"Asura..."
That deep, powerful call echoed through the tranquil valley like an ancient bell.
A tall, powerfully built man stood beside the hot spring, his white hair flowing wildly like a lion's mane. His eyes flashed with a profound light, as though they could see through every secret in the world.
He was Augas, Asura's master, an existence second only to Deus in the Seven Star Heavens.
Over the long twelve thousand years, his might and power had long become the source of countless legends and fears.
Asura jolted awake from his unconsciousness and found himself soaking in a steaming hot spring.
The spring water was crystal clear, yet it carried a faint scent of sulfur. Dense trees surrounded the area, and the occasional birdsong pierced through the canopy, lending a touch of life to the quiet scene. However, Asura had no mind for any of it. His heart was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
"What happened?"
Asura muttered to himself, trying to recall what had happened before. Then he remembered—Karo's escape ship had exploded right in his face.
"Hahahaha!!!"
Just then, a bold burst of laughter shattered the silence. It was unrestrained and wild, yet laced with a hint of mockery.
Asura turned toward the sound and saw Augas standing beneath the hot spring waterfall with his arms crossed, a playful smile on his weathered face.
"You merely fell from a height, yet you were unconscious for so long. Your training is lacking, Asura!"
There was a trace of reproach in Augas's words, but even more than that, there was expectation for his disciple's potential.
However, Asura's heart was filled with complicated emotions. Even now, he could not forget the betrayal and conflict between himself and his master. It was an eternal wound in his heart.
He recalled that