she tell us to stop? It could be dangerous in there..." Yoichi asked Enatsu, witnessing the scene.

    As Shioko silently approached the tower''s half-destroyed entrance, a white light was released from her chest. She uttered the name of her Oracle in a low voice, summoning it.

    The airstream soaked in the same light swirled through the sand, lifting it from the ground in an upward spiral. Tworge rounded wings pped in quick session, waiting for the rest of the body to take shape: a pair of long blue antennae unrolled upwards, followed by a long, tapered body, simr to that of a butterfly.

    The sunflower-yellow eyes of the Hotasagi shone in the darkness along with the demon''s tail, which perfectly emted that of a firefly. Shioko''s winged Oracle was much bigger than Kenji and Sora, and its colourful wings gave it a breathtaking look.

    "Amazing... I had never seen the evolution of a Hotasuka..." Enatsumented, gasping. The butterfly demon shrugged off the sand, turning to Shioko and lighting up the area.

    "It is Nobu. Wait here while we''ll go check the tower", she ordered, without allowing her interlocutors to respond.

    Within seconds, Shioko and Nobu entered the tower through a rift in its walls. The partial copse of the structure, however, did not seem topromise its stability.

    The light emanating from the Hotasagi prated the fractures of the rocks and the broken windows, allowing Shioko to move nimbly inside. After about a minute, her voice rumbled, "all right, you cane in."

    Without thinking twice, motionless in the middle of nowhere, Yoichi and Enatsu followed theirpanion''s voice inside the observation tower.

    The ceiling of the entrance was partially broken, and the staircase leading to the upper floors had copsed at the bottom, forming a heap of bricks and wet wood.

 Chapter 95 - Well

    "What a cozy, weing ce" Enatsu mumbled as a drop of sweat flowed over his forehead. His horse, unlike the other two, was as anxious as its master.

    "It''s just a temporary stop. It''s no coincidence that we''re here. I''ve been to this ce before," Shioko affirmed. The red-haired girl walked away from her horse, approaching a corner of the room. ??

    A stone cylinder with the open end popped from the floor, attached to the wall. Like a firece that started from the ground, greenish abundant moss came out of the rock pores around its round ''mouth''.

    Knowing that her gestures mattered more than words, Shioko plunged an arm into that dark hole, grabbing something and pulling it up to the surface. She continued to pull an old frayed rope.

    Something seemed to make noise at the end of the rope, still hidden in the darkness of that well. "The first time I entered this tower, I was in thepany of Sada-sensei, during a trip to the far south. Like you, I couldn''t understand why he wanted to stop at this ce," Shioko spoke. Continuing to pull the rope, the bucket of the well came out of the hole in the rock and fell in front of her feet.

    "A freshwater well?" Yoichi asked, astonished.

    Shioko tightened the rope knot on the handle of the wooden bucket and threw it back into that dark pit, filling it with water. "Back then, I had no idea how many things our Sensei could teach me. No guild had ever believed in me, and everyone considered me a monster because of my irrepressible nature," the Tamer exined.

    As Enatsu calmed his horse, Yoichi listened intently.

    "Sada-sensei knows the Tentochu region like the back of his hand. Despite its extent and diversity ofndscapes, it has no secrets from him. When I found out thanks to him that there was a well connected to a freshwater aquifer in this tower, I began to look at him with different eyes", Shioko remarked. "You know, he voluntarily left the Emperor''s Heralds to found the guild to which we belong today."

    "I remember when Yozo yelled it in front of everyone" Yoichimented, recalling that detail. "Why did he do it? From what I understand, he could have be the leader of the Emperor''s guild," he added.

    "Precisely because of the Emperor. Sada-sensei has always hated Emperor Nishiyama, and the mere thought of being under his direct orders disgusted him. Unable to spend his days in those conditions, he decided to found the Nightdes guild to gather all the warriors who, like him, reasoned outside the box."

    "I''m not going to lie to you: when I first saw our tower, I thought maybe I had overestimated the value of Sensei''s offer. But when I saw your cohesion with my own eyes, I realized that this guild meet my expectations," Yoichi stated.

    "The cohesion you''re talking about has never been forced. Unlike other guilds that have hundreds of tamers thinking differently, ours unites people with the same ideals. Rinji, Toshi, Yoshiko, me... we all didn''t know what our ce was before we met Sada-sensei." Shioko''s words were imbued with the strong admiration she felt for her master.

    "What does Nishiyama think about this?" the young tamer inquired, referring to the Emperor.

    "Pff! The Emperor never bothered to say a word about our guild. Such a small group of warriors just doesn''t matter to him. Emperor''s Heralds are hundreds, and we''re eleven. Um, thirteen!" Shioko snorted. Pulling up the bucket full of water, the red-haired tamer dared raise a smile.

    "Enatsu, let your horse drink first. I think it needs it more than others," Yoichi suggested, approaching Ichiro and making room for his friend''s steed.

    Enatsu''s brown horse walked to the bucket full of water, resting on the ground by Shioko. Within seconds, it drank all its content, guzzling it thirstily.

    After quenching and feeding their horses with vegetables providently put in their travel bags, the three adventurers lighted a fire in the centre of the tower''s ground floor. The still wet wood,bined with dry shrubs carried by the wind, was useful to warm the atmosphere.

    Every now and then, during moments of silence, the same wind hissed between the cracks of the rock, and the noise of the rusty nails holding the dangling wooden beams made that sinister ce even more macabre.

    Nobu, Shioko''s butterfly demon, stopped next to its tamer. With its wings closed behind its back and the antennae moving left and right, it watched Sora intensely.

    Enatsu''s Oracle was perched on his shoulder and was visibly afraid to cross its eyes with that huge insect. The tail of the Hotasagi continued to emit white light, illuminating the inside of the tower to the ceiling.

    From thergest crack at the tower''s highest point, the three of them feasted their eyes on the night sky. In that obscure ce by the sea, the stars shone brightly, creating celestial patterns.

    Pampered by that vision, the three adventurersy down around the fire. Their bodies formed a triangle, and their eyes remained pointed towards the ceiling while the horses slept peacefully in a corner.

    Despite being a demon, Ichiro also knelt next to his ''own kind''. By the way it tail swayed, it looked particrly attracted to Taya, Shioko''s mare.

    Wrapping itsrge coloured wings around its head and the rest of the body, Nobu deactivated its glowing tail. The sound of fire and sea waves apanied the Nightdes warriors into a deep sleep.

    ...

    The night slowly passed, and the full moon reflected its light on the sea, illuminating the coastal stretch. However, the quiet and silence of that area seemed to hide an unexpected danger.

    In the middle of the night, during the deepest moment of Yoichi''s sleep, a scream from afar woke him up.

    As soon as his eyes opened, they framed thest breath of the fire, consumed by wind and wet wood. Behind it, Shioko slept blissfully next to her oracle, and, just below his own feet, his friend Enatsu snored loudly.

 Chapter 96 - Blackborough

    "Heelp!"

    A very distant, whisper-like scream made Yoichi open his eyes wide. He sat on the sand, trying to distinguish the dream from reality. ??

    In the darkness, Ichiro''s yellowish eyes shone like two small headlights. The Inoshuma had heard something too, being its mind connected to that of its tamer.

    Yoichi gradually abandoned the dream world, and his hearing returned to its standard effectiveness. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at a hole on the wall that overlooked the outside, turning to his right.

    "Aaah!" ¨C when the second distant scream reached his ears, the young tamer jumped on his feet. He realized that those sounds were not part of a dream but were real and came from the vige.

    Without saying anything, he quickly ran to that destroyed window, clinging to an edge with his hand and leaning forward, trying to get a load of the outside.

    The distant vige of ckborough was framed in that ruined wall full of moss. The distant screams came right from there.

    The sound of Ichiro''s hooves sinking into the ground awakened Shioko. The red-haired tamer quickly turned her gaze, realizing that Yoichi and his demon were awake in the middle of the night.

    "Did you hear that too?" Yoichi whispered without looking away from the hole in the wall. "Something''s going on in the vige. I can feel it," he repeated, clenching his fists.

    Shioko raised from the ground, shaking the sand from her clothes. Yoichi moved sideways, allowing her to look out of the tower.

    "Aaaagh!" ¨C yet another scream echoed along the beach,ing from hundreds of meters away. Shioko narrowed her eyes, "what the hell is..."

    *boom*

    Her words were interrupted by a loud rumble: in an explosion of pieces of wood and sand, one of the vige huts was reduced to shreds, blowing up into the air.

    "Oh shit! Fuck!" Yoichi gasped, no longer managing to stand with his arms crossed. Something unusual was happening in the quiet vige of ckborough and, since the young tamer saw it for the first time, he strange, bad feeling ran through his bones.

    "Yoichi, where the hell are you going?!" Shioko boomed, grabbing herpanion''s shoulder. Yoichi took a step forward, evading the grip, "Are you really going to stay here and do nothing? A house just exploded before our eyes!" heined, yelling.

    "What... a house... what is it... what are you talking about?" Enatsu murmured yawning. The merchant awoke from his deep sleep, turning to one side.

    Without wasting any more time, Yoichi jumped on Ichiro''s back and walked out of the tower regardless of his colleague''s words. After grabbing his backpack under the eyes of hispanions, the young tamer had again made a risky move.

    Shioko stood still for an instant, her eyes closed and her face pointed down. "Hey, what happened? Where is he going? Why don''t we go with him?" Enatsu inquired in confusion. Getting up in a hurry, he gathered his stuff and seized the reins of his horse.

    "Grrr... goddamn!" she yelled, banging her feet to the ground. When Taya ran to the exit, Shioko clung to the saddle, using it to jump nimbly on horseback.

    When the fire me went out in the middle of the night, all three adventurers left the control tower without knowing what they were going through.

    *tabdak*tabdak* - the sound of Ichiro''s hooves rumbled strongly. Hot steam came out of its boar nostrils as all the mighty muscles in its body reached maximum tension during the charge.

    The screams that until a few minutes earlier had caught Yoichi''s attention had now vanished. As the wooden huts got closer in front of him, Yoichi began to fear that whatever attacked the vige had seeded in its intent, presumably exterminating its poption.

    Behind him, far from his gaze, Enatsu and Shioko were following him on horseback. Although their horses were running at top speed, their power was lower than his Inoshuma. Sora and Nobu flew in their wake.

    Finally, Ichiro''s hooves began to dodge the debris from the blown-up hut after more than five minutes. Among the wooden rubble, in addition to an upside-down table, fishing objects and furniture of all kinds, something caught the young tamer''s eye.

    Between the greyish sand of the beach, the moonlight was illuminating two corpses. Although only in passing, Yoichi distinguished the mauled body of a woman clutching a child in her arms.

    With his heart in his throat, he turned his gaze forward. What happened in this vige? Which kind of beast was able to blow up an entire house? That woman and that baby... they were brutally killed! He thought quickly. No, it can''t be the work of a human being¡­ it was definitely a demon!

    Just as he was trying to get to the centre of the vige, something was thrown into the air, several meters high. Two distinct objects entered Yoichi''s field of view: the two halves of a human body fell like two boulders on his trajectory, forcing Ichiro to dodge them by dashing sideways.

    The bones of the victim''s legs broke in contact with the ground, and his torso swirled on the sand, spraying blood spatter.

    "Fuck this! What''s that? That''s a man!" Enatsu screamed frightened, holding on tight to the reins of his horse. Beside him, Shioko gasped.

    "Yoichi, wait! Don''t go into that narrow vige, it''s danger..."

    When the red-haired woman''s scream reached Yoichi, it was toote. From behind the same house from which the body had flown away, a giant demon soared upwards sinuously.

    Wrapped in a dark aura, a huge ck-scaled snake rose menacingly. Its purple eyes were pointed at Yoichi and Ichiro, small as fliespared to it.

    Gripped by fear, Yoichi pulled the mane of his Inoshuma towards him, making it brake sharply, sinking his hooves into the grey sand.

    ckborough hid the greatest demon he had ever seen, capable of shredding a hut like a piece of driftwood. His scaled body and size made him an unbelievably hard enemy to take down.

 Chapter 97 - Monster (part 1)

    As soon as he saw Yoichi charging towards it on horseback, the fierce snake demon roared in his direction, emitting a loud hiss and pulling its huge tongue out of its mouth.

    Unlike a normal snake, that dark demon''s tongue was equipped with a second mouth, smaller and full of sharp teeth. The inside of the pte and the long teeth were soaked with the blood of its victims. ??

    With a simple nce, Yoichi was able to see what had happened behind the vige attacker: dozens of massacred bodies were scattered in the middle of the street. Women, men, and children, that being had killed whoever was on its way.

    "Yoichi, get out of there!" Shioko yelled again. This time, his partner''s screams caused the young tamer to wake up from his trance. When he realized that the demon was about tounch a frontal attack, he immediately dismounted from Ichiro, jumping on the sand.

    The snake stretched its neck backward and thenshed violently forward. With a quick whish, very fast for a demon of that size, it tried to devour Yoichi.

    "Azron!" he yelled, recalling Ichiro. In a yellow air stream, Yoichi''s steed dematerialized, disappearing from the trajectory of the attack.

    The young tamer fell to the ground and rolled to one side, grabbing the Inoshuma Demon Tooth.

    *boom* - The noise caused by the snake demon''s muzzle against the ground echoed along the beach. The sand raised by the impact clouded the view of Enatsu and Shioko, about ten meters away.

    "Yoichiii!" the merchant called, unable to see hispanion through the sand.

    When the snake raised its head, it shook off the sand wedged between the scales of its face and mouth. Turning its head to one side and the other, it tried to spot its prey.

    "Ildriss!" ¨C another scream came from the cloud of sand, followed by a fire-red glow. After dodging the enemy''s fast but predictable attack, Yoichi summoned Kenji, preparing for battle.

    "He decided to fight that huge beast without even thinking about it! but... what the hell is that thing? I''ve never seen anything like it," Shioko mumbled. As she clutched Taya''s reins, the experienced tamer looked unexpectedly worried.

    Enatsu looked up, framing the giant snake''s face. "That... that should be a..." shortly before he couldplete the sentence, the giant demon roared with its jaws wide open and quickly turned on itself.

    With the characteristics of its snake body, it managed to spin nimbly on the sand: using its tail as a whip, it used the rotation to hit all the targets in front of it.

    Enatsu and Shioko were wiped out along with their horses. The steed neighing was suffocated by the sand wave that hit the two adventurers, thrown into the air by the demon''s tail.

    *boom* - every movement of that giant body, a few tons heavy, caused an incredible bustle. Beginning to cough, Shioko was the first to get up from the ground, looking through the sand for her horse.

    "Taya! Where are you?!" the red-haired tamer screamed. She could not see anything because of the sand cloud that surrounded her, made even denser by theck of light of the night.

    Shioko lost track of her horse and her friends, failing to see the vige or the observation tower. Looking around frantically, with her heart pounding in her chest, the red-haired girl sensed a hidden presence nearby.

    In that whirlwind of sand, two huge ck nostrils snorted hot air, making their way into that ethereal wall and getting closer and closer. The snake demon''s purple eyes popped up in that chaos, pointing towards Shioko.

    "Oh, fuck! Aaargh!" she screamed, venting the tension and falling backward. Not expecting such a situation, she tried to pull her bow, stuck behind her shoulders.

    The snake opened its mouth, letting its inward-curved teeth slide into the dedicated vertical sacs of the jaw. Its tongue slowly turned to Shioko, immobilized by terror.

    The tip of that rough, purple tongue burst opened, showing two rows of circr teeth, simr to those of arge carnivorous bloodsucker.

    Shioko crawled backward, using her hands to cling to the sand. Just when she was convinced to be doomed, she heard a loud banging.

    The red-haired tamer, trapped in that sand whirlwind, reopened her eyes. In front of her, something as fast as lightning had struck the snake''s head, throwing it beyond the sand wall.

    As if time had slowed down for a few moments, she was able to distinguish the perpetrator of that gesture. Yoichi, activating Kenji''s upgrade, had enhanced his arms and punched the enemy demon''s temple, saving her life.

    When herrade and the snake disappeared from her sight, Shioko shook her head and jumped back on her feet, running in the opposite direction. "Nobu, this way!" she called, urging her butterfly demon to help.

    A small white light sprang into the sandy vortex. Suddenly, an abrupt gust of wind dispersed the material floating in the air, finally restoring the normal visibility.

    By forcefully pping its wings, Nobu had zeroed the effect of the snake''s tail attack, following the voice of its tamer as a focal point.

    Drawing his head off the ground and spitting damp sand, Enatsu coughedpulsively, getting up and staggering. Beside him, Taya was immobilized with fear and his brown horse was gone.

    d the merchant and Taya were safe, Shioko turned to the enemy. An expression of anger appeared on her face, as her right hand slipped behind her back to pull out the bow.

    In front of her, Yoichi was standing before the dark snake. With his arms inbat position, he was trying to figure out his next move.

    "Groaargh... rreeeak!" ¨C roaring a harrowing verse, the giant demon expelled the dark aura from its scales, exuding wickedness. On the left side of its jaw, its exoskeleton had been partially damaged by the fist of the young blond-haired tamer.

    Having its toothed tongue twirl, it opened its jaws towards its opponent, looking at him carefully with its shimmering purple eyes.

 Chapter 98 - Monster (part 2)

    Kenji was a few feet behind Yoichi, enhancing his upper limbs. The young tamer walked sideways, waiting for the enemy tounch the first attack.

    "What is that, Enatsu?" he yelled, asking his egghead friend for information. ??

    Shioko looked at the merchant too, showing herself unprepared in front of that question. When Enatsu was able to distinguish the voices of hispanions in the hustle and bustle, he reasoned aloud. "He''s a wild Hebigure, Yoichi! A earth-dark-type demon, typical of sandy areas like this. I''ve seen its kinds before and... and I''m sure they weren''t that big! This dude is huge, something''s wrong!"

    Sora, who had dodged the blow flying away, perched again on the shoulder of its tamer. When that information flew to Yoichi, the giant Hebigure attacked, leaving him no time to reason.

    He crossed his arms in front of his face, parrying the attack. His body was pushed away and his feet crawled into the sand for several meters.

    Meandering into the ground, the snake attacked once again, without a moment''s pause. Knowing that the enemy''s body was unable to withstand his powerful arms, Yoichi realized that the most effective way to counter its enormous bulk was to counterattack.

    Taking advantage of the movement of its big scaled head, the most vulnerable point of its long body, Yoichi loaded a punch, waiting for the right moment.

    As soon as the jaws of the Hebigure opened further, ready topletely devour the young tamer''s body, he lowered himself on his knees and unleashed the stored energy. With a powerful hook, he hit the chin of the dark reptile, hurling its head into the air.

    More than half of the snake''s body followed that movement, twisting backward along with the heavy scaled head.

    Shioko, meanwhile, activated the power of her Hotasagi. Holding the iid wooden arch in front of her, she slipped a hand into the empty quiver. By magic, a white light arrow appeared between her fingers.

    As the red-haired tamer pulled out the arrow, Yoichi''s violent fist left her speechless. That off-scale demon had risked killing her, cornering her in the sand whirlwind core. Despite her proudful character, she knew that without Yoichi''s incredible strength, she couldn''t have done it.

    When Hebigure''s body leaned under Yoichi''s low hook, Shioko realized the actual power unleashed by her guildmate. At that exact moment, she understood the real reason behind the decision of her guild master, who had insisted to make Yoichi part of their team.

    Before the enemy could return to an upright position, she used three fingers to stretch the bowstring, loading the light arrow. Aiming in less than a second, she shot it in the direction of the snake.

    The arrow created by Nobu cut through the air in a white wake, hitting the Hebigure on its head, in the middle of its eyes. As soon as the tip touched the snake''s ck scales, it prated its skull box and pierced its brain, popping out on the other side.

    Spearing the target in a fraction of a second as if it were made of butter, the arrow continued to fly upwards, glowing into the night sky.

    The snake stood still with its eyes pointed upwards. Suddenly, it fell like a dead weight to the ground, in Yoichi''s direction.

    The young tamer dodged the lifeless body of Hebigure, which impacted on the sandy beach. "What the... did you kill it with a single blow?!" Yoichi gasped, failing to realize what he had just seen.

    Shioko said nothing. She repositioned the bow behind her back and deactivated Nobu''s power.

    "Hey, if you knew you could kill it in one fell swoop, why didn''t you do it before?! Yoichi had a really close call to save you!" Enatsu added, approaching her.

    "I... I was thinking about the consequences," Shioko stuttered, without looking down.

    Yoichi looked at the snake, touching it with his toe. The light attack of Shioko''s Oracle had been much more effective than his punch on a dark-type demon.

    However, even though its skull had been pierced and its body had fallen to the ground lifeless, that strange dark aura kepting out from under its hard scales.

    "You killed it, and yet its body did not disappear. None of us tried to tame it with a Demon Tooth, so why is it still here?" Yoichi inquired, reasoning aloud.

    The wind blew softly through the still intact huts of the vige. Only three of them were illuminated inside, while the others looked deserted.

    Yoichi''s words received no answer and the gaze of the three adventurers fell on the face of the snake demon. Suddenly, its ckish eyelids blinked vertically, hydrating its big purple eyes.

    "Any one else see that? No, right? It¡­ it was just me" chuckled Enatsu, breaking in a cold sweat.

    The Hebigure''s tail moved quickly, allowing its entire heavy body to crawl backward. Under the frightened eyes of the Nightdes tamers, the dark aura that enveloped that monster entered the wound on its forehead, healing it instantly.

    For no logical reason, the wild demon was still alive and ready to fight again.

    Unleashing its wrath on its attackers, it raised its head to the starry sky and roared vigorously, waving his sinuous body. The ck scales began to vibrate, lifted by the dark aura.

    Activating some unknown power, the Hebigure unexpectedly enhanced his body: ck spikes popped up on its back as an extension of the endoskeleton. One after another, they covered its whole length, from the top of the head to the tip of the tail.

    Unable to believe that the battle against that unexpected enemy had a second phase, Yoichi and Shioko frightfully looked at each other.

    "Run!" the red-haired girl yelled. Dashing, she began to run away from the vige, dispelling the iing attack.

    Gasping for air, Yoichi grabbed Kenji and ran to hispanions. The ground beneath his feet began to shake as Hebigure''s body continued to vibrate, umting energy.

    "Groooarghh!" roared the snake, firing a dark beam from its mouth. Its purple eyes shone with wickedness when the same purple gas exhaled from the skin was fired out of his throat, cutting the beach in two halves.

 Chapter 99 - Bite

    Fortunately, the snake attacksted only a few moments. In its trajectory, the side structure next to the observation tower was wiped out.

    Walking hundreds of meters along the beach and cutting the sandy soil as if it were made of stic, the dark ray barely touched Yoichi''s foot. ??

    Having predicted a ranged attack, the young tamer managed to jump just before the dark beam, which crossed the entire coastal stretch in less than two seconds.

    After exhausting the energy, the Hebigure shut its jaws, swallowing the rest of the dark gas. Unlike any demon encountered so far, that giant snake demon had managed to revive after a fatal headshot and had enhanced its body, strengthening its outer structure.

    Although only for a few seconds, Enatsu seeded tomunicate his impressions: the merchant had seen other Hebigures in the past, but none of them was of that size, nor had ever fired a ray of dark energy.

    Yoichi got up from the ground, opening his hand and freeing Kenji. The young Nightdes tamer had used his body as a human shield, protecting his Nekage.

    With his arms still enhanced by the ck scales, he quickly charged on his knees and began to run towards the enemy. Enatsu had moved away, intent on helping out.

    After realizing that even the fearful merchant intended to contribute to that battle using his utility skill, Shioko began to run, too. Yoichi travelled a wide curve to the right; the red-haired girl went to the left.

    At the same time, Enatsu activated the power of his winged Oracle. Swapping his view with Sora''s, he took wing into the night sky, flying over the giant purple-eyed snake.

    "Watch out!" he yelled. "This monster is preparing to counter your attacks!" ¨C enjoying a privileged view, Enatsu guided his friends from above. As the Hebigure''s stomach emitted strange guttural verses, digesting that obscure substance, Sora''s clear sight caught a glimpse of something weird.

    The snake''s eyes were pointed at Shioko, knowing that, shortly before, she threw it a mortal blow. Nobu''s light illuminated the area along with the moonlight, the reflection of which bounced off the surface of the calm sea.

    "Aaargh!" Yoichi yelled during the charge, clenching his fists and pumping his forearms. His eyes framed the snake''s face while the gas kept caming out of itsrge, sharp-cornered nostrils.

    Enatsu flew using Sora''s body, looking at the enemy from above. The giant demon''s tail began to writhe, and the bone spikes at that precise spot stretched out slightly.

    It was as if they reacted to the tension of the muscles of that sturdy and long body, which pushed them out as it pleased. "Don''t get too close. It''s a trap! It''s about to hit you using its tail!" Enatsu yelled, alerting hispanions.

    Encouraged by the fact that they had a leading voice, Shioko and Yoichi continued their advance, attacking the Hebigure from both the right and the left. Having started her run before Yoichi, Shioko reached the dark demon before herrade, activating Nobu''s power.

    As her hand pulled another magic arrow out of the quiver, the Hebigure opened its eyes and jaws wide, performing the attack foretold moments earlier by the attentive Enatsu.

    A sudden twist of the neck forced the whole body to follow that motion. Lifting a huge amount of sand and moving like a predator sure to grab its prey, itshed its tail in the direction of Shioko.

    A muchrger spike than the others was soaked in dark energy and was directed right towards the red-haired tamer''s chest. Seeing the scene from the other side, Yoichi screamed in despair, "Shioko!" elerating the pace in the hope of saving her once again.

    Showing almost inhuman reflexes, she jumped towards the spike, spinning on herself. Like a gymnast training on a bar, she coordinated the dodge of the blow with a counterattack, loading the light arrow on the bow.

    The snake, sure that the tail strike would redirect its prey towards the mouth, opened its jaws, ready to devour her. "Take this, mother fucker!" she roared, firing the arrow right in front of her.

    Like a shooting star, the white light arrow created by Nobu entered the Hebigure''s mouth, pierced its throat and flooded its oesophagus with sshes of thick blood.

    Under the incredulous gaze of Yoichi and Enatsu, the warrior girl continued her flight forward. Despite being more powerful and precise than the previous one, the blow had not diverted the huge demon, stationary in the same position.

    Perceiving with its reptile senses that, remaining open-mouthed, it would catch its prey, the Hebigure bore the pain. The sshes of red blood shone under the moonlight, blinding poor Shioko and forcing her to cover her eyes.

    Just then, the enemy shut its jaws, biting her arm forcefully. "Aaaargh!" Shioko screamed in pain, dropping her bow and freezing near the serpent''s mouth.

    "Fuck, fuck!" Enatsu trembled, not knowing what to do. Not far from him, Nobu suddenly stopped pping its wings and ended fell to the ground, rolling on the sand because of the acute pain felt by its tamer.

    Partially blinded by its own blood, the snake violently raised its neck, waving Shioko''s body like a lifeless puppet. The young woman''s screams rumbled through the ruins of ckborough.

    "Piece of shit!" Yoichi grunted, reaching the target, even if toote. He jumped forward and clung to the scales of the snake''s body, busy devouring hispanion. "Let her go! Leave her, you cunt!" the young tamer repeated, trying to stay in bnce.

    "Grroooaargh!" ¨C clutching Shioko''s arm between its jaws, the demon once again waved its neck. Losing grip on the reptile''s wet scales, Yoichi was thrown into the air, several meters above its head.

    The flight was so high that the little Sora, controlled by Enatsu, flew beside him. During that moment, as Yoichi crosses his gaze with that of his friend in the eyes of his Waromu, he realized that he has onest chance.

 Chapter 100 - Arm

    Witnessing Enatsu''s fear in the eyes of his colourful parrot demon, Yoichi looked down on him. The fresh air of that night stroked his belly, exposed because of the mid-air jump wind.

    Under his free-falling body, the snake had stood still in the same position. With its mouth still busy, it was ready to hit Yoichi with its tail as soon as he reached the right height. ??

    Predicting the enemy''s obvious move and knowing that, if he too failed the counterattack, he would end up pierced by that dark spike, Yoichi relied on the force of gravity.

    Clenching his fists and narrowing his eyes to resist the strong wind of the freefall, he pushed his arms to the maximum of the upgrade. As calcted, the snake''s huge ck tail snapped quickly toward him, as if it were a baseball bat trying to hit for a homerun.

    Shioko was still there, covered in her blood and that of the snake, while one of its curved teeth had sunk into her biceps. With one hand, the red-haired tamer clung to that wild demon''s mouth, knowing that if she fell, it would tear off her arm with a bite.

    When her gaze raised hopelessly towards Yoichi, something mind-blowing happened. Using his arms hard as rocks, the young tamer took advantage of the speed reached due to his weight to counter the snake demon by surprise.

    With a fist so strong that it unleashed a shock wave, he hit the tail of the dark reptile, repulsing it in an instant. Unbnced its long, muscr body, Yoichi prevented it from attacking a second time, leaving him exposed to his next strike.

    "Leave her!" screaming in anger and using the shockwave bacsh, the young tamer gained a few moments in freefall to coordinate. Joining his hands and crossing his fingers, he hit the Hebigure''s nape with a double punch.

    The precise and powerful blow managed to ovee the resistance of the dark demon''s hard scales: the strong pressure on the nerve between his neck and head forced it to close its eyes and open his jaws wide.

    The curved tooth clutching Shioko''s arm was suddenly pulled out of her flesh, dropping her to the ground.

    Holding her arm and not even trying to get up, Shioko rolled on the sand. As soon as she saw the scene from above, Enatsu deactivated Sora''s skill and began running towards her.

    The merchant put fear aside for a moment, knowing that without his help, the helpless Shioko could be devoured in one bite. Running clumsily through the sand, he saw the huge dark shape of the snake getting closer and closer.

    When Yoichinded on his feet, Enatsu grabbed the bow and Shioko, lifting her by the armpits. She helped herpanion by crawling her feet, and together they move away from the giant demon, leaving everything in Yoichi''s hands.

    "You killed the inhabitants of this ce, and you tried to kill my guildmate! You won''t get away with this! Aaargh!" he thundered as his sand-stained blond hair and blood floated in the wind.

    Taking advantage of the moment the enemy was breathless, Yoichi punched him in the face for the second time. His pointed knuckles cut the flesh under the demon''s scales at its jaw, at the exact spot where it received the first attack.

    The snake''s giant head suffered a bacsh, bending to one side. The young tamer continued to scream, insisting on repeatedly hitting the same spot.

    *boom*boom*boom* - As small but violent explosions, his fists hit the snake''s jaw, which began to lose grip with the rest of its mouth. Due to the violent blows suffered, the muscles of the long reptile were so sore that they could not move.

    "Die!" ¨C with onest, violent hooking from below, Yoichi broke off the left side of the Hebigure''s jaw. The demon''s mouth opened abnormally, sshing blood from all sides.

    One side of its lower arcade hung from the upper one, showing a row of teeth no longer connected to the mouth. Moving a few meters away, Yoichi tried to catch his breath: after the extensive damage he suffered, the enemy could never survive.

    Because of its damaged mouth, the hiss of the snake demon became a harrowing verse, drowned in the blood umted in its throat. One side of its evil face copsed down, following its broken jaw.

    Suddenly, the Hebigure''s big head stomped on the sand for the second time, raising a cloud of dust and other blood spats.

    Yoichi covered his face, wetting his dry, sand-dirty lips with his tongue. Lowering his eyes not to be blinded by the grains carried by the wind, the snake''s blood on the sand before his feet moved abnormally.

    As if the chemistry of the red drops prevented them from incorporating sand or flowing underground, every single drop of blood joined its twins in thin, elongated shapes.

    Drop by drop, shape after shape, a writing appeared under his eyes.

    ''Travel 80 miles in Tentochu: questpleted ¨C reward: one extra skill to your Oracle''

    As soon as the young tamer''s gaze could read thest letter of that sentence, the System''s writing disappeared in front of the dirty tip of his boots, erased by the wind.

    Returning to reality and beginning to feel heavy and fatigued breathing in his lungs, Yoichi turned his head left and right, searching for hispanions.

    Near some wooden beams destroyed by the fury of Hebigure, Enatsu and Shioko were sheltered. The merchant stood next to hispanion, tying a piece of cloth around her bloodied arm.

    Shioko''s clothes were soiled with blood and sand, and her precious bow was a few meters from her feet. With a worried and sore expression, she stared at Yoichi.

    The irrepressible and grumpy character of that young warrior-woman had disappeared in that instant. Being aware that an inexperienced and brave warrior had saved her life for two consecutive times, Shioko nodded, expressing sincere gratitude to her guildmate.

 Chapter 101 - Fangs

    On the one side, his wounded friends; on the other, the huge dark demon, still stunned by his punches. A feeling of strong responsibility pervaded Yoichi''s body, who tried not to tremble.

    The snake''s irregr breath lifted the sand before his feet and its huge head, wider in the back and narrower towards the muzzle, swung like a pendulum. ??

    If I kill it normally, he wille back to life. Shioko hit it on the head, her light arrow went through its brain, I''m sure... yet, that strange substance healed all its wounds in record time. I don''t know how much longer I will be able to fight it, Yoichi thought.

    The urgency of helping his injured friend and searching for survivors through the vige rubble forced the young tamer to reason quickly. Looking at Kenji, he tried tomunicate something with his mind.

    He asked it to activate its new power, despite not knowing what it was. If the System had given him a second skill, how could he activate it? Not being a real Nekage, maybe Kenji had just learned its first dragon skills?

    "Go, Kenji!" hemanded, continuing to look at his pet out of the corner of his eye, never losing sight of the enemy. Kenji looked back at him, doing nothing.

    The little dragon was evidently confused by the orders of its tamer, failing to understand his request. "Kenji, activate your new skill! Go! I don''t know how to do it¡­ you must help me!" Yoichi boomed again.

    To gain more time, he punched the snake demon''s temple violently. Stunned but not too much, it began to no longer feel the pain while the dark gas wrapped its hanging jaw.

    "We don''t have long! Come on, buddy!"

    "What the hell is he trying to do? Why doesn''t he just kill that thing?" Shioko asked. Enatsu finished medicating her arm with the piece of fabric and looked at his friend.

    He was talking to Kenji and keeping the wild demon who had attacked the vige under control. The wind had been loud enough to be heard over his voice while he had troublemunicating with his Oracle.

    "Yoichi never wastes time. If he hasn''t been dealt the fatal blow yet, there must be a reason," the merchantmented. From his words, Shioko realized that Silvertide''s young tamer has great admiration for his friend, blindly trusting him.

    While Yoichi tried to activate his new power, moving his arms and making strange gestures with his fingers, the purple gas that enveloped the snake''s mouthpletely healed its wounds.

    Piece by piece, that magical substance with incredible healing powers restored the missing part of the jaw. Each tooth returned to its ce, and each fragment of cartge tissue was welded.

    Paying close attention to the snake demon, this time Yoichi was not taken by surprise. Although he had not decided the best way to get rid of that enemy for good, he could not wait much longer.

    Suddenly, the screams of his friends alerted him to the imminent danger. With a silence anomalous for a creature of that size, the Hebigure opened its jaws and snapped forward.

    The giant mouth of the snake demon opened beyond the limits of its jaw, like that of every reptile of the same family. Not having the bone pivot on the sides of its mouth, it could bite things muchrger than it and then push them inside the body.

    Ready to defend himself, Yoichi realized that if he tried to dodge the blow, those giant fangs would probably reach him. Raising his arms reinforced by Kenji''s scales, he firmly grabbed the two long teeth.

    *cling* - Echoing a metallic sound, the rough palms of his hands adhered to the snake''s venomous teeth. Simultaneously, he ced both feet on the lower part of its mouth, blocking it from any movement.

    "Oh, fuck! Yoichi!" Enatsu screamed, standing up in terror. "Stop!" Shioko interrupted, grabbing his ankle with her one good arm.

    "What? Leave me! I have to help him and..." while Enastu tried to challenge his guildmate''s order, Shioko pulled his ankle towards her. The merchant lost his bnce and fell to the ground.

    Before he could talk again, the red-haired girl grabbed his neck and turned his head towards the Hebigure''s body. "Before you say gibberish, try to reason, Enatsu. If you tried to attack that snake, it would wipe you out with a tail strike. From what I know, Yoichi cannot think for himself," Shioko spoke, resisting the pain that afflicted her arm.

    "What do you mean?" Enatsu gasped, his hands buried into the sand. Sora leaned against a wooden beam near Shioko, listening. "If you got in trouble, he''d try to save you. In the attempt, he''d get distracted by the grip, and that wild demon would devour him. I won''t tell you again... don''t get close to him," Shioko repeated.

    Meanwhile, Yoichi''s arms were still above his shoulders. By counter the strength of the Hebigure''s mouth, any slightest release of tension would have been fatal.

    The muscles of both fighters were stretched to the utmost, concentrating all the body strength in a few crucial spots. Just when Yoichi was sure he could resist, he realized he had forgotten a fundamental detail.

    From the centre of the snake''s mouth, its toothed tongue sprang from the darkness. "Holy bitch!" he trembled, managing at thest second to change the distribution of Kenji''s scales. When the Hebigure''s leeching tongue reached his chest, part of the upgrade moved from the top of his arms to the point of impact.

    As if it had hit a metal surface in full, the snake''s tongue, a very sensitive point, returned inside the mouth. The small teeth surrounding that bloody circr mouth scratched the scales on Yoichi''s chest: he knew he had only slowed his agony, dying the next attack.

    In that position, the snake demon could have continued to attack him with its tongue without stopping. Sooner orter, it would find a free space and hit him, causing him to drop his grip on its teeth.

    I can''t give up right now! I can''t die! Supreme Ryutaro! What would you do? How can I activate Kenji''s new power? Why didn''t you tell me anything? Sweating from his forehead and continuing to think, Yoichi tried not to breathe the Hebigure''s mouth whiff.

 Chapter 102 - Fire

    That monster had devoured people and other demons, gorging on their raw meats and melting their bones with the gastric juices in its stomach. The stench of the digestion of its victims enveloped Yoichi, who stiffened his arm muscles even more.

    Unable to close his eyes and knowing that the snake''s toothed tongue would soon attack him again, Yoichi reconsidered what he had been through during those days. ??

    In the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven, the gatekeeper had revealed to him the greatest truth of his life. ording to that old war veteran, his abilities could be crucial to Tentochu''s fortunes.

    Kenji was not a Nekage, nor an unknown species of fire-type demon. It was a baby dragon, ready to evolve and be a giant winged beast. Lumya''sst dragon was in his hands, tied to his soul.

    His chance of redemption, as the blood writings said, was just that. And Kenji was the only key.

    Closing his eyes for a single moment and assuming the risk of being attacked, Yoichi returned to the desert of the Tear''s Vision.

    Thanks to Therion''s tear, he had faced the adult Kenji, a dragon so huge and strong that he ruled over the sky and the earth. Its purifying me was an immense power, too great to be imagined.

    Suddenly, he realized that the sensations felt then, in the sand of that desert, were incredibly simr to those exploding in his chest every time he uttered the real name of his Oracle.

    The burning to which his body was subjected each time, was the symptom of something: the fire he was looking for had always been there, inside him.

    Opening his eyes as if he suddenly knew what to do, Yoichi focused on his heartbeat. Every pulse resounded in his rib cage, burning in his chest.

    The fear, tension and the whirlwind of conflicting emotions that his body was imprisoning, were released in the form of an energy stream, synchronous with the heartbeats.

    A burning stronger than the other times reached the top-centre part of his chest as if it were an invisible body under his pectoral muscles. Sensing to know how to control it properly, Yoichi let himself fall into his deepest instincts, activating the second power of his dragon Oracle.

    The scales that quickly enveloped the top of his arms began to emit a strange grey smoke. Under each reptile scale, red sparks burned ardently, generating mes.

    Within seconds, both of Yoichi''s arms became glowing under his incredulous gaze: the scorching mesing from the skin under the scales greatly increased Kenji''s enhancement.

    A thin strip of fire appeared on the back of the little dragon, reaching to the tip of its tail.

    Shining under the night sky like a meteorite in contact with the atmosphere, Yoichi''s arms burned the snake demon''s pte. The Hebigure began to writhe, suffering loudly from burning.

    Its tongue was stuck inside its mouth as if it had its own willpower. Shioko and Enatsu were shocked, unable to tell if that was a hallucination or a real event.

    "Aaargh!" Yoichi roared, straining his arm muscles and pushing the snake''s jaws upwards. The demon''s mouth could not resist that thrust and continued to be opened out of control.

    Abruptly, confident in the impressive power of his arms, Yoichi spread them. The young tamer''s chest muscles followed the movement, allowing the arms to open wide: the hands, still tight on their grip, violently tore off the snake''s fangs.

    In an explosion of fire and blood, the two sharp venomous teeth of the dark reptile were torn away, breaking in half. The Hebigure dashed back, reacting to unbearable pain and losing rivers of blood from its mouth.

    Finding himself with two huge fangs in his fiery hands, Yoichi ran forward and jumped towards the enemy. With extreme precision and anger, he impaled both of the snake''s fangs into its eyes, blinding it and piercing its skull.

    "GREEAARGH!" ¨C the reptile''s harrowing scream echoed along the coastal stretch, and mes enveloped the two teeth stuck in its head. Wrapping the fangs in a whirlwind-like circr motion, the fire entered the eyes of the Hebigure.

    Yoichi released all the umted energy, sping the two sharp objects forcefully. In his hands, the hard bone material of the jaws began to melt, as did every part of the snake in contact with the dragon fire.

    The young tamer jumped away from the enemy while it wiggled in the red mes. With its teeth broken and deprived of its eyes, the dark snake was devoured by little Kenji''s dragon fire: the baby dragon remained still behind its master.

    Along with the crackling of the snake''s tissues and flesh, the dark gaseous substance also suffered the blind rage of dragon fire. Under the moonlight, the gas looked willing to escape the mes by soaring upwards without seeding.

    Yoichi''s ming arms continued to burn without hurting him. Still incredulous at what he had just done, he looked at his hands, feeling the warmth of the magical me inside his soul.

    When thest piece of the snake was consumed, all that remained was dust, carried away by the wind.

    "What... what have I just seen?" Enatsu stuttered, breaking the silence. The young merchant''s silent words reached Yoichi, who returned to reality.

    Under hismand, both of Kenji''s abilities were disabled. His arms returned to their normal size, and the ck scales disappeared. Near the deltoids, the short sleeves of the leather jacket had beenpletely burned.

    The top of his light armour had be a sleeveless one. However, his arms were unharmed.

    The strong burning in the centre of his chest subsided, and after a few deep breaths, Yoichi was able to regain control of the air in his lungs. With one hand, he clenched his chest, trying to perceive the beating of his heart.

    Letting himself go to his most hidden instincts, the young Nightdes warrior had spawned dragon fire from his heart, the most powerful weapon a tamer could aspire to.

 Chapter 103 - Prickly Character

    It was not like a normal fire. The dragon fire was capable of burning everything, any tissue, any material. The power of water was also minimal against that ancient weapon.

    Yoichi looked at hispanions, standing in their hiding ce. Among some broken wooden beams amid the rubble of thest hut destroyed by the Hebigure, Shioko and Enatsu looked at him as if he were a monster. ??

    Kenji approached its tamer, touching his leg with its horned head. Moving like a cat looking for purrs, the baby dragon sensed a strong emotion when it approached Yoichi: unlocking its first dragon skill, it had strengthened its bond with him.

    Another crucial piece towards the awakening of his ancient powers had been added to the puzzle of the young tamer''s experience. Looking at Kenji with love and admiration, Yoichi walked towards hispanions.

    When she saw Yoichi, Shioko pushed Enatsu away. The red-haired girl clung to the wooden beam with one arm and stood up, quickly moving backwards. "Stop, don''t get any closer!" she eximed, knowing she could not fight with her arm in those conditions.

    Yoichi obeyed, trying to calm her down. "Hey, man... you''ve never done anything like this... that... that fire... from where..." Enatsu murmured, failing to formte aplete sentence.

    "From here" Yoichi interrupted, resting a hand on his chest.

    The wind increased its intensity for a moment, waving the beach''s sand, and the moonlight shone in upon the area.

    "Shioko, I... I can exin," the young tamer repeated, raising his hands and showing his good intentions. Shioko did not answer, sitting on the wooden beam and looking at her guildmate with wary eyes.

    "I hope your exnation is worthy of my expectations. In my whole life, I''ve never seen a Nekage do those things," shemented, looking at Kenji. The little dragon tilted its head with curiosity as if it wanted to understand the girl''s words.

    "Ouch!" ¨C unable to hold back a verse of pain, Shioko squeezed her wounded arm. The bandage that Enatsu had tied with care was soaking wet. Blood was dripping on her forearm and her hand, pouring from her fingers to the ground.

    "I think it''s best to ask for help first... I am sure that someone in the vige will be able to help us!" Yoichi suggested, approaching her. Suddenly, Shioko pulled a small dagger out of her boot and pointed it at him.

    "I said you must note any closer!" she yelled, threatening him.

    "Shioko, Yoichi just wants to help you..."

    "Same goes for you! Stay away!" the red-haired girl grunted, interrupting Enatsu''s words. A mixture of her own blood and that of the snake demon covered half of Shioko''s face.

    Knowing that gentle manners would only have wasted his time, Yoichi changed the pitch of his voice. "Is that any way to thank someone who has saved your ass twice? The real question is, ''why was a giant 20-metre-long snake able to heal its wounds? If you want to stay here and be mad at anybody, go ahead! I won''t waste any more time!"

    With a note of irritation, Yoichi quickly walked away from Shioko, entering the vige. For the first time, he had responded harshly to that girl, standing up to her.

    She stood still looking at him, with the dagger clutched in her hands. Enatsu, bored by her behaviour, shot an angry look at her and followed his friend through the destroyed huts.

    At the same time as the twopanions began searching for survivors, Taya approached Shioko. The mare did not seem to have suffered any permanent damage.

    "I... I''m confused, brother," Enatsu spoke. He jumped over yet another piece of wood on the sand, "that demon oozed wickedness from every pore. Besides, when you defeated it, you didn''t even get a chance to tame it. By the way... how did you do that? I mean... how did you create those hot mes out of nowhere?" he asked.

    "I don''t know, Enatsu. I just did it," Yoichi coolly answered, still annoyed by Shioko''s behaviour. As soon as he realized that he had responded acidly to his friend, the young tamer apologized to him, "excuse me, Enatsu. That girl really pisses me off sometimes. I risked dying to save her ass, and what is she doing? She''s pointing a dagger at me? Pff! I don''t care if her rank is higher than mine. Without my help, she would be in that monster''s belly by now," he snorted, kicking a piece of wood.

    The kicked object bounced off the sand, hitting some other rubble. The inner area of the vige had suffered more damage than the outer part. Four huts on the left side had been razed to the ground: on what remained of their wooden walls, the blood and pieces of organs of the Hebigure victims.

    "I''ve always told you it''s impossible to have a discussion with her. You''ve been too smooth, but I''m sure you''ve now received the lesson you deserve. Er¡­ how many people will it have killed?" Enatsu inquired, looking at the human remains that stained the debris. The young merchant covered his mouth in disgust.

    "I have no idea... I wonder how it did through..." while answering his friend''s question, Yoichi stepped on something noisy. He stopped and lifted his toe.

    Under it, thin, dry roots were barely visible under ayer of earth. The twopanions walked on a square of ploughed soil about ten meters per side without noticing it.

    Yoichi followed those familiar-looking roots with his eyes until he identified the nt from which they branched out. Struggling to realize what they were looking at, Enatsu and Yoichi looked at a bush identical to that of the Crimson Lotus.

    Its leaves were dry and defibrated, as well as its branches and thorns. On the sides of the bush, red and dried flowers were hung upside down.

    "What the fuck..." Yoichi murmured. Enatsu knelt before the bush, approaching his hand to a flower without saying a word. As soon as one of the petals touched his finger, the Crimson Lotus broke away from its stem, falling on the palm of the merchant''s hand.

 Chapter 104 - Village

    "That''s not possible. We''re stepping on... a Crimson Lotus camp," Enatsu whispered, looking around. Every single bush that grew on that piece ofnd was in the same condition.

    It was as if a sudden gue had fallen upon those strong and lush nts, dehydrating them and letting them die. ? ?

    "I don''t understand. What''s wrong? Maybe the inhabitants of this ce did not take care of the camp, or maybe there was a period of drought and ..." as he spoke, Yoichi heard the sound of the sea. "Okay, no. The dry weather is out of the question. There was a well even in that old abandoned tower."

    "None of this makes sense. The earth is still moist, Yoichi. These flowers died overnight," Enatsu exined, resting his hand on the soil next to the bush.

    "It seems that the only people left in the vige are some refugees over there, in those three huts" ¨C Shioko''s voice rumbled behind the two adventurers, who turned in her direction.

    The red-haired girl was on Taya''s back and was heading at a slow pace towards them. Her expression seemed genuinely displeased for her disrespectful behaviour towards Yoichi.

    "Come on then, there''s no more time to waste," Yoichi added, without crossing his eyes with Shioko. He put a hand on Enatsu''s shoulder, inviting him to get up and follow him.

    Proceeding with circumspection, the three adventurers approached ckborough''s only three illuminated huts. The Crimson Lotus camp was located right in the centre of the vige, in a strategic ce that was supposed to protect all its inhabitants.

    The central hut,rger than the other two, was a two-story wooden building. Although it had a thatched roof and was supported by fragile wooden walls, it looked like the residence of the vige leader.

    Above the wooden door, a hand-engraved inscription on the wall read the name of that godforsaken ce. A dim yellowish light pulsated from the two square windows on the high sides of the building.

    "Shh! Silence! Break open the weapons. Someone is approaching!"

    "Shut up and get ready to defend yourself! Children, stay back!"

    The voices of vigers hidden behind the thin walls of damp wood echoed out of the hut. Yoichi and Enatsu looked each other in the eye, happy to have found survivors.

    "Don''t worry, ckborough vigers. We don''t want to hurt you. The demonic snake that attacked your vige has been defeated. You are safe", Yoichi announced aloud, taking the reins of the situation.

    "What? Defeated?"

    "Does he mean it? Who are these people?"

    "Vige leader, did they really defeat the wild demon?"

    "Silence! Let me think!" the deep voice of an older man suddenly stated. After shutting everyone else up, the mysterious voice spoke again, "who are you and where do youe from? What are you doing in ckborough?" he asked, addressing the three unexpected visitors.

    "We are tamers from Goldhaven... we were not supposed to stop here, we were just passing through. But when we heard the screams¡­ well, we came to the rescue. The giant Hebigure was defeated, but one of us got hurt... we entrust ourselves to your solidarity, vige leader", Yoichi repeated, taking Shioko''s ce as captain of their team.

    "How do I know it''s not a trap? You could kill us all if I open the door and let you in!" the vige leader answered. "There are women and children and... we have already lost too many friends today", he repeated in an increasingly sad and dull voice.

    "If I had hostile intentions, I would have destroyed the thin walls of this hut with a single blow, don''t you think?" Yoichi spoke. After the unexpected fight, the young tamer seemed tired of talking.

    His sentence was followed by about ten seconds of silence, interspersed with the sound of the sea and the wind. Soon after, the door to the hut was opened from the inside.

    A short old man with an imposing headdress and wide grey cloth dresses crossed the threshold, stopping in front of the travellers. A high, thin hat, simr to Ryutaro''s, but much bigger and heavier, was adorned with feathers, small teeth, and trinkets of all kinds.

    The vige leader''s face was so wrinkled that his eyes disappeared through the skin of his cheekbones and his jowls, embellished with facial paints. Thin, long white moustaches hung from the sides of his mouth down to the ground, touching the sand.

    "Thank you for your hospitality," Yoichi affirmed, breaking his silence. Trying to show minimal respect for the generosity of the vige leader and the severe trauma his people had suffered that night, he knelt down, lowering his head.

    Enatsu did the same while Shioko sat on Taya''s back, a few feet behind. The vige chief looked intently at his guests through his always-closed eyes.

    "Which one of you is hurt?" the old man asked, looking at Yoichi from head to toe and recognizing him as the captain. "My colleague was bitten by the Hebigure. We would be incredibly grateful if..."

    Yoichi''s response was interrupted by the noise of Shioko''s feet on the sand. She got off her horse and approached the old vige leader holding her injured arm with her other hand. From the fingertips, the blood drops marked her way.

    Yoichi and Enatsu looked at each other for an instant, fearing that Shioko''s aggressive character might annoy that old man. If he had said something unpleasant or inappropriate, they would have missed the only chance of a peaceful approach with the people of ckborough.

    Against all expectations, Shioko passed over Yoichi and knelt before the vige leader. "Mh?" the old man crossed his arms and peered at her carefully.

    The red-haired tamer''s bloodied face was revealed to the unknown man, and her big eyes gawped at him. "I need help. I can''t feel my arm anymore," Shioko admitted, humbly asking for help.

    Unable to tell if that little old man had heard or seen anything, the three adventurers waited silently for an answer.

    "This way. You will receive the care you need as a reward for saving my people," he stated, opening the door of the hut and letting the three tamers in with a hand gesture.

 Chapter 105 - Hosting

    Shioko secured Taya to stay out the door. Along with herpanions, she entered the hut.

    The visible light from the windows came from rows of candles disorderly scattered across the room. When Yoichi and Enatsu set foot in the vige leader''s house, dozens of people looked at them fearfully. ??

    Women, children, older and young men: some of those who had managed to escape the Hebigure attack were sheltering themselves there in the hope that the great snake would spare their lives.

    The vigers were so numerous that they crowded almost the whole ground floor of the hut, upying every corner of its perimeter. Children were sitting on a chest, others above a closet, perched like owls.

    Entire families of survivors were under the protection of that strange little man, seemingly harmless. A narrow flight of spiral stairs led to the floor above, also full of people.

    When Shioko got through the door, aided by Enatsu, a group of women approached her. Three fattydies, dressed in humble peasant clothes, noticed her wounded arm and rushed to her rescue.

    "Please, mydy. Come this way, let us help you," one of them kindly said, coordinating herpanions and sticking a hand under Shioko''s good arm.

    Yoichi nodded, exchanging a stare with his guildmate. The children gathered on the chest looked admiringly at Kenji and Sora, amazed to see two brand new demons.

    "Don''t worry. Your friend is in very good hands now. She''ll be up and around in no time," the vige chief spoke, his hands crossed behind his shoulders. "You must be thirsty. Follow me this way, let me offer you something to drink", he continued, apanying his guests to the other side of the room.

    Shioko, walking next to the three women, reached arge thatched bed. With a bit of difficulty, shey down on it, under the gaze of a group of people.

    "Shoo,e on! Get away from here¡­ there''s nothing to look at," the most robust woman eximed, waving her arms outwards and driving everyone away. Meanwhile, the other two began to calm Shioko down, moving her hair from her face and preparing everything necessary for her medical treatment.

    "Forgive me if I didn''t show up earlier. Unfortunately, my poor memory is often mistaken for rudeness. My name is Kuniaki, but everyone here calls me ''Uncle Kuno''. I am the patron shaman of this vige" the old man reported. Opening a door of a small piece of furniture tucked under a table, he pulled out a y bottle.

    A shaman? Is he some kind of magician? He doesn''t look very strong. It''s clear that he wasn''t able to protect his people, Yoichi thought.

    "Hello, Kuniaki-sama. I''m Yoichi, and this is Enatsu. With Shioko, the wounded girl, we are tamers of the Nightdes, a guild from the capital," Yoichi answered, introducing himself to all those present.

    "This must be our lucky day then. No traveller everes in ckborough... if you hadn''t been around, probably none of us would have survived that wild beast," old Kuno replied. With his flickering hands, he handed two cups of water to his guests.

    Without the need for direct order, a young boy took the bottle from the table and ran towards Shioko, making sure she took a sip, too.

    "What happened exactly? How did such a great demon approach the vige?" Enatsu inquired, trying not to miss the point.

    "We noticed that the Crimson Lotus camp is... well, it''s gone," Yoichi added. In the eyes of the people around him, the severe pain caused by the losses of their fellow citizens.

    "I can''t answer that question either. Like any vige in Tentochu, ckborough is protected from its own Crimson Lotus camp, which drives out evil demons prowling hungry at night. Something different happened this time... the flowers began to wither for no reason," Kuniaki exined.

    "It was as if they could no longer draw nourishment from the ground" one of the vigers added, attracting the attention of the two travellers. "My son and I have been dealing with the ckborough Lotus'' ntation for years, and we''ve never had problems. Tonight, we noticed that some flower petals were losing consistency, and we immediately alerted Uncle Kuno," he reported.

    "But how is that possible? I am sure that the soil around here is particrly fertile. Your vige is located between the sea and the mountains. You should not have problems like this!" Enatsu acknowledged. Having risked his life, the merchant spoke to the two men as if he were ming them for what had happened.

    "But it wasn''t a water issue! Uncle Kuno, we watered the Crimson Lotus camp every day nonstop! Why should we have..."

    The man''s words were interrupted by a gesture of the shaman. Kuniaki raised his hand and silenced his fellow citizen. "I never doubted the work of you and your son. But it can happen to everyone to forget something", the old manmented, implicitly runching the usation.

    "Uncle Kuno, we have not forgotten anything!" the farmer who took care of the vige camp gulped once again. Beside him, his son looked worried.

    As Yoichi realized that all the other vigers were beginning to look at the two poor unfortunates in a bad way, he tried to refocus everyone''s attention to the most recent event.

    "Did you happen to see a ckish substance?" he asked, out of the blue.

    "Um? What are you talking about?" the farmer replied.

    "I am referring to a purple gas, almost ck. If you had seen that substance in the soil, it would be a crucial clue to solving this mystery", the young tamer repeated. "The Hebigure we defeated just now was soaked in that stuff. It healed its wounds and empowered its body, increasing that demon''s level of wickedness," he exined.

    Yoichi''s words caught the attention of all the vigers in the hut. Families and individuals hung on his every word as if he were a storyteller.

    "Father!" the farmer''s son gasped. Clinging with one hand to his father''s covered in dirt shirt, he looked him straight into the eye. "Perhaps I know what the Goldhaven warrior refers to!" the boy continued, his eyes wide open.

 Chapter 106 - Rally

    "What are you... oh, now I remember! I remember what you told me!" the farmer replied, keeping everyone in suspense.

    "And what are you waiting for to tell everyone then? Come on!" Uncle Kuno urged in a severe tone. ??

    "Yes! Um... for a few days, my son ims to have seen a strange ckish slush among the vegetation near the mountains. He and I often go west to collect firewood and... well, perhaps it is the same substance this young man is talking about!" the farmer responded, pointing to Yoichi.

    Hearing those intriguing words, the young tamer began to speak directly to the younger farmer, perhaps more brilliant than his father. The boy was about twelve years old, despite already being a worker. "Tell me, what exactly did you see? How was this sludge made? Have you tried to get close?" he asked.

    "I... um... I don''t know. I know the woods west of here like the back of my hand, but I''ve never seen anything like that. The area infected by that strange mud was devoid of vegetation, or rather... the nts that lived on that patch of soil were rotted, bending down and dying," the boy stammered, trying to remember every helpful information.

    "I remember it came from the steep slopes of the Southborne Mountains. It looked like the result of an earthflow, a kind of liquidndslideing from who knows where," he added.

    "The ckvault Mines..." Kuniaki whispered. The old vige shaman approached the boy, resting a hand on his shoulder.

    Before he could add anything else, Yoichi anticipated him, "what did youn just say, Kuno-sama? What does the ckvault Mines have to do with all this mess?"

    Kuniaki took a deep breath. He lifted his hand from the young farmer''s shoulder and rubbed it on his forehead. "There is an deep evil power hidden in the darkness of those caverns, my fellow travellers. Some time ago, during meditation, I had a strange vision of that ce. Despite my powerful shamanic arts, I couldn''t decipher that message," the vige chief admitted.

    "What kind of message? What did you see, Kuno-sama? You know, we happen to go right there," Enatsu added, looking at Yoichi out of the corner of his eye.

    "The vision was very confused. The light was swallowed up by darkness, and many red eyes sprang from the caverns. I sensed great danger and lost my breath, waking up suddenly. The ckvault Mines are a cursed ce, but I didn''t think they could affect my vige in any way," he spoke.

    Lots of red eyes. Is he talking about the Komoerus? It all starts to make sense. But I still can''t figure out the connection between that ce and the ck mud the boy was talking about. What''s really at ckvaul Mines? Yoichi thought, trying to paraphrase Kuniaki''s story.

    "When I was young, my grandmother told me several times about that ce. She told me that they were iron mines and that fell into disgrace," Enatsu interrupted, recalling the stories of his childhood.

    "In addition to iron, the ckvault mines were an important gold deposit. It is said that that gold has been used in the rooms of the Imperial Pce," the vige shaman confirmed. When he heard of the Nishiyama family pce, Yoichi thought back to Princess Sui.

    "People say that one day many years ago, the demons that popted that cave regained possession of their home. Wild and dark demons, much more evil than normal, killed every miner, devouring their flesh and bones. From that day on, the ckvault Mines became a dungeon", Kuniaki stated.

    Yoichi, slightly confused by that sentence, approached Enatsu. "How can a normal ce be a dungeon? I thought dungeons were just born that way," he whispered in his friend''s ear.

    "For the birth of a dungeon, the demons'' spirits must be stronger than those of human beings. If the demons manage to drive out the men, leaving them forever in the minority, the ce where they live bes a dungeon," Enatsu promptly replied, always ready to provide valuable exnations.

    "So... are you saying that every ce can potentially be a dungeon?" Yoichi asked again.

    "If it has no protection from wild demons, yes."

    "Uncle Kuno! Do you suspect that the giant demon who destroyed the vige came from there?" one man asked. A newborn baby was in his arms.

    "There''s only one way to find out," Yoichi interrupted, stepping further. Kuniaki looked at the young warrior, hoping that his following words would lift the morale of his people.

    "This mystery must be analyzed at the root. Yournd is no longer able to grow Crimson Lotus because of this dark energy, so until the problem is solved, you will forever be vulnerable to sudden attacks" ¨C his words generated incredible confusion.

    People in the room began to agitate, and theirints ovepped, creating deafening chaos. "Silence! Let him talk!" the vige chief yelled, raising his arms to increase his stature.

    As people continued to murmur, worried, Yoichi continued to speak. "If you give us all the information you have about the ckvault Mines, my colleagues and I will crush the threat, and yournd will return as fertile as it always has been!" he spoke, clenching his fists.

    Enatsu, knowing that hispanion would never change his mind, took courage. Putting aside his fear, relying on the fact that he had just defeated a giant demon, he added, "any clue can be useful. The cave''s nimetry, the species of demons that live there, the temperature, the presence of dark and light areas... just help us!"

    The merchant looked at hispanion, sensing empathy in his gaze. Yoichi was proud of Enatsu''s behavior, aware that those words required a great deal of effort because of his fearful character.

    As the crowd crammed inside the hut kept on mumbling confusing words, the young tamer looked for Shioko. The three fat women who had surrounded her were intent on stitching up her wound.

    The movements of the most experienced woman''s hand traced those of the big red-hot needle that stitched up the big cut on the biceps of the Nightdes tamer. After prating her skin, approaching the ps spaced due to the gash, the red-hot metal sutured the tissue, cauterizing the wound.

 Chapter 107 - Surgery

    Shioko clutched the yellowed sheet that covered the bed in her hands, resisting pain like a true war veteran. She did not say a word, covered in a cold sweat and gritting her teeth.

    "I drew a map some time ago. It shows the ckvault Mines and the surrounding areas," a man from the stairway eximed. "I... well, I could give it to you" he smiled, hoping to help. ??

    Yoichi smiled back, seeing in that gesture a sincere offer of help. "You''d make our task easier, my friend. Knowing theyout of that ce, we will look for the source of that dark energy more easily, avoiding losing the way", he replied, epting the offer.

    "There''s only one problem... the map I was talking about is somewhere in my house, and... uhm... I should check through the rubble," the bearded man continued, looking a little creepy but with a docile and sociable character.

    "You can go out. The threat has been contained. I know a lot of huts have been destroyed, but we''ve been able to save the others," he affirmed. "I suggest you to retreat to your homes and recover a few hours of sleep", he eximed aloud, addressing the crowd.

    "You have nothing to fear. As long as we stay here, no monster can attack you. We will be back from the ckvault Mines on time, and slowly, you will be able to rebuild the vige. I promise", the young tamer repeated, speaking with the confidence of a true experienced leader.

    The people around him calmed down, lowering their voice and looking at Yoichi with hopeful eyes. That unknown warrior, along with the other members of his team, had saved them and their families from certain death.

    The help he asked for was the slightest thanks for his gesture of disinterested solidarity. One at a time, each of the vigers who had more or less useful information about the ckvault Mines came forward.

    Before exiting the front door of Uncle Kuno''s house, men and women of all ages thanked Yoichi and Enatsu in person. The two travellers learned that in addition to the Komoerus, other species of demons such as dark and rock types inhabited the dungeon. Besides, the interior of the caves stretched for almost two square kilometres, and they would not have missed the chance to meet rare and dangerous demons.

    None of the citizens seemed to be a tamer: ckborough weed ordinary people who had decided to spend their lives exercising the ancient arts of fishing and agriculture, building a solidmunity.

    Despite recent events, which had darkened the faces of all those who had lost their loved ones, the united family vibe had never disappeared, making a damp hut like that a warm and weing ce.

    Kuniaki''s house emptied noticeably, and about a dozen people remained upstairs. Yoichi, without saying anything, realized that they were the most unfortunate.

    "The snake demon took everything from them. I know them; they''re going to take a while to get back on track. I think I''ll host them here for as long as they want," the vige chief exined, uncorking a jug of sak¨¨ and filling his empty cup.

    Yoichi and Enatsu drank with him, looking out of the corner of their eyes Shioko, still in the corner of the room. One of the fat women who had taken care of her was intent on dipping a cloth into a bucket of hot water, washing away the blood.

    The red-haired tamer wound had been carefully sutured, and the skin was well stretched and cauterized. The scar would have hardened and the memory of that fight would remain indelibly written on her body.

    The youngest of the three housewives cleaned her face and fixed her hair, giving her a feminine andposed appearance.

    "It often happens that our fishermen get injured with the tools of the trade or that the farmers get hurt while cutting wood. Those three women are used to closing cuts and suture wounds. Their ability would rival Tentochu''s greatest healers," Kuniakimented. Noticing that his two guests were silently worrying about their partner, he told them a few words offort.

    After greeting the half-sleepy Shioko, the three women got up and prepared to join their husbands outside the vige leader''s house.

    They cordially greeted Kuniaki and the two young warriors beside him with a bow of their heads, showing deep gratitude. As Yoichi politely answered the greeting, the fattest of them approached him.

    "If that tooth had been stuck in her arm for longer, it would have severed the artery, and she would have bled to death. Congrattions, boy... you saved her life," she smiled. Her tiny brown eyes looked like two small buttons hidden by prominent red cheeks.

    "I... I... I don''t know what to say, " Yoichi stammered, happy for the news. "How soon can we leave?"

    "The ointment she swallowed will make her sleep for a few hours and heal the wound from the inside. I think right after the early hours of dawn, she''ll be able to get back on the road," the fat housewife promptly replied. "Don''t hesitate to call me if you notice anything strange. Stay close to her, boy. She needs a friend to assist her," she added, amicably clutching Yoichi''s shoulder. Together with her two colleagues, she walked out of the hut, closing the door.

    Yoichi approached Shioko, looking at her with thoughtful eyes. Her hair was neater than usual, tied in a braid that hung from the side of the bed, and her face seemed devoid of any suffering.

    The wound just got out of surgery was facing upwards to ensure the proper transpiration, and the leather armour that covered her chest had been untied, leaving her lungs free to fill with air.

    Yoichi''s gaze inadvertently fell on Shioko''s uncovered belly, just below theces. To his amazement, he noticed that under the fabric band used as a bra, a huge ck tattoo ran almost her entire body, from the middle of her chest to the sides of her abdomen.

    Trying to keep a lid of his hormones as an eighteen-year-old boy, Yoichi touched his hand, hoping, within himself, that Shioko could soon go back to fighting and travelling.

 Chapter 108 - Recap

    After a few words exchanged with old Kuniaki and another cup of sak¨¨, Yoichi and Enatsu momentarily left the hut. The two adventurers stopped shortly after the door.

    Sitting on an inverted wooden beam used as a bench, they contemted the sky. The still high moon was slowly giving way to the typical glow of dawn, as if ''she'' and the sun were exchanging greetings before the work shift change. ??

    "Who would have thought we''d be in such a situation?" Enatsu sighed. "Until a few days ago, if someone had told me that I would join a guild and travel south, I would never have believed it", he remarked, closing his eyes and stretching his arms.

    "It''s nice to be able to share all this with a true friend, Enatsu. However, I can''t stop thinking about that purple-eyed monster," Yoichi replied. "That ck smoke that healed its wounds twice... well, that thing haunts me, my friend," he added.

    "The important thing is that you defeated it, right? Do you think we''re going to meet other demons of that size? I didn''t even think it was possible."

    "After defeating it, Kenji didn''t receive any XP points, nor did I get the chance to tame it. That wasn''t a demon like the others, Enatsu... I have a bad feeling" ¨C with his words, Yoichi exined to his friend that the security shown in front of ckborough''s vigers was only apparent.

    In fact, he had been filled with deep anxiety arising from that still unknown mystery. What was the substance that wrapped the Hebigure? What was its real power? How could it be stopped if they didn''t even know where it came from?

    Many questions gripped Yoichi''s thoughts, forcing him into a state of slight distress. The mission to the ckvault Mines had switched to second ce: the lives of all those people depended on the sess of their new main quest.

    "It didn''t receive XP points? This is weird. Are you sure about it?" Enatsu inquired, touching his beard.

    "Yes. I''ll sound crazy to say that, but... I think there''s a connection between Kenji''s mes and that dark smoke," Yoichi admitted. Those unexpected words opened up a new scenario in the merchant''s mind, who looked at his friend in confusion.

    "Kenji''s mes? What are you talking about? Hold on... you happen to be saying that yourst attack..." ¨C when Enatsu saw Yoichi nodding his head, he shut up.

    "The mes I unleashed were not made of normal fire. The Hebigure''s imprable armour, its bones, its teeth, even the spikes on its spine... all those were melted in a matter of seconds. I doubt a normal fire will have that effect," Yoichi exined. "What if it is the only way to counter the darkness?"

    "When Shioko hit that wild demon, I was sure she had centred its head. When it got up, I couldn''t believe my eyes," Enatsu recapped, trying to analyze in detail thest events.

    "On the contrary, when you hit him with the mes unleashed from your arms, the dark gas evaporated from the reptile body of the Hebigure, as if it were undergoing a kind of purification process", the merchant acknowledged.

    Continuing to touch his beard, Enatsu was slowly putting the pieces together. "Purification... yes, I think that''s the right word," Yoichi spoke. Recalling the words of the wise Ryutaro, Yoichi knew perfectly that he could not talk to anyone about the true nature of his Oracle.

    However, for the umpteenth time, Enatsu had given him confirmation that he was a trusted friend. Word after word, the young tamer tried to give some clues to his travellingpanion, making him guess the importance of his dragon pet.

    "Hey, hey. Hold on. I''m losing focus! Kenji''s a Nekage, okay? A fire-like demon. Even though I don''t know by heart the skills of its species, I can tell you that no Nekage allows its tamer to wrap his arms with that magic fire, okay?" Enatsu stuttered. He shook his head as if he wanted to tidy up his thoughts.

    "I really hope I can save these people. Shioko described them as grumpy and unreliable people, but it is evident that she was wrong. Their kindness saved her life. I''m d we spent our night right here," Yoichi stated.

    For a few seconds, tiredness and anxiety had taken over the young tamer. Tired of keeping that great secret, he was about to give in and tell Enatsu about the dragon''s vision.

    Without further exnation, Yoichi decided to quickly change his speech, focusing attention on their next destination.

    As the sunrise sun began to illuminate the thatched roofs of the hut that remained intact, one of the men previously sheltered at Kuniaki''s approached the two Nightdes warriors.

    "I found the map I told you. It had ended up under a heavy trunk, and... sorry, the side ripped a little. However, what remains is clear and legible. Here, take this," the bearded man said, delivering an unfurled scroll in Yoichi''s hands.

    "Thank you. I''m sure it wille in handy," he thanked, bowing his head. The man nodded and walked away, turning the corner and disappearing through the vige''s narrow alleys.

    Before the two friends saw the map, the door to the vige chief''s hut opened. The old Kuniaki stepped out, looking with his half-closed eyes at the two guests.

    "We''re here, Kuniaki," Enatsu called, holding back a yawn.

    The shaman came out of the hut and, strolling, sat on their bench, next to Yoichi. "I have something for you, young warrior of Goldhaven. A little gift to thank you for your heroics," he spoke. In his hands, he swung a small leather pouch.

    Yoichi grabbed the sack, looking at it closely. With uracy, he pulled thece that kept it closed and stuck his fingers inside. The fingertips touched a cold and rough object of a weird texture.

    When he pulled it out of the pouch, Yoichi continued to look at it without understanding what it was. "I can''t believe it!" Enatsu murmured.

    "Thank you, Uncle Kuno. But what is it?" Yoichi asked, touching his nape.

 Chapter 109 - Rare Item

    The old shaman crossed his arms, looking at Enatsu. "That''s a keikemon, isn''t it?" the merchant asked, looking at the strange fruit in Yoichi''s hands.

    "Correct" Kuniaki answered, his closed eyes pointing towards the object. From the way he looked at it, he seemed not very happy to get rid of it. ??

    "Um... does anyone exin to me what makes this lemon so special?" Yoichi interrupted, referring to that citrus fruit.

    "The keikemon is a rare fruit. It is said that it only grows in remote inds off the east coast of Tentochu. At the Old Bazaar, it would be worth a fortune!" Enatsu boomed, immediately imagining the profit they would be able to make.

    "It is also called the ''fruit of experience''. Half for you and the other half for your demon. By eating it together, it will receive twice as many XP points for a period of 24 hours," Kuniaki exined.

    "Double XP points? Wow! Thank you! It''s a wonderful gift... I don''t know what to say!" Yoichi rejoiced, looking closely at the rough surface of the blue fruit.

    "I believe this is the least that the ckborough chief can do on behalf of his people. It''s not much, but that''s all I can offer you," the old shaman nodded, looking away.

    In front of them, the vige ruins slowly took shape under the red rays of the sunrise sun.

    "Are you sure you want to give it to me? Are there no tamers from this vige who can use it?" Yoichi asked. The young tamer hoped for a positive response in his heart, knowing that that magical fruit would substantially benefit his growth as a professional tamer.

    "It was given to me by an old friend who owed me a favour. Now, it belongs to you" Kuniaki smiled. He put his hands on the wooden bench and, emitting a verse of effort, used them to bring his feet back to the ground.

    Enatsu and Yoichi remained a more few seconds still to watch that strange lemon-shaped fruit with an unnatural colour. Although they had not arrived in time to save all the vigers who died during the attack, the gratitude shown by the vige chief was like a breath of fresh air for their heartbroken hearts.

    A gesture of kindness from a man much older than them gave hope to the two travellers. After all, protecting the weakest from the wild demons lurking at night was quite rewarding.

    Not knowing what else to add and not wanting the old vige chief to change his mind, Yoichi slipped the keikemon into its pouch and then into his leather bag.

    The sunlight finally illuminated his face, and his lungs filled with fresh airing from the sea. A sea breeze blew towards the mountains, bringing with it the noise and smell of the waves.

    As Yoichi remembered that strange ck substance that came out of the Hebigure scales, someone else walked out the door. The wooden wing opened, squeaking, stopping after about thirty centimetres due to the rust of the hinges.

    Shioko''s white hand grabbed the side of the door, helping the rest of the body out of the hut. As predicted by the fattydy who had stitched up her wound, the Nightdes'' tamer and the sun woke up from their sleep almost simultaneously.

    Limping slightly due to her sore legs, Shioko looked around, opening her eyes still full of sleep. With the other hand, she tore away from his hair thece that held the braid still.

    Shaking her head, she let her red hair freely float around: Shioko was a wild, unruly girl, and those long hair somehow represented her untamed and strong character.

    Like her, her hair didn''t need order andces to stay still. When the densest lock waved in Yoichi''s direction, it unleashed a pleasant smell, simr to that of freshly flowered roses.

    The young tamer and the other two were motionless watching the scene as if they did not want to interrupt the girl''s awakening abruptly. During those moments, Yoichi was able to see Shioko''s fragile side. A wave of femininity and sweetness enveloped her, making her watchers forget that they were in the presence of one of the strongest warriors in the Nightdes guild.

    "How do you feel?" Yoichi asked suddenly, breaking the magic and drawing her gaze. Against all expectations, Shioko looked at her travellingpanion with a half-smile painted on her lips.

    "I''m fine, thank you. The women who took care of me were amazing, and the ointment they gave me was miraculous," she replied, moving her arm and stretching her shoulder. She seemed to be particrly happy to see Yoichi and Enatsu again.

    "We were waiting for you. Oh, even Taya!" Yoichi added, pointing to his partner''s mare with his hand. It had remained all night huddled at the corner of the hut, faithfully waiting for its knight.

    After greeting her horse and kissing her muzzle as she usually did, Shioko took a deep breath. "Because of me, we''re behind schedule. Thank you for your hospitality, Kuniaki, but we must get back on the road immediately", she affirmed with conviction, restoring her serious expression.

    Yoichi and Enatsu looked at each other, sharing their confusion. None of them could decipher that girl''s cryptic attitude, but both were d she was safe and sound.

    "You don''t have to apologize, Shioko. It could have happened to anyone. You fought on the front line, and that giant demon exceeded your expectations. Anyway, Uncle Kuno... my colleague is right. We have to go," Yoichi concluded, standing up and keeping on stretching his arms.

    As soon as he got up, Kenji, crouching under the wooden bench, did the same. Both the dragon pet and Sora were ready to follow their masters on the journey. No sign of Nobu.

    "Gentlemen!" a distant voice called, drawing the attention of the three travellers. "I believe this belongs to you. My wife found it just a few minutes ago as it was drinking some water near my farm," he continued, holding the bridles of a horse in his hands.

    Enatsu''s dispersed horse followed the gentle viger slowly, heavily breathing from itsrge nostrils with his gaze down. "Oh, thank you so much! Without my horse, I wouldn''t have known how to do it! I mean it!" ¨C contrary to what he had just said, the absent-minded merchant had not even thought about that detail, hoping that hispanion''s strong Inoshuma would carry both of them.

 Chapter 110 - Key Concepts

    Enatsu grabbed the reins of his horse, stroking its coat. Fortunately, the merchant''s steed had not lost the saddle and the rest of the equipment in the mess of the rush.

    Little by little, all the citizens of ckborough approached their three saviours, forming a circle behind their vige leader. Men, women and children showed their gratitude with their eyes, apanied by profound sadness. ??

    The stench of corpses wedged in the rubble of destroyed huts soaked the air of that fishing vige, making the atmosphere particrly gloomy.

    Exchanging gratitude with Uncle Kuno, the Nightdes team moved away from ckborough. As the sand of the coast was lifted from their horses'' hooves, the outline of the vige houses drifted further and further away, disappearing behind them.

    Yoichi recalled Kenji and summoned Ichiro. The Inoshuma was rested and pumped, having spent thest few hours inside its Demon Tooth.

    "There''s something you need to know," Yoichi suddenly eximed, turning to Shioko. "While you were in surgery, we discovered something about the strange substance that healed the Hebigure''s wounds" he continued.

    Taking advantage of the long journey ahead, the young tamer told his colleague about the mud spotted by the young farmer, underlining that it may be somehow connected to the Crimson Lotus camp and all thetest strange events.

    Exining to Shioko that the ckvault Mines were probably the ce where they would find the source of that dark and unknown energy, Yoichi sought in her eyes the courage he needed to achieve that feat.

    The morning sun rose high in the sky, and, oveing the coastal stretch, the three adventurers rode ind, moving further and further away from the sea. Yoichi, now ustomed to the stability of Ichiro''s ride, used that downtime to take a gander at the map.

    He pulled the scroll out of his backpack, careful not to let it fly away. While one hand was clinging to the red mane of the Inoshuma, the other kept the map still on its back.

    The parchment depicted the far south part of Tentochu and the undisputed protagonist of that drawing, the ckvault Mines. Their entrance was portrayed in the centre of the map, and on the left side of the parchment, a magnification showed itsyout.

    A fewrge rooms characterized that medium difficulty dungeon. The elementary shapes of its floorn emphasized the cave''s width, extended for about two square kilometres.

    On the other side of the sheet, the area surrounding the entrance appeared rich in forest vegetation: tall evergreen trees were carefully drawn and formed a kind of natural semicircle bordering the mountains.

    Tentochu is a vast region and, as far as I know, it offers an incredible variety ofndscapes. However, this area is empty and scanty, as if the human being has voluntarily decided not to set foot on it, Yoichi thought.

    Out of the corner of his eye, he made sure that Ichiro followed the trail of hispanions. The edgyndscape of the mountains and rocky hills had wholly reced the greyish beach, souring the road curves.

    Suddenly, the same trees depicted on Yoichi''s handmade map took shape behind a hill. A coniferous forest sprang overbearingly from the reddish soil, rising for tens of meters.

    "We''re almost there. Beyond that forest, we''ll find the ckvault Mines," Shioko spoke, spurring Taya with the heels of her feet. From the way she moved her arm, she seemed to havepletely recovered her strength.

    Without further ado, the three adventurers continued to ride southwest. Although they had left only a day earlier, the sudden events they had experienced had lengthened their conception of time.

    Theck of fauna and vegetation in that area of the region made the trip even slower and more tedious. However, the desire to discover the mystery that revolved around that strange dark substance prevailed over boredom, encouraging the warriors to reach their destination quickly.

    Beyond yet another rocky hill, a footpath opened among other trees: their prominent tops touched upwards, not letting the afternoon sunlight reach the undergrowth.

    Those trees seemed to have the task of protecting the forest from desecrators, from anyone who wanted to disturb without permission the creepy silence that ruled among their branches.

    The winding path meandered through conifers and bushes, sometimes mixing with vegetation. The sound of crickets and other nocturnal insects made the leaves vibrate, making the three travellers blood run cold.

    Enatsu, seized by his usual fear of the dark, moved his horse closer to those of his friends. The merchant''s gaze swung from right to left as if preparing to spot a sudden danger.

    "Why don''t you activate Nobu''s power? I think we could use some light," he whispered, speaking like an intruder inside a library.

    "Nobu''s light would attract to us all the demons in the area. Before you speak, think about what you say" ¨C Shioko''s cold response helped to lower the forest temperature.

    "Even if we had arrived during the day, there would have been no difference" Yoichimented, looking up. "Trees and mountains prevent light from filtering. I''m pretty sure this ce is perpetually plunged into darkness. It gives me the fucking creeps," he continued, admitting he was scared.

    "Dungeons are always located in ces like this, far from civilization. In the darkness, the Komoerus of the ckvault Mines managed to reim their cave. When we reach the entrance to the mine, we will be invisible to the external demons, and I can finally activate Nobu''s light skill," Shioko exined. In her voice, a flicker of fear.

    "Invisible? What are you talking about?" Yoichi asked, astonished.

    "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Each dungeon has only one entrance and is defined by the presence of the ''Demonic Veil'', a kind of invisible barrier that separates it from the outside world" Enatsu interrupted. "Do you remember that if you go out without firstpleting the dungeon, the level of your pets gets halved? Well, that''s what it''s all about. If you cross the Demon Veil, you can''t go back, Yoichi."

    "Not only that. Everything inside, beyond it, is not visible from the outside. In our case, beyond that invisible barrier, all dark-type demons will be enhanced," Shioko added, rifying some key concepts.

 Chapter 111 - Woods

    "Oh, shit. I didn''t know this detail. I wonder why Hyobe and his friend faced the dungeon on their own... what were they hoping to do?" Yoichi thought aloud. In his mind, he remembered the face of the man in the cowboy hat.

    Seized by the courage of that moment, he had not thought about how difficult it could be to find an object as small as a ne in such a dark ce. ording to ckborough vigers, there were so many Komoerus inside the mine to prevent anyone from reaching the boss. ??

    "Perhaps we were wrong toe here¡­ I mean, only the three of us. I don''t question your strength, Shioko, but are you sure that in your state you''re able to fight?" Enatsu asked, interrupting Yoichi''s thoughts.

    "I''ve already told you. I havepleted this dungeon numerous times already, I know it perfectly. Once that fucking ne is recovered, we''ll head to the dungeon core and kill the boss. At that point, we can cross the Demonic Veil without suffering any penalty", the red-haired tamer replied superficially.

    Enatsu took a deep, long breath. Unlike other times, when Yoichi reassured him and tried to give him courage, this time the young tamer was assailed by unexpected anguish.

    Strong negative energy came from the end of that path. He sensed that something bad and unexpected would turn the tables.

    Believing that those sensations hade from that macabre forest, Yoichi tried not to think about it, reacting positively. He petted Ichiro, thinking about how much such an experience would make him grow: a dungeon like that was a perfect opportunity to use on Kenji the keikemon given to him by Kuniaki.

    I''m going to grab the ne and go back to Ambershire. After receiving the reward I deserve, I wille back to Ryutaro and dedicate myself to cultivate my spirit, he thought. Satisfied with having so many things to do, he too spurred his demonic horse, ordering it to speed up the pace.

    The vegetation that lined the path became denser and the red soil road started to get lost under the roots of the trees. The shadow of the mountain became increasingly imposing as the three adventurers approached its foot.

    Due to the total absence of the sun''s rays, the air in the vicinity of the mine was cold and humid. The reflection of the dim afternoon light, however, was enough to illuminate the path, as that gloomy forest wanted the three Nightdes to reach its jaws.

    The singing of crickets sounded more and more intense and therge bushes thickened, blocking part of the road with their protruding branches. Suddenly, Taya''s front hooves stepped on something sticky.

    *st*st* - The red-haired tamer mare silently neighed, frantically moving its legs forward. "Hey, what''s going on?" Shioko asked, leaning out of her horse and looking down.

    Yoichi and Enatsu''s narrowed eyes caught a glimpse of something: a ck, oil-dense mud upied every corner of the narrow path, stretching from both sides.

    With a jump-like movement, Taya quickly moved from its position, freeing its hooves. "What the fuck is this stuff?" Shioko gasped again, sure she had never seen anything like it.

    "Tweet! Tweet!" Sora frantically chirped, breaking its silence and making Enatsu jump. "Hey, what''s wrong with you? Be quiet, Sora! This is not the time!"

    "Hiii! Frr... hiii!" ¨C the Waromu chirping and Ichiro''s nitrite joined, sharing their anxiety. Both demons looked frightened by that ckish substance and had no desire to get any closer.

    "Stay here!" Yoichi whispered in the ear of his Inoshuma. After those words, he jumped off his horse, walking with circumspection towards the ck mud.

    "Yoichi? What are you doing, brother? I... I don''t think it''s a good idea," Enatsu trembled, stroking Sora and helping it calm down. Shioko witnessed the scene in silence.

    When Yoichi''s feet stopped in front of the mud, the young tamer crouched down, trying to see it up close. He moved his body sideways, making sure he did not cover that substance with his own shadow.

    *plop*blurp* - with a movement of his hand, he silenced hispanions, trying to perceive that strange sound. That ck mud pulsated, vibrated, and small bubbles formed on its surface.

    Consisting of a dense sticky and wet matrix, it seemed a living substance, able to move on its own will. Yochi''s eyes tried to trace the long mud tongue, but they quickly noticed that it entered the darkness of the vegetation.

    Moving a few inches to the right, he noticed that the ck mud had reached the trees near the path, totally covering the red soil and submerging their roots: the trunks of those majestic conifers, in those ces, appeared rotten and decadent.

    Remains of small rodents and reptiles were soaked in sticky mud, choke to death and consumed by it. When Yoichi noticed all these little details, he stood up, looking at the path ahead with a clear head.

    "There is no doubt. It''s the same dark substance that reached ckborough and destroyed the Crimson Lotus ntation," he affirmed with conviction. His gaze was still pointed towards the darkness.

    "The path is impracticable. It just seems like we''ll have to walk on foot," Shioko replied, ready to solve the problem.

    "Walking to such a ce? I hope you''re joking!" Enatsu gulped. "How do you know our horses will stay safe? How long till we reach the mine?" he added, trembling with fear.

    Shioko came down Taya''s back, stroking her coat and calming it down. "My Taya is used to stay alone. She can take care of herself," she answered, moving away from the ck mud for a few meters.

    The red-haired tamer grabbed the reins of Enatsu''s horse, pulling it with her. "Hey, watch out! You make me fall!" the merchant mumbled, knowing he had no decision-making power.

    "You can stay here with the horses if you want. All alone, in the darkness. You know better than I do that when night falls, this ce will be infested with demons," Shioko spoke, looking sternly at the young merchant. Enatsu looked away, rejecting the proposal.

 Chapter 112 - Mud

    "As I thought. Get off your horse, there''s no time to lose," the girl replied. Pulling the reins of Enatsu''s horse, she tied them to Taya''s.

    With a particrly strong knot, Shioko made sure the two horses were connected and had the space to move freely. "What are you doing? Why have you t..." ??

    "In this way, we will be sure to find them exactly where we need them to be. Taya will escort your horse out of this ce. They will wait for us right after the woods, in a safe ce", Shioko exined, interrupting the stammering words of her guildmate.

    "But how are we going to call them back?" Enatsu asked again. After her words, she hit Taya''s back with a p. "Go!" she yelled, ordering her horse to run away.

    "Hiii" rising on her hind legs, Taya snapped in the opposite direction to that of the three adventurers: the rope between it and Enatsu''s horse suddenly stretched, forcing the second steed to follow the rush.

    "Oh, fuck!" Enatsu eximed, falling backward. As Soon as Sora got up in the air, the merchant fell with his back onto the soft ground below. After a few seconds, both horses disappeared among the dense vegetation.

    "Ouch! My butt hurts! Fuck, you could have waited another second!" Enatsu murmured, touching his lower back and getting up awkwardly.

    Shioko did not answer, walking towards the mine. When her gaze crossed Yoichi''s, the two tamers exchanged a smile. Ever since Yoichi had saved her from the jaws of the Hebigure, she has looked at him differently, as if she had finally recognized his tamer''s abilities.

    Unlike Enatsu, who had flooded his friend with questions, she had never asked Yoichi how did he manage to fire mes from his arms. In all likelihood, it did not surprise her particrly.

    "See youter, Ichiro. Thank you for getting me here," he greeted, petting the horse''s muzzle and treating it with immense respect. "Azron!" he eximed, locking it back in its Demon Tooth.

    One step at a time, the three adventurers began to walk on the dense sludge, entering the darkest area of that bleak forest. Emitting a liquid noise and disgusting smell, the ck mud covered their boots, touching their ankles.

    "Urgh! It smells like rotten meat!" Enatsu quaked, who kept talking to fill the silence. The remains of the small animals trapped in that substance and the undergrowth that could not breathe under that dense mass gave the mud a sickening smell.

    Proceeding with circumspection, Yoichi opened the line. With one arm always pointed forward, he moved the low branches of the trees and those of the bushes that hindered the path.

    On contact with his hands, they crumbled as if they were devoid of texture. The dark mud under their feet kept boiling loudly.

    "We have almost reached the foot of the mountain and are following the path. ording to the map, we should have almost arrived at the entrance and..."

    "Shh..." Shioko whispered, interrupting Yoichi''s speech. The red-haired tamer stopped suddenly, moving a hand to her bow.

    Noticing that his colleague had heard something suspicious, Yoichi pulled the dagger out of his belt, wielding it with the de facing down.

    "Hey, why did you stop? If you''re kidding or something, I..."

    "Shh! Be quiet, fuck!" Shioko repeated, unable to focus on that indistinct noise. The merchant shut his mouth, while his legs continued to tremble like leaves in the wind.

    *umpf*umpf*frush* - the intense sound of a deep and constant breath echoed through the woods. Dry leaves seemed to vibrate under its action.

    When they reached maximum silence, Yoichi and Shioko simultaneously looked in the same direction, right in front of them. At the end of the path, an obscure presence was waiting for them.

    That pulsating breath came from less than a hundred meters away, right at the entrance to the mine. The mountain changed into a cliff with sharp and cutting edges. The rock face seemed to draw a malignant face, whose eyes, represented by tworge elliptical caves, sprang over the trees.

    "I think it''s time to summon our Oracles, Yoichi" Shioko suggested in a low voice, bringing her partner back with his feet on the ground. The fear of facing a Hebigure-like monster turned into a thrill running down his back.

    Yoichi nodded, storing the dagger and clenching his fists, ready to pronounce Kenji''s real name. "Enatsu, try to be useful and not get in the way. On this sticky mud, it will not be easy to save your ass" the red-haired tamer added, knowing she brought up a sore spot.

    "Sora''s power is useless in such a dark ce. Maybe you''d better recall it, brother," Yoichi spoke, saying the same thing, but kindly.

    Enatsu stopped trembling, annoyed to be treated as a burden. Clenching his fists, he realized that what was about to begin was his true first guild-warrior mission. If he achieved it, he would prove to himself and his father that he could be a real tamer, like histe grandfather.

    Communicating only with their eyes, the three Nightdes warriors uttered the true names of the demons they intended to field.

    After the red air current that summoned Kenji, a luminous trail shaped Nobu''s wings. Lastly, Sora entered Enatsu''s chest and in its ce, his Moruba, the mole demon, appeared in the ck mud.

    *umpf*umpf*groaargh* - the beast''s breath in front of them intensified, bing increasingly heavier and deeper. Whatever was waiting for them, had just perceived the presence of other demons.

    "Move on, without hesitation!" Shiokomanded, pointing her arm forward and ordering the charge. After that gesture, her hand slid into the quiver and pulled out a light arrow, loading it on the bow.

    Before herradesunched themselves into a blind attack, the experienced tamer shot the arrow forward. As it passed, the magical object illuminated the area, entirely shrouded in mud.

    The ck substance covered each tree and nt, rising from the ground and extending above the trunks. Suddenly, the arrow hit something.

 Chapter 113 - Irascible

    *tin* - a metallic tinkle followed the impact of the light arrow. The magic glow of the object bounced away, illuminating the body of a massive demon for only a moment.

    When the first arrow fired vanished into the darkness, without even being able to scratch the enemy, Shioko chose to activate Nobu''s luminous power. ??

    While Kenji was clinging to Yoichi''s shoulders and Enatsu''s Moruba had disappeared underground, Nobu''s tail began to shine, illuminating the interior of the dense forest.

    Tracing the rush of its tamer, the butterfly demon remained in mid-air, followed at a quick pace by Yoichi and Enatsu. Sticky mud prevented them from sprinting, but, being unevenly distributed on the ground, they still managed to move in a rough run.

    Charging towards an enemy that would be illuminated at any moment, Yoichi activated Kenji''s first skill. One by one, the ck scales appeared on his arms, enhancing his upper limbs.

    *umpf*umpf* - The deep breath of the beast at the entrance to the cave became stronger and stronger, never moving from that position. Shioko grabbed a second light arrow from the quiver, shooting it in less than two seconds.

    The skill with which the red-haired tamer moved and fired arrows with her bow was breathtaking. Although the arrows did not appear to damage the target, Shioko remained one of Tentochu''s most skilled archers.

    *tin* - For the second time, the arrow bounced off a iron surface, chipping it. Next to it, the white light illuminated a round ck eye devoid of the pupil.

    When the demon in front of the three adventurers entered the luminous raying from Nobu''s tail, the attentive Enatsu immediately managed to distinguish its features.

    Four legs supported arge and heavy swine body with hooves sunk in the ck mud. The boar demon''s dark fur was barely visible under its armour.

    A kind of rusty iron armour covered its entire body, especially the most sensitive parts: a long iron te ran along its spine, interrupting on its forehead and leaving room for two other metal wings falling on the sides of its nose.

    The sides of that rabid boar, more than two meters high and wide, were also covered with stiff, heavy armor. Its pointed ears swung left and right, trying to iste the sounds of the enemies from those of the insects that popted the forest.

    That irremovable giant guarded the entrance to the mine, as if someone had given it the order not to let anyone through.

    "That Yoroishi... it is giant too!" Enatsu shouted, slowing down his advance. With his feet wedged in a denseryer of mud, the young merchant let his friends approach first.

    Meanwhile, beneath the surface, his mole demon was nning something guided by his mind.

    "Yoroishi? What kind of demon is that?" Yoichi asked aloud as Shioko loaded another arrow on the bow.

    "It''s an earth-type demon! None of our demons should be particrly effective against that¡­ thing... but what''s worse is its bulk! Usually, the Yoroishi are very..." before Enatsu finished the sentence, the boar demon snarled strongly, lowering its head and charging towards Yoichi.

    "... irascible! Aaargh!" the merchant concluded, deviating from the path and running to hide behind a tree.

    "Oh fuck! Shioko, move away from there!" Yoichi shouted. The thick ck mud on the ground prevented him from jumping and moving nimbly. Because of that unexpected penalty, dodging the attacks of the giant tank Yoroishi would have been very difficult.

    The third light arrow struck the body of the wild demon, slinging between two iron scales and piercing its ribs. "Uaaarrgh!" the Yoroishi thundered, slowing down in pain and suddenly changing direction.

    Four huge fangs, much longer and sharper than Ichiro''s, came out of its lower jaw. After being wounded by Shioko''s clean shot, the boar demon charged at her, looking away from Yoichi.

    The young tamer was forced to cling to a tree trunk not to fall, and Kenji jumped on a low branch, using its ws not to slide down.

    Due to the mud covering the middle part of the tree trunks, the path had suddenly be a narrow corridor, favouring the Yoroishi attacks. The wild boar demon, with its bulk, upied more than half of that natural corridor.

    Voluntarily luring the enemy to her, Shioko rotated on herself and jumped backwards, firing another arrow. With disconcerting precision, she hit the eye of the wild demon, blinding it.

    "Uaaargh! Grooargh!" ¨C emitting harrowing verses, like any wild boar, the Yoroichi continued to charge, albeit losing sight of the target. Having suffered a blow to the face, the trajectory of its run deviated slightly towards a nearby tree.

    As Shioko fell to the ground, suffering no damage from the mud, the boar''s hard forehead crushed powerfully onto a tree, breaking its trunk like a thin stick.

    *crash* - small splinters of wood flew in every direction, as did the twigs that detached from the tree trunk, forcing Nobu to dodge them.

    The butterfly demon flew in a circle without abandoning its tamer. After hitting the tree, the Yoroichi continued to run and roar, hitting the row of trees behind and knocking them down like dominos.

    "Fuck, Shioko! Come here, grab my arm!" Yoichi gasped, clumsily reaching for her friend. Creeping his boots slowly into the mud, the young tamer managed to touch Shioko''s hand: when her white hand grabbed one of the thick fingers of Yoichi''s scaled hand, he pulled her out of the sticky substance that imprisoned her.

    The ck mud had wrapped all her legs and the lower part of her back. However, despite the disgust generated by that stench, the boar continued to run far from nobu''s light, ready to strike again.

    "Your arrow! It hit it in the eye, I saw it! That piece of shit didn''t die, like the Hebigure!" Enatsu screamed, moving away from his shelter tree and heading across the natural corridor. "What the hell happens to demons in this area? They look immortal! the merchant added, unable to stop shaking with fear.

 Chapter 114 - Bubbles

    "Now that it''s gone away, we could get into the dungeon, right? If the Demonic Veil makes us invisible for real, that huge demon won''t be able to chase us, right?" Yoichi inquired. The young tamer knew that fighting such a strong enemy before entering the mine would only be an unnecessary waste of energy.

    "But that way, we''ll find it here once again when we''ll get out of there!" replied Shioko hastily replied, pointing her finger toward the cave entrance. Like the rest of the forest around them, the stone recess that entered the mine was entirely covered in ck mud. ??

    As the adventurers continued to think about what to do, the sound of Yoroishi hooves rumbled through the broken branches of the trees. One by one, the tall conifers in front of the Nightdes warriors fell to the ground sideways, pushed down by the enemy''s incredible strength.

    "All right then. If it doesn''t want us in, we''re going to get through by force," Yoichi affirmed with conviction, turning to the iing demon and clenching his big scaled fists. Nobu''s light illuminated the rabid expression that appeared on his face.

    Not wanting her colleague to steal the show once again, Shioko pulled out another arrow, ready to pierce the second eye of the beast. Unlike the fight against the snake demon, this time she would not underestimate the enemy.

    "It''sing... it''s fuckinging! Go away, watch out!" Enatsu boomed, running away from the boar''s trajectory. Of his mole demon, still no trace.

    Yoichi opened his arms and exhaled all the air in his lungs. Soon after, he breathed hard, trying to sense his heartbeat. The angry boar''s face sprang into the trees.

    Trying to repeat what he had seeded to do against the Hebigure, the young tamer attempted to activate Kenji''s second skill. The dragon me would be able to melt the enemy''s armor and save his friends from that flesh-eating beast.

    Shioko, feeling that the process would not be immediate, tried to buy her partner more time. This time, after resting the lower end of the arrow on the bow rope, she kept it in tension for a few seconds.

    The light arrow, remaining in that state for more than necessary, quickly grew in size, storing energy from Nobu''s white light.

    Under Enatsu''s incredulous eyes, Shioko''s arrow became as long as a spear, absorbing much of the light source. When it was so charged that she could no longer hold it, Shioko left the grip.

    *swishh* - Unleashing incredible energy, the arrow flew for about ten meters forwards, reaching the Yoroishi in a tenth of a second: more than a meter and a half long, it cut through the surrounding air, hitting the wild demon under its neck.

    As soon as the tip of the giant light arrow impacted the rusty iron te that protected the boar''s chest, it fractured, letting that luminous object prate its flesh.

    The arrow crossed Yoroishi''s body, pierced its internal organs and exited the lower back. As if the target had not generated any friction, it continued to travel upwards, disappearing through the tree leaves.

    After the impact, the boar''s front legs came off the ground, and a wave of dense blood was sprayed from its mouth. Deprived of an eye and pierced by a light spear, the enemy''s fanged muzzle crept to the terrain.

    Therge nostrils filled with sticky mud, as well as the rest of its face. Large bubbles popped up on the surface of the mud,ing from the deep breaths of that giant wild demon.

    Yoichi, distracted by that event, lost his concentration. Rxing the muscles of his hands and arms, he stepped forward, hoping Shioko had defeated it.

    The girl''s red hair was kindly resting on one shoulder, and her mouth was slightly open. One leg bent forward and one backwards: her body had remained stationary in thebat position.

    The top of the armour, less dirty than the lower one, swelled and deted as her lungs tried to catch her breath. Despite the Nightdes archer''s powerful ability was able to knock out the giant boar demon, the air around her was still full of tension.

    Like a vibration, the negative aura of that fierce beast echoed through the trees, making the threepanions peaceless. Yoichi, Enatsu, and Shioko continued to look at the the Yoroichi''s gigantic carcass, almost entirely soaked in mud.

    Suddenly, his boar tail moved, causing some shrubs covered with the same sticky substance to fly away. Soon after, one of the enemy''s shoulders lifted off the ground, followed by the corresponding hind leg.

    "I can''t believe it... its bulk mitigated myst attack, too..." Shioko murmured. Her voice sounded worried and flickering. She would have bet that her powerful attack would end the fight from how she uttered those words.

    "The dark gas... look!" pointing a hand forward, aided by Nobu''s white light, Yoichi pointed to the muddy body of the boar. Above its back, at the surface of the ck mud, the same purple gas found on the Hebigure was floating upwards.

    "That substance is healing its wounds! This means that even if we killed it, our demons would not gain XP points, nor could we tame that wild boar", the young tamer remarked, having already lived that experience.

    Returning to an upright position, Shioko stepped back in fear. In her entire career as a professional tamer, no demon had ever resisted that charged attack. She was a specialist in one vs one fights and, even facing bigger and rarer demons than a Yoroishi, she had never lost a battle.

    Little by little, limb after limb, the giant boar raised from the mud: the long chipped fangs on the sides of its mouth popped out under that ck and denseyer, puncturing its stic surface.

    Tworge bubbles popped on its nose, allowing air to enter its wide nostrils, and finally, the only eye left unharmed opened, framing the three tamers illuminated by white light.

    As predicted by Yoichi, arge amount of dark gas was healing both the wounds on its the eye and chest, sewing up damaged tissues and restoring their riven flesh.

 Chapter 115 - New Claws

    Yoichi nced at Kenji, "Hey, I need maximum power, bud! Upgrade my arms a little more!" he eximed, explicitly asking for an additional power-up.

    "Skreek!" the little dragon replied, nodding its horned head. It narrowed its eyes and stood motionless on the branch, focusing on strengthening its tamer. ??

    Shioko stepped aside, aware that one of her most powerful attacks did not affect that wild demon, surrounded by who knows what arcane magic.

    The young tamer took her ce, taking the usual boxer position and focusing on the enemy. The giant boar demon''s head popped up between two trees in front of him and was wrapped in healing gas.

    Clenching his fists, Yoichi let Kenji''s power flow through the veins of his arms. The creation of the dragon me took too much time and concentration, and he had none of those. Behind him, once again, hispanions depended on his decisions.

    In a short time, after waking up as a farmer, Yoichi had abandoned the farm and reached the capital, rescued a Princess and joined a guild of tamers. To do all this, he had never used any weapon, apart from the dagger given to him by Takamori Sada.

    Thanks to the upgrades of his unique Oracle, his bare hands were the only weapons he needed. Clutching his big fingers on the palms, the ck scales grew more than usual, growing several millimetres.

    As little Kenji struggled to fulfil its tamer''s request, on the fingertips, small, thick ck nails popped up. They remotely looked like the ws of a Komodo dragon or some other big reptile.

    The Yoroichi shook its head and the rest of its body, cleaning itsrge armoured body from the sludge attached to his fur. The big demon tank began to lift pieces of mud-mixed ground with its hoof, just as the wild Ichiro did before charging Yoichi.

    He leaned slightly on his knees, cing both his arms in front of his chest. Nobu''s light illuminated the crampedbat area, and the moment of truth wasing. Would his only fists destroy the boar demon''s armor? Would that allow him to earn enough time to enter the dungeon?

    After yet another guttural verseing from therge boar nose, the Yoroichi began to charge forward, totally ignoring theyer of mud under the hooves.

    Few strides were enough to reach the young tamer, who, unlike his usual fighting style, this time did not try to dodge the blow.

    Against all expectations, Yoichi''s upgraded arm was stretched forward, and a mighty fist hit the metal te on the wild demon''s forehead.

    *boom* - an explosion-like noise echoed through the trees, shaking the leaves and branches of vegetation and unleashing a shockwave.

    "Aaargh!" Yoichi yelled when his robust knuckles mmed against the rusty iron that protected the boar''s head: the vibration of the blow was transmitted to his arm and then back, forcing his body to stand still so as not to lose bnce.

    His feet crawled through the ck mud for a few inches, stopping the enemy''s charge and blocking its fury. "Oh, fuck!" Shioko gasped, who, for the first time, showed genuine amazement.

    Before her eyes and Enatsu''s, Yoichi''s fist stunned the huge boar demon, hitting it on its forehead hard skull. Any other warrior''s arm would have broken under the bulk of that giant, capable of uprooting trees with stunning ease.

    When the shockwave triggered by the impact dispersed into the air, the wild demon shook its head, trying to recover from the stunning. Yoichi loaded another punch without lifting his knuckles resting on the iron te, bringing his left arm back.

    *boom*crash* - A second powerful shot, slightly less violent than the first one, hit the same spot next to the ced hand, helpful in aiming the target. The Yoroichi''s hard armour broke into two parts, unhooking from its coat and falling to the ground.

    The ck mud devoured the two rusty fragments, letting them sink into it, while Yoichi pulled both hands off the boar''s forehead. Stunned by the two consecutive blows, the swine demon''s front legs began to vacite.

    "What the hell are you standing there for?! Give me a hand!" Yoichi suddenly yelled, drawing the attention of hispanions. Shioko and Enatsu, enchanted by that incredible scene, woke up from the trance.

    Without wasting any more time, the archer pulled out a light arrow and began to load it onto the bow. The arrow grew abruptly, reaching the same size as the one that had pierced the enemy''s body.

    Meanwhile, Enatsu stood still, watching the ck mud. His lips moved slightly as if he were whispering iprehensible words.

    "What are you waiting for? Your friend needs help, you dumbass!" Shioko eximed, making the most of the remaining strength of her arm. Three of her fingers were stretched on the bow rope, keeping the light arrow still in ce.

    "I''m trying... I need more time!" the merchant stammered, resting his hand on the tree trunk next to him. Once again, his gaze remained pointed towards the ground.

    Yoichi listened to the words of his guildmates and looked again at the boar demon, whose head swung like a pendulum. Its ragged little breaths had be more profound as if his punches had scrambled something in its huge armoured head.

    The metal tes that wrapped it, suffering those heavy blows, had acted as an echo chamber, increasing the stunning duration.

    Enatsu''s words reached hispanion''s ears. Yoichi realized that his merchant friend had something in mind and figured that the only way to buy him some time was to keep hitting the boar, preventing it from moving from the mud.

    "Shioko, wait for my signal!" the young tamer ordered, clenching his fists and moving both arms away from the enemy''s forehead. The elbow of his right arm was moved backwards, umting all the physical energy of his body.

    The feeling of cold caused by the mud that enveloped his ankles ran throughout his body, causing a slight stiffening of the leg muscles.

 Chapter 116 - Digger

    Before the Yoroichi could move its head, Yoichi punched again. Forced to stand still due to the mud, he shifted all his body weight upwards, moving his shoulder forward and letting his arm stretch quickly.

    *boom* - For the third time, the sound of his fist echoed through the trees, scaring off insects and small mammals still alive and hidden among their branches. ??

    "Shioko, now!" he screamed, grasping with his big hands the mud-dirty mouth of the boar and opening it forcefully. Under the incredulous gaze of Shioko, who was still loading the arrow, Yoichi harnessed used his strength to lift the upper jaw and push the lower arch of the wild demon''s mouth downwards.

    Yellowish, broken teeth were soaked in ckish saliva, soiled with earth and blood. A disgusting stench came from the depths of his intestines, going up through the esophagus anding out of its mouth.

    Recalling that Hebigure''s jaws had yed a key role in its defeat, the young Nightdes tamer pointed the boar''s mouth towards Shioko.

    The front legs of the dark beast had lost grip with the ground, while the hind legs were sinking deeper and deeper into the sludge. The archer held her breath, aiming the target and shooting the light spear.

    *swishh*sh* - Shioko''s huge arrow entered the boar demon''s throat, once again pierced its internal organs and exited the back. As in the previous shot, that attack was marked by theck of friction with the target.

    "Grooargh! Wheee!" the Yoroichi desperately grunted, wriggling its neck and forcing Yoichi to give up his grip. Shioko''s arrow caused the enemy so much damage that prevented it from moving.

    The dark gas promptly came out of the wounds, entering its jaws as if they were the mouth of a vacuum cleaner. That substance was ready to heal every wound, but this time it would take longer than usual, and the attentive Nightdes warriors wouldn''t let it.

    Taking advantage of the boar''s panic, Yoichi hit it with a left hook, causing its neck to turn. The pig''s head impacted the mud, and the remaining pieces of its armour squeaked loudly.

    "I got it! I''m ready!" Enatsu boomed suddenly. In his eyes, an unexpected determination. When his gaze crossed with that of his friend, the young merchant realized that his chance to prove his worth had finallye.

    With a quick motion, he put his hand on the ground, dipping it entirely into the stinking, sticky sludge. Holding back disgust, the Silvertide''s reckless merchant activated the power of his Moruba.

    Suddenly, behind the boar, an entire clod of soil sank, carrying the back of its body. "Whee!" the wild demon continued to grunt, unable yet to move due to the massive injuries suffered.

    Another patch of soil followed the first, this time to the right. Piece by piece, the ground around the Yoroichi opened, creating a natural sinkhole several meters deep.

    The boar, unable to exploit its physical strength to escape from that trap, used the front hooves to cling to the surface. However, its weight,bined with that of its ferrous armour, dragged its body downwards.

    Taking a short run of a few steps, Yoichished out at the beast''s chin, forcing it to raise its neck and detach the front hooves from the muddy ground.

    Emitting a lugubrious sound of guts and broken bones, the giant Yoroichi sank underground, damaged by the sheer weight of its dark energy-filled body.

    At that precise moment, Nobu''s light illuminated the chasm: a small being covered in mud plunged from side to side of the ground, throwing kilos and kilos of damp soil on the boar demon.

    With incredible speed, digging as efficiently as a modern excavator, Enatsu''s Moruba buried the boar alive. "Grooo... aar..." its grunt became intermittent until it vanished, while its neck twisted upside down.

    After about a minute, the four clods of soil carefully removed from the mole demon returned back to their ce, restoring the normal topographic surface. It was quickly filled with ck mud, which flowed sideways until it upied all avable space.

    As if he had just taken a swim in a swimming pool, the Moruba jumped out of the ground,nding on its tiny hind legs. Under the incredulous eyes of Yoichi and Shioko, the mole demon shrugged off the mud, made less sticky by its thick, waterproof pelt.

    "Yes! Hahah! Rokuro, you did it! We did it! Hahaha!" Enatsu chuckled, running towards his Moruba and picking it up. His pet''s long mole nails shook in happiness, and its tiny ck eyes, almost imperceptible because of their small size, gawped happily at its tamer.

    "What... how did you do it?" Yoichi eximed open-mouthed. The scales on his arms slowly disappeared, and a smile appeared on his face.

    "I... I knew Rokuro''s help woulde in handy on a battle field like this. The Morubas are very skilled diggers and manage to remove huge amounts of soil in no time", the merchant acknowledged, petting his demon. "I hadn''t used its skill in a long time, so I was a little rusty" he admitted, while the mole demon''s thick whiskers tickled his cheek.

    "Brother, you were phenomenal! Hahaha! You buried that giant with one move, why didn''t you do it before?" Yoichi rejoiced, walking towards him and hitting him with a friendly punch on the shoulder.

    Enatsu looked at Shioko, while Nobu''s wings continued to p, keeping its body in mid-air. "Great job, Enatsu!" the archer spoke, maintaining a severe expression drawn on her face.

    "Thank you..."

    "However..." she interrupted, "I doubt that that demon will be stuck underground for long. I''m sure we couldn''t kill it. I can still feel its presence," Shioko added. Moving her red hair sideways, she tied her bow behind her back.

    "Shioko is right. The boar demon is still alive. The ckvault Mines are waiting for us. Also, I think there''s another problem," Yoichi remarked, looking up and approaching Kenji.

    "What is it?" Shioko asked.

    With one hand, the young tamer pointed to a precise spot above their heads. The fronds of the trees destroyed by the Yoroichi had been damaged, creating a kind of hole in the foliage and revealing a slice of the night sky.

 Chapter 117 - Entrance

    "The night hase. If it is true that with darkness, wild demons gain strength, it is not advisable to stand still among these trees," Yoichi continued. "I doubt that the Yoroichi is the only inhabitant of this forest", he added, beginning to look around.

    Enatsu and Shioko approached him, looking up at the mountain, recognising the truthfulness of theirpanion''s words. The entrance to the notorious ckvault Mines had been unlocked. ??

    The ck mud had managed to prate the narrow fractures of the granite rock of that cliff, enveloping the recess in the wall and making it even darkerpared to its normal condition.

    That natural door was the only entrance and the only exit of the dungeon. Stepping forward, the young tamer took a deep breath.

    Before hispanions could add anything else, Yoichi slipped his hand into his leather pouch, pulling out the keikemon. He squeezed the fruit given by Kuniaki in one hand while the other pulled the dagger from the back of his belt.

    Something tells me that not all demons in this dungeon have been infected with the dark substance. If we really have to beat them and their boss, little extra XP points would suit Kenji, he thought.

    Sinking the de into the centre of the cobalt blue citrus, Yoichi divided it into two identical halves. Like an orange, the pulp exuded a sugary liquid with a delightful smell.

    "Swallow it with all the peel", Shioko suggested, speaking from the rear.

    Yoichi silently epted the advice and approached half of the keikemon at Kenji''s mouth: the little dragon, having never seen such an object, sniffed it carefully.

    A slight grimace appeared on its face and its red eyes narrowed due to the acrid smell of the magic fruit peel. "Eat it, buddy. See? Do as I do," Yoichi whispered, sticking his half in his mouth and beginning to chew it.

    Drops of light blue fluid poured from the young tamer''s lips as he continued to chew therge piece of the keikemon. The sour taste of its peel was perfectlypensated by the sweetness of its pulp, making it a fresh and delicious snack.

    Sharing that pleasant feeling with its tamer, Kenji bit its half, swallowing it voraciously. Repeating the operation, the little dragon ate the magic fruit, activating its power.

    "I can''t feel any difference. Is that normal?" Yoichi inquired, imagining that Shioko had already eaten one in the past.

    "The magical power of the keikemon will be triggered every time you finish a fight, for the next 24 hours. How did you get it?" Shioko asked, intrigued.

    "The shaman gave it t..." ¨C Yoichi''s words were suddenly interrupted by strong vibrations of the ground. The three adventurers promptly turned to the spot where the big Yoroichi had been buried.

    In that area, the ground under theyer of mud was rising and falling, as if something was trying to open a gap from the depths.

    "Oh, fuck... we have to hurry! We can''t rechallenge it at night... other demons woulde to its rescue", the archer eximed, getting even closer to the entrance of the cave.

    Without further hesitation, she and Nobu entered, followed by Yoichi and Kenji. Enatsu, who as usual closed the line, discovered with great amazement that the bodies of hispanions and their demons had disappeared into nothingness soon after crossing that threshold.

    "Okay... I had hoped that the dungeon would no longer be active, but... apparently... it is" *gulp* - swallowing empty, the merchant took courage and entered the cave with Rokuro, his Moruba.

    As soon as his foot overcame the natural boundary formed by the rock in contrast to the muddy terrain, he felt a strange sensation spreading throughout his body.

    It was as if someone had pulled a nket away from him, exposing his body at night: a feeling of sudden cold turned into a thrill thatsted a single moment.

    When Enatsu crossed the threshold, Yoichi and Shioko were stationary a few meters away. In front of them, a narrow rocky corridor was dimly lit by Nobu''s tail.

    An old wooden sign was set in the ground on the left, giving that ce an even more macabre look. ''ckvault Mines'' it read, with a trail of hand-shaped blood next to the letter T.

    Just below the wooden rod that held the inscription, human bones were scattered here and there. Every single skull, rib and femur had been deprived of its flesh, stripped to the bone.

    "Oh, fuck!" Enatsu trembled, taking a step back and touching the opposite wall with his shoulders. Without paying attention, he dirt the back of the armour with the sticky mud. "Shit!"

    "Does every dungeon have a sign like that?" Yoichi inquired, looking at Shioko and the rest of the tunnel out of the corner of his eye.

    "All dungeons registered by the Lumya Tamers Association, yes. As you already know, each ce can potentially be a dungeon, so there is a need to count them. The ckvault Mines have been a dungeon for a long time; that''s why the sign is in those conditions," Shioko exined, beginning to walk forward with confidence.

    Yoichi merely stored that information without responding. Inside the tunnel, the floor rocks surfaced above the mud, which could not umte on them.

    That strange dark substance seemed toe from the other side of the tunnel andpletely soiled the area. Shioko approached a wall and swiped a finger on it, removing a fragment of that strange material.

    Approaching it at the tip of her nose, she smelled it and then squeezed it between her fingers, assessing its texture. The red-haired tamer seemed to follow tracks like a hunter chasing his prey.

    "The temperature inside the cave is lower than the outside. However, this strange sludge is warmer than the one beyond the exit," shemented, specifying that detail.

    Yoichi approached her, resting the tip of his index finger on the wall, dirty with mud. "That can only mean one thing. The ''source'' that generates the mud is nearby; there is no doubt", he added, drawing conclusions.

    The rock tunnel was about two meters wide, and the ceiling height was the same size. Recalling the thick saliva between the jaws of the Hebigure, ck mud flowed from the ceiling, forming small stinking puddles on the rocky ground.

 Chapter 118 - Danger Zone

    Annoyed by the dampness of the cave and that stinking spread within it, Enatsu pulled a long, narrow drape out of his coat and wrapped it around his neck. As if it were a scarf, he covered his nose and mouth, increasing his resistance to that stinky environment.

    The sound of their footsteps echoed in the first area of the dungeon, bouncing off the narrow solid walls. The only additional noise was generated by the mud dripping drop by drop on the floor and by the wings of the butterfly demon. ??

    Enatsu snorted, trying unsessfully to stop shaking. Meanwhile, Yoichi walked next to him, and Shioko opened the line. Nobu followed the three adventurers behind them, projecting their shadows forward.

    Preparing for any looming danger, Yoichi pulled out the dungeon map and used the light to study it in detail. The cave had an inverted T-shape: after the tunnel they were walking, the road would widen, opening into one room to the right and another to the left.

    At the bottom, after another corridor, wider than the tunnel, a bigger room. Right on its drawing, the inscription ''boss'' was written in capital letters not to escape attention.

    "Hyobe told us that the Komoerus had chased him and his friend to the entrance, specifying that the bat demons had stolen the ne shortly before they left the mine," Yoichi reported, breaking the silence. "The map clearly shows a crossroads at the end of this narrow tunnel. Shioko, do you have any idea where those demons might have hidden a ne?" he asked.

    "You''re kidding, aren''t you? How do I know?" she replied, puffing. "I haven''te to this ce in years, and I don''t remember very well what the rooms you''re talking about hide. Also, even if I remember, dungeons change very often. It is impossible to establish the precise position of demons and relics", Shioko exined. She was the only one to have practical experience in that field.

    "The relics found in dungeons are worth a lot of money..." Enatsumented. He continued to rub his hands on his arms, trying to retain the heat under his coat.

    Shioko and Yoichi gawked at him with a questioning air. "What is it? What''s wrong with thinking about profit?" the tamer merchant asked, shrugging his shoulders. "I remind you that the real reason that pushed us to this ce is precisely the reward we''ve been granted!" he added, justifying his sentence.

    "Relics can be valuable items to sell, but also pieces of weapons or equipment. Wild demons are vile and greedy beasts... they tend to hide all kinds of objects in dungeons, generating a real loot for us humans", Shioko remarked. "Put simply, only a fool would sell a relic before bing aware of its intrinsic power."

    "If they have intrinsic power, it means that relics are magical objects, right? We tamers could use them to upgrade our equipment," Yoichi underlined, reasoning on his own.

    Shioko''s hand moved towards her quiver, mming twice on it. "I recovered this relic in a dungeon much further north of here, on the other side of Tentochu. Combined with Nobu''s power, it can create light arrows."

    "Wow... it''s awesome," Yoichi answered, stunned, trying to stay focused on the goal. By using Kenji''s enhancement skill, I always end up fighting with my bare hands... I''m sure there''s a relic that suits me. The real problem is knowing where, he thought.

    "Usually, low-level dungeons do not provide particrly gluttonous relics or loot. But the ckvault Mines are not basic level..." Enatsumented, confirming his thesis.

    The echo of the footsteps of the three adventurers became less loud, and the sound of mud dripping from the ceiling started to disperse into the air. The tunnel connecting the mine entrance to the dungeon''s danger zone was almost over.

    Shioko, with her usual mysterious way of doing things, pulled out the bow. Yoichi looked at Kenji, ready to activate its upgrade skill in case of need.

    "What''s going on? Did you hear anything?" the merchant asked. Shioko''s hand promptly silenced him, trying to focus on other kinds of sounds.

    At the end of the tunnel, the ceiling suddenly rose, disappearing from sight. Simrly, the side walls also distanced themselves, bending left and right and forming 90¡ã angles.

    "The map was right. We just walked into the main area of dungeon," Yoichi whispered, reporting the information step by step. "Now, all we have to do is choose which direction to take", he added, trying to look beyond the light of Nobu.

    The light beam created by the tail of the Hotasagi seemed much less wide than the one that illuminated the tunnel up to that point. The new rocky room was so vast that the light was gradually devoured by darkness, dissolving into the air.

    "Grrr" Kenji''s growl suddenly broke the silence. The three Nightdes warriors looked at the little dragon, trying to figure out what it perceived.

    At the same time, many tiny red dots shone in the dark, pointing at them. "Oh, fuck... oh, fuck!" Enatsu quaked aloud. His arms and legs were shaking like leaves.

    As soon as he could catch a glimpse of the eyes of wild demons in the darkness of that damp cave, Shioko slipped her hand into the quiver and jumped backwards.

    She grabbed four arrows with one hand with a swift movement, holding one between each finger. The archer ced them simultaneously on the rope of her bow and, with a reaction time of a few seconds, shot them blindly, pointing forward.

    Before Yoichi was able to activate Kenji''s power, Shioko''s arrows illuminated the area along their trajectory, revealing the high stone vaults of the mine.

    Continuing to fly, two of them hit hidden targets, and a loud screech echoed among the mine''s rock walls. "Screeech! Screeech!" ¨C the harrowing verse of pain emitted by the bat demons forced Enatsu and Yoichi to cover their ears, not being ustomed to those high frequencies.

    The two arrows that missed the targets hit the wall in front of the tunnel exit, illuminating the area for a few seconds. Before dying out in the darkness, dozens of bats just over Sora''s size took shape, flitting chaotically under stone vaults.

 Chapter 119 - Bite

    "Fuck, the Komoerus!" Yoichi shouted, taking advantage of the general bustle to activate Kenji''s power. He crossed his arms, and they were immediately wrapped in ck reptile scales, strengthening themselves.

    Yoichi was now able to activate and deactivate the power of his Oracle almost instantly, thanks to the practice ofbat in those hectic days. ??

    As Shioko continued to load and fire multiple arrows in the hope of repelling the many bat demons, Enastu entered the tunnel leading to the exit. Standing on the side of that sizeable rocky room, the merchant tamer crouched on the ground, covering his head with his arms.

    His Moruba tried to scratch the hard stone surface of the floor, but its long mole nails failed to dig. At that point, unable to use its skill, Rokuro positioned itself in front of its tamer.

    With thick arms and long ws ready to strike, it seemed ready to protect its master at any cost. Its small ck eyes, particrly suited to darkness, could spot flying demons even in spots not illuminated by Nobu.

    Dozens of bats dodged Shioko''s arrows, diving towards her and Yoichi. The archer retreated again, joining Enatsu and keeping on firing arrows, killing the Komoerus one by one.

    Meanwhile, five bat demons pounced on Yoichi, forced to cross his arms in front of his face. The ws of wild demons hit his scales several times, failing to scratch them.

    However, the lower part of his body remained uncovered, bing an easy target for the Komoerus. Darting at high speed next to his calf, one of them scratched it with its ws, disappearing back into the darkness.

    "Ouch!" ¨C trying to resist the acute pain caused by the cut, Yoichi stood still, kicking blindly. A second bat demon attempted to hit him in the lower body area, but Kenji intervened just as it was about to scratch his other leg.

    Always close to its tamer, the little dragon jumped towards its master''s leg, exploiting it as a support for a second jump. Acting like a fierce predator, Kenji opened its jaws and bit the bat''s small head, driving it away from its target.

    The heartbreaking verse of the stricken enemy was loud enough to be heard over that of its fellow beings: Kenji began shaking its head from side to side, causing its winged opponent to lose consciousness.

