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 his companion. 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 place 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 villain chuckled. "The Emperor has placed a bounty on your head. If I brought you back to Goldhaven alive, I would receive a lavish 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 exclaimed, getting off his horse and stepping forward. "Yoichi is a strong and loyal warrior. How dare you call him an outlaw?" 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 his companions many times.

Life beyond the Boneside Swamp, in a village 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, still lay 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 their last 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 flame.

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 your comrades," Yoichi provoked, straightening his back, stretching his arms out along his sides, and beginning to walk to his side.

"The last 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 my comrade 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 your combat skills," the young tamer replied, becoming 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 Palace's dungeons!"

After Bunjiro's words, an invisible blade 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 black horns of the small dragon, Bunjiro and his demon were ready to fight. The battle would be fierce and filled with hatred.