*ೃ༄

"We got a mission."

Renata informed, smiling elegantly while sitting across the lobby which surprised Sanju who came to visit the front office. "Huh, I was not surprised to see you, Renata," he greeted her sarcastically, the latter chuckles as she stand up and walked towards the Senapati Raksha and stood in front of him. Sanju wondered if what Maha said is true, the one he said in his dream--but he decided to keep that in mind until the time comes. "Come on, we're going to search for Althair, remember? We have to find the Cores of the Samsara, that's the only lead so we can find him--you know Althair's attention is strongly focused on those."

Right, he always had his eyeful sight of them.

Sanju hummed, folding his arms while glancing at the guests who either coming out from the hotel or heading back inside--mostly checking in for the new rooms. He was beginning to get worried, in case they encountered another enemies on sight who will be much worse than Maha--but that's not the case. "Yeah, I know... where's Salihin? I want to see him," he said, Renata smiled in taking his arm with her hand and pulling her to the garden of his hotel.

Sanju scrunched his eyebrows, why'd she always cling her hands to his arm whenever he spoke with her in such random things and what the hell is she thinking--not to mention he HAD TO WALK THAT WAY. Salihin was sitting by the fountain, smiling when he saw his friends and with his laptop turned on with monitor.

"Hello, Sanjaya... perhaps you can give us assistance in hunting the Cores of the Samsara? Of course, if that's alright," he asked, tilting his head and smiling playfully. "Yeah, I mean... but we can't leave our work here. I let the others in my staff having a free day, so we're in charge for their share of work," Sanju answered, but deep down he really wanted to help finding Althair--hoping that he's alright.

Because... he still want to hang out with him together with everyone after the next mission.

"Hey now, I understand that you still worried," Renata spoke, holding his shoulder to tell him about his undying concern about his presence in this world. Sanju sighed, patting his hands against his shoulders and shook his head. "Don't worry, there's still hope that the fireball is him... right? He's a Flame Raksha, that fireball is definitely him," she reassured, making him convinced that he's still alive--though it's slightly difficult. In case of the Phantom Samsara, he still didn't know why there were there and waiting for him in the end? He just hope Althair will survive or else...

Salihin watched as he was reading the script that he processed from Althair's vision before his 'sacrifice' into the Phantom Samsara, he was expecting something as he watched Sanju's stern expression. "... alright, when's the next mission?" he asked, Salihin hummed with a smile as he closed the script--making it disappear in a thin air when he stood up and speak with him in front of the fountain. "The mission will be in Manila the day after tomorrow, the Core of the Samsara is hiding in the clocktower somewhere in the city--where the masquerade ball in the city hall next to it," he explained, a dark shadow shrouded his eyes when he sighed. "I have a feeling, we'll be encountering someone in that mission."

"It could have been Althair?" Renata cocked her head.

Nope, don't speculate--never do that and make assumptions too quick, Sanju thought. Althair couldn't possibly be in Manila within the two-day gap. But he wanted to ensure, about the 'endure the war' prophecy that has being mentioned by Maha when he and Althair went to visit him in the hospital. Salihin was wondering why'd his eyes turned slightly cold and blue in deep of thought, so his hands on his pockets and open his closed eyes which reveals a magenta eyes.

"Don't worry, I already book a seat for the flight for all of you. And, don't forget to order some food first before you enter the flight," he reminded him, "I have prepared all of the best hotels for the destination, so don't worry too much about it."

Sanju nodded at his request, then he walked outside the hotel since he had enough while his father's restaurant doing nicely in the afternoon for lunch; turns out Salihin also informed him through the group messages, like a sudden check-up during the night-time or anything related to work. Salihin stared at him walking from the reflection of the water in the fountain before taking a breath. "Those guys again... their power is certainly different," he said, grabbing his laptop and closed them--turning off the screen. "Just like before."

All they ever wanted was a perfect life.

The day after tomorrow...

