Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

His eyes slowly opened, and before him, the void of darkness began to shift. He found himself weightless, formless, with no body to call his own, only the capacity to see and sense. A deafening boom shattered the silence, and his awareness was drawn toward it, his vision clearing to reveal a scene beyond comprehension.

Before him loomed two figures, their auras so vast and oppressive that Shifu's very essence quivered. It was as if he stood before the great Storm Dragon itself.

One figure was an ogre, wreathed in surging purple flames that licked at the heavens. Clad in a pristine white hakama, he exuded an ancient, primal might. His blade, a naginata, glowed with a power so profound it made Shifu's incorporeal soul tremble. Each movement he made rippled with an authority that declared him a ruler of destruction.

Facing him was a girl—a silhouette clad in sleek black metal, her armor glowing faintly with a foreboding red light. Shifu's thoughts stuttered as recognition stirred within him. She looked familiar, impossibly so. Yet here she stood, her presence radiant with an unnatural resilience, like an indomitable concept given life.

Then, they clashed.

The world seemed to scream. The ogre's blade descended with the force of a cataclysm, obliterating the very ground beneath him. Flames and light erupted, erasing entire regions as if the land itself were consumed by his wrath. But the girl stood unyielding. She absorbed the storm as though it were nothing more than a passing breeze, her body glowing with power.

The ogre leapt skyward, his flames spiraling into a massive inferno, raining devastation upon her. She answered with a roar of her own, unleashing beams of light and monstrous serpents forged of poison. Her weapons emerged endlessly, cannons and lasers erupting in a cacophony of unrelenting destruction.

Shifu could only watch as their battle raged on, a dance of chaos and might. The ogre deflected her endless barrage with ease, his blade spinning like a cyclone of divine precision. The girl, undeterred, called forth a massive beast, a creature that towered above them both, shielding her with vines and light. But the ogre tore through it, his blows unstoppable, his form swelling with an ancient power that made the heavens weep.

Time seemed to blur as they traded blows. The girl transformed into a monstrous avatar, her claws raking at the ogre's flesh, her fangs dripping with venom. The ogre responded, growing up to her size and with a flurry of strikes, each blow tearing apart her armor, her monstrous form crumbling to reveal the girl once more.

Finally, as the battle reached its peak, Shifu felt the world itself hold its breath. A brilliant sphere of light emerged from the girl's chest, lifting both combatants into the air. The ogre bellowed in defiance, his naginata glowing with the fury of the sun, while the girl closed her eyes, whispering a quiet farewell.

A pillar of flames erupted, consuming them both. The brilliance blinded Shifu's senses, leaving only silence in its wake. When his sight returned, the battlefield was unrecognizable, a wasteland carved by gods.

"A beholding sight, is it not? O descendant of mine." A voice boomed from behind Shifu, forcing him to jump in shock.

'Jump?' Shifu looked at his hands, realising that he now has a body. He looked at the owner of the voice.

Before him was the ogre from before, clad in white from head to toe, with his long white hair flowing in an Unknown breeze.

His surroundings immediately changed into a blank room, the only thing notable being the tatami floors.

The ogre sat down in the middle of the room. "To think she gave you my name." A small table appeared before him. "Come, sit with me descendant."

Shifu slowly moved to the middle of the room, sitting on the opposite side of the table. "So you, you're..."

The white clad ogre chuckled. "I am Shifu Nifo Ogre Odora! But you my descendant may call me Lord Shifu."

Shifu nodded. "Right. Lord Shifu. May I ask a question?"

Lord Shifu nodded. "Go ahead."

"What was that? Back there, that wasn't just any battle. What was that?" Shifu cried in rapid breaths.

Lord Shifu chuckled again. "That, descendant, was the battle to decide my successor."

"Successor?" Shifu wondered out loud.

Lord Shifu leaned back, his posture relaxed but exuding an undeniable authority. His gaze bore into Shifu with an intensity that made him feel both honored and uneasy.

