Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Three months had passed since Shifu's return. The once small and tentative city had blossomed into a bustling hub of activity. Life in the city had grown more structured, with clear roles and responsibilities assigned to each group. The elves and Antari worked side by side, their collaboration a surprisingly leap in progress.

In the dense forest on the outskirts of the city, two elven men and five Antari warriors leaped from tree to tree, their movements swift. The elves, Calen and Rhyder, were agile and graceful, their motions almost blending with the natural rhythm of the forest. The Antari, on the other hand, displayed raw power, though their larger builds made their movements less fluid. Among them were three female Antari, Athra, Kyna, and Melira, and two males, Torran and Vek.

Their task was simple in theory but near impossible in execution, locate and incapacitate Shifu, their mentor.

"He can't have gone far," Calen whispered, his keen eyes scanning the shadows below. His long, dark hair was tied back, revealing sharp, angular features that betrayed his intensity.

"Easy for you to say," Torran muttered, landing heavily on a branch and steadying himself. "The man's a ghost. We've been at this for hours, and he's still toying with us."

"Focus," Athra snapped, her tone sharp but not unkind. She crouched low on a sturdy branch, her antennae twitching as she tried to pick up any hint of their quarry. "If we can't even find him, what chance do we have against real enemies?"

Kyna grinned from a higher perch, her red lined carapace catching the dappled sunlight. "She's got a point. But honestly, this is kinda fun. When was the last time we got to hunt someone this skilled? Hunting with Lady Crimara is fun, but there aren't any strong monsters anymore."

"Fun until he catches us off guard again," Rhyder muttered. His lighter hair fell over his face as he swung to a lower branch. "I still haven't figured out how he moves so quietly."

Melira, the quietest of the group, finally spoke, her voice low and thoughtful. "He's watching us right now. I can feel it."

Her words sent a ripple of unease through the group.

"You're probably right," Vek said, his voice edged with frustration. "But what are we supposed to do about it? He's faster, smarter, and more experienced than all of us combined."

Athra tightened her grip on the branch she perched on. "First, we don't whine about it, it's disgraceful. Our queen should never see you like this. Spread out, keep communication to a minimum. He's likely tracking us as a group. If we make him come to us, we might have a chance."

The group nodded, their respect for Athra evident despite their weariness. One by one, they moved into position, spreading out in a loose formation that covered a wide swath of the forest.

For several tense minutes, the forest was silent save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds. The group remained on high alert, their senses straining for any sign of Shifu.

Then, without warning, Torran let out a startled yelp as a blur of red and black descended upon him. Before he could react, Shifu's hand shot out, tapping the side of his neck in a mock strike that signaled his defeat.

"Too slow," Shifu said calmly, his voice carrying just enough of a reprimand to sting. He disappeared into the trees before Torran could recover, leaving the others scrambling to adjust.

"He's picking us off!" Kyna hissed, her antenna flicking anxiously as she moved to a higher vantage point.

One by one, Shifu eliminated them with ruthless efficiency. Calen and Rhyder managed to evade him for the longest, their familiarity with the forest trees giving them an edge. But even they were no match for Shifu's cunning.

By the end of the exercise, the group was sprawled across the forest floor, bruised and panting but otherwise unharmed. Shifu stood over them, his arms crossed and his expression impassive.

"You all failed," he said simply, his voice carrying the weight of his authority. "But you learned something, didn't you?"

Athra pushed herself up on one elbow, glaring at him through narrowed eyes. "That you're impossible to catch?"

A faint smile tugged at Shifu's lips. "That, and the importance of coordination. You relied too much on your individual skills and not enough on each other. Against an opponent like me, or worse, you need to work as a unit. Anything less is a death sentence."

The group exchanged weary glances before Athra pushed herself up, her amber eyes locking onto Shifu with a mix of respect and frustration. "With all due respect, Teacher," she began, her voice steady despite her exhaustion, "against an opponent like you, we'd be nothing more than fodder. At best, it'd be an accomplishment just to buy time."

"Is that what you all believe?" Shifu asked, narrowing his gaze briefly. The expressions on his students' faces made it clear they did. He hummed thoughtfully before continuing, "Interesting. And yet, each of you is generally as strong as I am."