    The big ears of the bat were torn by the sharp teeth of the little dragon, who, in a few seconds, cracked the Komoeru''s head. When it was severed from the neck, it rolled onto the floor near Yoichi''s feet.

    Preserving muscle memory for a few more seconds, the bat''s headless body moved, pping its wings. Soon after, it fell to the ground lifeless, and Kenji opened its mouth, dropping its head off the ground.

    Between the scales of his arms, crossed before his eyes, Yoichi was able to catch a glimpse of the scene. Nobu''s light, intent on dodging other Komoerus, illuminated the head of the newly defeated enemy for a moment, allowing Yoichi to notice a crucial detail.

    From the severed and bloodied neck of that wild demon, a small red sphere flowed towards Kenji. Before reaching its forehead, it split into two equidimensional spheres, prating its body and earning him two XP points.

    The Komoerus have not been infected with ck mud! This means Kenji can get twice the XP points by killing them! Yoichi pondered, figuring that if they came out of that cave alive, its little Oracle would earn a pretty big haul.

    Loaded with Kenji''s intention of never lowering its guard, Yoichi suddenly opened his arms, hitting all the bats that fluttered around his head. He struck five of them with his forearms, destabilizing their flight and gaining an excellent chance to give them the coup de grace.

    "Aaargh!" he yelled, throwing a punch at a Komoeru and hitting right on its head. The impact with Yoichi''s pointed knuckles was so strong that the bat demon''s fragile skull shattered.

    The next moment, the young tamer made a second attack with his other arm. This time, the power of the long reptile ws prevailed over the blunt force of the knuckles: cutting through the air, Yoichi''s ck finger ws cut one of the two wings of a Komoeru.

    The bat stopped flying and, shortly before falling to the ground, its head was bitten again by Kenji''s jaws. *st* - like a nutcracker, its small but strong jaws cracked it.

    *blop*blop*blop* - the sound of blood spheresing from newly defeated enemies echoed in the background amid the screeching of the other bats. One by one, they touched Kenji''s forehead, entering it.

    A third bat quickly flew towards Yoichi''s face. The young tamer, foresightedly, intercepted it with an elbow, turning 180¡ã. Grabbing its head in his big hand, he squeezed it like a lemon, killing it.

    These sons of bitches are many, but individually their strength is ridiculous. The wings and joints of their body are incredibly fragile, as are their heads... I can break it by closing my hand, Yoichi thought, juggling among the enemies.

    Suddenly, yet another bat swooped towards him, trying to catch him off guard. At the same time, across the room, something forced Nobu to turn around, moving its light beam in another direction.

    "Fuck!" the young tamer gasped, suddenly finding himself plunged into darkness. After less than a second, a sharp w of the Komoeru hit him on a cheekbone. "Argh!" he yelled, reacting instinctively to sudden pain.

    Komoeru''s bright eyes left a red trail in the air, tracing its trajectory. After suffering the same damage as its tamer, Kenji used its prone position to jump on its shoulders.

    Acting on its own will, the little dragon followed in the wake of the bat''s eyes, biting one of its wings in mid-air. When Nobu''s light lit up the area again, the weight of Kenji''s body caused the Komoeru to lose height and fall to the ground.

    Both ck demons rolled onto the rocky terrain amid the debris and the ck mud. "Screek! Grooargh!" the screeching of the bat was interrupted by the growl of the little dragon, who, after detaching one wing from it, focused on the other one.

 Chapter 120 - Muscle Memory

    With surgical precision, Kenji showed an innate sense of predation, mauling the demon who had just dared to hit its tamer''s face. First one wing, then another, finally the little bony joints. The Komoeru was reduced to a shapeless being who wriggled its head, trying in vain to save itself.

    Under Yoichi''s astonished eyes, Kenji jumped on its head, devouring its ears and sinking its teeth into the enemy''s eyes. ??

    "Okay, buddy! That''s enough!" he gulped, looking on his back. He ordered his Oracle to move away from the enemy''s corpse, but Kenji continued to tighten his jaws, tearing the bat demon''s tissues apart. "Kenji, stop!" Yoichi yelled again.

    As if it had suddenly returned to itself, the little dragon stepped back. Again, two red spheres came out of Komoeru''s corpse, floating towards it and giving him two more XP points.

    What''s going on with you, Kenji? You''ve never been so aggressive with an enemy... you only did it because it hurt me, didn''t you? Yoichi thought, trying to share his thoughts to his demon pet.

    Kenji''s eyes looked at the young tamer. The darkness gave them a more entuated splendour as if draconic mes were burning ardently inside its small scaled body.

    After that manifestation of unexpected violence, during which Kenji had not obeyed Yoichi for the first time, the two of them finally managed to drive out the demons that had encircled them.

    Simultaneously, Shioko continued to fire arrows next to Enatsu. The archer was protecting her guildmate, frozen inside the tunnel.

    One arrow after another, Komoeru''s flock was decimated by the precise shots of the red-haired tamer. With a mastery worthy of a warrior of her calibre, Shioko struck all demons under Nobu''s light ray.

    The Hotasagi, in addition to standing still in mid-air to illuminate the area, powerfully pped its wings, creating strong airstreams. The currents hit the enemies flying towards its tamer, disrupting their flight and diverting their trajectory, allowing Shioko to aim easily.

    Continuing to gain experience points for her pet demon, Shioko killed more than thirty wild demons. However, other Komoerus continued to flutter in therge room.

    "There must be something wrong! Why the fuck are there are so many?" Yoichi eximed, beginning to run towards his friends. During the rush, the young tamer hit a Komoeru in flight, causing it to m onto the stone wall.

    "Thest time I came here, I remember all these demons were distributed in the other rooms of the dungeon..." Shioko replied, taking a break to shoot two more arrows. "Now they all seem to be here as if they want to stop us from moving forward", she added.

    "Damn it! Kenji, I need the me!" Yoichi boomed, stopping at the geometric centre of the room. Illuminated only partially, the hall after the initial tunnel was square-shaped and had the function of an atrium leading to the other dungeon areas.

    "Screek!" Kenji confirmed, nodding with its small, shining red eyes. "Shioko, cover me! Enatsu, use Rokuro to defend yourself... I need time!" the young tamer yelled, unwittingly taking control of his team.

    Without countering, beginning to feel her arms sore from fatigue, Shioko moved to Yoichi. Continuing to fire multiple arrows, she hit other enemies, repelling them and allowing hisrade to load his power.

    There must be a faster way... think Yoichi, think. When I created the dragon me, how were my arms? And my legs, how were they positioned? He thought, trying to remember.

    Memories of his arms that sustained the Hebigure''s wide-open jaws flowed into his mind in the form of pictures. While he tried to emte that position, Kenji stayed behind him, helping Shioko to deal with the Komoerus.

    Trying even to remember the tensional state of his body muscles, Yochi closed his eyes and spread his arms outwards. At the same time, he crept his feet on the slippery ground, slightly pulling his legs apart.

    While the cave area in front of him was illuminated by Nobu and saw Shioko as the undisputed protagonist, Kenji was covered in the shadow of its tamer. The little dragon killed two more Komoerus, once again showing unexpected anger.

    Suddenly, something caught Enatsu''s attention. The merchant, who was the only one of the three adventurers to be free from that fight, noticed that a small me had just appeared at the tip of Kenji''s tail.

    Thin fiery sparks leapt out of that point, dying out on the damp rocky terrain. Touching each other, they generated a small me that enveloped the tip of the dragon demon tale.

    Its ck and fireproof scales contributed to the propagation of fire, which instead of quenching, exponentially increased its power: in a few seconds, that me grew, generating a yellowish and pulsating light marked by the rhythm of the air currents that moved the fire.

    "It''s working! Yoichi, you''re activating Kenji''s fire power!" Enatsu yelled, drawing the attention of two Komoerus who were flying near him. The bat demons diverted to the merchant, who, against all expectations, did not give up.

    Waiting until a moment before the impact with its tamer, Rokuro waved its big hands, striking the enemies with its long mole ws.

    *sh*zap* - With an innate force resulting from its demonic digger instinct, the Moruba cut the Komoerus in half, killing them under Enatsu''s eyes.

    Simultaneously, Shioko listened to the words of the tamer merchant and turned backwards, observing Yoichi for a moment. Around his still open arms, under the ck scales, sparks leapt out here and there.

    The temperature of that spot increased considerably, forcing the archer to take a few steps forward, sensing the intense heat behind her shoulders. Just when the Komoerus never seemed to end, the draconic mes enveloped Yoichi''s yet enhanced arms, illuminating the entire cave.

    The young tamer looked up, sensing a powerful heat inside his chest and trying to control the ze. Hispanion, a few feet away from him, was forced to leap forward.

    A small spark of the draconic fire was enough to burn part of her boot. When shended on the ground, she looked up at Yoichi: the new Nighdes warrior had sessfully activated Kenji''s first draconian skill.

 Chapter 121 - Komoerus

    Yoichi sensed that small amount of the dragon''s power in his body. It was as if Kenji''s mes flowed into his veins in the form of pure energy.

    The scales of his arms raised slightly, leaving to the fire more oxygen to burn. When the young tamer opened his eyes, the ming glow created by his arms illuminated the four walls of therge room, revealing all the wild demons. ??

    Dozens and dozens of Komoerus fluttered around him, following geometric and regr trajectories. Frightened by the burning mes of their unexpected enemy, the bat demons screeched strongly, generating incredible chaos.

    "They are activating their skills! Cover your ears!" Enatsu shouted, remembering the Komoerus'' demonic power.

    Shioko obeyed immediately and shut her ears, trying to resist that chilling sound, simr to two metal tes crawling over each other.

    In the middle of the room, Yoichi approached one of his burning hands to his face. The intense heat of the fire wrapped him, suddenly increasing his body temperature. As we tried to gain time to figure out his next move, the tympans of his ears began to hurt, no longer being able to distinguish other sounds beyond the screech of enemy demons.

    "Fuck this! My ears are about to explode! That''s thest thing I need, how do I do it now?! How can I be sure I won''t die devoured by my own mes?" the young tamer thought hastily, looking at the palms of his gigantic hands.

    "Screek!" Kenji shouted from his back, drawing his attention. The little dragon took shelter inside its tail, sticking its head under it and trying to resist that deafening sound.

    "Yoichi! Your ears! Cover your ears!" Enatsu yelled again. His partner would notst long, and the screech generated by the Komoerus could have caused him permanent damage.

    Under the incredulous eyes of Enatsu and Shioko, still lying on the ground a few meters from him, Yoichi closed his eyes andid his ming hands on his ears.

    "No!" Shioko gulped, fearing the worst. At that instant, the gruff character of the red-haired girl suddenly disappeared, reced by the fear of losing such a valiantrade and loyal friend.

    The dragon mes enveloped the young tamer''s head: his hair and the rest of his face disappeared in that ze, which extended about a meter in height.

    "Yoichiii!" Enatsu screamed, running awat from his shelter and heading towards hispanion. Panicking, the merchant was hit by a Komoeru on his shoulder and then again, on his leg.

    Resisting the blows of his enemies, he continued to run in Yoichi''s direction, hoping to still be in time to save his life.

    Suddenly, a gust of wind hit the flock of bats, mming many of them against the wall. Nobu, immune to their skill and ultrasound, unleashed its attack on them, forcing them to stop the screeching.

    Enatsu stumbled and fell to the ground, his right knee full of blood. Shioko got up, rolling in front of him and hitting two swooping Komoerus with her light arrows.

    "Hey, are you okay?" the archer asked, pulling another arrow out of the magic quiver. "I... I... yes. Yoichi? Yoichi!" Enatsu stammered, straightening an arm towards hispanion.

    Just then, Yoichi''s hands distanced detached from his face. The me pulverized thece on his head, but his long blonde hair gently fell over his shoulders, intact.

    The eyes, the eyebrows, the lips, the cheeks: everything was in perfect order as if nothing had happened. The dragon fire, capable of burning and melting almost everything, did not affect its creator.

    "What?! I can''t believe it! He''s fucking fine!" Enatsu gasped, his arm still stretched out towards Yoichi. The merchant opened his eyes wide, failing to hold back his astonishment.

    "I''m... I''m safe... fire cannot burn me!" the young tamer thought out loud, continuing to look at his hands and arms, still wrapped in mes. From the deltoid muscles to the tip of the ws, the fire burned intensely, instilling in Yoichi''s body an incredible feeling of power.

    "What the f..." Shioko stammered. The archer stopped for a few seconds to stretch the rope of the bow, and the luminous arrow resting on it vanished into thin air.

    Yoichi made sure his Oracle was fine and, before his teammates could add anything else, took a step further. His arms opened downwards.

    The Komoerus screeching continued to rumble between the rock walls of the mine, mixing with the sound of the mud dripping from the ceiling. Thanks to Yoichi''s magical mes,bined with the light of Nobu, the cave was now fully visible, and the bat demons could no longer take advantage of the element of surprise.

    "C''mon, bring it on! Aaargh!" he shouted, bending his legs and inciting his enemies to attack him. The Komoerus flew in all directions, trying to distract him.

    "Go away from there!" Yoichi repeated, cautiously opening his arms, raising them outwards. "What? And where should we go? You... how are you going to do it alone?" Enatsu stammered, standing beside Shioko.

    "Move!" the young tamer screamed. As soon as he raised the tone of his voice, the intensity of the mes on his arms increased for a few seconds, as if following his state of agitation.

    "Yes, yes! All right!" the merchant trembled, running towards the entrance to the tunnel. Shioko stepped back, continuing to look at herpanion: the mes that enveloped his upper limbs were as strong as his anger. Although she had never witnessed such power, she quickly realized that Yoichi''s emotions yed a crucial role during that process.

    Avoiding contesting his words, Shioko approached Enatsu, leaving Yoichi alone in the centre of the room. The young warrior''s arms reached shoulder height. His hands open outwards, and his back straightened.

    Five Komoerus, diverting from their geometric trajectories,unched an attack, flying towards Yoichi from different directions. Some of them attacked from above, swooping from the vaults of the cave; others attacked from below, flying a few inches away from the ground.

 Chapter 122 - Retreat

    A moment before the ws and sharp teeth of the bat demons reached the points of Yoichi''s body not covered with scales, something incredible happened.

    The young warrior quickly rotated on himself, keeping his arms in the same position. A tongue of dragon fire was unleashed around him, swiftly widening and overwhelming enemy demons in a scorching wave. ??

    Fortunately, Shioko and Enatsu had entered the tunnel and were far enough to stick their backs to the wall. Quickly throwing themselves to the safe side of the tunnel, they avoided being hit by the mes.

    *vooom* - some faint screeching followed the delicate sound of draconian mes spreading through the air. Few of the attacking specimens could release their cry: Yoichi killed about a dozen bat demons with a single attack, pulverizing them instantly.

    Kenji was also entirely hit by the mes, being in the path of Yoichi''s power. The fire created by itself slipped gently on the hard scales of its skin, stroking its small dark body and leaving a thick smoke on the ck horns.

    Yoichi looked ahead immediately after making the rotation. Guided only by his instincts, he had performed an attack worthy of the strongest warriors in the region, perhaps in the whole world of Lumya.

    All he had to do was release the draconic fire imprisoned under the scales of his arms to unleash all his incredible power, literally making a whole herd of wild demons disappear.

    Like corianders fluttering in the wind on carnival day, the tiny red spheres resulting from the killing of the Komoerus soared into the air. Splitting up and approaching each other, they all conversed on Kenji''s forehead. The little dragon epted the XP points without the slightestint.

    The heads of Shioko and Enatsu, when the heat of the rocky room became bearable, sprang up from inside the tunnel. Suddenly, before Yoichi''s twopanions could openly express their amazement, a loud noise broke out in the air.

    A harrowing verse, mixed between a roar and a screech of a bat, was so intense that the walls and floor quaked. Small fragments of rock and mud came off the ceiling, striking Yoichi''s fiery arms, who was forced to spread his legs so as not to fall, losing his bnce.

    As if it were an earthquakesting a few seconds, the demonic scream of an unknown creature made everything tremble. Fearing that the entire cave was about to copse, Enatsu and Shioko quickly exited the tunnel, avoiding getting stuck inside in the event of a rockslide.

    All the Komoerus that still flew under the high vaults of the mine suddenly approached each other, joining in a single bundle of dark creatures.

    Following a meandering trajectory, they headed in unison to a single point in therge room: a vast door entering the broadest area of the dungeon weed them, making them disappear into the darkness.

    After that infernal cry, silence suddenly fell. The pping of the faithful Nobu''s wings and the that of the draconic mes burning on Yoichi''s arms rumbled in the mine.

    "What... what the hell did I just hear?" Enatsu asked incredulously. His arms were stretched forward with his hands open as if he wanted to keep himself at a distance from hisrade.

    Beside him, Shioko stood by and observed every detail of Yoichi''s new power. "He managed to drive out the Komoerus. That''s what happened," the red-haired tamer remarked.

    "But... but... what was that growl? Don''t tell me I imagined it. It was strong enough to make the whole cave tremble!" Enatsu continued, as his heart beat hard in his chest.

    "You didn''t imagine it, my friend. Something called the Komoerus back, ordering the retreat," Yoichi confirmed. Soon after those words, he lowered his arms and looked at Kenji.

    Within seconds, the dragon fire disappeared, and the scales gradually re-entered his skin. His arms returned to standard shape and size without having suffered any damage.

    "Call those bats back? What are you saying? Who would call them back, huh? Their mom?" Enatsu mumbled, raising his hands to the sky.

    "Hey, define that" ¨C Shioko''s words echoed among the thick rock walls of the cave. Enatsu looked at her in amazement, and Yoichi turned to her.

    "You said someonemanded the wild Komoerus to stop. Who?" the archer repeated. She raised her arm and called Nobu back to report.

    The light generated by the butterfly demon moved along with it into the room, making the shadows of the three adventurers who survived the first wave of enemies rotate.

    "Not who. What," Yoichi replied, taking a step toward hispanions. "The dungeon map is crystal clear. That room leads in only one direction. Do you remember which one?"

    "The boss room¡­" Enatsu whispered, trembling like a leaf. "And so what? Wait¡­ hold your horses, Yoichi. What does the boss have to do with those winged sons of bitches?" he inquired, moving his shoulders to shake off the fear.

    "That''s exactly what we need to find out if we want to get out of here on our feet, brother," the young tamer coolly replied, looking at his Oracle.

    "The simple recovery of a missing object has turned into a real mission. I am genuinely amazed. When I crossed the threshold of the Demonic Veil, I never imagined I''d see such a thing," Shioko interrupted, taking a step towards Yoichi.

    The two guildmates stopped in front of each other, less than two meters away. Nobu, pping its big butterfly wings,y on its tamer''s arm. Moving its tiny insect legs, it positioned itself on her shoulders, bncing the weight so as not to make Shioko lose her bnce.

    "You don''t need an expert to understand that what happened outside of here is directly linked to what lies ahead of us after that crossing," Yoichi spoke. "The Hebigure, the Yoroishi... both of them were out-of-the-ordinary demons. Something extraordinary is happening in this area," he added.

    When Yoichi spoke, his gaze and that of hispanions followed in the wake of ck mud trapped in therge rocks of the ground. Creeping sinuously through the fractures and exploiting the topography inside the cave, it continued forward, entering the murkiness of the boss room.

 Chapter 123 - Right Room

    "This dungeon is very different from myst visit", Shioko replied. "Thest time I came here, in the ckvault Mines, the boss was a simple Komoeru, slightlyrger than the others. One thing is for sure, I''ve never heard that chilling cry."

    In the archer''s words, there was a veil of terror. That loud roar had weakened her confidence, and the unawareness of the hidden nature of the boss to defeat began to weaken her fighting spirit. ??

    "Anyway... we will solve one problem at a time. Quick, let''s find the lost ne. We must exploit this moment of peace," Yoichi affirmed, not being caught up in fear.

    While Enatsu mumbled something iprehensible, the young tamer and Shioko began searching for the quest item throughout the room. The straight walls were about twenty meters long each, and the mud-dirty and uneven terrain made the search more difficult than expected.

    "How do you hope to find a ne in such a huge ce?" Enatsu asked, drawing the attention of his two guildmates.

    "Eh?" Yoichi turned absent-mindedly towards him.

    "Can I see the map, man?" the merchant repeated. His request was satisfied, and hispanion handed over the dungeon map in his hands. "Mh... yes, that''s definitely the case," Enatsu murmured, reasoning out loud.

    "What are you bbering about? Talk openly. There''s no time to waste," Shioko growled, upset by his behaviour.

    "When we were in ckborough, an old gentleman exined to me what are the mostmon types of demons in this mine. Among them, one particrly caught my eye," the merchant exined, moving his finger on the map. "Dokumotsu. This name ring a bell?" he asked.

    "Mmh... I have no idea what it is," Yoichi answered without overthinking about it.

    "Dokumotsus are spider demons. They prefer cold and humid habitats, just like this cave. So? What''s your point? I don''t understand what it has to do with the ne we''re looking for," Shioko spoke, looking to the floor and continuing to search hastily. Nobu''s light kept lighting up the area.

    "How can you be the tamer of a guild and not know the main characteristics of Tentochu''s demons?" Enatsuined again, scolding his interlocutor.

    "What did you say?" ¨C taking a step towards the merchant, Shioko reacted with arrogance to that statement. A hand from Yoichi touched her shoulder, pausing her advance.

    "Calm down, guys. There''s no need to bicker in such a situation," he said, immediately leaving her partner''s shoulder, knowing that she disliked physical contact.

    Before Shioko could threaten Enastu again, he remarked, "your answer was very reductive and superficial. Dokumotsus are not only trivial ''spider demons'', but much more. They are attracted to shining and precious objects, such as pieces of equipment... or..."

    "Jewelry" Yoichi interrupted. His chin between his forefinger and thumb.

    "Exactly. When I studied my father''s bestiary, I remember reading a lot about them. Dokumotsu is the name of the basic form, Taramotsu, that of their only evolution. In addition to being umtors of shiny objects, like any spider, they are skilled weavers, able to trap evenrge prey inside their cobwebs", Enatsu exined, continuing to look at the map.

    "Shioko... remember meeting these demons thest time you visited the ckvault Mines?" Yoichi investigated. Despite her hostile nature, the archer remained the most experienced tamer among them.

    "They are verymon demons. They are found in almost all caves. However, what your friend so strongly supports is not the truth. What is true is that the Dokumotsus are attracted to objects that reflect light but are often worthless pieces of junk. In addition, all demons tend to umte relics and various riches within dungeons. As a result, the ne we are looking for could be anywhere."

    Shioko''s words lowered Yoichi''s level of optimism. After driving out the Komoerus'' herd, he believed that finding the ne would only be a matter of time.

    Enatsu, meanwhile, continued to look closely at the map. After a few minutes of silence, he closed it and handed it back into Yoichi''s hands.

    "What Shioko said doesn''t change my thesis. I am sure that once we find the nest of the Dokumotsus, we will also find the quest item" the merchant snorted, crossing his arms.

    "Well, we have two rooms left to check before we walk to the boss''s, right? If we followed the Komoerus, we''d riskpleting the dungeon without recovering the ne. I will do as Enatsu says. I trust his guess. And it would help if you trusted him too," Yoichi replied, pointing his finger at Shioko.

    The red-haired tamer snorted sulkily. She closed her eyes, trying to keep herposure. "Sada-sensei ordered me to protect you and your friend. I will do as you say. The important thing is not to waste any more time", she eximed, repeating what he had said just before. For Shioko, the time spent helping her two new guildmates was wasted time.

    "Which way, Enatsu?" Yoichi asked, ready to follow his partner with Kenji.

    "I can''t tell you for sure. On the map, both rooms look the same. We''re going to go right," Enatsu affirmed, walking at a deliberate pace.

    Following the young merchant''s guess, the three adventurers walked to the other side of the room. A natural door opened into the rocky wall: it was smaller than that of the boss''s room, and a smaller amount of dark mud surrounded it.

    Nobu continued to follow its protected and keep stable the white light beam, which followed their walk. Enatsu, who closed the line, as usual, focused on looking at the veins of ck mud on the ceiling.

    Tracing with his eyes the fments of that dark and mysterious material, he noticed that they, too, like the material that had swallowed the Yoroishi, pulsated with their own energy.

    Faintly reflecting Nobu''s light, small bubbles popped on the walls. The fluid that branched out throughout the room seemed to focus mainly towards the boss''s cavern. However, it prated arge boulder above the natural door of the right room.

 Chapter 124 - Speedrunner

    Enatsu immediately put a hand on Yoichi''s shoulder, as if time was flowing differently in his mind. The young tamer paused, looking with questioning eyes at his friend.

    The merchant continued to reason in silence while his heart beat hard in his chest: at that very moment, Shioko''s foot, the first in line, crossed the threshold of the rocky door. ? ?

    "Get out of there!" Enatsu violently yelled, dashing to her. Grabbing her quiver with one hand and her leather armour with the other, he yanked the archer backwards.

    Shioko and Enatsu fell on each other without suffering considerable damage. The next moment, therge piece of rock soaked in the dark substance broke away from the top of the door, falling to the floor.

    *boom* - The rockslide triggered an explosion that caused slippery walls to vibrate and detach small debris from the ceiling. *cough*cough* "What?" Shioko gulped, lying above Enatsu''s body, which had cushioned the fall.

    With his sudden gesture, the merchant had saved hispanion''s life, predicting the detachment of the boulder and managing to act in time. For the first time, Enatsu had seeded to use his insight for fear of doing the wrong thing.

    "Hey! Are you okay?" Yoichi gasped, approaching hisrades and helping them get up. He first grabbed Shioko''s hand, who nimbly stood up.

    "Yes... ouch... I''m all right, I''m all right¡­ I guess¡­" the merchant murmured, grabbing hispanion''s forearm. When the dust generated by the boulder''s fall dissolved, his gaze crossed with Shioko''s, falling into deep embarrassment.

    Fortunately, their awkward silence was again interrupted by Yoichi. "How did you do it? How did you know that boulder was going to copse?" he asked incredulously.

    "I... I just looked at the direction of the mud veins on the ceiling and... well, I was able to calcte the time that that boulder eroded by the same substance would take", Enatsu exined. Despite his modesty, he also realized that what he had just done had been incredible.

    Under the guise of answering his friend''s question, he diverted his gaze from Shioko, still shocked by what had happened. "During your stay at the Dojo, Sada-sensei handed me some great manuals to study to be a wizard worthy of the Nightdes. Fortunately, in the only chapter of the first manual I was able to read in just three days, I found useful information about ces like these", Enatsu spoke.

    "Manuals to be wizards? That''s cool!" Yoichi rejoiced, d his friend finally showed some determination.

    "In those tomes is enclosed the knowledge of the greatest science experts of Lumya. There is information about different biomes, mountain ranges, ciers and volcanoes. Everything rted to the demons that inhabit those ces. In a nutshell, I was able to identify in the fractures of that rock substantial structural damage and..."

    "Ahem..." Shioko interrupted Enatsu''s endless exnation, clearing her throat. The merchant stopped talking, realizing that he looked too nerdy in the eyes of the archer.

    "All right. You don''t have to say that. We''re just wasting our time, I got it. Let''s go," Enastu replied, starting to walk behind his teammates again.

    After that short break, the bleak atmosphere of the cave increased considerably. The three adventurers approached the entrance to the eastern room, partially closed by therge boulder that had just fallen.

    "Mind your step... the rocks may still be unstable", Yoichi advised, walking sideways to enter without touching therge crushed boulder.

    Without difficulty, flying into the widest space of the natural door, Nobu brought its light inside the room. It was much smaller than the atrium in which they faced the Komoeru.

    Shioko wielded the bow with both her hands, and Yoichi prepared to activate Kenji''s upgrade when all three were inside. The light of the Hotasagi highlighted both the sidewalls but not the one in front of them.

    The room was a perfect mix between the central atrium of the dungeon and the corridor after the entrance. Extending more in length than width, it forced the tamers to proceed in single file, one after the other.

    In that tight and regr space, every creaking of the rock and drop of liquid that fed the puddles on the floor was amplified. Paying particr attention to minimizing the sound of their steps, the three explorers found themselves in front of something unexpected.

    Nobu stopped in mid-air, framing the end of the cave. A vertical wall closed that room with no exit, about thirty meters long. In front of it, three headstones were wedged into the ground, next to each other.

    "Oh, fuck... is... it''s terrifying, holy shit! Enatsu stuttered, hiding behind Yoichi''s back and trembling like a leaf. The young tamer silenced him with a hand gesture, trying to focus on that unusual scene.

    Shioko approached cautiously. After each step, she moved her foot sideways to the left and right, as if looking for something on the floor. "I have never been in this room... someone may have set traps," she spoke, anticipating Yoichi''s question, who looked at her from behind.

    "Are you saying you never came in here? Didn''t you say you''vepleted this dungeon so many times?" Enatsu inquired, disheartened by that statement.

    "Completing a dungeon means defeating its boss, my naive merchant" Shioko mumbled. "When you find out how many XP points you can receive from killing a boss, you''ll understand why I''ve never paid attention to the other rooms," she added.

    "Oh, shit... you could have told us before that you''re a speedrunner!" Enatsu barked aloud. That discovery did not seem to please the merchant, who did not stopining for a moment.

    "A... what? Can''t you talk normally?" Yoichi asked, shaking his head. Although ironically, the young tamer never missed the opportunity to learn new technical terms.

    "I haven''t always been, okay? There are dungeons I know better than others! The ckvault Mines aren''t among them, but it doesn''t matter! The battle against the boss is crucial. Is the only thing that really matters!" ¨C Shioko''s response sounded particrly irascible. Enatsu''s usation had brought up a sore spot.

 Chapter 125 - Moss

    "A speedrunner?" Yoichi asked again, unable to independently understand the meaning of that word.

    "Speedrunners are tamers whoplete dungeons only by defeating the boss, regardless of the secondary rooms and extra loots. As you already know, maps of Lumya''s main dungeons can be found in so many ces, and once you memorize their floor n, you can skip the ''optional'' rooms and get straight to the boss to draw from the main XP points source of the dungeon. ??

    "I don''t see anything wrong with it," Yoichi acknowledged, looking at Shioko and awaiting confirmation. The archer was astonished at the calm response of her colleague, who, unlike everyone else, did not consider that behaviour that wrong.

    "Shioko just preferred to level up Nobu and seeded to evolve it. It sounds like a great goal for a guild tamer, doesn''t it? After all... isn''t that what we all want?" Yoichi continued, justifying his answer.

    I''d like to know Kenji''s current level, but even if the blood writing appeared, I wouldn''t be able to read them because of this dark and chilling environment. We need to get out of this room as soon as possible. He thought.

    "It doesn''t matter who I am. What matters now is to be able toplete the dungeon and find that damn ne so that you can receive the loot you''ve been promised", Shioko replied, puffing as usual. Already close to the three headstones, the red-haired tamer lowered towards one of them, looking closely at the details.

    "Maybe you don''t understand, brother... being a speedrunner, Shioko does not know the whole dungeon but only the part rted to thest boss. As a result, this is the first time she has entered this room!" Enastu remarked, underlining how serious the situation was. Meanwhile, the girl''s hand touched the thickyer of moss grown on the rock of the first tombstone, starting from the left.

    Scratching it away, letters appeared beneath it, giving shape to an inscription. "A... s... ai... Asai? It says ''Asai''. I think it''s the name of the one who''s buried here," Shioko mumbled, continuing to scrape the moss from the gravestone.

    "Why don''t we just look for the ne? If it''s not here, there''s no point staying in this room, right? I don''t think there''s any loot, and... moreover, there are no demons. Brr! This ce creeps me out!" Enatsu shuddered, looking at the narrow walls surrounding him and his friends, which made that cramped ce even more terrifying.

    The thick ck mud continued to flow through the rocks and was absorbed into it once it reached the floor. At the same time, as if it were an infinite cycle, more mud came out of the fractures of the ceiling, feeding the flow on the walls.

    "If this room contains three headstones, there must surely be a reason. And then... you''ve talked about speedrunners so far, who tend to skip extra rooms, but... maybe you''re not against that idea," Yoichimented, scolding his partner. Once again, Enatsu''s fear was slowing down the mission.

    The merchant tamer did not answer, storing the me. Knowing that Yoichi was telling the truth, he tried to control himself and not speak out of ce, waiting silently for something to happen.

    "I''m sure your cleverness will be very helpful for us, Enatsu. The fact that this room is demon-free doesn''t necessarily mean it doesn''t hide a loot. Don''t you think?" Yoichi asked, speaking to Shioko.

    She was intent on ying moss from the second tombstone. "Your map says the ckvault Mines have only threerge rooms, so... yes, it''s impossible that there''s nothing but these three tombstones in here.

    The writing engraved on the second headstone took shape under the archer''s eyes, who recited the word aloud. "Osai¡­" Shioko murmured with a puzzled air, turning her gaze towards Yoichi.

    Meanwhile, the young tamer had approached the third and final tombstone, the rightmost one. With the help of Nobu, who moved over the adventurers'' heads, illuminating the area, his fingers began to scratch away the moss.

    Under that thick greenyer, formed by small mushrooms and lichens, a word the same length as the other two became legible. "Ysai!" Yoichi spoke, straightening his back.

    Suddenly, when even the third word was uttered aloud, a loud tremor enveloped the room. A seismic shock started from the wall behind the tombstones: moving like a wave in the sea, that mysterious energying from the underground lifted the rocks of the floor, lowering them as the earth wave passed.

    Caught off guard, the three tamers found themselves unconsciously on the crest of that wave, and all the three of them fell to the ground, unbnced. The sussultatory movement of the seismic wave perpetuated its propagation, moving it edge-to-edge into the room as if the walls were the borders of a container.

    Under the incredulous eyes of the three adventurers, Nobu flew right next to the wave, illuminating its path: when it arrived at the entrance, the side walls were forced to release the energy transmitted up to that point.

    *boom* - a noise simr to that of the boulder which had fallen before they entered the room echoed through the narrow walls of the dungeon. The front door had just been sealed off by debris.

    "No! Fuck! No, no, no! The door is closed!" Enatsu screamed, panicking. The merchant began to run towards the entrance, crossing the whole room throughout its length. "I can''t die here! I still have a lot to do! I want to get married, have a beautiful wife, many kids... what will I do if I die locked up in here?" he despaired again, trying to remove the rocky debris from the cave''s natural door.

    Yoichi and Shioko rose from the ground and looked each other in the eye. Within seconds, that narrow, shadowy room, in which the presence of that dense slurry suffocated oxygen, had turned into a giant grave and the three of them were the candidates to be buried alive.

    The merchant''s screams were interrupted by another sudden sound. This time, it came from the three headstones, just behind the two tamers.

    The soil in front of them began to rotate swirling, and the rockyers alternated with muddyyers in that spot only, in a whirlpool-like motion.

 Chapter 126 - Tombstones

    In front of each of the three tombstones in the ground, three ethereal hands, formed by a celestial and brilliant substance, took shape, terrorizing Yoichi and Shioko.

    As the two tamers retreated in fear, the three arms rose from the ground, resting their hands on the hard rock and helping the rest of their bodies out of their underground captivity. ??

    Three celestial spirits reached the surface and, each of them sat on their own gravestone, looking down. When Enatsu also turned his eyes to the other end of the room, his screams froze in his throat, unable to get out due to the chills that ran through his back.

    The bold Shioko, in front of that scene, could not speak. The bow still clenched between her hands trembled fragilely. As Enatsu predicted, being a speedrunner didn''t make it easy in that case, and even a low-level dungeon like that could be a problem without the right experience.

    Thanks to the three shining spirits, the room''s interior changed colour and darkness dissolved, consumed by the light of Nobu added to that of those three unknown beings.

    They were three men, very simr to each other. The first eye-popping detail was their work clothes: heavy and durable fabric trousers ended in bulky boots with iron-reinforced toes.

    The upper clothing was more inadequate, consisting of a simple yellowish linen tank top, totally covered in dirt and mud. Studying the details of the three spirits up close, Yoichi and Shioko immediately noticed that the bodies of those three men suffered severe injuries.

    One of them did not have an arm, and the tank top on his chest was utterly torn in the middle. Under it, a deep gash showed his internal organs, partly hanging from the wound, as if they were about to fall.

    The spirit on the second tomb, on the other hand, had lost both his legs. Standing in bnce on the tombstone with his sturdy arms, he raised his eyes towards the two adventurers in front of him. His hands were big and callous, and his nails were dirty with earth and blood.

    Finally, thest of the three men was the one with the most terrifying appearance: his body was not damaged like that of the other two spirits, but, on the other hand, his neck interrupted abruptly, severed. Between hisrge scratched and wed fingers, the long hair of his head, supported by the palms of his hands.

    Despite seeing giant man-eating demons and vigers mauled and blown out through the rubble of ckborough in recent days, that unexpected vision froze the blood in the veins of the three adventurers.

    Unlike Shioko, it was the first time Yoichi and Enatsu witnessed ethereal bodies like those. The merchant, feeling abandoned on the other side of the cave, approached hispanions without making any noise.

    "What''s going on?" Yoichi whispered, trying to direct the sound of his words towards Shioko, with one hand in front of his mouth. Kenji and Rokuro looked curiously at the three spirits without breathing.

    "If they had been evil presences, our Oracles would have surely reacted someway. Something tells me that these spirits want..." Shioko''s whispered words were suddenly interrupted by a sound.

    *GASP*huff* - the head in the hands of the third spirite to life, opening its eyes and mouth, taking a deep and suffocated breath. At the same time, the other two spirits also seemed to have woken up.

    The one sitting on the first tombstone, looking up at the tamers, revealed a hidden detail of his face: part of his head was missing as if crushed by a boulder. The only eye left looked damaged and injected with blood.

    The breath of the third spiritsted for a few seconds. Soon after, absolute silence preceded his words. "Travelers..." the long-haired man''s head uttered, still supported by his hands.

    "Aaagh! He has spoken! That head had spoken!" Enatsu jumped in fear, hiding behind Shioko and seeking protection.

    Yoichi tried to regrize his breath and keep calm. As his archerpanion told him, the three spirits of the headstones did not seem to be hostile. The young tamer knelt before them, showing genuine respect. "Yes, we are travellers from the capital. Who are you, spirits of the cave?" he asked, trying to interact peacefully.

    "Aaaah..." the severed head sighed. With two fingers, one of his hands moved the tuft of hair that covered its eyes. "I am Ysai, the eldest of my brothers. Aaah... they are Asai and Osai!" the spirit answered.

    Three brothers? What are they doing buried down here? Maybe they were miners? Yoichi thought. Somehow, he tried to exin that strange phenomenon.

    "The boundary between life and death is a very, very thin thread in the world of Lumya... aaah... the demonic power of this ce has prevented our spirits from ascending, forcing us between these narrow walls... aah..." ¨C the words of the greatest of the three deceased brothers echoed in the room, rumbling.

    "Are you... are you dead?" Yoichi inquired who was the only one interacting.

    "We are no longer in the world of the living. This is a sure thing," Asai intervened, the leftmost spirit. "However, our soul is trapped here, in these bleak, dark mines", Osai added, the one without legs.

    "Now that the cave door has been sealed, there is only one way to get out and continue the dungeon. It requires great wit and intelligence. Aaah... every tamer feels strong next to his demon... but the real question is... aaah... will you be able to pass the test with the only use of your psyche?" Ysai spoke.

    The hands of the spirit turned his head from side to side, carefully looking at the travellers who reached his evesting dwelling.

    "T... test? What kind of test?" Enatsu stammered. Shioko pushed him away, annoyed by his presence behind her back.

    The merchant''s question generated a profound silence. Suddenly, the square rocks of the wall behind the tombstones began to move like the tiles of a puzzle, rotating and crawling on each other.

 Chapter 127 - Brothers

    Consuming friction between the fractures, the wall''s rocks opened into a recess, a kind ofpartment hidden in the wall. That gloomy locker contained a small cubic box sealed by a lock.

    When all the tiles holding that wooden chest, locked in its ce, were moved by the magic of the three spirits, it flew to Osai, the legless man. ??

    Yoichi and hispanions continued to witness the scene, not knowing what was about to happen. When the chest was tightly held in the hands of the spirit of the central tombstone, the eldest of the three brothers began to speak again.

    "Too many years have passed since the day of our death. So many that they''re impossible to remember. My brothers and I loved this mine. It was our home, our family, our everything... aaaah," he spoke.

    "Although our memory tends to fade, we remember the arrival of demons with extreme precision. From that day on, the fate began to write our end inexorably", Osai added.

    "Demons of all kinds drove us miners away, devouring the most fragile and forcing the strongest to fight and shelter themselves in the caves", Asai continued. "By now, there was no one left. The three of us were thest survivors of the ckvault Mines."

    "Thest survivors? You mean... had everyone else been mauled except for you?" Enatsu asked. Taking advantage of that rhetorical question, the merchant wanted to extrapte as much information as possible from the three mysterious spirits.

    They continued to speak cryptically, omitting information on purpose. Their intention was probably to bring the three travellers to reasoning, giving them small glimpses of their past life.

    "Eyes as red as mes and jaws as sharp as spears. Thest screams of the men who had shared this ce with us for years turned into oblivion, eaten by darkness", Asai replied.

    "They were like brothers to us. They were our family. Our unchanging task was to extract the Tetsuiasa, the precious material that would be given to the imperial family", Osai exined.

    "The perfect alloy between iron and gold. Durable and shiny, suitable for building armour and embellishing jewellery. Of all the ces in the world, our mine was the only one capable of producing such a mineral. The only one in all over Lumya."

    After Ysai''s words, Yoichi and Enastu looked at Shioko. From the way she looked puzzled at the storytelling spirits, she seemed to have never heard of the Tetsuiasa.

    "What happened to Tetsuiasa?" Yoichi inquired, curious about what that story had to do with their looming test.

    "My two younger brothers and I have always been the strongest in here. Our arms were able to lift twice our weight and, while we did not have the gift of taming demons, we were able to stand up to them. However, it was our fraternal union that killed us," Ysai exined, leaving room for the intervention of the other two spirits.

    "Despite our dedication and constant efforts, the pay we received from the nobles who had owned the mine was too low. We could hardly feed our children, and our wives looked at us with outrage," Asai spoke.

    Osai squeezed the small wooden trunk next to his chest. "Unlike thendowners, we knew every single corner of this cave, every hole and every crevice. As anyone else would have done in our ce, we hid a small loot, enough Tetsuiasa to create a piece of equipment," he admitted.

    "One of us, during our escape, convinced the other two that we would be able to recover our hidden treasure in time before we left the mine. A brother''s greed prevailed over the survival instinct of the other two. And where to hide a precious loot, if not in the only left-end room in the cave?" Ysai acknowledged.

    "A narrow and long room, low in minerals and of littlemercial interest. We knew that none of our colleagues, nor our masters, would ever look in here," Osai remarked.

    "When we reached the wall behind us, caught in the anxiety of being killed by the demons after us, we could not find our secret loot. At that point, the vaults of the room copsed, and we were sealed in this ce. Forever," Asai concluded.

    After that tale, Yoichi linked the appearance of the three spirits to what had happened in the past. Asai''s damaged head and missing arm, Osai''s severed legs. Poor Ysai with his own head between his hands: the mine that represented everything to them, had suddenly be their grave, and the three brothers who had dedicated their lives to the extraction of the Tetsuiasa had died crushed under the weight of their regrets.

    The three adventurers were speechless, knowing that that story was not over yet. Their next mission would not involve the use of their pets, and the fear of not seeding began to flow through their veins.

    "Your mission is to figure out who of the three of us caused our deaths. Who is the brother who put his family''s life at risk for a loot worth a few dozen gold coins" Ysai exined again, starting to talk about the test.

    "Did he really say a dozen gold coins?!" Enatsu whispered, shutting his mouth with his hand. Every time somebody talked about merchandise and money, the young merchant couldn''t hold back.

    "Shh! Shut up and listen!" Shioko scolded.

    "Only by dering who is the architect of our death will you be able to get out of here safely", Ysai repeated.

    "Do not try to destroy the walls, nor to remove the rocks that block the door. You wouldn''t do it in time and die as we did," Asai added.

    "Thousands are the tamers who, like you, have epted the mission of the three tombstones. Insects devoured their bodies, and their bones fed the limestone rocks. You only have one chance," Osai spoke.

    "The three of us will stay here and watch you, but we will not say a word. When you are ready to solve the enigma of the three brothers, you will know the truth", Ysai concluded. Suddenly, the head in his hands closed its eyes.

 Chapter 128 - Conundrum

    Simultaneously, his two brothers also dozed off, falling into a deep sleep. Osai still held the ethereal wooden box in his hands. The substance that made up their bodies and that object wasposed of light and dust, and there was nothing that coulde into contact with it.

    "What? Hey! That''s it? You didn''t give us any other information! How long do we have to solve the riddle?" Enatsu gulped, waving his arms at his interlocutors. ??

    *grk*grk* - The echo of the merchant''s words was followed by a rock noiseing from the sidewalls of the narrow room. The entire mine began to shake, and the three adventurers struggled to maintain bnce.

    "Um... Enatsu... I think that''s the answer to your question!" Yoichi eximed, pointing to the right wall, partly illuminated by Nobu light plus that of the three spirits.

    The two walls on either side of the three tamers were slowly advancing towards the centre of the room, tightening more and more. Looking in the direction of the three tombstones, it was possible to notice that the two outer ones became closer and closer to the walls.

    The rocks closest to the side ends were gradually swallowed along with the ck mud, which, muttering, was slowly ejected over the walls, out of the room.

    "Goddamn! What... what''s going on? The room is shrinking!" Enatsu yelled, panicking. He and Shioko approached Yoichi, standing in the middle of the cave.

    "Fuck... we will end up crushed in the rocks! We have to answer those guys if we don''t want to die in here!" Shioko boomed, evidently frightened. The thought of not being able to solve the quest with a fight put her in great difficulty.

    "Judging by the speed with which the walls move, I think we have a maximum of two more minutes left," Yoichi spoke, trying to make an approximate calction.

    "Two minutes? Are we kidding me? What kind of game is this?! Not... we will never seed!" terror in Enatsu''s words clouded the minds of hisrades, and general nervousness took over.

    Shioko, not mainly carried for riddles and memory games, clenched her fists in anger. Her level of tolerance for the merchant''s useless chatter reached its limit and, to vent her frustration, she grabbed his cloak, jerking it towards her.

    "I''m sick of hearing you babbling gibberish!" she shouted, shaking Enatsu like a rag doll. "You''re an aspiring wizard, right? So shut up and get us out of here, you smarty-pants! she continued, pushing his partner.

    Enatsu fell with his back to the ground, and his gaze pointed towards the ceiling. As he tried to recover from the unexpected hit to the tailbone, the rocky wall slightly touched his head.

    The room sides had advanced so much that the already narrow space of the cave had shrunk to just over a meter and a half. "Aaargh!" he yelled, standing up hastily and returning beside Yoichi.

    The young tamer remained a few more seconds silent, still looking at the headstones. The walls touched the two outer tombstones, pushing strongly towards the centre.

    *track*crack* - the hard rock of the graves of the three miner brothers began to crumble under the incredible force of that magical room, ready to swallow anything inside of it.

    Yoichi looked at Kenji, then hispanions. They trembled like leaves, and time kept flowing inexorably.

    "If we have so little time, it means that the solution is within our reach. Come on, think with me... who can be the culprit among the three?" he asked, trying to attract the attention of his guildpanions.

    "None of this would have happened if you hadn''t been a stupid speedrunner! If you''d known this room was hiding a trap like that, you''d never let us in! Enatsu barked again, out of control as usual.

    "What? I won''t take any criticism from a useless brat like you! What have you done so far, huh? A goddamn thing! If it wasn''t for Yoichi or me, you''d have died hours ago, mauled and eaten by one of the demons we killed and..."

    While Shioko rebuked Enatsu, Yoichi stepped forward. Without adding anything, he quickly approached his merchant friend and hit him with a loud p on the face.

    The blow was strong enough to silence both litigants, instantly restoring order. "Are you going to help me or not?! In about a minute, our bones will be crumbled under the walls!" the young tamer yelled violently, scolding both of them.

    *crash* - As the outer tombstones crumbled and the walls continued to approach the central one, Shioko and Enatsu returned with their feet to the ground, breathing hard due to the cave''sck of oxygen.

    Anoxia, the tight spaces and theck of light were all elements that made any logical reasoning difficult. If they had more time and would have been free to move around, the three travellers would have found a solution in a short time. But would they be able to coordinate their anxious minds in that conditions too?

    Who was the cheating brother? Were the clues they had enough to draw conclusions? Why did the spirit named Osai hold that wooden chest in his hands?

    The questions that gripped young Yochi''s mind were many, but the survival instinct forced his mind to think neatly and schematically.

    "The only thing we know about them is that they are brothers... and that Ysai is the oldest. Right?" Enastu asked, who finally wanted to get involved.

    "Correct. We also know that when the demons began to conquer this ce, they ran away, but before they reached the exit, one of them forced them to stop in this room", Yoichi added.

    "What else... what else may have escaped our attention? It must be an important detail... something we listened to superficially... but what?"

    As Yochi and Enatsu tried toe up with a solution, Shioko put a foot on the wall. Forcefully, she tried in vain to stop it, trying to estimate its movement strength.

    The two outer tombstones disappeared under the rock, voraciously devoured by the room itself. No longer having the space to stay next to each other, the three explorers were forced to line up, upying as little space as possible.

 Chapter 129 - Letters

    The time avable to the three adventurers was beginning to run out, and the rock walls were getting closer and closer to their faces. The fear of being swallowed up by that narrow, cold room was palpable.

    "We''re not giving it our best! But how do we figure out who did it with this little information? The three brothers are very simr to each other, and from their faces, I can''t figure out who may have cheated on the other two!" Enatsu snorted. Surprisingly, the merchant managed to regain control of his thoughts, integrating Yoichi into the reasoning. ??

    "Maybe it has something to do with the kind of wounds they have? I don''t know, the fact that Ysai is the only headless one... or Osai, who doesn''t have both legs... are you sure these are not important details?" Shioko asked. From the way she spoke, it was clear that she wasn''t convinced of her statement either.

    Unable to sit on her hands, waiting inexorably for the moment of the end, she too wanted to help.

    "Every detail can be relevant. However, analyzing every single wound would take too long and..." Yoichi whispered, raising his arms and resting both hands on a wall, assessing its sliding speed. "We don''t have that much."

    "Yes, it''s as you say. This riddle must have a trivial solution, but... I can''t help but think of all those who died trying to solve it! Fuck this! Isn''t there a way to slow down these tight walls? It would help me find concentration!" Enatsuined again.

    "So... the material the three brothers were talking about... the Tetsuiasa. Ysai affirmed it''s an iron and gold alloy, which makes it valuable and versatile. One of them couldn''t resist the temptation to recover it, knowing that once demons conquered the mine, he would lose his job," Yoichi thought aloud. "Asai, Osai and Ysai. Three brothers, three miners, one loot. But who did it? Which one of them decided to put the other two''s lives at risk?" he continued.

    "Ysai, the older brother, looks like the most sensible of the three. Osai and Asai are the youngest, so perhaps the most predisposed to selfishness and greed," Enatsu remarked, rubbing his chin.

    Shioko, a few seconds earlier, had sat on the ground, putting pressure on the walls with her back on one side and her feet on the other. Although the cave floor was uneven, the positive or negative difference in height with the low edges of the wall was filled as it passed.

    It was as if the two walls that continued to slide inexorably were made of a material harder than the floor. "Is that the best you got? Time is running out! Grrgh!" Shioko gasped. She was forced to stand up because of the small space.

    A simple thing, a simple thing... Yoichi thought frantically. The young tamer put his fingers on his temples, squeezing his brains. "Dig this! Their names! The names of the three miners must be the key!" he boomed.

    "Uh? Their names? Do you think their simr names may be the solution? But¡­ how" Enatsu gulped. The back wall touched his shoulders, and the forward wall came into contact with the palms of his hands.

    The length of the young merchant''s outstretched arms corresponded to the distance between walls. Kenji and Rokuro approached the feet of their tamers, fearing the worst. In that extremely cramped space, Nobu could no longer fly freely andy on Shioko''s shoulder.

    "Guys! What the fuck" she yelled, once again showing the most fragile side of her character. "Shut up, Shioko! I can''t think if you keep talking in my ears!" Enatsu ranted, shaking his head.

    "Asai, Osai, Ysai... so... Y... sai, O... sai and... A... sai. Threemon letters and the different initial!" Yoichi affirmed, turning his head towards Enastu, forced between the two walls next to him. "What was the most precious thing for the three brothers? The only thing more important than their own life?" he asked his partner.

    "The Tetsuiasa... the... Tetsu... iasa... I got it! Hahah! Fuck, you''re a genius, Yoichi!" Enatsu rejoiced, smiling with his eyes. Shioko''s face expressed the effort in trying to block the advance of the walls.

    "The word ''Tetsu'' means iron, right? The suffix ''iasa'' is the anagram of Asai, the youngest brother!" Yoichi recapped to get onest confirmation from hispanions.

    "Tetsu-Asai... literally ''the iron of Asai''... Of course! That must be the answer... aargh!" The narrow walls suffocated Enatsu''s voice. His chest, like that of Shioko and Yoichi, touched the muddy surface of the rocks.

    The three of them were forced to turn their faces sideways to upy as little space as possible. At that exact moment, realizing that this would be their only chance, Yoichi took the responsibility of speaking on behalf of hisrades.

    "The answer is ''Asai''! He convinced you and Osai to go back for the Tetsuiasa!" yelled the young tamer, speaking to Ysai. The next moment, the air just out of his lungs failed to get back: his chest had beenpressed, decreasing the space avable to his internal organs.

    The three adventurers closed their eyes, failing to witness the death of their Oracles, who would die crushed along with them. Their faces were soaked in ck mud, which prevented them from breathing for only a few seconds.

    Suddenly, the walls stopped. Enatsu''s hands, the most frightened of the three, continued to tremble as the merchant held his breath.

    In the following instant, the thick walls of the long rectangr room began to move away from each other. When the mud allowed the mouth and nose of the three tamers to breathe again, they threw themselves to the ground on their knees.

    *anf*anf*anf* - Breathing hard and focusing his hands on the floor rocks, Yoichi was the first of them to realize he was alive. His body was filthy with dark mud due to the two walls impregnated with that sticky substance.

 Chapter 130 - Lesson

    "I can''t believe it... I can''t... I can''t..." *cough*cough* - Enatsu coughed strongly, expelling from his throat the sludge he had been forced to inhale. The merchant threw himself to the ground, wiping his face with his hands and turning his gaze to the vaults of the cave.

    The three demon pets were all safe and sound and, due to their small size, they had only partially got dirty with mud. The body of their tamers had blocked the advance of the moving walls, allowing them to breathe despite being forced into such a cramped space. ??

    "Kenji... Kenji, where are you?" Yoichi called, rubbing the dry side of his arm against his eyes. The slimy, stinking mud was removed from his face, allowing him to see.

    "The answer is correct, travellers from the capital. Pleasee closer," Ysai''s wise voice spoke, rumbling in the room. It had now returned to its original size and, although it was only a couple of meters wide, it looked like a vast hallpared to its previous dimension.

    Yoichi got off the ground and checked Kenji''s condition. Both it and the demons of hispanions were fine. From that detail, it was possible to understand that his colleagues were also safe and sound apart from the strong fright.

    The young Nightdes tamer approached Shioko. The red-haired girl had her knees and hands resting on the ground. From her mouth came the sound of her crying.

    Fearing she would not make it, she had let the most hidden emotions in her soule to the surface: vulnerability and insecurities emerged as wrecks abandoned at the bottom of the ocean, forcing her into a state of despair.

    Without overthinking about it, aware that Shioko''s reaction could have been violent, Yoichi grabbed both of her arms.

    His hands tightened the lower part of Shioko''s biceps, and, with a minimal amount of strength, he lifted her light and feminine body. The archer, weirdly, did not oppose that movement, finally letting herself be helped.

    Shioko returned to her feet while her gaze was still turned downwards. The bitter tears generated by the fear of dying had dug furrows in the mud on her face, causing it to drip down.

    Her beautiful red hair was only partially dirty, amalgamated with that disgusting substance, capable of making look horrible anything that came in contact with it.

    Shaking his right hand and wiping it over his trousers, Yoichi cleaned her off the mud. Gently, the young tamer stroked Shioko''s face, doing the same thing and allowing her skin to start breathing again.

    Enatsu, after standing up, could not believe his eyes. That severe, grumpy tamer was allowing Yoichi to touch her face. From her expression, it seemed that she had momentarily dissociated herself from reality, letting the hand of the young blonde-haired man touch her skin.

    When the girl''s face was cleared of all the mud, Yoichi moved his hand away, leaving her time to regain consciousness. Shioko''s big green eyes reflected the white celestial light of the three headstones spirits as they reappeared at the bottom of the room.

    Her gaze crossed with Yoichi''s, sharing with him the happiness of being able to keep on living. Through their eyes, the two tamers whispered words without space and time, giving each otherfort.

    "Krruuu!" ¨C Nobu, for the first time, uttered its cry, fluttering happily near its tamer and pping its butterfly face over her hair. "Have you seen, Nobu? We did it... we are safe and sound," she smiled, continuing to look at Yoichi out of the corner of her eye.

    He knew that wasn''t the best time to waste any more time. He turned to the three spirits, sensing the girl''s gaze on him. In less than two days, the girl''s stone heart was beginning to warm up, revealing her true friendly nature.

    One step at a time, as he expected during his introspective talks with Enatsu, Shioko would be a good friend, as well as a valiant travelpanion.

    "Get a little closer, travellers!" Ysai''s spirit repeated. His head had reopened its eyes, and his body was standing still on his feet.

    The two side tombstones had been swept away, and there were only a few rubbles left of them. The central one, on the other hand, had shrunk, crushed along the edges. On it, Osai''s legless spirit sat slyly, with the mysterious chest in his hands.

    "By achieving this test, you have agreed to experience on your skin a small part of the fear that my brothers and I felt that sad day. However, your intellect has prevailed over it, and you have shown that you can solve a fairly simple conundrum even in extremely tense circumstances", Ysai continued. With a slow movement of his hands, his detached head nodded in a sign of approval.

    "I was the cause of my brothers'' death!" Asai admitted, standing in the ce where his tombstoney. "My greed and desire for wealth have wrecked our lives forever" he spoke, feeling sorry for himself.

    "Despite this, Asai will forever be our younger brother. And what kind of older brother wouldn''t forgive him?" Osai added. The wisdom of the two older brothers was considerably increasingly marked than that of the youngest.

    "Not even death has been able to break the fraternal bond that binds us, and our spirits have remained forever in this cave. Our only goal is to help travellers who, like you, deserve to live. So we hope that you will give importance to the true values of life", Ysai stated.

    "Love for one''s family and friends. It is far superior to that of money and any other material goods. This is the lesson that each of you has learned today. We learned it hundreds of years ago, at the cost of our own lives," Asaimented. The voice of the youngest of the spirits, perhaps in his early twenties, was full of regrets.

    The only thing that seemed to matter to him was sharing his message of hope.

 Chapter 131 - Alloy

    Unexpectedly, while the three spirits kept on speaking, Yoichi knelt before them. Ysai, the older brother, was so amazed by that gesture that he remained silent for a few seconds.

    "I believe that the greatest thing that you lost that day was freedom," the young tamer spoke. The three brothers looked at him curiously: never before had a warrior dwelt in that ce more than necessary. They perceived the genuine empathy of Yoichi, a young man who had their story at heart. ??

    "Without freedom, life loses all values. Family, friends, enemies. Nothing makes any more sense if you are not free to make your own choices. I... I will pray for you, tombstones spirits " he continued, resting both his hands on the ground and approaching his forehead to the floor.

    After that act of extreme reverence, he stood up, relieved that the test of that room had beenpleted.

    Almost simultaneously, a sound of bouldersing from the entrance rumbled into the cave: the debris that had umted next to the copsed boulder returned to the top of the ceiling. As if by magic, each fragment of rock again upied its ce, framing itself to perfection and freeing the exit.

    "I can imagine that everything that has happened to you may make you lose confidence in the very concept of life, but... I''m confident you''ll find peace", Yoichimented again. He pushed a fist into the palm of his other hand, bending his torso forward and formally greeting the three miners'' spirits.

    Shioko and Enatsu, still frozen by what had happened, waited a few moments before mirroring their guild mate''s gestures. The three travelers greeted the gravestone brothers and were preparing to leave when, at one point, Ysai spoke.

    "A golden-haired boy risked dying. Yet he understood the morals of our message, wishing us peace even though we were the architects of the conundrum that was about to kill him. All this is unprecedented, my brothers!" he affirmed.

    Listening to those words, Yoichi and his friends stopped. They turned backward, sensing an aura of positivitying from the three tombstones at the bottom of the narrow cave.

    "My older brother is right. It''s never happened that any of those who passed the test stopped and talked to us, showing us such respect. All the tamers who survived, they just quickly escaped from this room, afraid that its entrance might close again," Asai added. The younger brother stepped forward, moving away from the ethereal tombstone that appeared behind him.

    ''That its entrance might close again'' ¨C those words shook Enatsu, who, without interrupting the speech looked backward. He made sure the entrance to the cave was still open, rushing his blond-hairedpanion.

    "What do you say, Osai?" ¨C Ysai turned to one side, supporting his head and raising it to his legless brother. The firstborn''s eyes remained focused on the central spirit and he, taking a deep breath, made something unexpected happen.

    Osai lifted the ethereal chest he held in his hands, carrying it as high as possible over his head. In a few moments, the veins of the wood and the rusty iron of its lock materialized. The ethereal item became real, taking on the normal, small casket features.

    "I can''t believe it..." Shioko whispered. Her voice was so low to be heard only by Yoichi, next to her. The young tamer''s incredulous eyes remained pointed at the little chest.

    "If you really want to help us find peace, there''s one thing you can do for us, golden-haired warrior," Asai stated, turning the floor over to the other two spirits.

    Osai''s cut legs came off their seat and the legless spirit floated weightlessly towards Yoichi. Stopping in mid-air about a meter and a half far from him, his arms straightened forward, handing the small trunk to the young Nightdes tamer.

    "Our spirits will never leave this cave, but the Tetsuiasa will," Ysai spoke, with a slight smile printed on his face, down between his hands. "It is worth more to us than anything else. If you bring it with you, you will allow me and my brothers to live the life that has been taken away from us", he stated.

    Unexpectedly, a tear came out of Ysai''s eyes, who was moved by his own words. The three spirits of the tombstones, despite their arcane and sometimes disturbing presence, spoke and reasoned as human beings, capable of feeling the truest feelings.

    *trick*track* - A sound of gears came from the chest in Osai''s hands. Suddenly, the magic that kept that little item closed faded and it opened under the eyes of Yoichi and hispanions.

    When they took a gander at its interior, arge cubic piece of golden metal glittered under Nobu''s white light. It reflected their astonished faces, still dirty with the mud of the cave and the blood of the Komoerus.

    "I... I..." Yoichi stammered, not being prepared for that situation.

    "Give that piece of Tetsuiasa every shape you want, young warrior. In the hands of a good cksmith, it can be the fiercest of weapons or a solid piece of armor. If you entrust it to an experienced jeweler, it will be a jewel capable of winning every woman. It''s up to you," Ysai suggested. One of his hands resting under his cheeks wiped away the tears running down his face.

    Yoichi grabbed the chest, lifting it from the hands of its owner. It was about twenty centimeters long and thick. Despite being a metal alloy, it was not heavy at all.

    "Iron can be brittle and undergo the action of air oxygen and water, rusting. Gold is a precious material but very malleable, not resistant to high temperatures. The Tetsuiasa harmoniouslybines these two alloys, taking the best of them," Osai exined, leaving his priceless treasure in Yoichi''s hands.

    "It is durable and always brilliant. It can not rust or bend, unless under the action of very high temperatures. As we already told you, this is the only mine in Lumya to produce such a material", Asai added.

 Chapter 132 - Stats

    "I''ll try to make good use of it. I will respect your will and give this inanimate piece of metal a new life", Yoichi replied, sping the small chest in his hands and bowing his head towards Osai.

    "We will never meet again. If you ever get out of ckvault Mines alive, you''ll never be able to meet us again. Entering this room for the second time, you''ll find only three cold, inanimate stone tombstones," Asai remarked. ??

    "What happened to the mine? What is this ck mud and how does it make demons immortal?" Yoichi asked, noting that the three spirits had taken on their original positions, ready to return underground.

    "A dark and mysterious force is about to envelop Tentochu. Despite our message of hope, the end of everything is approaching. I wish you to see the daylight again, valiant warriors of Goldhaven," Ysai whispered.

    "No, please... don''t go away! Tell us what happened! What are we going to find inside the boss''s room? Have you seen a ne?" Enatsu yelled, taking a step forward and extending his arm toward Osai, the closest spirit.

    When Enatsu''s hand reached the miner''s ethereal body, it disappeared. The three spirits dissolved into nothingness and the two shiny stone that had appeared vanished into a gust of wind.

    That narrow cavern had returned a long rectangr room with mud-dirty walls. Nobu''s power was now the only source of light.

    "I can''t believe it... you unlocked the secret loot of the dungeon!" Shioko rejoiced, showing a sincere interest in herpanion. The red-haired tamer approached Yoichi, carefully looking at the trunk in his hands.

    "The secret loot? but... but I did nothing but..."

    "Whatever you did, it was enough to unlock this treasure. Sometimes, in dungeons, you maye across puzzles or rooms that need to be ''solved''. Well, it''s clear that no one ever thanked those three spirits for their valuable life lesson. Your attitude must have hit them very, very good", Shioko interrupted again.

    Once again, the archer was setting aside her grumpy nature and began to react to events with positivity, caring about the other members of her team, without selfishly focusing on herself.

    "Um... how about getting the hell out of here? I don''t see any nes around and I''m afraid the door might close again, so... I don''t know..." Enatsu mumbled. Walking backward, he took two steps towards the exit.

    The three adventurers finally came out of that narrow room, finding themselves in the central atrium. The light of Nobu, as during the battle against the Komoerus, could only illuminate part of the mine.

    The wall to the left of the half-smashed door from which they had just left was cleaner than the others. Thendslide had broken down enough to erode the surface, exposing the raw rock below, not yet impregnated with mud.

    Attracted by an instinctive impulse, Yoichi stared at that wall for a few seconds. The substance that came out of the fractures of those porous rocks was not mud, but dense red blood.

    Dripping vertically and horizontally, counteracting the force of gravity, an inscription of blood came to life. The Demon Pet System was speaking.

    [Kenji: (6/6 pts ¨C level up) ¨C (level 6 reached)]

    [Kenji: (7/7 pts ¨C level up) ¨C (level 7 reached)]

    [Kenji: (8/8 pts ¨C level up) ¨C (level 8 reached)]

    [Kenji: (9/9 pts ¨C level up) ¨C (level 9 reached)]

    [Kenji: (1/10 pts ¨C level 9)]

    Among the XP points report letters Kenji received in thest battle, the level numbers ovepped with each other. To the surprise of Yoichi, the keikemon he and his Oracle had eaten before entering had worked.

    By doubling the XP points received, those earned from the killing of 15 Komoerus had be 30. Adding up, Kenji had leveled up from level 5 to level 9.

    As Yoichi''s eye fell on thest digit, the writing disappeared and the red blood got back into the pores, generating new letters.

    ''Secret Missionpleted: receive the tetsuiasa from tombstone spirits''

    [Reward: +1 to all stats of your Oracle]

    After joyfully learning that second piece of good news, Yoichi looked at Kenji. The young tamer noticed that even his little dragon was looking towards that wall, trying to figure out what its tamer was looking at.

    ''New mission: Defeat the boss and exit the dungeon''

    [Reward: +1 to your ''scorching breath'' skill]

    "Hey! Are you all right? Why did you stay there, gawking at the wall? Come on, there''s a ne waiting to be found," Enatsu eximed. The merchant''s words caught the attention of Yoichi, who looked away from the bloody wall.

    "Sorry, you''re right. The story of those three brothers made me think a lot and... forget it. Let''s go," he replied, making up an excuse at the moment. When he looked at the wall again, the Demon Pet System''s writing was gone.

    Kenji has received so many XP points and the effect of Kuniaki''s magic fruit willst for several hours! If those Komoerus gave us all those points... who knows how many the dungeon boss will give us! Yoichi thought, clenching his fists.

    Scorching breath... maybe that''s the name of Kenji''s dragon skill? By leveling up, its body and powers have been upgraded. I didn''t think the same could happen to its skills!

    Realizing how a simple dungeon as the ckvault Mines could benefit an inexperienced tamer like him, Yoichi was determined toplete his next quest. In addition to the boss''s, another room could have hidden Hyobe''ste wife ne.

    "I know a cksmith that fits the bill" Shioko affirmed, interrupting her partner''s thoughts. "He lives in Goldhaven. His works are quite expensive, but I''m sure you can afford it, after receiving the reward for finding the ne," she added.

    "What are you going to do with that shining metal? When using Kenji''s skill, your hands be too big to hold a sword or a spear... a bow is off the table and a kunai would disappear between your huge fingers. Maybe you''d better forge a piece of armor!" Enatsu spoke, ready to express his opinion.

 Chapter 133 - Cocoon

    "There is no point in thinking about this now. There are more urgent things to do, such as finding Hyobe''s ne and getting out of here," Yoichi replied, determined to pursue his goals. "Remember... we didn''t defeat all the Komoerus... a dozen of them holed up in the boss''s room after that harrowing call," he remarked, reminding his teammates of that recent event.

    The central hall of the cave was strangely quiet. Therge door leading to the boss''s room waspletely open, consisting of a giant hole in the rock face, yet, no sound seemed toe from that direction. ??

    The three adventurers, without overthinking about it, headed for the second room. It was located in front of the cave of the three tombstones.

    Nobu''s inevitable light once again illuminated their path, and the entrance to the left room gradually took shape. The regrity of those doors carved into the rock, the perfectly straight walls and the ttened rock spikes were the typical mine features.

    While preserving the features of a natural cavity, the ckvault Mines had been excavated by man. In tens of years, dozens, maybe hundreds of miners had worked there.

    All of them helped pickaxe after pickaxe to expand the mine to extract more and more raw materials. The Tetsuiasa was among those in smaller quantities due to its rarity.

    Before entering the second room after the tunnel, Yoichi''s mind began to travel again, juggling memories of the adventures he lived and those in the making: if he could get out of that cave unscathed, he would return to Ryutaro, to continue his spirit cultivation.

    With one dungeon only, Kenji''s level had increased considerably, and the bond between him and his Oracle had strengthened. The moment he left to save Sui Nishiyama from her own father''s control was getting closer and closer.

    However, Yoichi did not stop thinking for a moment about that strange slurry. In addition topleting that dungeon normally, the ''extra'' goal he and hispanions were supposed to achieve was to solve thatplicated mystery.

    "Let us proceed with caution. I''ve never been in this room, but I sense the presence of wild demons inside," Shioko mumbled, holding her bow tight in her hands.

    As the archer spoke, Nobu moved up and down its long blue antennae. The butterfly demon, the evolution of its basic form, seemed to perceive other demons even beyond the walls.

    Yoichi and Enatsu continued to walk behind Shioko, approaching the natural door of the second room very slowly. Beyond its artificially squared corners, the dense darkness of its interior was entuated by the presence of ck mud.

    When all the three of them entered, the echo of the sound of their steps helped them perceive the breadth of the room. It wasrger than that of the tombstones but smaller than the central dungeon atrium.

    Unlike the previous rooms, the floor was free of outcropping rocks: the red soil resulting from the disintegration of rocks was mixed with the sticky sludge.

    Unable to do anything but explore the cave, Yoichi and the others were forced to sink their feet into the thinyer of mud, making the same disgusting noise as when they faced the Yoroichi.

    Nobu, sensing no flying demons, rose in altitude to illuminate a wider area. In front of the eyes of the three adventurers, a raw and macabre show took shape, forcing them to block their advance.

    Dozens ofrge oval cocoons containing human bodies were linked to each other on the wall in front of them. The rotting flesh stench of the explorers trapped in those cocoons was so pungent that it intoxicated the nostrils of the Nightdes warriors, who retreated a few steps.

    Enatsu put his hand in front of his mouth, holding back a scream of terror: a few feet from him, what looked like a man''s shrivelled feet dangled from a cocoon.

    The flesh and skin of his ankles had been consumed, reducing his lower limbs to a cluster of rotting bones and nerves. Trembling, the merchant''s gaze raised towards the top of the cocoon, framing the victim''s face.

    With his skull skinned and his face utterly dissolved by some strange acid substance, that corpse had been lying attached to the wall for who knows how long. Like it, dozens of other corpses were in the same position, arranged in a row next to each other, following a strict and geometric order.

    Among the greyish cocoons, thick cobwebs had the task of keeping that macabreposition still on the wall, as if it were the main decoration of that cave.

    "Fuck! There are dozens of corpses¡­ the air is unbreathable!" Shioko stuttered. The archer stepped forward with one arm in front of her nose and mouth.

    "I''ve seen these cocoons before... they were in the illustrations of that book, I have no doubts! They are the work of one or more Dokumotsus!" Enatsu affirmed in a low voice, sheltering himself behind hisrades.

    Yoichi and Shioko looked around. The thick mud scattered on the floor slowed down all their movements, making it difficult to escape from that room in the event of a sudden attack.

    "Spider demons are poison-type demons. I''m sure they''re able to use the same poisonous substance that melted these poor men as they please, and... yuck! I can''t do this, it''s disgusting!" Enatsu grumbled again, retching.

    While Kenji was attached to Yoichi''s leather pouch and Nobu was flying near the ceiling, Rokuro normally moved in the mudyer. Unlike the other two demons, the Moruba was perfectly able to move on any terrain thanks to its mole hands.

    "But if the victims of spider demons are here, where are they?" Yoichi asked, taking another step back.

    "I don''t know... but they can''t be far from..." while Enatsu tried to answer that question, something hit his chest. A thick transparent and sticky cable was fired at him from a dark corner of the room, sticking to his clothes.

 Chapter 134 - Cobweb

    Without immediately realizing what had happened, Enatsu looked at Yoichi for a moment. The young tamer traced that strange web with his eyes, noting that the ''rope'' came from the only corner of the room that Nobu''s light could not reach.

    In less than two seconds, before he or Shioko could intervene, Enatsu''s body was lifted from the ground. "Aaaaaargh!" the merchant frantically screamed as his feet came off theyer of mud, and his hands tried unsessfully to break the web. ??

    Without giving the warriors time to think, the hidden demon dragged Enatsu into the darkness, making him fly as if he were a featherweight. "Enatsu!" Yoichi gasped, immediately activating Kenji''s power.

    ck scales began to pop up on his arms, and he started to dash towards the dark corner. At the same time, Shioko pulled a light arrow out of the quiver and fired it in that direction.

    The arrow flew a few inches from Yoichi''s head, travelling like a rocket and cutting through the darkness.

    *st*

    "Eeeerrkk!" ¨C a loud scratched cry rumbled into the room. The light of the arrow preceded that of Nobu, who immediately directed its power to the hidden corner.

    Many small green eyes took shape. All of them pointed towards the three travellers. Three big spider demons were huddled in that dirty, filthy corner, trampling a pile of rotting corpses with their long pointed legs.

    Shioko''s arrow had just hit a Dokumotsu on its leg, severed it, and caused acute pain. The demon had dragged Enatsu''s body toward the same corner, wrapping him in its thick web.

    When its leg was hit, greenish blood was sprayed in every direction, ending up on the young merchant''s face. "Aaargh! Help, help!" he screamed, wriggling and trying to hit the spider with kicks and punches.

    Like those of arge tarant, eight hairy legs supported the central part of the body, smaller and lighter. Behind it, the spider demon''s body ended in a swollen, pointed bump, simr to that of a ck widow.

    Above that kind of arachnid tail, irregr red spots, different for each spider, adorned its body. The small head, equipped with two lines of four eyes each, was equipped withrge jaws, with two rows of sharp teeth and tiny arms that had the task of dragging prey of all sizes inside the mouth.

    Despite moving at high speed to the rescue of his trapped friend, Yoichi was horrified by that vision. Since he first opened his eyes in Lumya''s world, he had never seen anything so disgusting and nauseating.

    While the thick spider web that had wrapped Enatsu held him still, the other two spiders, smaller than the first, had quickly blocked his upper limbs, carefully trapping them with cobwebs of the same type.

    After the scales covered the backs of Yoichi''srge hands, long draconic ws popped up from the top of his fingers. Taking courage, the young tamer came to his friend''s rescue, dashing in the direction of the bigger spider and loading a heavy fist.

    Using her ranged attacks as a diversion, Shioko loaded a second light arrow on the bow. Thanks to Nobu''s light, closing one eye and holding her breath, the archer aimed to the head.

    Showing impressive alertness, the spider shifted its head sideways. The arrow missed the target and lodged in the wall, extinguishing its light between the rock fractures.

    Taking advantage of the Dokumotsu''s moment of distraction, Yoichi unleashed the energy umted in the mighty fist right at the centre of its body. At the same time, the two smaller spiders behind the biggest one jumped upwards, using a cobweb to climb along the vertical wall.

    The Dokumotsu who had trapped Enatsu was struck right at the most fragile point of its body, namely the junction point of its eight legs.

    *boom* - The young tamer''s clean shot threw the spider against the back corner, forcing it to let go of his merchant friend. The demon''s head mmed on the wall, staining it with an explosion of green blood.

    Soon after the violent blow, its body fell back to the ground, lifeless. The spider''s head dangled for a few moments, letting rivers of sticky blood flow onto the floor.

    "Enatsu! Brother!" Yoichi gulped, grabbing Enatsu''s arm and helping him get off the ground. Yoichi grabbed the cobweb with his big hands that held his arms tied: many thin fments had joined in one thick cable. It was incredibly durable, like a steel wire.

    Trying to break it with all his strength, Yoichi realized that he could not stand still in that position: the other two spiders were right above their heads, ready to swoop on him and trap him as they had done with his friend.

    Without wasting any more time, the young tamer dragged hispanion by grabbing the cobweb on his arms, forcing him to move away from that corner on his legs. Shioko covered them from a distance, shooting arrows in quick session.

    Moving between cocoons and carefully constructed cobwebs from one side of the room to the other, the two Dokumotsus managed to avoid her every attack, climbing nimbly from side to side.

    Nobu was forced to get out of the enemys'' range, which, using their long legs, could hit it at any moment.

    Yoichi finally seeded to tear off the web that had imprisoned his friend, finding it between his hands. "Fuck this! That was close, brother!" Enatsu boomed, thanking him with a nce.

    "You killed that Dokumotsu with one shot, but you make a big risk! These demons have very low defense, but we have to be very careful about their poisonous skill! Even a single drop could cause long-term damage... you must avoid closebat!" he added, specifically referring to Yoichi.

    "What is the weakness of poison-type demons?" Yoichi asked, without looking away from the two spiders stationary on the cocoon wall.

    Enatsu took a deep breath, taking a step forward and positioning himself in front of his friend. The gaze of the merchant tamer framed Rokuro, standing in the mud a few meters far from him.

    "Earth-type demons. Earth-type demons are their greatest weakness."

 Chapter 135 - Stones

    "When we get back to Goldhaven, I will need a lesson about this!" Yoichi remarked, trying to take the edge off. With those words, hispanion made him realize that he was willing to fight in his ce.

    Although it was not advisable to face poison-type demons at close range, Rokuro''s earth skills could have put the two Dokumotsus in serious trouble. ??

    "Shioko can''t defeat them both on her own, and you can''t get too close to them. It''s too dangerous," Enatsu trembled. He took a deep breath, walking forward and attracting the attention of one of the spider demons, still standing on the wall of cocoons.

    On that asion, Enatsu finally sensed his importance: despite never having the opportunity to fight face-to-face with the enemy, this was the perfect asion to prove to himself and others that he was a fundamental member of the team.

    With sweat dripping from his forehead, the tamer merchant took off his cloak, dropping it to the ground. He quickly rubbed his hands on his short ck hair and beard, longer and uncultivated than usual. Yoichi looked at him astonished, having never seen his friend so determined.

    "Hey!" Enatsu shouted, drawing the spider''s attention beside him. At the same time, a light arrow grazed the other enemy, who managed to dodge the blow by a few inches. "Rokuro, I know I never asked you, but... our next objective is that... thing," he continued, pointing the Dokumotsu to his mole demon.

    "Mhmh!" answering almost like a human, with a gesture of the head, the Moruba confirmed the request of its tamer. Without wasting any more time, as if it already knew what to do, he began to dig into the red soil.

    Unlike the room of the three tombstones, the ground of that room had no rockyers for the first meters of depth, reflecting the morphology of the mine.

    "I will be able to hold it down and you will deliver the death blow. Get ready," Enatsumanded, clenching his fists and continuing to challenge the spider demon. The arachnid''s shining little green eyes were all pointed at him, eyeing him from head to toe.

    Yoichi, knowing that his brainy friend would never dare to attack an enemy without having a precise n in mind, activated Kenji''s power while it was sitting right away. The ck scales covered his arms, ending with the usual dragon ws on his fingertips.

    The young tamer''s gaze fell right on his arm:pared to thest time he used that skill, the scales looked thicker and slightly more robust. Kenji''s leveling-up was already giving the first results and its first skill looked stronger.

    Shioko, across the room, kept the other Dokumotsu busy. The third spider demon was slightly smaller than the one Enatsu was looking at. Showing incredible speed and surprising reflexes, the archer dodged the spider-fired cobwebs, rolling to the ground and counterattacking soon after.

    When Rokuro''s sly stubby tail disappeared under the ground, plunging into arge, newly dug hole. In the meanwhile, the Dokumotsu fired a cobweb toward Enatsu. Although fast, the spider demon''s shot was quite predictable. A smart guy like Enatsu, attentive to every detail, would dodge it with his eyes closed.

    A small sphere made of thin sticky cobwebs intertwined with each other passed beside the merchant''s head, who dodged the blow and crouched to the ground. He grabbed a pointed stone just below his feet.

    Showing a good sense of coordination of arms and legs, Enatsu threw the rock towards the Dokumotsu, preceding its next attack.

    The spider demon,rger and slightly slower than the other, did not dodge the blow. The stone hit it on the forehead, without getting it a scratch. "Krrrr!" the small cartge arms on the sides of the enemy''s jaws vibrated quickly, making a fierce and pungent cry.

    Once again, as Yoichi looked at him confusedly, Enatsu threw another piece of rock. "Fuck off, you son of a bitch!" he uttered, thinking out loud.

    Yoichi for a few minutes, stood motionless in a corner of the room. The desire to intervene in the fight prevailed, but his friend''s words echoed in his head. Although they had not yet proved it, the two spider demons, ording to the schr Enatsu, were able to spit deadly poison.

    During these considerations, waiting for the right time to follow Enatsu''s orders, the Dokumotsu in front of the merchant jumped off the wall. Itnded silently on its eight legs, continuing to emit that deafening cry.

    The merchant stepped back, looking for another stone to throw at it and lure it away from the wall. Although the arachnid demons did not have a good memory, the Dokumotsu was able to predict the merchant''s move.

    Its narrow neck swelled for an instant and another small sticky sphere was fired like a bullet from its mouth. The cobweb projectile hit Enatsu''s arm, unbnced his body backward, and glued his arm to the floor.

    "Stay there, Yoichi... wait a little longer!" he yelled, swinging his other hand towards hispanion. Yoichi was about to run to his rescue, but his partner ordered him to stick to the n.

    The Dokumotsu, totally ignoring the presence of Yoichi, motionless in the less illuminated corner of the room, fired another cobweb, striking the merchant''s chest. The resistant fibers of the web, thick as metal cables, stretched along his body, joining those of the arm.

    Within seconds, Enatsu''s upper limbs were anchored to the ground and his chest was wrapped in the sticky secretion of the spider demons.

    "One more moment, one more moment..." Enatsu quaked, evidently afraid. Yoichi continued to look at him with his knees bent, ready to dash forward at the slightest signal.

    The Dokumotsu stopped and bowed its head down. A guttural noise apanied that gesture and something began to flow through its throat, heading towards its mouth.

    "Rokuro! Now!" ¨C when the spider demon''s purple poison was barely visible between its hooked teeth, Enatsu called his Moruba. Suddenly, the wed paws of the mole demon sted out the terrain.

 Chapter 136 - Trapped

    Rokuro''s wed hands grabbed two of the furry legs of the Dokumotsu. The poison that had umted in the spider''s throat returned to its stomach and it turned backward, ready to defend itself from its attacker.

    Showing incredible strength in its arms, Rokuro dragged the enemy''s legs with him, pulling them under the ground. Emitting a creaking sound of broken bones, the spider''s two legs cracked under the Moruba''s traction. ??

    "Go, Yoichi! It''s your turn, kill that bastard!" Enatsu thundered, unable to take his hands off the ground.

    As soon as his words echoed in the cave, Yoichi snapped forward, making sure not to stumble upon the sticky mud. Rokuro held the Dokumotsu still, making it a sitting duck: intent on wriggling to free itself from the mole demon''s grip, the spider had stopped producing poison.

    As Yoichi ran, its front legs waved toward Rokuro. The mole demon''s head was tucked underground and its arms were the only part of the body toe out to the surface.

    When the noise of Yoichi''s footsteps became louder, the Dokumotsu turned to him: the young tamer''s fist hit the spider right in its face and was strong enough to crush its skull. Its little green eyes spat under Yoichi''s pointed knuckles and its own jaws rent its skin, reducing its head to a mingle of stinking flesh.

    The shockwave unleashed by the fist inevitably distracted the Dokumotsu that was facing Shioko, slowing down its reflexes. Tirelessly, the red-haired archer continued to fire light arrows in quick session, preventing her opponent from approaching. Nobu followed the fight from the upside, allowing both its tamer and herpanions to have a clear view of the inside of the cave.

    Not having had time to load poison jet, the smaller Dokumotsu became an easy target for Shioko. She, after yet another roll, closed one eye and looked in front of her. An arrow of light loaded a few more seconds cleanly hit the target impale it on the wall.

    Although the spider demon wasrger than its team''s demons, its body was lifted from the arrow as if it were an extra light object. When it too pierced the wall behind it, it vanished into nothingness, consuming Nobu''s shining energy.

    The two Dokumotsus in the second room were killed simultaneously. From their bodies, the red spheres of XP points began to float in the air. Two of them entered Kenjii''s body, one in Rokuro''s and another in Nobu''s.

    Still unable to move because of the cobwebs, Enatsu used his facial expression to express his joy. Rokuro had fought valiantly, showing to its onlookers to worthy of an enemy it had never faced before, despite their difference in level.

    Unable to see hisrades'' demon pets'' level, Yoichi was sure that, having never fought, Rokuro''s level was lower than Kenji''s.

    Nobu, on the other hand, was a Hotasagi, the evolution of Hotasuka. Its level hat to be necessarily higher than the 15th, otherwise, he would not have had the experience needed to evolve.

    Thanks to an ''over-leveled'' teammate, Yoichi and Enatsu were facing a medium-low-level dungeon, encountering unknown demons, whose level was not too much higher than that of their pets.

    I could try to catch it before its body disappears! Yoichi inwardly thought. By approaching a hand to his backpack and turning off Kenji''s powers only on one arm, he knew he still had a Demon Tooth ready to be filled with the soul of the biggest of the two newly defeated Dokumotsus.

    When the two small red spheres reached Kenji''s forehead, Yoichi''s gaze got stuck pointed to the ground and his hand stopped. The young tamer looked focused on thinking and did not share the enthusiasm of victory.

    "Can anyone get me out of here?" Enatsu gulped, moving his head sideways with the rest of his body blocked by the cobweb. Shioko put away her bow, caught her breath, and approached him. At the same time, Yoichi broke his silence, shattering the moment of provisional serenity.

    The vision of those floating red drops had just made him think of some crucial details. "But... I don''t remember that the first spider I defeated gave any XP points to Kenji..."

    Shioko froze up and Enatsu stopped talking. For a few seconds, the three adventurers were surrounded by an even darker silence. When Yoichi turned back, the following moment, it was toote.

    Instinctively, the young tamer ced the only enhanced arm in front of his face, predicting an unexpected blow. A giant spider''s leg struck him violently: being forced to use only one arm to parry the blow, he was hurled across the room.

    "KRRRR!" ¨C the resurrected Dokumotsu''s chilling cry made the air vibrate, freezing the blood in their veins. Shioko leaned towards Enatsu, kneeling behind him.

    The Nightdes tamer pulled a small hunting dagger out of her boot and began to rub it quickly on the cobweb cables, trying to free her guildmate. The hard fibers of the spider''s cobwebs weren''t torn off under the serrated de of the dagger, sounding like the metal strings of a guitar.

    "Ohu, shit! It''s alive! That bastard''s still alive! Help! Yoichi!" Enatsu panicked, realizing that he was right in the direction of the enemy''s next attack.

    Pieces of his brain matter were still on the wall behind the obscure monster: Yoichi''s shot had been strong enough to kill it on the spot, but the ck mud had healed its wounds.

    While the three tamers were busy countering the other two Dokumotsus, that ''intelligent'' substance had quietly chosen to get the biggest and strongest spider back on track. The deep head wounds had taken longer than necessary, but the Dokumotsu that had just emerged from the darkness hade back to life, more aggressive than before and imbued with the dark power of ck mud.

    The whish Yoichi suffered when he hit the floor stunned him, but his scaled arm was helpful in cushion the fall. Enatsu''s screams kept him alert, forcing him to stand up the moment after, ignoring the superficial wounds on his standard-human arm.

 Chapter 137 - Light Archer

    A dense ck, sticky stain was strapped to the Dokumotsu''s face, fixing its damaged tissues. The skull, which Yoichi''s fist had shattered, appeared to be healing.

    The mud held the remaining parts of the demon''s brain together, preventing it from dying instantly. Its huge tarant legs moved jerkily, irregrly, like the legs of a zombie. ??

    Of its several green eyes, only a few were working, allowing it to see a mere part of the environment before and around its arachnid body. Yoichi''s single shot caused it permanent damage. Damage so severe that not even that mysterious healing substance had been able to cure.

    While Kenji remained in the same position across the room, Yoichi activated its power. The little dragon ran towards its tamer, triggering its draconic enhancement on his arm and making him ready for the counterattack.

    Shioko, panicking, kept rubbing the de of her hunting dagger on the thick cables of the web that kept Enatsu trapped. Fiber after fiber, that material showed incredible resistance, so much so that it forced the archer to drag Enatsu''s body backwards mechanically.

    When the Dokumotsu witnessed what was left of itsrades'' corpses, it again uttered the same harrowing cry. The remains of the other two spider demons were evaporating: the whole carcass crumbled into the air like the petals of a dandelion.

    The red-haired tamer, sensing Yoichi''s distance and realizing that the space separating him from their position was filled with sticky mud, let Enatsu go and loaded an arrow on her bow.

    *swish*sh* - As she suspected, after the Hebigure and the Yoroichi, the dark Dokumotsu was also immune to that light strike. The first of the three arrows quickly fired by Shioko hit it in the middle of its forehead, pierced its skull.

    The spider demon suffered the whish of the blow, slightly bending its neck backwards and lifting its two front legs. Maintaining its bnce, after less than a second, it returned to the upright position. The light arrow on its forehead dissolved, leaving a circr wound on the spot.

    Knowing that this was the only way to buy Yoichi some time, Shioko fired two more sharp arrows, with the sole goal of slowing the Dokumotsu advance.

    The third arrow struck the lower part of the spider''s swollen abdomen. Without doing that on purpose, not being an expert in the anatomy of that type of demon, Shioko pierced its venom sac.

    A violet liquid flowed from the wound, dripping on the red soil: the chemical reaction between the acidic substance and the earth was instantaneous, and the residual rock particles fizzed like bubbles of sparkling water.

    A thin grey smokeplemented the reaction, whichsted only a few seconds. As a result of the process, a hole opened in the ground, testifying the Dokumotsu poison''s corrosivity.

    "Oh my! You hit its venom sac! What''s going to happen now? If a single drop of that substance came into contact with our skin, it would corrode it like melted butter!" Enatsu gasped. Even in his death throes, the bookish young man did not miss the opportunity to give a demonology lesson to hispanions.

    The Dokumotsu, enraged by what had happened, stepped up the pace. Its legs continued to move irregrly forward, alternating and increasing its movement speed.

    It trampled the poison trail left on the floor. Its long arachnid legs did not suffer damage from corrosive poison: it was evident that poison-type demons were immune to their own skills.

    Enatsu continued to rattle and move backwards, crawling his feet on the floor. His arms were still stuck on his chest, tied tight by the cobweb.

    Shioko was standing behind him, and with a quick hand gesture, she pulled out yet another light arrow from the magic quiver. Created out of nowhere, absorbing the light generated by Nobu''s tail, the arrow took ce on the stretched bowstring.

    The archer loaded it with all the strength of her arm, holding the string at its maximum tension. She bent her legs to level off the shot and closed an eye to increasing uracy.

    The size of the light arrow increased, continuing to absorb energy from the Hotasagi. As Yoichi''s feet moved with difficulty to the muddy spot of the cave, the Dokumotsu advanced fiercely.

    The tips of its arachnid legs were so narrow that they did not suffer from the friction generated by the dark sludge, allowing the spider demon to exploit its slender but heavy body.

    A rounded venomous bubble exploded from the wound at the bottom of its abdomen, sshing on one of the cocoons attached to the wall. The purple liquid dissolved both the corpse inside the cocoons and the cobweb themselves within seconds.

    With an awful guttural sound, the enormous spider stretched out its neck and maximized its stature. It reached almost two and a half meters in height, lifting its hind legs and supporting the rest of its body on the lower ones.

    That simple movement of the enemy caused panic among the three adventurers: the Dokumotsu was loading a ranged attack, and, this time, neither Yoichi nor Rokuro could prevent him from attacking.

    The mole demon sensed its tamer''s strong state of anxiety and was unable to move. The Moruba remained stationary near Enatsu, sharing his feelings and inexorably waiting for the moment of the end.

    Before the spider demon could fire the poison from its jaws, Shioko released the arrow loaded until then, throwing it at the enemy. It travelled at a sustained speed to the spider, who could not avoid the blow due to the incredible size of that light spear.

    A very bright white light dazzled everyone present, unleashing the energy of the butterfly demon. Nobu was still flying below the ceiling of the room, fighting darkness with its power, the most useful in environments like that.

    The heavy light spear struck the Dokumotsu''s thorax, detaching its paws from the ground and projecting it backwards. Unfortunately, the enemy had already umted arge amount of poison in its throat, and the kickback suffered by the spear forced its to open its jaws wide.

 Chapter 138 - Fire Roar

    A copious amount of poison flew through the air, sshing out of the Dokumotsu''s mouth. Yoichi slowed down his run, witnessing that event helplessly, without knowing how to react.

    The sshes of poison split, going their separate ways and covering arge area of the natural cavity. Poor Nobu, who had done nothing but stay in mid-air to help the Nightdes warriors with its white light, came face to face with a giant bubble of purple liquid. ??

    Simultaneously, other sketches travelled dangerously to Enatsu and Shioko, still stationary a few meters away from the spider demon. "Fuck, fuck! Rokuro!" Enatsu yelled, trying to awaken his pet from its stasis.

    As the fat bubble of poison continued to float towards Nobu, Rokuro leapt forward. The mole demon stuck its ws into the red soil, gathering a hefty amount in its hands.

    A moment before its tamer and Shioko could be hit by the corrosive jet, the Moruba raised the terrain, using its mighty hands as shovels.

    An earth wall raised in front of the two tamers, hindering the advance of the purple liquid drops. The venom impacted Rokuro''s wall, disintegrating part of the soil and amalgamating with the residual g.

    *tssss* the breakup reaction of the rock particles that made up the red soil echoed into a hissing sound.

    While Shioko was busy saving her life, her Hotasagi could not wait for the direct order of its tamer: it pped its wings forcefully, creating a forward air current.

    The wind generated by Nobu''s wings struck the purple bubble. Due to its very low viscosity, the corrosive liquid split into many tiny particles: some of them went back to the spider that had shot them without causing it any harm; others, on the other hand, continued their parabolic path to the butterfly demon.

    The archer turned her head towards Nobu, feeling a strange sensation in her chest and sharing her anxiety about being hit. A second earlier, in the dark side of the cave, someone had seen what was about to happen, calling himself to the action.

    Yoichi, with one of his unpredictable moves, allowed Kenji to jump on his arm. Then, leveraging the strength of the draconic upgrade, the young tamer threw his Oracle towards Nobu,municating with him with his mind only.

    "Screek!" flying high, Kenji was hurled against the butterfly demon. The little dragon grabbed it with its feline paws and pushed it away, causing it to lose altitude.

    Thanks to that unusual and violent rescue manoeuvre, Nobu managed to get out of the trajectory of the venom drops, avoiding the corrosive jet of the spider.

    *tss*tsss*tsss* - Just below the two oracles, the Dokumotsu''s venom hit the wall rock, dissolving in a few seconds. Not satisfied, Yoichi charged forward, taking advantage of the enemy''s pause moment to attack.

    At a slightly reduced speed due to sticky mud, he headed for the giant dark spider. It growled in his direction, opening its jaws and preparing for a closebat.

    Yoichi knew that he would reach his target more quickly if he upgraded his legs instead of his arms, but that certainly wouldn''t kill it. The incredible healing ability of demons possessed by that unknown substance forced him to kill his immortal enemies in a few quick moves.

    "Get out of the way!" he shouted at Enatsu and Shioko, still standing in the same position. Then, aided by the archer, the merchant stood up and, with his arms still trapped, began to run across the room.

    Rokuro followed its master, reaching the two tamers and Nobu, slightly stunned by Kenji''s tackle. To the surprise of Shioko, the little dragon demon had snapped in the same direction as Yoichi, ready to activate its game-changing skill.

    The acid venom stopped flowing into the spider''s throat and dripping from its wound: the huge amount fired before must have exhausted stocks in its venom sacs.

    Unwilling to surrender, the Dokumotsu fired two sticky orbs at Yoichi. He dodged both the cobweb-bullets, moving sideways and being careful not to crash into anything.

    Nobu was still on the ground, and the light from its tail was too dim to illuminate the wild monster lurking into the darkness.

    After a scream from Yoichi, a few seconds of silence seemed to stop time in the mine. The wide-open eyes of hispanions were pointed at the shadowy area. Shioko and Enatsu hoped that Yoichi''s power would be sufficient to end that battle as with the other two'' anomalous'' demons.

    When Kenji''s small ming tail also became extinct in the void, a strong red glow lit up the entire room. Scorching Breath had again been sessfully activated.

    The young tamer''s scaled arms caught fire instantly, burning the carbon dioxide molecules exhaled by the dposition of corpses hanging from the wall like trophies.

    Under the ck scales of his upper limbs, the dragon me roared with all its power, leaving a red trail along its trajectory. The intense heat generated by Kenji''s magical fire spread throughout the room, gently touching the skin of fellow adventurers who could not hold back their amazement.

    The roar of the me joined the screams of the young warrior, who, relying on his innate feral instinct, punched powerfully in the direction of the Dokumotsu.

    As a hostage now resigned to its fate, the spider hesitated before trying to counterattack. Its small green eyes reflected that burning light, leaving the rest of its healing body motionless like a stone.

    *boom* - An explosion forced Enatsu and Shioko to shut their eyes. The mes of Yoichi''s fist spread up the wall behind the spider, extinguishing in the middle of the ceiling.

    The me at the tip of little Kenji''s tail had grown in size, and a thin fiery trail had appeared along its spine, stopping where its neck began.

    The shreds of the meat of the arachnid rained from the top of the room like hail, crumbling and disappearing in contact with the red soil at the bottom of the cave.

 Chapter 139 - Body Rain

    Every small piece of the body of the giant wild spider fell to the floor, getting dirty with mud and red soil. The dark sticky substance reacted to the organic matter that hade into contact with it: the ck mud particles clung to the pieces of the spider''s body, showing once again their intrinsic will.

    It was as if that unknown slimy matter tried in vain to fix the damaged tissues, mixing with greenish blood and residues of the violet venom. ??

    The long legs of the Dokumotsu were the first things to fall, lifting the mud and causing it to ssh in all directions. In particr, a tarant paw fell right next to Yoichi''s twopanions.

    Enatsu and Shioko watched the scene helplessly, not wanting to interrupt that magical moment of victory. Yoichi''s scaled arm was still stretched forward, engulfed in dragon mes.

    Compared to thest time he used the so-called ''Scorching Breath'' skill, the energy released in hisst attack was much more significant and more constant. By leveling up and increasing hisbative stats, Kenji had been able to improve that skill.

    Afterpleting just over half of the dungeon, the little dragon had significantly improved its attack and movement speed, managing to share its true draconic power with its tamer and allowing him to defeat a seemingly immortal demon with a single blow.

    Gradually, the red mes burning under the scales of Yoichi''s arms were consumed, progressively decreasing their intensity. Finally, Nobu began to fly again, pointing its bright tail towards the side of the room lit by the young tamer''s mes.

    Kenji looked up at the butterfly demon. As soon as it realized that the fight was over, the little ck dragon deactivated its ability. The me at the tip of its tail halved its height, and the fiery strip behind its back suddenly disappeared.

    Enatsu focused on that scene, trying to figure out what Kenji''s immense power mighte from. The merchant wasn''t stupid, but Yoichi''s Oracle was too Nekage-like to be anything else ording to his demonologic knowledge.

    However, the questions in his head remained the same: how did Kenji strengthen Yoichi''s arms up to that point? How much energy does it need? Why is its fire the only thing capable of killing demons shrouded in that strange dark slush?

    The battle against the Dokumotsu was over, and the three tamers were the winners, but Shioko seemed puzzled, too. The archer was a tamer from an early age and had concentrated all her energies onbat due to her aggressive and introverted attitude. She got out her anger that way, learning from other tamers and gaining more and more experience from her travels.

    Despite knowing Tentochu like the back of her hand and knowing the skills of hundreds of demons by heart, Shioko had never seen a Nekage with such power.

    After the draconic fire, the ck scales also disappeared from Yoichi''s arms. The sudden ze had burned another small piece of the sleeves of his leather jacket, uncovering his arms a little more.

    When Yoichi returned with his back straight, the muscles in his arms also rxed, and they stretched along his body. However, the forearm tendons took a few moments longer than usual to soften, transmitting the energy of the blow from the upper part of the shoulder to the fist.

    Like the electrical cables of a circuit, Yoichi tendons did not have infinite capacity, and the amount of draconic power that could pass through them in a unit of time was limited.

    In addition to the feeling of power, Yoichi also felt the need to train his own body, strengthening the muscles of his legs and arms. In that way, he could have exploited that power more and more and would prevail over all the other mid-level tamers.

    "Br... brother?" Enatsu stammered. Slowly, Yoichi''s head turned towards him like that of an owl at night. "Are you... are you okay?" the merchant asked. Enatsu stepped forward, extending his arm towards his friend.

    Yoichi folded and stretched out his arms like a bodybuilder soon after the gym. His gaze, before crossing with his friend''s, crossed Shioko''s.

    He inwardly knew that Enatsu would avoid asking him too many questions, but Shioko would demand precise answers. How could he keep from confessing the truth about Kenji''s true identity? If Shioko had known, what she would have said to their guild master?

    "I''m fine, Enatsu. I''m just a little upset. I need more training," Yoichi spoke, trying to hide his thoughts. As he spoke, thest fragments of the Dokumotsu''s body disintegrated, wafting out sharp tulence.

    "When I was about to tame the Dokumotsu, the biggest of them hit me from behind. Then, the moment before it arrived, I heard a slight noise in the air. It was like a sigh," Yoichi reported, breaking the silence. "Don''t ask me how or why, but... I felt strong suffering from the demon that I killed in cold blood", he added.

    Shioko grew speechless, imagining that those words were aimed at talking about something else. "Suffering? It didn''t look so suffering when it tried to melt us with its acid venom," Enatsu mumbled, disagreeing with that im.

    "Of course, I''m not talking about that, brother. Don''t say nonsense, I''m serious. I mean that demon wasn''t being itself after the resurrection," Yoichi stated with conviction. "The negative aura that surrounded it appeared the moment the ck mud possessed its body. When it was in the corner with the other two Dokumotsus, it looked like a standard demon defending its brothers," he exined.

    "Do you think that sticky sludge imposed its own will on the Dokumotsu? How the hell does it make that spider immortal? Shioko''s arrows hit him repeatedly, but all the wounds instantly healed. The same arrows had killed the other Dokumotsu just before, so..."

    "So now we can be sure that the immortality of ''anomalous'' demonses exclusively from the ck mud. When we get to the boss''s room, we''ll finally be able to discover the true nature of that strange substance and..."

 Chapter 140 - Truth (part I)

    "They''re not immortal!" Shioko thundered. During the final seconds, the archer had clenched her fists, trying to hold back her anger. Her nervous words rumbled between the four walls of the cave. "If they were immortal, you wouldn''t be able to kill them like that!" she fumed, walking past Enatsu and approaching a few inches from Yoichi''s face.

    The merchant stepped back, sensing a deep air of tension between his two fellow travellers. Yoichi took a deep breath: he knew that sooner orter, Shioko would stop y dumb, and she would have sought the truth. ??

    "Just enough bullshit, okay? Look, I''m not stupid. I realized from the beginning that your Oracle isn''t what it looks like!" Shioko ranted in Yoichi''s face. "This ck mud, your absurd powers, demons that grow in size and be immortal. Something damn weird is going on here, and I''m sick of looking the other way!"

    "Okay, okay! Now calm down, Shioko. Let''s talk about it" Yoichi stretched his arms forward, slowing down his guildmate''s advance.

    "I can''t stay calm! Who the fuck are you? What kind of demon is your Oracle? You better answer my question now, or I..."

    "Or you what?" Enatsu''s flickering voice interrupted Shioko''s threats. The archer hesitated for a moment before being interrupted again. "What are you going to do, kill your guildmate? Are you going to face the boss alone and go back to Goldhaven and say we''re both dead in the ckvault Mines? If you try to touch Yoichi, you''re going to have to kill me too!"

    Enatsu''s reproachful tone had an immediate effect on the mood of the red-haired tamer. Yoichi was also astonished at his words, not believing that Enatsu would defend him wholeheartedly despite knowing that his friend did not tell him everything.

    "Yours would not be a very clever move, considering that Yoichi is the only one among us capable of killing demons possessed by the dark mud!" the merchant barked again, grabbing the coat that he had dropped to the ground shortly before.

    "I have no intention of killing you. Why should I do such a stupid thing?! Sada-sensei entrusted me with your protection, but he could not have imagined these crazy things happening! I don''t know what you''re hiding from me, but it''s time to spill the beans!" ¨C Shioko looked at Yoichi in disdain, getting closer and closer to his face.

    Stopping at a close distance from her for the second time, Yoichi couldn''t help but look at some details of Shioko''s face. Little freckles ran through her face, from one side of her little nose to the other. Her full lips looked moist and warm, and her green eyes popped up from under her blonde eyebrows, almost invisible on her white skin.

    Shioko''s upromising attitude made Yoichi and Enatsu forget that she was a gorgeous girl, intelligent and skilled inbat. She sensed the hesitation in Yoichi''s answer and immediately stepped back, hiding the embarrassment with a grimace.

    "Yoichi has nothing to hide! He has no idea what this mud is and why it makes demons immortal! We only came here to look for Hyobe''s ne and..."

    "Enatsu" Yoichi interrupted. The merchant stopped talking, growing speechless and staring at his blond-haired friend. "Thank you. You are a true friend. But Shioko''s right. Only in part, but she''s still right," Yoichi confessed, preparing to tell his teammates what he had discovered a few days before.

    "So... what?" Enatsu quaked, falling silent a little at a time. He opened his ears, hoping that his travellingpanion''s exnation would not undermine everything.

    "See? I knew he wasn''t talking! Now shut up, merchant. Let''s hear what he has to say," Shioko grunted, crossing her arms. Beside her, Kenji walked silently towards its tamer. With a feline jump, it climbed onto his leather pouch.

    As the little dragon''s crimson red eyes were pointed at Enatsu and Shioko, Yoichi''s hand petted its horned head. "I supposedly know the reason why I can summon those mes, but I can''t exin the whole thing. The nature of the ck mud and its hidden powers are a secret to me too" with those words, Yoichi rified some concepts before starting.

    "It will be enough!" Shioko urged, preceding Enatsu. The merchant''s gaze looked worried: the simple idea that his adventure friend had hidden something from him destabilized him.

    "It all started when I woke up in Ryutaro''s private room, at the top of the Dojo" Yoichi responded, starting from the beginning. By describing to hispanions the most salient details and leaving out the most superfluous ones, he told them about Therion''s tear and the method by which the old Ryutaro could cultivate his inner power.

    He told hisrades about the history of the War between Tentochu and Kamakiri, underlining the crucial role Ryutaro yed in the story, and about Gonshiro, the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri.

    When the Nightdes'' two tamers learned that the enemy faction''s leader had been living for hundreds of years, their faces turned pale. They let theirpanion finish the story, avoiding interrupting him and reserving the questions untilter.

    After all the preamble, Yoichi told them about the ancient tome of the Dragon Demons of Lumya, one of the most precious items Ryutaro received as a legacy from Tatsui, the current Emperor of Tentochu''s father.

    Slowly and gradually, specifying the details of the drawings depicting the mighty Therion, Yoichi tried to indirectly get to the heart of the matter. He tried to make sure that hispanions came to the truth on their own, epting it without forcing things.

    "When I dipped my hands in Therion''s Tear, touching the bottom of the stone sink with my fingertips, I woke up in the middle of a desert. There was nothing apart from the sand and the sky. It was so hot that I thought my clothes were going to melt on me, but at some point, something happened and I started shivering."

    Enatsu and Shioko remained silent, without saying a single word.

 Chapter 141 - Truth (part II)

    "It was right there that I saw thest evolution of my Kenji. And it tried to kill me" while Yoichi tried to describe at his best the sensations felt during the Tear Vision, Shioko and Enatsu couldn''t believe their ears.

    However, they knew that Yoichi would have no reason to lie. He had proved to be a skilled warrior, fearless and capable of fighting without real training. ??

    Yoichipared the giant red-winged ck dragon of his vision to the noble and ancient Therion, the King of Lumya''s dragon demons. He exined to hispanions that at first, he did not believe that the dragon in the desert was his Oracle, but he just had to pronounce its real name to end the Vision.

    "A dragon? It can''t be! Dragons became extinct years and years ago! My grandfather has always been clear to me!" Enatsu stammered, waving his arms and interrupting the story.

    Yoichi nodded, looking at his friend with honest eyes. Enatsu inwardly knew that the young tamer was not lying, but his insinuation sounded insane. To im that Kenji was a dragon was an affront to grandfather Yanatsu''s tales and the most ancient legends of Lumya.

    In addition to the drawings depicting Therion, Ryutaro''s old tome gathered all the information about all other minor dragons. Yoichi pointed out that, among all the dragons, only the ck King was simr to Kenji. The small ck-scaled Oracle was actually closely tied to the biggest and fiercest of the world''s guardians dragons.

    Shioko did not speak, shing back to the mes from Yoichi''s arms. The anger she felt towards her guildmate subsided: if what that inexperienced blond-haired tamer was saying was true, she too would keep the secret, not confessing to anyone Kenji''s true nature.

    Yoichi had instead decided to disobey Ryutaro and had confessed the truth to two people, who, although his friends, had met him very recently. By the time he was reincarnated in the new world, many strange events had taken ce quickly, leaving him no time to think about himself.

    He had woken up like a farmer inside a hut, but now he was fighting inside a dungeon on behalf of a Goldhaven''s guild. All these considerations significantly increased the esteem that the red-haired tamer felt for him.

    Shioko realized that Yoichi should not be challenged or reprimanded but needed someone experienced to guide him on the right path. His power was sensational and unprecedented.

    "Is Emperor Gonshiro still alive?" the archer suddenly asked, interrupting the stormy speech between her two guildmates.

    Yoichi rolled his eyes to her, sensing a glimmer of hope. Although his real intention was not to disobey Ryutaro, his second sensei, he could not keep the secret for much longer: his power was the only one capable of killing the evil demons that had assaulted his team.

    "Yes, Gonshiro is still alive. When Ryutaro told me about hisst battle alongside the Emperor, he exined what happened in detail. Their army was trapped in the cold Kamakiri, and he and Emperor Nishiyama managed to escape miraculously," he replied, looking up at her with clear eyes.

    "The Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri. The people of Tentochu cannot hear this news. Not now that battles in the Nomi Inds are increasingly frequent. I believe you, Yoichi," Shioko stated. Soon after her words, the archer bowed in front of herpanion.

    "Shioko... what are you... what are you doing?" Yoichi asked, not knowing how to react to that sudden gesture.

    "If the high Ryutaro decided to let you into his private room and asked Sada-sensei to train you, he must have had a very important reason. I was stupid not to imagine it, and I apologize" Shioko''s hand was stationary on her knees, and her gaze was turned down. "Sada-sensei is my only master, and all he says is thew. I thought the only reason he epted you into the guild was the heirloom of the Imperial Family, but it''s clear that''s not the case."

    Yoichi stepped forward and put his hand on Shioko''s shoulder. Inviting her to stand up and implicitly thank her for the act of respect, he confirmed, "Ryutaro and Sada-sensei are my two mentors. Like you, I havews to uphold. I''m convinced that my secret will be safe between the three of us, and you will never betray my trust. I don''t know what''s going to happen now, but one thing''s for sure: I have to learn how to control Kenji''s powers before it evolves."

    Enatsu, who remained silent to listen to Yoichi and Shioko, began to speak again. "This is stunning. I knew there was something special about you, Yoichi, I always felt it inside me. But this... well, this exceeds my expectations."

    "However, there is no bestiary containing information about the ancient Dragon Demons. ording to the legend, none of them has ever had a tamer", the merchant added, trying to put his knowledge at the service of his team.

    "When we solve the mystery of this cave and discover the true nature of this ck mud, we will go back to Goldhaven. Ryutaro is waiting for me at the Dojo and I''m sure he can tell me more," Yoichi acknowledged. The young tamer looked both his friends in the eye, and the corners of his mouth rose to form a smile.

    "Thank you for your empathy, my friends. But I need your help now," he spoke. "As you know, the dragon me is the only weapon capable of countering the power of Valgoth, the demon who grants Emperor Gonshiro immortality. How can an inexperienced warrior like me y such a crucial role in this world?"

    The young blond-haired warrior tried to stay calm as usual, but his confession made him perceive the heavy burden he was forced to carry on his shoulders. His insecuritiese to the surface of his soul, and a subtle but pungent despondency crossed his mind, causing him to fall into a state of anguish.

 Chapter 142 - Hole

    "Anyone would feel that way in your ce, Yoichi" ¨C Shioko''s voice was soft and soothing. Showing unprecedented sweetness, the red-haired girl came a little closer to him, whispering him words offort. "I don''t know anything about your past, and I don''t care. What I do know is that Ryutaro and Sada-sensei''s will must be respected. You will learn to control the power of your Oracle, and together with us, you will be unstoppable!" she firmly affirmed.

    I never thought that this would ever happen. Shioko and Enatsu reacted with lucidity, proving to be genuinely trusted friends. When they discovered Kenji''s true identity, they could immediately try to bend my current weak will for their purposes, using the dragon''s power to carry out all kinds of misdeeds, Yoichi thought. ? ?

    Instead, they were fair until thest moment and tried to put themselves in my shoes. I must show strength, masking my fear of not seeding. My new life has decided to test me, and my duty is to find out why. Who was I before I became Yoichi? Who decided that the warrior who would inherit the strongest power in the world should be me?

    "Hey, Kenji!" Enatsu''s voice whispered. The merchant crouched before the little dragon, bringing a hand to its face. Kenji approached its forehead, letting itself be petted like a dog puppy.

    "You don''t even know what you''re capable of, do you?" Yoichi''s best friend chuckled, looking at the little demon through new eyes. "Deep in my soul, I always knew you were too strong to be a Nekage. The Nekages are unable to fight rare demons such as Kato''s Kuwatako or Rinji''s Kumiwa. Eeeh" the tamer merchant sighed, rising to his feet.

    "Screek!" Kenji rejoiced, behaving normally and joyfully responding to the newly received cuddles. Sharing its tamer''s feelings, Kenji sensed the bond of friendship with Enatsu.

    Meanwhile, Shioko kept looking at Yoichi from head to toe. There were so many thoughts in her head that she could not speak.

    "I know what you''re thinking, Shioko" Yoichi caught his archerrade''s attention. "When Kenji''s skill killed the Hebigure who attacked ckborough, I couldn''t help but think the same thing. We''ve all seen how your light attacks have hit its vital spots, yet, none of us hase to that conclusion."

    The red-haired girl''s eyebrows raised slightly. "Eh? What are you talking about? Why do I always feel like you''re hiding something from me?" Enatsu boomed, scratching his nape.

    "Your attack unleashed incredible strength, that''s true. But there is no demon capable of surviving my light spears. Also, thest blow you struck at the Dokumotsu was predictable and imprecise. Do you think what I think too?" the archer inquired.

    "Yuhuu?! Stop acting like I''m not there!" the merchant yelled. His arms waved like the branches of a tree shaken by the wind.

    "The dragon me is the only thing capable of countering Gonshiro''s power... and it is also the only attack capable of killing demons possessed by dark mud..." Yoichi murmured.

    "Do you want to... you want to tell me that... oh, shit."

    "The gue that has afflicted the vige of ckborough and empowered all the hostile demons in this area must be somehow linked to the power of the Emperor of Kamakiri," Yoichi spoke. His statement was so heavy that it caused a gap in the speech, which manifested itself as a moment of profound silence.

    Soon after, the same harrowing cry that had caused the Komoerus to retreat make the mine tremble. A screech-likement rumbled in the mine rooms, using them as resonating chambers.

    Instinctively, the three tamers put on their guard, positioning themselves next to each other in the direction of the room''s entrance. Kenji and Rokuro stood in front of their tamers, growling in the same way. Nobu fluttered above their heads, illuminating the rocky door leading into the dungeon''s main hall.

    "Hyobe''s ne wasn''t even here. Apparently, there''s only one ce left to check," Enatsu trembled, trying to be brave. When the torturous cry of the beast hiding in the boss''s room was abruptly interrupted, the three tamers began to breathe regrly again.

    An evil entity lurked in that ce, and an aura of fear and pain spread through the air like a poisonous scent.

    "Are you ready?" Yoichi looked at hispanions, waiting for the green light.

    Shioko nodded her head, and Enatsu said nothing. Step by step, the three warriors left the room. The cocoons of poor victims killed by the Dokumotsus disappeared into the shadow, and Nobu''s cone of light pointed towards the exit.

    The red soil of that room was reced by the rock soaked in ck mud. Being much more sensitive to that detail, the three Nightdes warriors traced with their eyesight the veins of that sticky substance that thinned out on the walls and ceiling.

    They converged towards thergest gate of the ckvault Mines, thickening at that gigantic hole in the rock. More than five feet high, it seemed to contain pure darkness.

    The sound of the earth under their boots mingling with mud and debris returned to be the only sound perceived by their attentive ears. When they arrived at the side of the boss room''s giant door, the three adventurers stopped.

    At that point in the cave, the temperature was significantly lower than the rest of the mine: a thin and constant stream of icy air hissed among the dust particles floating in the shadow.

    Nobu''s light,parable to that of a powerful torch, cut through the darkness, allowing the gaze to reach beyond the threshold of the final room. The high vaults of the Komoerus'' central hall continued beyond the breach, suddenly lowering after about ten meters.

    The rocks of the walls were invisible under the thickyer of mud that enveloped every corner of that cold and smelly ce: the vast space of the entrance decreased more and more, and the walls bent towards the centre, tightening into an increasingly narrow tunnel, where the light of Nobu could not yet arrive.

 Chapter 143 - Descent

    Stairs popped out after the entrance, plunging into the dark depth of the cave. The perpetual darkness of the ckvault Mines seemed brightpared to that descending trait.

    Enatsu could not hold back his trembling legs. Yoichi followed Shioko step by step, with Kenji was clinging to his leather pouch. ??

    "These stairs lead into arge circr room, located more than twenty meters deep. Once we kill the boss inside, we can finally get out of the dungeon," Shioko exined. Without getting lost in pointless chatter, the archer descended the first step of the long staircase.

    As soon as the n of her boot impacted the step, the same noise as the sticky mud that had characterized all the sound of the dungeon rumbled louder than usual.

    Therge circr door leading to the boss''s room masked the cramped space the tamers had to travel to move to thest area of the dungeon. The staircase was located inside a descending tunnel just over a meter and a half wide.

    The sludge umted at that point was much more abundant than all the other rooms in the mine. However, a strange physical phenomenon was taking ce on those stairs: the dense mud, despite being subjected to the natural slope of the rock, climbed the stairs with an upward trajectory.

    ck mud particles flowed from bottom to top, carrying debris of various kinds and small shrubs or remnants of insects and climbing vertically upstairs. They flowed out of the tunnel leading to the boss''s room.

    Splitting on the sides of Shioko''s boot, the flow of mud overcame her foot, continuing undisturbed its path outwards of therge circr door.

    "What the hell am I looking at?" Enatsu gulped, spying over the step. The merchant rubbed his eyes, believing that that vision was a hallucination due to tiredness.

    "Is the mud really going up the stairs?" he continued, pale as a corpse.

    "Apparently, Yoichi was right," Shioko stated in a low voice. Her second foot also dropped to the first step. "It just seems that the source of the ck mud is down here," she remarked, rolling her eyes towards Yoichi.

    Yoichi turned his gaze back. Half of his face was illuminated by the light of Nobu. Due to that tunnel narrower than the initial one, the bulky butterfly demon could not fly inside.

    "This substance came out of the ckvault Mines and extended to ckborough. If we can''t find a way to stop its advance, it could go north and... well, I don''t even want to imagine what might happen if it reaches the capital area," Yoichi thought out loud.

    The sickening smell of that dark substance had now soaked the nostrils of the three travellers, who had be immune to its stench. The mission of Hyobe''s ne, the object that had driven them to enter that dungeon, had taken second ce, losing importance.

    Something was using that dungeon boss''s room as some factory to produce that ck mud.

    Nobu pped its wings forward and put its insect paws on the shoulders of its tamer. Soon after, the Hotasagi closed itsrge coloured wings, bending them on its back and considerably reducing its body volume.

    "Be careful. I know the next room perfectly, but something tells me that the boss we meet will not be a demon like the others," Shioko spoke. The obvious concern arising from the archer''s words worried herrades even more.

    Yoichi and Enatsu, when they left Goldhaven in herpany, were sure that they wouldplete the dungeon without any problems. Their guild leader had assured them that Shioko''s ability would facilitate finding the ne, not suspecting anything his warriors would actually face.

    When the three of them began to walk through the tunnel and left the topographic surface, the sound of mud bubbles bursting joined that of their deep breaths.

    The rock steps of the staircase were irregr in height, different from each other and sometimes slightly sloping. As if they were walking on a reversed waterfall, the three adventurers sank their boots in the mud, descending more and more in altitude.

    After a few minutes, the air became unbreathable, saturated with carbon dioxide and other unknown gases released by the mud. Although the mud was boiling like water in a pot through some incredible chemical reaction, the temperature dropped with depth.

    The deep breaths of the three guildmates condensed into water vapour, visible from their mouths. The fingertips and the tip of their noses began to lose sensitivity, as if suddenly they had teleported in a middle of a cier.

    "Brr!" Enatsu shuddered without adding anything else. The merchant grabbed both the ps of his long coat, clutching it to himself and rubbing its fabric against his body.

    Walking sometimes on all fours, sometimes on two, Rokuro followed him from behind, closing the line. In addition to the low temperature and partial anoxia, that descending section of the cave was characterized by a progressive increase in air pressure.

    "This ce was a mine, and the boss''s room must''ve been thest mineral field to be excavated before the demons took control of this ce," Yoichimented, trying to give a historical meaning to that deep tunnel.

    "Yes, that''s right. Official documents testify that when the Tetsuiasa''s richest surface deposits were exhausted, the miners dug this deep tunnel, continuing to look for minerals withoutpromising the stability of the mine," Shioko confirmed. With that statement, the archer proved that even a speedrunner could be knowledgeable.

    Chatting in a low voice to kill the time, the three tamers continued to descend. A broad curve bent the tunnel, and a faint reddish light interrupted the darkness.

    The intermittent light alerted the three warriors by reflecting on the walls of smooth rock. They slowed down the pace, realizing that that curve was what separated them from the fateful boss''s room.

    After a descent of more than ten minutes, they were about twenty meters deep. The dungeon''s exit was far away, and even if they wanted to escape, halving the level of their demons, they wouldn''t be able to travel that distance in such a short time.

 Chapter 144 - Boss Room

    "Come to think of it... where did all the Komoerus go?" Enatsu inquired, stopping suddenly.

    "Uhm?" ¨C Shioko and Yoichi turned to theirpanion, who closed the line. ??

    "All the Komoerus that Yoichi put on the run. They flew in this direction, right? If there''s light down there, bat demons are unlikely to be in the next room. This means that we should have found them before the tunnel, wouldn''t we?" showing keen intelligence and attention to every minute detail, Enatsu instilled a new doubt in the minds of hisrades.

    "They probably holed up somewhere else in the dungeon while we were in the three spirits'' room," Shioko superficially replied. "Or maybe they''re down there waiting for us. Anyway, don''t let your guard down and get ready to attack," the archer added.

    "Komoerus are very sensitive to light, and their eyes retinas do not resist continuous brightness. There''s something wrong with that! How can they just be... vanished into thin air?"

    Yoichi stood still thinking of hispanion''s words. The intermittent, reddish light reflected on the tunnel walls indeed came from an artificial source. The flicker of light seemed to be punctuated by the natural movement of a me as if a torchlight illuminated the boss''s room.

    "Nobu!" Shioko called, breaking her silence again. Then, suddenly, the Hotasagi deactivated its power, and its tail stopped emitting white light.

    Before proceeding over the tunnel curve, Yoichi rolled his eyes to his friend, crossing his gaze with him. "There are many mysteries in this ce. I''m sure if we can figure out where this ck mud came from, we''ll also understand what happened to the surviving Komoerus. Come on, Enatsu, you and Rokuro are doing great."

    Yoichi''s encouraging words broke through in the perpetual anxiety that stormed his merchant friend. Smiling with his eyes and mouth, the blond-haired tamer heartened his fellow adventurer, making him realize that the best way to get to the root of the problem was to stop thinking for a moment.

    "I... I... I''m ready. We can go" ¨C taking a deep breath and trying to shake away the anxiety and cold, Enatsu narrowed his eyes for a short time. The one who was talking to him was not only a faithful friend and travelpanion but also the owner of Lumya''sst dragon demon.

    Shioko was the first to pass the tunnel curve and see the exit. A rocky door, decidedly smaller than the entrance to the boss''s room, had been excavated in the wall. The marks of the metal teeth of the tools used by the miners to dig were visible on the sides of that rough opening.

    Beyond that door, the three tamers didn''t know what they would have found. They did not realize that what they would find would have turned their lives upside down forever.

    When Enatsu''s feet, thest of the three, also crossed the door, the boss''s room appeared before their eyes in all its grandeur: as already described by Shioko, it was arge round room, about 40 meters in diameter.

    Along the walls, a row of torches hung with hooks in the rock. The cave floor was invisible under ayer of thick ck mud, so deep that it wetted the ankles of Yoichi''s boots, the tallest of hispanions.

    Right in front of the entrance, a huge beast was crouching in the mud on the other side of the room. The dungeon boss was so big that it exceeded the height of three meters, even in its sleeping position.

