The moment Shunjiro stepped out from the oppressive atmosphere of the Shadow Realm, he deeply inhaled the refreshing air of the Light Continent, letting relief wash over him. His heart raced with excitement, knowing he was finally home, his mind instantly drifting to his guildmates, Yoshinori’s calm presence, Itsuki’s bright smile, Tetsuo’s goofy strength, Ryuji’s playful antics, and Aiko’s boisterous spirit. He quickened his steps, eager to reunite with them. “Hold your horses, Shunjiro!” Satoshi laughed, noticing his enthusiasm. “Before the reunion, we have someone else important to meet first. King Shadis will definitely want to hear from you directly.” Shunjiro nodded, taking a deep breath. The thought of standing before the King himself for the first time filled him with awe and a bit of nervousness. They soon arrived at the grand throne room, its massive ornate doors guarded by a familiar face, Hiroto of the Gilded Blades, his immense stature and calm demeanor radiating confidence. “Welcome back, Satoshi. Good job returning safely,” Hiroto greeted warmly before turning to Shunjiro with a subtle grin. “And good to see you again, Shunjiro. I’ve heard plenty about you.” “Only good things, I hope,” Shunjiro replied with an easy laugh. Hiroto chuckled softly and pushed open the ornate doors. Shunjiro and the Crimson Lotus guild entered, bowing deeply before the imposing figure of King Shadis, who observed them thoughtfully from his regal throne. “Rise,” King Shadis spoke, his voice powerful yet warm. His sharp eyes settled on Shunjiro, a subtle smile curving his lips. Inwardly, Shadis sensed something profound: This boy has grown immeasurably since the last time he stood here. “Welcome home, young warrior. Tell me, how was your journey?” Shunjiro straightened himself, trying to appear as dignified as possible. “It’s a long story, Your Majesty. But the short version is that Tsubasa from the Eclipsed Abyss teleported me straight into the Shadow Realm. I ended up meeting someone named King Malachi there.” The name visibly startled King Shadis. His brow furrowed deeply. “King Malachi… One of the EX Ranks?” Shunjiro tilted his head curiously. “EX rank? What exactly is that?” Shadis shifted slightly on his throne, leaning forward. “EX rank is a classification reserved solely for the four strongest warriors in the world. However, there are technically eight EX ranks, four official and four unofficial, determined by the International Guild Certification Council. Malachi belongs to the unofficial category since he’s not officially registered.” “Is that bad?” Shunjiro asked hesitantly. “Far from it,” Shadis reassured, his voice softening. “Malachi is an honorable man. I knew him well long ago, but he vanished without explanation around a decade past. How did your meeting with him fare?” “Well, honestly, he seemed like he just wanted company,” Shunjiro chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “He took a liking to me pretty quickly and offered to train me. I spent about a month with him.” Shadis leaned back, visibly intrigued. “If Malachi took an interest in you, perhaps he could be persuaded to lend his strength to Radiance. Would you return there someday to speak with him?” Shunjiro smiled earnestly. “Absolutely. From what I saw, Malachi seemed like he would gladly help.” “Good. And the dagger you carry?” Shadis’s gaze shifted meaningfully toward the blade strapped to Shunjiro’s side. “Oh, Malachi gave it to me,” Shunjiro explained, glancing down at the dagger thoughtfully. “He called it ‘Devil’s Luck.’” King Shadis nodded slowly. “Take care of that dagger, Shunjiro. It holds far greater significance to Malachi than you may realize.” “I will,” Shunjiro promised sincerely. “Continue your tale,” King Shadis prompted, intrigued by every detail. Shunjiro’s expression darkened slightly. “After that, Tsubasa attacked us again. He keeps pushing me to join the Eclipsed Abyss. When I refused, he tried to take me by force. Malachi fought him off, but Tsubasa managed to teleport me away again, this time into the Cosmic Continent. I ended up stranded with another Eclipsed Abyss member… Jayiden.” “Jayiden?” King Shadis’s voice sharpened. “The beastman who took your entrance exams alongside you?” Shunjiro nodded gravely. “Yeah. Seems he’s joined them willingly. Apparently, Tsubasa messed up where we were supposed to teleport, so Jayiden left me behind. That’s how I wound up in the Stellar Empire and met King Aurelius.” Shadis laughed softly, clearly impressed. “In under a month, you met three of the five great kings. Quite an impressive feat, Shunjiro.” “I guess it is kind of wild,” Shunjiro laughed, feeling more relaxed. “How was your encounter with Aurelius?” Shadis inquired, a careful seriousness entering his tone. “He seemed kind,” Shunjiro said thoughtfully, “though I couldn’t shake a feeling there was more beneath the surface.” Shadis looked knowingly at Satoshi. “Indeed. Aurelius is a complicated man. Did your time close to him reveal anything new, Satoshi?” Satoshi’s expression hardened as he spoke. “Nothing explicitly. But he’s careful. He acts like a sheep, yet beneath that facade, he’s definitely a wolf. His true ambitions, if realized, could tear the world apart.” Shunjiro’s eyes widened. “What exactly is he planning?” King Shadis sighed deeply, his eyes clouded with concern. “He seeks a way to destroy the Shadow Realm completely, to unite all lands into one. But destroying the Shadow Realm would release unimaginable horrors, beasts trapped inside for centuries. It would mean the annihilation of humanity.” A tense silence filled the throne room. Shunjiro felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought. Finally, he spoke, breaking the oppressive quiet. “King Shadis… where is my guild? I haven’t seen them yet.” “They went searching for you across the Shadow Realm,” Shadis explained gently. Shunjiro’s eyes flared with sudden worry and anger. “You sent them into the Shadow Realm?! You sent them to die out there?” King Shadis held up a calming hand. “Relax, Shunjiro. I indeed sent them, but only after rigorous training. All of them reached A Rank, and Yoshinori even ascended to S Rank. I provided them with a strong guide, an SS Rank named Rayne.” Hearing Yoshinori had reached S Rank softened Shunjiro’s tension. He took a breath, nodding slowly. “When did they leave?” “Just yesterday,” Shadis informed him calmly. “By now, they should have reached the Stellar Empire.” Shunjiro laughed in relief. “What ironic timing. They went searching for me just as I returned.” His laughter faded into seriousness. “I’m supposed to be their leader, yet I’m still stuck at C Rank.” King Shadis smiled warmly. “That’s merely a formality. Your last evaluation occurred before the Oceanside Battle. Given your remarkable growth, I will officially promote you to S Rank as well.” Satoshi’s jaw clenched tightly, annoyance flickering in his eyes. Two years to reach S Rank, and this brat did it in mere months? What a pain. He seethed internally. Shunjiro, oblivious to Satoshi’s irritation, beamed proudly. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I promise I won’t disappoint you.” “You never have, young warrior,” Shadis affirmed with genuine respect. “Rest assured, I’ll instruct Rayne to return immediately with your guild. You’ll reunite soon.” “Thank you,” Shunjiro replied earnestly, bowing deeply. “For everything.” Shadis nodded, his voice warm yet firm. “Prepare yourself, Shunjiro. Harder trials await, and your destiny is only beginning.” With renewed determination, Shunjiro stood taller, ready to face whatever came next. The path before him was uncertain, but one thing he knew for sure: he was ready for it.