"Until death doesn't come, I will always be with you."
Those words echoed between them like a vow as a strange flicker surged through both Ren's and Yume's bodies.
"What just happened?" Ren asked, startled. Their hands were suddenly no longer touching — as though something had physically separated them.
"I… I don't know," Yume replied, looking at her hands. "But I felt it too. Something inside me flickered."
Ren placed a hand on his chest. "It wasn't just you. I felt it in my body as well — a sudden rush of energy, like a spark trying to ignite."
"Do you know what it could mean?" Yume asked, concern filling her eyes.
Ren shook his head. "No… but we will figure it out soon. Let's hurry back."
The sky was already glowing orange, the sun nearly gone by the time they returned to Ren's home.
"Mom! They're coming back!" his younger brother Takuma shouted from the doorway, his small face lighting up with a wide, innocent smile.
Ren's chest tightened. That smile… I wish it never fades from his face. I want to protect it forever.
"Aww, you're actually acting like a big brother," Yume teased softly, nudging Ren's shoulder.
"Oh really? Maybe I am finally getting used to it," Ren replied with a faint grin, though there was a heaviness in his eyes.
"Are you feeling better now, Ren?" his father asked, stepping forward.
"Yes, Father," Ren said with a small bow of his head. "Much lighter than before."
But then his father's expression grew serious. "We have to give you some bad news, Ren."
Ren tensed. "What is it?"
"We contacted the second general of the Shadow Army and asked him to come here," his father explained grimly. "But he refused. He said he doesn't accept a weak king like you. If you want him on your side, you must go to him personally. Only then will he consider joining us. After the battle is over, you may return."
"What?!" Ren's younger sister gasped, tears welling in her eyes. "Brother Ren is leaving already?"
"Yes," their mother said softly.
The other two siblings overheard and came running, tears streaming down their faces as they rushed to the gate, blocking it with their small bodies.
"Brother Ren won't go anywhere — not now!" they cried.
Their father crouched down, gently taking their hands. "Listen to me, all of you. Your brother has important work to do. When the work is over, I promise we will go together and see each other again. Very soon."
Their expressions brightened slightly, hope glimmering in their eyes.
"Very soon," their father added, smiling warmly.
The children cheered, their sadness replaced by excitement.
Kuro appeared at that moment, his voice calm but commanding. "Pack your bags. We leave at sunrise."
"Yes, Master," Ren said, nodding. "We'll be ready."
"Good," Kuro said. "Take this time to rest and enjoy this moment with your family. Tomorrow will not be easy."
Kuro and Yume departed to make their own preparations, leaving Ren to spend the night with his family. For the first time in a long while, he sat at the dinner table, laughing and eating with them. He cherished every second, knowing it might be a while before he saw this peace again.
That night, he walked through the village and said his final goodbyes.
But at dawn, when Ren, Kuro and Yume were ready to leave, they were shocked to see the entire village gathered at the gates.
"Ren!" the villagers cheered. "Thank you for saving us!"
They honored him, offering food, supplies, and even a few high-tech weapons to aid in his journey as a thank you.
Ren's heart tightened as he looked around at all the smiling faces. Even now, when I am weak, powerful, or even considered a monster… these people stand by me without hesitation.
"Tears, baby boy?" the Black Heart's voice whispered inside him.
"These people cheer for me, no matter what I am," Ren replied silently. "They don't fear me. They don't hate me. It makes me feel… that there are still places where humanity survives."
"You are right," the Heart said, almost warmly. "The feelings you carry have made me — and even the darkness within you — comfortable. Perhaps the darkness is no longer just darkness. Perhaps light is beginning to form inside of it."
Ren smiled faintly. "Yeah. You're right."
"Talking to yourself again?" Yume asked, raising a brow.
"Hehehe, it's nothing," Ren replied quickly.
"You never change," Yume said with a rare, small laugh.
With a warm farewell, the group left the village and began their journey to the third general's hideout.
After nearly four hours of travel, they reached the bustling city where the general's guild was located. Ren's eyes widened when he learned the truth — the head of the world's No.1 guild was none other than the second general, Daiki Raikuro.
