The forest had gone completely still.
Even the wind between the trees had stopped.
The demon commander who had been fighting moments ago suddenly froze.
His massive body trembled slightly.
Not from anger.
From fear.
Ren noticed it immediately.
The shadows beneath the forest floor began shifting restlessly.
Shade also turned his head toward the deeper part of the forest.
"Master."
"Something powerful has arrived."
Arlen stood up from the broken tree behind him.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked around.
"Yeah…"
"I can feel it too."
A new presence filled the forest.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Every demon that remained alive slowly stepped backward.
Their red eyes lowered to the ground.
The demon commander clenched his fists.
Then slowly—
He knelt.
Arlen blinked.
"Wait… what?"
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
Because only one type of demon could make a commander kneel like that.
A higher rank.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the darkness.
One step.
Then another.
Each step carried enormous pressure.
Branches cracked under invisible force.
Then a tall figure finally emerged between the trees.
The creature looked far more human than the other demons.
He wore dark armor made from bone-like material.
Long black hair fell over his shoulders.
But his eyes burned with a deep crimson glow.
Two sharp horns curved slightly from his forehead.
The air around him felt dangerously calm.
The demon commander bowed his head.
"General…"
Arlen's expression changed instantly.
"General?"
The new demon spoke calmly.
His voice was cold and controlled.
"You failed."
The commander trembled slightly.
"These humans are stronger than expected."
The demon general's red eyes slowly moved toward Ren.
Then toward Shade.
The moment he saw the shadow guardian—
His expression shifted slightly.
"Interesting."
He stepped forward.
The pressure in the forest increased immediately.
Several trees cracked from the invisible force.
Arlen raised his sword again.
"This one feels different."
Ren nodded.
"Yes."
Shade stepped in front of Ren again.
The shadow giant prepared for another battle.
But the demon general raised one hand calmly.
The demon commander stood up immediately.
"You are dismissed."
The commander hesitated.
"But General—"
The demon general's eyes glowed brighter.
"I said leave."
The commander lowered his head.
Then he stepped backward into the forest.
The remaining demons quickly followed him.
Within seconds—
Only four figures remained in the clearing.
Ren.
Arlen.
Shade.
And the demon general.
Arlen frowned.
"He just sent his own army away."
The demon general looked directly at Ren.
"Because they would only get in the way."
His voice was quiet.
But it carried enormous confidence.
Ren asked calmly.
"You wanted to fight us yourself."
The demon general smiled slightly.
"No."
His red eyes focused on Ren alone.
"I came to see the Shadow King."
Arlen glanced sideways at Ren.
"You're getting a lot of attention today."
The demon general continued speaking.
"The demon world has heard rumors."
"About a human who controls shadows."
He looked at Shade carefully.
"And now I see the truth."
Shade's massive form stood ready.
"You will not harm my master."
The demon general looked at the giant shadow.
Then he laughed softly.
"You misunderstand."
His gaze returned to Ren.
"I didn't come here to kill you."
The forest remained silent.
Arlen frowned.
"Then why are you here?"
The demon general's red eyes glowed darker.
"To measure you."
Suddenly—
His aura exploded outward.
The entire forest shook violently.
The ground beneath their feet cracked open.
Arlen staggered slightly.
"What the hell…"
Ren remained standing.
But even he felt the pressure.
Shade stepped forward protectively.
The demon general spread his arms slowly.
"This…"
His voice echoed across the forest.
"…is the power of a Demon General."
Dark energy surged around him like a violent storm.
Arlen tightened his grip on his sword.
"This mission just got a lot worse."
Ren stepped forward.
The shadows beneath the forest rose again.
If this demon was truly a general—
Then the real battle was about to begin.