"Yume, are you serious? I can't fight you…" Ren muttered.
"Oh? Is the Ninth King afraid?" the Black Heart teased.
"Shut up," Ren whispered sharply.
"What did you say?" Yume asked, raising a brow.
"Nothing!" Ren quickly replied.
"Ren, we have to spar," Yume insisted.
The Black Heart chuckled inside his mind. "Man, you should spar with her."
"Wait, what? You too?" Ren groaned.
"Right now, you're not strong enough. But if you face her, you'll realize just how weak you are at this moment."
Ren exhaled slowly. "…You're right, buddy."
"Buddy? Where's the formality? Didn't you say we are one? I am you, and you are me."
Ren smirked faintly. "You're right. Together… we'll become strong."
"That's more like it," the Black Heart responded, finally feeling accepted as a true part of him.
Yume nodded. "All right then. Let's have a match—"
"Not here, Ninth Sovereign," a new voice cut in.
Ren turned sharply. "Who are you?"
"I am the Third General of the Eight Sovereigns."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I was observing. I wanted to reveal myself after we returned, but… this is the right time. Besides, only the Fourth General recognized you. The rest of us… did not."
"Why?" Ren asked quietly.
"We were told the Ninth Sovereign would be a mighty warrior. Yet you were the lowest of the low, ranked beneath even the weakest soldiers. We don't know why the Eight Rulers acknowledged you… but not all of us accept you."
Ren's eyes widened. "There are more Sovereigns?"
"Yes. The King of Fire, the King of Water, and the King of Wind. They all fought in the Demon War, centuries ago."
"So, there are still kings who don't accept me…" Ren muttered.
"Yes. We don't know why the Fourth General accepted you, but…" The General clenched her fist. "Let's have a spar, Ninth Shadow."
"…Fine. Let's do this."
They moved deeper into the forest. The air grew thick and heavy, a silent pressure weighing down the trees.
The General lunged first, her blade gleaming as it cut through the air. Ren raised his sword just in time—
CLANG!
The collision shook the forest, sparks exploding between their weapons. Ren's arms quivered from the sheer force.
"You won't last long like this," the General said coldly, pressing down.
Ren gritted his teeth. "Then I'll last… as long as I have to!"
He forced her back and released his shadows to three percent. His aura thickened, the ground beneath him cracking. He lunged forward, striking faster, harder—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Every strike was parried, every thrust redirected. The General's movements were precise, effortless, almost mocking his effort.
"Not enough," she said flatly, shoving him away.
"Raise it to seven percent!" the Black Heart barked inside him.
Ren's shadows swelled, wrapping around his arms and legs like armor. His speed spiked—this time, his strikes carried explosive weight.
BOOM!
Their blades clashed, and the shockwave snapped trees in half. The General's eyes flickered with mild surprise.
At nine percent, Ren's aura deepened, his blade glowing with shadow. He forced her back a single step—only to be nearly crushed by her counter.
"You're holding back your true strength," she growled. "Show me your resolve—or die here!"
Ren's body screamed in protest. His vision blurred, blood trickled down his arms. Still, he raised his sword again.
"If this is the test… then I'll endure it!"
WHOOM!
His power erupted, surging to eighteen percent.
"Ren, don't do it!" the Black Heart warned.
"Just do it!" Ren roared back.
Darkness swallowed the forest, suffocating and absolute. The air grew heavy, the ground split beneath his feet. His voice overlapped with something far older, far darker—
"You dare test the Shadow Monarch?"
The General froze. That presence… This can't be…
Ren vanished into the black mist, reappearing behind her in a blur. His strikes fell like thunder, relentless and merciless, forcing her back step after step. Each blow rattled her bones, blood spraying from her lips.
"Stop! Please—stop!" she screamed, fear flashing across her face.
But the shadows pressed on, crimson eyes burning with inhuman malice. For a moment, it felt as though the true Ninth Sovereign had awakened.
Then—suddenly—the darkness shattered. Ren collapsed to one knee, half-covered in shadow, gasping for breath.
"Are you all right, General?" he asked, his voice calm despite the blood at his lips.
The General staggered, staring at him in disbelief. "…Why? Why would you help me? I didn't even recognize you as the Ninth Sovereign."
Ren gave a tired smile. "That doesn't matter. You're hurt because I couldn't hold back. Let me heal you."
Dark energy laced with faint blue light flowed from his hands, wrapping around her wounds. Slowly, her broken body began to mend.
The General trembled. He… even after I rejected him, he worried for me. He even feels guilty for hurting me… That's why the Fourth General accepted him. He truly is a king.
Her eyes welled with tears. She dropped to one knee. "Forgive me, King of Shadows. I was blind. But now, I see why you are worthy. Please… let me fight by your side."
"Raise your head," Ren said softly.
She flinched, expecting punishment—but instead, Ren embraced her.
"You did nothing wrong. You defended the honor of the Eight Sovereigns. I may not be worthy yet… but one day, I'll prove myself."
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched his back.
Inside Yume's soul, the Third General whispered: You were right. That's why he is the King.
Yume smiled faintly. This moment is yours, Ren. Not mine.
"Thank you, Ren," Yume said aloud.
"Yume… let's go back home, shall we?"
But as they turned, Ren collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Ren!" Yume cried.
"Don't worry," the General reassured her. "He'll be fine. Let him face the darkness inside himself."
"…Grandfather? What are you doing here?" Yume asked suddenly.
"Nothing," the old man replied with a faint smile. "Just passing by."
Inside Ren's body, the shadows stirred. A deep, echoing voice welcomed him:
"Welcome, Ren Akatsuki… and the Ninth Black Heart."