"Do you know what silence sounds like... right before a universe dies?"
Somewhere beyond the boundaries of all existence—
Beyond time, beyond reality, beyond even death—
Something stirred.
In a void where stars forgot to shine, where galaxies wept in agony, unseen by any god...
He sat.
A figure draped in shadows, surrounded by the dust of murdered worlds.
Ashura.
His body was perfection. His soul was poison.
Every breath he took twisted the laws of the cosmos.
Around him floated shards of dead planets, frozen screams etched into their surfaces.
But he wasn't sleeping.
He was listening.
A whisper.
> "...Aura…"
His eyes snapped open.
Black void. Red rings. Suns dying in his pupils.
> "So... it still breathes," he muttered.
---
Dark Abyss –
Parth stumbled across the poisoned terrain, ash falling like snow.
Suddenly, his body trembled. His soul screamed.
He fell to his knees, clutching his chest.
> "W-who was that…?"
He didn't know it yet, but a godless gaze had brushed his spirit.
---
Ashura's Realm –
Ashura rose.
A dimly glowing soul orb floated into his hand—barely alive.
He crushed it.
Like it was nothing.
> "This universe tires me. Mortals... always reaching for thrones they don't deserve."
Behind him, 12 kneeling figures. The Fallen Disciples.
Each once a savior.
Now monsters wrapped in silence.
Disciple #4 raised his head.
> "Master Ashura… the experiment… Parth… he still breathes."
Ashura turned, slow like the death of time.
> "Let him. If he breaks… I win.
If he survives… he'll lead me to the Key."
He stepped into a swirling black portal.
> "Let the children grow. Let them bleed.
When they ripen… I'll consume everything."
---
Eternal Paradise –
A molten sunset burned the skies.
But in Dev's heart, only ash remained.
Inside a golden chamber, laughter rang—drunken, cruel.
His father's voice, soaked in wine:
> "You were always the one, Dherya… not Dev.
He's just a shell. A pawn to carry your blade."
Dev froze at the door.
His breath shattered.
> "I... was never your son, was I?"
His father turned, surprised.
> "Dev—No, listen—"
> "It's exactly what I think," Dev whispered.
Then he ran.
Past divine murals. Past the fake warmth.
To the only truth he ever believed in.
At the sacred arena, Ashura Valor's hilt waited, buried in stone.
Dev grabbed it. Held it close.
> "Better broken… than used."
Behind him: rage.
> "BRING HIM BACK! DEAD OR ALIVE!" his father bellowed.
But Dev had already jumped.
Off the cliff.
Into the cursed abyss.
> "Someone… anyone…
I'll give you my life.
Just get me out."
---
Dark Abyss –
Parth walked alone.
His half-burnt cloak danced in the poison wind.
Suddenly, his senses flared.
> A body was falling from the skies.
A soul filled with pain. Rage. Hope.
He dashed forward, aura blazing gold and red.
BOOM.
They collided in a storm of rock and blood.
Parth stood, holding Dev's unconscious body.
> "What kind of world throws away its children like garbage…" he whispered.
He lifted Dev onto his back and limped toward salvation.
---
Dark Lotus Sect – Healing Chambers
Faint light warmed the cracked walls.
Dev stirred, groaning.
Parth sat nearby, flipping stones at the ceiling.
> "Where... am I?" Dev rasped.
> "Alive," Parth said flatly. "You're welcome."
Dev shot up, fists clenched.
> "Who are you?! What do you want?!"
Parth chuckled.
> "Relax, genius. If I wanted you dead, you'd be part of the floor."
Dev paused. Then bowed low.
> "Then from this moment… I am your blade."
Parth stood, brushing off his cloak.
> "Tch. I don't need a blade."
He walked to the door.
> "I need a brother."
Dev froze.
> "A… brother?"
Parth looked back.
> "Yeah. Someone who bleeds beside me. Not behind me."
Dev stared. Then extended his hand.
Parth took it.
And in that touch, two broken lives became one.
---
The Beast Hunt – Blood, Fire, Brotherhood
Days passed. Training. Laughs. Silence. Trust.
Then the earth screamed.
From beneath, a monstrous beast exploded upward.
Flaming steel skin. Boulder-sized claws.
> "Tell me that's just a rock," Dev whispered.
> "Nah. It's dinner," Parth smirked. "You go first."
The beast roared, firing a Devil Claw Fire Slash.
Parth shoved Dev aside, exo-arm blazing.
> "DEV, RUN!"
"NOT WITHOUT YOU!"
The second slash came—straight at Dev.
He couldn't move.
> "BROOO!!"
Eyes shut.
...
But death never came.
He opened his eyes to see—
Blood.
A shield of burning soul energy.
Parth stood before him.
Back torn open. Aura blazing at 999%.
Eyes burning. Smile soft.
> "A brother protects. Always."
With one final roar, Parth cleaved the beast in half.
Then—collapsed.
His bones shattered.
Veins exploded.
Hair turned blood-red.
> "PARTH!!!"
Dev caught him, shaking, crying.
Summoning his hoverboard, Dev raced back toward the Sect.
Screaming to the skies—
> "If ANYONE touches my brother again—
I'll ERASE their bloodline!
Even gods will fall if they try!"
Above the cliffs, the Sect Leader watched.
Silent. Smiling.
---
The Unbreakable Vow
Parth lay wrapped in blood-soaked bandages.
Dev trained.
Bled.
Screamed.
Never stopped.
> "Training to kill me or save me?" Parth asked.
> "Training so you don't die before me, idiot."
They laughed.
Then silence.
Under the broken moon:
> "Wanna escape this hell?" Dev whispered.
Parth blinked.
> "Escape the Abyss?"
> "Death Life Arena. Duo tournament. Win it—we walk free."
Parth grinned.
> "Then let's train…
for death."
Not for glory.
Not for power.
For freedom.
And brotherhood.