Rain fell silently against the ground.
The world felt… too quiet.
Shina walked beside Ashura, her fingers gently wrapped around his hand.
She glanced at him, hesitation in her eyes.
"Ashura…" she spoke softly,
"Why do you kill people?"
Ashura didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained calm… almost empty.
"…I was never meant for this world."
His voice was low, distant.
"I'm someone who learned how to live… by taking other lives."
Shina's brows furrowed.
"But… I still think you have a good heart. Then why…?"
The rain slowly traced down her shoulders,
her hair shimmering under the pale moonlight.
Time felt like it slowed.
Ashura suddenly stopped.
He turned toward her.
"…I became this… to protect someone."
A pause.
"…someone I loved."
His grip tightened slightly.
"…and lost."
His eyes lowered.
"…after she died."
"Ashura… run away… please…"
His mother's voice trembled—desperate, breaking.
The world blurred.
Little Ashura lay on the ground, clutching his stomach, his body shaking in pain.
"L-leave my mom…!"
His voice cracked as he tried to stand.
A thug laughed—
and kicked him.
His body flew back, crashing hard against the wall.
"AAHHH—!"
"Someone… help me…!"
His vision blurred again.
He looked up—
His mother… struggling…
her voice silenced, her cries trapped behind trembling breaths.
Something inside him… snapped.
"You… idiots…"
His small fingers tightened around a broken iron rod lying beside him.
"I'll kill you…"
He rushed forward—
not as a child…
but as something else.
—
Silence.
The rain outside continued.
Ashura stood there… gasping.
The room… quiet.
Too quiet.
His hands trembled.
"…I killed them…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
His mother sat weakly nearby… shaking… but alive.
Ashura stared at his hands.
"…they deserved it…"
—
Present.
Ashura's voice turned cold.
"That day…"
"…that weak child died."
"…and something else was born."
Shina covered her mouth, her voice trembling.
"…You killed three people… at the age of eight?"
Ashura nodded calmly.
"…Yes."
His eyes didn't waver.
"I broke their necks… so it would end instantly."
A brief pause.
"I simply sent them… to face their judgment."
The rain grew heavier.
Ashura started walking ahead.
"The rain's getting stronger, Shina."
He removed his coat.
She blinked, slightly flustered.
"Y-you'll get wet…"
"…No one really cares about that."
He gently placed the coat over her shoulders.
Shina froze for a moment.
"…People say you're a monster…" she whispered.
"But all I see is… someone kind. Why?"
Ashura looked away.
"…Because of the promises I made to my sisters."
His voice softened.
"…And I would never harm a woman."
He exhaled lightly.
"The day I ever do that…
I'd rather my heart stop right there."
He reached out and held her hand.
"…But don't misunderstand me."
A faint smile.
"You still don't get to scold me."
Rainwater slid down his hair, tracing his face.
Shina stayed silent.
He's not what father said…
…he's something else entirely.
"My home is here…"
Shina stopped near the gate.
Ashura gave a small wave.
"Wait… I'll bring an umbrella for you—"
But before she could turn back…
he was already gone.
"Such an idiot…" she puffed her cheeks softly.
"Lady Shina, you're back."
"Yes, Shizu…"
The door closed behind her.
—
The streets fell silent again.
Rain poured steadily.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Ashura walked alone.
A drop fell from a leaf…
landing in a puddle.
Ripples spread.
Ashura stopped.
His eyes sharpened.
"…How long do you plan on following me?"
Silence.
Then—
"Hehehehehe…"
A twisted laugh echoed through the rain.
"So… you noticed me."
A figure appeared—
too fast… almost unnatural.
Standing right in front of him.
"How are you, Ashura?"
Ashura didn't flinch.
"…I'm fine."
A small pause.
"…Mr. Stalker."
Ashura stared at him in silence.
"…So…"
"The great mysterious man… stalking a 16-year-old?"
His tone carried a faint mockery.
Blood dripped slowly from his hand…
mixing with the rain.
His expression hardened.
The man chuckled.
"Hehehe…"
"I like your humor."
His voice was cold… almost lifeless.
Thunder roared above them.
"Ashura…"
He stepped forward.
"…you're someone worth remembering."
Ashura let out a faint, dark laugh.
"…I haven't forgotten either."
His eyes sharpened.
"…my defeat."
A pause.
"So I came back…"
The man's smile twisted.
"…to take it back."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…by killing you."
The rain poured heavily over both of them.
One stood as something dangerous.
The other… as something inevitable.
The rain fell endlessly.
"Ashura… still hasn't come back…"
Ruhi stood near the window, her voice trembling.
"It's already 11…"
Avni muttered, worry creeping into her tone.
Rivaan sighed, setting his cup down.
"Maybe he stayed at Shina's place…"
Ruhi quickly dialed.
"…Hello—Shina? Is Ashura with you?"
Silence.
Her hand began to shake.
"…What do you mean he left an hour ago?"
Avni stood up instantly.
"We're calling the police."
Rivaan grabbed his keys.
"No… we find him first."
—
Rain poured heavily.
"That idiot…" Yash ran through the streets.
"He's always causing trouble!" Reyansh shouted.
"Ruhi sounded like she was about to cry…"
Yash clenched his fists.
"…I'll kill him myself if he made her cry."
Harsh adjusted his glasses calmly.
"Let's just make sure he's alive first."
—
Shina stood frozen.
"…He didn't reach home…"
Her phone slipped from her hand.
"Find him."
John's voice turned sharp.
"Now."
"Yes, sir."
—
The storm grew louder.
Two figures stood in the rain…
staring at each other.
Ashura's voice turned cold.
"…I'll make sure not even a trace of you remains."
The man laughed softly.
"Good…"
"…because I came for the same reason."
His smile twisted.
"…revenge."
A pause.
"…and you."
Thunder ROARED across the sky.
Both spoke at the same time—
"Prepare yourself…"
"…you're going to die."
The storm swallowed their voices.
And the night…
was about to turn red.
Two stood face to face…
neither willing to bow…
neither willing to lose.
Chapter 5 Ended