"Mr. Kuro, look at these weapons!" Daiki shouted, excitement glinting in his eyes. "These blades are so sharp they could even cut down a king!"
Kuro's gaze hardened. "What are you saying? Let me see them."
He inspected the weapons carefully, running his fingers across the blade's edge. His expression turned grave, then softened with a faint smirk.
"You were reckless, Ren," he said, his tone low but approving. "But you did a great job."
"What do you mean?" one of the S-Ranks asked, confused. "We can't understand what's going on."
"For now," Kuro replied, his voice calm yet commanding, "just remember this — we've struck gold. These weapons are a jackpot, and they will turn the tide of our upcoming battle."
He turned to the master smiths.
"Take these immediately. Work with the engineers. Forge stronger weapons and better armor for every hunter. No excuses — we need to be ready."
Ren gave a nod, his face set with determination.
"You got it. And Yume—" He turned toward her, his eyes sharp with focus. "Let's train together and cover every weakness we have."
"S-Sure… why not," she replied, smiling faintly.
The two of them headed toward the organization's training facility. It wasn't just any training hall — it was a vast arena forged for the strongest hunters to push past their limits.
Ren and Yume stood at opposite ends of the sparring ground, their auras already starting to flare.
"We'll fight on the count of three," Ren shouted.
"Fine by me."
They took their stances.
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three!"
Both of them vanished in a flash, their speed blinding. Sparks lit up the arena as blades collided faster than the eye could follow.
"You've grown stronger since our last battle," Ren said between blows, his breathing ragged. "My hands are actually shaking."
Yume didn't answer — instead, she pressed harder, her attacks relentless, forcing Ren to push his power higher and higher. The clang of metal echoed through the arena, each strike sending shockwaves that rattled the walls.
Hunters began gathering around the arena, one by one, whispering in awe.
"Who is that? How can someone keep up with an S-Rank like that?"
Yume suddenly unleashed one of her sword arts — so powerful it nearly split the ground in two. If Ren hadn't dodged, he would have been cut in half.
"What was that?!" Ren demanded, his voice sharp.
"I told you," Yume replied, her tone deadly serious. "I want to test my strength. If you hold back, you'll die. So stop holding back, Ren!"
Ren hesitated for a moment — but seeing Yume's determination, he gritted his teeth and let his power loose.
His body was engulfed in a dark aura as he transformed into the Knight form.
The hunters watching gasped.
Meanwhile, Daiki and Kuro happened to pass by and froze at the sight.
"Is that… his power?" Daiki asked, eyes wide.
Kuro shook his head. "Not his full power. What you're seeing now is only Ren's own strength. He hasn't even drawn on the Black Heart or the true darkness within him."
Daiki looked concerned. "He's grown so much stronger in just a few months… but is he ready for the truth?"
"No," Kuro said quietly. "Not yet. Some truths should only be revealed when the time is right. Until then, he must carry the weight he already bears."
Inside the arena, Ren powered up further. Shadows coiled around him, thickening like a storm. The air grew heavy, almost suffocating.
"As you wish, my king…" a voice echoed in his mind as the darkness responded.
Ren's aura erupted, causing the spectators to stagger back.
Yume grinned, exhilarated.
"Good! That's what I wanted! Now—" her eyes gleamed with excitement "—face me at your full power!"
Ren nodded and smirked. "Then watch carefully, Yume. I'll try my new technique on you."
The two clashed again, the air screaming from the sheer force.
One of the hunters in the crowd whispered in disbelief, "If they're both S-Ranks… they could destroy the entire world like this."
Several S-Rank hunters rushed in, alarmed by the overwhelming pressure.
"Is this an enemy attack?" one shouted.
"No… it's them," another pointed.
"They're fighting each other!"
The newcomers looked closer.
"Wait—who is that knight?!"
"That's Ren Akatsuki!" someone answered. "And the one he's fighting is Yume Akegami!"
Even the S-Ranks fell silent.
"These two… they're beyond us," one of them murmured. "Their power is on another level. Could they be… Rank X?"
"That rank hasn't appeared in over a hundred years," another said, awe-struck.
Yume's blade glowed dark as night.
"Eternal Eclipse!" she roared, unleashing her new technique.
The moment the blade touched Ren's katana, a deafening explosion rocked the entire arena.
BOOM!
Everything was blown away — walls, tiles, weapons, everything — leaving only rubble and smoke.
Out of the darkness, a massive black phoenix appeared, its wings spreading wide as it let out an ear-piercing cry.
"What is that?!" a hunter screamed.
"It's a phoenix… born from darkness itself!"
"Who summoned it?!"
Ren stepped forward, his eyes glowing. "I did."
As the smoke cleared, it became visible — blood dripping from Ren's arm. His hand had been cut off.
"Ren!" Kuro shouted in shock.
Ren was breathing heavily, sweat rolling down his face.
"So that was your new technique, huh?" he said, grinning despite the pain.
Before anyone could panic, his arm began to regenerate before their eyes.
Yume stared, stunned. "You… healed instantly."
"Yume," Ren said, his voice low but unshaken, "you've made yourself stronger than the kings. But… I am stronger."
He powered up even further, his darkness surging to 47.5%. The arena trembled as he commanded the shadows to lend him all their strength — and they obeyed.
In a flash, Ren appeared before Yume and struck her stomach with a devastating blow. The speed was beyond what the eye could follow.
Though Yume was exhausted, she refused to fall. She pushed herself past her limit, striking back with every last ounce of strength.
Ren's eyes glowed with a bright, eerie light as he drew his katana once more. Both fighters were on the verge of collapse, their power draining rapidly.
But then — something strange happened.
Ren's body began moving on its own. His aura twisted, becoming wild and unstable, like something else was taking control.
Kuro and Daiki instantly interfered, appearing between them in a blur.
"Are you insane?!" Kuro roared at Ren. "Do you want to kill her?!"
Ren froze, shocked.
"Wh-What do you mean, Master?"
"That technique you were about to use," Kuro said sharply, "could have killed everyone in this arena. With the Phoenix of Darkness at full power, you could have wiped out the entire city."
Ren quickly dispelled his transformation, panting hard.
"But… I didn't do anything. My body… it moved on its own!"
"What do you mean?" Kuro demanded.
"Just when I stopped to catch my breath," Ren explained, "my body suddenly reacted — and just before the energy was about to release, you appeared and stopped it."
Daiki stepped forward. "Ren, the attack you almost used is called Stormshatter Cry Burst. It's one of the most destructive techniques ever known."
Then he turned to Yume.
"And you — I told you never to use Eternal Eclipse! That technique will kill you if you keep forcing it."
Ren looked at Yume, startled. "What do you mean?"
Daiki's face was grim. "That attack can cut through anything — but every time you use it, it shortens your lifespan."
Yume, still catching her breath, gave a small smirk.
"I can control it. And I must master it… because I'm the only one who can use it."
Blood suddenly spilled from her lips, and she staggered. Her bones were fractured from the backlash.
"Yume!" Ren shouted, rushing to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Somebody bring a stretcher, now!" he barked at the hunters.
"Y-Yes!" they scrambled to obey, quickly placing Yume on the stretcher and rushing her to the medical wing.
Kuro's eyes darkened as he placed a hand on Ren's shoulder.
"Go. Stay by her side. She will need you when she wakes."
Ren nodded silently, his expression hardening.