Inside the abyss, Ren—the Dread Monarch—walked alone into an endless sea of darkness. The void was suffocating, absolute, as though the light of creation itself had been exiled from this place. Each step echoed like a hammer striking eternity. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. It was a world without warmth.
Yet in that void, grotesque remnants littered the ground. Severed heads of monstrous beasts, broken arms, torn wings, and shattered claws stretched endlessly like an ocean of carnage. Ren's crimson gaze swept across the wasteland. This was no battlefield—it was hell itself.
He exhaled softly, the air trembling. So this is what lies beneath… he murmured in his heart. To the beast inside him, he whispered, "What do you think of this place?"
The beast growled with a tone that was both mocking and solemn. This realm was never meant for human eyes. The weak die the moment they gaze upon it. Here, kings devour kings. Betrayal is law. One mistake means death. This is the throne room of despair.
Ren paused. Suddenly, fragments of his past flickered before him—his moments with Yume, the warmth of his mother's voice, the stern guidance of his father, the fragile laughter he once shared. The images crashed down on him like waves until his knees buckled.
Clutching his face, pain surged through him. It was unbearable, like knives piercing his skull. He screamed, not in rage, but in agony. "Help me…!"
But the beast inside him sneered. You chose this path. You chose solitude. So bear it. Your pain belongs to no one else, and no one will save you.
Ren's breath grew ragged. Yet even as his body trembled, he clenched his fists and pushed himself up. His voice steadied. "If this is my path, then I will walk it until the end."
He rose, and behind him shadows stirred. His vast army of beasts, monstrous knights, and abominations awaited his command. Their loyalty was wordless but absolute. His generals stood at the front, their blades dripping with anticipation.
Ren's voice thundered. "We march to the Second Layer. End the battle quickly—I want to meet Raviel."
One of the great beasts smirked, fangs gleaming. It will be over in no time, my king.
Meanwhile, beyond the abyss, another struggle unfolded.
After passing through the shadow gate, Daiki, Kuro, and Yume found themselves in the Shadow Realm, a place where countless souls drifted like pale stars in an eternal night. Whispering voices filled the air, sorrowful yet tempting, as if each soul called for release.
There, they met him—The Soul Buyer.
A tall figure cloaked in black, his eyes glowed like burning coals, his voice steady yet filled with weight older than time. His presence silenced even the restless souls.
"Welcome, Daiki Raikuro. Welcome, Kuro Daizen. Welcome, Yume Akegami," the Soul Buyer said, his words rolling like thunder across the endless dark. "This is the Shadow Realm. Tell me, what is it that you seek?"
Kuro stepped forward, his face stern. "We came for a soul. Not just any soul—the soul of a boy who carried more than he should have. A boy mocked as weak, yet chosen to rise higher than kings. A boy who sacrificed himself so humanity might live. We came for Ren Akatsuki."
The Soul Buyer was silent. He raised his hand, and among the swirling masses of souls, a brilliant light emerged—shining brighter than all the rest.
"The soul you seek is indeed here," he said. "Ren Akatsuki. But his soul is no mere trinket to bargain for. If you wish to take him back, you must prove your hearts are worthy. Each of you will answer one question. Answer truthfully, or leave empty-handed."
The three exchanged glances. Their resolve was unshaken. Kuro stepped forward. "Ask."
The Questions of the Soul Buyer
To Daiki:
The Soul Buyer's gaze pierced him.
"Ren's soul is not a weapon to wield nor a banner to follow. Why do you seek its return? Is it for your strength—or for his life?"
Daiki's fists tightened. His voice rang with conviction.
"Not for my strength. Not for pride. I want it because Ren still has a story left to write—one that only he can live. I refuse to let that story end unfinished."
The Soul Buyer nodded slightly.
To Yume:
"You carry regret like a wound that never closes. If I grant Ren's soul and he suffers, will you bear his pain with him—or will you flee into shadows of regret once more?"
Yume's eyes shone with tears, but her voice was unshaken.
"I will bear it. If he suffers, I will not turn away. This time, no matter how heavy, I will stay by his side until the end."
The Soul Buyer's eyes flickered, as though acknowledging her growth.
To Kuro:
"You of all should understand—Ren's soul is tied to shadows, dangerous and consuming. If he returns, he may become darker than you. Why, then, do you still seek his return?"
Kuro stepped forward, his voice calm yet burning with resolve.
"Because it is his choice, not mine. If he falls into darkness, then I will be the one to drag him back into the light. That is my vow as his brother-in-arms."
The Soul Buyer lowered his hand. The bright soul drifted forward and descended into Kuro's hands.
"This soul…" the Soul Buyer said softly, "was heavy with despair when it came to me. He wept, believing his sacrifice was the only way. He thought himself abandoned, hopeless, utterly alone. Do not let him suffer that fate again."
The three bowed their heads. Kuro's voice was steady. "We swear it. He will never be alone again."
The Soul Buyer waved his hand, shadows twisting into a gate. "Go. And when you reach the Nine Kings, deliver my greetings."
They thanked him and passed through.
Meanwhile, in the palace of shadows, the Eight Kings stood with the Ninth King.
The First King spoke, his tone sharp. "Why did you appear again after so long? They disobeyed us. They betrayed their duty. Yet you came to defend them."
The Ninth King's gaze was calm, but his voice carried centuries of weight. "They are children. They have stumbled as we once did. We, too, made foolish choices when we claimed the throne. But the shadows gave us chance after chance, until at last we brought peace. These three know their mistakes. They seek to correct them. Should we deny them the chance we were once given?"
The Eighth King chuckled softly. "You are still the same—always thinking of tomorrow. That is what made you different from us. Perhaps… that is what we need now."
When Daiki, Kuro, and Yume returned, they knelt before the Nine Kings.
"We have obtained Ren's soul," Kuro declared. "Now we must bring him back."
The chamber trembled with light. One by one, the Kings spoke as one:
"Raise your heads, Daiki Raikuro. Yume Akegami. Kuro Daizen. Generals of the Shadow Army—your trial is not yet done. Correct your mistakes. Restore Ren Akatsuki, the Ninth King. Take this cure."
From the hands of the Kings appeared a vial, glowing with both light and shadow.
Daiki whispered, "Great Kings… what is this?"
The First King answered. "Ren has consumed one hundred percent of his darkness. A beast was born within him. This remedy will put that beast to rest and return his humanity. It is the cure known as the Eclipse Remedy. We used it when we ourselves were consumed by our power. Now we entrust it to you."
The Kings' voices boomed together: "Do not break our trust again."
Then, the Ninth King placed his hand gently on Yume's shoulder. His eyes softened. "You know what must be done once he returns. Do not falter when that moment comes."
Yume bowed deeply. "I understand."
And so, with Ren's soul in their grasp and the Eclipse Remedy in hand, the three set forth to restore the boy who had once been mocked as weak—yet was destined to rise as the protector of humanity.