In the abyss, Ren the Dread Monarch, along with his army, went to the second layer. But when they reached Zyra Blackthorn, the Fallen Monarch of Sky and Thunder, along with her army of thunder and darkness, stood there to meet the Dread Monarch.
Zyra welcomed him.
"Are you the boss of this layer?" Ren asked.
With confidence, she replied, "Yes, it is. And I know why you came here. I also heard that you almost killed Raviel on the surface, so I want to make a deal. Let's join forces. You join me, and we rule over this place together."
Ren was in shock. Why does she want me to join her?
He took a deep breath and said, "Let's change the question. You join me and help me win the war against the shadow demon and protect humanity."
Zyra asked, "Tell me, have you ever been betrayed or left alone?"
Ren kept silent. His silence answered that he had been both betrayed and left alone.
She continued, "We are the same. I was betrayed by the kings of sky and thunder — the people I trusted. They left me alone to die. Then the abyss called me and made me the king of this layer.
It seems you are the same as me.
Ren interrupted before Zyra could finish.
Ren interrupted, his tone cold and commanding.
Betrayed, left alone... everything that once happened to me also happened to you. But I don't want to take revenge or kill them. If I do the same thing they did to me, then what would be the difference between us?
I chose the path of being alone — I sacrificed myself so people could see another day peacefully. Many call me a monster, but faith and history will remember me as a hero who sacrificed myself.
When you are betrayed, you have two options: seek revenge or help those who are left in the darkness. You chose revenge — that's why you are here, seeking it. I am also here, but my goal is to protect the people I used to care for the most."
Zyra fell silent, not having an answer for her own words. Then she said, "I will join you, but only if you defeat me in a duel. If you defeat me, you can take the throne directly."
Without a second thought, Ren agreed to have a one-on-one match with her.
Meanwhile, Yume, Kuro, and Daiki started preparing themselves to enter the abyss. In order to do that, they needed shadow coverage so the abyss wouldn't consume their human bodies. So they went back and began preparing.
In the abyss, both Ren and Zyra stood ready for battle. But this time, Ren asked the beast to give him its power without controlling him. The beast declined and instead asked Ren to give it control.
Ren refused and decided not to use the beast unless truly necessary.
The battle began.
Two different kings — one, the King of Shadows; the other, the King of Thunder and Sky.
Two different swords — one forged with shadow and darkness, the other forged with thunder.
As their blades collided, the entire abyss started to shake. The fight was so intense that even Raviel could feel it.
"He's already in the second layer," Ren thought. "He'll come for me soon."
Zyra spun her spear, lightning crackling around her like serpents of light. "Let me see the strength of the Monarch who walks through storms of shadow!"
Ren's cloak flared, darkness dripping from him like liquid night. "And let me see if your thunder can pierce the abyss."
They vanished — and the sky exploded.
A single clash shattered the horizon. Thunder and shadow roared through the layer, tearing the air apart.
Zyra summoned a legion of lightning spears. "Heaven's Wrath: Thousand Blades!"
Bolts rained down, piercing the ground, turning stone into molten glass.
Ren swung his arm — black tendrils erupted from the shadows, wrapping around each bolt and consuming them whole.
She dove from above, her spear spinning, cutting through the dark smoke. Ren raised his sword just in time; the impact created a shockwave that threw both armies back.
They reappeared midair, slashing again and again. Every strike carried the force to destroy mountains.
Zyra's movements were sharp, fluid — lightning personified.
Ren's were deliberate, unyielding — the abyss in human form.
Zyra grinned, eyes glowing. "You're holding back."
Ren's shadow flared in reply. "You'll regret saying that."
He raised his hand — shadows formed into beasts, wolves of black flame with crimson eyes.
They leapt toward Zyra's lightning dragons. The sky became a warzone of roaring thunder and howling shadows.
Zyra lifted her spear. "Divine Roar!"
A thunderstorm descended in a column of pure electricity, obliterating everything in its path.
Ren stepped out of the explosion unharmed, his armor cracked but his eyes glowing crimson.
"Now it's my turn," he said coldly.
He raised his sword. "Abyssal Break."
A wave of shadow energy erupted, cutting through Zyra's storm.
The entire layer went silent for a moment — then the explosion came.
Their powers collided again, thunder and shadow consuming everything. The world trembled.
Then, Ren's aura flickered. His body trembled, eyes dimming for a moment.
Zyra saw it instantly. "What's wrong, Monarch? Losing control?"
Ren gritted his teeth. Inside his mind, the beast laughed — a low, echoing sound.
The beast spoke inside his mind.
"You know you cannot win against anyone right now. You've only awakened half your power. Give me your body. Let me control you. Just one minute — the battle will be over."
Ren gave in and allowed the beast to take control for one minute.
