"Althric," Yume called softly, her voice echoing through the dim corridor of shadow and silence. The air was thick with the scent of cold iron and ancient power. "I feel something from you… an aura. It's the same as Ren's. The same one that once surrounded him."
Althric turned to her slowly. His eyes, glowing faintly with a blue-crimson hue, held both warmth and sorrow. "That's true," he said quietly. "I was born from him—his power, his pain, his memories, and his emotions. Everything that Ren once carried… lives within me as well. Before he was consumed by the Beast, he gave us strict orders: never harm a human."
Kuro's voice cut through the silence, his hand tightening around his sword. "Then why," he demanded, "did you raise your blade against us?"
Althric sighed and bowed his head. "For that, I apologize to you all once again. When you approached, I did not sense you—I sensed the shadows that lingered around your souls. That is why, as a guardian, I moved to stop what I thought was an intruder. But you must know…" He raised his head, his gaze solemn. "Even after all that he suffered, our King still cared. He helped his generals until his last breath. And because of that, we serve him even now—with loyalty that will never fade. Even if he dies, even if he is lost forever, we will stand by his side. That… is the king I served before the Beast took him away."
Kuro's lips curved into a faint smile. Hearing Althric's conviction made something warm stir inside him. "Then," Kuro said, sheathing his weapon, "if you're willing to help us, we'll trust you."
Althric nodded silently, a glint of relief flickering in his eyes. "Then follow me."
He turned, leading them through the abyssal path toward the heart of the domain. The walls pulsed faintly with dark energy, whispering in voices that were neither alive nor dead. Yume, Daiki, and Kuro exchanged uneasy glances as the atmosphere grew heavier with every step.
When they finally entered the Domain of the Dread Monarch, an overwhelming stillness washed over them. Their very souls trembled as they crossed the invisible threshold.
Beasts of shadow and light roamed the vast expanse—titanic creatures with obsidian scales and glowing eyes, towering dragons curled in slumber, ancient beings of chaos and flame—all gathered together in peace. Not one fought. Not one shed blood.
Kuro's breath caught in his throat. "This… this isn't the same Abyss."
"It's completely changed," Yume murmured, her eyes widening. "Ren… he reshaped it."
"Yes," Althric said softly. "Even when the Beast devoured his mind and body, something within him still remembered who he was. His will changed this place."
They continued onward until they reached the Abyssal Throne, a colossal monument of dark stone and living shadow. The Dread Monarch's army stood motionless before it—thousands of armored figures cloaked in black flame, standing in perfect silence. Each one radiated killing intent, yet not a single one moved.
They were waiting. Guarding.
And at the center of it all, seated upon the throne, was Ren—the Dread Monarch himself. His body was motionless, his face hidden beneath his cracked, blackened helm. His aura was immense yet strangely calm, like a storm held back by sheer will.
Yume's heart pounded. She stepped forward, her voice trembling.
"Ren!"
The word echoed through the throne hall, sharp and desperate.
In that instant, every soldier, every beast, every shadow turned toward her. The silence shattered like glass.
A flash of lightning split the air—Zyra, Ren's war general, appeared before Yume, her weapon drawn and fury blazing in her eyes. "You dare!" she hissed. "You call the Dread Monarch by name?!"
Before she could strike, a blade blocked her path—Althric's. The clash of metal rang out like thunder.
"Althric! What are you doing?" Zyra's eyes burned. "She's calling him by his human name!"
"Enough!" Althric's voice boomed across the hall. "You heard his command—we are not to harm humans. And besides…" He glanced at Yume. "She is the Queen."
Zyra froze. Her blade trembled. "She's… that Queen?"
Althric gave a firm nod.
And then—something stirred.
The Beast's body pulsed with light. His aura flared, faint at first, then growing stronger with every heartbeat. Blue and crimson energy coursed through the cracks in his armor like living veins. The air began to quake.
Then, slowly—his eyes opened.
The Dread Monarch rose from his throne.
The ground shook as power rippled outward in waves. The sheer weight of his aura sent cracks running along the marble floor. Kuro and Daiki stepped back instinctively, their bodies tense, every instinct screaming danger.
But Yume did not move. Her eyes stayed locked on him.
"The Beast…" she whispered. "This is the Beast controlling him now."
