Snow whipped through the air as the last echoes of the cataclysmic battle faded into silence. The sky, cracked by the shockwaves of gods and monsters, slowly began to clear. A thick tension lingered like smoke after a war.
There he was—Guy Crimson, the strongest of all Primordial Demons, laid out on the ice. His body, bruised, scorched, and cracked, twitched slightly, but he did not rise.
He couldn't.
Rain and Misery, his ever-loyal and proud elite maids, rushed toward him with wide eyes and shaking hands.
Rain (softly, disbelief dripping from every word):
"This… can't be… Lord Guy… beaten?"
Misery (her voice trembling):
"By a human. No magic, no skills, no divine energy. Just… pure violence."
They dropped to their knees beside him, speechless, unable to even comprehend what had just unfolded before their eyes.
Across the field, Velzard, the White Ice Dragon, stood with arms crossed, still staring at Yujiro. Her usually cold and perfect composure was shattered by the storm inside her mind.
She had fought Hujiro herself—had tasted his fists, his power, his ruthless precision. He'd overwhelmed her earlier with nothing but his martial skill and unyielding spirit. And now… she had to watch it happen again. To Guy.
Velzard (to herself, cold breath misting):
"That man… No, that monster… He learned Guy's every move… and broke him with his fists."
The battlefield was quiet now. A gentle wind brushed across the broken arena. Footsteps crunched softly in the snow.
Yujiro Hanma—his back scarred, steaming, and monstrous—stood tall. Calm. Not a single wound bled. His chest rose and fell like a beast's, but his face was peaceful. Like the fight meant nothing.
From above, a loud roar echoed through the skies.
Veldora.
The Storm Dragon, who had cheered for every blow, every punch, now swooped down from the clouds, his wings slicing the wind. He landed with an earth-shaking tremor next to Yujiro.
Veldora (grinning, proud like a fanboy):
"HA! I KNEW IT! That was AMAZING, Yujiro! You took down Guy Crimson with your bare hands! You're INSANE! I LOVE IT!"
Yujiro said nothing at first. He simply turned and walked toward Veldora. Step by step. Like he had all the time in the world.
Then—he jumped.
A perfect leap. Graceful and violent, landing squarely on Veldora's broad back. He crouched like a jungle cat, one hand gripping the spiny ridge of the dragon's back.
Veldora spread his wings. The winds howled louder.
But just before taking off, Hujiro turned around. Slowly.
His eyes scanned the battlefield once more.
He looked down at Guy, still unconscious. Then he looked at Velzard, then at Rain and Misery. All of them were frozen. Silent.
Then—he spoke. His voice was calm, but it carried like thunder across the frozen world.
Yujiro Hanma:
"Remember this name…
Yujiro Hanma.
The Strongest."
A beat.
Then, with a single flap of Veldora's wings, they rose into the air. Snow swirled in their wake. The ice cracked from the pressure. The wind roared in defiance as the dragon and the man vanished into the sky.
Gone.
Velzard took a shaky breath. She turned to Rain and Misery.
Velzard (quietly):
"The world just changed…"
Rain (softly):
"And we just witnessed it…"
Misery (looking at the sky):
"Yujiro Hanma… The Strongest."
The sky was painted orange with the setting sun as Veldora and Yujiro soared through the sky, leaving behind the frozen battlefield of the Ice Continent. Wind howled past them, but the dragon beneath Yujiro's feet rumbled with uncontainable excitement.
Veldora (still hyped, voice booming):
"WAAAHHAHA! That was UNREAL! Hujiro! You beat Guy Crimson! Guy freakin' Crimson! Did you see the look on his maids' faces? Priceless!"
Yujiro didn't say much. His arms were crossed, eyes half-lidded in thought, hair whipping in the wind. His monstrous frame crouched comfortably atop Veldora's back, unshaken by the altitude or the storm around them.
Veldora (continuing):
"And that thing you did—the twist-pivot shoulder toss into a pressure point jab—that was like... like a hundred skills in one! What do you even call that?!"
