"Yume, are you serious? I can't fight you…" Ren muttered.
"Oh? Is the Ninth King afraid?" the Black Heart teased.
"Shut up," Ren whispered sharply.
"What did you say?" Yume asked, raising a brow.
"Nothing!" Ren quickly replied.
"Ren, we have to spar," Yume insisted.
The Black Heart chuckled inside his mind. "Man, you should spar with her."
"Wait, what? You too?" Ren groaned.
"Right now, you're not strong enough. But if you face her, you'll finally see just how weak you are."
Ren exhaled slowly. "…You're right, buddy."
"Buddy? Where's the formality? Didn't you say we are one? I am you, and you are me."
Ren smirked faintly. "You're right. Together… we'll become strong."
"That's more like it," the Black Heart replied, pleased at finally being accepted as a true part of him.
Yume nodded. "All right then. Let's have a match—"
"Not here, Ninth Sovereign," a new voice cut in.
Ren turned sharply. "Who are you?"
"I am the Third General of the Eight Sovereigns."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I was observing. I wanted to reveal myself after we returned, but… this is the right time. Besides, only the Fourth General recognized you. The rest of us… did not."
"Why?" Ren asked quietly.
"We were told the Ninth Sovereign would be a mighty warrior. Yet you were the lowest of the low, ranked beneath even the weakest soldiers. We don't know why the Eight Rulers acknowledged you… but not all of us accept you."
Ren's eyes widened. "There are more Sovereigns?"
"Yes. The King of Fire, the King of Water, and the King of Wind. They all fought in the Demon War, centuries ago."
"So, there are still kings who don't accept me…" Ren muttered.
"Yes. We don't know why the Fourth General accepted you, but…" The General clenched her fist. "Let's have a spar, Ninth Shadow."
"…Fine. Let's do this."
They moved deeper into the forest. The air grew thick and heavy, a silent pressure weighing down the trees.
The General lunged first, her blade gleaming as it cut through the air. Ren raised his sword just in time—
CLANG!
The collision shook the forest, sparks exploding between their weapons. Ren's arms quivered from the sheer force.
"You won't last long like this," the General said coldly, pressing down.
Ren gritted his teeth. "Then I'll last… as long as I have to!"
He forced her back and released his shadows to three percent. His aura thickened, the ground beneath him cracking. He lunged forward, striking faster, harder—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Every strike was parried, every thrust redirected. The General's movements were precise, effortless, almost mocking his effort.
"Not enough," she said flatly, shoving him away.
"Raise it to seven percent!" the Black Heart barked.
Ren's shadows swelled, wrapping around his arms and legs like armor. His speed spiked—this time, his strikes carried explosive weight.
BOOM!
Their blades clashed, and the shockwave snapped trees in half. The General's eyes flickered with mild surprise.
At nine percent, Ren's aura deepened, his blade glowing with shadow. He forced her back a single step—only to be nearly crushed by her counter.
"You're holding back your true strength," she growled. "Show me your resolve—or die here!"
Ren's body screamed in protest. His vision blurred, blood trickled down his arms. Still, he raised his sword again.
"If this is the test… then I'll endure it!"
WHOOM!
His power erupted, surging to eighteen percent.
"Ren, don't do it!" the Black Heart warned.
"Just do it!" Ren roared.
Darkness swallowed the forest, suffocating and absolute. The air grew heavy, the ground split beneath his feet. His voice overlapped with something far older, far darker—
"You dare test the Shadow Monarch?"
The General froze. That presence… This can't be…
Ren vanished into the black mist, reappearing behind her in a blur. His strikes fell like thunder, relentless and merciless, forcing her back step after step. Each blow rattled her bones, blood spraying from her lips.
"Stop! Please—stop!" she screamed, fear flashing across her face.
But the shadows pressed on, crimson eyes burning with inhuman malice. For a moment, it felt as though the true Ninth Sovereign had awakened.
Then—suddenly—the darkness shattered. Ren collapsed to one knee, half-covered in shadow, gasping for breath.
"Are you all right, General?" he asked, his voice calm despite the blood at his lips.
The General staggered, staring at him in disbelief. "…Why? Why would you help me? I didn't even recognize you as the Ninth Sovereign."
Ren gave a tired smile. "That doesn't matter. You're hurt because I couldn't hold back. Let me heal you."
Dark energy laced with faint blue light flowed from his hands, wrapping around her wounds. Slowly, her broken body began to mend.
The General trembled. He… even after I rejected him, he worried for me. He even feels guilty for hurting me… That's why the Fourth General accepted him. He truly is a king.
Her eyes welled with tears. She dropped to one knee. "Forgive me, King of Shadows. I was blind. But now, I see why you are worthy. Please… let me fight by your side."
"Raise your head," Ren said softly.
She flinched, expecting punishment—but instead, Ren embraced her.
"You did nothing wrong. You defended the honor of the Eight Sovereigns. I may not be worthy yet… but one day, I'll prove myself."