Sanju and his team already in the plane at twelve o'clock in the midnight at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta (because of a fucking delay for two hours) will reach 07:22 A.M local time, now the team is relaxing inside the plane. Sanju was looking at the night sky before the plane departs, with a few clouds at both their way and after take-off for at least three hours. His father Radithya was beside his seat since there's only two seats in a row, Raiden sat beside his father Ryoma while Akito sat down beside Kanae and Yukito beside Kinana--while Senja and Karina sat next to each other. There are Haruse, Renata, Icha, Radithya, Ryoma, and Salihin joining the team and leading them.

"What do you order for us, father?" Kinana asked from behind both of them, she was beside the window so she was observing the view outside. "Let's see..." he muttered, checking his smartphone if all of the menu was all available in one flight menu. "You sure love aviation food, Kinana," Yukito muttered, receiving a friendly smile from the silver haired girl next to his side. "I can't help it, Yuki."

Yukito grumbled, he didn't like being nicknamed 'Yuki' because it sounds like a girlish nickname. "I told you never to call me that," he sulked, making younger twin Akito snickered. "What? It fits, why don't you wanna get along with that?" Akito teased him with a playful sneer, seeing Yukito gave a middle finger at his twin--but keeping an innocent face with everyone. After that, they began to eat before sleeping in the plane since it takes eight hours to arrive.

After arriving in the airport in the morning, Sanju had an awful cold and turns out he has flu--because of a fucking air conditioner inside the plane, a little bit chilly and turned on until the three hours. "Sanjaya, you good?" Senja asked, he noticed that he has been sniffing his nose. "I'm alright," he sighed with irritated voice, Yukito also sneezes with the same thing. "Damn it, I keep having nasty snots just by entering this stupid airplane," Yukito wiped his nose, his younger twin was getting this earlier and waiting for his antidotes. Kanae was okay at first, but she kept shivering because of the air conditioning.

Akito suddenly had a sore throat, seriously he agreed with Sanju--the air conditioner in plane could made their colds got worse. They were in the hotel that Althair paid for them, and it went apeshit that there's no breakfast feast (which means they had to walk to the Seven Eleven to find breakfast) after the midnight while their flu gone to normal or worst in progress.

After that, they decided to either taking a detour around Manila City or lazing around inside their rooms. Sanju and his father Radithya shared a room, in front of their room is Raiden and his father Ryoma--and the other side is Akito and Yukito. Kanae stayed with Renata while Icha is with Kinana. Senja shared a room with Haruse and Salihin. "Father... I want to eat something in Seven Eleven but I'm too sick to move and walk right now..."

Sanju grumbled, still laying on the bed with his blanket over him. Radithya ruffled his son's short scruffy black hair with long bangs, staring at his dark brown eyes. This is his first time seeing his son having a bad cold; he's too proud to accept it if his son gets better from any illness or weakness since he has chosen the right partner. "My boy, I'm amazed of you," he assured him with a nod. He was about to get up, before his father reminded him not to get out from the hotel's room. "Do not get out from the room and you have to take your vitamins, please."

"Yeah, I know..."

After that, Radithya brought his youngest daughter Kinana to the 7 Eleven's foods section, he can speak English fluently like his son and Kinana (they're Indonesians with their native language, but their English is advanced just like Kinana). Kinana look around, before she picked the sandwich in the package. She heard her father ordering snack stuff and sushi platter package and drinks available, before she asked. "How did Sanjaya got sick?" she asked. "Your brother is sensitive towards air conditioning, even in certain regions in Indonesia which is a tropical country so there's no need for air conditioners. He's immune to cold actually, but I think the air conditioner in that plane must've made his body to respond the coldness," he explained, smiling sadly.

"It's been years... not just him or us but the rest of the people have been trying to adapt with the temperatures, and air conditioning can affect their health."

"We'd better take him some medical attention. Right, papa?"

Kinana said while giving him a puppy eyes, tugging his shirt. "No need, he can heal on his own. I'm just like that too when I was young, honestly."

He hummed, before he saw a sushi platter package and other foods even drinks available. 'How many Pesos are they? Nah, it should be enough,' he thought, before he noticed a male employee behind him. "Excuse me, sir. How much are they?" he asked, pointing the sushi platter, salad and the yogurt. "Fifty thousand Pesos sir."

