Akatsuki no Yona is a historical shojo series that was never renewed for a second anime season. Regardless, it still has a wide fan base waiting for a Season 2 at some point. Although there hasn't been any news on the anime, the manga is still ongoing, and the stellar animation of the series and the historical setting quickly draw people in as well. The series follows the story of Princess Yona, who lost her father and home on the night of her 16th birthday. Her father, King Il, was killed by her cousin who was also the person she loved, Soo-Won, and she narrowly escaped the castle with the help of her bodyguard, Hak, to avoid being assassinated.
With no choice but to flee the castle, Yona loses all hope in life despite the constant support Hak shows her. The story proceeds as Yona and Hak struggle to survive and make new friends along the way. As Yona tries to find her purpose in her life after being driven from her home, she learns about the existence of the Four Dragons who were believed to be a myth. Yona also finds out that she has a major role to play in ancient prophecy, being the reincarnation of the first king of the Kouka Kingdom. The four dragons in the series were of special bloodlines since the power of the dragons was transferred from one generation to another; at least, that was what everyone believed. However, the manga reveals a very unexpected and shocking truth about the Yellow Dragon.
Who Is the Yellow Dragon?
A 17-year-old blond boy named Zeno has the power of the Yellow Dragon running through his veins. According to the legends, the Yellow Dragon has a strong, invulnerable body. Zeno is only briefly introduced in the anime. When Yona and the others meet him, he looks and behaves like any normal teenager. His body seems weak and his skin soft, unlike what's said in the legends.
Zeno is thrown to the ground due to Hak's punch, leading him and Yoon to believe that he may be a phony. However, Yona and the other dragons believe him to be the real deal, especially Yona, who has a sense of familiarity with Zeno despite being unable to sense the presence of a dragon warrior. Zeno is the last to join the group and he is easily convinced to do so, unlike Jee-Ha and Shin-Ah. With Zeno joining, the team is finally complete and they once again go to the oracle to ask for guidance about what path they should take.
What Is Zeno's Power and Secret?
Whenever a new dragon is born, the current dragon warrior with the same powers will gradually start losing those powers and die at a very young. The dragon warriors have always had a short lifespan. However, unlike the White, Blue and Green warriors, the Yellow Dragon doesn't have to worry about losing his powers. In the manga, it's revealed that Zeno, the Yellow Dragon, is the first-generation dragon that has been roaming the lands of Kouka Kingdom for over a millennium.
He directly served King Hiryuu as one of his protectors. Before gaining the powers of the dragon, he was an oracle who could hear the voices of the gods. Even a long time after gaining the dragon's power, Zeno didn't completely understand his faith. King Hiryuu once saw that Zeno's body heals immediately and realized the tragedy that awaited him. Zeno not only gained an invulnerable body but also immortality. He cannot get sick and no matter how many times he gets injured, he will heal immediately. Even the most fatal injuries cannot take his life. Once Zeno is severely injured, his body will become as hard as steel. His punches will be just as strong as Kija's and his kicks have the same effect as Jee-Ha's. After some time, his body will go back to normal.
How Do Yona and Others Find Out About Zeno's Secret?
After seeing the barren lands of the Fire Clan, Yoon suggests taking a trip to the Kai Empire, which has a special crop that can grow even with little water and care. However, once the group goes to a small village in the empire, they learn it was once a part of the Kouka Kingdom that was given up by King Il to avoid war. The people there are resentful and miss their homeland. At that time, Soo-Won is already planning to take back the village and start a war with the Kai Empire.
Yona and her group get caught in the mess, and since they can't turn a blind eye to the misery of innocent people, they start fighting the enemy soldiers. However, the dragon warriors face a major setback due to their weakened bodies that are the result of being too far away from the Hiryuu Castle. Even Hak gets severely injured due to being outnumbered. Zeno is the only one untouched before one of the soldiers impales him with a sword. The injury is fatal enough to make everyone believe that Zeno has just died. As Yona is holding Zeno, his body heals and he starts fighting the soldiers, much to everyone's surprise. Once he has sustained enough injuries, his body becomes as tough as steel and the soldiers run away.
What Are Everyone's Reactions to the Truth About Zeno?
After Zeno's battle in the Kai Empire is over, everyone rushes toward his side. As expected, they all accept Zeno despite his unspeakable powers and are even worried about him. Kija is the most elated among everyone, telling Zeno that he always had a dream to meet the first dragon warriors, and now his dream has come true.
Despite such a major turn of events, everyone accepts things as they are. Even later in the story, they all worry about Zeno being fatally wounded despite knowing his powers. The reason for this is that despite healing from his injuries, Zeno still feels the pain from the wounds. Therefore, his friends prefer for him to not activate his powers through such methods.