The convoy of carriages rumbled along the uneven road, the creaking of wheels and the rhythmic clatter of hooves creating a monotonous soundtrack to the journey. Inside one of the carriages, Yujiro reclined on a cushioned seat, his broad frame barely fitting in the confined space.
He puffed on his pipes, exhaling fragrant smoke into the air. Raikou and Yuko sat beside him, their presence bringing a sense of comfort to the otherwise boring trip.
As the journey progressed, days passed uneventfully. The road stretched endlessly ahead, bordered by thick forests and the occasional small village.
Yujiro's formidable senses were always alert, but the aura of any powerful chakra remained conspicuously absent. He relaxed further into his seat, content to bask in the relative tranquility of the moment.
They stopped for a brief rest interval, and Yujiro stepped out of the carriage, stretching his massive frame. He glanced around, the surrounding forest shrouded in a veil of silence.
There was no sign of danger, and the tranquility was almost unnerving.
'Hm, there's no bandit at all. From what I've heard from Yuko, they're always attacked by bandit, at least once. Heh, whatever.'
Resuming his seat, Yujiro continued to enjoy his pipes and a bottle of sake, seemingly without a care in the world. The swaying of the carriage was almost hypnotic, lulling them into a false sense of security.
Yuko, however, couldn't fully relax. Her responsibilities lay with the Yuko's Emperium and their precious cargo.
She leaned closer to the window, peering outside to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Beside their carriage stood one of the bodyguards, a seasoned warrior chosen to protect Yuko and her interests. The bodyguard's gaze shifted uneasily between the forest and Yuko, his hand on the hilt of his weapon.
Yuko gently tapped him on the shoulder and asked in a hushed tone, "What do you see out there?"
The bodyguard swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously, "I... I'm not sure, Yuko-sama. It's just the forest was too quiet, and something feels... wrong."
Yuko's brow furrowed, "Tell the rest to take extra caution and protect the women and old workers. Notice me immediately if there's any attack."
The bodyguard nodded, his trembling hands clutching his weapon. "I'll immediately inform the others and follow your orders, Yuko-sama. Please, be careful."
With a reassuring nod, Yuko returned to the safety of the carriage.
Then, as the ventured deeper into the forest there was a scream from the bodyguards stationed in the rear.
"Arghh!"
"Help me!!"
"W-What are you!!?"
"Don't come near me, arghh!!"
"M-My arm!!"
Yuko's concern deepened as she heard the pained cries from the bodyguards stationed at the rear of the convoy. Panic was spreading among the guards, and the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.
She leaned closer to the window, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening, but her vision was obscured by the thick trees and underbrush. The sounds of chaos and suffering in the rear of the caravan sent shivers down her spine.
Yuko knew she had to act quickly. She knew that the situation had taken a dire turn, and her first priority was to ensure the safety of her people.
The terrified screams of the bodyguards persisted, growing louder and more desperate. The situation was rapidly deteriorating, and Yuko's anxiety heightened.
Meanwhile, Yujiro heard the scream but he still didn't detect any powerful chakra, "Yuko asked the guard if it's a group of bandit or some hooligans sneak attack them."
Yuko nodded and wanted to ask from the bodyguard earlier but his face was white from fear and was shivering from head to toe.
She was quite afraid now but she maintained her composure, attempting to soothe the frightened warrior. "Calm yourself. What's happening in our rear?"
The bodyguard hesitated before stammering, "I-It's not bandits, Yuko-sama! It's something else. I don't know what it is, but it's not human...i-it's a monster!"
Yuko's heart raced. A monster? What kind of creature could possibly be lurking in these woods?
The words hung in the air, and Yuko exchanged a concerned glance with Raikou. Yujiro, however, remained oblivious, his deep laughter and the pleasant aroma of his pipes filling the carriage.
Yujiro was still trying to sense the creature that spread the chaos unfolding in the rear, mused aloud, "What kind of monster can escape my senses?"
"Hm, oho! There's one time with Hashirama and Madara. Let's see if this will work."
His eyes shut, and he focused on extending his formidable chakra, spreading it out to envelop the entire convoy of carriages. In doing so, he aimed to sense the presence of the unseen creature that was terrorizing the guards.
As his chakra expanded, he picked up a faint, ominous air movement. It was a presence that stood out in the natural world.
The creature of formidable size, nearly double that of a typical human. What surprised Yujiro was its ability to hide from his normal senses, attributes that surpassed the capabilities of any normal monster.
With a toothily grin, he whispered to himself, "Found you."
-----
Yujiro's carriage came to a halt as he abruptly exited and stepped onto the forest path. His massive frame seemed to cast a shadow over the surroundings as he began to stride purposefully slowly toward the rear of the convoy.
The bodyguards, though fearful of the unfolding chaos, could not help but be awestruck by Yujiro's imposing presence. He emanated an ever-increasing amount of chakra, which crackled and surged around him like a tempestuous aura.
The monstrous creature that had been menacing the convoy abruptly ceased its movements, sensing an even greater, more foreboding presence approaching. Though it was a dangerous creature itself, now it had encountered something far more monstrous than itself.
The creature emitted a growl that was almost akin to a wounded animal acknowledging defeat.
