As Ashura stepped into the castle, he was greeted by two massive gates: one glowing with a radiant light marked as the Heaven Gate, and the other darker, shrouded in shadows, marked as the Hell Gate. A voice echoed through the halls of the castle, powerful and commanding.
"Welcome, Ashura. Have you trained well to beat me?" the Heaven God's voice boomed.
Ashura clenched his fists and replied, "Yes. I will defeat you."
Without warning, the Heaven God launched an attack, sending a beam of energy toward Ashura. Ashura barely dodged the attack, his reflexes sharp from years of training. He quickly retaliated, using the godly fighting techniques he had mastered in the void. Their clash was intense, both warriors exchanging blows with precision and power. The fight dragged on, neither willing to back down.
Suddenly, Ashura managed to seal the Heaven God's movements and landed a devastating punch right in the deity's face. The impact echoed through the castle. The Heaven God staggered but then smiled.
"Impressive, Ashura," the Heaven God said, his voice colder than before. "Now, let's see if you can handle the second phase."
The air around the Heaven God grew icy as his true power began to manifest. His hand became surrounded by a brilliant golden aura, radiating an intense divine energy.
Ashura eyed the aura and muttered, "This... this power is different."
He charged toward the Heaven God, attempting another punch, but as the Heaven God swung his hand, a massive, golden hand appeared above Ashura and came crashing down on him. The impact was devastating, forcing Ashura to the ground. The Heaven God followed up with a barrage of rapid attacks, each strike weakening Ashura further.
But Ashura wasn't finished yet. Summoning his last reserves of strength, he activated the 3-sign transformation, his body pulsating with newfound power. His movements became erratic, unpredictable, his speed nearly impossible to track. With this power, he launched a powerful energy beam directly at the Heaven God's face, sending him flying out of the castle.
Ashura stood tall, panting heavily, watching as the Heaven God fell. "Finally," Ashura said, "I've beaten you, Heaven God."
The Heaven God, though wounded, rose to his feet and smiled once more. "You are indeed powerful, Ashura. Would you like to become a god?"
Ashura shook his head, breathing heavily. "No... I have more important things to do."
The Heaven God nodded. "Very well. But remember, now that you are no longer a soul, you cannot use the god fighting style anymore." The Heaven God's golden aura faded as he spoke. "You are free to leave now."
Ashura stepped back into his world, taking in a deep breath of the familiar air. "Ah... what a wonderful atmosphere. I missed this." He gazed out at the town he once lived in, now drastically changed. The buildings were different, the streets filled with newer faces. Yet, despite the transformation, he realized only 12 years had passed since he last walked here.
As he made his way through the streets, people gave him curious looks, but Ashura ignored them, his focus solely on the clan meeting hall. Upon arriving, he entered the grand chamber where his father, Zephyr, sat alongside the elders. The moment Zephyr laid eyes on Ashura, his expression was one of shock.
"Ashura... how? How are you alive?" Zephyr's voice trembled, disbelief etched across his face.
Ashura smirked, his eyes cold. "Did you think I died? No... not yet. But before I do, I'll kill Lex. That little brat killed my mother, and I will have my revenge."
Zephyr stood up from his seat, his eyes filled with authority. "I won't allow this, Ashura. You've been consumed by hatred."
Ashura's gaze darkened as he stepped forward, his tone dripping with menace. "I'm not here to ask for your permission, father. Tell me where Lex is, or I'll kill you, too. Make no mistake—I will find him."
Zephyr stared at his son for a long moment, then slowly shook his head. "Do you truly believe I am your real father?"
Ashura froze, and a memory clicked in his mind. He remembered Zephyr's ability—the power to create illusions, to trick even the keenest of minds. Ashura's lips twisted into a sneer.
"So... you're just an illusion. I should've known," Ashura said, his voice laced with frustration. "Fine. No matter. I don't need you to tell me where Lex is. I'll find him myself."
With that, Ashura turned on his heel and left the hall, his heart burning with vengeance, his mind set on one goal: finding Lex, and finishing what he had started.