The sky above the village was fading into a deep violet, the first stars peeking through the heavens. The wind carried a strange, heavy stillness as if the world itself were holding its breath. In the center of that quiet stood Ren, his fists trembling—not from fear, but from the storm roaring within him.
"Then I'll control it," he said, voice steady yet laced with unspoken fury.
Kuro, who had been watching him like a shadow, slowly shook his head. "Not yet, Ren. To defeat higher-ranked demons, you must first become one with the Black Heart. Break the seal—not because we tell you to—but by your own will."
Ren's father, Zenkai, stood nearby, his aura like a calm ocean hiding a riptide. "The seal will vanish only when you shatter your own limits. That is the path of the chosen."
Ren sat silently, lowering his gaze. But behind his eyes burned a determination so fierce it almost radiated from his skin.
He lifted his head slightly, his voice soft but sharp. "What do you mean by 'high-ranked demons'? The creatures humanity has been fighting—are they not demons?"
Kuro's eyes closed, his voice lowering into a grim tone. "No. The demons you've seen until now are nothing but feral beasts. Pawns. That dragon you defeated… that was the lowest rank."
Ren's heart pounded. "Then… Master," he said slowly, "what kind of demons did the Kings and Generals fight?"
"The main army of the Shadow Demons has not yet returned," Zenkai said gravely. "But soon—soon, the war will begin again. You must be ready, Ren. This battle, this responsibility—this curse—was given only to you. No one else can bear it."
Ren's lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. "Your blessing and your presence are enough for me."
Both his parents looked at him then, eyes softening as memories flickered behind them—memories of the boy they once held, now standing as something far greater.
Ren's voice shook as he spoke again. "I always wanted to meet you—just once more. When they told me you'd died in an accident… I—" His voice cracked. "I cried for days. Alone. Hiding from Master. But when the knight within me whispered you were alive, I couldn't believe it. And when his words proved true, I was… I was filled with a joy I can't even describe. From that moment on, I just wanted to see you again."
His parents began to cry, tears tracing down their faces like silver threads.
Kuro's voice was almost a whisper. "Your words feel like you've suffered too much, Ren."
The Black Heart growled low within him, its tone like thunder rolling across distant mountains. "The suffering he's endured… not even a King could imagine."
Ren shook his head. "Leave it for today. I'm just happy to see them again. I don't want to weigh this moment down. Let's celebrate. Mother—what will you be cooking?"
His mother wiped her eyes quickly and forced a soft smile. "Ah—oh! Today I made your favorite dish, the one you always asked for as a child."
Ren's face lit up, his expression breaking into the pure joy of a boy no older than five. No one had seen such a light in his eyes for decades.
Soon, children came running back with a large cake, followed by villagers who peeked around corners to catch glimpses of the fabled Ren Akatsuki. Before long, a festival atmosphere spread like wildfire, laughter echoing through every home. Music, food, and warmth filled the night.
Deep inside, however, something stirred. A voice whispered to the Black Heart from the depths of the Darkness:
"The King is happy… truly happy. This feeling—it has never been felt before."
"You're right," the Black Heart replied. "This boy… there's a reason why he was chosen. I couldn't see it before, but now I do. Let him have this moment. It won't last forever. But for now… let him enjoy it."
Kuro turned to Zenkai. "Your son is happy with you. Enjoy every second. We don't know when—or if—you'll see him again."
"Does Ren know?" Zenkai asked quietly.
"Not yet," Kuro replied. "Too much has happened too quickly. It's been months, and he's grown beyond what I imagined… and yet the true fight hasn't even begun. All we can do now is pray."
Just then, Ren's younger brother shouted proudly, his voice echoing over the crowd. "My brother Ren is so strong—he even scared big brother Tatsuya and big sister Reiha!"
The villagers laughed, voices overlapping, calling out for Ren to demonstrate his power.
Ren hesitated, glancing at his siblings. "Wouldn't they be scared?"
Kuro stepped forward, his tone a command cloaked in a smile. "Show them your true power."
Ren nodded slowly. "Alright then."
Everyone gathered in a wide clearing. The air itself seemed to grow heavier, as though the world sensed what was about to happen. Ren closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
A dark, surging power began to rise from him, swirling like a storm contained in human form.
"This isn't even my full power," Ren warned quietly. "Grab onto something."
The villagers clutched fences, trees, and one another, eyes wide. Ren's smile was almost playful as he released himself.
A column of black-blue energy shot into the sky, splitting clouds and shaking the earth beneath their feet. Cries of awe and fear echoed through the crowd.
Far away, in the woods beyond the village, a presence stirred. Eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
"Someone is here… someone powerful. A worthy opponent," the figure murmured.
Back at the clearing, Ren's power kept rising. "This is too much!" one villager shouted, shielding his face from the gale of energy.
Then—blinding light burst from Ren. Black armor formed over his body, piece by piece like a living creature wrapping around its master. Blue flames erupted from the crest of his helmet, licking at the sky like ghostly fire.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Where Ren had stood, now stood a knight—a warrior cloaked in darkness yet blazing with light. His aura pressed against the villagers like a tidal wave.