Yet, to Yujiro's surprise, it didn't bolt away in fear. Instead, it held its ground, a faint but undeniable glint of defiance in its eyes.
Yujiro raised a skeptical eyebrow as he approached the creature, studying it closely. This was an anomaly; in his extensive experience, most creatures, especially those without sentience or consciousness, would instinctively flee when confronted by a force they couldn't contend with.
It was a basic survival instinct ingrained in most creatures.
As he observed the creature's behavior, Yujiro couldn't help but grin widely. It was an expression of genuine curiosity, an odd excitement bubbling within him.
He spoke to the creature in a tone laced with amusement, "Now you've piqued my interest. What kind of monster are you, to defy me with such determination?"
The monstrous creature, undeterred by Yujiro's presence, retorted with a deafening roar that echoed through the forest, "Graaaowgrh!"
It was a display of defiance that sent shivers down the spines of the bodyguards.
But Yujiro merely chuckled in response. He had an odd sense of amusement in playing with this creature.
The monstrous creature lunged at Yujiro with claws extended, its movements wild and frenetic. Its razor-sharp claws sliced through the air, leaving behind gusts of displaced wind.
However, Yujiro's agility was astounding for a man of his immense stature. He moved with a grace that defied his size, stepping aside with ease as the monster's claws missed their mark by mere inches.
Undeterred, the creature attempted a different tactic. It lunged forward, jaws wide open, aiming to clamp down on Yujiro with its massive, gnashing teeth.
But the Ogre was faster and more nimble than he appeared. With a casual yet deliberate motion, he reached out, his colossal hand ensnaring the creature's head.
The monster's jaws snapped shut, inches away from Yujiro's arm. Then, he released his tight grip and allowed the monster continue its attack.
Despite the creature's relentless and increasingly desperate attacks, Yujiro maintained a demeanor of amusement.
He dodged each assault with fluidity, almost as if he were dancing through the chaotic onslaught. With each sidestep, his laughter resonated through the forest, a deep and rumbling sound that contrasted with the monster's anguished roars.
As the confrontation continued, the beast's eyes gleamed with a crazed intensity. Its fury and determination only grew, pushing it to attempt more daring and ferocious strikes.
The monster howled in frustration, the sound a raw and guttural expression of its primal instincts, compelling it to challenge this seemingly insurmountable creature.
Yujiro, for all his amusement, couldn't help but be intrigued by the creature's relentless tenacity.
In the midst of battle, he leaned in closer to the monster and whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of condescension and curiosity, "You've got spirit, I'll give you that! But you're nothing more than a mere plaything to me."
With a swift and powerful flick of his colossal hand, Yujiro sent the monster hurtling through the air. It crashed into a nearby tree with a thunderous impact, the forest momentarily trembling from the force of the collision.
The creature groaned in agony, its body battered and broken, but its determination remained unbroken.
But the battle between man and monster took an unexpected turn as Yujiro heard a series of distant howls reverberated through the forest, their haunting tones growing louder with each passing moment.
Yujiro's keen ears picked up the ominous sound, and he cast a quick glance towards the horizon.
His deep voice rumbled with amusement, "Oho? There's more of your kind? I'll end this fight then."
Yujiro channeled his chakra into his massive fist, causing it to glow with a fiery crimson hue. He couldn't help but chuckle, "I'll borrow your move a little, Baki."
With that, he unleashed a barrage of precise punches, each aimed with uncanny accuracy at the monster's chin. The creature's head snapped back with each bone-crushing impact, and it was clear that the battle was over.
The monster slumped to the ground, unconscious and defeated.
With a smirk, Yujiro remarked, "Hm, it feels kind of weird; it seems I like crushing my opponents' faces more than simply knocking them down. Hahahaha!"
Then, Yujiro, his towering figure casting a formidable presence, barked out orders to the bodyguards, his voice carrying across the forest.
"Alright, you lot, regroup! You're moving on with the carriage," he commanded.
"Stay alert. I will not condone if you guys failed protecting my goods! And remember, your primary duty is to protect my precious carriage, I want no harm befell my comfy seat!"
The bodyguards reacted swiftly, nodding in acknowledgment. "Yes, Yujiro-sama!" they responded in unison before hastily making their way to regroup with the rest of the convoy.
Yujiro had a newfound curiosity about the other monsters lurking in the forest, and he was eager to confront the rest of the pack. This unexpected encounter had only fueled his desire for more exciting encounters that existed in this world.
-----
A/N: Sup guys, just wanted to reward my readers as we've achieve 500k views! I saw some author did this kind of thing. They released bonus chapter and what not when they reached a certain milestones.
So, I will also hold this reward thingy, hahaha. Truth be told, I decide to do this just on a whim.
(~ ̄▽ ̄)~
Every subsequent Ten reviews: 1 bonus chapter!
Every subsequent 500k views: 2 bonus chapter!
It seemed quite cheap but hey I don't have that many chapter right now. I'll increase the rewards if my stockpiles of chapters increase in the future. All the best guys, love yourself...please...I know, I know, it's not my place to lecture you guys anything but just have fun with your life, okay!?
Have some idea about my story? Like it? Add to library! Comment it, review it and let me know.