The hall descended into a suffocating silence.
Every soul present stood frozen, eyes locked upon the winged soldiers who had claimed the center of the chamber. Their formation was flawless—rows of armored figures gripping long spears forged from radiant metal, their wings spread wide and glowing with restrained but undeniable power. The light radiating from them was neither warm nor benevolent. It was ancient, commanding, and absolute, as though the will of the heavens themselves had descended upon the Shadow Monarch's territory.
The fractured floor bore the scars of recent battle.
Arden lay motionless upon it, his body twisted unnaturally, blood staining the stone beneath him. The pain he had endured had finally claimed him, leaving him unconscious and broken. Althric knelt beside him without hesitation, shadows flowing from his palms like living veins. Dark energy wrapped around Arden's wounds, sealing flesh, restoring shattered bones, and stabilizing his fading breath.
Slowly, Arden's body stilled.
Althric rose.
As he turned toward Ren and Yume, his form began to distort. Flesh dissolved into darkness, armor fading into shadow. In moments, his original form emerged—pure shadow given shape, dense and overwhelming, his presence alone bending the air around him. This was no mere general standing there. This was a pillar of the Shadow Monarch's authority.
Haru and Daiki stepped forward instinctively, placing themselves in front of Ren and Yume. Their hands tightened, hearts pounding, senses screaming that what stood before them was not an envoy—but an invading force.
Ren's voice cut through the tension, calm and controlled.
"Mr. Daiki. Captain," he said quietly. "Watch over Yume for a moment."
He stepped forward.
"Althric," Ren continued, "come with me."
Ren advanced, his footsteps echoing against the cracked stone. His gaze was cold—emotionless—but within it burned something dangerous. Althric stood beside him, shadows pooling at his feet like a restrained abyss.
Ren stopped several steps from the winged formation.
"What is your name?" Ren asked, his tone even.
Then, without raising his voice, he added, "And why is the Army of Wings standing inside my territory?"
From among the soldiers, one figure stepped forward.
He was taller than the rest, his armor more refined, his wings broader and sharper in structure. The pressure emanating from him was far greater than that of the others. This was no ordinary soldier.
His helmet tilted slightly as he regarded Ren.
"I am Aurelion Varkane," he declared. "Commander of the Army of Wings."
He lifted his gauntleted hand and pointed directly toward Yume.
"I am here to take our queen back."
A murmur rippled through the hall. Even the shadows trembled.
Ren lowered his gaze and closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if weighing the situation—or restraining something far more violent. When he spoke again, his voice carried unmistakable authority.
"You stand in the territory of the Shadow Monarch," Ren said. "And the person you address is my general."
Aurelion's wings flared slightly.
"Yes," he replied. "We are aware. But we have come to reclaim our queen."
He took another step forward.
"If the Monarch of Shadow attempts to interfere," Aurelion continued, "we will have no choice but to fight him."
Then, a smirk curved beneath his helmet.
"You call yourself the Ninth King," he said coldly. "Yet every monarch knows the truth."
His voice sharpened like a blade.
"You are the weakest among them."
The hall fell into a deadly silence.
"If you stand in our way," Aurelion finished, "you will be killed."
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then Ren laughed.
It was low at first—distorted, unnatural. A demonic sound that echoed along the walls and crawled into the bones of everyone present. Even the winged soldiers stiffened, instinctively gripping their weapons.
Ren stopped laughing as abruptly as he had begun.
"Weak?" he said softly.
His eyes opened, glowing faintly with violet authority.
"Who told you that?"
The atmosphere shattered.
A rift tore open behind Ren, darker than any shadow cast by light. From it emerged elite abyssal soldiers, their movements silent and precise. In an instant, blades pressed against the necks of the winged soldiers accompanying Aurelion.
Aurelion froze.
Two figures appeared at his sides without warning.
Umbra and Zyra.
Their dual blades rested against his throat, sharp enough to draw blood with a single breath.
"Watch your arrogance," Umbra said coldly. "Our king has been kind to you. Be grateful for that."
Ren raised his hand slightly.
Every blade withdrew at once. The abyss soldiers vanished back into the darkness, leaving behind a suffocating stillness.
Ren looked directly at Aurelion.
"I will not allow my lady to be taken from me," he said calmly. "If you attempt it again, your head will remain here. Your body will not."
Then Ren turned away, his voice stripped of emotion.
"Leave."
He began walking as if the matter were already settled.
But Aurelion Varkane had no intention of retreating.
Without warning, he spun his spear and hurled it forward with blinding speed.
Althric, Umbra, and Zyra saw it—but none moved.
The spear stopped.
Balanced between Ren's fingers.
Ren turned his head slowly. His instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
He felt it—a distortion, deliberate and calculated.
Ren's gaze snapped toward Yume.
Aurelion was already there.
So fast that even Althric failed to perceive it.
"Forgive me, Ninth King," Aurelion said as he seized Yume. "But I must take her."
Haru and Daiki lunged forward, but Aurelion struck them mid-air, sending both crashing aside. With Yume in his grasp, he surged toward the portal.
"REN!" Yume screamed. "Help me!"
Aurelion barked an order. His soldiers formed a shield.
Too late.
Althric and Zyra tore through them, blades flashing, shadows screaming. Still, Aurelion slipped past and dove into the portal.
Ren's voice rang out—cold, absolute.
"Clear my path."
"Kill them all," he ordered. "No one returns."
Ren moved.
Those who tried to stop him died instantly.
Kuro shouted desperately, "Ren—stop!"
Ren did not slow.
He vanished into the portal.
It sealed shut behind him.
When silence returned, every winged soldier lay dead.
Only their king and queen were gone.
Haru, Kuro, and Daiki stood frozen.
Ren and Yume had vanished—into the unknown.
Darkness consumed Ren the instant the portal sealed.
There was no ground. No sky.
Only violent currents of distorted space tearing at his shadows. Reality itself felt thin, fragile. Ren anchored himself mid-air, shadow authority spreading outward like roots gripping existence.
His eyes burned violet.
"Yume…"
He felt her—distant, restrained, but alive.
Ahead, light erupted.
Aurelion burst from the spatial corridor, his wings flaring wide as he encased Yume within radiant feathers. Blood stained his armor where Zyra's blade had struck him, yet his posture remained disciplined.
"You should not have followed," Aurelion said. "This path lies beyond your dominion, Ninth King."
Ren stepped forward, shadows rolling beneath him.
"You crossed my border," Ren replied calmly. "You touched what belongs to me."
Space ruptured.
They emerged into a vast golden sky—colossal wing-shaped citadels floating endlessly, rivers of light flowing between them. At the center stood a throne forged from crystal feathers and ancient runes.
The Skybound Sanctum.
The homeland of the Winged Sovereignty.
Ren suddenly found himself in a forest—towering luminous trees, fairies drifting through the air, winged beings watching from above.
"What is this place?" Ren muttered. "Where is Yume?"
He looked up.
Aurelion was already flying toward a massive palace.
Thousands of guards stood waiting.
Every one of them bowed.
Aurelion dragged Yume inside.
"Let go of me!" Yume resisted, wings flaring—but his grip did not loosen.
"My king," Aurelion announced within the hall, "I have returned—with the queen."
Elsewhere, Ren collapsed.
His body refused to move.
"What… happened to me…?"
During the time passed in portal his shadow was depleted very fast.
From the shadows, a mysterious figure watched—then stepped forward and carried Ren away.
High above, the King of Wings spoke, his voice shaking the palace itself.
"Is she the one?"
"Yes, my king," Aurelion replied.
The King smiled.
To be continued…