Ryu and Yuki walked through the white marble hallways of the castle, following the imposing King Arthur. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the ancient paintings adorning the walls. Finally, they reached the royal dining hall, a spacious room with a large oak table and chairs adorned with red velvet.
"Please, take a seat," said King Arthur with a kind smile.
Ryu quickly sat down next to Yuki, who crossed her arms and looked around curiously at the room's décor.
"What would you like to eat?" asked the king, sitting at the head of the table.
"I'd like a steak," Ryu replied with a smile.
"I want two," Yuki said without hesitation, an arrogant expression on her face.
"Then I'll ask my chefs to prepare them." Arthur turned to the door. "Chefs, come here!"
Two chefs, dressed in immaculate white uniforms, immediately entered the dining hall.
"Yes, Your Majesty? Do you need anything?" one of them asked, slightly bowing.
"I want you to prepare three steaks for my guests," the king ordered in a firm voice.
"Understood, Your Majesty," they both replied in unison before quickly retreating to the kitchen.
Ryu dropped onto the chair with a long sigh, folding his arms behind his head.
"Training is really hard…" he muttered, exhausted.
Yuki, sitting beside him, raised an eyebrow skeptically as she sipped a glass of water.
"Hard? You didn't even do anything," she said with a mocking tone.
Ryu turned his head toward her, clearly offended.
"I did do something! I was learning how to release my mana—didn't you see I finally managed it?"
Yuki shrugged arrogantly.
"That's something really easy. I don't even understand how you couldn't do it from the start."
Ryu frowned, his pride taking a direct hit.
"Not all of us are born geniuses like you…"
"Exactly," Yuki interrupted with a triumphant smile. "Glad you finally realized it."
The atmosphere in the castle dining hall had grown more relaxed as Ryu and Yuki waited for their food. King Arthur, seated across from them, watched Ryu carefully, as if something was weighing on his mind.
—"By the way, Ryu," the king suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, "may I ask you something?"
Ryu nodded curiously.
—"Of course."
—"How did you obtain the power of a demon?"
Ryu lowered his gaze slightly, thoughtful.
—"Well… I don't know much about it. I didn't even realize I had that power until a demon attacked me… it nearly killed me that day."
King Arthur furrowed his brow, nodding slowly.
—"So your powers awaken when you're in danger. That's a very useful trait."
—"It is… but so far I've only been able to use them once," Ryu replied, a bit frustrated. "I wonder if I'll ever be able to use them again."
—"Perhaps if you train more, you'll be able to control them better," the king suggested with a calm smile. "Every power has its secret. You just have to learn how to listen to it."
Ryu clenched his fists with determination.
—"That's why I'm training. I want to learn to control them… so I won't hurt anyone."
Yuki, who had been silently listening to their conversation, looked away with an unreadable expression, but said nothing.
Yuki remained silent, her gaze lost in the distance as her mind wandered with troubling thoughts.
—How did this human obtain the power of a demon? Did he make some sort of pact? If that's the case, then why is his power so weak? Demons aren't this fragile… So how exactly did he get his powers…?
—"Hey, Yuki."
Ryu's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked a couple of times before looking at him with slight annoyance.
—"What do you want?"
—"Nothing special... I just wanted to ask what you were thinking about."
—"It wasn't anything important," she replied quickly, avoiding his eyes.
Ryu tilted his head with a curious smile.
—"Are you sure? It seemed like something important."
Yuki frowned, clearly irritated by his persistence.
—"I told you it's nothing. Stop bothering me."
—"Alright, alright..." Ryu muttered under his breath, turning his gaze away. "Someone's in a bad mood..."
Yuki completely ignored him, crossing her arms with a proud expression.
The chefs approached with steaming plates in their hands. One of them placed two steaks in front of Yuki, while the other handed one to Ryu.
"Please enjoy," one of the chefs said with a slight bow.
"Thanks," Ryu replied, nodding politely.
Once the chefs left, the two began eating in silence for a few moments, savoring the flavor.
"This is delicious," Ryu commented as he cut a juicy piece of steak.
"Yeah," Yuki nodded with a smile. "Human food is really tasty."