Tatsuya's voice trembled. "Brother… is that really you?"
Ren turned his head slightly, the ghostly flames reflecting in his eyes, and raised his thumb with a grin beneath the helmet.
All three siblings rushed to him, awe etched across their faces.
"It looks like you've made quite an impression on them," Kuro said, a faint smile curling his lips.
But Ren's instincts screamed.
"Look out!" he roared.
Four bladed weapons whistled through the air like vipers, striking the ground with deadly precision. Smoke burst upward.
"Tatsuya! Reiha! Takuma! Ren! Are you alright?!" Yume's and Kuro's voices cut through the chaos.
Ren stood before his siblings, a blade caught effortlessly in his armored hand. "Everyone stand back—we're under attack!"
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a demon, tall and sharp, its grin like a knife's edge.
"Well, well," it said in a voice slick with malice. "Someone came to protect these people."
The villagers froze. A demon that spoke—their blood turned cold.
"It can't be," Kuro whispered. "A high-ranking demon… here?"
"Ren, lure it away!" Kuro ordered. "Yume, evacuate the villagers!"
"On it!" Yume's voice was steel.
Ren faced the demon, shadow-forged katana materializing in his grasp. "Who are you? How did you enter this realm?"
The demon smirked, recalling its weapon to hand. "I'll remember you once I take your head to my King."
Ren's grip tightened, his voice a growl. "You'll be a worthy opponent."
The world blurred. A devastating clash erupted, steel against shadow, each strike sending shockwaves tearing through the clearing. Ren held back, unwilling to destroy the village—but even restrained, their battle was monstrous. His family hid, eyes wide, unable to follow the speed of the fight.
"You're strong," the demon sneered. "But not strong enough."
He powered up, his aura deepening into a void darker than night. Ren's heart hammered in his chest.
"I was already struggling—and now he's even stronger?!"
Inside, the Black Heart roared. "Hey, dumbass! Did you forget? You're not even using us! Darkness—evolve! Power up twenty percent!"
Ren's shadow flared, crawling up his body like living flame.
The demon's eyes widened. "That power… no. It can't be—the Darkness? Impossible!"
Rage contorted its face as it struck harder, faster. Ren's strength began to falter under the onslaught, energy bleeding away.
"Darkness—power up forty percent!"
Shadow-flames consumed half his body now, his katana burning with black light. He caught the demon's strike and pushed him back, finally matching him blow for blow.
"That's enough!" Ren roared. He surged forward, his blade slicing true, slamming the demon into the ground.
"Brother won!" Tatsuya cried.
But Ren's guard slipped for an instant. The demon lashed out, its claws ripping into him. He staggered, blood spraying, crashing to the earth.
"Run!" he gasped to his family, but they stood frozen, horror locking their feet.
The demon ignored him, advancing toward them.
"Not so fast, Shnider!" Kuro's voice cracked like a whip.
The demon stopped mid-step. "You know my name?"
"You're one of the Nine Kings' Generals," Kuro said coldly. "And now I know for certain—the one lying there is the Ninth King, reborn. The strongest of them all."
"He might already be dead," Shnider grinned.
Yume's rage ignited. "How dare you!" Her power erupted, breaking her limits, her aura blazing as she unleashed the full strength of the Third General. Kuro joined her, the Fourth General's power sparking in his hands.
Blades clashed again, their fight a storm of fury and steel under the stars.
Meanwhile, Ren drifted in darkness—unconscious—before a vast throne. The Ninth King sat there, his eyes like black suns.
"We meet again, boy," the King said.
"Please," Ren begged, dropping to his knees. "Help me unseal my true power. My family, the village—they need me. I barely held him back. The power within me is still locked."
"You hold only a fraction of your true strength," the King said, rising. "But you've done well. You unsealed this much by yourself. I can lend you only a hand. Remember, we are one soul. One body."
He placed a hand upon Ren's head. "You've done well, Ren. You will defeat the Shadow Demons. I am glad I chose your family."
Ren's eyes softened. "Thank you. This responsibility changed my life. I was nothing before—but now, everyone relies on me. I will use this power for good."
"I know," the King said. "After all—you are the chosen one. Now rise, King of Darkness, Ren Akatsuki. Unseal the power you hold."
Back in the real world, Ren's armor shifted—evolved. His wounds closed in an instant. The ground trembled beneath his aura.
"Black Heart—power up forty percent!"
Darkness devoured him, his presence now an unholy force of nature. Yume and Kuro faltered, their battle with Shnider forgotten for a heartbeat.
The demon froze, fear flashing across its features. "This power… it's too much!"
Ren's voice echoed like thunder across the clearing. "Master's seal has been broken—to thirty-five percent."
He leveled his katana, blue flames surging like a tempest. "Hey… I'm not done yet. Come at me with your full power."
This time, Ren thought, eyes blazing, I won't let anyone take what's mine.