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched his back.
Inside Yume's soul, the Third General whispered: You were right. That's why he is the King.
Yume smiled faintly. This moment is yours, Ren. Not mine.
"Thank you, Ren," Yume said aloud.
"Yume… let's go back home, shall we?"
But as they turned, Ren collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Ren!" Yume cried.
"Don't worry," the General reassured her. "He'll be fine. Let him face the darkness inside himself."
"…Grandfather? What are you doing here?" Yume asked suddenly.
"Nothing," the old man replied with a faint smile. "Just passing by."
Inside Ren's body, the shadows stirred. A deep, echoing voice welcomed him:
"Welcome, Ren Akatsuki… and the Ninth Black Heart."
"Hello, King of Darkness."
"Who are you, and where am I?" Ren asked.
"Hello, Ren. Nice to meet you again," the Black Heart said with a sly tone. "How was the hug with your girlfriend?" it teased, laughing.
"Shut up!" Ren snapped.
"My King, you are very different from the other eight kings I've met. All of them were formal, always using one another. But your bond… it's different. Why is that?"
"Oh yes," Ren answered softly. "He once told me something—if we work as one, we'll grow stronger, faster."
"You're right," the Heart replied. "Together, we will be stronger."
"I see…" A deep voice echoed. It was the Darkness itself.
The Darkness bowed before Ren. "My King, please borrow my strength and protect this world."
"But… how did this come to me?" Ren asked, confused.
The Heart interrupted. "He is the power you used when you unleashed eighteen percent of your strength. When a new Shadow Sovereign is born, he meets the Darkness and gains its powers. But this time… it's different. He is unusually polite and kind to you. He accepts you as the King of Darkness."
Ren's eyes widened. "So, this is not normal?"
"No," the Heart explained. "Usually, the Darkness tests if one is worthy. Yet, he has accepted you on your very first meeting."
Ren asked the Darkness directly, "Why did you accept me?"
The Darkness spoke slowly. "When a sovereign receives the Black Heart, they often grow arrogant, using their powers for destruction. At first, they don't understand their purpose, but once they learn it, they fulfill their responsibility. That is why they were chosen as kings.
"But you… when you first gained this power, you saved the one you cared for. You damaged your body, yet you still wanted to protect everyone. Even when I took control, I could not restrain the blows—you injured her badly. Yet you seized half the control back and limited the damage. That is why I accepted you."
Suddenly, the Darkness's tone shifted. "Oh… it's time."
"What time?" Ren asked.
Out of nowhere, the Eight Kings appeared.
"Why are you all here?" Ren questioned.
"They are here to welcome you," the Darkness said, "and to grant you the throne, declaring you the Ninth King of Shadows and Darkness."
"But didn't I already receive the throne?" Ren asked, puzzled.
"No," the Darkness replied. "You weren't ready back then. You can only truly take the throne once the Darkness accepts you. Shadows are born from darkness. Darkness is the core of shadow."
The Darkness continued with a solemn speech:
"The darkness within the eight kings gave them the authority to rule, but from now on, that darkness bows to the Ninth Shadow Monarch and will fight alongside him. Please, Ninth Sovereign—sit upon the throne and declare yourself."
Ren hesitated. His chest tightened.
"Ren, don't hesitate now," the Black Heart urged. "If you refuse, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
"…You're right," Ren whispered. "But right now, I can't accept this throne. I'm weak… unworthy of that honor. That's why the other kings and generals don't accept me yet. When I am truly worthy…"
His body flared with an ominous aura, one eye glowing with shadow.
"…I will return to rule over the darkness."
The hall fell silent.
The Fourth King finally spoke. "You are different, Ren. We weren't chosen by the Darkness. But you were. He offered you the throne, and you rejected it—not out of arrogance, but because you deemed yourself unworthy. That makes you unique. You will surpass us all."
Another king declared, "Your bond with the Black Heart is unlike ours. What is your relationship?"
Ren glanced at the Heart.
"Oh, we?" the Heart chuckled. "We need each other. That's all. Together, we'll become stronger."
The Darkness lowered its head. "From now on, I will serve you until my final breath."
Ren then stood tall and addressed them all:
"Right now, we must work together. I will fulfill my duty as the King of Shadows. But to do that, I need all of your strength. Together… we will defeat the Demon of Shadows!"
A brilliant surge of power resonated in the chamber.
Ren suddenly blinked, coming back to his senses.
"What happened?" Yume asked joyfully.
Ren shook his head.
"You were cold and pale out there," Yume said, worried. "Ren… what was that? That darkness? And who was speaking?"
"The Darkness," Ren answered calmly. "The one who has served the Eight Monarchs until now. But… he has accepted me as the new King of Darkness."
Yume froze, shocked. "Impossible… none of the Eight Monarchs were ever accepted on their first meeting. But you… you were."
Ren clenched his fist.
"Master," he whispered. "Who am I, really?"