"Master… what kind of demons did the Kings and Generals fight?"
"The main army of the Shadow Demons hasn't returned yet," Ren's father said gravely. "But soon, the war will begin. You must be ready, Ren. This battle, this responsibility—this curse—was given only to you. No one else can fight it."
A faint smile appeared on Ren's face.
"Your blessing and your presence are enough for me."
Both of his parents looked at him, their eyes softening.
"I always wanted to meet you just once again," Ren said, his voice shaking. "When I was told you had died in an accident, I was shocked. I cried for days, all alone, hiding from Master. But when the knight inside me told me you were alive, I couldn't believe it at first. But his words… they were true. I was filled with joy and from that moment I only wanted to meet you again."
His parents began to cry.
"Your words feel like you've suffered too much," Kuro said quietly.
"The suffering he has endured," the Black Heart growled, "not even a King could imagine."
"Leave it for today," Ren said, shaking his head. "I'm just happy to see them again. I don't want to make this moment too heavy. Let's celebrate. Mother—what will you be cooking?"
"Ah—oh!" his mother smiled softly through her tears. "Today, I made your favorite dish, the one you loved as a child."
Ren's face lit up with pure joy, as if he had become a five-year-old boy again. No one had seen such joy on his face for decades.
Soon the children came running back with a large cake, followed by villagers who wanted to see Ren. A party broke out, spreading through every house. Each one of them celebrated, laughing and sharing food with Ren and his family.
Deep inside, the Darkness whispered to the Black Heart:
"The King is happy… truly happy. This feeling—it has never been felt before."
"You're right," the Black Heart replied. "This boy—there's a reason why he was chosen. I couldn't understand it before, but now I do. Let's leave him with these people for now. This happiness is only temporary, but let him enjoy it."
Kuro turned to Ren's father.
"Zenkai, your son is happy with you. Enjoy every moment you have with him. We don't know when the time will come when you may never see him again."
"Does Ren know about it?" Zenkai asked.
"Not yet," Kuro replied. "Too much has happened too quickly. It's been months, and he has grown a lot… and yet the true fight hasn't even begun. All we can do now is pray for him."
Just then, Ren's younger brother shouted proudly,
"My brother Ren is so strong—he even scared big brother Tatsuya and big sister Reiha!"
The villagers laughed and asked Ren to demonstrate his power.
Ren hesitated.
"Wouldn't they be scared?"
Kuro spoke from behind.
"Show them your true power."
Ren nodded. "Alright then."
Everyone gathered in one place. Ren began to power up.
A dark, surging power surrounded him, crackling like a storm.
"This isn't even my full power," Ren warned. "Grab onto something."
Everyone grabbed fences, trees, and each other to keep from being blown away. Ren smiled and unleashed his full power. A beam of energy shot into the sky, shaking the earth beneath their feet.
Far away, in the woods, a creature watched.
"Someone is here… someone powerful. A worthy opponent."
Ren screamed, his power still rising.
"This is too much!" one villager shouted, shielding his eyes.
Then, a blinding light burst from Ren. Black armor formed around him, covering his entire body, and blue flames erupted from the crest of his helmet.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
A knight now stood before them, radiating an overwhelming aura.
Tatsuya's voice trembled.
"Brother… is that really you?"
Ren looked at him and raised his thumb.
All three siblings ran to him, amazed to see him so strong.
"It looks like you've made a good impression on them," Kuro said with a faint smile.
Suddenly, Ren's instincts flared.
"Look out!" he shouted.
Four bladed weapons flew toward them at deadly speed. They struck the ground, smoke filling the area.
"Tatsuya! Reiha! Takuma! Ren! Are you alright?!" Yume and Kuro shouted.
Ren stood protectively before his siblings, one blade caught in his armored hand.
"Everyone stand back—we're under attack!"
From the shadows, a demon stepped forward.
"Well, well," it said with a grin. "Looks like someone came to protect these people."
Everyone froze, shocked at hearing a demon speak.
"It can't be," Kuro whispered. "A high-ranking demon… how did it get here?"
"Ren, lure it away!" Kuro ordered. "Yume, help me get the villagers to safety!"
"On it!" Yume shouted.
Ren faced the demon.
"Who are you? How did you come into this realm?"
The demon only smirked and called back its weapon.
"I feel like I've met you before," Ren said, summoning a shadow-forged katana.
"Oh, I'll remember you once I take your head to my King," the demon sneered.
Ren tightened his grip on his weapon.
"You will be a worthy opponent."
A devastating fight broke out. Ren held back to avoid destroying the village, but each clash of their weapons sent shockwaves through the area. His family watched from hiding, barely able to keep up with their speed.
"You're strong," the demon said, smiling. "But not strong enough."
He powered up, his aura darkening.
Ren's eyes widened.
"I was already struggling, and now he's even stronger?!"
Inside him, the Black Heart shouted:
"Hey, dumbass, did you forget? You're not even using us! Darkness—evolve! Power up 20%!"
Ren's shadow flared, covering half his body.
The demon's eyes widened.
"That power… it can't be. The Darkness? No… it can't be!"
He grew furious, his attacks faster and heavier. Ren's strength began to falter, his energy depleting quickly.
"Darkness, power up 40%!"
Ren's body was now half-covered in shadow flames. He caught the demon's strike and pushed him back, finally matching him.
"That's enough!" Ren roared, rushing forward. His katana struck true, cutting the demon down and slamming him into the ground.
"Brother won!" Tatsuya shouted—
But Ren lowered his guard for just a moment.
The demon struck back, injuring Ren badly and throwing him to the ground.
Ren lay there, signaling his family to run. But seeing him like that, they couldn't move.
The demon ignored Ren and advanced toward them.
"Not so fast, Shnider!" Kuro shouted.
The demon stopped.
"You know my name?"
"You are one of the Nine Kings' Generals," Kuro said coldly. "So I was right—the one lying there is the Ninth King, reborn. The strongest of them all."
"He might be dead already," Shnider said with a grin.
Yume's rage exploded.
"How dare you!"
Her power surged, breaking her limits. She unleashed the full strength of the Third General. Kuro joined her, using the full power of the Fourth General.
The battle began again, blades clashing in the night.
Meanwhile, Ren, unconscious, found himself before the Ninth King once more.
"We meet again, boy," the King said.
"Please," Ren begged, "help me unseal my true power. My family, the village—they need me. I barely held him back, and the power within me is still sealed."
"You hold only a fraction of your true power," the King said. "But you've done well. You unsealed this much by yourself—I can only lend you a hand. Remember, we are one. One soul. One body."
The King placed a hand on Ren's head.
"You've done a great job, Ren. You will defeat the Shadow Demons. I am glad I chose your family."
Ren smiled faintly.
"Thank you. This responsibility changed my life. I was nothing before, but now… everyone relies on me. I will use this power for good."
"I know," the King said. "After all—you are the chosen one. Now rise, King of Darkness, Ren Akatsuki. Unseal the power that you hold."
Back in the real world, Ren's armor evolved. His wounds closed instantly. His power spiked, shaking the ground.
"Black Heart—power up 40%!"
The darkness covered him fully, his aura terrifying.
Yume and Kuro stopped fighting and turned to watch.
The demon froze. Fear flashed across his face.
"This power… it's too much!"
Ren's voice echoed like thunder.
"Master's seal has been broken—to 35%."
He leveled his katana.
"Hey… I'm not done yet. Come at me with your full power!"
This time… I won't let anyone take what's mine.