I Will Fall Into Darkness, So You May Return to the Light

The young man's partner reacted to the boon as if it were a precious gift—a mixture of joy and sorrow swirling within her. Such a fortunate opportunity, something she wouldn't have dared to dream of before.

Hesitantly, she extended her hand, yet with a newfound certainty.

"Yes."

Only with the warmth of the connection did she seem to awaken from a dream. Clinging tightly to Ren, she held on as if afraid he might vanish.

The memory space woven within the black-feathered Fenghuang Down was imperfect. Anyone who calmed down and analyzed it would find undeniable logical fallacies within the seemingly real memories.

Even ordinary people could distinguish between nightmares and reality—let alone Kiana, who had faced countless intrusions from the Herrscher of the Void.

Yet, what truly trapped her wasn't the dream itself. It was the sorrow in Ren's eyes.

That almost overflowing loneliness made Kiana feel as though she were standing on a reef amidst a raging storm, while Ren kept walking toward the vast ocean.

She wanted to reach out and pull him back.

But an insurmountable distance lay between them.

All she could do was watch helplessly as he sank deeper and deeper—until he finally disappeared beneath the waves.

It wasn't the dream itself that Kiana feared.

It was the fear that Ren would, just like in the dream, slowly sink into darkness.

After awakening from the feather's memories, Kiana struggled to escape the lingering shadows.

Fortunately, with Fu Hua's guidance, she finally resolved that no matter what Ren became—she would pull him back from the darkness.

She thought she was prepared.

But the moment she felt that trace of darkness emanating from Ren, she realized something. The fears she had buried deep within her heart—like venomous snakes—had never truly left.

"Ren, no!"

She gripped his clothes tightly, as if letting go would mean losing him forever.

Just like the puppets she had seen in the illusion, he would drift away from her bit by bit—until he fell into the abyss.

In Kiana's memories, Ren was like a warm fireplace in the dead of winter. Never angry. Always silently offering her warmth.

That was why, the instant she sensed his killing intent, it felt so... alien.

No! No!

The blood-soaked street from the black feather's space was still vivid in her mind.

She was terrified.

Terrified that Ren—bathed in sunlight as he always was—would become stained with the same filthy blood.

"I'll listen to you. I'll always be here. So, don't be afraid, okay, Kiana?"

Seeing the girl in his arms so distraught, Ren felt a pang of heartache. 

His pale hand gently soothed her, as if comforting a child.

Ignoring the Herrscher of Sentience amidst the rubble, he carried Kiana to a clean spot and sat down, letting her rest more comfortably.

Only when the tension in her body eased slightly did he reach out and gently wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Although he didn't know the specifics, Ren could tell Kiana had been deeply affected by something.

His gaze shifted to the Fenghuang Down core, faintly glowing with overflowing energy. He had a pretty good idea of what had transpired.

So, she forcibly absorbed the final feather after all?

Before he left, he had warned Kiana—repeatedly—that confrontations on the mental plane were incredibly dangerous. Any carelessness could lead to irreversible consequences.

She had to be in peak mental condition before absorbing the last feather.

Yet, something still went wrong.

But she's Kiana. Even if she made a mistake... what could he do?

Ren sighed helplessly, his gaze falling on the girl clinging to him for security.

After confirming she wasn't resisting, he gently placed a hand on her head, carefully examining her physical state. Fortunately, aside from mental exhaustion, she was only weak from not having eaten for a long time.

The results eased his worries—but also deepened his curiosity.

What exactly happened in the black feather's space to frighten Kiana so much?

She had matured a lot. She wouldn't have been so reckless unless something unforeseen had forced her to absorb the Fenghuang Down prematurely.

Was it caused by the Herrscher of Sentience after all?

His thoughts drifted to the now-silent Senti. Instinctively, he glanced in her direction.

But before he could even consider what to do with her—He felt his head being pulled back.

His eyes met a pair of teary, fear-stricken ones.

"Don't look." The girl's voice was earnest, almost pleading, as if afraid he would do something drastic.

"Hm?" Ren had a feeling Kiana had misunderstood something.

"I'm sorry. I've always neglected your feelings... forgetting that you also have negative emotions." Her grip tightened.

"Don't worry, I can handle everything from now on. I don't want... I don't want your hands to be stained with blood." Ren was taken aback.

Before he could ask anything, Kiana struggled to stand up from his arms.

"Class Monitor was right. I still don't understand you enough, but it's okay. We have plenty of time."

Ren noticed that as she spoke, the gloom in her eyes gradually receded. In its place, a resolute and bright glimmer took hold.

Without waiting for his response, Kiana grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

Herrschers are born from humanity's negative emotions.

They nurture monsters. They devour hearts.

They have already been born—and without anyone noticing, they've set their sights on Ren.

The Kiana of the past hadn't realized this.

But now?

She wouldn't give these monsters any opportunity.

Even if—one day—Ren truly fell into darkness, she would do everything in her power to bring him back.

I will fall into darkness, so you may return to the light!

She was the Herrscher of the Void.

Her hands were already stained with blood.

But Ren?

Ren had never hurt anyone. He should remain bathed in sunlight.

As his companion, she had to protect this last glimmer of light. Having made up her mind, Kiana had unknowingly matured even further.

She didn't notice, but the small flame of the Heart of the Flame within her burned ever brighter—fueled by her resolve.

"Listen to me."

Her voice was firm.

"From now on, no matter what enemy we face, let me deal with them first."

She knew very well—Ren's anger had stemmed from her.

His killing intent had only surfaced because someone had used her as a threat.

And while Kiana was happy that Ren cared so much, she didn't want to see that murderous side of him ever again.

Looking at the young man before her—seemingly radiating light—Kiana couldn't help but smile.

Just now, for a moment, she had actually thought Ren had become a Herrscher.

Now that she thought about it... it was ridiculous.

She believed that as long as she was there to protect him—

Even if the whole world was infected by Herrschers...

Ren would be the last one standing.

Shaking off those absurd thoughts, Kiana turned her attention to the real issue at hand.

Why would Class Monitor fight with Ren?