"Ashes are not the end — they are what remains when even light surrenders."
The air of the abyss was motionless. Shadows drifted like smoke, whispering the names of those who had fallen.
Ren Akatsuki, the Dread Monarch, sat upon an obsidian throne carved from the remnants of vanquished monarchs. His gaze, hollow yet divine, burned through the dark.
Darkness itself bowed before him — not because of fear, but because it recognized its master.
Zyra and Umbra stood before him, both kneeling with their heads low. Their armor still bore the scars of the second layer — the battle they'd barely survived.
"My King," Zyra began softly, her eyes flickering like lightning trapped behind grief, "why have you called us?"
Ren didn't speak at first. The silence stretched long enough for even Umbra to shiver. Then, his calm voice echoed, steady and unshaken.
"Listen carefully. When we reach the end of the abyss… when every layer kneels before me… I will not be the same as I am now."
His words sent a strange chill through the room — as though the abyss itself understood their weight.
Zyra's lips parted slightly. "My king… what do you mean?"
Ren leaned forward, his shadow lengthening across the black floor. "You know I possess a beast within me — one that even I struggle to contain. When the final battle comes, it will awaken fully. I have one order for you… one that cannot be defied."
Umbra bowed deeply. "Your will is absolute, my lord."
Ren's crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"Protect the humans. At any cost."
For the first time, silence wasn't born from fear — it came from disbelief.
Zyra and Umbra exchanged a glance, unable to comprehend the contradiction that stood before them: the Monarch of Darkness commanding the defense of the fragile.
Zyra knelt lower, voice trembling but resolute. "We… we will do our very best to fulfill your desire, my king."
Ren's expression softened, just barely. "Very well. Prepare yourselves. We march for the Third Layer."
From the shadows behind the throne, another figure emerged — his armor forged from living darkness, his presence sharp as a blade.
Althric, the Knight General of the Dread Legion, stepped forward.
"Come with me, Althric," Ren ordered, rising from his throne.
"As you command, my liege."
They walked through the endless black corridors of the abyss, their armor clinking with quiet finality. The void pressed close, whispering, testing their resolve.
Finally, Althric spoke.
"My king, may I ask… why did you summon me alone?"
Ren didn't slow his stride. "You've never truly shown me your strength, Althric. I created you — a knight born of my shadow. In the Third Layer, I want to see why I chose you."
A faint smile crossed Althric's face. "Then allow me to show you, my liege. You will not regret it."
Ren's tone changed, becoming colder, almost sorrowful.
"That is not why I called you."
Althric turned to him, confused. "Then why?"
Ren's eyes glowed red beneath the abyssal mist. "Because I can't trust anyone — not fully. You and I are bound by power and purpose. If they — Zyra, Umbra, or anyone else — ever attempt to harm humanity, you will stop them. And if they refuse… you will end them."
The knight's eyes widened beneath his helm. "My king… may I speak freely?"
"You may."
"They won't refuse you. You've already saved them from despair. Umbra follows you because you resurrected his fallen comrades. Zyra follows you because you saved her from her own vengeance. You've done more for them than any god."
Ren stopped, his gaze falling to the floor. For a moment, the shadows around him pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. "Then I'm glad… I helped them."
He turned, disappearing into the dark ahead.
Althric watched him go, whispering to himself, "You help everyone, my king… but no one helps you."
Deep within the abyss, Ren walked alone. The whispering grew louder now — voices of the beast within him.
"You've consumed sixty percent of me already," Ren muttered under his breath. "Satisfied?"
A dark growl echoed from within his own soul.
"You still don't trust me, Ren Akatsuki?"
"I don't," Ren replied quietly. "You show mercy only when it amuses you. If I fall, you'll destroy everything — even humanity. That is why."
Silence.
The beast said nothing more. And in that silence, Ren prepared for the war that awaited.
When the army of the Dread Monarch reached the gates of the Third Layer, the world itself seemed to recoil.
The air grew heavier, the darkness thicker — laced with crimson embers.
Ash rained down like snow, burning to the touch.
The land before them was scorched earth, an endless wasteland where mountains smoldered and rivers flowed with molten light.
Waiting there, atop a cracked battlefield, stood the Commander of Ashes, leading his army with arrogance painted across his face.
Ren stepped forward, his cloak flowing like living smoke. "Where is your king?" he asked, his tone calm — almost gentle.
The commander sneered. "You're a fool to come here, wanderer. Begone before your ashes feed the soil."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'll ask once more."