    When their eyes eerly traced the outline of that infernal beast, Enatsu and Yoichi, who had never seen such a giant wild demon, stood still staring at it. The cial cold of that room added to their fear, giving them goosebumps.

    The dungeon boss, lit by the faint light of the wooden torches hanging from the walls, was sleeping, snoring loudly. Its great mass raised and lowered, following its deep breath.

    The first detail Yoichi could notice was the face of that monster: a huge rhino-like horn stood on its nose. It looked like it was made of rock and its outline was chipped and sharp.

    The blood of its victims stained the horn and mouth, identical to that of a pachyderm, but with big curved fangs popping up from its lower jaw. Above the sizeable greyish muzzle, full of cuts and scars, four eyes were closed.

    One upon the other, it has two eyes on one side of the face, two on the other. Between them, the broad forehead of that rhino demon had a split in the middle, reflecting the morphology of its skull.

    From itsrge nostrils damaged by a thousand battles, the sleeping demon forcefully exhaled the cold air in its lungs, sleeping blissfully. When Yoichi''s gaze fell over the head of the ckvault Mines boss, the young warrior was stunned in front of such bulk.

    The chin of that colossal beast rested on two muscr and mighty crossed arms, identical to those of humans. A mangy ckish fuzz uglied its prominent deltoid muscles. The biggest problem, however, was the second pair of arms.

    Unable to believe their eyes, all three tamers gasped to discover that the rhino-headed demon had four humanoid arms, which ended withrge hands equipped with three fingers each.

    The back of the giant demon''s body was not visible due to its strange sleeping position. However, a slight long pachyderm tail swayed asionally behind it, emerging and diving into theyer of ck mud.

    The same substance that had endangered the vige of ckborough, that had enhanced the wild demons and increased their ferocity and that had apanied the tamers from the entrance of the dungeon until its end had umted there, around the body of that giant demon oozing wickedness.

    Although the flow of ck mud continued its centrifugal trajectory, moving from the inside to the outside of the cave up to the stairs, its true source seemed to be hidden somewhere behind the boss.

 Chapter 145 - Hood

    In a sudden hand gesture, Shioko ordered her teammates to be silent. Without making the slightest noise, Nobu got up in the air, moving away from the dormant boss not to wake it up.

    The next moment, the archer gently pulled out her bow. When the bow was tightened in Shioko''s right hand, the other arm folded, and the forehand and middle of her hand slipped vertically into the quiver. ??

    Tiny bright particles joined frantically, forming a thin rod in seconds. As the light object was pulled out of its magical container, the arrowhead took shape, ready to cut through the air.

    Shioko intended to hit the dungeon boss before he could wake up to worsen its physical condition significantly.

    Just as the archer began approaching the arrow to the bowstring, Kenji started to growl silently. Yoichi, trying not to panic, put his hand on the little dragon''s head, trying to calm it down.

    "Grrr!" Kenji continued, looking with its red eyes at the giant demon who slept blissfully in front of them. "Kenji! What''s wrong? Be quiet, or you will wake it up! Kenji!" Yoichi mumbled in a low voice, lowering his head towards his Oracle, clinging to the leather pouch.

    During herpanion''s words, Shioko sensed something change in the boss''s breath. The huge rhino demon had stopped snoring, hearing the noises around it. The steam leaking from itsrge nostrils, swaying the liquid surface of the mud, was now motionless.

    "Fuck!" the archerined, unable to hold back the irritation. Kenji''s sudden growl was about to wake up the sleeping boss, blowing their cover and causing the three tamers to miss a precious chance to strike a surprise blow.

    "I wouldn''t do that, if I were you!" ¨C suddenly, a male voiceover echoed into the cave. Those words were so sudden, shioko pulled the arrow on the bowstring and shot it wildly, missing the target.

    *stang* ¨C The arrow of light hit the wall behind the four-eyed demon, sticking into the rocks and disappearing momentster. Taking advantage of those seconds of general chaos, Kenji jumped to the ground, ready to distance itself from its tamer and activate its power.

    At the same time, Rokuro stopped under Enatsu''s legs, waiting for the merchant''s orders. Enatsu was as scared as usual and, after listening to those foreign words, he was frozen in the same position.

    "Who said that?! Who''s there?!" Shioko yelled, frightened, looking around without ever diverting attention from the boss. Yoichi monitored his friend''s movements, making sure to look towards the spots hidden from Shioko''s eyesight.

    Whoever spoke had no way of hiding: the elementary geometry of that room offered no hiding ce other than behind the massive body of the rhino demon. Just as Yoichi imagined, the stranger''s voice seemed toe right from there.

    Shioko''s words received no answer. A sound of footsteps trampling the sticky mud caused blood to freeze in the veins of the tamers. The dim light of the torches on the cave''s walls illuminated an ambiguous figure.

    A man slowly walked out of his hiding ce,ing out of the dungeon boss''s back. "Screek! Graargh!" Kenji kept on growling against the stranger, alerting its teammates of the imminent danger.

    Yoichi and Enatsu, motionless behind Shioko, simply waited for the mysterious man to speak again. Although he was not armed and did not seem very dangerous, the young tamer was ready to activate Kenji''s draconic power.

    The man wore a long cloak of ck fabric, torn down at the ankles and on his wrists, looking like an old rag. Arge hood totally covered his face, hidden in the shadow.

    One of the details that immediately struck the three tamers was that the mysterious individual was barefoot: his bare feet plunged into the sticky mud. His hands were covered entirely with ck tribal tattoos, which extended beyond his wrists, entering the torn sleeves of the cloak.

    "I said that if I were you, I would avoid hitting my creature with one of your weak light arrows. It wouldn''t suffer any damage and you and your fellow men would die instantly," the hooded man spoke. His voice was calm and mild-mannered. The way he had uttered that phrase sounded almost kind.

    "What did he say? My creature? Who the fuck is this guy? What is he doing in the boss''s room? How did he get in here?" Enatsupulsively began asking questions to Yoichi as if he knew all the answers.

    The merchant''s words rumbled into the heads of hisrades like church bells, and Shioko and Yoichi were forced to stop listening to him so as not to lose their lucidity.

    Before responding to that statement, Shioko pulled another arrow from the quiver. This time, the tip of the light arrow was pointed at the hooded man. "You have a few seconds to tell me who you are and what are you doing here. Soon after, you will see the room spinning before your eyes", the Nightdes archer threatened angrily, ready to strike the enemy.

    From a distance of about ten meters, Shioko would undoubtedly have hit the target, and a single arrow shot at the right spot would have been enough to sever the head from that man''s neck.

    "Uhuhuh... how much anger. You''re right, girl. I was very rude and didn''t show up. The thing is, I didn''t think you''d get to thest room of the dungeon so soon," the man anwered. His face was still hidden in the darkness of the hood.

    "My name is Ogai, and I am a Void Summoner. I was waiting for you," the hooded man chuckled. One of his tattooed hands rose slowly forward. With his palm pointing upwards, also tattooed, the man pointed to the three adventurers in front of him as if introducing them to an invisible audience.

    Trying to concentrate on the tattoos of that mysterious figure, Yoichi tried to focus on the symbols they portrayed. He failed because of the distance, yet, he perceived that those were strange letters belonging to some ancient runic alphabet.

 Chapter 146 - Hands

    "Why... why did you say you were waiting for us?" Enatsu trembled. Taking courage and trying to get helpful information for his team, the fearsome merchant spoke to the hooded man.

    Ogai made no answer, and his hands moved. First, they came back along the nks, then they got up, opening outwards. As if he wanted to be struck by Shioko, the mysterious man stood still in front of her with open arms and legs. ??

    "Come on. Do you want to hit me? Come on, what are you waiting for?" he spoke. His face was plunged into darkness. Meanwhile, Kenji slightly distanced himself from Yoichi, ready to activate its enhancement.

    After Ogai''s statement, Shioko''s expression darkened. That hooded man seemed not to fear the archer''s magic arrow at all, so much so that he was ready to be shot.

    Beside him, the massive beast with the horn on its muzzle began to snore again. Its breath sounded as before, heavy and steady.

    Realizing that something out of the norm was happening in thest room of the dungeon, Yoichi chose to intervene. The young tamer stepped forward, overtaking Enatsu and stopping next to Shioko. The red-haired girl looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

    "My friend asked you a question. Why did you say you were waiting for us? I think you got us all wrong. We''ve never seen you," Yoichi affirmed in a severe tone. With those words, he tried to understand the stranger''s true intentions while perceiving intense hostility.

    Ogai lowered his arms, slowly turning his face towards the young blond-haired tamer. I have something to offer you and your friend. An offer that you can not refuse," the man remarked in the usual rxed tone.

    The three tamers opened their ears well, suspecting a trap and preparing for a turn of events. Enatsu, listening to the man''s words and noting that he had not been included in the sentence, looked aroundpulsively.

    The merchant''s eyes observed the rocky walls, focusing on the few spots not impregnated with the dark mud. He hoped to find a secondary exit or something that could help them in such an ambiguous situation.

    "Don''t say nonsense. You don''t know us. The reason we''re here isn''t about you, so get out of the way. We''re going to kill the boss and get out of the dungeon," Shiokomanded, continuing to stretch the arrow over her bowstring.

    Unlike other times, this time, the light arrow did not turn into a spear. Shioko was able to handle Nobu''s light energy regardless of the loading time of the attack.

    Void Summoner? What''s that? I don''t remember ever hearing that word. This mysterious man exudes pure wickedness, and the air around him is frosty, even more so than the tunnel we travelled to get here, Yoichi pondered. On his arms, goosebumps.

    "The things you don''t know are so many, poor tamers. You believe you know true power; you believe you are invincible alongside your demons. But, as a matter of fact, you have never known true invincibility", Ogai stated. As if having an arrow pointed at him did not upset him in the slightest, the hooded man continued his verbiage.

    "From the gruff way in by which you''re talking to me, I doubt that you have ever met a Void Summoner. My power goes beyond your imagination, so I suggest you show me due respect", he added, staying motionless in the same position.

    "Respect? Who the fuck do you think you are? Look, I don''t know what you are ying at, but my guild does not pay me to talk to hooded strangers senselessly. If I am forced to kill a man I don''t even know, believe me, I won''t hesitate any further!" Shioko grunted as her patience was reaching its limit.

    Without leaving the hooded man time to answer, she bent her knees and aimed, ready to release the bowstring. It was so stretched that it left its print on her fingertips.

    Moments before Shioko could shoot the arrow, under the powerless looks of Enatsu and Yoichi, something never seen before happened. Ogai immediately raised both his tattooed arms, pointing his palms to the archer.

    At the same time, a plethora of ck arms sprang from the mud beneath her feet, generating sudden chaos. The mud hands forcefully grabbed Shioko''s arms and legs, forcing her to drop her bow to the ground and stop loading the light arrow.

    Before Yoichi could intervene, they continued to pop under the archer''s body, grabbing her belt, her quiver, and even her hair, dragging it all down.

    In less than a second, the situation hadpletely turned upside down: Shioko, who believed she had everything under control, found herself unarmed and kneeling in front of the Void Summoner.

    Her bow and magic quiver were on the ground, less than a metre from her. Her hands and legs were trapped by muddy limbs popping from the ground.

    "Fuck! Kenji!" Yoichi yelled suddenly, activating the power of his Oracle. Emitting its reptile roar, the little dragon enhanced the arms of its tamer, whoshed at the enemy.

    Instinctively, as if they had perfected that tactic for months, Enatsu began running towards Shioko. The merchant''s goal was to take advantage of the enemy''s moment of distraction to free his fellow archer.

    Shioko''s head was slightly raised high while arge ck, sticky hand pulled her hair towards the rocky floor.

    Kenji''s ck scales popped up on Yoichi''s arms, covering his skin from his shoulders to the fingertips. Reaching both his hands, one of them clutched in a fist, ready to strike the enemy and force him to give up his grip.

    Ogai turned his gaze hidden towards Yoichi, moving his head under the hood: other dark hands popped up under him, grabbing his ankle.

    "Aaargh!" ¨C trying to leap forward, Yoichi escaped the grip: the fingers of the hand that was still forming under his feet were torn, but a second hand seeded the first.

    His leap was interrupted, and other dark hands were fired from the floor, grabbing his pants and belt and starting to immobilize him.

 Chapter 147 - Iron Tips

    "What, you don''t want to fight?" Yoichi belted defiantly, trying to grab the dark muddy arms with his big hands. Before the faceless man could answer, the young tamer used his sharp ck ws to hit the four arms that held his ankles glued to the ground.

    The ws cut off his arms sharply, freeing his leg, but only for a few seconds. When the mud returned to the mud, other arms popped up from the ground, having plenty of material to regenerate. ??

    "Bend the knee before me!" Ogai ordered, turning his palms and moving down his elbows. Suddenly, in addition to Shioko, Yoichi and Enatsu were also forced on their knees, trapped by dozens of dark hands, who strongly clutched every part of their bodies.

    "Don''t try to attack me with your demons, or I will kill you instantly" the hooded man spoke, turning his dark face towards Shioko. Nobu, above her head, had already begun to fly towards the enemy, ready to hit him with a sharp air current.

    Shioko''s Hotasagi, Enatsu''s Moruba, and Yoichi''s little dragon remained motionless behind their tamers, receiving direct orders from them not to attack. "Excellent. That''s what I call ''respect''. Now we can finally talk," Ogai added.

    When his arms rxed along his hips, the muddy hands that enveloped the bodies of the three tamers solidified instantly, bing as hard as rocks. "Fuck! I can''t move!" Shioko mumbled, in an evident state of agitation.

    Next to her, Enatsu had tried to free her during Yoichi''s attack, but without sess. Being made of a liquid and viscous material, each time they were destroyed, the arms grew faster than before.

    Interrupting his attacking position, the void summoner stepped forward, toward Yoichi. "Who the hell are you?" Yoichi muttered, speaking in a low voice because of the effort to free himself from the grip.

    "I was told that you of Tentochu were a gruff and rude people. Well, I''m sure I''ll get used to it," Ogai snorted. He crossed his hands behind his back and began to walk sideways. "You believe you are here for a precise reason. But actually, that reason doesn''t exist. The only real reason that subconsciously pushed you in this ce was to meet me. Our meeting was already written".

    "Um... I beg your pardon, noble Ogai, but... there must be a mistake! We''re just three demon tamers on a mission, we had to retrieve a ne and then go back home! If we have anything wrong in any way, I beg you to forgive us!" Enatsu whined. Setting aside his dignity, the merchant had no intention of fighting against an enemy capable of immobilizing him and his friends with a simple hand movement.

    "Oh! The ne, right... right¡­ haha... HAHAHA!" ¨C suddenly changing the way he was speaking, Ogai showed his true devious and mean nature, bursting into an evilugh. The big demon which slept a few meters from him snorted from its nostrils, starting snoring again soon after.

    "Did you really think you''d find the ne and collect the loot? I can''t believe it. Your stupidity exceeds my expectations, it''s like taking sweetbreads from a baby", continued the mysterious man, shaking his head.

    "What?! How does he know about the loot?! Who the hell is this man?! Yoichi thought. A chill of cold ran through his back and the expression on his face unconsciously showed his amazement.

    "How... how do you know about the loot and ne? No one can know except..." as he spoke, the young tamer was interrupted by another unexpected event. Instead of answering his question, Ogai raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

    A sound of footsteps broke the silence and the second figure hiding behind therge rhino demon came on the scene. Limping on his bandaged legs and leaving a glimpse of the rest of his injured body under the long ruined leather coat, the man''s head was covered in arge cowboy hat.

    Yoichi and Enatsu''s gaze inevitably fell on that unmistakable-looking man. Shioko also looked at him, unable to figure out who it was.

    *gulp* - Yoichi swallowed empty, trying to hold back the disdain. "You... you are..."

    "Hyobe. Yes, here he is, in flesh and blood. The man who ''hired'' you to find his defunct wife''s ne, granting you a worthy treasure" the hooded man interrupted, letting his guest approach. Hyobe took another step forward, obeying Ogai''s call as a house-trained pet.

    His gaze was turned downwards and the blood-bleak yellowish bandages covered his neck to his chin. The steel-tipped boots did not escape Yoichi''s attention, who perfectly remembered the appearance of the man who had entrusted him with his very first quest.

    "What a piece of shit!" Enatsu boomed. Unexpectedly, the young merchant let the anger take over, trying to free himself from his stone prison. He pushed his arms and shouldes forward but failed.

    Yoichi continued to stare at the scene before his eyes, trying to connect the pieces of that intricate puzzle. "Why? Why have you betrayed us?" he inquired, looking for a rational and empathetic response from the man in the cowboy hat.

    "Poor, little, naive tamers... the heartbreaking story of histe wife and best friend dead in this cave would have convinced anyone, wouldn''t it? I''m deeply impressed, Hyobe. I didn''t think these fools would take the bait without objection," Ogai replied. His arms along his hips.

    The man in the iron-tipped boots slowly looked up. His eyes were filled with anger and resentment: around the brown pupil, the part that was supposed to be white was reddish, as if she had cried until a few moments before.

    "Can you tell me who the fuck is this man? Do you know him?! Grrr... you! Get me out of here and fight me, if you have the balls!" Shioko yelled angrily.

    The archer''s words generated a new silence. It was broken by Hyobe''s dry mouth which opened and dared to speak. "Nothing personal, boy. I had to do it... I would do anything to get my Yako back and... I... I..." the man began to sob and his speech was interrupted by sincere crying.

 Chapter 148 - Unimportant

    "What the hell are you saying?! You tricked us! Why?! Why did you let use in here? What does this man want from us?" Yoichi vented his anger in a liberating scream.

    The dark hands holding the immobilized young tamer cracked slightly and Ogai turned his gaze towards him. "I was forced to do that! The ne thing and that of my friend were lies, you''re right... but the rest is all true! My wife Yako is dead and the noble Ogai promised me he knew a way to bring her back to life!" Hyobe cried. ??

    The man took off his cowboy hat with a pointed visor and revealed his receding hairline. The hair was dirty and sweaty, hanging from behind. His scruffy appearance and sorrowful face broke through the hearts of the three adventurers.

    "The noble Ogai only asked me to bring him a young and strong warrior and promised me that he would not do him any harm! When I saw you fighting against Kato in Ambershire, I quickly realized you were the one," Hyobe exined. "You are a good and kind young man, I knew you would help me in my mission! I''m sure the noble Ogai would not..."

    Before Hyobe could finish the speech, he turned to Ogai. Intending to argue with him about how to bring his wife back, a long arm sprang out of the mud.

    The dark limb reached Hyobe''s face and arge hand wrapped his head.

    *st* - In the next moment, the man''s pieces of brain and skull sshed everywhere, even on the faces of Yoichi and Shioko, the closest to him. "Aaaargh! What the fuck!" Enatsu screamed in panic.

    Hyobe''s headless body fell to the ground under the young tamer''s eyes, partially diving into the mud. What remained of his head was still hanging to his neck, the trachea of which was clearly visible under the remains of his skull, squeezed like a lemon by the dark hand.

    "No! No!" Yoichi jumped in terror, unable to believe that the same man who offered him lunch that day in Ambershire had been able to lie to him and had died in a grisly manner in thest room of a dungeon.

    Yoichi''s gaze rose towards the hooded face of the Void Summoner. Behind him, even hispanions looked at that evil man. He oozed terror and anguish and it was enough to be near him to feel a cial cold.

    "What the fuck did you do?! Why did you kill him?!" Yoichi eximed. The young tamer, from that moment, realized that if he did not find a way to free himself from those stone arms, he and his friends would be the next.

    "Tsk! What an idiot. You people of Tentochus are so easy to persuade. Even a child would know that bringing someone to life requires an incredible knowledge of the ancient shamanic arts. Why did I kill him? Well, that seems pretty obvious to me. I let you look at his eyes and share his pain before making him disappear forever," Ogai affirmed coldly, starting again to walk slowly.

    Step by step, the man in the ck hood approached the sleeping beast. Meanwhile, poor Hyobe''s corpse slowly sank into the mud, as if that substance was progressively consuming it.

    He used the weaknesses of a desperate man to achieve his goals! In addition, he managed to perfectly control this stinking mud, giving it the shapes it pleased and using it as a deadly weapon! Yoichi suddenly realized. As his heart beat hard in his chest because of the acute anger, Kenji watched him from afar, waiting for orders.

    From the way he keeps talking about us ''Tentochu people'', his provenance seems pretty obvious to me. This son of a bitches from Kamakiri and must be stopped immediately. If we kill him, maybe the ck mud will disappear and the people of ckborough and those in the other southern countries will be saved.

    "Now that that crippled man can no longer annoy me with his useless requests, let''s get back to us. I''ve crossed half the world to get here. You and your archer friend are great candidates to continue the work I started," Ogai exined, crossing his hands behind his back.

    "Oh, of course... free me and I will help you right away. I help you disappear from this world!" Shioko barked, waving her arms and legs without being able to move. If Nobu and the other demons had intervened to save their tamers, Ogai would have attacked them, killing them all.

    The power of that ambiguous man with arcane presence was incredibly powerful. His dark and cold aura was so intense that it weighed down the surrounding air, leaving the three tamers in a state of deep anguish.

    The Void Summoner named Ogai was much stronger than them. Perhaps his magic wasparable to that of a Goldhaven guild master. Yoichi did not stop for a moment to feel that negative energy and began to study every movement of the enemy, letting him speak to gain some time.

    "I like you, girl. I will know how to exploit all that anger, you will be of great help" Ogai stated, raising his arm and pointing a finger at the helpless Shioko. "So... I''m here because I''ve been given a specific mission. I intend to make you an offer that will change your lives forever, devolving them to a greater power... in the service of the more powerful being of the known world of Lumya!"

    Raising the tone of his voice and underlining his madness andck of self-control, Ogai had everyone''s eyes pointed at him.

    "Lady Tamiko, the faithful counselor to the Supreme Emperor of Kamakiri, has instructed me to create a new army of loyal soldiers and spread the ckblood throughout Tentochu! Your aura is very strong... you two will be the first candidates for the regeneration process!"

    After those unexpected words, Yoichi and hispanions turned their heads enough to look each other in the eye. Enatsu, again, was not part of Ogai''s speech. Why? What did that evil man have in mind for the merchant tamer?

    "Honorbly abandon your lives and give your soul and body to the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri... or... die here and now!"

 Chapter 149 - Madness

    The sentence of Ogai, the Void Summoner of Kamakiri''s faction, echoed in the air like a death sentence. After Ryutaro''s stories shared with hispanions, Yoichi and the other two Nightdes tamers had just realized that Emperor Gonshiro was still alive.

    The brave Shioko suddenly stopped wriggling. Her eyes kept on staring at the void, and her mind continued to process that information as if she did not want to ept it. ??

    The merchant reacted in the same way, falling into deep silence and failing to hold back the tremor. The dark presence of the man named Ogai was justified by his origin. Lady Tamiko, the woman who had ordered him to travel to Tentochu, was one of the closest people to the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri.

    That great power and that mysterious substance were both unknown to the three tamers and to Shioko, the most experienced of them.

    "This... this is a joke... it can''t be true!" Enatsu trembled. The merchant''s tension caused a nervous cry, and a tear ran over his cheek, falling on one of the stone hands that held him still.

    "The immortal ruler of Kamakiri is gathering a powerful new army. You will join me, and together, we will use his power to conquer Tentochu and unify the two factions under one Empire!" Ogai eximed again, spreading his arms and lifting his head to the ceiling of the round room.

    With his eyes closed, the hooded man sped his hands as if that speech had stirred him up. The ck tattoos that continued under the ripped sleeves of the robe wrapped the muscles of his arms.

    Although he was an average weighted and tall man, that hooded man seemed to be soaked in magic. An arcane power flowed through his veins, and everyone around him was able to perceive it.

    "The two factions under one leader?! This is madness! Who do you think you are, uh?!" Shioko suddenly roared, breaking her silence. The fear that had pervaded her body gradually turned into anger and began to flow like poison in her veins.

    The red-haired tamer''s heart began to pump more and more blood to her legs and arms, umting the power needed to allow her body to free itself from the grip.

    "Madness... madness, you said... hahahaha! HAHAHA!" ¨C Ogai''s calm voice grew into an evil, uncontrolledugh. "The real madness is not to have done it before!" lowering his gaze towards his interlocutors, he opened the palm of one hand upwards and stretched out his arm forward.

    A stream of ck mud enveloped one of his legs within seconds, rising into an ascending vortex. That dark mud did not dirt Ogai''s body, being his creation, and continued to revolve around it until it reached his hand.

    As all the ck mud umted on the warlock''s palm, it thickened into a wet, soggy sphere, beginning to float a few millimetres from his hand under his gaze.

    "The power of the Emperor of Kamakiri is so strong that a single drop of his blood is enough to give us humble servants infinitely great power. Behold, people of Tentochu! Behold the power of the ckblood!" Ogai yelled, emphasizing his powers and revealing their nature.

    His listeners had now realized that the connection between that man''s powers and Gonshiro was real, and, leveraging their courage, they were looking in their minds for a way to react to that tragic event.

    "ckblood gives humans and demons extraordinary abilities. It allows us to strengthen our bond and makes us unstoppable! The supreme dark Emperor has given us his immortality, and, in return, we will deliver to him Tentochu and the whole world of Lumya!"

    The situation is starting to get heavy... this guy wants to turn us into evil zombies, and... is it possible that the entire south of the region is in danger due to a single drop of Gonshiro''s blood? Is his power that limitless? How can we hope to defeat such a powerful being? Yoichi thought frantically, trying to shake off the feeling of helplessness.

    Being incapacitated on the cave''s floor, the Nightdes'' three tamers had no choice but to break free. s, before they found a way and attempted a sudden attack, they needed more time.

    Distracting their exalted enemy looked like the only temporary solution, the only thing that would allow them to gain precious seconds before losing consciousness and selling for ever their soul to Gonshiro, the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri.

    "So... which one of you wants to be the first to undergo the regeneration process?" Ogai chuckle delighted, slowly raising his other hand in Shioko''s direction.

    Within seconds, the rocky particles of the hands that held the archer still changed state of aggregation, turning into the same viscous liquid that smeared the floor and walls of the dungeon.

    Shioko tried to wriggle out as her body was lifted and pushed towards Ogai. The stronger and more decisive her movements were, the more her arms and legs were stuck in the ck mud.

    "Aaargh! Leave me!" Shioko screamed. She held out her arm towards her bow in a desperate gesture, trying to reach it on the ground beside the quiver. The mud around her body increased its volume, dragging her like a twig into the waters of a river in flood.

    "No, no! Let her go! Wait!" Enatsu yelled, unable to move. As Shioko was dragged inexorably towards her enemy, Nobu flew towards her: the butterfly demon was evidently upset, unable to understand why it could not attack that weaponless enemy.

    In its mind, the Hotasagi sensed that its tamer was in aplicated situation, sharing with her fear and an elerated heartbeat. Despite this, the blood pact that tied each Oracle to its tamer prevented the demon from acting without directmand.

    An Oracle could only manifest its will in a few cases, such as when the life of its tamer was in grave danger. Under those circumstances, that of the boss''s room was one of those cases.

 Chapter 150 - Cause

    The ck mud that enveloped Shioko''s body carried the red-haired girl in the presence of Ogai. The substance moved like a wave on the cave floor, holding the girl in mid-air in front of the stranger.

    As it had yet done before, the ck mud changed its aggregation state again, turning into rock. Stuck in a shapeless rocky mass, Shioko remained helpless in front of Ogai, who still had the ckblood''s sphere on his other hand.??

    "Don''t you dare touch me with those filthy hands! You... you don''t know who I am! You don''t know what I''m capable of! You talked about honour, and yet you refuse to fight me! Face me evenly!" Shioko yelled, twisting her neck and trying to look away from the hooded man.

    "How long does the regeneration process take?!" ¨C as a drop of sweat descended from his forehead, Yoichi spoke, interrupting the enemy and attracting his attention.

    Ogai''s eyes framed the young tamer, and the hand containing the ck mud sphere traced that same direction. "Well, well... atst, you showed a little bit of intelligence, brat. You realized that fighting against the dark power is not possible," he affirmed.

    "Tell me what will happen to my body and soul. I''m listening," Yoichi continued. Knowing that his teammate''s life was in grave danger, he realized he had to intervene immediately.

    "The ckblood is the material manifestation of the spirit of the Dark Emperor, the only, ancient ruler of Lumya. It has the power to modify matter and bend every living being to its own will. When his blood enters your body, your soul will be erased forever and reced by a new ego, more powerful and faithful to our cause", Ogai exined.

    "Your cause? Do you mean... conquering Tentochu? Is this the sole objective of the ruler of Kamakiri?" Yoichi asked. As he perceived that man''s gaze on him, the young tamermunicated something to his oracle.

    Kenji was still standing next to Rokuro, as if the two demons knew they were part of the same team. The scales of the little dragon''s back stood up, and it made ready to strengthen its master''s body.

    Despite seeing the transformation of my arms, this guy overlooked Kenji''s anomalous power. Probably, the Nekage are not easy demons to find in Kamakiri, and he''s never seen one, Yoichi pondered.

    Calcting every detail helpful in dealing with that mysterious enemy, the young tamer thought that not activating Kenji''s draconic ability as soon as they entered the room had been a clever move. That way, Ogai wouldn''t be able to sense its true, ancient power.

    However, the only fact that the three tamers had arrived there would have made the void summoner realize that any of them had been able to defeat his immortal beasts.

    If it is true that the dragon me is the only power capable of countering Gonshiro''s, then my body cannot be vulnerable to the ckblood. I can''t be sure, but... the hope that I''m immune to that ck sludge is the only way we can kill Ogai.

    A strong sense of responsibility shook Yoichi''s chest, who once again knew he had to drag that heavy burden on his shoulders. In addition to his own life, that of hispanions and the thousands of people who popted the south of Tentochu depended on his choices.

    Any slightest miscalction would have been fatal. When would the sleeping demon wake up? What was its skill? Judging by its deep sleep, it seemed to be under the control of the evil Ogai.

    "I don''t have to exin anything to you, brat. When I''m done with your friend, you''ll have the answer to all your questions and..."

    "No! Stop for a second!" Yoichi interrupted. Raising his voice, he stopped the Void Summoner while he was approaching the dark mud to Shioko''s face. The archer had closed her eyes for an instant, failing to move her body: in her mind''s eye, the control she was exerting on Nobu was as thin as a nylon thread.

    If Shioko had broken that thin thread, the butterfly demon would have gone on the offensive and died with her, crushed by the dark powers of the Kamakiri''s warlock.

    "What is it now?" Ogai growled, turning once again towards Yoichi.

    "Please, let me be the first to submit to this process. I don''t want to witness the death of my friend''s soul. I... I want to remember her as she is," Yoichi gulped,ing up with an excuse to look more convincing.

    Muttering iprehensible words, Ogai moved an arm towards Shioko. The rock mass that blocked her arms and legs moved quickly across the room, swaying on the ground and returning liquid.

    Once in the previous position, it solidified again, leaving the archer no room to free herself.

    Step by step, the dark warlock approached Yoichi, stopping less than a meter from him. The young tamer was still kneeling in the same position he was in when he tried to tear the muddy arms off his ankles.

    Ogai lowered himself towards him, continuing to approach his faceless head to the Nightdes warrior. A cial cold struck Yoichi''s face, forcing him to close his eyes so as not to dry them like in the middle of a blizzard.

    When the Void Summoner got closer to him, from the neckline of his coat, on his neck, Yoichi was able to see the details of his physique. Ogai''s chest was tattooed like the rest of his body and his muscles were those of a strapping and trained young man.

    Even if, often, the most powerful wizards were old-aged people who had devoted their whole lives to the study of the ult arts, Ogai was different. Yoichi had the perception that his youth, the lightest moment of his life, had been ripped by Gonshiro''s evil energy.

    The Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri had fed on that man and who knows how many other people, creating an army of men and women forced to obey him like dogs. The so-called ''regeneration'' process would forever erase his soul, thus eliminating his new life in the magical world of Lumya.

 Chapter 151 - Irreverence

    "You''ll see, brat. In a few minutes, you will thank me. You will feel the true energy of the dark Emperor flood inside of you, and thanks to his power, you will be unstoppable!" Ogai eximed. A simultaneous gesture of both his hands followed those words.

    As he had done a few seconds earlier with Shioko, the Void Summoner let the ckblood, or ck mud, slide over his legs to his arms. The slurry gathered on his hand and thickened into a single small sphere. ??

    In all likelihood, the process called ''regeneration'' that Ogai was talking about consisted of bringing a small amount of sludge into the host body. Once ingested, the ck sphere would suddenly increase its size, easily entering the blood and nervous systems.

    Through that process, the man with the hidden face had increased his powers. After his story, another name was added to the ''ck list'' of Yoichi and hispanions: that of Lady Tamiko, Emperor Gonshiro''s trusted counsellor.

    "Your body looks quite fragile to me, and your muscture is not well developed. I''ve seen men much bigger than you dying devoured by the power of the ckblood," Ogai added, staring at the ck sphere hanging over the palm of his hand.

    "Well, not too bad. If you live or die, it doesn''t matter. I will find other warriors stronger than you and subject them to regeneration. Also..."

    "Don''t you ever stop talking, you son of a bitch?" ¨C Shioko''s voice interrupted Ogai''s speech. Despite his wild dog appearance, the Void Summoner was obviuolsy attention-seeking, as if he wanted at all costs to show his superiority to the three warriors of Tentochu.

    When Ogai stopped talking, he continued to look at Yoichi. "Do you think summoning stupid rock hands will stop the strongest tamers of Goldhaven guilds? Hahah... HAHAHA!" the archer burst into a bigugh.

    Laughing loudly, Shioko moved her neck backwards and then forwards, making fun of the enemy. Ogai continued to remain silent.

    "My master could kill you before you can even see him. You talked about your Emperor''s powers, darkness, emptiness, h h h. Bullshit! The only certain thing is that you don''t have the stomach to face me on a level ying field. You''re just a hooded loser!" continuing to shout words of contempt, Shioko spat at Ogai.

    The archer''s saliva fell near the bare feet of the Void Summoner. As if Yoichi and Enatsu were suddenly disappeared, he turned his face hidden in the shadows in Shioko''s direction.

    The cold emitted by the Kamakiri''s warlock increased its intensity in direct proportion to the anger he was feeling against the archer. The dark mud sphere floating on his hand began to vibrate.

    Every particle of that mysterious sticky material seemed not to escape the gravity of that sphere as if it were a small and there was a dense nucleus inside it. Was all the mud that had invaded the south of the region really been Gonshiro''s blood?

    "Um... Shioko?! What are you doing?! I don''t think that''s a good idea!" Enatsu gulped. The merchant kept turning his gaze towards Ogai and then towards the tamer, moving his headpulsively.

    The three demons were still behind him, motionless as statues.

    "Tell me one thing, Ogai!" Yoichi spoke suddenly. Those words drew the sorcerer''s attention. "What happened to all the Komoerus who inhabited the cave?" the young tamer inquired.

    "Um?" distracting himself once again, the summoner seemed astonished by that curious question.

    "I mean... that colossal demon... does this have anything to do with the disappearance of the bat demons we fought before?" ¨C after asking yet another time-buying question, Yoichi looked absent-mindedly at Hyobe''s corpse.

    The dead body of that desperate man was half-submerged in mud and was already in an advanced state of dposition. It was as if he had been exposed to weather agents and dposing organisms for weeks.

    The whole thing was surrounded by a thin and almost invisible greyish gas.

    "What kind of question is this? Why do you want to know?!" the tone of Ogai''s voice suddenly changed: the Void Summoner slowly realized that Yoichi''s curiosity only served to mask the n he was processing in his mind.

    "Hey! I''m not done with you yet!" Shioko shouted, beginning to talk again. "Guys, stop it! Fuck, I knewing here without the right backup was a mistake! We had to be apanied by Sada-sensei or someone else from the Nightdes!" Enatsu added.

    Like the constant hum of a fly flying near the ears, the voices of the three tamers rumbled into Ogai''s head. The warlock seemed to suffer all that chaos and the temper he had shown up to that point reached its limit.

    "Enough! Stop talking! Silence!" Ogai shouted, raising his foot and mming it forcefully to the ground. The room floor vibrated dizzyingly for a few seconds, and the ceiling seemed to copse under that light earthquake.

    "Oh, fuck!" Shioko and Enatsu gasped in chorus, hoping that the stone base under their feet would note off the floor.

    "I''m tired of your stupid tricks! I have an important mission to aplish, and I will not give you any more time, useless kids!" Ogai spoke angrily, snapping closer to Yoichi.

    With his left hand, the Void Summoner tightened the young tamer''s cheeks, using the pressure of his thumb and middle finger to force him to open his mouth. The scales on Kenji''s body singed off at that instant, and the little dragon demon began to growl once again.

    While with his left hand, he held Yoichi''s face, with his right one, Ogai supported the energy of the dark sphere: it became smaller and smaller,pressing its mass towards the centre and vibrating more and more.

    "Yoichi! Be careful!" Enatsu yelled in panic. Suddenly, something unexpected happened in the boss''s room. The tremors caused by Ogai''s wild scream had widened the narrow fractures already present on the rocks that trapped Shioko.

    Taking advantage of the enemy''s moment of distraction, focused on watching Yoichi, Shioko activated one of Nobu''s skills: the butterfly demon quickly flew towards her, stopping in mid-air and vigorously pping its wings.

 Chapter 152 - Shield

    The Hotasagi''s wide colored wings generated a thin, sharp air stream. It impacted against the biggest of the fractures and cracked the arms still clinging to the archer''s slender body in half.

    Within seconds, Shioko managed to roll to the ground and grab the bow and quiver. Ogai''s hood rotated dangerously in her direction, and, predicting the iing blow, the warlock quickly got ready for the counterattack. ??

    He let go of Yoichi''s face and clutched the little dark sphere between both hands. The next moment he opened them: the small ck and dense sphere had quadrupled in size, expanding.

    "Aaargh!" he yelled for the effort. The warlock shot the dark energy sphere towards the archer, and the anomalous object travelled at high speed for a couple of meters, covering half the distance between the two challengers in just over a second.

    An light arrow was fired from Shioko''s bow, travelling in the opposite trajectory and impacting Ogai''s dark sphere. Under Yoichi''s incredulous eyes, the arrow disappeared inside the sphere, instantly swallowed by the dark energy that soaked it.

    Shioko''s resigned gaze was faintly illuminated by the reddish light of one of the torches on the walls, and the sphere continued to fly towards he, second after second.

    Her big green eyes moistened, and the tears of those who had failed to save her life did not have time to slip down their cheeks. The incredible light power of one of the ¨¦lite tamers of the Nightdes guild had been totally ineffective against that arcane and unknown power.

    Before Yoichi could scream his friend''s name, an unexpected event disrupted the fate of the red-haired tamer. Something jumped as fast as a sh of lightning in front of her, running on all fours,.

    Moments before the ck sphere hit Shioko''s chest, it hit an unidentified target, generating a giant explosion.

    *BOOM* - A violent shockwave followed the roar of the explosion, simr to a mighty thunder. The intense pressure generated by the impact forced all those present to cover their eyes, and the dark energy umted in the sphere dispersed into the surrounding air, emitting infernal and demonic cries.

    Suddenly, a whole row of torches was extinguished by the wind unleashed by the explosion and part of the room fell into darkness. Splinters from some unidentified material hit Yoichi''s face, scratching it.

    The rock that trapped him broke into a thousand pieces, and his body rolled in the mud several meters backwards. The young tamer''s ears began to buzz intensely, and his sight got clouded.

    After about ten seconds, the blond-haired tamer struggled to open his eyes, coughing up the fine dust ingested after the shockwave. Resting both hands on the ground, he lifted his chin and chest from the mud, turning in the direction of hispanions.

    Indistinct figures took shape about ten meters from him. With extreme effort, gradually resuming using his senses and getting up on his knees, he managed to distinguish them in the dim light: Shioko had fallen backwards and was stunned. However, the red-haired tamer did not appear to have suffered serious damage other than a few scratches on her face and leather armor.

    Within seconds, Kenji also appeared when the cloud of dust generated by the explosion dispersed into the air. The little dragon demon''s red eyes glowed with their own light inside the darkness, pointing to its tamer.

    My head is spinning... that explosion stunned me, I can''t hear anything. What happened? I''ve never seen such a powerful attack! Ogai''s ck sphere was filled with dark energy, and Shioko''s arrow had no effect. It was swallowed instantly! Yoichi frantically thought, resting the sole of his right boot in the mud.

    She''s safe... how can it be? I''ve clearly seen something stand between Shioko and...

    Yoichi''s thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an unexpected vision. Ogai was no longer in his previous position, and this had increased his field of view.

    A few feet away from Shioko, who was continuing to crawl backwards, shaking with her face dirty with mud, a small, ckish bodyy face down in the mud.

    Yoichi''s head continued to spin, but the young tamer stepped up and put both hands on the ground. Putting his weight on one foot, he also lifted the other sore leg and stood up.

    *anf*anf*anf* - "No, no... no... no! No!" his mouth opened, escaping his control, and his thoughts resounded in the form of words grieving for what he would not want to see.

    Stumbling several times, regardless of where the enemy was or what he was doing, Yoichi ran to that little ck body, throwing himself to the ground in front of it. The body inted and deted faintly while the lungs of the injured demon tried to keep it alive.

    In that dark-shrouded cave with little oxygen, low temperature and sticky mud everywhere, Yoichi broke out into a hysterical cry without interrupting his advance towards his objective.

    He slipped both hands under that warm body and equipped with a sturdy, waterproof fur coat. When he turned it face-up, Rokuro''s long mole ws grazed his arm, letting his heavy hand fall dead weight in the mud.

    Yoichi''s weeping became denser and more profound, further clouding his sense of sight. The uncontrolled tremor of the face followed that of the hands, which, one after the other, grazed the face of Enatsu''s Moruba: a deep circr wound had dug into the side of its stomach, shattering part of its rib cage.

    Large shards of the same rock that had imprisoned him and hispanions were lodged in Rokuro''s body. Its mole nose wobbled in the air, desperately trying to fill its tired lungs, and its long whiskers were soaked in ckblood.

    The brave Moruba, under direct orders from its tamer, had jumped towards the dark sphere, knowing that Shioko''s light arrow would not be enough to stop it. The Nightdes archer''s life had been saved by the fearless gesture of the most fearful of Tentochu warriors, who, without hesitation, had used his demon to shield a friend.

 Chapter 153 - Python Leather

    The heart beat hard in Yoichi''s rib cage, causing his bones to vibrate and his throat to dry. While the time around him seemed to have stopped, the young warrior decided that the moment to face reality and look for his friend with his eyes had arrived.

    He turned his head with immense courage. His hands did not leave Rokuro''s body, while the demon barely breathed. Inside the darkness, in the shadow zone generated by the extinguishing of the torches on the wall, he saw what he hoped not to see.??

    The rocks that trapped Enatsu''s body had shattered, and the merchant tamery motionless a few feet behind, on the muddy floor of the cave.

    Yoichi stayed still, frozen, unable to activate the muscles of his legs, sore by the intense fright. The darkness that enveloped his friend''s shape became denser and denser before his eyes as if a mattifying cloth had just been lowered in front of his pupils.

    Suddenly, the stillness of those interminable seconds was broken by Shioko''s run: the archer made her way towards the body of her teammate who, for the umpteenth time, had risked his life to save hers. When he chose to make that heroic gesture, Enatsu put aside Shioko''s apparent contempt for him: as he had always shown, life had an extremely high value for him and was worthy of being lived unconditionally.

    Shioko screamed violently, repeatedly pronouncing the name of the young merchant, whose face was dirty with mud and not visible due to the shadow, so dense that it seemed to be touchable.

    The vision of the red-haired girl throwing herself on the floor in despairpletely clouded Yoichi''s sight, unlocking a memory in his mind''s eye. His brain disconnected from reality, connecting to the archives of his previous life, still hidden somewhere between the walls of his cranium.

    ...

    A man was lying on a parquet floor, immersed in his own blood. A woman rested her head on his chest, crying desperately and shouting iprehensible words.

    From the perspective from which he witnessed that vision, Yoichi realized that he was sitting on the ground, not far from the two protagonists of the memory.

    "Yoichi! Yoichi, help me! Do something, please!" the woman screamed. Long ck hair and midnight ck eyes. Her makeup smudging under her eyes was flowing down to her chin, dissolved by the sour tears that kept wetting her face like a river in flood.

    Yoichi''s eyes crossed with the woman''s, and then his gaze shifted to the corpse. The man lying on the floor had a deep wound on his abdomen, probably due to a gunshot.

    His previous life ego felt a strong empathy for that man, apparently much older than the present Yoichi. He was about fifty years old, yet, his life had been abruptly interrupted.

    Cramps in his chest made him realize that that woman''s pain was shared. Indeed he and the one who nowid lifeless on the floor used to be great friends. She was undoubtedly that man''s wife, or maybe his girlfriend. Or a mistress, who knows.

    The room where the misdeed had taken ce looked confused and faded as if his memory was not clear or that detail was purely irrelevant.

    Suddenly, Yoichi heard the sound of footsteps to his left. He turned his head, and a pair of shiny and elegant shoes appeared before his eyes. d entirely in python leather with blood- dirty tips, those expensive shoes seemed to belong to a wealthy man.

    The eyes of the helpless Yoichi of the past raised, and he did not say a word: the man to his right wore a sleek ck suit and a shoes-like burgundy shirt under his jacket.

    However, although the vision allowed Yoichi''s consciousness to move and interact with the space around him, his eyes failed to focus on the man''s face, but only on his right arm. It was raising towards the screaming woman, while its hand wield a heavy ''desert eagle'' model gun.

    "Yoichi! Yoichi! Help us!" the woman shouted again, aware that those would be thest words she would utter in the realm of the living. The index finger of the elegant man''s right hand pulled the trigger, and the snake-shaped ring on it reflected the artificial white light of the chandelier.

    *boom* - After the shooting, the ck-haired woman''s screams suddenly ceased, and drops of blood sshed over Yoichi''s face, gently touching him like drops of water on the shore of a waterfall.

    Who was that man on the ground? Why did he feel a deep affection for him? Why did he share the pain of his death with that woman? Why was he sitting on the ground next to the man who killed them?

    The questions that quickly floated in Yoichi''s subconscious were not answered, and his gaze darkened until all the vision was reduced to an infinite cluster of nothingness.

    ...

    *anf*anf* - When he reopened his eyes, Yoichi focused on his still unmoved hands under the back of the dying mole demon.

    "Yoichi! Yoichi!" Shioko''s screams echoed in the cave, drawing his attention just like the screams of the ck-haired woman, who had begged him a moment before she died next to his man.

    Within moments, he realized that what had happened in that room with parquet in his previous life and what was happening at that moment before his eyes represented the same event.

    What... what was I doing? Why didn''t I save them? He thought as an adrenaline-pumping thrill ran down his back, triggering the muscles of his arms and legs. The archer''s screams continued to call his name, begging him for help: the enemy was still hiding in the darkness and could attack them at any moment.

    Yoichi gently dropped the body of the brave Moruba on the ground and stood up, looking at his two teammates and recalling the vision. The python-shoeed man who wore the ring with the snake oozed pure wickedness. The reason he killed two people dear to him escaped his understanding, and many questions clenched his brain in a vice. However, if he wanted to save Enatsu or barely avenge his death, Yoichi would have to do it quickly.

 Chapter 154 - Brotherhood

    Without stopping crying about his partner''s condition, Shioko lifted Enatsu''s head from the muddy ground, hoping that he would breathe.

    The merchant''s face was full of scratches and wounds, and his eyes were closed. Apparently, Enatsu appeared to be dead, but he had probably just lost consciousness.??

    During that strange event, Yoichi had the impression that Rokuro''s wound and Enatsu''s had been inflicted simultaneously. He shook his head afterwards, clearing that assumption from his mind.

    "Enatsu! Hey, brother!" Yoichi eximed aloud, rushing towards him and lowering himself so he could look him in the face. Enatsu''s eyes did not open even after hisrade''s repetitive calls.

    Shioko grabbed his wrist and squeezed it into one hand, "the pulse is feeble. We have little time," she spoke, looking up at Yoichi.

    "Are we short on time? Of course, but... but how are we going to do it?! We are in the middle of nowhere, around this mountain there is no vige! We need a healer and... Enatsu, hold on!" Yoichi repeated, shouting encouraging words in his dying friend''s ears.

    "Your irreverence has killed a fellow of yours. Well, that doesn''t matter, after all. After you became servants of the dark Emperor, you probably would have killed him. Mhmhmh..." Ogai''s evil chuckle broke his silence once again.

    As Yoichi heard that evil voice, his gaze diverted from Enatsu. Shioko had never seen an expression simr to the one painted on his face, despite having already witnessed her teammate''s fights several times.

    The eyebrows pointed down, and the forehead was corrugated above the eyes. Breathing more and more intensely, Yoichi looked to be unable to hold back his anger.

    The young tamer shook as if his body was about to explode and his poor friend was unmoved in front of him. Then, in the form of quick images, memories of his awakening and first encounter with Enatsu began to flow before his mind''s eye.

    The Silvertide''s young and kind merchant had reciprocated the kindness of an unknown farmer with the only thing more valuable than money: knowledge. Thanks to him, Yoichi had learned in record time the basic rules that revolved around the demon tamers and the world of Lumya.

    After touching his best friend''s forearm onest time, Yoichi stood up with his back towards Ogai. The Void Summoner walked out of the darkness and the dust cloud that still soiled the cave''s anoxic air.

    "What have you done, you stupid fool?" Yoichi spoke, clenching his fists. The squeeze was so firm that his nails sank into the palms of his hands and thin rivulets of blood flowed from his fingers, falling on the ck mud of the floor.

    Continuing to talk to Enatsu as if he could hear his words, Yoichi began to cry. "Why did you do it... Enatsu?" she repeated, wiping away tears with one arm.

    "I''ve already wasted far too much time with you. Now that we''ve got rid of the weak link, we can finally finish the regeneration process" ¨C after that sentence, Ogai raised both his arms, beginning to gather the ck sludge back to the upper limbs of his body.

    Yoichi stared at the void before him. His eyes roared in silence like two rabid beasts ready to devour anything. More drops of blood fell from his clenched fists.

    Knowing that the impending battle would be fatal, Shioko dragged Enatsu''s body away from Yoichi. She managed to rest the unconscious merchant''s back on one of the walls on the dark side of the cave. Soon after, he was supposed to recover Rokuro''s body and dab the deep wound on its body with some clean cloth.

    "I sense great strength in you, blond-haired warrior. Your name is Yoichi, right?" Ogai inquired. From the tone of his voice, it was possible to understand that the Kamakiri''s warlock was smiling under the hood.

    Yoichi did not answer. His back faced his opponent, and his gaze was pointed at the rocky wall where Enatsu''s body was.

    "Well, although it doesn''t matter, I just can''t understand. How can a skilled warrior surround himself with insects?" Ogai asked again, referring to Enatsu.

    At that exact moment, tiny sparks appeared on Kenji''s tail, still on his paws metres away. The sparks formed a faint me by joining one another. It was imperceptible under the dim light of the wall, still illuminated by torches.

    "The strong and the weak cannot coexist. If the strong one is recognized as such, it is only because of the insects that he crushed. Your friend over there wouldn''t havested a single second without your help, would he?" Ogai added, defying his interlocutor''s patience.

    The mud that had risen from the ground had reached his arms. Two streams of that viscous material were twisting around the arms of the Void Summoner, heading towards his hands. The palms were facing upwards.

    "You wrote your end, Ogai" ¨C without warning, Yoichi spoke in a calm and decisive tone of voice.

    "Um?" the enemy gulped, turning his head slightly.

    "I don''t care where youe from and if you have a family" the young tamer spoke. "You will die here and today."

    When Yoichi uttered those words, he turned to his opponent. He opened his hands, showing the wounds on his palms. At the same time, Kenji growled fiercely, sharing the same temper as its tamer.

    Sinking its four legs into the mud, the little dragon activated its power: the me on its tail frighteningly increased its intensity, and the usual fiery strip appeared on its back. This time, the me travelled over his neck, stopping between his two ck horns.

    "What?! What kind of demon is that?!" the Void Summoner requested, looking at Kenji from under his hood. The giant dormant demon had remained in the same position throughout all the recent events, never opening its four eyes.

    Without answering, making sure Shioko, Rokuro, and Enatsu were far enough away to unleash his fury, Yoichi opened his arms down. One by one, his Oracle''s ck scales appeared on his skin, and the muscles of his arms began to swell, weing all the dragon demon''s power.

 Chapter 155 - Under The Hood

    "Enatsu, hang in there," Yoichi said, narrowing his eyes for a few moments. Behind him, Shioko held the merchant still near the wall, using a piece of cloth ripped from her pants to wrap Rokuro''s deep wound.

    In front of him, however, the ck mud had reached Ogai''s hands, gathering on his palms and taking the shape of two small dark spheres. ??

    Kamakiri''s Void Summoner ignored Kenji''s nature, and, in his eyes, the little dragon was just a strange reptile demon capable of manipting fire. Thanks to his ult arts, however, he seemed to be able to sense the power of his opponent.

    Ogai had focused more on Shioko, noting from the beginning that Yoichi was an unarmed, young warrior. The red-haired archer''s level of strength was much higher than Yoichi''s, and the sorcerer also managed to sense the magic from his ancient relic, the quiver.

    Kenji continued to exhale mes from its scaled skin, and Yoichi''s arms were wrapped entirely in the upgrade of his Oracle. Anger is devouring me... Enatsu''s going to die, and... and it''s all this man''s fault! He popped out of nowhere! Yoichi thought, trying to make rational reasoning, knowing that the chances of victory against such a strong enemy were restricted.

    If he knows my strength level, I can''t use dragon mes now. I have to wait for the right time, or he might find a way to evade my attacks. The young tamer''s angry, tearful eyes shifted from the figure of Ogai to what was behind his shoulders.

    The giant rhino demon hadn''t moved an inch and kept snoring. Any form of life would react to that bustle by waking up, but that demon must have been under the influence of some mysterious spell. Was it Ogai''s secret weapon? Perhaps all the Komoerus woulde out of their hiding ce any second, exploiting the vulnerability of the Nightdes warriors.

    "Fighting is useless, little brat!" Ogai stated, breaking his silence. Yoichi''s eyes were pointed at him as the ck ws on his fingers continued to stretch and be more durable.

    "I sense a strong feelinging from within you. Take it easy, your friend will stop suffering very soon, and you will no longer be able to remember anything about him", the sorcerer added. "If your body resists ckblood, your strength level will rise substantially, and you will be able to manipte matter as I do."

    After those words, Ogai was enveloped by a rising stream of air. The air rotated around the body from the floor to the sorcerer''s head, following an upward trajectory. When it wrapped his upper body, the hood was lifted and fell backwards, finally revealing everyone the true face of the Void Summoner.

    Dozens of tribal tattoos covered the man''s bald head, drawing sinuous shapes containing the same ancient runes depicted on his arms. Ogai''s mouth was torn on the right side, and a deep cut gave a glimpse of the lower row of his yellowed, rotting teeth.

    The same scratches covered part of the neck and face, extending over the cheekbones and ears. In particr, the warlock''s left ear was devoid of the lobe and had evidently been damaged, as if it were about to detach from his head.

    Two white, pupilless eyes sprang from the sunken face to crown that terribly disturbing vision over ck dark circles and bruises. Ogai''s facial skin, like the one on his hands and feet, was purplish and yellowish only in a few ces.

    During the channelling of his next attack, the air current also uncovered the chest of the Void Summoner, now ready to hit his opponent. The skin colour, the serious wounds reported in scattered ces of his body and the stench emanating from it, were all typical elements of a corpse in an advanced state of dposition.

    It was as if that man had died and then returned to life possessed by a new spirit, an evil and dark soul that had turned his fate upside down forever, forcing him to obey the orders of Kamakiri''s bloodthirsty ruler and Lady Tamiko, his advisor.

    "My host body took a while before epting the power of the ckblood. My wounds are my legacy. They are proof of the struggle I fought against myself to be a Void Summoner, one of the most powerful warlocks the world has ever known!" Ogai shouted, opening his zombie mouth and looking at the cave ceiling.

    The air current increased its intensity, creating a kind of vortex around him. In the vicinity of his bare feet, the air was so strong that it lifted theyer of mud off the ground, creating a kind of whirpool that gave a glimpse of the floor below. The bare rock and the red soil have been mixed in swampy terrain.

    The Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri was able to manipte people, bending anyone to his will. All the ck mud that was spreading like wildfire south of Tentochu... was it really the result of the power of a single drop of his blood?

    In Yoichi''s mind there was no room for all those questions. He had to find a way to heal his friend and, to do so, he had to defeat Ogai and get out of the ckvault Mines.

    The young warrior looked at Kenji out of the corner of his eye. The upper body of the little dragon demon was entirely engulfed in mes: from the tail to the back, till the head. Kenji was as angry as his tamer and, like him, it shared a desire to defeat that evil being.

    Suddenly, Ogai leaned his head forward, lowering his gaze towards Yoichi. His white eyes reflected the image of his young opponent, and when the two equidimensional mud spheres were ready to be hurled, the air current stopped rotating.

    That unexpected event trapped the cave in an unforeseen silence. That silence was filled with anger and sadness, power and magic. It was the calm before the storm.

 Chapter 156 - Magnet Poles

    Shioko held her breath for a second, witnessing a scene she would never forget. A whirlwind of emotions shook her heart: on the one hand, an unknown enemy capable of manipting a substance with incredible power; on the other, a fellow guildsman, a young boy that the fate had chosen as heir to thest dragon demon of Lumya.

    If part of Shioko''s soul was dominated by the fear of not seeding and of not being able to get out of that cave to tell that story, her body quivered with the desire to see Yoichi''s true powers unleash on an enemy of that entity. ??

    Although she believed his story and that of the Tear Vision story in Ryutaro''s room, the firepower Yoichi had unleashed up to that point was insufficient to testify to the true intrinsic strength of his Oracle: dragon demons were older than what was called ''ancient demons'' and their roots date back to the creation of the known world.

    Tactically, the ''dragon'' type was immune to any critical damage, suffering no defensive malus against all other types. Put simply, no demon or tamer could have inflicted critical damage on Yoichi and Kenji: thanks to hisbat skills, Kenji was often mistaken for a fire-type demon, which would have deceived any opponent, even the most experienced.

    That theory was manifesting itself at that moment under Shioko''s eyes. She was ready to witness the final confrontation against the first Void Summoner she had ever encountered. Her life and Enatsu''s were hung by a fragile thread and were both in Yoichi''s hands.

    As Ogai was approaching his hands to each other without any warning, Yoichi bent his knees, tilting his shoulders slightly forward. Like a sprinter bending over the starting blocks, he quickly snapped forward, ignoring the sticky ck mud and dipping his feet into it.

    Nobu had activated its power again and, even the darkest part of the room, had been partially illuminated by the white light of its tail. When Yoichi left his position, Ogai hastened the preparation of his attack.

    The enemy watched the young tamer head at great speed towards him and, trying to bear the weight of those two small but dense dark spheres floating on his hands, he attempted to close his arms. His intent was probably to join the two hands somehow, thus forming an evenrger and more devastating sphere of dark energy.

    However, Yoichi was sure that Ogai''s real goal was not to kill him. In the words of Kamakiri''s sorcerer, he and Shioko would be his own kind, so their death would cause his mission to fail.

    "Aaargh!" Yochi shouted, increasing his dash speed and bending his upper body more and more, ready to hit the enemy with a low strike. Ogai hardened his chest and arms muscles, and the spheres became closer and closer to each other.

    The visual effect was the same as two equal mas poles: the spheres repelled each other, and their intrinsic vibration caused the particles to move uncontrobly on their surfaces. A moment before they could touch each other, Yoichi''s speed took over.

    With rapid upward movement, his sizeable wed hand tried to strike one of Ogai''s arms, forcing the sorcerer to spread them again. Unable to risk being cut off by his opponent''s draconian ws, Ogai suddenly opened his arms.

    Yoichi''s hand ws passed a few millimetres from the enemy''s face, who, showing supernatural reflexes, raised his neck and backed away with his shoulders.

    Ogai''s arms followed that strange and twisted movement, bending down and lowering his centre of gravity: while Yoichi regained the right set-up to strike again, Ogai''s spinal chord behaved like an stic band, quickly returning to the previous position.

    The young tamer felt the evil force from the two spheres of dark energy. He instinctively rotated his body with a twist of his foot and raised his arm, ready to parry the iing blow.

    Ogai violently lowered one of his hands, striking Yoichi''s scaled arm with one of the two dark spheres.

    *baam* - Like every time that arcane energy impacted something, it unleashed a shockwave, this time weaker than the previous one. The thick ck sphere hit Yoichi''s hard scales: he was in a position decidedly unfavourable to the counterattack due to his charge.

    A pressure never felt before weighed on his upper limbs, moving instantaneously to every other area of his body: a weight force equal to that of a one-ton body was released at the point of impact between the sphere and the arm, forcing it to bend under that unprecedented power.

    Yoichi''s resistant arm, the same arm capable of withstanding cutting and blunt weapons, as well as the jaws of ravenous giant demons, could not resist that unstoppable energy and his elbow bent, dangerously approaching his hand to his face.

    "Behold the power of the ckblood, you poor feeble mortal!" the Void Summoner fiercely announced, pushing the sphere downwards. Instantly, before the energy could crush him permanently, Yoichi pulled his guide hand off the ground and jumped backwards, moving the other arm and all the rest of his body away from the trajectory of Ogai''s attack.

    The sphere continued its vertical motion and, supported by the sorcerer''s arm, impacted the floor of red soil and rocks, causing it to explode into a thousand pieces.

    *BOOM* - Another loud roar made the cave walls tremble without waking up the giant sleeping demon.

    After rolling for a few meters, Yoichi, dispersing the shot''s energy, got up quickly. He looked at his arm almost automatically: Kenji''s imprable ck scales had been slightly damaged at the point of impact with the dark sphere. They looked scratched and chipped along their borders.

    A sharp pain, whichsted only a few seconds, made his hand tremble. The ckblood, or the power derived directly from Gonshiro''s body, was able to counter that of his upgrade. If he really wanted to defeat his opponent, he would have to push his body beyond its limits.

 Chapter 157 - Overhead Attack

    "Not bad! You resisted my attack! With a little practice, you''ll be an excellent Void Summoner!" Ogai spoke, returning to an upright position.

    As Yoichi came back on his feet, ready to counter his enemy''s next attack, the mud further enhanced the warlock''s body: arge amount of ckblood totally wrapped his legs, lifting his body off the ground, allowing him to levitate as if he were surfing on the floor.??

    Holding the two dark spheres as if they were two extremely fragile objects, Ogai slid forward. The wave of ck mud pushed under the nts of his feet, driving his body slightly inclined.

    "The real question is... how much longer can you resist?! Aaargh!" the Void Summoner shouted, dramatically increasing the power of his charge and finding himself within seconds in front of his opponent.

    Because of the little time to think about a defensive strategy, Yoichi crossed both hands in front of his face. Ogai''s arm moved forward, pushing one of the dark spheres right in that direction.

    Another impact, another explosion: after sessfully parrying the blow, Yoichi felt acute pain in his forearms and his body was thrown metres away. His back mmed against the circr wall of the cave, less than ten meters away from hispanions.

    I must move away from here... I can''t fight close to them, otherwise, Enatsu could suffer the coup de grace! The young Nightdes tamer thought. Without paying attention to his arms conditions, Yoichi found the strength to get up and walk away from his friends, coughing and limping.

    The burning on his arms was caused by a quite deep wound: the surface of the dark spheres in Ogai''s hands had consumed some of Kenji''s ck scales, also damaging the skin below.

    Fortunately, the level of sensitivity at the spots enhanced by the little dragon demon was significantly lower than that of the ''human'' limbs. Only thanks to that reason, Yoichi was still able to move his arms freely, resisting pain and keeping on fighting.

    Within seconds, after throwing Yoichi away like a dodgeball, Ogai let himself be carried away again by the dark mud. The liquid bundle that wrapped his legs up to his belt caused his body to change the direction of attack.

    This time, Ogai joined both his hands allowing the two small spheres to touch each other. That gesture unleashed incredible energy, boosting his next attack, which would probably knock out the young tamer.

    Yoichi''s tired gaze once again framed hispanions: Enatsu was in Shioko''s arms and his mouth was bleeding profusely. The bandage that enveloped Rokuro''s abdomen was soaked in blood, a symptom of the fact that the wound had not stopped bleeding.

    The red-haired girl did not know how to behave and her gaze was perpetually pointed at Yoichi, in the hope that her teammate would somehow seed in defeating Ogai, the unknown Kamakiri warlock.

    Her gaze bounced between the mole demon and Enatsu, putting the pieces of the intricate puzzle together. "How is it possible for the wound to be shared if it''s not his Oracle?" she pondered aloud.

    Ogai was charging at great speed towards him and the time to think was over. Finally, as if it were the signal he was waiting for, Yoichi felt a loud burning in his chest.

    That burning was part of the same feeling he sensed during his battle against the giant Hebigure and followed the beats of his heart. Beat after beat, his chest seemed to load the body with fiery, draconic energy. Without really controlling that mysterious power, Yoichi was generating the dragon me!

    He''s never seen the me I can summon. I will use my standard skill to dodge the attack and then I will activate Scorching Breath to boost my arms! Yoichi instantly realized what to do. Within seconds of the impact, he switched his Oracle''s power, shifting his arm scales to his legs.

    Kenji diligently obeyed themand of his tamer and performed the power shift. The ck scales disappeared from the arms and popped over the legs, slightly tearing off the fabric of the trousers. When the wound on Yoichi''s arms was deprived of the protectiveyer, severe pain forced him to grit his teeth.

    One centimeter at a time, Kenji''s upgrade skill took about two seconds to change target. After that short time, Yoichi leaned over his knees and jumped high, pushing his body with maximum force.

    Yoichi''s rapid rise in altitude forced Ogai to trace that movement with his eyes. The sorcerer''s white eyes witnessed his opponent''s superhuman leap and his expression darkened during the charge as if the only fact that Yoichi was trying to escape was a sign of irreverence towards him.

    The mud under the sorcerer''s feet pushed him upwards and his already joined hands tightened the spheres even further. The two bodies of dark energy touched each other and began to merge, aided by the ascending thrust of their creator''s body.

    Under the eyes of Yoichi, whose head was a few inches away from the cave ceiling, filled with ckish stctites, his enemy was ready to hit him with an enhanced attack.

    The beatings of his heart that were continuing to rumble strongly in his rib cage immediately weakened. The loading of the dragon me was over, all he had to do now was release the umted energy.

    Shutting his eyes for a single moment, Yoichi released an unparalleled power, showing a skill that no one in the recent history of Lumya''s world had ever been able to control.

    The ck scales changed position again, moving almost instantly over the arms. Beneath them, the skin literally caught fire, burning in a blinding red light and inevitably slowing down Ogai''s attack, who was stunned to see that unprecedented me show.

    Like magma on the slope of a volcano, the draconic fire under the scales erupted outside, enveloping both of his arms and increasing their physical and magical strength. A dragon roar, much more violent than the cry of any known demon, echoed inside the cave.

    The blond-haired warrior joined his hands upwards, crossing his fingers and preparing to converge them in a single shot directed at Ogai. Long tongues of fire were fired in all directions, counteracting the frosty aura caused by the sorcerer''s dark power with the heat of the primordial dragon me.

 Chapter 158 - Implosion

    Shioko''s bodynguage expressed her thrill, trembling at the sight of that supreme power. The dragon me was really able to counter the power of a warlock who could manipte matter, whose dark power had been amplified by a drop of blood of the Immortal Gonshiro.

    As the dark sphere continued to rise in Ogai''s hands, he was blinded by the light of the dragon me, like a man on the tracks illuminated by the glow of the headlights of a running train. ??

    Despite having a full perception of Yoichi''s level of strength, Ogai could never have predicted that it would more than triple. That standard-looking, unarmed warrior actually possessed powers as old as the world itself, dating back to the era when dragon demons were the only rulers of Lumya.

    Knowing that if he paused his attack, Yoichi''s arms would hit him right in his face, the Void Summoner released his tension with a scream and continued to push upwards, supported by the ck mud geyser.

    The air in the vicinity of the young tamer became so red-hot that the particles of oxygen and carbon dioxide vibrated, creating an ethereal pellicle that reflected the red color of his arms, emphasizing their brightness.

    Suddenly, as had been predicted, Yoichi''s two glowing hands, imbued with Kenji''s feral power, violently impacted the sphere, colliding with the only power capable of countering the dragon me.

    *boom*BOOM* - as soon as the two bodies touched each other, a little, short explosion followed: the energy that soiled the air umted at the point of contact between the scaled hands and the sphere. The implosionsted only for a moment and was followed by a devastating detonation.

    A column of energy enveloped the two fighters, widening more and more in diameter and hitting the bottom and the ceiling of the cave. Under Shioko''s incredulous eyes, the powers of those two attacks fused with each other creating a giant gap on the cave ceiling, digging hundreds of meters into the stone.

    The ray of mes and darkness continued to travel upwards, devouring everything in its path, including the harder rocks that made up the massif that housed that old dungeon.

    When the energy of the fight was consumed, the visual effect that had hidden the two challengers for a few seconds disappeared instantly, revealing their position.

    "Yoichi!" Shioko screamed, unable to hold back her tension. The archer continued to hold Enatsu''s back, preventing the young merchant from sinking into the mudyer.

    Herrge green eyes shone with contrasting feelings. A mixture of fright and joy assaulted her, petrifying her like a marble statue.

    Across the room, the two challengers were still in mid-air. However, the wave of ck mud that had supported Ogai until then, had been swept away by the young tamer''s dragon me.

    Yoichi was still stationary in the same position, his fiery arms facing down, after hitting the target and destroying the dark sphere. In contrast, Ogai''s head was facing down: the Kamakiri''s warlock was in freefall, failing to counter Kenji''s draconic skill and its tamer.

    Yoichi''s two connected fists had destroyed in a thousand pieces the energy sphere thaty in Ogai''s hands. It had caused that explosion, gathering the tongues of fire scattered in the air and channeling them all upwards, into a whirlwind of darkness and fire with astonishing destructive power.

    *stomp*ssh* - After the Void Summoner fell to the ground, raising a cloud of dust and sshing on the mudyer, Yoichinded on his feet like a felid. Fragments of rock continued to rain from the ceiling of the cave, risking hitting all those present.

    Shioko stood motionless at the same spot, knowing she was safe. Thanks to Yoichi''s thoughtfulness, the fight had been moved to the other side of the cave. The young tamer had purposely lured his enemy to the other side, to drive him away from hispanions, one of whom was still unconscious.

    The grayish dust of the crumbling rock burned in contact with the tongues of fire emanating from Yoichi''s arms, emitting yellowish sparks. Scorching Breath had been sessfully activated and the energy stored up to that point in the young tamer''s chest had greatly enhanced the intensity of the skill.

    Under Yoichi''s feet, the ck mud began to move again. He prepared to dodge the dark arms that woulde off the floor, instead, the sticky substance slowly crawled toward the cloud of dust.

    Ogai''s body was lifted from the floor and his shape began to barely be visible again. When void summoner finally came out into the open, Shioko put his hand in front of her mouth, unable to believe her eyes.

    Ogai''s right arm waspletely broken: the ulna had pierced his elbow, popping out of the flesh and ovepping the humerus. The Kamakiri''s warlock''s upper limb had been reduced to a shapeless cluster of bones and tendons broken like the strings of an old guitar.

    As if it were an inanimate object, the arm hung from the enemy''s shoulder. Ogai, resting both feet on the ground, stood motionless in his position, while his throat was constricting.

    "What... what is that power...?" he stammered, coughing up blood between words. His entire body had evidently been damaged by that attack: unable to suffer the damage of the dark energy that he himself had summoned, the wounds on his chest, face, and arms had inevitably been caused only by the dragon me.

    Kenji stood still in the same position, witnessing the fight from afar. In the middle of its ck demonic horns, the reflection of the me that ran along his back and ended with greater intensity on the tail.

    "Before I end your existence, I have some questions for you. Try to give me quick answers, otherwise, the next blow will reduce your body to ashes!" Yoichi roared, channeling all his feelings and shooting them violently in the form of words.

    "Those mes... it''s not... It''s not possible! Only one power can counter the ckblood," Ogai sorrowfully answered, evading his interlocutor''s explicit request. "Who... who are you?"

 Chapter 159 - You Lost

    "It doesn''t matter who I am. The real question is... who are you and why did Emperor Gonshiro send you here to Tentochu? Exin to me exactly how you n to spread the ckblood, and before you die, you''ll have more answers," Yoichi replied, making it explicit that the questions were up to him.

    "Tell me how you did it... how did you do it?!" Ogai shouted, staggering with his arm bones sticking out of his flesh. "How did you get that power?! How can you counter the arcane energy of the dark lord of Kamakiri?! I demand an exnation!" the Void Summoner boomed again. ??

    Meanwhile, some of the ckblood that had been holding him up, wrapped around his arm. Emanating the same smoke he had seen against both the Hebigure and the Yoroichi, the young Nightdes warrior immediately realized that the substance was healing Ogai''s wounds.

    I can''t lose my advantage! I have to keep hitting him before he regains his strength! Yoichi thought, clenching his fists and releasing more tongues of fire into the air around him.

    "Now it''s your turn to answer my questions! Aargh!" with a burst forward, Yoichi unleashed a direct punch at his injured opponent, striking him in the chest. Ogai''s feet came off the sticky substance and his body was thrown about three meters away.

    The Kamakiri warlock touched his back in pain, rolling on the ground and emitting sorrowful cries. A second wound, milder than the first, had just appeared on his chest. Yoichi''s intent was not to kill his opponent until he had answered all of his questions.

    "How do I heal my friend, ah?! Answer me, you son of a bitch! How do I heal the wounds of myrade and his demon?!" Yoichi inquired in a voice filled with rage. The young warrior approached his enemy lying on the ground and ced a foot on his arm, pinning him to the floor.

    "Aargh! Umpf... mmh... ouch!" making uncontrolled noises, Ogai tried to resist the pain and didn''t immediately answer the question.

    "I asked you how I should do it!" Yoichi yelled, beginning to lose his temper. "Is there an antidote?! The wound on Rokuro''s body is getting deeper and deeper and the same goes for that of Enatsu. It''s because of the splinters of darkness from your goddamn attack, isn''t it?!" with his foot, Yoichi exerted as much pressure as necessary to force his interlocutor to open his mouth.

    "Aaagh... argh... ahah... hahah!" the Void Summoner''s moans of pain turned into an evilugh. The pain caused by Yoichi''s blows and his foot pressing on his forearm didn''t seem to worry Ogai.

    "You just don''t understand, don''t you? You''re so strong, yet so stupid! Your friend can''t be saved, you brat! Hahaha!" the dark warlock''s secondugh was abruptly interrupted by Yoichi, who, while keeping his enemy''s arms pinned under his feet, moved his upper body closer to him. It was as if he wanted to see him up close as if he were a captive exotic animal locked in a cage.

    Without adding anything else, Yoichi ced the palm of his fiery hand on the enemy''s chest.

    *tsss* - "Aaaaargh!" Ogai screamed, feeling superhuman pain and sensing his already damaged flesh burning under the palm of the young warrior''s hand.

    Yoichi restrained his power, concentrating the heat of the dragon me in that precise spot, avoiding dispersing too much energy. This man has to confess what I want to know...I won''t be able to use my power much longer! I must hurry, or it will be toote to save Enatsu! He inwardly thought.

    Convinced that only intense pain would force Ogai to confess, Yoichi narrowed his eyes and plunged two fingers into the warlock''s chest, clutching at him. Ogai''s flesh continued to burn and Yoichi''s fingers pierced his ribcage as if it were made of butter.

    Holding back the disgust caused by the stench and the muscle fibers crackling before his eyes like grilled meat, Yoichi lifted his enemy''s body, forcing him back to his feet.

    As one hand held the target down, the other ming hand moved backwards, closing into a fist and charging the killing blow. "Answer my question! How do I heal my friend?!" the blonde-haired tamer shouted fiercely.

    It was enough to look at the wound on Rokuro''s body for a few seconds to understand that that was not a normal wound: the infection caused by the ckblood would be transmitted to the rest of the body through the blood system and there would be only two possible scenarios.

    Enatsu would either be a Void Summoner and his ego would disappear forever, or his body would not be able to hold all that energy and he would die.

    Inadvertently, the fingers that were piercing Ogai''s rib cage tightened their grip and the Kamakiri warlock coughed up blood, hitting Yoichi in the face. Stters of thick blood ended up on his lips and nose, all the way to his forehead.

    "The dragon me... heheh... my lord will be pleased to be able to defeat his greatest opponent... do you still not understand, brat? You lost... all of Tentochu lost against Kamakiri today! Hahah...cough! Cough!" the enemy''s words were interrupted by more coughs, and his body seemed unable to withstand the damage of the dragon fire that was slowly burning him from the inside.

    "The Emperor of Kamakiri will never know my identity, nor will he know how to find me! When the warriors of my faction are ready for war, I will fight by their side, and together, we will defeat Gonshiro''s army!" Yoichi shouted valiantly. In his eyes, the dragon''s me burned brightly, glowing as if it were a reflection of his soul.

    "Don''t you dare utter the dark lord''s name with that mortal mouth, you little piece of nothing!"

    *boom*boom*boom* - as soon as Ogai finished saying those words, the lights scattered around the room cast a giant shadow on Yoichi. As if a mountain had just sprung up behind him, the young tamer found himself shrouded in darkness.

    Unable to immediately realize what was happening, he instinctively looked at his friend Shioko, seeking help in her gaze. The red-haired tamer had her eyes pointed upward and with one arm, she was holding Enatsu close to her, shaking like a leaf.

 Chapter 160 - Creature

    *boom*boom*boom* - the sound of those heavy footsteps continued to echo through the room. Ogai, unable to move, looked into Yoichi''s eyes. The scratched corners of his mouth curved in an evil smile as if something was about to change the game and turn the tide of that fight.

    "You have the power of the dragon? Good! I''m not afraid of you! When you be a Void Summoner, I will bring you before the Emperor and he will shower me with gifts for bringing him such a precious gift! Hahah!" shouting these words, the Kamakiri sorcerer spread his arms wide and lifted his gaze to the ceiling, waiting for something.??

    Due to the dragon mes coursing through his upper limbs, Yoichi''s perception of other presences was significantly reduced. Even the coldness emanating from Ogai seemed to have disappeared, but something huge was heading towards him, behind him.

    Suddenly, as the young tamer''s gaze swiveled like the light of a lighthouse searching for ships on the horizon, a resounding breath moved his hair, causing it to flutter sideways. The loud footsteps of the mammoth monster stopped.

    Behind him, the giant four-armed sleeping demon stood majestically, ready to show everyone its power. Its four eyes were as white as the Void Summoner''s, and its entire body exuded wickedness.

    Powerful humanoid legs ended in wide, rounded hooves: this demon was the perfect fusion between a giant human and a wild rhinoceros. From the horned animal, it had inherited the thick, armored skin and the sharp, curved horn.

    "Yoichi! Move out of the way!" Shioko shoutedpulsively, managing to stop shaking and trying to wake up herpanion who had be entranced before all that grandeur.

    The four arms of the true boss of the ckvault Mines simultaneously raised upwards, preparing to strike the target. Without hesitation, the young warrior drew his ws from Ogai''s chest and jumped sideways, hurriedly moving out of the giant''s attack range.

    *BOOM* - the rhino demon hurled his fists against the floor, opening a breach in the rock and creating a meteorite-like crater. Arge cloud of dust rose into the air, covering the view for a few seconds.

    With his arms still ming, Yoichi clenched his fists and assumed his usual streetfighter stance. Not having the usual martial arts background and leveraging only on the brute force derived from Scorching Breath, the young tamer used every time memories unconsciously soaked into his mind, probably associated with some street brawl from his previous life.

    Yoichi''s confidence to win suffered a noticeable slump when the giant demon reemerged from the fog. Standing more than six meters tall, its muscture was decidedly different from any other demon he had encountered up to that point.

    Large veins ran down its arms, chest, and legs, pumping what looked like strange purple blood underneath its grayish rhinoceros skin.

    After Yoichi pulled his ws out of Ogai''s body, the Kamakiri warlock fell to the ground, devoid of strength. In addition to the deep cuts, his body hade into contact with the dragon me, and in a few minutes, his heart would stop beating.

    Suddenly, something happened that stunned both Yoichi and Shioko, who was still standing on the opposite side of the room. Enatsu seemed to have lost consciousness and his face wouldn''t stop growing pale.

    The giant boss grabbed his master with one of his three-fingered hands, lifting him off the ground like a puppet. The broken bones in Ogai''s arm and rib cage creaked loudly, causing further pain to the Nightdes warrior''s victim.

    What the fuck is it doing? Is it trying to save him? It''s as I suspected... that giant demon obeys Ogai''smands. The strength it exudes is frightening, its fighting level is higher than all the other demons I''ve fought so far, even higher than the Hebigure''s. Yoichi pondered hastily, remembering the snake demon that attacked ckborough.

    "What do you think? Do you like my creature?!" Ogai spoke in a sadistic voice. The sorcerer pointed to the giant demon that held him up. "I have named it Kuromushi. It is my greatest masterpiece... I had to sacrifice several demons to give it all this strength, but now it is invincible," he exined as if introducing his warhorse.

    "What?!" - After that statement, Yoichi couldn''t hold back his astonishment. Sacrifice many demons? Was the dark sorcerer referring to the Komoerus? That would have justified the disappearance of the bat demons.

    "If we defeat that monster, we can finally get out of the dungeon, Yoichi! I need to give you a hand and..." Shioko''s words were interrupted by a quick gesture from the young tamer. He moved a fiery hand in her direction, silencing her.

    "Stay with Enatsu, Shioko. This demon is imbued with the same dark energy as Ogai. Your attacks would cause him no damage," Yoichi stated. His angry eyes were aimed at the rhino''s four pupil-less eyes.

    "Hahah... cough! Cough! Excellent! You''re a quick learner, brat!" Ogai coughed up blood, spraying it on one of the Kuromushi''s arms. The four-eyed demon looked intently at its summoner. "I have no more use for this body, my little child. My bones are brittle and my organs are slowly wearing out under the power of that blond-haired boy. Now it''s your turn," he added, turning to his abominable creature.

    Kenji began to growl again, sharing its sixth sense with its tamer. Yoichi prepared himself for the attack: even if he didn''t know what was going to happen, the ''fuel'' that allowed him to generate draconic fire in his chest was not infinite and he knew it.

    Moving with the slowness typical of any pachyderm, the Kuromushi clutched its master between two hands. The big fingers broke almost all the bones of his body, causing a disgusting noise and making rivers of blood drip on the floor.

    Under the incredulous eyes of all those present, the rhino demon brought Ogai''s body close to its big mouth: the Void Summoner''s head entered its jaws, made up of big square teeth, sharp as saws.

 Chapter 161 - It Speaks!

    Just when he thought he had gotten rid of the strongest of his enemies, Yoichi found himself witnessing an incredible scene: with a clean bite, the Kuromushi ripped the head off Ogai''s neck, killing him instantly.

    "Aaargh! Fuck!" Shioko screamed in a panic. Yoichi remained motionless, paralyzed by that vision.??

    One bite after another, the giant rhino demon crushed the skull and the remaining bones of its master''s body under its teeth, chewing him up like a tasty sandwich. Ogai''s entrails dripped onto itsrge grayish fingers, staining the rhino''s horn and snout with thick blood from his organs.

    Within seconds, the Kuromushi swallowed its entire meal, wiping its mouth with one arm and taking a deep breath. Suddenly, when the giant demon returned to the upright position, its gaze and the expression on its face seemed to have changed.

    From the way it looked at Yoichi and moved its arms and legs, it seemed to have increased its level of ''humanity''. Before taking a step forward, the dark beast bent its neck left and right, making its stiff bones creak and stretching its tendons as if it were a fighter preparing to step into the ring.

    After moving his neck like that, it did the same thing with its shoulders, grabbing them with his hands and rotating them to take full possession of every fiber of its mighty, demonic muscles, fed by the Komoerus it had ingested.

    "Aaaah... I''m much better now" - a deep, demonic voice boomed in the ears of Yoichi and Shioko, the only unfortunate hearers. The Kuromushi had just spoken!

    "I never thought I would have to transfer my spirit into my creature so soon, but your level of strength has amazed me, brat. Apparently, I have to teach you what happens to those who disrespect the Dark Emperor," the rhino demon smiled, wrinkling his face like a human and showing the side row of teeth, still stained with blood.

    "O... Ogai?!" Yoichi stammered, unable to utter any words other than his opponent''s name.

    The Kuromushi opened his four mighty arms outward and nodded his head. "In the flesh," he chuckled, slightly bowing his big head. That answer made the blood freeze in the veins of his interlocutors.

    That mysterious sorcerer was not only able to manipte the dark substance that the entire area was imbued with. He had even managed to transfer his spirit and mind inside the body of a demon!

    "Are you wondering how this is possible?" Ogai asked, speaking in his new deep demonic voice. The rhino demon brought his arms down to his sides and his gaze seemed even more wicked. "This is only a small part of the powers of a Void Summoner! When the ckblood takes over your souls, you will understand everything," he spoke again.

    Yoichi shook his head as if trying to wake up from a nightmare. His eyes focused on the face and body of his new and powerful opponent, trying to identify his weak spots. Being very simr to that of a human being, his physique seemed not to have particr weaknesses.

    The genitals and private parts of that monster were covered by a crude torn garment, consisting of various fabrics tied and woven on the Kuromushi''s hips.

    "This body swallowed about thirty of the bat demons that inhabited this mine, plus other small meals here and there, before entering the dungeon. After ingesting my mortal body as well, its strength level went up drastically. Right now, your chances of victory have dropped below zero, kid!" Ogai growled, clenching all four of his fists.

    Yoichi wrinkled his eyebrows and shifted one foot back, ready to sprint in any direction. I can''t tell if he really believes what he''s saying or if this is just a trivial scare tactic... the dragon fire has killed every demon possessed by the ck mud so far, why should it be any different with him? Yoichi pondered.

    The rhino demon took a step forward, causing the rocky floor to shake under his weight. He too assumed a peculiar fighting stance, cing two arms in front of him with his fists clenched and two others open outward, ready to grab and dodge as if they were the rudder of that multi-ton monster.

    "Come on, try to hit me!" Ogai suddenly shouted, jolting the Nightdes warriors. Shioko was in an obvious state of tension. The mere thought of not being able to intervene in any way and being fully dependent on an inexperienced warrior like Yoichi terrified her.

    As if that weren''t enough, Enatsu''s medical condition was getting worse and worse, and every minute that passed was a step the young tamer merchant took toward the afterlife.

    "Kenji," Yoichi called, speaking in a normal tone of voice, masking his concern. "We have to get out of here and rescue Enatsu, do you understand?" hemanded, never taking his eyes off his enemy.

    "Screeek!" Kenji replied, confirming its tamer''s request.

    "Good. Let''s show this blowhard what we''re capable of. I need another power-up!" the young tamer ordered, clenching his fists and preparing for yet another enhancement.

    Shioko looked at Yoichi with concern: how could a boy who until recently was a simple farmer handle the power of a dragon demon? Was his body trained enough to deal with Kenji''s dragon me? What would happen to him if he failed?

    Each of those questions fell inexorably into the unknown: although Yoichi himself did not know how his body would react, he had no other choice. The lives of hisrades depended on him, and he would do anything to get out of the infamous ckvault Mines.

    Suddenly, Yoichi''s arms gave off two huge tongues of fire. The dragon mes beneath the scales of his upper limbs increased in intensity slightly, causing a bearable burning sensation.

    Before Ogai could begin again with one of his monologues, Yoichi instantly ran off his position, sprinting at full speed toward the boss. His arms left a fiery trail behind him, and the adrenaline in his veins covered the pain the dragon me was causing to his untrained body.

 Chapter 162 - Defiance

    "Aaaaargh!" taking full advantage of the energy of the charge, Yoichi unleashed a direct punch in the direction of Ogai''s chest during his demonic transformation. The young tamer lifted himself off the ground with a leap, hitting his target with full, brutal force.

    *BOOM* - the violent punch generated a short but intense explosion, simr to that caused by a modern grenade, but of lesser intensity. For a few seconds, the rhino demon''s face and torso were not visible behind the veil of ck smoke generated by the mes in contact with his hard grayish skin.??

    Its huge, pachydermic hooves stepped back, suffering a recoil. cing one leg back and one leg forward, Ogai managed to keep his bnce and not fall to the ground.

    What! He withstood my blow without falling! Yoichi thought in amazement, as his feet touched again the muddy floor of the cave. His new body is too heavy and strong, the power of my mes is still not enough!

    As the veil of smoke dispersed into the air, Ogai''s four white eyes popped out of the darkness, and the corners of his horned muzzle curved into an evil grin.

    Shioko witnessed the whole scene, growing open-mouthed. Although her partner had had plenty of time to prepare the attack and further increase his power, the final boss of that dungeon was still there, unharmed.

    Ogai''s gaze shifted to his own chest: a circr but superficial wound had been carved into his upper abdomen, beneath his prominent pectoral muscles.

    As if he hadn''t calcted that detail, the rhino demon continued to stare at the wound. It was a ssic burn wound, whose ckish edges continued to widen millimeter by millimeter, testifying to the true scorching power of the dragon me.

    Unlike normal fire, the mes released from the young warrior''s arms had the ability to burn even materials that were not particrly mmable, such as the rhino skin of his present enemy.

    "What''s the matter with you? You lose your voice?" Yoichi suddenly eximed defiantly, in a fighting stance behind his opponent. Ogai quickly turned raised his gaze.

    The malicious smile had disappeared and his forehead was furrowed downward, expressing his huge anger. "No matter how hard you hit me, you brat! My new body is too powerful, even for your dragon me! The Dark Emperor''s power is..."

    Before Ogai could begin with his monologues again, Yoichi snapped forward, abruptly interrupting his sentence. "Shut up!" he shouted, unleashing another punch, this time directed at his lower abdomen, more easily within his reach.

    Ogai moved his hands in that same direction, intercepting the fiery fist of the young Nightdes warrior and parrying the blow. The sharp, hard knuckles of Yoichi''s right hand sank into the first few inches of the giant''s palms.

    Ogai''s skin was thinner there, as well as along his hips and under his armpits. A sharp burning forced the demonic warlock to hold back a cry of pain.

    He took three steps backward, driven by Yoichi''s strength. Inside, he feared that if he continued to hold back the advance of that brutal attack, his hand would be severed from his wrist.

    Ogai immediately decided to change tactics and shifted his hand away from the trajectory of the punch, deflecting it downward and unbncing his inexperienced opponent. Turning around with a rapidity not proportionate to his heavy bulk, the Kamakiri warlock counterattacked his enemy.

    He grabbed Yoichi''s leather armor and, with another of his four hands, he threw a downward punch. The punch traveled heavily from top to bottom, striking the young tamer''s back and knocking him to the ground.

    "Yoichi! Oh, fuck!" Shioko screamed, in desperation. As Enatsu began to shake unconsciously because of Rokuro''s still-open wounds, Yoichi, his only hope for salvation, was knocked out with a single punch. "It happened again! Enatsu and Rokuro are connected!" she realized immediately.

    "Argharghargh! What do you think you''re doing with those little human hands?" Ogai chuckled, tightening his grip on Yoichi''s upper armor and lifting him off the ground. "You don''t stand a chance, brat. But I admit, you''re entertaining me!" the rhino demon added. The wound on his chest continued to widen, slowly consuming the most superficialyer of his sturdy skin.

    When Yoichi''s body was lifted, the expression painted on his face did not bode well. The mes on his arms dramatically decreased their intensity, and poor Kenji, on the other side of the room, was forced to spread its four legs to stay upright.

    Yoichi shook his head, focusing on his feet. The floor receded further and further from his gaze and his ears were ringing intensely. As one of Ogai''s hands held his leather armor, his other hand clutched the young tamer''s head.

    "Your power will be of immense help to his majesty the Emperor. I am sure he will know how to make you one of his strongest warriors. You''ve got potential, brat," the demonic sorcerer snorted. From the way he spoke those words, he didn''t seem to like the idea very much.

    It was as if, during those moments, his true personality emerged, expressing a personal opinion. His will was constantly under Emperor Gonshiro''s dominion, but, with that way of huffing, he was showing his dissent.

    The rhino demon lowered his third arm to the floor, calling the dark mud to himself. The transformation did not prevent him from using the arcane powers with which his former body was imbued.

    The mud answered the call, wrapping itself around the sorcerer''s muscr leg and moving up to his arm, tapering to his forearm. It reached his hand and a small dark sphere began to form in the center of his palm, levitating.

    Kenji, several meters away from this scene, was still frozen: the fire on his tail and back continued to burn as if his fighting spirit would not surrender. Simultaneously, the mes under Yoichi''s scales were also burning fervently.

    The long blond hair of the young Nightdes tamer messily came out between the threerge fingers of Ogai''s hand, who had sessfully immobilized his tough opponent.

 Chapter 163 - Sniper

    Yoichi''s eyes lifted to those of the rhino demon. Behind its big horn, its four eyes expressed the emptiness of its soul: those pupil-less eyes were stained with the blood of broken capiries from the strain of all that power.

    Whatever the process of summoning that strange demon had been, it seemed like a creature destined for eternal suffering and damnation. While the Void Summoner''s spirit would remain under Gonshiro''s control, its body would begin to rot and one day turn into a pile of rotting muscle and flesh.??

    The sorcerer of Kamakiri had renounced his human body with ease, shapeshifting as carelessly as someone changing his shirt before hanging out.

    Just as the size of the dark orb suspended on his hand began to be substantial, copious sshes of blood hit Yoichi''s face, partially blinding him.

    "Aaargh! What... what the fuck?!"

    *anf*anf*anf* - the young tamer instantly woke up from his stasis, recovering his senses and moving in fright. Opening the only eye that wasn''t covered in his enemy''s blood, he admired in amazement the grim scene before his eyes.

    Right in Ogai''s forehead, the tip of a thick, glowing arrow had pierced his head. Though devoid of pupils, the demon''s four eyes pointed in that direction, slowly realizing what had happened as blood drops ran along his muzzle.

    The dark sphere on his hand lost cohesion and instantly became liquid mud, dripping onto the floor and interrupting the channelling of his arcane spell. Simultaneously, the two hands holding Yoichi''s body also loosened their grip, dropping the young tamer.

    Yoichinded awkwardly on his feet and then on his knees, in disbelief that he had been freed from a surprise attack. When his gaze pointed toward Shioko, he proudly notoiced that the red-haired archer had already loaded another arrow on the bowstring.

    Taking advantage of the boss''s distraction, intent on proceeding with the so-called ''regeneration'' process, Shioko had loaded an arrow until it became a giant light spear. With her unfailing precision, the experienced Nightdes tamer had then struck the back of the giant demon''s head, piercing its skull and brains.

    "Stop ying, Yoichi! Come on! Stop thinking like an asshole and kill that piece of shit before he ughters us all!" Shioko shouted desperately, firing the second arrow. The shot hit the target, and the sharp tip of the light arrow pierced the back of one of the demon''s knees. Still, the demonic form of Ogai didn''t move an inch.

    Behind Shioko, Enatsu was leaning against the cave wall next to Rokuro, who was still breathing heavily. Slowly, from beneath Ogai''s feet, a substantial amount of ck mud began to creep up to his ankles and legs, heading a little at a time toward his forehead.

    When the arrow of light disappeared, it left a hole several inches wide in the rhino''s head, which was covered with hair so shaggy and short that it resembled a military hairdo.

    Shioko... she... she just saved my life! Damn it, Yoichi, what the fuck are you doing?! Are you going to die again? Wake up, motherfucker! Do something! The young tamer inwardly thought, shaking his head vigorously.

    Managing to control his breathing for a few seconds thanks to that moment of pause, Yoichi focused on Kenji, asking his dragon for one more power-up. The blond-haired warrior narrowed his eyes for two seconds, and new tongues of fire exploded from his forearms, bringing the power of Scorching Breath back to its maximum energy.

    A sharp pain struck Yoichi''s upper arms, extending from his deltoid muscles to the backs of his hands. The sensation was simr to that caused by hundreds of hot needles prating more and more in his flesh, inming his tendons and spreading the pain throughout the rest of his body.

    "Aaargh! Fuck this shit! This isn''t good... Kenji! This is not good at all!" Yoichi muttered, clenching his teeth and fists. When he looked at Kenji, he noticed that his little dragon was also suffering in silence as the mes on its back broke through the dense darkness of the mine.

    The ck mud that was sliding down Ogai''s body finally reached his head. The rhinoceros demon had staggered in the aftermath of the blow but remained standing, not yielding to the gravitational force.

    Slithering like a ck, venomous snake, the mud crept into the hole in Ogai''s skull, hastily beginning to heal his wound. The damaged parts of his brain were reattached in seconds, and, one small piece at a time, the ckblood also repaired the skull box, reforming the bone tissue.

    Yoichi opened his eyes again and looked at the demon in front of him. That was thest moment to sneak up on Ogai, so as not to make Shioko''s attack useless. Attacking an enemy head-on with that kind of physical strength was likemit suicide, even for a warrior capable of wielding the dragon me.

    Bending down on his knees, the young tamer silently sprinted behind the rhino. He kept his mental sanity as he took aim and focused on the exact spot to strike with his sharp ws.

    Focusing on the leg that the arrow had just struck, Yoichi unconsciously evaded the sharp pain in his arms, and the tongue of fire followed his every movement, creeping deep beneath his tough reptilian scales.

    While Ogai''s pupil-less eyes were still aimed at the centre of his own forehead, Yoichi reached his leg and opened his hand, extending his ws as much as he could.

    *sh* - After materializing in his mind the exact spot to cut, Yoichi executed a clean and silent attack, sinking his long ck ws into the centre of the popliteus muscle, between the lower hamstring and the calf.

    Made incandescent by the evesting dragon me, the ws increased their cutting power and, surprisingly, severed Ogai''s leg. In an explosion of blood, the giant demon''s tendons and muscle fibers were ripped apart: when the kneecap was exposed, the leg bone also broke off.

 Chapter 164 - Leg

    "Grrroaarrgh!" as the lower part of his leg detached from the rest of his body, Ogai let out an excruciating cry. His humanoid voice dispersed amidst a demonic pachyderm scream, and his four arms spread outward, desperately trying to keep his bnce.

    Yoichi''s draconic mes burned his opponent''s wound, consuming the flesh bit by bit. The most resistant and challenging obstacle to ovee, Ogai''s tough skin, had been destroyed: Kenji''s power finally had the chance to consume the enemy''s body from the inside, preventing the ck mud from regenerating new wounds.??

    The giant boss of the ckvault mines toppled over like a colossal stone statue in the middle of a town square. When the knee of his intact leg gave way under the weight of his massive, muscr body, he copsed to the ground, mming violently into theyer of ck mud.

    Yoichi did not look away from his opponent for a moment. The ck mud on his forehead continued to move within the wound caused by the arrow, but the regeneration of the damaged tissues was notpleted due to the severe pain caused by the dragon me.

    I seeded! My attack has broken through his imprable armor! Come on, Kenji! We have to keep on attacking a little longer! Yoichi thought to himself, smiling briefly and changing his pained and angry expression for a moment.

    In his soul, the young warrior knew that the longer it took to defeat Ogai, the lower Enatsu''s chances of survival.

    *st*ssh* - The rhino demon''s back was the first part to hit the ground. After the back and legs, the four big hands sshed the ck mud in every direction, giving in to the force of gravity and failing to prevent the fall.

    When Shioko realized that their enemy was finally in trouble, she loaded another light arrow on her bow, ready to help Yoichi if needed.

    The piece of Ogai''s severed leg remained in its previous position, falling to the ground like an inanimate object: as soon as the wounded leg made contact with the ckblood, it instantly tried to heal the Kamakiri warlock, but something incredible happened under Yoichi''s eyes, a few meters far from him.

    As soon as the distance between the ckblood mud and the leg wound reached a few inches, a sudden me shot out from the rhino demon''s bleeding flesh, making the rest of his body writhe in pain.

    As if the dragon me manifested its will to counter that dark power, it repelled the ckblood, enveloping some of the dark substance and shredding it in seconds.

    For the first time since the adventurers encountered the strange ck sludge, the ckblood also emitted an agonizing cry, interspersed with the me''s roar. In a show of light and ancient magical sounds, the darkness of Gonshiro''s blood and the light of Kenji''s me shed for supremacy.

    Good versus evil, Yang and Yin. The unparalleled power of the primordial me had the upper hand over the dark power of the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri, literally devouring the ckblood.

    When thest fragment of the dark arm that had tried to reach the still-open wound was consumed by the dragon me, Yoichi felt a soothing sensation spred though his chest. The burning that caused the intense pain on his arms diminished noticeably as if his power had somehow ''fed'' on Ogai''s.

    As the ckblood was driven away from the severed leg, the fire entered the wound again, expanding inside the rhino demon''s body. Like a seismic wave moving underground, a wave of mes meandered beneath the boss''s imprable pachyderm skin, disintegrating everything that stood in its way.

    "Enough! Aaargh! I can''t move! I can''t move!" Ogai screamed in a panic. His baritone voice and demoniac timbre had weakened the credibility of that plea. Was the mighty sorcerer of Kamakiri really immobilized by the dragon me, or was it just a trap to lure Yoichi to himself?

    The young tamer walked toward him, stopping about two meters from hisrge, split hooves, simr to those of a mighty elephant. Two tongues of fire waved around Yoichi''s forearms, giving him an aura of strength and pride.

    Shioko, who watched the battle from the beginning to end, stopped stretching the bowstring. The arrow of light disappeared into thin air, and the red-haired girl''s arms lowered. Herpanion looked different.

    That boy with the ming arms and golden hair could not have been a simple farmer from the outskirts of Goldhaven. His mere presence filled the silence of the cave, and the warmth of his power was so intense it felt like that of a god.

    "It''s toote," Yoichi spoke, reaching a state of stillness and trying to think straight. The mud enveloping the warlock''s body had thinned, and an opening of red soild had took shape around him.

    That vision calmed Yoichi, who was sure that Ogai''s dark power would not be able to heal his wounds. "The mes will devour your body from within. However, before you die, you still have time to do the right thing," Yoichi added, attracting his enemy''s gaze.

    Lying on the ground and struggling to make even the slightest movement, Ogai ced his four hands on the bottom of the cave and raised his back slightly, contracting his abdomen muscles. His four white eyes pointed in the direction of the one who had been able to knock out his most incredible creation.

    His hybrid demon had devoured dozens and dozens of Komoerus, his human body, and who knows how many other living beings to increase its power. Despite this, its incredible physical strength and magical power had been unable to counter the ancient dragon mes.

    "My friend Enatsu. How can I heal him?! Tell me a way to destroy all the sludge you have created. Let me save the people you''ve put in danger!" Yoichi asked, trying to be sincere and hoping that even a petty being like Ogai could do the right thing in his death throes.

 Chapter 165 - Blackout

    "Argh... haha.... hahaha! Cough! Cough!" - During his evilugh, Ogai spat out thick red blood from his mouth. It was blood so thick that it came from his internal organs, devoured one piece at a time by Kenji''s immortal mes.

    "You can''t save him. The dark lord''s power is trying to take over his weak body, and it''s destroying him from the inside. Just as you are doing to me," Ogai added, enjoying the future death of his victim. "Do you think that by killing me, you have won the war, you brat? You and yourrades are just poor deluded creatures!" ??

    Yoichi did not immediately respond to that statement. The young man moved even closer to the rhino demon, now immobilized by the mes inside his body. Unafraid to step into the range of those four mighty arms, Yoichi lowered himself towards Ogai''s chest.

    The mes spilling from his forearms lessened their intensity and, beneath the reptilian scales, moved stealthily toward the ws of his hand. Yoichi''s long draconic ws seemed to umte the heat energy of fire without ever burning.

    As if they were made from a durable metal alloy, they overheated, bing fiery des. "Stop, stop! Don''t try to... AARGH!"

    Without a second thought, knowing that his time was getting shorter and shorter, and sensing that his body wouldn''t be able to control the mes much longer, Yoichi slid two fingers inside Ogai''s abdomen, piercing his skin and digging deep.

    Taking advantage of the point of weakness created by the first superficial wound, Yoichi was able to prate that hard armor with no problem, breaking through Ogai''s defense. Amidst the demon''s heartbreaking screams, which had now saturated the air, the young Nightdes warrior turned his hand and deepened the wound with the sole intent of causing his opponent suffering.

    "Just fucking stop this! I... I... I''m not the only Void Summoner! You... you can''t... argh!" Ogai quaked, no longer able to hold back the truth.

    "What?! What did he say?!" Shioko asked from a distance, hoping she hadn''t heard correctly. The archer walked up to Enatsu and grabbed his wrist, trying to feel his pulse.

    "You''re not the only one? What does that mean? Speak! Get a move on!" Yoichimanded. The third red-hot w pierced Ogai''s abdomen, tearing through his organs.

    After that, Ogai''s eyes suddenly changed. Two pupils appeared inside two white eyes, focusing on the image of Yoichi. The young warrior felt a strange sensation as if the demon''s identity under his hands had abruptly shifted.

    "There''s no way out...you''re all going to die! The Dark Emperor has sent dozens of Void Summoners to Tentochu and yearns to create an army of ves ready to sacrifice their lives to conquer the enemy faction! The ckblood will never stop. Fighting is futile!" - Ogai''s baritone voice restored some of his humanity.

    The demon''s legs instantly caught fire. "Oh fuck! Fuck!" Yoichi gulped, pulling his ws out of his abdomen and standing up. The dragon me was slowly consuming the Kamakiri sorcerer''s body, and he himself also had stopped struggling, surrendering to his fate.

    "Dozens of Void Summoners?! Do you mean that a drop of his blood flows in each one of them?! This is madness! They must be stopped! The ck mud is capable of destroying the Crimson Lotus ntations and making settlements vulnerable! Immortal demons will attack the unprotected areas scattered across thend!"

    Intense anxiety traveled inside Yoichi''s body in the form of cold chills. After thest use of the dragon mes, his power suffered a sudden copse: part of his left arm was extinguished, giving off grayish smoke.

    In a few seconds, as Ogai''s helpless body burned before his eyes, his other arm stopped emitting mes as well. The energy needed to control that power was gone, and Kenji''s draconic skill was fading like a candle in the wind.

    When the ck scales on Yoichi''s arms became visible again under the mingyer, the power that had defeated the most powerful enemy he had ever encountered was deactivated.

    One foot instinctively moved sideways, preventing his body from falling down. His eyes narrowed, alternating between moments of rity and the profound fatigue that enveloped his muscles and bones.

    "You have no escape. No one can counter the power of the Emperor of Kamakiri... no one can... aargh! AARGH!" - the sorcerer could not finish hisst sentence. The rhino demon''s chest exploded, and its charred organs spattered all over the ce.

    The mes that were burning anything under his skin, using his body''s internal gases to grow everrger, devoured his face and limbs. The shockwave of the explosion destabilized Yoichi''s precarious bnce, and he took a step backward.

    Step by step, his legs trembled with exhaustion until they fell off. His blurred gaze looked for a moment longer at the ming corpse lying helpless in the center of the cave and slowly framed the room''s ceiling.

    As the back of the young warrior''s head touched the muddy floor, his mind copsed, and his senses stopped working, switching off the light before his eyes.

    Shioko''s indistinct screams apanied his subconscious back to the dream world. On the other side of the room, Kenji was lying on the floor, unconscious.

    As they disappeared, the reptilian scales left superficial wounds on Yoichi''s arms. His upper limbs were bruised and tired: the anger of losing his friend had not been enough to handle such ancient and immense power.

    When Yoichi fainted, a vision simr to Therion''s Tear appeared in his mind''s eye. The giant ck dragon flew roaring towards him, lifting the sand of the desert and grazing the dunes with its abdomen.

    The roar of that divine demon culminated in a ze,ing from the center of his chest. In the vision, he was nothing more than a powerless human being in the presence of the undisputed ruler of the magical world of Lumya.

    As Therion''s me enveloped the young tamer''s body, Yoichi fell asleep.

 Chapter 166 - Carriage

    The flickering of a carriage and the wooden wheels stomping against the boulders of the rough terrain. Indistinct voices babbling something near him. The sound of horses'' hooves.

    This was what Yoichi sensed in his subconscious. His mind was still unable to regain consciousness, and his thoughts could not break away from Therion''s vision. ??

    Unlike the Tear Vision, there was no Kenji in the desert this time. The dragon that had enveloped his body in mes was bigger and more powerful. Its wings were ck as night, and its eyes were purple.

    Why had Therion and Kenji both been in that desert during his visions? What was the connection between the two of them? If Kenji had indeed inherited the powers of the supreme dragon demon King, how had Lumya''s most powerful demon ended up in the hands of a simple farmer?

    A drop of sweat dug into the thinyer of dust on Yoichi''s cheekbones, traveling down half of his face and entering his ear. As soon as he felt the wet sensation brush the sides of his face, Yoichi opened his eyes.

    A squeezing feeling 0n his temples was causing a weak but constant headache, so annoying and invasive that it slightly clouded his vision. Before his eyes, fluffy white clouds were scattered here and there in the blue morning sky.

    A pleasant fresh breeze caressed his face and his bare arms. Before he even turned his gaze, the young tamer tried moving the fingers of his hands, realizing that he had reduced tactile sensitivity.

    As the tendons connected to the fingers entered a state of traction, an intense burning enveloped both him arms, causing Yoichi to grimace of pain on his face.

    Gradually, his mind associated thest memories with that pain: thanks to Kenji''s draconic power, Yoichi had managed to prevail over an incredibly strong enemy, but to do so, he had overtaxed his body, temporarily losing the use of his arms. After the soreness of his upper limbs, his mind had also deserted him, darkening his gaze and leaving him unconscious on the cold cave floor.

    As soon as he realized he was still alive and no longer inside the ckvault Mines, Yoichi''s eyes widened, and he tried in vain to raise his torso and sit up. When the young tamer''s abdominal muscles contracted, thectic acid of his untrained physique prevented him from even the most basic movement, forcing him to remain lying down.

    "Where... where am I? Kenji? Kenji?!" Yoichi stammered, turning his head to the right and finally starting to breathe clean air again. In front of him, beyond the edges of the straw mat that housed his tired body, Shioko''s red hair hung down her back.

    The red-haired tamer was sitting next to Yoichi, watching over him. The few details of the visible environment around her outline confused his sense of direction so much that he couldn''t tell where he was.

    "Hey! Yoichi! Yoichi, you''re awake!" the archer rejoiced, turning to him, moving her hands to the green grass beside the mat, and letting hrt already crossed legs follow that movement.

    A familiar smell came overpoweringly into his nostrils. It was a sweet but pungent fragrance, generated by a thin grayish smoke that swayed proudly between the grass and the air.

    When his sense of smell was able to recognize in that smell the same as the incense in the private room of Ryutaro, his elderly master, Yoichi began to speak again. "Ryu... Ryutaro-sensei?" he called, hoping in his heart that he would receive a speedy response.

    The confusion clouding his thoughts suddenly vanished, and all of Yoichi''s senses returned to work as they should.

    "Don''t move that much, boy. Your arms aren''t fully healed yet" - the wise voice of the supreme Ryutaro, the gatekeeper of Goldhaven Arena, echoed in Yoichi''s ears like the song of a nightingale. Suddenly, a feeling of warmth and security enveloped him, making him feel protected.

    Shioko moved sideways, crawling on the soft, damp grass. With that movement, she revealed the other two people behind her: the elder Ryutaro''s tall headdress contrasted with the blue sky, and his long, wrinkled fingers were touching the body of his friend Enatsu, lying on a mat identical to his own.

    Enatsu was lying down and unconscious. The upper part of his body had been denuded and in the center of his abdomen, the same wound that Rokuro had suffered from the attack of the evil Ogai.

    With extreme thoroughness and with the professionalism worthy of the right-hand of the Emperor of Tentochu, Ryutaro was unrolling long leaves soaked in some strange ointment over the young merchant''s wound.

    Yoichi''s friend''s face and body had been cleaned up, and his most superficial wounds had been carefully treated. Next to him, the brave Moruba slept heavily. Around its furry body, sterile gauze pads soaked in that same ointment.

    At the sight of one of his two masters and his best friend recovering, Yoichi could not hold back tears of happiness. The corners of his dehydrated lips curved into a pristine smile as the tears that flowed under his eyelids gave a new light of hope to his eyes.

    Shioko was silent, respecting Ryutaro''s concentration and giving Yoichi the time he needed to recover. She, too, seemed particrly happy that her colleague was safe and sound.

    Before Yoichi could continue speaking, something gently touched the back of his head. Immediately following that tactile sensation, a faint breath tickled the tips of his ears.

    The young tamer turned his head back. The little Kenji''s red eyes smiled at him, sharing the joy of that moment and the happiness of being able to breathe again together.

    Trying to stay strong, the blond-haired warrior lifted one arm and slowly moved it towards his Oracle. His hand touched the center of Kenji''s forehead, nestling perfectly between its small ck horns.

    "Hey, buddy... looks like we made it somehow," Yoichi smiled. Kenji squinted its eyes, enjoying every second of that moment and purring to its tamer.

 Chapter 167 - Rescue

    "Screek... screek!" - Kenji''s faint cry perfectly expressed its happy feelings. Lying sideways, the little dragon demon looked like a helpless puppy sharing the same mat with its caring tamer.

    "I... I don''t understand..." Yoichi muttered, turning his head back to Shioko and his master. "What happened? Where are we? How did we manage to get out of the dungeon?" he inquired, unable to remember anything besides Ogai''s body wrapped in dragon mes.??

    "Supreme Ryutaro ran to our rescue, Yoichi. When you lost consciousness, I was desperate, not knowing how to carry the both of you out of there. As soon as Ogai was defeated, the ck mud that enveloped everything began to emit a strange smoke and melted," Shioko exined.

    "It melted? You mean the ckblood just disappeared from the whole area? Even outside the dungeon?" Yoichi eximed in amazement, unable to believe his ears.

    "Apparently, yes. Ogai was the new boss of the ckvault Mines, and as soon as he was defeated, thanks to the supreme Ryutaro who came to our rescue, we were able to exit the main entrance without any malus. The Demonic Veil was gone, and the level of our demon pets remained unchanged," Shioko reported, exining the current situation.

    "The ckblood?" Ryutaro interrupted. The old gatekeeper''s head turned slightly towards his protectees. His face was covered by the ck veil, as usual.

    "That''s how the warlock of Kamakiri called the substance capable of making wild demons immortal and aggressive, as well as weakening the Crimson Lotus ntations," Shioko immediately intervened, exining the details to Ryutaro, who had arrived after the battle.

    "Ryutaro-sensei..." Yoichi stammered again. The young tamer rested both elbows on the straw mat and, gritting his teeth, sat down. "I thought you couldn''t leave the Arena," he spoke, turning his gaze to the man who had told him the truth about his Oracle.

    "Indeed I am," Ryutaro replied promptly. Gently lifting his long, wrinkled fingers from Enatsu''s abdomen, he checked for the umpteenth time that the damp leaves adhered perfectly to the wound.

    "But¡­ how did you..."

    "However," the old gatekeeper interrupted, anticipating his young pupil''s response. "Something has happened to Therion''s Tear. Something I have never seen in my entire life, boy," he added.

    "Ther... Therion''s tear?" Yoichi stuttered. Thest time he had heard the name of that magic fluid, he had just experienced the spirit cultivation techniques of his master.

    Ryutaro only had to look at the not-so-stupefied expression on Shioko''s face to realize that the red-haired archer already knew the story. Before answering that question, the Emperor''s former right-hand gave a few seconds of silence.

    "Sensei... I know what you are thinking. It''s true, I swore I wouldn''t tell anyone about my powers... but the circumstances were..."

    "What''s done is done, Yoichi-kun. There''s no use thinking about mistakes that belong to the past. I''m sure if you chose to confess your deepest secrets to these two warriors, there must have been a specific reason. Well, I don''t want to know that reason. I am your master, not your father, nor your friend," Ryutaro spoke coldly.

    In his harsher-than-usual words, the gatekeeper showed disagreement. The fact that he would have wanted Yoichi to keep the secret was also evident to Shioko. She didn''t know how to hide her face from embarrassment.

    "Yesterday, I was immersed in my daily meditation when I sensed an unusual vibrationing from the center of my room. I had never felt anything like it before, so I stopped my meditation, and what I saw startled me. The Tear of Therion, contained within the stone sink, had turned red and was boiling as if it were in a cauldron," Ryutaro remarked.

    Next to him, two small wicker boxes seemed to contain ointments and other medical supplies useful for first aid. His speech broke through the minds of Yoichi and Shioko, who were eating out of his hand. Sensing that Enatsu''s condition would improve and that the merchant would no longer be in mortal danger, they waited to hear the rest of the gatekeeper''s story.

    "The Dragon King of Lumya''s Tear... was it boiling?" Yoichi asked. The bones in his back and hips creaked from the long period of inactivity. His arms still ached, and he couldn''t perform regr movements naturally.

    "That''s correct. When I sensed that the phenomenon in front of me was directly rted to your actions, I imagined that you and your team were in danger," Ryutaro added.

    "I don''t understand, Ryutaro-Sensei. How did you know when we would leave and which direction we would follow? I don''t remember, did I ever tell you we wereing to the ckvaul Mines?" - Yoichi looked confused. Ryutaro''s story made perfect sense, yet, the young tamer didn''t remember giving him all the information he needed to know his location.

    Behind Ryutaro and Enatsu, two horses were tied to a small carriage. It consisted of a single rectangr shaped wooden wagon,rge enough to carry a maximum of three people and a few goods.

    "Before I was a gatekeeper, I was a trained soldier, Yoichi-kun. You have no idea how long it took me to learn how to track. I left the sacred Goldhaven Dojo in the middle of the night, knowing that Emperor Nishiyama would punish my actions. However, I could not risk losing my one and promising student. How I managed to get to you in time does not matter," the old guardian reported.

    He closed both wicker chests and dried his hands with an old rag. "The important thing is that I managed to save you," he nodded. "Now tell me... is it that so-called ''ckblood'' that infected yourpanion''s wound?" he asked, pointing the finger at Enatsu.

    The young merchant seemed to be sleeping blissfully beside his mole demon. The ointments and long fresh leaves Ryutaro used to treat their wounds must have significantly alleviated their pain. Their faces seemed rxed and devoid of any suffering, but their wounds were still not fully healed under superficial care.

 Chapter 168 - Kneel

    "Even before we entered the dungeon, mypanions and I realized that something strange had happened throughout the southern area of Tentochu. The night before, a colossal-sized Hebigure had attacked the vige of ckborough on the southeast coast," Yoichi recounted, remaining seated.

    "A colossal Hebigure? Exin, please," Ryutaro replied. Despite his wisdom, the old gatekeeper seemed genuinely confused, having never heard such a story before. The only thing that mattered to Ryutaro was honesty, and showing himself unprepared before his student was no problem for him.??

    "A Hebigure and a Yoroichi. Myrade Enatsu exined to me that they are rtivelymon demons in these neighborhoods. However, aftering into contact with that mysterious ckblood, their size had more than tripled, as had their powers. The ckblood had granted them the immortality of Gonshiro''s power, Ryutaro-Sensei."

    Yoichi looked into his master''s eyes, though the dark veil of his headdress hid them. A second of silence followed that sentence. "You were right all along, Sensei. Gonshiro is alive and is trying to conquer Tentochu in an underhanded way."

    Shioko still remained silent, waiting for the reaction of the one who was formerly known as the strongest warrior in the faction''s capital. Ryutaro fueled his own silence, holding both wicker chests in hisrge hands and cing them on his crossed legs.

    "Shioko told me that you defeated a sorcerer who called himself Ogai and that he told you about a woman named Lady Tamiko. Is that correct?" the gatekeeper asked as if Yoichi''s words should approve those of his teammate.

    "Yes. Correct. It was Ogai who told us about the ckblood, that is, the substance he was able to summon thanks to the drop of the Emperor''s blood flowing in his veins," Yoichi reported, catching his breath between sentences. "That''s not all. ording to Ogai, Gonshiro wants to subjugate Tentochu''s strongest warriors with the ckblood, bend them to his will, and then form the most fearsome army Kamakiri has ever deploy."

    Ryutaro continued to remain silent, storing up all that new information bit by bit. His hands clutched the boxes containing the medical equipment tighter and tighter.

    "Supreme Ryutaro," Shioko interrupted. "The ckblood is capable of exterminating entire ntations of Crimson Lotus, putting viges and, in the worst case, entire cities at risk. In all my career as a professional tamer, I''ve never seen such material," the archer confessed. Her gaze was downcast as a sign of respect.

    "Besides, another aspect needs to be rified. Enatsu and his Moruba have the same type of wound. Still, Rokuro is not his Oracle," Shioko added, exposing her concern.

    Before he could answer that weird statement, the gatekeeper turned to Enatsu as if he had just sensed somethinging from his direction. The merchant''s eyes opened wide in the next instant, and he contracted his chest muscles, leaning forward in exertion.

    "Aaargh!" Enatsu gasped, his neck veins bulging and his face red as if he was about to explode. Shioko and Ryutaro, who were closest to him, grabbed both of his shoulders, bringing him back to lying down and trying to hold back his panic attack.

    "Enatsu! Brother, can you hear me?!" Yoichi asked, moving both his legs on the mat and trying to call his friend.

    "Help! Please help me! It hurts! My chest hurts! Aaargh!" - As if he could only speak between contractions of his muscles, Enatsu tried tomunicate something with his team. His bloodshot eyes managed to let the light through for a few moments only.

    The vision of Ryutaro, the faceless monk, disturbed his mood even more. The fear generated by the gatekeeper so close to him caused his senses to shut down immediately.

    Enatsu''s outburststed a total of about ten seconds. Soon after, the tamer merchant passed out once again, slumping down on his mat soiled by the yellowish ointment on his chest.

    "Fuck! Enatsu! Ryutaro-sensei! Will my friend... will my friend recover?" Yoichi inquired worriedly. Due to the sudden movement, the pain in his arms and in the center of his chest amplified, forcing him to lean forward and take deep breaths.

    "His wounds are not normal. Hundreds of tiny cuts are concentrated in one spot. Whatever magical attack has affected him, it is something I have never seen. Anyway, my special ointment will ease his pain, but I''m afraid it won''t be necessary to heal his woundspletely," Ryutaro exined coldly. His hands grasped the two boxes again.

    The gatekeeper stood up from the grassy ground. With usual slow and gentle movements, as if his four limbs moved only by the action of the wind, he ced both wicker chests inside the carriage.

    "Ryutaro-Sensei!" - this time, the gatekeeper''s name was spoken by Yoichi very loudly, almost shouting. When the old gatekeeper turned towards him, the young tamer was kneeling with his arms and hands stretched out on the mat.

    His forehead was resting on the ground as if in a prayer position. "Ryutaro-Sensei, we absolutely must find a cure for Enatsu. He is my trusted friend, I need your help!" eximed Yoichi all in one breath.

    Shioko''s blond eyebrows raised and curved slightly in an expression of astonishment. The red-haired archer marveled at the tenacity with which such an inexperienced warrior, barely able to move, wanted to save hisrade''s life.

    By virtue of the recent events, knowing that if Enatsu was in that state it was mostly because of her, Shioko felt a strong empathy towards herrade.

    Unlike other more famous and trained tamers, Yoichi was a good and selfless young man. To him, the health of his friends and the pursuit of theirmon causes were far more important than any personal enrichment.

    That Bronzeforest farmer had inherited the most extraordinary and oldest power the modern world of Lumya had ever seen. Still, he had not hesitated for a second to kneel before his master, begging for his help and asking to save Enatsu.

    Making a totally unexpected gesture, Shioko put aside her bitter and selfish nature. The tamer leaned her torso forward and rested her forehead on the soft grass. With her arms, she emted Yoichi''s stance, increasing the credibility of his plea.

 Chapter 169 - Summary

    "Enatsu saved me, Ryutaro-Sama! The young merchant sacrificed himself to protect me from an attack by the Kamakiri sorcerer, shielding me with his Moruba. Also, Takamori-Sensei started training him to be the next wizard in our guild! My master would be very displeased if he learns that..."

    "Please be quiet," Ryutaro interrupted, crossing both hands behind his back. Under his experienced eyes, Yoichi and Shioko were kneeling, and Enatsu was unconscious, lying on his mat. ??

    "I never said we wouldn''t find a cure. Enatsu''s condition is not rosy, but it doesn''t seem life-threatening, for the moment."

    After that statement, Yoichi and Shioko''s gazes raised simultaneously. The twopanions looked at each other for an instant. Soon after, their eyes conversed on the majestic figure of the gatekeeper.

    "The wound is serious and quite deep. However, the main problem remains another. How could this boy have shared the physical and psychological pain with his demon? You said it''s not his Oracle, right?"

    Yoichi and Shioko nodded silently.

    "This is inexplicable. A cure needs to be found and..."

    "Dragon fire, Ryutaro-Sama... the fire¡­"

    The gatekeeper''s words were interrupted by a thin, raspy voice. To the right of the two Nightdes warriors, Enatsu was trying to speak. "Hey! Hey, Enatsu!" Yoichi boomed.

    The young tamer approached hispanion, resting a hand under his neck and paying no attention to the pain in his forearm. "I''m here, brother. I''m right here. You can rest easy now. Ryutaro-Sensei has healed you with his medical herbs, and you are no longer in grave danger," the blond-haired warrior smiled.

    Enatsu''s hand made a faint movement, firmly grasping Yoichi''s wrist, who fell silent. Enatsu didn''t have the strength to open his eyes, but his other hand moved down his sides, reaching into one of the pockets of his pants.

    In addition to Yoichi, Shioko and Ryutaro watched that scene intently, fearing that the young merchant was convinced that he was inside a dream.

    "Yoichi''s fire can... it can counter the dark power," the merchant reiterated. His trembling, slightly injured fingers pulled a small object from his pocket, delivering it into Yoichi''s hands.

    Yoichi opened his hand and looked closely at the item: a small ss vial had been carefully sealed with a cork. The object was about five or six centimeters in size.

    A thick, ck substance was moving frantically inside the tiny container, pushing hard against the ssy edges. "I can''t believe it.... Enatsu, how did you..."

    "When you guys were busy fighting... argh... I managed to grab a sample of ckblood from the floor of the cave," Enatsu murmured, opening his eyes slightly. "I know it''s not much, but... maybe... maybe it''s enough to find a cure," he added.

    "How is it possible that it didn''t evaporate like all the rest of the ck mud? I mean... if the mud had stayed around the area, we could have collected more of it. What''s so special about that sk?" Shioko asked, intrigued. Once again, Enatsu had managed to amaze everyone by predicting the uing events.

    "You sealed the sk tightly, removing all the oxygen inside. Just as fire cannot continue to burn without oxygen, you surmised that the evaporation process of the ckblood would also stop under anoxic conditions... you are a real genius, Enatsu!" Yoichi rejoiced, clutching the dark sk in his hands.

    "Yes... argh! Yes, I know," the merchant coughed, trying to act all smug despite how badly he looked. "Kenji''s fire... I''m sure Kenji''s fire is the solution".

    After those words, as if his nervous system had run out of battery power, Enatsu lost consciousness again.

    "Rest, my friend. You''ve done enough already," Yoichi repeated. cing one hand on one knee and pushing with his other foot on the ground, the young tamer tried to stand up.

