Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

"Gyaah!!"

A blue-furred Equinoid let out a pained scream as he collapsed, his back riddled with arrows expertly shot by elven archers.

Callen whistled as he leaped down from a nearby tree, his movements light and agile. "Wow. When teacher said we'd gotten stronger, I didn't want to believe it. But I just took down six Equinoids on my own." He grinned, brushing dirt off his sleeve.

"One of the advantages of serving a good master, I assume." Torren's voice came from behind him, calm and collected as always. The Antari warrior stepped forward, his expression as unreadable as ever.

The two stood in the largest settlement of the Equinoid territory.

As Crimara had predicted, the Equinoids had rallied their entire army for an attack on Kaede's city, leaving their homeland with only a skeleton force to defend it.

Crimara's plan had been simple and efficient. She had brought only a few fighters with her, the elven brothers Callen and Ryder, and Torren, one of the Antari elites. Along with an eight man squad. Their mission was to capture the Equinoid leader and cripple their forces.

The defense had been laughably short. Within minutes, the settlement lay in ruins, its defenders overwhelmed.

Crimara strode past the incapacitated Equinoids -her master had made it clear that unnecessary deaths were to be avoided- as she made her way toward what appeared to be the leader's abode.

Inside, she found Rhyder, who immediately dropped to one knee upon noticing her.

"What did you find?" she asked, her tone sharp and commanding.

"Lady Crimara," Rhyder began, keeping his head bowed. "The leader of the Equinoids is not here. Furthermore, from the messages I've received from the others, he's not at any of the other settlements either."

"I see," she sighed, her tone calm but calculating. "So, he's with his army. Brave, if nothing else. But this works in our favor. Once he's overwhelmed by our forces, his will to fight will shatter."

With no further reason to linger, Crimara turned on her heel. "Victory is already ours," she declared. "Let us return."

---

CLANG!

With a swift motion, Aurina parried a lightning-fast spear thrust, her claymore deflecting the blow with precision. Simultaneously, she sidestepped a massive swinging axe, letting it crash into the ground with a resounding thud.

Before the Bovoid could react, Aurina planted her foot firmly on the axe's blade, pinning it in place.

The massive Bovoid grit his teeth, muscles straining as he tried to pull his weapon free. Despite his strength, the axe refused to budge, trapped under Aurina's unyielding weight.

Aurina sighed before delivering a sharp kick to the axe, the force sending the Bovoid leader sprawling to the ground.

Without missing a beat, she turned, raising her claymore just in time to block a series of rapid strikes from the Equinoid.

Aurina's claymore whirled in a deadly arc as she deflected another crushing blow from the Bovoid's axe. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed again. She leapt back, her boots skidding against the cracked earth.

This time, the Bovoid leader wasn't giving her a moment to breathe. He lunged, his massive frame barreling forward with terrifying speed. Each swing of his axe seemed to shake the air, and though Aurina dodged or parried each one, the relentless onslaught forced her to take a step back.

Before she could counter, a blur of silver shot from her flank. The Equinoid, with his spear glinting in the faint light, darted in to strike. Aurina barely had time to twist away, his blade grazing her armor and leaving a shallow scratch across her shoulder.

Her eyebrows rose. They were coordinating now, attacking her in tandem, forcing her to split her attention between the raw power of the Bovoid and the lightning-quick precision of the Equinoid.

The Bovoid roared, seizing the opportunity. He charged again, his axe carving through the air with terrifying momentum. Aurina ducked low, the blade whistling over her head, and retaliated with a sweeping strike of her claymore.

It connected. Her blade tore through his chest, leaving a deep gash. But instead of faltering, the Bovoid bellowed in rage, his bloodlust fueling him further.

Aurina spun on her heel, her instincts screaming a warning. The Equinoid was already upon her, his spear thrusting toward her throat. She raised her claymore just in time, deflecting the strike, but the force of it sent her hand back.

The Equinoid smirked, his movements fluid and graceful as he pressed his advantage. "What's wrong? Overwhelmed?" he taunted, his strikes becoming faster, more feral.

Aurina didn't respond. She glanced at the battlefield surrounding them and felt her mind screaming in frustration. It was only a matter before the combined might of the Bovoids and Equinoids would overwhelm her forces. It was only a matter of time before the first Antari fell.

