Hours later, the faint rustling of cloth broke the silence inside the infirmary tent.
The night outside was heavy with rain — droplets tapped softly against the canvas, a rhythm that felt almost like a heartbeat. Inside, a single candle flickered weakly beside the cot, casting trembling shadows across the room.
Yume's eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, she didn't know where she was. The light hurt her eyes, and her breathing came in uneven gasps. Then, like the breaking of a dam, memory flooded in — the battlefield, Ren's voice, his eyes as he stood before the collapsing gate.
"Yume… live, even if I cannot."
Her chest tightened. A sharp ache burst through her ribs, spreading up her throat until tears filled her eyes. She clutched the blanket tightly, trembling as the weight of everything came crashing back.
"No…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Ren…"
The sound barely escaped her lips, but it carried all her sorrow, all her guilt. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks. She bit her lip hard enough to taste blood, trying to stop the shaking.
Outside the tent, the Third General stood silently under the rain. When he heard her voice, he stepped inside, his black armor gleaming faintly under the candlelight. His face was grim, his eyes distant — the expression of a warrior who had seen too much death.
"He's waiting for you," the general said quietly. "Go. Bring him back from that hell before it swallows him whole. Go to the Fourth General and tell him everything."
Those words hit her harder than any wound. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Without hesitation, Yume tore the blanket aside and stumbled to her feet. Pain shot through her bruised body, but she didn't care. Every nerve screamed, but her determination burned brighter.
She ran — barefoot, breath ragged, through the cold night rain.
The camp was still awake, lit by flickering lanterns. Hunters and soldiers turned as they saw her — disheveled, bloodstained, tears streaking her face. Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Is that Yume?"
"She's alive…"
"But where's Ren?"
She ignored them all.
Her eyes darted wildly until she saw a familiar figure near the supply tents — Master Kuro, her grandfather, speaking to Daiki and a group of healers. Yume stumbled toward them, her breath uneven.
"Where is my grandfather?!" she screamed, voice raw, echoing through the camp.
Everyone froze.
Kuro turned sharply, startled by the desperation in her tone. When his eyes met hers, the old master's face changed — relief first, then dread.
He rushed to her side and caught her before she collapsed.
"Yume! What happened? Where's Ren?" he demanded.
At that name, Yume broke. Her knees buckled, her strength shattered.
She fell against her grandfather's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. "He… he stayed behind… he told me to live! He—he's gone!"
Kuro's eyes widened. He held her tightly, his jaw trembling.
Behind him, Daiki froze in shock. "Gone? What do you mean gone?!"
Kuro said nothing. He carried Yume into his tent, shielding her from the stares of the others. Inside, he let her cry until her voice was nothing but hoarse whispers. Between gasping breaths, she told them everything — about Ren's final words, the collapsing gate, and how he vanished into the Abyss.
When she finished, silence filled the room.
Kuro's expression hardened. He turned away, hiding the pain in his eyes.
Daiki's fists clenched until his knuckles bled. "He… he sacrificed himself again, didn't he?"
Kuro didn't answer. Instead, he poured a sleeping draught into a cup and handed it to Yume.
"Drink this," he said softly. "You need to rest."
"But—"
"Please, child. For now, rest. You will need your strength soon."
Her body gave in before her will did. The world faded, and she fell into uneasy sleep — her tears still fresh on her cheeks.
The Awakening of Resolve
In the next tent, Daiki lay awake, staring at the ceiling. His injuries ached, but his heart hurt more. The air felt thick — too heavy to breathe.
Finally, he tore the blankets away and stumbled outside.
The doctor shouted after him, but Daiki ignored it. He found Kuro standing under the rain, looking toward the black horizon.
"What happened?" Daiki demanded, his voice trembling. "Where is Ren? What about Raveil? What about everyone?!"
Kuro didn't answer at first. Then, slowly, he spoke — his voice grave and quiet.
"Ren descended into the Abyss. He stayed behind to stop the rift from devouring us. The gate collapsed… and he was taken."
Daiki's world spun.
He fell to his knees, mud splashing around him. "So he's dead?!"
"Not dead," Kuro said. "But not alive as we know it. The Abyss… it changes everything it touches. It twists, corrupts. If Ren loses control, the thing that returns may not be him anymore."
Daiki's fists trembled. "Then we'll bring him back. We'll bring him home!"
Kuro looked at him sadly. "If he starts a war down there… he might destroy every Shadow Demon in existence. But even he cannot defeat the Upper Three alone. He will burn himself out — or worse."
The two stood in silence as lightning cracked across the sky.
Deep Within the Abyss
Far below that storm, Ren walked through an endless expanse of black stone. His cloak dragged behind him, torn and soaked in shadow. The air was thick with whispers — the voices of the damned, echoing through unseen corridors.
"Go," hissed the voice inside him — the Beast. "Perform your duty. End them all. You have the power. Use it."
Ren clenched his fists. His veins glowed faintly with dark energy. "Shut up," he growled.