Wow, that's expensive--not even Sanju said the same prices in this hotel. The employee noticed that he was using a platinum card, so it can cover more than half of the price. Radithya handed the card and began the transaction, it made Kinana shocked because her father used a platinum card--because Sanju happens to have one from his hotel business. "Oops, wrong card," Radithya joked, handing his normal debit card instead of his platinum card (he doesn't want anyone knew his super wealthy ass).

Sanju heard the door opened as he look up to see his father Radithya came inside, giving him the packages as both of them take off their Mirage Spectacles to remove their covers. "I bought this for us, come on. Eat it," he grinned, watching his son nodding and grabbing the plate and the chopsticks. Radithya helped his son by opening the package so he could eat it. "You didn't buy Philippines' traditional dishes?"

Sanju asked, which made him gulped. "I was planning to buy one, but I have to go to the Mall of Asia and it might take a taxi to go there which means traffic jam. You don't want me and Kinana to encounter that, right?" he asked. That made him chortled, making him rolled his eyes. It made him remember the worst traffic jam ever when he was going to the Jakarta and it lasted for two hours. Kinana was eating happily with her brother and father, sitting on the bedside of Sanju's bed.

Meanwhile, Akito and Kanae are walking down the street of Manila with their Mirage Spectacles on--their mirage took a form of a two foreign couple, considering of a cute girl and her very athletic boyfriend as the disguises. Kanae yawned, before she look back at him with a frown. "Why do you choose this couple mirage again?" she asked, receiving a gawking expression from him while he took out his smartphone. "Shut up and hold my hand," he commanded, holding her wrist and pulling her while holding their hands together in front of him. "I don't want to be a couple... why did you ask me, of all girls? Why don't you choose the rest?" she pouted, making Akito shook his head. "Because you're a good example of an innocent person I have ever met," Akito smiled with a sly grin.

They went to the mall, spending some time shopping and walking around. Although they were in disguise through their Mirage Spectacles, they still have to be careful about what they want to get as not the rest of their friends notices what they just bought (mostly Haruse would be the last one who will shop whatever to buy). "Let's came up with our disguise name," he said, walking forward beside her. "Eh... I'll take Kayla instead," she said, before he huffed. "Then... I'll be Adam."

Their names became Adam and Kayla, so those are their names for the temporary disguises. They passed by the popular food chain in the Philippines like "Jollibee", with the mascot on it, along encountering some foreigners--like Japanese tourist, English's, Americans... including some Indonesians like Sanju. "Welcome! Are you two a couple? There's a discounts for 12 percent for couples on weekend until Friday next week," one of the staff informed them. Kanae almost gasped, her hand hold her mouth in surprise that Akito squeezed her waist and pull her closer. "Yes, we are couple."

Akito said in a casual tone, which made him shocked to see Akito being manly by pulling him closer in a brief of seconds. He and Kanae blushed, but it seems their team also looking at them (who also disguised through their Mirage Spectacles so they could have an advantage) while their skins turning red comically like a beet fruit. Well, they bought some souvenirs for sure--until they encountered a security guard WITH a gun, especially he was carrying two knives that can really use them... as a self-defense weapon or weapon.

"Oh, are you two a couple here? Where do you two come from?"

"America."

Good, their English is fluent so Akito doesn't have to screw the moment. "Yes, we come here on a vacation during the weekends," he answered, being a Japanese-American just like the guide Salihin had made--the people of the Philippines welcomed the foreigners after speaking English to some of them. "This is my girlfriend, her name is Kayla--she just got a flu that's all," he explained, gesturing at her as Kanae bow down slightly and waves her hand in greeting. She had taken something to cover her flu, the guard noticed she was sniffling but as long as she has a flu--it wasn't a bother.

It turns out the security guard isn't a bad guy, he gave them a guide on their destinations around the Philippines like the famous shopping center, restaurants, club, lounge, hotels, theater... literally everything. All the countries has been wary of Rakshas lately, especially the ADVENT--a group of Rakshas under Sanju's lead from the Silver Slumbering Organization where they hunts for the Cores of the Samsara. Not to mention that they're also wanted criminals because of their powers by the World Government--but never caught their attention yet.

After the security guard left, they sighed in relief that they didn't get caught for being Rakshas. Good thing nobody notice their weird mirage or their accent--exceptionally someone like a guard with a gun (and two knives). "Ughh, can't believe the security guard gave us an advice... that was close," he muttered, before taking a bite of a strawberry cake she bought from the market.