"What? No way!"

"As if! We can't even land a hit on you!"

"I'll have to beat you first before you say that!"

"That's not funny, teacher."

A chorus of disagreement erupted from the group, each voice layering over the next. Shifu, however, only chuckled in response, his expression unbothered by their protests.

"I'm not lying, though," Shifu said calmly. "Most of the information went over my head, but from what Lady Kaede explained, the Antari are currently all Rank A majin—just like me, a Rank A."

Shifu was right. With Artificia's return, she analyzed all the events that had transpired, revealing an unexpected discovery. Naming the queen of an ant colony doesn't just empower the queen, it strengthens the entire colony. When Kaede named the Antari's queen, it triggered a cascading effect: the queen evolved from Rank B+ to Rank A, and her colony followed suit, with the ants advancing from Rank C to Rank B.

However, Kaede didn't stop there. She went a step further, personally naming each and every member of the colony. This extraordinary act elevated them from Rank B to Rank A-, while the queen herself surged even higher, reaching Rank A+. The result was a massive leap in the Antari's collective strength, far surpassing initial expectations.

"Again," Shifu ordered.

Despite their exhaustion, the group climbed to their feet, ready to try once more. Kaede's vision for her city was built on the strength of its people, and Shifu was determined to ensure they lived up to her expectations.

////

Dwargon, the Dwarven Kingdom, lay nestled deep within the vast mountain ranges to the west of the Great Forest of Jura. Renowned for its impenetrable defenses and masterful craftsmanship, the kingdom stood as a testament to dwarven ingenuity and resilience. Its location, carved into the heart of the towering peaks, made it a natural fortress, nearly impossible to besiege.

The dwarves of Dwargon were a proud and industrious people, celebrated for their exceptional skill in blacksmithing, alchemy, and construction. Their robust physiques and long lifespans made them natural laborers and craftsmen, tirelessly perfecting their art with a precision unmatched by other races. At the helm of this thriving nation was the Hero King, Gazel Dwargo, a legendary warrior whose wisdom and strength commanded unwavering loyalty.

Deep within the heart of this kingdom, in the dwarven council chamber, a meeting was taking place.

At the head of the round table within the chamber, Gazel, a behemoth of a man, also known as the hero king. spoke to the kneeling figure a few feet away. "Report."

The kneeling figure was a slim woman dressed entirely in black, her face concealed behind a mask. "The human has departed with his company, heading east towards the Great Forest of Jura," she reported calmly.

King Gazel's expression remained impassive. "And they caused no issues? Nothing at all?"

"None, my lord," she replied. "During his time here, Edward conducted himself with caution and respect, though his entourage drew significant attention. The Ants displayed no signs of aggression and followed his commands without question. However, their mere presence unsettled the citizens, given the... reputation of their kind."

She hesitated briefly before continuing, as if carefully weighing her words. "His purpose here appeared to be primarily mercantile. He sought rare metals and enchanted tools, negotiating directly with our guilds and craftsmen. Despite the unease his presence caused, no incidents were reported. Edward maintained an air of professionalism and avoided unnecessary interactions."

A grim look crossed Gazel's face. "I don't want to believe it, but... to think those monsters have evolved to such an extent."

He recalled passing by Edward's group during one of their outings, discreetly assessing their strength. The power he sensed from the Ants had been undeniable. "They were all Rank A monsters," he muttered to himself.

Turning his attention back to the spy, his tone hardened. "Deploy our agents. Keep a constant watch on that group of monsters. Do not let them out of your sight! EVER!!!"

His voice, usually composed and measured, rose with a rare intensity, filling the chamber with a palpable weight. The gathered officials stiffened, fully grasping the gravity of his command.

"Even at the cost of our lives!" The spy acknowledged without hesitation before vanishing into the shadows.

Gazel leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "It appears that Chibari left with them, intending to teach the Ants our craft, and even took her family along." He sighed, rubbing his temple. "Once the spies locate their colony, it shouldn't be an issue if I decide to pay an old friend a visit... I wonder if she foresaw this."