The city slept beneath a shroud of artificial lights.
Neon veins ran through the metal towers, bleeding pale color into the endless night.
Far above the rooftops, the clouds twisted—unnatural patterns clawing at the sky—while a pulse of darkness flickered on the horizon. It was the Gate again, breathing faintly, like the heartbeat of something too vast to belong to any living thing.
Ren Akatsuki stood alone on the balcony of the command tower.
Wind tore at his long coat, carrying with it the distant hum of generators, the faint cries of the sleepless city—echoes of fear, hope, and exhaustion merging into one endless sigh.
He looked down at his hand. It trembled faintly, shadow trailing from his fingers in thin streams of blue-black flame.
Not from weakness… from restraint.
"I almost lost control again," he murmured inwardly. Even after all this time… even after the Abyss.
Below, the reflection of the Gate shimmered across the glass of the skyscraper—its vortex swallowing starlight, bleeding darkness into the clouds.
He could feel it even from here: the rhythm beneath its silence, the whisper beneath its stillness.
Something ancient called to him from the other side.
"Are you calling for me again?" he said quietly. "Or warning me?"
A shift in the air behind him.
"Talking to yourself again?"
Ren didn't need to turn. "Yume," he said.
She stepped forward, her coat fluttering in the wind. Her eyes, soft yet sharp, caught the reflection of the Gate.
"You scared them today," she said. "Even Kuro and Daiki were silent."
Ren's gaze stayed on the horizon. "If they were scared, then they're learning."
"You shouldn't have held back," Yume said softly. "James deserved worse."
Ren's mouth curved faintly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "If I hadn't held back, there wouldn't be a building left to return to."
Yume said nothing. Silence stretched—comfortable, but heavy with understanding.
Then the hum changed.
The Gate pulsed again, stronger. The air thickened with static. Even Yume felt the pull in her chest.
Ren's eyes narrowed. "It's awakening again."
They both turned toward the distance where a storm of light and shadow writhed against the horizon. The sky itself bent toward the anomaly, as if the world were being dragged into its core.
"Daiki and Kuro already went to investigate," Yume reported. "They're waiting for you at the site."
Ren flexed his gloves tighter over his hands. "Then we move."
He turned—but Yume's hand caught his sleeve.
"Ren…" she hesitated, her voice barely audible above the wind. "You know what people are saying. They think you're not human. That you were born from the Gate."
Ren's eyes softened; his voice did not.
"They're wrong."
He looked again toward the pulsing darkness. "I wasn't born from it, Yume. I returned to it. The Gates don't create monsters—they awaken what the world tried to bury."
Her grip tightened. "Then promise me one thing. When it calls… you'll come back."
He met her gaze. City lights reflected in her eyes like dying stars.
"…I'll try."
Ren stepped onto the railing. A single command whispered through the night.
Rise.
A shadow-forged phoenix erupted beneath him, its wings spreading wide, feathers burning with black and cobalt flame. The temperature dropped as it screeched through the wind. He looked back.
"Are you coming?"
Yume shook her head. "I'll hold things here. Go."
Ren nodded once and leapt.
The phoenix dove from the tower, trailing blue fire through the clouds as it carried him toward the storm on the horizon.
The city gates loomed below when Ren descended. The sky around the Gate flickered—currents of black energy coiling like serpents.
On the ridge ahead, Althric stood with Kuro and Daiki, their silhouettes cut against the glow.
Ren landed; the phoenix dissolved into shadow.
"What is it?" he asked.
Daiki turned, a tablet in hand. "Look at this, Ren. The readings spiked just moments ago. The Gate manifested suddenly, and its energy signature…" he hesitated, "…it resembles yours."
Ren's lips curved slightly. "Is that so?"
Daiki frowned, confused by his calmness. "Should we prepare a seal team?"
Ren shook his head. "No. Don't let anyone near it for a week. This Gate will open soon."
His gaze slid toward the old Gate still faintly glowing in the distance—quiet, yet releasing an endless stream of negative energy.
He called out, "Althric."
The knight stepped forward, kneeling briefly. "Yes, my lord?"
"This is the one we've been waiting for, isn't it?"
Althric's golden eyes gleamed beneath the visor. "Yes. Its resonance matches the coordinates. It will open any time now."
Ren's voice was calm, unhurried. "Then we wait."
Morning came too quickly.
Inside the grand hall, tension filled the air. The hunters of Nirvalen gathered once more—faces grim, hearts uncertain. This time, they were not waiting for a man.