She dropped low, her claymore slicing through the ground in a wide arc. The Equinoid leapt back to avoid it, but the sudden shift in momentum bought Aurina the fraction of a second she needed.

With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between herself and the Bovoid. Her blade flashed, aiming for his exposed side, but his axe came up just in time to block.

The impact sent another shockwave rippling through the battlefield.

The Bovoid grinned through bloodied teeth, his voice a rumbling growl. "Is this all you've got? I expected more from the Ant queen."

Aurina's grip tightened on her claymore. Her amber eyes burned with rage. She wasn't outmatched, not even close, but the longer this dragged on, the more dangerous the situation became for the Antari.

She had to end it. Now.

With a sharp exhale, Aurina planted her foot and surged forward, her claymore blazing with a crimson light. The Bovoid swung his axe to intercept, but she twisted mid-strike, redirecting her blade to slam into the Equinoid instead.

The Equinoid's eyes widened as her claymore collided with his spear, shattering the slender pole in an instant and sending him sprawling.

Aurina turned back to the Bovoid without hesitation. Her claymore swept upward, meeting his descending axe in a final, explosive clash. The ground cracked beneath their feet as the force of her strike sent the Bovoid reeling.

Breathing heavily, Aurina leveled her claymore at the two of them. "Yield," she demanded, her voice low and commanding.

But neither the Bovoid nor the Equinoid showed any intention of surrendering. They pushed themselves to their feet, bloodied but defiant. "All we gotta do, is keep you occupied long enough for your army to fall." The Equinoid wheezed.

Aurina's jaw tightened. So be it. If they wanted a fight to the bitter end, she would give them one.

With a roar, the Bovoid leader charged, his massive axe raised high, ready to strike. Aurina responded in kind, surging forward to meet him.

BOOM!

Another explosion rocked the battlefield.

As the dust settled, Aurina's heart sank.

Standing between her and the Bovoid was Kaede, her back turned toward Aurina. The Bovoid's massive axe ground futilely against Kaede's shoulder, unable to pierce her.

Kaede's gaze shifted to the colossal weapon resting on her shoulder, her expression calm and unbothered. Then, with a slow, deliberate breath, she exhaled softly against the axe.

To the Bovoid's utter shock, the axe began to break apart, crumbling into tiny fragments wherever her breath touched.

The battlefield fell silent.

Nearly every member of the Bovoid-Equinoid alliance froze, their instincts screaming as they felt the overwhelming aura radiating from the human figure standing before them. The oppressive energy left them rooted in place, unable to look away.

The Antari, too, fell into hushed reverence. Their monarch had arrived, and not a single one dared to move. They stood as still as statues, fearful of even the slightest twitch, lest they miss something extraordinary.

The Bovoid leapt back, regrouping with the Equinoid. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" he demanded.

Kaede remained silent, her eyes calmly observing the two monsters before her.

Thud!

Kaede turned at the sound, her eyes widening as she saw Aurina drop to her knees, her forehead pressed firmly to the ground.

"A-Aurina, what are you doing?!" Kaede exclaimed.

"Forgive me, Master," Aurina cried, her voice heavy with shame. "That you saw fit to come in person means I have failed you. Please, allow me to atone for my failures."

Kaede sweatdropped, a nervous laugh bubbling in her thoughts. 'Oi, you're making me look like some kind of tyrant here!' She sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation. "Calm down, Aurina. Do you understand what you did wrong?"

Aurina, still too ashamed to lift her head, shook it firmly against the dirt.

Kaede's expression hardened. "Aurina," she said again, her tone more stern this time. "You found yourself vastly outnumbered, even after confirming you had the wrong intelligence about the enemy. Now, tell me, what did you do wrong?"

Her voice echoed across the now-silent battlefield, carrying through the forest. The combatants, both Antari and Bovoid alike, stood frozen, watching as Kaede reprimanded her subordinate.

Some of the Bovoids and Equinoids couldn't help but think to themselves, "Is now really the time for that!?"

Aurina remained quiet for a long moment before finally speaking. "I failed to adapt," Aurina said quietly, her voice trembling but resolute. "I relied too heavily on our initial plan, even when the circumstances changed. I allowed my pride to cloud my judgment."