The Beast laughed — low, mocking. "You cannot silence me forever. You and I are bound by blood and curse. The more you fight, the stronger I grow."
Ren gritted his teeth. "Then I'll fight harder."
He pressed on, deeper into the Abyss. Each step echoed like thunder against the hollow earth. Shadows coiled around his boots, whispering in ancient tongues.
Then he stopped. The air changed. He felt it — hunger, movement.
Demons.
Ren drew his blade.
The Village in Flames
He followed the trail until it led him to a small village hidden within the mist.
It was already burning.
Screams pierced the night. Houses crumbled as winged demons tore through the streets. Fire painted the sky orange and black.
Ren's eyes narrowed. His grip tightened on his sword.
He didn't hesitate.
He moved like death itself — silent, swift, merciless.
One strike. Two. Three.
Each swing left trails of black flame, each impact cutting through demon flesh like paper.
A father screamed, shielding his family behind a broken wall — but before the demon's claws reached him, Ren's blade sliced through the creature. Its body fell apart, scattering into dust.
The man stared up in shock.
Ren's voice was low, rough. "How many are there?"
"Th-thirty, maybe more," the man stammered, blood running down his arm. "We don't know how they got here!"
Ren said nothing. He extended his hand — and from the darkness, a dozen shadow soldiers emerged, their armor gleaming like obsidian.
"Find them all," Ren commanded. "Protect the humans at any cost."
The soldiers bowed and vanished into the mist.
The man looked terrified, but before he could speak, Ren knelt beside him. He placed a hand over the man's wound. A dim black light spread across his arm — the pain faded, the flesh healed.
"You can walk now," Ren said softly.
The man blinked, stunned. "Y-you healed me…"
Ren stood, pulling his hood lower. "I healed what I could. But the scars of fear — those are yours to face."
Children peeked from behind their mother's cloak, wide-eyed.
"Mister, why are you hiding your face?" one asked.
Ren hesitated. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because what's beneath… is not something you should see."
The parents understood. They pulled their children close.
Moments later, the shadow soldiers returned. "The demons are gone," one said. "All accounted for."
Ren nodded. "Gather the survivors."
When they assembled before him, their faces were hollow with grief. He asked the elder softly, "How many have you lost?"
The old man lowered his gaze. "Fifteen. Including… children."
Ren's hand trembled. His shadows flared. "…I was too late," he murmured.
But instead of blaming him, the villagers knelt.
"You saved us," the elder said. "That is enough."
Ren turned away, jaw tightening. He drove his sword into the ground — shadow energy rippled outward, covering the entire village. The villagers gasped, thinking it an attack, but soon they felt warmth spreading through their limbs. Their pain disappeared, replaced by calm.
Ren's eyes glowed faintly. "This power is not for destruction alone," he said. "Let it protect you."
The Promise
When Ren finally prepared to leave, a young man ran up behind him.
"Wait!" he shouted.
Ren turned, his cloak fluttering in the wind.
"My name is Melson," the man said, bowing deeply. "Why are you leaving so soon? We can't thank you enough—"
Ren's voice was calm. "You don't owe me thanks. You owe your people protection. Become strong. Guard them with your life."
Melson hesitated. "Then at least take food with you!"
Ren shook his head. "They need it more. But if you truly wish to help, go to the nearest city. Find a girl named Yume Akegami. Tell her Ren sent you. Tell her what happened here."
Melson nodded fiercely. "I will! I swear I'll protect them — no matter what!"
Ren paused, then raised one hand in acknowledgment. "Then live," he said softly — and disappeared into the fog.
The Descent
Days passed.
Ren's path led him to the mouth of a colossal cavern. The ground trembled beneath it — the entrance to the deepest layer of the Abyss.
"This is it," Ren whispered.
The Beast stirred. "Yes. Beyond this lies the true heart of the Abyss — where gods and monsters sleep."
Ren gripped his sword. "If this is the end… then I'll carve my way through it."
The Beast laughed. "You'll lose yourself, Ren. You'll become me."
Ren's voice was steel. "If that's the price to end this war… then so be it. But hear this — never kill a human."
A pause. Then, for once, the Beast's tone softened. "I cannot promise that… but I will try."
Ren gave a faint smile. "That's enough."
He stepped forward — into the dark.
Shadows surged. His aura exploded outward, shaking the cavern. His cloak tore, and a black armor formed around him, carved from his very soul. His eyes burned crimson, his blade glowed like the dying sun.
"From this day forward," he said, voice echoing like thunder, "I am no longer Ren."
The ground cracked. The Abyss roared back — as if recognizing its new king.
"From this day…" His voice rose into a roar. "…I am the Dread Monarch!"
When the light faded, a lone figure stood — a cloaked knight wrapped in shadow and fury.
His sword gleamed with divine darkness.
His aura burned with purpose.
"I'm ready," he whispered. "Ready to slaughter every beast in this hell."
And then, without another word, the Dread Monarch vanished into the Abyss.