"Does demon food taste the same as this?"
Yuki shook her head while chewing.
"No… Demon food is very different. It doesn't even taste remotely like this."
"Then I guess you already know what you can improve once you become the Queen of Demons," Ryu said with a slight grin, lifting his fork.
"Hmm… Maybe I can start with that," she replied playfully.
They continued eating as the atmosphere remained peaceful. But then, King Arthur's firm voice broke the silence.
"By the way, Ryu," he said seriously, "there's something I need to talk to you about."
Ryu looked up from his plate, curious.
"What is it?"
"It's about Vorath Kraal," the king answered. "He attacked the Kingdom of Camelot under the orders of his master, Velzahard. He's an ancient demon… I already told Yuki about this during training, but I wanted you to know as well."
Ryu frowned as he set his fork down.
—King Arthur, what exactly does this Velzahard want?
The king placed his goblet back on the table and looked at him seriously.
—Velzahard seeks to become the ruler of the world. And to achieve that, he needs the Four Legendary Weapons.
Ryu and Yuki widened their eyes in surprise.
—Legendary weapons!? —they exclaimed in unison.
—That's right —the king nodded solemnly—. The Four Legendary Weapons are the most powerful artifacts in the world. Each one once belonged to a legendary figure.
—The first, the katana Kurayami no Kensei, was wielded by a demon so powerful that, according to legends, he defeated entire armies on his own.
—The second, the spear Lumen Astra, was used by an ancient angel whose deeds are still told in the heavens.
—The third, the sword Sanguis Lux, belonged to a demon queen who conquered kingdoms with a single gaze.
—And lastly, there's Aetherion, a spellbook of immense magical power. Its original wielder is unknown, but it's said that its spells rivaled those of a demon king.
Ryu's eyes sparkled with excitement, as did Yuki's.
—How can we get those legendary weapons?! —Ryu asked, leaning forward.
—Where do we find them? —Yuki added impatiently.
King Arthur raised a hand to calm them down.
—Relax. Those weapons aren't meant for you. If you tried to use them now, their overwhelming power would kill you. It's better if you stick to other kinds of weapons for now.
Both of them instantly deflated.
—That's a shame… I really wanted a legendary weapon —Ryu mumbled, looking down.
—Me too —Yuki said, crossing her arms with a pout.
The king couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions.
—You've got spirit, and that's good. But remember— even legends had to start from the bottom.
Ryu and Yuki: "We know," they said in unison with determination.
They continued eating in silence, though images of the legendary weapons still lingered in their minds. Ryu couldn't stop imagining himself wielding one, feeling its immense power coursing through him. Yuki, on the other hand, also seemed more interested than she let on.
Soon, they finished their meals.
—"By the way, Ryu,"—King Arthur said, eyeing him curiously—"why do you wear such strange clothing?"
He gestured at Ryu's outfit, which clearly didn't match the fashion of Camelot.
—"This?"—Ryu looked down at himself—"It's just what we wear in my hometown."
—"And what's the name of your hometown?"
—"Tokyo."
The king furrowed his brows in confusion.
—"I've never heard of a city by that name..."
—"That's because… my city is in another wo—" Ryu began, but before he could finish, Yuki quickly covered his mouth with her hand.
—"His hometown is just a very, very faraway place from Camelot!"—she cut in with a forced smile.
King Arthur nodded slowly.
—"I see… It must be hard being so far from home."
Ryu gently removed Yuki's hand and smiled faintly.
—"Yeah… it is."
The king looked at him thoughtfully.
—"Do you have family, Ryu?"
—"Yeah. I have a brother named Shin, a younger sister named Rin, and my parents—my dad is Reiji and my mom is Akane."
—"Sounds like a happy family."
—"We are,"—Ryu said, then glanced at Yuki—"Hey, Yuki… you have a family too, right?"
Yuki raised an eyebrow, clearly irritated.
—"Of course I do. Why do you ask?"
—"Because… I'd like to meet them. What are their names?"
For a moment, Yuki's eyes darkened as memories flickered through her mind. She let out a sigh.
—"You're not going to meet them. They don't like humans… especially someone like you. And why do you care so much anyway?"