Yujiro (grunting slightly, amused):
"...Kyusho Atemi. A forgotten strike. Goes for the nerves and blood flow. Only works if you know exactly where to hit."
Veldora (eyes sparkling):
"Amazing! You gotta teach me that! And that one where you spun in the air and slammed your elbow like thunder—that one!"
Yujiro:
"Muay Thai flying elbow. It's simple. You just need the will to kill."
Veldora (laughing nervously):
"Heh… ha… I guess it's not that simple after all."
They descended over the great green sea of the Jura Forest, a place thriving with life and magic. Yujiro jumped off as Veldora landed with a tremor, sending birds scattering into the air.
Veldora (stretching his wings):
"Aaah, home sweet forest! But MAN, that fight's gonna go down in history! And to think, you didn't even use one ounce of magic. Just pure martial arts… Who even does that anymore?!"
Yujiro cracked his knuckles and neck slowly, his tone calm and unreadable.
Yujiro:
"Strength is strength. Doesn't need special effects."
Veldora turned, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Veldora:
"Hey hey hey, Yujiro… teach me. Seriously! I wanna learn all that stuff. The Dim Mak! The… the bone-breaking knee strikes! That one where you paralyzed Guy with just a tap to his collarbone! I NEED IT."
Yujiro slowly turned to face him, squinting slightly.
Yujiro:
"...Before that, I've been meaning to ask you something."
Veldora blinked.
Veldora:
"Huh?"
Yujiro (arms crossed):
"How come your sister has a human form and you don't?"
Silence.
The air went still for a second. Veldora's dragon face twitched.
Veldora (awkwardly):
"Ah… well… you see… it's… not that I can't… I just don't need to! Yeah! My dragon form is perfect! Mighty! Beautiful! Majestic!"
Yujiro raised an eyebrow.
Yujiro:
"So… you can't."
Veldora (defensive, flapping wings):
"NO! I mean, I could if I wanted to. But why bother? I'm already awesome! Look at these wings! Look at this tail!"
Yujiro smirked slightly. The tiniest chuckle escaped his throat.
Yujiro (deadpan):
"You can't."
Veldora looked away, puffing smoke from his nostrils like an embarrassed kid.
Veldora (grumbling):
"...my sisters are trying to teach me ? Geez."
Yujiro turned toward the forest, the light of the setting sun casting his long, monstrous shadow over the trees. His fists clenched gently, not in anger, but in purpose.
Yujiro:
"It's time. I've seen what this world can offer in power... but I want to see the rest of it. Its secrets. Its warriors. Its challenges. There's more to conquer."
Veldora's eyes widened.
Veldora:
"Wait—you're leaving?! Where?! When?! Can I come?! I'll be quiet! I'll just watch! Or fight! Or BOTH!"
Yujiro stopped walking.
Yujiro (not turning around):
"Only if you can transform into a human form."
Veldora (choking):
"W-WHAT?!"
Yujiro:
"Can't have a dragon flattening villages while I walk through them. People panic. I don't need that."
Veldora (pleading):
"Come onnnn! Just a little village-flattening! What if I wear a cloak?! Or—"
Yujiro took one last glance at the dragon, his eyes cool and calm.
Hujiro:
"Farewell, Veldora. We'll meet again. When you've figured out how to walk among men."
And with that, Yujiro leapt into the forest.
No wings. No magic. Just raw legs, brutal strength, and indomitable spirit carrying him forward.
Veldora stood there for a while, wings drooping.
Veldora (grumbling):
"...I could transform if I wanted to…"
Veldora (muttering):
"Stupid human… why can't i do it…?"
Then suddenly—he perked up.
Veldora:
"I'll go beg velzard! Yeah! Then I'll catch up! Wait for me, Hujiro!!"
With that, he took off into the sky again, causing a minor windstorm in the forest below.
Yujiro walked alone now, trees towering around him, sunlight filtering through the canopy.
Yujiro (to himself):
"This world is vast. Magic. Dragons. Demons. Gods. But strength… is universal. And I'll find the limits of it. If there are any."
He clenched his fists, the air around them rippling just from the pressure.
Yujiro:
"Let's see what else this world can throw at me."