The surface was silent, a blanket of gray clouds hanging low as four figures journeyed toward the most forsaken place known to mankind — the Abyss. The car rolled along the cracked highway, its engine humming softly in the still air. Yume sat beside Haru in the front, her expression firm but her eyes shadowed with worry. Behind them sat Kuro and Daiki, their faces etched with determination and unease. None of them spoke for a while. The weight of their mission hung between them like a curse.
The road to the Abyss Gate was long, buried deep within an ancient city that had been obliterated centuries ago — a place of ruins, where the earth itself groaned with memories of destruction. Haru kept his eyes on the road ahead, gripping the wheel tightly. Every so often, the headlights flashed across remnants of forgotten statues, shattered walls, and scorched land where no life dared to grow.
Finally, Kuro broke the silence. "Haru," he said quietly, "are you sure you want to go with us?"
Haru didn't look back. His voice was calm but heavy. "Yes. I'm ready. If this is the end, I'll face it with you."
Kuro nodded. No one tried to stop him after that. There was no turning back. Once they packed the last of their gear — blades, talismans, water, and charms for warding off corruption — they drove into the unknown, leaving behind the fading light of the world above.
Meanwhile, deep below the surface where sunlight could never reach, the Abyss stirred. Its darkness twisted and breathed like a living creature, whispering in languages no mortal could understand. Inside the throne chamber, the once-mighty Dread Monarch, Ren Akatsuki, lay unconscious. His body was a wreck — torn by his own overwhelming power, the dark energy that had consumed him to the core.
At the center of the room stood Althric, the first of Ren's generals, born directly from his shadow. The general's crimson eyes flickered with unease as he gazed at his fallen king. His armor reflected the faint glow of the abyssal mist as he gave a cold, commanding order.
"Everyone, leave," Althric said. His tone was sharp, allowing no room for question. "Only the generals shall remain."
Thousands of shadow soldiers instantly obeyed, vanishing into the darkness. The throne room fell silent — all that remained was the low pulse of the abyss and the steady, shallow breath of its ruler.
Althric rushed toward Ren, kneeling beside him. "My king… please hold on."
Ren's eyes were closed, his breaths shallow and ragged. His once-majestic armor was shattered, black cracks running across his pale skin where his own energy had devoured him. Umbra and Zyra, his other generals, appeared behind Althric.
"What's happening to the Dread Monarch?" Umbra asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Althric didn't answer her question. Instead, he turned to Zyra. "Can he be healed?"
Zyra nodded. "I can try."
Her hands glowed faintly as she knelt beside Ren. The light that formed from her palms shimmered like starlight in the endless dark. Slowly, for the first time since entering the Abyss, Ren's monstrous form began to fade. The horns upon his head receded, the black tendrils of energy around him dissolved. Beneath all the power and pain, he returned to his true self — a young man no older than twenty-three.
Umbra gasped softly. "This… this is what he truly looks like?"
Zyra stared in disbelief. "He's just a boy…"
His body was fragile, broken, and full of scars. The black veins from shadow corruption pulsed faintly under his skin. Each breath he took sounded like a struggle for survival. Althric looked down, his expression grim but filled with something rare — sorrow.
"Yes," Althric finally said. "This is who he truly is."
The three worked tirelessly for hours. Zyra focused on healing, Umbra stabilized the air around them to suppress the shadow's corrosive aura, and Althric shielded the chamber. Ren's screams echoed throughout the hall — cries of agony, of memory, of torment. It was the sound of a soul trapped between two worlds. His voice cracked and broke, half human, half beast, as his power resisted the light healing him.
After what felt like an eternity, the process ended. Zyra's light dimmed, and Ren's body finally went still. His breathing steadied, but he did not wake.
Althric stood silently, wiping the sweat from his brow. The chamber fell into a heavy quiet once more. He stepped outside, staring into the black horizon of the Abyss. The air shimmered like oil, endless and suffocating. For a long while, he said nothing.
Zyra and Umbra joined him. Zyra's voice broke the silence first. "Althric… who is he really? Why does someone like him carry so much pain?"
Althric closed his eyes. "The one you call Dread Monarch… is a boy named Ren Akatsuki. Only twenty-three years old."
Umbra frowned. "A boy? That can't be."
Althric nodded slowly. "It's true. He was born with tremendous mana — a blessing and a curse. Even without the Black Heart, he overflowed with power. His parents sealed that power away, hoping to protect him. But fate…" He exhaled deeply. "Fate threw him into hell."
He looked at the two generals, his voice growing heavier. "He was treated like a monster even as a child. Tortured, beaten, rejected — yet he still remained kind. Even after he gained the Black Heart, he swore to protect mankind."
Zyra looked away, guilt shadowing her expression. "Then why did he become this — emotionless, ruthless?"
