Heavenly Host: Azure Fang Heavenly Army

When Tōga reeled in his line for the third time and finished fishing, the long-running training operation also reached a temporary close.

Every Dog Yokai had taken the lives of at least twenty Trash Yokai.

The Mid-Level Yokai nearby had either been slain one by one by Ringetsu, becoming stepping stones toward the Dog Tribe's continued growth, or realized someone had laid a trap and fled in terror.

No matter how many more Trash Yokai they killed, there was little practical combat value left in it.

A gentle mountain breeze drifted over the riverbank, where the melting snow had only just begun to reveal new growth, bringing a hint of chill and fresh air.

Tōga stood quietly beside the river, his fingertips brushing the plain, old-fashioned scabbard of the Fang Sword at his waist. His flecked-gold eyes, like cold stars, swept over the twenty Dog Yokai, their bodies covered in wounds but their gazes burning bright.

Red Evil Ogre stood among them, beads of dried blood clinging to the ends of her crimson hair like tiny red plum blossoms, trembling faintly in the wind.

The aura she gave off was no longer that of the naive fledgling who had only just taken humanoid form, full of curiosity about the world.

Tempered by battle, her eyes now held greater resolve and maturity-the strength forged in struggles between life and death.

Qitian's armor had shattered, and the claw marks across his chest were still charred black-

Those scars had been left at a critical moment, when a Mid-Level Yokai hiding among the Trash Yokai ambushed Red Evil Ogre. With no time to respond any other way, he had thrown his own body in front of her.

Qitian had truly come close to dying in battle. Ever since then, a trace of something different had entered Red Evil Ogre's gaze whenever she looked at him.

Among the remaining Dog Yokai, two others had performed well.

One was powerfully built, with red hair and red eyes. When he charged, he was like a maddened beast, fighting with savage intensity and no regard for his life.

Once he calmed down, he was rather wooden, simple, and honest. His name was Prison Flame Maru.

The other was lean and muscular, with blue hair and black eyes. He always remained calm, preferring to pinpoint an enemy's weakness and kill with a single strike. His name was Instant Thunder Raiga.

With those four Dog Yokai at the front, the entire force formed four groups of five.

"You've killed plenty of Trash Yokai these past few days, and you've made a decent start on the Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer and Steel Fist I taught you."

The Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer needed little explanation. It was a lethal weapon that low-level yokai could use in place of swords.

Steel Fist could be seen as a version of Tsunade's signature technique from Naruto, radically modified by Tōga to use yokai power. It instantly reinforced the body with yokai power, unleashing several times its normal force.

Among low-level yokai, it granted the strength to split mountains and shatter stone, along with formidable defensive power.

Prison Flame Maru was the best suited to Steel Fist. His powerful physique and ferocious fighting style allowed him to bring out its full potential.

Red Evil Ogre and Qitian came next, followed by Instant Thunder Raiga.

For the Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer, the order was reversed.

Aside from those four, the other Dog Yokai lagged considerably in their mastery and use of the techniques, falling far short of Tōga's standard for a passing grade.

"But..."

Tōga abruptly changed tack, his tone turning stern and cold.

With a light flick of his fingertips, five golden arcs flashed past the four's ears like lightning, instantly shearing off locks of their disheveled hair.

That razor-sharp gust was like the Grim Reaper's scythe, carrying a deadly chill as it sliced away every scrap of pride and complacency they had gained from slaughtering Trash Yokai!

"You're still weak—all of you, including Qitian! Against a ragtag force made up of Trash Yokai, you actually found yourselves in mortal danger?!"

Tōga suddenly raised his palm. His vast yokai power instantly became a raging hurricane that engulfed the entire riverbank.

The wind howled, whipping up sand and stones and churning the river into surging waves.

"If you faced a powerful enemy like the Panther Cat, would they slaughter every last one of you?!"

"You're the worst batch of Dog Yokai I've ever trained!"

All twenty figures were instantly forced down onto one knee. A curtain of water several yards high exploded from the river, reflecting their flushed faces.

Ringetsu leaned beneath an ancient pine, her moon-white armor catching the shimmering reflections from the water and gleaming with a cool light.

As she watched Tōga drill his troops, a strange look crossed her face at his final remark.

But this is clearly the first proper force you've ever trained!

And they're much stronger than the Dog Tribe squads back in the tribe. They should be able to wipe out a Panther Cat squad of the same size!

If this training method could be introduced throughout the tribe, it would definitely strengthen us. Then Father wouldn't have to work so hard, and he could rest easier while recovering from his injuries.

I'll have to get Father to treat Tōga better from now on, and stop being so harsh with him.

After all, he's my... my...

Ringetsu lowered her head and gently adjusted her bun. In her mind, she seemed almost ready to settle on a wedding date with Tōga. A blush quietly crept over her cheeks, lovely as peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Unaware that the young woman was thinking of him, Tōga watched the Dog Yokai. Their arrogance had been crushed, but a faint, unyielding spirit still shone through.

He nodded inwardly, letting out a quiet breath of relief.

This was his first time training troops, and even Tōga had no clear idea how far he should go.

After all, he had been no elite soldier or Dragon King in his previous life. He had plenty of experience being managed, but none whatsoever managing others.

Surely being the owner of a two-thousand-member QQ group didn't count as extensive personnel management experience?

"Stand up, all of you."

Tōga raised his hand, and his panoply yokai power drew inward like a net. The invisible pressure of his yokai power lifted from them.

His deep, powerful voice rang through the air with a force that seemed capable of piercing metal and splitting stone.

Watching the twenty Dog Yokai slowly rise, Tōga continued.

"I've decided to choose the four best among you and establish my first personal guard-the Heavenly Host: Azure Fang Heavenly Army!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was startled. Eyes filled with envy and longing turned toward the four at the front.

Red Evil Ogre and the others were overjoyed as well. Nothing could be better than following someone powerful who was generous with his teachings.

At the very least, once they reached the battlefield, they could kill a few more Panther Cat and protect a few more tribespeople. Even if they died then, it would be worth it.

"Red Evil Ogre, Qitian, Prison Flame Maru, Instant Thunder Raiga-you are the first members of the Heavenly Host: Azure Fang Heavenly Army. But that doesn't mean your places in the Heavenly Host are secure!"

Tōga's imposing gaze swept over their tense faces one by one like a series of sharp blades.

"The Heavenly Host will be the strongest fighting force directly under my command. In the future, it will symbolize the Dog Tribe's supreme authority, supreme glory, and supreme military might!"

"You will defend our tribe's core territory, confront the most powerful enemies, and fight in the most perilous hells. Countless hardships and dangers await you!"

"From the moment you accept a mission from the Heavenly Host, there will be only two possible outcomes: die for the tribe, or return victorious!"

A faint note of expectation entered Tōga's stern, earnest voice.

"And [Azure Fang] takes its name from our Dog Tribe's fangs and the color of the sky. I hope you can bear the name [Heavenly Host] and lead our Dog Tribe to stand above all living beings!"

The atmosphere grew as heavy as the moments before a storm, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Every word Tōga spoke struck their hearts like a heavy hammer, making them truly feel the weight borne by the "Heavenly Host: Azure Fang Heavenly Army."

Yet at the same time, it set their hearts ablaze!