Monster's Lament

Within the heart of the forest, the atmosphere grew electric with tension.

The once serene woods had seemingly transformed into a den of lurking monsters. Shadows shifted beneath the thick canopy of trees as guttural growls permeated the air.

As the concealed monsters awaited, Yujiro's huge frame stood as a stark contrast amidst the shadows, casting a daunting presence.

It was as if the very forest itself held its breath, recognizing the overwhelming might that had come to confront it.

They were observing the huge man that defeated their younglings with ease carefully. They don't to want any mishaps in this operation.

But Yujiro was not one for patience, and his voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

"You know I can detect the you guys, right? Just come out." he called out, his tone carrying a tinge of boredom, as though the monsters were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

His grip on the unconscious monster remained unyielding, almost playfully so, as he dangled it before him, a living lure to draw the hidden adversaries into the open.

As he tightened his grip, the fainted monster awakened and immediately let loose a pained howl, its anguished cries reverberating through the forest.

The eerie sound sent shivers down the spines of any who heard it, a haunting reminder of the strength lurking in the man's huge muscles.

As time trickled by, the elusive monsters began to slink out of their hiding spots, one by one. They emerged slowly and cautiously, each one more monstrous than the last.

They numbered in the tens, forming a loose circle around Yujiro, but their number wasn't exceeding a hundred.

Yujiro, ever the enigma, couldn't help but respond with a sly grin, his amusement plain to see.

"Now, now, that isn't too hard, right?" he taunted, as though he had orchestrated this encounter, and had been patiently waiting for it to unfold.

As Yujiro and the group of monsters faced off, a palpable tension hung in the air.

The monsters circled Yujiro warily. Fangs bared and claws extended, they launched their attacks, their movements a chaotic blend of ferocity and desperation.

In response, Yujiro stood in the midst of this frenzied ring of beasts, his towering figure a daunting presence.

The first monster, its tough skin bristling, lunged forward with a snarl. Its claws sliced through the air, aiming for Yujiro's massive frame.

But Yujiro was a dancer, full with grace, he moved in uncanny rhythmic motion.

He sidestepped the attack with the agility of a predator, then countered with a punch to the monster's midsection. The impact was like a thunderclap, and the monster yowled in agony, sent tumbling backward.

The others quickly followed suit, a blur of fur and teeth, closing in on their colossal adversary.

Yet, Yujiro just ducked and weaved between their oncoming strikes, dodging and deflecting with pinpoint precision. As they lunged, he countered with a combination of kicks and punches, his strikes landing with the force of a battering ram.

The monsters, despite their wild aggression and non-sentience, were seemed surprised finding their attacks parried or evaded with astonishing ease.

But the monsters weren't merely relying on their natural strength. Some began to display an unsettling ability, transforming parts of their bodies into weapons.

Their claws became longs swords and big double-headed axe, their fangs grew longer and turned into spears and tridents and more deadly, and some even enlarged their limbs to deliver bone-shattering strikes.

The battle was a chaotic frenzy of blood and violence, a whirlwind of clawed paws and snarling mouths. But Yujiro, seemingly toying with his opponents, moved with a mix of amusement and assessment.

He wanted to gauge their abilities fully before asserting his dominance, just like always. He might just glimpse on the method the monster deformed their body as he watched them further.

The monsters put forth their best efforts, their fangs bared and claws at the ready. They tried with all their might to make a single, impactful cut, or inflict some damage on the colossal man who stood before them.

However, their attempts were in vain. Despite their ferocity and determination, they couldn't make a significant mark on the towering figure that was Hanma Yujiro.

Relentless minutes turned into a blur of activity. The pack of monsters pushed themselves to their limits, launching a relentless onslaught of attacks.

Their movements began to slow down, and their energy waned faster than they had expected.

The initial burst of strength and aggression gave way to exhaustion, and they soon found themselves spent, their reserves depleted by their fruitless attempts to overpower their formidable opponent.

Then came the moment of reckoning. With a burst of power, Yujiro was planning to unleash a devastating series of blows, his fists and feet moving in a blur of motion.

"It's my turn!" he bellowed to the tired monsters.

He infused his fist with his crimson chakra and bloodline energy, "Hanma Style: Devil's Apparition: Naraka's Torrent!"

It was a fearsome technique that concentrated his fist destructive prowess and his punching speed. Each strike was like a sledgehammer, a torrent of punishing impacts.

Finally, with one last titanic strike to the ground, he sent the monsters sprawling, battered and beaten, to the forest floor.

The once-hostile ring of monsters lay subdued, their primal instincts overruled by the overwhelming might of Hanma Yujiro.

Then, to ensure the monsters didn't run away, Yujiro sought to immobilize them.

The forest seemed to be filled with palpable fata morgana as Yujiro's immense chakra emanated from his towering form.

He harnessed this power and bore it down upon the monsters, the air growing heavy with his dominating presence.

It was as if the very atmosphere itself trembled beneath the weight of his chakra, and the monsters were not immune to its effect.

The pack of monsters that were beaten and battered by him, that were initially defiant and had some more fighting spirits left in their body, soon found themselves compelled to their knees before the overwhelming might of Yujiro.

He chuckled softly, the satisfaction in his voice evident, as he watched their once defiant stance crumble.

Now, his earlier doubts had been cast aside, replaced by a renewed sense of curiosity.

It was now undeniable that these creatures were more than mere beasts. They possessed a level of sentience that extended beyond the primitive.

The realization that these creatures might be fully sentient was spurred not only by their response to his demand to appear before him but also by their actions.

As it was not just one or two creatures that had come to the rescue of the probable young monster. Instead, tens of them had gathered, seemingly with a coordinated plan to surround him.

Had it been merely a couple of creatures, Yujiro might have attributed it to parental instincts to protect their young.