    Shioko tried to help him promptly, but she stopped when she realized she couldn''t grab his arms. Yoichi was still shirtless: to help him up, she would have to grab the waistband of his pants, the only grip helpful in giving him a hand.

    "It''s fine, Shioko. I got it," Yoichi smiled. He rested a hand on hispanion''s shoulder, interrupting the moment of temporary embarrassment.

    Shioko looked away. Although she had never had such problems, interacting many times with men and women of all ages, she seemed particrly awkward when dealing with him.

    Step by step, limping slightly, Yoichi reached his master. Ryutaro was still standing beside the wooden carriage when his student handed him the ckblood vial.

    Between his huge fingers with ckish fingertips, full of wrinkles and scars, the bottle of liquid seemed even smaller. The ckblood kept moving to one side and the other of its small container, insisting on pushing on the cork.

    It was as if the intelligence of that substance was so pronounced that it understood independently that the cork was easier to push away than ss. "Hmm..." Ryutaro murmured, thinking silently. "Don''t let anyone see this vial. You will only deliver it into Takamori''s hands; he will know how to help you. Your guild leader knows many qualified people in Goldhaven, I''m sure he is not short on alchemist friends," the gatekeepermented.

    Yoichi returned to the mat and ced the bottle inside the leather pouch, his Nekage''s favorite handhold. A strange tingling sensation in his chest extended all the way down his back, to the nape of his neck. That sensation led the young tamer to turn his gaze back to the carriage.

    Between the wooden beams, a bloody inscription gradually appeared. Drop by drop, it read:

    ''Defeat the boss and exit the dungeon: questpleted''.

    [Reward: +1 to your ''Scorching Breath'' skill].

    As if recent events had made him forget thest quest of his Demon Pet System, Yoichi looked at the inscription on the carriage in amazement. Ryutaro was busy making final preparations before leaving, and Shioko was looking down on Enatsu.

    The letters changed shape, and blood flowed in and out of the wood''s pores, creeping around the rusty screws and forming a new inscription.

 Chapter 170 - Double Reward

    ''New Quest: cultivate your dragon skills and spirit for one week''.

    [Reward: +1 to your Oracles stats] + [1 unknown extra reward].??

    What? Two rewards for one quest? Pondered Yoichi, reflecting on the meaning of the blood writing. The young tamer wondered about the word ''cultivation''. Did it have to do with Therion''s Tear? Ryutaro hadn''t been very clear on how to cultivate his body and spirit.

    It was clear that Yoichi''s Demon Pet System was asking him to make his body stronger. The mysterious entity that generated those writings out of thin air each time followed Yoichi''s growth step by step in his career as a professional tamer.

    With only one dungeon, which had turned out to be much more than that, Kenji''s level had grown considerably and with it, so had his tamer''s level. Yoichi had a feeling that Ogai''s words were true: more Void Summoners were ready to unleash the power of the ckblood throughout Tentochu, and it was his duty to stop them.

    Ryutaro secured the knots that tightened the reins of the two horses pulling the carriage. Beside them, Taya happily grazed the hill grass on which the two rescuers had led the two wounded tamers.

    From the hill, which seemed to be the only green patch in the barrenndscape of southern Tentochu, it was possible to see the woods leading to the entrance of the ckvault Mines.

    Yoichi narrowed his eyes and sharpened his vision, trying to identify among those trees the road he and hispanions had traveled the night before. The forest was unrecognizable: the dense mud that enveloped everything was entirely gone, giving the vegetation room to grow and thrive.

    Among the lower trees, a thin path was visible from up there. It meandered like a river up to the dungeon mountain. What looked like a quiet country road housed a fearsome giant boar demon and other wild beasts during that night.

    Yoichi shook his head and then turned his gaze back to the carriage. A few feet away from him, Ryutaro and Shioko were leaning toward Enatsu''s mat.

    Without asking for his help, the gatekeeper and his teammate grabbed the ends of the durable woven straw mat and lifted it as if it were a stretcher.

    The mat folded, and Enatsu''s body remained inside its bends, swinging by the swaying footsteps of his rescuers and continuing to sleep. Rokuro slid gently onto his legs, cuddled by the movements of that sort of improvised hammock.

    "Hey, wait a second! Let me give you a hand... ouch!" - an abrupt movement reminded Yoichi that it was not the time to make physical efforts. In the exact spot that had been hit by Ogai''s mighty fists, his arms and back were still unable to move freely.

    Ryutaro and Shioko approached Enatsu and his Moruba to the carriage. The bottom of the wooden carriage had been opened and a door made of nks dangled downward. With a simultaneous and coordinated effort, the two of them managed to position Enatsu on top of the carriage.

    At the same time that Ryutaro closed the wooden door, another unexpected inscription appeared on the long side of the carriage. The blood of the Demon Pet System permeated the wood under the sun''s rays.

    ''New Quest: forge a new weapon''

    [Reward: instant maximum proficiency with the chosen weapon].

    The writing disappeared as Yoichi''s eyes followed the contours of thest letter. An extra quest? Yoichi tried to remember if it had happened before. His mind was clear but still confused by recent events.

    I''d almost forgotten about the Tetsuiasa, Yoichi reflected. How is it possible that I can instantly be proficient with a weapon I''ve never used? I don''t even know the basics of martial arts! I... I... wait... what''s this strange feeling?!

    As Ryutaro and Shioko made sure that the load of the carriage, including Enatsu, was securely strapped correctly in its ce for a quite long journey, the veil covering the gatekeeper''s face swung toward Yoichi''s direction.

    The young tamer sped his head in his hands, pressing his palms to his temples. That strange movement also drew the gaze of Shioko, who stepped away from the carriage and took a step towards him.

    "What the hell is wrong with me?! My head! My temples hurt! Aarrgh!" Yoichi trembled, unable to keep his eyes open. The young tamer fell on his knees from the pain that appeared soon after the bloody letters of the inscription vanished.

    "Hey, what''s wrong with... uh?" - Shioko''s advance was stopped by one of Ryutaro''srge hands, which grabbed her shoulder. The red-haired tamer looked at the gatekeeper for a moment. The elderly Dojo guardian shook his head, advising Shioko to stay back.

    Yoichi broke the silence again, "Aaargh! The pain is unbearable! Kenji... Kenji, what''s happening?! Are you fine?!" he eximed, straining to turn his head towards his oracle.

    The little dragon was still on the straw mat. Its head was also bowed down and bobbing left and right as if a sharp pain permeated its brain.

    "Screeak! Screeak!" - a grieved cry of pain followed those slow, aching movements: the scales on its back singed off and then lowered uncontrobly, while faint sparks appeared at the tip of its reptilian tail.

    "What the hell is going on? Ryutaro-Sama..." Shioko stammered, standing still on the spot. Ryutaro''s hand slid off her back. Although he did not know what was happening to his young pupil, he had a feeling that any attempt to help him would be futile.

    Such pain inside his body could never be relieved from the outside. Yoichi was no ordinary warrior; the gatekeeper had a sense that his powers and the powers of his dragon were about to increase.

    "AAARGH!" Yoichi''s next scream was so loud that it startled the wild birds nestled at the foot of the hill. Along with the minor, harmless flying demons that popted the area, they took flight, moving away from the source of that sudden sound.

 Chapter 171 - Trip Back

    Both of Yoichi''s hands came away from his temples, and his fists struck the turf below several times. Punch after punch, Yoichi seemed to resist the incredible internal pain with his teeth gritted.

    In the next moment, something never before seen happened to Kenji. The little demon dragon''s eyes opened wide, and it lost its breath for an instant: as if a mysterious force was pushing them upwards from below, the small ck horns of Yoichi''s pet increased in size, stretching a few centimeters.??

    Being made of many thin concentric rings of the same resistant material, a short but intense ze enveloped the newly formed rings.

    At the end of that extraordinary shape-shifting process, the mes on Kenji''s head disappeared, and the intense pain clutching Yoichi''s temples ceased instantly.

    *anf*anf* - the young tamer''s deep, intermittent breaths helped his eyesight focus on the terrain between his hands. Drop by drop, sweat from the effort dripped profusely from his forehead and the tip of his blond forelock.

    Reacting to his first instinct, the young tamer turned his gaze to his Oracle, gaping at the new Kenji.

    Under the incredulous gazes of Ryutaro, Shioko, and Yoichi, the ck horns on Kenji''s head had grown, giving witness to the acquisition of new draconic power and the growth of the little dragon demon.

    Just before the transformation, Kenji''s horns were straight and a few inches short; after that process thatsted only a few minutes, they had curved forward slightly, increasing their length and widening in the middle.

    "Wha... what happened?! Kenji... Kenji!" - when Yoichi hurriedly tried to get up, his blood pressure suffered a violent copse, and, for the second time, the young tamer lost consciousness, falling onto the soft grass of the hill.

    ...

    *tabdak*tabdak* - "Hiiii!"

    Once again, he had passed out, and once again, he was awakened by the sound of horses'' hooves. The shaking of the carriage under his back made his body wobble like a jelly.

    The wheels of the carriage struckrger stones scattered here and there on the rough, dirt road. As a direct consequence, both the bodies of Enatsu and Yoichi, next to each other, were bouncing like goldfishes in a pond.

    "Urgh... damn..." Yoichi muttered, turning on his side. "It happened again..." he continued, touching his forehead and realizing that the pain in his temples was definitely gone.

    Enatsu and Rokuro were sleeping blissfully on the other side of the narrow rectangr wagon. Kenji had just woken up, as had its tamer. The little dragon demon looked to be amazed at its brand new horns: like a cat sharpening its nails against a rough surface, it began to scratch the tips of its horns against the base of the wagon, ying the wooden beams.

    "I won''t hide the fact that this time I was scared too, boy" - Ryutaro''s voice interspersed with the sounds of the horses'' hooves and the wheels of the carriage.

    Yoichi sat up, rubbing his eyes as if after a long sleep. "Where... where are we?" he inquired, looking around. With one hand, the young tamer held on to the edges of the carriage, trying not to fall off below.

    As his gaze traveled past Enatsu''s sprawled body, Shioko appeared beside the carriage. The red-haired tamer proudly rode Taya, following the same path as the gatekeeper.

    Behind her, several miles away, the clear surface of the sea reflected the sunlight like a brilliant blue mirror, blending into the clear morning sky.

    Soon after, Yoichi looked across, noticing that barren mountains nked the side opposite the carriage with partially copsed slopes. The vegetation along the edges of those sharp, rugged promontories had been almost entirely eaten away by the ck mud.

    The treetrunks, already bent under the weight of the soil of those unstable slopes, had been consumed from the inside. Their bark appeared as a mere container deprived of its soul and sap. The ckblood had not limited itself to consuming demons, small animals, and the Crimson Lotus ntations.

    Even the typical vegetation of the area, though already sparse and shabby, had suffered the voracity of the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri''s blood.

    All the details of that macabre panorama made Yoichi realize their current location. Aboard his Sensei''s carriage, he was retracing with hispanions the road leading to Goldhaven, heading up north.

    "It certainly seems that little Ildriss has decided to give its fragile body an upgrade. Apparently, its true nature is taking over, and its body is beginning to adapt to the changes in his species," Ryutaro spoke again, waking Yoichi, who had momentarily dissociated from reality.

    "I... I don''t know what to say. I never wondered when Kenji''s body would start changing, and... apparently... it had no idea either," Yoichimented, looking away from his demon pet and at Ryutaro''s back.

    The gatekeeper was intent on driving the carriage, hurriedly escorting the two Nightdes warriors to the capital. "Ryutaro-sensei," Yoichi called, anticipating the old gatekeeper''s response.

    "Tell me, Yoichi-kun" - the wind moved the veil in front of Ryutaro''s face. Looking at the back of his head, Yoichi discovered that a thread of fabric hidden behind his ears and connected to the side ends of that veil allowed the gatekeeper''s face to remain perpetually unseen.

    "What will happen to you when we get to Goldhaven?" the young tamer asked. His long blond hair fluttered following the trajectory of the carriage. Yoichi''s question generated a few seconds of silence. Although the wise Ryutaro always had an answer for his doubts, he seemed to have been caught off guard.

    "I''m d you asked me such a question, Yoichi," he sighed. "Emperor Nishiyama will send his men to pick me up at the gates of Goldhaven''s Arena. When they have captured me, they will escort me to the prisons of the Imperial Pce, where the guards can constantly keep an eye on me," he exined.

    From the perpetually rxed tone of his voice, Ryutaro seemed to have no worries about what would happen to him once he reached the capital.

 Chapter 172 - Green Key

    "But... this isn''t fair, Ryutaro-Sensei!" Yoichi fumed, evidently displeased to hear the Dojo guardian''s resigned words. "You came to our rescue. How is that an act punishable byw? Besides, you''re the only one in addition to us who saw the ckblood with your own eyes! No... you can''t go to jail!"

    "Hmm..." - Under the veil that covered Ryutaro''s face, an invisible smile was hidden. "Don''t worry about me, Yoichi. I''ll exin everything you need to continue cultivating your spirit and inner strength on your own. Sooner orter, I''m sure Emperor Nishiyama will release me," the gatekeeper affirmed.??

    "You could... you could take refuge in my farmhouse! I... I have a farm in the Bronzeforest, I''m sure no one will ever check that area and..."

    "Yoichi-kun," Ryutaro sternly interrupted. "I have sworn my allegiance to the Nishiyama family. No matter what Emperor Shinzo has in store for me. I will respect his choice and serve my punishment as a man of honor. Fear is good for nothing, boy."

    After his master''s words, Yoichi mumbled something inaudible. Why should a warrior with such an important story on his behalf be imprisoned just for helping Goldhaven''s tamers in danger? Wasn''t it possible to find a recement who would look after the Dojo during his absence?

    The more time passed, the more Yoichi''s contempt for Emperor Shinzo Nishiyama grew. The young tamer blindly believed the stories told to him by his faceless master and knew for a fact that it was only because of him that Emperor Tatsui was saved during thest siege of Kamakiri.

    "You have to find out what the powers of that material you call ckblood are, Yoichi," Ryutaro said out of nowhere. Those sudden words drew the hearing of Shioko, who was riding to the side of the carriage on Taya''s back.

    "It will be challenging to do this without a guide, Sensei," Yoichi replied resentfully.

    "The bond between a tamer and his Oracle is as strong as thews that govern the bnce of the universe. The dependence on each other is inescapable and cannot be changed. If a human and a demon are born at the same time, their fates will be intertwined forever." Ryutaro began to make a decidedly trivial speech as if the two warriors were unaware of the purpose of a Demon Tamer.

    "I carefully examined the wound on Enatsu''s chest. The small cuts etched into his skin, the deepest parts, and the shallowest parts... everything matches the wound of his Moruba. The ckblood must have altered their bond, making Enatsu''s body vulnerable to his demon''s wounds, despite it not being his Oracle," the gatekeeper exined.

    "That''s not possible, Ryutaro-Sama!" Shioko suddenly eximed, storming into the conversation. Yoichi''s gaze diverged towards his archerrade.

    "I''m not as knowledgeable as you, high guardian of the Dojo, but... thews that bind the lives of humans to demons are older than the world itself," the archer added.

    "Yes, they are. But the same goes for Valgoth''s power," Ryutaro coldly answered. His hands continued to grip the reins of the horses that pulled the carriage.

    Those words generated a sudden silence. Shioko and Yoichi had not thought about the fact that the evil Emperor Gonshiro had had much more time than any other tamer to cultivate his powers and discover new uses for them.

    "You two will go back to Takamori and tell him everything. If Yoichi is the only one capable of countering the dark power of these men who call themselves Void Summoners... well, that means his training will have to be faster than expected," Ryutaromented.

    That statement, although quite obvious, struck deep into the young tamer''s soul. Before leaving for the ckvault Mines, he was convinced that, after that mission, he would be able to calmly and steadily dedicate himself to his daily training. His goal was to alternate physical training with Takamori Sada and spiritual training with Ryutaro.

    Yoichi could never have imagined meeting a Void Summoner, a Kamakiri sorcerer capable of summoning a demon and empowering it without limits, even sacrificing his own body. Ogai was just one of the many zombie servants Gonshiro had sent to Tentochu.

    How many fame-seeking tamers would have fallen into their trap? How many other warriors would soon have turned into Void Summoners to help Gonshiro conquer the faction?

    As was often the casetely, Yoichi''s mind was filled with questions, but not answers. There were so many mysteries revolving around the ckblood and its inner chemism.

    It was necessary to do things in proper order. Once Enatsu was finally healed of his illness, Yoichi would have to focus only on himself, taking the domain of the dragon me to the next level.

    That sense of responsibility frightened him, but at the same time, it gave him a new charge to face what woulde next.

    "How will I perform your cultivation technique if I can''t ess the Dojo?" he asked, turning to Ryutaro.

    "There''s a green key in the innermost pocket of your bag," the gatekeeper said. Shioko''s eyes narrowed at Yoichi, unable to believe what she had just heard. "It is the key to my private room, Yoichi-kun. I want no one but you to enter it until I am a free man again," the old guardian added, confirming Shioko''s astonishment.

    The supreme guardian of the Goldhaven Dojo relinquishing the key to his legendary room to such a young warrior? Shioko had seen more nonsense in those three days than in thest few years.

    Yoichi slipped his hand into hisrger backpack, digging deep into the various items. The empty Demon Teeth were next to the one that contained Ichiro, his mighty Inoshuma. Finally, the tip of his index finger brushed against a cold, metallic object.

    Once extracted from the backpack, arge green key reflected the sun''s light, now high in the sky: on the handle, some strange round symbols. They seemed to have no particr meaning; perhaps they were just meant to decorate the object.

 Chapter 173 - Broken Promise

    "Ryutaro-Sensei... but, if indeed the Emperor orders your imprisonment, don''t you think he will ask you to return this key to him?" Yoichi asked legitimately.

    "Yes, it is possible. When that happens, I will simply tell him that I am no longer in possession of it. I will exin to him that it was taken from me by someone or that I lost it. I will also add that my room is a receptacle for useless, dusty paperwork, nothing that the Emperor of Tentochu does not already possess," the gatekeeper replied. Judging by the promptness of his answer, Ryutaro already imagined the scene. ??

    "Shioko told me that your body, after hours of heavy fighting, was no longer able to handle all of Kenji''s dragon power. Is that true?" the monk inquired.

    "Yes, Sensei. When I reached the limit, I lost my senses and the use of my arms and legs. A feeling of fatigue I had never felt before enveloped my body, forcing it to shut down its main functions," Yoichi reported.

    "Well, what you need is hard training, boy. You''re going to train every day, from dawn until night. You will cultivate your spirit and your body, pushing your abilities beyond your limits and learning how to manage the powers of your Oracle. When you are ready, Takamori will know what to do with you."

    Ryutaro''s words rose into the air as graceful as the petals of a flower. When they reached Yoichi''s ears, they fell on him like boulders full of responsibility and expectations.

    His priority was to save Enatsu. Everything else fell by the wayside.

    Just during those moments of anguished silence, with the sound of horses'' hooves and carriage wheels in the background, something appeared on the horizon, to the right side of the travelers.

    They were heading north, and their right-hand side corresponded to the geographical east. Shioko and Yoichi did not take long to locate the observation tower in which they had spent the previous night. Immediately beyond it, the vige of ckborough, though distant, was unrecognizable.

    Under the incredulous and sorrowful eyes of the two tamers, the fishing vige had been entirely razed to the ground: the rubble, which the day before had involved only a part of ckborough, had now spread throughout the entire area.

    The building of Kuniaki, the vige shaman who had given Yoichi the Keikemon fruit, was no longer distinguishable among the debris. "Oh, no..." Shioko stuttered, finding the courage to speak.

    She, Yoichi, and Enatsu had promised the citizens of ckborough that they would soon be safe and that the threat of the giant demons would be eliminated. But the dungeon had taken longer than expected, and the absence of their Crimson Lotus ntation had been their doom.

    Without the magical demon-repent flower, that isted, serene vige had turned into their grave. Innocent children, women, and older men had been overwhelmed by the fury of some ravenous, evil demon, empowered and enraged by the power of the ckblood.

    Holding back from screaming in rage, Yoichi clenched his fists. His fingers pressed hard against his palms, already yed by the marks of his nails.

    Another of his promises had been broken: how could he call himself the tamer of a Golhaven guild if he couldn''t even protect such a small vige?

    Images of Uncle Kuno began to sh before his eyes, generating a tear of sorrow. Without proper training, he would never have been able to counter such immense and evil power.

    Hundreds of more people would die throughout Tentochu. The dungeons scattered along thend were potentially perfect bases of operations for their misdeeds.

    If the ckblood continued to expand like wildfire, the entire faction would be shrouded in chaos and darkness. All treasure-seeking tamers would be in constant danger, entering dungeons and losing their free will forever.

    What had happened in ckborough was only the beginning and even the capital city was in danger. "We don''t know how many Void Summoners were sent by Gonshiro. Ogai spoke of dozens of warlocks like him, but we have no way of ascertaining the veracity of his ims," Yoichi affirmed.

    After loosening the grip of his fists, he wiped away the tear that was running down his cheek and looked forward, turning his attention away from the ruins of ckborough.

    "How can this all depend on me alone, Ryutaro-Sensei?" the young tamer asked. In the tone of his voice, the gatekeeper sensed a veiled fear.

    "There are things that are beyond ourprehension, Yoichi-kun. What I do know is that you were able to defeat an enemy never seen in Tentochu despite your low level of preparation. You used Kenji''s power without even knowing it, boy," Ryutaromented, almost praising his student.

    "Yes, but... if Tentochu is about to counter such great power, we''ll need an army! I can''t be the only one who can solve this problem! Emperor Nishiyama should be notified," Yoichi added. Pronouncing the name of the imperial family, the memory of Princess Sui shed through his mind like a bolt of lightning.

    "As I have already exined, it takes time and patience, Yoichi. It''s true, the danger is upon us, and it catches us unprepared, but Tentochu is a very vast nation. Even a devious n like Gonshiro''s could have loopholes. Keep the key I gave you carefully, reach the Dojo and go study all the manuals you find in my room," Ryutaromanded.

    "Every book, scroll... read everything and learn every page. Besides the little information about the Dragon Demons, the tomes I inherited from Emperor Tatsui contain information about the history of our world. The wars, the famines, the great droughts, and the moments of glory. The ink on those manuscripts trapped all those events for eternity."

    "It will be done, Sensei," Yoichi promptly replied, sitting next to Enatsu.

    The travelers'' journey to Goldhaven proceeded in religious silence. Without a break in ckborugh, another full day of travel separated them from the capital. However, unlike Taya, Ryutaro''s two horses were slower due to the weight of the tow.

    That detail might have dyed their arrival at the capital, but it would have made things easier for Yoichi. The blond-haired tamer would have had more time to regain the use of his arms, still sore from the overload of the dragon mes.

 Chapter 174 - Rice Field

    As the warm morning sun began to set towards the horizon, the reddish light of the afternoon illuminated thendscape around the four travelers. The biome around them began to change, and vegetation slowly took over the bare, rocky terrain of the southern territory of Tentochu.

    The mountains that dipped into the ground to the west grew taller and taller, traveling ind and forming the central area of the Southborne Mountains. That was the most extensive mountain range in the region and stretched from the far south to the far north, splitting Tentochu into two almost equidimensional parts.??

    While Enatsu continued to rest with his Moruba, Yoichi and Shioko looked at the surroundingndscape with more critical eyes than on the outward journey. How many other viges were scattered throughout the territory south of ckborough? Had they too been wiped out like that poor fishing vige?

    ording to the map Enatsu had shown him some time before, Yoichi realized that the south of their region had a much lower poption density than the capital area, which was located further north.

    This factor was probably due to the harsh and arid biome, in which it was difficult to grow nts for consumption and export and equally challenging to run breeding farms.

    The young tamer slowly figured that the weird world of which he had no previous memories before awakening offered magical and incredibly variedndscapes. He and his team had traversed two totally different biomes in the only small portion of the world he had visited.

    Different biome, different species of demons. One factor any traveler should always have considered was just that. As one approached the ckvault Mines, the rugged terrain of the south was home to wild demons that were decidedly unfriendly: for this reason, the roads that wound their way through the blunt hills and steep mountains of that area were devoid of ''standard'' travelers.

    The north of the region was characterized by a constant flow of trade and tourism. Merchants, men, and women of all kinds moved from town to town without fear of being attacked by wild demons along the way.

    The only prerogative was to travel during the day. Even the children knew that, during the night, the most dangerous demons woulde out of the woodwork. However, the well-distributed Crimson Lotus ntations across thend provided the citizenry with a sense of constant protection.

    What would have happened if the ckblood had defaced those ntations? How many innocent, disempowered people would die ughtered like the vigers of ckborough?

    Yoichi tried not to think about it, avoiding falling into a state of anxiety. He knew that a good knowledge of geography could help him find more Void Summoners and neutralize their threat.

    Resting with his back on one of the edges of the carriage, the young tamer opened his bag, proudly purchased in Goldhaven''s Old Bazaar.

    The fingers of his hand struck the wooden box he was reaching for and, slowly blurring it out because of his sore arm, Yoichi opened it. It was the first time he had seen the Tetsuiasa in thete afternoon sunlight.

    The material looked incredibly shiny and eye-catching. Yoichi closed the box again after a few seconds, and soon after, he closed his eyes as well.

    The road to Goldhaven was still long, and his body demanded some rest. The dirt road in the south of the region had gradually given way to a new, tter road, a symptom of civilization.

    The movements and jolts of the carriage became less pronounced, allowing the young tamer to take a nap.

    ...

    "Whoa! Stop... easy, easy..." - Ryutaro''s words woke Yoichi up. Immediately, his body wobbled sideways, forcing him to rest one hand on the bottom of the carriage to avoid falling on Enatsu.

    The braking of the two horses pulling Ryutaro and his prot¨¦g¨¦s was quite gradual, but the position in which Yoichi had fallen asleep was unsteady. "Are we there yet?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes and looking over his master''s tall headwear.

    His gaze was lost for a moment in a more rxed and familiarndscape. Broad cultivated fields stretched out to the left and right, harmoniously skirting the path they were traveling.

    In addition to the fields of rice, wheat, and other grains that wouldter be exported to the big cities, Yoichi''s eyes carefully searched for fields of Crimson Lotus.

    "It seems that this area has not been affected by the ckblood," Shiokomented, anticipating the young tamer''s discovery and pointing her finger forward.

    Following the direction indicated by the archer with his gaze, Yoichi noticed that lush fields of Crimson Lotus filled therge area behind the rice fields.

    Among the bushes and brambles, dozens of workers were intent on watering the nts and pulling out the weeds, caring for their field as if each Lotus was a child in need of care.

    Farmers of each gender and age were united by one thing: each of them wore arge straw hat simr to an umbre. The diversity of each hat testified to its craftsmanship, and the rest of the clothing of those people allowed their condition of poverty to shine through.

    However, even though those people lived several miles from the capital city and could not enjoy the benefits that a town as huge as Goldhaven offered, an atmosphere of warmth and familiarity came from their distant voices.

    Men, women, and children seemed to be dipping their hands into the soil and brambles with an immense joy of living and gratitude, like one big family.

    One man raised the visor of his hat and ced a hand on his forehead, turning in the direction of the carriage. With a wave of his arm, Ryutaro greeted the farmer, who responded with sudden friendliness.

    "Sunset is upon us, and you need more rest. Tonight we will camp here, not far from that farm," the gatekeeper ordered, stepping out of the carriage and holding tightly to the horses'' reins.

    Yoichi stood up and opened the door behind the wooden carriage with less effort than his awakening on the hill. Taking care not to make any sudden movements, he hopped to the ground.

 Chapter 175 - Meditation

    "This will dy your return even longer, Ryutaro-Sensei," the young tamer affirmed, stretching his sore shoulders. The bruises on his arms were almost gone, and the burning sensation had noticeably diminished.

    "I don''t care, Yoichi. I am ready to face any decision of the Emperor. Whether I meditate in my humble abode or the dank cells of the imperial prisons, it makes no difference. No matter how much he wants to hurt me, my spirit is more solid and strong than any temporal punishment," Ryutaro replied, once again proving his innate wisdom.??

    "Come, help me tie the horses to that trunk," he added, dragging the reins of the horses carrying the carriage with him.

    By the time the sun set beyond the horizon, bestowing the world to the moon and darkness, the makeshift camp of the four travellers was up and running.

    The horses had been quenched and fed. Their reins, including Taya''s, had been tied to a sturdy trunk of an ancient oak tree that lined the path.

    Under that big-branched tree, the Goldhaven travellers had lit a modest bonfire, sitting around the fire and resting their weary bones.

    To everyone''s surprise, the provident Ryutaro had taken care to bring supplies with him, even though he had hurried to their rescue. When the gatekeeper opened a clean cloth containing several onigiris with sesame seeds, Yoichi and Shioko''s eyes twinkled like those of two children on Christmas Eve.

    The corners of the tablecloth in which the food had been carefully wrapped did note out of the mat ced underneath it beforehand, preventing it from being contaminated with soil and dust raised by the wind anding from the street.

    The onigiris brought by Ryutaro looked very tasty, and although they were not particrly fragrant foods, their smell brought Enatsu back to the world of the living.

    Shioko went for the second time to draw water from the well located in the centre of the rice field. At the specific request of Ryutaro, whose fame went far beyond the walls of the capital, the family of farmers who managed the area had lent them arge wooden bucket without a second thought and without asking any questions.

    With the help of his friend Yoichi, Enatsu also managed to freshen up, eating and drinking until he finally felt better. The deep wound in his abdomen did not seem to have healed under the leaves of that healing nt.

    However, Ryutaro''s ointment was having its effect, allowing the young merchant not to faint from the excruciating pain constantly. Next to him, the brave Rokuro also woke up and began to eat rice balls filled with vegetables from its tamer''s hand.

    After dinner,te into the night, Enatsu slept in the carriage, while hispanions and the gatekeeper sat around the fire. Shioko had already been sleeping heavily for a few minutes, having not rested for a moment since the night before.

    The archer''s bow and quiver were less than a meter away from her mat, within reach of her arms. Her red hair fell gently on the grassy ground, and her back, facing Yoichi and Ryutaro, was going up and down, apanying her rejuvenating sleep.

    Yoichi, resting his back on the trunk of the imposing oak tree, could not help but look at his master. The dark veil in front of Ryutaro''s face made it impossible for anyone to tell if he was asleep or not: his legs were crossed to support his body, and his hands rested gently on his knees like two lotus flowers on the calm surface of a pond.

    The guardian of the sacred Goldhaven Dojo was immersed in a deep meditative state as if he had escaped the surrounding reality. His legs rested on the ground like the roots of an age-old tree, and his torso was motionless with a straight back, as if his body had been in that position for all eternity.

    When did he enter this meditative state? Gee, I didn''t even notice! Yoichi thought. cing one hand on the ground and twisting one leg, he tried to lean towards the monk, entering his field of vision.

    The gatekeeper did not move an inch. He remained motionless in that position, breathing carefully and precisely and controlling every muscle in his body.

    "Can''t sleep, Yoichi?" - Ryutaro''s sudden words startled Yoichi, who could not believe that his master''s eyes were moving under the veil in front of his face. Trying not to fall to the ground unbnced, he returned to his original position, sitting on the mat.

    "No, Sensei. I''ve been sleeping all day. Now I''m having some difficulty," he replied promptly. Inside him was a deep embarrassment because he tried to spy on Ryutaro to understand more of his meditation techniques.

    "I don''t need to open my eyes to know what''s going on around me," the gatekeeper continued, breaking the awkward silence. Shioko and Enatsu continued to sleep blissfully.

    "Um, I... I just wanted to..."

    "And there''s no need for you to justify yourself either. I hope that one day you too will be able to meditate anywhere, Yoichi-kun. The act of meditation reconciles you with the world, helping to heal your inner wounds and cleanse your soul of all impurities. As long as you use brute force without controlling your spirit, you cannot call yourself a true warrior" - after that sentence, Ryutaro''s hands turned.

    His palms, previously facing upwards, rested on his knees. The gatekeeper''s head twisted slightly, pointing in the direction of his young pupil.

    Judging by the way he talked about it, Ryutaro was exceptionally knowledgeable about meditation. Yoichi recalled his first andst visit to the Goldhaven Dojo when he heard that exnation: inside, dozens and dozens of people were sitting in silence meditating, upying every tiny space in therge square rooms.

    Unlike fighting or training demons, meditation could be sessfully performed by anyone. It did not matter what rank they came from or what their working ss was. Every citizen could meditate and raise his or her ego, forgetting about problems for a moment.

 Chapter 176 - Story Of A Smith

    "If I could cultivate my spirit as you told me to, I''d probably be able to control my powers better as well," the young warrior remarked, looking up at the leafy tree that was housing him and his team. "Teach me, Ryutaro-Sensei," he added, nodding his head.

    A gentle, calm wind enveloped the area, caressing the skin of the weary travellers and swaying the spikes of wheat and rice fields.??

    "Find a position that never tires you out, Yoichi. You must rx every muscle and nerve in your body, seeking to elevate your spirit. Be earth, water, fire, and air. Be part of the universe around you," Ryutaro spoke, returning to his previous position, hands resting on his knees and palms facing upward.

    Without much pretence, Yoichi carried out themands. Crossing one leg over the other and continuing to look at Ryutaro to emte his stance, he assumed a straight and proper posture, helping himself to the tree behind him to rest his weary back.

    "Your goal must be to split your spirit from your body. The soul and the flesh must divide at yourmand. Only then can you achieve a proper state of stillness and delve into the deepest, most hidden areas of your mind," Ryutaro continued.

    The hidden areas of my mind... I just want to find the answers I''m looking for. Who knows... maybe, somewhere, there are even more urate memories of my past life. Yoichi pondered, closing his eyes.

    The wind continued to blow weakly until it stopped. The temperature at night was definitely cooler than during the day, but the proximity to the seaside made the weather mild and pleasant.

    As Yoichi''s gaze turned off the lights, his hearing seemed to be enhanced, picking up sounds that he would never have heard during his talk with the gatekeeper.

    The song of the crickets that popted the countryside, the ears of corn that touched each other, the leaves of the great oak tree that had weed them into its embrace. Even the breathing of Shioko, who was sleeping a few meters away from him, seemed to be amplified.

    It seems to be working. Is it really that easy? Why have I never tried this before? Thought Yoichi, naively. After the first few minutes of religious silence, the buzzing of insectsing in and out of the holes in the bark of the oak distracted him.

    Soon after, the leg on which the entire weight of his body rested began to lose feeling, attracting his attention. What until a moment before was apparent stillness became something impossible to sustain.

    The minutes seemed to stop passing, and, second by second, Yoichi was more and more convinced that he wanted to open his eyes again. When he did that, the light from the bonfire left him as confused as if it were the light of the newly awakened sun.

    Looking at his master and hispanions, he realized that he had not meditated for a second. He had just stood as still as a stockfish, his eyes closed and his hands resting on his legs.

    "It took me about fifty years to reach such a high meditative level, boy. Don''t expect to learn anything the first time you try," Ryutaro affirmed, his voice calm and rxed. "At the same time, you must never stop trying. You''ll see that, sooner orter, you''ll finally be able to find the concentration you need.

    "Damn it..." Yoichi huffed. Learning to remain silent to the point of annihtion in one''s surroundings was not something as easy as he thought. He knew that the true experts in meditation would remain still in their position for hours, even days.

    "What does the box you looked at earlier when you were on the carriage contain?" - With that question, Ryutaro deftly changed the subject. The gatekeeper did not want to discourage his student, spurring him to try again with meditation in a different environment and under better circumstances.

    Yoichi opened his bag and took out the box, handing it to his Sensei. Ryutaro grabbed it and gently opened it, looking carefully at the Tetsuiasa.

    Before the monk spoke, the young tamer briefly exined to him the story of the loot he had obtained in the chamber of the three spirits of the ckvault Mines, solving their riddle and saving himself and hispanions.

    Ryutaro nodded and closed the box. "I''ve never heard of this metal, but judging by its appearance, it looks stunning and durable," hemented.

    "I n to forge a weapon with it. However, if it''s as rare as I believe it is, I''ll need an experienced cksmith so that it can be worked properly," Yoichi replied, implicitly asking his master if he knew anyone who would suit him.

    "Long ago, when Emperor Tatsui left the mortal world, his son Shinzo banished about half of his subjects from the Imperial Pce. The young Shinzo considered his father too generous and weak a man to carefully choose his most loyal followers," Ryutaro recounted, gently resting the box containing the Tetsuiasa next to his legs.

    "A few days before exiling me to the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven, the newly-named Emperor banished an old friend of his father''s from the city, forcing him never to set foot there again. His name was Shusaku, the Emperor Tatsui''s personal cksmith."

    "What? Why banish a cksmith? Why deprive yourself of a loyal worker?" Yoichi inquired, unable to understand the reason behind those seemingly senseless acts.

    "Shusaku had a drinking habit. He exaggerated with alcohol and, often, ended up overdoing it with words as well. After the death of Tatsui and thest defeat suffered at Kamakiri, he was used of forging weapons that were not suitable for the imperial army. He responded in kind, saying that his was not just a profession, but an art," Ryutaro sighed. "I never saw him again after that day."

    Yoichi continued to listen attentively. It seemed that Ryutaro particrly cared for the cksmith Shusaku. The exile of both of them had forced them never to see each other again.

    "He forged the katana you saw in my room, Yoichi-kun. He is the best cksmith a warrior could wish for, but there is only one problem," the gatekeeper continued.

    "That is?"

    "No one knows exactly where he lives now. He probably never strayed too far from Goldhaven and may have even stopped practising his profession. However, I am certain that in his experience-rich hands, he will make this precious metal a weapon worthy of the first Dragon Tamer in Tentochu''s history."

 Chapter 177 - Charcoal

    "But... if no one has ever been able to find Shusaku, how can I find him? I don''t even know what he looks like, nor do I have any clue as to where he might be," Yoichi replied, touching his chin and beginning to think of a solution.

    The profession of the cksmith was verymon in Tentochu, and it certainly numbered thousands and thousands of skilled workers. However, if Ryutaro was insisting on Shusaku''s figure, there had to be a particr reason.??

    Yoichi also thought about the sword hanging on the wall of the Dojo''s highest room. The chrome-ted de and the perfect finish, the designs on the hilt, and the stability of the handle with the orangeces: if the image of that sword had stuck in the young tamer''s mind, there was a reason. Its appearance had impressed Yoichi, who, though not a weapons expert, could appreciate its incredible workmanship.

    "That''s not exactly true, Yoichi. I''ve never been out of Goldhaven in all these years, so I''ve never been looking for Shusaku. If I were truly intent on finding him, I would have my own trusted sources to turn to," Ryutaro affirmed, still standing in a meditative position.

    "Your sources? You have informants?" Yoichi inquired again. Ever since Ryutaro had rushed to his rescue after the ckvault Mines fight, he no longer had the fear of asking him anything that was on his mind.

    "They are reliable and discreet sources, yes. I have been exiled, that is true... but there are many people who, like me, have always remained loyal to the old Emperor and his men," the gatekeeper remarked in a satisfied tone. "Shusaku was a fat man with a lively personality... I doubt he went unnoticed all these years," he added.

    Emperor Tatsui''s cksmith... if he were to get his hands on the Tetsuiasa, he could make one of the best weapons I could ever hope for. But how much will it cost me? I should have received Hyobe''s reward by now, but the poor man was fooled just as we were. Yoichi reflected, thinking back to the death of the man in the cowboy hat, the instigator of his first quest beyond the Goldhaven area.

    "I have no money, Ryutaro-sensei. True, I will receive a weekly reward from Takamori-Sensei, but I don''t think it''s enough to forge a weapon," the young tamer thought out loud, publicly exposing his problem.

    "Your only concern should be to heal and get your strength back. When you have figured out what type of weapon best suits your fighting style and we have discovered Shusaku''s exact location, then we will think about that as well," Ryutaro promptly answered. From his words, the gatekeeper made Yoichi realize that perhaps he knew a way to not pay Shusaku themission, by virtue of their long-standing friendship.

    Yoichi was satisfied with that answer and rested his back against the trunk of the oak tree. Having a power as great as his one meant having enemies, but also many allies. Who would have thought that a veteran warrior of Ryutaro''s caliber would ever behave with such kindness?

    The young tamer felt reassured and with his right hand grabbed the box containing the Tetsuiasa. Immediately afterward hey it down on the woven straw mat and took onest look at the precious metal, wondering if Shusaku had ever worked with such a material.

    If not, the personal challenge of forging a weapon from an alloy of iron and gold might have stirred the old cksmith, exponentially increasing the quality of his work.

    As Yoichi became immersed in his thoughts and the eyelids of his eyes grew heavier and heavier, Enatsu groaned in his sleep, making soft moans and moving his head from side to side. At the same time, Shioko was still in the same position, sleeping with her back turned to the fire.

    Yoichi took the box and put it in his backpack, taking onest look at Kenji, who was already sleeping at the foot of the mat. When his gaze lifted, the branches of the oak seemed to fit perfectly into the puffy clouds of the night sky, ending with the bright stars.

    A feudal world popted by warriors and demons with supernatural powers. A vast and partly unknown ce, a repository of ancient prophecies and magical legends: Lumya was all this.

    A slight smile appeared on his face as he thought about his new life. Although it had already been endangered numerous times in such a short time, Yoichi felt that the emotions he was experiencing in that young and powerful body, he had never felt before.

    His friendship with Enatsu was probably the most sincere one he had ever experienced, even if the memory of that man who had died on the parquet floor of that unknown house along with his woman peeped out between his thoughts.

    Even the rtionship he had recently developed with Ryutaro made him feel confident and protected. The wisdom of a man who had dedicated his life to a cause filled his heart with pride and hope.

    On the sweet notes of these thoughts, his weary body brought his mind to slumber, surrendering to the world of dreams for a moment and being pampered by the gentle night breeze. Under the song of crickets scattered across the rice and wheat fields, Yoichi fell asleep.

    ...

    The next morning, contrary to what he had expected, the young tamer woke up on his own, opening his eyes to see the same branches of the oak tree illuminated by a different light.

    The sun lingered on the branches of that majestic tree like dew on the grass, gently touching the face of Yoichi and hispanions.

    A feeling of well-being and healing pervaded the blond-haired warrior''s body, culminating in a long, deep breath. When he lifted his torso from the straw mat, Kenji was at its feet, sleeping.

    Beyond the small dragon demon, Ryutaro was incredibly still in the same meditative position, as in his most recent memories of the previous evening. The gatekeeper had probably meditated throughout the night, reaching a state of stillnessparable to deep, restorative sleep.

    The bonfire in the center of the makeshift camp had been extinguished and the pile of dry wood in the middle had beenpletely consumed, turning into charcoal.

 Chapter 178 - Breakfast

    The warm sunshine of the morning seemed to have broken the flow of wind from the previous evening. The temperature had risen and the heat that characterized the ntations south of the capital was beginning to make itself felt.

    Noises from the carriage interrupted Yoichi''s yawn, and he stretched his arms upward and turned his gaze in that direction.??

    Believing that he had been the first to wake up, he was astonished to find that Shioko was no longer there, on her straw mat. The archer didn''t seem to be around, but Taya was still tied to the tree along with the other two horses.

    The sounds of Enatsu came from the carriage, while he was waking up from his long sleep. Perhaps the effect of Ryutaro''s ointments had worn off and the still open wounds were causing him pain.

    When Yoichi got up, Kenji opened his eyes and stretched his legs, emting its tamer''s behavior. Amazingly, both of them had recovered their strength almostpletely: the bruises on Yoichi''s arms, particrly concentrated on his deltoid and triceps muscles, were gone.

    Thectic acid on his joints no longer burned, and the pain in his spine traumatized by the rhino demon''s violent blow had turned into a mild, bearable difort.

    Without asking too many questions about his very quick recovery, Yoichi went to check on his friend''s condition. Resting both hands on the high edge of the carriage like an owl perched on a tree branch, his head peeped inside the rectangr wooden wagon.

    Enatsu''s eyes were still closed and Rokuro didn''t look to be awake either. The long damp leaves that wrapped around both of their wounds had be dry and thin as if they had given up all their fluids during the night.

    Before Yoichi could wake Ryutaro and ask him to medicate Enatsu again, another noise attracted the gatekeeper''s hearing. Walking briskly toward the camp, Shioko was returning from her morning hike.

    Over her shoulder, some bushmeat was tied to a piece of string that passed by her quiver. Two rabbits and a kind of duck had been hunted and ughtered by the archer, who had independently taken charge of providing breakfast for her fellow travelers.

    "Good morning, Shioko," Yoichi smiled, standing in front of the carriage.

    "Breakfast is served," she eximed, tossing the bushmeat on the ground near the remains of the bonfire and cing her equipment on the mat. "While I light the fire again, you can go and get more water. There''s a well over there, right in the middle of the rice field... bring the bucket and fill it up," added the red-haired tamer, clearly hungry.

    Yoichi carried out hispanion''smands withoutining. When he grabbed the empty bucket lying on the ground next to Ryutaro, the gatekeeper remained motionless, while the rays of the sun hit his long dark red kimono.

    An unusual serenity enveloped the cultivated fields during the early morning hours. By the time Yoichi went to the well, lowering his bucket into it and filling it with fresh, clean water, the farmers had already been hoeing thend for several hours.

    The humble locals cordially exchanged greetings with the young tamer, who quickly returned to therge oak tree. Ryutaro was standing in front of the carriage and was treating Enatsu''s wounds, recing the dried leaves with sterile white cloth gauze.

    At the same time, the scent of the animals already skinned and stripped of limbs and head cooking on the fire attracted Kenji''s sense of smell. The little dragon quickened its pace, reaching Shioko before its tamer.

    In the short time that Yoichi had been collecting water from the well, the archer had cleaned the meat and skewered each piece of if to wooden sticks, which were resting on stones in front of the fire.

    "Come closer with the bucket, please," Shioko politely asked, speaking to Yoichi. She scooped up some of the water from the bucket and threw it onto the de of the dagger she had used to skin the bushmeat, cleaning off the still-warm blood.

    In about an hour, the tamers ate breakfast together with Ryutaro and Enatsu, who was awake but not very alert due to the perennial fatigue caused by his wounds. Thanks to the gatekeeper''s attentive care, the young merchant seemed not to suffer intense pain, but he still couldn''t move from the carriage.

    Shioko had proven to be a skilled hunter as well as an unerring archer. Before herpanions awakening, she had provided them with something to eat, shortening the time on the schedule.

    The sound of tamers chewing frantically diminished until it disappeared, reced by the sound of the weak wind that began to blow again. To get something to eat, Enatsu lifted his torso slightly off the woody surface of the carriage, resting the weight of his body on one elbow.

    Suddenly, a strange sound caused by the merchant caught everyone''s attention. "Uh? What the fuck?!" Enatsu thundered, jerking up. "Aaargh! Help, help me!" he yelled.

    "What''s going on! Enatsu! Are you alright?!" Yoichi boomed, hurriedly approaching the carriage to make sure his friend was not in danger.

    Shioko remained in her position near Ryutaro, who was wrapping up the straw mats, ready to get back on the road. Both the archer and the gatekeeper sensed no danger whatsoever.

    "There''s a demon! There''s a little ck demon staring at me! Oh my god! It''s terrifying!" Enatsu screamed again. Crawling back to the bottom of the carriage, the merchant shifted the weight of his body to the side opposite to the direction indicated by his eyes.

    Rokuro followed his movements, whilst having heard nothing.

    Yoichi grabbed the dagger given to him by Takamori Sada and pulled it from his belt. Kenji hurried to follow its tamer, ready to intervene if needed.

    The point indicated by Enatsu was exactly on the other side of the carriage, in the area hidden from those who were near the remains of the bonfire. Calmly and circumspectly, the young tamer advanced in silence, his dagger clutched in his hands.

 Chapter 179 - Ayumu

    "Watch out, brother! It can be dangerous!" Enatsu stammered, touching his wound with one hand. "What are you standing there for? I''m telling you, there''s a demon back here!" he yelled at Ryutaro and Shioko, knowing he couldn''t escape the carriage in his current condition.

    Before receiving a response from the two more experienced warriors, Yoichi looked out from the other side of the carriage. His gaze framed the wooden spokes of the wheels and gradually lifted to peer at something strange.??

    A little coal-ck creature was hanging with its tiny hands from the hidden edge of the carriage. As soon as it felt Yoichi''s eyes on itself, it crossed his gaze: two big blue eyes were separated by an enormous triangr nose, far too big for his tiny face.

    The eyes blinked rapidly, reflecting the light like two shiny sapphires. That little demon seemed tock a mouth, and the shape of its body resembled that of a miniature man.

    Both its arms and legs were identical to those of a human being, only much smaller. A small, all-ck man with two big blue eyes was hanging on the carriage as if he was peering at Enatsu.

    Kenji saw that demon and tilted its head, curious. Yoichi knew that if his Oracle didn''t perceive any threat, perhaps there was no need to worry. Imagining finding a ravenous hidden demon waiting to attack, the young tamer was interjected when such a harmless being appeared before him.

    "What...who...who are you?" he asked, stowing his dagger and extending a hand towards the unknown little monster.

    *Phwwht* - a sudden whistle awakened the blue-eyed demon''s attention. The little ck humanoid let go of its grip and fell off the carriage,nding with its tiny feet on the ground.

    Yoichi quickly returned to a standing position, and both he and Enatsu turned away, realizing that the whistle wasing from behind them. In a hurry, the little unknown demon ran towards the archer with aical movement: his ck arms were pointing upwards and swaying like ears of corn in the wind, following the trajectory of its run.

    The most incredible thing was the sound caused by the steps of that little monster. Its feet were totally silent, and its body made no sound as if it had no weight.

    The small shrubs and gravel that characterized that country road would have made audible even under the footsteps of a lizard, but not those of that humanoid demon just over a foot tall.

    When it came within a meter of Shioko, it jumped towards her, throwing itself into her arms. The archer grabbed it with both hands and pulled it close to her chest,forting it.

    "Well done, you scared Ayumu," she said, stroking the ck demon''s head, smaller than the palm of her hand. Ayumu rested its triangr nose on its tamer''s chest, hiding its gaze from Enatsu and Yoichi.

    The twopanions looked at each other for a few moments, then looked at Shioko again. "What did you say?! I scared who?! That little thing was about to give me a fucking heart attack!" the merchant boomed, clutching his chest with one hand and acting with his usual theatricality.

    "Shh... take it easy, Ayumu. Those two aren''t bad. They just have a bit of a gruff manner," Shioko whispered, holding the little demon in her arms as if it were a weird-looking baby.

    "Go back to lying down, Enatsu. Your wound will only get worse if you don''t stay still," Ryutaro spoke, continuing to go about his business. Puffing and trying to calm himself, Enatsu immediately obeyed the gatekeeper. Perhaps Ryutaro instilled more fear in him than any unknown demon.

    "I didn''t know you had other demons, Shioko," Yoichi pointed out, lowering himself to Ayumu. "Wow! It''s beautiful!" he continued, trying to show cordiality towards her. The shy little demon hid in its tamer''s arms once again.

    "A professional demon tamer can''t rely on his Oracle only. You only met Nobu because its power was instrumental in that cave, but I''ve tamed many other demons during my travels," Shioko exined, taking advantage of that moment to brag a little.

    "I''ve never seen a demon like that... what did it want with Enatsu? Why was it hiding right there?" Yoichi inquired, trying to bring a hand closer to Ayumu. It had a decidedly harmless appearance.

    "I thought the future Nightdes wizard had already seen a Kurotoko in one of the books he talks about so much. It''s a fairly rare demon, but just as well known," Shioko replied, making snide remarks to her still bedraggledpanion.

    "A Kuro... what?! I''ve never heard of anything like that! True, I know many exotic demons, but not this one!" Enatsu ranted, taking advantage of it to brag about his studies. "What was it doing next to me? It was staring at me with those blue eyes and... brr! It gave me chills!" he retorted, returning to lying down and narrowing his eyes due to the burning wound.

    "Ayumu is thetest addition to my demon pets'' team. Kurotokos are quitemon in dark, damp ces like swamps. They have a... well, peculiar diet," Shioko chuckled, letting the little ck demon jump off her arms.

    "Was it maybe trying to eat Rokuro and me? What the heck is this?!" the merchant muttered again.

    "Kurotokos feed on dreams, Entasu," Ryutaro interrupted, cing the perfectly rolled mats inside the carriage. The gatekeeper arranged each item with extreme order, following a precise criterion and using the same feng-shui of his private room.

    Just as in that room every item of minimal furniture had a specific purpose and function, so did all the equipment in the carriage serve a purpose. Yoichi turned to his master, not believing that he knew that kind of demon.

    "They feed on dreams? How... how do they do that?" he asked, stupefied. Until that moment, Yoichi had only known omnivores or carnivores demons. What did Ryutaro mean by that sentence? Maybe Ayumu didn''t need to eat like everyone else?

 Chapter 180 - Replica

    "Ryutaro-Sama is absolutely right. Ayumu fed on Rokuro and Enatsu''s dreams while they slept. You can rest assured, all this does not entail any consequences on your minds... it only serves to strengthen the magical power of my Kurotoko," Shioko intervened, exining how Ayumu''s feeding process worked.

    "It is a very sensitive demon and vulnerable to offence. This morning, when I stepped away to collect water from the well, I decided to summon it to let it breathe some clean air. Before approaching you and your mole demon, it asked for my permission," she replied, turning to Enatsu.??

    Though awkwardly, the archer was trying to apologize to her teammate. After her words, Ayumu took a few timid steps towards the carriage. The little ck humanoid knew Enatsu was looking at it, and, under specific orders from its tamer, it stretched its little arms along its sides and made a bow as if it wanted to apologize, too.

    That gesture softened everyone who was watching. The merchant, who had no intention of epting the apology and remembered perfectly all the incidents in which Shioko had been rude to him, couldn''t help but hint at a smile.

    "Well... it''s certainly not its fault if it had approached me without saying anything. It was just following its instincts, and¡­ it''s a magnificent specimen. Phew..." Enatsu huffed, "I forgive you", he stated with an air of superiority.

    Shioko chuckled to herself, not answering to that statement. "What''s its power? I mean¡­ its skill" Yoichi interrupted, thrilled to have a rare demon before his eyes.

    "Ayumu''s power?" the archer replied enthusiastically as if she was happy that finally, someone of them had asked her that question. "Kurotokos can manipte the shadows, entering them and dizzyingly increasing their powers," she exined.

    "Wow! That sounds cool! Can you show it to me?" Yoichi asked joyfully. In the young tamer''s eyes was a great desire to learn new things. Just crossing her gaze with herpanion''s, Shioko couldn''t refuse that request.

    The red-haired tamer inserted the small knife she had used to skin the game into her boot and stood up. Taking a step forward, she walked out of the shadow of the tall oak tree and let the sunlight illuminate her whole body.

    When she was about five meters away from the big tree, she called Ayumu back to her, and it started running again in the same funny way it had done a few minutes before. "I warn you, this is nothing definite, I''m still working on it" the archer remarked, breaking the silence.

    Before herpanions could respond to that statement, the little Ayumu, during its funny run, began to hop towards the part of the ground behind Shioko. The sunlight hitting her body from above generated a shadowy area behind her, cutting out its contours tracing the outline of her body.

    Suddenly, the Kurotoko took a jump longer than others, literally diving into Shioko''s shadow: as if it had instantly be some kind of puddle, Ayumu''s small ck body plunged inside it, disappearing into nothingness.

    "Uh?! Amazing! That little monster just dove into Shioko''s shadow!" Enatsu eximed in amazement, holding on to one of the edges of the carriage with both hands.

    When Ayumu jumped, nothing happened for a few seconds. After a short wait, the outlines of the shadow of Shioko''s body projected by the sun underwent a phenomenon that went against all thews of physics: starting from the edges to the innermost areas, the shadow detached itself from the ground, standing up as if it were an animated being.

    "Wo! Wo!" Yoichi yelled, unable to believe his eyes.

    About six seconds after Ayumu''s dive, Shioko''s shadow was no longer on the ground but was standing next to her. Being her shadow, it perfectly reflected every shape and size of her body.

    Same height, same thickness and probably same weight: Shioko''s faceless shadow was her exact copy, but its mind wasmanded by Ayumu, immersed somewhere in that dark substance.

    "Being a fairly widespread demon, I had no difficulty finding manuals that exin how its main skill works" Shioko exined. "However, it requires a lot of studies, and I don''t have enough time to do it" she added, stepping forward.

    As soon as the archer moved, her dark copy did the same, pointing its faceless head at her. "Look at this," the red-haired girl spoke again.

    With a swift gesture, Shioko grabbed a stone from the ground and prepared to throw it. Simultaneously, Ayumu did the same, and a stone made of shadow appeared in its hand. "Go!" she shouted, throwing the stone at full force towards one of the rice fields.

    *swisssh* - A second stone detached from her copy''s arm, doubling the blow with modest precision.

    "Hahah! See?" Shioko rejoiced, thrilled that she was able to double her attack thanks to Ayumu''s skill.

    "But... it''s¡­ it''s astonishing! You''re going to use its powers to teach it how to shoot arrows, aren''t you?" Yoichi inquired, imagining every possible use for such a skill.

    "Like I said, I still need to study a lot. Yes, that''s my goal," Shioko smiled. "If I could make two simultaneous attacks from two different directions, my fighting skills would be much more effective, even against multiple enemies" she exined, giving proof of her insight.

    During that sunny morning, the archer looked particrly happy. Perhaps the thought of sessfullypleting the dungeon and earning valuable XP points had put her in a good mood.

    "Maybe it''s time for me to expand my team as well," Yoichimented, taking advantage of Shioko''s momentary avability to receive some valuable advice. Although he had managed to get rid of a powerful boss, Yoichi was aware that he still had a lot to learn.

    The archer''s shadow fell to the ground, impacting the soil gently, like light sheets lying on a mattress. After that quick process, Ayumu sshed out of its tamer''s shadow,nding with his tiny ck feet on the grassy floor.

 Chapter 181 - Types Lesson

    "As much as you need to cultivate your Oracle''s powers, Kenji can''t be useful in every situation. I don''t know if you know this, but every demon has one or more ''types'' that it belong to. The ''types'' are, in a nutshell, the energy sources from which the demons derive their powers. They also represent biomes," Shioko exined, returning under the shade of the tree.

    Ryutaro remained silent listening to the archer''s exnation, ready to intervene in case of mistakes. ??

    "For example, a water demon will feel much morefortable fighting in a coastal environment, by the sea or even underwater. Conversely, a fire demon''s skills will be depowered in an aquatic biome. Also, it''s quite trivial, but... a fire demon''s attacks are much more effective against a grass-type demon than against a water-type demon... you dig?" Shioko asked, trying to understand Yoichi''s level of attention.

    "Yes, of course. I had already imagined some of the things you''re telling me. But a thorough exnation can only do me good," Yoichi smiled, cordially. The one who exined things to him urately every time was lying inside a carriage, but Shioko seemed to be a worthy substitute.

    "Good. A good,petitive team isposed of demons of several different types, so they can deal with different enemies in each situation. Oh, one more thing: a demon tamer can carry as many Demon Teeth with him as he wants, but carrying that many is not always an advantage," the archer added.

    Yoichi continued to listen to her, petting Kenji''s head. His hand passed between the two dragon demon horns, immediately noticing the substantial difference in their size.

    "One must always be ready to switch demons should the need arise. One of the first things Takamori-Sensei taught me is that a good number of demons for a fairlyplete team is six."

    "Six? Wow, that''s a lot of demons!" Yoichimented, increasingly intrigued by the speech. The young tamer seemed to be quivering with a desire to add new members to his team.

    "Also, some demons can implement or change their type after evolution. Consider Rokuro, for example," the red-haired girl continued, referring to Enatsu''s demon pet. "Morubas are earth type demons in their first evolutionary stage. But if Rokuro were to evolve into a Morugane, its ws would grow and harden a lot, and its hind legs would be much stronger. In fact, Moruganes are ground-steel type demons."

    "And besides implementing its type, Rokuro would also gain new skills. Yeah, okay... I got it," Yoichi confirmed, nodding his head.

    "Kenji''s true strength lies precisely in its type, Yoichi-kun" Ryutaro interrupted, entering the conversation. "The ''dragon'' type is only weak to attacks of the same type, but resistant to fire, grass, electricity, and water type attacks," he remarked, implementing Shioko''s exnation.

    "Water? Did I hear right?" Yoichi inquired, thinking about dragon fire in contact with a watery surface.

    "Yes. Simple water is unable to extinguish your Oracle''s draconic me. If they were normal mes, they would have suffered a lot from that power, but not in your case," the gatekeeper promptly replied. "Being ''resistant'' to a certain type allows you and your demon to receive half damage from any attacks of that source of power" the old monk added.

    "It''s all in the strengths and resistances. It''s not just how big and fierce a demon is that counts... if I know all types of demons well, I can have an advantage in any fight," Yoichi repeated, summarizing everything he had just learned. "Onest question... If I were to capture amon demon of the water type and thene across a rare demon of the same type..."

    "You don''t necessarily have to give up the demon pets you no longer use Yoichi" - Enatsu''s voice echoed from the carriage. Although he sounded sleepy, the young merchant was listening to the conversation from the beginning.

    "And how can I do that? Can I release them?" the young tamer asked, trying to imagine a simr scenario.

    "You can do that, yes. But the best solution is to sell them," Enatsu coldly replied, covering his face with one hand, annoyed by the sun''s rays hitting his eyes.

    "Sell them?"

    "Of course. The only demon bound to you forever is your Oracle, remember?" the merchant added.

    The tamer world may seem easy to understand, but it includes so many rules and exceptions. Now I understand why Ryutaro-Sensei insists so much that I study his ancient tomes! Yoichi thought, putting together all the pieces of the puzzle of his new life a little at a time.

    Even if the only one who knew about it was Enatsu, the young tamer was perfectly aware that the blood writings that asionally appeared before his eyes would help him during his adventure and Lumya.

    In addition to granting him unexpected and very beneficial rewards, the Demon Pet System allowed him to have additional information about the demons on his team. One of the most important to know was the current level of his demons: ording to his merchant friend, no one but him was able to know the current fighting level of his pets or Oracle.

    "There are tamers who have no interest in joining guilds or participating in factional wars. They dedicate their lives to tame rare demons and sell them on the ck market. They call themselves Hunters," Enatsu exined, painfully raising his torso from the back of the carriage and turning his gaze to the others.

    Shioko and Yoichi looked at him suspiciously, as if what he had just said was bordering on the legal. "What? Have you perhaps forgotten that before I was dragged into this, I was a merchant? Well, every merchant knows that there are many ways to sell his goods. One of them is the ck market of Hollowgate, on the far west coast of Tentochu," the young merchant muttered, justifying his knowledge on the subject.

    "The ck market is no ce to spend a vacation, Enatsu," Ryutaro spoke, feelingpelled to intervene. His words froze the conversation. "Hollowgate is an infamous and dangerous ce. It is not suitable for beginners like yourselves. Hate and poverty reign there: there are unscrupulous thugs, capable of killing people only for a few silver coins," the gatekeeper spoke, warning.

 Chapter 182 - Back On The Road

    The coast at the far west end of Tentochu? It must be a long way from here, beyond the Southborne Mountains. I''m sure Ryutaro is exaggerating, and... I really think Enatsu has been there before, Yoichi pondered. Silently, the young tamer was already thinking about a possible visit to that ce. Who were the Hunters? Were they really that fearsome?

    "You have much more important matters to resolve, and once we are back in Goldhaven, Takamori Sada will check on your every move. Yoichi''s power is too important to take such foolish risks," Ryutaro added, shushing Enatsu. The merchant disappeared over the edge of the carriage again, huffing with boredom.??

    "Let''s go now, there''s no more time to waste. Yoichi, get in the carriage together with your friend. Without any more breaks, we should arrive at the capital tonight," the monk added.

    "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Ryutaro-Sensei, but I think I can ride on my own. This way, the carriage will be lighter and we will cross the region faster" Yochi replied, stretching his arms and legs.

    "As you wish," the gatekeeper answered, approaching the tree and loosening the horses'' reins.

    "You''ve had to endure enough in thest few hours, Kenji. You deserve a little rest, buddy!" the young, blonde-haired tamer smiled. He ducked down to his Oracle and then stood back up.

    "Screek!" as if responding to that greeting, Kenji narrowed its eyes, returning the smile, ready for the recall phase.

    "Ildriss!" - the dragon demon''s name was spoken aloud: its ck horns and reptilian scales quickly broke apart in a ze, following a swirling upward trajectory.

    The thin swirl of fire reached about two meters in height before bending forward and hurling itself at Yoichi. The young tamer opened his arms and closed his eyes, ready to wee Kenji''s power back into his chest.

    That very ce, next to his heart, was the ''engine room'' that had repeatedly generated the dragon me, the only power that could counter the ckblood.

    *roar* - the same growl that Kenji''s draconic mes emitted during the fight against Ogai echoed through the cultivated fields, drawing even the attention of the most distant farmers.

    The fire prated Yoichi''s armor without burning it, disappearing into the exact centre of his chest and ending the recall phase. The blond-haired tamer opened his eyes and began to breathe again.

    "Excellent, Yoichi-kun," Ryutaro spoke, who was watching him from his seat on the carriage. "I see you managed to recall Ildriss without getting stunned or injured. You''re making important progress, boy," the gatekeeperplimented, also if only for a moment.

    Yoichi slipped a hand into his backpack and grabbed the only one of the four Demon Teeth to be upied by a demon. The shiny, yellowish surface of the Crimson Lotus thorn glistened for a moment under the sunlight, before being stuck into the ground.

    *tick* - As the tip of the Demon Tooth pierced the first, thinyer of dirt road, a yellowish light branched out in every direction, gathering into several beams that then converged into a single point.

    From bottom to top, the body of the majestic Inoshuma specimen took shape, its hind hooves pointed at the ground and its front hooves waving upward.

    "Hiiii!" the neighing of Ichiro crowned its summoning, causing its thick red hair to glow in the clear air. "Ichiro!" Yoichi eximed, calling his demon with the same enthusiasm with which one would address an old friend.

    The Inoshuma returned to his four-legged position and walked back to Yoichi, letting him pet it and lowering the volume of its neigh. Ichiro''s tail wagged happily as Yoichi''s hands scratched its muzzle and scarred neck.

    "Hey! How are you doing, buddy? You have no idea of what happened!" the young tamer chuckled, speaking close to the horse demon''s ears. "Come on, help me up... my legs are still a little weak," he added.

    Showing incredible empathic intelligence, Ichiro bent both its hind and front legs, allowing its tamer to climb on its back without any difficulty. When Yoichi was straddling its soft yellow coat and his fingers were firmly gripped onto the thick mane, the horse raised up in all its glory.

    Meanwhile, Shioko was already on Taya''s back and Ryutaro was waiting for his prot¨¦g¨¦''s final preparations to leave. The gatekeeper had never seen such arge and muscr specimen of Inoshuma and his silence was interpreted by Yoichi as astonishment.

    Compared to the other three horses present, Ichiro was much taller and looked more powerful. Its appearance as a veteran of a thousand battles made it a perfect steed for a high-level tamer. Of the horse Enatsu had borrowed from the town stable in Goldahaven, there was no more news.

    With their canteens full and their stomachs satiated and quenched, the Nightdes delegation set off down the dirt road towards the capital of Tentochu.

    During the long journey, Yoichi alternated all sorts of questions with prolonged silences, useful to store in his mind the useful information he had acquired in recent hours.

    The road from the southern part of Tentochu to Goldhaven looked more pleasant, as the bare, greyish biome of the ckvault Mines gradually disappeared behind the travelers'' backs.

    A new light shone in young Yoichi''s eyes, pumped after Shioko''s speech. ''A true tamer doesn''t just fight with his Oracle alone'' - those words echoed in his head like the beats of a pendulum.

    To truly be able to deal with any enemy, his team would have to grow with more demon specimens. Also, fighting only and always with Kenji would expose the true identity of the little dragon.

    His two new quests would keep him busy for a while, useful for his growth as a warrior: cultivating his powers for a week and forging a new weapon. The second quest was paradoxically more difficult than the first. How could Ryutaro help with the quest if he was imprisoned by the Emperor''s men? And what about Shusaku? Where would an exiled cksmith ever hide?

 Chapter 183 - Moonlight

    The morning sun dipped lower and lower toward the horizon. Its light turned reddish, and the afternoon glow gently caressed the incrediblendscape that apanied the guild mates'' journey.

    Finally, after many miles travelled in total solitude, the dirt road began to popte: carriagesing from the east coast or who knows where converged towards the great capital of Tentochu. ??

    Merchants and travellers of all kinds rushed in every direction, knowing they had to reach their destination before darkness fell. Although many of them looked like tamers, the areas in between the Crimson Lotus camps were not a good ce to spend the night.

    The constant thought of Ryutaro''s possible arrest haunted Yoichi, who couldn''t stop thinking about it. If the gatekeeper hadn''t rushed to their rescue, he and hispanions would probably never have made it out of the ckvault Mines.

    Moreover, Enatsu''s wounds would never have been healed. There were no poption centers around the dungeon, and the farmers who inhabited the ntations of theirst stop were too far away. If he and Shioko had transported Enatsu and Rokuro that far, the young merchant would probably have died.

    Lying inside the carriage, hey motionless in the sunlight. His apparent sleep was disturbed by the constant pain caused by his wound, and tiny drops of sweat trickled down his face along his ears and into his curly dark beard.

    Enatsu''s already unkempt appearance looked even more scruffy. His hair tousled and damp, his clothes soiled with dirt, and the gauze wrapping the wound increasingly soaked with the blood that was slowly being expelled from his chest.

    Even if he had wanted to diverge from that path to try and catch more demons, Yoichi knew he had to reach Goldhaven in a hurry.

    Finally, after a full day of riding, the distant lights from the outer walls of the capital were visible. The weary spirits of the travellers were lost in that magnificent vision, realizing that they had finallye home.

    The roads and byways that surrounded the area had emptied, and the night had brought with it a profound silence, interspersed only with the sounds of crickets and other woond dwellers.

    Genuine fatigue weighed down on the tamers and their horses, who trudged forward with difficulty. Once again, Ichiro proved to be the most resilient: along with Yoichi, the Inoshuma led the line, making way for the rest of the team.

    What was supposed to be a simple mission followed by avish reward had turned into a deadly nightmare. Even though the threat of Ogai was gone, the constant thought of other Void Summoners scattered throughout the region crept into the tamers'' minds like a hot needle.

    "We''re here," Shioko affirmed, squinting her eyes and taking a deep breath.

    "Ryutaro-Sensei," Yoichi said, drawing his master''s attention. The young tamer wondered how he could manage to see anything in the darkness with that ck veil in front of his eyes. "So? What are you going to do now? You could lie down next to Enatsu and pretend to be injured. The guards wouldn''t notice it at this time of night!" he suggested.

    "Mhmh..." a thinly veiled, almost inaudibleugh escaped the old monk''s lips. "Yoichi-kun... we''ve already talked about this. I will not run away before my fate. I didn''t run away after my exile from the Imperial Pce. Why would I do so now?"

    "Because you have a purpose, Sensei! Because you have to help me bing stronger! It''s not enough for me to have the key to the Dojo to follow your teachings. How am I going to do that without anyone exining to me how to behave?" Yoichiined, trying to soften his teacher.

    "You''re a fast learner, boy. It only took you a few days to figure out how to summon the dragon me; I''m sure you''ll be able to learn how to handle it in just as little time," he replied. "I will continue to be your master and find a way tomunicate with you. Follow my instructions and go to Takamori with yourpanions. Let them take care of your friend Enatsu and start your daily training. The more hours you devote to meditation and physical training, in less time you will be ready to leave," Ryutaro added, evading the proposal of his only pupil.

    Those words dissipated into the cool night air as the main gates of the capital city grew closer and closer. Reaching the Tamer District unnoticed was an impossible task even at that time of night.

    Imperial guards watched over all the entrances to the city constantly. Even if they had waited for the shift change, surely the Dojo area was also guarded, waiting for the gatekeeper to return.

    The only way Ryutaro could get back to his hometown was in the prisons of the Nishiyama Pce. ording to the old monk, the Emperor''s men would not have been snooping around his Dojo room. But what if they did? How could Yoichi have continued his studies and the cultivation of his powers if Ryutaro''s books had been seized?

    Besides the ancient tomes of Emperor Tatsui, the most valuable item in that room is the katana hanging on the wall. If Ryutaro is going to be arrested, it''s not safe to leave it in there, Yoichi thought, beginning to think more carefully and calcting the various avable options.

    Large torches protected by iron cages hung along the city''s historic white walls. Although Goldhaven had be familiar to Yoichi''s eyes, each arrival was as exciting as the first time.

    Under the light of the fourrgest torches set up on the sides and above the Main Gates, a group of five or six guards were rxing in peace. The men wearing imperial armor chatted among themselves, biding their time and waitingzily for their shifts to change.

    When the sound of the wooden wheels of the carriage carrying Enatsu grew louder, two of them stood up, looking in the direction of the travellers.

    The yellow coat of Ichiro, the opener, was the first thing their eyes could perceive in that dark street, lit only by moonlight.

 Chapter 184 - Imperial Orders

    "Who goes there? Introduce yourself before youe any closer," one of the guards eximed. He was a man without a helmet, with short hair and a shaved beard, the typical appearance of a city guard.

    After that direct question, Yoichi sensed that Ryutaro was about to answer and anticipated him. "We are tamers from the Nightdes guild returning from a mission," the blond-haired warrior stated, raising both his arms in a sign of peace.??

    The guards did not immediately respond, motioning him and hispanions to approach. Their watchful eyes carefully scrutinized the tamers and stopped when they framed at the gatekeeper. The old monk looked too different from the young men travelling with him, and the veil on his face was worth more than a thousand introductions.

    "That''s him," one of the guards said, approaching the helmetless man in the front row. He nodded, ordering Yoichi and the others to stop. Immediately, he walked towards the carriage, intending to poke inside it.

    Neither Ryutaro nor the other members of his team said anything during that brief process, leaving it to Enatsu''s injured body to justify their arrival at thatte hour of the night.

    "What''s this guy doing inside a carriage? He looks injured," the helmetless guard remarked, pointing at Enatsu with one finger. At the same moment, the man turned away from the young merchant, fearing that he was just gone through some strange infectious disease and might contaminate him.

    "Yes, that is exactly why we did not wait until morning toe back to town. My friend needs urgent care, and I don''t¡­"

    "I''m not talking to you, kid. Who is in charge of this mission?" the guard interrupted rudely. He addressed Yoichi in an arrogant tone as if just being younger than him did not allow him to speak.

    "Takamori Sada, our guild leader," Shioko added, having already prepared a short and simple answer. The archer was convinced that they would lose interest in continuing with more unnecessary inquisitive questions by providing the guards with a name.

    "What about the monk? Who is he? He doesn''t look like a tamer to me," the guard replied, speaking to Shioko and pointing at Ryutaro. The gatekeeper remained stationary in the same position, sitting at the front of the carriage.

    Yoichi continued to look at him, knowing that every word he said would only make the guards, who were being much rougher than usual, more nervous.

    Deep inside, the young tamer hoped with all his might that his master would invent a false identity or some other ploy to escape captivity. Unfortunately, Yoichi inwardly knew that Ryutaro would never do such a thing.

    "Hey, old man! I asked you a question!" the guard spoke again. He walked over to one of the horses pulling the carriage and grabbed its reins, preventing the driver from moving the coach forward or backwards.

    "Chief!" a second guard called from the rear. The soldier dressed in full Goldhaven Police armor was trying to get the helmetless guard''s attention with a swinging motion of his hands.

    After speaking, the same soldier walked towards the guards'' leader, carrying with him a rolled scroll. Under the tired gazes of the travelers, the helmetless man unrolled the parchment and read the contents of the message.

    Out of the corner of his eye, he stared at Ryutaro from head to toe, paying particr attention to his clothing and features. "No doubt about it, it''s him," he affirmed, snapping his fingers and giving a sudden order to his men.

    After that sound, without any warning, the five guards under his orders encircled Ryutaro''s carriage. Their hands rested on the hilts of their swords, stored near their belts.

    "What''s going on? What are you doing?" Yoichi trembled, hoping he hadn''t realized what was about to happen.

    "Ryutaro-Sama, you are under arrest by order of His Majesty the Supreme Emperor Nishiyama," the helmetless manmanded, ordering his men to arrest the wanted escapee. The message he had read moments before must have contained the Emperor''s orders.

    Although Ryutaro had been absent from Goldhaven''s sacred Dojo for a little over twenty-four hours, one of the Imperial Family''s thousands of informants had reported everything to his superiors, and Shinzo Nishiyama had immediately ordered the arrest of the Arena guardian.

    "Please, Ryutaro-Sama. Let us escort you to the Pce. The Emperor wants to speak with you," the head of the guards repeated. With a hand behind his back, he motioned his men not to draw their weapons.

    Ouw or not, Ryutaro was a living legend. He was Emperor Tatsui''s most trusted warrior; his only fault had always been his extreme, innate loyalty.

    "Hey, stop! You don''t know what you''re doing! You don''t know who this man is!" Yoichi grunted, fussing and clutching Ichiro''s reins to avoid making it fidget as well.

    "Yoichi..." Shioko whispered, stepping closer to her partner and trying to calm him down. At the same time, two of the men who had surrounded Ryutaro turned toward Yoichi, drawing their swords.

    The metallic sound of steel slithering against the edges of their scabbards echoed in the still night air: two long katanas were pointed at the young tamer who was trying to defend his master.

    Ryutaro was still standing in the same position, seated and motionless. His hidden gaze seemed to point forward, in the direction of the entrance to the city he had defended all his life long. The same ce for which he had sacrificed his time and blood was turning against him for the second time.

    Impulsively, Yoichi dismounted from his horse, continuing to mutter like a rabid beast. "This man is a legend! He is much more than just the guardian of the Dojo, and you know it!" he shouted, looking the two men in front of him in the eyes. "Supreme Ryutaro is a good and wise person. You cannot imprison him! He hasmitted no crime!"

    "Stay away, boy! This is none of your business!" a guard barked, moving the tip of his katana forward and threatening to hit him.

    "Yoichi, that''s enough!" - Shioko''s voice tried to bring her friend back to his senses. However, he seemed to have lost his wits. Still from Taya''s horseback, the archer''s gaze sought Kenji under the faint light of the torches hanging on the walls.

 Chapter 185 - Division

    Despite the fatigue of the journey and the physical condition still not fully restored, a faint fire had appeared along the little dragon demon''s back.

    The uncontrolled anger of its tamer, angry at the injustice Ryutaro was about to suffer, involuntarily activated the draconic skill of the Oracle, who reacted to that primal instinct.??

    Yoichi heard hispanion''s words and looked at her. Ayumu''s face peeped out from her shoulder, and the archer''s expression looked serious and determined. That look was enough for him to realize that there would have been two people incarcerated that night if he had gone too far.

    Trying to restore an average level of calm, he released the umted tension in his arms by loosening the grip of his fists. The tendons and muscle fibres in his arm and forearm rxed, giving even Kenji, who was always on edge, a temporary sense of calm.

    I can''t do anything about Ryutaro... he didn''t wait for a second to travel many miles toe to my rescue. He only had an inkling that I was in danger, and yet, he didn''t hesitate, Yoichi thought.

    I, on the other hand, can''t do anything. I''m helpless in front of the guards carrying out the Emperor''s orders. It''s not fair! Why wouldn''t Ryutaro take refuge on my farm? Does he really prefer the prisons of the Imperial Pce to a quiet life away from the city?

    Yoichi''s anger,bined with the whirlwind of emotions he had been feeling for the past few days, turned into bitter tears. An unexpected, liberating cry slid down his face as the des of the katanas pointed at him lowered.

    The two guards had the task of punishing anyone who stood between them and justice. But that young warrior, that blond-haired boy, was visibly broken.

    Yoichi''s emotionality struck the head of the guards, but especially his silent master. Ryutaro watched the whole scene from under his ck veil, without uttering a single word in support or against his pupil.

    "Yoichi... try to think for just a moment!" the hand of Shioko forcefully grabbed the wrist of the young tamer. He hadn''t even noticed that the archer had gotten off her horse and walked towards him.

    "Enatsu is still in bad shape, needing urgent and constant care. Ryutaro-Sama had already foreseen his arrest and preventively told you what to do," the red-haired girl spoke. Yoichi''s eyes were still filled with tears as he watched the gatekeeper get out of the carriage and give himself up to justice.

    "Let''s go back to the tower, to our guildmates. We need help, Yoichi," Shioko added, waiting for her gaze to cross with her interlocutor.

    "Yoichi-kun" - Ryutaro''s voice broke the silence. The sounds of the metal tes of the guards rubbing against each other stopped instantly.

    Yoichi and Shioko stopped talking, waiting for the gatekeeper''sst words before he was taken away by the Emperor''s men.

    "Cultivate your powers, be stronger. All the answers are already inside you, boy," the old monk spoke.

    "Ryutaro-Sensei! I... I don''t believe that..."

    "Enough!" Ryutaro interrupted again, shushing his pupil and also the guards, who respected a religious silence in the presence of such a legendary warrior. "Do not eliminate anger from your life. Learn to control it, Yoichi-kun. Use it to achieve your goals and help those who need. Whenever you make progress or be stronger... I will know."

    The words of the Dojo''s supreme guardian hovered lightly in the air, hitting the deepest and most fragile part of Yoichi''s soul. Anger and pain: ording to the brief teachings of his master, he would have to learn to separate those two aspects, being able to use the anger unleashed by the injustices of the world to grow.

    Yoichi responded to Ryutaro''s statement with solemn silence. cing one hand on his knee and the other knee on the tiled road that led to the Main Gates of the capital, he thanked his Sensei with a bow.

    A sudden gust of wind from the woods that surrounded the air struck all those present. The veil on Ryutaro''s face was moved more than usual, and, despite thece that passed behind his ears, it revealed his lips, slightly curved into a genuine smile.

    Even if only for an instant, Yoichi and Shioko could see an enormous scar that ended at the gatekeeper''s chin and began somewhere at the top of his face.

    The veil lowered again, and, like a curtain at the end of a dramatic tragedy, it sanctioned the solemn farewell between master and student, veteran and recruit, experience and rawness.

    "Let''s go, Ryutaro-Sama," the helmetless man said, letting out a long sigh. The head of the guards seemed deeply affected by the conversation between the monk and that unknown boy.

    The sorrow sprung from that separation was so strong that one could almost touch it. However, the guards knew that directly disobeying the Emperor''s orders was the same as signing their own death sentence.

    Under thenguid gazes of Yoichi and Shioko, the old monk who hade to their aid in the south of Tentochu was taken away as if he were a prisoner, or an enemy of the faction.

    Nishiyama''s men dared not even touch his sacred kimono and let Ryutaro walk on his own, knowing that he knew the way to the pce probably better than anyone else.

    Yoichi stood up, wiping away his tears and continuing to witness his master walk away. Ryutaro never turned to look at him and, escorted by three of the guards who kept watch the entrance to Goldhaven, disappeared through the tall gates of the city.

    Shinzo Nishiyama: For the second time since he could remember, the Emperor of Tentochu had indirectly hurt Yoichi''s soul, fueling his resentment towards him.

    Princess Sui''s story was not evenparable to what had just happened. However, both events had the same perpetrator inmon. How was it possible for a young guild warrior with no money and at the bottom rungs of the socialdder topete with the most powerful man in the faction?

 Chapter 186 - Swaddling Clothes

    The fame and power of Shinzo Nishiyama, thest Emperor of the Tentochu faction, made him as powerful as a god. And like any deity, he was worshipped by an endless array of people.

    It wasn''t just his army and the subjects who popted the Imperial Pce: Shinzo''s acim was also growing among ordinary people of all social ranks.??

    Rich and wealthy families had no interest in working against the monarchy, which would only fatten their wallets. At the same time, Shinzo Nishiyama had won the favor of even the poorest, professing to be a benefactor of his country and obtaining incredible benefits.

    As poor Enatsu had reiterated from the first moment he met Yoichi, even uttering words against the Emperor was a crime punishable by death. But what did he look like? How old was he? In what way did he converse with the people of Tentochu?

    Yoichi''s hatred for that man was frighteningly rational. That solid and deep feeling was sometimes blinded by anger and a desire for justice. ording to the young warrior''s ideal, a ruler should have been the anathema of loyalty and fairness.

    However, his little experience in the world of Lumya was enough to create the idea in his mind that there was no greater enemy than the one who had exiled Ryutaro and confined Princess Sui to her pce.

    No matter how long it would take, Yoichi would take revenge whatever the cost. After Ryutaro disappeared along with the guards who had arrested him, the horses carrying Enatsu''s carriage were left without a rider.

    "Azron..." - With a resigned tone and a downward gaze, Yoichi uttered Ichiro''s demonic name, calling him back inside its Demon Tooth.

    Without even greeting its tamer before being called back, the horse shared the sharp pain Yoichi was feeling and agreed without objection to returning to its abode.

    A beam of yellowish light enveloped its mighty body and made it disappear into the ground. Just as during the summoning, the process of recalling was synthesized in many small rays of light that quickly reached the Demon Tooth, trapping the horse''s soul inside it, forever bound to that magical object.

    Shioko continued to look at Yoichi, believing it appropriate to remain silent. Herpanion had been through several misfortunes, and the arrest of his new Sensei was thest straw.

    Without a word, the young tamer grabbed the reins of the carriage''s two horses and leapt into the driver''s seat. The exact spot previously upied by Ryutaro was somehow still imbued with his essence.

    He cast a nce inside the wooden carriage, peering at Enatsu. The merchant was motionless with his eyes closed, and his face expressed the pain he was feeling.

    Both the woven straw mats and the small wicker trunks containing the gatekeeper''s medical supplies were still there, ced against the edge of the carriage closest to the driver.

    "Let''s go. Takamori-Sensei will be waiting for us," Yoichi spoke, waiting for Kenji to get onto the carriage next to him. Shioko obeyed as if she were his subordinate, climbing onto Taya''s back and beginning to ride beside the carriage.

    The men guarding the Main Gates allowed them to enter without saying anything. After the carriage crossed the threshold of the huge gates of the capital, the faint lights that illuminated the streets of Goldhaven warmed the spirits of the weary travellers.

    Too many unexpected events had happened since their departure, and all they needed was some genuine rest. The citizens of the white capital slept blissfully in their homes, and very few people popted the streets.

    A few beggars who slept here and there tried to enjoy the pleasant fresh wind of the night, looking forward to the next day, when thousands of people would allow them to live in dignity with their offerings.

    Although Yoichi had never driven a carriage before, the two horses seemed remarkably trained and gentle in their movements. Pulling the reins toward the direction he intended to go, Yoichi efficiently escorted hispanion through the streets, avoiding the narrower tunnels and following the Royal Road.

    Circling the Dragonfall Square, reaching the Tamer District would only be a matter of time. One tile at a time, the carriage''s wooden wheels traveled thest few miles that separated the Nightdes warriors from their guild''s tower.

    Finally, several days after their departure, when the ckvault Mines were still a distant nightmare, Yoichi, Shioko, and Enatsu found themselves in front of therge stone gate of the Tamer District.

    Late at night, the streets of the neighbourhood were empty and silent. On thergest central tower, home of the Emperor''s Heralds, a few illuminated windows joined the glow of the stars shining high in the dark sky.

    The old and ramshackle tower with the green tiles popped up around the corner of the street, beyond the central square of one of the legendary districts of the capital. Once in front of the entrance, Yoichi pulled the reins, stopping the horses.

    Shioko dismounted Taya and tied it up next to a wooden pole used to hold a torch for public lighting. "Let''s secure the horses and get Enatsu inside, Yoichi," the archer affirmed.

    Yoichi nodded silently. His gaze was nk and gloomy, but even so, he was aware that his best friend''s life was his greatest priority.

    In a hurry, the two tamers picked up Enatsu''s body with extreme delicacy, carrying him out of the carriage like a baby in swaddling clothes. Resting on his legs, Rokuro was sleeping serenely.

    The door to the green-tiled tower was always open, and the entrance to the guild''s headquarters was always empty. "Takamori-Sensei! Takamori-Sensei!" Shioko shouted, calling out to her master like a frightened child calls out to her father.

    As Enatsu''s body grew heavier and heavier after each step, a noise echoed from the narrow staircase in front of the entrance, and a familiar figure appeared before the tamers.

    The Nightdes guild master wore a long nightshirt of greyish linen and held a candle with a flickering me. When his sleep-stained eyes saw the guild''s future wizard being held by Yoichi and Shioko, his pupils moistened with tears of worry.

 Chapter 187 - Gagrelin

    "Takamori-Sensei..."

    "Take him upstairs, quick!" Takamori quaked loudly, unable to hold back his concern. It was enough for the guild leader to see the face color of Enatsu to realize that, if not treated carefully, his wounds could be fatal.??

    Knowing that wasting breath on useless exnations would only increase the time it took to climb the stairs, the two tamers who had just returned from their mission carried the bodies of Enatsu and Rokuro to the upper floor.

    The narrow staircase did not allow them any sudden movements and, being very careful not to let either the head or the legs of their woundedrade hit the walls, they reached the lunchroom.

    Therge wooden table was clean and free of all junk, as it was every night. Without a second thought, Yoichi and Shioko, exhausted from their long journey and the many vicissitudes they had endured, gently ced Enatsu on its longer side.

    A sound of quick footsteps echoed from the second staircase, and more people from the third floor came hurrying into the same room.

    "Shioko! What is... who is that? Is that the merchant?" the voice of Toshi, the pale-looking man who had enjoyed teasing the neers during the first evening, broke the silence.

    "Yoshiko! Where''s Yoshiko?!" Takamori called, waving his arms as if to move Toshi away without touching him. In the guild leader''s perpetually quiet voice, his warriors discerned a strong and unusual tension.

    "Here I am, Sensei! What''s the problem? What''s..." - The beautiful Yoshiko''s blue hair was illuminated by the faint light of the candles resting on the wooden shelves on either side of the room.

    Although she had just woken up in the middle of the night, her appearance was precise and neat, as if after hours spent making herself pretty. "Enatsu! What happened to him?!" the tamer eximed, descending the steps of the staircase in quick session and passing next to herpanions.

    The rest of the warriors stayed behind, sensing that they could not help. Among them, even the giant Rinji peeped out from the stairs of the third floor, looking wistfully at his two teammates, saddened by the news of Enatsu.

    "Out of the way, let Yoshiko take care of him," Takamori ordered, extending his arms towards Shioko and Yoichi and inviting them to step aside.

    "Takamori-Sensei... that wound... that wound is not like the others", Shioko tried to exin, interrupted by the guild leader''s abrupt movements.

    As Yoshiko walked past Yoichi, her long, blue hair floated in his direction. Each strand of her gorgeous hair smelled of wildflowers andvender, leaving a trail so intense that it spread a pleasant vibe through the air.

    Enatsu''s eyes were still closed, and Rokuro, his mole demon, was lying on the table beside him. Yoshiko grabbed the gauze on his chest: after hispanions had hastily carried his body into the tower, all the blood clotted inside the wound had leaked out, fouling the sterile gauze.

    Spreading her elbows and holding the bandages tight, the blue-haired girl tore Enatsu''s gauze off, revealing his wound still half-open.

    "Holy fuck..." Yoshiko whispered, backing away for a moment. From her disgusted expression, she didn''t look like she''d ever seen anything like it.

    "What the hell is that ck substance?" Takamori gulped, covering his mouth with a sleeve of his nightshirt.

    "Shioko was trying to exin it, Takamori-sensei. It''s a long story, but, for now, it''s enough for Enatsu''s wound to be treated like a normal wound. There are medical goods in the carriage if you need them, and..."

    Shioko''s hand touched her blonde-hairedpanion''s shoulder, interrupting his words. "Enatsu is in excellent hands now. Let Yoshiko take care of him," the archer exined, trying to reassure him. "She is one of the best healers around", she added.

    "Back off!" Yoshiko boomed. When Takamori also moved back a few steps back, Yoichi obeyed the orders, still skeptical of the blue-haired girl''s healing abilities. "Gagrelin!" she shouted, summoning her Oracle in front of the cold wooden table in the dining room.

    Several beams of bluish light weaved through her hair, descending to her chest and then hovering in the air. A small blue sphere floated for an instant over Enatsu''s lying body, illuminating the entire room.

    When the demon summoning phase wasplete, the blue sphere broke apart, and a small squirrel-like mammal emerged from its inside. Yoichi marvelled at the sight of such a small and seemingly harmless demon, remembering that it wasn''t the size that determined the magical powers of Lumya''s magic monsters.

    The small rodentnded on all fours on the table, just inches from Enatsu''s hips. Its furry, coiled tail, small paws equipped with tiny ws, andrge, ck eyes made it identical to the ssic rodent that inhabited the quieter woods of the region.

    His fur was a deep blue, just like its tamer''s hair. A squirrel? Yoichi thought. How could a squirrel help my friend? Does it possess healing powers?

    As these questions swirled in his mind, his eyes witnessed something astonishing. Activating her demon''s power, Yoshiko''s hands began to glow with a blue light much like the one obtained during the summoning.

    Simultaneously, the squirrel''s tiny paws, equipped with opposable thumbs, clenched together. A little at a time, its fingers moved alternately, as if they were ying the harp, and the palms of its hands gradually spread apart.

    A blue light began to shine between the rodent''s front paws, and it was so focused that its eyes stayed closed. Suddenly, as that light decreased in intensity, an object appeared between its little hands as a result of Yoshiko''s newly activated skill.

    The Oracle squirrel of the Nightdes tamer was holding a tiny blue, glowing acorn in its hands, and its nails kept scratching against its surface.

    "What the hell is going on?" Yoichi gulped aloud, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. The squirrel looked up at Enatsu and, running on its little paws across the table, got closer to his face.

 Chapter 188 - Acorn

    The squirrel demon brought the glowing acorn closer to the young merchant''s mouth, holding it between its tiny front paws. Yoshiko''s hands were still covered by the same blue light as if she shared the magical power of that strange item created from nothing.

    Enatsu''s mouth did not open, and, still sleeping, Yoichi''s best friend refused to swallow the acorn. Showing its innate determination, the little squirrel grabbed his nose with its free paw and squeezed it tightly, preventing him from breathing.??

    After a handful of seconds, Enatsu unconsciously opened his mouth, and the acorn was thrown inside as if it were arge pill of some mysterious medicine.

    "Let''s go...e on!" Yoshiko muttered, maintaining the same position with both arms stretched forward. After the little squirrel demon''s efforts, the young merchant was forced to swallow the acorn.

    The blue light of the magical object continued to shine even as it glided through the wounded tamer''s throat, making its path inside his body visible from the outside. Soon after, as if by magic, the veins in his arms and neck began to glow with the same light.

    One piece at a time, Enatsu''s entire lymphatic system carried the power of the now-dissolved acorn. Everyone''s attention focused on the wound in his upper abdomen.

    The bright veins near the hole caused by the ckblood began to heal the damaged tissues, and the bruises caused by thecerating wounds gradually disappeared, reced by normal coloured skin.

    "Wow! No way!" Yoichimented, having never seen anyone heal an injured man with such magic.

    The entire process of near-instantaneous healingsted about thirty seconds, at the end of which, Enatsu''s wound had definitely decreased in size. The minor cuts caused by the ckblood''s shrapnel had healed, but not the deeper hole in the central spot, just below the pectoral muscles.

    Content with the result, Yoshiko lowered her arms, and her hands stopped glowing. In the same instant, Enatsu''s veins also became invisible again, and the moans emitted by the young merchant let everyone present know that he was feeling incredible relief.

    "How did she do that? Did that acorn really cure Enatsu?" Yoichi inquired in a low voice, turning to Shioko. Yoshiko''s Oracle is a Terisu, a healer demon. It managed to shape the power shared with its tamer by having Enatsu ingest it," she exined. "Although the deepest area of the wound is still open, I think he feels much better now."

    Yoichi took a step forward, approaching the table. The young tamer couldn''t sit still anymore, despite the weariness of the trip. "Hey, brother! Enatsu, are you feeling better?" he asked, heedless of the judgmental looks from the other tamers.

    "Let Enatsu rest a little longer, Yoichi. I''m sure he''ll be perfectly able to talk in the morning," Yoshiko interrupted, sighing as if she had justpleted a surgical procedure.

    "Thank you, Yoshiko. I thank you very much on behalf of my friend," the young tamer replied, bowing his head in respect.

    "It was no big deal. Rather, can you tell me what caused that wound? Was it a demon?" she requested, asking for more information.

    Yoichi looked up from the table, trying to look past the thick blue hair of the girl in front of him. Behind Yoshiko, all the tamers from the Nightdes guild hade down to check out what had happened, despite it beingte at night.

    Among them, the only friendly face was that of Rinji, the good giant. However, other unfamiliar faces were also popping up in the darkness of that small square room.

    The big-family vibe and solidarity of each guild member heartened the weary hearts of the young tamer, who, instead of answering Yoshiko''s question, turned his gaze to the only master who had not been taken from him by the Emperor.

    "Ryutaro-Sama told me to speak with you, Takamori-Sensei," he spoke. His eyes summed up a small part of the mental and physical exhaustion he was feeling.

    "What did he say?"

    "Ryutaro, the gatekeeper, did I hear right?

    "Nah, it''s literally impossible..."

    The indistinct voices of someone chattering in the back floated through the air, reaching Shioko''s ears. The archer turned to hispanions sharply, looking at them as a ferocious beast and instantly shushing them.

    When Takamori heard Yoichi say the gatekeeper''s name, his eyes closed for an instant. With a slight bow of his head and his hands crossed behind his back, the guild leader nodded, confirming his pupil''s request.

    "Yoshiko, Shioko," Takamori called. "I am entrusting you with Enatsu''s care. I need a few minutes alone with Yoichi," he added, turning toward the descending staircase and walking away from the table without adding anything else.

    "Aye aye, Sensei!" the blue-haired girl promptly eximed, standing at attention. Shioko crossed her gaze with Yoichi, conveying pleasantplicity and suggesting him to follow Takamori.

    Still not used to the idea of finally being in a ce away from ferocious wild demons, Yoichi took a few more seconds to walk away together with his master.

    After him, he descended the staircase that led to the ground floor. "Come with me, Yoichi," the guild leader repeated, keeping on walking towards the door.

    Takamori opened the front door of the tower and stopped immediately after stepping out. When he saw the carriage with the two horses tied to the pole, he recognized that conveyance, immediately linking it to Ryutaro.

    "Where is Ryutaro now?" the funny little moustached man asked, looking at Yoichi and asking for a full exnation. From his still glossy eyes, Takamori had already guessed that something had gone wrong.

    Yoichi took courage and told his master everything that had happened, starting with what they had found before entering the ckvault Mines. He told him about Ogai and the immense power of the ckblood, telling him explicitly that it was derived from the blood of the Immortal Emperor of Kamakiri.

    The area surrounding the dungeon had been enveloped in that thick, ck blood capable of destroying the ntations that for centuries had kept mankind safe from the wild demons that lurked among the shadows.

    Although Yoichi''s ount was quite in-depth, the young tamer omitted the detail of his draconic power. Ryutaro had explicitly told him that he could tell Takamori the whole truth, but at that moment, the Nightdes guild leader seemed too distraught to keep such a secret.

 Chapter 189 - Tiredness

    Because of the visible anguish Takamori was feeling, Yoichi decided to focus his words on the brave act of Ryutaro, who, going against thew, had rushed to the south of the nation after sensing a great danger.

    Enatsu''s wound was not a standard one, and even the mustachioed guild leader had noticed it: despite Yoshiko''s stunning healing powers, the ckblood that had prated his flesh had to be removed in some other way.??

    The amount of dark power Ogai had unwittingly injected into the young merchant''s body was perhaps too little to turn him into a Void Summoner, but enough to keep the wound permanently opened.

    That particr condition, without proper treatment, would have forced Enatsu to never again be able to get out of a bed, or explore, fight, or even study. His great intelligence and desire to be a wizard would disappear along with his love of life if his guildmates didn''t find a solution.

    Takamori hung from Yoichi''s lips throughout the story. Master and student spent about an hour outside the tower''s front door, supporting the weight of their weary bodies by leaning against the gatekeeper''s carriage.

    Meanwhile, inside the headquarters, Shioko was telling her guildmates a lessplete, butprehensive version of events.

    "I tried to stop the guards, Takamori-Sensei, but... in their hands was a scroll with direct orders from the Emperor. I am sure that Shinzo Nishiyama voluntarily increased the severity of Ryutaro''s act just so he couldwfully imprison him," Yoichi concluded, catching his breath.

    Before answering, the mustachioed guild leader approached his young student and ced a hand on his shoulder. From bottom to top, his sincere gaze crossed with Yoichi''s.

    "Ryutaro has already exined everything to me about your powers, Yoichi," Takamori spoke. Yoichi''s eyes opened wide, stunned by that statement.

    "What... what powers?" he stammered.

    "We made a deal. He would teach you how to master your inner spirit by meditating and cultivating your draconic powers; in the meantime, I would continue to train your body as I have done with my other warriors. Together, Ryutaro and I would make you one of the strongest warriors Tentochu has ever seen," the guild leader reported. He removed his hand from Yoichi''s shoulder and clenched his fists, saddened that he could no longer share the matter with Ryutaro.

    "You mean... he told you about Kenji?"

    "About Ildriss, you mean. Yes, he told me everything. Don''t worry about it, Yoichi. You can trust me, boy" - Takamori nodded, continuing to look his frightened-looking pupil in the eyes. "However, it won''t be possible for Ryutaro to perform his task, and physical training alone won''t be enough for you to handle your power" he added.

    "I... I know what to do" the young tamer stated with conviction, showing determination. In his mind, the image of the green key that opened the highest room of the Dojo, the abode of thest dragon demon''s tear.

    "I hope so, my boy. In any case, you did a great job," Takamoriplimented. "You will receive your pay at the end of this week, as promised," he smiled, with a subtle wistfulness in his gaze.

    "I only tried not to drag myrades with me to the grave, Takamori-Sensei," Yoichi sighed, bowing his head.

    He and his master continued to chat into the night until drowsiness was so strong that it weighed down their eyelids. "Come on, let''s go to sleep. You need your rest, and when you''re ready, we''ll start your realbat training," the guild leader said, grabbing the door handle and pushing it forward.

    Yoichi''s words followed the creaking of that old, damp wood. "I thank you Sensei, but... I would like to spend the night at the Dojo if it is not a problem for you."

    Takamori turned to him and the corners of his lips curved in a smile, which lifted his thin mustache. "I wish you a good night, Yoichi," he replied.

    A momentter, he disappeared inside the green-tiled tower, closing the door behind him. Yoichi took a deep breath, looking up at the sky.

    I hope you''re right, Ryutaro. I know there''s no time to waste, and I will work hard every day to aplish my mission. I will be stronger, and when they release you, you will be proud of your student! He thought.

    As he walked away from his pce towards the arena, Yoichi sensed that someone was looking at him. He looked up again and then looked around: the headquarters of the Emperor''s Heralds was dormant, as were all the buildings of the other guilds. However, once again, the young tamer felt that he was being watched by someone not far away.

    When he looked at the tower he had just exited, someone was staring at him from the dark window on the second floor. The faint moonlight that managed to surmount the high walls of the white city illuminated only a corner of Shioko''s red hair.

    The archer was looking at herpanion walk away, but the dim lighting in the room was too weak to reveal her expression. Yoichi only had to look at that lock of red hair for a moment to feel better: Tentochu was under attack and an evil and unknown power was about to fall on the faction. But he and his friends were still alive, and that was all that mattered.

    Acting instinctively, Yoichi raised an arm and extended his greetings to his valiant travelingpanion, the most incredible archer he had ever met. At the same time, he turned and began walking back to the arena, his other hand tucked in his pocket.

    The dark and deserted streets of the Tamer District didn''t bother him at allpared to the forest that led to the ckvault Mines, full of ravenous demons ready to kill.

    Once he arrived in front of the great doors of the training Arena''s walls, Yoichi pushed one of the doors open, creating enough space to enter.

    The sound of the leaves and the scent of the peach blossoms added to the magic of that enchanting ce, making him forget that he was inside such a vast city.

    The sacred Dojo was right there in front of him. The golden details of the pce and the two tiger-shaped statues that guarded the entrance stood in all their magnificence, jaws gaping.

 Chapter 190 - Private Library

    Around the pce and throughout the square, including therge stone tatami, there seemed to be no other people. Theoretically, without a temporary gatekeeper, anyone could have entered that sacred ce, viting the rules that Ryutaro had enforced for decades.

    A strong mncholy feeling pervaded the young tamer''s chest. Although he had not known his faceless master for a long time, he had formed a strong bond with him. So strong that it led Ryutaro to vite the very rules to which he himself was subjected.??

    Yoichi climbed the steps leading to the entrance, looking up and letting the moonlight touch every part of his face as if it had magical regenerative power.

    His right cheekbone, his chin, and one of his two eyebrows had been scratched from recent fights. Yoichi felt no pain, but he realized, once again, that Kenji''s draconic power did not make him invincible.

    His physique was untrained, and a single day on horseback could fatigue him inexorably. If his muscles had increased their tone and mass, it would probably have been much easier to handle the power of the draconic me.

    Steeling himself, he decided to enter the second holiest ce in the city, after the Cathedral. The young tamer had never visited that district, but that huge building was visible from a great distance, second in height only to the Imperial Pce.

    When he entered the first square room of the Dojo, the rigor and cleanliness of that sacred ce had an immediate invigorating effect. Without overthinking, he untied his boots still stained with dirt and mud and left them by the door.

    Ryutaro would not be pleased to know that the clean floors of the Dojo were being soiled with dirt from the outside. I''ll act like he''s here watching me, if not better, he thought, starting to walk barefoot towards the stairs.

    One floor after another, Yoichi climbed to the top of the Dojo. That magical ce was imbued with strong spirit power, so strong that it seemed to press against the resistant walls.

    It was as if the egos of all those who used to meditate there remained in the floors and walls, making an imprable fortress out of even such a geographically exposed ce.

    The fatigue continued to weigh on the tendons and muscles of the young tamer, whose head was so full of thoughts that he didn''t know which of them to prioritize. Enatsu, his training, Ryutaro, the Princess.

    Rest was the only thing that would ease Yoichi''s soul.

    Once he had made his way down all the stairs and through the narrow corridors that branched off like the streets of a maze to Ryutaro''s private room, Yoichi stopped at his door.

    He looked down and took a long breath. At the same time, he pulled out the green key from his small leather pouch, thinking back to how precious his master''stest gift was.

    *click*click* - the key in the lock made metallic sounds and the internal gears began to slide on each other, unlocking the opening mechanism.

    A high-pitched squeak apanied the door leaf, which opened into the room, weing the weary traveler. The decor before Yoichi''s eyes was exactly as he remembered it.

    Although he had only been there once before, his memories were vivid and the minimal feng-shui with which Ryutaro had arranged every piece of furniture and object had made that ce unforgettable, imprinting it forever in his mind.

    The katana and the armor were still in their ce, respectively on the wall and in the corner of the room. The books that would be his daily bread were right next to the door, at the bottom, in front of a straw mat still open on the floor.

    Next to the mat where the gatekeeper used to meditate, a small earthenware contained the remains of some incense, nowpletely consumed.

    After framing each object in the room individually, his gaze was drawn towards the center, as if a maic and irresistible forcepelled him to look in that direction.

    The moonlighting from the window perfectly cut out the contours of the stone washbasin, which stood overwhelmingly in the geometric center of the floor. Inside of it, Yoichi''s fatey in the form of liquid. Its surface was motionless due to the absence of air currents.

    Yoichi took a step forward and then another, after a moment''s hesitation. His eyes gradually lowered to frame the inside of the washbasin, whose stone was carefully iid and represented important scenes from Lumya''s history.

    The young warrior''s face peeped out from the edges of that container and his image was reflected in the Tear of Therion, thest Dragon King.

    He took a deep breath and, in the meantime, sharp pain in his back suddenly reappeared, reminding him that his physical condition was still improving.

    Tomorrow I will begin with the cultivation of my powers, he thought. First, though, I think a good read might help me find the sleep I seek.

    Moving his hands away from the cold stone surface, Yoichi opened the window of the room, allowing the fresh night air to enter. Everything in that ce smelled of Ryutaro as if it had absorbed his essence.

    His feet dragged across the smooth wooden floor, so polished that it seemed no one had ever walked on it. Yoichi lowered himself to the small bookcase beside the door, kneeling on the mat.

    In addition to the tome on which Ryutaro had shown him the image of Therion, dozens of other dusty books were stacked on the part closest to the wall.

    Blowing and using his fingers to remove the excess dust, Yoichi read their titles: "Dragon Demons of Lumya, Ancient Demonology, Ancient and Contemporary History of Tentochu, and Fundamentals of Demon Taming.

    Thest title especially piqued his attention, leading his hands to grasp that book.

    "Fundamentals of Demon Taming. Hmm... this seems like a decidedly lighter read than the others," Yoichi thought out loud. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the titles imprinted on the covers of the other books contained words and letters from an ancient and iprehensible alphabet.

 Chapter 191 - Carpet

    The book in his hands had a once red cover, now faded and discoloured. The title was handwritten, in block letters with ck ink, also faded.

    Before beginning to read it, Yoichi rested it on hisp and quickly flipped through it to see if it was written in an understandablenguage or some weird ancient alphabet.??

    That seemingly insignificant gesture unlocked another memory in the young Nightdes warrior''s mind. The sound of the pages of that book resounded within the walls of his head and the dust he breathed brought his mind back to a moment in the distant past.

    The bottle of whiskey that read his name was still on the table in front of him. The room around it was a blur, and the colors of the objects and pieces of furniture contrasted so sharply that they were indistinguishable.

    However, even though that seemed like a memory he had already experienced, a new element was added to the scene: having just sipped yet another ss of liquor, in his hands his former ego was holding a book.

    The words were as faded as the background, and the letters were so unclear that they blended into each other, forming a cluster of meaningless ck dots. Judging by the division into paragraphs, the weight of the book itself, and the text that didn''t upy the pages up to the edges, it looked like a novel.

    As soon as his gaze turned away from the pages, the confusion started to give him a severe headache, the vision ended, and his mind was teleported back to his present body, kneeling on the straw mat in Ryutaro''s room.

    "Phew..." he huffed, "When is this going to end? I can''t take it anymore," he thought aloud, rubbing his eyes.

    "Before I woke up here, who knows where and when I loved to read. So what? What the hell does this all mean? Why do I keep seeing images from my past? They do me no good!"

    Grinning and speaking in the direction of the ceiling, Yoichi vented to himself. The visions clouded his tired mind even more, making his body further irritable.

    He stood up from the mat and brought the book ''Foundations of Demon Taming'' with him. As he began flipping through it for the second time, his thoughts became distracted again, forcing him to look away from the words written on the paper.

    This time, his imagination navigated not in the past but in the present. What was Ryutaro doing? He wasfortably lying on a bed while the gatekeeper was dealing with the Emperor''s guards. Had he already been imprisoned? Had he been given food and drink?

    These questions gued his thoughts, bringing him back into a state of restlessness and difort, even though his body was finally resting.

    "I hope you are well, Ryutaro-Sensei. I will endeavor to do what you have told me and when I am ready, I will find a way to get you out of there," he stated, speaking those words aloud, hoping that his master might hear him using some magic, remote spell.

    ...

    While time passed quickly for young Yoichi, who was reading a book to get some sleep, that night seemed never to end for the old Ryutaro.

    After walking down part of the Royal Road escorted by the Emperor''s men, the gatekeeper got closer and closer to the Pce district that housed the Imperial Family.

    Flowering nts and bushes trimmed down to the smallest detail adorned the edges and corners of the streets, making them even more pleasant than the ordinary streets of Goldhaven.

    About every five meters, long red and white drapes hung from golden poles, bearing the face and gaping jaws of the white tiger, the imperial symbol.

    Without uttering a word, his face still hidden under his ck veil, Ryutaro continued walking, facing his destiny as a man of honor head-on.

    In the middle of a long, tree-lined and flowering avenue, adorned with more drapes and many objects that reminded of the Nishiyamas, ran a long red carpet, which covered the entire street.

    Following that carpet, it was possible to see the imposing Imperial Pce, the sacred ce that, from generation to generation, had housed all the descendants of the wealthiest and most powerful family in Tentochu.

    Looking around and admiring after so long the gilded edges of nearby buildings, fountains and other glittering decorative elements, Ryutaro felt a strong sense of despondency.

    He, who had not always been a simple gatekeeper, once walked that road by the side of Emperor Tatsui, a loyal and just man and his great friend. Until Tatsui''sst breath, the Imperial Street leading to the Pce was incredibly simr to all other streets in the capital.

    Indeed, the former Emperor had no desire to show off his riches to his people: ording to him, the best and most worthy of being adorned streets should be those traveled daily by tamers and workers of all kinds since they were the true soul of Goldhaven.

    Tatsui imed that the final stretch of the Royal Road was a simple fork in the road leading to the Pce, the physical ce where anyone could express opinions and make demands in special public hearings.

    All those glitzy and useless trinkets had totally obliterated Tatsui Nishiyama''s memory, and a warrior of Ryutaro''s experience could be nothing but displeased.

    At the end of the road, a little less than a couple of miles long, an enormous staircase was nked by two gigantic white columns. The upper capitals of those engineering masterpieces supported the front of the Pce''s majestic pitched roof.

    The corners of the roof were curved upward, as if to skim the sky. Above the lowestyer of the white-tiled roof, two other simr but smaller roofs formed a tower-like structure, giving the building a decidedly disproportionate heightpared tomon houses and shop buildings.

    The Imperial Pce was the nation''s most significant symbol of power, and travelers from all over the world came to Goldhaven to see it with their own eyes, realizing how close it was to the legendary tales.

    Putting strength into his tired joints, Ryutaro followed the Imperial guards up the steps. The nking of the metal tes of their armor broke the silence of the night. The helmetless man led the group, heading toward the entrance with the same trepidation as one ascending to heaven on earth.

 Chapter 192 - Akai Kiba

    Being the man who had captured such an important fugitive was the most excellent satisfaction an imperial guard could aspire to at that moment.

    The man without the helmet knew that as a result of his deed, he and his men would likely receive a mary reward or, even better, a promotion.??

    The heavy stone doors of the Imperial Pce gate were wide open. In front of them, two huge men in armor stood as still as statues, holding two long halberds crossed in the middle.

    The two warriors wore armor that was decidedly different from the other guards: red and ck breasttes and pauldrons, very simr to the uniforms of the Emperor''s Heralds but heavier and more adorned. They were two long ck horns on their kabutos, curved backwards like those of two wild mouflons.

    On their faces, covered by the kabutos, were oni masks, withrge, sharp protruding teeth and two wide ck eyeholes, from which their unemotional human pupils slightly reflected the moonlight.

    Although Ryutaro was an exceptionally tall man, he noticed that the two giants guarding the entrance were several inches taller than him when he climbed thest step.

    Their gazes seemed to point forward, and even in the presence of the guards and their prisoner, they did not move an inch, keeping their halberds crossed in front of the door.

    The helmetless man stopped in the presence of the two giants, sorge that they looked more like demons than human beings. "Glory to the Emperor!" he eximed, leaning his torso forward with his hands at his sides.

    The oni soldiers did not respond, remaining as still as statues. "Um..." stammered the man without a helmet, turning his gaze to Ryutaro, who was still in the same position. "I am Satow Utemaro, leader of the thirty-second division of the southern entrance. My men and I have captured the fugitive gatekeeper, obeying the orders of his royal highness the Emperor," he stated confidently.

    The head of one of the two oni warriors moved slightly without making the slightest sound. The infernal expression of the mask that covered his face terrified Satow and his two guards, who were unable to meet his gaze.

    On the contrary, Ryutaro''s covered face was pointed in that direction, showing that he had no fear of the strongest warriors guarding on the Imperial Family.

    In fact, the oni soldiers defending the pce did not belong to any division of the Tentochu samurai army: their only task was to obey Emperor Nishiyama and protect his family.

    They called themselves ''Akai Kiba'' or ''Red Fangs'' and had nomander or headquarters. Furthermore, as proof of their loyalty to the Nishiyama Family, they had taken a vow of silence and chastity. During their lives, in fact, they could neither speak nor reproduce, thus devoting all their time to the growth of their physical strength and fighting techniques.

    The Red Fangs were known and feared even beyond the borders of the nation because of their ferocity and cruelty. The legends that revolved around the mysterious oni-faced soldiers were that they were incapable of feeling physical pain, thus being able to push their bodies beyond their limits.

    When one of them looked at Ryutaro, the halberd clutched in his left hand was raised upwards. Returning his face to its original position, both warriors guarding the pce pointed the lower tips of their weapons at the floor, raising their des skyward and clearing the passageway.

    "Thank you... I thank you for your understanding, Akai Kiba warriors," Satow stammered, visibly afraid of the two silent men. Together with his guards and Ryutaro, the helmetless soldier crossed the threshold of the Imperial Pce, hurrying towards the throne room.

    The gigantic pce, home of the Nishiyama family, wasposed of countless halls and rooms of all sizes, each adorned with precious trinkets from all over the world.

    Hundreds of red carpets stretched across the structure floors as if they were the lymphatic system of that building, so imposing and sacred that it seemed alive.

    After Satow and Ryutaro passed, the halberds of the Red Fangs closed in, again blocking the passage. For security reasons, no one could enter or leave the Imperial Pce except through that great door.

    The lighting of the entrance hall came mainly from a huge chandelier that hung from the ceiling, tens of meters high. In addition, hundreds of candles andmps ced on special pedestals illuminated every corner of that structure.

    Beingte at night, the hundreds of people whomonly crowded the pce rooms during the daytime were holed up in their chambers. The echo of the footsteps of the unexpected visitors echoed as if inside a cave with high vaults, making those rooms seem even more immense.

    The long red carpet led to the Throne Room, proceeding straight ahead in front of the entrance. It was the only physical ce in the pce where it was possible to request an audience with the Emperor.

    "This ce is really huge, sir... I''ve never been in here before!" - the voice of one of Satow''s men broke the silence. "Is it possible that the only guards looking after the pce at this time of the night are those two men we met at the doors? Are they really that powerful?" he asked.

    Despite knowing all the answers to those questions, Ryutaro remained silent, already imagining what would happen during his meeting with the Emperor.

    "The Red Fangs are the most powerful warriors in our faction. It is said that a hundred of them can equal the strength of a thousand samurai," Satow reyed, walking without ever stopping.

    "This is incredible! I can''t wait to tell myrades about entering the Imperial Pce," the other guard added, giggling under his helmet as if it were a kind of game.

    After walking through the entrance hall in its entirety, a man suddenly emerged from the back of a staircase. Two flights of curved stairs started from the floor and, following the square corners of the vast room, led to the upper floors.

    "Oh, fuck!" Satow boomed, unable to contain his fright. The man who blocked their advance was a short, scrawny old man wearing a long brown robe, so long it covered his feet and crawled across the floor behind him.

    On his head was a headdress very simr to the one worn by Ryutaro, but shorter, adorned with two pheasant feathers along the sides.

 Chapter 193 - Throne Room

    The mysterious little man''s face was so wrinkled and shrunken that his eyes had be, over time, two thin lines drooping downward. Following the same downward trajectory, a pair of smooth white whiskers waved under his chin, brushing against a goatee of the same color.

    The old man''s hands were not visible, crossed over each other under the two wide sleeves of his brown kimono. Judging by his rather distinctive appearance, he had all the earmarks of a monk.??

    "Who dares enter the residence of His Royal Highness at this time of night?" the old monk grumbled, moving slowly towards the guards and their prisoner.

    "Um... hi. Greetings, sir! My name is Satow Utemaro, and I am the head of the guards of the thirty-second division of the south entrance," the helmetless man announced. "I beg forgiveness for thete-night intrusion, but we have urgent news for His Majesty the Emperor. If we could, we would havee to the pce at the crack of dawn, but he has explicitly requested not to wait further in case of sess," Satow exined, sputtering so as not to be interrupted.

    "In case of sess? What sort of task have you been assigned? Did you happen to find..."

    "Come on, when are these antics going to end?" Ryutaro interrupted, tired of being subjected to all those unnecessary bureaucratic procedures.

    "You... you are¡­" the old monk stammered, trying to focus on the gatekeeper and furrowing his balding eyebrows at his irreverence.

    "I am Ryutaro, yes. Now let us pass, please. My legs are tired, and I can''t wait all night to meet Shinzo," the gatekeeper replied, showing everyone his authority.

    "How dare you call His Majesty the Emperor by his first name! You''re history in here, Ryutaro! You''re nobody anymore," the old monk grunted loudly, grinding the few remaining teeth in his shrivelled mouth. Meanwhile, Satow and his guards didn''t know how to interact.

    "Now I remember perfectly! There''s a bounty on your head, you old traitor. His Majesty the Emperor will punish you as you deserve!" the Imperial councillor growled. "Are you really so eager to be thrown into the filthy prisons of the Pce? Go on, then! I will not be the one to slow down your sentence!" he added, stepping aside and ordering the guards to proceed.

    Satow looked at Ryutaro, then at the old monk. Perhaps those two veterans had known each other for quite some time, and judging by the harsh tones of their dialogue, they didn''t seem to be getting along particrly well.

    Without continuing with idle chatter, the head of the guards bowed his head out of respect and walked past the old advisor, followed by Ryutaro and his men.

    Finally, about ten minutes after their entrance into the pce, they found themselves in front of the throne room doors. Once again, the splendor and magnificence of the interior of the nation''s most important building left everyone speechless.

    Ryutaro was stunned at such a waste of wealth: going against the principles that histe father held most sacred, the current Emperor had built a pure gold door to the Throne Room.

    From the most superficial finishing touches to the tworge rings supported between the jaws of two tigers, that door alone could have helped entire poor quarters of the city, forced to live in misery and unhygienic conditions.

    Discouraged by that vision, the gatekeeper waited for the door to be opened by Satow to crown the havoc he was forced to witness. Like the door, in the throne room, other precious trinkets, curtains made from the most delicate fabrics and rare artefacts belonging to antiquity adorned the room where the Emperor received his guests.

    Weapons and armor lined the walls, on which hundreds of works of art belonging to the most famous artists of Tentochu were disyed. A fresco depicted a giant white tiger with its jaws wide open on the ceiling, surrounded by lightning and storm clouds.

    In the center of that fierce, streaked feline''s face, two yellow eyes pierced the darkness of the sky, depicting the magnificence and power of the Imperial Family, the only one that possessed the Torasagi, the flying-tiger demon.

    When the incredulous gazes of the guards finished admiring the painting, they gradually lowered to the end of the room, the heart of the Imperial Pce. What could possibly be the material that made up the Emperor''s great throne?

    Gold. Gold everywhere, of the highest quality and finest quality. From the armrests to the backrest, the throne contained so much gold to do envy to the nation''s biggest mines.

    Satow and his soldiers dared not go beyond the threshold defined by the end of the carpet, which widened into arger carpet at the edge of Shinzo''s throne. Its backrest was high and pointed, curving slightly forward as if to resemble a tusk.

    To its left, a smaller throne of metal and wood adorned with other precious stones was probably the seat of Empress Kayoko, Shinzo''s wife.

    The sudden sound of apuse echoed through the hall,ing from the areas behind the gaudy throne. Not knowing what would happen in those moments of apparent calm, the man without a helmet and his guards remained alert and focused, assuming a rigid and strict stance.

    Ryutaro stayed still behind them with his gaze pointed in the direction of that sound.

    *p*p*p*

    "Who would have thought?" - a deep, manly voice concluded that ironic p. Someone made his entrance into the hall, slowly popping out from behind the golden throne.

    "Emperor Nishiyama! Your Majesty!" Satow trembled, kneeling on the ground and stretching his arms forward with his forehead between his elbows. As soon as they saw their captain, the two soldiers mirrored his gesture, sensing the divine presence of the Emperor.

    "Kawada Ryutaro. Atst, we meet again, gatekeeper," Shinzo Nishiyama spoke, manifesting himself in all his magnificence.

    In Ryutaro''s memories, the Emperor of Tentochu was only a teenager when he was exiled from the Pce along with most of Tatsui''s servants. Now, however, Shinzo had be a full-grown, good-looking man, visually suited to the role he had inherited from his father.

    "No one has called me that in a long time, your highness," Ryutaro replied. He ced one of his old hands on his abdomen and bent his torso forward, bowing in respect. At the same time, the ck veil in front of his face followed that movement, reminding the Emperor and everyone present that no one had seen his face since his exile.

 Chapter 194 - Glitz

    "That is your name, gatekeeper. Besides, my authority allows me to call you whatever I please," Shinzo remarked, sauntering towards the guards. They moved immediately, noticing that the Emperor was following Ryutaro with his eyes.

    The gatekeeper didn''t respond to that statement, just looking at the Tentochu sovereign. In his memories, Shinzo was a young boy just over ten years old when Tatsui left the world of the living.??

    The one who was then the prince was a child with a dull and silent nature, despite being raised in a loving and rxed environment. Because of his close friendship with Tatsui, Ryutaro knew firsthand the issues revolving around his only son, Shinzo.

    Emperor Tatsui and Empress Yoko had wanted a son with all their hearts. By the time the Empress managed to get pregnantte in life, she had tried all sorts of natural fertility-enhancing methods.

    She and Tatsui named the prince and future Emperor of Tentochu Shinzo. ''Heart'', that was the meaning of that name. Part of the heart of his parents, who had desired him from the depths of their souls, as well as the heart of the nation, which, during a war, would saw in the Prince the hope of a new beginning.

    He was a grumpy child, sometimes very violent. Having no siblings, Shinzo yed with children of the highest nobility: all too often he asserted his power with his peers, breaking any game orpetition rules and winning overwhelmingly.

    However, although he was a tyrant from the very beginning of his young life, his silent character allowed him to hide this trait. He was able to beguile everyone with his good looks, letting others not see the dark side of his soul.

    Shinzo began to feel contempt for his father at an early age, discovering that someone as powerful as the Emperor was always kind and merciful to even the weakest people.

    Why did he do such a thing? Why did the Emperorpromise with men or women whose lives were worth far less than his own? These were the selfish ideals that apanied the prince''s growth, forging his despotic character.

    When Tatsui died, and Empress Yoko could no longer make her own decisions, Shinzo felt a strong sense of freedom. He was just a child, and yet, he could think of nothing else but his own personal growth and all the powers he had inherited from histe father.

    Snow-white hair and eyes as yellow as the sun. In terms of physical appearance, the Emperor was identical to his father. For generations, the white hair of the Imperial Family was passed down from generation to generation as a symbol of nobility and godhood.

    Historically, all of thest Tentochu rulers had those facial features that made them look like gods. Tatsui Nishiyama possessed a Fenishiro, a fairly rare and powerful phoenix demon, a perfect symbol of vigor and rebirth.

    On the other hand, Shinzo''s Oracle was born as a Torasagi, a demon with no evolutions but almost supernatural powers. His selfishness and narcissism led Shinzo to rece the royal symbol with the face of his Oracle, removing his father''s Fenishiro from the memory of the older citizens and from the eyes of the new generations.

    The Torasagi was depicted everywhere: statues and squares, frescoes, drapes, even objects and souvenirs. Everything about Goldhaven advertised the high figure of the Emperor.

    The love for the pomp and abuse of power made Shinzo increasingly different from his father, who died before he could realize that his son''s character, despite his teachings, would remain the same forever.

