Demon Lord's Reincarnation

"..." Luke didn't answer Ren's question and he closed his eyes showing his stance on this matter. Ren was already expecting this since this guy felt like an assassin from the Shadow Clan. That would mean he was most likely trained to resist telling any information no matter what is done to him. 

'It's just not possible that the Shadow Clan survived until today. Darius and I already killed every last member, and I was the only one left who knew their secrets, and I'm sure I never taught my kids or anyone else from that era the ways of the Shadow Clan. I did have some disciples but what I taught them was my own style of fighting not the Shadow Clan's ways. The only one I had taught some techniques even though it was just a little bit was Lara.' 

Ren was truly intrigued by who this person was and how he was able to learn the ancient techniques of his past life's clan. 

"If you truly are trained in the ways of the Shadow Clan I know for a fact that no matter what kind of torture you face you will never give out information. Once a Shadow Clan assassin is captured and has failed to commit suicide, he or she would then proceed to use a spell that essentially makes that person brain dead. Still, that spell takes a lot of time before you can activate it, and in this place that disrupts one's mana flow, it would be even more difficult. Also, I was able to pick this up a while back."

As Luke was surprised by how deeply Ren knew how the Shadow Clan Assassins operate, he noticed the item that Ren took out, it was one of those mana suppressors. Ren smiled and shook his head.

"I know that even without being brain dead you are trained to not speak a single word upon capture. Still, are you going to remain mute after seeing this?" 

Ren's shadow expanded and weapons started coming out of it. When Luke saw that skill his eyes look like they would literally pop out. 

'That was one of the high-level techniques that only a few in the Clan could use. How is this person able to use it? Is he one of the hidden operatives of the Clan?' Luke who had his neck held by Ren spoke with much difficulty. 

"Life and Death hold meaning, but what significance is there to them?" When Ren heard the code words, he was truly astonished. It has been a couple of millennia since the demise of the old Shadow Clan, yet to hear the old codes in this era was truly a surprise. 

'This new Shadow Clan didn't even bother changing the old codes.' Ren let go of Luke's neck and responded. 

"Life and Death might hold meaning, but I care not for its significance." When Luke heard Ren's response he couldn't help but tremble. That answer meant that Ren was of very high status an unimaginable one at that. If any other member of the Shadow Clan said those words, they who had been restricted by a contract spell would have died on the spot. Even the current leaders wouldn't be able to say this particular line and only the Head would be able to say it. Yet Ren was obviously not the head, that would mean...

"Are you a direct descendant of Demon Lord Kretos the last true head of the clan?" 

"You could say that." Ren didn't bother to tell Luke that he used to be Kretos himself, since that was a past life, and he was now living as Ren. When Luke heard Ren's answer he could not help but cry. Everyone present were stunned to see Luke's reaction, they didn't expect that someone like Luke would suddenly cry. 

"Why are you crying?" 

"We have been searching for centuries, we all thought that your bloodline had disappeared but you have finally returned. To meet a direct descendant of the main family line of the Shadow Clan, I cannot tell you how happy and excited I am. Please allow me to escort you back to our base so that you can return as the Ruler of the clan." 

"Hmph, so you really are a member of the Shadow Clan... I have a ton of questions that I want to ask, but I guess I can put that on hold for now. I don't plan on going to your clan's base, but I am interested in you lot. So how about you bring your clan to a place called New Grenton and I'll meet you there." 

When Luke heard Ren's response he was dumbfounded, that wasn't the response he was expecting to hear. 

"Sir, there are rules that I cannot disobey as I'm sure you know. I have orders to bring any descendant of the last ruler Kretos back to the Clan." 

"Even then, I will not be going. Tell whoever is in charge that if he or she wants to meet me, they can head to New Grenton. If they do not comply, well tell them that they will be punished." Ren wanted to say that he would kill them but stopped himself. The last time, Darius had killed his entire clan, and he too was forced to play a role in that. Now that his clan had somehow miraculously survived, he didn't wish to annihilate them again. 

"... I shall inform the others of what you said... I forgot to ask Sir, what is your name?" 

"It's Ren." 

"Sir Ren... I once again apologize for my earlier rudeness." 

"I don't really care about that. So now that you heard what I said, you better go and inform those Clan members of yours and wait for me in New Grenton." 

"I shall do that in due time, Sir Ren, but for now I need to protect you while you're in this current situation." 

"Heh, that's a stupid thing to say. How are you, a person who's weaker than me going to protect me?" 

"I-" Luke once again remembered how easily Ren dealt with him, which made Luke lower his head in embarrassment. 

"I need no protection so just go." 

"... Very well then... Until we meet again Sir Ren." This time Luke had nothing else to say so he bowed and immediately left. Yet before he disappeared Ren had used a unique tracking skill on Luke, by using Spirit Aura.

No longer sensing his presence Ren closed his eyes, sighed, and curled the corner of his lips upward. 

'So the most likely scenario is that someone aside from me was somehow able to survive Vampiric Lord Darius's assault. I wonder who it was?....'