Chapter 3
Rain tapped softly against the window of Renji's home, a quiet rhythm contrasting the chaos that had unfolded just hours ago. The house was dimly lit, the atmosphere heavy yet strangely peaceful.
Inside Lily's room, Renji sat beside her on the bed.
She lay facing the wall, curled slightly, trying to calm the storm inside her heart. For a girl of only fourteen… she had witnessed more trauma than most adults would in a lifetime. Death. Fear. Loss. Pain.
Renji's gaze softened painfully as he looked at her small trembling shoulders.
He exhaled shakily.
"I'm… sorry, Lily," he whispered. His voice cracked.
"You're so young… and yet everything you've known is pain and suffering."
He clenched his fists.
"From Father and Mother's deaths… to losing your friends… almost all of them."
His breath hitched.
"And even I—your own brother.. I caused you pain."
His eyes slowly filled with tears.
"…And now there's Choji."
Renji looked away, ashamed.
"I was warned," he whispered. "But I was blinded by emotions…"
Tears rolled down his face one after another.
Lily heard the trembling in his voice and slowly sat up, turning to face him.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw his tears.
"Big brother… don't cry."
But Renji shook his head helplessly.
"I was warned…" he repeated, voice breaking.
"And now millions are dead because of me. Fathers, mothers… even children…"
His voice collapsed entirely.
"Just to save one life… millions were killed."
He didn't even notice Lily's hand rising… until smack!
"O-Ouch!! What was that for!?" Renji yelped, rubbing the spot.
Lily puffed her cheeks and frowned.
"Because you're blaming yourself again," she said firmly.
"You're carrying everything alone on your shoulders."
She leaned in and gently wiped his tears with her small hands.
"You're an idiot sometimes, you know that?"
Renji blinked, caught off guard.
Lily continued, voice softening:
"You can't change the past… but anyone—anyone would have done the same to save Choji."
Renji's eyes widened at her words. For a moment… he was speechless.
Lily smiled faintly.
"I'm not a kid anymore, you know. I'm fourteen."
She looked him straight in the eyes stronger than he'd ever seen her.
"Just like the beginning of our story… it was always you and I."
She squeezed his hands.
"And now? It's the same. We didn't dwell on the past then… and we won't dwell on it now."
Her expression softened into pure warmth.
"We focus on our future just like we did before."
Renji let out a small breath… then smiled.
"You're right."
His smile faded slightly.
"But… Lily. I'm a monster."
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
Her voice didn't tremble not even a little.
"You're my brother. And even if the whole world turns its back on you… I will always stand by your side."
Renji's eyes softened. He couldn't help but laugh lightly almost relieved.
"Uhh… why are you laughing?" Lily asked with a blunt expression.
Renji grinned, rubbing her head affectionately.
"Thank you, Lily… now try to get some sleep, alright?"
He stood up slowly, letting her lie back down.
As he walked toward the door, Lily's voice called out softly:
"Big brother… thank you for protecting me today."
Renji paused, back still turned. His voice was gentle.
"…It's okay. As long as I'm here… no one will lay a finger on you."
Lily smiled warmly.
"Yes, yes, I know…" she joked.
"Goodnight, big brother."
Renji exhaled slowly.
"Goodnight, Lily."
He stepped out into the dimly lit living room.
As Renji walked, his face darkened. His mind replayed the nightmare like a broken recording.
The hallway dimmed in his vision…
Lights fade.
Choji hovered above the destroyed city, the wind whipping violently through his hair.
Below them hundreds of bodies. A silent, ruined graveyard.
His eyes were cold. Brutal. Empty.
Two voices echoed from his mouth..different tones merging into one horrifying harmony.
"Look at me, Renji…"
"I have fully merged with my king. And together… we will reshape the universe in our image."
Renji reached out, desperate.
"Chojiii!! WAIT—!"
But Choji opened a gate blinding light swallowing him whole
And vanished.
Flashback ends. Lights fade back in.
Renji's jaw tightened as he reached the living room.
Tch…
He gritted his teeth and slammed his fist against the wall, cracking it.
"Ehhh? Oooi oooi, are you mad at the wall now, Januza-sama?"
Sakura's teasing voice came from the couch, legs crossed casually.
Renji glared at her, exasperated.
"…Shut up, Sakura."
He dropped onto the sofa, exhausted.
She chuckled softly.
"You really need to take better care of yourself."
Her face turned serious.
"Don't think about Choji. What we need to focus on is how to stop him from fully merging with your brother."
Renji sighed deeply.
"That would be possible if we even knew where he was. For all we know, he could be in any universe… any dimension."
He clenched his fists again.
"I never expected him to become a perfect vessel for Azerin. No mortal can handle that much power… so how is Choji an exception?"
Sakura tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"If he's in another universe or dimension… then it's a place where time slows."
She folded her arms.
"Merging with a mortal takes thousands of years in the land of gods. In the mortal realm… it takes six."
She looked him dead in the eye.
"We need to stop it before it's complete."
Before Renji could respond
The lights flickered.
A circular ripple of shadows spun into existence in the center of the room.
The air distorted, bending unnaturally.
A figure emerged… cloaked in darkness.