    "Are you aware of the reason why you are here, Kawada Ryutaro?" Shinzo asked, walking with his hands behind his back. The Emperor wore a long white robe, which almost blended in with his long hair, partially tied in a braid and partially free to flutter in the air.

    The dress was open almost up to the navel and allowed a glimpse of his well-trained physique. That was another peculiar characteristic of the young Emperor: the unconditional love for fighting and training.

    Although his masters wanted to lead him on the path of study and knowledge, making him a non-violent ruler, Shinzo felt an incredible sense of satisfaction in seeing other people suffer.

    Possessing a demon far bigger and stronger than his trainingrades, he had repeatedly risked killing them, letting himself be carried away by the unconditional desire for blood and violence.

    "I am here because his majesty has ordered my immediate incarceration," Ryutaro replied, looking up masked by the ck veil. With that answer, the gatekeeper pretended not to know anything.

    "Ehehe..." Shinzo chuckled. "It''s really true. People never change. You were a liar, and you remain a liar, Ryutaro." After those words, an evil smile appeared on the Emperor''s face. It was clear that Ryutaro''s temporary removal from the Dojo was just an excellent excuse to arrest himwfully, weing the consent of the citizens.

    Yoichi''s theory was proving to be perfectly consistent with the facts.

    "Your only task was to guard a ce as small as the Dojo, and yet, you have disappointed me once again. The only question I can think of is... why did you decide to throw your life away, old man?" Shinzo inquired again, touching his shaved chin with one hand.

    Before Ryutaro could respond to that provocation, he and the guards heard several female voicesing from the area behind the golden throne. One by one, three women entered the room, approaching the handsome Emperor.

    The women were in an apparent state of intoxication and actually naked. Few almost transparent veils covered theirdy parts, and their prosperous breasts were perfectly visible.

    Lips as red and wet as juicy berries and skins as white as milk. The Emperor''s concubines caught the eyes of everyone present, including the imperial guards.

    One of them put her hand on the Emperor''s shoulder and her other hand on his chest, bringing her lips close to his face and whispering something in his ear. Her firm breasts werepletely uncovered and what was left of her dress had been reduced to a thin rag over her shoulder.

 Chapter 195 - Concubines

    The concubine''s long, loose ck hair waved sinuously near her curved back, releasing a very fragrant scent. Her dark, almost ck eyes lingered on Ryutaro for a few moments, not realizing why a man would wear a veil in front of his face.

    Emperor Shinzo had a wife, who had gone from being a simple nobleman to the Empress of Tentochu due to their marriage. The Empress wasn''t entitled to her husband''s same powers, but her image instilled courage and hope in the poption.??

    She was an auspicious symbol for merchants and warriors, artisans and farmers. Empress Kayoko was revered by many as a goddess with her unruffled expression and kind face, even though she did nothing more than wave to her subjects at public events.

    After speaking closely into Shinzo''s ears, the most brazen of the three concubines drew out her warm tongue and licked his earlobe, gradually descending to his neck.

    Before she could continue her path, pretending to be alone with her lover, she was stopped by Shinzo himself. With his hand, he grabbed her chin, pulling her face away from his neck.

    "There are guests, girls. Please wait for me in my room. I''ll be right back," Shinzo chuckled, aroused by the tongue that had just brushed against his neck. After his orders, the three concubines retraced their steps, passing the throne and disappearing behind it, exiting the throne room.

    To the surprise of the guards, the Emperor of Tentochu had just proven himself to be polygamous: like many noble and powerful men, perhaps Shinzo objectified the Empress, seeking sexual pleasures in other women.

    "Your father is rolling over in his grave, Shinzo" - Ryutaro''s words drew the Emperor''s angry gaze. His orange eyes pointed at the gatekeeper, looking at him as if he wanted to punish him for his insolence.

    One step after another, the white-haired man approached Ryutaro, trying to look him in the eye. "Don''t you ever dare speak of my father in my presence again, and don''t ever call me by my first name. I am your Emperor, and I demand your respect, old man!" Shinzo ordered, gradually increasing the tone of his voice.

    Before Ryutaro could respond to that statement, Shinzo grabbed his red kimono, held it in his hands, and pulled it towards him. As if he wanted to immobilize the gatekeeper, the Emperor lifted Ryutaro''s body slightly while continuing to stare at him with angry eyes.

    "Why did you run away from the Dojo? I don''t have time for these games! You will remain in this exact spot until you give me an answer!" he shouted.

    When Ryutaro looked closely at Shinzo, he realized that so many years had passed since their meeting, and perhaps the Emperor was now in his fifties. This was made evident by the thin wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes.

    "I''m tired of living in the Dojo day and night. I needed to get out and distract myself for once," the gatekeeper replied. From the unsure tone of his voice, Ryutaro had been entirely unconvincing.

    "Aaaargh! Nonsense!" Shinzo shouted in a fury, letting go of his grip on Ryutaro''s kimono and backing away from him, blurting out iprehensible words. "My men have seen you with people who have nothing to do with your job as guardian of the arena," Shinzo reported.

    The informants he spoke of were surely among the warriors of the Emperor''s Heralds guild. Always loyal to the crown, they had not hesitated for a moment to report everything they had seen to the Emperor''s messengers.

    "I deal with hundreds of people every day, Shinzo," Ryutaro spoke, sketching a smile under his veil. "Your men may have been mistaken. I''m just doing my job.

    The Emperor''s orange eyes filled with anger and his hands clenched into fists. "Do you really want to die, Kawado Ryutaro?" - Shinzo moved so close to the monk''s face that their noses almost touched.

    "When my timees, I will be ready," the gatekeeper replied. "Death is nothing but the normal flow of things; it is part of the cycle of life. When this body dies, my soul will be reincarnated in another body, young Emperor of Tentochu.

    With those words spoken with the sole purpose of irritating Shinzo and distancing the speech more and more from Yoichi and everything rted to Kenji, Ryutaro knew that the Emperor could have even killed him, but he didn''t care.

    Shinzo realized that that speech was only aimed at wasting his time and nervously ran a hand through his long white hair.

    "I don''t trust you, Ryutaro. I have never trusted you. I will find out what you are up to. In the meantime, you will rot in the Pce dungeon, the ce where I should have locked you up long ago," the Emperor growled. Raising a hand, he snapped his fingers. His angry eyes focused on the gatekeeper.

    After that signal, two men in armor emerged from behind the throne and hurriedly approached Ryutaro. Both wore red oni masks, each one different from the other.

    The Sutow guards who witnessed the scene took a step back, afraid of the presence of two more Red Fangs soldiers. Tall and mighty, they grabbed both Ryutaro''s arms, who let himself be carried without resistance.

    The gatekeeper was escorted by the two soldiers past the golden throne, essing the door on the wall behind it. All three of them exited the throne room, carrying out the Emperor''s orders and leading the prisoner into the darkest and deepest prisons of the Imperial Pce.

    Shinzo sat on his throne, continuing to touch his hairpulsively. It was as if the man, obsessed with his outer beauty and ego, was blinded by anger. His father''s right-hand man had never knelt before him, and yet, the people of Goldhaven treated him with respect worthy of a war veteran.

    "Your majesty," Sutow stuttered, drawing the Emperor''s attention without daring to cross his gaze.

    Shinzo looked at the three guards as if barely aware of their presence. He got up from his throne and started to speak again, "You have done a great job today, and for that, you will be duly rewarded. But now I have another mission for you," the white-haired man eximed, his expression of hatred turning into an evil smile.

 Chapter 196 - White Noise

    That night seemed to never end for poor Ruytaro, who was headed for the deepest rooms of the pce. Meanwhile, Yoichi felt a sick feeling in his chest, as if he sensed that his Sensei was in danger.

    In a little over half an hour, even though sleep made his tired eyelids waver, the young tamer continued reading ''Fundamentals of Demon Taming'', one of the books from the gatekeeper''s private collection.??

    It gathered a lot of information regarding the most coveted and typical job in the world. Basic and advanced rules, exnations regarding demon types and their weaknesses, tips on where to find the rarest demons and how to tame them.

    In particr, Yoichi''s eyes read the same sentence more than once: "The types of demons so far recognized by the most experienced schrs in the capital are thirteen, and they are distributed rather unevenly throughout the underwater and emerged world."

    Thirteen types of demons? I didn''t think there were that many! He thought, emphasizing that phrase. Learning that definition, he realized that if a demon could have more than one type, thebinations would be far more than those he imagined.

    In addition to those generic information, the book collected a series of rules on the proper use of the tools that apanied the Demon Tamers along their travels. Demon Teeth and first aid essories: before leaving on an expedition, whether belonging to a guild or not, the tamer had to get at least these two ''ingredients''.

    Yoichi''s interest rose chapter by chapter, but the residual energy in his body, when the back of his head rubbed against the pillow for the umpteenth time, could no longer feed his eyes.

    The book fell on his face twice before he surrendered to sleep. The cool night air came in through the window that illuminated the room and the stone sink.

    The young tamer''s confused gaze looked at that stone object before he fell asleep, trying to keep Ryutaro''s words in mind as if afraid to forget his teachings.

    With the book resting on his chest and one arm stretched out towards the floor, the young Nightdes tamer closed his eyes and sumbed to fatigue, falling deeply asleep.

    The Dojo area inside the Arena was one of the quietest areas in all of Goldhaven. While the city streets were busy and noisy, within those walls reigned a religious silence, due more to the sacredness of that ce.

    The green key was stuck in the lock inside, keeping the door closed in case some curious guy tried to enter illegally.

    Inexorably, time also took away the night, which, little by little, gave way to the light of dawn. The song of the sparrows and other birds that liked to perch on the long branches of the peach trees in the courtyard echoed in the air, reaching the ears of the young warrior.

    When Yoichi''s senses were activated after his long sleep, his sense of smell caught the scent of the soft pillow on which he was resting his head. Although it seemed to be made of wool, the ssic smell of straw came from within.

    Trying to hasten his awakening, Yoichi looked up at the ceiling and stretched his entire body, staying on thefortable bed for a few more seconds.

    When he sat up on the mattress, he grabbed the book that had fallen to the floor and ced it back on the bed with extreme care, making sure not to miss the mark so he could restart reading it where he left off.

    Yoichi wasn''t used to the calm and silence of the Dojo, but perhaps it was just what he needed. Ever since he first opened his eyes in Lumya, his awakenings had almost always been traumas, excluding when he slept at the White Rose, the inn that belonged to the Princess'' old friend.

    Without a second thought, identifying with his Sensei, Yoichi tried to simte his routine actions. After opening the window wide, he thought back to the words of Ryutaro, who had advised him to give his body and mind to training and meditation.

    Less than a meter from the straw mat, resting on the floor, were all the items necessary to light an incense stick. Many wood-coloured sticks were neatly arranged in an open container of the same material.

    Next to it, a ck piece of steelplete with a flint. Somehow, Yoichi remembered having used such an object to start a fire before, and without too much hesitation or fear of setting the room on fire, he grabbed it.

    He ced a stick of incense in the earthenware and, rubbing the small steel te on the flint, let the sparks fall on a thinyer of dry straw, previously ced at the bottom of the crock.

    After the straw finished burning, the me was transmitted to the base of the stick, which contained several hand-woven nt fibres. They, while burning, gave off an intense but delightful smell.

    When the process waspleted and the setup usually used by the gatekeeper was ready, Yoichi sat down on the mat, straightening its folded corners with his hands.

    Although his mind was full of thoughts, before cultivating his spirit inside the Tear of Therion, Yoichi intended to empty his head with some healthy meditation.

    When I tried to meditate under that oak tree next to Ryutaro, I couldn''t do it. However, he said to always practice meditation no matter where I am, he thought, going over his most recent memories.

    The birdsong apanied his mind in a deep ocean of thoughts, transporting him far from the Dojo room and Goldhaven. Letting the cool breeze caress the back of his neck, Yoichi kept his eyes closed for almost an hour without any difficulty.

    Having had enough sleep, his body continued to remain alert and attentive to the world around him, being able to perceive even the slightest sound. The people who used to frequent the Dojo and the stone tatami for morning training were already inside the courtyard.

    Indistinct voices of unknown warriors and guild leaders echoed in his ears like an annoying but bearable white noise. Yoichi''s hands were resting on his knees, palms facing the sky.

    Suddenly, his eyes opened independently, focusing on the wooden wall in front of the mat. The long-awaited moment had arrived: before starting to train his body again, Yoichi would dip his hands into the Tear of the Last Dragon.

 Chapter 197 - Tear

    After a thorough and slow muscr awakening, the young warrior could feel his body in much better shape than the previous day. The pain behind his back caused by Ogai''s blow was almostpletely gone, and his upper and lower limbs were much looser.

    By working hard and minimising distractions from the outside, Yoichi could finally meditate for the first time. The ''lotus'' position, often assumed by Ryutaro, with the palms of his hands facing upward, had helped him achieve a state of stillness and rxation.??

    About an hour of meditation had been enough to restore his physical condition. The next step was the technique of cultivating the spirit, to which only he, Ryutaro and a select few people had had ess.

    In the history of the Dojo and the gatekeeper''s exile, he had undoubtedly had other students, though he had never mentioned any of them to Yoichi.

    Trying to keep his spirit as calm as the surface of a pond, the young blond-haired tamer stood up and walked over to the stone sink. His eyes framed his face reflected in the surface of the water, and his fingers began to graze the round edges of the sink.

    Yoichi touched the shapes carved in the stone with his fingertips, trying to stay focused: although he knew that no one would rush him, he felt unexpected anxiety when he looked at that liquid.

    The Therion''s Tear, the Dragon King who once ruled Lumya, was there, within his grasp. The enormous power of that magical substance was at the service of his and Kenji''s powers, contained in the depths of his soul, deep within his chest.

    What would happen once he dipped his hands in the Tear? Would his spirit find itself again in the middle of that desert? What if he couldn''t save himself? How could he know he wouldn''t be trapped in that vision forever?

    So many questions began to buzz in his mind. During the first use of that cultivation technique, Ryutaro was beside him, ready to intervene in his moment of need; this time, however, the room was empty and silent.

    Yoichi could only rely on himself.

    His fingers detached from the stone and his palms crawled over the edges of the sink,ing dangerously close to the Tear. Yoichi''s heart began to pound, and his gaze unconsciously fell on the room key, inserted and turned inside the lock.

    "Come on, Yoichi. You can do it," he said out loud, trying to draw from those words the strength he needed to make that gesture. As if he were about to throw himself off a cliff, Yoichi took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

    A momentter, as a drop of sweat broke through the hair on his forehead, he dipped both hands into the Tear of Therion.

    Darkness enveloped his mind and eyes, ripping his senses from reality and causing him to fall into a trance-like state. Inexplicably, against allws of physics, his earthly body remained standing, motionless.

    ...

    A very sharp headache pressed against the temples of his skull, pounding hard and making all hising from the outside confused and indistinct.

    Both hands rubbed his eyes, trying to reconnect the young tamer''s mind with reality. A sudden chirp made him wake up immediately, and with a kidney shot, Yoichi pulled his back off the ground and sat up.

    Dried leaves were caught in his hair and the back of his light armor. In front of his still half-closed eyes, thick evergreen vegetation, simr to the heart of a forest.

    "Aargh... isn''t there some way to avoid this annoying headache?" he thought aloud, massaging his temples. Despite events like that not being part of normalcy, Yoichi had almost gotten used to falling asleep and then waking up elsewhere.

    When his eyes finally allowed the sunlight to enter, the images his gaze perceived became concrete and tangible: unlike hisst spiritual journey inside the Tear, the setting was very different from a desert.

    A dense and lush forest housed nts of all sizes. The predominant color of that ce was the green of the leaves, interspersed with the bright colors of flowers scattered here and there.

    The singing of the birds and crickets was charming and restorative, and a warm drizzle of dew from the highest branches of the trees fell on Yoichi''s head and shoulders, bringing good cheer.

    What kind of ce is this? Where did I end up? The young tamer thought as he stood up and looked around. He remembered Ryutaro''s words when he told him that every ce, object or living being that would be part of his visions actually represented a remote corner of his consciousness.

    Everything around him, including the sky, the clouds, and the soft grass under his boots, was a product of his imagination.

    However, every element of that vision seemed incredibly real, including the sounds and smells of that forest. Not knowing how to interact with his surroundings, Yoichi began to walk around looking for something that would catch his attention.

    After more than ten minutes spent wandering through the trees, the young tamer figured that that forest was very dense, and within it, it was impossible to get his bearings. Maybe nothing has happened yet because I haven''t summoned Kenji, he thought.

    He ced a hand on his chest and took a deep breath, squinting his eyes. His lungs filled with air, but a moment before he proudly pronounced the name of his Oracle, a remote sound caught his attention.

    A distant roar echoed through the trees. Birds and small rodents that lived in the trunks of the trees or within the bushes darted back and forth, fleeing in all directions and dispersing into the forest.

    Squirrels ran at full speed away from Yoichi, stomping on his boots and moving as far away from their hiding ce as possible.

    *GROOARGH*

    Once again, the same roar made the young tamer shake like a leaf. "It''s a dragon! That''s a dragon''s roar, I''m sure of it!" Yoichi yelled to himself, perfectly remembering his first Tear''s Vision, etched forever in his mind.

 Chapter 198 - Red Eyes

    Moving the branches of the bushes and the thick vegetation that grew untouched in that ce, he began to walk in the opposite direction of the animals'' escape. If they flee that way, it means that the sound ising from the opposite side, he thought.

    Unlike the fight against Kenji''stest evolution in that remote, arid desert, this time Yoichi wanted to face the danger. The young warrior was intent on obeying Ryutaro''s orders, and he knew that the only way to cultivate his inner power was to face whatever enemy his mind had created in the Vision of the Tear.??

    *whoosh* - when the roaring ceased, a strong gust of wind pushed the treetops around him, forcing him to bend his knees to keep from falling.

    Yoichi protected his face from the small shrubs and rocks that fluttered swirling due to the wind with one arm in front of his eyes.

    *whoosh*whoosh*

    The blowing of the wind became intermittent and regr, like the beating of wings. It was so intense that Yoichi had to put one hand on the ground to keep from being thrown off bnce.

    Where is iting from?! From above me?! What do I do now?! He thought frantically, knowing that he would have to face the being that was making the noise toplete his mission sessfully.

    Just when the sound seemed to have ceased, and the wind had lessened its force, a thunderous rumble broke the silence again. *boom* - as if something hefty had impacted the ground, that noise made the blood freeze in his veins.

    A few meters away from him, somewhere in the trees of that forest, a hidden enemy was watching him. Being part of the vision and a figment of his mind, the unknown monster was looking for him among the trees.

    *cough*cough* - whatever had swooped down from the sky began to noisily expel the air from its lungs, finally revealing its location.

    Yoichi got up from the ground and stepped back until his back touched the trunk of a tree. *anf*anf* - as if in sync, the panting breaths of the young tamer and those of the unknown beast echoed in unison.

    "Who''s there?! Come on, bring it on!" he shouted, resting a hand on the hilt of the dagger behind his back. If the beast about to attack him was Kenji, his chances of survival were drastically reduced.

    Having to face his Oracle, Yoichi would have to rely on his strength only. He recalled thest Vision in great detail, realizing that it ended when he summoned his demon, absorbing its powers and returning to the real world.

    Wait, Yoichi. If you call Kenji back and don''t confront him, your ability to handle the dragon''s power will remain unchanged! He thought, speaking to himself as if his ego was split into two parts.

    Takamori''s dagger handle was gripped more and more tightly in his right hand, while his other hand was resting on the log behind his back. The deep, heavy breathing of the demon hidden in the forest came from right in front of him.

    Fuck, fuck! It scares the hell out of me! He thought frantically, shaking his head and opening his eyes wide, trying to stay focused. It''s not real, it''s not real! Even if I were to get hit, I would wake up in the Dojo room, and the vision would be interrupted!

    His thoughts were broken by another sound, even closer. Among the trees in front of his gaze, hundreds of bushes and shrubs intertwined harmoniously among the trunks, creating a kind of natural barrier.

    The undergrowth, whose perpetual shadow was guaranteed by the thick foliage of the oaks and otherrge trees that were hundreds of years old, was the exact threshold after which the sunlight was interrupted, unable to filter through.

    A darkyer of a few feet was suspended between the lower branches of the trees and the leafy ground. Some of those leaves, at one point, were blown away by a breath, fluttering in every direction.

    "Oh, shit!" Yoichi quaked, unable to stay calm. The presence he had sensed just moments before was even closer, and he could feel its gaze on him.

    Confirming his hypothesis, within the darkyer of the undergrowth, a dim, red light popped up: like the light of antern during the night, that red sphere became more intense andrger as it got closer to Yoichi.

    The light approached, and the trees around it bent forward as if moved by something sorge that it bent the enormous trunks of the oaks.

    When the red glow passed the firstyers of vegetation, it took shape under the gaze of the young tamer, whose throat was dry with fear. Like that of a reptile, a narrow, elongated pupil was pointed at him and traced every movement of his arms and legs. Within it, a red me burned ardently like the ming core of a star.

    "Goddamn! Aargh!" - After moving away from the tree he was leaning against, Yoichi stumbled and fell to the ground, getting up soon after. The young tamer began backing away and breaking out into a cold sweat again, preparing for the colossal demon''s attack.

    The rest of the face shattered the trees near the demon eye, and a huge, scaled snout emerged from the darkness, dragging with it the foliage it had torn off.

    Another red eye followed the face of the giant dragon, the most mammoth being Yoichi had ever seen or dreamed of. To crown its magnificence, four giant ck horns, tworger on either side and two smaller in the middle, followed the movement of its head, cutting through the sky.

    But... but this... this is not Kenji! It''s ten times bigger! Yoichi thought, panting in fear and watching the sharp jaws glimpse out from the dragon''s snout. The demon''s chin crawled across the ground, dragging foliage and whole chunks of soil with it as if they were dust on a shelf.

    The face of the dragon demon in front of him was definitely bigger than thest dragon in his vision. Yoichi''s entire body was a little smaller than the diameter of its eye, and the air spewed from its nostrils was so strong that it reminded him of the typical wind of storms.

 Chapter 199 - Shape-shifting

    When the vegetation behind the young tamer''s back became too thick for him to continue backing away, the dragon put its head closer to him, breathing heavily.

    "K... Kenji?! Is that you?!" Yoichi stammered. Inside of him, he knew that everything he was experiencing was just a training vision, but that giant, fierce demon looked terrifying.??

    "Hmm? Kenji?" - Without any warning, the dragon spoke, answering Yoichi''s question.

    "Oh, fuck! You... you spoke!" he yelled, panicking. The dagger fell from his right hand, ending up next to his feet in the leaves of the underbrush.

    "I''m not Kenji, boy," the giant red-eyed ck dragon continued. His appearance was identical to that of his dragon demon, and the colors were very simr. The only significant difference was the size.

    "I... I don''t... um... I''m not going to fight you!" the young Nightdes warrior eximed. To show his determination, Yoichi straightened his hunched back and took a tiny step forward.

    "I believe it, little man. You probably wouldn''tst a second," the dragon chuckled. Its voice was the most resounding and baritone Yoichi had ever heard.

    Every time it uttered a word, its vocal cords made even the ground beneath its neck vibrate. Its two front legs were definitely resting on the ground, but its neck was long enough to hide the rest of its body within the remaining untouched trees.

    Seen from above, Yoichi was not even distinguishable among the trees and bushes. In contrast, the giant ck dragon had crushed a good portion of the forest with its bulk.

    Can this dragon talk? How the hell is that possible? My mind is ying tricks on me! Yoichi thought, trying to buy some time to study his unexpected interlocutor. Ryutaro-Sensei never told me about giant talking dragons!

    As soon as he uttered his master''s name in his mind, the drawings depicted on the ancient tome of dragon demons began to scroll before his eyes. Ryutaro had exined to him several times that information about dragon demons was so scarce that many humans didn''t even believe in their existence.

    However, the dragon that was talking to him was the perfect copy of Kenji''stest evolution, but talking and intelligent. That noble scaled being seemed to want to converse with him and had no intention of devouring him.

    The answer to his questions struck his mind like a bolt of lightning, making his eyes widen as if he had just made the greatest discovery ever.

    Without further ado, Yoichi knelt before the dragon and stretched his arms forward, resting his forehead on the ground and arranging his body as if he were in the presence of a deity.

    "Mighty King Therion! I beg your forgiveness for my insolence, but I never thought I would meet you in the flesh!" Yoichi begged loudly, not daring to look up at the Dragon Demon King.

    The lipless mouth of the giant winged beast bent on its sides, curving in a fairly ''human'' smile despite being expressed by a reptile.

    "You already know my name, human" the dragon stated, still standing in the same position. "I''m pleased with that," it added, blinking its huge, ming eyes.

    "Of course I do, my lord! Your name is a legend, and your heroic deeds have saved the world of Lumya. To stand before you is an honor and..."

    "Okay, okay... that''s enough now," Therion interrupted. The breath emanating from its nostrils lifted Yoichi''s hair, and he sat up. "This is only a vision, my boy. Although my spirit lives on, my body died many, many years ago," it exined.

    Yoichi stood up, sensing that the majestic Dragon King wanted to tell him something from the height of its wisdom.

    "You recognized me, so I guess there''s no need to look so big anymore," the dragon spoke. The young tamer looked at it with a questioning expression.

    After those words, suddenly, the giant demon''s body began to reduce in size, thinning and shrinking. The enormous ck scales of its skin became smaller and smaller until they disappeared into its flesh.

    The long horns bent down and frayed, turning into long ck hair, while the smaller ones remained in ce, resting on the forehead of the ancient ruler of Lumya.

    At the same time, the dragon''s head reentered the dense vegetation, making strange bone sounds as if its entire skeleton was writhing due to the transformation.

    "What the f¡­!" - Yoichi grew speechless, not knowing how to react to that strange event.

    At the end of the transformation, a figure decidedly different from the Dragon King emerged from the forest bushes, shrugging off the small shrubs that previously belonged to the tall oaks.

    "Aaah, that''s better now" - a man with long ck hair popped up through the trees, walking briskly towards Yoichi. His eyes were red as fire, and in the center of his forehead, two small ck horns.

    Therion''s ck scales had turned into noble ck robes with red details. The edges and buttons of the linen shirt, those of the shoes and some details of the pants.

    When the Dragon King finished his transformation, he looked at Yoichi, who had never seen anyone change his appearance so quickly except in his dreams.

    "How... how did you..."

    "Well, shape-shifting powers are only a smidgen of what a dragon demon is capable of, boy," Therionmented. From the tone of his voice, the ruler was haughty but sympathetic, as if he knew he was the strongest demon in the world but showed his more humble side.

    Did he say shape-shifting powers? That''s so cool! I wonder if Kenji will be capable of that too! Yoichi thought, smiling after that information.

    "So, let''s get back to us," Therion spoke again. With his hands in his pockets, he began to walk sideways, looking at the ground. "There is something you need to know before you start cultivating your inner power, young Yoichi" he continued. His voice had be a normal human voice, manly but gentle and calm.

 Chapter 200 - Egg

    I mustn''t forget that this is a vision created by the Tear and that whatever happens in this ce can''t harm me, Yoichi thought, trying to calm himself.

    The excitement of meeting the one who had been Lumya''s most potent being made him extremely nervous. He couldn''t help but think of how many people would have liked to be in his ce.??

    "You''ve definitely noticed that Ildriss possesses some extraordinary magical powers. Right?" Therion asked, acting like a teacher conversing with his favourite student.

    "Yes, my lord. I''ve already activated them several times," Yoichi replied, who, besides being his favourite student, also seemed very knowledgeable.

    "This sounds great. So, have you ever wondered why?"

    Yoichi let out a long sigh, puffing up his chest with excitement at knowing the truth. "Every day," he replied, releasing the umted air in his lungs.

    "That pleases me, young man" - just for a moment, Therion looked away from the ground and focused on Yoichi. "The real reason you were chosen lies in the moment of my death, hundreds of years ago."

    Yoichi did not say a word, merely listening silently to the story told by the Dragon King himself.

    "The battle against Kogath and his army was bing more and more bitter. His demons grew stronger and stronger, opposing my supremacy and that of my brothers," he exined, referring to the other dragons who obeyed his orders. "Envy drove Kogath to proim himself dark ruler of the demons and to gather all beings who nourished hatred for my race: young or ancient demons. It made no difference. Anyone who despised dragons became a pawn in his hands."

    Therion turned, changing the direction of his steps. "Thend that had been preserved for millennia by my dynasty sank into chaos and pain. Entire valleys filled with meadows and vegetation became barren, swampy expanses, inhospitable and crumbling. Flora and fauna of Lumya were halved, and every form of life that had previously lived in harmony with nature found itself having to readjust to its changing surroundings" - that speech was a wound still open for Therion.

    "The world is a cruel ce, Yoichi. And no matter how right your ideals may be, the one rule that will never cease to exist is thew of the strongest. When we agreed to share our knowledge and pass on our love for Lumya to you humans, Kogath''s hatred became so strong that it overpowered everything."

    "Piece by piece, the ancient demons began to conquer every territory, devouring humans and wiping out every form of life that existed. After years and years of cultivating hatred for us dragons, Kogath''s army grew to a disproportionate size," Therion continued.

    "But... why all this hatred?" Yoichi interrupted, drawing the Dragon King''s gaze. "You dragons have only allowed us, humans, to live in your own world, ensuring that thews of nature were respected. What''s wrong with that?" - In the innocent eyes of the young tamer, Therion could glimpse the purity of his soul.

    "There is nothing wrong with it. But the desire for power is always stronger than anything else. Kogath wished to have what I had, ignoring the responsibilities that being the ruler of Lumya entailed. Blinded by hatred, he convinced the other ancient demons that we dragons had submitted to inferior beings like humans," the dragon-turned-man replied.

    "As the desire for power is stronger than weakness, hatred is a much stronger and more intense feeling than peace: the day of reckoning was getting closer and closer, and I, the ruler of Lumya, could not allow the power of the Dragons to be extinguished forever".

    That''s it! Therion is finally going to exin how he passed on his powers to Kenji! Yoichi realized, getting more and more excited. I wish Ryutaro-Sensei were here.

    "The powers of the Dragon Demon King is what is oldest in the world, boy. My father Luceros, and before him Griammur, Xervor, Yutus... the primordial me that burned in our chests could not be extinguished by my death" - during those words, the me in Therion''s reptilian eyes increased its glow. "Opposing my own brothers, I decided to sacrifice a small part of that power and give it to my sessor."

    "Your... your sessor?" Yoichi inquired.

    "I enclosed my power within a dragon egg and sent it to the center of the, the only area inessible to the ancient demons," Therion exined. "The mes of the core would protect my legacy until the day Ildriss, my sessor, was finally born, bringing the powers of the Dragon King to light."

    Oh, fuck... no way! Yoichi thought, widening his eyes and unable to utter a single word. Kenji''s powers really are derived from those of the strongest of the Dragons! But... but why wasn''t it born sooner? Why did it wait all these years?

    "If I had encased all my power within Ildriss'' egg, I would not have had the strength to counter Kogath''s army, and the ancient demons would have taken over Lumya, exterminating you humans and any life form useless to their purposes," Therionmented. "However, it took only a short time for me to realize that you humans were also dominated by conflicting emotions," he exined.

    "What do you mean?"

    "You are amazing beings, and your intelligence, while inferior to that of a dragon, still allows you to develop incredibly varied abilities and characters, different from one another. The intrinsic nature of your souls changes from individual to individual, and, like any other intelligent being on the, you can choose to follow the evil or the good," Therion replied, with the determination typical of a ruler.

    Yoichi looked down, recognizing in those words a great truth. Although he considered himself a good and loyal person, many times in his present life and certainly in the previous one, he had proven to be selfish and superficial, focusing his attention on his interests.

    Humans were capable of doing good, but also of damaging individuals of the same species and the world that had been given to them by the Dragons. Fortunately, thanks to his infinite wisdom, Therion could foresee even that facet of the truth.

 Chapter 201 - Inheritance

    "For this reason, I applied a prophecy to my inheritance: the egg of Ildriss would hatch only when the human predestined to restore the bnce of Lumya opened his eyes for the first time," Therion stated, unveiling the mystery.

    Yoichi gasped at the news. Did that mean that the real predestined to save Lumya from Gonshiro''s ckblood was the Bronzeforest farmer in the body of whom he had reincarnated???

    Despite his infinite wisdom, Therion could not know that Yoichi actually belonged to another world, perhaps even another timeline.

    "And that person would be me?" he asked, pointing to himself with a hand on his chest.

    The Dragon King nodded, "I knew that my brothers and I would not be able to defeat Kogath''s army, but my powers allowed me to save your race. All the Dragons of Lumya were exterminated during the Battle of the Last me," he exined. "From first tost, my warriors fought with tenacity and strength, defeating thousands of ancient demons and sacrificing their own lives. By the time Kogath faced me for supremacy, my strength was exhausted."

    Therion''s voice grew increasingly sad and wistful. Talking about the day when all the dragons were exterminated caused him unbearable pain. His eyes expressed pure strength, releasing the heat of the primordial me that burned in his chest. However, the power of Kogath and the ancient demons, so strong as to wipe out the dragon demons, must have been inconceivable.

    "The Battle of the Last me..." Yoichi whispered, repeating those words. "No one ever told me about that," he added, trying to collect his thoughts.

    "Because you''re the first human being to know that name, Yoichi," Therion remarked. A happy smile reappeared on his human face, and his red eyes squinted.

    "I''m the first? Does that mean that no one has ever listened to this story?!"

    "Correct. In that remote time, you humans were still in the early evolutionary stages of your history. Your abilities were limitedpared to those of the present, and I''m not sure you were able to write yet," the Dragon King confirmed. "The tales of ourst battle have been passed down from generation to generation, but the details have been lost forever."

    Yoichi lowered his gaze to the ground. His eyes followed the movement of his hands very slowly, which, with their palms open and facing upward, lifted.

    "How can I talk to you? How can I be sure that this isn''t all a hallucination created by my mind?" he asked, looking down at his hands. "I''ve been under a lot of mental and physical stresstely, and a lot of people have started to rely on me, so..."

    "Do you really think it was your mind that made up this whole story? Do you think it was the story you wanted to hear, boy? Oh, please. Don''t be so... ''human''," Therion replied promptly, stepping closer to his adept and waiting patiently for him to look up and realize that everything he had learned was the truth.

    An unexpected tear fell on one of Yoichi''s hands. The young tamer looked up and rubbed his eyes, noticing that he couldn''t hold back a liberating cry. "Why... why am I crying?" he thought aloud. His first intention was to stop showing weakness in front of the being who had granted him his powers.

    Therion rested his hand on his chosen one''s shoulder and inevitably drew his gaze. "Because our hearts are united by the same me, my boy. Ildriss is what binds us," the Dragon King affirmed in a low voice, d to have finally met Yoichi in person.

    "I''m sorry for sharing those painful memories with you, but for you to grow, you must know how much suffering my kind endured to save yours," he added, pulling his hand away from his shoulder.

    Yoichi wiped away his tears for the umpteenth time and inhaled sharply through his nose, managing to hold back his cry. If Kenji''s incredible powers are just a sliver of Therion''s... how strong is he? He thought, looking at the long-haired ck man as if he were a god.

    "The burden you carry on your shoulders is heavy, but I can see into your soul, boy. What I see is an incredible strength of will and a constant desire for redemption, as if you''ve been waiting your whole life for the right moment to shine," the Dragon King spoke, once again trying to lift Yoichi''s spirits.

    "Supreme Therion, my lord," Yoichi whispered, holding back more tears that pressed against his eyelids. "The power that threatens Tentochu is very strong, and I fear that I will not be able to counter it with my only strength," he confessed, hoping that the dragon would be able to answer that dilemma.

    "Well, what you think is right, boy. With your current level of strength, you wouldn''t be able to defeat your opponent in the slightest. Yet, just know that I''m not the only one who bequeathed his power," Therionmented, trying to make his prot¨¦g¨¦ understand something.

    "What, oh... oh, no," Yoichi trembled. The innermost fears of his subconscious took shape, and the tales of Gonshiro and the Oracle that made him immortal returned to his mind like mingpilli. "Valgoth..." he stammered.

    "Well done, boy. Once again, you have anticipated my words" - with a nod of his head, Therion confirmed the young tamer''s doubts. The Dragon King took a long breath, then began speaking again, "After the Battle of the Last me, Kogath''s army was almostpletely wiped out. However, before dying for eternity, the dark lord of ancient demons managed to expel the evil energy from his body. It travelled beneath the earth and across the oceans, reaching the farthest and most hidden recesses of the, taking refuge from light and justice."

    "Unlike my power transmitted to Ildriss, Kogath''s took far less time to find a worthy sessor. Evil is pure temptation, my boy. No one can resist it," Therion exined, making the one who hung on his lips shudder. "The true heir to the throne of Kamakiri was the best candidate to receive the powers of Kogath, who, at his birth, reincarnated as the demon known as Valgoth."

 Chapter 202 - Knower

    "From Therion to Ildriss... and from Kogath to Valgoth. By passing on your legacy to future generations, you have prolonged the war for other hundreds, perhaps thousands of years!" Yoichi thundered as if to scold the Dragon Demon King.

    "The war can never end until one prevails over the other forever, Yoichi!" Therion loudly eximed, grabbing both of the blond-haired warrior''s shoulders in his hands. "The one named Emperor Gonshiro has been using the primordial power of Kogath for hundreds of years and has increased its magnitude."??

    "Are you saying that... Valgoth is stronger than Kogath, the dark lord of ancient demons?" - The mere utterance of that name and its epithets filled Yoichi''s mouth with disgust.

    "Correct," the dragon in human form replied. "The more time passes, the more Valgoth''s evil increases, drawing other evil to himself. Sooner orter, his army will be sorge and powerful that it will be unchallengeable! Our goal is to prevent this from happening. Ildriss is the answer! You are the answer, Yoichi!" - the mes burning within the reptilian pupils of the long-haired ck ruler increased their intensity, burning his desire for revenge.

    Yoichi''s lips trembled as if, for a few moments, his brain prevented his mouth from uttering a word. The young warrior, who until recently had been just a Bronzeforest countryman unaware of his fate, looked frightened.

    On the one hand, Valgoth and his master had had hundreds of years to prepare for the ultimate battle that would bring Tentochu to its knees. On the other hand, Ildriss had not even reached its second evolutionary stage, and the tamer who had inherited it was a young man who had awakened in another body and a world unknown to him.

    Although Therion''s words seemed to conceal strong selfishness within them, what the Dragon King truly desired was Lumya''s peace. The ardor of his words and his spirit as a Dragon, the noblest and most intelligent of the demonic beasts, made his speech full of anger and ferocity.

    Any ruler would have reacted that way knowing that his kingdom, over which past generations had overseen, was in danger of being indelibly torn apart by pure wickedness.

    Yoichi''s fear necessarily had to turn into a desire for revenge. Just as he shared his psychic and physical sensations with Kenji, his Oracle, the bond between him and Therion was just as strong.

    The young tamer could sense the truth of his words and shared his ideals, but knowing that he could not face Gonshiro and Valgoth put him in a particrly disadvantageous mental condition.

    "My lord," Yoichi stammered. His lips as dry as the arid soil of a desert. "Do you really believe that by cultivating my draconic powers, I will be able to achieve the strength necessary to defeat Gonshiro and save Tentochu and all of Lumya?"

    "Believe it or not, my boy...this is the only hope we have. I have thought of a way that will allow you to reach an incredible level of strength. It will take some time, but with patience and perseverance, Ildriss'' power will surpass even mine, son," Therion replied, turning on a new light of hope in Yoichi''s soul.

    "Tell me then, Supreme Dragon King of Lumya. In what does the cultivation of my magical powers consist?" he inquired, remembering that he was within the vision of the Tear for a particr purpose.

    Therion sketched a slight smile. The ruler of the Dragons seemed happy that despite being loaded with bad news, Yoichi was trying to respond proactively.

    "As you already know, we Dragons are unique demons. Our strength is superior to that of other demons. However, even for us, the samews apply as for everyone else: the dragon ''type'' is effective against many elements and not very strong against others. In any case, a brief exnation is necessary for you to understand your next vital mission fully," he exined.

    "I am ready," Yoichi nodded.

    "We dragons are knowledgeable and wise creatures. Yet,petitiveness is part of our selfish egos," Therion smiled, revealing something Yoichi could never have known except from a real dragon. "Contrary to what the legends tell about me, I did not win the role of Dragon King but inherited it from my father. His name was Luceros, Protector of the Weak."

    Yoichi was visibly stunned by that statement. Is he saying that he is not the strongest of the Dragons that once inhabited the skies of Lumya? He thought, eagerly awaiting the rest of the tale.

    "Because of the great responsibility my father left me, I learned to fight before I could even fly. This has made me highly regarded among my trusted warriors, and never has anyone in my army ever opposed my orders," Therion remarked, letting his haughty side prevail for a moment.

    "Do you know how many ''types'' of demons there are, boy?" he asked, switching into interrogation mode.

    The young tamer connected that question to the book he had been reading the night before. Without doing so on purpose, his attention had lingered on that very information, as if his brain had already anticipated that it woulde in handy.

    "Thirteen, if I''m not mistaken," he replied after a moment''s hesitation.

    "Fire, water, earth, grass, spark, ice, fighting, poison, psychic, ghost, dark, steel, and fairy. Thirteen elements, a supreme dragon for each of them," Therion spoke again.

    "A supreme Dragon? I thought the only Supreme Dragon was you," Yoichi answered.

    "The Supreme Dragons are the twelve strongest and most loyal warriors of the King. They are responsible for the protection of the world: for this specific reason, since the beginning of time, they have been known as Guardians of the Whole."

    "Guardians of the Whole," Yoichi repeated. As they resonated, those words seemed more and more mystical and important.

    Despite the stories told to him by Enatsu and passed on to the young merchant by his grandfather Yanatsu, the truth about dragons included stories unknown to all humankind. Stories of which he was the only knower.

 Chapter 203 - Piece By Piece

    "I still don''t understand, Supreme Therion," Yoichi interrupted. "How can I increase my powers to match those of Emperor Gonshiro and his immortal Oracle?" he asked, trying to get straight to the point.

    "My Tear allows you to travel within your mind, through time and space. Thanks to the deep blood pact that binds us, I will always be here when you want me to be. There will never be a need to request my presence," Therion exined as if to make a few things clear.??

    "Ildriss possesses only a small portion of my powers and, s, the rest of me was lost forever when I died, boy. However, right now you are in the Lumya of the past and, with a little concentration, you can meet all the Guardians of the Whole."

    Meet them? Why in the world would I meet them? Can they increase my powers? Yoichi thought inwardly.

    "Every time you defeat one of my most valiant warriors, you will receive a piece of draconic power. Besides me, twelve supreme dragons are waiting for you, Yoichi," the Dragon King stated. "This will be the cultivation of your spirit," he added.

    Did I hear that right?! I have to defeat twelve dragons just to match the power of Tentochu''s enemy?! the young warrior thundered in his mind, unable to believe his ears.

    "How... how can I defeat a dragon of your size and with your level of strength? This is madness, supreme Therion!" he quaked, hoping that there was an easier and faster way to achieve his goals.

    Therion turned his back, looking at the part of the forest he had destroyed with his huge dragon-like bulk. "The mind and body are always closely connected. If you are going to cultivate the draconic power you have inherited, you must make your body worthy of handling such a power," he spoke, his hands crossed behind his back.

    Yoichi rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, so... let''s assume that, hypothetically, I train my body every day with Takamori-Sensei. I think in a couple of weeks, I should already start to notice the first signs of improvement, right? Fine. Let''s pretend that I can even defeat one of the Guardians of the Whole... how long will it take me to defeat all twelve of them? That''s crazy!" the young warrior remarked.

    "During that process, Gonshiro''s Void Summoners will have already invaded the nation, and most of the poption will have been exterminated!" he added.

    "Calm down, son" - Therion turned around, crossing his gaze with Yoichi. "You clearly don''t know that inside my Tear, time flows very differently."

    Yoichi looked at him, confused. Judging by the confidence in the Dragon King''s voice, he seemed to have thought of everything, as if, since ancient times, he had been waiting for that moment.

    "Every hour spent in the visions created by your mind corresponds to one minute in your present reality, Yoichi."

    "Huh?! From one hour to one minute?! How the hell is that possible?"

    "I told you. We dragon demons are capable of things you humans can''t even imagine. Without going into too much detail, let''s say that my Tear, gathering a tiny part of my power, can manipte time," Therion affirmed. "As I was trying to exin to you earlier, the timeline you are experiencing now, as you speak with me, belongs to the Lumya of the past. In no way can it interfere with your present. If it did, it would create gaps between the two dimensions, and the boundary between past and present would be swept away."

    Oh, crap. Shape-shifting, manipting time... I still can''t understand how such a powerful being could have lost the battle against Kogath. Yoichi pondered, trying not to get too immersed in his thoughts.

    "I think I got it, Supreme Dragon King," Yoichi spoke, nodding his head. "Tell me, what do you want me to do?" he asked.

    "Devote three days to physical training and meditation. Practice your draconic skills and eat your fill, nourishing your muscles and raising your morale. Immediately after, return here to me, and I will bring you before your first opponent," Therion stated confidently, already being ready to answer that question.

    Therion also knows Kenji''s skill, Scorching Breath. It''s as if the Dragon King has been living inside my mind all this time, and I never knew it... the young, blonde-haired warrior reflected.

    "And remember, boy: unlike the other enemies you have encountered so far, the Guardians of the Whole are on another level. While they may not be able to fight at their full strength because their bodies have left the world of the living, they are supreme beings whose ws are stained with the blood of thousands of enemies," the man-dragon pointed out.

    "I will not underestimate them, Supreme Therion. If the lives of all others depend on me and my choices, I will not back down. I will defeat the twelve Guardians of the Whole and increase my powers to face my ultimate enemy, Gonshiro" - uttering those hopeful and determined words, Yoichi sank a fist into his palm and leaned forward, showing respect to the supreme being before him.

    "Nice to hear that, boy. Make me proud of you," the Dragon Demon King smiled. "Now go, your Sensei andpanions are waiting for you." Therion raised an arm in the direction of his follower and opened his hand. His strong fingers ended in long ck ws, very simr to the ones Yoichi could get by enhancing his upper limbs.

    "Just a moment, Supreme Therion! I still have many things to ask you and... aargh!"

    A giant ze was shot in Yoichi''s direction from Therion''s palm, enveloping his body and blinding him. The young warrior covered his face with his arms and, as if by magic, felt the ground disappear beneath his feet.

    ...

    Suddenly, the slight burning from the dragon fire disappeared, and he moved his arms away from his eyes, focusing on his surroundings.

    Both of his hands were wet, and his feet were in front of the sink of Therion''s Tear. Although he had just experienced a vision, the heat he felt on his exposed arms and the rest of his body was real.

 Chapter 204 - Morning Meeting

    Is the Tear''s vision over yet? Damn it! I had so many more questions to ask him. Yoichi thought, slowly realizing that he was talking to the spirit of the deceased Dragon King until a few moments before.

    As his senses reconnected with the real world, his ever-watchful gaze framed the mat on which he had been meditating moments before. Surprisingly, the first detail he noticed was the incense stick that continued to burn within the crock.??

    In the same ce where he had left it, that object should not havested long, and yet, it was still there, from before he had begun to meditate.

    The suning through the window was still tepid and dim, shyly hidden behind the clouds. Stretching the muscles in his neck and arms, Yoichi looked outside the Dojo and noticed that the people training in the courtyard were still the same.

    "The incense is still lit, the warriors on the tatami are the same as before, the sun doesn''t look like noon to me... mh, apparently that''s true," he thought out loud. "Time flows differently when my hands are dipped in the Tear."

    When Therion exined to Yoichi that each hour spent within the vision corresponded to one minute in his present, the young warrior was so busy thinking back to the story of the Battle of the Last me that he hadn''t thought about how little time he would spend cultivating his powers with that method.

    Incredibly, though it seemed impossible to him, having spent just over forty minutes with his hands dipped in Therion''s Tear, Yoichi had stored all of the Dragon King''s information in only a matter of seconds.

    Around him, the gatekeeper''s room was exactly as he had left it: the book had been closed andid on the bed, the straw mat in front of the door, the key inside the lock, and so on.

    Without overthinking about it and losing the time advantage on the schedule, Yoichi got ready, picked up his backpack and leather pouch, and opened the door to the room.

    The young warrior in record time traversed the narrow,brinth-like corridor that led to Ryutaro''s private room. The top floor of Goldhaven''s sacred Dojo was already filled with people of all ages and social ranks practicing their meditation techniques.

    I need to get to Takamori-Sensei, and I really need to start training my body seriously, he thought. Ryutaro, if only you were in front of me during my awakening, I would have told you about my speech with the supreme Therion himself.

    Thinking about his injured friend''s condition and how to make his muscle growth effective in just three days, Yoichi reached the Dojo''s entrance on tiptoe. He donned his boots, the soles of which were now clean from the mud, and walked out of the training arena.

    Fortunately, keeping a low profile, no guild leader took notice of him. In the eyes of all the unsuspecting people present, Yoichi looked like just another warrior frequenting the Sacred Dojo.

    Once outside the white walls and away from the petals of the peach trees fluttering in the wind, the young tamer walked troughout the Tamer District.

    Life seemed to flow normally in what was one of the most popted districts in the city. The guild warriors, merchants, and all who crowded the morning streets were oblivious to the dangers that threatened Tentochu.

    What would have happened if everyone had known about the ckblood and its power to kill entire ntations of Crimson Lotus? How many rebellions would have turned the city upside down, plunging it into a state of chaos?

    A series of such questions crossed Yoichi''s mind, but he was too focused on himself to put those concepts into practice.

    In front of the Nightdes'' green-tiled tower, Rinji was sitting on the ground, arms crossed. The gentle giant was watching the passersby as if waiting for someone.

    "Riniji!" Yoichi called, waving a hand and sketching a smile towards him.

    "There you are, Yoichi! I''ve been waiting for you!" he said, standing up and showing off his full height. Anyone would have felt short in the presence of the Nightdes giant.

    "Has something happened? Where''s Enatsu? How''s my friend?" Yoichi inquired, peering over Rinji''s shoulder and trying to see inside the tower''s entrance.

    "Enatsu is fine. Don''t worry; Yoshiko''s care will keep him healthy until we find a cure for his strange wound," he replied. "Takamori-Sensei told me to wait for you here. He and Nobunaga are waiting for us at the east entrance of the city," he added.

    Who the hell is Nobunaga? And why is Takamori at the entrance near the Imperial Pce? Weren''t we supposed to go to the Arena together? Yoichi thought, listening to that name. What are you nning, Sensei?

    "Um, it''s fine. Come on, lead the way. What happened to Shioko? Is sheing too?" Yoichi asked again, nowhere seeing the archer''s strands of red hair.

    "If I''m not mistaken, Shioko went to Neverstorm Gardens, to the city stable. I saw her in a carriage drawn by three horses," Rinji replied, starting to stroll.

    Inside, Yoichi knew that his friend Enatsu was in good hands with Yoshiko and avoided checking for his conditions. On the way, he passed through various parts of the city in thepany of his taciturn guildmate.

    "Hey, Rinji," he said, breaking the silence. The shouts of merchants stopping passersby to sell their wares formed the background noise of that conversation.

    "Tell me, Yoichi."

    "Why did Takamori-Sensei ask us to leave the city? From the east entrance, you can get to the coastline, right?" he asked. With that seemingly innocuous question, the young tamer wanted to know if they would pass by the Imperial Pce. The promise made to Princess Sui had faded into the background, but it still remained a promise.

    "I have no idea, man. Maybe he wants you to fight Nobunaga. He''s much stronger than you, and he could get your little lizard into trouble," the giant Rinji replied, mocking Kenji''s appearance and totally ignoring the fact that it was the heir of the primordial me.

 Chapter 205 - Eastern Gates

    Stronger than me? Hmm... I wish I could talk to Rinji about my true powers, Yoichi thought. If he knew the truth, the Nightdes giant would never speak like that again.

    After all, he and his Kumiwa had also been defeated by Yoichi and his ck ''lizard''. If all of his guildmates had known Kenji''s true power, they would have actedpletely differently towards him.??

    That moment would surelye sooner orter, but Yoichi could only wait in silence and train in his current condition.

    The neighborhoods in the eastern area enclosed within the white walls of the capital seemed much wealthier than the rest of the city. The residential buildings andmercial and economic activities had a more serious and shy appearance as if the most affluent people in Goldhaven were concentrated there.

    Not surprisingly, the east of the city was home to the Imperial Pce and the Cathedral. Continuing to walk through the flower-adorned streets, Yoichi read one of the usual information signboards.

    "Demon Cathedral? What''s that?" he asked Rinji, unable to understand why those two words were next to each other, as if the sacred and the sphemous had merged.

    "Are you serious? Pff! You need to take a crash course of Goldhaven, man!" Rinji snorted, who didn''t like to provide exnations as much as Enatsu did. "The Demon Cathedral is the ce that brings together all the monks who worship ancient demons," he exined.

    "Is there anyone who worships ancient demons? And for what reason?" - In Yoichi''s mind, that name was associated with Kogath''s army. After the story Therion had told him, the young tamer could never have conceived that humans had reached such a level of stupidity as to worship Lumya''s enemies.

    "The ancient demons are the true inhabitants of this world. Our arrival has broken the bnce of Lumya, and our hunger for power has forced them to take refuge far from the cities and towns," Rinji replied promptly, stepping over the information sign. "The monks gather in prayer and thank them for what we have been granted. I knew one ot them once...what was his name?"

    The Nightdes giant''srge hand was rubbed on his chin, and his gaze rose to the sky as he tried to remember that unimportant detail.

    Yoichi listened carefully to those words, finding within them a sliver of truth. Perhaps the term ''ancient demon'' referred not only to the followers of the evil Kogath but also to all the other peaceful demons that popted the world in ancient times. Therion had not been very clear on this aspect.

    In that case, Rinji''s exnation made perfect sense: the Demon Cathedral was a symbolic ce where humans apologized to the true masters of Lumya, including the Dragon Demons.

    "Have you ever seen an ancient demon, Rinji?" Yoichi asked again, struggling to create a closer rtionship with his kind but uninteresting guildmate.

    "Rare demons yes, even an epic demon once. But ancient demons? No, I''ve never met one," the giant admitted, looking down on Yoichi as he walked. "It is said that their arcane energy is so powerful that it can be felt from miles away. I don''t know if that''s the truth, but it''s still frightening."

    "Maybe the Cathedral monks know the location of some of them, right?"

    "Hahahah!" - After Yoichi''s statement, Rinji burst into a bigugh. "Just imagine for one second what would happen if everyone could know the location of ancient demons. Total chaos would erupt! They are frighteningly strong creatures whose powers escape ourprehension. For centuries they have taken refuge from us humans, and very few tamers have had the good fortune to encounter any of them. Or bad luck, depending on the case," Rinji exined.

    Wasting time chatting, the two Nightdes warriors walked over the entrances of the two easternmost districts of the city, several miles away from the Tamer District, which upied the other side of the perimeter of the walls.

    On one side, arge stone archway led to the Demon Cathedral Square, and on the other side, the Royal Road continued on its final stretch, the one Ryutaro had traveled the night before while being escorted by the guards.

    When Yoichi looked down at the red carpet and the Imperial Pce, his eyes remained pointed in that direction. The grandeur and majesty of that ce left him speechless and made him think of his Sensei and, secondly, of Princess Sui.

    Knowing that he would have no chance of saving either of them, Yoichi lowered his gaze and continued walking straight ahead, following Rinji toward the Eastern Gates.

    After the entrances to those two important and luxurious neighborhoods, adorned with statues and other elements of urban decor, the streets began to narrow and thicken.

    Their beauty and the flowers on balconies and benches gradually disappeared, giving way to caravansden with food supplies and fishings hanging here and there.

    At the side of the road, men were repairing a wooden boat resting on metal supports. Although the sound of the sea was so far away as to be masked by the city''s buzz, hundreds of fishermen were wandering around near the eastern entrance to the city.

    Right from that side, it was possible to reach the harbour area, dedicated to fishing for the working citizens and to rxation for the wealthier ones who wanted to escape from the urban chaos.

    ''East Gates'' - an inscription engraved on the stone marked the exact point where the eastern boundary of the wall ended, overlooking the most beautiful stretch of coastline in the area.

    Yoichi and Rinji crossed that threshold, guarded only by two guards. Those gates were much smaller than the Main Gates and seemed to feature fewer people traffic.

    "Come on. I think Takamori-Sensei and Nobunaga are waiting for us on the beach. Maybe I can see them from down here," Rinji said, covering his eyes from the sun by resting a hand on his forehead.

    The morning sun reflected on the surface of the sea and the gentle waves hitting the beaches and rocks. Thousands of people were intent on their daily tasks, and their carriages'' wheels were sinking into the gravelly sand.

    When he looked in the same direction as hispanion, Yoichi saw Takamori Sada waving a hand in their direction. Next to him was a man of average height.

 Chapter 206 - Nobunaga

    The coastal stretch was connected to the city by dirt roads, used daily by thousands of people. Beyond those roads, the natural morphology of thend had been preserved and the city gave way to the beach.

    The grains of a long expanse of very thick sand, simr to the one that surrounded the vige of ckborough, shone under the sunlight. Looking to the right, namely south, Yoichi noticed that a small castle consisting of three towers overlooked the sea, standing imposingly a few miles from the eastern gates of Goldhaven.??

    On the other side, to the north, arge harbour area housed hundreds of boats of all sizes. From vessels to rafts, many boats were leaving and far fewer arriving.

    Because of its geographic location, with the only outlet to the sea to the east, Goldhaven Harbor was primarily used for fishing than sailing. Beyond the coastline, toward the horizon, the nearest shores were those of Kamakiri, several thousand miles away.

    The expanse of clear water that merged with the morning sky in a jumble of shimmering colors was named ''Soundless Abyss,'' shown on maps at every scale of resolution.

    "Yoichi, Rinji! You''re right on schedule. I don''t know why, but I had a feeling you''d be here on time, boy," Takamori rejoiced, smoothing his moustache and speaking to the youngest Nightdes warrior.

    Yoichi smiled with his gaze, greeting his Sensei without saying a word. Immediately, his eyes framed the man next to him. A boy almost as short as Takamori had his arms crossed and a sullen expression.

    His hair and eyes were as purple as amethyst crystals. The warrior known as Nobunaga was definitely a tamer, but there were no demons beside him.

    From his face, he looked a few years older than Yoichi: his beard was absent on his cheeks and sideburns, barely noticeable on his chin. His gaze was grim but intrigued by thetest guildmate recruited by Takamori.

    "Hello, Nobunaga!" Yoichi greeted, breaking the ice with a smile. He stretched out a hand toward the stranger, "I am Yoichi. Rinji only told me your name and that we will train together" he added.

    "I know who you are" Nobunaga coolly replied. Both of his hands shoved into his pockets.

    The purple-haired boy''s response generated an awkward silence. Without adding more, Yoichi withdrew his hand, realizing that the warrior in front of him did not like to socialize.

    Takamori, who had given his students a few seconds to introduce themselves, was not surprised by Nobunaga''s behavior and quickly took the floor. "Well, now that you have introduced yourselves, I can exin what today''s training will consist of." On the moustachioed head of the little man, his omnipresent mantis demon.

    Together with his warriors, Takamori Sada walked towards the sea, far away from the people who frequented the area. A vast clearing consisting only of sand and small shrubs carried by the wind would be their training ground that day.

    Nobunaga wore very different armor than Yoichi, Rinji and Shioko. While the three of them were equipped with fairly standard armor consisting of a sleeveless leather jacket andfortable pants aimed at making all sorts of movements without the risk of tearing, the purple-haired boy''s uniform was not synonymous withfort.

    A ck, belted jacket, tight across the chest and abdomen, stretched over the warrior''s arms with long leather sleeves wider on the wrists.

    The pants reached down to the floor and were studded with small pockets and other straps with questionable functionality. Nobunaga''s purple hair was shoulder-length and twirled under the action of the warm sea breeze.

    "Perfect, this might be good," Takamori spoke, sinking the soles of his boots into the sand as if he wanted to root himself there. Without receiving any specific signal, Rinji positioned himself next to his master.

    "Yoichi, I scheduled today''s training especially for you," Takamori exined. His arms crossed, and his gaze turned to his two warriors.

    Nobunaga looked annoyed as if he had been forced to undergo that training against his will. Judging by his physical constitution and his hands stuffed in his pockets, the Nightdes warrior didn''t look any stronger than Rinji.

    "ording to what I had agreed with Ryutaro, starting today, you will begin training your physique, pushing yourself beyond your limits," Takamori stated. "Please, soldiers... deprive yourselves of all the weapons you have at your disposal" he ordered, raising his hands towards the two challengers.

    Yoichi threw to the ground the dagger that Takamori himself had given him. Immediately, he shrugged his shoulders, informing his master that he had no additional weapons.

    Takamori and Rinji looked at Nobunaga, who snorted with a grimace: surprisingly, the purple-haired warrior threw in the sand two des hidden under the sleeves of his jacket, two daggers and a kunai tucked in the pockets of his boots and pants and a long chain ending with a curved de, tied to his waist as if it were a belt.

    What the fuck! What the hell was he doing with all those weapons on him? Yoichi thought, looking at his opponent in amazement. Who would have thought that that short, harmless-looking guy was equipped up to his neck?

    "Excellent. Yoichi," Takamori called, drawing his attention back. "As concerns meleebat, Nobunaga is the strongest of the Nightdes. During today''s training, I want the two of you to challenge each other with your bare hands so that I can figure out what your biggest positioning gaps are," he exined, crossing his arms again.

    The strongest in closebat? Stronger than Rinji?! Yoichi inwardly thought. The Nightdes giant was silent next to his master. How could such a tiny kid be stronger than that behemoth?

    In Yoichi''s head, Rinji''s rocky fists, enhanced by the turtle demon''s skill, still resounded strongly.

    "Um... alright, Takamori-sensei. I''m ready," Yoichi stated confidently. The young warrior folded his arms and ced his right hand near his chin and his left hand further forward, helpful in keeping his opponent at a distance.

 Chapter 207 - Former Rogue

    Although Nobunaga looks like a kid, I can''t underestimate his physical strength and agility. My fighting style is simple and quite predictable. Thought Yoichi, trying to develop self-critical reasoning. Without Kenji''s draconic enhancement, the muscles in my arms will not be able to powerfully charge my fists and every blow Iunch will be ineffective.

    While Yoichi was thinking, Nobunaga was still standing in the same position. After depriving himself of all the weapons hidden under his clothes, his hands were still in his pockets.??

    "I had an important mission to aplish, Takamori-Sensei. Why are you wasting my time with this young man?" the purple-haired warrior asked, ignoring Yoichi''s fighting stance and turning his gaze to his master.

    Despite looking like a very haughty and confident person, Nobunaga must have had a deep respect for Takamori. Probably, it wasn''t just a matter of money: like all the other warriors in the Nightdes guild, perhaps he also carried the burden of a difficult past in which the guild master had a key role.

    "Don''t worry about the daily missions. You will be reced by one of yourrades. As for the time lost, you''ll receive extra pay," Takamori stated, who had already scheduled that request.

    Nobunaga turned his gaze towards Yochi, with a serious expression painted on his face. Without adding anything else, he took two steps towards the blond-haired warrior, sinking his feet into the soft, damp sand.

    Yoichi moved sideways, waiting for his opponent to make the first move. Why does he still have his hands in his pockets? Is he going to try to surprise me? He thought, feeling the adrenaline rush through his veins. Inside, he still couldn''t believe that a little guy like Nobunaga could defeat a giant like Kenji in closebat.

    "Let''s begin," the purple-haired warrior grunted, bending his knees. Before Yoichi could predict his move, Nobunaga leaped forward, disappearing into thin air.

    "What?!" Yoichi gasped, motionless with his hands as ready as a pugilist''s. "Where is he?!"

    *swishh* - Apanied by a sound simr to a gust of wind, Nobunaga appeared behind Yoichi''s back. With a violent kick, he struck the back of his leg, forcing him to kneel on the ground.

    Yoichi put one hand in the sand, trying to keep his bnce, but the second blow reached him at an exorbitant speed: without even realizing whether he had been hit by a kick or a punch, he found himself lying on the ground, his face in the sand.

    *cough*cough* - "Fuck!" eximed the blond-haired warrior, getting up and spitting out the sand that hadnded in his mouth. Nobunaga was right there in front of him.

    During that almost supersonic exchange of blows, he still hadn''t taken his hands out of his pockets.

    "How did you do that?" Yoichi asked, rubbing his eyes with one arm and trying to keep them open. "I was ready to dodge your blow, but you vanished!" he added, showing his humility in front of such a fearsome opponent.

    "Nobunaga was one of the best warriors in the guild called ''Rogue Syndicate''. Over the years, he developed such a high attack speed that he escaped the gaze of his opponents," Takamori remarked, speaking in Nobunaga''s ce and illustrating his powers.

    "You can be that fast without activating your Oracle''s powers? This is incredible. Teach me!" Yoichi promptly replied, smiling and returning to his fighting stance.

    "Mhmhmh..." - a mocking chuckle came from Nobunaga after that statement. "I have spent years developing this technique. It is called ''Thief Wind'' and is not for rookies like you. I''ve hit you twice and, each time, your guard was always facing the other way," he reported.

    "Hit me again then, let me try!" Yoichi begged, taking a deep breath and charging his morale.

    Takamori''s and Nobunaga''s eyes crossed again. The guild leader nodded his head, suggesting to continue the fight.

    The purple-haired warrior took a slow, sideways step, unbncing his body as if he were about to fall. An ordinary human being would not have been able to keep his bnce in that position, but he disappeared again.

    Yoichi turned away and jumped backward, anticipating a blow from behind from his opponent. Contrary to his prediction, however, a knee strike hit him in the back, causing him sharp pain.

    "Aargh!" he growled, turning first his upper torso and then his lower torso, trying to grab Nobunaga''s leg. Despite Yoichi''s efforts to move at top speed this time, the former Rogue Syndicate warrior had already disappeared.

    How the hell does he do that? I can''t even hear the sound of his footsteps, as if he were a ghost! Yoichi thought, moving in the same direction from which Nobunaga had started his charge.

    Suddenly, purple hair sprouted under his eyes, inches from his face. A quick, not too hard punch struck the side of his abdomen, which, not being ready to receive a direct hit, failed to mitigate the damage.

    "Ouch!" - Once again, a sound of pain came out of the mouth of the young tamer, who stepped back with a hand on his stomach.

    "Are you really trying to predict my moves?" Nobunaga chuckled. The fist that had just struck Yoichi was still lying forward, while his other hand was resting on the ground between his legs, dumping the energy of the blow into the ground.

    "I... I''m just trying to..."

    Yoichi''s words were interrupted once again by the faint sound of Nobunaga''s lightning movements. "To do what?" eximed his voice, nowing from Yoichi''s shoulders.

    *boom* - with both hands, the purple-haired warrior struck Yoichi in the upper back, knocking him out in front of his feet.

    Yoichi rolled on the sand clutching in his hands the spots on his body that had just been struck. The young warrior had been visibly damaged, so much so that he couldn''t get up right away.

    "Takamori-Sensei," Nobunaga called, shaking the sand from the ck leather sleeves of his armor. "I don''t understand how this guy can live up to this training. Extra pay or not, I feel like I''m just wasting my time here," he spoke, stuffing his hands in his pockets again.

 Chapter 208 - Convexity

    As Yoichi struggled to get up, Takamori spent a few words on his behalf. "Carry out my orders without objecting, Nobunaga. If Yoichi had the power of his Oracle at his disposal, it would have been much harder for you to knock him out," he said, looking at his more experienced pupil with an angry expression.

    "Let him use it then! He will use his power and I will fight with my bare hands. I will prove you wrong Sensei and..." ??

    "Hey! I''m still here, I don''t know if you''ve noticed!" Yoichi interrupted, getting up from the ground in pain. "If Takamori-Sensei has decided that bare-handsbat is what he needs to find out my weaknesses, then we''ll keep fighting," he grunted as if his word was worth more than Nobunaga''s.

    The corners of Takamori''s mouth curved into a slight smile. In his eyes, Yoichi''s courage and determination remained his greatest and most important virtues.

    I''m sure Nobunaga''s fighting style has its weaknesses, the young tamer reflected. He is more focused on attack than defense, but he has speed on his side. How do you hit an opponent who is so fast that he bes almost invisible?

    Meanwhile, Nobunaga seemed displeased with the bad impression he had just made with Takamori. Although the reason that bound him to the guild leader was unknown, it had to be something that dug deep into his past. With that scolding, he looked weak in front of Yoichi and Rinji, and that bothered him a lot.

    "You''d rather be beaten until you can''t get up again? Well then. The sooner we continue, the sooner I can get back to my stuff, little boy," Nobunaga eximed, calling Yoichi by that appetion even though he looked the younger of the two.

    Think, Yoichi, think. What would Ryutaro do? How can I parry his blows if I don''t even see theming? Yoichi kept thinking to himself as he returned to his fighting stance.

    Grains of sand were stuck between his fingers and the hairs on his arms. Even the stubble on his face had touched the ground, getting dirty.

    Nobunaga bent down on his knees once more and, like a lightning bolt, he disappeared from his position, quickly traveling who knows where.

    "He''s gone again!" Yoichi boomed, leaping backward. With that sudden movement, the young warrior hoped to activate Nobunaga''s instincts, which, a few minutes earlier, had hit him in mid-air.

    Yoichi''s prediction came true, but when the purple-haired warrior appeared, he was not in the position he had hoped for: in less than three seconds after his charge, Nobunaga had executed a perfect backflip, finding himself with his legs pointing upward over Yoichi''s head.

    Not knowing how to react to that disadvantageous position and having exhausted the energy of his backflip, Yoichi raised both arms upwards, ready to parry the blow.

    Showing incredible reflexes and experience inbat, Nobunaga rotated into an upright position, cing one foot on the crossed arms of his opponent and using them to give himself a further push upwards.

    Yoichi was thrown off bnce and forced to open his arms to keep from falling back to the ground. When his hands sank under the weight of his body in the sand, Nobunaga was in a descending phase, ready to hit him with a kick that would knock him out for good.

    For a brief moment, Yoichi''s time perception seemed to slow down before his eyes: the bottom of his opponent''s boot was getting closer and closer to his face, and having fallen to the ground an instant earlier, the young warrior realized he wouldn''t have the time he needed to get up and dodge.

    At the same time, Yoichi knew that by raising one arm and attempting to block his foot with his hand, the weight of Nobunaga''s body would have sprained his wrist.

    Under the unbelieving eyes of Takamori and Rinji, who had remained motionless to witness the scene, the warrior with long blond hair did something never seen before: he brought both hands close to his chest and rolled to the ground, positioning himself on his stomach.

    A moment before Nobunaga''s foot hit him, Yoichi put both hands on the ground and used his arms and knees to raise his back, as if he wanted to stand on all fours.

    His opponent, stunned by that strange defensive maneuver, but eager to end the fight sinned in impulsiveness and let his foot impact Yoichi''s spine.

    "Uhmpf!" - through gritted teeth, Yoichi took the blow in the middle of his back, making sure that Nobunaga''s heel hit exactly in the middle, at the point where the back muscles form a slight convexity.

    When this happened, the enemy''s foot was stuck for a few tenths of a second, the time it took Yoichi to implement his n: taking one hand off the ground and rotating his back quickly, he took advantage of Nobunaga''s free fall to unbnce him.

    The purple-haired warrior was projected sideways and was forced to spread his arms for fear of ending up on his back on the ground. With his arms and legs open, he was now vulnerable to an unexpected counterattack.

    Yoichi hadn''t stopped believing for a moment, and as Nobunaga''s body rotated sideways toward the ground, he rose to his feet and jumped toward him, throwing a direct punch.

    Although he resisted the pain and attempted a crazy strategy to counterattack such a skilled opponent, the punch unleashed by Yoichi was very predictable and the former Rogue Sindacate warrior''s speed prevailed once again.

    Both of Nobunaga''s hands wrapped around Yoichi''s fist and used the handhold to brace his free-falling body. The purple-haired warrior dragged Yoichi towards himself andnded with his feet on the ground.

    In a few seconds, the situation had turned several times: at first, Nobunaga had the advantage, then Yoichi had managed to unbnce him and, finally, he had lost his bnce.

    Unable to free himself from his grip, Yochi stumbled forward and his feet lost grip on the soft sand of the beach, waltzing toward his enemy.

    Nobunaga took advantage of the momentum and twisted his torso, apanying the movement with one leg and unleashing an incredible reverse roundhouse kick, aiming at the face of his inexperienced but worthy opponent.

 Chapter 209 - In And Out

    A clean and very violent blow struck Yoichi''s jaw, causing him to turn his head from the recoil. At that moment, the young tamer''s feet faltered, and his gaze blurred.

    His eyes had been mechanically shifted from their previous position and now pointed toward the sea and the other side of the beach.??

    Yoichi tried with all his might to regain control of his body during that short time, but it was as if his enemy had pulled the plug on him. Although he focused hard on his legs and arms, he could no longer control them and fell with his chest to the ground.

    Following the movement of the rest of his body, his head bounced several times on the sand and the brain moving inside his skull box made Yoichi even more confused, leaving him dazed.

    Nobunaga was standing still and Yoichi was lying in front of him, sprawled on the sand like a jellyfish washed ashore by the waves. His blond hair was smeared with the thin, earthy gravel of that stretch of coastline, and his lips opened and closed as if he wanted to mumble something.

    Without even looking at his master, Nobunaga stopped his every movement, just a second before giving Yoichi the killing blow. When he turned to Takamori, the guild leader had one arm raised with an open hand, ordering the fight to end.

    "You...you will not...I don''t..." more garbled words came out of Yoichi''s mouth. His eyes gradually squinted because of the kick he had just taken: probably, if he had more time to charge the blow and if he had attacked with all his strength, Nobunaga would have ripped the head off his opponent''s neck with that kick.

    Taking advantage of Yoichi''s strange defensive maneuver, the purple-haired warrior had managed to unleash one of the best blows he had ever executed. When Yoichi''s jaw was hit, all the receptors in his brain deactivated their motor functions, activating the alert state throughout his body.

    "Hey...hey, Yoichi! You can''t pass out again, man!"

    *p*p* - one p after another, Yoichi opened his eyes again, sensing arge hand on his face. As the image in front of him took shape under the sunlight, he realized that Rinji was trying to bring him to his senses.

    Yoichi could now move his arms and legs. Without wasting any more time, knowing that he had not made a good impression under the gaze of his master, he ced his hands on the ground and stood up in a hurry.

    With his hair still tousled and his gaze lost in emptiness, he shook off the sand, looking at Takamori Sada. The short, potbellied man''s moustache had its tips pointing upward, emphasizing his cute little smile.

    In contrast, Nobunaga always had that sombre, disinterested expression. That young and talented warrior seemed to act as if he was stronger than anyone else and feared no one.

    Would he have had the same cocky expression if Ogai''s ckblood had locked his hands and feet? What was his Oracle, and what power did it have?

    "Your test was excellent, Yoichi. Perhaps even better than the fight against Rinji," Takamori spoke, drawing the gaze of the giant who had just assisted his stunnedpanion.

    "Better? But... but..." Yoichi stammered. "I was resoundingly defeated," he added. In his eyes, the desire to improve and challenge himself burned like a me.

    "Well, if you had defeated Nobunaga in a bare-knuckle duel, I probably would have proimed you guild leader! Ahahah!" Takamoriughed, massaging his belly with both hands.

    Yoichi looked at his opponent, thinking back to the way he had attacked him repeatedly. Although his weird technique had managed to break through Nobunaga''s defense, he hadn''t been able to exploit that advantage. However, that demonstration duel had shown his master that although he had never practiced martial arts, he could hold his own against an experienced fighter.

    "It doesn''t matter if you lost or won, Yoichi. This is training, notpetition," the mustachioed guild leader replied. "During your fight with Rinji, you showed that you could adapt even to dangerous situations, so I had decided to have you face someone who knows martial arts much better than you do. Nobunaga, do you have anything to say to yourrade?"

    Takamori ordered the purple-haired warrior to speak with a hand gesture, making him understand to moderate his tone towards Yoichi. Nobunaga huffed and then began, "the technique with which you countered my vertical kick. What is it called?" he asked, beginning the exnation with a direct question.

    A virtual question mark appeared on Yoichi''s expression, who never expected such a question. After clearing his throat and puffing out his chest to try and look like a real veteran warrior, he replied, "It doesn''t have a name, actually. I just thought quickly about what would be the most effective way to counterattack you."

    "Extraordinary. Isn''t that extraordinary?" Takamori interrupted, smacking the shoulder of Rinji, who was standing still beside him. The giant did not move an inch and looked at his master, not knowing what to reply.

    "The speed of your attacks makes your kicks and punches uncontestable. For this reason, I decided to exploit the normal conformation of my body against you, knowing that you would not have missed the target," Yoichi reported, turning serious again.

    "Not bad, I must admit," Nobunaga confessed. "It''s been a long time since anyone has been able to worry me in the slightest. What kind of weapon do you use, Yoichi?" suddenly, after the Nightdes tamer''s answer, Nobunaga seemed to take some interest in him.

    Although Yoichi almost always said whatever was on his mind, his nonchnt and always friendly nature made it pleasant to converse with him. Even someone as reserved and gloomy as Nobunaga was immediately at ease, acknowledging his superiority.

    Yoichi responded by scratching the back of his head to the purple-haired warrior''s new question, slightly embarrassed. His gaze and that of his fellow warrior fell on the beach area where all their weapons were stored.

    To the left, Nobunaga''s various weapons; to the right, the dagger that had once belonged to Takamori, a weapon Yoichi had used little more than twice.

 Chapter 210 - Slow Practice

    "Don''t tell me you fight using that ridiculous little knife," Nobunaga chuckled, who didn''t know whether to feel tenderness or pity for his new guildmate.

    "Actually, I don''t use it very often. No offense, Takamori-Sensei," Yoichi smiled, looking at his master. His right hand was still on the back of his head, trying to mask his embarrassment.??

    "No offense taken, boy. Nobunaga has never seen your power and doesn''t know that your Oracle possesses an enhancement skill," Takamori specified.

    Yoichi, Nobunaga and Takamori continued to converse quietly on the beach east of Goldhaven, under the uncurious gaze of Rinji, who at times seemed to be sleeping standing up.

    Nobunaga exined to Yoichi that the stance he took during the defense phase could not coincide with that of the attack phase: although Kenji''s power allowed him to parry blunt and sometimes sharp weapon strikes sessfully, it made his response time much longer.

    The experienced warrior who once belonged to the Rogue Syndicate showed Yoichi that preferring the dodge to the parry opened up an incredible range of possibilities for him. If the enemy''s attack missed the target, he would have much more time to act, thus deciding in which direction and with which limb to counterattack.

    The two Nightdes warriors started training again, but unlike in the previous fight, Nobunaga did not use the ''Thief Wind'' movement, the unique ability with which he could move as fast as the wind.

    He simted a slow-motion fight, allowing Yoichi to acknowledge the mostmon mistakes in hisbat stance.

    One movement after another, Yoichi began to store those moves in his mind: performed by his inexperienced body, they were imperfect and still predictable. Instead, when Nobunaga moved his arms and legs, he seemed to dance.

    The purple-haired tamer''s attack and defense stances were harmonious and perfect. Making rtively simple movements, Nobunaga never left any side of his body uncovered and always had the ability to counterattack.

    Studying his young teacher''s movements in-depth, Yoichi realized that those moves,bined with his superhuman speed, made him a much stronger than average warrior.

    "Come on, try to hit me one more time," Nobunaga chuckled, who was starting to enjoy that kind of training. He tried to hit Yoichi with a kick in slow motion, allowing the young tamer to step back and dodge.

    In the next instant, a punch was dodged sideways and an elbow was deflected by a hand from Yoichi, who had now figured out how to move.

    "I''m going to increase the speed now. Are you ready?"

    "Uhm... can we have a moment..."

    "Go!" - Without giving Yoichi time to reorganize his ideas, Nobunaga carried out the same series of attacks, but in a much more sudden manner.

    Yoichi relied solely on his muscle memory and, keeping his concentration level high on his opponent''s hands and feet, parried and dodged every blow.

    Suddenly, without even realizing it, he blocked his hand, locked in a fist. Surprised at his own abilities, Yoichi noticed that his knuckles were grazing Nobunaga''s cheekbone and that the counterattack had seeded perfectly.

    "Excellent! Good job, guys!" Takamori Sada rejoiced, pping his hands. Ayaka, his mantis demon, simted the same movement with its front legs. The Gokirama was steady on the guild leader''s head, as always.

    "Wow! I can''t believe it!" Yoichi eximed, pulling his arm back and returning to a standing position.

    Nobunaga did the same, positioning himself in front of him. "All you need is a little practice, but... Takamori-Sensei was right. You''re a quick learner." After those words, the purple-haired warrior red his nostrils and sketched what remotely looked like a smile of encouragement.

    Hearing those wordse from the mouth of his guildmate gave Yoichi an incredible charge. Nobunaga didn''t seem to be the most sociable or conversational kind of person; that advice probably came from the bottom of his heart, hard as a rock.

    "Seeing two of my warriors train with such spirit fills my old heart with joy," Takamori breathed, taking a step toward them. "Today, you have learned what your deepest shorings are. I expect you to put Nobunaga''s advice into practice every day, Yoichi."

    "It will be done, Sensei," the young tamer replied, leaning his upper body forward.

    "The hand-to-hand fighting style is perhaps best suited for you, boy. However, we still have a problem to solve," Takamori added, creating some suspense.

    "You do not possess a weapon worthy of the warrior you will be," he asserted. The guild leader drastically changed the tone of his voice, as if he was talking about something sacred.

    After that suggestion, Yoichi thought it was finally the perfect time to talk to his master about Tetsuiasa and Shusaku, the cksmith exiled by the current Emperor of Tentochu.

    Referring to Ryutaro and exining to his master that it had been his idea, Yoichi showed Takamori, Rinji, and Nobunaga the rare material he had obtained by solving the riddle of the three spirits of the ckvault Mines.

    The members of the Nightdes looked at the Tetsuiasa with interest, taking it out of its wooden container and twisting it in their hands. Sunlight reflected off the rough, raw surface of that metal, strong as steel and shining like a golden nugget.

    "Hmm... Skusaku..." Takamori murmured, repeating the cksmith''s name in a low voice. "I''m sorry, boy. I really have no idea where he might be. In any case, I understand why Ryutaro told you about him. This metal is a rather raremodity and needs to be worked by the right hands," he added.

    "Ryutaro-Sensei told me that he knew someone who might know Shusaku''s whereabouts. However, after his arrest, I doubt he can still help me and..."

    "I''ll help you, boy," Takamori interrupted, turning to Yoichi with his usual smirk.

    "What? Really?"

    "Sure. I don''t know all the people who the supreme Ryutaro knows, but... I''m sure I can glean some clues. You just take care of your training. When I know something, you''ll be the first to be informed," Takamori spoke.

    Yoichi was unable to express his gratitude in simple words. In recent times, the young tamer hade across several evil beings, ready to exterminate the entire poption of Tentochu to achieve their goals, and he had always relied on his own force of will.

    Knowing that he could count on the help of an honourable man like Takamori heartened his spirit.

 Chapter 211 - Infection

    The morning training against Nobunagasted about two hours. When time ran out, the purple-haired warrior had to return to his business and left the beach.

    Takamori and Rinji suggested that Yoichi do the same and continue practicing the techniques taught to him just moments before inside the arena. "I wanted you to train here on the coast because I would like you to expand your geographical knowledge," the guild leader remarked as he walked with his two disciples among the fishermen heading toward the harbour.??

    Those simple words gave Yoichi pause. Expanding his geographical knowledge meant travelling and exploring the world. How could he do that if he also had to cultivate his draconic powers?

    During the long walk that led him to the other side of the city, the young tamer began to think if there was a way to carry the Therion''s Tear with him.

    Inside his heart, he knew that Ryutaro would never approve of such a thing. However, the gatekeeper had proven time and time again that the personal growth of his only pupil was worth more than anything else.

    If he could take with him even a tiny portion of the magical fluid that allowed him to cultivate his powers, he would be able to move at will. Once he discovered Shusaku''s location, he could take advantage of it to get outside the capital''s walls.

    Travelling meant more than just exploring new areas searching for loot: changing biomes was the best opportunity for a tamer to tame new species of demons and expand his team.

    Yoichi''s main goal was to increase his strength level and stop the Void Summoners'' advance. However, other enemies would get in his way, and Kenji and Ichiro''s help alone would not be enough.

    In between thoughts, Yoichi reached the Nightdes'' tower along with his master and his giantpanion. Anxiously waiting to check on his friend''s condition in person, he went up to the top floor, where Enatsu''s bed was located.

    He entered on tiptoe along with Takamori. Yoischiko''s blue hair was illuminated by the daylighting in through the window: the beautiful healer was sitting on the same bed as the young merchant, who was blissfully sleeping.

    Next to the bed, dozens and dozens of dirty bandages were piled on a wooden nightstand. The ck, sticky substance that soaked those cotton gauzes had all the appearance of being ckblood.

    "How''s our Enatsu, Yoshiko?" Takamori asked as if he were a family man who had just returned from one of his business trips. The guild leader paused at the foot of the bed while Yoichi moved even closer to his friend.

    "I would like to tell you that Enatsu is in the process of healing, but that is not the case. By taking advantage of Gagrelin''s healing skill, I was able to keep the infection at bay, but every time I close the wound and superficially treat it, this strange ck liquid startsing out again likeva from a volcano," Yoshiko replied.

    Unlike the other times he had heard her speak, Yoichi noticed that the blue-haired girl''s voice was full of defeat. From his new perspective, the young tamer saw Yoshiko''s squirrel-demon, who had curled up in the folds of Enatsu''s nkets, exhausted.

    "In all my career as a healer, I have never seen a wound like this. This substance seems to follow a will of its own and constantly desires flesh to feed upon. I fear that without our care, poor Enatsu would have been devoured long time ago," she added.

    Yoshiko''s hair was more messy than usual, and the knotted flowers inside her blue braids had wilted as if she had been so busy that she hadn''t been able to take care of her appearance.

    The words of the injured Enatsu in the carriage on the trip back from ckvault Mines echoed in Yoichi''s mind, and he had a sudden illumination.

    "Maybe I know a way to heal him for good!" the young warrior boomed, looking at his master. Takamori looked down and then crossed his gaze with Yoichi again, unable to understand what he was talking about.

    "Do you know a way to remove this strange ck substance from the wound? What is it?" Yoshiko inquired, hoping she understood correctly.

    Yoichi approached the girl and, amicably, ced a hand on her shoulder. She turned her face and looked up at him: the features of her face looked like those of a Greek goddess, and the lines of her nose and mouth bordered on perfection.

    However, despite her breathtaking beauty, Yoshiko was visibly tired, and deep dark circles under her big blue eyes summed up that night''s insomnia.

    "I thank you infinitely for helping my friend," Yoichi smiled, patting her shoulder. "Go rest now. You need it badly," he added, showing thoughtfulness towards his guildmate.

    "I... I can''t leave him here. Who would help him if he had a respiratory crisis or a..."

    "Yoshiko" - Takamori''s voice broke into speech. The moustachioed guild leader smiled at his healer, approving Yoichi''s advice and suggesting to make her rest.

    The blue-haired girl looked at Enatsu once more. When the weight of her body lightened the mattress, Gagrelin woke up and jumped on her arm, climbing up to her neck as if she were a tree trunk.

    Showing incredible respect and goodness of heart, Yoshiko made a slight bow to Yoichi and Takamori and walked out of the room, down the stairs. Behind her, the fragrant trail of wildflowers intoxicated the sense of smell of the two lucky men.

    "She is truly an exceptional girl. I''m fortunate to have her on my team," Takamori Sada sighed, smiling and looking at Enatsu. "So, Yoichi. What''s on your mind?" he asked.

    Yoichi grabbed a p of Enatsu''s nkets and uncovered his chest. The wound on his abdomen had evidently been carefully treated, and more sterile drapes had been ced where the flesh had torn.

    Taking care not to tear the skin sticking to the bandages, Yoichi removed the gauze, exposing the wound.

 Chapter 212 - Ice-blocking

    Despite the young tamer''s slow and careful movements, Enatsu opened his eyes due to the burning feeling. "What... who... Yoshiko?" the merchant murmured, opening his eyes and watching his friend take shape before him.

    "Hey, brother. What''s up?" Yoichi smiled, watching Enatsu''s face out of the corner of his eye.??

    The wound on his abdomen was worse than the day before: the shredded edges of the cut looked rotten and festering, wholly soaked in ckblood.

    That dark substance prevented the blood telets from regenerating normally the damaged tissues even after Yoshiko''s meticulous care. Every time more ckblood escaped from the depths of the wound, it carried more blood, lowering the venous pressure of poor Enatsu, pale as a corpse.

    Takamori looks very sensitive to the sight of blood despite being an experienced warrior. He avoided getting too close to his wounded warrior, trying to figure out from a distance what Yoichi was up to.

    "I''ve been lying on this bed for over twelve hours, I can''t move, and a squirrel made me swallow at least a dozen magic acorns... what do you think? I feel great! Aargh!" - Trying to be ironic even in that moment of pain, Enatsu tried to move his back, but to no avail.

    "Yoshiko has kept you alive so far, but she definitely needed to rest. Do you remember what you told me about the antidote for the ckblood?" the young tamer asked. He tore off a piece of clean gauze and used it to tie back his long blonde hair so that it would not obstruct his sight.

    "I don''t think I remember, brother. My head is killing me, I can barely remember my own fucking name!" - After the sudden awakening, Enatsu began to feel all the pain of the wound again as the analgesic power of Gagrelin''s acorn gradually faded.

    "What''s the only thing capable of destroying the ckblood?" Yoichi asked, knowing his best friend would understand what he had in mind.

    "Huh? Have you gone crazy? Look, I was joking!" Enatsu shivered, widening his eyes. "If you used Kenji''s fire on the wound, you''d burn my whole body! Get that out of your head, Yoichi! I don''t... argh! Fuck!"

    The tamer merchant couldn''t even finish a sentence without being interrupted by the searing pain of the still-open wound. The cut on his abdomen was pulsing, and that foul-smelling substance kept self-regenerating endlessly, preventing healing.

    "You''re right. If I unleashed the dragon me on you, I would reduce your body to ashes," Yoichi spoke. "But what if I used less of it just to consume the ckblood?" he added, looking his friend in the eyes as if he wanted to convince him to undergo a strange experiment.

    "What?! What do you take me for, Yoichi? I''m not ab rat!" - fear was painted on the expression of the merchant, who broke in a cold sweat at the very idea of undergoing such treatment.

    "Yoichi," Takamori interrupted, taking courage to speak. "You yourself admitted that you are not yet able to control the power of the dragon me. Using that power to rampage and fight certainly requires less self-control than using it to cauterize a wound."

    From his words, even the guild master seemed to disagree. However, time continued to run out, and the cut on Enatsu''s abdomen grew even wider, causing him unbearable pain.

    "Fuck! Fuck! It feels like someone is digging into me!"

    Next to Enatsu''s bed, in addition to the blood-stained bandages, a Demon Tooth housed Rokuro, the injured mole demon. Unlike its tamer, perhaps Rokuro would be to heal its damaged body autonomously.

    Enastu''s groans brought Yoichi and Takamori to look into each other''s eyes. The young warrior''s gaze spoke clearly: time was running out for the young merchant.

    Even if Yoshiko had been there, she would have only dyed the effect of the ckblood and made Enatsu''s agony more challenging to bear.

    Takamori let out a long sigh and walked over to the nightstand. Down on the floor, he picked up the basket full of sterile gauze and grabbed one.

    "What are you going to do, Sensei? You''re not indulging Yoichi, I hope!" Enatsu trembled, barely moving his head and following Takamori with his gaze.

    After rolling and folding a gauze to making it thicker and more robust, the guild leader brought it closer to the future Nightdes wizard''s mouth.

    "Um? Umpf! Uuurgh!" - Putting pressure on Enatsu''s mouth, Takamori slipped the gauze between his teeth, preventing him from screaming any further and psychologically preparing him for what would happen next.

    Akay, the mantis demon, jumped from its master''s head andnded on the soft bed next to the young merchant. Communicating telepathically with Takamori, the Gokirama gave a hint of its power.

    The insect rubbed its ded legs and then waved them forward toward one of Enatsu''s hands. Suddenly, a current of cold air created a block of ice that froze the wounded warrior''s limbs.

    "Uhm?! UUUHMM!"

    Enatsu''s screams increased further, and his other arm instinctively tried to grab the little ice demon. Under Yoichi''s astonished eyes, Akay leapt onto Enatsu''s chest and sealed his other hand under another crystalline block.

    After immobilizing the helpless Enatsu, Takamori looked into Yoichi''s eyes. "You have one chance only, boy. Your friend''s life depends on you," he spoke, avoiding dropping his gaze to the wound that oozed ck sludge.

    Yoichi had been stunned to see the tiny mantis demon create such arge amount of ice. Nevertheless, he shook his head and took a step back, knowing that the temporary lock on Enatsu''s arms would notst forever.

    "Ildriss!" he yelled, summoning Kenji.

    The small dragon''s distinctive me rose from his chest, almost reaching the ceiling. As the ck-scaled body of his Oracle took shape, Kenji was fully aware of what it was supposed to do.

    During his fights with hisst enemies, Yoichi had been able to releaserge amounts of draconic me from the deepest spots of his ribcage, unleashing a primal power.

    But would he also be able to control it to suture a wound?

 Chapter 213 - Boiling Mud

    With a leap worthy of a feline, Kenji jumped onto the bed in the area where Enatsu''s feet were gradually stopping kicking. Although he was frightened, the merchant didn''t have much energy at his disposal due to the injury.

    Enatsu''s zed eyes looked at Yoichi, and his cheeks were bruised under the pressure of the gauze clutched in Takamori''s hands.??

    For a moment, Yoichi thought back to the moment when Enatsu had used Rokuro to save Shioko. The spell cast by Ogai would probably have affected the archer on her chest, turning her into a Void Summoner capable only of obeying Gonshiro''s orders.

    Ever since he had met him, Enatsu had only been able to do good. Letting him die on a bloodstained bed after hours of agony would have been a real injustice.

    All eyes were on Yoichi. Takamori was anxiously waiting for something to happen, and Enatsu, despite his fear, clenched his fists under the ice blocks, ready to endure the pain.

    Yoichi took a deep breath, activating the power of his Oracle and letting the heat of the dragon me burn in his chest and flow through his veins.

    One scale after another, a fiery line ran down the little dragon''s back, whose red eyes glowed for an instant. Unable to sense the presence of any enemy and sharing its thoughts with its tamer, Kenji knew that, for the first time, it would have to use its power to heal and not destroy.

    Yoichi''s arm made a strange noise as his skin was lifted from the thick ck scales growing beneath it. Slowly, piece by piece, the entire right arm was enhanced by Kenji''s skill.

    Paying little attention to the biceps and triceps area, Yoichi concentrated mainly on the hand and fingers: the long ck ws grew very slowly, bing sharper and sharper.

    Enatsu stopped screaming, knowing that he would only risk making the operation moreplicated by getting too worked up. He didn''t know if his friend was suited for such a meticulous and delicate job, but, apparently, this was the only solution to have his life saved.

    The merchant took a deep breath, followed by more ckblood boiling inside the wound. ck drops dripped down his sides, staining the bed.

    Okay, Kenji. Now I need some help, Yoichi thought,municating telepathically with his Oracle. Let a little bit of me run down my finger, just on the tip.

    A bead of sweat ran down Yoichi''s forehead and cheek, trickling down his chin as if it were a stctite in a cave.

    Takamori was speechless as Kenji''s primal me glowed beneath the scales of Yoichi''s one enhanced arm. Activating that power in an enclosed space where even the most minor details could be appreciated, the guild master noticed that the heat energy produced by Yoichi''s body emitted a thin, ckish smoke.

    The smoke, less dense than air, rose to the ceiling and dispersed around the room, releasing an unpleasant burning smell.

    Knowing he had no more than a chance, Yoichi hardened the muscles in his arm, ensuring that the scales on his forearm and wrist did not rise. Had that happened, the fire burning beneath them would have risked burning other areas of Enatsu''s body.

    Unlike a normal fire, the draconic me could not be tamed nor extinguished. Not even its creator could reduce its damaging potential: if even a small part of it fell in the wrong ce, chaos would ensue and the merchant''s screams would be drowned out by hisst breath.

    "Take courage, boy. You can do this," Takamori murmured, noticing that Yoichi was in a state of evident anxiety.

    Sparks from the dragon me sshed here and there near his wrist, ending up on the edges of the bed and creating small holes in the nkets. Seeing that scene, Enatsu closed his eyes, and his teeth bit down even harder on the bandage held by Takamori.

    Finally, after a few minutes of absolute silence, during which the only sound was that of sparks burning the cotton fibres of the sheets, Yoichi was able to obtain the desired effect: the fire under the scales had decreased significantly, shifting most of the heat energy onto his hand and then onto his fingers.

    Travelling through the veins in his arm and the spaces between muscles, the dragon me superheated Yoichi''s ck ws, which became incandescent.

    Kenji''s red eyes pointed at Enatsu''s wound. The little dragon was still on the bed, its paws spread and its body motionless. Its and its tamer''s concentration was palpable.

    This is it. I can feel the heat of the me running through my fingers! Thought Yoichi, looking at his hand and bringing it very slowly closer to his friend''s wound.

    "Are you ready, brother?" Yoichi asked, resting his other hand on the mattress for further bnce.

    "Uuhm!" - Despite his fearful and constantly anxious nature, Enatsu acquiesced, squeezing his eyes shut and locking in his breath. Apnea, perhaps, would lessen the intensity of the pain.

    The mere proximity to the glowing w caused a strange chemical reaction to the young merchant''s wound: from the edges to the central area, the ckblood that had caused the infection began to boil like water in a cauldron.

    The very heat of the dragon me seemed to have interrupted the still state of the strange arcane substance. Without wasting any more time, Yoichi let the tip of his w touch the wound.

    Trying to keep his hand as still as possible, the young tamer plunged his finger into the central spot of the cut, at the point where the density of the ckblood was greatest.

    "UUURGH!" - Enatsu couldn''t hold back a scream of pain, and his arms tried to move under the blocks of ice created by Ayaka, which were slowly melting under the heat generated by Kenji and Yoichi.

    Arge amount of ckblood began to gush from Enatsu''s abdomen like a fountain. Sshes of the dark sludgended on Yoichi''s face and Takamori''s, who was forced to look away so as not to be blinded.

 Chapter 214 - Cauterize

    "Oh, fuck!" Yoichi gulped, squinting his eyes and holding his hand steady in that position. The ck liquid in contact with the glowing w emitted a strange alien sound and began to evaporate.

    Enatsu''s abdomen swelled and deted, letting out all the umted ckblood. The processsted roughly thirty seconds, but in poor Enatsu''s mind, the pain seemed never to end.??

    His abdominal muscles contracted, slowing the rest of the sludge trapped between his muscle fibres. The sterile gauze between Takamori''s stains became lightly stained with blood from Enatsu''s gums, who was biting it so hard that he was self-damaging.

    The young merchant''s eyes shifted back, and his pupils looked inward at his eyelids. During that painful surgery, he could no longer hold back the pain and passed out.

    Enatsu''s hands, legs and abdomen stopped vibrating, and mud began to pour out inrge quantities. In contact with the air, the ckblood dposed and evaporated, burned by the mere incandescence of the dragon me.

    Yoichi opened his eyes again, making sure not to push too hard with his hand. Finally, the inside of the deep gash on his friend''s abdomen was back to normal, and a few spots of ck sludgey on the surface.

    "I have to get rid of every little piece of ckblood. If it came in contact with his blood again, it could start regenerating and Enatsu would be infected once more!" Yoichi spoke aloud as if he felt safer that way.

    Takamori remained silent, observing the scene along with his mantis, now resting in the center of Enatsu''s chest. The ice that held his wrists in ce had meltedpletely, soaking the mattress and dripping onto the wooden floor.

    Right there, between the old beams, it was probably dripping downstairs, where the Nightdes warriors ignored what was happening over their heads.

    Taking care not to dig any deeper, Yoichi spread his legs and grabbed the wrist of his enhanced arm with his other hand, trying to hold it steady.

    "Ouch!" - Unconsciously, the young tamer hadn''t thought that without Kenji''s enhancement, his human hand would be scalded upon contact with draconic energy.

    With onest effort, Yoichi traced the perimeter of the semi-circr wound with his glowing w, removing thest portions of ckblood, which evaporated into its usual greyish smoke.

    As thest drop of Gonshiro''s power was removed from Enatsu''s innocent body, blood from within the wound finally began to flow out again.

    "I did it!" the blond-haired warrior rejoiced, removing his hand from his friend and deactivating Kenji''s power.

    Yoichi''s arm returned to normal, and the ws on his right hand disappeared, as did the small mes on Kenji''s body.

    From Enatsu''s open wound, a small trickle of ''human'' blood began to flow, also bathing the bed, which now looked like that in an operating room.

    Takamori grabbed more bandages and the little remaining ointment in a hurry, left by Yoshiko in an earthenware container next to the bedside table. The guild master smeared the ointment on the wound carefully and wrapped the cloth bandages around Enatsu''s abdomen, aided by Yoichi.

    A sound of footsteps drew the gazes of both of them to the stairs. Sensing Enatsu''s heartbreaking cries, Yoshiko was there again, on the third floor of the tower.

    "Yoshiko¡­" Takamori called, who until a moment before would have sworn the young healer was asleep. "What are you doing here? The situation is under control. You were supposed to be resting and..."

    Ignoring her master''s call, the blue-haired girl slinked over to Enatsu and rested a hand on his neck and her head on his chest. After a few seconds of silence, herrge blue eyes lifted to Yoichi, brimming with tears.

    "You... you saved him," Yoshiko whimpered. Tears trickled down over her wet lips, and a long wisp of blue hair fell across her face, slightly touching her nose.

    Yoichi smiled, sharing his intense joy with his guildmate. It was clear that Yoshiko had be especially fond of Enatsu, despite having had very little time to get to know him.

    He and Takamori lifted Enatsu''s unconscious body and moved it to the adjacent bed, the one intended for Yoichi. With the bandages clean and the wound no longer infected, the young merchant would now need to go through the standard convalescence to heal.

    From a simple experiment, Yoichi had realized, thanks to a hunch, that the power he had inherited from the supreme Therion could also be used to heal people. His friend''s life was no longer in danger and, after this fantastic news, he could devote himself to his training without having to carry that heavy burden.

    Kenji was recalled to the inside of his chest and was reced by Gagrelin, the little squirrel demon. Promising Takamori that she would indeed rest, Yoshiko decided to upy one of the beds on the third floor so that she could stay by Enatsu''s side in case of need.

    Yoichi sensed the affection that was slowly spreading through the walls of that room and, after greeting his master and thanking him for his valuable advice that morning, he put something under his teeth.

    Lunchtime had arrived, and the tiredness of the training against Nobunaga was making itself felt. After finishing eating, the young tamer waited for Shioko to say hi to her before leaving the tower again.

    The red-haired girl did not show up, perhaps intent on the backlog of tasks she had notpleted during herst journey. Unable to waste any more time and having to concentrate on himself, Yoichi left the Nightdes'' headquarters and headed for the arena.

    Finally, the constant thought of Enatsu, which was always in the background of his mind and did not allow him to make radical decisions, had subsided.

    Even though only a few hours had passed since the previous night and his meeting with the supreme Dragon King, he sensed that the sh with the first of the Guardians of the Whole was getting closer and closer. But how did one really prepare to face one of Lumya''s supreme dragons?

 Chapter 215 - Constancy

    The arena was filled with warriors intent on training, as always. The stone tatami housed people from every guild, some wearing glittering, colourful armor, others less shy.

    The gates in the stone walls that allowed ess to the arena still seemed tock a guardian. Yoichi entered without being stopped by anyone and, keeping a low profile, walked sideways, following the perimeter of the walls.??

    He passed behind the peach trees, keeping away from the other groups of warriors with their guild leaders. The sun was still shining high in the sky, and those hours were too valuable to waste.

    Yoichi knew he had to devote every spare moment to practice the new skills he learned from Nobunaga because he didn''t know if he would have a second chance against the supreme dragon if he failed.

    During his first andst talk with Therion, the Dragon King had forcibly stopped the vision, preventing Yoichi from asking him any more questions. The young warrior would have liked to ask his mentor more information about his next enemy, if it was possible to use Kenji''s powers freely and if there was a way to carry the Tear outside the Dojo.

    In truth, within himself, Yoichi already knew the answer to thest question. From Ryutaro''s first exnations, he learned that the Tear itself was imbued with arcane power, not its container. Whether it was contained in that stone basin or a ss cup, it should have made no difference.

    Until recently, his mind had been as agitated as a raging river and was now as calm as the surface of a pond protected by trees. His level of concentration was gradually increasing and, even when he was not in a meditative state, he was able to concentrate all his energies on a single element, increasing his power.

    How many strong warriors are here. What is the reason that drives all these people to train every day? The money they get once a week? The fame? Do they aspire to fight at the front and conquer the Nomi Inds, thus honoring the Emperor''s name? He pondered, unable to answer all those questions.

    Finally, after searching for several minutes, Yoichi found a quiet and peaceful spot where he could practice Nobunaga''s moves to improve his hand-to-hand fighting style.

    He left his bags near one of the peach trees and, not too far from the stone tatami, he took a deep breath, getting ready to begin.

    There seemed to be no warriors of the Emperor''s Heralds in his vicinity, always ready to annoy others and bully the weaker ones. One movement after another, Yoichi assumed the fighting stance and began to move sinuously, imitating what had happened during the morning on the beach east of Goldhaven.

    The determined young tamer spent about two hours in that precise spot, among the trees and therge tatami, upied by other warriors. He tried and tried Nobunaga''s moves hundreds of times again until he felt thectic acid flowing in the muscles of his arms and legs.

    Hismitment was so constant that the grass beneath his feet was consumed only in a few ces, slightly lifting clods of earth. Hit, dodge, and hit again. Crouch, get back up and hit harder.

    Nobunaga''s fighting style was unbeatable but straightforward if executed without errors. With a little practice, in just two days, he would perfect it and apply it to his next fight.

    Yoichi interrupted his intensive training as the afternoon sun began to hide behind the arena''s stone walls shyly. He tied up his hair and wiped the sweat on his forehead, continuing to think about those movements as if he wanted to make them automatic.

    However, perfecting closebat was not enough. If he really wanted to defeat one of the legendary dragons capable of ughtering ancient demons in the Lumya of the past, he would have to get more information about it.

    Suddenly, he flipped through the titles of the books in Ryutaro''s room between the pages of his memories. ''Dragon Demons of Lumya'' - that was the book right for him. Yoichi recalled that Ryutaro used that ancient tome to illustrate for him the pictures depicting Therion.

    In addition to the Dragon King, the book contained information about hundreds of other dragons other than Therion. That information was probably iplete or incorrect, but it was certainly better than nothing.

    Rolling up his sleeves and picking up his stuff from the ground, Yoichi approached the area behind the Dojo. In a well-kept garden, next to arge fountain, the warriors who frequented that sacred ce were allowed to wash away the sweat and fatigue of training.

    A statue in the shape of a pir, consisting of arge stone cylinder with holes, let out fresh and clear water, which then fell into arge stone container.

    Two men were intent on rinsing their faces, and a woman had dipped her head and hair into the water, washing away the impurities.

    This is the closest thing to a shower I can find for the moment. I don''t have time to get to the Nightdes tower and take a bath. This will have to do, Yoichi thought, dipping his hands into the water from the fountain and starting to wash his face.

    The dirty water that dripped from the young warrior''s chin and hair fell back into the fountain, carrying dust and sweat with it. Through an articted system of fissures at the bottom of the rock, the liquid was reabsorbed and a sort of filter cleaned it of impurities.

    These cyclical and efficient operations ensured that the water was always clean and fresh despite hundreds of people using it every day to wash.

    The water on Yoichi''s face and arms dried, and the fatigue of training began to weigh on his shoulders. Dragging his feet towards the Dojo, looking forward to leafing through that ancient book, Yoichi passed the door watched over by the two majestic golden tigers.

    By now, the young tamer had be so ustomed to some of the Dojo''s regr visitors that he recognized their faces. He left his boots at the entrance and headed for his room, while in the outside world, light was gradually reced by darkness.

 Chapter 216 - Stone Gym

    The book titled ''Dragon Demons of Lumya'' was perhaps thergest and heaviest in Ryutaro''s private library. Yoichi had to grab it with both hands to lift it up andy it at the foot of the mat.

    Inscriptions in an ancient alphabet ran along the edges of the rectangr cover, both front and back. Unexpectedly, the young tamer felt a strange emotion when he opened the ancient tome, perhaps because he knew that it was a gift from Emperor Tatsui to his master.??

    The first chapters were focused on the historical part revolving around the most powerful demons in the world. With the help of a few pictures scattered here and there between paragraphs, the tale seemed like a slightly lessplete version of the story from Therion himself.

    That book didn''t look to have an author, or rather, perhaps his name was written in an alphabet that Yoichi couldn''t understand. Page after page, the information about dragon demons became more and more specific and detailed.

    In the meatiest part of the book, each dragon had a few dedicated chapters, as datasheets indicating its physical characteristics and those of its powers.

    The average height, the color, the weight, the source of energy and the type. The basic information that would help the young tamer set up a tactic was contained within those pages.

    After the hustle and bustle of those days, meditating and reading books did not prove very easy for Yoichi. His young body was quivering with the desire to train, and his hormones were also exploding.

    Even as he concentrated on reading, he couldn''t help but think of Shioko, Yoshiko, and even Princess Sui. Was it his 18-year-old hormones, or were they all beautiful girls?

    Yoichi shook his head, remembering that he would allow himself some time to think about frivolities after increasing his powers. After reading more than a hundred pages of that ancient book in a single evening, his eyes squinted until he head fell on the mat from sleep.

    Fortunately, the cover of the book cushioned his fall, but it was not enough to wake him up. In a very ufortable position and with only one meal in his stomach, Yoichi fell into a deep sleep on the straw mat, next to the usual incense stick.

    ...

    The next day, when he opened his eyes again and moved his neck, every bone in his body creaked in unison. His back, arms, and legs were sore, and due to the ufortable position, his hours of sleep had been less than usual.

    "Ouch... that hurt," he stammered, still with one foot in dreand. With some difficulty, he stood up and stretched the muscles in his arms. His gaze turned to the sun streaming in through the window.

    Thectic acid that had apanied his body in its sleep during the night seemed to have disappeared as if it wanted to suggest starting training again.

    I made a deal with Therion and promised him that tomorrow I would cultivate my draconic powers by defeating my first dragon opponent. There is no more time to waste. I cannot be distracted in any way today, he thought, full of expectation.

    Dressing and getting ready in a hurry, he gathered all his things and quickly left the room after cing Ryutaro''s precious book on the appropriate shelf.

    The previous evening, fatigue forced him to interrupt his intensive reading session, but all the information he had acquired about dragons was still etched in his mind.

    Yoichi had no memories of his previous life, nor did he intend to; all he needed to know was that his new self had a purpose and that he would work hard to achieve it.

    As he reached the stairs of the Dojo, he looked around. A particrly familiar voice caught his attention, and his eyes followed his instincts, pointing in that direction.

    Takamori Sada was in the middle of the tatami with many of his warriors, talking to them in his usual ironic manner. Behind the hand of the moustachioed guild leader, always intent on touching his round belly, Shioko''s red hair swirled in the wind.

    A smile lit up Yoichi''s face, and at the sight of the archer, he dashed onto the tatami, ready to greet her and his otherrades. "Takamori-Sensei! Takamori-Sensei!" he called aloud, moving at a brisk pace towards her guild members.

    "Yoichi! You''re finally awake, sleepyhead!" - Takamori looked away from his warriors for just a moment, then resumed his speech. Nobunaga stood next to Rinji, who in turn stood next to Shioko. To their right was Toshi, the mysterious thin, pale-faced warrior.

    Yoshiko was missing. In all likelihood, the young healer was still busy with Enatsu''s healing treatment.

    Shioko inevitably aimed her gaze at Yoichi, and a radiant smile appeared beneath her freckle-covered nose.

    Unable to disrespect his master, Yoichi waited until the end of his speech to greet his teammates and join them in morning training.

    "Today''s training is about breathing. There is a way to withstand the blows you take and considerably reduce the damage through good breathing technique," Takamori eximed proudly.

    Behind him, warriors belonging to who knows which guild were indirectly participating in the lesson. Now that Ryutaro was not there and no other gatekeeper had taken his ce, the tatami of the arena had be like a vast gym ready to host anyone who had the pleasure of spending their time there.

    "Rinji," Takamori continued. "Pleasee closer," he added, ordering the Nightdes'' gentle giant to step forward.

    As Rinji positioned himself next to his master, he began to speak again. "As you all know, Rinji is the most experienced in the defensive field. Due to his build and experience from dozens of battles at the front, he has developed the skill that I would like you all to learn today," the guild leader stated.

    As he and Rinji prepared for the practical demonstration, a group of warriors in red armor came through the arena''s gates. Overbearingly, they pushed their way through the other frequenters of that sacred ce,ughing and strutting.

    Amidst their glittering armor and the metallic sound of their weapons, Yoichi could detect some recognizable blue hair.

 Chapter 217 - Untouchable

    "Get out of my way. We need to train," one of the young warriors from the Emperor''s Heralds grunted. He did not have a familiar face and walked next to a girl from his own guild.

    Overbearingly, as he walked, he pushed away a warrior of another unknown guild, undoubtedly less famous than the one supported by the Emperor himself.??

    The Nightdes warriors couldn''t help but look at the scene and stare at the ten Heralds who broke the bnce and morning calm of the arena. They looked like spoiled children and acted as if they were superior to everyone else, knowing that their actions would be of no consequence.

    Their guild master Yozo was not there with them. After passing through the entrance gates, they followed Kato towards the stone tatami, stomping on the equipment of those who dared to hinder their advance and looking at everyone with disdain.

    "I''d like to wipe those dumb expressions off their faces," Toshi, the pale-faced warrior, spoke. Yoichi was surprised by that statement: although the two of them had not started off on the right foot, their hatred for the Heralds was shared.

    The blue-haired warrior watched Yoichi and his teammates in training and continued straight ahead. Although he liked to brag, he seemed to be slightly intimidated by Takamori and Nobunaga.

    The Nightdes were known throughout Goldhaven as a guild of ''renegades''. Every warrior who had decided to follow Takamori Sada''s orders had begun his tamer career in another guild, leaving it on his own or being forcibly exiled.

    For these very reasons, the warriors standing on the tatami with Yoichi had gained a certain respect over time, and not anyone dared to disrespect them.

    However, when Yoichi saw Kato, the memories of theirst fight came back to his mind. Probably if he had faced him at that moment, Kenji''s draconic powers would have wiped out his Kuwatako.

    "Then, as I was saying, I will show you the technique I would like you to learn," Takamori continued, turning to Rinji and preparing to punch him.

    "Aah!" - the chubby guild leader unleashed a direct punch on the giant''s abdomen, who exhaled all the air in his lungs as soon as his master''s knuckles grazed his armor.

    Bending his torso forward slightly and letting the punch deplete its energy, after a simple breath, Rinji returned to an upright position, unharmed.

    "Wow!"-his guildmates seemed amazed by that valuable skill and continued to follow the scene with interest. Everyone except Yoichi, who was still watching Kato out of the corner of his eye.

    Unlike the other times, the desire to kick him prevailed over his self-control. The blue-haired warrior stopped with hispanions on the other side of the giant tatami and crossed his gaze with Yoichi.

    One of the Heralds approached Kato and whispered something in his ear, clearly referring to the blond-haired tamer. "Ehehe!" - he, Kato, and other red-armoured warriors began tough, pointing their fingers in his direction.

    Yoichi''s gaze darkened, and his hands clenched into fists. "Hey, what are you doing?" Shioko whispered, hiding her words behind the sound of Takamori''s fists to speak and not interrupt the lesson.

    Without looking away from his target, Yoichi replied, "I''m sure that dickhead is talking shit about us. I don''t know what''s wrong with me, but I can''t stand it anymore. I want to teach him a lesson" - his fists became even tighter.

    Kato and hisrades continued tough as if they had only reached the arena to make fun of someone and not to train seriously. Among the warriors of each guild, it wasmon knowledge that the weekly pay of the Emperor''s Heralds was incredibly high.

    The ''red'' guild received their pay directly from the royal coffers, and it was added to the regr pay received after each mission. As a result, once you joined their guild, it was possible to earn money without any serious work.

    In all likelihood, Kato and his treacherouspanions received in one day the pay that Yoichi and Nobunaga, the most paid of the Nightdes, received in a week.

    "Ignore him, Yoichi," Shioko replied, trying to dissuade her guildmate. "He only wants to provoke you because he''s sure he can beat you once again. It''s better to avoid unnecessary fights," she added, starting to look at Takamori again.

    Trying to let the anger flow away from his body, Yoichi pointed his gaze toward the sun above the Dojo''s rooftop. The heron statue on the highest spot of that magnificent building stood right above Ryutaro''s private room.

    Inside of it, the Therion''s Tear was waiting for him. By traveling to the Lumya of the past and meeting the Dragon King, Yoichi would face one of the Guardians of the Whole. How could he even imagine fighting a winged beast over five meters tall if he couldn''t even face a bullying, haughty kid like Kato?

    Ryutaroy in prison, and like him, who knows how many other innocent people inhabited the dungeons of the Imperial Pce.

    Yoichi could feel his life bing more and more filled with injustice, but despite all that, the Emperor''s Heralds were always there, untouchable. Why was a war veteran like Ryutaro imprisoned just for straying from the Dojo, but Kato and his stupid friends had the right to treat everyone else that way?

    The calm in Yoichi''s soul turned to anger, and a burning sensation filled his chest as if the draconic me was awakening on its own. The power he had inherited from Therion was closely tied to his feelings, but the young tamer knew that that was neither the ce nor the best time to show it to the world.

    Pretending to walk to the other edge of the tatami for who knows what reason, Kato passed by the group of Nightdes. Two of hispanions were following him like wolves in a pack following their pack leader.

    "I hope your merchant friend is well! If you need to get rid of him, there is a open spot in the Heralds'' tower. We would really need someone to clean our shithouses," Kato boomed, looking at Shioko and Yochi. His words generatedughter from hispanions.

 Chapter 218 - Grit

    By uttering that phrase of contempt aloud, Kato''s goal was to involve all the present warriors. Theughter of hisrades echoed through the walls of the arena and even those who did not know the subject of his usation realized that it was a clear provocation to the Nightdes.

    The blood in Yoichi''s veins boiled with rage as the blue-haired warrior slowed his pace more and more until he stopped a few feet far from his back.??

    "What a bunch of losers," the girl next to Kato puffed, also a member of the Emperor''s guild.

    Takamori interrupted his speech, and Rinji rxed the muscles in his abdomen, turning his gaze to whoever was disturbing their morning training. Kato''s words attracted all five Nightdes warriors, besides their guild leader.

    However, even those who did not know well Yoichi''s affairs realized that that provocation was explicitly aimed at him. Most of them knew that Enatsu was a closerade of his and that they had arrived together from Bronzeforest,ter asking to join the guild.

    "Let''s go, guys. This ce is teeming with fear and weakness. We''re just wasting our time," Kato repeated, turning away and starting to walk towards the fountain behind the Dojo again.

    "Yoichi, don''t give in to his taunts! He''s doing this on purpose!" Shioko whispered, resting a hand on her partner''s shoulder, whose angry gaze was turned downward.

    "How dare he make fun of Enatsu? The damn guy doesn''t even know that my friend almost died saving one of his guildmates.... Kato doesn''t know what honor is, and he''s outraging a sacred ce," Yoichi growled in a low voice. "If Ryutaro-Sensei had been here, he would never have allowed him to do that", he added.

    Takamori, Yoichi''s only master still on the loose, unexpectedly approached his student. "Hey," he spoke, drawing his gaze to himself. When their eyes met, the little moustachioed man could sense his inner anger, curbed by a great sense of self-control.

    "What would you like to do, boy?" he inquired. A few feet away from them, Nobunaga watched the scene with interest, touching his purple hair moved by the weak morning wind.

    "I would like to teach that dumb ass a lesson, Sensei. I know it''s not the right thing to do, and I would dishonour the guild in that way, but..."

    "Who ever said that?" Takamori interrupted, leaving Yoichi speechless.

    "What? But... master..." he stammered, confused by a thousand conflicting feelings.

    "The first time you faced Kato... do you remember it?" Takamori asked - Yoichi nodded, "Good. It was right then that I decided that you would be part of my guild. I could feel it in my bones. At that moment, I saw in you the grit that every one of my warriors should have. It''s not good to hold back anger, boy. You just can''t do that forever," he continued, speaking against all odds.

    Yoichi closed his mouth and tried to think about those words. Was Takamori really giving him the green light to face Kato again in front of all those warriors?

    "If you focus on that, you can manage to feel the positive energy of all the people around us. Everyone in this ce hates the Emperor''s Heralds, but they are so feared that no one dares to challenge them. I taught their guild leader a lesson many years ago. Maybe the time for another lesson ise," Takamori Sada affirmed, pointing his sly eyes at Kato and his thugs, who were strolling on the stone tatami.

    While Shioko and Toshi marveled at the words of their master, always dutiful and rule-abiding, Nobunaga chuckled inside, appreciating that veiled vindictiveness.

    Yoichi rxed his hands and loosened his fists, straightening his back and continuing to look at his guild leader. "I can''t use my power in front of all these people, master. And without it, I''m not sure I can defeat him," Yoichi admitted, trying to self-analyze his current level of strength andpare it to his opponent''s.

    Takamori shook his head,municating his disagreement and chuckling as Nobunaga did. He brought his face closer to his student and repeated, "That is your biggest problem. You can do amazing things, and yet, you still can''t believe in yourself."

    Yoichi was struck by that statement so much that he stood still as a stockfish for about ten seconds. Takamori was right: in a world where demon tamers fought to make a name for themselves and increase their fame in society, why would he act in the shadows? Why wasn''t a warrior with his potential free to express himself as he saw fit, even if it meant going against the Emperor?

    Right in front of his eyes, there were people identical to him. His guildmates were all warriors expelled from guilds, with criminal records or other problems with thew. All of them silently harbored a strong hatred for the Emperor of Tentochu, and under the orders of their mentor Takamori, they had managed over the years to turn that hatred into fortitude and stability.

    In this respect, Takamori and Ryutaro were very simr to each other. Both advocated unconditional peace and quiet living, but they recognized war as the key to changing things. If no one ever stopped the Heralds'' bullies, they would continue with violence and bullying forever.

    It was time to say ''no'' to the conspiracy of silence and indifference. Anyone who wanted to change things would have to step up.

    "Hey, haircut!" Yoichi yelled, taking courage and turning towards Kato. All of hisrades gasped, amused by what was going to happen but intimidated at the same time.

    Even Shioko, who usually had a rather grumpy personality, stepped aside, leaving the way clear for herpanion.

    Yoichi''s call reached the ears of Kato and hispanions and, like the annoying buzzing of a fly, forced him to turn in his direction. The gaze of the long-haired blue warrior was mad with rage.

    For the second time, that unknown warrior from the Bronzeforest countryside rebelled against Kato''s outsized ego and nned to make him look bad in front of everyone.

    Blocking the advance of hispanions with one hand, Kato took a step forward, stopping about ten meters away from Yoichi. The tension between the two of them was so intense that it heated the air in the arena.

 Chapter 219 - Exoskeleton

    "Did you happen to say something? I don''t think I heard right" Kato questioned, continuing to act like a blowhard.

    Yoichi took a step forward, unafraid. "You heard perfectly, braggart. If you''re not going to train like everyone else, get the hell out of here. The arena is a sacred ce and so many people are here to study and practice theirbat styles," he eximed, looking Kato in the eye. "There is a corner of the tatami still free" he added, pointing to the open space of therge stone square, bordering the peach trees.??

    A few seconds of silence followed that statement. Dozens and dozens of warriors from other guilds stared at Yoichi. Most of them had never seen him and had never witnessed anyone expose themselves so much against the Heralds.

    "Who''s that guy with the blond hair?"

    "Does he know who he''s talking to?"

    "Pff! Another poor fool who''s going to be ripped to shreds by Kato".

    The warriors in the crowd began to chatter amongst themselves, not trusting the unfamiliar-looking boy. Kato enjoyed a certain reputation there, and his name was one of the best known of his guild among the young promises.

    Compared to the veterans of the Emperor''s Heralds, Kato had less experience and was much younger. However, his manner and the arrogance passed on to him by Yozo, the guild leader, made him one of the most respected apprentices in the guild.

    In a world where the survival of the fittest ruled, the blue-haired warrior behaved like arge predator ready to show his teeth in order to win exclusivity on a hunting ground.

    Often it had been enough just to act bossy to get his way, without necessarily fighting and putting himself on the line.

    "Is this you again? I remember you," he growled, pretending not to know Yoichi, as if he were reciting a script.

    "You know exactly who I am. I kicked your ass in front of the Ambershire gates, remember that?" Yoichi chuckled, showing a whole new side of his character.

    "Woo!"

    "Oh my goodness!"

    Once again, Yoichi''s statement struck a chord with the audience, drawing more and more people around the stone tatami. Even some of the Dojo''s regrs, having finished their meditative sessions, were intrigued by the crowd and approached.

    Yoichi''spanions moved away from him, following Takamori''s silent orders. Among them, Toshi was the only one who had never seen Yoichi fight.

    Kato''s expression showed all his anger, which was slowly turning into violence. With his fists clenched and arms stretched downwards, without adding anything else, he grabbed an object from his pocket and, screaming, mmed it on the floor. "Saganath!"

    The tip of the Demon Tooth wedged between two of the huge stone bricks of the sacred tatami and the summoning process began. A blue and red stream of air was expelled swirling from the magic object, beginning to form the outline of the newly summoned demon.

    What?! Did he choose not to summon his Kuwatako? What is he up to? Yoichi thought, marveling at the fact that Kato had no intention of fighting with his Oracle.

    Under the air current, which began to dissolve in the air, an elongated body withrge red scales took shape. Tworge antennae protruded from the demon''s head, and at the same time, in the lower part of its body, two strong ws were forcefully closed like two pincers.

    When the summoning process waspleted, the strange demon of Kato showed itself to everyone, while the rays of the sun sparkled on its red exoskeleton, the same color of the Heralds'' armor.

    Arge lobster-like being stood on the stone tatami with its tiny crustacean legs, opening and closing its crab-like ws towards Yoichi.

    Two small ck eyes were suspended over chitinous protuberances, and the demon''s mouth was hidden by many tiny fangs that exited and entered a small indentation located under the antennae.

    The tail of Kato''s demon was also covered by a sturdy exoskeleton. Just by looking at it, Yoichi realized that the one in front of him was a water-type demon and wondered how it could move in a ce that was devoid of its belonging element.

    I''m pretty sure this piece of shit summoned a water demon because he remembers my Kenji''s powers. He''s still convinced that my Oracle is a fire-type Nekage, he doesn''t know that water is totally ineffective against the draconic me! Yoichi reflected, finding an answer to his question.

    "I don''t care about yourrades or your traitorous guild leader!" Kato barked loudly, talking about Takamori. "I''m going to hurt you so bad that your tamer career will end here and today, kiddo!" he growled, fomenting his water demon, which made a strange noise and continued to move its ws in a threatening manner.

