This time, Ren's speed was even faster. Esdeath couldn't keep up at all. Let alone blocking, she couldn't even fight back.
"Mahāpadma."
Forced into a desperate situation, Esdeath unleashed her ultimate move, freezing the entire space-time around them.
This was exactly why Ren didn't want to fight her. The combat power in this world was strange — high enough to freeze time, yet sometimes ridiculously low.
"Up there?"
Esdeath spotted Ren's figure at the top of the ice wall, as if he had already known about her ultimate move.
She quickly formed an ice pillar beneath her feet, propelling herself toward his position. Her ultimate move's duration was short, so she couldn't waste a single moment.
By the time she reached Ren, there wasn't much time left, but it was still enough to deliver a fatal blow.
Time began to move again.
Ren instinctively tilted his head back, turning what should have been a decapitation into a deep slash across his neck.
"Ren, you're the strongest I've ever seen. Until now, no one has survived after seeing this move of mine, not even for a moment." Esdeath commented with a cold smile.
"Isn't it just that moving fast enough creates afterimages that even your time freeze can't catch? What a load of crap."
Ren was thankful he always aimed for the highest ground. A wound like this he could heal, but if his head had been cut off, that would've been the end.
He looked at Esdeath and smiled. "That's quite the compliment."
"Hm?"
Esdeath's eyes narrowed at his neck. She had cut open his artery — so why had the bleeding stopped?
"Sharp as expected from a general. But I have to make sure you're completely beaten."
Not wanting to risk her ultimate move's cooldown ending, Ren charged forward and unleashed a relentless barrage until she lost consciousness.
Looking at the swollen face in front of him, Ren exhaled in relief. He considered killing her.
Esdeath's ability to freeze time was too overpowered — one wrong move and he could die instantly. If she used it suddenly at close range, he wouldn't stand a chance.
But after a long pause, Ren withdrew his hand.
He decided against it. Thinking about her personality and how she always kept her word, he knew she wouldn't betray him. In fact, used correctly, she could be a trump card.
"You're… not going to kill me?" Esdeath slowly opened her eyes, coughing blood.
"You said it yourself — this world is survival of the fittest. Since I beat you, that means I have the right to control you, doesn't it?" Ren said confidently.
"Yes. You defeated me. Since you won't kill me, what do you want me to do?" Esdeath replied calmly. She had no problem accepting defeat — she hadn't forgotten their original agreement.
"For now, you'll work for me. First, go report back to the Prime Minister that I have a powerful bodyguard. As for the rest, just continue your own missions." Ren thought for a moment before speaking.
"I don't get it. As a strong person, why hide yourself? Ren, since you're stronger than me, I'll work for you. But know this—I will surpass you one day." Esdeath smiled. It was the smile of a hunter who had found a worthy prey.
"General Esdeath, if you win when the time comes, I'll serve you as your subordinate and give you my life." Ren spoke sincerely, recalling what she had done.
"Is that so? I'm looking forward to it. You go on ahead. No need to wait for me," Esdeath said.
"Will you be alright?" Ren asked. He knew this was when she was at her most vulnerable.
"Heh. If I die, it only means that's all I was worth. But here, you're the only one I need to stay cautious of. There's no second person," Esdeath replied without concern.
"As expected of a general. If I were like you, I'd probably live just as freely," Ren said before leaving. He needed to go back and confirm something.
If his identity had been exposed, he had to make preparations. If not, then he could proceed with the original plan. He knew Chelsea had the skills for this.
When Ren returned home, Kurome and Chelsea both let out a sigh of relief. Akame simply glanced at him before silently returning to her room.
"Thank goodness, Ren, you're alright." Kurome ran straight into his arms.
"Honestly, making us worry like that," Chelsea said as she jogged over, pouting.
Ren pulled her into his embrace. When she tried to pull away, he quickly said, "Don't move. Let me feel it for a moment—just glad that I'm still alive."
Hearing this, Chelsea stopped resisting. She looked at the wounds on his neck and felt a pang of worry.
Time passed slowly, and the atmosphere grew warm. Chelsea buried her face in his chest, hiding her flushed cheeks.
Kurome did the same. She felt they had been hugging for too long, but couldn't bring herself to let go.
"Bath and bed?" Ren finally asked.
"Mm," the two girls replied softly.
The moment passed. After bathing, Ren and Kurome went to their room to sleep, while Chelsea returned to hers.
Above the black mist.
"So, you've come again. Didn't think it'd be nearly a month before we met again," Pirate Ren said with a sigh.
"For me, it's only been about ten days. Anyway, be careful—in each of our worlds," Naruto Ren replied.
"I failed," Akame Ren muttered.
"What failed? Your nation-building plan failed? How embarrassing. Just quit the group already," Pirate Ren mocked.
"It's not that. It's just that having a Teigu turned out to be useless," Akame Ren sighed again.
"Let's shake hands first and share," Naruto Ren extended his hand.
"So this is what you call an anime world?" A man's voice suddenly spoke up.
"A newcomer?" The three of them instantly turned toward the source of the voice.
They saw a young man in a white lab coat and glasses appear. Compared to the three of them, the newcomer looked much younger.
"Looks like I should introduce myself. Ren, forever nineteen years old, from the Detective Conan world. Currently a technical researcher for the Black Organization. Codename: Hennessy," the man in the white coat said.
"Brother, never mind the rest. Let's bump fists first," Pirate Ren said immediately.
"Is this my inner split personality? Or is it a parallel world? Quantum mechanics? This isn't exactly my specialty," Detective Ren frowned as he bumped fists with the three of them.
In an instant, memories and power boosts from the others surged into Detective Ren's mind and body. It took him a while to recover.
"Just as I thought—you need a certain level of power or influence," Pirate Ren said with a grin.
"Damn, so you're pure Black Organization," Akame Ren remarked.
"I grew up in the Organization. They funded my studies at one of the top-ranked universities in the world and never treated me poorly. As a citizen of America, I believe in repaying even the smallest kindness with great gratitude. Why would I abandon them to go save strangers in Japan?" Detective Ren said, genuinely puzzled.
"Well, I can't argue with that," Akame Ren admitted, finding the reasoning sound.
"Heh, you've got your eyes on Miyano Shiho, huh?" Pirate Ren teased.
"Please call her my girlfriend. Thank you," Detective Ren corrected.
"Didn't you save her sister too? Why not take her in as well?" Akame Ren said with a playful wink.
"My world is not that filthy world of yours. Mine values pure love. Besides, Akemi isn't a researcher, so she's not suitable for me." Detective Ren shook his head.
"This gives me an idea. The Pirate World is a strange place with a very unusual technology tree. Your theories, as well as the ones already realized, should all be possible in my world." Pirate Ren suddenly realized.
"If you can get in touch with other people in the Pirate World, please help me arrange a meeting with Vegapunk. Thank you." Detective Ren adjusted his glasses.
"That's impossible. I can't even bring my Teigu here." Akame Ren immediately refuted.
"Then why are we wearing clothes from our own worlds?" Detective Ren countered.
"Well… we can't just be censored, right?" Akame Ren's voice grew smaller.
"Heh, as long as we don't describe what we're wearing, who would know if the Rens are dressed or not? This actually involves quantum mechanics. I think you could try exploring that. I'll do the same when I return, to see if I can bring things in."
"Damn, that's a very Conan-like method. I'll try it when I get back." Akame Ren thought it made perfect sense.
The meeting ended, and each of them returned to their own worlds with new questions in mind.
**********
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