Demon King

CH- 10: The Trio of Terror.

 Fearing a repeat of the [Apexan] incident, the Beast Tamers deemed transformation taboo, punishing transgressors with swift execution. Enforcement of this decree was indiscriminate, allowing anyone to carry out the punishment with no need to justify their actions. Following extensive conflict, the Beast Tamers reluctantly kept their semi-beastly forms, adopting the moniker [Kennel Folk] to reflect their hybrid nature, reflecting their amalgamation of half-bestial and half-humanoid characteristics.

One clan was prohibited from proximity to the other, forming various clans with each having bonded with a specific animal. This created rivalry amongst fellow kennel folk, compelling children to merge with their familiars prematurely. Due to this regulation, only a privileged few among the upper class could enjoy the benefits, as their clan reserved the finest beasts for promising nobles. While others were forced to expedite the bond between tamer and beast, it resulted in diminished power and deprived them of various other advantages.

Tamers typically spend years searching for and forming bonds with their familiars. However, by hastening the contract and initiating it with a child, numerous complications emerge. Bart was one such child who encountered a bat too late in the process, resulting in the loss of half of the bat's hearing abilities.

Bart found a wounded bat and played with it for amusement, and as time passed without any creature forming a bond with him, the elders intervened and compelled the bat onto him, along with all its deformities. As a child, Bart's youthful indiscretions, including tampering with the contract, led the clan to disown him.

Relegated from the capital, he found himself stationed in this rundown outpost, fortifying its walls against those less fortunate than himself. While he once enjoyed a comfortable life, a fractured bond hindered his ascent within the military ranks. In a world dictated by military prowess, this setback amounted to career suicide.

The initial loss might have been his own doing, but Claude was responsible for the subsequent half of his hearing impairment.

Claude forged a bond with a crab, renowned for its versatility and strength, enabling him to swiftly ascend the ranks. He remained among the elite for years until encountering an earth mage left him humiliated. Consumed by pride, he delved into an unconventional experiment, transforming himself into an impervious juggernaut of destruction.

As a result of the experiment, both his defensive and offensive capabilities soared, albeit at the expense of speed and other senses. Blades proved futile against his impervious armor, while a solitary punch from him shattered opponents' defenses like an enchanted cannonball.

Securing his revenge, he earned a position as a shield in the main army. He successfully held the line in the initial battles, but the opposing forces quickly devised countermeasures. They either incinerated him from a distance or maneuvered past him altogether.

Claude's robust physique hindered his ability to catch agile foot soldiers, making it easy for opponents to engage other soldiers and evade his approach effortlessly. Vigilance was unnecessary, as his groans and lack of flexibility anchored him to a spot, restricting both his mobility and reach.

The repercussions of the experiments gradually took a toll on Claude's senses, complicating his ability to listen, see, feel, and talk. Amidst the chaos of battle, conveying even the simplest instructions to the deaf crab became an insurmountable challenge, making him more of a liability than an asset in the war. This setback led to his expulsion from the military force, landing him under the care of Sir Toe.

Uvrodon faced no such hindrances; he possessed a flawless bond with a formidable Buo-Rattlesnake that aided his ascent up the ranks, one step at a time, until one day he broke the taboo and slithered around in his snake form. No one cared if it helped the Saint Domo win the battle against the ant hive. Soon, they found out about his deeds without praising and honoring him with a medal. They kicked him into this dump.