Ryu smiled sincerely.
—"Because we're friends. And I know the families of all my friends—Haruto, Ren, Ryota, and my best friend Daiki. I've met all of theirs."
Yuki crossed her arms with a smug expression.
—"I remember your friends… I beat them up when they tried to stop me from taking you."
—"What!?"—Ryu shot up in alarm—"Are they okay?"
—"Yeah, they're fine. I just knocked them out. Nothing serious."
Ryu sighed in relief, placing a hand over his chest.
—"Thank goodness… For a second, I thought they were hurt…"
Ryu crossed his arms and looked at Yuki with a carefree smile.
—"Well, setting aside the little detail that you beat up my friends..." he said sarcastically, "I want to go back to talking about your family."
Yuki turned her gaze away, her expression cold.
—"You're not going to meet them. End of story."
—"Why not?"
—"I already told you. They hate humans."
Ryu sighed, trying to stay calm.
—"Alright, I won't meet them… but at least tell me something about them. Like their names, maybe?"
Yuki fell silent for a moment, as if debating something internally.
—"I don't really remember their names clearly," she finally said, her voice a little softer. "Besides, I don't have a great relationship with my family... not after that argument."
Ryu looked at her in surprise. It was the first time Yuki had spoken with such vulnerability. For a moment, he didn't see her as the arrogant demon she usually was, but as a girl carrying unseen scars.
—"I'm sorry," Ryu murmured.
Yuki scoffed.
—"I don't need your pity."
—"It's not pity," he said, smiling gently. "I just wanted to know you a little better."
Yuki glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then looked away again.
—"You're such an idiot," she whispered.
But this time, her voice didn't sound annoyed. It sounded… grateful.
After finishing their meal, King Arthur stood up from his seat, a serious expression on his face.
—"Well, I think it's time we resume training. If we want to stop Velzahard, we can't afford to waste any time."
Ryu and Yuki nodded in agreement and followed him back to the wide training courtyard, where the sun was starting to dip lower in the sky.
As they walked, Ryu clenched his fists with determination.
—"King Arthur, I want you to teach me magic."
The king glanced at him, a bit surprised.
—"It's still a bit early for that."
—"I know… but even so, I want to learn. I don't want to be a burden to Yuki when we face Velzahard."
Yuki looked at him from the corner of her eye, crossing her arms with an arrogant expression.
—"Yeah, it's definitely better if he learns magic as soon as possible. I don't want to be saving a weakling like him all the time."
King Arthur paused for a moment, thoughtful. He looked into Ryu's eyes and saw the seriousness in his gaze.
—"Alright. I'll teach you magic."
Ryu's face lit up with a smile, but before he could say anything, the king raised a finger.
—"But let me warn you—this won't be easy. If you don't succeed on your first try, don't let it get to you. Understood?"
Ryu nodded firmly, clenching his fists tighter.
—"Understood!"
And so, a new chapter in Ryu's training was about to begin.
King Arthur stood firm, his voice steady as he addressed Ryu.
—"This time, I'll train you alone. Yuki, you can rest and watch."
Yuki crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
—"Fine. Just make sure you train him properly. He's a weakling who can't even fight."
She stepped back a little, settling into a spot where she could observe both Ryu and the king with a bored expression on her face.
King Arthur focused on Ryu, his eyes serious.
—"I'll teach you some basic magic spells, starting with how to launch mana bolts."
Ryu nodded eagerly, his excitement bubbling up.
—"Understood."
King Arthur extended his arm, a golden circle appearing around it. With a swift motion, he released a golden lightning bolt that shot up into the sky, crackling with energy. The air trembled with the power of the spell.
Ryu's eyes widened in awe.
—"That's amazing!"
Yuki, however, scowled from the distance. Her lips curled into a sneer.
—"Tch, miserable... he was hiding that power," she muttered under her breath.
King Arthur turned to Ryu, noticing his astonishment.
—"Did you see that?"
Ryu nodded, still caught up in the spectacle, but his face showed confusion.
—"Yes, I saw it, but I don't understand how I can do that."
King Arthur's gaze softened as he explained.
—"You just need to learn how to use griffs, and you'll be able to cast magic."
