THE REN UPGRADE: MONSTERS WITHIN

Marry Me

Ren never believed a day would come where he got treated like a king. 

But it was happening tonight. He stood in front of the large mirror as several hands attended to him. 

The clothier draped a black robe around Ren’s shoulders. Gold engravings shaped like blades were imprinted on the expensive fabric. The Shinobi headband fastened around his head mirrored elegance.

His shaggy hair was pulled into a bun. His hazel eyes were sharp, his face outstanding. 

He could not recognize himself by the time they were done.

“You'll meet the academy students before the meeting with The Assembly,” Juno announced.

Afterwards, they made their way to the largest hall in the academy. Over three hundred students waited there in silent reverence, to receive the long-prophesied young master.

The academy was a stone-walled building with a regal interior. Thick draperies covered the walls. Obsidian lights hung from the ceilings. 

The four walls ran on the leadership of The Assembly for a long time. No one knew what to expect. 

“The academy is home to people from different walks of life,” Juno explained as they neared the hall. “Prodigies. Survivors. Elites. Unhinged.”

Ren shot him a look of disbelief. “You mean, crazy folks?”

Juno flashed a patient smile. “I know it's hard to understand, but you will in due time.”

The audience in the hall rose as one when Ren walked through the doors. He held his breath, overwhelmed.

“Welcome, young master!” They chorused and curtsied as one. 

The words were locked up in Ren’s throat as he made his way to the podium. Whispers echoed across the audience. Girlish giggles followed. 

“Goodness! He's so handsome!”

“Look at that! He’s easily the most beautiful man that’s ever walked these halls.”

Juno followed closely behind Ren. “Take a deep breath. You can do this. All you have to do tonight is introduce yourself.”

Ren swallowed a lump down his throat. “That's all?”

Juno shrugged. “Maybe toss in a few words of encouragement.” “Remember,” he added in a low voice, “keep the dual possession a secret.”

Sweat broke across his face despite the air conditioning blasting in the hall. 

“H-Hello, everyone. Ren Carter here. It's a pleasure meeting you all.”

They remained silent. 

Ren glanced behind him.

“They’re waiting for the chant,” Juno whispered. “Ninjas of the new age.” He lifted his fist and touched his chest.

Ren cleared his throat and turned to the audience. He followed Juno’s demonstration and placed his fist against his chest. 

“Ninjas of the new age!” his voice rose above its usual level.

The audience moved as one again. Male and female, every one of the students swiped their fists to their chests. “We rise as one!”

Ten minutes later, Ren met with The Assembly.

They were a board of elders who frowned upon him the moment he stepped through the doors. 

“Look at him!” someone whispered. “He's not more than twenty-five! A lanky thing like him is supposed to take the seat?”

Ren made his way to the seat at the head of the table, banishing every thought of fleeing. Juno had told him he couldn't run from the prophecy, or his mission. They would always find him. 

Someone stood up to address the elders. He was an average man with salt-pepper hair and soulless, black eyes. His attire was tailored to perfection. It fit him like the raiment of a king. His hair spoke of his class. Slicked back and permed.

“Masaki Kai,” he introduced, “General Overseer of The Assembly.” He paused, black eyes gliding over every inch of Ren. “I'll get right to the point and save everyone some time.”

Someone screamed, “he's not fit for this, Masaki Senpai!”

“Quiet!” Masaki yelled. 

He turned to Ren. “You will undergo three weeks of intense Okdu training with the masters. After which you'll pick a wife.”

Ren was shocked to his marrow for the umpteenth time. “A wife?!”

“Yes.” Masaki's stern features hardened. “Your coronation cannot happen until you're married.”

***

Three weeks later, Ren stepped out of Nakim Ninja Academy, a changed man. 

He had undergone every type of training there was in the world of ninja. From combat mastery, to the art of precision. Breath control was the toughest part. His survival skills were that of a chicken, but he eventually got sharper. 

In less than two weeks, he was a master artist. A shadow sovereign, the highest ranker. Juno explained that the powers of the entities that dwelt in Ren contributed to his quick ascension. 

He also mastered the art of controlling the entities within him, to a good extent. Juno’s research proved that the dragon spirit takes over when Ren’s emotions reach their peak. The guardian spirit takes over when he trains. 

“Remember you have to return with a wife in one week, or you lose the seat to those greedy elders.”

Ren smiled and slapped Juno’s shoulder. They had gotten close over the past few weeks. “I'm not sure where to find a wife, mate. We'll be fine.”

Juno drove him in a red S-class Benz, to his new quarters downtown Tokyo. “After the coronation, you'll be taken to your main quarters. Please make yourself comfortable here, and stay out of trouble.”

Ren thanked him and walked into the mansion. He was still overwhelmed, and struggled to adjust to his new reality. 

The mansion had everything he needed. Staff to tend to his needs, a room filled with cash to spend. Overnight, Ren Carter had become a wealthy young master.

He was in the living room when the news came on. Dominic Reeves was making quick recovery after a vicious attack he suffered a month ago.

Something hot stirred in Ren’s chest as he watched the director smile for the cameras with all those useless flowers surrounding him. 

His fingers bit into the couch. SNAP! The wood broke beneath him.

He rose to his feet and went upstairs. 

The next day, he dressed up in a neatly pressed suit and went to OakHills General Hospital.

Everyone stared in disbelief when he walked through the lobby and went directly to Dominic Reeves’ office. They all wondered how he made it out of the penitentiary already. 

He did not care what anyone thought. He picked the lock and let himself into Dominic’s office. 

He hacked the system on the desk and in minutes, he was in the director’s email box. 

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he composed a message.

>> Everyone, I yield my position to Ren Carter from this day henceforth. He will succeed me as hospital director, effective immediately. 

Ren tapped send to all addresses, and leaned back with a grin. He wasn't just on a mission to find a wife, now. He was on a mission to find whoever murdered his sister. 

In less than five minutes, reporters from every news station gathered in the hospital. Paparazzi flocked around like sheep. 

There was uproar in the hospital. 

Smiling to himself, Ren rose to his feet and made his way to the lobby. The crowd went ballistic. 

“Mr. Carter, over here!” 

“A word please!” 

“Can you explain how you rose from intern to hospital director in one night?!” 

Ren’s eyes fell on the woman that tossed him the last question. His heart skipped. Heat stirred inside him. 

Raven black hair. Chesapeake blue eyes. Curves to die for. A petite woman pushing to be seen.

She was the same woman who had made his life hell in the first week of his incarceration. The investigative journalist who was hellbent on hearing his side of the story. 

An idea kicked into his mind. He leaned forward and pushed her camera aside. 

He stopped only when his face was inches from hers. “I'll explain it to you if you marry me, Hana Blackthorn.”