We can all agree that death is frightful, and for Ren, death was the scariest thing that had ever been.
So you can't hold it against him for being terrified of dying.
When the time for retaliation arrived, he was powerless to act.
When his family most needed him, he fled, thinking that by killing the man in charge, he would atone for his transgression.
When the moment came, he was sure of his skills and that he would win.
He simply did not anticipate the time to arrive so soon; instead, he believed that he would have more time to train with Earn, get ready for the fight, and move past his trauma.
But that was not the case
Bloodfist stood directly before him.
After just one day of getting to know Earn, he was already fighting for his life.
Together with the beatings he had received from Bloodfist, there was a sizable hole in his shoulder from the shadow spikes.
Ren reasoned that he surely didn't deserve to live.
Ren no longer desired retribution or life; at this point, all he wanted was to pass away.
He believed that the only thing he deserved was to die. He believed that he didn't deserve to live a normal life and that he couldn't continue living one.
He accepted his fate as he laid bleeding on the ground.
Just for kicks, Bloodfist plants his massive leg on Ren's skull and smashes it to the ground"
As Ren gently left the world of the living, his face was covered in blood.
He found himself floating in a sizable body of water.
He was alone, without anything or anyone around him; the only thing in existence was the ocean.
He was floating above miles and miles of nothing but water.
The location was quiet and serene, and he was taking in the tranquil surroundings.
All of his wounds were fully healed, and any discomfort he had been experiencing had vanished.
He pondered to himself.
"Is this really what heaven is like? Why couldn't the earth have been as quiet and secluded as this place?" Ren shut his eyes tightly.
He started to like the body of water even more as he spent more time in it.
Not only did he not have to worry about dying, but he also no longer felt angry or disappointed in himself and that was the finest part.
Ren pondered,
"This is the best place I could have been sent to; there's no need to panic anymore."
However, as soon as he said it, immediately came a cause for concern.
The water, which had been so placid until now, started actively trying to drown him.
Ren was being drawn to the bottom by the strong waves and ripples it created.
Ren performed numerous breaststrokes in an attempt to survive,but they were all futile.
He was about to be submerged entirely into the water.
His right hand was the sole portion of his body still above the waterline.
He pondered to himself.
"I already died; how can I pass away again?"
Ren's heart began to race with terror of dying once more, but right then, someone steps in to save him.
He was brought to the surface when another person's right hand made touch with his own.
Ren managed to get to the top, and as he did, he appeared to somehow be
floating on the water infact he could also
walk on it.
The guy who had just saved Ren then said in a voice that
"You can walk now because you didn't want to die anymore "
"What!!" replied Ren in a confused voice.
Ren tried to recognize who he was speaking to but his voice was muffled and the sun shun so bright that it blocked out the face of his savior.
"This water represents your zeal ,if you want to die ,then you will sink but if you wanna live ,then you'll float and so tell me ,which one will it be " asked Ren's savior
"I'm sorry but I do not understand "
"I could have let you die ,the water was convinced that you wanted ti die but once I saw you fighting for life ,it made me feel for you ,but the water didn't think so he thought you still wanted to die so I saved you and now I've given you sometime to think.Do you want to die or live?"
Ren was curious about the identity of this man, but before he could enquire, the man said
"I'm starting to lose my patience,live or die choose."
"How can I decide that even though I don't deserve to live, I still want to?"
"Why since you were unable to murder Bloodfist,you deserve to die right"
"Oh, that's his name. How do you know him who are you ?"
"I know I have no right to make decisions for you, but I believe that you should rise up and avenge your parents; you cannot allow their killer to go free. Instead of asking me who I am ,you should be asking yourself whether you can handle the threat that lies ahead of you."
Ren listened carefully but not knowing how to reply he kept his mouth shut.
Ren had no idea what to say and was just puzzled on what to do.
The mysterious man had enough and said
" I think I wasted my time,to the bottom you go"
At that moment,the sea once again began to drown Ren
Ren was fighting with all his strength.
He was attempting to pull himself up not wanting to drown.
"What is wrong with you ,You want to die do you not ,so allow the sea take you in or is that not what you want "
"I do not know what I want"
"You have to know what you want"
"Fine I think I want to live "
Ren was screaming ,he was pleading to not be drowned,he had decided he wanted to live.
The mysterious man was in awe ,he had thought Ren would accept bis fate and just die but instead he was fighting back.
" I find it hard to believe you really want to leave "
"Please I do ,I've decided"
"Then I wanna hear you say it proudly"
"Yeah sure ,I want to live"
"No proud enough"
"What"
"You don't seem to be trying"
The man was gonna snap his fingers and completely drown Ren and so Ren began to scream
"I REN KAGEYAMA WANT TO LIVE "
"Better ,enjoy your second chance for life "
Ren all of a sudden was no longer drowning .
