After the incident with the hen, Tonkama looked at Yochiro seriously and said,
"I'll be living with you from now on."
Yochiro immediately shook his head.
"No way. You don't live with me."
"I don't just let some stranger live with me."
Tonkama's eyes widened, and he clasped his hands together dramatically.
"Please, please let me stay with you!"
! If you do, I'll train you in swordsmanship!"
Yochiro paused, remembering the fight. Tonkama's movements back then were insane—sharp, precise, almost inhuman. And Yochiro knew he needed that power for his mission to kill demons.
After a long silence, he finally said,
"Fine. I'll live with you—but only until my training is complete. Once I'm fully trained, you'll leave my place."
Tonkama grinned, satisfied.
"Deal."
Next morning.
The forest whispered at dawn, dew clinging to the leaves, the earthy scent of wet soil thick in the air. Yochiro stood in a small clearing, arms crossed, eyes narrowing at Tonakama, who lounged on a rock like a king surveying conquered land.
Tonkama: Your training begins now.". In raw power, you're already at beast level . Speed? Enough to scare most demons. But your movements… predictable.l'll polish you
Yochiro smirked effortlessly. "I've been training for two years. My body's stronger than yours. But swordsmanship? That's something only you can teach me."
"So don't talk too much—teach me swordsmanship."
Tonkama cracked his knuckles. "Good. Because no punch in the world can match a sword when it comes to killing demons. And you? You'll need both to survive."
> Yochiro: "Then teach me
"I'll soon become better than you at this."
Tonakama said in a sarcastic tone, "Ha ha — in your dreams, little boy."
Tonkama's grin twisted. "Tomorrow."
> Yochiro: "Why tomorrow? Why not now?"
> Tonkama (dead serious): "Because… I'm not in the mood and my stomach is upset today."
Yochiro's eyes flared with irritation.
He stepped forward, voice rising with restrained anger.
> Yochiro: "What, you're not in the mood today? And your stomach's upset too? I came here for serious training—yet you're telling me you're not in the mood?"
Tonkama's jaw dropped. "Haa!?"
Tonakama's face twisted with disbelief.
His eyes widened, then narrowed sharply as he slammed his hand against his chest.
> Tonakama (shouting): "Why are you so angry!? Can't a man have an upset stomach!?"
He threw his arms wide, pacing back and forth like a stage actor in full fury.
> "Do you even know how painful it is? Running to the toilet again and again — every five minutes!"
His voice echoed through the forest as he pointed at Yochiro with wild energy.
> Tonakama (furious, waving his arms):
"Tell me, boy — if I have to keep running to the toilet during training, how on earth am I supposed to teach you!? Tell me—no, show me how, you foolish kid!"
The birds scattered from the trees, startled by his booming voice, while Yochiro stood frozen, half-annoyed, half-stunned by the sheer drama unfolding before him.
Yochiro asked ( teasing )
"Yeah, what more can you expect from someone like you? Calls himself a living legend—what a self-praising fool!"
> Tonkama: "Ha! How dare you make fun of me — the living legend Tonakama!"
> Yochiro: "Living legend? More like living comedian."
Tonkama gasped dramatically. "Such disrespect! I came here to train you, and you dare mock your master?!"
> Yochiro: "Master? You haven't even started teaching yet!"
> Tonkama: "That's it! When training starts tomorrow, I'll make you regret those words!"
> Yochiro: "We'll see, old man."
> Tonkama: "Old man!?"
"I am only 35, you little rat!"
"Tonkama shouted."
"You have no manners when talking to someone older than you!"
"Yochiro said with a slight smile."
Yochiro said, "Yeah, if you're thirty-five, then you're already expired!"
"Tonkama glared at Yochiro in anger."
"Yochiro said with a slight smile."
"Yeah, sorry, I should speak respectfully to elders—especially those old men who are just counting their final breaths now."
"Tonkama exploded in anger."
He shouted, chasing after him as Yochiro dodged and laughed.
"Their laughter echoed through the empty jungle, breaking the tension of demons and danger."
---
Lesson One — Precise Body Control
The next dawn, Yochiro stood in a flat clearing, katana strapped to his back, muscles tight and ready.
Tonakama arrived barefoot, carrying three wooden cups filled with water
"Lesson One — Precise Body Control," he said calmly. "Balance these cups. One on your head, one in each hand. Not a single drop should fall. Hold the stance for forty minutes.
Yochiro raised a brow. "Forty minutes? That's it?"