They even cringed at the wanted flyers of their faces, not gonna lie--those pictures of them are horrible and ugly than an ID card (could be a photoshop).

The next day...

The masquerade ball has just started, a group of politicians, scholars and local employees attended the ball in the location as the guests are allowed to bring their partners and friends. They have to sneak inside in their disguises through their Mirage Spectacles, but they must be careful--someone or something could be lurking around the dark shadows of the ball while dressing as a socialites. The organizers didn't have to worry about any terrorist or any groups because of the security patrol, so the people will enjoy. Dancing music and orchestras are heard as the soft tunes of the violin echoed through the ballroom, the conversations with no stops; foreign languages spoken everywhere.

Sanju stood in the main center of the ballroom, wearing his ball mask in covering his eyes. He didn't want himself being notice, especially of how many people have come. The ones who didn't come to the masquerade ball are outside of the town hall, searching for anyone suspicious including the guards on patrol. His short scruffy messy black hair was slicked back messily, his dark brown eyes are eyeing his surroundings. His masquerade suit consist of a black jacket, with a white blazer worn on top of it, a gray vest and a black-and-white checkered tie, he also wears a dark pants with a white long strips running vertically at the sides.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The annoying part is: Haruse told him to be paired with someone, and it was Renata--WHY HIM?!

His friends doesn't understand why'd she have to pair up with him, the most possible solution is--the key phrase that has been written on the script Haruse edited, after he received an order from Salihin two days ago: That Sanju paired up with Renata that was mentioned by Haruse in the hotel. He knew that something unusual has been going on, something abnormal... something mysterious; of course he can find it with his friends, but it seems no one showed up to his presence inside the town hall. Seriously, why does Althair's clairvoyance on the script ended up 'That's all I can see' or something weird but accurate?

Renata's hands holding firmly on his arm as they walked, her black hair that now has a purplish-brown shades pulled into loose ponytail with two loose bangs hanging on either side of her face and her wine-purple eyes. She wears a sleeveless black dress that glitters along with her diamond jewelry, long black gloves and dark purple lipstick, with high heels. Her makeup was light and she wears a black mask, grinning at the sight of his annoyed expression. "Don't look at me like that, Sanjaya. We're pretend to be engaged," she spoke playfully with a smile, which made him gave a look at her 'fiance'.

This fucking teasing motherfu--

Before he opened his mouth, he flinched when he heard a soft gasps from his peripheral vision. A couple were standing on the upper floor, looking at the ball--the girl was gasping as she glanced at his appearance and so as her lover. Akito kept his golden blonde short hair slicked back as his brown hazel eyes eyeing the guests, while wearing his black and blue ball mask. His suit consists of a blue jacket with sleeves folding at the middle of his forearms, a black dress shirt underneath with its collar popped, he also wears a black tie and black pants, with a silvery shade running vertical from both legs. The rest also wearing their ball attributes, ensuring that their disguise is an excellent one while searching for the Core of the Samsara.

Sanju was so damn stiff because Renata keep clinging at him like a fucking KOALA BABY, much to his dismay--and it irritated him enough that she hugged his arm again! Why'd she still do that, he didn't like her like that in fact they only met in mission and they want to kill each other every time she teased him like a clown. "Renata, get your hands off me," he whispered, trying to peel her hands on his arm, he was beginning to having trouble breathing. "Just shut up and cooperate with me," she sneered, glaring at him behind her masquerade mask.

Then, he met Kirana in front of them--making her surprised to see Sanju was accompanying Renata. "S-Sanjaya, it's been a while--" he quickly covered her mouth with his finger, glancing at his left and right direction to make sure no one has paid attention to them. The rest of the organization began to hunt the Core of the Samsara with ease, searching all parts of the huge ballroom since one of them appeared to be hidden inside. "What are you doing here?" he asked, Kirana sighed with a smile as she fiddled her fingers. "My father got invited to the ball so... I decided to join," she replied with a soft voice as she looked at Renata before looking back at Sanju.