Ryu furrowed his brow, not quite following.
—"Griffs? What are those?"
King Arthur smiled, his tone patient.
—"Griffs are symbols that, when combined, create a magic spell. But not all griffs are the same; each one serves a different purpose."
Ryu looked more determined now but also slightly overwhelmed.
—"It sounds like I'll have to study, on top of training. This is harder than I thought."
King Arthur nodded reassuringly.
—"Don't worry. I'll teach you how to use the griffs properly."
Ryu gave a grateful smile.
—"Thank you. That way, I'll learn faster."
As the sun gently illuminated the training grounds, Ryu looked down with a hint of uncertainty before raising his voice.
—Hey, King Arthur… is it true that demons can't use the same magic as humans?
The king crossed his arms thoughtfully and nodded with a serious expression.
—Yes, it's true. Demon magic and human magic are completely different. But you… you're a special case. You're a human who possesses the power of a demon. Maybe—just maybe—you could use both angelic and demonic magic. It sounds impossible, but if you manage to master both, you'd become incredibly powerful.
Yuki, who was watching from the side with her arms crossed, narrowed her eyes at his words. A thought crossed her mind with disdain.
Using both types of magic...? Impossible. A mere human like him could never pull that off…
Ryu clenched his fists with determination, his eyes shining with excitement.
—Then… I'll train really hard. I want to be able to use both types of magic, no matter what it takes!
King Arthur smiled proudly at his attitude.
—That's the spirit, young man. That's the resolve of a true warrior. —He pulled an old book from his robe and handed it to Ryu—. Here, this is a book about glyphs. Study it well, and you'll understand the meaning of each one. That will help you once you start learning more complex spells.
Ryu took the book carefully, as if it were a treasure.
—Sounds good. I'm ready to learn!
—Perfect. For now, let's focus on teaching you how to fight. You need a solid foundation before you can master magic.
Yuki, still silent, watched him from the corner of her eye. A part of her began to wonder if that "simple human" might actually surprise her.
The sun still shone gently over the training grounds when King Arthur turned to one of his guards standing at a respectful distance.
—You there, come here —he ordered firmly.
The knight approached quickly, bowing his head slightly.
—What do you need, sir?
—Bring me two training swords —the king said calmly.
—Understood, sir.
The knight left without delay, while Ryu watched him with a hint of surprise on his face.
—Are we going to train with swords? —he asked, raising an eyebrow.
—Exactly —King Arthur replied with a calm smile.
—Isn't that dangerous?
—Don't worry —Arthur assured him—. They're training swords. They won't cut… but they'll still hurt if you're not careful.
Ryu swallowed hard but nodded.
—Alright…
Moments later, the knight returned carrying two wooden swords, sturdy and well-balanced. He handed them to the king with a bow.
—Here you go, sir.
—Thank you —Arthur said, accepting both weapons. Then he offered one to Ryu—. Here, this one's for you.
Ryu took it with both hands, inspecting the polished wood glinting under the sunlight.
—So we're going to train with this?
—That's right —the king nodded, stepping back into a combat stance—. Now, attack me.
—Here I go! —Ryu shouted as he charged forward with determination.
But in the blink of an eye, the king parried his attack with a fluid motion and placed the wooden sword against Ryu's neck.
—I win —he declared calmly.
Ryu froze.
—How did you do that? That was way too fast…
King Arthur let out a light chuckle.
—Just because I'm an old man doesn't mean I'm slow.
—I can see that now… I underestimated you because of your age —Ryu admitted, stepping back and frowning—. But this time… I'll fight seriously!
—Then what are you waiting for? —the king challenged him with a confident smile.
They both returned to their stances. Ryu charged again with more focus and power, but King Arthur dodged effortlessly once more and, within seconds, placed the sword against his neck again.
—I win again —the king said, unshaken.
Ryu gritted his teeth, frustrated.
—I fell for the same thing again…!
After losing several times to King Arthur's flawless technique, Ryu was panting heavily, soaked in sweat. But his eyes still burned—not with frustration, but with sheer determination.
"I'm going to try one more time," he said firmly, gripping the training sword tightly.