    If I fought with Ichiro, its attacks would be super effective against a water demon. However, I''m afraid my Inoshuma''s fighting level is too low to face such an opponent and I can''t use its skills well yet, Yoichi pondered.

    At the same time, by summoning Kenji, I could only make use of its enhancement skill. I can''t let anyone notice the dragon me, not yet!

    "Come on, people! Come closer! See what happens to those who dare to challenge the power of the Emperor''s Heralds!" Kato shouted, opening his arms and trying to draw as many people as possible towards the tatami.

    During those frantic seconds, the whole tatami was surrounded by spectators. What had always been a sacred ce of worship under Ryutaro''s control had turned into a ring for underground fights.

    Yoichi left his backpack and small leather pouch on the ground, moving a little closer to his opponents. If he defeated Kato, the blue-haired warrior would leave him and hispanions in peace for a long time.

    This was his chance to practice Kenji''s enhanced skill and the fighting style Nobunaga had taught him that morning. Certainly, with a warrior as fast as Kato it would have been better not to be distracted for a second.

 Chapter 220 - Yokusuta

    I don''t know what that demon''s skill is, and I don''t even know its name, but I''ll let Kato think he has the advantage. After all, water demons are known to be especially strong against fire demons, Yoichi thought, beginning to take deep breaths.

    I''m sure Kato somehow knows that I also have an Inoshuma, which is a grass-type demon. However, he believed from the first moment that I chose to use my ''Nekage''. This guy had premeditated to face me since beforeing here! He was hoping to find me in the arena! ??

    When Yoichi finally realized that he had taken the bait for his next opponent''s n, he kept going over in his head his fighting style weaknesses, knowing that he could not be unprepared.

    After their two fights, the score between them was one to one. This match would be the final one for a while: if Kato won, he would never stop bothering anyone who stood in his way; if Yoichi walked off the tatami as a winner, the rtionship between the Heralds and the Nightdes might have changed slightly.

    Takamori himself had advised him to teach Kato a lesson, due to his still open dispute with his guild master. Yoichi recalled that, during theirst meeting, Yozo and Takamori had acted like two kids, insulting each other and reliving emotions that belonged to the past.

    The young tamer''s long breath filled his lungs as the audience around the tatami looked at him curiously. "Ildriss!" he shouted, summoning Kenji and fulfilling Kato''s implicit call.

    Shioko, paying attention to every detail, noticed that a mocking smile appeared under that wisp of blue hair. Although Kato only had the illusion of an advantage, Yoichi had to be careful not to overdo Kenji''s draconic powers.

    The little dragon took shape in front of its tamer, skreecking and raising its tail. The scales on its back rose slightly and the ck horns tilted backward, following the opening of its roaring mouth.

    "Uh... so this is the famous demon you told me about, Takamori-Sensei?" Nobunaga asked under his breath, standing next to the Nightdes guild master.

    Takamori had already told his first warrior about Kenji''s ''special'' skills but had never told him that it was actually Lumya''sst dragon demon. Focused on the fight that would begin in a few seconds, he merely replied with a nod of his head.

    "Hahah! Are you really that stupid to think you have a chance, kid?" Kato defied, knowing he had the eyes of the crowd on him. "My Yokusuta will tear you and your stupid demon to pieces! I will show no mercy this time! Aargh!" - Without waiting a moment longer, knowing that he had victory in his grasp, Kato dashed towards his opponent.

    The blue-haired warrior drew his nunchaku from the back of his armor, running at his top speed. Despite the armor being heavier than Yoichi''s, his feet seemed to hardly touch the stone floor.

    "Kenji, go!" Yoichi boomed, standing firmly in ce and activating his Oracle''s enhancement skill. ck scales wrapped around his arms and shoulders, covering both of his upper limbs.

    Thest parts to receive the enhancement, as always, were his hands. The ck ws, in fact, took a few more seconds to fully develop.

    *swishh* - waving an arm forward and jumping towards Yoichi, Kato attempted to reach his head with the nunchaku. The Heralds warrior already seemed to be blinded by rage, as if he wanted that victory more than anything else.

    Yoichi bent down on his knees and dodged the blow, moving his feet sideways and getting out of the reach of Kato, whonded back to the ground without hitting his target. The blond-haired warrior dodged the first attack with ease, without the slightest effort.

    After the nunchaku, however, Yoichi felt a sudden sensation of danger in the back of his head. He turned around, but there was no one behind him.

    Frantically, he shifted his gaze to Kenji, realizing that the strange and sudden sensation had been transmitted to him from a distance: while he was busy dodging Kato''s blow, his lobster demon had sprung toward Kenji and tried to strike it with one of its sharp ws.

    The dragon demon promptly managed to dodge the w that impacted against the stone floor, making a metallic sound. Like tworge, sharp scissors, the natural weapons the Yokusuta had at its disposal were bigger than Kenji''s entire body.

    "Oh, fuck!" Yoichi gasped, turning his head towards Kato, aware that he had spent too much time looking at Kenji.

    *swish* - thanks to a small stroke of luck and also to his well-trained reflexes from Nobunaga, Yoichi managed to dodge the second blow as well. His torso leaned back and one of his enhanced hands rested on the floor, making him keep his bnce.

    The crowd let out a shout followed by cheers for the two fighters. Around them, almost everyone present was cheering for one of the two. Though shyly, this time Yoichi''s supporters matched Kato''s.

    "A little too slow, don''t you think?" Yoichi spoke, getting back to his feet propelled by his scaled arm as if someone had installed springs on his legs.

    Kato, confident that his diversion had been enough to hit his inexperienced opponent, failed to anticipate Yoichi''s counterattack. A strong headbutt struck him in the center of his forehead, just above his eyes.

    *boom* - a thud simr to two pieces of wood impacting on each other echoed through the crowd. Taking advantage of the momentum of his draconic arm and knowing that an overly articted blow would give Kato time to dodge, Yoichi decided to use his hard head to counterattack.

    Kato took two steps back, touching his forehead with his free hand. A trickle of blood fell on his nose and then on his chin, increasing the anger in his eyes.

    When Yoichi returned to his fighting stance, simr to that of a boxer, he continued to think about Nobunaga''s techniques. Shift and counterattack, change direction, and counterattack again. That was the right technique to channel Kato''s wrath against him.

 Chapter 221 - Claw

    Why is he attacking me without using his demon power? What is that kind of lobster capable of? Yoichi thought, holding back his strength for the moment when Kato had activated his demon''s power.

    Undeterred by his missed attack, the blue-haired warrior sprinted back towards Yoichi, delivering a series of blows with his nunchaku.

    Yoichi noticed that while Kenji''s enhancement power was active during the headbutt, his forehead had not taken any damage, even though he had struck Kato''s right on his head.

    It was as if Kenji''s primary skill enhanced his entire body, making him more resistant. Then again, his little dragon had leveled up more than once after the ckvault Mines.

    "Aargh!" - one blow after another, Kato attempted to hit Yoichi, who dodged the first two blows and parried the third. He used his enhanced hands to block his opponent''s nunchaku, whose wooden and iron cylinders seemed as light as feathers.

    The skin on Yoichi''s arms was so hard that even a sword de probably wouldn''t have been able to scratch it if it hadn''t been appropriately sharpened.

    When the nunchaku impacted his wrist, Kato found himself thrown forward, and Yoichi attempted a different counterattack: he twisted his arm and coiled the chain that held the two parts of the weapon together around his wrist yanking it forward.

    With a crude but effective movement, Yoichi snatched the nunchaku from Kato''s hands, who let go of it to avoid being dragged to the ground along with his weapon. In the blue-haired warrior''s eyes, his amazement was tant.

    Kato had never imagined that his opponent was endowed with such physical strength. However, he had not yet activated the true power of his demon.

    Unarmed and shaken by the Nightdes warrior''s potential, Kato stepped back, walking sideways and studying his opponent''s every move. Yoichi threw the nunchaku over the edge of the tatami into the peach trees.

    After getting rid of its attacker, Kenji reached its tamer, stopping behind him. The little dragon seemed to be serious, and its gaze was focused on both of the enemies.

    The crowd grew silent, marveling at the surrendering behavior of the Heralds member, who until recently was bragging in front of everyone. Suddenly, something happened behind Kato''s back, in the exact spot where the Yokusuta was waiting for its orders.

    Ayer of water generated from nowhere permeated the pores of the rocky floor, slipping under the feet of the enemy and increasing its mass more and more. Within moments of activating the lobster demon''s power, Kato''s feet came off the ground, and his body was propelled forward, gradually increasing its speed.

    Thanks to his demon''s power, Kato was riding a tidal wave! As if that were not enough, he lowered his right arm, plunging it into the water. The distance between him and Yoichi was getting shorter and shorter.

    What the hell is he doing?! What''s that attack?! Yoichi reflected, backing away together with Kenji. At this rate, we''ll be swept away by that wave! How the hell am I supposed to dodge it?

    "Now it''s getting serious, kiddo! You can say goodbye to your guild and your stupid friends! Aaarrgh!" - Kato pulled his arm out from inside the wave as if he were a surfer. A watery, blue-coloured aura appeared around it, charging his next blow with Yokusuta''s energy.

    The wave traveled between the stone bricks of the tatami, driving away much of the audience, who feared being overwhelmed by that devastating area attack. When the wave was close enough to Yoichi to prevent him from escaping, the blue-haired warrior leapt skyward, raising one arm and attempting a cross-attack.

    The watery aura changed shape, taking on the appearance of a huge, sharp w. The wave attacked Yoichi from the front, and Kato attacked him from above, leaving him no chance.

    "Screek!" Kenji cried, as if trying tomunicate something to its tamer. In a few seconds, Yoichi would have to figure out how to dodge that devastating blow: the energy stored by the wave as it traveled was so high that it could lift anything. If it had hit him full force, it would have catapulted him against the walls of the arena.

    In that way, the damage would have been severe, and, in the worst-case scenario, he would have died instantly.

    What should have been an average day of preparation and training had just turned into a deadly nightmare. Kato had devised a n made to end Yoichi''s life once and for all. The Heralds warrior had indeed intended to kill him, confident that his act would be of no consequence, acting in the Emperor''s best interest.

    "Yoichi!" - Takamori''s faint screams flew over the crest of the wave. "Stop thinking, boy! You must fight back!" the Nightdes guild master shouted again, giving his student the green light.

    In that instant, Kenji jumped onto its tamer''s back, clinging tightly to him. In less than two seconds, Yoichi would have to find a way to save himself and his Oracle by dodging two consecutive attacks.

    Even if he shifted his scales from his arms to his legs and jumped so high as to go over the crest of the wave, Kato would be waiting for him in mid-air and hit him with his huge water w.

    Showing exceptional self-control, Yoichi altered the distribution of Kenji''s power over his body. Unlike usual, he was able to eliminate the scales on his biceps only and move them to his calves, leaving his hands and forearms at their full power.

    Even Shioko, the only one who could understand the difficulty of that gesture, remained open-mouthed, seeing her partner prepare to jump with both arms still enhanced.

    Inch by inch, the scales on Kenji''s back rose, and a me ran beneath them, traveling to the tip of its tail and glowing in the sunlight.

    The little dragon''s red eyes shined like two rubies, and its draconic fire flowed inside Yoichi''s body, who absorbed that heat and unleashed his inner power.

 Chapter 222 - Lapilli

    The heat energy from the dragon''s power quickly moved to his legs from his chest, stopping inside his calves and generating an explosive charge.

    *boom* - releasing the umted energy, Yoichi jumped upward, rising in altitude until he passed the highest point of the wave. The wave had reached a height of almost three meters, increasing its destructive force after the distance traveled.

    The attack unleashed by Kato''s demon reached and overtook Yoichi''s position, hurling itself with maximum power towards the peach trees and the walls behind.

    *BOOM* - a second explosion louder than the first echoed through the air, and the wave dissipated, flooding the area and slightly bending the trunks of the trees, which soon after returned to their upright position.

    "Look! Up there!" someone from the crowd shouted, raising a hand to the sky and bringing the audience''s attention to the two challengers. Their duel had moved into the air, and thatst action would likely determine its fate.

    After the jump, Yoichi found himself in an upward trajectory towards Kato, ready to hit him with his giant w. The speed of his ascent was too fast to dodge that blow, and the tactics taught to him by Nobunaga were not very effective in mid-air.

    If he wanted to strike first, Yoichi would have had to strike Kato the old-fashioned way, using Kenji''s power but holding back its draconic spirit.

    I have to release only a small amount of draconic power, otherwise, I''ll risk killing him! He hastily thought, letting the little dragon''s energy run back to his upper limbs.

    Following his everymand, his legs returned to standard size and his arms were enhanced further, ready to sh with his opponent.

    "Aaargh!"

    "Aaargh!"

    The two challengers shouted in unison as the eyes of everyone present were pointed skyward. The sun drew over the heads of the audience the outlines of Kato''s body, followed by a water trail, and Yoichi''s, followed by a fiery trail. They looked like two meteors about to collide.

    If Kenji''s had been simple fire, the result of that fight would have already been written. Instead, what no one but Takamori and Shioko had foreseen happened: Yoichi didn''t let the power of the ancient Dragon King take control over his body and, focusing as much as he could on his arm, he let the draconic mes flow through his veins.

    *BOOM* - The umpteenth explosion was devastating and created a violent shockwave, forcing all the people around the tatami to cover their faces to avoid being injured.

    When the water released from his attack made contact with the mes of Yoichi''s arms, Kato derisively smiled for a moment, sure that that was the moment when his opponent would meet his end.

    Contrary to his expectations, only the shallowest part of the mes was extinguished by the water, evaporating instantly and releasing thick gray smoke.

    A faint roar followed Yoichi''s ming attack, and the draconic mes devoured the Yokusuta''s aquatic w, that reduced it to shreds. In contact with the water, the red me turned purple and, even if only for an instant, the power of the primordial me was visible to Kato''s eyes.

    However, when even thest remnant of the aquatic aura that enveloped and protected his arm disappeared, the blue-haired warrior felt an intense burning spread throughout his body.

    "Aaah! Aaaagh!" - the screams that until a moment before had given him the charge turned into cries of terror. Starting from his arm, the small amount of draconic me released by Yoichi spread to his other arm, chest, and legs.

    Yoichi, even before his hand could actually touch his opponent''s skin, deactivated Kenji''s power. The mere contact between the water and fire auras was enough to end the duel.

    Kato immediately lost consciousness, and his eyes closed, unable to hold back the pain. Since he was still in mid-air, his body quickly lost altitude until he fell downwards under the severe action of gravity.

    *stomp* - the thud of Kato''s unconscious body on the stone tatami was as conclusive as a period at the end of a sentence. On the thin patina of water spread over most of the arena due to the tidal wave created by the lobster demon, the thinpilli raining from the sky evaporated in a y of grayish fumes.

    *tss*tss*tss*

    Under the astonished gaze of everyone present and their questioning expressions, that was the only sound present. The cloud of dust from the impact took a few seconds longer than expected to disperse into the air, revealing the location of the two fighters.

    The long-haired blond warrior of the Nightdes was there, standing near the corner of the tatami, looking down; a few meters away, lying face down, the bully Kato, gship of the Emperor''s Heralds had suffered a resounding public defeat.

    A trail of smoke continued to rise from his blue hair and armor, slightly scorched at his right arm.

    Kenji jumped down from Yoichi''s shoulders and looked around with its tiny red eyes. In the following instant, the shadow of Kato''s demon emerged among the dust.

    The Yokusuta stood next to its tamer, aching and with its ws resting on the tatami, desperately trying to hold itself up on its legs.

    Suddenly, a small red sphere emerged from the lobster demon''s head, floating upward and moving sinuously in the direction of Yoichi and Kenji.

    If Yoichi had defeated Kato''s Oracle, that single XP point would have sprung from his chest. In that case, however, it was the lobster demon itself who surrendered it to his opponents.

    *blop* - making the usual liquid sound that Yoichi had heard many times before, Kenji absorbed the reddish orb, gaining XP. Simultaneously, Yoichi''s gaze, aimed at the wet and ash-stained floor, framed a thin blood writing.

    [Kenji: (2/10 pts - level 9)]

    The writing disappeared almost instantly, and taking courage, the young blonde-haired tamer looked up at his guildmates. Inwardly, he felt he had gone too far and sensed that that fight would cost him dearly.

 Chapter 223 - Job Offer

    In the warm sunlight, all the warriors gathered in the arena paused to watch this unexpected scene. Not only had one of Goldhaven''s most famous guild warriors been defeated by a stranger, but the duel had taken ce in the capital''s most sacred ce.

    Fighting on the tatami was not a vition of the rules, but, usually, tamers did not use their demons'' strongest skills. Kato and Yoichi had not caused massive damage to the environment, but they had risked doing so, viting thew.

    Takamori looked at his student, and along with his eyes, his mantis demon''s eyes were also pointed at the young Bronzeforest tamer. For a moment, it seemed as if the guild leader and Yoichi had estranged themselves from that ce and time, traveling to an astral ne away from everything and everyone.

    A great pride shone through the mustachioed man''s bright eyes. He had been like a kind of father to Yoichi, always being kind and helpful to him.

    Judging by the way he looked at him, he didn''t seem to feel any remorse for what he had authorized him to do. If Yoichi had used some of his draconic power, it was only because his master had permitted him.

    *p*p* - the sound of Takamori''s hands beginning to p broke the chilling silence. The cheers of his guildmates joined those of their guild master and the audience felt authorized to make their voices heard.

    "Yeah!"

    "Whohooo!"

    "Yoichi! Yoichi! Yoichi!"

    A good slice of the warriors present shouted the winner''s name, supporting him and showing their approval. Among them, even the soldiers who had just moments before been pushed away by the Heralds near the arena gates.

    Yoichi remained motionless during that magnificent chaos in his position, noticing Kato''srades approaching the blue-haired warrior. His Yokusuta''s body dissolved into a stream of air that swirled toward its Demon Tooth.

    Not even daring to look up in shame, the two Heralds, one boy and one girl, lifted Kato''s body and carried it off the tatami, joining the rest of theirrades.

    The happy cheers of the audience rumbled through Yoichi''s eardrums as the adrenaline of the fight still ran through his veins. Finally, for the first time in the presence of the Emperor''s Heralds, he could look around with his head held high, without fear of being pushed around or insulted.

    All of hisrades, except Nobunaga, pped enthusiastically towards him, sharing his moment of glory. With that gesture, Yoichi had not only proven that he was stronger than Kato, but he had also enhanced the prestige of his guild, which had been hidden in the shadows for too many years.

    From that day forward, anyone would have thought twice before challenging a member of the Nightdes. However, Yoichi continued to feel a strange sensation in the air. It felt like a bad omen.

    If Kato hadn''t tried to hurt him, he wouldn''t have been forced to use Kenji''s true powers. Instead, due to his opponent''s rage, his draconic powers had been disyed in public sooner than they should have been, and the watchful eyes of the more experienced warriors in the crowd had undoubtedly noticed something weird.

    A fire attack could never counter a water attack. Thews of the demonic elements were absolute and, like chemistry, could not be vited. Yoichi knew that the oue of that fight would not be positive.

    His silence was interrupted by the voice of a bizarre man, who stepped onto the tatami along with another group of strangers and approached him. "Boy, you were incredible! How did you manage to counter the Yokusuta''s attack with a Nekage? The Yokusuta is a rare demon; it''s not easy to defeat it with anmon demon!" the man boomed, filling him with questions.

    Almost simultaneously, another moreposed and orderly looking stranger said, "how about joining our guild, Yoichi? I don''t care how much the Nightdes pay you. I''m willing to offer you double the pay!"

    "No, join the Whiteshields guild! You won''t just get money, but other rewards too! Women, food, and..."

    "Step aside, old man! This young warrior needs to increase his fame and be the most famous tamer in Tentochu! He will join the Bandits of the Spear, and I will teach him how to do it!"

    One by one, dozens of guild leaders surrounded Yoichi, circling him as if he were amb in a pack of hungry wolves. Their voices ovepped, generating chaos in his head, already filled with conflicting feelings.

    "Back off, you pack of jackals! My boy is not for sale! Go back to your warriors and stop ridiculing yourselves!" Takamori growled loudly. The mustachioed Nightdes guild leader defended Yoichi as if he were a priceless property.

    When he spoke, the guild leaders around the young tamer grew silent and backed away from him, giving him room to catch his breath. "Come on, get out of here! Yoichi needs to rest. He doesn''t have time for your useless nonsense!" Takamori repeated, spreading his arms wide and driving them away like flies.

    Head-on, continuing to mutter to themselves and each other, they backtracked, retracing their steps and stepping off the tatami. "Master!" called Yoichi,ing to his senses.

    "What is it?"

    "I need to talk to you. Pleasee with me," the young warrior continued, walking towards hispanions. Takamori raised an eyebrow and touched his mustache, unable to understand why Yoichi''s eyes expressed slight fear.

    "Yoichi-kun, you were incredible! You kicked the crap out of that blowhard! Hahah!" - Seeing his partnering, Rinji walked over to him and clenched him into a mighty hug, lifting him off the ground and squeezing him until his breath was taken away.

    "Ough! Thank you, Rinji!" Yoichi chuckled.

    "Wow. I have to admit, you definitely amazed me, blondie," Toshi added, the pale-faced warrior. Next to him, Shioko looked at herrade, letting her spontaneous smile speak for her.

    Lowering himself to the floor, Yoichi gathered his things. His gaze involuntarily crossed with Nobunaga''s.

 Chapter 224 - Animosity

    The wind moved the purple hair of the ck-armored warrior. His eyes looked intently at Yoichi as if he finally noticed his true potential.

    Yoichi donned his backpack and leather pouch, letting Kenji jump on it. The small dragon, however, would soon be too heavy to be carried that way.

    The people who had witnessed the fight dispersed, moving away from the arena and back to their daily affairs. As that ce emptied out, the sacred spirit spread within those white walls came back to life, restoring quiet to the Dojo.

    "Boys, this morning''s training is postponed. Go back to your missions and make sure Yoshiko doesn''t need a hand with Enatsu in the tower. Yoichi and I need to talk. See youter," Takamori ordered. His hands crossed behind his back.

    Rinji and Toshi continued to congratte theirrade and, following Nobunaga, started to leave the arena. Shioko waited a few more moments before walking away from Yoichi.

    The red-haired tsundere seemed to have finally noticed the young warrior and her eyes expressed something beyond mere admiration. Yoichi smiled at her and, with an imperceptible movement of his head, let her know that they would talk about the matter privately.

    When he and Takamori found themselves alone on the giant stone tatami, Yoichi asked his Sensei to sit between the two peach trees, in the exact spot where he had trained the day before.

    The guild leader agreed and followed him between the trees, sitting cross-legged on the soft turf, caressed by the blowing wind.

    The water from Kato''s wave hadpletely evaporated due to the warm morning sun, and some of it had been absorbed by the hard rocks of the tatami. After the chaos of the crowd shouting his name, Yoichi could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

    "Why did you give me permission, Sensei?" he asked. His gaze was pointed forward toward the sacred Dojo.

    "Because it was the right thing to do, boy. And also because I was selfish, I admit it," Takamori replied, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of peach blossoms at the top of his lungs.

    "Kato''srades will notify the Imperial guards of what happened. I fear that in less than half a day, Nishiyama''s men wille for me. I would have liked to meet Ryutaro-Sensei, that is true, but... not in prison," the young tamer continued.

    "What are you talking about? You haven''t broken any rules, boy. We''re in the only ce in the capital where fighting is allowed."

    "Come on, Takamori-Sensei. Don''t pretend you don''t understand. The Heralds hate us Nightdes, and their guild leader harbors animosity towards you. Yozo will find a way to get me out of the way, and you know it," Yoichi remarked. "Words travel faster than the wind. After what happened today, their guild will lose eptance among the people, and I''m not sure they can take the hit."

    "Well, they''ll get over it. If they try to do anything to you, they''ll deal with me personally. They''re vindictive and sometimes evil, but not stupid. It''s true, I''m a bit out of shape, but Yozo would never dare to underestimate me," Takamori chuckled, trying to lighten the conversation.

    "It''s all wrong... many people have seen Kenji''s true power, even if only for a few seconds. People will start asking questions, and if rumours reach the Emperor''s ears, he will try to capture and instrumentalize me. There seems to be only one option, Sensei."

    Takamori turned to his student, trying to understand his intentions. Although he was an intelligent and alert man, he realized that he had not taken that crucial detail into ount and had acted all too instinctively.

    What would happen if Yoichi''s fears came true? What would be of the grand n that the supreme Ryutaro had in mind for him? Was it really worth to risk that the only warrior in the world capable of handling the power of a dragon demon would end up in the dungeons of the Imperial Pce?

    Takamori didn''t answer right away, continuing to listen to the voice of his thoughts. "You''re not ready yet, boy. You can''t run away, Yoichi!" he eximed, raising his tone of voice slightly. "Life beyond those walls is not as easy as you think! Your experience is not enough, and your power would draw evil people and demons to you! No. I forbid you to leave, boy," hemanded.

    "I have an important mission to aplish, master! If I were imprisoned, I would be forced to live years or perhaps my entire life without being able to cultivate my power!" Yoichi added, making his point.

    Since he had met him, Takamori had never seen Yoichi so convinced of something. The polite, diligent boy had never disobeyed one of his orders, and yet, he was insistently exining to his master that that was the only way to awaken his draconic powers and stop Emperor Gonshiro''s advance.

    "I will travel west, beyond the Southborne Mountains. I will take refuge where the imperial guards can never find me and search for the other Void Summoners. Dungeon after dungeon, I will defeat them and fulfill my destiny. Until then, I will not be able to return to the capital, Takamori-Sensei" - a veil of sadness enveloped Yoichi''sst words.

    Inside himself, the young tamer had no intention of leaving the city and hispanions. At the same time, he knew he had no other choice. All those who decided to help him would suffer the same fate as him and be identified as traitors by the Emperor. Ridiculing the Emperor''s guild was like insult the Emperor himself.

    Tentochu and Kamakiri. Two factions and two tyrants at theirmand. Yoichi slowly realized that Gonshiro and Shinzo shared a mutual, sole interest: power.

    Without the guidance of Ryutaro, the only one who understood the importance of his destiny, he had no reason to stay in Goldhaven. Not as a fugitive from thew.

    "Damn... are you saying it''s my fault, Yoichi?" Takamori inquired, showing a behaviour so weak that it seemed surreal. Withnguid eyes, the guild leader hoped for a negative answer from his pupil.

    "The Heralds deserved a lesson. It happened to me, but it could have happened to anyone else, Sensei. After what I did today, the Nightdes will be able to walk tall" - taking another deep sigh, Yoichi squinted his eyes and tried to enjoy thosest moments of tranquillity.

 Chapter 225 - Robin

    While Yoichi and Takamori were having a heated discussion about what to do, the branches of the peach trees above their heads moved slightly under the blowing wind.

    A small demon bird was perched among the fragrant pink flowers. It had two small green eyes and a toothed ck beak. A pair of legs with four wed fingers, three pointing forward and one prehensile backward, held it steady on the branch.

    Its appearance was identical to that of a robin and its size was also the same. Chirping, it turned its neck to one side and the other, alternately aiming its eyes at the two warriors sitting in the middle of the trees, as if it wanted to hear their words.

    *chirp*chirp* - the robin demon''s chirp was inaudible from Yoichi and Takamori. The sound of their words and the background noisesing from beyond the arena walls made that little bird practically undetectable.

    Suddenly, as if its task there had been aplished, the little robin took flight and left the peach tree branch.

    pping its dove-gray wings, it rose into the air and fluttered happily over the arena walls. From up there, the view of Goldhaven was breathtaking: Tentochu''s capital city was teeming with people in every corner, and thousands of buildings of different shapes and colors filled its streets.

    However, the robin demon wasn''t looking for food or females to share the mating season with. Unlike its wild fellow birds, it seemed to have a specific goal.

    Its thin wings continued to cut through the air, and its light, hollow bones made its body so lightweight that it could move at high speed.

    One building after another, spinning around and performing reckless acrobatics worthy of an experienced bird, it dodged the roofs of the tallest buildings, flying over the Dragonfall Square and heading towards the western districts of the city.

    The white bricks of the Demon Cathedral district glinted in the sunlight and all the walls that divided the city neighborhood were perfectly visible. As they approached the eastern area, the reflection of the sun on the sea bounced off the bird''s green eyes, sparkling like two emeralds.

    After a long flight, the tallest building in Goldhaven appeared before its eyes. The Imperial Pce glittered like a bar of gold and thest stretch of the Royal Road extended like a tongue of fire from its jaws.

    The little demon swooped down, flying at full speed between the imperial drapes that lined the road, getting closer and closer to the Pce.

    The imposing Akai Kiba guarded the only entrance, crossing their huge halberds in front of the gates. Many people were neatly lined up, waiting their turn to speak with Emperor Nishiyama or whoever was acting in his stead.

    Shinzo Nishiyama used to collect theints and thoughts of his citizens. In that way, in their eyes, he was able to maintain the alibi of the wise and good Emperor. In reality, those were virtues that had died along with his father Tatsui.

    The robin drastically deviated its trajectory, bypassing the crowd and flying in a hurry towards the area behind the pce. Dozens of oni warriors guarded the ce from above, standing still on the balconies beneath the building''s thick roof.

    The Akai Kiba who were up there were clutching huge crossbows in their hands. Their only task was to keep an eye on each side of the building and use their sniping skills if necessary.

    Although no attack from the enemy faction was nned and the daylight illuminated everything, the Imperial Pce seemed to be in a constant state of alert, as if the Emperor feared a sudden attack from who knows who.

    "Tweet! Tweet!" - the flying demon rose in altitude and then swooped down again, aiming for the ground. Its small body spun on itself, gaining further aerodynamics.

    Nimbly, the robin entered inside a sort of manhole made by metal grates crossed one on each other. That strange opening in the ground was hidden among some spontaneous bushes that were part of the Pce gardens.

    *swish* - knowing perfectly the way, the little bird juggled inside that vertical tunnel, going down several meters deep.

    The grates that sprouted on the surface, in fact, served as air ducts that brought oxygen to the deeper areas of the Imperial district, allowing whoever was in the Pce''s dungeons to breathe pseudo-clean air.

    Various shrubs and grime littered the inside of therge pipe. The obstacles slowed down the descent of the robin demon, who was forced to change the direction of its flight several times.

    Atst, more than ten meters down, the pipe came out in a very wide open space with little light. Torches dimly illuminated the red brick walls, which were filthy and soaked in a smelly, muddyyer.

    Trying not to make the slightest sound, the bird slinked forward, crossing several corridors in a few seconds. Its small and light wings allowed it to be so silent that not even an attentive ear could perceive its movements.

    It flew over a thickset man in armor, who was sleeping heavily on an old wooden chair behind a door made of wide vertical bars.

    Without overthinking, the robin went through the bars and passed the checkpoint without being noticed by the prison guard. The long corridor beyond was lined with many small cells on either side.

    Hundreds of prisoners resided in the cells, deprived of sunlight and fresh air from outside. The small rooms were only a few square meters wide, just enough space for a straw bed and a hole in the corner of the floor to carry out one''s physiological needs.

    All those considered to be enemies of the crown lived there, sharing thatmon space for many years. Murderers, thieves, and ouws who hadmitted petty crimes. It didn''t matter what crime they hadmitted: the inhabitants of the dungeons of the Imperial Pce were all those who had broken thews imposed by the Emperor on the city''s territory.

    The robin demon passed yet another cell and pped its wings in the opposite direction, skidding to a halt in mid-air. It had finally reached its destination.

 Chapter 226 - Message

    The constant sound of drops from the ceiling feeding puddles on the floor echoed in the Imperial dungeon. What on the surface was the most opulent andvish ce in Goldhaven, several feet below was a putrid and dpidated ce.

    The constant stench of rotting flesh came from the carcasses of rats and other small animals unfortunate enough to lose their lives there, and the slime on the walls prevented the smells from evaporating and escaping, creating a sort of sticky patina.

    The flying demon rested its tiny ck legs on a horizontal bar, closing its wings and chirping. "Tweet!" it eximed as if calling out to the prisoner who resided in that cell.

    Beyond the bar of metal eaten away by rust and moisture, a figure appeared from the darkness, moving slowly toward the robin.

    The lower edges of the gatekeeper''s long, sacred red kimono crawled across the filthy floor, dragging the ubiquitous muddy substance with it. "I thought you weren''ting back, Miru," Ryutaro whispered, supporting his weary body on the bar of the cell.

    "Tweet! Tweet!" the bird frantically replied, pping its wings and alerting the man in front of it. Since the old Ryutaro had been locked up in that cell, he had received neither food nor water and his already precarious physical condition was deteriorating by the day.

    Ryutaro had lived hisst hours in a room about three meters wide and four meters long, without windows. To stay straight on his feet, he was forced to remove his headgear, which otherwise would have touched the ceiling.

    The gatekeeper of the Goldhaven Dojo, who was once the right-hand man of the Tentochu Emperor, was now forced to live like a caged beast as if his entire existence had suddenly lost importance.

    Anyone who had seen the Pce dungeons at least once knew that whoever entered the ce would onlye out lifeless and inside an anonymous rough wooden coffin.

    "Hey, calm down. What happened? Try to exin to me calmly," Ryutaro continued, bringing a hand closer to the robin. Stretching out one of hisrge fingers, the gatekeeper stroked the bird''s back, trying to calm it down.

    "Tweet, tweet. Tweet! Tweet!" the demon exined, speaking anguage understandable only by its owner.

    "Mhmh... and then what? Did he use his draconic powers?" Ryutaro inquired, listening intently. "I understand. Hmm. Good. Uff... I figured this would happen," he continued, as the little bird kept on tweeting.

    "That''s enough, Miru. You''ve done your duty excellently, as always. Wait here a few seconds, you have one more thing to do for me" the poor gatekeeper added, stepping back and leaning down.

    He grabbed the bottom edges of his long kimono and lifted them, clutching theyers of fabric underneath. Unlike the outer fabric, the cloth behind the kimono was a different color, lighter, almost white.

    Ryutaro paused with his hands on the kimono and looked towards the outside of the cell, trying to see if any guards were nearby.

    *strap* - with a quick and decisive movement, he tore off a piece of the whitish fabric, standing up again and pointing it at the bars, letting the dim light from the shlights hanging on the walls illuminate it.

    Without adding a word, under the watchful green eyes of Miru, the robin demon, Ryutaro clutched one of the door bars in his left hand. That bar was damaged in some spots, and the metal surface that was originally smooth and blunt was now sharp and uneven.

    Gritting his teeth, without uttering any cry of pain, he swiped his palm on the bar, getting himself a superficial cut. Soon after, he let his hand hang downward, allowing blood to flow from the wound.

    Dipping the finger of his other hand into the blood from the wound and resting the piece of fabric on the sticky floor, Ryutaro used that red ink to write a message on the cloth. Tracing each letter, the gatekeeper shaped that one word, making sure it was legible.

    "There you go. Here, take this," he said to his flying friend, rolling up the piece of fabric as if it were a paper scroll and waiting for the robin to sp it in its toothed beak.

    Miru carried out Ryutaro''smand and, acting like a tame animal, grabbed the message written in blood. "You must take this message to Yoichi before he leaves the capital. Have him read it when he''s in my room, at the Dojo" the gatekeeper ordered, making final rmendations to the demon. "Take care, Miru. This is very important. Come on, what are you waiting for? Go!" he spoke, moving his hand as if to chase it out of the cell.

    *chirp*chirp* - little Miru''s chirp drifted further and further away from Ryutaro''s position, who remained there, facing the bars and making sure that the bird was on the right path to rise to the surface.

    "Phew..." he huffed, backing into his damp cell and sitting down on the straw bed, still stained with the blood and sweat of those who had upied that space before him.

    "Things didn''t turn out the way they were supposed to, boy. You''ll have to continue your journey alone, for now," he stammered, thinking back to Yoichi. "Find the cksmith, forge a weapon, and continue to study the ancient texts, never stopping to cultivate your powers. Fate has great things in store for you, Yoichi-kun."

    Thest words of Ryuaro''s sentence, choked by his weariness of going through that heavy experience, were followed by yet another deep sigh. His cell was one of thest in the longest corridor of the dungeon, essible only from one direction and guarded by a man in armor every ten meters.

    Ryutaro had been fighting all his life long, and just when he had found a reason to continue fighting, the Emperor had decreed his end. What was the message he had written to Yoichi?

    His trusty winged friend sprang out of the air duct, through the grid and back to the surface. Its eyes squinted for a moment, forced to adjust the amount of iing light due to the difference between the underground environment and the outside world.

    Hurriedly, it lifted itself into the air and flew over the building, not attracting the gaze of the Akai Kaiba on the lookout on the balconies. The piece of cloth torn from Ryutaro''s kimono was clutched in its beak: all Miru had to do was deliver it into the hands of its addressee, on the other side of the city.

 Chapter 227 - Encouragement

    "I don''t know what to tell you, Yoichi. Perhaps you''re right, and I acted without thinking of the consequences. However, if the imperial guards were toe looking for you, I would stop them from taking you away! I would tell the Emperor that you were the only one who discovered the threat of the Void Summoners and that, thanks to your help, their advance towards Goldhaven has been stopped!" Takamori insisted, repeatedly touching his moustache as a sign of nervousness.

    "Even a selfish man like the Emperor must acknowledge your exploits. If he imprisoned you, the news would spread immediately, creating dissension among the citizens of the capital," the guild leader added.

    Yoichi looked at him with honest eyes, and the corners of his lips curved into a conscious smile. "The Emperor has never cared about what people think of him, Takamori-Sensei. All I can tell you is that I''ve finally found my purpose in life, and... well, I can never achieve my goals if I end up behind bars," he spoke.

    A veil of sadness enveloped Takamori Sada. He was slowly bing aware of the harsh decision of his student, who, despite his youth, was reasoning in his own interests and the interests of his guild.

    "There must be another way... you could go back to your home in the Bronzeforest and.... no, maybe it wouldn''t do any good," Takamori replied, contradicting his own words. "I have to undo the damage I''ve done, Yoichi. The guilt is eating me up inside. How can I help you?" he asked, cing his hands on the ground and turning to face his student.

    "It''s not your fault, Sensei. You merely indulged my desire. I wanted to end my dispute with Kato, and I have no regrets for what I did. But now I must hurry, the guards will arrive before the sun sets, and they will be looking for me everywhere," Yoichi replied, standing up.

    Takamori stood up with him, not knowing how to react and trying to act as a mature, grown man. "Have you heard anything regarding the whereabouts of Shusaku, the exiled cksmith?" the young tamer asked again.

    "An informant of mine told me that he wasst spotted in a small vige at the foot of the mountains. It''s called Oakenfair and is located along the northern stretch of the Southborne Mountains, on the east side. I don''t know how reliable this information is, but it''s the only one we have," the guild leader replied promptly, doing his best to be helpful to his warrior.

    "Then I will begin my search from there. I need to get supplies and collect Ryutaro-Sensei''s materials. If the guards were to break into his room and steal his stuff, I would never forgive myself. Because of me, he has already suffered enough," Yoichi affirmed. "Takamori-Sensei..."

    "Tell me, Yoichi."

    "I have onest favor to ask of you before I leave."

    "Of course, Yoichi-kun. I''m listening."

    "I need to talk to Shioko. When you get back to the headquarter, tell her I''ll be waiting for her here in front of the Dojo entrance as soon as possible," the young tamer requested.

    Takamori bent his head slightly, intrigued by that strange request. Because of her aggressive nature, the Nightdes archer was not very sympathetic to herpanions. Only Toshi, the pale-faced warrior, had formed a true bond of friendship with Shioko.

    "All right, Yoichi. It''ll be done," the moustachioed guild leader replied, resting a hand on the shoulder of the long-haired blond warrior.

    "I''ll be fine, Sensei. I''ll see you again sooner than you think" Yoichi smiled, trying to reassure his mentor and friend. "Take good care of Enatsu for me. He is the most capable person I have ever met. I am sure that under your wing, he will be the greatest wizard Tentochu has ever seen," he added, greeting Takamori with rmendations.

    "It will be done, boy. Enatsu is in good hands. The guild''s doors will always be open for you, but you already know that" - with some effort, Takamori sketched a smile as well. "Never forget your origins, boy. Wherever life takes you, remember where you came from and don''t let the past ruin your future."

    The guild leader''sst words were steeped in sentiment. Takamori was making a clear reference to himself and hisplex history with the Emperor''s Heralds. This stocky, funny man had deliberately chosen to leave the country''s most famous guild and refuse the role of guild leader while continuing to fight the Emperor''s injustices and assembling a group of exceptional warriors.

    Yoichi blinked, holding back tears, and continued to smile. Immediately, he turned around and walked towards the Dojo, trying to keep his intense feelings inside his soul.

    "Yoichi!" Takamori called again, walking quickly towards him.

    The young warrior turned around, and before he could verbally answer the call, he grabbed a leather pouch from his master''s hands. The pouch made a distinctive metallic sound, enticing Yoichi to view its contents.

    Ten gleaming gold coins glistened in the sunlight, crawling over each other in his hands. "But... Sensei! This is far more than the payment I was promised!" he eximed in amazement.

    Takamori grabbed his prot¨¦g¨¦''s hands and closed the pouch containing his pay inside them. "If I had more money with me, I would have dly given it to you. Believe me, boy, you will need it. Now go, soon Shioko will join you at the Dojo," the guild leader spoke.

    "Takamori-Sensei..." - whispering the name of his master, Yoichi watched him walk away at a relentless pace. He walked down the minor road that led from the tatami to the entrance of the arena, and only when he was close to the gates did he turn back to his student.

    Takamori''sst smile was the best encouragement Yoichi could ever receive. It signaled the end of his life in the great capital of Tentochu and the beginning of a new chapter of it.

    However, the sun was setting beyond the walls of that sacred ce, and the time he had left was getting shorter and shorter. Yoichi looked around as if sensing the proximity of the imperial guards. A chill ran down his spine as he silently entered the Dojo.

    The relics contained in the gatekeeper''s room needed to be secured. Although he still didn''t know how he would transport thoserge and heavy books astride his Inoshuma, the young tamer would have to devise a method quickly.

 Chapter 228 - Hidden Object

    In Ryutaro''s private room, the temperature was higher than usual. The heat from outside was quietly creeping in from the small space between the wooden wall and the window, which had not been carefully closed.

    After making that crucial decision, Yoichi looked at all the objects in the room with different eyes. He turned the key in the lock, locking himself inside the room and lowered himself to the small bookcase next to the door.

    Four were the heavy tomes that the supreme Ryutaro had inherited from Emperor Tatsui. ''Dragon Demons of Lumya, Ancient Demonology, Fundamentals of Demon Training'' and the heaviest of them all, ''Ancient and Contemporary History of Tentochu''.

    Each of those books weighed more than two pounds: their covers were made of wood and leather, and their pages were made of such thick paper that they were several millimeters thick.

    The weight of the ancient materials used to create those sources of knowing reflected the knowledge contained within them. Those four relics had an incredible sentimental value for the gatekeeper, and to abandon them in that room would have been a despicable and dishonorable gesture.

    Yoichi gathered all the books, stacked them on the bed, and used the sheets wrapped around the straw mattress to join them together. With a fairly tight knot, he tested the stability of his rudimentary book bag.

    In the process, his gaze fell several times to the stone sink. In all the chaos, he still hadn''t figured out how he could carry the Therion''s Tear, whose t surface reflected the reddish colorsing from the window.

    The four books were packed away, as were the straw mat and the crock with the incense sticks. Yoichi couldn''t lose everything he had learned about meditation just as he was beginning to get the hang of it.

    How do I carry the Tear? Even a part of it would be enough. There must be a way! He thought, trying to find a solution to this dilemma. That magical liquid was essential to cultivate his draconic powers, and without it, Yoichi knew no other way to do it.

    Suddenly, a noise from the window caught his attention. Like that emitted by a stone hitting the ss, a single thump distracted Yoichi from his chores.

    "What the hell?" he muttered, backing away from the bed to find that a small flying demon was perched behind the bottom edge of the window. Miru, Ryutaro''s robin, held his message in its beak and stared at the young tamer with its small emerald eyes.

    The robin''s chest heaved and deted with fatigue. It had flown over most of the city in a very short time, fearing that it would not be able toplete the mission entrusted to it by its owner.

    Feeling no fear in observing such a seemingly harmless creature, Yoichi slowly opened the window. "And who are you, little one?" he asked, noticing that a piece of fabric was dangling from his beak as if it had torn it from somewhere.

    "Tweet! Tweet!" Miru chirped, pping its wings and dropping the message in front of Yoichi, on the inside of the window.

    "What is it? Is it for me?" the young tamer asked, sensing the robin''s intentions. Cautiously, he brought his hand closer to the window and grabbed the piece of cloth. The little demon bird moved slightly to the side, avoiding being touched by Yoichi''s hand.

    The color of that cloth and its texture did not seem to be familiar. However, Yoichi had a good sense of intuition and could almost immediately figure out who the sender of that strange message was.

    "Ar... mo... r. Armor," he read aloud, pronouncing the word written in Ryutaro''s blood. "Ryutaro-sensei? Did you do that?" he asked in amazement as if the robin demon could answer him.

    Not letting the haste and anxiety of being caught keep him from thinking clearly, Yoichi squinted his eyes and then smiled. "I hope to have understood well, Sensei!" he eximed, charged with energy.

    In a hurry, he dropped the piece of cloth to the floor and walked to the corner of the small room, to the exact spot where Ryutaro''s old samurai armor had been resting for years.

    Yoichi blew away the excess dust and firmly grasped the horned kabuto, pulling it very gently upward. The helmet was separated from the rest of the armor andid on the bed, not far from the books.

    "There''s nothing in here... what are you trying to tell me, Ryutaro-Sensei?" he muttered, pulling the arms and pauldrons away from the metal support that held the full samurai armor.

    Even within them, other than the tes and leather of some of the trim, there was no hidden item. Immediately, before lifting the breastte as well, Yoichi stood motionless and looked inside.

    Looking down from the neck space, he was able to spot a hidden object that had nothing to do with the armor and had undoubtedly been ced in there so that nobody could find it.

    urately, the blond-haired young tamer slipped his right arm into the opening, stood up on his toes, and grabbed the object, pulling it out without damaging it.

    "Hahaha! I can''t believe it! How did you know I needed this?!" Yoichi rejoiced, looking incredulously at the object in his hands and setting it down on the floor: a ck ceramic amphora was sealed by a lid of the same material, hermetically sealed with a system of metal hooks on the sides of the container.

    Laterally, letters had been hand-engraved into the pottery. The inscription revolved around the broadest area of the object, reading:

    ''<em>Vanquished by hisst cry,</em>

    <em>he has allowed mankind</em>

    <em>to look upon the dawn</em>''.

    With immense joy, Yoichi lifted the amphora and reread those words, finding in them a clear reference to the ancient Dragon God. Incredibly, thanks to the distant help of his master, he now knew that the Tear of Therion could be transported.

    With a single word, Ryutaro had predicted that his young student would seek a way to escape the Dojo and, cing hisst hopes in him, had revealed to him the secret hiding ce of the only container capable of transporting the tear.

    Now, Yoichi was finally ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

 Chapter 229 - Blade

    That amphora did not look particrly different from amon wine or water bottle. Its shape was quite standard, wider in the middle and narrower at the top and bottom.

    However, the material it was made of was rough and hard, more like a weird metal alloy than a ceramic. Yoichi couldn''t help but rub his fingers over the engraved letters, letting his fingertips make those words more vivid and thinking who could be the maker of that inscription.

    Ryutaro had definitely received that object as a gift from Tatsui, perhaps at the same moment he had inherited the Tear. Probably, before the Emperor, his father and grandfather had passed down that magical artifact, going back to the early days of the history of the Tentochu Empire.

    "Tweet!" Miru chirped, calling Yoichi back and inviting him not to waste any more time. The robin moved its small head forward, pointing its beak at the stone sink as if suggesting its listener toe forward.

    Yoichi, with the ck amphora clutched in his hands, approached the Tear of Therion. After removing the lid, he dipped the container inside the magical liquid and let it flow into the rounded mouth.

    In a few seconds, the young tamer emptied all the contents of the basin into the amphora, helping himself with the lid and using it as a kind ofdle. All that was left of the Tear in its original ce were a few drops that would evaporate in a day or two.

    Yoichi''s hands pushed the lid onto the amphora, making sure it fit perfectly and allowing the air inside to escape. When he was sure the Therion''s Tear was vacuumed, he pushed down on the two metal hooks that pressed the lid even more, sealing the amphora.

    "Perfect. That should be enough," he said to himself, tilting the object and carefully checking to make sure the liquid couldn''t leak out. "Thanks, little one! Without your help I never would have got that," he chuckled, looking at Miru and smiling.

    "Tweet!" - Conscious that it had aplished its task, the little robin demon responded to Yoichi''s thanks and took flight, twirling happily into the air and leaving the sacred Goldhaven Dojo.

    The reddish light of the sun grew fainter and fainter, and with the advancing darkness, Yoichi''s time to pack his stuff was running out. Everything he would be taking with him was ready: the books were locked inside the nket, the Tear was in the amphora, and the incense was enclosed in the straw mat carefully rolled up and tied to the ancient tomes.

    Phew... I hope Ichiro can carry all this stuff. How am I supposed to tie it onto his back? Damn, I wish I had more time to prepare for a trip I don''t even know the duration of, Yoichi thought, grabbing his luggage and taking onest look around the room.

    He set his stuff down outside the door and looked carefully in each corner, checking to see if he had forgotten anything. He picked up the piece of cloth with the blood writing on it and put it in his pocket. At that exact moment, his gazended on Ryutaro''s kabuto.

    The helmet was simr to the face of a rabid Oni, with narrow, elongated eyes and long fangs covering the mouth of the warrior wearing it. Yoichi tried to imagine Ryutaro''s face under that metal surface, wondering what his real face looked like and what color his eyes were.

    One of the kabuto''s two horns, so long they looked like two antennae, reflected off the wall across the room from the bed. Beyond the stone sink, another object particrly dear to the gatekeeper was about to be abandoned in the Dojo.

    The long, chrome-ted de hung on the wall, pointing toward the door. It terminated in a dark red handle with orange details, consisting of carefully twistedces up to the round guard, also dark red.

    "Your katana, Sensei," Yoichi whispered, letting those wordse out of his mouth almost involuntarily. For some strange reason, while preparing everything that would be useful to him on his journey, Yoichi hadn''t even thought about his master''s sword.

    Perhaps, within himself, the young tamer did not feel worthy of wielding such a legendary weapon, knowing that, in Ryutaro''s hands, it had written the history of the Tentochu Empire, protecting Emperor Tatsui and serving the people of the faction.

    Step by step, he approached that wooden wall with the same reverence of a worshipper approaching a deity. Involuntarily, even his breath stopped making the slightest noise and, his gaze followed the de of Ryutaro''s katana as if time around him had suddenly stopped.

    "I can''t leave it here, Ryutaro-Sensei," Yoichi said aloud as if the mere proximity with the sword allowed him to sense his master''s presence. "I know that I am not yet worthy of wielding it, but I know your hatred for Emperor Shinzo and I am sure that if it fell into his hands your honor as a warrior would be lost forever," he added.

    His hand brushed against the ornate scabbard and his fingers gradually gripped it, lifting it from the wooden hooks that held it hanging on the wall. "Your sword wille with me and I will defend it at the cost of my life, knowing that it will give me the same treatment and defend me with equal thoughtfulness."

    The young warrior''s right hand clutched the long handle of the katana and pulled it away from the wall, holding it tightly and trying to feel its weight. In his mind, before lifting the sword, Yoichi was convinced that all that metal would have a substantial weight and that, without worthy training, he would never be able to handle it properly.

    Contrary to his suspicions, Ryutaro''s katana was incredibly light and maneuverable: with a slight flick of his wrist, Yoichi twirled the sword left and right, cutting through the air and letting it sing, emitting an imperceptible whistle on the edge of the de.

    Yoichi clutched the hilt in his right hand, immediately noticing a small detail. The hand-woven strings were slightly ttened in some spots, recalling the shape of his previous owner''s hand.

 Chapter 230 - Ill Miss You

    Having never brought his hand close to Ryutaro''s, Yoichi had never noticed howrge his hands were. On the hilt of the katana, in addition to his closed hand, young Ryuraro''s fingerprints continued for several inches.

    With astonishing naturalness, the blond-haired warrior brought the tip of the long de closer to the mouth of the dark red scabbard. On it, slightly faded designs depicted giant winged beasts flying over stylized mountains.

    The overall color of the weapon was strikingly reminiscent of Kenji''s draconic mes as if Ryutaro''s fate and Yoichi''s had been connected from the beginning.

    Yoichi tucked the sword into his belt, on the left side, making sure it didn''t get in the way of his walk.

    He finally walked out the door, turning the key in the lock again and pulling the knob towards himself. When the door closed, the young tamer rested his forehead on its wooden surface, bidding a final farewell to that sacred ce.

    Hurrying through the floors of the Dojo, Yoichi was careful not to disturb the few people in the building who were still meditating, immersed in their egos.

    The golden tigers at the entrance weed the warrior with their long, wed paws, and the fresh air outside filled his lungs. Along with it, a pleasant scent simr to that ofvender flowers and wild herbs intoxicated his sense of smell.

    In front of him, Shioko''s red hair floated in the air and the wind carried their familiar scent with it. The girl''s big eyes were focused only on her guildmate, whose arms were busy supporting the weight of his bulky luggage.

    "So Takamori-Sensei wasn''t kidding," Shioko smiled, continuing to look at Yoichi and masking her sadness. Behind her, various items were resting on the stairs.

    "No, I guess he wasn''t," Yoichi replied, cing the books and the amphora on the ground and approaching Shioko. An awkward silence enveloped the two friends for a few seconds, and neither of them knew what to say.

    "How is Enatsu?" Yoichi asked, trying to break the ice. Shioko''s character didn''t seem as grumpy and harsh as in the early days. On the contrary, the long red-haired archer looked particrly affectionate towards him.

    "Enatsu is much better. He still sleeps all day, but Yoshiko is taking good care of him and says he''ll be fully recovered in a few days," she replied. "You taught Kato a good lesson. I''m sure he won''t be acting like an asshole for a while."

    "Yes, I''m sure of that too. I have to face the consequences now though, Shioko. I will leave Goldhaven and go my own way. I had no idea that my stay here would be so short, but unfortunately, I have no other choice," Yoichi spoke, getting straight to the point of the matter.

    Shioko''s expression became saddened and her gaze fell to the floor. "Where will you go?" she asked in a voice filled with sadness.

    Yoichi waited a few seconds before responding, having no definite answer to that question. "A small vige at the foot of the mountains, that will be my first destination. It''s called Oakenfair," he reported.

    Shioko let out a long sigh and took courage, looking up at herpanion. It was as if the archer wanted to say something to Yoichi but was holding her tongue, merely sighing.

    "I... um... I brought you some things that you''ll need. Here, take this," the red-haired girl said, lowering herself and grabbing one of the items resting on the stairs.

    For a brief moment, Yoichi couldn''t help but look at Shioko''s body. The curves of her legs and back were perfect and the tight clothes did justice to her sensuality, masked by her aggressive nature towards strangers.

    "Takamori-Sensei told me that you don''t have a saddle for your horse and asked me to give you this," she affirmed, as a wisp of hair dangled in front of her face.

    In her hands, arge leather saddle was fitted with two capacious side bags. Thanks to it, the weight on the horse''s body would be evenly distributed and allow Ichiro to carry many things with minimal effort.

    Yoichi thanked her and grabbed the gift. When his hand touched the openingce of one of the two bags, a piece of clothing fell to the floor, slipping out from inside it.

    "What about this? What is this?" he asked, lifting it from the floor and opening it before his eyes. The garment contained in the bag was a long cloak that ended in a wide hood, simr to Enatsu''s.

    "Um, you know... if you escape from here, the Emperor will probably put a bounty on your head, and... caution is never too much, Yoichi," she exined, letting him know that the cloak to disguise his appearance was her idea.

    "I''ll miss you, Shioko."

    Yoichi''s unexpected words made the archer blush. She was in an obvious state of embarrassment and failed to meet her gaze with that of her guildmate.

    "You, um... I... I mean... I''m going to miss you too," she replied, speaking the words at super speed as if hoping Yoichi wouldn''t hear them.

    He took a step towards her, dropping the saddle next to his luggage and sighing. Shioko remained motionless, her arms along her sides and her gaze still pointed downward.

    "I brought you here for a reason," the young tamer stated, speaking with heavy hearts. "I have an important favor to ask of you, and you are the only person I trust. It is something extremely important and no one but me and Enatsu know about it," he added.

    "Of course. Tell me how I can help you and I''ll do what I can" Shioko replied sheepishly, trying to hide her embarrassment.

    In a few minutes, Yoichi told hispanion about Princess Sui, exining to her that in addition to his notorious sons, Emperor Shinzo was the father of a beautiful girl who bore that name.

    Inside, Yoichi was aware of Shioko''s feelings for him and tried hard to make her understand that there had never been any emotional connection between him and the Princess.

 Chapter 231 - Feelings (Part I)

    The young tamer told hispanion how the Emperor had managed to hide his daughter''s existence from everyone and how the Empress had never done anything to remedy that situation. He told her that Sui had spent her adolescence locked in a room and that the only moments of freedom were caused by her escapes from the Pce.

    Shioko was a great supporter of the female gender and was convinced that in that era, women could not express their true potential and were seen as mere sexual objects capable only of satisfying the needs of men.

    They did not have the right to participate in political life and the only ways to get to the top ranks of society were through recruitment in a guild or through marriage to a wealthy man.

    However, not all women were tamers or simply interested in a military career. The red-haired archer was driven by a strong sense of justice and emancipation, and her perennial hatred for Shinzo Nishiyama turned into a genuine desire for revenge after Yoichi''s tale.

    "That slimy maggot... he doesn''t even deserve to breathe the same air as us! That son of a bitch! Poor girl!" Shioko growled, shaking her head and trying to imagine what Sui looked like based on herrade''s words.

    Throughout the story, Yoichi had skipped the part where the Princess promised him loyalty and whispered loving words to him, offering him a piece of her heart.

    "What do you want me to do? Why did you tell me about her? Is there any way to save her?" she repeated, eager for an answer to her question.

    "From the window of her room in the pce, Sui can see an old cherry tree. She described it to me as a flowering tree, beautiful and showy. Well, she said that when she sees me in front of that tree, she will escape from her room for the umpteenth time and rely on me to leave the city," Yoichi confessed. Inside, the young tamer was afraid of hurting Shioko''s feelings.

    During his journey with the beautiful red-haired tamer, Yoichi had never thought about the Princess. The time spent with Shioko had passed very quickly, and in herpany, Yoichi had always felt protected and at ease.

    The empathy he shared with her was something rare and precious. It was useless to deny it: the two Nightdes warriors liked each other, but they couldn''t bring themselves to confess it.

    "So you want me to help the Emperor''s daughter escape instead of you? You want me to break all the rules imposed by Nishiyama and lead the most important girl in the kingdom outside the walls of Goldhaven?" - Shioko had her hands resting along her sides and her eyes slightly half-closed. Yoichi''s answer would be crucial.

    "Um... well... yes," he replied, massaging his nape and smiling naively. "Listen, Shioko. Although I have much bigger problems to think about, I can''t ignore Sui''s call for help. The first time I couldn''t get there in time, I don''t want that to happen again," he added, trying to speak as honestly as possible.

    The girl turned her back and took two steps forward, towards the stairs. Her eyes were pointed towards the sky, as the afternoon sun was giving way to the moon, ready to illuminate the corners of the buildings with its white light. "Alright, I''ll do it," she spoke, leaving Yoichi speechless.

    "What? Really?" he asked, not expecting such an immediate response to that absurd request.

    "Yes, really. I don''t care if she''s a princess or not. I don''t want to know anything else about her. Just the thought that someone could be held captive by that self-centered Emperor drives me crazy. I''ll go get Princess Sui and help her escape."

    Yoichi walked forward and wrapped his arms around Shioko''s shoulders, resting his head behind her back and squeezing her into a hug.

    She widened her eyes and held her breath as if she didn''t know what the best reaction was to that sudden gesture. For the first time in years, she was getting a hug and the one who had tempted fate was the man she liked.

    "I knew I could trust you, Shioko," he continued, holding her even tighter and waiting for her to return the embrace. The archer began to breathe again and ced a hand on Yoichi''s forearm, letting him know that the affectionate gesture hadn''t bothered her in the least.

    The arms of a young, strong man had shattered her insensitive, rough shell, melting away her mask of superficiality with a genuine hug.

    Several seconds passed before Yoichi loosened his grip. His arms spread wide and Shioko turned toward him, eager to look into his eyes.

    I can''t believe it...my heart is beating out of my chest! I thought Shioko wouldn''t like something so cheesy, but instead, she stood firm and returned my hug! What do I do now? Do I have to follow my instincts? Yoichi asked himself, thinking quickly and trembling with emotion as the girl he was attracted to turned toward him.

    The young tamer thought back to Princess Sui and the little kiss they had shared as they exited that dark alley in the capital. The Princess of Tentochu was a very beautiful and incredibly sensual girl, probably any man would have been crazy about her.

    But was she really what his heart desired? What did he know about her besides what she had told about her past? How could he be sure that their personalities had beenpatible? In a matter of moments, Yoichi found himselfing to terms with his innermost feelings, and when his gaze met Shioko''s, butterflies came to his stomach.

    At that point, he had no more doubts and, without thinking about the consequences, he trusted his instincts, following the words of his heart.

    Joined by the wind blowing gently at the entrance to the Dojo, the two guildmates approached until the tips of their noses touched. In that instant, Yoichi rested the palm of his warm hand behind Shioko''s neck and let his lips go to hers.

 Chapter 232 - Feelings (Part II)

    Lulled by the stillness of that holy ce, the two warriors exchanged a long, passionate kiss, closing their eyes and savoring each other.

    During those interminable moments, their minds seemed to go nk and the time around them slowed down enough to iste their hearing from all the sounds of the city. The only sound they could hear was that of their hearts beating in unison.

    Shioko''s lips were soft and warm, as sweet as the best fruit in the world. The smell of her hair and skin was intoxicating, and the femininity of her movements drove Yoichi to surrender to her, waiting for her lips to be the first to move away.

    Suddenly, after more than ten seconds, this happened and Shioko opened her eyes, realizing what had just happened. She sprang back and pulled away from Yoichi''s face, hitting him with a violent p that sent his neck spinning backward.

    The archer''s expression reflected all her embarrassment, and her freckle-covered cheeks had turned redder than her hair. "What... what the hell did you just do?" she stammered, touching her lips with her fingertips.

    Yoichi looked at her confused, unable to understand the reason for that senseless and exaggerated reaction. "I... I thought that..." - the young warrior''s words were interrupted by another expression from Shioko.

    After a long sigh to savor the strong sensation still lingering in her body, she bit her lips, giving in to her instincts and leaning forward.

    Driven by passion, Shioko grabbed Yoichi''s face with both hands and kissed him repeatedly, with much more intensity than the previous kiss. Closing her eyes again and breathing fervently, her tongue and Yoichi''s touched, giving the kiss further importance.

    When Yoichi opened his eyes, he felt a sudden sense of well-being, not nearly as good as any he had experienced since his awakening. The heart in his chest was beating fast, as was the heart under his lover''s clothes as she looked at him with half-open lips.

    Who would have imagined that what I felt for her was a mutual feeling? He thought, still unable to realize that he had managed to make her figured concretely how much he cared for her.

    "Don''t say anything," she whispered, resting the index and middle fingers of her right hand on Yoichi''s lips, brushing against his blond mustache. "I don''t want you to leave, Yochi," she added. Letting her hands slide behind his back, she hugged him, resting her head on his chest and snuggling into his arms.

    What?! Aaaargh! Is this the Shioko I know?! Really?! Yoichi, who was inwardly exploding with joy, asked himself. If he had externalized those emotions without filtering them, he would have looked like a kid in a full hormonal surge, not able to control his impetus.

    "Well..." he whispered, clearing his throat. "You''re a free woman and can choose what to do regardless of what you''re ordered to do, aren''t you?" he asked, squinting his eyes and hoping that the next answer wouldn''t disappoint his expectations.

    "I have a duty to the guild and Takamori-Sensei, Yoichi. You know that" she replied, speaking those words with a high degree of resentment.

    "Duties? So, wait a minute. Listen to me carefully," he spoke, gripping Shioko''s shoulders in his hands and looking into her eyes. "Takamori-Sensei feels responsible for what happened to me and wants in every way to undo the damage. I''m sure he won''t object if you inform him that you have decided to leave with me on a journey beyond the walls of Goldhaven!"

    "How can you be sure?"

    "I just know that. Look, together we could travel the world, traveling to discover new ces and new legendary demons and relics. We could even run into ancient demons and add them to our team! Think about it, with your experience and Kenji''s draconic power we could be undisputable tamers!" he reiterated, full of expectation. "By defeating other Void Summoners and helping the weaker ones, we could get our names to be known by the people and our fame might evene to the Emperor''s attention!"

    "Do you think he would allow you to return to Goldhaven after helping his daughter escape? You''re delusional, Yoichi," Shioko replied, trying to think with her feet on the ground.

    "He will never know that the princess left with us. Traveling in Sui''spany can be difficult, but it can also be an advantage! She is the daughter of the most powerful man in Tentochu!" the young tamer replied, trying to turn the tables and suggesting to Shioko a method to avail themselves of Sui''s title.

    "You told me that she''s not even capable of fighting and that she''s not a Demon Tamer like us. How do you think she will behave inside the dungeons where we will be forced to face Gonshiro''s men?"

    "Would you really rather she stay rotting in her little room in the pce, guarded by the Emperor''s guards? Save the Princess and leave with me, Shioko. There''s a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered," Yoichi continued, making the archer think for herself.

    Although he was aware that leaving with Shioko and Sui would probably get him into trouble after that kiss, Yoichi was sure of his feelings for the archer and the Princess''pany didn''t scare him. However, the time to make a decision was getting tighter and tighter.

    "The n is this. In a week I will be in Ambershire, at an inn called ''The Sleepy Owl''. You will have plenty of time toe up with a n and get the princess away from the Pce. In order for her to understand that you and I y on the same team, you will position yourself under the cherry tree and show her this," Yoichi exined, pulling the hairpin with the Imperial family symbol from his leather pouch.

    "When the princess is safe with you, you will use the advantage of the night to escape and the next day we will meet at the ce I told you. From there it will be easier to continue east and get over the Southborne Mountains, moving away from the capital," he added, after thinking out a n in great detail.

 Chapter 233 - Saddle

    "What about you, Yoichi? What are you going to do in the meantime?" Shioko asked, wondering why her guildmate had asked her to meet him after a week.

    "I have something to do first. I''ll head to Oakenfair and look for Shusaku, Tatsui Nishiyama''s cksmith," Yoichi stated confidently, already prepared for that question.

    "It takes about three days to reach that vige. You get there by a road through the mountains, and its buildings are carved into the rocks. If you don''t find the cksmith within twenty-four hours, you risk missing the schedule and Princess Sui, and I could be in trouble," Shioko remarked, trying to be pragmatic.

    Three days to reach Oakenfair, one day to find Shusaku''s hideout and convince him to forge his new weapon, and three days to get back to Ambershire. Yoichi had no idea what it was like to travel alone, and he didn''t know what kind of demons inhabited the area that separated the capital from the Southborne Mountains, having never moved further north than his little house in the Bronzeforest.

    However, he was hopeful and knew that forging the weapon he desired was a significant bonus for his fights and allowed him toplete one of the two Demon Pet System quests.

    "I will be on time, and in exactly one week, we will meet in Ambershire. If that doesn''t happen, you and Sui will still be forced to get as far away from here as possible," Yoichi added, confessing to Shioko that he didn''t have a backup n.

    The physical attraction between the two guildmates was palpable, and even though they were talking about someone who wasn''t part of that conversation, their gazes were on their bodies.

    Yoichi was looking intently at Shioko, and she was carefully observing the man in front of her, looking at him in a different light. For a few seconds, they had the feeling that they wanted each other so badly that they forgot they were standing in front of the entrance to Goldhaven''s sacred Dojo.

    "I will do as you asked, Yoichi. I will take the Princess away from that ce, whatever it takes," she affirmed. "Be sure to be careful. You know how dangerous it is when you stray from the fields of Crimson Lotus" she added, as her eyes became shiny and her lips dry.

    Yoichi didn''t answer right away, merely stroking Shioko''s face and infusing her with serenity. "I''ll see you in a week. Keep an eye on Enatsu and exin to him what happened to me. I''m sure he''ll understand the situation and won''t judge me."

    "Alright," the red-haired girl nodded.

    "The Emperor''s guards may have already left the Pce. There is no more time," the young tamer repeated. Clutching the scabbard of Ryutaro''s katana, which was so light that it seemed to create no extra weight on his legs, he prepared to gather his things and stuff them into the saddlebags.

    In a few minutes, under Shioko''s sad gaze, the books, the mat and the precious amphora containing the Dragon King''s Tear found their ce in those leather bags. Yoichi tightened the straps and closed the side bags, then made sure the pouch containing the ten gold coins was inside his backpack.

    After a deep breath, he wiped away the sweat on his forehead with one arm and pulled out his Inoshuma''s Demon Tooth. "Azron!" he pronounced aloud, sticking the tip of the plug right under the stairs of the Dojo, being careful not to damage the dirt path too much.

    The y of light from Ichiro''s summoning was made more evident by the darkness of the night, which now prevailed over the lights of dusk. The flowing mane of the mighty Inoshuma floated through the air, and as it puffed from its nostrils, it bowed its head to its tamer as if to greet him after theirst meeting.

    "Hey, Ichiro. We''ve got a good trip ahead of us, buddy. Are you ready?" Yoichi said, smiling and treating his demon in his usual friendly manner. He grabbed the heavy saddle and, with Shioko''s help, ced it on the high back of the horse demon.

    Ichiro didn''t make a single sound, continuing to wag its tail and sniff the floor, sensing the smells of the thousands of people who frequented that ce every day.

    "Wow. I''ve never seen such a strong Inoshuma," Shiokomented, stroking Ichiro''s side and admiring it with interest.

    "Ichiro is not an Inoshuma like the others. It was a true packmaster and fought hard to defend his prot¨¦g¨¦s," Yoichi replied, speaking with eyes full of pride.

    Without further ado, regretting that he hadn''t confessed his feelings to Shioko sooner and spent more time with her, the young tamer climbed onto his horse, cing his feet in the metal hooks that hung from the saddle and resting his bottom on the hard leather groove.

    Compared to thest few times he had ridden Ichiro, Yoichi felt a distinct difference, being able to move more nimbly and impose his will on the horse demon with more ease.

    "This is a special saddle that Takamori-Sensei had purchased at the Bazaar for his Inoshuma. When you recall Ichiro back in its Demon Tooth, it will fit into it with your horse, unlike a traditional saddle," Shioko exined, sure that Yoichi would never understand the difference on his own.

    "Takamori-Sensei has done more than enough, as has Ryutaro. Both of my masters put themselves on the line for me and gave me their trust. Now it is time for me to return the favour and put what I have learned into practice," he spoke, looking at the gates of the arena.

    With the Princess'' hairpin clutched in her hands, Shioko looked down at her man, as if dreading the moment of farewell.

    Yoichi extended a hand toward her, leaning out from Ichiro and grabbing her wrist. "One week, Shioko. Think back to what I told you ande away with me. I look forward to traveling by your side and exploring the world with you. With your unerring aim, you have hit my heart. It now belongs to you," he added, letting his romantic spirit prevail over his rational character.

    Shioko''s eyes sparkled after those sappy but sincere words. From the way her eyes responded to that statement, it was obvious that no one had ever spoken to her like that before.

 Chapter 234 - Portable Bank

    "I''ll see you in Ambershire. Remember, Sleepy Owl Tavern. Enatsu knows where it is" - those were thest words spoken by Yoichi before prodding Ichiro with the heels of his boots.

    The young tamer rode away from the Dojo, still unable to believe that he had taken such a radical decision. His and Shioko''s eyes met onest time before he crossed the threshold and passed the white walls that enclosed that holy ce.

    The weight on Ichiro''s back was perfectly bnced, and the saddle provided stability to the load. The amphora, which was undoubtedly the most fragile object, was wedged between two heavy tomes so that it would always remain straight and would not risk dispersing the Tear of Therion.

    The streets of Goldhaven were still crowded: cksmiths and artisans were starting to close their shops, and people of all kinds and ages seemed to be still busy, walking from one side to the other.

    A group of guards suddenly popped up around the corner of the street, reminding Yoichi that he had not yet donned the cloak given to him by Shioko.

    Without getting off his horse, the young tamer covered his long blond hair with that wide hood, letting the rest of the cloak rest on the back of his horse, partially covering the bags that hung to the side.

    The imperial guards continued to talk amongst themselves, chuckling at some nonsense and not paying any attention to him at all. The advantage was that Goldhaven was too big a city, and searching for a single individual was so tricky that it could take days, if not weeks.

    Inwardly, Yoichi knew that even if Kato''spanions had alerted Yozo to the incident, it would have taken him several minutes to tell the guards and ask them to hunt him down.

    Moreover, the men tasked with guarding the streets could not be fully upied with the search. In addition to the family men and citizens who strictly adhered to the rules imposed by the crown, the capital was home to viins from the lowest ranks of society.

    Wasting guards on the search for a young tamer whose only crime was to have taught one of the Heralds a lesson would have been too much even for someone like Shinzo Nishiyama.

    After about forty-five minutes on horseback, Yoichi reached the city''s northern gates, particrly close to the Tamer District. Although weight was not a problem for Ichiro, its movement speed would be less than usual. What''s more, running on horseback in the middle of the city wasn''t the best thing to do if you wanted to go unnoticed.

    As usual, another group of men in armor guarded the entrance and exit, checking everyone who passed through the North Gates in either direction.

    Keeping his gaze down and his face hidden under his hood, Yoichi once again went unnoticed, exiting the city with Ichiro.

    When packing his stuff, among Ryutaro''s old books, Yoichi grabbed the book titled ''Ancient and Contemporary History of Tentochu'' and an old parchment fell out from under its cover.

    With much ado, the young tamer discovered that that parchment was actually an old region map, not as up-to-date as Enatsu''s but undoubtedly valuable for an inexperienced traveler like himself.

    Yoichi''s first instinct after leaving the chaos of the city was to dip a hand into the bag on the right side of the saddle and pull out the map he had carefully rolled up inside.

    Heid it on Ichiro''s back and took advantage of the light of the full moon to appreciate its details: that map belonged perhaps to Ryutaro, perhaps to someone older than him. Compared to the one shown to him some time ago by his merchant friend, it looked much more sparse, and many of the small towns scattered throughout the region were not there.

    However, even though it was handmade and slightly inurate, it depicted all of the primary and secondary trails, all of the mountain ranges,kes and coastlines, and even provided some details about the various biomes.

    Small symbols in the shape of trees, wheat or water lilies allowed the scrupulous observer to distinguish between forested and cultivated areas and swamps.

    Yoichi''s finger slithered across the old crumpled map from bottom to top, following a south-north trajectory, searching for his target. Finally, hidden between the smudged peaks of two mountains, the small town of Oakenfair popped up under his fingertip.

    "Oakenfair... how did you end up there, Shusaku?" Yoichi asked to himself, trying to imagine why the cksmith had chosen that remote destination over any other.

    If he had followed the main road, Yoichi would soon have reached a junction with three roads. From Goldhaven county, the one to the south led to the area he''d already explored, down into the southern zone to the ckvault Mines; the one continuing west led to the ''Stonebreak Passage'' through the mountains; and the one to the north ran along the Bronzeforest following the natural morphology of the mountains.

    That very road was the one that would lead Yoichi to Oakenfair. Once there, he would have to search and find Shusaku in no time, based on information from the locals.

    The Tetsuiasa was safe along with the rest of his equipment inside Ichiro''s bags. Thanks to the magic saddle provided to him by his guild leader, the young tamer could use thoserge bags as if they were some sort of portable bank.

    In fact, it would be enough to call Ichiro back into its Demon Tooth to enclose their contents inside as well. Consequently, Yoichi had decided to keep the heavier and more valuable items in there, such as the books and the amphora and the ready-to-use items in his smaller backpack.

    He rolled up the map and stuffed it into his backpack, moving the two still-empty Demon Teeth among other junk. Firmly, never looking back, he prodded Ichiro and let the walls of Goldhaven disappear behind the hills. The terrain morphology was slightly different from those traveled before, and an unexpectedly muddy stretch obstructed part of the tiled street.

    After it, the path grew narrower and darker, delving into a wood of dense trees so tall they could touch the stars in the night sky.

 Chapter 235 - Three-way Crossroad

    Ichiro''s powerful hooves trampled the mud, continuing to advance along the road. Large puddles were scattered here and there and repeated about every hundred meters, hindering the path.

    Unconcerned about this detail and aware of the fact that as he moved away from Goldhaven he would encounter more and more different biomes, Yoichi rode his horse forward, hoping to find the crossroad marked on the map.

    In just two hours, Yoichi was far enough away from the capital that he could no longer make out the typical trees and vegetation he was used to seeing. In that semi-t area, the vegetation was thick and lush, but darker, lower nts prevailed, with broad leaves and roots poking through the muddy soil.

    His gaze was drawn to the lights of several viges scattered throughout the territory. They were not marked on Ryutaro''s map and had probably only recently been built.

    Many people chose to live in the viges near the capital because even though they worked in Goldhaven, they couldn''t stand the chaos of such arge city.

    Each vige was protected by one or more fields of Crimson Lotus, which judging by their bright red color, partially illuminated by the artificial lightsing from the viges, did not seem to have suffered from the gue of the ckblood.

    Guided by the moon, Yoichi opened the map again, not knowing how to cheat time and realizing that that stretch of road was monotonous and devoid of demons to discover.

    On it, beyond the three-way junction, a blurry ink blot prevented him from seeing what was drawn underneath. The blur covered the very area just past the crossroad, along the northern direction he would have to travel to reach Oakenfair.

    Yoichi felt like a lost child, riding alone in the night and aware that despite Kenji''s incredible power, he still knew very little about the magic world around him.

    He had learned most of the information about demons and their biomes from Enatsu, but it would not be enough for him during his adventure. As Shioko advised him, he would have to keep his eyes open once he was away from the Crimson Lotus fields.

    After his experience at the ckvault Mines, he vividly remembered that the most aggressive and wild demons attacked humans precisely during the night hours. This time, however, his friends were not there to help him and he would have to rely on his strength only.

    Finally, after hours of traveling from the gates of Goldhaven, the fork in the road drawn on the map appeared before his eyes, dimly lit by a torch attached to a wooden pole.

    Yoichi hesitated no longer and approached, massaging Ichiro''s neck and encouraging it to continue.

    The viges that dotted the Goldhaven province like a constetion around the white walls of the capital were now far away and, along with them, the Crimson Lotus ntations. There was a strange, ambiguous silence in the air as if the one in front of him was an invisible gap dividing the safe zone from the more dangerous one.

    The three-way junction corresponded exactly to the one drawn on the map. In the center, a signpost was embedded in the ground. Above it, the torchlight that illuminated the area was protected by a small wooden cube, useful to keep it from going out under the action of the wind.

    With some awe, Yoichi approached the signpost and began to read the handwritten directions on the wooden beams. They were wider in the middle and narrower on the sides and pointed left, forward, and right.

    ''Ambershire County''

    ''Stonebreak Passage''

    ''Boneside Swamp''

    These were the three names indicated on the south, west, and north arrows respectively. Consulting the map once more to make sure it wasn''t wrong, Yoichi pointed his finger at the old parchment, simting going down all three roads.

    "The one leading to Ambershire is definitely not the right one; the same goes for the one toward the Stonebreak Passage. I don''t need to cross the mountain range to get to my destination," he reflected aloud, feeling isted in absolute silence. "The only road left is the one that leads to the Boneside Swamp. This must be the ce that has been erased from the map," he reasoned.

    His hands lowered the old parchment and his gaze peered over the edge of the map. Faced with this vision, Yoichi felt a cold thrill run through his body, and for a moment his teeth chattered with fear.

    Unlike the other two roads, which didn''t seem too different from the environment behind him, the one leading north was dark and gloomy. It went right into the woods he''d been looking at for several miles and followed the direction he hoped he wouldn''t have to travel.

    "Fuck," he stammered, uttering the word as quickly as a hup. The road beneath Ichiro''s hooves had already been unpaved for more than three miles, but even so, its condition was still decent thanks to its proximity to the capital and other poption centers.

    The road north of the crossroad, however, consisted of a kind of rut in the damp, muddy earth, lined with thorny nts and shaggy foliage, without a shadow of a flower.

    "A swamp, huh? You could have told me, Takamori-Sada... I could have worn better boots," the young tamer muttered, rolling up the map and letting out a long sigh. Inside himself, he knew that traveling during the night was a very dangerous thing, but he was also sure that if he didn''t take advantage of every free moment, he would never make it back to Ambershire in time.

    He spurred Ichiro on, and the horse, initially unconvinced that it was going in that very direction, began to walk through the mud. The Boneside Swamp was a fairlyrge swamp that bordered much of the Bronzeforest.

    The forestke was indeed fed by a few surface water streams and many deep water flows, most of which originated from that highly inhospitable ce. If the Bronzeforest was a ce where life glowed with a thousand colors and cute animals, the Boneside Swamp was the exact opposite.

    Especially at night, it was the ideal ce for demons who did not like cold and dry environments and fed mainly on amphibians and reptiles.

 Chapter 236 - Boneside Swamp

    In addition to the vegetation and the naturaly of thend, the temperature was also gradually changing. The closer he got to the swampy area, the more Yoichi began to feel a strong heat on his shoulders, as if the temperature had raised more than ten degrees.

    Noting that the direction he was heading was the right one, the young tamer continued riding north, with the imposing range of the Southborne Mountains to his left and the Bronzeforest to his right.

    Despite the low light and abundant vegetation, the moonlight was able to filter through that section of the trail, illuminating the road and the surrounding areas, except for the innermost ones. The trees, although very tall, were characterized by thin and elongated leaves: paradoxically, in that ce, the nts were much denser and imposing in the lower area than in the treetops.

    Soon Ichiro''s breath and the sound of its hooves were the only sounds echoing in the air, followed by those emitted by Yoichi, still full of nervousness waiting to face the unknown.

    Yoichi''s Inoshuma was a strong and obedient demon, but at this moment, due to the heavy load it carried on its shoulders, it was not ready to fight. In case of a sudden attack, Yoichi would have to quickly switch demons and summon Kenji, trying not to get hit.

    His hand rested on the handle of the katana, grazing theces of the hilt and trying to gain confidence.

    The night continued its course and the swamp that separated Yoichi from his target began to upy every area of his field of vision: small ponds and streams of thick, viscous water, mud puddles, and decaying nts were home to the small amphibians that popted that inhospitable ce.

    The croaking of frogs and the buzzing of dragonflies and wasps annoyed Ichiro, whose ears twitched every second, trying to get rid of those annoying noises. What demons inhabited that ce? Yoichi asked himself, trying to find an answer.

    Remembering what he had learned from one of his books, he knew that each demon preferred to live in an environment where it could draw energy from its element. ording to that reasoning, the swamp should have been home to demons of water, grass, and perhaps even the ''poison'' type.

    Just as he had begun to calm down, thinking about when he would be able to meditate in peace and reflecting on the test he would face in Therion''spany the next day, Yoichi heard a sound of leavesing from the side of the road.

    He had chosen not to use any torch or light source because he knew, thanks to Shioko, that it would only be useful in attracting the ravenous demons hidden in the darkness.

    "Ichiro, wait!" Yoichi whispered, bringing his mouth close to his steed''s ear. The horse demon nailed its hooves into the mud, blocking its advance and remaining silent.

    A bush not far from them began to move suspiciously as if something was spying on them from within.

    "Croak! Croak!" - a croaking, insistent cry came from that spot and was then amplified in the nts behind the young tamer. "Craak!" - from behind him, another identical cry reached his ears, forcing him to turn his head away from the first bush.

    "Fuck! There''s more than one!" he gasped in a low voice, slowly resting both hands on Ichiro''s mane. The horse blew air from its nostrils, showing its nervousness and waiting for orders from its tamer.

    *croak*croak*croak*

    The croaking multiplied once more, and within seconds it came from five different directions. Front, back, right, left, even from above. Whatever made that sound had surrounded the lone adventurer.

    "All right... I can''t back down!" Yoichi whispered, preparing to get off his horse. As soon as he would recall Ichiro, the light given off by the process would likely attract the hidden demons, who would leap at him.

    "Azron!" Yoichi eximed, lifting one leg and dismounting from the horse, using the hold of the saddle to jump to the ground. The Inoshuma''s body disintegrated in a stream of yellow air, and as Shioko promised, the saddle and the two bags also suffered the same fate, entering inside the Demon Tooth.

    The yellowish thorn emitted a faint glow andnded at the feet of the young tamer, who, in record time, grabbed it and stuffed it into his pouch. "Crooaaak!" - Suddenly, as he had predicted, one of the hidden demons jumped out of its bush, moving in midair like a catapult projectile.

    The big frog-demon''s green eyes stared at Yoichi, and from its fully gaping amphibian mouth, two huge sticky tongues were ready to be shot out. Simultaneously, on the other side of the road, a smaller specimen began to run in the direction of the young tamer, making a bizarre noise and hopping on its webbed feet.

    "Ildriss!" Yoichi yelled, calling out Kenji''s name to make sure he summoned it in time. A ze was shot from his chest, and within it sprouted the feline limbs of the little dragon demon.

    Sensing its tamer''s haste, Kenji sped up its summoning process and as its ck horns emerged from the tongue of fire, it shed at therger of the two frog-demons, attacking it without warning.

    "Screeak!" the roar of me and Kenji''s reptilian crybined as the small dragon bit into the head of his foe, clutching its wet, mushy flesh between its sharp jaws.

    "Craa...rgh!"

    *SPLAT* - in a small, greenish explosion, the frog demon''s insides sshed into the air and the dragon demon''s jaws closed hard, clutching the remains of its skull.

    The bite was so strong that the enemy''s eyes popped out of their sockets and its stubby body in mid-air lost control, unable to dodge the attack.

    "Crooak!" - the second demon detached its webbed feet from the ground and jumped towards Yoichi, trying to catch him off guard. Its throat swelled and, in the next instant, two long, sticky pink tongues were shot like two bullets in his direction.

    "Oh my goodness!" Yoichi gulped, moving his torso sideways and dodging the blow. Reacting instinctively, the young tamer drew his dagger from behind his back and, twisting the de downward, swung his arm.

    *zac*zac* - Yoichi''s precise blow severed both of the frog demon''s tongues, which frayed into many thin, sticky strands, spurting a greenish substance.

 Chapter 237 - Frogs

    The intact part of the demon-frog''s tongues immediately returned to its mouth, and an expression of pain forced it to close its amphibious eyes.

    In a matter of seconds, Kenji and Yoichi managed to defend themselves against two simultaneous attacks, killing one of the two enemy demons on the spot and seriously injuring the other.

    A red sphere floated from the remains of the in frog, still partially embedded in the jaws of the small dragon. The XP drop touched Kenji''s forehead and entered its body, contributing to raising its fighting level.

    Even if only for a few moments, Yoichi looked at his Oracle with interest, unable to believe that it had shown such ferocity in attacking the enemy: evidently, Kenji''s horns were not the only things that had grown as it leveled up. Its teeth were much more developed than before, and its jaws bit stronger.

    Although the frog''s head was mushy and easy to bite, the little dragon demon had shattered its internal bones using only the strength of its jaws.

    Kenji, after defeating its first enemy, turned to Yoichi, looking at the other frog and growling, lifting the ck scales on its back.

    In no time, that little demon that was mistaken by everyone for a Nekage was starting to look more and more like a real dragon. Like the ancient winged demons, it feared no opponent and sometimes acted even before receiving a direct order from its tamer.

    Dragons were supreme beings, endowed with particrly sharp intelligence. For this very reason, they had never had tamers or owners throughout history. Yoichi was the first of his kind.

    The young tamer turned the de of his dagger, holding it normally and looking at the strange greenish liquid that had been sprayed off the demon-frog''s tongue. A thin grayish smoke snaked across the surface of the de as if that strange substance was boiling.

    "Craak! Crooak!" the wounded demon shouted, emitting that cry with all the energy left in its body. Suddenly, the cries that had surrounded Yoichi a few minutes before reappeared.

    In the darkness of the undergrowth, many small green eyes popped out, staring at Kenji and Yoichi and marking them as prey.

    I have two Demon Teeth left in my backpack. I might try to catch one of these wild demons, Yoichi thought. I don''t know what their level or ability is, but they are definitely a different type from Kenji or Ichiro.

    Judging by the strange smelling and corrosive substance released from the two cut tongues of the frog demon, it must have been a poison-type demon.

    "Come on, Kenji. We have to clear the way!" Yoichi thundered, holding the dagger tightly in his hands and moving with circumspection. "Screek!" the little dragon confirmed, observing the thicker areas of the swamp.

    Without much difficulty, two more frog-demons were killed by the adventurer and his Oracle, who gained two more XP points. Although the appearance of these strange amphibians was chilling in such a dark environment, they did not seem particrly powerful.

    Their attacks were highly predictable, and their movements were intermittent, punctuated by great leaps on their webbed feet and moments of stillness. If he really wanted to tame one of them, Yoichi would have to find the right one first.

    The enemy demons were almost all equidimensional, except for a couple of slightlyrger specimens. Their colors were all different, varying from dark green to purplish, almost ck.

    "Crooak!" - yet another frog demon walked down a stretch of road, dipping its tiny hands into the muddyyer. When Kenji tried to bite it frontally, it ducked on its legs and then jumped, avoiding its jaws and aiming for Yoichi.

    That demon has figured out that Kenji and I are fighting together, and it thinks that if it hits me, Kenji will take damage too! Yoichi pondered, realizing that the demon that was attacking him was different from its own kind.

    Skin as green as the meadows that covered the hills near Goldhaven and dark green eyes, almost the same color as the moss on the rocks of the swamp. Without even knowing what the name of the strange amphibious monster was, the young tamer had intended to capture it.

    Yoichi took a step back and waited for the frog to attack him. On the back of the strange demon, small rounded growths emitted a weird greenish gas, spreading it into the air around it.

    Dragging that cloud of gas with it, the demon-frog continued to run and, partially covered by the nket of smoke, opened its mouth wide and shot out its two sticky-tipped tongues.

    "Kenji!" Yoichi yelled, activating his Oracle''s skill and enhancing his arms: the little dragon''s ck scales covered the blond-haired warrior''s forearms and hands, and Takamori''s dagger fell to the ground, due to the exponential ergement of his fingers.

    Unaware of what was going to happen, the enemy demon continued to advance and, sure that its tongues could immobilize the target, it didn''t deviate the trajectory of his attack.

    *st* - Both of the frog demon''s tongues reached Yoichi''s right arm and stuck to its scales, releasing greenish, sticky saliva much like the corrosive liquid that had slightly damaged the dagger de.

    Without a second thought, Yoichi pulled his stricken arm towards himself and grabbed the two tongues with his other hand, taking advantage of Kenji''s enhancement and suffering no damage.

    "Croak?!" the frog gulped, its mouth open and its eyes in disbelief.

    "Aaargh!" - Lifting it off the ground as if it were a balloon tied to a rope, Yoichi sent the enemy demon flying towards him, ready to strike and stun it. However, the greenish gas leaking from its back was still active, and when the demon was within inches of Yoichi, he felt sudden dizziness.

    The young tamer''s respiratory tract instantly clogged and his upper and lower limbs became very heavy, almost unmanageable. "Graargh!" - With the enemy''s tongues still attached to his left forearm, Yoichi, with onest effort, punched the frog demon in the face.

    The sharp knuckles of his draconic hand repelled the greenish demon, throwing it in the direction it came and stunning it for good.

 Chapter 238 - First Try

    *cough*cough*

    Realizing that his hands were in the mud, Yochi got up again, continuing to cough. Fortunately, he had only breathed in that noxious gas for a few seconds, but that short time was enough for him to realize the high level of toxicity of that substance.

    That demon, whose name Yoichi didn''t even know, used a sneaky fighting style focused on weakening its opponent. Thanks to the substance expelled from its skin, it had indeed been able to knock out the limbs of an average-sized human being.

    "Cough... Kenji? Kenji, are you okay?" Yoichi asked, stepping forward and searching his Oracle with his gaze. Kenji was still standing in the same position. Around it, there didn''t seem to be any enemies other than the frog that had just been repelled by its tamer.

    I must do it now! Yoichi thought frantically, deactivating the draconic power on his right arm and grabbing the dagger that had fallen into the mud. The enemy demon was still stunned and, with its mouth open to the night sky, was making confused noises.

    The young tamer bolted towards it, turned the de of the dagger downwards, and, in the next instant, fell to his knees, stabbing the de between his hands into the demon-frog''s chest.

    As the dagger stuck between the poisonous demon''s ribs, its two tongues spilled out of its mouth, twitching uncontrobly and desperately trying to strike their opponent.

    "Grrr!" - As the toad''s thick green blood sttered across his face and arms, Yoichi spun the dagger de into the demon''s abdomen, fracturing its tiny ribs and tearing its internal organs.

    Finally, thest frog demon stopped moving, drawing itsst breath. "Quick, Yoichi...e on!" the young tamer repeated to himself, leaving the dagger inside the amphibian''s body and slipping his blood-stained hand inside the pouch.

    During those frantic seconds, moving rather awkwardly, Yoichi managed to grab one of the two still empty Demon Teeth and pointed it at his prey.

    "How the hell do I know if what I have in mind is the right spot to hit? To capture a demon I have to know where its center of gravity is!" he reasoned aloud, remembering Enatsu''s words before capturing his Insoshuma.

    Each species of demon had a different center of gravity, which was a single point in its body that allowed the Demon Tooth to absorb its soul and make its powers usable by the tamer.

    If he missed the point by even an inch, the frog demon''s body would dissolve and the Demon Tooth would likely break, bing unusable.

    Kenji positioned himself next to its master, watching the demon in front of Yoichi with attentive eyes. Under his trembling hand, the amphibian''s small soft body was about to dissolve into nothingness.

    "Okay, it''s do or die!" Yoichi eximed loudly, forcefully stabbing the Demon Tooth in the spot identified by his gaze: to imagine which was the center of gravity of the demon he intended to capture, he had followed rather logical reasoning.

    When, shortly before, Kenji had killed the first enemy demon, shattering its skull between its jaws, he had noticed a seemingly irrelevant detail.

    As the little dragon''s teeth tore the head from the toad''s neck, arge pouch positioned on its neck leaked a considerable amount of the green, poisonous liquid. Like the giant Hebigure that attacked the vige of ckborough, that kind of demon also had a poison pouch.

    Without overthinking, imagining that the center of gravity for capturing a demon could correspond to the ''main source point'' of its power, Yoichi stuck the tip of the Demon Tooth into the center of the frog demon''s throat.

    *zac* - with the greatest of ease, the sharp tip of the Crimson Lotus'' spine pierced the flesh of that monster slightly smaller than Kenji, but nothing happened.

    Yoichi and his Oracle remained silent, never taking their eyes off their victim. The seconds of uncertainty seemed like minutes in their perception, and together they hoped that Yoichi''s reasoning had been correct.

    Just as he was beginning to lose hope, the ends of the amphibian''s webbed legs crumbled into the air, glowing in the moonlight as tiny ethereal fragments.

    Yoichi immediately moved away, standing up and witnessing the scene from a meter away: the frog demon''s whole body crumbled before his incredulous eyes and a green stream of air swirled to the t top of the Demon Tooth.

    *swoosh* - After the capture process seemed to have failed, the product of the frog-demon''s ethereal dissolution entered the magic plug and its outer surface yed slightly, taking on a greenish hue.

    "Whowhoo!" Yoichi boomed, raising his arms to the sky. In his right hand, the young tamer still held Takamori''s dagger. "I did it, Kenji! I captured a wild demon without anyone''s help!" he rejoiced, clenching his fists in excitement.

    Remembering that the center of gravity was only the first stage of capturing a demon, Yoichi watched intently as the red sphere containing the single XP point floated toward Kenji and waited with trepidation for the moment when that demon''s spirit would whisper its true name to him.

    "Algamok!" - a thin, raspy voice suddenly eximed, speaking directly inside his head, as if an arcane being was whispering something in his ear.

    "Yes! I''ve got it! I heard it, Kenji! I heard the name of the demon I just captured!" Yoichi rejoiced, looking eagerly at his Oracle and forgetting that he was in the middle of a swamp lost in nothingness.

    Kenji bent its neck and blinked, moisturizing its small red eyes, not understanding what its tamer''s enthusiasm was about. "You have a new teammate, Kenji. I don''t know what his level and skills are yet, but I''m sure it wille in handy," Yoichi smiled. "Enatsu would have been proud of me," hemented.

    In front of its greenish bloodstained boots, the thickyer of mud began to move for no apparent reason. Small furrows appeared under the young tamer''s gaze and formed an shadowy inscription.

 Chapter 239 - Hikigotsu

    The Demon Pet System spoke:

    [Kenji: (6/10 pts - level 9)]

    [Hikigotsu: (4/7 pts - level 7)]

    [Current quests:]

    [Cultivate your dragon skills and spirit for one week: ongoing]

    [Forge a new weapon: ongoing]

    Digging up the mud and taking advantage of the moonlight to be visible, Yoichi''s System showed him the statistics of the two demons that had taken part in thest fight.

    "Hikigotsu? Is that the name of this strange lumpy frog?" Yoichi asked to himself, looking at the greenish Demon Tooth with interest.

    The surface of the spine that allowed the demons to be captured was damaged due to the extensive injuries sustained during the fight. Inside of it, the Hikigotsu''s body was healing its wounds.

    "That''s it? Can''t I get any more information? What type is it? What is its ability?" Yoichi thought aloud as if he wanted to talk to the entity that was creating those blood writings, digging them into the mud and drawing them onto the wood.

    From the Demon Pet System, no response.

    Kenji has received four more XP points and will be leveling up before long. This lonely journey might also be a good way to farm XP points, the young tamer thought.

    Thest two quests he had received were still active, and as he made his way to Oakenfair and tried toplete the weapon quest, he was constantly thinking about what he would have to face the next morning.

    ording to his promise to Therion, he would go in search of the first of the Guardians of the Whole and defeat it to increase his draconic powers. Although Yoichi nned to rest his weary body during that night, circumstances had forced him to flee from Goldhaven and move away from the Dojo, the ideal ce to rest.

    He looked at the mud-covered road and tried to get his gaze to the end of the swamp, but without sess. The Boneside Swamp stretched for many miles and its trees covered the horizon, masking the vegetation behind and the hills on which the Bronzeforest grew.

    Content with only the name of the newly captured demon, Yoichi stepped on the mud writing, preparing to set off again. "Hikigotsu... a level 7 Hikigotsu. Well, not bad," he whispered, thinking back to the fact that he had finally managed to capture a demon on his own.

    "I wonder if the other wild demons were on the same level. They seemed very aggressive to me, that''s true, but none of them bothered Kenji" he added, hoping he had chosen the right specimen and reasoning about that important detail.

    Each zone and biome was marked by a different range of demons belonging to various types and of various shapes and sizes. However, theirbat levels, judging from what he had learned from the book entitled ''Fundametals of Demon Taming'' were also divided ording to zones.

    Having tamed a level 7 wild demon meant that the Boneside Swamp was home to demons with a simr level. For this very reason, a young and inexperienced tamer like him could not go into every area of the world: some areas on the edge of Tentochu were dangerous due to the very high level of their wild demons.

    If Yoichi had entered an area with demons of level 30 or higher with his team, he would havested only a few minutes before being ughtered. As a result, areas that contained higher-level demons also featured higher-level dungeons, a higher chance of running into rare demons, and more hidden relics and loot.

    The goal of each Demon Tamer, in addition to fighting on the front lines for their faction, was to travel, boost their team''s mid-level and delve into those dangerous areas.

    "Ildriss!" Yoichi boomed, recalling Kenji back to the inside of his chest. The little dragon''s trail of fire dissolved upon contact with the front of his leather armor, turning into a tingle along his ribs and through his internal organs.

    Yoichi knew that if he wanted toplete both quests entrusted to him by the Demon Pet System to return to Ambershire in time to meet Shioko and Sui, he would have to find a quiet ce to meditate and cultivate his powers in the Tear.

    After summoning Ichiro, he scrupulously checked in the saddlebags, verifying that all his stuff was still there, especially the amphora containing the world''s most precious fluid.

    If Ichiro had been defeated or his Demon Tooth had been stolen, the amphora and Ryutaro''s tomes could have ended up in the wrong hands, with disastrous consequences for his fate as a tamer.

    "Let''s go, buddy. There''s no more time to waste. We''ll travel north for another couple of hours, hoping to find a shelter that will give us some peace," the young tamer said, talking to Ichiro and exining their n of action.

    Behind them, the crossroad had now disappeared, and the bulky nts of the swamp made Yoichi''s sense of direction less effective. Together with his Inoshuma, he continued north, following the moonlit road and avoiding the darkest corners of the forest.

    Strange noises came from the trees and ponds: that ce, though bleak and dpidated, teemed with life. If experienced travelers like Enatsu or Shioko had been with him, they could have exined the secrets of that swamp or simply shown him the shortest way out.

    The road dug into the ground continued to follow the natural morphology of thend and rose uphill, branching off into many smaller roads that followedpletely different directions.

    Yoichi stopped Ichiro and made a brief stop at one of the spots where the white moonlight could filter through the trees. He opened the map and noticed that a simple dotted line popped up beyond the inkblot, marking none of those small muddy roads.

    "Fuck. Now what?" he muttered, trying to listen to his instincts to figure out what the shortest way out of there was. How many more miles did the swamp extend for? The road drawn on the map that separated the Boneside Swamp from the vige of Oakenfair was a long one, and perhaps another two days of uninterrupted travel would be necessary to reach his final destination.

 Chapter 240 - Orchid

    The young warrior''s swirling, disordered thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise. From Ichiro''s right side, a flying animal darted before the horse''s eyes.

    "Hiii!" Ichiro whinnied, inadvertently raising itself up on its hind legs and waving its front hooves in the air. "Hey! Calm down, Ichiro!" Yoichi gulped, clinging to the horse demon''s red mane and managing not to fall out of the saddle.

    The Inoshuma returned to an upright position and, breathing out of its nostrils, stepped back and looked around. At the same time, Yoichi''s gaze was quick enough to identify the small animal that had flown past them without a trace.

    "A bat?" he said, pausing to look in that direction. His reasoningsted a few seconds longer than it should have. "Batse out to hunt at night and sleep during the day. If there are any in this area, there''s probably a cave around here somewhere," he added as if his horse could give him advice.

    Being stationary in the same spot for too long, Yoichi began to hear the annoying swamp bugs buzzing around his arms and near his ears. In addition to those intermittent sounds, the constant background noises of demons hiding in the trees.

    "Go, this way" - with a light thump of his heels he struck Ichiro''s belly, spurring it to follow the path heading west, in the very same direction as the bat.

    The road rose in elevation and its muddy edges became even steeper, descending into darkness through steep slopes. The inhospitality of the Boneside Swamp was palpable: since passing that far crossroad, Yoichi had never encountered another human being or seen a settlement.

    In such a hostile environment, lone travelers like him had plenty of time to lose themselves in their thoughts, and the damp, enveloping darkness slowed down time, making the journey even longer and more tortuous.

    A row of trees with tall, slender trunks sprouted around a bend, continuing past an outcropping of grayish moss-covered rocks. Repeating themselves every few feet, they led the path to a cave, consisting of a small circr cavity in a rocky wall.

    Yoichi''s intuition had probably been correct: by walking in the opposite direction to the flight of the bat, a nocturnal hunter, he had found its hiding ce in a few minutes. However, were the bats its only inhabitants? He thought, deeming that was the exact time to get off his horse.

    "That cave doesn''t look very big and I am without a torch. The only light source I have is Kenji''s me, but is it really worth it? If I attract wild demons, that hole in the wall could be my grave," Yoichi reasoned aloud.

    He dismounted from his horse and stroked the back of Ichiro, always faithful at his side. "Azron!" he called it, caging its body and spirit in the Demon Tooth.

    The amount of mud on the road was less than the previous stretch, and a strong smell of wild nts entered his nostrils overbearingly, forcing him to hold his breath for a few seconds.

    Just then, his gaze fell on a magnificent red and white flower growing on the trunk of a tree. That flower was so beautiful that it shed with the surroundingndscape, where everything was rotting and devoured by time.

    The thin, transparent wings of a dragonfly glowed under a ray of moonlight as the Jurassic insect swooped down towards the orchid, attracted by its red, sulent pistils.

    Yoichi gazed at the scene, enchanted by the beauty of nature and taking advantage of the quiet moment to think about what to do.

    The dragonfly''s long ck legs brushed against the flower''s white petals and its body rested on it, folding its wings back and preparing to feed on the nectar. The closer the innocent dragonfly came to the center of the white orchid, the more the outer edges of its petals curved upward, thinning and sharpening their originally smooth shape.

    Under Yoichi''s confused gaze, thin, sharp white spines sprouted from the outside of the flower, transforming its graceful appearance and making it look like a hostile, poisonous nt.

    "N... no!" he stammered, simply letting his thoughtse out of his mouth in the form of words.

    *zac* - after the petals grew in size, the white spines closed in on the insect''s body, breaking its weak chitinous exoskeleton and breaking its wings.

    That red and white flower as beautiful and romantic as a rose was a death trap, that with its atypical beauty had attracted and killed the poor and unsuspecting dragonfly.

    The petals closed on the dragonfly, enveloping every spot of its body, and the thorns, moving from top to bottom, pushed the insect to the lowest point of the flower cone, letting it slip through the hollow stem.

    Surprisingly, that strange carnivorous nt had devoured its prey and, as if that dragonfly was just its umpteenth victim, it swallowed it. The morsel slid inside the greenish stem that circled the tree''s trunk, and its small protuberance allowed Yoichi to follow its trajectory.

    With increasing speed, the orchid''s meal traveled downward, descending from the tree and continuing its path near Yoichi''s feet at the edge of the road. The greenish stem drifted in and out of the mud, blending in with other nts and disappearing into the darkness of the cave.

    Only after ascertaining that the flower was nothing more than a limb and that its ''owner'' was inside the cave, Yoichi look at the orchid once again. The white thorns were gone, the petals were back in ce, and the red, nectar-filled pistils had sprouted at its center, ready to attract its next prey.

    What the hell kind of nt is this? What''s going on in there? Thought the young tamer. With one hand still resting on the hilt of Ryutaro''s katana, he detached one of the dead branches of the tree before him.

    Along with it, Yoichi also borrowed a clump of dry moss from the tree, which had slid down over the years, feeding on the moisture of the underbrush.

    He rolled it onto the top of the wooden stick and, squeezing it between his fingers, gave it a pseudo-cylindrical shape. Entering that narrow cave without a torch, though it might have attracted wild demons, was out of the question.

 Chapter 241 - Carnivorous Flowers

    The full moon was high in the sky and the night was now halfway through its journey into the day. Although he hadn''t established a specific time to meet Therion, Yoichi knew he had little time to find a quiet ce to dip his hands into the Tear.

    The strong smell of wild nts continued to surround him,ing mostly from inside the cave. He only had to pay attention to the details to notice that the entrance of the natural cavity was sprinkled with colorful orchids identical to the first one.

    So many carnivorous flowers of various shades and sizes all had the same task. Their stems were unfurled on the ground all the way into the cave as if they were electrical wires in a backstage area.

    Feeding on islets and sometimes even small mammals, they were nourishing somethingrger, perhaps a more impressive flower or some strange, intelligent nt.

    Yoichi stroked Ichiro''s back, letting his hand slide between its ears and over its nose, trying to gain courage. "I''ll see you in a bit, Ichiro. Wish me luck," he said, pronouncing its demonic name in a low voice and beckoning it back inside the Demon Tooth.

    Unlike the first few times when Kenji''s summoning caused him a sharp pain in his chest, now Yoichi was perfectly capable of changing demons, switching between Kenji and Ichiro and vice versa as needed.

    The switch could be made in a matter of seconds, and even in the middle of the fight, it could be crucial for victory.

    The young tamer summoned Kenji and the stream of hot air released by the small dragon touched the surrounding vegetation, approaching the orchids and giving a small taste of its power.

    When Kenji was summoned, Yoichi brought his new homemade torch closer to it, waiting for his Oracle to use the fire to ignite the wad of moss. The dragon me, unlike the normal one, did not need any fuel to burn and continue to shine.

    The outside of the me was deep red, while the innermost part was blue, almost purplish as if it werebustible gas. Anyone who had looked at that torchlight more closely would have noticed the diversity of its fire.

    One foot after another, trying not to step on the green roots that connected the orchids to their main, hidden body, Yoichi kept on walking along the muddy road, pointing the torch forward and illuminating the surrounding area.

    Kenji''s feline footsteps, as usual, were not the least bit audible thanks to their pads, which cushioned the weight of its lightweight body. The little dragon''s red eyes looked around, trying to scan what was hiding in that damp darkness.

    One hand tightened on the torch, the other one on Takamori''s faithful dagger. With that equipment, Yoichi climbed over the natural step that marked the beginning of the cave. The heat of the torchlight frightened the insects nestled near the entrance, forcing them to fly away to safety from the human intruder who had dared to disturb their sleep.

    The inner walls of the cave had been shaped by rainwater, whose flow was made possible by some holes in the ceiling. They connected the internal area with the outside as if they were the vents on the back of a whale.

    Because of the veil of water, the humidity inside that ce was much higher than in the rest of the swamp and the omnipresent moss had chosen to grow only in a few small spots, surrounded by strange, probably poisonous mushrooms.

    Yoichi tried to follow the green roots on the rocky floor, being careful not to slip or trip. The loweryer of the cave had also been affected by karst action, where water had dissolved the more soluble spots of the rock.

    *tktktktk*

    "Uh? Who''s there?!" Yoichi suddenly eximed, sensing a sound he had never heard before and pointing his torch in that direction. "Grrr!" Kenji growled, signaling its tamer of impending danger.

    In the final part of the small cave, what was connected to those deadly orchids was staring at the adventurer and his Oracle, making a sound simr to a wooden stick hitting another woody object repeatedly.

    That cry was eerily simr to that emitted by a cricket''s legs crawling over each other, only woodier and shorter.

    Yoichi swallowed the air, building up his courage and taking another step forward. Yet another drop of sweat slid down his forehead to his chin, eventually falling to the floor and feeding the small puddles in the porous rock.

    *plop* - At the exact moment the drop touched the floor, the air inside the cavity suddenly moved and arge green and brown mass stirred in front of Yoichi,ing out into the open.

    *TKTKTKTK* - It moved forward on mighty arms made up of thick, curved woody roots, dragging the main body, which was made up of a heavy greenish muddy mass.

    Yoichi and Kenji took a few seconds to distinguish the body parts of that anomalous demon, struggling to identify which was the mouth and which were the limbs. The central mass, made up of seaweed and shattered shrubspressed one on top of each other, opened up like an oyster.

    Between the top and bottom of the mouth, disgusting strands of slime gave off a piercing, rotting stench simr to that emitted by a crate of vegetables left in the sun for months on end.

    Above the crushed, greenish head, now illuminated by the torchlight, smaller, pointed twigs moved in a row, banging against each other and making the characteristic sound that had caught the lone adventurer''s attention.

    The demon in front of Yoichi and Kenji had no eyes, no clear body. The only visible parts were the central cluster and therge roots that allowed the monster to crawl sideways, picking up the scent of the two intruders with itsrge nostrils, hidden somewhere under the shrubs.

    "This thing is... it''s huge!" Yoichi gasped, holding his breath and avoiding breathing in the putrefying air that hade out of the wild demon''s mouth. As he suspected, the orchids in the trees outside the cave were all connected to that huge carnivorous nt, whose surface swayed like a beating heart.

    If he wanted to use the cave to spend the rest of the night, Yoichi would have to pass yet another test. Would Takamori''s dagger de be enough this time as well?

 Chapter 242 - Roots

    *TKTKTK* - The carnivorous nt inside the cave, after several seconds in the vicinity of Yoichi''s torchlight, felt the heat of the draconic me.

    Its woody limbs mmed hard against the walls, knocking water and debris from the ceiling and straining the young tamer''s bnce.

    Yoichi slipped Takamori''s dagger back behind his belt and, without wasting any more time, jammed the torch into a recess in the wall, preparing to activate Kenji''s power.

    "I''m sorry, my friend. But I need your cave, and I doubt you want to share it with me" the young warrior said, who, as always, spoke to the wild demons as if they could understand hisnguage.

    The huge mouth of the carnivorous nt closed and, while the twigs on its back continued to emit that bizarre sound, it put both arms on the ground: the roots that connected the ends of those pseudo-arms to the rest of the body stretched instantly, prating inside the pre-existing fractures of the rock.

    Moving like worm-like beings, they branched out beneath the floor, stretching toward Yoichi and upying every area of the cave. Suddenly, without warning, sharp spikes of wood were shot upward, crossing each other and trying to pierce their targets.

    "Watch out, Kenji!" Yoichi yelled, snapping sideways to dodge the attack. One of the branches of the carnivorous nt touched his arm, causing a shallow cut and forcing him to back away. "Ouch!" he growled involuntarily, squeezing his wound and looking at his Oracle.

    Kenji''s agility allowed it to dodge every root: the little dragon demon sprinted left and right, hopping nimbly on its strong feline paws and growling, waiting for its tamer''s next order.

    Yoichi''smand came and Kenji''s power was activated, awakening the draconic me. Heat instantly spread through the young tamer''s chest and his arms began to fill with scales.

    The roots of the carnivorous nt began to emerge from the holes in the rock again in rapid session. The wild demon''s goal was to impale its targets. Soon after, it would feed on their bodies, melting their muscles and bones with the greenish bile that came from the farthest reaches of that putrid cluster of shrubs.

    A broken branch with a sharp tip ready to pierce grazed Yoichi''s arm once again, but this time it was covered by the scales. The blow ricocheted, deviating slightly in its trajectory and impacting against the wall.

    *boom* - The tips of the lumpy root got stuck in the wall. Apparently, the demon was unable to individually control the fibers of its limbs and could only retract or push them simultaneously.

    Taking advantage of this, the young tamer firmly grasped the stuck branch, gritting his teeth and letting the draconic power of Therion''s primordial me take over his body.

    Kenji''s swift movements continued to keep therge demon busy, who, despite its bulk upying nearly the entire cave, was unable to grab the little dragon.

    The root clutched in Yoichi''s enhanced hand broke away from the wall, but at the same instant, me pervaded its scales, spreading across his wrist and enveloping his palms.

    *roar* - A tongue of fire roared out, enveloping the root of the nt demon and lighting up the interior of the cave. The enemy demon was now visible in great detail and its eyeless face showed an expression of pain with the mouth''s corners pointing down.

    The draconic me prated the nt fibers of the trunk, traveling its entire length in a few seconds: it pierced the rocky floor of the cave, burning dozens of roots in a few seconds and causing massive damage over time to the enemy.

    Since he had discovered the true power of his Oracle, Yoichi had understood that there was no demon capable of resisting that me and that, in a few seconds, even the most dangerous wild demon could be defeated.

    Thanks to Scorching Breath, his career as a tamer had undergone an unexpected eleration and, despite his experience, he had in his hands an incredible power that would lead him to aplish magnificent feats.

    The holes in the rock lit up one after another, releasing mes that came closer and closer to the demon''s central body. *whoom*whoom* - many small columns of fire raised the temperature of the cave, making the carnivorous nt suffer and starting to write its end.

    Yoichi once again used his advantage, rushing forward and clenching a fist, preparing tounch his final attack. The mass of seaweed and shrubs that made that enemy so huge served as armor to a smaller, internal body buried in that nket of organic material.

    The carnivorous nt tried once more to counterattack, moving its body sideways and retreating the roots of its arms. The damaged parts retraced the narrow underground tunnels of the cave, ready to retry an attack, but in the meantime, the young tamer had already reached an ideal position.

    Screaming to release his stored energy, Yoichi leaped toward his enemy, letting the draconic fire envelop both of his arms. A ming trail followed the parabolic trajectory of his body, hurtling toward the target like the projectile of a siege catapult.

    That was the Nightdes guild warrior''s true strength: Yoichi didn''t care what enemy he faced. He always fought at his best, never underestimating even the smallest of demons and unleashing his full potential right away.

    Although he still had a Demon Tooth avable, he was aware that locating the center of gravity of such arge beast would be a difficult task. Besides, the journey to Oakenfair was still a long one and the likelihood of encountering other new and interesting demons was very high.

    A true Demon Tamer would not have wasted such an opportunity by trying to capture the first demon within his reach. After capturing the Hikigotsu, Yoichi no longer had to prove his abilities to himself.

    The air around the slimy carapace of the nt demon soaked with the heat of the draconic me, which roared in a fierce explosion. The knuckles of Yoichi''s right fist sank into that soft substrate, unleashing the fury of its primal power.

 Chapter 243 - Crematorium

    The mes released from the mighty fist traced a centrifugal trajectory, mming violently against the walls of the cave and burning everything in their path. The moss and small shrubs that over the years had taken possession of the natural cavity were swept away and the rocky walls were ''purified'' of everything that had contaminated them.

    The tinkling sound of the carnivorous nt was suddenly interrupted and the small branches on its back disintegrated, turning to ash and floating towards the holes in the ceiling.

    At the same time, fire enveloped the entire body of the enemy demon, whose dwelling had be a crematory oven. Thanks to the small volume of air in the cave, Kenji''s power had used the carbon dioxide emitted by the nts to unleash its true potential and increase its heat energy.

    Digging through the muddy shrubs of the demonic carapace, Yoichi''s arm touched a harder, more stable body. By harnessing the kic energy of the jump and the piercing power of the mes, the young tamer had managed to break through the enemy''s outer armor and hit its true body.

    "Weeaakkk!" - an excruciating cry came from the depths of the slime as the roots of its arms were consumed from their tip to the base and what looked like its mouth was dissolved in its own acidic bile.

    What until a few moments before was a wild and ravenous demon was now reduced to a pile of ashes. Along with it, the orchids outside the cave had also been burned by the draconic me. The dragonflies and other insects that loved to hang out in that part of the swamp would never have to fear them again.

    As the mes from Yoichi''s arm dissipated, the light from thest sparks of the attack joined thating from the torch still hanging on the wall. There was no trace of the carnivorous nt.

    The only thing that remained of it was a pile of scorched shrubs on the floor, surrounded by a ckish ashen halo like that of a wind-dampened bonfire.

    Kenji and Yoichi''s bodies, obviously immune to the draconic me, emerged intact from that destructive event. Catching his breath and rxing the muscles beneath the ck scales of his arms, Yoichi shook his head and straightened his back, stretching the bones of his neck.

    "Uh! That was good, buddy!" he rejoiced, looking at his Oracle and smiling as if what he had just done was a cinch. "The cave has been cleansed of its previous upant and we can finally spend a few hours in the dry," he added.

    Despite the din of the explosion and the strong light of the mes that had briefly escaped from the cave''s entrance and the fractured rocks, Yoichi sensed no danger approaching him and his four-legged friend.

    The demons that inhabited the swamp might indeed be attracted to all sorts of light sources, but they weren''t stupid enough to approach the cave after sensing the ancient power of the mysterious blond-haired traveler.

    Kenji stopped growling and deactivated its power, rxing the scales on its back and extinguishing the primordial me that flowed to the tip of its tail. Along with it, the one on Yoichi''s arms vanished as well, returning them to their original form without so much as a scratch.

    Although I had no intention of taming that demon, I would have liked to know what species it was. Enatsu would have known that for sure. I miss him more than anyone else, Yoichi thought wistfully.

    The cave was a little over five meters long, which was the same distance between the floor and the ceiling. Although it had been karstified over many years and had been passively shaped by rainwater and other precipitation, it had a fairly regr, almost cubic internal shape.

    The only entrance and exit was therge hole from which Yoichi and his Oracle had tiptoed in. This detail would have provided the young tamer with some security if he wanted to spend the rest of the night in that enclosed ce.

    Rxing his back muscles and bringing his elbows to the back of his head to stretch his upper joints, Yoichi pulled the shlight from the recess in the wall and carried it with him into the deepest spot of the cave. He immediately sat down on the ground not far from the charred remains of the carnivorous nt.

    The strange demon, not havinge into contact with any Demon Tooth, kept on disintegrating, gradually disappearing into thin air. The little dragon positioned itself next to its master, asking for food with its gaze.

    Fortunately, the far-sighted Takamori had stuffed Ichiro''s saddlebags with the necessary provisions for the outward journey, enclosing some dried meat, some mushrooms, some fruit, and three balls of uncooked rice in rag bags. Figuring he would need those supplies shortly after his departure, Yoichi carefully stuffed them into his backpack.

    It waste at night, and Yoichi had been under considerable physical stress, forced to leave theforts and civilization of the capital and enter unknown territory alone. Despite this, the Nightdes warrior''s perennial appetite was far less than usual.

    In his mind, he couldn''t think of anything but the Tear of Therion, trying to imagine before his eyes the first dragon he would have to face.

    The Guardians of the Whole were not dragon demons like any other. They were the most trusted soldiers of the heavens and answered only to the orders of the supreme Therion, King of their ancestral lineage.

    Had thest two days of training been enough to fill in his fighting style gaps and make him ready to face an opponent of that caliber?

    In search of an answer to that question, Yoichi did not eat, merely feeding his Oracle and closing his eyes. Remembering Ryutaro''s words about meditating without a straw mat or incense, he assumed the lotus flower position, gently resting his hands on his knees.

    Eyes closed and palms open, facing the ceiling of the cave. The almost imperceptible noises of that wild and uncontaminated ce apanied his mind in the process of meditation, allowing him to immerse himself in the deepest areas of his soul.

 Chapter 244 - Spirit Energy

    Kenji devoured its meal in a few mouthfuls and stood still in ce. Its small, watchful red eyes remained focused on the door as the little dragon realized its tamer was in a trance-like state.

    Yoichi''s mind''s eye saw hundreds of images scroll by quickly. No matter how hard the young warrior tried to stay focused on his next task, Shioko''s face kept returning to the surface, burying his other thoughts.

    Their kiss and the sweet words he''d exchanged with the archer before leaving Goldhaven had hit him deeply. Yoichi had no memories of his previous life, but deep inside, he knew he had never had such a strong bond with someone.

    He did not question his memory and had no interest in knowing if a woman had ever entered his life in that way. The sensations he felt during those endless moments spent in Shioko''spany were unforgettable.

    Just the thought of seeing her again gave him butterflies in his stomach and the possibility that she could join him in his incredible adventure took his breath away.

    Yoichi''s hands moved slightly during the meditation and the fingertips of his thumbs touched his middle fingers, increasing his level of concentration.

    The great power he had been given by Therion required a great awareness of his own ego. What did all the fights in which he had used Scorching Breath have inmon? How could he control that skill even more effectively?

    The Demon Pet System, afterpleting a quest, had granted him a power-up, enhancing Kenji''s draconic skill without a reason. But what was he supposed to do to take full advantage of that power up?

    Every time I fight, I let the anger flow through my veins. I never try to control it and let it turn into me, Yoichi reasoned. I''m not sure how I do it, but I only have to think hard about that feeling to create the primordial me in the center of my chest.

    More anger, more mes, more physical strength. However, I didn''t always fight like this. Before I discovered that I could create the draconic me, I fought differently, always waiting for my enemy to make the first move.

    If anger generates physical strength... is it possible that calmness generates magical force? The inexperienced tamer asked himself. Although he fought like an experienced warrior, he had only been in that world for a very short time and had never undergone the years of hard training that his fellow warriors had endured.

    Associating the production of me in his chest with the amount of rage circting in his body, Yoichi came to a great realization: after producing massive amounts of draconic fire, his mind had to reach a state of stillness to wield that enormous power.

    If he seeded, besides transferring the mes from one point to another of his body, he would surely be able to better dose the power of his attacks, thus avoiding wasting energy.

    *anf*anf* - Yoichi''s meditation breaths became more and more intense until they turned into slight moans. As if trapped in a conscious dream, he focused on the warmth spreading through his rib cage and internal organs.

    Suddenly, the tranquility of Kenji, who was surveying the interior of the cave, was interrupted by an unexpected event. Without activating his Oracle''s draconic ability, Yoichi was surrounded by a thin spiral of fire.

    A zing trail made the air around him vibrate, whirling in an upward trajectory. Breath after breath, the young warrior was creating the primordial me without Kenji''s help!

    What is this heat? I''m still meditating, yet I feel a strong heat around my arms and near my face, reflected the young warrior, still motionless with his eyes closed.

    His lips quivered as if the border between the world created by his subconscious and reality was getting thinner and thinner. I can''t believe it! I''m summoning the draconic me! I''m managing to control it! He thought again, slowly realizing that he was enhancing his abilities with only the control of his mind.

    The glow emanating from his body grew stronger and stronger, and the mes surrounding him gained strength as their light reflected in Kenji''s ruby eyes. Unexpectedly, thin sparks erupted from the back of the little dragon, who waved its tail and tried to look to its back.

    When Kenji''s gaze reached the points charged with thermal energy, the sparks turned to fire and the usual ming streak ran down its back, traveling to its tail and ending in a brilliant me at its tip.

    "Screek?!" Kenji gulped, unable to exin the strange phenomenon to itself. With the power of meditation, Yoichi had managed to control Therion''s ancient power so much that it activated Kenji''s skill without his control!

    Sensing the profuse sweat on his forehead and no longer able to maintain his concentration, Yoichi opened his eyes. In front of him, the streak of fire enveloping his body had be intense and powerful and, at the same time, his Oracle had shared that power with him, benefiting from the same enhancement.

    He perceived that he was holding his breath and, waking up from the trance, he began to breathe again, releasing the hot air umted in his lungs. In that same instant, the tongue of fire around him extinguished and the mes on Kenji''s reptilian body disappeared into thin air, ending the enhancement.

    "Screek! Screek!" Kenji cried again, approaching its tamer to let him aware of what had happened. The little dragon''s cry brought Yoichi back to reality, spurring his gaze to fall toward the palms of his hands.

    His soul and his Oracle''s were closely connected, and just as Kenji could tap into the Dragon King''s primal power, he too could summon the draconic me, elevating his own spirit and letting his soul achieve inner peace.

    Yoichi''s and Kenji''s eyes met and the two of them looked at each other intently for a few seconds, managing to peer into the depths of their souls.

    At that exact moment, Yoichi realized that he was ready to face his next enemy.

 Chapter 245 - Tenderness

    A faint reddish light entered the natural cavity, touching the deepest point of the cavern,ing from outside. Dawn was slowly taking possession of the sky as Yoichi''s meditation came to an end.

    That process of discipline and self-controlsted about two hours, during which no wild demon dared to approach the young tamer''s hiding ce, carefully guarded by the little ck dragon.

    Beyond Kenji''s two sharp horns, Yoichi looked outward, admiring with enthusiasm and a little awe the greenish colors of the swamp.

    Thanks to meditation, he had not needed to sleep and his body had been deprived of fatigue. To his left, the ashes of the carnivorous nty on the floor due to the absence of wind inside the cave.