In the battlefield, as Zyra powered up, Ren's helmet faced the ground. Not a single pulse was moving. The power thickened — energy surged all over the place, making the abyss bright.
For the first time, the abyss shone with light.
"Huuh," the beast exhaled through Ren's mouth. "See? I don't have time to waste. Let's finish this battle in one minute."
For the last time, their swords collided — and both unleashed their ultimate moves.
The Second Layer of the Abyss began to collapse.
Storms of pure lightning carved through oceans of shadow, twisting the world into a howling void.
At its center, two monarchs faced each other —
Zyra, the Fallen Monarch of Thunder and Sky, her power burning through broken clouds,
and Ren, whose body no longer belonged to him.
His eyes glowed crimson and black. His veins pulsed like molten shadow.
The Beast had taken over.
Zyra smirked through the lightning surrounding her.
"So, you've finally let the monster take control, Dread Monarch."
The Beast's voice came from Ren's mouth — distorted, layered with echoes of countless souls.
"He didn't let me. He simply… obeyed the contract."
The abyss trembled as he took a step forward. Every shadow in the realm bent toward him. Even the thunder faltered.
"You shine bright, Fallen Monarch," the Beast said, its tone deep and emotionless.
"But brightness fades. All that remains… is silence."
Zyra raised her spear high, lightning forming a divine dragon around her. Her fallen crown flickered with divine wrath.
Zyra shouted:
"HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT: ETERNAL TEMPEST!"
The sky split open. Clouds turned into rivers of electricity, and her body became light itself.
The Beast merely raised his hand, shadows spiraling into an infinite sphere behind him — cold, vast, and devouring.
The Beast (Ren's body):
"ECLIPSE OF THE MONARCH."
The world vanished into chaos.
Thunder and shadow collided endlessly, consuming each other.
The storm screamed, the earth wept, and reality bled into nothing.
Through the blinding light, the Beast moved — fast, soundless, unstoppable.
Its claws tore through lightning as if cutting silk.
Zyra struck again and again, each blow shaking the heavens, but none found victory.
At last, the Beast caught her spear mid-strike.
Their powers clashed — lightning arcing across darkness, the storm's final cry echoing through the abyss.
Zyra's arm trembled. Her weapon cracked.
The Beast leaned closer, its breath cold and hollow.
"You fought well… thunder queen."
"Now kneel — or vanish."
For a moment, Zyra stared into those lifeless eyes.
There was no mercy there.
No hate.
No emotion.
Only absolute dominion.
She knew she couldn't win.
She also knew — the Beast wouldn't kill her if she yielded. It didn't crave destruction, only submission.
Slowly, she lowered her weapon. The storm behind her quieted, fading into distant rumbles.
Zyra knelt.
"The sky... kneels to the shadow."
The Beast released her spear and placed a single clawed hand atop her head.
Dark energy surged through her body — not to kill, but to mark.
A sigil of pure darkness carved itself into her chest, pulsing faintly in rhythm with Ren's shadow.
A binding seal.
A pact of forced loyalty.
"You belong to the Dread Monarch now."
The Beast turned away, satisfied. The task was complete.
As its body began to dissolve back into black mist, Ren regained control. A scar was now etched across his helmet — a mark of battle.
He looked down at Zyra, who remained kneeling, her lightning dimmed and her spirit bound.
"You kept your word," he said quietly. "Whoever wins… joins the other's side."
Zyra lifted her head slightly, a faint, proud smile curving her lips.
"I didn't lose, Dread Monarch. I simply chose the stronger sky."
Ren turned away, his cloak of darkness rising with the wind of her fading storm.
"Then rise, Monarch of Thunder. From now on, your storm answers to my shadow."
Zyra stood, lightning flickering across her body — now tinted violet-black.
Her once-fallen crown reshaped itself into a sharp, dark halo of stormlight.
She bowed her head.
"As you command… my King."
The Second Layer of the Abyss stilled.
Thunder fell silent.
And for the first time since its creation… the storm bowed to the night.
"Zyra, you will lead your army on my command," Ren said to her.
She smiled, her heart at peace. "As you wish, my King. I am honored that you chose me."
After that, Zyra guided the Dread Monarch to the throne that now belonged to him.
Ren's shadow armor gleamed in the flames that welcomed their new king. His cloak spread across the chamber, making him the absolute ruler.
Then he turned and sat upon the throne.
All three generals — Zyra, Umbra, and Althric — bowed.
Once, only his knights served him. Now monsters, beasts, and thunder soldiers all bowed to his name.
Meanwhile, on the surface, the Nine Kings ordered Kuro, Yume, and Daiki to go as soon as possible to the abyss — because Ren had already conquered the second layer and was preparing for the third.