The Forgotten Dragon Kingdom had become livelier ever since Frey decided to stay. Her days were now filled with rigorous training, powerful strikes, and sweat-soaked effort. At first, she had only intended to visit. But something about the martial arts Yujiro taught drew her in. It was unlike anything she had experienced before—raw, instinctive, yet refined and efficient. Each day brought pain, but also progress. And in time, Frey began to see and feel the results.
Weeks passed. Frey's speed had increased, her strength more focused, and her strikes more lethal. What surprised her most was how blending her natural energy with Yujiro's physical techniques made her far deadlier than relying on magic alone. It was a strange new world she was starting to enjoy.
One hot afternoon, the soldiers were going through their drills again. Shouts echoed across the castle grounds, fists clashed against training dummies, and powerful kicks sent shockwaves through the air. Yujiro stood at the center of it all, arms crossed, eyes cold and calculating, his crimson hair flowing like fire. His presence alone was enough to keep everyone serious.
Milim was trying to mimic a spinning kick Yujiro had shown her earlier. She lost balance and fell flat on her back. "Ow! That hurt," she mumbled, then laughed. Frey chuckled too.
But before she could say anything, a guard came sprinting toward them.
"Lady Milim! Lady Milim! Lord Carrion is here!"
Milim's eyes lit up. "Carrion?! Awesome! Bring him in!"
Frey's smile faded slightly. What is Carrion doing here?
Moments later, Carrion, the Beast King and Demon Lord, entered the castle grounds. His golden mane shimmered in the sun, and his eyes scanned the area with the keen instincts of a warrior. His curiosity sparked as he saw the soldiers practicing unfamiliar techniques. These weren't spells or magic formations—they were movements, strikes, footwork, and precision. There was a rhythm to it, like a deadly dance.
His gaze finally locked onto three figures training in the center: Frey, Milim, and… a man. A tall, powerful man with crimson hair. Carrion squinted. A human?
He furrowed his brow. There was no aura, no magical pressure, no energy radiating from this man. Yet something felt… off. His instincts screamed danger.
Milim spotted him. "Hey Carrion!" she shouted with a wave, hopping toward him. "Are you here to spar with me?!"
Carrion cracked a grin. "No… I actually came with some news." But his eyes never left the crimson-haired man. "Who's that?"
Milim jogged over and grabbed Carrion's arm. "C'mon, you gotta meet him! That's Yujiro—our new trainer. And soon, he's gonna be my uncle!"
Frey followed behind with a smirk. "He's the reason we're all getting stronger."
Carrion blinked. "Trainer?" His tone turned sharp. "You're training under a human?"
Before Milim could answer, Yujiro finally moved. He took a slow step toward Carrion, hands still in his pockets, his walk calm but impossibly confident. He looked Carrion up and down, eyes like razors.
"So you're a demon lord?" Yujiro said with a smirk. "You look more like a puppy to me."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Carrion's eyes twitched. Frey and Milim both froze.
"Oh no," Frey muttered. "Here we go again."
Carrion growled low, his beast instincts flaring. "What did you just say to me?"
Yujiro didn't flinch. "You heard me."
All around, soldiers stopped training. Middray, standing nearby with arms folded, sighed. "Another one. This never gets old."
Carrion's muscles tensed, and his golden aura burst out like a storm. The ground cracked beneath his feet. He bared his fangs. "You dare insult a demon lord, human?!"
Yujiro exhaled, unimpressed. "A puppy with colors. How cute."
That was the final straw.
With a beastly roar, Carrion dashed forward in a blur of golden light, claws extended, ready to teach this "trainer" a lesson.
But Yujiro didn't move.
And then—bam.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
Yujiro twisted his body slightly, dodging Carrion's strike by mere inches. In that same breath, he stepped forward and pressed his palm against Carrion's face with terrifying force. His other leg swept low, slamming into Carrion's shin, knocking him off balance. Then, with a motion as casual as brushing dirt off his shoulder, Yujiro shoved Carrion into the ground like a sack of grain.
BOOOOM!
The shockwave echoed across the courtyard. Dust exploded into the air. The entire castle seemed to shake for a second. Silence fell again.
Carrion lay flat on his back, eyes wide in disbelief, trying to figure out how he ended up there. The wind had been knocked out of him. He couldn't even feel his legs for a second.
Frey stared at the scene, stunned. "Poor Carrion…"
Milim placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head. "I told you not to mess with him."
Middray and the other soldiers stared in awe, jaws slack.
"He didn't even use two hands…" one of them whispered.
Carrion coughed and sat up slowly. His pride was bruised more than his body.
Yujiro looked down at him, still smirking, "Try again if you want. Or stay down. Either works."
Carrion didn't answer right away.
He just stared—hard—at Yujiro. His amber eyes narrowed and twitched, flicking left and right as he scanned the area. Soldiers. Citizens. Even Middray. All of them were watching him with a look he despised.
Pity.
Carrion's pride burned. He was a Demon Lord. One of the strongest in the Cardinal World. The Beast King of Eurazania—ruler of wild lands, conqueror of monsters, undefeated warrior in a thousand duels.
And now, they looked at him like a wounded dog.
