The Eternal Paradise shimmered under a molten sunset, but Dev's world had already turned to ash.
Hidden in the shadows, he listened.
Inside the chamber, drunken laughter slashed his soul.
Father (drunken slur): "You were always the one, Dherya... not Dev. He's just a vessel... A pawn. One day, you'll reign. He'll just... carry your blade."
Dev froze.
His heart shattered into a million pieces.
Tears blurred his vision, but he forced himself to step inside.
Dev (voice breaking): "I... was never your son, was I?"
His father spun around, reeking of wine and betrayal.
Father: "Dev—it's not what you think—"
Dev (cold smile): "It's exactly what I think."
Without another word, Dev ran.
Past the holy chambers, past the memories he once loved.
At the sacred training ground, the Ashura Valor's hilt stood embedded in stone.
Dev gripped it tight, his knuckles whitening.
Dev (whispering to the hilt): "Better broken... than used."
Behind him, orders roared into the night sky.
Father (furious): "Bring him back! DEAD OR ALIVE!"
But Dev wasn't coming back.
He sprinted to the cliff—the edge of Eternal Paradise.
Below, the cursed abyss opened its arms.
Dev (desperate prayer): "Someone... anyone... if you're out there... Save me. I'll give you my life."
He jumped—
—and the sky swallowed him whole.
Dark Abyss
Parth trekked across the black wasteland, his half-burnt cloak flapping in the poisoned wind.
A sudden pull in his gut made him glance up.
A figure was falling. Fast. Broken.
Without hesitation, Parth roared his golden-red aura to life and dashed forward, cutting through the jagged landscape.
BOOM!
They crashed together, tumbling through rock and dust.
Parth stood, cradling the broken boy.
Parth (softly, to himself): "What kind of world throws away its children like trash?"
He hoisted Dev onto his back, each step heavy, and carried him back toward the Dark Lotus Sect.
Dark Lotus Sect – Healing Chambers
Light seeped into the chamber.
Dev stirred, groaning.
Parth sat nearby, tossing small rocks at the cracked ceiling.
Dev (hoarse whisper): "Where... am I?"
Parth (without looking): "Alive. You're welcome."
Dev struggled to sit up, instinctively ready to fight.
Dev (wild-eyed): "Who are you?! What do you want from me?!"
Parth just chuckled, low and tired.
Parth: "Relax, genius. If I wanted you dead, you'd be a splatter down in the Abyss."
Dev paused, realization sinking in.
He bowed his head deeply.
Dev: "Then my life... is yours. From this day... I am your blade."
Parth stood, dusting himself off.
Parth (shrugging): "Tch. I don't need a blade."
He turned toward the door.
Parth (quietly): "I need a brother."
Dev stared, stunned.
Dev (voice trembling): "A... brother?"
Parth smirked over his shoulder.
Parth: "Yeah. Someone who bleeds beside me. Not someone who hides behind me."
Without hesitation, Dev stretched out his hand.
Their hands met.
In that touch — betrayal, pain, and loneliness melted away.
They weren't alone anymore.
The Beast Attack – Blood, Brotherhood, and Betrayal
Days later, while hunting rare herbs, the earth shuddered.
A monstrous beast erupted from the dark—a nightmare born from flame and steel, with claws the size of boulders.
Dev (gritting teeth): "Bro... tell me this is just an ugly rock."
Parth (grinning): "Nah. It's dinner. You first."
They laughed—
—but the monster roared, blasting a Devil Claw Fire Slash toward them.
Parth shoved Dev aside with his exo-arm, standing his ground.
Parth (serious now): "Dev, RUN. Bring back help!"
Dev (yelling back): "NOT LEAVING YOU!"
The monster snarled, gathering another devastating slash.
Parth growled.
Parth (low, grim smile): "Figures. You're as stupid as me."
The beast unleashed its deadly slash straight at Dev.
Dev froze—
—fear locked his legs.
Dev (terrified): "BROOOO RUN!!"
Dev squeezed his eyes shut—
But the blow never came.
When he dared to open them, he saw—
Blood.
Golden-red aura.
A shield made of pure, burning soul.
Parth stood in front of him.
Back torn open. Blood raining like a broken storm.
His aura had erupted to 999% — pure overload.
Dev (screaming): "YOU'RE DYING, YOU IDIOT!"
Parth (smiling through blood): "A brother... protects. Always."
Parth slashed through the monsters—his sword dancing like a demon's fang.
Each movement cost him more blood. More pain.
Finally, the beasts fell.
But Parth—
Parth fell too.
His body shattered.
Bones snapped.
Veins exploded.
Half his black hair turned crimson red.
Dev (crying, voice broken): "Stay with me... PLEASE!"
Dev summoned his hoverboard, laid Parth carefully onto it, and rocketed toward the Sect.
Rage burned in Dev's chest.
Dev (screaming into the abyss):
"From now on...
If anyone dares touch my brother—
I'll erase their bloodline from this world!
Even gods will fall if they try!"
Above the cliffs, the Sect Leader watched silently—approval glinting in his cold eyes.
The Unbreakable Vow
Dev poured every coin, every mission credit he owned into healing Parth.
When Parth woke, bandaged head to toe, he saw Dev training like a madman—
Bleeding, breaking, refusing to stop.
Parth (hoarse): "Training to kill me or save me?"
Dev (grinning fiercely): "Training... so you don't die before me, idiot."
They laughed weakly, both knowing the truth.
Later, under the cracked moonlight, Dev whispered.
Dev: "You want out of this hell?"
Parth's eyes flickered.
Parth: "Escape the Abyss?"
Dev (grinning): "Death Life Arena. Win the duo tournament. First prize... freedom."
Parth grinned back, wild fire in his soul.
Parth: "Then let's train... for death."
Their path was set.
Not for glory.
Not for power.
For brotherhood.
And for freedom.
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 3