    Yoichi''s enthusiasm was due to the knowledge that he had managed to survive a whole night in a hostile and unknown ce, alone and without any kind of help; on the other hand, he was aware that, as the day progressed, he would have to meet Therion and undergo the hardest test of his life in Lumya.

    In that timeless and spaceless vision, the Dragon King would wait for him for eternity. He would anxiously await the moment when the heir of his primordial me would show the will to enhance his powers, thus moving to the next level.

    In addition to physical rest, Yoichi''s mind was also momentarily clear of cumbersome thoughts. The young Nightdes warrior had put aside Shioko, Princess Sui, the cksmith Shusaku, and everything else that didn''t concern the Tear of Therion. The two Demon Pet System quests were still active, but both would have to wait until the most important quest was sessful.

    If Yoichi failed to defeat the first of the Guardians of the Whole, his morale would suffer a significant copse.

    "You''ll have to guard the cave for a while longer, Kenji. The worst part is behind us, the night is over," he affirmed, speaking to his Oracle and drawing it towards him.

    The little dragon let itself be petted, rubbing its sharp forehead on the palm of its tamer''s hand and narrowing its eyes. After that soothing gesture, Yoichi spoke again, "I''ll see you in a bit. I need Ichiro for something."

    After Kenji nodded, Yoichi called it back and summoned Ichiro, stabbing his Demon Tooth into the rocky floor. "Hiii!" waving its mighty hooves, the Inoshuma took shape in the cramped cave.

    The thick veins of its legs started from its neck and reached down to its ankles, carrying the blood of the powerful horse demon to all areas of that mighty body. Ichiro''s scars were clearly visible against the light and soon met Yoichi''s right hand, which brushed against them.

    The young tamer was feeling particrly sensitive in those moments, and for the first time, he decided to give a few more seconds of attention to the first demon he had ever tamed.

    "Sometimes I wonder who your father was, my friend, and if you had a wife and sons, or daughters. I feel wretched when I think that I tore you from your pack, from your family," Yoichi admitted, sliding his hand down the horse''s neck.

    "Frrr" Ichiro snorted, swinging its tail and bringing its soft nose closer to its master, waiting for more cuddles. "You''ve always been loyal and attentive to my needs. I refuse to believe that it''s just because of that strange thorn.... I am convinced that our bond is much stronger than that. I remember your eyes as if I had seen them in my previous life," he added, standing up and letting out a long sigh.

    The demon horse''s red mane and yellow eyes gave Ichiro a proud and regal look. For a few seconds, under the dim light of dawn, Yoichi marveled at the fact that nature had managed to create so much beauty.

    Avoiding getting lost in those sentimental details, he opened one of the saddlebags and grasped the Tear''s amphora with both hands, careful not to drop it on the stone floor.

    The rough container had not lost a single drop of that precious liquid, but it was no wonder: Ryutaro always thought of everything, and, having hidden that amphora inside his old samurai armor, he had already calcted the possibility of carrying the Tear away from the Dojo.

    Yochi put the amphora on the ground and petted Ichiro''s head for the umpteenth time, calling it back inside its Demon Tooth and switching it with Kenji once again.

    With some awe, knowing that his Oracle would guard the entrance to the cave and not fall into a trance as he was about to do, Yoichi sat down in the same spot where he had been meditating until just before. In front of him, the ck amphora.

    "Vanquished by hisst cry," the young tamer spoke, pronouncing aloud the sentence engraved on the sacred object and unlocking the metal hooks that held the lid closed.

    *tss* - with a thin whistle, the container made from that strange porcin let the air out from under the lid. "he has allowed mankind to look upon the dawn" concluded the young warrior, reciting those words as if he was undergoing a sacred ritual.

    "Okay, it''s time," he stated, squinting his eyes and sighing once more. His voice trembled for a moment and his mind tried to impose limits on his thinking, stopping his brain from overthinking about anything that could go wrong in the process.

    The trembling fingers of both hands brushed against the wet edges of the container, and the Tear''s drops soaked his dry fingertips. Kenji''s outline became increasingly blurry and his gaze more and more clouded.

    When the magic liquid reached Yoichi''s wrists, his head sumbed to the force of gravity and, in the next instant, it hung from his neck and his senses left his body.

    The blond-haired warrior''s spirit was projected away from reality, traveling through time and retracing his most vivid memories. As the darkness before his eyes became light, a scent of meadow and wild herbs intoxicated his sense of smell.

 Chapter 246 - Whitish Rift

    The des of grass under his eyes slowly took shape and his lips opened slightly, sharing the fresh air with his nose. Yoichi rested his hands on the damp undergrowth and pressed the ground, trying to stand up from his slouched position and revealing the surroundingndscape.

    Unlike hisst astral journey, this time Yoichi did not end up in that thick forest: around him, low bushes colored by spherical, juicy berries were scattered here and there, alternating with angr whitish rocks.

    The young tamer needed a few more seconds to geolocate himself, realizing he had never visited the biome he had teleported to. Beyond the bushes and low treesden with fruit of all sizes, a grassy valley connected his current location with distant mountains.

    Yoichi didn''t know the Southborne Mountains that well, but the distinctive shape of their steep slopes and naturally snow-capped peaks made those mountains especially recognizable.

    Just from that direction, a cold wind hit his face and hair, making it float free behind his body and giving Yoichi a momentary sense of freedom.

    His boots crawled back on the turf, stepping back and letting the cold but pleasant wind carry him like a paper boat on a water stream. Suddenly, under his right heel, that soft, gently curving ground instantly vanished and a feeling of emptiness ran through Yoichi''s leg, immediately alerting his sense of danger.

    "Huh?!" he gulped, as the hollow sensation traveled down his back and arms, forcing his body to freeze. Spreading his arms and bringing his shoulders forward, Yoichi turned his head back, and what he discovered left him breathless.

    Beyond his feet, the ground suddenly broke into a sheer vertical escarpment, and beyond it, a ravine hundreds of feet deep, dug into the whitish stone.

    "Holy shit!" Yoichi screamed in fright, turning away and falling with his back to the ground, crawling backward and moving further and further away from the overhang. His heart was beating out of his chest, and although he was aware that he was inside a vision, the anxiety of dying trapped his body and mind.

    A rift dozens and dozens of miles long split the valley behind him in two like a deep scar. The blue sky and the beautifulndscape with fruit trees were being erased by the depths of that dark and gloomy abyss.

    Taking courage, Yoichi ced his hands on the grassy ground and leaned over the edge, looking below. Huge glowing bubbles exploded through vertical tongues of fire and a river of thick red magma flowed at the base of that hellish white canyon.

    "Where the hell am I?" Yoichi thought aloud, focusing on the details of that biome and looking at the steep walls of that ravine to find an answer to his question.

    The sunlight that illuminated the rift suddenly faded and a gigantic shadow darkened the sky, getting bigger and bigger and emphasizing more and more the brightness of the glowing magma vein.

    Sensing a divine presence he had already felt before, Yoichi stood up and walked away from the rift, turning his gaze to the dark sky of that unknown region.

    Therion''s mammoth ck wings split the sky in a new horizon under his eyes, cutting through the clouds and joining the center of its scaled chest. The Dragon King''s neck was bent and its face pointed downward in the direction of its heir.

    Yoichi could not help but feel a strong fear: knowing that Therion was not a demon hostile towards him was not enough. The King of Dragons struck fear into all living things, and at that time in history, he ruled the world unchallenged.

    The giant ck dragon pped its wings forward. They were ck on the outside and red on the inside. A powerful gust of wind forced Yoichi to kneel down in order not to lose his bnce.

    Therion spread the fingers of its reptilian feet, extending its ws and preparing fornding, stretching its legs downward. With his hands stilled under his face and his eyes narrowed in fear, Yoichi continued to sense his mentor''s presence above his back bent in a bow.

    *boom* - an earthquake-like vibration spread throughout the valley and small rocks broke off from the edge of the cliff, rolling dizzily into the river ofva.

    The heavy breath of the biggest of the dragon demons enveloped Yoichi''s body, who took courage and stood up, daring to look up at Therion''s face.

    His heart was beating wildly and an even more intense feeling than the first time flowed through his veins, freezing his muscles. The young tamer''s reflection appeared within the Dragon''s reptilian pupil, and through its blood-red eyes, it was able to peer into the depths of his soul.

    "Yoichi," the Dragon King called, opening its jaws slightly and emanating a strong heat from its stomach, as if, even in that quiet moment, an evesting fire was burning in the center of its chest.

    "Supreme Therion!" Yoichi obediently replied, kneeling down and lowering his gaze again in submission. Inwardly, the excitement of looking so closely into the eyes of Lumya''s ruler made his heart beat out of his chest.

    "For a moment I feared you would not show up. I sensed a feeling of weakness and uncertaintying from deep within your soul," the Dragon King spoke. "Your spirit faltered, if only for an instant," it added as if, once again, it wanted to emphasize the bond with him.

    "You speak the truth, my lord. For a few days, I did not feel ready to face the test you rmended me to get ready for. My master was taken away, and without him, I felt alone," Yoichi confessed.

    "However, I tried to respond to that pain, Supreme Therion. I began my journey beyond the safe walls of the capital and left behind all that I believed to be safe and unchanging."

    "So you think you''re ready now?" Therion inquired, continuing to breathe over Yoichi, who was norger than a small, helpless rodent in his presence.

    "Yes, my lord. I am ready now."

 Chapter 247 - Molten Scar

    The wind continued to blow through the rift valley, and Yoichi was finally standing with his shoulders straight. The fear of Therion had passed, and the desire for redemption burned brightly in his eyes.

    The fateful moment had arrived: Yoichi would face the first of the long tests that would enhance his draconic powers, making him the most potent Demon Tamer in the world.

    "That''s the answer I wanted to hear," the giant ck dragon muttered. "I will lead you to the first of your twelve challengers. I warn you, the path you are about to take will be the most difficult of your life. Step forward, young Yoichi," the Dragon King continued.

    Yoichi took a step forward. His right hand touched the handle of Ryutaro''s katana, whose de had not yet left its sheath. As the young tamer approached his mentor, the supreme Therion lowered its neck, bringing its face closer to him and moving arge amount of air that Yoichi perceived as the beginning of a storm.

    Resting the underside of his jaw on the valley''s turf, Therion turned its face to the side and waited for the blond-haired warrior toe closer.

    Am I really going to get on the back of the Supreme Dragon King? Yoichi asked himself, unable to believe that the Tear''s vision would allow him to interact so closely with the most divine of Lumya''s beasts.

    He took a long breath and ced his first hand on one of therge scales of the dragon''s face. His left leg followed the movement of his right hand, and, alternating the use of his limbs, Yoichi climbed onto Therion''s head, being careful not to fall to the ground, knowing that if he did, he might end up inside the rift.

    "Find a handhold and hold on tight, boy. If you die during the vision, your mind will return to your mortal body, and the magic link will be broken," the Sovereign of the Heavens stated, waiting until he felt both of Yoichi''s legs on its head to move its neck.

    Yoichi said nothing and forcefully grabbed one of the scales on its extended nape, cing his feet into the end of its neck and holding on tightly. The dragon ced its front legs on the ground and poised to leap, spreading its wings outwardly and preparing to take flight.

    The powerful muscles of its legs contracted, and its wed feet sank into the soft soil of the cliff on which Yoichi had awakened after the time jump.

    *whoom*whoom*whoom*

    Therion''s wings pped hard, and although they seemed to move slowly, they used the dragon''s strength to lift its body off the ground. Yoichi was slightly off-bnce as his winged mentor''s neck stretched upward, lightening its lower limbs and giving it additional stability.

    The starting manoeuvre was turbulent, and the young tamer had to use all the strength in his body to hang onto Therion''s body. However, when he managed to detach his cheek from the ck scales that held him in bnce, what he saw left him speechless once again.

    Beyond those gigantic, heavy ck wings that ended inrge, wed legs, the view from above made Yoichi feel like the king of the world: the Tentochu of the past shone radiantly under the rays of the sun, illuminating the valley below to the horizon and over the mountains.

    Finally, Yoichi realized that he had never visited the area of his awakening, located on the other side of the Southborne Mountains. In thepany of Therion, his journey to their of the first of its demonic warriors had begun. But who was it, and what were its powers?

    The Southborne Mountains stretched for thousands of miles, standing in the center of the map as if they were the vertebrae of the backbone of Tentochu.

    Unlike what he remembered from the many maps of the region he had seen, the Lumya of the past was a ce devoid of cities and towns: no matter how hard he looked, there were no viges in the distance, and the vegetation was so lush that it took over the entirendscape.

    Forests, woods,kes, hills, even desert-like sand dunes in the northern part. Tentochu was nothing more than a boundless expanse of diverse and colorful biomes, the colors of which changed dramatically within a few dozen miles.

    Nature reigned supreme in that magical and untouched world, giving the demons and the wild animals, its only inhabitants, the opportunity to fly over the skies and popte the ins and mountains.

    For under Therion''s wings, hundreds of demons smaller than dragons fluttered happily, moving from territory to territory to hunt, mate during mating season, or genuinely enjoy the cool air currents and migrate.

    "This is the world I left you, Yoichi," Therion spoke, interrupting his thoughts. "Behold, admire how much beauty," he added, proud of its actions.

    "It is astonishing. I didn''t think I''d ever been able to see Tentochu from up here. Or rather, I didn''t think I''d be able to see Tentochu before it even had that name," Yoichi replied, clinging tightly to his mentor''s scales.

    "Indeed, that was not its name. It is the name you humans have given to my kingdom, dividing it into zones and erecting walls that we dragons had never dared to build. The one you are looking at is not Tentochu, Kamakiri, or Mukade. The one below us is just Lumya, the realm where my dynasty has ruled for millennia, respecting the cosmic bnce and naturalws of all living things," Therion exined, pping its wings and continuing to travel through the sky.

    "Where are we going, Supreme Therion? Where is the first of your warriors that I must challenge?" the young tamer inquired. His hands were shaking with excitement and, as if he had been waiting for that moment his entire life, he couldn''t wait to get involved.

    "Your first challenger will be Urgerross, the White One. It resides in the ce that lies at the end of the Molten Scar, the rift below us. Where the hot magma enters the white rock, a nket of gray smoke leads your gaze to the sky, where the golden reflections of the Sanctum of Infinity shine radiantly," the Dragon King remarked.

    "Urgerross..." Yoichi whispered, chewing on the consonants of that ancient name and trying to picture the dragon''s appearance from its sound.

 Chapter 248 - Sanctum Of Infinity

    "Am I allowed to know what the element of Urgerross is, Supreme Therion?" Yoichi asked in a whisper, fearing that he was not allowed to ask such a question.

    "Urgerross is the undisputed ruler of thunder. It can draw the electrical power of the heavens to itself and hurl it at its enemies, reducing them to ashes. The Sanctum of Infinity is its liar and the only ce where it can unleash its powers undisturbed," Therion replied, cutting through the air with its massive ck horns.

    "An electric type dragon demon? Phew... I''ve never faced one," Yoichi thought aloud, speaking in the opposite direction of the wind, aware that the air currents would carry the sound of his words away from the Dragon King''s ears.

    "Urgerross has a somewhat sour and unamodating nature. I have decided that it will be your first opponent only because I am certain that it will not hold back its power. Besides, the thunder lord despises you, humans, even though it loves the taste of your flesh," Therion continued, telling Yoichi the truth as if to make him regret the decision he had made.

    "It feeds on us, human beings?" the young warrior stammered. "Nice. So I''m about to face one of Lumya''s strongest dragons, who uses a power unknown to me and loves to devour humans. It couldn''t have gone any better!" he huffed, taking short, intense breaths and trying to figure out a tactic for dealing with Urgerross.

    The rift valley beneath the two sky travelers continued to carve through the rocks of several biomes, tearing apart hills and ins and allowingva flowing underground to interact with the atmosphere.

    Therion''s flight speed was impressive, and the forests, mountains, and rivers looked like abination of dots and lines simr to the symbols drawn on Ryutaro''s map.

    Yoichi recalled that time within the Tear''s vision flowed differently and that even if they had to travel from one side of Tentochu to the other, the hours it took to cross would only be a few minutes in the real world.

    In the Boneside Swamp, dawn had defeated the darkness of night, and Kenji, who had been left alone to guard the entrance to the cave, only had to stay there for a few minutes, waiting for its tamer to wake up.

    Almost two hours after his awakening at the edge of the cliff, Yoichi began to see the end of the Molten Scar on the horizon. Although Therion''s description of the Sanctum of Infinity was definitely rendered more like a legend than an objective description, a dense column of greyish smoke rose from the depths of the earth until it touched the clouds.

    As recounted by Therion, the white rocks that surfaced in the deeper areas of the rift came into contact with the magma and were dissolved, giving off that strange smoke and swirling upward.

    Around that area, on the surface, the biome was dry and arid, with no forests or waterways. The area around the column of smoke looked like a steppe with no food sources, where animals and demons did not dare to set foot.

    Therion took a long breath and, as if it had prepared itself for a physical effort, it moved its neck upwards, increasing the amplitude of its wingbeat and rising in altitude.

    The wind hit Yoichi''s face, and for a moment, he felt as if he were falling. He crouched down between the dragon''s scales, trying to resist the force of gravity and sping his hands on their handles tightly.

    The climbsted a few minutes as the two travelers stepped inside the nket of gray smoke. "Hold your breath, boy. Prolonged inhtion of these gases is highly harmful," Therion spoke.

    Yoichi obeyed and held his breath, trying to stay still for more resistance. Finally, after Therion''s wings disced yet another cloud of smoke into the air, the sky turned blue, and the sun began to caress their heads again.

    Beyond the clouds, the pointed peaks of an ancient building rose imposingly in the sky: tall white columns simr to those of a Greek temple ran along the perimeter of a gigantic tiled arena.

    Yoichi''s eyes searched impatiently for the geographical point where the mountaintop supported the lightning dragon''s dwelling, but he could not find it. Much to his surprise, the young tamer discovered that, beyond the clouds, the Sanctum of Infinity was suspended in the air!

    A heavy clod of earth floated in the skies, maintaining the shape of an upside-down cone. Rock fragments were scattered around the floating temple as if a mysterious arcane force surrounded the entire area.

    "That temple is floating in the air! I''ve never seen anything like it!" Yoichi gasped, gazing open-mouthed at the marvel and unable to believe that an entire rocky ind could ignore thews of gravity.

    The columns of the flying arena were broken at the highest points and were damaged in some spots as if they were part of ancient ruins. It didn''t take an expert to figure out that that structure held an arched roof in even more ancient times.

    The circr shape of the arena made the sanctuary an ideal ce to fight. Therion, pping its wings in the opposite direction of flight, began thending manoeuvre, slowing its advance in mid-air.

    As a modern airne pulls out its wheels beforending, so the Dragon King pointed its muscr legs downwards, spreading the wed fingers of his feet.

    *boom* - the impact between Therion''s feet and the floating temple jolted Yoichi, who was forced to wedge a foot under the dragon''s scales to keep from being thrown off.

    The Sanctum Ind moved under Therion''s weight, swinging like a pendulum and gradually returning to stability, exhausting the kic energy from the impact.

    As Yoichi stepped off the back of his winged mentor, his head continued to spin, and a strong feeling of nausea trapped his stomach. He closed his eyes and tried to resist the feeling, knowing that such a disy of weakness was not appropriate at such a crucial moment.

    When he looked up at Therion, the Dragon King''s sharp muzzle was pointed forward, and its red eyes were fixed on a specific target. A shudder brought Yoichi back to reality, and his nausea suddenly disappeared as his face slowly turned toward the center of the arena.

 Chapter 249 - Urgerross

    The sun was shining high in the sky, and the white clouds were moving eastwards, travelling gently like vessels on the waves of an endless sea.

    Light rays filtered through the atoms of those white gaseous masses, reflecting in every direction and acting as reflectors that illuminated the floated arena. Just below the clouds, the floating sanctuary had just weed Yoichi and Therion.

    Among the Greek-style columns over ten meters high, the guardian of that sacred ce essible only to a few slowly awoke from its sleep. Before the arrival of the two travelers of the heavens, the supreme Urgerross was resting, but the oscition of the floating ind disturbed its peace.

    A mighty white body, lessrge than Therion''s but just as majestic, opened a little at a time. A thick tail hid the face of the thunder dragon, who, with slow movements punctuated by deep sighs, revealed its appearance.

    Urgerross''s eyes were the same shape as those of his lord, but differed in color: they were yellow like the sun, and a ck reptilian pupil cut each eye into two mirrored parts.

    Short, sharp yellow spikes protruded from the draconic face, like a shaggy, well-groomed beard. In addition to the spikes, a pair of straight horns branched into many thinner tips, simting a lightning bolt in the stormy skies.

    Urgerross''s neck was more extended than Therion''s, and its build was decidedly less massive and more slender. If the Dragon King had a fighting style focused on physical power and the devastation of his mes, the lightning dragon favoured quicker, punchier movements.

    The white wings, golden inside, were spread wide as if the supreme guardian of the Sanctum of Infinity was stretching its limbs. On its front legs, two smaller yellow wings mirrored the shapes of its horns, expressing pure speed and giving off faint sparks.

    *tzz*tzz*

    Thin electrical bolts scattered here and there, along with the white tiles of the arena. The mere awakening of Urgerross, the White One, seemed to have triggered the sky.

    "Urgerross, my old friend," the deep demonic voice of the Supreme Dragon King spoke, standing at the edge of the floating ind.

    Its interlocutor blinked, and its swift gaze framed first Yoichi and then its king. In a sign of submission, positioning itself seated and with its back straight, it bowed its neck forward, offering its greetings to Therion.

    "Forgive me, my king. But perhaps my eyes are still immersed in the world of dreams, and hallucinations cloud my vision," Urgerross politely answered, making a clear reference to Yoichi, who was so smallpared to the two dragons that he went almost unnoticed.

    Although Therion, Urgerross and all the living beings he would meet were part of a vision created by his mind, the white dragon seemed not to know Yoichi and sounded unaware of that detail.

    Yoichi''s memory could not know the appearance of Urgerross nor of the other Guardians of the Whole: everything he saw was the result of the ancestral link between his subconscious and that of Therion, his most elder mentor.

    "There is no need to apologize, my faithfulpanion," Therion replied, never breaking eye contact with it. "The man who stands beside me is here at the Sanctuary by my will," it added.

    Urgerross looked up while its neck was still pointed at the floor. A chill froze Yoichi''s blood, who, although he had been waiting for several days for that very moment, was terrified.

    The yellow and white dragon was looking at him with different eyes from Therion''s. Beyond those ravenous pupils, Yoichi could sense its boundless ego and bloodlust.

    "Is that really a human being standing next to the only ruler of Lumya?" Urgerross asked. Its voice matched its appearance and sounded devious and subtle as if every word concealed unspoken desires.

    "This young human being bears the name of Yoichi. He is the heir to our power and is the only man capable of restoring peace to Lumya. I have escorted him here to your abode for a particr purpose," the Dragon King exined.

    "Namely, Supreme Therion?" - the electric dragon''s eyes thinned, and more sparks ran down its back, reaching the final stretch of its tail. The superior demon''s intelligence had allowed it to intuit the reason that brought a human into its sacred home.

    "Yoichi?" Therion called, lowering his head to his prot¨¦g¨¦ and asking him to step forward. In that way, the King of Lumya urged the young warrior to take courage, allowing him to speak.

    Yoichi took a deep breath, and his left foot silently crawled forward, bringing his body out of the shadow of the giant ck dragon.

    "I am here to challenge you and to kill you, Urgerross," the blond-haired warrior stated, taking courage and constantly thinking about the fact that everything he was experiencing was not real. If it were, the fear would have been so intense that he would have fainted instantly.

    After those outrageous words, Urgerross''s neck jerked upward like that of a cobra ready to attack. Its fierce yellow eyes opened wide, and one of them was partially covered by its lower eyelid, giving its gaze a veil of madness.

    Additional sparks were released from its limbs and tail as if the electrical bolts expressed its state of mind, already made evident by its expression.

    A few seconds of silence passed when Urgerross''s gaze returned to normal, and its neck muscles rxed, resuming their resting position. Breathing out of its nostrils intermittently, the white dragon with golden wings began to chuckle.

    "Buahah! HUAHAH!" Urgerrossughed hysterically, making a sound so loud it made the floor vibrate. "Is this a joke, my lord? Tell me the truth, Supreme Therion. You brought this inferior being here just to provide me with a juicy snack, didn''t you?" he boomed, opening its jaws wide and curving the corners of its mouth into a grim smile.

    Therion''s gaze remained severe and impassive. Without uttering a breath, the Dragon King let his subordinate know that what he had just heard was the genuine truth.

 Chapter 250 - Tempest

    It took Urgerross a few moments longer than necessary to realize that what it had just heard was no joke. When that happened, its scaled forehead wrinkled, and itsrge yellow eyes nearly disappeared beneath that angry expression.

    "What?! Are you perhaps going to make fun of me, my King?! How dare this stupid human say such a thing in my presence?!" the white dragon roared,ining loudly to Therion, who remained impassive.

    It''s just a figment of your imagination, Yoichi... it''s just a figment of your imagination. The young warrior kept repeating in his mind, moving his hands and legs as if he was warming up his muscles before a workout.

    "I''m not making fun of you, Urgerross. You know I would never joke like in this way," Therion remarked. "Yoichi is not a mere human being. I told you, he has inherited a fragment of my power, and if he can defeat you, he will do the same from you."

    "What story is this? You foolish human! I do not know what sorcery you have cast upon my king, but I assure you that I will tear you to shreds and devour every little piece of your body!" Urgerross continued snarling.

    Yoichi clenched his teeth and his fists, standing firm in the same position. In front of him, the yellow and white dragon spread its wings wide and stood up on its lower legs, showing its majesty to its challenger.

    "I am Urgerross, the lord of thunder, the terror of the heavens and bane of mortal beings! None but the supreme Therion could ever defeat me! Your insolence has exceeded all limits, human. Prepare to taste my wrath!" - Folding its wings behind its back, Urgerross let itself fall forward, mming its heavy paws into the floor and causing the floating arena to vibrate.

    The electric sparks emanating from its body were transmitted to the ground and traveled between the tiles, reaching Yoichi and Therion in a few seconds.

    "Ouch!" Yoichi whispered as soon as a spark hit his ankle. Undaunted, Yoichi looked at the struck spot out of the corner of his eye, finding that the faint attack had burned the leather of his boot, creating a small glowing hole.

    Oh, shit. This is going to get tough, he thought.

    Before the fight got underway and Urgerross pounced on Yoichi like a ravenous beast, Therion made a few more rifications. "I will not interfere with yourbat in any way. I hope both of you will be able to do your best, and I rmend Urgerross not to hold back its strength," he spoke.

    The Dragon King''s gaze crossed with that of its golden-winged warrior. "Yoichi is not just a simple human being, my friend. For the challenge to be valid, you must release all your power, Urgerross," Therion added.

    Immediately after those words, as if he had sanctioned the rules of the duel and implicitly initiated it, Therion took off, flying away from the arena. Yoichi followed his mentor with his gaze, and its absence alone made him feel a vast void to his left.

    Without Therion, Urgerross looked even bigger, and its arcane aura filled the air more and more. After a flight thatsted a few seconds, the giant ck dragon disappeared into the mist that surrounded the peak of the mountain closest to the shrine.

    Yoichi loosened his grip on his fists, and with a slow breath, he focused on his enemy. Remembering what he had learned in the cave in the swamp, the calmness of his soul allowed his magical power to grow.

    "Ildriss," he said, speaking his Oracle''s name in a low voice and letting the draconic fire warm his muscles chilled by the altitude.

    *whoosh* - the air around him condensed into high-energy charged particles, and the red reflections of Kenji''s sparks began to crackle in the wind. The young tamer''s chest emitted its usual glow, and under the white dragon''s intrigued gaze, his faithful demon pet took shape.

    "What do you hope to do with that little feline? Grrr... my patience is running out!" Urgerross growled, preparing to attack. Those angry words masked the sound of the electric current that flowed through its body.

    Suddenly, the sky, which was as clear as a fresh water river until the moment before, turned dark and gray. The white clouds were carried by a storm wind and, loaded with rain and hail, converged into a single vertex pointing to the exact center of the arena.

    The roar of the tempest echoed along with the mythical beast that had spawned it, charging the eye of the storm above the heads of the fighters with the electrical energy the thunder needed to make its reckless trajectories.

    *crash*boom* - guided by the power of the mighty Urgerross, lightning bolts repeatedly struck the top of the columns of the Sanctuary of Infinity, then dispersed their energy into the floor.

    Poor Yoichi, who looked far less threatening than his winged rival, stood motionless next to Kenji, studying the white dragon''s attack strategy.

    When yet another lightning bolt was fired toward the floating ind, it struck Urgerross'' scaled body, loading its limbs with electrical energy. Thin sparks umted at its long golden horns, which acted as excellent conductors and managed to hold the incredible amount of energy drawn directly from the sky.

    "This is it, Kenji! The moment of truth has arrived!" Yoichi stammered, squinting his eyes at the heavy rain that was about to fall on the arena.

    "Screek!" the little dragon demon growled, showing no fear towards its ancestor and reflecting the desire for revenge that burned fervently in Yoichi''s heart.

    One scale after another, the young tamer''s arms were covered in Kenji''s enhancement. Under the raindrops, the eternal draconic me of Therion''s heir began to glow in the darkness of the clear sky, flowing in the form of thin glowing veins between the reptilian scales.

    Urgerross''s neck bent upwards, once again simting the movements of a venomous snake ready to strike its helpless prey. Simultaneously, the electrical energy stored on its horns began to flow downward, gushing to the sides of its face and back and travelling deviously toward its long white neck.

    When its first attack was ready, its yellow eyes glowed like the sun, and its jaws dropped open, pushed by a sphere of energy.

 Chapter 251 - Beam

    What the hell is it doing? Its mouth... it''s full of electricity! Yoichi thought frantically, trying to predict his enemy''s first attack ande up with a n to counter it.

    Kenji''s fire element and Urgerross''s spark element didn''t suffer any particr damage from each other. Moreover, both demons, though belonging to different levels, shared their draconic nature.

    However, the real difference between Kenji and Urgerrossy not only in level, size, or ferocity: the thing that most distinguished the little dragon from the great white dragon was the fact that it was under the orders of a human being.

    Throughout its life, Urgerross had never been subjected to anyone but Therion. On the other hand, Kenji didn''t fight alone and relied on thebat ability of its tamer, using its skills to enhance his body and grant him a better chance of winning.

    Simply put, the two true challengers on the floating arena of the Sanctum of Infinity were Urgerross and Yoichi. A human being mysteriously reincarnated in the body of a young tamer in an unknown world with no precise memories of his past, against a fierce and intelligent demon, descendant of the lineage of celestial beasts that had always protected the cosmic bnce.

    The thunderbolts umted in the white dragon''s mouth began to crackle and travel in every direction, moving like bullets in every corner of the arena. As soon as Urgerross closed its yellow eyes, Yoichi finally realized that the dragon was about tounch a ranged attack.

    "Run, Kenji! Get out of there!" he yelled, ordering his Oracle to move.

    Suddenly, the white dragon''s chest swelled and deted in an instant as if it had charged its neck withpressed air. Urgerross opened its jaws wide, releasing the energy it had umted up to that point: an electric beam was fired from the dragon''s mouth in Yoichi''s direction, illuminating the arena under the dark and stormy sky.

    Fortunately, the young tamer moved early enough to dodge the attack, but the power unleashed by it was overwhelming. The light ray made a deafening sound as if hundreds of lightning bolts were traveling in unison, ripping through the sky.

    It was slightly irregr, with a diameter of about two meters of pure electrical energy. In addition to the beam, the outermost sparks were fired in every direction, scattering through the air and onto the floor.

    *CRASH*VROOM* - The deafening noise was amplified by the floating arena''s half-moon structure. The beam passed through two columns and continued undisturbed into the sky, disappearing miles away.

    In a matter of seconds, Urgerross had released an inordinate amount of energy, surpassing the strength of any demon Yoichi had ever faced. The golden-winged dragon demon fought like a divine beingpared to the Hebigure or the giant boar demon.

    Incredibly, although the destructive energy of the electric beam was so strong that it pulverized any living thing, the arena floor below did not suffer any damage, as if it was made of highly insting and burn-proof material.

    The Sanctum of Infinity was not only the home of the thunder dragon, but also its training field, the perfect ce to practice and cultivate its electrical powers.

    "Where do you think you''re going, human?!" Urgerross roared, repeating the same movements it made earlier and beginning to charge electrical energy in its jaws again.

    I can''t keep escaping without counterattacking! Come on, Yoichi... you''re inside a vision! You''re not facing a real dragon! Repeated the young tamer to himself, clenching the fists of his enhanced arms and sensing the glowing veins beneath the scales.

    Without warning, in a seemingly senseless manoeuvre of attack, he changed the direction of his run, sprinting at great speed toward Urgerross. Kenji did the same, keeping its distance but following its tamer from behind.

    I''m in here to cultivate my power, Yoichi thought again. There''s nothing I can''t do. I rode the supreme Dragon King who died thousands of years ago and reached an ind floating in the sky! Therion would never let me face the thunder dragon if I didn''t even have a chance to defeat it!

    Yoichi let the heat energy released from the draconic mes flowed on his arms build up on both hands. Within seconds, his fists became incandescent, heating the surrounding air.

    "Aaargh!" he shouted, unleashing his frontal attack and continuing to run right towards Urgerross'' mouth, ready to fire the second electric beam.

    *VROOM* - The same metallic sound of the first attack made Yoichi and Kenji''s eardrums vibrate, and the bright beam of bolts intertwined with each other left the position of its creator.

    "More, Kenji! We need more power!" yelled Yoichi a moment before the thunder dragon''s attack hit him full force. Using all the breath in his lungs for those desperate words, the young tamer disappeared within that bright beam, too fast to be dodged.

    "Screek!" Kenji roared, who, not being the main target of that attack, managed to dodge it without a problem by running towards the outer columns.

    Meanwhile, at that very moment, Therion was observing the scene from afar. The King of Dragons was perched on the peak of the mountain closest to the Sanctum of Infinity and was intent on studying the duel of its heir, eager to see with its own eyes what the heir of the primordial me was capable of.

    When it saw Yoichi''s small distant body, which was illuminated by a small red aura, disappearing within Urgerross''s electric beam, Therion wrinkled its face, showing its concern.

    "Uh? What the hell are you doing, my boy?" the ck dragon thought aloud, narrowing its eyes on the scene and trying to peer at Yoichi''s body in all that light to see if his counterattack was just a suicide move or if he had a definite n in mind.

    *CRASH* - A rumble of thunder ended the attack of the white dragon, whose face was lit up by an evil smile. Urgerross was certain that Yoichi had been torn to shreds, having been struck a very short distance from its mouth.

    The innermost sparks of the beam were consumed in the air, and the electrical energy of the beam ran out, decreasing in size and revealing what was inside.

 Chapter 252 - Human Vs Dragon

    A second of silence passed between the roar of the bolt that spread at lightning speed through the arena and a loud bang that followed.

    Unexpectedly, under the astonished gaze of Supreme Therion, who was perhaps used to witnessing exceptional events, the impossible had happened in the Sanctum of Infinity.

    Urgerross'' attack struck Yoichi full force, devouring every part of his body. Any living being without magical powers would have been pulverized by the energy emanating from the lightning, but that was not the case.

    Just as the light beam dissolved, a dazzling red aura took its ce at the center of attention. It came from the exact spot where Yoichi''s helpless body hadst been seen before being struck.

    Taking a leap and leaving behind a shing trail of me from his arms, Yoichi emerged unscathed from his enemy''s attack, flying in mid-air above its horned head.

    Amazingly, his forearms were crossed over each other, and both arms were stationary to protect his face. A familiar grayish smoke snaked from the ck scales of Yoichi''s arms, which had somehow managed to repel and deflect the attack.

    "What?!" Urgerross growled, unable to believe what had just happened before its reptilian eyes. Right over its horns, Yoichi was flying with his arms locked in front of his face. For the first time in the history of the world, a human had managed to survive a thunder dragon attack with his own physical strength.

    The electricity had disappeared upon contact with the primordial me of the Dragon King''s sessor, which had consumed every particle of it. mes as red as Therion''s eyes glowed with their light in the bleak storm sky, tearing through the darkness and illuminating Urgerross''s face.

    The white dragon stared at the scene as if what Yoichi had just aplished was an unimaginable feat.

    Yoichi''s forearms detached from each other, and while one of his tworge armored hands was pointed forward to aim, his right hand remained behind his shoulder, ready tond a punch worthy of his determination.

    In that instant, if only briefly, Urgerross could see something in Yoichi''s eyes. The thunder dragon sensed the young tamer''s strength of spirit, and for a moment, in the presence of such a power, its perennial self-confidence wavered.

    The knowledge that another living creature from Lumya innately possessed a small portion of the Sky Ruler''s power frightened Urgerross so much that its lower foot was forced to step back.

    Before being hurled violently downward, Yoichi''s fist gained additional kic energy, and the mes spilling from its knuckles increased exponentially, unleashing his uncontrolled fury.

    *BOOM* - When the knuckles of Yoichi''s right hand impacted the thunder dragon''s forehead, a loud explosion raised a dense cloud of smoke and dust. It was so dense that it covered both challengers for a few seconds.

    "It''s not possible. The boy is really doing it," Therionmented from afar, enjoying the spectacle from its privileged seat in the front row. Under its watchful gaze, the mes released by Yoichi''s surprise attack roared around the cloud of smoke, sshing inside it like thin tongues of fire.

    Yoichi concentrated on the execution of his blow at his best, exploiting the maximum of his physical strength by increasing the dose of rage and seeding to hit Urgerross right on its forehead, just below the line of its horns.

    The impact was so violent that even the immovable Urgerross was thrown off bnce from its previous position, forced to move one of its heavy feet on the floor to avoid falling.

    I hit him! Yoichi realized, thinking frantically and pondering about every detail of that fight. At that instant, the sharp knuckles of his ck draconic hands pressed with all their strength on the thunder dragon''s forehead.

    The nket of smoke and dust dissolved, and the young tamer fell to his feet, ready to begin fighting again. Kenji''s enhancement had somehow been strong enough to allow him to shield his body, enter within the electric beam, and strike at full force at his target.

    Although inside a vision, Yoichi had finally observed that letting go of his anger and allowing his emotions to overflow like a raging river gave additional physical strength to his full-body, making his attacks so heavy that they would bother a dragon demon.

    "Haha... hahahah... HAHAHAH!" - Subtly, hiding beyond a thinyer of smoke, Urgerross began tough in delight. "What did my tired old eyes just see? Did this inferior human really manage to hit me?" it spoke loudly, making sure Yoichi heard those words.

    After exhausting the heat energy of the blow and experiencing a slight recoil due to his mid-air attack position, the young tamer took a few steps back from his opponent, giving it enough time to recover from its daze.

    "Come on, Urgerross!" he thundered, his voice filled with conviction. "I''m waiting for you."

    Even Therion marveled at those words. Where had the old Yoichi gone? What had happened to the shy and rather reserved boy who was afraid to face the Guardians of the Whole?

    "What do my eyes see? Who are you, human?" the great white dragon repeated, beginning to walk on all fours around the arena. The thunder and lightning bolts being shot from the eye of the storm continued to rip through the sky above their heads.

    Yoichi''s arms were still imbued with Kenji''s magical power, and with a simple attack motion, he had proven to his opponent that just as Therion was superior to any other dragon, his draconic me was also stroger than any electrical power.

    "Who I am doesn''t matter," Yoichi answered coldly, as his long blond hair floated in the air due to the wind in that apocalyptic scenario. The red light from the mes that enveloped his hands and arms illuminated his face from below, giving him a grim look. "What really matters is the feat I am destined to aplish. I will kill you, Urgerross, and your draconic power will join mine."

 Chapter 253 - Eye Of The Storm

    "GRAARGH!" roared the white dragon, outraged by the insulting sentence its opponent had just uttered. As Yoichi well knew, the dragon demons were extremely proud and fierce beasts. Insulting one of the Guardians of the Whole would never be a wise thing to do in the real world.

    Urgerross seemed oblivious to the fact that its young adversary had just mitigated the damage of its attack, and in a sudden fury, it mmed its wings hard, creating a mighty current of wind.

    The air released from the pping wings caused the eternal me that burned along Yoichi''s arms to flicker. Bending his knees slightly, the young tamer was able to stand on his feet, not flinching and showing no fear.

    The roar of the thunder dragon echoed in the sky and the shes of lightning within the storm increased in number and size, making the scenario even more apocalyptic.

    Therion''s winged warrior flew several feet into the air and came to rest above the Sanctum of Infinity. pping its mighty golden wings, Urgerross opened its arms outward, as if to cast a spell.

    "I don''t care if Supreme Therion has deluded you into thinking you have a hope of defeating me. My power is far greater than yours or that of the demon who has your back. No one can defeat Urgerross, the terror of the heavens!" the dragon growled, as thunder and lightning shed over its horned head.

    Suddenly, one of the lightning bolts that streaked across the gray sky at great speed hurtled violently at the dragon''s head, striking its horns.

    *ZAP* - A quick and violent sound exploded in the air after about a second, being slower than the light that enveloped the thunderbolt. Urgerross'' horns absorbed the energy from the sky and transferred it to the rest of the dragon''s body, which charged up like an electric coil.

    Showing its jaws from the sides of its mouth, Urgerross folded its arms and flexed its muscles, which suddenly became bigger and harder, harnessing the lightning''s energy. The white dragon was empowering its body by drawing energy from the eye of the storm!

    Two more bolts struck its horns, which, like antennae, repeated the process, increasing the dragon''s strength. After about thirty seconds, it finally seemed ready tounch yet another attack.

    Beforeunching down, the white dragon turned its gaze to the mountain near the floating ind. Urgerross knew that its king was watching the fight from that position, and it wanted to make sure that it watched its heir being torn to shreds.

    "Grooargh!" another roar punctuated the start of the dragon''s dive, which, after pping its wings and gaining a few more feet of altitude, dropped towards Yoichi. Urgerross''s jaws were wide open and the muscles in its arms were much more swollen than before.

    If it had managed to hit Yoichi one more time, the young tamer probably wouldn''t have been able to withstand the attack.

    Above his head, he saw the ck sky and clouds swirling in circles. In their center, the eyes of its first draconic opponent shone like two gems, apanying the descent of that winged lightning.

    The moment of truth has arrived, Yoichi thought. Calmness increases my magical strength, anger increases my physical strength. How can I feel anger for a demon who has never hurt any of my friends? It won''t work! I have to think of something else!

    Yoichi''s thoughts, though quick and concise, were not fast enough to give him a solution to counterattack the great white dragon. Urgerross''s mighty arms spread wide and one of its wed hands struck the young tamer right in the face.

    He crossed his arms as he had done before, using Kenji''s scales as an imprable armor. However, the force of his enemy''s arm was so extreme that it knocked his feet off the ground and sent him flying off, several feet away.

    *boom*boom*boom* - Yoichi bounced off the arena floor three times until his back impacted the back of one of the white columns. This time, the damage suffered by Therion''s heir was extensive, and the fight against Urgerross had entered its second phase.

    "Ouch! My arms!" Yoichi cried, writhing on the ground and somehow managing to sit up with his back against the column. Slowly, the blond-haired warrior brought his arms under his gaze and what he saw left him breathless.

    His right arm was practically unharmed and the only wounds it had sustained were only superficial; his left arm, on the other hand, after cushioning the bounces of his body on the hard tiled floor, had bent in a decidedly unnatural way.

    The ulna and humerus bones lost adherence to the elbow joint and sprained, preventing the nerves from moving the arm. Because of the strong adrenaline he was feeling, the pain took a few extra minutes to reach Yoichi''s brain, which was still processing the injury.

    When his head stopped spinning and his gaze focused on the backward bent arm, the young tamer couldn''t hold back a scream of pain. "Aaargh!" Yoichi screamed, being able to feel the muscles in his arm swollen more than usual and bent abnormally around his elbow.

    The pain is real! Why does it hurt so much if it''s just a vision? He thought frantically, noticing that a good amount of blood was oozing out from under the scales.

    "Grooargh! Graargh!" not content with sending its opponent to the other side of the arena, Urgerrossnded on the floor and used its wings to move quickly in that direction: without flying, the white dragon spun around, transferring most of the electricity to its tail andshing out at Yoichi.

    The poor Nightdes warrior couldn''t get up in time because of the pain in his arm and before his eyes, Urgerross'' heavy tail hit him in the stomach, taking his breath away and lifting him from the ground.

    As if its opponent was a lifeless puppet, Urgerross used the tip of its tail to lift Yoichi and enforce its bulk against the young warrior''s human one.

 Chapter 254 - Subconscious Spirits

    Yoichi held on to Urgerross''s tail with his only working arm, knowing that if he fell from that height he would risk breaking a few more bones and worsening his condition.

    "What happened, human? Did I break your arm?" the white dragon chuckled, looking at Yoichi with an evil grin painted on its fierce face.

    The young warrior failed to respond, and just as he was about to extend an arm towards his enemy, Urgerross'' tail began to move again, but in the opposite direction.

    *boom* - The dragon used another whish to project Yoichi''s body onto the floor. With extreme violence, the tiles under his back cracked slightly and blood spurted out of his mouth.

    The thunder dragon''s strength was devastating and using only two attacks, it has been able to knock out its opponent. On the other side of the arena, hiding near the pir, Kenji had also suffered the same fate.

    The small dragon was on the ground in pain and its tail was swinging slightly. Yoichi''s Oracle also lost blood from its mouth, struggling to breathe and unable to get up.

    "Tut! This is your heir, my lord?!" Urgerross yelled, looking up at the sky and turning its voice towards the mountain. "This is the human warrior you have chosen to handle your power? Rargh! He is incapable of even standing in my presence!"

    Urgerross turned to Yoichi and touched his body with a w of its scaled hand. Like a predator that before feeding on its prey ys with its remains, the great white dragon mocked its minute opponent, treating him as if he were a toy.

    My whole body hurts! I can''t move! Thought Yoichi, trying to analyze the damage he had suffered since thest attack. Besides my arm, my back is out too... I can''t tell if the bones are broken or not, but it''s so sore that I can''t even turn around!

    With the same hand, Urgerross slipped the w under the young warrior''s leather jacket, lifting his body with one finger. When Yoichi''s feet also came off the ground, the electrical energy in the dragon''s body began to fade.

    Thanks to its developed predatory senses, the thunder dragon had sensed that its opponent was no longer able to fight. Restraining all the umted power from the lightning would only be a waste of energy.

    It drew Yoichi''s closer to its mouth and the warm air from his nostrils hit him like a gust of summer wind. Timorously, Yoichi opened his eyes again, finding himself face to face with Urgerross, the White One.

    "I''ll start with the head. It''s the juiciest part of you humans, did you know? The liquids contained in your tiny skull box are sweet and delicious, unlike your body, which is so poor in flesh as to be unsatisfying," the dragon spoke, whose jaws began to open wide.

    Urgerross'' breath smelled like a crypt that had been closed for a thousand years, and strands of saliva connected the tips of the canines of the upper arch to the lower side of his fangs.

    Yoichi couldn''t look at that scene, and as much as he was trying to fight against his own body, his eyes squinted in fear, not knowing what to do.

    "Are you really going to let the Kamakiri Emperor''s army kill us all, Yoichi?" - A voice other than that of Urgerross broke the silence. Immediately regaining his senses, the young tamer looked down, finding that a spirit figure made of a strange ethereal, blue substance was speaking to him.

    "S... Sensei?!" he stammered, recognizing the man''s tall hat and long monk''s staff. "You''re only at the beginning of your journey, boy. You must not let it get you down. Awaken your power, or all the people you love will soon die," the gatekeeper''s spirit repeated.

    Before that moment, the strong fear of facing Urgerross had made Yoichi forget that he was inside a vision. Everything inside the Tear was created by his subconscious and Ryutato''s spirit manifestation was proof of that.

    "Wow, I had never seen a dragon demon in my life! Old Ryutaro wasn''t wrong about you after all!" - a second voice joined the monk''s, and the second spirit''s smile brought a wave of lightness to Yoichi''s attention.

    "Enatsu! Brother!" he boomed, moving his neck slightly and turning in the merchant''s direction. In the center of his bare chest, arge circr scar stood in the exact spot of the wound Ogai had caused him.

    "What? What do you care how I''m doing? You don''t seem to be doing well!" Enatsu retorted, who despite being created by his mind, was able to respond as if listening to his own consciousness. "What are you waiting for to awaken Therion''s true potential? Have you forgotten that Shioko and Princess Sui are waiting for you? You don''t want to abandon two such beautiful girls!" he affirmed, scolding his friend.

    After those words, the warm airing from Urgerross'' stomach brought Yoichi back to reality. He only looked away from the talking spirits for a moment, and when he looked back at them, they had disappeared into thin air without giving him time to respond.

    Enatsu, Ryutaro-Sensei... you''vee to save me even inside my mind, he whimpered inwardly. Without doing so on purpose, Yoichi clenched the fist of his right hand. How is that even possible that I cannot handle my fears even within my own mind? How can I protect them if I''m so weak?

    "How can I protect them?" he said aloud, expressing his thoughts in the form of words and coughing up blood. Suddenly, as Urgerross was ready to enjoy its next meal, his dislocated arm also moved and his left hand, like his right one, closed into a firm fist, defying thews of physics.

    A wave of deep anger began to burn in the chest of the young warrior, who had not stopped thinking about his friends for a second. When his gaze framed Urgerross, the capiries of his eyes were bloodshot and his breathing became heavier and heavier.

 Chapter 255 - Tooth Dagger

    On the other side of the arena, Kenji suddenly opened its red eyes wide. A strong inner energy was burning in its chest and the sensation was simr to the one he had felt in the swamp cavern when Yoichi had managed without the help of its Oracle to summon Therion''s me.

    The little dragon ced its front paws on the ground and then, with considerable effort, did the same with its hind ones, managing to get up. As if it, too, had not realized the reason that had helped it get back to its feet, it looked at its tamer, sensing the bond that united their souls like pulsing energy.??

    Yoichi''s sudden anger unleashed his true strength, and suddenly, the arm that had been bent by Urgerross made a bony sound: with an incredibly painful twist, the arm returned to its ordinary position and the hand clenched into a fist, resisting the pain and preparing to fight.

    Yoichi''s subconscious had projected the spirits of Ryutaro and Enatsu before his eyes as if his mind was telling his body that it was not yet time to surrender. The epic battle between him and the thunder dragon was taking ce in his mind and in that world, he was the sole ruler.

    On the mountain, during those frantic seconds, Therion, the Dragon King, felt a strange sensation. Beneath the ck scales of its chest, reaching down to its throat and lower jaw, veins of draconic fire were activated without his consent.

    Even the ruler of the heavens, the one who had inherited the primordial me from the dynasty that had reigned the skies of Lumya for millennia, took a few seconds to realize that its heir had just awakened his true powers.

    Raising its huge wed hand and bringing it close to its face, the Dragon King felt incredible energy coursing through its veins. "Yoichi, my son," he whispered in its deep, warm voice. "Use your anger and draw from my power. Let the fire of my ancestors destroy your opponents and purify your body!" he thundered, raising its voice, but not enough to reach Yoichi''s ears.

    The young tamer''s body was still hanging on Urgerross'' w, who, unaware of what was about to happen, was still convinced that it could bite his head off.

    Before the jaws of the great white dragon could close, Yoichi extended his right arm and grabbed the longest of its canines, just as he had done long ago with the Hebigure, the serpent demon that attacked the vige of ckborough.

    "Uh?!" Urgerross muttered, sensing Yoichi''s grip and opening its eyes wide, ready to release its anger.

    However, what happened in the next few moments was so strong that there was no time for the dragon to counterattack: when Yoichi''s hand gripped Urgerross''s tooth, Kenji roared with all its breath, activating its power-up skill to full power. The ck scales on his arms, which had never disappeared, increased in size and thickness, further fortifying his upper limbs.

    A ze was thrown from the center of his chest and moved down his arms like a scorching wave, entering under the scales and causing them to vibrate. "Aaargh!" the young warrior shouted, who, ready to show his opponent the true strength of the Dragon King, joined his second hand to his first and mped both on Urgerross'' canine.

    *track*st* - With a loud bone tter followed by a ssh of blood that covered his face, Yoichi ripped that tooth out of the mouth of the thunder dragon, who felt such pain that it was paralyzed for almost a second.

    "GROOOARGH!" Urgerross roared, iling its arms and making Yoichi, whose physical strength was nowparable to that of a demon dragon, fly away.

    As the dragon''s heartbreaking cries echoed through the skies of the arena and beyond, the sky above their heads darkened further and a giant, ominous ck cloud formed at the eye of the storm.

    In that scenario, the only visible light was that of Yoichi, whose ming arms had reached considerable size. Flying in mid-air with Urgerross''s tooth in his hand, he seemed to have sumbed to the innermost instincts of his ego, donating his body to the draconic mes and enhancing his aura.

    Instinctively, after forcibly losing a tooth, the dragon touched the wounded and bleeding part with one hand, forgetting that Yoichi was right above its horned head.

    "Uaaargh!" - Falling with his feet on Urgerross'' head, the heir of Therion sank the long bloody canine into the dragon''s eye, piercing it and unleashing a fountain of thick red blood that sprayed into the air like a geyser.

    The dragon''s roar became louder and more excruciating, and with its mouth practically inoperative, it had just been blinded and made vulnerable.

    Yoichi was covered in his enemy''s red blood but continued to push the tooth deep into its cranium, dealing Urgerross considerable damage. The enemy''s defenses had now copsed.

    What is this uncontroble power? My arms, my legs... I don''t have full control of my limbs and I feel an absurd force running through my body! He thought, feeling as if his mind was trapped inside the body of a stranger.

    The wounds on his arm and the soreness in his back were gone, and the anger he had felt for Urgerross thinking about what would happen to his friends if he failed had taken control.

    Yoichi immediately left the tooth lodged in the dragon''s eye. With his arms, moving like a quadruped, he quickly climbed up the back of its neck until he reached its back, stopping next to a wing.

    The desire for blood I feel is uncontroble! I feel invincible! He kept thinking, unable to express with words what he was sensing. The only sounds he made after his true power awakened were grunting cries, moremon to beasts than humans.

    Urgerross continued to shake here and there and, unable to reach Yoichi with its hands, pped its wings and took flight, trying to shrug its enemy off its body.

 Chapter 256 - Rampage

    The dragon pushed its body upwards using its powerful legs and wings. It rose in altitude very quickly, but the enhanced body of the ferocious Yoichi remained attached to its back.

    The blond-haired warrior grabbed the exact spot where the dragon''s wing joined its back, knowing that his enemy could never get rid of him while in that position.??

    His right hand on one side and his left hand on the other: clutching Urgerross'' muscle as if it were a thick rope, Yoichi immobilized its right wing. In the same instant, the white dragon began to fall.

    It could no longer maintain control of its flight, and just before it reached the height of the white columns of the arena, it fell under the force of gravity. The reptilian body of the mighty Urgerross spun in the air like an inanimate object, while Therion''s gaze watched the fight carefully.

    When Yoichi was sure that the dragon''s wing would never be able to break free from its grip, he ced one foot on one side and the other foot on the other side, locking his body at that point straddling the muscle that allowed the wing to move.

    "My friends need me!" Yoichi suddenly growled, who for a moment managed to let his conscience prevail over his demonic instincts. "Die, Urgerross!" he shouted fiercely. Large tongues of fire shot out from his shoulders and forearms.

    Under the incredulous gaze of the Dragon King, who was almost moved to witness such a show of power, its human heir, who looked like an insect on the white dragon''s back from the mountain, tore Urgerross'' wing off, screaming as if he were possessed.

    The flesh of the muscr joint that joined the wing to the rest of the body tore fiber by fiber: Urgerross''s tendons werecerated and the bone was broken at that spot under the powerful pull of Yoichi''s arms.

    The enemy''s pain was so great that it was followed by a sudden reaction. The dark sky above their heads growled and the roar of thunder was unleashed in all its power. A massive bolt of lightning ripped through thendscape, zigzagging from the top of the clouds and striking hard at Urgerross'' body.

    As soon as the fate of the duel was reversed, the sky seemed to want to protect the golden-winged dragon. The lightning''s static energy enveloped its winged pdin and Yoichi, who was thrown backward.

    For an instant, time seemed to stand still in his perception of things: right before his eyes, one of the Guardians of the Whole had just been struck by lightning and in his hands, its golden wing was spattered with blood.

    The lightning released its energy and struck Yoichi''s body as well. However, Therion''s draconic fire made him almost immune to that kind of damage, dispersing the electricity of the st and protecting its possessor.

    *BOOM* - The explosion unleashed by Urgerross'' fall into the center of the arena was devastating. A cloud of dust covered the floating Sanctum of Infinity making everything invisible due to the scarcity of sunlight.

    When he was still in midair, Yoichi managed to direct his feet downward and, without enhancing his legs in any way,nded with his feet on the sturdy floor tiles.

    After him, Urgerross''s wing hit a pir and, whirling around, fell from the edge of the ind, plunging down to the valley guarded by the floating isle.

    As the nket of smoke dispersed, the ck clouds concentrated in the sky began to move away from each other, allowing sunlight to filter through only a few spots.

    A multitude of subtle rays of light struck the shrine, illuminating the specks of dust and allowing Yoichi to breathe a sigh of relief. However, although the brightening of the sky was certainly rted to his enemy''s loss of energy, the young tamer was still in a rage and the primal instinct that had guided hisst actions still overpowered his reason.

    I can''t stop...I must defeat him. I must defeat the dragon and gain its power! Thought Yoichi, his eyes bloodshot. The veins of fire between the scales of his arms came alive and, one step after another, the young warrior walked towards the center of the arena. ring his nostrils, he was looking for the dragon like a wild predator.

    "Urgerross!" he shouted angrily. His voice was hoarse from the pain of his still-open wounds and almost sounded like a roar. Kenji''s red eyes, before the light beams could illuminate his enemy''s body, pierced the nket of grayish smoke.

    "Screek!" the little dragon boomed, showing its new appearance to its tamer: the scales all over its body looked stronger, much more like those of a full-grown dragon demon; on its tail, in addition to the draconic torch at the end, many small spikes had grown that followed the shape of its spinal chord.

    Kenji''s chest seemed wider and taller as if its pectoral muscles were more swollen. Those enhancements also highlighted its ck horns, giving Yoichi''s Oracle a more regal appearance that was increasingly reminiscent of the shape of the supreme Therion.

    Its roar instilled courage in its tamer, who after discovering that inside the Tear had managed to awaken the true powers of his mentor, felt invincible.

    It only took him a few steps to look, illuminated by the many small rays of sunlight, at the motionless body of Urgerross. The one-winged dragon was lying in the center of the arena, its own tooth lodged in its eye and its upper and lower limbs in a pool of blood.

    *anf*anf* - A deep, warm breath made the ash on the floor move, gracefully caressing Yoichi''s face, the only part of his body not covered by clothing or scales.

    The thunder dragon''s back swelled and deted. After the Nightdes warrior''s devastating rampage, Therion''s disciple was no longer able to fight.

    With its golden eyes pointed skyward, the only thing Urgerross'' heart yearned for was to see the sunlight onest time.

 Chapter 257 - All Is Not Lost

    The neck of the white dragon was lying on the ground and its one wing was moving under the action of its nerves. At the opposite point of its back, however, a bony protuberance swayed back and forth, as if the dragon demon''s instincts were trying to sense the weight of the torn wing.

    The cloud of dust caused by the dragon''s fall took a few minutes to dissolve and allow Yoichi to observe his enemy on the ground. ??

    Slowly, Yoichi''s mind tried to take control over his body, breathing slowly and trying to disable Kenji''s power. All of the young tamer''s senses had increased: his eyes were bloodshot, increasing the effectiveness of his gaze; his nose continued to inhale every scent with uracy, picking up the blood of his enemy and even the smell of Therion, much further away from the arena.

    Even his arms were still covered in scales, forgetting that he had sustained extensive damage. His elbow and wrist were intact even though a few minutes before, Yoichi''s body had bounced around inside the arena like a rag doll.

    "Stop... stop!" Urgerross coughed, while a river of blood dripped from its half-open jaws, feeding the red puddle in which its body was immersed. That very blood touched the toes of the young tamer''s boots, as he looked down on his enemy.

    "You... you cannot defeat me... your power... is not..."

    "Is what? I can''t defeat you just because I''m human? I''m sorry to tell you this, but you dragons will soon be defeated by the Ancient Demons and we humans will be Lumya''s only hope," Yoichi coldly interrupted, telling it in one sentence the whole truth about the present world.

    When it heard those words, Urgerross pointed its only pupil at Yoichi, looking at him intently. The white dragon was part of a past worldview and could hardly understand the young tamer''s speech. To Urgerross, what Yoichi was saying was an impossible thing.

    "The Ancient Demons?" the dragon asked, stopping its words when the sound of Therion''s wings echoed through the arena. Without warning, the Dragon King had foreshadowed the end of the duel and left the mountain.

    Therion had promised not to interfere in the fight in the slightest, and only when the cloud of dust dissipated and it saw its disciple''s condition he chose to fly towards its heir.

    "That''s right," Yoichi repeated. "Not even you dragons will be able to protect Lumya from Valgoth''s army. It will destroy everything and force Therion to pass on some of its power to someone else," he added.

    While Yoichi was speaking, the scales on his arms began to decrease in size and the veins of fire under them gradually became extinct, giving off the usual grayish smoke.

    The vision had been created by his mind, and as he was able to give in to his most primal instincts, he was able to perform the reverse process, returning to normal.

    "My King! Cough!... this human being... what he says can''t be true!" Urgerross continued to cough, who had lost so much blood that its sight was clouded.

    Therion looked at its disciple as if he were its son. A bitter tear fell from its ruby-red eyes, sliding down its scaled muzzle and impacting the dust on the white, now gray floor.

    "Yoichi speaks the truth, Urgerross. Though you may not know it, in the world from which hees, you and I have long since died. Our dynasty is extinct and Valgoth has won the war. Its demons outnumbered us and took control of the heavens and the earth, wiping us out as invaders," Therion exined. The Dragon King knew its disciple would believe its words more than Yoichi''s.

    "But all is not lost," Yoichi interrupted. "I am here specifically to avenge your lineage, Urgerross. Within my Oracle lies the power of Therion, and with it, I will be able to restore peace to Lumya by killing the possessor of Valgoth''s heir once and for all!" - In the young tamer''s voice, his tenacity was felt by his dying foe.

    "You have fought hard, brother. But now it is time to leave the world to humans. Entrust your soul to Yoichi and let your power live on in him," Therion replied, staying a few feet away from the two challengers.

    Urgerross'' breathing became increasingly intermittent and weak. Caught the dragon demon would have bled to death, but it seemed to keep fighting to stay alive. Its body could no longer handle all that pain, but its pride-filled soul wanted to remain in that world at all costs.

    Yoichi took a step forward and swiped the hilt of Ryutaro''s katana with his right hand. The metallic sound of the sword de slithering along its scabbard drew Urgerross'' gaze to him.

    When the young warrior looked at the sunlight reflected on that shiny de, Ryutaro''s image appeared on it for an instant, as if the gatekeeper was behind him.

    "I am not yet worthy to wield your sword in the real world, Ryutaro-Sensei," Yoichi remarked, speaking in the spirit of his master. "But let me be guided by your de to end the suffering of Urgerross, the terror of the heavens, guardian of the Sanctum of Infinity and undisputed ruler of thunder," he spoke again.

    Those words were like music in the ears of the dying white dragon, who heard someone else speak its name and praise it as if it were a king. When Yoichi was one step away from it, its big arms stopped iling and its bodyy still, resigned to its fate.

    Yoichi lowered himself to its face and looked into its sun-yellow eyes, trying to convey his feelings to his opponent. With his right hand, the young tamer pointed the tip of the sword at the center of the dragon''s neck.

    "I thank you, Urgerross. May your soul fly free for eternity. In the world from which Ie, I will let the storms guide my spirit and I will see the reflection of your image in the sky," the blond-haired young warrior stated, waiting for his supreme interlocutor to close its eyes and prepare for the end of its days.

 Chapter 258 - Swordsman

    The blood still dripping from its mouth and the still open wounds made Urgerross'' appearance no less worthy of a demon of its caliber. The great white dragon closed its eyes and exhaled itsst deep breath.

    Yoichi, with Ryutaro''s katana clutched in his hands, looked up at the sky and thought back to his friends. Enatsu, Shioko, the warriors of the Nightdes, and Princess Sui. All of them, along with his masters had, directly and indirectly, helped create the warrior he had be.??

    Under Therion''s eyes, without continuing to think about the consequences of his gesture and reflecting on the fact that with his sword he could release the spirit of Urgerross even in his subconscious, Yoichi plunged the sharp de of the katana into its neck.

    *st* - The katana slithered between the dragon''s hard scales and prated the thickyer of skin beneath them as if it were made of butter. An inch at a time, Urgerross narrowed its eyes and clenched its jaws, epting the defeat.

    As soon as Yoichi felt the tip of the de touch the dragon''s windpipe, he made onest quick lunge and then spun the sword on itself. *track* - The dragon''s throat bone broke under the blow of the young tamer, who with surgical precision made sure to kill it without causing it further suffering.

    The ck clouds that had covered the arena for the duration of the fight suddenly disappeared and the sun began to shine in the sky again. The fog dissipated and the beautiful valley below the Sanctum of Infinity became visible under its rays.

    Yoichi held the de of the katana tightly and, with the skill worthy of a master swordsman, drew it from Urgerross'' neck. The sword de retraced the same path to exit as that it had followed to enter, leaving the blood to drip only from that very spot.

    When the sword was back in the hands of its owner and when he stepped back to honor the death of his opponent, the scales of Urgerross'' back began to crumble.

    Its one wing, then its tail, neck, limbs, and head. The thunder dragon had been defeated by the only human capable of wielding the powers of the supreme Therion, who looked on smugly at the work of its heir.

    "I... I made it, Supreme Therion!" Yoichi rejoiced. He turned to his mentor andpletely deactivated Kenji''s enhancement skill. Also, the wounds on his arm and back had disappeared.

    "I managed to defeat Urgerross! I just defeated one of the Guardians of the Whole! Whohoo!" the human warrior shouted in delight again, hopping next to Therion and twirling his long blond hair in the air, still smeared with draconic blood.

    "You''ve managed to awaken some of my power, my son. You activated the primordial me without my consent, proving that you have a pure heart eager to increase your power," the Dragon King admitted. "You have sessfullypleted your first test. The first part of the cultivation of your draconic power is achieved," he added.

    "What now? What should I do now? When do I have to face the next enemy? Who will it be?" - Yoichi felt a vortex of strong emotions. The adrenaline from the heated confrontation was still coursing through his veins, but the happiness of having seeded outweighed everything. The young warrior flooded his winged mentor with questions, fearing that the vision would end before he knew all the answers.

    "Your next opponent will be much stronger than Urgerross. Although not what I led you to believe, the thunder dragon was the youngest and most inexperienced of the Guardians of the Whole," Therion affirmed.

    Yoichi was shocked by that statement and tried to imagine the power of a dragon more experienced than Urgerross. He had never fought against such a strong being and he knew that if he faced it in the real world, he would notst a moment.

    "What is its name? What about its power? Let me prepare for the fight, Supreme Therion!" he begged.

    "The power of my Tear allows you to travel through space and time with the sole purpose of entering your subconscious and cultivating your inner powers. What training would it be if I already described your next opponent to you?" the dragon replied in a sarcastic tone. "Do you think perhaps your enemy deres his weaknesses before attacking you? Do you think Valgoth advised me how to save the lives of my warriors?"

    Yoichi''s gaze darkened and he sensed that his questions had annoyed Therion. Like a son scolded by his father, the young tamer lowered his gaze, waiting for new instructions.

    "When you are ready, I will be the one to call you. Of course, I won''t be able to physically call you, but... I''ll find a way to let you know that the time to face your next opponent hase," the King of Heaven spoke.

    The ck dragon lowered its face towards Yoichi and crossed its terrifying gaze with that of its heir. Yoichi shyly looked into Therion''s blood-red eyes. "Someday you will be able to surrender to the primal instincts that burn fiercely in your heart, as you have done today. When that dayes, you will have reached a level of training and strength sufficient to proceed," it stated.

    Intent on showing himself strong to thest, and sheathing his sword in its scabbard, Yoichi bowed before the most powerful of Lumya''s dragon demons. "I will think of your teachings every day, my lord. I will protect Tentochu at the cost of my life and level up Kenji, using its power to pursue my mission."

    Therion red its nostrils and blew warm air through its nose, enveloping Yoichi''s body and giving him a pleasant feeling. "Yes, I''m sure you will," the Dragon King said, smiling at its only heir and looking at Kenji out of the corner of its eye.

    In the next instant, standing up and pping its wings, Therion kicked up the dust that had umted on the white tiles of the arena, creating a thick cloud. Yoichi was forced to close his eyes and hold his nose to avoid being blinded or asphyxiated.

 Chapter 259 - Scar

    "Cough! Cough!" Yoichi coughed, waving his hands in front of his face and trying to disperse the thick dust. Unable to breathe or see, the young tamer took a step back, trying to get away from Therion.

    Unexpectedly, his back touched a smooth, cold rock wall. "What?!" he gulped, taken aback. Yoichi''s eyes opened and all his senses returned to his body. ??

    Therion''s heir was back in the cave of the Boneside Swamp. His hands were wet, soaked in Therion''s tear, which was dripping onto the floor of the natural cavity.

    "Oh, fuck! The amphora!" - Performing a sprint forward, Yoichi threw himself headlong onto the amphora that contained the magical liquid. The round base of the container was dangerously wobbling and the Tear could have fallen at any moment.

    If that happened, it would be the end for him and the cultivation of his draconic powers woulde to an abrupt halt. "Gotcha!" he boomed, throwing himself belly down and managing to stop the amphora before it fell.

    Without dy, still confused by the teleport he had undergone from the Lumya of the past to the one of the present, Yoichi ced the lid on the rough container and sealed the tear.

    *click*click*click* - The three metal hooks hermetically closed the item, securing the Dragon King''s magic liquid.

    "Screek!" Kenji said happily, running over to its tamer and swiping its short head against his legs. The little dragon was evidently happy to see its friend back in the real world.

    The light of dawn was still dim and shylying from the entrance of the cave. The fight between Yoichi and Urgerross had been rtively brief and, including his awakening near the Molten Scar and the journey with Therion to the Sanctum of Infinity, the young tamer had spent only a handful of minutes inside the vision.

    Yoichi''s first instinct immediately after closing the amphora was to touch his arms and legs to make sure he hadn''t sustained any injuries. Both his limbs and the rest of his body were unharmed, but one small detail caught his attention.

    His leather boot was pierced on one side. The fabric had been damaged in the exact spot where Urgerross'' sparks had hit him. "I can''t believe it..." Yoichi whispered, smiling for no apparent reason as Kenji continued to rub against his hands in anticipation of cuddling.

    "Kenji, we did it! Hahaha!" the young warrior giggled, grabbing his little Oracle''s body and trying to lift it up. "Urgh!" - With more effort than usual, Yoichi lifted Kenji, noticing that something had definitely changed in its appearance and size.

    The little dragon was heavier and bigger. Its tail was a bit longer than Yoichi remembered, and its head, including the sharp, ck horns, looked more massive as well.

    "Hey, buddy," Yoichi continued, setting Kenji down on the ground. "How are you feeling? Do you feel something different inside you?" he inquired, waiting for his Oracle to let him know something.

    "Screek?" - Kenji''s head bent sideways, showing its confusion.

    "Even if you don''t know it, you and I fought a dragon! Its name was Urgerross and it was one of the Guardians of the..."

    "Screek! Grrr! Grrrargh!" - Suddenly, as soon as Yoichi uttered the white dragon''s name, Kenji sprang out of its arms and singed off the scales of its back. The little dragon began to snarl and look at itself, baring its teeth as if it sensed an enemy.

    However, the only presence Yoichi could sense from inside the cave was the song of the birds that popted the swamp during the day and the buzzing of itsrge insects.

    "You remember! You remember Urgerross! Then you know everything that happened, Kenji!" the young tamer rejoiced, standing up and smiling towards it. "Grrargh!" Kenji confirmed, keeping on growling. It associated the name of the thunder dragon with its evilness, and every time Yoichi mentioned it, it growled as if to defend itself.

    Yoichi looked at his hands as he used to do when he sensed something different in his body. His muscles were toned and rested as if he had just woken up from a long sleep. He had already experienced that feeling in thepany of Ryutaro, but this time he felt that his body was more trained.

    Indeed, the muscles in his arms and legs looked firmer and more swollen. The cultivation of his draconic powers, in just a few minutes away from the real world, had strengthened his physique as well!

    It was just as Therion had exined! In order to handle a greater amount of power, my body must be stronger! Reasoned Yoichi, hardening his biceps and studying them with his hands, witnessing the progress.

    "Ouch!" he suddenly eximed, feeling a strong burninging from the lower area of his leg. "What the hell is this pinch?" he asked aloud, pinpointing the exact spot of that weird sensation.

    The burning wasing from where the boot had been pierced by Urgerross'' spark. "What the..." - Yoichi unbuckled his boot and immediately pulled it off his foot, curious if his skin had actually sustained any injuries.

    Despite some handmade socks, more like legwarmers of sturdy fabric, something had appeared on his ankle, just above the malleolus.

    The young tamer swiped his finger across the skin that had been damaged, cleaning the area of sweat and dirt: a strange reddish scar had just been etched into his flesh!

    "Oh my goodness, I thought it was not real," he whispered again, gripping his ankle with both hands and trying to make sense of that burn. The scar didn''t testify to a cut or any other kind of damage but looked more like a symbol.

    A strange letter of the Japanese alphabet had been magically engraved by the electrical power of Urgerross, the first of the Guardians of the Whole. That ancient idiom was unknown to Yoichi, but he somehow tried to make sense of it.

    In his perception, it looked like the letter ''U'' in the modern alphabet.

 Chapter 260 - Village Symbol

    "The ''U'' of Urgeross? Really?" Yoichi asked himself, sharing his amazement with Kenji. The burning from that small wound was gone and the scar had healedpletely, leaving that indelible mark on his skin.

    Yoichi put on his boot again, keeping in mind that time had begun to flow normally again in the real world. The vige of Oakenfair was still far from his location, and as long as the sun shone high in the sky, finding his way out of the Boneside Swamp would be easier.??

    He grabbed the amphora and made sure he had left nothing important in the cave. The remains of the carnivorous nt that inhabited that inhospitable ce seemed to date back several hours, but in reality, they had only been there for a few minutes.

    There''s no more time to waste, now that my main mission has beenpleted, I must devote myself to finding Shusaku, Yoichi pondered. He walked out of the cave, followed by Kenji.

    The swamp lookedpletely different during the day than it did at night. The nts and shrubs looked decidedly more harmless and less spooky, even though they were covered in the same mud and surrounded by swarms ofrge, noisy insects.

    Since he came out of the Tear of Therion, no writing from the Demon Pet System had appeared in the cave. Yoichi''s two quests were still active and waiting to bepleted.

    Finding Shusaku and forging a weapon was one of them. The reward of that quest would grant Yoichi maximum proficiency with his chosen weapon.

    "All right, Kenji. I hope the journey goes smoothly from now on. If all goes well, I''ll summon you when we''re near our destination, but be ready for more surprise attacks," the young tamer suggested to his Oracle. "Something tells me that even after the swamp there are dangers ready and waiting for us" he added.

    "Screek!" Kenji confirmed, its red eyes smiling.

    "Ildriss," Yoichi said, recalling his demon and switching it with Ichiro. The Inoshuma was summoned in the next instant and, with its usual majesty, took form from the stream of air expelled from the yellowish Demon Tooth.

    In addition to Ichiro''s Demon Tooth and that of the mysterious Hikigotsu, there was only one other empty spine ready to be used. The young and inexperienced tamer had no information about the frog demon, and to summon it, he had to wait until its healing wasplete inside the magical thorn.

    Carefully, Yoichi inserted the Tear''s amphora into one of Ichiro''s saddlebags, taking the opportunity to pet its golden coat. Immediately afterward, he jumped into the horse''s saddle, starting to follow the dirt road that snaked through the swamp.

    The sunlit ponds looked putrid and sticky. Within them, numerous groups of tadpoles swam carefreely. Are they normal tadpoles or Hikigotsu pups? Yoichi asked himself as he continued riding north.

    The dense marshy vegetation became less and less dense, and the uneven road began to lower in elevation, bing a steep descent. The Boneside Swamp that bordered the Bronzeforest stood in a sort of natural basin enclosed between two hills.

    At a determined pace, Ichiro sank its mighty hooves into the dirt path, following the only direction allowed. Yoichi pulled out Ryutaro''s map to pass the time.

    Before looking down at the ancient parchment, he looked up, trying to find andmark to geo-locate himself. Unfortunately, the swamp offered no dwellings or monuments, and the onlyndmarks were the mountains that flowed one after another to his left.

    "We should be about here," he affirmed, reasoning aloud and pointing a finger at the map. "During the day we should be able to move faster because the threat of wild demons is reduced. What''s this?" - His fingertip pointed to a small vige at the edge of the swamp.

    Due to the darkness of the previous evening, many details on that faded map were not clearly visible. During the day, however, the sunlight allowed the lone traveler to spot even the most imperceptible inkblot.

    "Grim... Grimbrook," Yoichi read aloud. He was only able to partially recognize the handwritten characters on the map, guessing the other letters logically. "That ce is marked on the map with the vige symbol. Maybe we could stop there to stock up on supplies, and who knows, maybe there''s someone there who knows Shusaku. Even though we''re a long way from Oakenfair, I might get lucky for once," he pondered, rolling up the map again and getting back on the road.

    In less than an hour, Yoichi and Ichiro emerged from the Boneside Swamp, finding themselves in a wide valley that skirted the ubiquitous Southborne Mountains. As long as Tentochu''srgest mountain range was to his left, Yoichi knew he was heading in the right direction. To the east, however, the valley stretched beyond the horizon, whose visibility was reduced.

    At the furthest point his eyes could reach, the sunlight was reflected by a kind of thin fog typical of coastal areas. Suddenly, the path that had led Yoichi out of the swamp disappeared, swallowed up by the ground.

    In its ce, an iconic meadow consisting of wild grasses spread freely everywhere. The Goldhaven traveler was lulled by that apparent tranquility and, crossing his legs over the saddle and loosening his grip on Ichiro''s mane, found a new way to pass the time.

    He didn''t want to waste a single second of that trip and his desire to learn new things was like that of a child exploring the world for the first time. On the other hand, even though he had awakened in Lumya''s world in the body of an eighteen-year-old man, Yoichi had the same experience as someone who desperately needed to learn.

    The Nightdes warrior spent more than two hours flipping through the book titled "Fundamentals of Demon Taming". Whenever a sentence caught his attention in a particr way, Yoichi folded the top corner of the page so that he could find that information again without effort.

    Ichiro''s hooves suddenly made a different noise, treading on a hard, t wooden surface. That sound alerted the ears of its tamer, who looked up past the leather cover of the book he had inherited from the gatekeeper.

 Chapter 261 - Grimbrook

    The water of a narrow and agitated stream passed overbearingly under the wooden bridge. Ichiro slowed its pace without a directmand from Yoichi. The Inoshuma sensed the proximity of a town and moved with circumspection as if for a moment it had be a wild demon again.

    Time had flown by for Yoichi: the young tamer had not noticed that, while reading, he had arrived at the gates of the small vige of Grimbrook. ??

    The book that had captured Yoichi''s attention was an incredibly useful and informative manual. Studying every word of it by heart, the young tamer had learned that it was not necessary to know the center of gravity of every demon to tame it with the Demon Tooth.

    Excluding from the discussion the Ancient Demons, which followed their own rules, the weak points of the more or less simr specimen could be assimted into some categories.

    For example, demons whose head was veryrge tended to have the center of gravity, ie the point for the capture, on the rest of the body. Conversely, demons whose bodies were bulky and massive tended to have their center of gravity in the hardest to reach ces.

    The evolution of Lumya''s hundreds of demon species over the years has resulted in the specimens with the most hidden centers of gravity surviving, leaving the more fragile specimens, which had the most exposed weak points, to be extinct.

    Simply put, even in the world of Lumya natural selection had prevailed, in which the predominant characters of a species are those that, in the course of its evolution, have allowed that species to proliferate and not be extinct.

    ''Fundamentals of Demon Taming'', contrary to the title, was not a book suitable for a child or anyone who wanted to approach the world of taming. An ordinary person, born without an Oracle and not used to dealing with such concepts, would not understand most of the technicalities contained in the manual.

    Although the reading went on smoothly, drawing more and more of Yoichi''s curious eyes page after page, the young tamer''s attention was now turned to something else.

    Yoichi put the book in its ce, clutching a hand to Ichiro''s mane and tucking his feet into the saddle''s metal rings. Although Grimbrook didn''t look like it was an important ce, he had to give the impression of being an experienced tamer, and traveling on horseback with his legs crossed wasn''t a great idea to prove that.

    The horse demon walked over the bridge and the vige that stood on the east side of the valley took shape under the sunlight. Wooden hovels of cubic shape and all of the same color stood side by side. Each building of that small vige seemed to follow the normal shape of the soil, as if the construction of houses and shops had not required the ttening of hills and slopes, remaining in harmony with the naturalndscape.

    Beyond the wooden bridge, barely wide enough for a small horse-drawn wagon to pass, a wooden arch announced the name of the vige with a banner.

    "Wee to Grimbrook," the inscription hot-stamped on the wood read. It gave that entrance a somewhat sad aspect since the area looked and sounded practically uninhabited.

    In its surroundings, indeed, Yoichi could hear almost no one but quiet whispering voices. Without much thought, the young tamer spurred his horse and rode past the wooden archway into the vige.

    Grimbrook stood between the western edge of Bronzeforest and the beginning of the valley that led, with its expanses of green, to the Southborne Mountains. Although it was close to a ce as teeming with life as Brozeforest, the wooden vige was hidden by a rocky escarpment that cut through the vegetation of the woods behind.

    Yoichi''s first thought was to take a look in that direction, to see if he had taken the right path: if he could have cut through the Bronzeforest, he would have saved himself the trip to Boneside Swamp and his journey would have been much morefortable.

    However, judging by the steep and rocky terrain, there seemed to be no way to get down from the forest to the valley. Only an experienced climber could have seeded, still risking his life in the process.

    Beyond the wooden arch, the fence that marked the limits of the small bridge widened, opening into a small square surrounded by many surrounding wooden buildings. In the center of the square, a modest fountain topped by a wooden statue caught the attention of the blond-haired traveler.

    As soon as Ichiro crossed the threshold of the entrance, the background buzz increased in intensity. The chatter came from the corners of the square, and when Yoichi met his eyes with a group of equivocal people, silence suddenly fell.

    "Good morning!" the young tamer politely eximed, getting off his horse and showing his non-hostility. Looking around carefully, Yoichi found that the vige was inhabited and active, thoughcking the ssic sounds of a city.

    Maybe I''m so used to the chaos of Goldhaven that I''ve forgotten how quiet country life is, he thought, reflecting on that detail.

    The group of people who had first observed that unfamiliar tamer enter Grimbrook consisted of five women apparently in their fifties, all dressed in ssic housewife attire. Handkerchiefs tied over their heads, long dresses of colored cotton, and white aprons soiled with flour, y, or other things.

    As soon as Yoichi was clearly visible in the center of the square, the women started chatting among themselves again, making covertments about that young boy who had entered the vige riding a demon.

    On the left side of the square, however, two men stood still with their backs against the wall. Next to them, a saloon-like door was still swinging back and forth, having weed itstest guest. Besides the two men, an older man was sitting in a rocking chair on the other side.

    In his mouth, a long pipe gave off a thin white smoke. His face was covered by a veryrge hat, not too different from the one worn by poor Hiobe, the man who had been tricked by Ogai.

    Without wasting time looking at thendscape, which didn''t offer much in the way of scenery, Yoichi realized that this was the ideal ce to grab a bite to eat.

 Chapter 262 - Saloon

    At a determined pace, the young tamer headed toward that kind of a saloon, trying to figure out if there was a ce outside to tie up his horse. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed the wooden statue above the square''s fountain, now clearly visible from another perspective.

    A mighty man held in his hands arge halberd, the lower end of which rested on the ground. He had long hair, carved with precision in wood, and a long beard, so thick that it was closed in a braid that hung down to the center of his chest.??

    Behind him, a demon was sublimely crafted, surely the work of an expert sculptor. A fiery phoenix had its wings open and its jaws turned towards the sky, as if, behind the man, it was dynamically taking flight.

    Yoichi did not dwell much on the details, feeling he was being watched. He continued walking towards the saloon and pondering what he had just seen. Wasn''t the phoenix the Oracle of Tatsui Nishiyama, Emperor Shinzo''s father? He thought, summarily recalling a story by Ryutaro.

    Outside the saloon, built on a raised wooden floor essible by a little staircase, there was no handhold to tie Ichiro down. Dejected, Yoichi called his demon back inside the Demon Tooth, trying to be as quiet as possible.

    In addition to the group of women and two men watching him from the doorway, other people were leaning out of the windows on the other side of the square, intent on prying at the neer. As if he were reliving the sensations he had felt in ckborough, Grimbrook seemed a ce not ustomed to weing new travelers often.

    Despite being in a strategic location for those traveling north, time seemed to stand still in that small wooden vige. An inscription that looked as if it had been hand-carved with the tip of a knife had been written into the spot where the sign of that ce was previously attached.

    The square shape of the sign, a different color than the weathered exterior walls was still clearly visible and framed the inscription ''Tavern'', written in different sized letters and the letter ''M''ter changed to an ''N''.

    "Hello!" Yoichi smilingly spoke, bowing his head towards the two men perched next to the entrance like two vultures. Unbelievably, even though from their faces those two men looked very unfriendly, one of them grabbed the visor of his straw hat with his hand, lowering it slightly and returning the greeting.

    So they understand mynguage... this ce is a bit creepy, Yoichi reflected. He continued to mask his perplexity with a carefree smile.

    The doors of the saloon opened like a book as the young tamer passed by, cing Ichiro''s Demon Tooth inside his backpack. When his hand touched the bag containing the gold coins, his stomach growled with hunger.

    What better way to spend his guild money than on a hot meal? He thought, approaching the counter like a hungry traveler.

    A stout, almost giant man, his shoulders broad enough to take up nearly a third of the counter, turned to his unexpected guest. In hisrge hands, the empty beer mug he was polishing looked like a sak¨¨ shot ss.

    As if he were at home, Yoichi sat on one of the creaky bar stools on that counter. Next to him, on both the right and the left, three other men looked at him suspiciously, sipping their beers even though it was morning.

    "Hello, everyone. Hello, innkeeper," Yoichi greeted, resting his hands on the counter and his feet on the bottom of the old bar stool. Behind him, four tables were scattered around the small tavern.

    Three of them were upied by groups of men intent on ying cards or strange board games, not too different from modern chess.

    "Could I have a cold beer and something to munch on, too? I''ve been traveling all night and need to get my strength back," Yoichi politely asked, showing everyone that he had no fear or shyness.

    "Sure, your beer will be right up," the giant man behind the counter replied. His mouth was hidden by a pair ofrge ck mustaches, under which his lower lip emphasized his pronounced jaw.

    On the innkeeper''s bald head, a single tuft of thin, twisted hair like a baby''s gave him a rather ridiculous appearance. So ridiculous that Yoichi had to hold back augh by grimacing and pretending to stretch.

    "It''s been months since I''ve had any visitors," the innkeeper continued, grabbing a clean mug and beginning to tap fresh beer from a barrel. "Tell me, boy. Are you by any chance one of the Emperor''s men?" he inquired.

    Before answering, Yoichi paused for a moment to think. What the innkeeper had just asked him was an obvious trick question: if these people haven''t had any visitors in a long time, and none of them ever destroyed Tatsui Nishiyama''s statue, perhaps they remained loyal to the old emperor, he pondered.

    As a result, if I told them that I was working for the current Emperor of Tentochu, I don''t think they would like my presence here very much - continuing to thought about those details, Yoichi noticed that the man sitting on the counter a couple of chairs away from him had arge dagger stuck in his belt.

    "No, don''t let the armor fool you. I am a warrior of the Nightdes, a guild of Goldhaven, but I have nothing to do with Emperor Nishiyama. I''m actually from Bronzeforest. That''s where I live," Yoichi smiled, looking calm and introducing himself to everyone present.

    "Good, then I can avoid poisoning your breakfast" the mustachioed man smiled, turning to Yoichi and forcefully mming the mug full of beer in front of him.

    *boom* - not expecting such a sudden noise, Yoichi jerked from his chair. For a few seconds, the young warrior fell into an awkward silence, not knowing whether to be happier or more scared.

    "Hahaha!" chuckled the innkeeper, joking with his guest and serving him his cold beer in that extravagant way.

    "Wee, boy," the man with the dagger sitting at the bar eximed.

    "Yeah, wee."

    "Good morning, stranger!"

    "Hey, what''s up,d?"

    One by one, after Yoichi had announced that he had nothing to do with Shinzo Nishiyama, the patrons of the tavern greeted him warmly, weing him to Grimbrook.

 Chapter 263 - Gompachi

    "What''s a young tamer like you doing alone in this ce? You''re quite far from the capital," the innkeeper remarked, prying into Yoichi''s identity and the reason which had led him to move.

    "I''m looking for someone. He was Emperor Tatsui''s best cksmith. His name is Shusaku," Yoichi affirmed, without mentioning the vige of Oakenfair. In that way, the young tamer wanted topare Takamori''s version with that of those unknown people, should they ever have known the cksmith.??

    "The Emperor''s cksmith is no longer in the capital? Well, that''s odd," one of the men at the counter replied. Giggling with one of hispanions, he swallowed another sip of cold beer.

    "Emperor Shinzo exiled him after his father died. Many were Tatsui''s men exiled from Goldhaven when his son inherited the Empire," Yoichi exined. "By the way. I had never seen a statue depicting the current Emperor''s father with his Oracle. I thought they were all destroyed," he continued.

    "Indeed, thew says this," the innkeeper answered, polishing the back of the wooden bar.

    "Shinzo is a disrespectful son of a bitch", a man from the tables at the back of the room grunted.

    "Yeah, I hope he rots in hell," one of his colleagues added, making a disgusting noise with his throat and spitting something into a kind of vase on the floor.

    Oh my... Ryutaro and Takamori told me about people hating the Emperor, but I didn''t think they did it in such a transparent way. I''m sure if I had been one of his men, the innkeeper would have actually poisoned my breakfast, Yoichi reflected, smiling and ying dumb.

    "The Emperor''s men searched all of Goldhaven County and the adjacent provinces. However, when that happened, the only path to get here to Grimbrook was through the Boneside Swamp," the innkeeper exined, preparing breakfast for Yoichi. "Our vige was indeed isted from the rest of the world, and evidently, even the imperial guards just forgot to check on it," he added.

    "Since then, Grimbrook has be a kind of refuge for all those who hate Emperor Shinzo. We wee anyone who follows our ideal and kick out those who think otherwise!" another tavern patron yelled, raising his half-full mug and bragging about those words with hisrades.

    "Um... do you mean to say that there are alternative paths to the swamp to travel north?" Yoichi inquired. His words were almost whispered as the shame of not knowing that information assailed him.

    "Of course, boy!" the innkeeper chuckled, jerking the baby tuft on his head. "Across the Bronzeforest, youe to a path that allows you to climb down from the teau and gets into the valley. It leads further north than here, so most people are almost unaware of the existence of our vige."

    The man with the dagger turned his face toward Yoichi, crossing his gaze with him. Arge scar covered one of his eyes, and the young tamer couldn''t help but stare at it.

    "Why? Did you really cross the Boneside Swamp to get here?" the man asked. The room was shrouded in awkward silence, and all those present waited for their visitor''s answer.

    "Um... well... yes", Yoichi sp0ke, continuing to smile to hide his embarrassment.

    "Hahahaha!" the innkeeperughed with the men sitting at the counter that followed him in chorus. For a few seconds, everyone in the tavern giggled as if after a joke.

    "What the hell are youughing at?" a voiceover interrupted. After those words, the creak of the saloon''s folding door echoed through the inn. The old man with the pipe who, until a few minutes before, had been sitting in the rocking chair next to the doorway had just spoken.

    As the old man shuffled on his tired legs toward the bar, all the men in the ce fell silent, as if an authority was speaking.

    His shoulders were hunched forward in a stubborn hump, and, with both hands wrinkled and crossed behind his back, he took a step every two seconds. The hat on his head was sorge that it covered his entire face and hid his appearance.

    The only thinging out of that wide visor was the smoke from the pipe, which carried with it a stench of stale tobo.

    "None of you ugly mugs have ever dared to walk through the Boneside Swamp. And I bet nobody knows what you''re talking about," the old man scolded, moving the long pipe with his tongue to the other side of his mouth.

    "What can I get you to drink today, wise Gempachi?" the innkeeper asked smiling, serving breakfast to Yoichi and turning to the old man. On arge ceramic te, steaming ramen was apanied by grilled meat fillets and sweet and sour vegetables. The smell was so inviting that it drew Yoichi''s face toward the te.

    "A ss of sak¨¨ will be more than enough to ease the pain of my creaky old back," the old man in the hat replied before continuing his speech. "The Boneside Swamp got its name about a hundred years ago when hundreds of human bones and rotting corpses were discovered within it. Only the bravest tamers manage to avoid being devoured by the ravenous veil demons that popte that hellish ce," Gempachi exined.

    "I will assume then that although you are the age of the youngest of my grandchildren, you are not a novice tamer. Right?" with the round visor of his hat pointed at the young tamer, the old man was speaking to Yoichi.

    "Um... let''s say yes, Senpai. I''m trying to get stronger and stronger," Yoichi replied, stepping down from the barstool and bowing his head in a sign of respect. Cleverly, Yoichi didn''t need any further confirmation to realize that the old Gempachi was the vige headman.

    "This is precisely the reason that pushed me beyond the walls of Goldhaven. I need a weapon that can meet my needs, and only Shusaku can help me out."

    "Shusaku? Why that stingy old man of all people? Even here in Grimbrook, there are cksmiths who, for a reasonable fee, would be willing to help you," the old man replied. "Besides, my eyes aren''t as good as they used to be, but good enough to recognize a good katana when they see it," Gempachi added, looking at Ryutaro''s katana from under his hat.

 Chapter 264 - Rumors

    "This?" Yoichi asked, grabbing the hilt of Ryutaro''s katana. "This doesn''t belong to me. It''s a long story, but let''s just say it belongs to someone who can''t keep it now," he said, answering the old vige headman''s question.

    "Who gave you the name Shusaku? You are young; you could never know an older man like him. You probably weren''t even born when he was exiled," Gompachi replied quickly. ??

    Actually, it''s as if I was born in this world a few weeks ago, Yoichi thought, scratching the back of his head. "My master told me that Shusaku is the only one who can handle the steel I n to use to forge the weapon. It is a rare metal that I obtained as a reward in a dungeon," he continued.

    "I see," Gompachi nodded. "And tell me... who is your master?"

    "Ryutaro, Gompachi-Senpai. Ryutaro-Sama is my master," the young tamer answered proudly. Every time he uttered the gatekeeper''s name Yoichi clenched his fists, remembering that he was still in the prisons of the Imperial Pce.

    As soon as the stranger with long blond hair said that name, the air seemed to freeze inside the tavern. Everyone present fell into a deep silence, watching Yoichi with open mouths and studying his appearance from head to toe.

    Even old Gompachi, who had the look of someone who had seen everything in his life, stopped talking for a moment. Without ever removing his hat, he walked further to the barstool in front of the counter. With a jump worthy of an athletic youngster, the old man hopped on it, turning to face the innkeeper who had already ced down a ss of sake at his usual seat.

    "Did you say Ryutaro, boy?" the innkeeper asked. "The legendary Ryutaro? The warrior who swept entire hordes of Kamakiri warriors alongside Emperor Tatsui?" the one-eyed man added.

    "Yes, that''s the one. When the new Emperor took the throne, Ryutaro was also exiled from the Pce. Shinzo forced him to be the gatekeeper of Goldhaven''s sacred Dojo, forcing him into a life in the shadows. Since that day, Ryutaro-Sensei has never revealed his face again" - reassured that everyone there was loyal to Tatsui, Yoichi told them the story of his master.

    "That''s why he left Goldhaven. It was because he sensed my need for help. For that very reason, when we returned to the capital, he was imprisoned by the Emperor. Since that day, my master has been somewhere in the Pce dungeon," Yoichi concluded, drawing the gaze of all the men in the tavern to himself.

    "That son of a bitch has no idea what he''s doing!" the one-eyed man thundered. "Yeah, that insolent kid isn''t even worth a tenth of the great Ryutaro, Tatsui''s right-hand warrior!" another man from the back tables yelled.

    Showing his usual politeness, Yoichi waited until he had finished his story before he began sipping his ramen to moisturize his dry lips. At the same time, Gompachi drank his small ss of homemade sake as if it were fresh water.

    "Listen, boy. I know Shusaku''s position," the old man in the sombrero-like hat revealed.

    "What?! Really?!" Yoichi gulped. Exhaling quickly, the young tamer risked having vegetable brothe out of his nose.

    "Yes. The indication you have been given is correct, but only in part. The old cksmith is in Oakenfair, but he has not lived within the vige for a long time," Gompachi reported. "If you''ve never been there, you should know that Oakenfair is a vige carved entirely in the mountains and offers many secret tunnels and rocky bottlenecks. You can easily imagine that Shusaku is not the only person who has chosen to take shelter down there."

    "Many ouws hide in Oakenfair under false identities, hoping to start a new life," the man with the dagger in his belt added. From the way he openly conversed, he too, sounded like a war veteran. "Some popr rumors say that it is possible to reach even Hollowgate via a system of underground tunnels from the rock vige. Of course, I have never had the pleasure of verifying such a rumor. Tut!" he huffed, sipping his beer.

    "Hollowgate..." Yoichi whispered, silently consulting the archives of his memory. "Isn''t that the ce that houses the ck market? A friend of mine told me about it once," he asked aloud, remembering Enatsu''s words. The merchant told Yoichi about the ck market and the Demon Hunters, the tamers who took possession of rare demons only to sell them at a high price in that ce forgotten by thew.

    "Okay, listen, listen," Gompachi interrupted. With his wrinkled but firm hand, he squeezed the young tamer''s wrist. "Shusaku was a friend of mine. I worked at the Imperial Pce, too, many years ago, but I fled when I realized that Emperor Tatsui would soon be dead. The cksmith passed through here from Grimbrook before continuing north, remembering that this was my home vige. The first time he reached Oakenfair, I apanied him," the old man exined.

    Unbelievable! Everything is going better than I had hoped! Yoichi thought, who had even hesitated before entering that ambiguous saloon.

    "The Valley of the Northern Waters stretches for several miles to the northern border of Tentochu. If you continued following the north, you might get lost in its trespass and might never reach your destination," Gompachi continued. "When you leave Grimbrook, I will lead you to the Waveless Rill, the river that will take you all the way to Oakenfair."

    "You mean I''ll just follow a river? I was nning to follow the mountains," Yoichi replied, continuing to eat. He saved some of the broth and began to bite the sulent meat.

    "There are so many waterways in the valley. The Waveless River is the only one characterized by the presence of white corals on its banks. Its water, for which it is named,es directly from the source of Oakrath Heights, the mountain that houses the vige of Oakenfair," the old man exined. "With no detours, you''ll reach your destination in just over a day. Once there, seek out the shop of Kinnojo, the spice merchant, and tell him that Gompachi sent you. He will know how to help you."

 Chapter 265 - Wooden Dwelling

    "Follow the Waveless River to Oakrath Heights and arrive and look for Kinnojo. Roger, I''ll keep your suggestions in mind, Gompachi-Senpai!" Yoichi recapped, thrilled to have a new lead to follow.

    Unlike Takamori''s suggestions, those of the old Grimbrook vige headman were much more detailed and precise. Yoichi didn''t even ask him how he knew Kinnojo or how he remembered those details, but he trusted him regardless. The only thing that mattered was the fact that he too, like the Nightdes'' guild leader, was pretty sure that Shusaku was in the small vige at the northern edge of the mountains.??

    "I don''t know who this Roger is, but that''s fine. When you finish eating, join me on the other side of the square. There''s someone I want you to meet," Gompachi stated, stepping off his barstool with a hop and heading slowly towards the tavern''s exit.

    "Alright, see you in a bit!" Yoichi replied, turning to his te of ramen and starting to eat voraciously again. Without the old man talking to him closely, the young tamer finished the course in seconds.

    "Aaah...an excellent meal. Thank you, innkeeper," he smiled, wiping his mouth with his hand and grabbing the small mug of beer the innkeeper had ced in front of his seat. When the young warrior pulled out a gold coin to pay the two silver coins bill, the people around him muttered something.

    "Boy, don''t you have any silver coins?" the innkeeper asked,pulsively touching his mustache in search of a solution. "I should give you ny-eight silver coins, and honestly, I don''t think I have them in here," he continued, opening a rumpled drawer behind the wooden bar and checking his finances.

    "Um... I''m sorry, but I haven''t had a chance to spend my guild pay and..."

    "Look...it''s fine, okay?" the innkeeper interrupted. "You were nice with the wise Gompachi, this is more than enough payment. Let''s say breakfast is on the house," the big, mustachioed man smiled.

    "What? But... I don''t know what to say. Thank you!" Yoichi greeted. I just can''t pay for lunch, can I? He thought, reflecting on the fact that every time he was in a tavern, sooner orter, someone offered him food and drink. It had happened with Hiobe at Sleeping Owl Tavern and now it had happened in Grimbrook.

    "You''re wee. Go now, have a safe trip! The vige head doesn''t like to wait," the innkeeper spoke, taking the te and ss in front of his customer with his huge hands to tidy up the counter.

    Yoichi thanked once again and cordially greeted all those extravagant characters who, in one way or another, had participated in the conversation.

    After quenching his thirst and feeding his appetite, he walked out of the saloon doors and found himself in the middle of the central vige square. The sun shone high in the sky and seemed to touch the wings of the wooden phoenix. The Oracle statue of Tatsui Nishiyama was radiant and thanks to the morning light it was possible to appreciate even the smallest details.

    Following Gompachi''s words, Yoichi walked to the other side of the small square. The group of five women who had just been talking about him had been reduced to three. The young tamer greeted them with a wave of his hand, once again giving proof of his non-hostility.

    "Yoichi, over here!" - Gompachi''s distant voice called out to the young Goldhaven warrior. He looked around for a few seconds until he spotted the old man in the hat standing next to a wooden door.

    The door was the entrance to one of the vige''s cubic buildings. No signs or inscriptions were posted near it. Probably, Gompachi had just entered a dwelling.

    Still feeling the eyes of the vigers on him, Yoichi continued walking without ever turning around and followed his new friend inside the door. Although the atmosphere seemed gentle and rxed, one hand was perpetually attached to the handle of Ryutaro''s katana.

    The interior of the dwelling was modest and dimly lit. Sunlight barely filtered through windows made of broken, opaque ss. It was as if the windows had been smashed and then glued back in ce, piece by piece.

    A low cab filled with drawers and small dusty shelves formed the kitchen of that tiny apartment, built less than a meter off the ground. Immediately next to the kitchen, six beds were stacked next to each other.

    Mattresses of all sizes upied all the rest of the house. Some of them were upied by children sleeping around a fatdy with a kind face. She wore the same clothes as the women who were watching Yoichi in the square.

    "Grandpa Gompachi!" another child hiding under the table suddenly eximed. He slipped out of his hiding ce, ran past Yoichi, almost ignoring his presence, andunched himself at the old man in the hat. The grandfather and grandson squeezed into a warm embrace.

    "Hello, Gompachi! Oh, I didn''t think we had guests!" the woman sitting on the mattress smiled. As soon as she turned to the old man and noticed that someone was in hispany, she covered herrge breasts. While with one hand she stroked one of the children on the bed to sleep, with the other she held a baby while nursing.

    "Oh! I beg your pardon, ma''am!" Yoichi boomed in a low voice, bending over in embarrassment like a little wooden soldier. With his gaze pointed downward, he asked himself how he had ended up in such a ce.

    "Hi, Emiko. Don''t worry, the boy is with me," Gompachi affirmed, reassuring the woman. "What happened to your son Takuma? I''d like to introduce him to someone," he continued. With his hands crossed behind his back, the old vige head looked around.

    Although the house was incredibly small, it was so full of children, beds, and various junk, that finding someone in the chaos was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

    "Hey, Grandpa!" a voiceover eximed. Yoichi and Gompachi realized it wasing from the apartment''s only window, which was wide open to the outside. "I was fixing the roof. I''ll be right down!" the voice repeated.

    Suddenly, a long, thin wooden stick from the outside entered the window. *thud* - Its ttened tip wedged between the floor and the leg of a bed.

    "What the..." Yoichi stammered, beginning to believe that the innkeeper had inserted hallucinogenic substances into his ramen.

 Chapter 266 - Grandson

    The stick that had just ''rained'' from the window was crooked and irregr as if it had been detached from an old tree. After a sudden creaking noise, it seemed to shorten quickly, spinning on itself like the tip of a top.

    Suddenly, a strange being came through the window, hurling itspanion into the room. A boy was thrown onto the bed and, falling on his back, did an agile somersault in mid-air,nding on his feet on the floor. ??

    Afterpleting its spin, the demon who had carried its tamer from the roof of the building into the apartment revealed its bizarre appearance. The long wooden staff was but one of its two legs. Just as the legscked feet, the arms without hands were made of two thin wooden sticks.

    The body of the demon instead, was covered by ayer of yellowish straw and ropes woven over each other, recalling the shape of a rudimentary peasant dress. Above the neck, tworge buttons and a white zigzag thread were sewn on top of a spherical bag of dirty fabric, connected to the neck by a noose formed by a rope.

    Incredibly, the demon that had just made its appearance in front of the stunned Yoichi was a perfect copy of a scarecrow. It wore a hat very simr to that of Gompachi and the other old men of the vige, and its funny appearance was emphasized by its wobbly gait.

    "The hailst week destroyed some of the roof tiles. I absolutely had to fix them, I couldn''t let my brothers and sisters get wet during the night," eximed the young tamer as he came in through the window, talking to Gompachi.

    He looked friendly and a little out of his mind. His blond and red hair was vaguely reminiscent of his demon scarecrow''s straw dress. The young handyman''s eyes were brown and on his face, the typical teenage beard simr to that of his only peer in the room.

    "Heheh... you''re always taking care of your siblings, Takuma. When you do that, you remind me of your father," the old vige leader chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

    "Tut! I have to keep myself trained somehow, grandpa! This ce is so boring! There''s never anything cool to do and.... uh? Who''s that?" young Takuma asked, who noticed Yoichi''s presence after a few seconds.

    The young tamer from Goldhaven looked at his peer and merely gave a smile, leaning his head forward. Taking advantage of that moment, he noticed some details of Takuma''s outfit.

    The red-haired boy was wearing rough cloth pants torn at the ankles and a whitish tank top soiled with mud, dirt, and other strange yellowish stains. Beneath the pants, Takuma was barefoot. His feet were lumpy and calloused, full of tiny scars. It looked like the bizarre tamer had never worn a pair of boots.

    Yoichi''s greetings were preceded by Gimpachi''s introductions. Not even knowing the real reason why the vige leader had asked him to follow him to that house, Yoichi didn''t quite know what to say.

    "This is Yoichi," Gimpachi eximed, pointing his wrinkled old hand at his guest. "Yoichi, this is my grandson Takuma. He wille with you to Oakenfair," the old man stated confidently, nodding with therge visor of his hat.

    "What?"

    "What?"

    Almost at the same instant, the two tamers uttered the same word with the same amount of astonishment. Immediately after, they looked into each other''s eyes, wondering why Gompachi had said such a thing.

    "You need someone to help you find Shusaku. You, on the other hand, are bored with Grimbrook and spend your days here doing useless things. If you leave together for the north, you will both be satisfied," the old man rejoiced, pleased with his words.

    For a few seconds, a rather awkward silence fell over the room. The creaking of the scarecrow''s wooden legs echoed within the narrow walls of the ce.

    After a few seconds of waiting, Yoichi cleared his throat. "Gimpachi-Senpai, I thank you very much for your thoughtfulness, but it is not necessary that..."

    "Don''t say gibberish, Yoichi!" the old man in the hat interrupted, mming one foot on the ground and shushing his interlocutor. "Takuma, haven''t you wanted to show everyone your tamer skills since the age of six?" he asked.

    "Yes, grandfather. However, I don''t even know this boy. I don''t know who he is, where hees from, and why he has to travel north. I don''t know, I had imagined the moment I left Grimbrook a little different," Takuma muttered, scratching the back of his head.

    "The trip to Oakenfair will help you get to know each other better. Yoichi is a professional tamer and belongs to a guild in the capital. You know the Valley of the Northern Waters better than anyone else because of my teachings. In exchange for your help, Yoichi will be happy to exin to you how to join a guild," Gimpachi exined. "True, Yoichi?" he asked, suddenly turning to face him.

    A chill ran down the young tamer''s spine. "Um, yeah. Sure, why not?" he chuckled, still embarrassed by the strange conversation.

    What the hell was wrong with this old man? One minute we were conversing in a tavern and the next... he''s forcing his grandson to apany me to Oakenfair! Is this really my lucky day or is something shady about to happen? Yoichi pondered, knowing there was no more time to waste.

    The old headman''s words rang out like the gentle melody of a harp in the ears of his rambunctious grandson. Like a rocket, Takuma sprinted toward Yoichi, stopping inches from his face.

    "Aaargh!" Yoichi gulped, who wasn''t ready for such a close encounter.

    "Do you really belong to a Goldhaven guild? What guild is that?" Takuma inquired, with a giant smile painted on his face. "I know almost every guild in Tentochu, and I''ve been dreaming of being a guild tamer since I was six years old!" he added.

    "Um... the Nightdes," Yoichi replied shyly. "Have you ever heard that name?" he asked, curious.

    Takuma snapped back, sitting down on the bed. With one hand under his chin and looking up at the ceiling, he reported, "Nightdes. The guild leader is Takamori Sada, a former member of the Emperor''s Heralds. The strongest warrior on the other hand is a young man called Nobunaga.... I don''t think I know much information about him."

    As if his brain was aplex database, Takuma managed to surprise Yoichi by showing him that he knew the two most important members of his guild.

 Chapter 267 - Weird Guide

    "Oh. Well, yeah. You probably know my guild better than I do," Yoichi replied, trying to be friendly. Even though Takuma looked like a guy who was too boisterous and out of control for his taste, he conveyed a sense of friendship to Yoichi.

    The two tamers looked at each other and smiled, feeling a strange empathy. Yoichi had recently begun to believe in destiny, and if everything was truly the result of arger scheme, even the tamer of that strange scarecrow could y a role in his life. ??

    "Okay, listen up gentlemen," the young tamer added. "I thank you for your thoughtfulness and certainly, if Takuma would like to apany me on my mission, I will not stop him. However, although I would stay in your vige to talk with you, I have a schedule to keep. In five days I must be in Ambershire," Yoichi exined.

    "Five days? If youe with me it will take us four if all goes well," Takuma quickly replied. Without any warning, he threw himself off the bed and knelt in front of Yoichi. At the same time, his scarecrow demon did the same, mimicking its tamer''s movements and kneeling on the wooden floor. "Karasu and I will never be in your way, Yoichi-Sama! We will safely escort you to Oakenfair and do whatever you say, but please... please take us with you!"

    Takuma''s pleas were exaggerated and inappropriate. Yoichi, embarrassed by the fact that the boy in front of him was pleading with him as if he were a king, invited his interlocutor to stand up.

    "All right, all right!" he puffed, nodding. "Can we go now? It will be harder to follow the Waveless River without daylight," he ordered, stepping back and approaching the exit door.

    "That''s the spirit! I can sense your attunement already! Remember, Takuma... Yoichi is not required to stay in yourpany and could dismiss you at any time. Be nice to him, and if you are lucky, you will be able to visit the capital of Tentochu," the old Gompachi rejoiced. Without consulting Yoichi first, he made up that innocent but utterly absurd story as if he wanted to get rid of his grandson.

    "Of course, Grandpa Gompachi! I will not disappoint your expectations, I will be a tamer as strong as you!" Takuma replied, standing up and clenching his fists. Incredibly, once again, his scarecrow mirrored his movements.

    Just as Yoichi was about to walk through the exit door, those words caught his attention. I knew that Gompachi was a tamer! He thought. Only a tamer could know all those details about Shusaku or Emperor Tatsui''s men. I guess I was right to trust him, he reflected.

    The young tamer of the Nightdes left the wooden house of Gompachi''s family, politely greeted thedy who was breastfeeding the baby, and walked to the center of the square.

    Waiting for Takuma to finish his preparations to leave, Yoichi got lost in the beauty of that sculpture. He couldn''t help but wonder about the powers of the fire phoenix of the previous Emperor of Tentochu. Was Shinzo''s Torasagi just as powerful?

    Minutes passed like seconds and a hand on his shoulder interrupted that stream of thoughts. "Karasu and I are ready to go!" Takuma thundered, a smile printed on his face. "I don''t mean to sound insolent but... do you happen to need a horse?" he asked.

    Without answering, taking advantage of Takuma''s genuine admiration for him, Yoichi pulled Ichiro''s Demon Tooth from his backpack and wedged it into the ground beneath his feet. In a y of swirling, yellowish lights, the Inoshuma took shape, showing Takuma its majesty.

    "Wooo! It''s beautiful!" Takuma gasped, as his eyes glowed like twoets. "I''ve never seen such a mighty Inoshuma! What''s its name?" he begged. The young tamer from Grimbrook approached the horse demon fearlessly, extending a hand towards its muzzle.

    "Hey, wait a..." - Yoichi tried to warn his newpanion of Ichiro''s domineering nature, but his words were interrupted by the scene before his eyes. Incredibly, Ichiro was allowing Takuma to pet it withoutining.

    The mighty Inoshuma was not used to familiarizing itself with everyone and had repeatedly shown that it was kind only to its tamer. However, as its muzzle and nose were being stroked by that funny guy, Ichiro closed its eyes, enjoying the moment of cuddling.

    "Its name is Ichiro. It''s my best travelingpanion," Yoichi smiled, petting his horse''s mane and then jumping on its back. Takuma detached himself from his newpanions, hurrying to the back of his house. The funny scarecrow remained motionless in the same position.

    The demon''s face, characterized by that perpetual smile sewn into the fabric, looked particrly disturbing. Bncing alternately on its right and left leg, Karasu waited for its tamer next to Ichiro.

    The Inoshuma avoided making eye contact with the scarecrow. Even Ichiro, who wasn''t afraid of anyone, didn''t feelfortable next to the ambiguous-looking demon.

    "Here I am!" - A tter of hooves apanied Takuma''s distant words. The Grimbrook warrior was astride a splendid brown and white spotted stallion.

    His horse''s hooves were partially covered in long, smooth fur, which covered its ankles reaching down to the ground. Takuma''s steed was clearly a northern horse, ustomed to living in hostile weather conditions.

    Like Ichiro''s saddle, his horse''s saddle was equipped withrge side bags, wide enough to carry everything necessary to face a long journey. In just a few minutes, indeed, Takuma had been able to fill them to the brim.

    Who knows what he must have put in them, Yoichi thought, continuing to look at the bags. Next to them, Takuma''s bare feet rested in the metal rings of the saddle.

    "Come on, let''s go!" he affirmed roguishly. Karasu, the scarecrow demon, made a strange upward leap,nding on the horse''s back and crumpling in on itself. The scarecrow''s wooden legs and arms became dizzyingly short and its entire body was reduced to a small cube of straw and wood.

 Chapter 268 - Waveless River

    When Takuma''s demon became a little bigger than luggage, the young tamer from Grimbrook spurred his horse. "Let''s go, Yoichi. We''ve got a long way to go," he spoke. From his tone of voice, he seemed more enthusiastic than his new fellow traveler.

    Behind the two adventurers, Gompachi and other people from the vige gathered under the statue. Each of them, in his own way, greeted the two tamers, wishing them good luck. ??

    In Grimbrook, Yoichi had unexpectedly found good food, lots of information to find the cksmith Shusaku, and, to top it all off, a new travelingpanion.

    The two young men rode over the wooden bridge at the main entrance and followed the outer wooden walls until they pointed their horses north. When that happened, Takuma further spurred his steed, causing it to quicken its pace.

    "Yah! Come on!" - Holding up the reins with both hands and stepping barefoot onto the horse''s back, the Grimbrook tamer distanced himself from hispanion, who had not expected such a sudden change in speed.

    Yoichi did not understand why Takuma had moved so quickly away from his vige but followed him on horseback. The Inoshuma reached the same speed as the other horse in a bunch of seconds.

    On the west area of Grimbrook, on the side facing the escarpment that separated the valley from the Bronzeforest, there was a small field of Crimson Lotus. In addition to the demon-repellent nt, other vegetables and fruit trees were clustered in that spot, perhaps especially suited for cultivation due to its strategic location. In that position, the trees were ventted to the right point and received a good amount of sunlight.

    After a few hundred meters traveled in a matter of seconds, Yakuma slowed down and Yoichi did the same. The Southborne Mountains were back in the same direction as the outward journey so the young tamer was sure to ride north.

    "Here. This is the Waveless River, the river my grandfather told you about," Takuma exined, sticking his arm out past his horse and pointing to the only waterway its hooves.

    A small river with irregr banks and gentle curves meandered through the valley. Its water entered a series of small sinkholes in the ground, all of which pointed toward the cultivated fields of Grimbrook.

    Yoichi noticed that the river water, though it really didn''t seem to be carried by any current, was traveling in the direction of the vige. ording to that old man''s ount, this river originates in Oakenfair and arrives right here, he thought. I wonder if it continues into the Bronzeforest as well.

    Trying to pass the time by studying that detail, he looked carefully at the riverbed, riding beside its bank. The hollow, blunt bed reflected the low energy of that waterway.

    Unlike normal meandering rivers, characterized by strong currents that carved out each meander eroding the outer banks, the Waveless River was named that way precisely because it seemed to be in a perpetual state of stillness.

    Also, just as Gompachi had spoken, small white corals were harrumphing on the sides of the river bed, their ''heads'' pointing toward the sun and their small fusiform bodies intertwined with each other.

    As Yoichi pondered how bizarre nature could be in that magical world, Yakuma broke the silence again.

    "I don''t know the reason why you came to Grimbrook, but I''m really grateful to you, man" - the red-haired boy turned to Yoichi and exchanged a genuine smile with him. "My grandfather Gompachi is very strict and never let me leave outside the vige. Ever since my father died, I have been taking care of my mother and siblings. You must have impressed him, Yoichi!" he added, briefly telling him his story.

    "I didn''t say anything special, I promise. I think your grandfather only trusts me because I''m a student of one of his old trusted friends," Yoichi replied. "I didn''t expect to find tamers so far away from the viges surrounding Goldhaven. Usually, the people who own an Oracle hang out in the capital area or are on a mission on behalf of their guilds," he continued.

    "Grandpa Gompachi always told me that you don''t have to be a member of a guild to be a strong warrior. Today, when he let you into my house and said you could lead me to your guild, I couldn''t believe my ears!" the Grimbrook tamer rejoiced. "Anyway, don''t worry. I''ll apany you to Oakenfair and then I''ll go on my way. I have no intention of stand in your way."

    "Your demon..." Yoichi interrupted. "What kind of demon is it? It''s so weird and I''ve never seen something like it. Not even in Goldhaven''s Tamer District," he asked.

    "Are you talking about Karasu? It''s a Sutotoko, a scarecrow demon. It is the evolution of a Kabotoko. It''s true, it''s not verymon around here, and me too, I''ve never seen anyone else of its own kind," Takuma confirmed. "I couldn''t tell you where to find another Sutotoko, Karasu is my Oracle, so I didn''t make any effort to get one! Hahah!" he chuckled, being self-ironic.

    "That''s cool! I must admit it, when it stood there looking at me earlier, it slightly creeped me out! Hahah!"

    Yoichi and Takuma joked like two friends who had known each other for years. There was immediate empathy and friendship between them, even though the social context in which they had lived was diametrically opposite.

    The young Grimbrook warrior looked at Yoichi as if he were his older brother, and it didn''t bother him in the least. The thought of making such a long journey in thepany of a chatterbox like Takuma cheered Yoichi up, and he didn''t even feel tired.

    Following the river, the Valley of the Northern Waters seemed to extend all the way to the horizon, and though the travelers'' eyes tried to travel beyond the snow-capped peaks of the Southborne Mountains, all they could see were rivers and giant expanses of pristine grasnd.

    North of Goldhaven, as Enatsu had exined to Yoichi many times, the Tentochu people cared deeply about nature and tended not to deface it. The faction''srgest cities, for this very reason, were restricted to the central belt from west to east.

 Chapter 269 - Wooden Arm

    "Are there rare demons in this area? Usually, they live in ces not densely popted by humans," Yoichi asked. In his bag was a single empty Demon Tooth.

    "Rare demons? Um... I think there''s a chance to find some in the Damned Catbs, a dungeon not far from our next destination," Takuma replied, once again showing good knowledge of the area.??

    "Well, from the name it doesn''t sound promising. If I wasn''t in a hurry to find the cksmith, I''d take a trip to that dungeon. Have you ever been there?"

    "Me? Nah. I''ve never had any adventuringpanions, I''ve always done things on my own, and, well, even a country boy like me knows that venturing into a dungeon alone can be very dangerous."

    Yoichi did not respond to that remark. He pulled Ryutaro''s map out of his bag and began searching for the name of the dungeon Takuma mentioned. "Damned Catbs, here it is" - his finger rested on the faded letters of the dot marking the dungeon.

    Judging by the hand-drawn pattern, it looked like stairs going deep into the foothills of one of the Southborne Mountains. Next to the name were two numbers, separated by a dash: ''3-4''.

    "Hmm... if I understand correctly, my master''s map says it''s a dungeon for parties of three up to four tamers. That means if two of us ventured in there, we would risk our lives," Yoichi spoke. In his mind, the thought that it might be inhabited by a Void Summoner floated dangerously.

    Yoichi had no idea what thebat level of his new travelingpanion was, but he knew that without his friends, fighting and defeating one of Gonshiro''s warriors would be no easy feat.

    Meeting Shioko again and saving Princess Sui were his priorities. Inwardly, Yoichi hoped to find no traces of ckblood in the area.

    The Waveless River continued undisturbed to carve through the valley, following the natural morphology of the rolling hills one after another. Pointing his gaze to the east, Yoichi noticed that the Bronzeforest was bing less and less dense, gradually disappearing.

    The trees of the forest receded further and further from view, reced by a wide, endless in. From that point on, the distance to Goldhaven was considerable, and the almost total absence of poption centers tranted into ack of Crimson Lotus ntations.

    "I think I have to pee," Yoichi said, continuing to ride behind Takuma. "All that beer I drank in the tavern is starting to kick in," he chuckled.

    Takuma agreed to the request and Yoichi diverted the trajectory of his Inoshuma. He headed towards a small cluster of trees inherited from the Bronzeforest. Beyond the main mass of vegetation, in fact, in the Valley of the Northern Waters, many small forests offered dark shades to the rivers and shelter to their inhabitants.

    Without deviating too much from the direction for Oakenfair, Yoichi reached the trees and climbed down from Ichiro''s back, jumping near the bank of the river. "I can''t take it anymore, my dder is bursting," he muttered, not having thought about the fact that beer was having that effect on his stomach.

    Although no one seemed to be nearby, the young tamer hid behind a tree and pulled down his pants, performing his physiological functions.

    Meanwhile, Takuma stayed close to Ichiro, about ten meters away from Yoichi.

    *psss* - "Oh, my God. What a relief," Yoichi sighed, feeling an immediate sense of rxation.

    *crack* - "Huh?"

    Suddenly, the sound of a shrubing from behind jolted him. Yoichi pulled up his pants and turned around, sure that he sensed a presence within the small wood.

    Before Takuma or Ichiro could realize that their friend had felt a presence, Yoichi sensed something heading toward him as fast as a bullet.

    From the darkness of the trees, whose foliage was so dense that the sunlight could not filter through, a long, sharp object tried to hit him in the face.

    Showing good reflexes, Yoichi threw himself sideways to the ground, dodging the blow. *thud* - A very long root from the darkness speared the trunk of the tree behind Yoichi, piercing it and popping out the other side.

    "Oh, fuck!" Yoichi gasped, trying to rm hispanions.

    "Hiii!" Ichiro neighed, feeling its tamer''s sense of danger and quickly running towards him. "Yoichi! What''s going on?" Takuma shouted, shaking the reins of his steed and following the Inoshuma towards the center of the small forest.

    "Freeze! Don''t move!" Yoichi yelled again. Ichiro locked its hooves to the ground, making them crawl into the soil and obeying its tamer''s order.

    Takuma, unable to understand what had happened and relying on the instincts of a more experienced warrior than himself, stayed behind Ichiro, ready to get off his horse and fight.

    Yoichi got up nimbly and touched his cheekbone, noticing that it had suffered a small cut. With his gaze, he followed that horizontal root, still embedded in the trunk of the tree.

    It wasposed of many small intertwined branches and seemed to possess incredible strength. If it had hit him on the head, the spot it was aiming at, it would have impaled him instantly.

    With his hand resting on the hilt of the katana, Yoichi shouted toward the dark spot from which that very long, deadly arm sprouted. "Who''s there? Step forward!" - the darkness of the forest made it impossible to make out the shapes that lurked at the starting point of the root. What species of wild demon could have attacked him in broad daylight?

    As if that mysterious being had heard and understood his words, the root was pulled out of the trunk. Numerous splinters were scattered in every direction as the sharp end of that woody arm retraced its path backward. A perfect hole appeared in the trunk, testifying to the strength of that deadly weapon.

    As that wooden tentacle plunged into the darkness from which it came, a sound of footsteps echoed through the trees, alerting Yoichi''s hearing. His eyes narrowed in that direction, while his arm was still extended outward to block the advance of hispanions.

    As therge root disappeared, two feet appeared from the darkness, shaping the body of the mysterious enemy. Above the rough woven pants, a red leather armor reflected a thin ray of sunlight.

 Chapter 270 - Bunjiro

    The thin beam of light gradually illuminated the entire body of the enemy who had just tried to kill Yoichi. When it reached his hair, Yoichi''s eyes widened, recognizing that face and realizing why that person had just tried to surprise him.

    Helmet brown hair and an angry expression, his gaze focused on his target. Behind that red-armored boy''s shoulders, two long greenish lianas swung in the air ready to strike like the tentacles of an octopus. ??

    "You! I know you!" Yoichi growled, pointing a hand toward the unknown warrior. In the meantime, Takuma had stopped a few feet from hispanion. From his position, the Grimbrook warrior was able to witness the scene.

    "Did you really think you could escape after what you did to the Emperor''s Heralds?" the helmeted-haired boy grunted, as the lianas-waving demon slowly emerged from the darkness.

    A short, stocky body identical to half a trunk and long lianas in ce of limbs took shape. When Yoichi could make out the demon of the unknown warrior, he had no more doubts.

    He was the tamer of the Emperor''s Heralds who had raped Princess Sui in that dark alley in Goldhaven.

    When he managed to connect the pieces of the puzzle, Yoichi clenched his fists and the blood began to boil in his veins. As the veins on his neck and arms swelled from the increase in his blood pressure, he spoke the name of his Inoshuma, keeping his voice low.