His fists clenched. His teeth ground together. And slowly, like a rising storm, he pushed himself off the cratered ground Yujiro had slammed him into moments ago. Dust swirled around his feet as his breathing deepened. Every muscle in his body tensed.
Frey's eyes widened. She knew that look.
Milim's face dropped. "Carrion, wait. Don't do it."
But it was already too late.
A burst of savage aura exploded from Carrion's body—so intense it sent tremors into the dirt, kicking up winds that howled through the air. Golden lightning crackled across his arms. His eyes turned feral, wild. Then came the transformation.
Carrion roared like a thousand beasts. His muscles expanded, doubling in size. Long silver hair spilled down his back like a mane. His skin became covered in thick fur, dark with streaks of white. A pair of majestic, feathered wings burst out from his back—glowing faintly with divine light. In his hand appeared the White Tiger Azure Dragon Halberd, a sacred weapon only wielded by him in his most serious battles.
The onlookers gasped.
Middray leaned forward. "T-That's his Royal Beast form…"
One soldier whispered, "I've only heard stories… I didn't think I'd ever see it."
Another added, "He's even stronger than before. Maybe he'll finally land a hit…"
Yujiro still hadn't moved.
He turned slowly, his red hair fluttering gently in the wind. Hands in his pockets, that ever-confident smirk tugged at his lips.
"Interesting," Yujiro said, glancing at Carrion's wings with amusement. "So the puppy's grown feathers now. Cute."
Carrion snapped.
He vanished in a blur of speed, moving so fast even seasoned warriors couldn't follow. A sonic boom cracked behind him as he dashed toward Yujiro, halberd ready to cleave the man in half. Everyone held their breath.
And then—
Yujiro moved.
Just one step.
Effortless. Quiet. Clean.
His head tilted just enough to avoid the strike. The halberd slashed the air, missing by less than a hair.
Then Yujiro spoke. Calm. Clear. Loud enough for the entire audience to hear.
"Alright, everyone. Pay attention. I'm about to teach you a new lesson."
He grinned wider.
"This is called Dim Mak—the art of striking pressure points. I'll only show you once."
Before Carrion could even turn to swing again, Yujiro's hand flashed out. It landed on Carrion's wrist—two fingers, a precise strike.
Carrion's weapon dropped.
His hand had gone completely numb.
"What!?" Carrion roared.
But Yujiro was already moving. Not fast—flawless. Every movement was smooth, each one a dance of discipline. His hands moved like lightning but with the grace of a master.
"Lesson one," Yujiro explained. "The wrist—strike here, and the nerves collapse. No more weapon handling."
Carrion lunged with his other arm, but Yujiro twisted. He struck the inside of Carrion's elbow—another precise jab.
"Lesson two: the inner elbow. Pressure collapse. Arm becomes dead weight."
Carrion's arm dropped like lead. His jaw clenched, fury in his face.
Middray couldn't believe his eyes. "He's… narrating a live takedown… like it's a school class!"
Soldiers were writing notes. Citizens stood frozen, watching with wide eyes.
Yujiro stepped forward again—striking Carrion's knee.
"Strike the fibular head—nerve shut down. Leg collapses."
Carrion dropped to one knee, roaring in frustration.
"HOW!? You're not using energy! No aura! NO POWER!!"
Yujiro's face turned stone cold. "I don't need aura."
He struck again—Carrion's shoulder. "Scapular nerve—shut down."
Then his chest. "Intercostal cluster—restricted breathing."
Carrion staggered. His beast form trembled. The majestic wings faltered.
Then—poof.
Gone.
The transformation faded. His beast form broke. Fur disappeared. Wings vanished into particles. He was back to his normal self, gasping, eyes wild with confusion.
"What… are you…?" he whispered.
Yujiro answered with action—striking both knees. "Quad cluster—paralyzed."
Carrion dropped to both knees.
"Both arms—done."
Tap. Tap. Two clean strikes.
"Neck muscles—locked. You can't even turn your head now."
Another soft strike—precise.
Carrion couldn't move.
Only his eyes remained alive, darting around wildly as his thoughts screamed. What is this!? I can't move! I can't breathe right! How… how is he doing this!?
Frey's heart ached a little. "Poor Carrion…"
Milim was glowing with excitement. "THIS IS SO COOL!! Yujiro! Can you show that last move again!?"
Yujiro ignored her for now.
He approached Carrion slowly, still with his hands in his pockets.
"You done yet, puppy?" he asked casually.
Carrion couldn't even speak. Just glared.
Yujiro shrugged. "I'll take that as a yes."
Then, with one final move, he brought his hand up—then chop—a swift strike to the side of Carrion's neck.
Carrion's eyes rolled back.
THUD.
The Beast King collapsed, unconscious, in front of everyone.
Silence.
Utter silence.
Then Middray muttered, "Well… there goes another one."
A soldier whispered, "Did… did we just witness a Demon Lord get taken apart like a practice dummy…?"
Milim clapped. "That was SO AWESOME!"
Frey sighed. "At least he didn't break any bones…"
Yujiro turned to the crowd, cool as ever.
"Lesson's over."
He walked away without another word.
And behind him, the mighty Carrion—Beast King, Demon Lord—lay in the dirt like a broken toy, humbled by a man who hadn't even taken his hands out of his pockets.