"Your tongue is still sharp," Tonakama said, smirking. "But your legs won't be after this."
Yochiro took the cups. "Alright, let's see what the 'living legend' can teach."
"Mock me again and I'll make you hold them while standing on one toe," Tonakama warned.
Tonakama sighed, rubbing his temples. "Just start before I hit you."
Yochiro placed one cup on his head, one on each palm, and dropped into a horse stance.
At first, it was easy — his body steady, his breathing calm.
After ten minutes, sweat began to slide down his forehead.
By twenty minutes, his arms trembled and thighs burned like fire.
Tonakama circled him like a hawk, occasionally poking his shoulder. "Don't move. Even a drop, and you restart."
"You're enjoying this," Yochiro grunted.
Tonakama : "Of course. Watching overconfident kids suffer is my hobby," Tonakama replied.
The wind blew suddenly, rattling the cups.
Yochiro froze, teeth clenched, arms stiff. A single drop slid — he caught it on his finger before it fell.
Tonakama blinked in surprise. "Not bad. Maybe you're not entirely hopeless."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Yochiro muttered.
"It wasn't one."
Forty minutes later, Yochiro dropped the cups and collapsed backward, panting heavily.
"You lasted longer than I expected," Tonakama admitted. "Tomorrow, one hour."
Tonkama made a creepy face and asked with a chilling smile
"Alright then — 150 push-ups, 150 squats, and 50 kilometers of running, followed by one hour of shadow swordsmanship practice. After that, your training is over.
Yochiro said.
"Are you taking revenge on me under the excuse of training?"
Tonakama ask ' it just your training
With burning fury in his eyes, Yochiro jumped toward a thick tree branch and grabbed it firmly. The branch shook under his grip as he began his 150 pull-ups, his muscles tightening with every rise. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he didn't stop. Each pull was heavier than the last, veins bulging across his arms and neck.
Once he finished, he dropped to the ground with a loud thud, breathing hard but refusing to rest. He then moved straight into 150 squats, his body trembling yet unstoppable. His entire form was covered with thick blue veins, pumping like they were alive.
After completing the squats, Yochiro clenched his fists and went down for 150 push-ups. His breathing grew louder, heavier—each push burning through his body. When the final push-up ended, he looked up, panting, and shouted,
"Tonkama! Give me my sword!"
Tonkama smirked, spinning the sword in his hand before throwing it toward Yochiro.
With perfect timing, Yochiro caught the sword mid-air using only one hand, the blade gleaming in the sunlight.
Without a pause, he began his shadow swordsmanship training. The forest echoed with the sharp sound of air being cut by his blade. His movements were precise—fast enough to blur, yet graceful like flowing wind. Leaves scattered around him as his strikes grew stronger and faster.
After a full hour, Yochiro finally stopped, dropping the sword into the dirt. His body was soaked in sweat, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Tonkama looked at him with a crooked grin.
"Little boy, take a rest if you're tired."
Yochiro straightened, trying to catch his breath.
"This… this is nothing," he said between heavy breaths. "It's just a warm-up for me."
Without waiting, he started running—his feet pounding the ground, echoing through the jungle. Ten kilometers passed beneath his steps, his pace unwavering.
When he finally returned, drenched in sweat and gasping for air, Tonkama asked calmly,
"You alright, kid?"
Yochiro struggled to speak, his breath uneven.
"I told you before…" he said with a faint smirk, "…this is just a warm-up for me."
But before Tonkama could reply, Yochiro's vision blurred. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The sound of his sword hitting the dirt echoed softly through the silent forest.
---
Author's Note
Dear Readers,
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read Devil Destroyer: Rise of Yochiro Homurao. Your support, your curiosity, and your passion for this story mean more than words can express.
Creating this world and its characters has been a journey of imagination, challenge, and growth, and knowing that you joined me on this adventure fills me with immense joy. Every page you've read, every emotion you've felt alongside Yochiro and the others, inspires me to keep writing, dreaming, and crafting stories that resonate.
I hope this tale has entertained you, moved you, and perhaps even made you reflect a little on courage, friendship, and the battles within ourselves. Your enthusiasm fuels my creativity, and I can't wait to share more of Yochiro's journey with you in the future.
Thank you for believing in this story. Thank you for believing in me.
With deepest gratitude,
Mushaim Ali
Shout out !!
Harper_ joy and Emirates _ creative
A huge thank you to the first two readers who commented on my story! Your support gave me the motivation to keep writing and sharing Yochiro's journey. You'll always hold a special place in my heart.