Oh dear, then that meant she knew that he was pretending to be engaged. "Okay, I'll stop you here. I think you have another business... or is that a love confession?" she joked, making Sanju and Kirana froze--they don't want to be known in the ball even if it wasn't meant to be, and having a love story is simply... inappropriate. "Are you out of your mind? No!" he hissed, glaring at her but she sighed. "Of course, I believe you. Have fun and I'll meet you later, okay? Okay."

Kirana waved as she went on the dance floor, leaving him with Renata since he was in charge of searching for Cores of the Samsara inside the building. Sanju on the other hand, wanting to punch Althair's face once he appears... and he's gonna call him a loser for breaking the mission orders they had with him on their organization. "Come on, we still have to search for the Core or we won't get paid," he said coldly, huffing as she saw Renata smirked from behind him. Their voices were echoing the ballroom, full of people who occupied the space of the dance hall--as the duo dancing to the tune of ballad-orchestra music mixed with local instrument.

Sanju was in the second floor, watching his teammates were still spying any suspicious person. He was now far from Renata since she wants to talk with her friend while he was investigating about any secrets the Core of the Samsara had, hoping that none of their disguise had been blown by anyone--and no one will find their true identities. "Good, now I'm free," he muttered, turning around to keep going the investigation until he encounters a group of girls whispering to each other, looking at him. "Heh, really pathetic," he smirked, grabbing his pendant necklace with his ID card embedded inside, it has a picture of him from their organization's members when they first meet.

Sanju unleashed his katana-like weapon and his flintlock on his hands, making sure that nobody sees him even in the mirrors--then he saw the group of Phantom Beasts are roaming towards him. He went through them swiftly with slashing them fast, jumping and stomping his left feet on the head of the Phantom Beast until his sword pierced through its body and blood oozing in large quantity. Sanju ducked down before he heard the ballistae were firing him and several bullets that keeps following him, swinging his sword through the air before a sudden lightning strikes the Phantom Beasts. "Sorry about that."

Raiden stated with a smile, assisting his best friend before he stabbed the attacking Phantom Beast with his katana in the heart until the organ gave up and it begins to faint. Once all of them are disposed, Sanju commanded his two weapons to disappear so does Raiden. "Did you found anything or the Core?" he asked, looking around the hallway of the huge building.

"Nope, we're already here even Salihin are inside--I thought those Phantom Beasts were independent but turns out somebody is 'controlling' them. What a waste of time," Raiden groaned, hearing the same orchestral music still playing from the ground floor--but with so many violins and so as the piano's key. "Let's just get this done with," he pushed Raiden to the hall of the second floor until they headed to the stairs, now arriving at the main center of the second floor. They sensed an ambush of the agents across them, until they were slain by Kinana in her mecha-humanoid phase before she reverted back into her human form. "It's guarded!" she informed, seeing another soldiers coming straight at them.

Karina brutally slain them with her glaive, so does Senja with his sword while taking them down--lastly Akito slashed them and Kanae backing him up. "Yukito's with the rest, he have to make the guests distracted them from upstairs," Akito informed, fighting with his katana and slashing the soldiers along his friends. "Come on, let's go."

Sanju went down and walking towards the second floor through the hallways, before the door opened as Kinana came rushing in along with them. His eyes widened when he saw a huge fireball had appeared before him and destroyed the entire hallway, as he heard a familiar young woman's voice. "So, Althair leads you here, huh?"

It was Miho--the Flame Asura who appeared in front of them, not expecting them to come here. Miho is feisty and cunning Asura who has no mercy, it's being stated in her own character that was processed. Her very beauty always made them envied her, especially that she is an Asura with white flame being her element. However, she has went through a lot of pain that mentally scarred her and it shows no mercy to them. "Miho, what brings you here?" Raiden asked, the Flame Asura unfolded her fan. "I came here to look for Althair too, it's been a while since he disappeared and this fireball he just sent is his only message for help. Apparently, I don't like involving you in a long journey," she answered, with Sanju glared at her.

"We're here to find him, that's all."

"Huh, seriously? Such an ass... I got something to settle with you and maybe if Althair arrived, all of you will prepare to fight us in the future. You think you'll win, but you're wrong. If you think it's simple, you're dead wrong."

