Ashura awoke in the vast emptiness of the void, the weight of silence pressing down on him like a suffocating shroud. His body felt different—lighter, yet constrained. He raised his hand and attempted to summon his usual powers, only to find that all he could use were his sealing abilities.
Looking around, Ashura noticed something in the distance: a faint glimmer of light, far away in the boundless darkness. It appeared to be a village. With nothing else in sight, Ashura began walking, his steps echoing eerily in the void.
Minutes passed, or perhaps hours—it was impossible to tell in this strange realm. Finally, Ashura arrived at the village. It was small and old, with humble huts and simple people going about their daily lives. But there was an unsettling aura about the place, as if it was disconnected from time itself.
Ashura approached a group of villagers, their faces weathered with age, and asked, "How do I leave this place?"
One of the villagers looked up, his eyes filled with a strange wisdom. "You wish to leave? To escape the void, you must defeat the Heaven God. But to do that, you will need to learn the God's fighting style."
Ashura, impatient and determined, clenched his fists. "Teach me, then."
The villagers exchanged glances, and one of them said, "Strange… You don't possess the Ashta Siddhi powers. How did you get here without them?"
"Ashta Siddhi?" Ashura repeated, confused. He had heard of the legendary abilities but had never encountered them himself. "What are you talking about?"
One of the elders stepped forward, a look of realization dawning on his face. "Perhaps… perhaps you were killed by a user of the Ashta Siddhis. Only such power can strip a soul of its mortal coil and send it here."
Ashura's mind raced. Lex… Could it have been him or someone else who wielded those powers? But there was no time to think about that now. He needed to return, to finish what he had started.
"I don't have time for this. Teach me the God's fighting style, and quickly," Ashura demanded, his voice cold with urgency.
The villagers, sensing his desperation, agreed to train him. Days passed in the void as Ashura trained with the villagers, learning the unique techniques used by the Heaven God. They taught him how to harness the energy of the void, to move with the grace of a deity, and to use sealing powers in ways he had never imagined.
Despite the villagers' surprise at his lack of Ashta Siddhi powers, Ashura's determination made him a fast learner. His skills sharpened with every session, and the villagers soon realized they were teaching a warrior unlike any they had ever seen.
One night, after a long training session, the elder approached Ashura. "You have learned much, but know this—the Heaven God is no ordinary foe. Even with these skills, you will need something more to defeat him."
Ashura's eyes darkened with resolve. "I don't care what it takes. I'll defeat him and escape this place."
The elder nodded, but his gaze remained wary. "Then prepare yourself, for the battle ahead will test every fiber of your being. And remember—the Ashta Siddhi may yet play a part in your fate."
With that, Ashura continued his relentless training, his mind focused on one goal: to defeat the Heaven God and return to the mortal world, where he could reclaim his power—and exact his revenge.
Elder said, "You must find the Golden Gate to enter Heaven. Only then can you face the Heaven God."
Ashura left the village, his mind fixed on the task ahead. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. The void stretched endlessly before him, and yet, no sign of the Golden Gate appeared. Time became a blur, with Ashura tirelessly searching for an exit, determined to escape the void.
After 90 long years, his persistence finally paid off. Standing before him, shimmering in the distance, was the Golden Gate. Its majestic frame glowed with a divine light, a beacon of hope in the bleak void. Ashura approached it, his heart racing for the first time in years. With a deep breath, he stepped through the gate and entered Heaven.
Heaven was unlike anything he had imagined—a place of unmatched beauty, filled with vibrant colors and a serene atmosphere. The air was light and sweet, the skies a brilliant hue of blue. In the distance, he saw a small castle nestled amongst the rolling hills of paradise. The castle seemed to call out to him, its presence both inviting and intimidating.
Without hesitation, Ashura began walking toward the castle, knowing that whatever awaited him inside would be the key to his escape from Heaven and the next step toward facing the Heaven God.
His journey, though arduous, had finally led him here.