King Arthur looked at him in surprise, though a slight smile formed on his battle-hardened lips.
"Very well, try if you wish. Let's see if you've learned anything, boy."
Yuki, still lying under a nearby tree, crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"That human is far too persistent," she murmured under her breath. "But if he keeps going like this, he'll never even land a single hit on King Arthur. I wonder what he's thinking right now..."
Ryu took his stance again. His breathing slowed, his feet steadied on the ground, and his gaze sharpened like that of a determined warrior.
"Here I go!" he shouted, launching himself toward King Arthur once more.
The old king once again dodged with graceful ease, repeating the same movement to place the wooden sword against Ryu's neck, just as he had done in the previous attempts. But this time, something was different.
Clack!
Ryu, anticipating the move, raised his sword just in time to block it. His eyes gleamed with a spark of pride.
For the first time since training began, King Arthur's eyes widened in surprise.
"Well done, boy..." he said with a mix of astonishment and approval.
Ryu gave a confident smile, not lowering his guard.
"Let's keep going."
Ryu was breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, but there was no sign of giving up in his eyes. With determination, he launched himself at King Arthur once more, wielding his training sword. The elderly king dodged with ease, moving as if he could read every one of Ryu's moves. Still, Ryu didn't back down.
Attack after attack, he kept pressing forward, not allowing King Arthur to take the initiative so easily anymore. Bit by bit, his body started to grasp the rhythm of battle—his movements became smoother, more precise. Though he still took several hits from the king, he no longer fell so easily. He held his ground, learning through pain.
During one of the exchanges, Ryu managed to get close enough. King Arthur raised his sword, ready to place it at Ryu's neck once more. But this time, Ryu was faster.
With a swift movement, he placed his wooden sword against King Arthur's neck.
—"Very good," the king said with a smile, not moving an inch. "But never let your guard down."
In an instant, he sent Ryu flying with a swing of his sword. Ryu crashed onto the ground, but before he could react, the king appeared at his side, his sword resting against Ryu's neck.
—"I win," King Arthur declared firmly.
Ryu tried to get up, a defiant smile forming on his face.
—"You're really strong… but even so, I'll defeat you!"
Without warning, he leapt back, used the momentum to spring forward, and landed a kick to King Arthur's face. As the king staggered, Ryu seized the chance to place his sword at his opponent's neck. The king blocked just in time, but Ryu moved quickly, grabbing Arthur's sword and pressing it against his neck.
They both froze. A wooden sword at Ryu's neck. Another, at Arthur's.
—"I win," Ryu said, panting.
—"Are you sure?" the king asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ryu glanced down. The king's sword was just as close to his own neck.
—"Well… I didn't win, but I was close," he admitted with a small grin.
From the distance, Yuki's eyes widened in surprise. She murmured to herself:
—"That human… he almost defeated King Arthur… How is that possible? He only has 0.1 mana… and the king has 10,550…"
King Arthur lowered his sword and nodded with respect.
—"You were very close. At the very least, you managed to tie with me."
Ryu dropped to the ground, laughing softly.
—"That means I'm stronger than before."
—"Indeed," the king said with a proud smile. "You've improved a lot."
Yuki stepped forward, stopping in front of Ryu. Her crimson eyes shone with a mix of pride and challenge.
"Ryu Tatzuki..." she said seriously. "I want to fight you."
Her words echoed like unexpected thunder. Ryu's eyes widened in surprise, and King Arthur turned as well, frowning.
"You called me by my name?" Ryu asked, still processing her declaration. "That means you're serious... In that case, I accept. I'll fight you."
King Arthur stepped forward, concern on his face.
"Wait, Ryu. If you fight Yuki, you could get hurt. She's not as gentle as I am."
Ryu nodded firmly, keeping his gaze locked on his challenger.
"I know that very well. That's exactly why I'm going to accept."
The old king sighed and handed his sword to Yuki.
"Alright… But be very careful, Ryu."
He stepped back to give them space. Yuki took the sword without hesitation, her expression as cold as ice.
"Then get ready, human. I won't hold back. If you make even a single mistake… I'll destroy you."
Ryu swallowed hard, a chill running down his spine.