All of them realized what's she talking about--their victory will never be triumphal. "Besides, at the end of your victory... you'll be dead," she warned, before she left them at the end of the fireball has disappeared in the last five minutes. Sanju can't believe this--none of them believed. This situation can affect Althair's performance against the Silver Slumbering Organization when they will encounter something at the next year or something, but he won't give up. He has a goal to finish, there's no way he'll let her words intimidated him.

Dancing music echoed, with people kept talking, enjoying the social gathering. "Miho, tell us about Althair," Akito stopped her, making her stop walking. "What?"

"Come on, you know Althair more than us, don't you? So, how is he during his past missions?"

Sanju was now interested with her question, it makes Miho sighs before she turned around and look at them. "Even though my memory is foggy, even so there is something I've never forgotten..." she recounted her memory of her friend, Althair who saved her from certain death even though she's an Asura who seeks for challenge and pride--something that Althair ever has the instinct to not attack her. "When he was a kid, he was born with a gift--seeing the future as clairvoyance: One possible reality where all its strands came together. He wouldn't always see the future, sometimes it's up to him to whether show it or not. I don't know why he was so kind and forgiving to me, even though I was being horrible to him back then--trying to kill him after his awakening as a Flame Raksha. Nevertheless, he's determined for peace among all parties including the people--even how many people wanted his bounty, as there's a dark cloud shrouded his whole life. Althair's personality? He's mischievous, easygoing, laid back... heh, what's not?"

She chuckled to herself, a flashback showed her past encounter with Althair during his childhood--including the Phantom Beasts attack she was involved with. Not just him, the rest of his teammates would accompany him so they can handle the Phantom Beasts together.

"Even with his dream?" Kinana asked.

Miho narrowed her eyes, looking down a bit. "Even with his dream, huh... Even if he changes the world, he will receive more insults, rejection and denouncement. That's it for his wish of 'world peace', even he tries to unite us until... his innocence is no longer on our minds," she stated the answer, before turning around to face them.

"Sanjaya Adinata... don't you realize that you and your team are Althair's protégés? Don't mess this up, Althair was being suspicious by the World Government since he leads you here. In other words, he's still alive--while he still in Phantom Samsara on his mysterious location."

The music had played its last notes, ending with small applause from the audience and the last phrases of orchestras before the whole crowd was bursting into claps. The musicians was smiling with happiness that they just ended the song smoothly, leaving a good impression for everyone. Miho turned to see the Core of the Samsara appeared in front of them, before she sighed. "There you go, now if you excuse me. I must return now," she said at them before walking away and vanished into flames, as Sanju was staring at her once again.

Not every Asuras used their powers for evil, despite of Miho's intentions when she awakened--she chooses not to.

On the other side...

Yura was studying the customs of this current era, it’s been a long time since he was from the past. After he observed the mess that happened recently, he decided to let these humans handle those matters. He didn’t like middle with human’s recent activities, though he isn’t familiar with them much since he’s a Water Asura. “Woah, so handsome…” some of the people seems to be admiring him from the distance, notably girls after seeing how handsome and good-looking he was. “His attire looks foreign and odd, but he’s not that bad…”

Yura heard one of the people spoke when he was standing in front of the large pool-like pond with koi fishes at the park, he turn around to look at the girls and they look away with embarrassed faces. Were they talking about me? How odd these humans are… I wish I could understand them… he let out a deep sigh, before turning around to look at the koi fish for a moment before he narrowed his eyes and creates a small splashes from the water--causing the fishes to be surprised by the water movements.

Yura laughed a little at how these creatures react to his elemental power, that alone made him amused until he sensed a familiar Resonance. “Hm?” he lifted his brows under his frameless non-prescription glasses, before he turn around and hummed quietly at the residual Phantom Beast energy. “Not surprised if that’s going to happen,” he stated as he snapped his fingers, causing the world becoming Inverted World and revealing a beast popping out from the bushes onto him.

“Too slow.”

Yura was the strongest when it comes to the elemental skills and strength, he unleashed his Varunastra on his hand and slain the Phantom Beast. Using the elemental aspects of hydrosphere and true to his elemental mastery without corruption, it brought the large volume of water engulfing the beast and suffocating them—the water was purely sacred because the mantra he chanted is based on his principles. Yura was the wisest but also the strongest and the eldest Asura amongst them.

