Shadow was releasing from him, feeling unhuman, like a dark storm escaping its cage. The shadow demon Shnider hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Ren looking a bit worn out, he thought he had finally found his chance to win.
A striking flash—strike again, again, and again.
Wind so powerful surged around them that no mere human could even stand there without being blown away. The air howled as if nature itself was afraid. So much power—both of them were equal, neither giving in. No one knew who would win or who would fall first.
Everyone in the village, who had been evacuated to a safe place, raised their hands to pray for Ren and for the defeat of the demon.
"Please, Ren!" they cried in unison.
"Save us! You can do it! Believe in yourself!"
Somehow, those words reached Ren's ears.
Hearing this, he became happy. See? These people believe in you. So, protect them. Surpass the limit that holds you. Break the seal that has been stopping you.
The Heart shouted.
At that very moment, the Ninth King appeared beside him, holding Ren's hand as if lending him strength, and fought with him.
"Boy," the Ninth King said. "Let's finish it."
A move only the Ninth King could do—Ren took the position perfectly.
The demon, who was standing with pride just a moment ago, suddenly became terrified.
"Th—This… this pose… this was taken by the Ninth King when he annihilated the entire demon army! It… it can't be!"
Seeing the Ninth King's shadow reflected in Ren, Shnider became ferocious with rage and attacked in a frenzy.
But Ren was calm.
In one fluid motion, he dodged the attack and sliced the demon into two halves.
Shnider growled on the ground in agony, his monstrous scream echoing through the night.
Kuro shouted, "You have to cut!"
"Don't worry," a voice said in Ren's mind. "We will take care of him."
Ren gripped another weapon, a katana-like blade formed of pure darkness, appearing on his second arm. He dashed toward the demon, slashing again—cutting Shnider, who screamed in pain and suffering.
"Mercy!" Shnider begged desperately.
But it was too late for mercy to be called.
With a final, merciless blow, Ren cut the demon's body into shreds, leaving only his head intact. Shnider was no more. All dead—with no mercy—from Ren's hand.
The shadows receded as Ren transformed back, exhausted beyond words. He collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
Everyone ran toward him.
"Brother, are you alright?" his sister asked with a worried expression.
"I am alright," Ren said with a faint smile. "Just worn out a bit, that's all."
"Master, did we win the fight?"
"Yes," came the answer. "You did. An Upper-Rank demon has been defeated."
His parents hurried to help Ren stand, but after such a heavy battle, he could not stay on his feet. His power was drained completely. They supported him as he walked back to the village.
When the villagers saw Ren returning with everyone else, they rushed toward him.
"Are you alright? Did you defeat the demon?" they asked, voices overlapping.
Kuro shouted over the noise, "The demon has been defeated! We have won! But everyone has become tired and injured, so leave them for now. They need rest!"
"Yeah, he is right," someone said. The villagers apologized and quickly made a path for them to pass.
Ren looked at them and said softly to his parents, "These people… they are so nice. They listen and are so cooperative."
"You bet they are," his father replied with pride. "This place, and these people, are very kind. Not just to us, but to anyone who is a guest of this village."
Ren whispered under his breath, "Why doesn't the whole world become like these people?"
After saying this, he fell asleep so deeply that he didn't know what happened next.
Suddenly, he woke up, lying on a chowki.
His mother startled and came closer. "Thank God you woke up."
"Mother, what happened?" Ren asked.
"You fell asleep so deeply," she said with relief.
Ren sat up slowly and asked, "Mother… can I lay my head on your lap?"
"Sure, why not?" she said gently.
His mother sat beside him, and Ren laid his head on her lap. The dark night was quiet, the moon glowing brightly above them.
"Where are the others?" Ren asked.
"Your father and siblings are sleeping. As for your father and Master and Yume—they went back."
"What do you mean, went back?" Ren asked, suddenly shocked and scared. "Why did they leave?"
"Oh, sorry," she said with a soft laugh. "I mean they went to their house. After all, they are the head of this village."
"Mother, tell me everything clearly."
"Hehe," she chuckled. "It's been such a long time since I have seen you. Tell me, how was it when you were growing up?"
Ren hesitated for a while but finally spoke.
"After you were gone, I was treated horribly. And when they found out I was an F-Rank, they made my life hell."
Tears spilled from his eyes.
His mother was shocked to hear what had happened to him.
"I was abused, beaten, and the house we had was taken away from me. Soon, I was kicked out of the village. The same happened when I reached the city. But a kind man helped me and took me into his guild—and my life changed. I got the Black Heart, the power of darkness, and most of all… Yume. She listened to me, took my pain, and brought light into my darkness."
"Mother, I don't want to go back to that selfish, cruel world."
He burst into tears, crying openly. His mother began crying with him.
"We can't be forgiven for what we have done," she said softly, "but we are sorry."
"It's not your fault either," Ren said through his tears. "But if you had been with me, I would have been happy—happier than anything else."
"Mother, I just want to be with you, with these people, with our family and everyone else. Tell me—will it be possible for me to live a normal life?"
She kept silent for a while before speaking.
"The power you have gotten comes with responsibility. Temporarily, we will be with you. But the time will come when you will be alone. No one will be there for you. So as a mother, I would say—enjoy every moment in life. With us. With the girl you love. Enjoy it."
Ren covered his eyes with tears. "I thought this would happen. I thought it would…"
"Remember, Ren," she said gently, "we will always be with you—not physically, but spiritually. Our soul is connected to you, because you are our son."
Just hearing those words made Ren smile softly.
"I am happy, Mother, that I met you all again for the last time and can spend time with you."
"Sure," she said with a warm smile. "Enjoy every moment that you can."
The next morning, his brother came.
Ren opened his eyes and saw his siblings' faces close to his, waiting for him to wake.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ren asked.
"Mom said to wake you up," Takuma said. "So, we came—but you didn't wake up and kept sleeping."
Yume came from behind.
"So, did you wake your big brother?"
"He wasn't waking up," one of them said. "But now he is awake!"
"Leave me alone," Ren groaned. "I don't want to wake up right now."
"Please, Brother Ren, wake up!" all three of them begged.
But he still didn't move.
Then they went to Yume again.
"Please ask him to wake up so we can play!"
Yume hesitated, a bit nervous, but finally agreed.
First, she politely asked Ren to get up, but he didn't listen. So, she slapped him on his face, making him jump out of bed.
Why did you that for. He demand an answer.
"Your siblings want to play with you, and you are sleeping?" she scolded. "Now get your butt up and do what they said!"
"B—B—But I'm tired…"
She gave him such an angry expression that Ren immediately straightened up.
"Yes ma'am, as you said!"
In that moment, she smiled and said, "Aww, look at you, like a big brother now. Do what you said."
"Sister Yume is scary… very scary," Tatsuya whispered.
Ren had breakfast and played with his siblings. His parents and Kuro came out, watching their children play happily together.
"I wish time would just stop," Ren thought.
But at that very moment, Kuro, Yume, and Ren were called up by the Eighth King.
Both generals bowed and asked what had happened and why they were called.
Far away, in another realm, the King of Shadow Demons and his brother had a conversation.
"Brother," one said. "Shnider has been killed—and it was none other than the vessel of the Ninth King."
The other demon's eyes narrowed.
"So, the time has come. The battle that took place billions of years ago… will begin once again."