"So that means we have a chance," Ren muttered. "If we can convince him, we can gain humanity's trust — and we can win the coming battle."
But when they approached the guild entrance, high-ranked hunters blocked Ren's path while allowing Haru and Yume to pass.
"Why are you stopping me?" Ren asked, his voice calm but dangerous. "I am here to talk to your head."
"A pest like you isn't allowed in this guild," one of them sneered. "So, get lost."
Ren froze — then smiled. And then, to everyone's shock, he laughed.
"You dare…" he said, his laughter turning sharp and cold.
Ten guild members drew their weapons, surrounding him — but Ren only laughed harder, as though their threats meant nothing.
When he finally stopped, he spoke heavily, his tone dropping like iron.
"Tch… scum, trash, pest — I've been called many things. But if any of you dare make one wrong move, you won't stand a chance."
A devastating aura erupted around him. Darkness swirled, suffocating the air, forcing everyone to freeze.
"Go," Ren ordered coldly, "and call Daiki Raikuro. Tell him Ren Akatsuki stands at his doorstep."
One of them ran immediately, slamming the guild door open.
"Sir!" he cried. "Ren Akatsuki has arrived. He demands your presence — or he will destroy everything we have!"
Back outside, Yume and Kuro turned to Ren.
"What happened to you?" Yume asked.
"I… I don't know," Ren admitted, a grin tugging at his lips. "But I enjoyed it."
Moments later, Daiki appeared.
"So, the Ninth King has made some progress," he said with a mocking grin. "But you are nothing without the Black Heart. You are still a Rank F. If I fought you right now, you would die in an instant. I respect only the Eight Kings — not you."
Ren's expression darkened. "Are you so sure?"
"Huh?" Daiki frowned.
"Can you truly defeat me at your fullest?" Ren asked, lowering his head slightly, his voice chilling.
"What did you say?"
"If you defeat me in a one-on-one battle," Ren said, raising his head slowly, "I will never show my face here again. I will fight the coming battle alone. But if I win… then you will listen to me."
The guild burst into laughter.
"You're insane," Daiki said, smirking. "But fine. I accept. The new Ninth King versus the Second General — let us see who is stronger."
The area cleared as the duel began.
"Don't hold back," Ren warned. "Use every single drop of power you have."
"Since you asked for it," Daiki said, a dark smile forming, "I will transform for you."
Shadows swirled around him as a blinding white light exploded outward. When it faded, Daiki stood in his terrifying shadow form, a thick black figure radiating killing intent.
"Are you ready, Ren Akatsuki?" he asked.
The battle began, brutal and one-sided. Ren was hurled to the ground, kicked skyward, and smashed again and again.
"Offf! The boss isn't even holding back!" one hunter gasped.
But a girl named Airi Tsukino, standing beside Yume, narrowed her eyes.
"Something is off. By his first strike, Ren should already be dead. But there's not even a drop of blood."
Kuro began walking away from the fight.
"Sir, why are you leaving?" Airi asked.
"Don't you see?" Kuro said quietly. "The match is already decided. Just watch. You'll see what Ren is trying to say."
They turned back just in time to see Daiki kick Ren high into the sky, then slam him back into the earth with devastating force.
"Clean this mess," Daiki ordered his men, turning away.
"Not so fast."
The words froze everyone.
Ren was standing. Slowly, he brushed the dust from his clothes, his expression unreadable.
"No one should be able to stand after that," Daiki said in shock. "Who are you really?"
A powerful gust of wind erupted as Ren's aura exploded outward, pushing even Daiki back.
"This power…" Daiki whispered.
"It's not from the Black Heart," Ren said calmly. "This is mine. My power was sealed away, showing me, a weak miserable warrior but now that seal is broken. What you are seeing… is only a fraction of me."
With a single, devastating strike, Ren defeated Daiki — the entire guild frozen in silence.
"So, I won the battle. Will you listen to me now?"
He raised his hand toward him.
Daiki looked up at him, wide-eyed.
"Ren Akatsuki… who are you really?" he asked, this time with genuine curiosity.