"Should I tell you everything," Kuro asked, his voice as calm as moonlight but heavy as the earth, "or do you wish to ask your father and mother yourself?"
Ren's breath caught. His chest tightened as if invisible chains were squeezing his heart. "Tell me," he whispered, voice almost breaking. "Tell me everything… as you know it."
Kuro gave a single slow nod. The air around them seemed to grow still, as though even the night was holding its breath to listen.
"Very well," he said.
The seriousness in Kuro's expression deepened, shadows playing over his face. "When the Ninth King decided to choose a vessel, he did not simply select a single warrior. He chose a bloodline. A family who lived far away from all others — deep within an ancient forest, a place untouched by the wars of men. They lived quietly, peacefully, far from the gaze of the world.
"But fate does not leave chosen ones in peace for long. When the Gate of Shadows was unsealed, the Ninth King's power stirred — and that family was awakened to a destiny they had not asked for. The power was weak then, only a whisper. But it was enough to mark them."
Ren's heart pounded harder with every word.
"For centuries," Kuro continued, "the Eight Generals were commanded to watch over that bloodline. They waited and waited. Many generations came and went, but no child strong enough to bear the Ninth King's will was ever born. Until one day…"
Kuro's eyes gleamed as he looked directly into Ren's.
"…a boy was born with so much mana that the world itself shuddered at his cry. No newborn had ever possessed such power. That boy… was you."
Ren's hands trembled at his sides.
"Your parents did not seal your powers immediately," Kuro said gently. "But your strength was so overwhelming, so raw, that you could not control it. The result was devastation. Your home, your forest, everything you had known was nearly wiped from existence. To save you — and the world — your power had to be sealed.
"When you turned five, your parents were given an order they could not refuse. They were told to leave you, to let you face the world as an ordinary child. The Ninth King needed to see your heart, not just your strength. How would you live, mocked, abandoned, powerless? Would you break — or would you endure?"
Ren's throat felt tight. His vision blurred.
"Your mother," Kuro said softly, "was the last to let you go. She fought the order, wept until her voice was gone. But she was promised that if you proved yourself, she would hold you again. Since that day, she has waited — praying you would grow strong enough to return."
The dam in Ren's chest finally broke. Tears streamed down his face. Every scar, every lonely night, every bitter memory of being called worthless… all of it came crashing back.
"All this time…" Ren's voice cracked. "I wasn't just suffering. They were suffering too."
Kuro placed a hand on his shoulder, firm and steady. "Master," Ren whispered, voice trembling, "where… where can I find them?"
Kuro studied him with solemn eyes. "Are you ready to meet them? Truly ready?"
Ren wiped his tears and straightened. His voice no longer shook. "Yes. I don't care what I have to face. I just want to see them. I just want… to be with them."
"Very well," Kuro said at last, his voice carrying a quiet finality. "Tomorrow, we go."
Ren frowned slightly. "Why you?"
"Because," Kuro said simply, "I am the one who knows where they are. Now rest. You will need every ounce of strength tomorrow. I know it will not be easy to sleep, but try. Dawn will come sooner than you think."
"Alright… Master."
Darkness's voice rumbled lowly behind them. "I will stay with him."
Kuro nodded in approval. "Good. Watch over him."
That night, Ren lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep refused to come. His mind swirled with memories — the laughter of his parents, so faint he could barely recall their faces; the years of mockery, the loneliness, the aching desire to know why he had been abandoned.
When he could no longer bear it, he rose and stepped outside. The moon bathed him in silver light.
The Black Heart spoke, its voice curling through his mind like smoke. You've been through quite the storm, haven't you? Pain, mystery, loss… but all of it forged you into something different. Something the world has not seen before.
"All of this," Ren muttered, looking at his hands, "all of it happened in just a few hours. My whole life… it's all been leading to this moment."
Darkness's voice rumbled. Do you wish to see what your power has become?
The Black Heart added eagerly, Let's test it, boy. Tonight, let's see what the Ninth King truly left inside you.
Ren's lips curved into a faint, determined smile. "Alright. Let's do this."
He left the village quietly, heading toward the edge of the forest where the night was deepest. The air felt electric, as if the shadows themselves were waiting.
"Shall we begin?" he whispered.
Let's, the Black Heart growled.
