The moment Ren crossed the threshold of the Abyss, the world shifted violently.
The air thickened, heavy and suffocating, like a grave that had been sealed shut for centuries. The sky above was no longer a sky at all—it was a void, a swirling black canvas streaked with violent crimson flashes that pulsed like a heartbeat. The ground beneath his feet was jagged obsidian, cracked and bleeding streams of molten shadow. Every step he took echoed with a hollow, metallic ring, as if the Abyss itself were listening.
Monsters made of darkness emerged from every corner, their twisted forms barely holding shape—beasts with too many teeth, serpents with wings of smoke, wolves with eyes glowing like dying stars. They howled and roared in unison, shaking the entire layer as if to warn the intruder that he was not welcome.
Ren stood still for a moment, his crimson eyes gleaming under the abyssal sky. A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"This place… is interesting," he said calmly, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "They will serve me well—as my army."
From within him, the darkness answered.
"Yes, you are right. But this is only the first layer," the voice of the Beast rumbled, deep and ancient. "There are many layers beneath this one. If you survive them all—if you reach the final layer—you will meet Raviel, the strongest of all fallen monarchs."
Ren's smile widened, but there was no joy in it—only cold resolve.
"Then I'll kill him," he said without hesitation.
The moment those words left his mouth, a strange silence fell. The monsters stopped moving. One by one, they turned their glowing eyes toward him, their bodies trembling—not from fear, but from instinctive hostility.
And then, the Abyss screamed.
A hundred roars overlapped, a symphony of death, as every beast charged forward at once.
"So, the show begins," Ren muttered.
With one smooth motion, he drew his sword. The black blade reflected the crimson flashes above, humming with dark power.
The first creature leapt at him. Its claws never reached him—Ren's blade cleaved it in half midair. Blood, or what passed for it in this place, sprayed across the cracked earth, evaporating into mist.
Then the next came. And the next.
Ren moved like a storm. Each strike was precise, effortless, and absolute. The battle quickly became a one-sided massacre—a single man cutting down an army. His sword carved arcs of shadow through the air, every swing followed by the sound of another beast hitting the ground.
Minutes passed. Perhaps hours. The Abyss had no sense of time.
When the last of the initial swarm fell, Ren stood alone in a circle of corpses. The battlefield was littered with broken horns, torn wings, and severed heads. The smell of burnt shadow lingered like smoke.
From the far side of the field, a new presence emerged.
Heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed, and with them came a pressure so immense that even the Abyss seemed to hold its breath.
A towering figure stepped into the clearing. His body was clad in blackened armor that seemed forged from the Abyss itself, and his eyes glowed like two burning suns. Behind him followed an entire army—an organized legion of creatures, disciplined unlike the mindless swarm Ren had just slaughtered.
Ren's crimson gaze locked onto him.
"Are you the first-layer boss?" Ren asked, his tone calm but commanding.
The figure stopped, taking a deep breath before answering. His voice was deep and resonant, carrying the weight of centuries.
"Yes," he said. "I am Valkrynne Astrid." His burning eyes narrowed. "And you are…?"
Ren stepped forward, his aura flaring like black fire.
"I am the Dread Monarch—the Ninth King of Shadows."
For a moment, Valkrynne was silent. Then he let out a low chuckle, which grew into booming laughter.
"The King of Shadows, here?" he said, amused. "What business do you have in my Abyss? What is it you seek?"
Ren's voice turned to steel.
"To make the Abyss bow to me."
Valkrynne's laughter grew louder, echoing across the layer until even his soldiers looked uneasy.
"You? Alone?" Valkrynne grinned, revealing sharp fangs. "Do you think you can defeat me and my army by yourself?"
Ren's reply was soft, but it carried more weight than a roar.
"Who said I was alone?"
The shadows around him stirred. From the darkness emerged knights—figures forged of shadow and steel, their armor glinting with an otherworldly glow. They lined up behind Ren, their silent presence enough to make even Valkrynne pause.
The Abyss went silent again.
Valkrynne's grin faded into a grim expression.
"Then let us see," he growled, raising his hand.
At once, his army charged.
The Abyss erupted into chaos.
