As per Sengoku's instructions the seven dragon disciples were now present in front of him and they all were magnificent women in every way possible.
Besides seeing Sengoku's transformed body they didn't feel frightened instead they also transformed in front of Sengoku promptly, their body full of scales and all.
However their transformation was not close to Sengoku's as their bodies only showed scales and nothing more, to which Sengoku said: "Welcome, my seven beautiful wives, thanks for coming urgently as per my request, I've summoned you because today we are at war and I wish to win it for which I'll need your strength Suzu, Ruzu, Fuzu, Juzu, Kuzu, Nuzu, Yuzu."
Suzu stepped forward, her scales gleaming in the light of the chamber. "It's our duty as your wives so we won't let you down," she declared with confidence.
Sengoku's expression remained unreadable as he responded, "I know you won't."
Then suddenly Sengoku decapitated Suzu, the swift movement of his arm sending her head flying from her shoulders. Blood splattered all over the room, coating the walls and floor in crimson. The other wives froze in horror, their scaled bodies trembling at the unexpected violence.
After mustering up courage, Ruzu finally broke the silence. "Why did you kill her husband?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Sengoku turned to face his remaining wives, blood still dripping from his claws. "She is a traitor. She secretly opened up the sacred grounds for Yamato and his son for which they've attained more dragon arts and now they dare to challenge me for they gained more powers."
Fuzu, still shaking, managed to ask, "How did you know it was her?"
"Her scent," Sengoku replied coldly. "It reeks of dragons despite never letting you go out to slay a dragon for the past one year."
Kuzu, attempting to gather her composure, asked, "What now?"
"Gotta go to war, that's what," Sengoku stated matter-of-factly.
"Right, so silly of me," Kuzu responded, lowering her gaze.
At that moment, Hayato dropped by, entering the chamber with urgent news. "Master, the army of Yamato stopped their advancing and demanded we go to them head on or else there will be a devastating outcome."
"Let's go then," Sengoku replied without hesitation.
Sengoku, his wives, and the soldiers under his magic promptly departed. They soared through the sky using floating magic, passing over a mountain before spotting the enemy forces below. The group stopped flying and landed on the ground, facing the opposition.
A man stepped forward from the enemy ranks. It was none other than Ron himself, Sengoku's friend. The tension in the air was palpable as the two former allies faced each other.
"How ya doing Ron?" Sengoku asked, his tone surprisingly casual.
"Busy trying to kill ya," Ron replied with equal nonchalance.
Hayato stepped forward, bristling with anger. "You impudent fool, you might be his friend but you dare talk to my master this way."
"Your master is a betrayer," Ron shot back without hesitation.
"What do you mean?" Hayato demanded, confusion mixing with his outrage.
"Enough!!!" Sengoku shouted, silencing the exchange.
Ron shrugged. "Alright then, let the blood and gore begin."
Ron gestured behind him, and the enemy soldiers stepped back, revealing young women tied up and standing as hostages. Nickan wanted to shout "You coward," and surprisingly, these exact words came out of Sengoku's mouth, which pleased Nickan greatly.
"Like you're one to talk," Ron replied with a sneer.
Sengoku's expression hardened. "Release them and I'll forgive you."
"Never," Ron replied without hesitation.
Sengoku gestured to his men to take position. Ron mimicked the action, and soon the army he was leading placed swords at the throats of the young women, using them as human shields.
"Now!" Sengoku yelled.
The soldiers of Sengoku threw metallic, hovering, interconnected orbs with sleek, organic lines between them at the women's feet. The devices activated immediately, bringing the hostages to the ground. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Sengoku's army lunged at the enemy soldiers while Sengoku himself smacked his once-friend Ron hard with his fists.
Ron spat out blood but quickly countered with an attack to Sengoku's groin. The blow forced Sengoku to take two steps back, though he showed no signs of pain. With renewed vigor, Sengoku kicked Ron in the groin with full force.
Ron let out a scream that lasted for a minute, doubling over in agony.
"I'm now transformed so those pretty attacks won't work on me," Sengoku declared.
Ron looked up, a grim smile on his bloodied face. "I know that's why I brought him."
A muscular man appeared in front of Sengoku and smacked him with tremendous force.
Contrary to Sengoku's expectations, the impact sent him flying backwards. He collided with his own soldiers, likely killing some upon contact. Nickan watched in surprise as Sengoku, who had seemed invincible until now, was thrown like a ragdoll by a single man.
Sengoku stood up and flew towards the man to strike back, but he missed. Inwardly, Sengoku thought, "Such powerful dragon arts. I didn't know that the Yamato clan has employed someone of his caliber." This realization made Nickan slightly concerned, wondering if Sengoku might lose. But then he remembered Sengoku's display of power earlier and concluded that defeat was unlikely, at least not today.
"Amazing, but you're still weak," Sengoku taunted, recovering his composure.
The muscular man stood tall, unfazed by Sengoku's words. "That so! I'm Gord, I'm from the Noja tribe and I'll destroy you utterly and absolutely."
"Come at me!" Sengoku challenged.
