Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Kaede narrowed her eyes. "Determine my worth? Meaning?"

King Gazel shifted his left arm, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I will judge you, with nothing but the steel of my weapon."

Kaede's brow twitched, and her companions immediately tensed, their battle instincts kicking in. Hachi's emerald hair crackled with energy, Crimara's fiery aura flared slightly, and both Shifu and Aurina gripped their weapons, poised to strike.

Kaede exhaled sharply. "Why, though?"

Gazel remained unwavering. "If you insist on calling yourself the ruler of this forest, then it falls to me and my sword to put you in your place."

Kaede's stance widened ever so slightly, and in an instant, a black shield materialized in her hand, its surface shimmering. The air around her wavered, distorting faintly under the sheer weight of her presence.

Gazel took a step forward. "You had better accept my challenge." His fingers tightened around his sword, poised to draw it.

Behind him, one of his generals stepped forward, his face lined with concern. "Please, my king, don't do this." His instincts screamed at him, warning of the overwhelming power radiating from the monsters before them.

Gazel, however, merely chuckled, sparing his general a brief glance. "Would a fight not be the most direct way to settle this dispute?"

Kaede frowned. "You waltz into my city with an army, practically threatening my people. Then, you challenge me to single combat?"

The air around her grew heavier, warping slightly as a dense pressure spread outward. The warning in her tone was clear.

"Alright, I accept your challenge." Her voice was calm but carried undeniable authority. "However, mark my words, King Gazel, you'll answer for this."

Gazel nodded, unfazed. "Of course. If my assumptions prove false, I will pay reparations."

Kaede sighed, rolling her shoulders. "Fine. Just don't regret your words when I beat you."

Gazel smirked. "I'd like to see you try."

Before the duel could begin, a sudden glow flared between them, causing both rulers to pause. The light solidified into two figures, their presence immediately commanding attention.

Murmurs erupted from the crowd as the dwarves were shocked. Whispers of, "It can't be," "A dryad." "Two of them." "Over a hundred years." Filled the air.

Kaede's eyes widened in surprise. "Acer? And…"

Two stunning women stood before them. The first bore Acer's unmistakable magic signature, though she appeared vastly different, taller, regal, with flowing forest-green hair and a vivid red rose marking her left cheek.

The second figure was eerily similar in appearance, yet distinct, standing a head taller than Acer. Her beauty was accentuated by an elegant green dress, with vines floating around specific parts of her form like natural force fields.

Acer was the first to speak. "As protectors of the forest, we have come to witness this contest."

The dryad beside her continued. "A duel between King Gazel Dwargo, ruler of the dwarves, and Lady Kaede, ruler of monsters, to determine her right to rule the forest, shall now commence."

For a brief moment, Gazel's jaw slackened before he let out a hearty laugh. "It appears I was wrong after all. If the dryads acknowledge you, then you are no threat to the balance."

Kaede brightened instantly. "Does that mean we don't have to fight?"

"No." Gazel's voice was sharp. "I still need to determine your true nature."

Kaede groaned. "Aww."

Acer lifted her hand to the sky before bringing it down in a swift chopping motion. "Begin."

The gathered crowd fell silent as Kaede and Gazel slowly began circling each other.

Gazel studied her stance carefully. "Will you not draw your weapon?" His gaze flicked to the large shield resting in her grip.

Kaede grinned. "Oh, I'm actually a great shielder. This shield is my weapon." She adjusted her posture, raising it slightly.

Recognition dawned on Gazel's expression. "Ah. A protector. I see." His stance shifted slightly, adopting a more aggressive form. "Then let's make this interesting. If you can withstand my entire chain of attacks without falling, I will declare you the winner."

Gazel's gaze sharpened as he adjusted his grip on his sword. "However, I should warn you, aside from being a king, I am also a master swordsman." He raised his weapon closer to his chest, his stance radiating unwavering confidence.

Without further warning, Gazel let out a fierce roar and lunged forward, his sword descending in a devastating overhead strike.

Kaede barely had time to react. She braced herself, bringing up her shield.

CLANG!

The force of the blow sent back as her feet carved deep trenches into the ground, the sheer power behind Gazel's attack pushing her back several meters.

"He overpowered my [Knockback Resistance]…" she whispered in awe. Her grip tightened on her shield. "Talk about power."

Gazel, undeterred, shifted seamlessly into another stance, his sword now pointed skyward.

Kaede's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait… that stance,"

Gazel bellowed, his voice reverberating through the battlefield. "Here I come, Kaede! HAZE: THUNDER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he disappeared.

Panic surged through Kaede's mind. Without hesitation, she activated [Thought Acceleration], stretching time within her perception.

Even then, she barely managed to glimpse the tip of his blade streaking toward her, an attack so fast it defied normal vision.

Move!

She threw herself backward, dodging by the narrowest of margins.

"From above!" she whispered, instinct kicking in. She wrenched her shield upward just in time.

CLANG!

BOOM!

A deafening impact rocked the battlefield as Gazel's sword crashed against her shield, triggering a massive dust explosion. The shockwave blasted outward, forcing the onlookers to brace themselves.

Silence hung in the air as the dust slowly began to settle.