Kaede crossed her arms, nodding slowly. "Good. You understand. I kept waiting for you to request for aid, backup, anything. But then you chose to put your troops in unnecessary danger. That more than anything, pissed me off."

Aurina raised her head slightly, her amber eyes filled with fear and shame. "I won't make the same mistake again, Master."

"I certainly hope not," Kaede said softly, her gaze warm and steady. "You're all my responsibility now. My children -technically- and I never want to see any of you hurt. Not if there's anything I can do about it. So, rely on me, my wayward daughter." She extended her hand, her smile gentle.

Aurina felt a rush of emotions she couldn't contain as tears streamed down her face. Trembling, she reached out and took Kaede's hand. "Yes, mas-mother."

The word felt foreign yet comforting on her tongue.

As soon as she spoke, Aurina was enveloped in a radiant golden glow. The light grew brighter, enveloping her entirely, before slowly fading away.

Kaede blinked in astonishment. Standing before her was a young woman with long, silky black hair cascading down her back. Her four arms had been reduced to two, and though she now resembled a human, two delicate black antennae remained perched atop her head, a subtle reminder of her origins.

Across the battlefield, the same phenomenon repeated. One by one, the five hundred Antari were bathed in the golden glow, their forms shifting and evolving. When the light dimmed, they, too, had taken on human-like appearances, their insect features softened but not erased entirely.

Kaede stared, her mouth agape for a few moments. 'Artificia, what just happened?'

Upon hearing Artificia's response, her surprise only deepened. 'That's a thing!?'

"Hey." A deep voice broke through her thoughts. It was the Bovoid leader, still bleeding from his battle with Aurina.

Kaede turned to face him and the Equinoid beside him.

"To think someone like her had a master," the Bovoid said solemnly. "I know a losing battle when I see one. So, I have one question."

Kaede took a steadying breath. A massive aura erupted from her, encompassing the entire battlefield. "Go ahead," she said coolly.

If the Bovoid was intimidated, he didn't show it. Instead, he asked his question with unwavering resolve. "What do you plan to do? An ant colony growing this strong is naturally bad news. However, it seems they've fallen under your banner. Your answer will determine whether the Bovoids will die resisting you."

Kaede blinked, her Aura receding as she let out a soft breath. Then a smile spread across her face, calm yet confident. "Well, I suppose you could say I'm just looking for a place where I can be happy, surrounded by my friends and family. Even if, admittedly, my family has grown a lot recently." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Bovoid leader and his group. "I'm building a city. And I'm more than happy to welcome anyone who wants to join our little community."

Her tone shifted slightly, an edge of sincerity laced with a touch of conviction. "After all, when people work together, we can achieve great things. You're living proof of that. No offense, but you guys didn't stand a chance against Aurina and her forces on your own. Yet when you came together, you were able to push her back far more than anyone expected."

The Equinoid's expression shifted as he seemed to ponder her words for a moment before asking, "And what if we refuse to join your city?"

Kaede smiled, her tone calm yet resolute. "We wouldn't force anyone to join. Of course, you would have to leave your current home. I didn't even want to attack you all. This conversation was supposed to happen later, in the future. But if you decide not to be part of our community, that's perfectly fine. As long as you don't interfere with us, we won't interfere with you."

The Bovoid leader and the Equinoid exchanged a long, calculating glance, the tension between them thick and palpable. The remaining soldiers behind them stood like statues, watching Kaede closely, their eyes flickering nervously between her and their commanders. For a long moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint rustle of the wind through the trees, carrying with it the scent of the freshly disturbed earth.

The Bovoid leader took a step forward, his imposing figure still towering over the others. His eyes, red and weary from battle, narrowed as he regarded Kaede. "You say that you wish to build a city," he said slowly, his voice gruff, yet tinged with curiosity. "And that you want us to join you."

Kaede met his gaze steadily, her calm demeanor unwavering as she nodded. "That's right. I'm not asking for blind loyalty or fealty. I'm offering a place for you to call home, a chance to be part of something bigger. If you don't want to join, that's fine, but if you do, I promise you it won't be in vain."