    "Azron," he affirmed, calling Ichiro back into its Demon Tooth, never taking his eyes off his enemy. "You know that guy, Yoichi?" Takuma inquired, who, despite being a stranger to the matter, could sense Yoichi''s resentment for the young warrior.

    "When I heard from my colleagues that you attacked Kato in the Goldhaven arena, I thought I finally had an excuse to fuckin'' kill you, loser," the viin chuckled. "The Emperor has ced a bounty on your head. If I brought you back to Goldhaven alive, I would receive avish paycheck. But if I brought back only your head, the reward would be double, and my guild master would shower me with gold coins and kudos."

    Yoichi''s gaze darkened and an expression of deep anger appeared on his face.

    "What the hell are you talking about? Who are you?" Takuma eximed, getting off his horse and stepping forward. "Yoichi is a strong and loyal warrior. How dare you call him an ouw?" the Grimbrook warrior asked naively.

    "Takuma, it''s fine. Back off, buddy. I''ll take care of this blowhard," Yoichi stated, not even looking at his interlocutor. "When I kill this bastard, I''ll tell you his story and you''ll be able to understand me," he added.

    As soon as Takuma heard the word ''kill'', he took a step back. Being used to a life far from the civilization of a city as crowded as Goldhaven, he had witnessed the death of hispanions many times.

    Life beyond the Boneside Swamp, in a vige protected by a single Crimson Lotus field, had never been easy. Every day was a constant struggle between life and death, between savage demons and trouble-seeking warriors from the north.

    Without objecting, the red-haired warrior returned to his horse. Karasu, the scarecrow demon, stilly on the back of the steed, bundled up in its own body.

    Under the leafy foreheads of that small forest, Yoichi finally had the chance to face one of his greatest enemies, the one who, after theirst encounter, had fled to the Heralds'' tower for fear of being denounced.

    Yoichi took a deep breath, squinting his eyes for a moment and concentrating. After his recent experiences and the cultivation of his draconic powers, he knew that calmness would increase the powers of Therion''s me.

    Once it reached the desired power, Yoichi would give free rein to his anger, unleashing it on his enemy. Many miles away from Goldhaven, there was only one way to get rid of that hostile tamer.

    "You''re a long way from your guild and yourrades," Yoichi provoked, straightening his back, stretching his arms out along his sides, and beginning to walk to his side.

    "Thest time we met, you ran away like a rabbit," he added, taunting his opponent. At one point, Yoichi stopped. "Tell me, what''s your name?" he asked, keeping his spirit as calm as the water in a pond.

    "Um" - An evil smile appeared on the enemy''s face. Despite the funny haircut, he had a rather menacing aura. "My name is Bunjiro. I am the one who will deliver your head to the Emperor''s Heralds, avenging myrade Kato and carrying out my Emperor''s orders!" he spoke. Clenching his fists and bringing his hands in front of his face, Bunjiro assumed his fighting stance.

    "Is that really what made you follow me here, Bunjiro?" Yoichi asked, chuckling maliciously.

    "What?" his enemy was struck by that statement. Meanwhile, Takuma was listening to everything from the rear.

    "We both know you don''t care about money or your guild leader''s praise. You fear me for other reasons, you son of a bitch. Well, by straying so far from home, I''m afraid you''ve really overestimated yourbat skills," the young tamer replied, bing serious and focused again.

    Unable to handle his nervousness, Bunjiro burst out in an explosion of anger. "You just don''t get it, huh? You''re already dead, man! The Emperor''s guards will persecute you forever, and if they can''t find you, they''ll kill all your friends one by one!" he shouted. "What do you think will happen to that old traitor you dare to call master? Hahah! That old bastard will be devoured by the rats from the Pce''s dungeons!"

    After Bunjiro''s words, an invisible de struck Yoichi''s heart, tightening his chest in a vise. Ryutaro''s name had been outraged for the umpteenth time, and he couldn''t let that happen.

    "Ildriss," he whispered, summoning his Oracle with a hidden streak of hatred in his voice.

    A beam of red light was ejected from his chest and a tongue of fire spread in a downward spiraling motion. The grass of the ground was burned at that point and the small shrubs were reduced to ashes.

    Between the ck horns of the small dragon, Bunjiro and his demon were ready to fight. The battle would be fierce and filled with hatred.

 Chapter 271 - Primal Instinct

    "So this is the demon that defeated Kato''s demon? Tut!" Bunjiro snorted, trying to belittle Kenji. "A Kuwatako of that level defeated by a weird¡­ what is it? A Nekage?" he added.

    Spreading its feline paws and stretching its tail backwards, Kenji got into a fighting stance. It bared its teeth, and its ruby-coloured eyes twinkled for an instant.??

    "The weird, strange demon that was able to kick your ass in that Goldhaven alley. Do you remember that?" Yoichi replied, answering that taunt head-on.

    Bunjiro''s eyes grew dark. The helmet-haired boy''s bodynguage showed his hatred for Yoichi.

    Although the young tamer had decided not to get to the bottom of the matter and not to pursue him, Bunjiro had never forgotten the moment when Yoichi had defeated him.

    Yoichi could have revealed to everyone that hidden within the Emperor''s Heralds was the one who had raped the princess of Tentochu, Emperor Shinzo''s only daughter.

    In doing so, he would put Shinzo in a challenging situation and be inevitably dered an ouw. Yoichi thought that maybe that was the rightest thing to do, thinking back to the past and looking at the present.

    "I should have killed you when I had the chance," Yoichi said again. "Taking advantage of a helpless girl just to satisfy your needs. Are you really sure your guild leader would haveplimented you even if he knew what you did?"

    Yoichi''s provocations were aimed at angering his opponent. That way, Bunjiro would attack first, and he would have plenty of time to figure out his weaknesses.

    Thest time he had faced him, it was inside a narrow, dark ce. Now, on the other hand, Bunjiro could fight and move freely in an ample, tree-lined space.

    However, after his recent psychic and physical training, Yoichi''s strength had increased considerably. He felt his body like he had trained for years.

    Bunjiro''s tree demon looked like a fighting demon, that is, one of those demons that would rather fight in ce of their tamer than enhance his body.

    Its long vines that reced its arms were robust and strong, and itsst attack had made Yoichi realize that the strange trunk demon could braid them to get a stronger ''arm'', capable to pierce one of the woods trees.

    Unlike it, Bunjiro didn''t look like a skilled fighter. Beneath the Heralds'' glittering, red armoury a skinny, untrained body unsuited to hand-to-handbat.

    Around his belt, he had no weapon of any kind, and judging by the awkward way he clenched his fists, he intended to fight that way.

    Takuma continued to watch the scene, staying close to his horse. The warrior from Grimbrook, inwardly, was looking forward to witnessing a show of strength from his travelingpanion.

    This guy doesn''t seem like an evil person, looking at him closely, Yoichi thought. However, what he did to Sui is unforgivable. I promised the princess that I would avenge her, and I intend to keep that promise.

    Yoichi activated Kenji''s basic ability without adding more, letting the ck reptilian scales enhance his arms.

    The volume of his hands and forearms increased considerably, almost reaching the size of his Oracle.

    Sinceing out of Therion''s vision, even though he hadn''t received any messages from the Demon Pet System, the young tamer felt his body much more robust and more resilient.

    "Wow," Takuma muttered, looking closely at hispanion. He probably had seen other Nekage before, but that enhancement was on a far superior level.

    "Grr!" - As Kenji began to growl, its tamer''s attention shifted to the enemy demon: two small, almost imperceptible ck eyes were embedded in the sides of its mossy bark, and its mouth was much like an octopus'' beak.

    Bunjiro''s demon stretched its upper limbs again, preparing for another ranged attack. The lianas began to twirl in the air dangerously, waiting for Bunjiro''s order to attack their target.

    mming their ends against the ground, they produced a whipping sound.

    I might not need draconic fire to defeat this guy, but using it would shorten the battle time, and I could get right back on the road, Yoichi reflected. He was not particrly bothered by his opponent and hoped he would not bete on the schedule.

    A simple momentary detour had cost him precious time. Bunjiro had evidently been following him since he left the Dojo in Goldhaven.

    "For Kato! Die!" the enemy warrior gave off a battle shout, moving an arm forward and pointing his hand at Yoichi.

    Immediately after that gesture, both vine tentacles of the tree demon shed towards him at high speed.

    *swisshh* - Despite the speed of the attack, the lianas'' trajectory was predictable enough for Yoichi to calcte their motion pattern.

    *sh*boom* - First one and then the other, both lianas missed their target, mming hard into the ground and creating deep ruts.

    Oh shit! I don''t remember those vines having this much shear force! Yoichi thought, hurriedly trying toe up with a n of attack.

    He immediately started running forward, swinging his arms as usual and bringing his elbows back and his hands forward.

    A few seconds after leaving his previous position, a strange instinct shed through his brain.

    Without thinking too much about it and relying on that almost feral instinct, Yoichi spread his arms, spreading the muscles of his chest and opening therge ws of his hands.

    A few momentster, fiery sparks burst from his shoulders and biceps.

    I don''t... I don''t understand. How can I run faster with my arms in this position? It''s unnatural! He thought, marvelling at his own actions.

    The muscles in his arms were stretched outward, enhancing his next attack. That way, the fire generated in his chest could reach his upper limbs in no time, and his physical strength could be enhanced by the significant leverage his body had created.

    Incredibly, relying only on the primal instinct that came from the farthest corners of his soul, Yoichi was running, simting the flight of a dragon.

 Chapter 272 - Thorny Armor

    As soon as the long vines of Bunjiro''s demon touched the ground, they were pulled back in their original ce. They were reabsorbed by the two holes in the demon''s trunk from where the arms were supposed to be.

    Yoichi took advantage of the moment of distraction to assume an even more aerodynamic position and increase his run speed. In the meantime, Bunjiro had taken a step back, fearing that his demon would not be able to stop his opponent''s advance in time.??

    The trunk demon''s lianas fell back into ce, and at the same instant, Yoichi leapt toward Bunjiro, attempting a frontal attack. He didn''t put all his strength into that jump: his real goal was to test his enemy''s reflexes and defensive skills.

    The warrior with the red armor crossed his arms in front of him, and some strange roots rose in front of his body, creating a kind of hard and thorny vertical barrier.

    Fortunately, not having jumped with all his energy, Yoichi managed to extend an arm in front of his face and ce one of his scaled hands on the barrier created by the enemy demon.

    *tap* - Nimbly, only touching the barrier for a second with a hand, Yoichi''s body rotated on itself, moving the attack in another direction and evading that defensive maneuver.

    Bunjiro''s demon had stuck its arms and legs into the ground in order to parry that attack, stretching them out like tentacles and reaching for its tamer. The vines had twisted together, and the thick woody cables had then crossed on each other, forming a peculiar kind of grid simr to a natural shield.

    "That''s a good strategy, but it''spletely ineffective against me! Aargh!" Yoichi roared, who for a moment let his anger get the better of him, acting like a real untamed beast.

    As hisrge hand closed into a fist, the blurry image of when he had knocked out Bunjiro in the Goldhaven alley appeared before his mind''s eye. As their first encounter ended with his hand violently mming his enemy''s head and back against the wall, the same hand was about to deliver an equally violent blow.

    The fiery sparks that had sprouted on his arms during the enhancement flowed through his veins and entered his fist, imbuing it with a small portion of draconic energy.

    Unexpectedly, Bunjiro was so fast that he ordered his demon to change its defensive strategy: the roots that made up the vertical wall sprouting from the ground shed towards his body and wrapped around his abdomen, creating a greenish thorny armor.

    *CRACK* - The knuckles of Yoichi''s right hook impacted the wood of the armor, splitting it into a thousand pieces and prating inside. Even if only for less than a second, Bunjiro''s eyes widened as if he had never seen anyone prate that magic armor with such ease.

    In addition to the armor created by his demon, the light armor of the Emperor''s Heralds wrapped around his torso, giving him additional stamina. Yoichi''s enhanced fist was so strong that it reached his rib cage despite the twoyers that protected his body.

    The crunch that echoed through the trees came not only from the shattered pieces of wood but also from the cracked ribs of the helmet-haired warrior.

    "Ough!" - Bunjiro''s expression of pain and astonishment ended with an uncontrolled spit of blood from his mouth staining the trunk of a nearby tree. Yoichi''s hook continued its upward movement even after hitting the target.

    As a result of that attacking motion, Bunjiro''s feet were lifted off the ground under the action of the draconic warrior''s almost superhuman strength.

    His body is so light! Yoichi thought, whose gaze was fixed on Bunjiro''s face. I can hardly feel his weight! The training worked!

    A moment before the enemy''s toes could touch the ground, Yoichi''s shoulder lowered and his arm, in a whip-like motion, threw Bunjiro''s body far in the air like a weightless rag doll.

    "What stunning strength!" Takuma gasped, unable to restrain his amazement. "Yoichi has skipped his armour and has lifted his body with ease!" The small shockwave released by hispanion''s fist was felt by his horse, which reared on its hind hooves.

    Bunjiro''s back hit one of the trees in that small wood, sustaining significant damage to his spinal chord. His body then slid across the ground, falling to his knees with his shoulders still resting on the tree. The impact had visibly damaged his armor to the point of breaking it in a few spots.

    Yoichi''s fierce gaze, perfectly synchronized with Kenji''s, immediately turned to Bunjiro''s demon: the trunk demon''s vinesy on the ground like wilted flowers, and its small beak opened and closed in pain. From that vision, the young tamer had confirmation that it was his Oracle.

    Steadily stepping forward, still thinking about the ever-diminishing time, Yoichi approached his opponent, looking down on him. "The one you call ''friend'' threatened my guild mates and me senselessly," he spoke, referring to Kato. "Everyone who witnessed the duel that day was more than thrilled to see the defeat of that blue-haired blowhard," he added.

    "Shut up, you son of a bitch!" Bunjiro yelled forcefully. With a kidney hit he attempted for the umpteenth time to strike Yoichi, throwing a slow, predictable punch toward his chest.

    Yoichi remained motionless, letting the Heralds warrior''s blow hit him. As calcted, Bunjiro''s punch hit, causing no damage to his body and again uncovering his defences.

    *grab* - Yoichi grabbed Bunjiro''s wrist and pulled his arm towards himself in a lightning-fast gesture, lifting his back off the tree trunk. "I decided to spare Kato because, despite everything, I feel a strange form of respect for him. But the same will not happen to you. Anyone who rapes an innocent woman doesn''t deserve my respect in the slightest," he ragefully whispered in his ear.

    A moment after those words of hate, a twist of Yoichi''s wrist twisted Bunjiro''s arm, fracturing its bones and causing him a hellish pain punctuated by a scream.

 Chapter 273 - Spit

    "AAARGH! AAARGH!" Bunjiro yelled, trying futilely to resist the pull. The pain of his arm bones shattering one by one was too intense to impose resistance.

    "How do you feel now?" Yoichi boomed. Applying further force, the young tamer twisted his arm even more, crossing his gaze with that of the viin. "How does it feel to not be able to defend yourself against an attack? Do you think the princess was having fun when you immobilized her? Huh?! Answer me!" ??

    *track* - Bunjiro''s arm bone came out of his shoulder, disconnecting his limb from the rest of his body. Simultaneously, next to him, beyond the fragments of the wall that had protected him, his demon writhed on the ground.

    The pupils of Bunjiro''s shifted behind his eyes and his senses gradually began to abandon his body. Before he passed out, the joints in his legs also gave way and he hung on Yoichi''s arm like a lifeless puppet.

    "What do you think you''re doing? I''m not done with you yet!" Yoichi eximed angrily, throwing his enemy forward and knocking him to the ground. The blow sustained to his head and back awakened Bunjiro. He began to settle that excruciating pain again and, out of the corner of his eye, looked at his grass-type demon.

    "Taka... Taka!" Bunjiro whispered, using the remaining breath in his lungs to call his Oracle''s name. Its vines had lost their strength and stilly on the ground as if they were part of thendscape. Even its small ck eyes were dull and half-closed, almost helpless.

    I won''t pity him, thought Yoichi. I can''t be that weak! This guy would have killed me in cold blood if I didn''t dodge his attack! Besides, if I let him live, he might return to Goldhaven and give important clues about my whereabouts to Yozo.

    Reasoning over the incident, Yoichi realized that if indeed Bunjiro had been following him since his departure, then he also knew of his n to search for Shusaku in Oakenfair. But why hadn''t he attacked him when he had taken shelter in the Boneside Swamp cave?

    Yoichi''s foot stepped on Bunjiro''s broken arm, entuating his pain and forcing him to turn belly-up. "When did you start following me? Are you alone or is there someone else hiding in the trees?" he inquired. Frantically, his eyes swung between his enemy''s face and the forest before him, as if trying to scan someone in the darkness.

    "Go fuck yourself!"

    *spit* - Unable to ept defeat and trusting in Yoichi''s good nature, Bunjiro challenged him by spitting on his pants.

    "Takuma," the blond-haired tamer called, clenching his fists in anger. "Check to see if there''s anyone else hiding in there. Be careful," he ordered his friend.

    "Of course, Yoichi! I''ll check right away!" Takuma diligently replied, jumping with his feet onto the back of his horse and riding past the two challengers, scouring the remaining part of the small forest, hidden by the foliage of the trees.

    Yoichi lowered himself onto his knees, bringing his face closer to that of his helpless opponent. At the same time, Kenji emerged from the shadows of the trees, moving stealthily toward Taka, Bujiro''s demon.

    Using the pads of its feline paws and framing the enemy demon with its terrifying blood-red eyes, the little dragon was carefully studying its prey, sharing its tamer''s predatory instincts.

    "Still think you can defeat me, Bunjiro?" Yoichi growled, resting a hand on his interlocutor''s chest. With open fingers, Yoichi''s hand covered almost all of it.

    "Mhmh... ahahah... BUAHAHA!"

    The young tamer received no response to that taunt, and Bunjiro burst into hystericalughter. The drops of blood from his arm had smeared the corresponding side of his face, but the Heralds warrior no longer looked afraid.

    "You think you''re the strongest, don''t you, Yoichi? In my guild, those weaklings of mine did nothing but talk about you and the power of your demon," Bunjiro admitted, looking fearlessly into Yoichi''s eyes. "Yoichi destroyed Kato, Kato looked like a beginner tamer when he fought against Yoichi, Yoichi, Yoichi! Fucking bullshit!" he huffed, inadvertently spitting blood and saliva out of his mouth and smearing Yoichi''s face.

    "No one ordered me to follow you. It was my decision. I wanted to teach those chickenshits a lesson and take your head to my guild leader. That way, I would never hear your stupid namee out of their mouths again." During those words, the anger in Bunjiro''s gaze overcame his fear of death.

    "After our first meeting, every time I heard your name, I remembered what had happened. I remembered the fact that a rookie like you had been able to defeat Bunjiro of the Emperor''s Heralds! Do you know how long it took me to get into the most famous guild in Tentochu? Do you know what I was forced to do?!"

    "That''s enough!" Yoichi roared, pushing his hand on Bunjiro''s chest and forcing him to expel all the air from his lungs. Feeling sick by those meaningless words, he was about to give in to Therion''s primal instincts.

    Unlike what had happened to his body during the fight with Urgerross, Yoichi could not know what the consequences of such an act would be in the real world. If he surrendered to that power, would his body really be able to handle it? How could he return back to normal if the primal me took over?

    His burning heart pumped more blood and distributed more heat energy to his arms. The fiery veins carried small mes from his shoulders to his forearms, finally reaching the backs of the hand resting on his enemy''s body.

    "I don''t care what you did to get into the guild! You raped a woman! You raped the Princess of Tentochu!" Yoichi yelled, no longer able to hold back his words.

    Those very words were carried by a gust of wind that caressed the trees and traveled through their trunks, reaching almost every point in the undergrowth. The attentive ears of Takuma, used to hunting alone and able to hear the steps of a hare hundreds of meters away, picked up that sound, storing that secret information.

 Chapter 274 - Hangman

    The speech Bunjiro gave to Yoichi as his draconic hand pushed on his chest bordered on insanity. That helmet-haired young man was obsessed with the Nightdes tamer to the point of following him beyond the city walls, disobeying his guild''s rules, and traveling so many miles driven by his sole spirit of revenge.

    "Why did you touch Princess Sui? Why were you roaming the streets of Goldhaven at that time of night?" Yoichi investigated. To allow the Heralds warrior to answer those questions, he decreased the pressure exerted by his hand on her chest. ??

    "Oh,e on. Do you want me to believe that I''m the only one hanging out on the streets of the capital looking for some fun? That girl was looking for the same thing" - as he spoke, a drop of blood ran down his chin from the side of his mouth. "She said she had no friends and didn''t want to go back home. I just offered her a few sses of beer and then ... well .... then you know. Hahaha!"

    Despite almost being crushed by the weight of the draconic hand, Bunjiro continued to taunt Yoichi. This time, however, the young tamer did not lose control and closed his eyes for a moment, releasing the jitter.

    Too much anger would give the primal instinct the green light and he would lose control of his actions, risking the life of his partner Takuma as well.

    "Sui just wanted new friends. She just wanted to forget for one night that she was a girl forbidden to be a teenager, and you took advantage of her" - the hand pressure increased again, crushing Bunjiro''s chest to the grassy ground. Yoichi''s fingers swiped at the enemy warrior''s leather armor and his ws slithered against it, tearing it apart.

    The me that involuntarily flowed through his body empowered his ws, which were now capable of cutting through almost anything. They prated the topmostyer of Bunjiro''s armor as if it were made of melted butter.

    "She was just a girl... she was just a girl who wanted to have some fun..." the helmet-haired warrior stammered through clenched teeth. Now, terror became visible again in his eyes and the fear of Yoichi ending his life became palpable.

    Yoichi straightened his knees and stood up, lifting his arm and holding Bunjiro''s body tightly. As if the weight of his enemy was irrelevant, he remained suspended in front of his opponent, who held him in mid-air with one hand.

    Yoichi''s eyes were dull and dark, pointed downward. Even Takuma could not recognize the yful-looking boy he had met in Grimbrook. The anger he was feeling was too deep to be restrained or unted. With his words, Bunjiro had signed his death warrant.

    Kenji reached for Taka, the trunk demon. The little dragon began to circle it and with its reptilian tongue, it licked its chops at it as if preparing to bite its prey. The veins of fire that ran down its back made its ck scales vibrate and reached the tip of its tail.

    The trunk demon, unable to move anymore, could do nothing but wait with its eyes closed for the moment of the end.

    "I believe that something happens after death," Yoichi spoke, breaking the silence. Bunjiro''s bloodshot eyes continued to stare at his face hidden in the shadows. "I firmly believe that when the heart stops beating, there is another that starts for the first time."

    Yoichi''s chest gave off a strong glow thatsted only a couple of seconds. The energy umted earlier as if it were fuel to burn was silently distributed to his massive draconic arms. At the same moment, as if Bunjiro''s sixth sense had felt that aura, his feet began to twitch, followed by his still intact arm.

    His hand gripped Yoichi''s wrist as if to impose resistance, but the skin of his palm burned on contact with the scorching scales, forcing him to let it go.

    "However, thews of good and evil that rule over this world are strict, Bunjiro. They know how to restore life, but they also know how to erase it forever," Yoichi continued. In his wise words, he veiled his own life experience, trying to channel his hatred for the young man until their eyes would meet again.

    At that moment, Takuma popped out from the trees on horseback. The Grimbrook warrior had found no trace of other people within the woods, but when he saw the scene, he dared not breathe a word.

    Slowly, Yoichi''s gaze lifted upward, framing inch by inch the face of his frightened opponent, whose strength was not even remotely able to counter the draconic power.

    After fighting a dragon like Urgerross, despite what had happened in his mind, Yoichi had developed a new way of reasoning and fighting. Hardly a warrior from the Emperor''s Heralds could have countered him.

    As one hand held Bunjiro''s body steady with his feet raised off the ground, the fingers of his other hand moved closer to his neck. Bunjiro tried to wriggle free, but his sprained and torn arm and the general soreness of his body further diminished his strength.

    The Heralds warrior was unable to free himself from that strong draconic hand, and an instant before the wed, scorching fingers grazed the skin of his neck, he regretted his actions. "Wait... aaarrgh!" - Bunjiro''s frightened words were chocked by Yoichi''s hand, which squeezed his neck and slowly burned his flesh, giving off thick whitish smoke and a burning stench.

    "Aaargh! Gggh!" the adrenaline coursing through his body gave his muscles a sudden power-up, but once again, his movements were unable to free him from the grip of the hand.

    "There is no ce for you in this world," Yoichi spoke. His eyes focused on his enemy''s swollen eyes. "You will rot at the bottom of the deepest, darkest abyss and never see the light of day again. Your name will be forgotten by everyone and even in the minds of those who gave you birth, the image of your face will be erased like a faded memory. Your life will end today and forever, Bunjiro. And I will be lucky enough to be the hangman."

 Chapter 275 - Erased

    Bunjiro''s hands gripped the wrist of Yoichi''s right hand, whose fingers were sped around his throat. The firstyers of his skin had already been consumed by the heat energy of Therion''s me, and Yoichi was demonstrating incredible self-control.

    Indeed, he had managed to dose the amount of energy released from his chest, which, if it had been too much, would have ignited Bunjiro''s body instantly. The Heralds'' warrior continued to suffer, unable to scream and struggling in panic.??

    Even Takuma, ustomed to the wild life of the Valley of the Northern Waters, had to look away, disgusted by the scene before his eyes.

    Yoichi did not utter another word after his verdict and let his hand squeeze his enemy''s neck further. The flesh of Bunjiro''s neck first turned purplish, then ckish.

    More blood sttered inside his eyes, immersing his pupil in a thick, red bubble and blurring his vision. Although Yoichi could have killed his enemy in less than a second, he was prolonging his agony for as long as possible.

    "No one will ever remember you. I will turn you into ashes, Bunjiro. And I will do the same to anyone who dares to stand between me and my destiny," Yoichi spoke a moment before the w of his thumb and the w of his index finger touched.

    *st* - In an inhuman noise, mixed between the breaking of a bone and the sound of a gtinous substance, Bunjiro''s head broke off from his neck. As the flesh was wholly consumed, the Heralds warrior''s trachea bone disintegrated under the grip of Yoichi''s draconic hand.

    Bujiro''s head fell to one side, his body to the other. At the same instant at that execution, a few feet away, Kenji ended the life of Taka, the trunk demon.

    The little dragonunched itself towards its enemy, opening its jaws wide and biting the top of its wooden head. Showing the vigor and ferocity of a full-grown dragon, it bit off pieces of the demon''s body, shredding them and scattering them on the ground.

    The lives of Bunjiro and his Oracle were ended at the same time. The one who believed he could pursue and defeat Yoichi to gain the glory of hisrades had found death in one of the small woods of the Valley of the Northern Waters.

    As Yoichi stretched out his arms along his sides, a religious silence enveloped the trees of the woods. His eyes watched as Bunjiro''s head rolled until it reached a stone sticking out of the grass.

    That small amount of draconic me that had made his hands so powerful burned his enemy''s head and organs from within. In less than a minute, as he had foretold, Bunjiro''s body disappeared from Lumya for eternity, and he inwardly enjoyed every second of the process.

    Unexpectedly, the revenge he had promised the Princess of Tentochu a long time before had been fulfilled, and the thought of finding the man who had dared to rape her was no longer a problem.

    Yoichi took a long, deep breath, rxing the muscles in his arms and deactivating Scorching Breath, the draconic ability of his Oracle. The fiery veins faded, and the ck scales disappeared, returning his upper limbs to their original size and shape.

    As Kenji''s enhancement left his body, a chill shiver ran through his back to the back of his head. Yoichi''s hands trembled, and his blood pressure instantly dropped, forcing him to kneel to keep from falling to the ground.

    "Yoichi! Yoichi, are you okay?" - Acting as a faithful and loyalpanion, Takuma got off his horse and ran towards his friend. The Grimbrook warrior rested a hand on Yoichi''s back, trying to figure out what his condition was.

    The young Goldhaven tamer''s body was scorching as if he had a fever. The chills he had felt before due to the rapid temperature drop in contact with the outside world were amplified by the gesture he had just made.

    Although Yoichi was convinced that taking Bunjiro''s life was the only usible solution, he had never killed another guild''s warrior in cold blood.

    The shiver of cold that immobilized his body for a few seconds disappeared as soon as Takuma''s hand touched his back. Yoichi had no intention of showing any weakness before his eyes and stood up.

    In that same instant, Bunjiro''s body and that of his tree-like demon disappeared in unison. The helmet-haired warrior''s human body was reduced to ashes by the primordial me, and his demon''s body disintegrated like that of every demon that suffered a defeat.

    A small red sphere emerged from Bunjiro''s remains, another from Taka''s. As Enatsu had exined to him long ago, defeating a Demon Tamer was worth one experience point, but the point would be doubled in the event of death.

    Based on this very principle, the Demon Tamers who were at the top of society and possessed the highest level demons had killed hundreds of people.

    Takamori and his guildmates had probably also leveled up their demons that way, fighting at the front in Nomi Ind and earning double XP points.

    Before Takuma and Yoichi''s eyes, the two red, shiny orbs floated like two soap bubbles toward Kenji. Finally, they touched its forehead and entered its scaled body.

    When the little dragon gained the two XP points, the Demon Pet System promptly spoke, reporting the battle results under the careful gaze of its owner.

    [Kenji: (8/10 pts - level 9)]

    Eight out of ten XP points. It won''t be long before Kenji levels up, Yoichi thought. Its first evolution is getting closer and closer.

    Although information about dragon demons was scarce and inurate, there was a chance that their evolutionary scale would follow that of all the other demons in Lumya. In that case, demons with three evolutionary stages would have evolved once to level 15 and another time to level 35.

    Yoichi looked at Kenji, imagining Therion next to his little dragon. His Oracle''s body would have to increase more than twenty times its volume to reach the Dragon King''s size.

 Chapter 276 - Endeavor

    "Hey, Yoichi," Takuma spoke. Before his interlocutor''s eyes, the words of the Demon Pet System that had appeared on the grass suddenly vanished. "Are you feeling okay, man? Your gaze looks like staring into space," the Grimbrook warrior added.

    "Yes, Takuma. Thanks for the help," Yoichi replied coldly, stretching his shoulder and neck muscles. "We need to get back on the road. This detour has taken too much of our time" - No longer able to stay inside that forest, Yoichi walked back the way he came, towards the Waveless River. ??

    Takuma muttered something inaudible. He grabbed the reins of his horse and followed his experienced friend, dwelling over the incident.

    "Ildriss," Yoichi pronounced, drawing Kenji back inside his chest in a spiral of fire. Within seconds, the young blonde-haired warrior switched Kenji with Ichiro with ease worthy of an experienced tamer.

    The Inoshuma took shape in front of him and Yoichi, without hesitation, jumped on its back. "I should pretend I didn''t hear anything, right?" - Takuma''s voice broke the silence again.

    Yoichi grabbed Ichiro''s mane and narrowed his eyes, stopping the horse. Until thest moment, he had hoped that the warrior with the scarecrow had forgotten the secret he shared with Bunjiro.

    "What do you want to know, Takuma?" Yoichi continued. His gaze was pointed toward the river that carved through the valley to the horizon.

    Takuma jumped onto his horse and joined his friend, nking Ichiro. "I''m a country boy, that''s true, but... I''m not so ignorant that I don''t know that the Emperor has no female daughters," he reported. "His sons are the strongest fighters in the faction and boast hundreds of battles won against Kamakiri''s army. What the hell were you and that weird guy talking about? Why was he insinuating that there was a bounty on your head?"

    Takuma''s questions, while ufortable, were legit. Inwardly, Yoichi knew that he would have asked the same questions if he had found himself in his friend''s ce. If he really wanted to hold on to a loyal travelingpanion like him, he would have to give himprehensive answers.

    "It all started on my first night in Goldhaven. My friend Enatsu and I were roaming the streets of the capital when a scream caught our attention..."

    Continuing to ride north and following the banks of the Waveless River, Yoichi told the story of Princess Sui to the grandson of the vige chief Gompachi.

    Not in any hurry to jump to conclusions, the Nightdes warrior skipped no details, dissecting the tale with great attention.

    The morning sun turned redder and dipped gently beyond the Southborne Mountains, dering the advent of the afternoon. The Valley of the Northern Waters seemed like a magical ce illuminated by that reddish light. Even the corals that mbered overbearingly along the riverbanks seemed to have changed color in a y of shadows that brought out their turquoise hue.

    "Did Shinzo Nishiyama hide his daughter from Tentochu?" At the end of the story, Takuma inquired as if he needed confirmation to believe Yoichi''s words. "Why would a father ever hide a daughter? What honor is there in such an act?" - Growing up within themunity of a small vige like Grimbrook, Takuma had a very definite idea of life.

    The concept of honor possessed central importance for the red-haired warrior, and the mere thought that the faction''s Emperor, the most feared and respected man, could hide a creature of his blood from the people made him nauseous.

    Yoichi''s tale made his travelingpanion reason. He fell back into a religious silence and stayed there for several minutes.

    "I never wanted to give you this news, Takuma. But what your grandfather ims so ardently about our Emperor is true. Shinzo has only inherited the family name from his father Tatsui. He only cares about appearing powerful in the face of enemies and allies," Yoichi exined. "Princess Sui, born without Oracle and forced to live her life confined into a room, has always been an obstacle to him."

    "Allow me toe with you, Yoichi."

    "Uh?" - the sudden words that followed Takuma''s silence stunned Yoichi. "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to get a better understanding of his intentions.

    "When we left Grimbrook, I told you that our paths would split at Oakenfair, right? Well, I''ve changed my mind," Takuma stated with conviction, gripping the reins of his dappled steed. "If you''ll let me, I''ll help you free Princess Sui and bring her and your friend Shioko to safety from Goldhaven Province," he added.

    Yoichi''s heart increased the intensity of its beat for a few seconds. Would that unknown warrior who had randomly joined him really break thew just to help him save the Princess? Judging by the look on his face, Takuma seemed more serious than ever.

    "What you heard from Bunjiro was real, Takuma. There is a bounty on my head, and the value of that bounty will increase when Shinzo links me to the kidnapping of his only daughter," Yoichi exined, making a few points clear. "Are you sure you want to live the rest of your life as an ouw? We''ll never be able to have a permanent home, and we''ll constantly be under attack by the Emperor''s guards. Do you really want to abandon the tranquillity of your vige for such madness?"

    The corners of Takuma''s lips curved into a smile, and the light of the afternoon sun reflected in his eyes pointed toward the river. "I have spent my whole life waiting for the time to have a purpose. The elders of my vige have always hated Emperor Shinzo, and I grew up ording to that ideal. My grandfather and family would be proud of me if they knew that I chose to help you in your noble endeavor," he said.

    "There is no doubt in my mind, Yoichi. Saving the Princess from very will be my purpose. I will go with you."

    On that hot afternoon caressed by the humid wind that drew water from the surface of the valley''s rivers, Yoichi had just gained a new ally.

    A loyalpanion had joined his team, and his most hated enemy had been killed. Now all he had to do was find Shusaku and ask him to forge the weapon that would apany Lumya''s only Dragon Tamer on the road to his destiny.

 Chapter 277 - Boulders

    Barely a day had passed since Yoichi''s forced departure from Goldhaven. Shioko''s face during theirst meeting kepting back to his mind. The kiss they had exchanged meant a lot to him, and the mere thought that something might happen to her made him very anxious.

    The Valley of the Northern Waters, whenpared to the capital county, looked like a boundless ce. In addition to the Southborne Mountains that apanied the two adventurers'' journey along the area west of the valley, it wasn''t easy to orient oneself. ??

    In that ce upied by the most luxuriant and uncontaminated nature, there was no point of reference and, without a map, even an expert traveler would have risked losing his sense of direction.

    ording to Ryutaro''s old map, that valley ended with an indefinite ocean-like body of water. However, the sea was still far from Yoichi and Takuma''s position, and they could not even hear its sound.

    The hooves of their horses continued for several miles to trample the wet grass that lined the river. The clear water of the Waveless River offered those untiring beasts fresh refreshment at their most tired moments.

    Unlike Goldhaven County, where every ce seemed close and easily reachable, Yoichi, riding along the Valley of the Nothern Waters, realized how vast the Tentochu region was.

    The sky painted with the reddish light of the afternoon sun gradually began to gray, and the light slowly gave way to darkness. The almost total absence of artificial lighting made the night sky clear and deep. The stars were so sharp that the adventurers felt like they could touch them with their hands.

    "There doesn''t seem to be any other viges nearby, does there, Takuma?" Yoichi inquired. The young tamer consulted the map before it got too dark.

    "The nearest viges are all distributed along the northern coast of Tentochu. They have harbours from which it is possible to reach the Mukade faction and other inds scattered in the great ocean," Takuma answered promptly. "I will be honest with you. I know the surroundings of Grimbrook like the back of my hand, but as you may have noticed, the valley is a huge ce," he admitted.

    "Your grandfather seemed very happy for you to go on your way. I had guessed that you were not an experienced traveler. It doesn''t matter. The important thing is to get to Oakenfair safely," Yoichi continued, reassuring his travelingpanion. "I thought you could only reach the nation of Mukade from the west coast of Tentochu," he thought out loud.

    Digging into his memories, Yoichi thought of when Enatsu first told him about his hometown, called ''Silvertide Vige''. The young merchant exined to his friend that to the north of his vige, several harbours allowedrge ships to set sail to reach the far north of Lumya.

    However, his knowledge of navigation and his information about Mukade was limited to being considered nil. At that moment, he had no reason to push himself beyond the borders of Tentochu.

    "No, not at all," Takuma spoke. "My grandfather Gompachi always exined to me that the main issue is not the port itself, but the boat."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I mean that it doesn''t depend on which port you set sail from. You can reach Mukade either way. What really matters is the kind of boats that ports offer you. On the other side of the Southborne Mountains, across the Stonebreak Passage, p0rtual towns have invested a lot of money in creating huge galleons. Those boats are so impressive that they can withstand the strong currents that separate Tentochu from Mukade."

    "For a citizen of a small country town, you know a lot about ships," Yoichi smiled,plimenting Takuma and implicitly thanking him for his thorough exnation.

    "Hahah! Thank you, man! Well, I owe almost everything to my grandfather. You know, he''s a city man and has always been a very..."

    Suddenly, just as he was speaking, Takuma stopped his words. At the same instant, behind him, his scarecrow demon interrupted its stasis. From that cube of straw and wood, its fabric head swivelled upward, indicating the direction of the horse''s face with its button eyes.

    "Hey, what''s going on?"

    "Sshhh! Quick, we need to get out of the way!" Takuma gasped, who was suddenly acting like a weirdo. Without another word, the Grimbrook warrior spurred his horse and rode away from that kind of rural path that ran along the Waveless River.

    He rode into a particrly shady area hidden behind two huge boulders that had indeed copsed from the top of the mountains.

    "Quick, Yoichi! Get out of there!" Takuma repeated, speaking in a low voice as if someone was spying on them. The red-haired warrior invited hispanion to follow him behind the rocks with a wave of his hand.

    Yoichi, before obeying without question, quickly looked around. Curiosity was always stronger than fear in his heart, and although his friend sounded intimidated, he wanted to understand what was bothering him so much.

    Just as Ichiro''s face turned toward Takuma, the Inoshuma made a strange sound. The horse demon moved its neck and face as if it had just sensed danger.

    At that point, Yoichi stopped standing still like a stockfish and rode into the darkness, trusting Takuma and positioning himself beside him. Takuma dismounted from his horse and dropped to his knees when he reached behind the rocks, hiding further amidst the vegetation.

    "Can you please tell me what''s going on? There was nothing on the road!" the Nightdes warrior whispered, touching Takuma''s shoulder. As soon as Yoichi''s fingers brushed against his shoulder, Takuma turned his face to him in fear.

    "I said you must shut up! They might hear us!" he trembled in a low voice, growing smaller and smaller behind the vegetation. With one hand, the young red-haired man grabbed Yoichi''s leather armor and pulled him down.

    Ichiro and Takuma''s horse remained hidden behind the rocks, benefiting from the shade created by the branches of some trees that had grown in their back. Despite their bulky size, both the horses were perfectly hidden.

    As Takuma extended his arm forward, Yoichi''s gaze followed the position indicated by his finger, trying to focus on the scene.

    Suddenly, something popped up on the other side of the river, which was easily skippable by leaping.

 Chapter 278 - Horned Kabuto

    The shadow of a four-legged creature became sharper and sharper before the eyes of the two travelers hiding behind the rocks. When the creature jumped over the river and reached the bank where Takuma and Yoichi were standing a moment before, the moonlight revealed its appearance.

    A hound demon was frantically sniffing the ground in search of something or someone. Large ck spikes protruded from its back and shoulders, partially covered in hair and ck scales.??

    That dog demon''s long ears were pointed up and turned backwards, as if, in that position, it was trying to focus only on its sense of smell. The nostrils of its big canine nose were wide and just a few millimeters far from the riverbank.

    It reached the exact spot where Yoichi had hesitated before hiding, noting that the grass was stomped unnaturally in some specific ces. On the turf of the valley, in fact, their horses'' hooves had left marks that were still fresh.

    *anf*anf* - The stranger demon''sbored breathing spread through the air, and the grass in front of its nostrils shifted frantically. "Arf! Arf! Hauu!"

    Howling fiercely, the hound demon signaled that it had found some suspicious tracks, standing still in the same spot and waiting for something to happen. The muscles in its paws were as mighty as a mastiff''s, and its red eyes seemed eager for blood.

    What kind of demon is that? What is it doing? Yoichi asked himself. The young tamer studied the details of that monster, trying to guess its level of strength. Why had Takuma begged him to hide? Was he convinced that they couldn''t defeat it even if they were together?

    Yoichi''s thoughts were interrupted by more sudden sounds. Beyond the other bank of the Waveless River, the valley sloped slightly downward, fitting the terrain like the gentle slope of a hill. From that very direction, more figures emerged under the moonlight.

    A group of more than ten men armed to the hilt were attracted by the hound''s howl and headed for its position. Some of them rode ordinary horses, while others rode strange, menacing-looking demons.

    Two Inoshumas caught Yoichi''s attention, and he narrowed his eyes and tried to focus on the faces of their knights. Behind the two Inoshumas, smaller than Ichiro and covered in rough armor full of rusty spikes, a burly man rode a muchrger beast.

    The footsteps of his mount made the ground shake, and unlike those of his teammates, it did not leap over the river. *boom*ssh*ssh* - Powerful pachyderm-like legs plunged into the water, destroying some of the coral and reaching the bank closest to the two adventurers'' hideout.

    "Oh, fuck!" Takuma gulped. His hands shook like leaves as they held up the shrubs in the bush that allowed them to watch those shadowy figures undetected. Grimbrook''s tamer touched Yochi''s shoulder and caught his gaze.

    With his index finger in front of his lips, Takuma ordered hispanion to be absolutely silent. His eyes were terrified, and sweat was dripping from his forehead.

    Yoichi started looking at those very menacing-looking warriors again, paying particr attention to the details of their armor. The two men riding the Inoshumas wore light armor made of ck leather and full of metal studs.

    Behind the shoulders of one of them sprouted a long bow alongside a quiver. Two crossed katanas framed the head of the other knight. Both weapons looked very ruined, and even the bottom edges of their scabbards were rusted and battered.

    That condition of dirt and rust characterized the equipment of everyone present, bar none. In total, they numbered nine men and three women. Some of them followed theirpanions as if they were part of a delegation migrating north.

    *boom* - Yet another foot of the giant demon impacted against the ground, halting its advance. A long rhino horn stood on its scrunched, bloodstained snout, moving close to the ground thanks to its long, thick neck pointed downward.

    A long tail resembling that of a strangend dinosaur waved left and right, forcing the horses and other members of the delegation to move out of the way to avoid being hit.

    Atop its back, taller than the Inoshumas'' head, the burly man held the reins of the amber-eyed beast. When the man tugged at them, the rhino demon breathed out of its nostrils, obeying its tamer''s orders.

    From the sides of its mighty shoulders, small human skulls were hanging from its armor, made of many small metal bands. It seemed to result from the assembly of many smaller armors, probably belonging to human beings.

    "Taisuke, Eisuke!" the baritone voice of the man riding the rhino demon called. "Go check out what Inoku found. It might have sniffed out some tracks."

    Yoichi listened carefully to the man''s voice, which seemed to be muffled by a metallic surface. However, he was so high up that the light of the moon behind his shoulders reflected back to the young tamer only his outlines, drawing them into the sky.

    Above his head, two short, thin curved horns looked like those of a samurai kabuto. Other than that detail, Yoichi could see nothing else.

    After that order, the two men aboard the Inoshuma dismounted from their horses,ing dangerously close to Ichiro''s footprints. "Arf! Arf!" the hound demon barked again. It wasrger and heavier than the man beside it. Wagging its long furry tail, he had its gaze pointed to the grass.

    "What have you found, Inoku?" the man wearing the light armor and bow asked. A thief''s bandage partially covered his face and his eyes were barely visible under his hood.

    He lowered himself to the spot indicated by the dog and touched the ground with his hand. Immediately, he brought his fingers close to his eyes, rubbing fragments of the ground between his fingertips as if picking up its energy.

    "They look like the footprints of an Inoshuma to me. It''s bulky and seems to be a rather young and strong specimen. Nothing worth our time, sir," the knight replied, standing up and addressing the man with the horned kabuto.

 Chapter 279 - Delegation

    The man sitting on the rump of the giant rhino stretched his neck and shoulders. Evidently, he and his delegation had already traveled several miles during that day.

    "A wild Inoshuma? Hmm. There are no Inoshumas in this area," one of the women in the group spoke, interrupting the bowman''s words. She stepped forward, approaching the footprint and taking a closer look. Her long hair was tied back in a messy tail held in ce by some kind of small elongated bone, and arge scar furrowed her face from the forehead to her lower lip. ??

    "Also, Inoshumas never move on their own. Their sense of direction is overdeveloped, and they just can''t get lost," the woman continued. From how those people were addressing the man with the kabuto, he had to be their leader.

    "Looks like you fucked up, Taisuke," the chief of the delegation chuckled, eliciting subtleughter from his fellow travelers. "It doesn''t matter. I''m too tired to think about footprints. We have a dungeon to reach andplete. Let''s move!" he shouted, ordering his men to continue down the path.

    As the armored beast turned toward the river and began walking along its banks once again, everyone present followed their leader without a word. All except Taisuke, the man with the hooded face.

    He stayed a few more seconds near Ichiro''s footprint, looking around scrupulously. Yoichi and Takuma kept very quiet during those moments, knowing that the slightest movement could attract that unwanted gaze.

    Although Yoichi was particrly confident in his fighting abilities, closebat against eleven tamers at the same time would be an impossible feat.

    Inoku, the hound demon, shook its head and followed the men in rusty armor. After its red eyes, even Taisuke''s lost interest in the surroundingndscape. The bow-wielding warrior framed the rocks behind which Yoichi and Takuma were hiding but could see nothing.

    Not content with his leader''s decision, with his head down, he climbed into his Inoshuma and rode north, escorting the delegation of mysterious warriors.

    When those unlikely travelers disappeared down the path that skirted the Waveless River, the two hidden adventurers could breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Ichiro and Takuma''s steed sensed the danger and remained silent during those minutes that seemed interminable.

    "Phew! I can''t believe it... we made it!" Takuma huffed, wiping the sweat on his forehead with one hand. The Grimbrook tamer stood up and leaned against a tree as if the sudden change in pressure would not allow him to stand upright on his feet.

    "Who the hell were those men?" Yoichi inquired. "Do you know them?"

    "Just give me a moment, Yoichi. I need a sip of water," Takuma replied, opening and closing his dehydrated lips. After quenching his thirst, he took courage and answered his travelingpanion''s question.

    "Did somebody ever tell you about Demon Hunters?" the red-haired warrior asked, looking at Yoichi with a worried air.

    Yoichi remembered that word, which, like most new things he had learned, came from Enatsu''s smart mouth. "The tamers who tame rare demons to sell them at the ck Market in Hollowgate?" Yoichi spoke, knowing he had given the correct answer.

    "Well, the ones you just saw are Demon Hunters," Takuma confirmed. "As I''m sure my grandfather has exined to you, it is rumored that there is a secret passage from Oakenfair that leads to the ck Market. This doesn''t just attract tourists and merchants, as you might imagine," he exined.

    "Do you think they''re going to Oakenfair like we are? Why did we hide? Why would they hurt us?"

    "Did you get a good look at them, Yoichi? Your Inoshuma is quite a handsome specimen, isn''t it?" Takuma continued, making hispanion see reason.

    Yoichi knew the answer within himself, but the thought that unknown people could kill two travelers only to steal their demons disgusted him to the core. "Were they really going to attack me to steal Ichiro?" heined, approaching his demon horse, still afraid of what had happened.

    "Demon Hunters are unscrupulous people. They would be capable of anything to get their hands on something that would make them some money. My grandfather Gompachi advised me several times to never interact with them in any way."

    "They talked about a dungeon. The ''Damned Catbs'' is the only dungeon in the vicinity, right?" Yoichi investigated, trying to figure out which route that group of viins would take.

    "Yeah, right. There are other dungeons in the valley, but they are far away from here. If they were traveling down the road by the river, that''s where they''re heading," the Grimbrook warrior confirmed. "Besides, if we continue on our way, we''ll risk crossing paths with them again."

    "Well, we''ll make sure to avoid them. Their hound may be good at smelling, but it could never detect us hundreds of meters away," Yoichi affirmed, shaking the leaves off the bushes.

    "The slightest deviation of this path would drastically divert us from our direction. The Waveless River cuts perfectly through the Valley of the Nothern Waters. If we moved from its banks, I would probably lose my sense of direction," Takuma admitted.

    "However," he continued, anticipating Yoichi''s response, "I can assure you that thebat level of the demons of those Hunters is far too high for us. You''re strong, man, but... I''m afraid we wouldn''t be able even to scratch them if we faced them into the open."

    Yoichi stored that information in silence and climbed onto Ichiro''s back. Takuma did the same, grabbing the reins of his steed and circumspectly exiting their lucky hiding ce.

    "Do you think there are any particrly rare demons in Damned Catbs?" Yoichi asked out of the blue.

    "I have no idea. I told you, I''ve never gone there. Why do you ask?" Takuma said.

    "I was wondering if that was the reason that drove those Hunters so far north. I guess there are easier ways to get to Hollowgate, and judging by the way they''re dressed, I can say they''re not from around here. There must be a reason they''re following the same path as us," Yoichi continued, sharpening his eyesight and making sure that the delegation of Hunters was gone.

 Chapter 280 - Bonefire

    "I can''t imagine what the price of a rare demon at ck Market could be at all," Yoichi whispered, continuing to think about the fact that Oakenfair might be somehow connected to Hollowgate.

    "Why are you so curious about this? You know very well that taming demons and then reselling them is something that goes against the morals of us tamers. That''s why Hunters are seen as renegades and spend their lives homeless," Takuma pointed out, scolding Yoichi.??

    "Take it easy, man. It was just a thought out loud," the young Nightdes tamer replied. Indeed, for a few seconds, Yoichi had been seriously considering a trip to the ck Market.

    When he and Takuma got back on the road, they rode slowly for the first few minutes. That way, they hoped the distance between them and the Hunters'' delegation would increase.

    Yoichi couldn''t get the image of that horned kabuto out of his head. That samurai helmet reminded him of his master''s, left behind in the highest room of the Dojo. He could not help but wonder if Ryutaro was still healthy and alive.

    The clear waterway that housed therge family of corals took a slight detour, following the meander it had carved over hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Thend curved gently westward, shifting the river''s trajectory dangerously toward the Southborne Mountains.

    The full moon illuminated the entire valley, allowing the travelers to stay on track toward Oakenfair. The second day of travel was alsoing to an end. Yoichi was well aware that, in just five days, he would have to reach his destination, find the cksmith Shusaku and return to Ambershire.

    The hope that Shioko would be able to save Princess Sui had never left his mind. He trusted his guildmatepletely, and after the recent events, he looked forward to holding her once again.

    The Waveless River climbed over a small hill, and the horses of the two adventurers rode that uphill stretch without objection. "There they are," Takuma eximed, whose feet were resting on the back of his horse. "The Hunters have stopped there. They seem to be setting up camp."

    Several hundred yards away from their current location, a smallke of crystal-clear watery in the middle of a series of hills that formed a natural basin.

    Although the Valley of the Northern Waters was famous for the many streams that ended up into the great northern ocean, thatke looked like the heart of a small oasis. Lush vegetation rich in flowers and colors lined its shores, hosting small animals and peaceful water demons.

    The harmony of that uncontaminated ce was then abruptly interrupted when they looked up: the delegation of Demon Hunters had decided to spend the night there and was preparing the tents and campfire.

    Although they were far away, the sight of Yoichi allowed him to scrutinize those unknown enemies better, trying to get more information about their origin and their objective. Even if he did not know why, the young tamer of Goldhaven was somehow attracted to those criminals to the point of feeling curiosity about them.

    All of the Hunters seemed to be busy pitching tents and setting up supplies and weapons in amon space. Everyone except the man with the kabuto. Together with his giant rhino demon, he was quenching his thirst in front of theke shore.

    "Yoichi, let''s go! This way!" Takuma eximed. At that moment, taking advantage of the noise made by the tools to set up the camp, the two adventurers had a chance to slip away unnoticed.

    "We should also look for a ce to spend the night. I''m exhausted, and so are the horses," Yoichi spoke. "We''ll ride for a few more miles, get away from here and take a nap," he continued.

    "Yes, that sounds like a good idea", Takuma confirmed, spurring his horse on and heading down the ''safe'' side of the hill, hidden from prying eyes.

    As he rode, Yoichi continued to think about the Damned Catbs, the dungeon marked on the map. Theparison to the ckvault Mines was inevitable: the one time he had entered a dungeon, despite the unexpected encounter with Ogai, Kenji had received many XP points, and he had dropped valuable crafting materials.

    Was skipping the Damned Catbs really the right choice? Would he reallye back to the Valley of the Northern Waters once he was reunited with hispanions?

    Trying to interrupt those thoughts forcibly, Yoichi shook his head. Your goal is something else, Yoichi. Focus, damn it! He thought.

    Time passed slowly during the night, and the two exhausted travelers decided to stop at the foot of the Southborne Mountains, several miles away from theke.

    First, Yoichi called Ichiro back to its demon tooth, thanking its for supporting his weight for all that time and giving it some rest. Soon after, when he turned to Takuma, he noticed that he had already lit a small bonfire and was intent on surrounding it with sharp rocks to mitigate the action of the wind.

    The north wind made itself felt during the night, and the temperature dropped dramatically, decreasing more than ten degrees. Luckily, since they always chose to take shelter among the trees, the two friends could take advantage of the fire to warm their tired muscles.

    When he took off his two backpacks, Yoichi reached into his bag and pulled out all his demon teeth. Ichiro''s was carefully tucked inside its pants pocket, as it was too valuable. In the horse demon''s saddle were the most important items, including the tear amphora.

    Yoichi looked at the other two demon teeth in his hands and focused primarily on the one containing the Hikigotsu. "What was it called... oh, yes," he muttered to himself, catching the attention of Takuma, who was rummaging through his backpack looking for something.

    "Algamok!" the young tamer spoke, sticking the greenish demon tooth into the ground a few feet from the bonfire. Unlike the moment after the wild frog demon''s taming process, the magical thorn was no longer damaged.

    The thickest part of the item opened as if it were imitating the petals of a flower, and a thin greenish current floated through the air with an irregr trajectory. In addition to the green color, a pungent stench brought Yoichi back to the Boneside Swamp.

 Chapter 281 - Turnip

    Meanwhile, Takuma''s scarecrow demon had gotten off the horse, returning to its original size. As if it were a human being, making no sound other than the creaking of its wooden legs, Karasu crouched near the bonfire, sitting next to its tamer.

    When Yoichi''s frog demon was summoned, the scarecrow turned its face in that direction. The buttons it had in ce of its eyes peered at the neer, and the perpetual smile sewn onto the cloth had the usual macabre look partially illuminated by the firelight.??

    "Hey, hello buddy!" Yoichi greeted, excited to meet his new teammate. The bonfire''s me swayed due to the wind, and its light reflected off the amphibious demon''s damp back.

    Managing to get a closer look at it while it wasn''t covered in blood, Yoichi noticed that the Hikigotsu had small yellow and brown spots along its spine. In addition to them, other subtle striped patterns decorated the lower legs. Like an ordinary frog, the two hind legs looked much more powerful than the front ones, allowing the demon to make great leaps.

    The amphibian picked up Yoichi''s voice and, moving slowly on its webbed feet, turned toward him. Its skin was green and smooth, covered with a thin gtinousyer. Its eyes were the same color as the leaves of the oak trees in the valley.

    "Grooak!" Algamok croaked. Its throat swelled, bing spherical like a helium balloon. Its mouth wasrge and curved upward as if it were constantly smiling. Yoichi remembered that, during the battle, that beautiful specimen of frog demon had disyed its arsenal, consisting of two sticky extendable tongues and a gaseous venom.

    *groak*groak* - The new demon continued to croak in the background, and his tamer couldn''t help but observe it smugly along with Takuma. "Hikigotsu aremon demons in this area, especially in the swampier sector. I take it you tamed it in the Boneside Swamp, right?" the Grimbrook warriormented.

    "Correct," Yoichi replied. Thanks to the Demon Pet System, he knew that the Hikigotsu''sbat level was seven. "I''m not sure how to use its skills, but I think it showed me all of them during our fight. If I''m not mistaken, poison-type demons are strong against grass-type demons, right?" Yochi asked, not remembering all the notions from the book ''Fundamentals of Demon Taming''.

    "Yes, that''s right. And not only that, Hikigotsu are poison-grass type demons. This feature makes them resistant immune to poisonous attacks, and even more resistant to attacks by other grass demons," Takuma exined. "When I was younger, and the Boneside Swamp wasn''t that dangerous, my grandfather often took me there," he added.

    Yoichi''s eyes framed his new amphibious friend again. "So you''re a good fighter, huh? I never imagined that my second tamed demon would be a poison demon. Hmm... you need a name, dude," the young tamer thought aloud. He rubbed his fingertips over his chin, thinking of a name that might fit a demon with that look.

    "I''ve got it!" he chuckled. "I''m going to call you Gengo! How do you feel about that?" - Yoichi''s way of interacting with demons struck a chord with Takuma. The Grimbrook warrior had never known anyone to treat them with such respect.

    "Grooak! Graak!" the Hikigotsu answered, hopping in ce and moving its big mushy amphibian belly.

    *groorg*burp* - At that very moment, Yoichi''s stomach growled from hunger. The happy expression of the young Nightdes tamer changed suddenly while he touched his stomach. "Fuck... I forgot to buy food in Grimbrook. I''m literally starving," heined.

    "Don''t worry, I took care of that detail", Takuma smiled, pulling something out of his travel backpack. "Here, take one of these," he said. From a yellowish cloth bag, Takuma pulled out a small white root that recalled the shape of a beet.

    Peering at the strange tuber from top to bottom, Yoichi grabbed it questioningly. "What is that? A radish?" he inquired, joking about the food''s funny appearance and smelling its scent closely.

    "Hahah! Not really. It''s called Hiringu turnip, and it''s a remedy that the elders of my vige use against hunger. A small gift from the Boneside Swamp," Takuma replied, taking a turnip for himself as well and cing the small pouch back in his backpack.

    Yoichi rubbed his fingertips against the tuber''s hard peel, unable to wrap his head around the fact that it was edible. "Its taste isn''t the best, but I can assure you that if you chew on it for about half an hour, the feeling of hunger will disappear," the Grimbrook warrior exined again. "You''ll get used to it."

    Immediately after those words, Takuma pulled out a small knife from his backpack. Its de was so small that the object could only be used to cut fruits or vegetables. In fact, under Yoichi''s astonished eyes, Takuma peeled the Hiringu turnip, threw its peel into the fire and devoured it in several bites.

    "Take this," the red-haired boy muttered, speaking with his mouth full. From the sound of chewing, the turnip sounded rubbery and slightly smelly. Yoichi grabbed the pocketknife from Takuma''s hand and peeled his meal.

    After stuffing the turnip into his mouth, the disgusting taste of the tuber forced Yoichi to plug his nose and close his eyes. Takuma couldn''t help butugh his head off, mocking his city friend, who wasn''t used to the customs of the countryside.

    Although Yoichi didn''t eat anything substantial that night, the dinner in front of the bonfire in Takuma''spany was one of the funniest of his life. There continued to be vivid chemistry between him and the Grimbrook warrior that would soon be a friendship.

    However, although the two adventurers were well hidden within a group of oak trees, they had not thought of an important detail. Lighting a bonfire in a ce that didn''t have particrly high heands wasn''t a good idea if you wanted to stay hidden.

    While they chuckled at the funny faces of Yoichi chewing on the Hiringu turnip, the thin smoke from Takuma''s bonfire wafted through the treetops.

 Chapter 282 - Oaktrees

    As Takuma anticipated, the feeling of hunger slowly disappeared from the stomachs of the two travelers after chewing on the spongy pulp of the hiringu turnip. Hearing the sweet sounds of the crickets and insects that popted the trees at night, they bothy down on the ground.

    The omnipresent turf in the valley was asfortable as a mattress, and the view of the stars in the clear sky was breathtaking. Especially someone who came from a city like Yoichi was not used to all that peace in contact with nature. ??

    Gengo, the young tamer''s frog demon, had found a damp spot under a tree. It had stood inside a kind of muddy puddle, dipping its webbed paws in and closing its green eyes. Within seconds, the Hikigotsu had fallen into a deep sleep.

    Unlike it, Karasu, Takuma''s demon, was still sitting by the fire. The scarecrow didn''t have eyes and a mouth like everyone else, and it was literally impossible to tell when and if it was sleeping. The only one who could tell was its tamer, now lying on the ground with his head on his travel pack.

    "The Demon Hunters will wake up at first light," Yoichi spoke, breaking the silence. "We have to leave before they do. Takuma, let me sleep for half an hour, then wake me up, and I will stand guard," the young tamer ordered. He intended to take turns guarding their makeshift camp, making sure no one got too close to their hiding ce.

    "All right, Yoichi. Good night then," Takuma replied, returning to his seat. The Grimbrook warrior dly agreed to be the first to guard the camp. Receiving an order from Yoichi gave him a sense of responsibility, made him feel part of something.

    The day before, he was fixing the roof of his house in Grimbrook, helping his mother and siblings; the next day, he was in the middle of the Valley of the Nothern Waters, hiding with a fugitive from Goldhaven on his way to a small vige in the far north.

    Smiling and breathing in the fresh air at the top of his lungs, Takuma thanked the stars in the sky for that unexpected gift. After a few minutes, he and Karasu got up to stretch their legs and look for more wood for the fire.

    Being the eldest of his siblings and having lost his father at the age of four, Takuma had been forced to take over the reins of his family. His only mentor was Gompachi, who constantly moved from Goldhaven to Grimbrook. Because of his travels, Gompachi did not have the time to exin to his grandson how he could be a true man of the house.

    Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Takuma had always shown himself to be strong and determined. He didn''t care about vige bullies, poverty, and rules. All he needed was to see the smiles on the small faces of his brothers and sisters.

    His mother Emiko had raised, with his help, twelve children. Six boys and six girls, including Takuma.

    Early on, he had learned that living in a vige like Grimbrook, which was particrly rich in older people who had chosen to live out thest years of their lives in a quiet ce, could have advantages. Takuma respected the elders of his vige and had learned almost everything he knew about Tentochu from them.

    The geography, the rules of survival in hostile ces, the rules of distinguishing edible nts from poisonous ones. Each of the elders Yoichi had met in that old tavern had left something to the fatherless man, holding a deep respect for him.

    With his faithful demon Karasu, Takuma had traveled north before but had never gone beyond the eastern edge of Bronzeforest. However, although he had not fought many times against other tamers, he had managed to evolve the scarecrow demon.

    To do so, he had used his innate fighting skills against the wild demons that inhabited the surroundings of Grimbrook. Indeed, during the hottest nights, he sneaked out of his house and got on his horse, riding out of the vige in search of solo adventures.

    "Karasu, we''ve gathered enough wood. Let''s go back to Yoichi''s," Takuma affirmed in a low voice. In his hands, a good amount of dry shrubs fell from the branches of the tall oaks above his head.

    Trying not to make too much noise or step on dry leaves, the Grimbrook warrior reached his sleeping friend. After stoking the fire, he sat down in front of the bonfire to warm himself.

    That night was freezing, and it took Takuma longer than usual to warm up. He wore no shoes, and his feet were so ustomed to the harsh climates of the north that they did not suffer particrly. However, he was not used to sleeping in the middle of the valley, where there was no Bronzeforest vegetation to mitigate the harsh temperatures.

    As the lids of his eyes began to waver from sleep, Takuma stood up, continuing to look at Yoichi. "No, I''m not going to fall asleep," he said aloud, speaking to himself. "I need to stay upright. Karasu, if you want, you can stay by the fire next to Yoichi," he spoke to his scarecrow demon.

    *creak* - Karasu''s legs creaked, and it stood up, faithfully following its tamer. "Uff..." huffed Takuma. "Whatever, but we''re not going to stray. I just need to take a walk and stretch my bones," he added, stretching his arms and toes.

    While Yoichi and Gengo snoozed blissfully, the barefoot warrior emerged from their safe little forest and walked until he reached the highest spot of the small hill that protected the tall oaks. From up there, the view was so breathtakingly beautiful.

    Searching for possible dangers with his eyes, he fell in love for the umpteenth time with his Valley of the Northern Waters. The waterways flowed like silver veins across the in, glistening under the moonlight. The same light reflected off the buttons sewn onto Karasu''s face in ce of its eyes.

    Initially pointing at the view, those very buttons gradually turned around along with the scarecrow demon''s head. It was not attached to the body through joints and turned 180 degrees, carefully staring at the area behind the hill.

    *tk*tk* - Karasu mmed the tip of one wooden leg against the other, sending a rather clear signal to its tamer. Unable to make any sounds, the scarecrow demon had learned tomunicate with Takuma in that bizarre but effective way.

 Chapter 283 - Bladed Bow

    "What? Where?!" Takuma eximed suddenly, picking up the sound emitted by Karasu. The double ''tik'' of its legs was a danger signal.

    *tk*tk*tk* - the scarecrow demon continued to make the same sound, turning its entire body in the direction of its head and pointing that direction to its tamer. Takuma lowered himself onto his knees and rested a hand on his eyebrows, trying to focus on the designated area.

    There didn''t seem to be anything unusual at the foot of the low hill, besides the camp where Yoichi was still sleeping. The t part of the valley looked peaceful and quiet, and the gentle downpour of the Waveless River echoed in the air, giving its listeners an atmosphere of serenity.

    *tk*tk*tk*

    However, despite the apparent tranquillity, Takuma could not help but trust his Sutotoko. Throughout his battles, the Grimbrook warrior had learned that there was nothing more trustworthy than a demon''s sixth sense.

    Suddenly, his eyes picked up a bright spot that seemed not to belong to thendscape. Takuma knew the valley too well and was sure he had never seen anything like it.

    It was located right next to a bush, not far from the camp. The next instant, the spot emitted a white glow, and something flew at great speed towards the red-haired warrior.

    "Fuck!" he grunted, throwing himself to the ground and dodging an arrow. The arrowhead grazed his hair and the scarecrow''s straw. Karasu began to hop around.

    With incredible agility, Takuma ced his shoulders on the ground, folded his legs across his chest, and stood up in a kippe. As soon as he was back on his feet, Takuma spread his arms wide and looked again at the spot where he had seen the bright glow a moment before.

    "What the hell was that? Who''s there?" he asked, knowing he couldn''t raise his voice too high. If he had screamed, his words would have echoed throughout the valley, and the risk of attracting Demon Hunters to him would have increased.

    The bright spot next to the bush had faded, and everything seemed to be back to normal. Without overthinking about it, knowing he was dealing with an invisible enemy, Takuma activated one of Karasu''s skills.

    The demon scarecrow raised both arms upwards, and its tamer grabbed them firmly. When Takuma''s hands were sped on the wooden sticks of Karasu, he bent his arms forcefully and broke them in half.

    *crack* - The typical sound of broken wood slid down the hill, reaching the ears of Yoichi and his Hikigotsu. Neither of them woke up.

    With that seemingly senseless move, Takuma and his demon shared no pain. Karasu turned around, and the two sticks it had in ce of its arms stretched again, returning to their original size.

    "When we''re done, I''m going to smooth out the tips for you, Karasu. I know they bother you," Takuma spoke to his demon pet, referring to the tips of the two wooden sticks, now broken and full of splinters.

    The scarecrow demon''s arms and legs had the innate ability to regenerate. After only a moment of activating that skill, Takuma was no longer unarmed: he held two short sticks pointed at the ends as if they were two katanas.

    *sniff*sniff* - The nostrils of the wild Grimbrook warrior red, and his nose began to pick up the surrounding smells. At the same time, the toes of his bare feet sank into the shallowestyer of the ground as if they wanted to feel every slightest movement of the earth.

    "Again!" he eximed aloud, turning to his left and noticing that the same glow that was previously at the foot of the hill had approached him.

    *swissh* - A second arrow was fired towards him, who crossed the two wooden sticks in front of his face with proverbial speed. Parrying the shot, the arrow pierced through one of his sticks, and its tip stopped a few millimeters from his cheekbone.

    "Grr!" snarling like a wild beast, Takuma broke the arrow on a knee and returned to a fighting stance. He wore no armor, weapons, or boots: wielding the two broken wooden sticks, he looked like a farmer seeking revenge.

    "Fighting as an invisible man will not help you against me," the Grimbrook warrior spoke. Out of the corner of his eye, he verified that Yoichi was safe in the camp. "My senses are developed. I can hear your footsteps on the ground," he added, trying to intimidate his invisible opponent.

    A third arrow was fired from another direction, and Takuma, tilting his back, dodged it. The arrow flew over the hill, dispersing in the valley.

    Takuma''s breathing became more and more intense. Meanwhile, Karasu positioned itself behind him, trying to perceive the danger. The expression sewn on the demon''s face didn''t allow anyone to guess the direction of its gaze.

    *tk*tk* - Karasu swung the ends of its legs again, alerting Takuma. The Grimbrook warrior rotated both sticks in his hands and somersaulted backwards. At that very moment, an arm appeared in mid-air, and a long, rusty bow moved in front of him.

    *thud*

    It emitted a metallic sound, and its end stuck in the ground, missing its target. As Takuma moved away from his previous position, the enemy was forced to reveal his appearance.

    Starting with his arm, the rest of his body took shape as a ck halo faded like smoke. "Your reflexes aren''t bad at all, kid," the mysterious man spoke.

    Takuma had heard that voice before, and when he looked at the face of the invisible enemy, he remembered where he had seen him before. Taisuke, the Demon Hunter with his face covered by a bandana and a hood, popped out in front of the red-haired tamer.

    His weapon was no ordinary bow: on the upper end, a de belonging perhaps to a short sword had been clumsily welded to the metal of the bow, making it useful even at close range.

    If Takuma had not dodged thest attack, that same de would probably have killed him instantly. On that cold night, the Grimbrook warrior found himself facing a Demon Hunter on top of a hill under clear skies.

 Chapter 284 - Invisibility

    "I''ve never seen the evolution of a Kabotoko in person," the Demon Hunter said as he appeared amidst the shadows. "It''s amazing that such a small and harmless being can be a chilling scarecrow. Don''t you think?" he continued, referring to Karasu.

    Taisuke''s eyes, which was the only visible part of his face, were as ck as night. Inside them, there seemed to be no pupils, and from the look in his eyes, it looked like he had taken some strange drug.

    "Karasu is my Oracle demon. I''m sorry for you, but you couldn''t steal it from me even if you killed me," Takuma replied coldly, exposing his enemy''s n.

    "Hmhm," Taisuke chuckled. "The market value of Sutotokos is rtively low. Even if I could have stolen it from you, it wouldn''t have been worth it. Who are you and where are you headed?" the archer inquired, keeping the de of his bow inches from his face.

    "That''s none of your business. I know you are not alone. I have seen yourpanions. My friend and I do not possess anything that would interest you; we are traveling north to visit a distant rtive" - in that moment of difficulty, Takuma''s instincts suggested he make up a believable story.

    Although he had no way of knowing what Taisuke''s demon was and what fighting level it was at, he had no intention of finding it out. The Grimbrook warrior was a big believer in his abilities, but he wasn''t stupid enough to face a grown Demon Hunter.

    Just as he kept thinking about what he might have said if the conversation had continued, Takuma noticed something move next to one of his interlocutor''s shoulders: a strange shadow the size of a modern ser ball floated around his head and perched on his shoulder.

    A spherical, ck, faceless body was covered by an ethereal sheet of the same color. Takuma had never seen a demon like that of Taisuke''s before.

    "Where is the Inoshuma? Do you have it?" the archer asked again. His eyes were thin and sharp. They expressed pure evil.

    A chill ran down Takuma''s spine after that question. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. We don''t have any Inoshuma. My Sutotoko and my friend''s Hikigotsu are our only two demon pets.

    Once again, Takuma preferred to lie, trying to avoid the confrontation. The sticks clutched in his hands trembled for a few seconds.

    Taisuke stretched one arm forward in the direction of the red-haired tamer. He moved his index finger left and right, "No, no. That''s not good," he spoke. "I can''t stand it when people lie to me. After I give you the punishment you deserve, I will go to your friend and kill him. I will take possession of your demons and supplies and return to my camp."

    "Yes, that''s how it''s going to be," Taisuke repeated, activating a skill of his floating ck demon.

    Suddenly, the small ck faceless ghost released arge amount of ck smoke. The smoke enveloped the Demon Hunter''s body and made him invisible again, putting his opponent in a difficult situation.

    "Fuck! Here we go again!" Takuma gulped, leaping back and twirling the two rods in his hands. "That man is going to try to hit us, Karasu! Be careful!" he said aloud, alerting his Oracle. If he had yelled to wake Yoichi at that moment, his voice would probably have reached all the way to theke where the other Hunters were camped.

    The only solution Takuma had was to get rid of the enemy with his own strength, hoping that the sounds of fighting might wake Yoichi up.

    *blink* - The glow that preceded the firing of an arrow appeared to his left, and, a second before the shot went off, Takuma rolled nimbly to the other side.

    Showing agility worthy of an acrobat, the Grimbrook warrior rose vertically on the two wooden sticks and fell back on his feet after a few meters.

    After his flight, the arrow shot by Taisuke pierced the ground, but something else happened in the next instant. Focusing his attention on the arrow, Takuma had been forced to move from his previous position.

    Taisuke, on the other hand, benefiting from his invisibility, had snuck up behind him. As soon as Takuma''s bare feet touched the cold turf of the hill, the rusty de of the enemy''s bow appeared near him.

    His reflexes were once again quicker than his opponent''s, and Takuma managed to raise an arm, twist a wooden staff, and use it to parry the blow.

    *tk*tk* - Thanks to the sound generated by Karasu''s woody legs and his almost bestial reflexes, the Grimbrook warrior''s fighting style relied mainly on speed.

    "Take this!" he boomed, twisting the rod he had just used to parry the bow and trying to hit his enemy with the other.

    *swung* - When Taisuke''s arm disappeared again, his body became ethereal, and Takuma''s weapon passed through the smoke, missing its target.

    In the next instant, a light kick struck Karasu''s tamer on the calf. Taisuke''s low blow aimed to bring his opponent to his knees, but what his foot found left him stunned.

    The muscles of Takuma''s legs and arms were as hard as mountain rocks, and at the moment of impact between the instep of his enemy''s foot and his calf, Taisuke felt a sharp pain. The sensation wasparable to kicking a wall.

    "Aargh!" Taisukemented, revealing his position. Takuma hurriedly turned around and lunged a wooden rod forward, using it like the de of a sword. The splintered tip of the wood struck a hidden spot on Taisuke''s body, making him disappear again.

    The Grimbrook warrior continued to rotate the wooden sticks in his hands, using his bestial senses to geolocate his enemy. "My grandfather taught me how to survive in the Boneside Swamp at night. I don''t need to see you if I want to kick your ass!" Takuma growled, taking courage.

    When Taisuke''s demon reappeared in mid-air, its tamer was also revealed by the moonlight. The sharpened rod had managed to strike him on one arm, causing a deep gash just below his left shoulder.

 Chapter 285 - Knee Strike

    "I congratte you, little boy," the enemy muttered, touching his shoulder. The palm of his hand became tinged with blood. "I do not often get hurt while invisible. Well, no matter. The time of your end ising."

    After those words, Taisuke grabbed his longbow with both hands. His palms were at the center of the metallic weapon.

    *click* - Unexpectedly, Takuma heard the sound of a button. At that same instant, a de identical to the one on the top also sprouted in the lower end of the enemy''s bow.

    Not content with that enhancement, Taisuke separated his hands and split his weapon in half, which became something quite different from a bow: two half-bows each with a de and connected by a strong steel cable.

    Takuma''s eyes narrowed on his target, and his knees lowered to the ground. The Grimbrook warrior assumed a fighting stance and began to think of a new tactic to deal with that weapon.

    Demon Hunters are equipped to defeat wild demons, but mostly to kill other tamers, Takuma thought. In front of him, the cloaked man didn''t seem intent on letting him go.

    When the nket of ck smoke enveloped Taisuke''s body again, he disappeared into thin air. Behind him, a thin, transparent halo took a few moments longer to disappear under the moonlight.

    Clutching the two wooden sticks in his hands, Takuma closed his eyes. The young red-haired warrior thought frantically of his grandfather''s teachings, of the thousands of adventures he had lived alone in the Boneside Swamp and the Bronzeforest.

    If an enemy is invisible, then he will tend to let his guard down, he pondered. Invisibility can be a double-edged sword. Taisuke moves in the shadows like a demon hiding in the night and focuses his energies mainly on his attacks, neglecting defense.

    Suddenly, the teachings he had received many years earlier from his grandfather Gompachi began to make sense far away from Grimbrook. Although he never thought he would have to apply them against another human being, Takuma was smart enough to realize that an unscrupulous foe like Taisuke had to be dealt with like a ferocious demon.

    *tk*tk* - The sound emitted by Karasu alerted its tamer to the impending danger. An instantter, Takuma ducked and a de appeared above his head, moving horizontally and missing its target.

    This time Taisuke''s blow was much quicker due to the maneuverability of his two one-handed weapons. After the first blow, he, who had anticipated a dodge by his young enemy, struck a second downward blow.

    It was at that very moment that Takuma sensed the presence of his enemy before him. With his eyes closed, the Grimbrook warrior finally had a chance to focus only on the sounds. Now that his opponent could no longer shoot arrows, there was no re for him to detect.

    Takuma ced the pointed ends of the sticks on the ground, prating the firstyers of the soil. Holding onto them, he rotated his body and kicked downward, performing a low kick worthy of an expert kung-fu fighter.

    Takuma''s powerful leg muscles impacted against the slender ankles of Taisuke, who was a tall, lean warrior whose physique respected that of an average archer.

    Suddenly, from his advantageous position, Taiusuke found himself in mid-air, forcibly lifted by his opponent''s low kick. His body reappeared from the smoke and Takuma opened his eyes.

    There he is! I have to hit him now! He thought frantically, as the scarecrow demon wouldn''t stop making that useful but annoying sound.

    Taking advantage of his solid foothold, namely the two wooden rods stuck on the ground, Takuma spread his legs and leaped at his target, lifting the knee of his right leg and fully extending the left one.

    *boom* - A violent knee strike hit Taisuke''s back, who bent in half in pain and stood with his feet off the ground for a few moments.

    "Aaaargh!" - A stifled cry of pain struggled out of his mouth as the breath left his lungs. Before he fell back to the ground, Takuma pulled his knee off his back, raised both wooden sticks, and struck his abdomen with both of his weapons.

    *thud* - Taisuke''s injured body fell to the ground in a thud and his eyes closed in pain. The impact between his back and the ground was so strong that it forced the Demon Hunter to let go of his grip on his strange weapons connected by the steel cable.

    Takuma took a step back and observed the scene. After every action, he rotated the wooden rods, cing one above his head and one behind his back. His fighting style was a mix of aikido, kendo, and kung-fu.

    During his harsh teenage years spent without a father and with a family to protect, he had learned the art ofbat from his grandfather Gompachi, who was once in the service of Emperor Tatsui.

    ''Only who uses war to pursue peace is worthy of calling himself warrior,'' his grandfather always repeated, emphasizing the fact that fighting other human beings could sometimes be the only way to achieve peace.

    Takuma grew up in Grimbrook ording to this very principle, preparing himself for the fateful moment when, after all his hard work, he would be ready to leave the vige and explore the outside world.

    When Gompachi introduced him to Yoichi and told him that this moment hade, Takuma felt happiness he had never felt before. Now, while Yoichi was resting, the fate of their journey and mission was in his hands.

    As Taisuke''s body writhed on the ground due to the severe pain in his back, the Grimbrook warrior could not help but notice a crucial detail: the ghost demon of his enemy was not next to its tamer.

    During the starting phase of the dialogue between the two opponents, it had been close to Taisuke the whole time, and even before Takuma managed to hit him, that ck and spherical ghost was there, floating next to his head. What had happened to it now? Where did it go?here did it go?

 Chapter 286 - Butterfly

    "Oops. Toote" - Unexpectedly, Taisuke''s mouth appeared next to Takuma''s ear, whispering those words. A cold shiver ran through the Grimbrook warrior''s body, who couldn''t believe what had just happened.

    *zac* - The pain Takuma felt in the next instant was so intense that it took his breath away and immobilized him. He slowly lowered both arms and the outline of Taisuke''s body slowly crumbled before his eyes like the corpse of a demon he had just defeated.

    The enemy had used a copy of himself to trick his opponent, circle around him, and stabbing him from behind. The de of his rusty weapon was stabbed into the side of the red-haired tamer, now forced to grit his teeth to withstand the pain.

    "Did you really think I could attack you head-on for no reason? Too bad, you were so close, boy," Taisukemented maliciously, standing behind Takuma. In his evil voice, a subtleugh emphasized his physical enjoyment in hurting another human being.

    That Demon Hunter, not being part of a guild and not abiding by any rules, felt no mercy in striking a tamer younger than himself in the back, whose only fault was that he was traveling with a friend of his to the north.

    When Takuma suffered the wound, his scarecrow demon lost its bnce, too: its wooden legs vibrated until they spread downwards and its body fell to the grass, supported by its arms broken at the ends.

    With a twist of his wrist, Taisuke rotated the de of that short sword of sorts, increasing the damage done to Takuma and forcing him to his knees. "AARGH!" the young tamer from Grimbrook screamed, unable to contain himself.

    His knees fell to the ground, and the moment the de of Taisuke''s weapon was drawn from his side, it was lifted by his arms. Taisuke spread the ends of what had previously been a bow, and the metal bowstring that joined them stretched out, shimmering in the moonlight.

    Without waiting any longer, as if ustomed to that kind of execution, the Demon Hunter wrapped the bowstring around Takuma''s neck, who dropped the two sticks. Trying to grab the thin string with his fingers, Takuma iled and the oxygen in his lungs began to run out after only a few seconds.

    "AAAGH!" Takuma choked, opening his eyes wide and pulling his tongue out of his mouth as if his instincts wanted to get more air inside his pharynx. His vision blurred and the outlines of Karasu, a few meters away from him, became more and more confused and clouded.

    "Poor boy," Taisukemented, with his usual wicked chuckle. "You should have stayed home. The night is known to be dangerous, especially in northern Tentochu. You will repay this mistake with your life," he added. His hands pulled the two halves of the bow back, further tightening the grip of the bowstring around his throat.

    The senses began to leave the Grimbrook warrior''s body and mind, and a tear ran down his face. I''m sorry, Yoichi, Takuma thought. I wasn''t able to protect you and I won''t even be able to save the Emperor''s daughter either. Maybe this man is right. Perhaps fate would have wanted me to stay in Grimbrook forever, taking care of my family.

    On those sad notes, Takuma''s eyelids closed, resting on his bitter tears of defeat. The cold night air seemed to turn hot for a few moments, while the blood''s path to his brain was gradually stopped.

    The Grimbrook warrior''s heart slowed down and hisst beats echoed like war drums in his rib cage. His life was about to meet its end on that cold hill in the Valley of the Northern Waters. The ce that had been the protagonist of his grandfather''s thousands of stories was about to be an open-air coffin for him.

    Takuma thought of his mother''s face and that of all his siblings during thest moments of his life. He also thought of his father, the poor man he had never known and who had lived a life of poverty and hardship, carrying the burden of growing a family on his own.

    Suddenly, just as hisst breath was about to be taken, his head recoiled and a dizzy feeling prevailed over suffocation.

    "AAARGH!" - Takuma''s body, as if following its own free will, frantically breathed in all the oxygen necessary for its vital functions. His lungs filled instantly and his eyes opened again in panic.

    His tongue could taste the blood that had pooled in his throat, and his limbs moved frantically like the body of a fish out of water.

    When the Grimbrook warrior''s gaze finally managed to focus on the images before his eyes, what he saw saved his life: a butterfly was resting on a white daisy-like flower. Its ck and red wings pped happily as Takuma''s strong breath reached them and it took flight, leaving the hillside and returning to its brief life as a free creature.

    The soft cool grass of the valley caressed the left cheek of the young red-haired warrior. The ringing in his ears faded until it disappeared, and sounds of battle became sharper and sharper to his hearing.

    Using all the strength he had at his disposal at that moment, Takuma managed to use one arm to turn on belly-up. Until his eyes saw the next scene, he was convinced that he was in the afterlife, far from Lumya and the present he knew.

    Beyond the tips of his bare feet, his faithful travelingpanion had just saved his life and was intent on fighting Taisuke. Yoichi''s ming arms warmed the air and the tongues of fire roaring from his forearms expressed his pure draconic power.

    Behind the long blond-haired tamer, his ck-horned demon roared with vigor, lifting the ck scales on his back and enhancing the mes of its tamer. Under the relentless blows of the knuckles of those huge wed hands, Taisuke''s elusion skill could do nothing.

 Chapter 287 - Irreverence

    "Takuma! Are you all right, man?" Yoichi asked, staring at his enemy and waiting for an answer from his seemingly injuredrade.

    Takuma touched his neck and brushed his fingers over the deep mark caused by Taisuke''s bowstring. "Yeah, I''m fine. He attacked me from behind and I was about to lose consciousness," he replied. From the resentment in his voice, he wanted Yoichi to believe that he had the situation under control before that ident.

    "Be careful, Yoichi. This guy can disappear thanks to his ghost-type demon skill!" he added, giving him helpful hints.

    "I see you''ve woken up, sleepyhead," Taisuke chuckled, taking a step towards Yoichi. With one hand, he cleaned his armor of dirt and ash. "I didn''t think you''d..."

    "Who the fuck gave you permission to speak?" Yoichi interrupted, growling like a ferocious beast. His eyebrows were curved over his blue eyes. They expressed pure rage.

    He looked like one of the Demon Hunters we''d seen earlier along the way. Why had he turned on Takuma? What had happened? He thought.

    Although Yoichi had an innate tendency to trust those who were kind to him, for a moment he hesitated to look his friend in the eye.

    How could he be sure that that wasn''t a trap to rob him? If Takuma and that mysterious man had agreed from the beginning?

    After all, only Takuma could have guessed that the cargo Ichiro was carrying inside the saddlebags contained valuables.

    "Who are you and what do you want with my friend?" the young tamer continued, not even giving Taisuke time to respond to his previous provocation.

    "Hmm..." Taisuke murmured. His eyes were fixed on Kenji. "That''s no ordinary Nekage. Those ck horns are abnormal and the tail is longer than average. I''ve tamed dozens of Nekages in the Mukade region and none of them looked like that.... thing," the Demon Hunter added.

    As Takuma tried to recover from his daze, Yoichi preferred not to respond to that tricky sentence.

    "I''m not interested in your useless words. I can spot a Demon Hunter when I see one," the blond-haired tamer spoke. "Even though you disturbed my sleep, I feel good. Go down the hill and get back the way you came without ever looking back. I won''t do you any harm."

    Yoichi''s arms were entirely covered in ck scales, and his ming veins burned beneath them. Their light joined that of the moon that watched over the Valley of the Northern Waters from above.

    "Heheh. Who would have thought? Two such nice kids in the middle of nowhere," after answering, Taisuke took a step towards Yoichi. "If you hadn''t gotten in my way while I was about to kill your friend, I might have even decided to rob you and let you live. Now I can''t. You''re aware of my identity and you could turn me in to the Imperial guards, giving me a lot of grief. You''ll die for this, blondie."

    Taisuke''s words were as raw and forceful as a death sentence. Kenji began to growl, sensing that the evil-looking man had no intention of backing down.

    Yoichi continued to watch his opponent from head to toe, studying his movements. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at Takuma, noticing that on the ground near his hands were two wooden sticks.

    They were very simr to Karasu''s arms, and the demon scarecrow was damaged at the very ends of its upper limbs.

    A purplish line seemed to dig into the Grimbrook warrior''s neck and his expression conveyed to Yoichi the pain he had felt. The shame Takuma felt for failing to protect hisrade was so strong that he did not return Yoichi''s gaze.

    Being two very empathetic people, the two tamers understood each other without needing to speak. The suspicion Yoichi felt towards Takuma disappeared as soon as Takuma looked at theirmon enemy.

    Takuma''s goal from the beginning was to kill Taisuke without waking Yoichi, and this was made evident by his bitter and hateful gaze.

    "Regain your strength and protect the horse," Yoichi ordered Takuma, turning back to his enemy and clenching his fists, trying to increase the magical power of the primordial me.

    "I will be nearby, my friend. This man cannot get back to his camp alive," Takuma replied, thinking of the consequences. He had already had a small demonstration of Yoichi''s power, but he considered Taisuke a more dangerous opponent than Bunjiro.

    Yoichi didn''t have time to respond to that statement. By the time the word ''camp'' came out of Takuma''s mouth, Taisuke had already disappeared into thin air.

    So it''s true, Yoichi suddenly realized. He can turn invisible!

    *tk*tk* - The sound of Karasu''s legs, which had been crucial in the fight against Taisuke, distracted Yoichi.

    Not understanding what had happened and already being intimidated by Karasu because of its creepy appearance, Yoichi instinctively turned in the direction of the noise.

    "No, Yoichi! Don''t turn around, he can take advantage of it to..."

    Suddenly, Taisuke''s arm appeared behind Yoichi''s right shoulder. The shadow enveloping his body only opened at a specific spot, creating what looked like a magical shadow gash. Right from there, the enemy''s hand slipped out, forcefully holding one half of his weird-looking bow.

    Yoichi looked into Takuma''s eyes, and right there the reflection of the enemy appeared. Although he had just woken up in the middle of the night, his instincts as the Dragon King''s heir burned in his chest.

    Taisuke''s attack was swift and precise. The Demon Hunter knew perfectly the spot on his neck where the de would sever his target''s head with a single blow.

    When Yoichi saw it through his partner''s eyes, he turned in a hurry and raised his sharp elbow. The movement was so fast that it anticipated Taisuke''s attack. He, because of Yoichi''s long hair, took longer than usual to aim the spot on his neck.

    Surprisingly, Yoichi''s arm struck the enemy''s covered face hard, releasing a thin trail of fire.

    Taisuke was thrown off bnce by the blow and his head, which until a moment before was still invisible, was mechanically thrown backward.

 Chapter 288 - Tamurei

    After his head became visible, the rest of his body was revealed: Taisuke''s ghost-demon skill had been forcibly deactivated, and a well-timed elbow strike turned the situation to Yoichi''s advantage.

    Taisuke''s feet moved backward awkwardly and he stumbled on a rock sticking out of the grass.

    With a thud, the Demon Hunter found himself with his back on the ground, unarmed and surprised.

    Taisuke ced a hand on the bandage covering his face. When he raised it again, his palm was covered in blood and a sharp pain blurred his vision.

    Without taking aim and using only an imperceptible portion of his physical strength, Yoichi had broken the Demon Hunter''s nose.

    Momentster, the ghost demon appeared in the vicinity of its tamer, attracting Kenji''s attention, on all fours just below it.

    That sphere that appeared to be wearing ck sheets floated in the air like a jellyfish floats underwater.

    What kind of demon is that? Is invisibility its only skill? Yoichi asked himself, reaching one half of Taisuke''s bow with but the tip of his foot.

    "My nose!" Taisuke growled. His right hand was wide open on the bandage covering his face. "Stop joking now. I''m sick of your stupid games!" he boomed loudly, tearing the bandage off his face.

    The scene that Yoichi and Takuma saw left them speechless. Under the bandage, the enemy''s face was almost entirely disfigured by multiple burns.

    What was originally his mouth had be a mass of scars and burns. Besides, one of the two cheekbones was not in its ce.

    Part of his gums was poking out under a hole at the level of one cheek,pletely hollowed out all the way into his mouth.

    Pitch-ck eyes crowned that terrifying sight, giving the Demon Hunter an emblematic and horrifying appearance.

    Breaking the silence, his ghost demon rose in altitude, flying over the heads of those present and emitting a screech so subtle that it bordered on ultrasonic.

    "Argh!" - Yoichi and Takuma were forced to cover their ears to resist that sound. The enemy demon had just activated another skill.

    Taisuke''s body multiplied and his demon created two mirror copies of his tamer. Suddenly, within seconds three identical Demon Hunters were in front of Yoichi: all three of them possessed the same weapons.

    *swissh* - With a sound simr to a gust of wind, the two clones and the original Taisuke disappeared into thin air.

    "Kenji, go protect Takuma and Karasu. Takuma, allow your demon to help me!" Yoichi spoke. The young tamer from Goldhaven seemed to have been born to be a leader and, issuing orders to his teammates, immediately arranged a defensive maneuver.

    "Of... Of course!" Takuma stammered, approaching Karasu and waiting for Kenji to join them. "One ''tik'' means forward, two ''tiks'' means..."

    *tk*tk*

    The quick exnation of the Grimbrook''s tamer was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Karasu''s wooden legs.

    "It means back!" Yoichi thundered,pleting the sentence. He spread one of his giant hands wide and waved his arm back, letting the mes enhance his attack.

    As predicted by Karasu, one of the three Taisuke stood behind Yoichi. Thanks to his good reading, he managed to hit him full force with his hand.

    A violent pnded on the Demon Hunter, who clumsily tried to parry it with both hands.

    *boom* - The ming veins increased the power of scorching breath and mes shot out from Yoichi''s knuckles, causing a small explosion.

    The ze swept over Taisuke, enveloping his entire upper body and causing him massive damage. "AAGH!" - The Demon Hunter''s screams echoed through the air as the draconic me ripped his body to shreds.

    "One down! Two more to go!" Yoichi eximed, spinning around frantically and tapping into Therion''s primordial me again.

    "Yoichi! Watch out!" Takuma yelled, drawing the Nightdes fighter''s attention.

    *zac* - As soon as Yoichi turned around, an arrow struck his right arm. Its tip embedded itself between the scales, failing to prate the tough skin beneath.

    "You can''t escape me, you brat! You can kill me how many times you want, but my Tamurei will always bring me back to life with another clone!" - Taisuke''s voice seemed toe from all directions.

    A single enemy was moving and speaking as if he was part of a group of soldiers. Yoichi had the impression that he was surrounded.

    *tk*

    *tk*tk*

    Forward and then back! Thank you, Karasu! Yoichi reflected, reconnecting the sounds made by the Sutotoko to the position of his multiple enemies.

    When Taisuke''s arms appeared in front of him, the bowstring they held was outstretched. On it, an arrow was loading.

    Yoichi was not intimidated by the nearby archer and relied once more on Karasu''s powers. Without a second thought, he lowered himself onto his knees, positioning himself on all fours like Kenji.

    *tac*swish* - The arrow was shot by Taisuke, but due to Yoichi''s sudden movement, it missed the target.

    *zac* - "Aargh!"

    After grazing the young tamer''s hair, the arrow struck the other Taisuke behind him, piercing his neck and killing him on the spot.

    The first Taisuke hit by the ming p and the second hit by the arrow crumbled, turning into ck smoke and evaporating into the night sky.

    Takuma, who was watching the fight from afar, couldn''t believe his eyes: no one before Yoichi had ever been able to interpret Karasu''s sounds.

    It had taken him and his Oracle years to perfect anguage that only the two of them could understand. Yet, with a simple verbal suggestion, his new teammate had sessfully avoided two attacks.

    The two clones have been defeated... the one in front of me is the original! Yoichi thought, looking around and then focusing his attention on the man with the bow.

    "My arrow didn''t scratch your arm at all...what material is it made of? I want to know!" Taisuke grunted, loading another dark wooden arrow from his quiver to his bow.

    "What do you need to know that for? You''ll never be able to escape this hill. In less than a minute I''ll rip your head from your neck," Yoichi spoke. "I cannot forgive what you have done to Takuma."

 Chapter 289 - Spherical Body

    Without even knowing if the one in front of him was the original Taisuke, Yoichi started the offensive and ran forward. The young warrior from Goldhaven charged his enemy frontally, setting his arms and legs as in the stance he had used against Bunjiro.

    Arms open downward, hands with fingers spread wide and palms facing forward. The dragon''s charge only increased his power as he waited to deliver the blow to his opponent.

    The Demon Hunter did not flinch. Taisuke had never seen anything like it in his life, but what he felt as he watched Yoichi run towards him was a feeling slightly different from fear.

    Demon Hunters of a certain level knew arge number of different demons. Therefore, they could sometimes be more knowledgeable than the Tamer District schrs, that is, those people who dedicated their lives to the study of modern and ancient demons.

    In a way, anyone who wanted to be a Demon Hunter and wanted to live his own life escaping from thew had to study quite a bit.

    Taisuke''s ce of origin was unknown to Yoichi and Takuma, but that information was irrelevant to understanding the true nature of the disfigured-faced archer.

    The only thing that could be gleaned from his face and body was the pain he had experienced during his early life.

    Judging by the features of his face, Taisuke probably wasn''t born in that condition but had reached it over time.

    Had he be a Demon Hunter by choice or had he been forced to do so in order to survive? Although in Yoichi''s mind this question was repeated almost endlessly, the young tamer could no longer stop his charge.

    With his gaze focused on his target, Yoichi continued to run in a straight line, followed by a zing trail. From the ground, a thin streak of fire from his heels burned the grass and a grayish smoke rose into the air.

    Only a few feet away from Yoichi and Taisuke, Kenji had never looked away from thest spot where the Tamurei had appeared.

    After casting itsst ability, the ghost-type demon had left a kind of dark halo behind. The little dragon was able to sense that aura, and its ruby-red eyes tried to intuit its movements.

    "Skreeek!" - Suddenly, as soon as Taisuke''s demon pet appeared in mid-air, Kenji jumped towards it. Relying on its most bestial and mean instincts, it opened its jaws wide and tried to bite the enemy demon.

    The ck ghost sensed Kenji''s impending presence and turned around, realizing toote that the sharp teeth of the little dragon were already inches away from its body.

    *clung* - Kenji''s canines passed through the ethereal fabric that hung from the ghost''s main body. When they touched the spherical part, a strange metallic noise echoed through the air.

    As Kenjinded on its feline paws, a metal sphere slightly smaller than his head was between its teeth. Around it, strands of ck smoke moved like tentacles.

    Taisuke''s Tamurei possessed a physical body as well as an ethereal one! As the metal sphere was mped in Kenji''s jaws, it began to emit that unbearable screech once again.

    At the same time, in a few seconds, Yoichi''s enemy found himself in serious trouble. Until Kenji''s timely intervention, Taisuke nned to activate a skill of his demon just before Yoichi''s arrival.

    However, the demon specter was his Oracle and the pain it felt in that instant was immediately shared with its tamer.

    "Aarggh!" Taisuke yelled, dropping his bow and grabbing his own head with both hands.

    Now! I have to hit him now! Yoichi thought hastily, who inwardly knew that Kenji would not stand idly by.

    In front of his eyes, the enemy looked helpless, immobilized by Kenji''s grip on Tamurei''s head, which was getting stronger and stronger.

    All Yoichi had to do was load the power of his next blow and end the life of that Demon Hunter once and for all.

    For the second time in less than two days, the Bronzeforest warrior was about to kill a man. Like Bunjiro, Taisuke was not innocent. But for Yoichi, that was still a difficult situation.

    Even after killing him, he would not be sure that the other Demon Hunters would not rush to the aid of their lost teammate. At the same time, if he left him alive, the chances that the enemy delegation would intercept them again on their way to Oakenfair would be incredibly high.

    Yoichi released the energy stored in the center of his chest, letting the charge allow the primordial me to reach every point on his arms.

    Taisuke had fallen to his knees and had both hands resting on the ground. His face was positioned low and this gave Yoichi a hint for his next attack.

    Instead of jumping, as he was wont to do, Yoichi ducked further, loading a right uppercut. If that punch had hit Taisuke''s face, the energy would have been enough to kill him with a single blow.

    Takuma and Karasu waited with bated breath, hoping that attack would determine the final verdict of the fight.

    Yoichi''s arms released smoke as ck as the pipes of a lotive, and the roar of Therion''s me began to rumble nearby.

    "Aaaargh!" - Yoichi shouted and Taisuke turned his gaze towards him. Still immobilized thanks to Kenji''s intervention, the Demon Hunter showed his opponent an expression filled with pain.

    The old Yoichi, the sweet and gentle boy who would never hurt anyone, would have stopped at that scene. Probably, the intimidated look of a man facing death would have made him forgive his evil acts.

    But the old Yoichi no longer existed. He had been reced by a determined and, when necessary, ruthless warrior.

    As the sole heir to Lumya''s most ancient power, he couldn''t risk being killed by an ouw like Taisuke.

    Oakenfair was still far away, and no one would stand between him and his rescue mission. Shioko would have soon saved the Princess and he had to reach them in Ambershire.

 Chapter 290 - Fire Uppercut

    Tongues of fire roaring like crimson thunder and a deep, angry gaze. As Yoichi finished loading his right uppercut, the Dragon King''s energy began to flow through his veins again.

    Time seemed to slow down as his hand moved closer to Taisuke''s resigned face. The Demon Hunter was grown enough and experienced enough inbat to know that his time hade.

    Knuckle by knuckle, Yoichi''s hand impacted against his enemy''s face.

    The first contact with the draconic warrior''s hand burned his skin until it was consumed.

    His already damaged cheeks were torn further apart, and the force of the punch was so devastating that it disced his brain inside his skull.

    The sensation Taisuke felt was as if he had been hit by a speeding train. The bottom-up trajectory had made the punch even more unpredictable and precise.

    Using maximum kic energy and drawing a perfect attack trajectory with his body, Yoichi delivered the best attack ever performed.

    Taisuke''s armor was a typical archer''s suit of armor made of studs and useless essories. From the top of it, the Demon Hunter''s neck began to tear like a sheet of paper.

    Many thin cuts joined in the same direction, forcing the head to make a decidedly unnatural upward movement. When the cuts became one, the archer''s head snapped off his neck.

    Taisuke''s eyes closed and his mouth opened in a grimace of extreme pain. The umted blood in his swollen veins sprayed into every direction as if it were a geyser.

    In addition to the detachment of his neck, his windpipe also followed that movement, slithering away from Taisuke''s body like a snake that had just been flushed out of hisir.

    The sounds of that scene were indescribable and the enemy''s head took part of his entrails with it, throwing them into the air like confetti at a carnival.

    The macabre spectacle inaugurated by Yoichi''s attack colored the hilltop red, and the silent Valley of the Northern Waters weed another dead body into its green arms.

    The corpse of Taisuke, deprived of his head and dignity, fell to the ground like a rag doll. His head made a parabolic trajectory in the air before falling a few feet away from the wounded Takuma.

    "Fuck! Fuck!" the Grimbrook warrior gasped in terror, backing up onto the grass. With one hand, Takuma clutched the wound on his side; with the other, he dragged his body away from the head that had fallen to the ground like a meteorite.

    Before returning to a standing position, Yoichi waited a few moments. If Taisuke''s body would have crumbled before his eyes, the young tamer would have realized it was a clone.

    The enemy''s blood also dripped from Yoichi''s eyshes, misting his gaze. His lips, his eyes, his nose: every spot on his face was covered in the Demon Hunter''s blood.

    *thud*thud* - Taisuke''s head rolled to the grassy ground, heading dangerously over the edge of the hill.

    His split trachea still poked out at the end of his neck, and the eyes of his face were now wide open and bloodshot, as was his mouth.

    "Kenji?" Yoichi called, turning quickly toward his Oracle. The Tamurei''s metal head was in the little dragon''s jaws and was slowly crumbling under the pressing action of its teeth.

    When a small red sphere floated out of the ghost demon, Yoichi had no more doubts. He had indeed seeded in defeating an experienced Demon Tamer. He too had been unable to resist the draconic power.

    "Screek!" Kenji rejoiced, opening its mouth wide and dropping the remnants of the metal head. In addition to the XP orb that had just sprouted from the defeated demon''s body, an identical sphere appeared from Taisuke''s headless corpse.

    "Is... Is he... dead?" Takuma stammered, whose appearance was growing paler.

    Yoichi deactivated Kenji''s skill and his arms returned to their original size. When he looked more closely at his partner''s appearance, he ran towards him.

    "Takuma! Your wound! You look terrible, man!" the young Goldhaven warrior eximed as if he had already forgotten that he waspletely soiled with the blood of a dead man.

    "I... I gonna be... aagh..." - Takuma was unable to respond to that statement, and as he leaned towards Yoichi, he risked falling with his head to the ground, losing his senses.

    Fortunately, Yoichi was able to foresee that sudden movement and grabbed his partner, preventing him from suffering further damage.

    Takuma and Karasu were exhausted and the red-haired warrior''s wound did not look good. Lifting his body and loading it onto his shoulders, Yoichi carried his friend to the small forest at the foot of the hill.

    With Kenji''s help, he also carried his scarecrow demon, reduced to an inanimate heap of wood and straw.

    Next to the bonfire, the young tamer from Goldhavenid his friend on the grass previously ttened by his body. He lifted his yellowed tank top and looked closely at his wound.

    The cut caused by Taisuke''s de was quite superficial, but without careful treatment, he would have risked infection.

    Takuma was unconscious and because of that, Yoichi was able to continue with the healing treatment undisturbed. Up until that point, he had always been the one to be healed, not the healer.

    The only first aid knowledge Yoichi knew came from the book ''Fundamentals of Demon Taming'', but when he read that chapter, he paid little attention to it.

    Even though the cut was superficial, Takuma''s wound was still bleeding. "I need something clean to cover the wound and keep the blood froming out," he thought aloud as he looked around.

    Seeing no useful items nearby, he checked inside his bag before tearing off a piece of Takuma''s clothes.

    Amazingly, that country warrior''s backpack was very neat. Everything had been carefully packed and enclosed in sheets of paper tied with strings.

    The urge to browse through that bag was great, but the young tamer could not let his friend bleed to death. Digging through Takuma''s junk, at the bottom of his backpack, sterile gauze and two small ampoules containing ointments.

 Chapter 291 - No Pause

    "A first aid kit!" Yoichi thought aloud, opening one of the ointments. A pungent smell simr to that of some strange nt pervaded his nostrils.

    Yoichi looked inside the newly opened vial, peering at the bottom and trying to figure out what it was. The liquid in the first bottle was yellowish, while the other contained a purple ointment.

    The young tamer remembered waking up after the ckvault Mines under the care of his master Ryutaro. The gatekeeper had used a yellowish ointment to heal his wounds. Thanks to it, even the deepest cuts had healed immediately.

    Without wasting any more time, Yoichi poured part of the bottle onto one of the sterile gauzes. He folded the gauze and ced it on Takuma''s stab wound. "Aaargh!" - As soon as the yellowish liquid made contact with the Grimbrook warrior''s skin, he immediately came to his senses and began to scream in pain.

    "It stings! It stings so much!" Takuma gasped, unconsciously moving his hand towards the gauze. Yoichi clutched his wrist, preventing him from removing the ointment. If the sensation Takuma felt was burning, whatever was in that ampoule was working on his damaged tissues.

    Fortunately, his photographic memory had not betrayed him, and the Goldhaven warrior had chosen the right liquid to treat hisrade''s wounds. Takuma began to sweat; then, when Yoichi wiped the sweat away, the red-haired warrior began to shiver from the cold.

    At that point, Yoichi used thest pieces of wood collected by Takuma and Karasu to fuel the campfire and moved hisrade''s body closer to the fire.

    When the situation seemed to stabilize, Yoichi sat down on the grass and moved away from Takuma, resting his back against the bark of a tree. He let out a deep breath and looked up at the sky, narrowing his eyes and letting the fresh air gently enter his lungs.

    Simultaneously, his hands touched his cheeks and eyes, scratching away the tiredness. An iron smell of blood pervaded his nostrils, and when he looked at his palms, they were as red as ripe tomatoes in the sun.

    Having to take care of Takuma, Yoichi had utterly forgotten that he was dirty with Taisuke''s blood. Behind the bloodstained hands, the sky was gradually beginning to be tinged with the colors of the dawn of a new day.

    Yoichi tried to think about what to do, not having calcted that to reach Oakenfair, he would encounter all those difficulties. Although Taiusuke''s head had been detached from the rest of his body and had fallen down the hill, sooner orter some of the Demon Hunters would start looking for the missing archer.

    Theke that housed their camp was only a few miles away and, armed with their horses, and following the infallible nose of their hound demon called Inoku, those evil-looking men would surely reach their hiding ce in no time.

    Images of the man with the horned kabuto riding that huge beast quickly shed before Yoichi''s mind''s eye. If Taisuke was such a strong warrior, he dared not imagine what the strength of the Demon Hunters'' leader had been.

    With Takuma in that condition, meeting the other members of that group of viins would have put Yoichi backed into a corner. Even a warrior as strong as him would not have been able to defeat them and would have ended up like Taisuke.

    "No, I don''t want to lose my head," Yoichi thought aloud, touching his neck and getting up from thewn. "I''m sorry, Takuma, but we can''t stay here and rest. Dawn is just around the corner, and with the sunlight, we''ll be easily identifiable," he added as if Takuma could answer him.

    The dappled steed of the Grimbrook warrior was not far from the bonfire. It was busy ruminating on the grass at the foot of a tree. Yoichi approached it and extended a hand towards its neck, trying to convey its good intentions.

    He stroked the horse and grabbed its reins, leading it in the direction of its injured rider. As soon as he let go of the reins, Takuma''s horse stood right there next to Karasu.

    "Ildriss," Yoichi spoke, recalling Kenji inside his chest. The little dragon disappeared in a stream of red air and entered the core of draconic power. "Azron" - Now used to switch between his two main demons, Yoichi summoned Ichiro.

    When the Inoshuma was summoned, it exchanged a look of understanding with Takuma''s steed. It was as if Ichiro was reassuring the other horse, telling it that everything would be all right if it followed Yoichi without objecting.

    The young Goldhaven tamer, without a moment''s further hesitation, slipped a hand into one of Ichiro''s saddlebags. Taking care not to break anything, he pulled out of it a not too long rope, which he had used to hold Ryutaro''s ancient tomes in ce.

    He then tied one end of the rope to the reins of Takuma''s horse and another to the back of Ichiro''s saddle. In less than two minutes, Yoichi created a sort of bridge between the two horses to move them simultaneously while driving only one of them.

    "Well, now it''s your turn," Yoichi huffed, looking at Karasu and Takuma. Carrying the scarecrow demon would not be a problem: it was reduced to a pile of wood and straw, and, without any difficulty, it wasid on the back of Takuma''s horse.

    As soon as Yoichi''s hands touched hispanion''s neck, he opened his eyes wide and grabbed the young tamer''s leather jacket with one hand. "Yoichi... Yoichi" - Takuma''s eyes were half-closed and watery.

    "Hey. How are you doing, Takuma? Can you grab my shoulder?" Yoichi asked, soothing hispanion with the sound of his voice. "Buckle up. We need to get out of here."

    "Quick... you have to be... quick..." Takuma continued, unable to speak as he would have liked due to the burning caused by the ointment healing the wound.

    "Yes, of course. I''ll be quick, but why are you..."

    *tk*tk*tk*tk* - Suddenly, although Karasu had been resting on the horse, two of its woody limbs began to make the sound of danger. That sound was repeated numerous times as if the scarecrow demon waspleting its tamer''s sentence.

 Chapter 292 - Runaway

    "What?! What does that mean?! Are theying?" Yoichi asked Takuma, hoping to receive a quick answer. The Grimbrook warrior couldn''t answer with words but confirmed with a movement of his head.

    "Fuck!" Yoichi boomed, lifting Takuma''s body and cing it on Ichiro''s saddle. Immediately, he leapt behind his friend, causing Takuma''s back to rest on his chest.

    After onest look behind, he ensured that the rope securely connected both horses and that everything was in ce. "Go, Ichiro! Let''s get out of this ce!" he thundered, grabbing his Inoshuma''s mane and holding Takuma tight between his arms.

    Ichiro began to ride out of their hiding ce, and the rope between it and Takuma''s steed tensed, suggesting Grimbrook''s horse follow that same direction. Karasu shifted dangerously to the left and right of the saddle but thankfully did not fall off the horse''s back.

    When both horses were back on the path that skirted the river, Yoichi turned his head back, trying to peer over the horizon. Over a distant hill, something resembling a body popped up in contrast with the purplish colors of the dawn sky.

    "Fuck! Go, Ichiro!" he spoke again, spurring the demon horse on with the heels of his boots and forcing it to increase the speed of its ride. Takuma''s body swayed in his partner''s arms: due to his condition, even though he was partially awake and conscious, he could not drive a horse independently.

    If he lost consciousness or fell asleep, he was in danger of falling, and Yoichi would be forced to abandon him. Having an ally also meant protecting him in case of need. If he had traveled alone, perhaps, Yoichi would have already passed the hills of the valley.

    However, even though these thoughts continued to float around in his mind, there was no time for remorse or second thoughts. Takuma was part of his team now, and the bond between them was incredibly genuine. Yoichi would not abandon him for anything in the world.

    From that point on, all the Goldhaven warrior knew was that he would have to follow the Waveless River to get to Oakenfair. Based on this simple rule, Yoichi took advantage of the first light of dawn to disperse his tracks in the valley and ride further and further north.

    Once every two minutes, he would scrupulously look back, hoping not to see Demon Hunters out of the corner of his eye. When he realized that he was now far enough from the hill that had hosted the duel with Taisuke, the breathlessness of Ichiro and the other horse came to his attention.

    "Okay, easy, Ichiro. Calm down, buddy. We can slow down now," Yoichi spoke, extending an arm towards Inoshuma''s neck and petting it. Ichiro obeyed and decreased its movement speed, forcing Takuma''s steed to do the same.

    Under those somber colors that would soon wee a new day, the Valley of the Northern Waters looked the same in every direction, if not for the streams that branched out over it.

    The Southborne Mountains followed the route of the two adventurers to the west, while the ins stretched for hundreds of miles to the east. There was not the slightest trace of a vige or settlement.

    "When the sun is high in the sky, we''ll take another break, Takuma," he whispered in his friend''s ear. "We''ll stop the horses, and I''ll continue to treat your wounds. I know I''m not a good healer, but I hope you get better. You did very well against Taisuke."

    "Th... thank you," Takuma whispered. A slight smile lit up his face as his head hung back and forth following the movements of the horse''s run.

    Undeterred, the Grimbrook warrior, who had never faced another tamer so strong, had nearly defeated Taisuke. Using his martial arts, he had managed to hold his own against his strange fighting style, not knowing that his ghost demon allowed him to create clones of himself.

    For Yoichi, this had been a test of loyalty worth more than a thousand promises: Takuma had not hesitated a single moment to defend hispanion and, to prove his loyalty, had risked losing his life and his chance to live his life far from Grimbrook.

    When the radiant sun of that humid winter day illuminated the valley, the grayish-brown outlines of the mountains became as harsh as if they had been painted with a brush. The blue sky emphasized the sharp, pointed shapes of the peaks and slopes, making Yoichi feel like a microbe in front of those rocky giants.

    The third day since leaving Goldhaven had begun, and ording to old Ryutaro''s map, Oakenfair should not be far away. What would happen if, when they arrived at their destination, they didn''t find Shusaku? What if Gompachi and Takamori''s directions were wrong? Yoichi preferred not to think about it. His goals were clear in his head, and he would reach that vige no matter the cost.

    As the heat of the sunlight began to warm his forehead, Yoichi realized that the time to stop hade. He deviated from the main path and approached a group of trees, benefiting from their shade.

    In a few minutes, moving as carefully as a tourist in a crystal store, he lifted Takuma''s body andid it on the grass. Simrly, he moved the wooden body of Karasu, who, even in that condition, looked nothing short of gruesome.

    The Grimbrook warrior regained consciousness and, opening his eyes again, found Yoichi''s smile a few inches from his face. "Ah, you''re awake atst!" the young tamer rejoiced, peeling the soiled gauze from the wound and disinfecting it with some water and more ointment.

    Takuma''s first instinct was to lift his head and check for anyone nearby. As soon as the muscles in his abdomen contracted, he felt a sharp pain in his side.

    "Don''t worry, no one followed us," Yoichi spoke. "Your wound has almostpletely healed. This strange ointment I used is miraculous! What is it?" the Goldhaven warrior asked, trying to get hispanion to interact.

 Chapter 293 - Strong Body

    "Where did you get it? Let me see the bottle," Takuma said, lying down and gettingfortable. Yoichi passed the ampoule of yellowish ointment between his hands. "Oh my... did you really use this to heal my wound? Hahah! Haha...cough!" the Grimbrook warrior coughed, returning the bottle into Yoichi''s hand.

    "Why? What''s wrong with it? I found it in your bag, and thanks to it, your wound is perfectly healed. Look, it''s already scabbing," Yoichi replied, bringing his gaze closer to the cut on his partner''s side.

    "That''s olive oil, Yoichi," Takuma smiled.

    "Huh? Olive oil?"

    "Yes. Hahah! I always carry it with me, hoping to find some warm bread to eat it with. Just in case!" the red-haired warrior chuckled. "The healing ointment is in the other ampoule."

    Yoichi couldn''t believe those words and moved his nose closer to the yellowish liquid, trying to smell it better and observing its appearance. Indeed, looking closer, that thick yellowish liquid looked and smelled like edible oil.

    "But why on earth did you bring a bottle of olive oil with you? It looks exactly like the ointment used to treat wounds! This is insane!" Yoichiined, scratching his head.

    "Hahah! I''ve already exined why. It''s made in my vige. It''s one of Grimbrook''s specialties," Takuma added. After chuckling, the red-haired warrior seemed to feel better.

    Resting both elbows on the ground and interspersing his movements with deep, slow sighs, he managed to rest on his elbows and regain some consciousness a little at a time.

    "Then how is it possible that a stab wound healed in less than twenty-four hours? Taisuke didn''t look like an amateur fighter, and I''m pretty sure he hit you in the right spot," the Nightdes tamer replied.

    As Yoichi spoke, Karasu too began to reassemble the pieces of its wooden body. The scarecrow demon focused its gaze on the tips of its arms, still broken and covered in splinters.

    "Oh, you''re right, Karasu," Takuma spoke, giving priority to his Oracle. The scarecrow approached its tamer, who sat up and began to look at the ground as if searching for something around him.

    He grabbed a sharp stone in a few seconds and started to rub it on Karasu''s arm-tips hardly. As if it were routine, the scarecrow demon stayed motionless, waiting for its ''hands'' to turn back on their standard shape.

    "You know, Yoichi," Takuma began again. "During all these years, I''ve done nothing but train my body while waiting to leave Grimbrook. My grandfather Gompachi always told me that I could never be a real tamer and join a guild if I wasn''t trained enough."

    "But how can training help you heal your wounds?" Yoichi inquired, intrigued by that story. Takuma was such a genuine person that he hardly told lies to brag about his abilities.

    "Well, part of the training was really about taking hits. Grandpa Gompachi would hit me with all kinds of weapons, and I had to make somehow my body ready to absorb those attacks," Takuma exined. "Before an arrow or the tip of a spear enters my flesh, the muscles in that particr spot harden to the maximum, increasing my physical resistance. I''m not sure how I do it. Let''s just say it''s an instinct I''ve learned to use against stronger enemies."

    Takuma''s words left Yoichi speechless. During thest group training he had attended, Takamori Sada, with the help of Rinji, was trying to exin a simr technique to his warriors.

    Not being part of a guild, Takuma had learned everything he knew aboutbat from his grandfather. As a result, perhaps Gompachi was also part of a guild in the past.

    "That''s really impressive. Well, I hope you get well soon because Oakenfair isn''t very far away. Look," the young blonde-haired tamer spoke. With both hands, after finishing the wound treatment, he opened Ryutaro''s map under the eyes of his travelingpanion.

    "The woods we''re now in should be this little blurred dot on the left. The Waveless River in front of us curves just as shown on the map, see?"

    Yoichi''s finger allowed Takuma to orient himself more efficiently on that old hand-drawn papyrus. "If we get back on the road now, we should get to Oakenfair before nightfall. Just give me five more minutes, and I''ll be able to get back on my feet." Takuma spread his arms and rotated his torso left and right, stretching his joints as he sat.

    The Grimbrook warrior''s resilience was incredible, and Yoichi, relying on his words, was confident that they would be on their way in no time.

    The morning sun shone high over the Valley of the Northern Waters, and before the afternoon arrived, Takuma kept his promise. As Yoichi sat by a tree and spent his time reading ''Fundamentals of Demon Taming'', the young warrior from Grimbrook appeared standing in front of him.

    Yoichi and Ichiro looked at Takuma from head to toe, unable to believe that a wound of that size had already stopped harming his young body. He had independently donned his tank top, and from the expression on his face, he seemed to be in perfect shape.

    "Well? Oakenfair won''te to us! Let''s go!" he eximed, approaching his horse and jumping on its back. Yoichi and Ichiro looked at each other quizzically as if they shared their astonishment. However, without asking any further questions, the young tamer from Goldhaven climbed back on his Inoshuma and began riding north again.

    The journey through the valley was the longest Yoichi had ever faced. Fatigue and hunger had taken a back seat; in his goal, all that mattered now was reaching Oakenfair.

    Finally, as the sun grewzy and began to lie down behind the western mountains, the afternoon light allowed Yoichi and Takuma to see a change in that beautiful but monotonousndscape.

    One of the heands of the Southborne Mountains was literally split in two: from its summit to its base, a rift simr to a vertical fault divided the rock mass into two equal parts. The two mountains generated by the process hung to the right and left, respectively, as if they were gradually yielding to their own weight.

    Soon after, Yoichi checked thatndmark on Ryutaro''s map. He had no more doubts: the passage connecting the valley to Oakrath Heights was in front of them.

 Chapter 294 - Oakrath Heights

    The two mountains were equidimensional, and their tops brushed against each other. They rose from the ground for several meters like two huge bull horns, allowing travelers to glimpse a path between them.

    It was as if a lightning bolt had shaped the great fracture that had divided that mountain into two perfectly identical parts.

    "Are those the Oakrath Heights?" Takuma asked, waiting for confirmation from Yoichi, who was checking on the map.

    The drawing on Ryutaro''s map depicted the horned mountain perfectly, and after repeatedparisons between what he saw in front of him and what he saw on the map, Yoichi confirmed Takuma''s question with a movement of his head.

    "Well. Despite the mishaps along the way, we arrived perfectly on time. Now, all we have to do is reach Oakenfair" - as he spoke, Takuma touched the wound on his side, not far from his abdomen. The yellowish camisole was not stained with blood in that spot, which meant the cut had healedpletely.

    Yoichi spurred Ichiro on with both heels of his boots and, holding on to its thick red mane, rode towards the two mountains, admiring the scenery. Nature seemed to have preserved that ce, which didn''t look like a typical passage leading two popted areas.

    Vines and bulky bushes full of berries lined the lower part of the gap, which was about a couple of meters wide at its lowest point. Outside, inside, sideways, or down, there was no sign of a signpost pointing the way to Oakenfair.

    That one detail allowed Yoichi to realize that what Takamori, Ryutaro, and Gompachi imed was true: Oakenfair was such an isted and unimportant ce, and that made it a perfect hiding ce for those who wanted to live their lives in the unknown.

    ording to Ryutaro, who knew Emperor Tatsui''s private cksmith in the flesh, Shusaku was a man with a quirky personality. The gatekeeper imed that his enemies were more than his friends and that his particrly impetuous and unfriendly character was one of the reasons Shinzo exiled him from the Imperial Pce.

    "We should proceed with caution from here on, Yoichi," Takuma advised, ordering his horse to slow its pace. "I have never set foot beyond these mountains, and I have no idea what may await us on the other side," he added.

    Yoichi paid attention to his travelingpanion''s words but did not answer that statement. In front of Ichiro''s hooves, just a few meters from his attentive view, two rocky walls over twenty meters high rose toward the sky, letting the foliage of the omnipresent oaks caress them.

    "The moment of truth is drawing nearer and nearer. Oakenfair is only a few miles from this passage. All we have to do is follow the path, and we''ll be in front of the main gates of the stone city," Yoichi exined, folding the map and tucking it into one of the two saddlebags.

    Obeying his team leader''s orders, Takuma followed Yoichi into the cove that would lead them out of the Valley of the Northern Waters. The Grimbrook warrior had kept his promise, and upon reaching Oakenfair, he decided to follow Yoichi on his mission, hoping to meet Princess Sui and save her from the hegemony of her tyrant father.

    Although the mountains looked as small as hills from a distance, a slight fear enveloped their minds when the two adventurers reached the foot of Oakrath Heights.

    The grayish rock turned ck inside the cove. In addition, the two giant stone ''horns'' were still connected in some ces: due to these facts, light could not filter from one side to the other and what was supposed to be a cove was actually a kind of perforated tunnel.

    Ichiro hesitated for a moment before entering the ce that reeked of fear and mould. The incessant sound of drops falling from the ceilings of that cave feeding the puddles on the floor echoed in the Inoshuma''s ears.

    "When we looked at them from the west, these mountains didn''t seem particrly wide. I think we''ll reach the exit in a few minutes," Takuma spoke.

    A moment before entering the passage of the Oakrath Heights, the two adventurers had made sure there was no other way to get through to the other side. As they feared, the one they were traveling was the only possible way.

    The two riders followed the curved path at the base of the horns-shaped mountains, taking care not to hit their heads on the low ceiling or bump the horses'' saddlebags at the cave walls. After a little more than ten minutes, a light of hope illuminated their pupils wide because of the darkness.

    "There it is! I knew the exit was near!" Takuma rejoiced, pointing to the exit with his hand. Step by step, both horses breathed that oxygen-poor air until they reached that light spot.

    Ichiro''s ears were the first to pop up on the other side, and the eyes of the horse demon and its master took a few seconds to adjust to the new light conditions.

    Yoichi''s retinas tightened and then widened again, allowing the light to focus the images in his eyes. What he saw left him speechless.

    Beyond that short, narrow path that passed within a mountain split in half, Ryutaro and Takamori''s tales became a reality. The rocky path descended down a steep slope, and a sort of basin separated the current location of the two adventurers from what was on the other side.

    A mountain with sharp peaks was filled with small holes and indentations from the bottom to the top. Hundreds if not thousands of windows and doors sprouted on the edges of that conical-shaped massif, looking more like a volcano than an ordinary mountain.

    Along its steep slopes, bumpy roads and bridges with improbable trajectories connected the various points of that city carved in the rock. Oakenfair looked like the work of a mad genius architect, growing inside and outside the mountain and using the natural shapes of the promontory to develop and house its many inhabitants.

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