[Outer Rim of Existence – The Forgotten Temple of Nihila]
Silence stretched over the ruins of stars long dead. From the ashes of galaxies, the temple reassembled itself—not by construction, but by will.
Chains of light shattered.
A shadow emerged.
He did not radiate power like Ash. He consumed it.
His body was wrapped in dim matter—energy that existed before light.
His name, once erased from every divine scripture, echoed again through the threads of reality:
> "I am Kshatra."
> "The Unforgiving. The Second Flame."
---
[Ash's Palace – Throne of Aether]
Ash stood alone before a pool of ancient memory. The Agnatara hovered outside, unsettled.
Reyansh approached slowly, his body still healing.
> "He's coming, isn't he?"
Ash didn't turn.
> "Yes. My brother."
> "Split from me during the First Shatter."
> "Where I kept compassion, he took vengeance."
Reyansh looked at him.
> "Can you stop him?"
Ash finally turned. There was no pride in his eyes. No certainty. Just memory.
> "I can try."
---
[Back in Ashraya – Capital of Humans: Aranyapura]
Panic spread across the city as cracks formed in the sky. The royal knights couldn't contain the chaos. The Priestess from the summoning chamber stood atop the palace.
> "This is no demon attack. This is divine retribution."
The King shouted, "Where are the Heroes?!"
The Priestess whispered:
> "They are no longer the strongest beings in this world."
---
[Truth Chamber – Akarshan and Friends]
As the group regrouped from the truth, the goddesses stood in quiet formation.
Akarshan looked at Jeevika. "Did you know of Kshatra?"
Jeevika nodded slowly. "We thought he was lost forever. Burned away by Ash's grief."
Void added coldly, "If he returns… we will not survive another war of gods."
Monish stepped forward. "Then we fight."
Shivam added, "But this time—not as heroes. Not as pawns."
Shiv finished, "We fight for Ash."
---
[Final Panel – The Stars]
Somewhere beyond the known multiverse, Kshatra opened his hand.
Galaxies died.
And he whispered:
> "Brother… let's finish what you ran away from."
---
To be continued ...
Its end of vol. 1