The Equinoid shifted uneasily, his spear held loosely in his hands. His eyes darted to the Bovoid, then back to Kaede. "But why should we trust you? After everything, why should we risk our lives for your cause?"

Kaede's smile softened, and she took a step toward them, her voice growing warmer, though still filled with an undeniable authority. "Because I'm offering something no one else has. Stability. A future for your people, free from the constant battles and bloodshed. It may take time, but together, we can build something strong. Something worth fighting for. I've already proven I can keep my promises. I'll protect what's mine."

The Bovoid leader chuckled. "The Bovoids thrive off constant battles and bloodshed though."

Kaede's smile didn't falter. "I know that. But constant fighting is draining, isn't it? Even for your people. Do you think that this endless cycle of conflict is truly sustainable? One day, there won't be any battles left to win. And when that day comes, what will you have left?"

"I'm not one to worry that far into the future." The Bovoid leader said. There was a long, tense silence. The wind whistled through the trees as the Bovoid leader seemed to consider her words. He glanced at the Equinoid beside him, who appeared equally torn, and then back at Kaede.

"You make it sound like there's a choice," the Bovoid muttered. "Just drop everything and follow you? Forget how we've been living for generations?"

"I understand," Kaede replied calmly, her tone unwavering. "But my point still stands. What I'm building will inevitably face resistance. There will be those who will try to tear it down. Who's to say you won't find yourselves fighting those battles?"

The Bovoid leader chuckled, then burst into full laughter. Kaede blinked, while the Equinoid leader merely shook his head. "Good grief."

The Bovoid leader eventually stopped laughing and smiled. "I'm in! To serve someone with power comparable to that of a Demon Lord? Now that's not half bad!"

Kaede raised an eyebrow. 'What was that about a Demon Lord?'

The Bovoid leader dropped to his knees, and all the Bovoids around him followed suit. "You have the full might of the strongest race, the Bovoids, Master. No one in this forest will dare defy you!"

The Equinoid leader also kneeled, and the Equinoids did the same. "Master, do not listen to this meathead. With the Equinoids, you are now the strongest force in the entire Forest of Jura."

Kaede stood in silence, her mind racing as the Bovoid leader and the Equinoid leader both knelt before her. The sudden shift in their demeanor was almost surreal. One moment, they had been staunch enemies, prepared to fight to the bitter end, and the next, they were swearing fealty to her without hesitation.

She glanced at Aurina, who had risen to her feet, her expression still one of awe and reverence. The other Antari around them were similarly still, waiting for Kaede's next move. It was almost too easy.

'Just like that, huh? The elves were the same as well weren't they?' Kaede thought to herself, a slight chuckle escaping her lips as she shook her head. She hadn't expected such a quick turnaround.

She looked back at the kneeling leaders, their eyes full of respect and submission. A part of her wanted to push them for more, to test whether they truly understood what they were pledging, but another part was simply content. She'd built something strong, strong enough to bring them to their knees.

"Rise," Kaede said softly, her voice carrying the weight of both authority and reassurance.

The Bovoid leader and Equinoid leader stood, their postures now less combative, their expressions more respectful.

"We'll make this work," Kaede continued, her smile returning. "But remember, this is a place for everyone, everyone who's willing to contribute. There's no room for those who still wish to fight mindlessly. Understood?"

The Bovoid leader grinned, his earlier gruffness gone, replaced by a more agreeable attitude. "Understood, Master."

The Equinoid leader gave a firm nod, his eyes now softer. "We are at your service."

Kaede nodded, then her expression turned serious. "I guess I should mention something before I leave."

Aurina looked confused. "What do you mean, master?"

Kaede smiled. "Give me a second." In an instant, the heavy pressure in the air dissipated, and everyone felt a weight lift off their shoulders.

Then, they sensed it.

The Bovoid leader turned eastward. "Hey, hey, hey. The usual pressure... it's gone!"

The Equinoid leader was equally stunned. "But that would mean..."

Kaede nodded. "It is as you fear. A few minutes ago, Veldora's presence completely vanished from the Great Forest of Jura."

_________________________

Kaede has acquired the title. [Mother of Monsters]

The citizens of Kaede's city have acquired the titles. [Sons and Daughters of ######]

________________________

End of Volume One