"Because of Raviel," Althric said, his tone dark. "When Raviel appeared on the surface, he revealed the truth — that Ren's ancestors were the ones who first opened the Shadow Gate. The entire world turned on him. To protect humanity from their hatred and the curse that followed, Ren sold his soul to the Abyss. It devoured his emotions, his humanity, everything he once was."
Umbra's eyes softened. "No one tried to save him?"
Althric looked down. "Someone did. A teacher who trained him… and a girl he loved. They were his light in the dark. But to protect them, he chose to walk this path alone. They begged him not to… but it was already too late."
"Poor boy…" Umbra murmured, lowering her head.
Zyra clenched her fists tightly. "Compared to what he's endured, our pain means nothing. He still chose the righteous path, even after everything."
Althric turned away. "You should both rest. The final layer of the Abyss awaits us soon. The Abyssal King is restless — his fury grows each day."
They nodded and left him. Alone again, Althric turned back toward the sleeping figure of Ren. Despite his cold demeanor, his expression softened. "My king," he whispered, "you deserve peace… yet all you've found is war."
Meanwhile, on the surface, Yume, Kuro, Daiki, and Haru reached a small village at dusk after hours of driving. The settlement looked worn and tired, but its people still smiled with a fragile hope. They approached the village head's house, asking for a place to rest for the night.
The elder greeted them with a weary smile. "Travelers, what brings you to our forgotten village?"
Yume stepped forward. "We seek shelter. We're heading toward the Abyss Gate."
At the mention of her name, the old man suddenly froze. "Yume… Yume Akegami?" he asked, his eyes widening. "The S-Rank Shadow Bound?"
The three men turned to Yume in surprise. "How do you know her full name?" Kuro asked, his tone cautious.
The village head exhaled slowly and began his tale. "A few weeks ago, our village was on the brink of death. The wells dried up, our people starved, and shadow demons attacked nightly. We had no strength left… until a man appeared."
"A man?" Daiki asked.
"Yes," the elder said softly. "A man in a black cloak, face hidden. He fought alone, destroying every demon that threatened us. His power was unlike anything I had ever seen — shadows obeyed him, bending to his will. He purified the land and even brought water back from beneath the earth."
Yume's breath caught. "What did he say before leaving?"
The elder smiled faintly. "He refused our offer to stay. But before leaving, he said, 'If your village ever needs help again, seek out a girl named Yume Akegami — an S-Rank Shadow Bound. If she's not there, go to the Thunder Team HQ and ask for Daiki Raikuro.' Then he left, heading toward the east."
The room fell silent. Kuro's hands tightened at his sides. "So Ren came here…"
"Yes," the elder nodded. "He never sought praise or reward. Just helped and disappeared. We never understood why."
Daiki stepped forward. "Sir, may we stay for the night? We're on a journey to bring him back."
"Of course," the elder said kindly. "Rest as long as you need."
That night, they stayed in a small guest house. The fire burned low as the four sat together. Yume stared at the flame, her mind replaying every word. Ren… even broken, you still save others. No one spoke after that. The silence was heavy — filled with unspoken guilt, hope, and determination.
In the Abyss, Ren finally opened his eyes. The chamber was dark, the air heavy with the scent of burnt ash. He groaned softly and tried to sit up, but pain lanced through his entire body. He realized his armor was gone, replaced with bandages.
"Althric," he muttered weakly.
The general appeared immediately. "My king. You're awake."
Ren blinked. "Where is my armor? What happened?"
"You were wounded beyond measure," Althric said calmly. "Your armor disintegrated. Zyra healed you. You've been unconscious for days."
Ren tried to stand but collapsed, his strength failing him. Althric caught him gently, preventing him from falling. "You mustn't push yourself," the general said.
Ren frowned. "I don't have the luxury of rest."
At that moment, Umbra and Zyra entered, carrying food and fresh bandages. Ren looked at them in confusion. "Where did this come from?"
Umbra smiled faintly. "We went to the surface. Disguised ourselves and gathered what you needed."
Ren blinked in disbelief. "You risked your lives… for me?"
Zyra set the tray down, her tone sharp. "You may have lost everything, but you still have us. Stop pretending you're fine and let yourself heal!"
Ren froze. For a fleeting second, he saw his mother's face reflected in Zyra's anger. Something inside him softened. He allowed them to tend to him — feeding him, rewrapping his wounds, and helping him sit upright.
Days passed, and his strength slowly returned. The endless fatigue in his eyes began to fade, replaced by quiet resolve. When he could finally stand again, he looked at his three loyal generals — Althric, Umbra, and Zyra — and spoke softly.
"Thank you. For taking care of me."
The three kneeled before him as one. "We, the generals of shadow," Althric declared solemnly, "swear eternal loyalty to you, our king. Wherever you go, whatever stands in your way — we shall stand beside you."
Ren's eyes softened. He tried to smile, but couldn't quite manage it. "Then rise," he said quietly. "The final battle of the Abyss is about to begin."
The shadows around them stirred, whispering like a storm about to break.
And thus, the Dread Monarch stood once more — ready to face his fate.