"Begone!" the man shouted.
Ren sighed softly. "Althric."
The knight stepped forward, drawing a blade of pure shadow. "As you command, my liege."
And then — he moved.
In a blink, Althric vanished.
A storm of dark slashes erupted across the battlefield, cutting through hundreds before a single scream could echo.
The commander turned, horrified, as his army fell — one by one — faster than thought, until silence consumed the land again.
When it was over, Althric stood still, his armor dripping with the fading remnants of battle. He knelt before Ren, tossing the commander's head at his feet.
"My king, your command is fulfilled."
Ren smiled faintly — a smile colder than death. "Good. Bring his head. We march to the throne of the King of Ashes."
Umbra and Zyra watched in awe, realizing the terrifying scale of the power they served.
Far above, on the surface — the sunlight that touched the earth flickered like a dying flame.
Captain Haru arrived at the hunter's outpost, searching for the one name he hadn't seen in weeks.
"Where is Ren?" he asked, his tone sharp.
Yume, Kuro, and Daiki turned. None of them met his gaze.
"Where is he?" Haru's voice hardened.
Daiki looked down, fists trembling. "He's… in the abyss."
Haru froze. "What do you mean?"
Kuro answered softly. "He's… conquered the first and second layers. He's not the same anymore."
Haru clenched his jaw, stepping back. "That voice I heard… the one that declared conquest — it was him, wasn't it?"
They nodded.
Haru exhaled sharply, his hand running through his hair in frustration. "He's mad. Why would he do this?"
Yume spoke quietly. "Because he had to."
Silence fell again. Haru finally asked, "Can I join you? I'll go after him."
Yume shook her head. "You can't. The Nine Kings gave us this mission, and you don't have coverage to survive the descent. Even if you prepare one, it'll take days."
Haru's expression softened, despair breaking through his voice. "Then promise me… bring him back from that hell."
Yume nodded. "We will. No matter what it takes."
Deep within the abyss, the gates of the Scorched Throne opened.
Ren and his army entered.
At the center of the burning domain, seated upon a throne of molten stone and black iron, waited Azael — The King of Ashes.
His eyes blazed with molten gold, and his voice cracked like thunder.
"So, you are the Dread Monarch," Azael said, rising to his full height. "You may have conquered the lower layers… but you will not pass me, nor the fourth."
Ren's army spread out silently, surrounding the burning throne.
Ren spoke in a low tone. "We'll see."
Azael raised one hand, and the air shimmered — his magic piercing into Ren's soul, seeking to see the truth within.
And then — his expression changed.
He saw darkness beyond comprehension. A void without light, sound, or mercy.
Ren sat on a throne made entirely of shadow, motionless — a hollow man with no soul, no emotion.
The abyss within him was deeper than any Azael had ruled.
Ren's voice echoed within the vision.
"Why have you entered my mind?"
Azael stepped back instinctively. "W–what is this place?"
Ren rose from his shadowed throne. "My territory. You entered without permission. You will leave only when I say so."
The world around them warped. Shadows twisted like serpents, and something massive stirred in the dark.
The Beast — the one that Ren had long kept caged — emerged behind him, its body formless, its presence suffocating.
Azael fell to his knees, trembling. "W-What are you?"
Ren's tone was calm, almost sorrowful.
"A man who has already died once. A monster reborn to cleanse the abyss."
The beast encircled Azael, its many eyes glowing crimson.
Ren stepped closer, his gaze unblinking.
"You made my work easier. I thank you for that. But this is where your reign ends."
The beast lunged, its roar echoing through both realms — and Azael's consciousness shattered like glass. His essence burned, devoured by the abyss itself.
Outside, in the real world of the abyss, the King of Ashes turned to dust before his army's eyes.
His throne cracked, then collapsed into blackened ash.
Ren walked forward slowly, his cloak flowing behind him, and sat upon the empty throne.
The flames of the Third Layer dimmed — bowing, surrendering to the new master.
Zyra, Umbra, and Althric knelt.
"All hail our King."
And then, from beyond the burning horizon, another army began to march — their banners etched with obsidian fire.
The Fourth Layer's soldiers had arrived. They fell to one knee, lowering their weapons in unison.
"From this day forth," they chanted, "we welcome our new King — the Dread Monarch."
The shadows roared in silent approval as Ren looked ahead, eyes glowing faintly red.
"The Third Layer has fallen," he whispered. "Now… the war truly begins."
"Raviel, you just wait… I'm coming for you."