"I know..."
Both of them took their stances. Standing face to face, swords in hand. The wind blew gently between them, as if even the air was afraid to witness what was about to unfold.
The duel between Ryu Tatzuki and Yuki was about to begin.
Without another word, Yuki dashed toward Ryu with overwhelming speed. Her movements were so fast that Ryu barely had time to react. The first strike landed cleanly, forcing him to stagger backward.
Before he could recover, Yuki pressed the attack, delivering a flurry of precise, swift strikes with her sword. Ryu managed to dodge a few, but most forced him on the defensive.
"You're... really strong," Ryu panted.
"You should stop talking and defend yourself," Yuki replied with a smug smile. "Otherwise, this won't be fun at all."
Gritting his teeth, Ryu raised his sword and began to block some of her attacks. However, with every clash, his hands throbbed from the impact. The pain intensified with each second. Desperate, he swung his sword directly at hers, but Yuki sidestepped and disarmed him in one clean motion—then shattered his sword with a precise strike.
Yuki smirked.
"What now, human? You don't have a sword anymore."
Ryu took a deep breath, adrenaline surging through his veins.
"I don't need a sword to fight."
With a roar of determination, he charged at Yuki, throwing a flurry of punches. Surprised, Yuki used her sword to block, but Ryu gathered all his strength and knocked the weapon out of her hands.
"Wha—!?" she gasped, eyes wide.
Ryu hurled her sword far into the distance and then gave her a confident smile.
"How about we call it a draw?"
But Yuki wasn't the type to accept such an offer so easily. With a fierce glint in her eye, she punched him straight in the face.
"I don't need a sword to fight either."
The two clashed in a furious hand-to-hand battle. Fists flew with speed and fury. At first, Yuki held the upper hand—her technique and power were superior. But then, something changed.
Ryu's demonic mana awakened.
A dark aura began to envelop him. His blows became faster, heavier. Yuki's expression hardened as she sensed the shift in power. For the first time, Ryu was matching her strength.
And the real fight was just getting started...
The battle between Ryu and Yuki raged on with overwhelming intensity. Neither of them backed down. Every blow echoed like thunder, a clash of raw strength and unwavering determination. But pain and fatigue didn't matter now. There was only one thing on their minds: victory.
Ryu smiled in the middle of the fight, his heart pounding with excitement. For the first time in his life, he realized how much he enjoyed fighting. Every exchange with Yuki ignited something deep inside him—something wild… something powerful.
But suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.
Yuki took a step back and began concentrating her energy. A crimson magic circle appeared at her feet as she gathered mana in her hands, forming a devastating spell.
"Get ready, human..." she murmured with a confident grin.
Ryu didn't hold back either. Gathering all his strength, he channeled his energy into his right fist. His demonic aura surged back violently, enveloping him in a dark, pulsing shadow.
Both of them launched forward at the same time, their attacks set to collide with destructive force.
But then, a figure stepped between them.
"That's enough!" King Arthur roared, blocking both attacks with ease, releasing a shockwave that kicked up a cloud of dust.
"Move!" Yuki snapped angrily. "I was about to win!"
"King Arthur, please don't interrupt!" Ryu added, frustrated.
The King looked at them sternly.
"Do you want to destroy this whole place? This is training, not war!"
Ryu lowered his gaze. His demonic aura slowly faded.
"No... I don't want that," he said more calmly.
"Tsk..." Yuki clicked her tongue in irritation. "Fine. But next time, we'll finish this."
"Then I'll become stronger than you," Ryu replied, his eyes filled with determination.
Yuki turned to him with a smug smile.
"Miserable human. You'll never be stronger than me, because I... will become the Queen of Demons."
"Enough already!" King Arthur cut in, exasperated. "Training is over for today."
Ryu nodded and turned away.
"Then I'll head back to Yuki's house," he said, starting to walk.
Yuki walked beside him, arms crossed.
"Finally, we're going back. Goodbye, old man."
"See you," King Arthur said with a faint smile. "Don't be late for training tomorrow."
And so, Ryu and Yuki began their walk home. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they walked side by side in silence… though their hearts still beat fast from the thrill of the fight.