A portal appeared,signaling a point from the man in that direction.
The man said once Ren went through that portal that he would be back in his physical body in the real world.
The man also warned Ren that once he entered his real body that the pains that had been inflicted on him would be back and he would feel all the agony again.
"I'm fine with that " said Ren
"Good job ,Now head outta here and finish what you started"
Ren smiled before proceeding to leave through the portal ,but just before leaving ,he tried his luck one more time.
"Could I know your name now "
"Just call me ,he who never sleeps"
Ren then left the utopian paradise and was welcomed back to the real world with an excruciating headache.
Ren raised his head and saw that Bloodfist was planning on putting an end to Earn permanently.
Ren despite all the pains got up and shouted
"Hey Elephant,I'm not done yet"
Bloodfist was astonished and so were the other tempestarii members who were present ,they had not expected Ren to actually rise up once more.
Ren had a hole in his shoulder,was bleeding from his nose ,had a worsening bruise on his wrist and bruises on his chest but somehow he had found the will to get up .
Bloodfist thought to himself
"The will of this boy ,it's perplexing,despite all he has been through ,he somehow was still standing,it's obvious I cannot beat him on my own,I will need help"
Bloodfist then smirked and laughed sinisterly before saying the words
"Tempestarii ,let's dismantle this bloke"
Just like that all the tempestarii in the area ,got engaged in the fight,
Bloodfist did not want to just win anymore ,it was now all about breaking the will of Ren,and making him bow down .
But will all the tempestarii coming in to assault Ren ,it meant they left their assigned posts.
The members of the tempestarii who had brought the bodies of the soldiers of Valer had left the soldiers ,believing they were all knocked out.
That was a mistake .
There was one soldier in particular who was only pretending and had been waiting for an opening .
But even now that he had gained a chance to strike ,he knew that he was not the strongest of soldiers but he made up for that with his knowledge of medicines,poisons and cursed.
It is for that reason ,the soldiers enlisted for his help in the first place .
The soldier made his way towards the suffering earn and fed him a syrup like medicine which was supposed to heal him .
Ren on the other was preparing to battle ,whether or not he would survive,he had no idea .
Many questions ran through the head of Ren like if he died would he get sent back to that ocean or would he be done for good.
Ren did not care about that though instead he just wanted to teach Bloodfist a lesson.
Ren no longer harms any fear for this man ,all he harbored was hatred.
Ren was about to focus it into malice but was interrupted by
Earn Hakira
Earn told Ren ,
"you need to rest boy I got this "
Earn was completely healed and ready to rumble.
Earn and Bloodfist engaged in a high stakes battle.
Bloodfist knew that he had no chance with Earn now completely healed and so he tried to use the numbers advantage with the help of his men .
But that was useless as the tempestarii members just dropped like flies one by one after a hit from Earn.
The battle was taken to numerous parts of the village until it remained just Earn and Bloodfist standing in front of the safe zone.
"You should have gotten stronger groups" said Earn
"We'll I didn't know I was gonna run into you"
Replied Bloodfist
Bloodfist heard the sound of people from within the safe zone and so decided to attack it to distract Earn.
The safe house then begins to crumble with everybody inside being crushed.
And well Bloodfist plan worked as Earn was shocked and completely distracted by this move and Bloodfist could have escaped.
But as Earn was shocked ,Ren was just infuriated and just like with Bite red aura was emitted from Ren.
Ren then says "I'll kill you for that "
Bloodfist with that move had just provided Ren with more reasons to want him dead and that just powered up Ren's malice.
With no more men to hide behind ,and upon sensing the increase in strength of Ren ,Bloodfist knew that this was not a fight he could win.
He tried to run away but Ren didn't let him.
Giving him an uppercut that sends Bloodfist flying.
And now it seemed the roles had changed as Bloodfist was now the one fearing death .
Ren walking menacingly towards Bloodfist said in a muffled and scary voice:
"I know why I was born ,I know what I'm meant to do with my life ,I Ren Kageyama WAS BORN TO KILL YOU!!!"
Ren was dashing towards Bloodfist preparing to kill him but was stopped by Earn who said
" I'm sorry but I can't let you kill him ,atleast not while you're in this state "
"LET ME AT HIM,I WANT HIM DEAD " screamed Ren.
"Well since you refuse to listen "
Earn then knocks out Ren with a single strike.
Earn then turns around to look at Bloodfist saying;
"You better leave here right now"
"You're not gonna kill me"
"Ren has to be the one to kill you in order for him to be fully sane but he has to do it when he is in full control this he does not lose himself,so you better run along before I change my mind"
Bloodfist begins ti run away ,out of the city of Valer while thinking to himself
"What a foolish move that was from Earn ,he is never gonna get a chance like that ever again".