"Do you know what silence sounds like... right before a universe dies?"
Somewhere beyond all realms—past the edge of time, past the rules of reality—something moved.
A figure sat alone in a place where stars refused to shine.A place where galaxies screamed… and no one could hear them.
It was Ashura.
His body looked human—almost perfect. But his presence? Unnatural. Endless. Wrong.
Around him floated fragments of dead planets, spinning like dust.
He wasn't sleeping.He was listening.
A faint whisper echoed through space.
"Aura..."
His eyes opened. Pitch black, with rings of shifting red, like a dying sun.
"So... it's still alive."
Meanwhile, deep in the Dark Abyss, Parth shivered.He felt something touch his soul—like a claw scraping against bone.
He dropped to his knees, gasping."W-who... was that?"
Back in the void, Ashura stood, stretching his hand.A small orb floated toward him—glowing weakly. A soul, barely holding on.
He crushed it casually.
"This universe bores me now. Too many mortals trying to play gods."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
Behind him, 12 figures kneeled. His elite—the Fallen Disciples.Each once a hero. Now broken. Twisted. Loyal to only him.
Disciple #4 spoke, voice trembling:"Master Ashura… the experiment you warned about... Parth... he still lives."
Ashura turned slowly.
"Then let him suffer longer.""If he breaks... I win. If he survives... he'll lead me to the Key."
In the dojo world, Dev suddenly paused mid-sparring.His chest tightened. His vision blurred.He saw flames. A throne of bones. A laugh that shook the stars.
And a single word rang in his ears:
"Soon."
Back in the void, Ashura stepped into a portal made of shadows.
"I will enter their world again. Slowly. Quietly. Like a whisper no one can silence."
He smiled.
"Let the children grow. Let them bleed. When they're ripe… I'll take everything."
End of Chapter 2