Ren exhaled and called forth his power. It came like a flood, roaring through his veins, breaking past every chain that had held him back.
Blue flames erupted from his head, licking the air. His body was encased in living shadow, armor forming piece by piece until he stood as something more than human — a king reborn.
"What… what is this?" Ren looked down at his hands, his reflection caught in the black steel of his armor.
You are at seventy-nine percent of your power, the Black Heart said with a note of pride. And even now, this is not your true form.
Darkness spread across him, forming a mantle over his armor.
Power up: twenty percent.
Ren felt another surge, his heart hammering as shadows flared around him like wings.
"So this… is the Ninth King," he murmured.
He forged a sword of pure shadow, pointing it toward the darkness beyond the trees. "Show yourself. Who's there?"
From the blackness, Yume stepped forward, silent as a dream.
"It seems all of your powers — and even your body — have been enhanced," she said softly, her voice almost reverent.
Ren lowered his sword slightly, startled. "Yume? Why are you here?"
"I saw you leave," she said simply. "And I followed. You were talking to yourself again." She tilted her head, her eyes shining as they took in his form. "This… really is the Ninth King's form, isn't it?"
Ren released his power, returning to normal. "Does it scare you?" he asked, almost in a whisper. "Seeing me like this? Like a weapon that could destroy everything?"
Yume walked closer and placed her hand on his chest.
"Maybe," she admitted with a small, warm smile. "But you are still Ren — the Ren I know. The Ren I love. Power doesn't change that. It only makes me proud."
Ren's breath caught. Then, slowly, he smiled.
"Thank you, Yume. Let's go back—"
The ground trembled. The earth split, and a hundred monsters burst from a hidden cave, their roars shaking the night.
Use your power, the Black Heart urged. Test it now.
Ren drew his sword. "Fine. I'll handle—"
"Wait!" Yume grabbed his ear.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"You think I'm just going to watch?" she said, smirking. "I'm an S-Rank Hunter, remember? And this is the perfect time to test the Third General's power."
Ren grumbled. "Fine. But stop pulling my ear!"
She grinned. "Alright. Let's clear them out."
"Fifty for you, fifty for me," Ren said.
"Deal. Forty minutes?"
"Less," Ren said with a grin.
The battle that followed was a storm of blood and shadow.
Ren moved like a predator, his armor gleaming with dark light. Every swing of his blade left nothing but shredded remains — sometimes not even that. Shadows danced around him, doubling his speed, making him almost untouchable.
Yume fought with equal grace, her movements as sharp and precise as moonlight on glass. Ten monsters struck at once, but she cut them down in a blur, her blade leaving almost no blood behind.
By the twenty-fifth minute, silence had fallen.
Yume stood with her blade unstained, calm and steady. Ren, drenched in blood, simply laughed, exhilarated.
"You fight like a monster," Yume said with a small sigh.
"Heh," Ren grinned, wiping his blade on the grass. "And you fight like an angel."
They returned to the village, exhausted but triumphant, and collapsed into bed.
Morning came too soon.
"Ren!" Kuro's voice boomed as he stormed into the house. "Why is your door unlocked?!"
He froze at the sight of the two sleeping side by side — Ren still stained with dried blood.
"Wake up!" he barked. "What happened to you last night?"
Ren rubbed his eyes, yawning. "Good morning, Master. We… killed a hundred monsters. No big deal."
Kuro stared at him, speechless for a moment, then sighed. "You two… Pack your things. We leave today."
Ren turned to Yume, who was half-asleep. "Yume, wake up," he whispered.
She mumbled, turning toward him — and accidentally kissed his cheek.
Ren froze, face bright red.
"Your grandfather is here!" he hissed.
Yume shot up, wide-eyed. "Grandfather! It's not what you think—!"
"We'll discuss this later," Kuro said, face dark with barely contained fury. "Now, get ready."
After a quick breakfast, they set off.
The journey was long, but Kuro used the time to teach them both advanced mana control, shadow-channeling techniques, and healing methods. Ren's bond with Darkness deepened with every passing day, until wielding the Black Heart's power felt as natural as breathing.
At last, they reached a forest so deep and ancient that even the air felt alive with power.
Ren stopped, his heart hammering.
"So… this is where my parents are," he whispered.
"Yes," Kuro said softly, almost reverently. "And today… after all these years… you will finally stand before them."