They were waiting for a king.
When Ren entered, silence fell. His presence filled the chamber—an invisible gravity pressing down on every soul present. Even the shadows on the walls bent toward him, drawn to their monarch.
"Thank you," he said, voice smooth but carrying the weight of command. "You may sit."
Chairs scraped quietly. No one dared meet his gaze directly.
"As you all know, the battle approaches. We've prepared, but preparation alone won't decide survival."
He raised a hand; a holographic projection flared to life above the table—a series of sleek weapons rotating slowly in pale blue light. "These are the new shadow-forged weapons. Same design, new composition—reinforced with Abyssal ore. They'll cut through demon carapace like silk."
From the left row, Misaki Kurohana rose. "As a sniper, I fight at range. What about us?"
Ren turned to her. "You'll use enhanced ammunition. I already briefed Miss Ichiro on the ballistic compatibility for every hunter type."
Another hunter stood. Kael, hesitant, voice trembling. "Sir, what about armor—and our safety? If the enemies are as powerful as last time, we'll—"
"You'll use your standard combat suits," Ren interrupted. "But that won't decide your survival either."
Kael swallowed. "Then we're… disposable?"
"Your shadow will enhance your suit — transforming it into a full-body armor of darkness," one of the hunters remarked, his tone filled with intrigue.
"So... how do we achieve that?" another asked.
"By awakening your shadow to its true potential," came the calm reply.
The hunter frowned. "What do you mean? Are our shadows... not fully awakened already?"
"No." Ren's gaze hardened. "Your shadows aren't fully awakened. That's your weakness. Our bodies can't yet synchronize with the power they wield. Even our S-Rank hunters aren't close to the demons' higher tiers."
He paused, eyes flicking briefly to Daiki. "Take the last battle with Raviel. Even at full output, you barely survived."
Daiki looked down. The memory still burned behind his eyes.
Someone from the back muttered, "But… wasn't that battle saved by a mysterious knight?"
A ripple of whispers spread until Misaki rose again, her tone sharp but respectful. "There's something you all deserve to know."
She faced the others. "That knight—the one who appeared that night—was none other than Mr. Ren himself. We live because of him."
Shock rippled across the hall. Ren didn't react. He simply folded his arms, letting the revelation settle.
"Enough," he said quietly. The murmurs died instantly. "Back to the topic."
He gestured toward the hologram again. "A new Gate has opened near the city's border. Most of you already feel its pull. Its power is nearly identical to mine. That's why I'll handle it personally. Only the higher-ups, Miss Ichiro, and Yume will assist in monitoring."
He let his gaze sweep across the room. "Train yourselves. Harder than ever."
For a moment, no one spoke—until a man known for his gentleness stood. Luther, the kindest of the upper A-Ranks.
"Excuse me, sir." His voice wavered. "How can we push our shadow power to its limit?"
Before Ren could answer, a nearby hunter snorted. "You? You'll break before you even—"
"Shut up and sit down!" Ren's voice cracked like thunder. The man froze, the air itself seeming to bend under the monarch's glare.
Silence.
Ren turned back to Luther, tone calm again. "Luther, right?"
"Yes, sir." The young man straightened, pale.
"After the meeting, come with me."
"H-Huh? Y-Yes, sir!"
When the hall dismissed, every hunter exhaled the breath they'd been holding.
Ren met Luther afterward, joined by Daiki, Althric, and the gathered S-Ranks at the training facility—a vast arena bathed in pale light, the air humming with containment sigils.
He shrugged off his coat, shadows rippling like smoke around his shoulders.
"Do you know why I called you here, Luther?"
The young man shook his head. "No, sir. I… I'm strong, but I don't like hurting people. Not physically or mentally."
Ren studied him for a moment. "You're kind. I used to be like that once. But in this world, kindness to those who despise you is a sin. Mercy to the unworthy is unforgivable."
Luther's breath caught, the weight of those words sinking deep.
"That's why," Ren continued, "you'll train with Althric. All of you will."
Elysia stepped forward. "Sir, with respect—can one man really train all nineteen S-Ranks at once? Is he even stronger than us?"
Ren turned his gaze to her, eyes glinting faintly blue. "Miss Elysia, if all nineteen of you fought him together, he could still defeat you. Easily."
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the group.
Akari—the Empress—smiled, excitement flickering in her crimson eyes. "If that's true, then allow us to spar with him. I'd like to see the difference myself."