Then another.
Dracan stepped forward, dusting off his clothes casually. Arisa stood beside him, still slightly disoriented.
Dracan kneeled respectfully.
"Renji-sama… I've brought your queen."
A cold stillness lingered in the living room after Dracan's dramatic entrance.
Renji slowly raised his head and glared at him with a tired, almost annoyed expression.
Dracan straightened his back respectfully.
Renji scratched his chin.
"You know… you don't have to be formal all the time."
Without a moment's hesitation, Dracan slammed a fist over his chest.
"NO! You are my liege."
Renji's eyes dimmed. He sighed.
"…Alright."
Arisa, standing beside Dracan, looked completely lost.
Her cheeks were bright red, her hands trembling slightly.
Nothing about this felt normal to her.
Renji pushed himself off the sofa. He approached her slowly, his expression unreadable.
Then he turned slightly to the others and said:
"Leave us."
Sakura groaned dramatically, stretching her arms.
"Yes, yes, alright... Let's go, Dracan."
Dracan bowed once more and snapped his fingers.
Both of them dissolved back into swirling shadows.
The house fell silent.
[ A Reunion of Hearts ]
Renji stared at Arisa for a few moments, his face calm yet hesitant.
"…Do you want to sit?"
He hesitated, then added quietly,
"Or… are you…"
But before he could finish the thought
Arisa suddenly rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
Her body moved before her mind could stop it.
Renji's eyes widened in total shock.
He felt her shoulders trembling.
Tears spilled from Arisa's eyes as she buried her face in his chest.
"You… You are an idiot," she cried.
"I thought you didn't care about me anymore—! The past two months you became so distant from me."
Renji opened his mouth to speak, but no words came at first.
Arisa pulled back slightly and wiped her tears as she listened to Renji's voice.
"I'm sorry arisa it's been hard for me. And you… you know why."
She sniffed.
"But I'm back now. And I'm ready to face the future… and this war."
She stepped back slowly.
Her eyes met his.
"But… what's the deal with me being your queen?"
Renji's expression softened.
He gently took her hands in his.
"Even if I reincarnate a million times," he whispered,
"you'll always be my queen."
Arisa's face went crimson red instantly.
"D-Don't say things like that! You're an idiot sometimes!"
Renji scratched the back of his head with a small laugh.
"Yeah… Lily tells me that a lot."
Arisa blinked.
"Oh right. Lily… is she okay? I'm really sorry. I didn't know President Nakamura would… would do something like that. I swear "
Renji cut her off gently.
"It's okay. She's fine. She's asleep."
He gestured toward the couch.
"Would you like to sit?"
They both sat awkwardly.
Avoiding each other's eyes.
Hands fidgeting.
Hearts pounding.
Arisa finally broke the silence.
"You sounded cold today… You were scary. You felt so distant."
Renji lowered his head.
"I know."
He clenched his fists.
His voice became deeper, heavier.
"But this world doesn't bend to dreamers… it bends to those who understand power."
His gaze darkened.
"I had to speak like that. They need to understand that there are beings far stronger than ego or pride. If they don't grow stronger…"
He exhaled.
"…this world will crumble."
Arisa's eyes dimmed.
"What about Choji…?"
Renji looked away.
"I'll handle Choji. I have to save him from Azerin's grip."
His voice grew colder.
"If they fully merge… Choji will cease to exist. Only corruption will remain."
Arisa hugged her arms.
"I need to get stronger too….. you said there's a way but what is this Apex of Transcendence? I need to know. I don't want you to carry all this burden alone."
Renji finally stood up.
A quiet smile appeared on his lips.
"Come with me."
He flicked his wrist..
A dimensional portal tore open in front of them, swirling with violet and black energy like a cosmic whirlpool.
Arisa gasped.
"W–Wait! You can open dimensions!?"
Renji smirked.
"I'm Januza, remember?"
He extended his hand to her.
"Let's go."
Arisa hesitated only a second before taking his hand.
They stepped through the portal.
They emerged into a world unlike anything Arisa had ever seen
A vast landscape stretched endlessly before them
Forests of towering black trees with glowing veins of light running through their bark.
Jagged spikes of obsidian jutted from the ground like the teeth of a colossal beast.
The sky was dark purple, streaked with crimson lightning.
Rain fell heavily, each droplet sizzling when it touched the ground.
Arisa spun around, overwhelmed.
"Wh-What are we doing here!?"
Renji stepped a few paces away from her, the rain dripping down his hair.
"Pay attention."
He turned to face her fully.
"I'm going to show you what Apex of Transcendence is."
Arisa swallowed.
Renji closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed.
Then
He raised his hands.
His fingers crossed into an intricate pattern known only to elite Hunters:
The Apex Sign the Predator Seal
Right hand curled like a claw,
Left hand cupping beneath it
as if holding invisible prey.
Arisa felt the world shift.
Renji's voice echoed....deep, powerful, ancient.
"Apex of Transcendence…"
The sky responded and the rain paused
Lightning cracked.
Wind spiraled around him.
He opened his eyes the ring pattern eyes glowing with power and with came another word
"—Abyss Manifestation."