The Author's POV

An oppressive silence filled the air, disturbed only by the occasional trickle of water and the distant echo of a bat's wings in flight.

The temperature was cool and clammy, like a dank veil of the eternal night had settled over the passage. The only beacon of relief came from the entrance, through which a bright beam of sunlight occasionally shone, illuminating pockets of mineral deposits that sparkled like stars in the night sky.

The cave was a dark, damp abyss.

It seemed to stretch on into eternity, filled with oppressive shadows and the occasional glimmer of a distant light source.

Rock walls surrounded the path, hard and smooth with years of sedimentary deposits, providing a tight and narrow passageway.

All of a sudden…

Cla Clank—!

The sound of metal clamping together reverberated, scattering all other sounds.

Seated in the middle of the cave, black scales started to appear on the surface of a male figure. They covered his whole body and only stopped at his cheeks.

Fwap—!

Suddenly, two enormous bat like wings emerged from his back and extended all the way to the opposite end of the cave.

Rumble—! Rumble—!

The power that erupted from the figure, who slowly opened its eyes to reveal two crimson red eyes, caused the cave to violently shake, and it appeared that it was on the verge of collapsing.

Bringing his hand forth, and closely examining his long finger and sharp nails, a smile formed.

"Finally…"

His voice cracked, and the rumbling around him stopped.

As he closed his eyes, the scales on his body and his wings began to retract. The two red eyes morphed into blue ones over the course of a few minutes, and the figure shrunk by several inches.

The process was rather fast, and once it was over, the power that seemed to overflow from his body, completely disappeared. It was as if it never had been there to begin with.

"I've finally managed to completely assimilate the blood into me."

Ren mumbled, observing his hands which had now returned to normal.

Lowering his hands, he took a deep breath before looking around him.

"How long have I been here for?"

He wasn't sure. He had lost track of time while trying to assimilate the blood and the Nectar. The only pity was that he was still ranked.

Due to the lack of mana in the air, he made no substantial advancements in that area. With that being said, his overall power was significantly higher than it had been in the past.

Perhaps he might even be able to escape against a Patriarch...

'Since the others haven't disturbed me, I shouldn't have exceeded four months.'

Since he needed to get back to earth and still had one more thing to finish, it would be inconvenient for him to stay there for any longer than that.

'They should've realized by now, right?'

Ren suppressed his urge to smile. Thinking back at what he'd done, he couldn't help but shake his head.

If he continued like this, those around him would start having trust issues.

his back and neck, Ren stretched his body and made his way toward

then, let's get

***

Estate, Prince

discussion with his granddaughter, Priscilla, and

time,

the World Decree happened, they came out the biggest

harvest, with the exception of the Patriarchs, and those who were successful in gathering

it'd be the House of Envy that would come out with

the suppression of the other houses, they were barely able to

weren't much better off. Due to all the infighting, many tried sabotaging each other in order

didn't need to be said about

leadership, the house of

all understood that, had it not been for that stroke of 'luck', on Prince Arian's side, they

this, and the fact that they didn't have time to be jealous, everything

are you

Valling calmly set his pen down and looked

long after, a figure appeared from out of thin air and pointed

"Do you mind?"

"Go ahead."

"Thank you very much."

a simple exchange.

chair back, Ren sat

back to Prince Valling who looked back at him with a calm

"You don't seem surprised?"

He asked.

"Should I be?"

"No."

smiled and shook his

pretty obvious. Of course, you

on the chair and drummed his fingers

the chase; have

"No."

shook his

observing Ren, he tapped once at the

see you once before

"Oh?"

Ren raised his brow.

are you satisfied with what

"Maybe."

mysteriously smiled. His calm demeanor made it

…Not that he cared.

There'll eventually come a time when you will have to make that decision,

was aware of, it was the fact that he was not

other side was the Demon King, the one being

was

not because I want you to choose

offer you more than one devil fruit for your silence. We've gained quite a lot from the World Decree, but I still can't offer

"…"

Prince Valling

he

quite liked that. It saved him a lot

from ear

going to ask you for