Ren glanced at Althric. "Ready?"
The knight bowed slightly. "Always, my lord."
Oro folded his arms, smirking. "This should be fun."
Ren stepped back beside Yume and Luther, the arena falling quiet except for the low hum of shadow energy gathering at its center.
"Begin," Ren ordered.
Ren stood beside Yume and Luther at the edge of the massive training hall. The air trembled faintly with the hum of suppressed power. All nineteen S-rank Hunters—along with Daiki—formed a wide circle around the man standing alone at the center.
Althric.
Ren's most trusted knight. The one forged in shadow and loyalty.
Ren turned toward the gathered Hunters.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Akari, the Empress, stepped forward with an intense smile tugging at her lips. "Of course." She glanced back at the others. "He's Mr. Ren's soldier—so he must be stronger than us!"
Zyra folded his arms, shadow faintly crackling at his shoulders. "He's stronger, no doubt. But if we go all out together, we might actually pull this off."
Ren said nothing. His expression remained calm, unreadable.
Then Althric drew his blade, the steel whispering as it cut the air. "Begin."
The training floor trembled as every S-rank Hunter unleashed their full aura. Shadows rippled across the walls. Flames, lightning, frost, and spirit energy surged together—nineteen titans converging on one man.
Ren watched from the observation deck with Yume and Luther.
"They're adapting their shadows," he murmured.
"They're still not in sync," Yume replied softly. "Too much pride between them."
Below, all nineteen attacked at once. The collision shook the entire hall, a burst of raw power erupting outward. A shockwave tore through the ground, scattering smoke and debris into the air.
Akari raised her hand, grinning through the haze. "We did it! He's done for!"
But then—
A deep, calm voice echoed from within the smoke.
"Are you sure?"
The haze cleared, and Althric still stood there—untouched, unshaken. The floor beneath his feet was cracked, yet he remained perfectly still, his eyes glowing faintly beneath the dim light.
Every S-rank froze. None of them could believe what they were seeing.
Then Daiki and Akari moved again, charging with renewed determination. Their strikes blurred, thunder and flame weaving together in perfect rhythm.
Ren's gaze followed their movements. "Yume, note their coordination—especially Akari and Daiki. Their teamwork is good."
"Yes, Ren," she answered.
Down below, Althric met their blows with effortless precision. His blade flickered like shadow itself, turning aside each strike without strain. Even while surrounded, his calm never wavered.
"Your attacks are fast," he said, voice even. "But strength without control is nothing."
As if to prove his words, he vanished—reappearing between Daiki and Akari in the blink of an eye. His sword struck their weapons, sending them skidding backward across the floor.
The other S-ranks joined in, shouting, releasing everything they had. Energy flashed, the hall erupting into chaos. Yet no matter how fierce their assault, Althric danced through it—each movement sharp, deliberate, almost instructional.
Ren finally spoke, his voice cutting through the noise.
"Althric. End it."
"Yes, my king."
In a single instant, the room was filled with black streaks—trails of shadow moving faster than sight could follow. One by one, the Hunters collapsed, disarmed or struck unconscious before they even realized what had happened.
Silence.
Dust settled. Nineteen of the strongest Hunters in Nirvalen lay scattered across the floor, groaning, staring in disbelief at the man who had felled them without a single injury to himself.
Ren stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Now," he said quietly, "do you understand your current level?"
No one dared to speak.
"From this day onward," Ren continued, "Althric will train you all. You will learn what true mastery means."
Akari, still kneeling, raised her head. "Mr. Ren… for the first time in my life, I've felt real defeat. I want to see it—the difference between you and him. I want to know how strong you truly are."
Ren shook his head slightly. "If Althric and I go all out, this entire facility would collapse. It would not be a spar—it would be destruction."
But Akari wasn't alone. The others nodded, eyes burning with determination.
"Please," Astrid said. "Show us. Even if only once."
Althric looked to Ren. "My king, this could be a valuable lesson. They will understand the meaning of power—and it will drive them to grow stronger."
Ren closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled softly. "…Very well."
The Hunters gasped.
"But not here," Ren added. "If we fight within the city, there won't be anything left standing."
He turned toward Althric, his aura beginning to rise, shadows stirring around him like a living storm.
"Outside the city," he said. "We'll give them a true demonstration of power."
Althric bowed deeply. "As you command, my king."
(To Be Continued)