However, the sheer number and the apparent strategy they employed left no room for doubt. They were not acting purely on instinct but displayed signs of coordination and a shared goal.

The creatures' actions were the key to his belief that they possessed at least partial sentience. The realization fascinated Yujiro, for they may very well be fully sentient beings.

With a demeanor that was both calm and authoritative, he addressed the creatures, seeking answers, "I know you guys understand what I'm saying."

"Is this monster here is one of your youngling? He appears to have lost control of his sanity, like he didn't has enough experience in this 'form'...am I correct?"

As his words reached their ears, all of them were still gruntled and didn't want to give any relevant information about themselves.

Then the pressure Yujiro exerted upon the monsters intensified. They could feel the force pressing down upon them, further forcing their submission.

Yujiro's overbearing demeanor demanded a response.

"Are you mocking me? Growl if I'm correct!" he bellowed, his eagerness to learn more about these enigmatic beings evident in his voice.

A series of guttural growls emanated from the monsters, their response confirming Yujiro's deductions. The creatures expressed their acknowledgment, though their language was far from comprehensible to the human ear.

"Graablhgh!" they growled, and now they held a palpable amount of dread and anxiety.

The realization that they were outmatched and overpowered by the indomitable Yujiro filled them with a sense of impending doom.

With a confident nod, Yujiro smirked. Sensing their understanding, he released his chakra.

The oppressive force that had been bearing down on the monsters lessened, and they whimpered in relief, grateful for their sudden release from the overwhelming pressure.

"Don't spit your growls anymore," the imposing figure of Yujiro demanded, his tone laced with irritation.

Then, he ordered them to spoke normally, he was expecting them to communicate in a language he could comprehend.

In response to Yujiro's demand, one of the monsters, larger and more monstrous than the rest, stepped forward.

With a voice that resonated deeply, it addressed Yujiro with a degree of fear, with a tinged of respect.

"Esteemed lord," it began, "indeed, your deductions are mostly correct. May you grace us with your name?"

Yujiro couldn't help but be intrigued by the situation, a wry grin tugging at his lips.

"What a fascinating sight... a talking monster. Wait, why do I feel like this is déjà vu?", he shook his head, dismissing the thought.

"Tsk, whatever."

Then, he responded with a casual arrogance, "Hanma Yujiro, that's my name."

The monster continued, maintaining its respectfulness. "Yujiro-dono, what can we give you to secure the release of the poor youngling?"

A chuckle escaped Yujiro's lips as he considered the question.

With a playful glint in his eyes, he replied, "What can you possibly give me that I do not already have? Just by looking at all of you, I am undoubtedly richer, stronger, and better looking! Right?"

His response held his arrogance, while also reflecting his confidence and amusement in this peculiar interaction.

As the negotiations between the leader of the monsters and Yujiro continued, it became evident that the monster clan desired the release of the youngling above all else.

They were willing to offer various treasures and rare materials,

However, Yujiro had only one thing on his mind at the moment – the prospect of having this unique clan swear their allegiance to his Hanma Clan.

His gaze hardened as he looked at the monster leader, his tone holding an air of authority.

"What I want is simple," Yujiro stated firmly, the intensity of his gaze unwavering, "I want your clan to become a subsidiary branch of my Hanma Clan. Serve me faithfully, and you will be under the protection and guidance of the Hanma Clan."

A grin of satisfaction played on Yujiro's lips as he added, "And in return, I shall release the youngling, as well as all of you." 

The monster leader was taken aback, realizing that they were essentially at this man's mercy. Their situation had shifted from one of potential negotiation to complete submission.

Inwardly, the leader lamented on his decision, 'This is bad, like very bad. It's a mistake for me to be stubborn and still request the clan to give me most of the stronger warrior to save my son.'

'Now, he is not just hold not only my son as a hostage, but it's all of us! Argh, what should I do!?' he screamed in his head.

The monster leader considered the elders back home, wondering if they could deal with the sheer monstrosity of the man who now held their fate in his hands.

'Can the elders even deal with him...nah, that'll be impossible. But just maybe...okay, I'll stop capping. It's simply impossible. I've never feel such helplessness in all my life.'

In his heart, the monster leader justified his act of surrender to the clan, silently pleading with them to understand his dire situation.

He thought, 'Perhaps, it's inevitable, I'm sorry you guys but it's the only way I can save my son! The worst that can happen is our clan will be brought under his banner. That's not that bad, right?'

He just hoped that the clan won't attack the man when they entered their secluded clan compund in the mountain.

Then, he remembered that the old fogies back at home, 'Right...there're still those old bastards, I really hope you guys can sense the this man's monstrosity before doing anything stupid!'

With that, the monster leader conceded in his heart and he hoped the man will follow him without massacring the warriors here to make an example or what not.

He said, "Yujiro-dono, I'm just the captain for our clan's army and not the patriarch. I can't decide anything partaking the bigger picture for my clan. Can you follow me to the clan and deal with our leader there?"

Yujiro immediately nodded as he agreed to the proposition, he thought, 'What can even happened to me, but this monsters seemed to have quite regenerative properties, hm.'

'They'll be a good addition as my punching bag, hehehe. Although I still need to train them a little bit to prevent them from breaking too easily.'

This encounter had taken an unexpected turn, and he was about to welcome a clan of sentient monsters into the fold of the Hanma Clan. It was a deal that would undoubtedly fruitful for his growing clan.

Then, Yujiro shouted loudly to tell his women that he will go for short trip, "Raikou! Yuko! I'll be gone for an hour or two...or three. Rest and tend the weakling until I'm back, you hear me!?"

With that settled, he turned his attention to the pack of monsters, an enigmatic clan that was about to be incorporated into the ranks of the Hanma Clan.

He grinned and asked, "Now, shall we?"