Ren—no, the Beast—lifted his head slightly. His voice, deep and layered with distortion, echoed through the chamber. "Why have you come?"
Yume's voice broke. "I know this isn't you. I know you can hear me in there somewhere. Ren—please—are you still alive inside?"
The Beast remained silent.
"Please!" Yume shouted, stepping forward. "Tell me! Are you still there?!"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then his distorted voice rumbled, calm but cold. "And if he is… what then? What would you do, human? You were the one who made him this way. Go back. We will fight for this world ourselves."
Kuro frowned. Something felt off. The Beast's tone—his manner—it wasn't like before. It was too calm. Too… aware.
"What happened to you The Beast of darkness?" Kuro asked suddenly.
The Beast turned his glowing eyes toward him. "What are you talking about, human?"
"This isn't how you act," Kuro said, gripping his sword tighter. "You're a creature of destruction. You crave chaos. So tell me—what changed you?"
For a brief instant, the Beast hesitated. His expression shifted—confusion, pain, hesitation. Then, without another word, he turned away, retreating slowly toward the throne.
"Ren!" Yume cried out. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I couldn't be at your side when you needed me most! I failed you!"
Her voice cracked with emotion, echoing through the endless hall.
Something deep within the Beast began to shimmer faintly. A dim glow flickered in his chest—like a small light fighting through endless darkness.
"Not just me," Yume continued, tears falling freely. "Everyone is waiting for you! They still believe in you! They believe that you'll return and lead us once again!"
The Beast's hand trembled. His voice was quieter now. "That place… no longer belongs to us."
But as he spoke, the light within him pulsed stronger—fighting, resisting, refusing to fade.
"Do you remember?" Yume whispered, her voice trembling. "You once told me… you'd never leave me alone. So what about now? Should I be left alone instead?"
The glow inside him erupted, bright and fierce. The very walls of the Abyssal Throne shuddered as Ren's soul fought to awaken.
The Beast gritted his teeth, clutching his head. "Ren… is he still in there? No… no, I consumed him completely…!"
But the light kept growing, flaring stronger and stronger, illuminating the darkness that once defined him. Each pulse grew faster, brighter—until even the shadows began to recede.
He turned back toward Yume, his expression torn between fury and agony. For a heartbeat, she thought he might have regained control.
But instead—he forged his blade in pure darkness and struck forward.
"Ren, stop!" Yume shouted, unable to move, frozen in shock. The blade cut through the air toward her—
—but Althric appeared between them in a flash, his sword intercepting the strike with a thunderous clang. The impact sent waves of shadow and energy rippling through the room.
"Althric!" the Beast roared. "Are you betraying me?!"
Althric stood firm, his blade trembling under the weight of his king's power. "Never, my king," he said, voice steady despite the strain. "But you gave me an order—that if you ever tried to harm a human, I must stop you."
The Beast froze, his eyes wide for a fleeting moment. The light within him flickered again—Ren is trying to reach the surface.
The chamber grew silent, only the echoes of their heavy breaths filling the air.
Finally, the Beast spoke again, his voice low and rumbling like thunder. "If you desire Ren's return… then prove it."
Yume's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
The Beast raised his sword and pointed it toward her. His gaze burned with crimson fire. "If you can strike me down… in one blow… then I will yield. And Ren will be yours to claim."
Kuro stepped forward immediately. "Yume, no! Don't listen to him—it's a trap!"
But Yume only took a deep breath. Her eyes glowed faintly with determination as she raised her blade.
"She begins to ascend… powering up into her ultimate form."
Or even stronger:
"In that moment, she awakened—powering up to her absolute, final form."
"I accept," she said firmly.
Kuro's hand tightened into a fist. Daiki took a step forward, but stopped when he saw her face.
Yume's voice echoed through the throne room—steady, unshaken. "If this is the only way to bring him back… then I'll do it."
The Beast stared down at her. For a moment, something human—something familiar—passed through his eyes. Then he readied his blade.
The air trembled. Shadows coiled. Light flickered across the cracked floor of the throne room.
Yume stepped forward, her resolve burning brighter than ever.
In that moment, amidst the darkness and despair, a single spark glowed between them—
a fragile yet undeniable sign of hope.