"Indeed," Lord Shifu said, his voice calm yet brimming with power. "A successor to inherit not just my strength, but the will and burden that comes with it. You see, my time in the mortal realm was glorious, but no reign lasts forever. Even legends must one day step aside. That battle you witnessed... it was the last of countless battles, meant to determine who was worthy of carrying forth my legacy. I've been known by many titles, but the most recent would be lord of the Ogres."

Shifu swallowed, his throat dry. "And who... who won?"

A knowing smile crept across Lord Shifu's face, his crimson eyes glinting with a flicker of pride. "She did. That girl, clad in the armor of endless night. She was my chosen successor. Though her methods were unconventional, her determination and spirit surpassed even the mightiest warriors. She carries the legacy with honor, and now... so do you."

Shifu's mind raced. "Did she actually defeat you? Wait, me? But why? I'm not... I mean, I'm strong, but I'm not like her."

Lord Shifu's smile softened. "Do you think strength is measured by power alone, my descendant? True strength lies not in overwhelming force but in the heart that wields it. She saw something in you, a will to grow, and a loyalty that cannot be shaken. What I see, is a challenge."

"A challenge?"

"To surpass me," Lord Shifu said simply, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "The girl possesses my power, but only an Ogre can wield it to its full potential. So she chose you. You are now part of a lineage that spans centuries, bound by the weight of time itself."

Shifu's fists clenched. "But... to rule? I can't... not after what I've done."

Lord Shifu let out a deep laugh, the sound reverberating through the room like a drumbeat. "Your memories say different, young ogre. I know your mind. You wanted better lives, you all did. What you did was wrong, yes. But not unatonable. You are only mortal. You will stumble, you will fall, but each time, you will rise stronger. That is the essence of the name you now bear."

The room fell silent as Shifu processed the words. He looked down at his hands, stained with 'His' blood.

"What must I do, Lord Shifu?" he asked, his voice steadier now.

Lord Shifu's expression turned serious. "You must first master yourself. My power is chaos, and a name as mighty as ours demands discipline. When you return to the mortal realm, the power granted by this name will begin to awaken. It will test you, push you to your limits, and perhaps beyond. But if you persevere, you will become stronger than you can imagine."

"And Kaede?" Shifu asked. "What happens to her?"

"She is your leader, your ally, and perhaps one day, your equal," Lord Shifu replied. "But for now, she walks her path, and you walk yours. Protect her, for she carries not only my legacy but that of many. Together, you will forge a future that none can foresee."

Shifu nodded, determination settling in his heart. "I won't let you down. Or her."

A shallow red cup appeared in the middle of the table, beside the cup, a grey bottle appeared as well. Lord Shifu grabbed the bottle, pouring a clear liquid into the shallow cup, he handed the cup to Shifu. "Then drink, my descendant. Bear my name with pride and carve your own legend into the annals of history."

Shifu received the cup, glancing at the swirling liquid for a moment, before taking a long sip. It was hot, as it went down his throat.

The tatami room began to fade, the surroundings dissolving into light. Shifu felt a rush of energy course through him as Lord Shifu's voice echoed one last time.

"Remember, Shifu. Strength lies not in might but in the resolve to protect what you hold dear. Go forth, and make your name immortal."

---

Shifu awoke with a sharp gasp, his body trembling as newfound power surged through his veins. The dim glow of Kaede's holographic map greeted him, along with the concerned face of Kaede herself.

"Shifu? Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling beside him. "You look so different."

He blinked, the memory of the vision still fresh in his mind. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his movements steady and deliberate. His balance felt off, looking at himself, he saw that his size had reduced, and his skin colour had changed, but he felt stronger, stronger than ever, more compact.

"I'm fine," he said, his voice carrying a newfound strength. He turned to Kaede, meeting her gaze with unwavering determination. "And I'm ready. Let's complete this mission..."

Kaede smiled, a hint of relief in her expression. "Good."

Shifu smiled, even as he heard the voice of the world.

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