Gord lunged forward and landed a powerful kick on Sengoku's leg, but the attack proved ineffective as Sengoku's scales had become more robust. Gord backed away slightly, reassessing his opponent.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue," Sengoku mocked.
"I'm just getting started," Gord replied. His body began to transform, scales appearing across his skin, though not as extensive as Sengoku's.
"Did you slay the stone dragon?" Sengoku asked, recognition dawning in his eyes.
"Yes, know this before dying," Gord confirmed before attacking.
He went for Sengoku's neck, attempting to sever it with his scaled hands, but Sengoku's neck was protected by his transformation. Seizing the opportunity, Sengoku grabbed Gord's arm and twisted it violently, breaking it like a branch. When Gord attempted to attack with his other arm, Sengoku broke that one as well.
Now handicapped, but still determined, Gord jumped into the air. He began rotating his legs like a cyclone, aiming for Sengoku. Sengoku tried to grab Gord's legs with precision but missed, and his chest was slightly bruised by the attack.
"I've had enough," Sengoku yelled in frustration.
With tremendous speed, Sengoku appeared behind Gord. The warrior, who had been standing just a moment ago, fell to the ground lifeless.
"What did you do?" Ron asked, staring at Gord's motionless body.
"Nothing much, just unleashed my Ruler Monarch aura and he died," Sengoku explained. "You see, those that are weak end up dying when I unleash my aura."
Ron looked puzzled. "Then why am I alive?"
"Because you're strong, way stronger than this Gord fellow," Sengoku admitted. "But it is unfortunate."
"What's unfortunate?" Ron questioned.
"You'll be unconscious also, one way or another," Sengoku replied before striking Ron with such force that he immediately lost consciousness.
With Ron defeated and the immediate threat neutralized, Sengoku marched forward with his army, heading towards the Hanzo castle of the Yamato Clan, ready to confront his enemies and end this war once and for all.
The battlefield they left behind was littered with bodies of enemy soldiers who couldn't escape the chaos.
Sengoku's six wives formed a protective formation around him as they advanced. Each displayed unique scaled patterns that identified their dragon lineage—Ruzu with her pearl-white scales, Fuzu bearing crimson patterns, Juzu's emerald hues, Kuzu's sapphire markings, Nuzu's obsidian black, and Yuzu's golden sheen.
"Husband," Ruzu spoke cautiously, "what will we face at Hanzo castle? Yamato must have more warriors like Gord."
"Let them come," Sengoku replied. "Each one that falls will only make me stronger."
The path to Hanzo castle was treacherous, with magic traps set by the Yamato clan at every turn. But Sengoku's heightened senses detected each one before it could cause harm to his forces. His transformation had enhanced not just his physical attributes but his perception as well.
As they approached the massive gates of Hanzo castle, Sengoku sensed a familiar presence.
"Yamato," he muttered, "you've grown bolder since we last met."
The castle gates remained shut, but a figure appeared atop the wall—an elderly man with a long white beard, clothed in elaborate robes bearing the Yamato clan insignia.
"Sengoku!" the man called out. "You've come at last. I was beginning to think you'd lost your courage."
"Yamato," Sengoku acknowledged. "I see you've been busy preparing for this day."
The old man laughed. "Indeed. Thanks to your former wife, I now possess knowledge that even you don't have. The sacred grounds revealed secrets that have been hidden for centuries."
Sengoku's expression remained impassive. "And yet you send warriors like Gord to face me? You underestimate me still."
"Gord was merely a test," Yamato replied. "I wanted to see how far your transformation has progressed. I must say, I'm impressed. But it won't be enough."
With a wave of his hand, Yamato summoned a swirling vortex of energy above the castle. The sky darkened as clouds gathered, and lightning struck around them. Sengoku's wives tensed, preparing for whatever was to come.
"Today," Yamato declared, "the era of the dragon slayer ends, and the era of the dragon ruler begins. My son has completed the ritual that your wife helped initiate. He is becoming what you could never be—a true dragon lord!"
A deafening roar shook the very ground beneath them. From behind the castle, a massive figure rose—a young man whose transformation far exceeded Sengoku's. His entire body was not just covered in scales but had morphed into a half-human, half-dragon hybrid. Wings extended from his back, and his face had elongated into a draconic snout.
"Behold," Yamato announced with pride, "the future of our world—my son, Hiroshi, the Dragon Lord!"
Sengoku's eyes narrowed as he assessed this new threat. This was what Suzu's betrayal had led to—a transformation beyond what he had achieved. But Sengoku had not come unprepared. He reached into a pouch at his waist and withdrew a small, glowing orb—the essence of the last dragon he had slain, one he had saved for a moment such as this.
"Wives," he commanded, "formation delta. Hayato, have the men surround the castle. Today, we end the Yamato's bloodline once and for all."
As his orders were carried out, Sengoku crushed the orb in his hand, absorbing its power. His body began to glow with an intense light, his transformation advancing to its next stage. The war for dragon supremacy had truly begun, and Sengoku would not rest until victory was his.