Ren looked at the mysterious man and asked, "Are you one of the commanders?"
Renji calmly replied, "No. The two lying on the ground were the commanders."
Ren's eyes widened. "You defeated them… but how can I trust you?"
Then, his gaze dropped to Renji's bandaged hand. A memory flashed—he remembered that Renji was also someone who stood against the ruler.
Renji asked, "Did you defeat anyone?"
Ren nodded. "Yeah. I took down one commander… and a few soldiers."
Renji showed no emotion. "Not bad." He turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ren called out. "Come with us. Please… we need your help to fight the Ruler. You're strong—and we'd be glad to have you."
Renji paused, then glanced back. "Why should I join you? What do I gain from this?"
Ren, frustrated, replied, "You're already against the Ruler, right? Isn't that reason enough? Together, we stand a chance."
Renji's voice was cold. "I don't need anyone. I can defeat him alone."
Ren stepped forward, jaw clenched. "You think you can reach him alone? He's not some low-level enemy. He's the Ruler. He has armies, memory manipulation, everything… You can't just walk in alone and win."
Renji said nothing and kept walking.
Ren growled, "I'm not done with you yet!" and followed him.
Soon, they ran into Ryota, Hayato, and Akari.
Akari narrowed her eyes at Renji. "So you're the one everyone's been talking about… I figured you'd get involved sooner or later."
Renji remained silent.
Ryota scoffed. "Tch… pretty arrogant for someone with no manners. What's your name, huh?"
Akari stepped in. "His name is Kagami Renji."
"I didn't ask you," Ryota snapped.
She smirked. "Of course not. But he'd never bother answering someone he considers beneath him."
Turning serious, Akari addressed Renji. "We need you. If we work together, we can take the king down."
Renji crossed his arms. "I can do it alone. I don't need your support."
Akari's voice sharpened. "You might think the commanders were strong… but they're nothing compared to the Celestial Guards. You've seen that already, haven't you?"
Renji looked at his bandaged hand, silent.
Hayato asked, "Celestial Guards? Who are they?"
"They're the king's elite force," Akari replied. "Their strength is on a whole different level. Even the commanders can't compare."
Hayato and Ryota looked stunned.
Hayato turned to Renji. "If that's true… we'll definitely need your strength."
Ren nodded. "She's right. We're stronger together."
Suddenly, Morvon came stumbling toward them, tears in his eyes. He ran to Ren and hugged him tightly.
Ren smiled. "It's okay now, Morvon. But you shouldn't be outside."
Hayato thought, This guy's luck is unreal… surviving both the forest and this mess.
Renji glanced at them, then finally spoke. "Fine. I'll join you. But if you disappoint me… I'll walk away without hesitation."
Ryota nodded. "Fair enough. We won't let you down."
Ren asked, "Are all the enemy soldiers gone?"
Akari replied, "I think so. I haven't sensed any more."
Ren looked around the ruined town. "The worst part is… many of the attackers were from this very town."
Hayato muttered, "The Ruler's actions are getting stranger… Destroying one of his own towns? What's he planning?"
Ryota, with a heavy expression, added, "And now… most people will forget this destruction. That's the cruelest part."
Ren clenched his fists. "We can't undo that. But we can stop the one abusing this power."
Renji looked over the ruins. "Let's move. There's nothing left here."
Ryota objected, "But what about the people?"
Renji replied coldly, "They don't matter to me. My only goal is to kill the king. I don't care what anyone else thinks."
Ryota was about to shout back, but Ren stopped him. Ryota gritted his teeth and stayed quiet.
Akari said, "Let's head to the capital. That's all we can do for now."
Everyone agreed and began moving.
As they left, a stranger approached the town. He smiled warmly at Ren as they passed.
Ren frowned. "Why was he smiling like that…?"
Once the group was out of sight, the man's expression twisted. "Next time we meet… you won't survive, my lord. But first—let's erase this place."
Scene shift
In a dimly lit room, a beautiful woman stood over a group of trembling prisoners. One man, bound and gagged, quivered with fear as sweat ran down his face. She calmly removed the tape from his mouth.
"Please don't kill us!" he begged. "We'll do anything! Just let us go!"
She smiled. "I won't kill you… But may I have a hair?"
Terrified, he nodded. "Take as many as you want! Just please…"
She plucked a single hair, then conjured a magic doll and embedded the hair into it. Her sweet smile turned sinister.
The man's face twisted in horror. "Please… please—"
CRACK!
His lower jaw snapped backward, and he collapsed, unconscious and bleeding.
The magic doll's jaw cracked the same way.
Scene shift
In a strange palace, a scientist like person with round glasses floated knives in the air, dissecting a body without touching it. With a smirk, he whispered, "The war between the lords has begun…"
Scene shift
Back at the Palace of Ice, Eva Frost stood at her balcony. A gentle smile curved her lips as she gazed into the distance, her eyes hiding silent intentions.
End of Lunavere Arc and Season 2