The battlefield trembled.
Dust swirled in the air.
The ground was cracked… half-melted from Karan's previous attack.
And in the center—
Ashura stood.
Untouched.
Unshaken.
Unstoppable.
Behind him, dozens of dark spheres floated like cursed moons… pulsing with terrifying energy.
In front of him—
Two warriors… barely standing.
Deva tightened his grip on his sword.
Pain shot through his body, but he didn't loosen his hold.
Karan steadied his breath, his bow still aimed forward.
Their hands were shaking…
Their bodies were breaking…
But their eyes—
Still burning.
They both knew one thing—
They couldn't win.
But still…
They didn't step back.
Ashura tilted his head slightly.
Then—
He laughed.
Slowly…
Then louder…
Then louder…
A creepy, hollow laugh that echoed across the battlefield.
"You're still standing…" he said, staring straight into their eyes.
"That fire… that determination…"
His smile twisted.
"…it makes me laugh."
Karan clenched his jaw.
"What's so funny, you creep?"
Ashura's eyes gleamed.
"Oh? Did I scare you?"
He stepped forward slowly.
"The blazing eyes… that foolish determination…"
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"…it's entertaining."
Deva stepped forward, his voice heavy but firm.
"Oh yeah? That makes you laugh?"
He raised his sword.
"Then we'll see… after you see your death in our eyes…"
A pause.
"…whether you laugh or not."
Ashura smiled wider.
"What a beautiful dream."
His voice turned calm… cold…
"I was right."
"Guardians are weak… brainless creatures… who think they can win against us."
He looked at them again.
"…though you two are interesting."
A slight tilt of his head.
"You still believe… you can defeat me."
"…Impressive."
A pause.
"…but pointless."
With a flick of his finger—
A dark sphere shot forward.
BOOM!!
Karan barely dodged it.
The explosion tore the ground behind him.
Another sphere followed.
Then another.
Then—
A barrage.
Both Karan and Deva moved, running, dodging, barely surviving.
Ashura raised his hand—
And launched multiple spheres at once toward Karan.
Karan's eyes widened.
Too many…
He drew his arrow.
Closed his eyes for a second—
Then chanted.
Lightning crackled around him.
His normal arrow transformed.
"Come forth…"
His voice sharpened.
"Multi Lightning Arrow."
He released.
The arrow split in mid-air—multiplying into dozens of lightning arrows.
They clashed with the dark spheres—
BOOM!!
Dust and sparks exploded across the battlefield.
Ashura watched through the smoke.
"You still have some moves left…"
A faint smile.
"…don't you?"
His eyes narrowed.
"But you won't get another chance."
The dust slowly cleared.
One sphere slipped through.
Impact.
Karan dropped to his knees.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He coughed… then wiped it slowly.
"…yeah… I know…"
His voice was low… tired…
"…but I don't think I need them anymore."
His eyes lifted.
Cold.
Sharp.
"…because you let your guard down."
Behind Ashura—
Deva appeared.
Sword raised.
"NOW DIE—YOU BASTARD!!"
CLANG.
The blade stopped.
Ashura blocked it—
With one finger.
A cold smile appeared.
"…you think so?"
He grabbed Deva's sword—
And in the next second—
THUD!!
His kick slammed into Deva's broken ribs.
Deva was thrown away—
Crashing into a tree.
"DEVA!!"
Karan's eyes filled with rage.
He drew his bow again.
"Fire arrow!"
Blocked.
"Lightning arrow!"
Blocked.
"Water arrow!"
Blocked.
Ashura didn't even move.
Karan's breathing grew heavier.
"…then…"
He looked up.
"…MULTI ARROW!!"
He fired toward the sky.
In an instant—
Countless arrows rained down on Ashura.
Ashura raised his hand.
An invisible shield formed.
Every arrow—
Blocked.
But—
Behind that attack—
Karan was already preparing something else.
Wind began to gather.
The air trembled.
The ground cracked.
His voice turned cold.
"This…"
A deep breath.
"…is the current most powerful weapon in my arsenal…"
The wind roared violently.
"Varuna Astra."
The arrow formed from pure wind.
Terrifying.
Unstable.
Overwhelming.
This is my final attack…
It's taking everything…
If this fails… I won't even be able to move…
Karan glanced at Deva.
