The hall fell into a sudden, crushing silence.
Yume's breath stopped for a moment. Kuro stepped forward on instinct, Daiki and Haru tensed up, and even the assassins lurking in the shadows froze. All eyes shifted to Ren—waiting, bracing, wondering what would come next.
Arden Daizen, pinned to the polished floor by Ren's shadows yet still refusing to bow, glared up with a wild, burning determination. It was the expression of a man who had tasted defeat once and would rather shatter every bone in his body than taste it again.
His voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Fight me, Ninth King. A rematch."
His breathing sharpened. "If I win—Yume comes with me."
Yume's wings twitched violently, feathers trembling with the anger she fought to contain. Before Ren could react, she stepped forward, her voice slicing across the room.
"No."
Arden blinked, thrown off by the sharpness of her refusal.
"No one," Yume continued, her tone icy, "puts me up as a prize. Not you. Not anyone."
Her wings tightened behind her, fury burning beneath her composed expression. But Arden still didn't retreat.
"Yume," he said, strained, "I'm not treating you like a prize. I'm fighting for the woman I love."
"You're trying to decide my future with a battle," she shot back. "That's not love. That's your pride pretending to be something noble."
Arden's jaw tightened. Pride kept him silent, even as her words struck deep.
Ren raised a hand gently. Yume looked at him—hurt, worried—but she stepped back, though her wings quivered with unspoken emotion.
Ren exhaled slowly. The darkness behind him stirred, sliding across his shoulders like a living mantle.
"Arden," he said calmly, "I understand how you feel. But Yume chooses for herself. Not you. Not me. And not through any fight."
Arden's jaw trembled. "Then why won't you fight me? What are you afraid of? That if she sees me overpower you, she'll regret choosing you?"
Ren closed his eyes—not in fear, but under the weight of the moment.
"I'm not scared for myself," he murmured. "I'm scared of what might break around us."
Arden scoffed. "Excuses."
Ren opened his eyes again. His next words carried the weight of truth, colder than steel.
"You say you love her," Ren said softly, "but you're not listening to her."
The sentence echoed through the hall like a hammer strike.
Arden froze.
Yume's breath hitched.
Even Kuro looked down, shaken by the blunt honesty.
"You're blinded by your pride," Ren continued. "And because of that… you're hurting her."
For the first time, Arden's anger cracked. The pride behind his expression faltered—but only for a heartbeat. Wounded pride always roars back stronger.
He pushed against the shadows restraining him, teeth clenched, voice shaking.
"Ninth King… don't pretend to be noble," Arden growled. "You failed her more than anyone. You made her cry. You left her alone. Yet she still chooses you—why?!"
His voice thundered through the entire hall, raw and unfiltered.
Yume's eyes widened, pain flickering across her face.
Ren stiffened. Not in anger—but from the truth he had carried in silence for years.
"…because she chose me," Ren answered quietly. "Not for strength. Or power. Or victory."
He touched his chest.
"But because of who I am."
Yume's eyes softened, shimmering.
Arden's breath trembled, emotion twisting inside him—rage, heartbreak, disbelief.
"Then prove it," he demanded. "Fight me and prove you deserve her."
Ren lifted his head. Shadows crawled up his back, rising like wings shaped from night.
Everyone leaned forward. The air thickened, tightening around them.
"No," Ren said.
Arden snapped. "Coward—!"
"I'm not fighting for Yume," Ren replied sharply, voice ringing with cold authority. "Because she is not something to win."
Ren stepped closer. His shadow rose behind him, towering and monstrous.
"But if you plan to force your will on her—if you intend to hurt her, ignore her, or drag her into your pride—"
The darkness surged higher, forming a beast-like silhouette behind him.
"—then I will fight you as the Ninth King. Not for possession… but for protection."
Tension burned through the hall. Arden hesitated, breath unsteady.
This wasn't Ren from a few minutes earlier.
This was the King of Shadows.
Arden's power flared in response, but even he couldn't hide the faint shiver in his arms.
Althric stepped forward, hand on his sword. "My king—"
Ren lifted a hand, never breaking eye contact with Arden.
"I'll handle it."
Althric bowed and stepped back.
Yume pressed a hand to her chest. She could feel the shift inside Ren—the quiet strength he had shown her on the balcony, now merged with the cold darkness that always followed him. It made her proud… but it terrified her.
Arden slowly rose, shadows swirling around him like a violent flame.
"Fine," he said, steadier than before. "We settle this with strength."
Ren didn't respond.
Arden smirked bitterly. "The stronger one deserves to stand beside Yume."
Yume's wings flared instantly. "Arden, stop—"
But Ren placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She looked at him, breath trembling, then reluctantly stepped back.
Arden rolled his shoulders as power poured outward.
"I trained every day. I mastered every technique I could. I am the strongest hunter in my clan."
Shadows swirled around him, violent and unstable.
Ren lifted his gaze. His left eye was now swallowed completely by darkness.
"You talk too much," Ren said quietly. "Especially for someone shaking."
Arden snapped.
"Then fight me!"
He lunged—
—but the shadow binding him slammed him back to the ground instantly.
"Let go of me!" Arden roared.
"If you want to fight," Ren said calmly, "then stand without destroying the hall."
The binding held him there, crushing the stone beneath his back, until Ren released it. Arden rose slowly, expression twisted in frustration.
Kuro whispered, eyes wide, "He's controlling the entire field…"
Daiki nodded. "He's not using even half of his power."
Haru swallowed. "This is… a king."
Arden gathered power again, but Ren raised a hand.
"We fight outside."
Arden frowned. "Why?"
"There are too many people here. They'll be hurt."
Yume froze. The truth of those words broke through Arden's pride more effectively than any threat.
He clenched his jaw.
"…Fine."
He turned toward the massive doors, cape flicking behind him, power rippling through the air.
Ren followed, each step radiating such authority that even the assassins stepped back instinctively.
As he passed Yume, she caught his sleeve.
"Ren… don't go too far."
He stopped.
Her hand tightened. "Come back to me."
Ren didn't smile. He didn't promise anything.
He just nodded.
And the Ninth King walked out of the hall.
The battle that would decide the future of the Fourth General—and the man Yume had chosen—was about to begin.