Monsters roared, knights clashed their blades, beasts screamed as steel met fang. The sound of battle was deafening, shaking not only the Abyss but the world outside. In distant lands, hunters and civilians felt the earth tremble.
"What's happening?" people whispered in fear.
Far away, on the surface, Kuro and Daiki stood on a hill overlooking the horizon. The sky seemed darker than usual.
"We don't have time," Daiki said grimly. "We have to bring him back. If he keeps going like this, he'll lose himself completely."
Back in the Abyss, Ren faced Valkrynne head-on.
Their swords clashed, the impact sending shockwaves that shattered the ground beneath their feet. Valkrynne was fast—far faster than any creature Ren had fought before—but Ren matched him strike for strike, his unsealed power pushing him to his limits.
The Beast within Ren stirred.
"Stop hesitating!" the voice roared in his mind. "Kill him!"
Ren gritted his teeth, ignoring the urge. He refused to give in completely.
But Valkrynne was relentless. Blow after blow pushed Ren back.
"You fight well, King of Shadows," Valkrynne said between strikes. "But this is my domain!"
Ren's aura flared violently, his crimson eyes burning brighter.
"I have unsealed fifty percent of my power," he growled. "And still I cannot defeat him…"
The Beast laughed darkly.
"Let me out," it whispered. "I will end this instantly."
"No," Ren snarled. "I won't let you take control."
But the Beast would not be denied. Its power surged, fighting against Ren's will, trying to break free.
Ren's body froze for a fraction of a second—just long enough for Valkrynne to seize an opening.
But before Valkrynne's strike could land, the Beast took over.
Ren's aura exploded, black flames engulfing his entire body. His presence became suffocating, monstrous—no longer human.
Valkrynne staggered back, his eyes wide.
"What… what are you?" he demanded.
Ren—no, the Beast—did not answer.
He simply raised his sword.
Valkrynne felt true fear for the first time in centuries.
"Wait! Don't kill me!" he shouted. "I'll do anything—"
But the Beast hesitated for no one. With one clean swing, Valkrynne's head was severed.
The first layer of the Abyss fell silent.
Ren stood over the corpse of the fallen king, holding the severed head high. His voice rang out like a death knell.
"Bow to me, or die like him."
The monsters hesitated only a moment before kneeling. Every creature, every beast, every soldier of darkness lowered their heads.
The captain of the remaining army stepped forward.
"There is a rule in the Abyss," he said solemnly. "Whoever defeats the King inherits his army. From this day forth, we are yours. We will serve your command until death."
Slowly, Ren regained control of his body. The Beast retreated, but its voice remained.
"You used my power," it said. "And now you pay the price. Each time you call on me, I will consume more of you. Piece by piece, you will cease to exist—until nothing of Ren remains."
Ren clenched his fist.
"Then I will make sure it is worth it," he said coldly.
He turned to the monsters who had knelt.
"You," he said, pointing to the captain. "What is your name?"
"My name is Umbra," the creature replied.
"Umbra," Ren said. "You will command the beasts and monsters of the Abyss. From this day forth, you are my Beast Commander."
He turned, summoning another knight from the shadows. This one was different—taller, stronger, his armor sharper and more regal.
"You are the commander of my knights," Ren declared. "Your name shall be Althric. Serve me faithfully."
Althric knelt instantly.
"I will give my life for you," he said. "The position you have given me—I will fulfill it without fail."
Ren's expression softened slightly.
"Then hear my order. If I ever lose control and attack humans… stop me. Even if it means cutting me down."
Both Umbra and Althric exchanged glances, then nodded.
"We will obey," they said in unison.
Satisfied, Ren turned toward the heart of the layer.
The battlefield was silent now. The Abyss itself seemed to watch as Ren walked alone, his footsteps echoing.
Eventually, he came to a massive bridge lined with blue flames, leading to a throne carved into the black stone.
Standing before the throne was a mysterious figure, cloaked in darkness.
Ren's hand went to his sword.
"What are you?" he demanded.
The figure raised its head slowly.
"I am the Protector of the Throne," it said. "To claim this seat, you must answer my question. If your answer is correct, the throne is yours."
Ren narrowed his eyes.
"Ask," he said. "I will answer."
"Very well," the Protector replied. "This is my question—"