Deva struggled to stand.
His body shaking.
He's also at his limit…
If backup doesn't come… we're finished…
Karan smiled faintly.
Then looked at Ashura again.
His eyes filled with rage.
"…now die… you bastard."
He released.
The arrow roared forward.
The ground trembled.
The air screamed.
Ashura didn't move.
Instead—
He smiled.
"…this is fun."
He raised his shield again.
The arrow struck.
The shield trembled.
Cracked.
Ashura's eyes widened.
"…no… that's not possible…"
SHATTER.
The arrow broke through.
BOOM!!!
Dust exploded into the air.
Silence.
"…Did it work?" Deva's weak voice echoed.
Karan stared ahead.
His body shaking.
"…no…"
A laugh echoed.
Louder.
Darker.
Ashura stepped out of the dust.
Unharmed.
"I underestimated you."
His voice was calm.
"That attack…"
A pause.
"…was powerful."
"It could have killed a lower commander."
His eyes darkened.
"But I am not ordinary."
"I am one of the Six Evils of Desire."
"…Taraka."
Karan's expression hardened.
"We knew you weren't ordinary…"
His voice turned cold.
"…but sending someone like you to slaughter villagers…"
A pause.
"…you're planning something big… aren't you?"
Taraka smiled.
"And you think I'd tell you?"
Karan smirked faintly.
"You make it sound like you could…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…but the truth is…"
"You're just a servant."
"…a loyal dog."
Silence.
Then—
Laughter.
"Interesting…"
Taraka raised his hand.
Dark spheres began to merge.
"You've reached your limit."
"…and now…"
"I will eliminate you."
A giant dark sphere formed.
"How unfortunate…"
"…a warrior like you…"
"…dying so young."
"Farewell."
The sphere rushed toward Karan.
Karan didn't move.
So this is the end…
His vision blurred.
End of my life…
Like this…
Like a weakling…
No…
This isn't fair…
Master…
His voice trembled inside his fading consciousness.
"Master… forgive me…"
"I don't think… I served you well…"
His breath broke.
"But… I fought…"
His fingers clenched weakly.
"I fought… till the very end…"
"I fought… against one of the Six Evils…"
"…with everything I had…"
"I wanted… to see you one last time…"
"…to say goodbye…"
"…but it seems…"
"…I don't have time…"
"…farewell… Master…"
His vision faded.
The attack was right in front of him.
His eyes slowly closed.
"Karan…"
A voice.
"…open your eyes."
His heart trembled.
"…Don't give up."
"…DON'T GIVE UP!!"
His eyes snapped open.
"DEVA!!"
Deva stood in front of him.
Blocking the attack.
His sword—
Had transformed into a shield.
Blood poured from his mouth.
His body trembled violently.
But he didn't move.
"Don't… give up…" Deva said.
"…I'm here…"
"…we're going to survive this…"
"…together…"
Karan's eyes widened.
"…Deva… how…?"
The attack faded.
Deva dropped to his knees.
"K… Karan…"
"…stay… with me…"
"…they'll come…"
"…soon…"
Taraka's voice echoed.
"…how touching."
Another dark sphere formed.
"This time…"
"…you die."
"Run…" Deva whispered.
Karan shook his head.
"No."
"RUN!!"
"I'm not leaving you."
Taraka smiled.
"…then die together."
The attack launched.
"MOVE!!" Karan shouted.
Deva tried—
But his body failed him.
The sphere rushed toward him.
Too fast.
Too close.
This is it…
WHOOSH!!!
A blazing streak of fire cut through the sky.
BOOM!!!
The dark sphere was destroyed mid-air.
A shockwave exploded across the battlefield.
A severed head rolled across the ground—
Stopping near Taraka.
Silence.
Even Taraka's eyes narrowed.
A figure landed between them.
Slowly…
Calmly…
Golden light flickered around him.
The air grew warmer.
Karan's eyes widened.
"…no way…"
Deva smiled weakly.
"…you're late…"
The man smirked.
"Sorry."
"…got held up."
He stepped forward.
Flames rising around him.
Taraka stared.
"…so you're the one."
The man looked up.
Eyes blazing like fire itself.
"Name's Sun."
"And I don't like what you've been doing."
Taraka smiled.
"Good."
The dark spheres behind him spun faster.
"…then entertain me."