Then, a clear voice cut through the fading chaos.

"Enough!" The second dryad stepped forward. "Lady Kaede is the victor."

As the dust fully cleared, the scene became visible, Kaede, standing firm, her forearm raised high, successfully blocking Gazel's sword.

"Hahahaha!" Gazel stepped back, laughing heartily. "I can't believe you blocked that!"

Kaede pouted, crossing her arms. "What are you talking about? You completely wrecked my shield." Though she was embarrassed in her thoughts. 'I completely forgot about my high defense for a moment. What a terrifying ability he has.'

As if to emphasize her point, the remains of her shield crumbled to the ground in six shattered pieces.

"There's not even a scratch on you, even after I went through your shield." Gazel sheathed his sword with a satisfied nod. "Now that we've battled, I know the truth. It's obvious, you are no malicious being."

Kaede let out an exasperated sigh. "Seriously? That's all this was about?"

Gazel chuckled, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I'm impressed you managed to react to my Haze: Thunder of Heaven and Earth. Just how did you predict my attack?"

Kaede casually devoured the broken pieces of her shield before answering. "Oh, that. Well, I've seen it before, whenever Shifu and Ari are training. As a shielder, I need to understand different weapon techniques so I can block them effectively."

Her mind flickered back to countless battles, facing Payne's relentless swordplay, the intense training Sally had drilled into her, and all the times she had fought against different weapon styles. Swords, katanas, daggers, axes, hammers, magic, she had defended against them all. Even against other shields.

Gazel raised a brow. "This Shifu uses the same technique?"

Shifu stepped forward, his purple samurai robes flowing with his movement. "The technique was taught to me by my master. A white-haired ogre in his later years." His tone carried deep respect.

Gazel's expression shifted to one of surprise. "The servant was your master?" He spoke with clear reverence.

Shifu gave a knowing smile. "It seems you also learned from him."

Gazel let out a nostalgic laugh. "That was a long time ago… How is the old ogre?"

Shifu's gaze softened. "As of the last time I saw him, he was as dangerous as ever." A hint of amusement entered his tone. "Though I must admit, your swordsmanship is nearly on par with his, even surpassing my own."

Gazel chuckled again, his pride evident. "Coming from a fellow student, that is a great honor."

Kaede blinked, watching the exchange. 'Huh… So they were both trained by the same master? Weird how everyone is so connected. Even in a place like this.'

---

By nightfall, Kaede, King Gazel, and their companions had gathered at Kaede's mansion to continue their discussions in a more relaxed setting.

The dining room was grand, centered around a large rectangular table where everyone sat, enjoying their meals. The warm glow of chandeliers bathed the room in a soft light, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Crimara burst into laughter at a joke the wolf-eared girl had told, quickly grabbing her drink to avoid choking.

Aurina sat nearby, projecting various holographic images from a small device. The large hobgoblin beside her watched with keen interest, nodding in approval as she explained.

Although they were quiet, Acer and her dryad companion, enjoyed their meals as well.

Across the table, Shifu engaged in conversation with one of Dwargon's generals. After a brief exchange, he unsheathed his custom-made katana and handed it over.

The general's eyes widened in awe as he examined the blade, running his fingers along its finely crafted edge. He murmured something, clearly impressed.

At the far end of the table, Kaede and Gazel sat side by side, enjoying their meal while observing their companions. The tension from earlier had long since faded, replaced by a sense of camaraderie.

Kaede took a sip of her drink before glancing at Gazel. "So… you're here because of the the storm dragon's disappearance."

Gazel set down his glass, nodding as he spoke. "Indeed. The Storm Dragon's presence made the Great Forest of Jura a safe haven for monsters, keeping humans out. However, at the same time, it also kept the monsters in. With its disappearance, the balance has shifted. Without their protector, the monsters are bound to grow restless. Just this month alone, the number of monster attacks along the forest's borders has increased by six percent."

Kaede took a slow sip from her cup before nodding. "And then my city started doing exactly what you feared."

Gazel swirled the wine in his glass, his expression calm. "Precisely. To those unaware of your true intentions, it would appear as though..."

"We were amassing an army," Kaede finished with a sigh. "That's just inviting trouble. Especially if every nation reacts the way you did."

Gazel set his glass down, his gaze steady. "There is… a solution."

Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Gazel's face remained neutral. "I'll be completely honest with you, Kaede. I want to establish diplomatic relations between our nations."

Kaede stilled, her expression unreadable as Gazel continued. "This would solve your problem. With Dwargon officially recognizing your nation, other countries would have no choice but to acknowledge it as well. Well, except for the Holy Ruberion Empire, but that's to be expected."

Kaede closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought, before opening them again. "It could work… but what's in it for you?"

_____

If you're confused about the fight, here's my thoughts on Gazel. Gazel has this aura around him, that makes him feel incredibly powerful to others.

The way he talks, the way he moves. Just The way he looks makes you think that he's stronger than he actually is.

Kaede for a moment was fighting him like a normal person because she thought he could hurt her, not because he actually could. He went through her shield and stopped at her forearm because he's not strong enough to even cut Kaede.

Kaede was dodging because, she forgot how tough she was in the heat of battle. Getting Payne flashbacks.