The Phantom Beast has defeated and succumbs into its death when the water’s consuming his whole form, allowing it to be killed and the water has returned to the pool just as he manipulated. “Thank you for your teachings, Shukra.”

He thanked his mentor known as Asura Guru, the highest of the beings and almost similar level to the Deva itself that he respected. The Inverted World ceased when he went back to the reality once again, turning around with his hands behind his back and walking near the edge of the pool with koi fishes. He watched the Rakshas in the Nirvana Organization are training in the next day, the last thing Yura needed is nothing but a ‘disturbance’ in their mission.

"How was it, Agnida?"

Miho sighed, covering her lips with her fan. "It seems like the Void has come, for some reason... something bad will happen if Althair did not return," she explained, before she saw Jihan; the human name of Mahesvara--the Supreme Asura appeared with a mischievous smile on her lips. The Asura took form of beautiful young girl, with long ashen hair with long side-locks below her cheeks and her pair of amber eyes--wearing a white collared empress-like robe with black accents along embroidery of gold batik patterns--wearing black tights and gold cleopatra heels. “Seriously, the Elder Council keep coming after us, we should leave this country before they find us."

Jihan said with bored expression, floating in the air with her arms folded firm and still not breaking an eye contact with them. "In that case... they have to get prepared soon. Where are the Rakshas are heading to, the Silver Slumbering Dragon ones?" he questioned, Jihan answered the Water Asura. "Japan, what else? The Nirvana Organization also found the gate that said to lead towards the Phantom Samsara. I forgot what it called, but they were expecting Althair's return."

And so, they left once the group tried to look for them.

***

“Huh… where am I?”

Raiden rubbed his eyes when he was in the similar place where everything’s crumbling with red and dark blue sky above, he didn’t know where he was when he have to stay vigilant in here. Until he turn around to see a large door-like gate in front of him, thus brought him into interest, he never seen this one before.

The lower part of the door by the sun through the moon is dark red with gold lines, the upper part is green and divided into twenty-five segments. Surrounding the sun are several circles, the innermost connecting the moon and twelve holes, one in each segment. A set of steps leads to the door and two columns stand on either side of the door, connected by an arch. On the arch is the emblem consisting of eclipsed sun, on both sides of the gate there’s an additional support in the form of leg, this is something new for him that this is the first time he encountered it.

Raiden watched the door opened when he heard the footsteps, he turn around to see the hooded figure was walking with the key on his hand. The hand belonged to the man, he could tell from the fingers. “Uhm… excuse me, do you know what happened in here?” there’s no response from him when he tried to touch him, but it was like an illusion like he tried to touch a simulation. “Ah!” he stumbled a little when he manage to back up himself, until he turning around to face the man who unveiled his hood.

His eyes widened when he turn around.

He has striking features of resemblances of his present counterpart, from his short purplish-black messy hair with the long bangs almost covering his dark magenta eyes and cheeks, light complexion and also sharing similar height. The only difference is he wears a coat that covering his attire, only showing his left arm as he was left-handed like his present counterpart like he used to be.

Raiden couldn’t believe that he bears similar youthful face like him, the only difference is that he looks so depressed and exhausted from everything he went through--from where he used to live. “What… are you?” he narrowed his eyes with a frown, until he turn around as if he refuse to see him.

“I have to change the past.”

His ‘future’ self spoke to himself, before he take out the golden clock similar to the pocket watch, with the golden chain that attached to it. With the dial of the clock displays the gears from the inside, showing the gears is frequently spinning. Revealing the memories of the past where that incident happens, he was the only one who survived that incident until the scene shifted to where the event that takes place.

The scene shifted into where he firstly appeared where everything crumbles, Raiden saw his ‘future’ self narrowing his eyes and clench the grip from the clock. The sight of them who have been tortured to their near-death made him avenging them for that, and he won’t let that happen.

Raiden watched his ‘future’ self walking off, when everything fade to black.

“Ah!”

Raiden jolted up once he woke up at four in the morning, sharing a room with Sanju when he was still wearing his yukata. As he was panting heavily from the nightmare he hold his forehead, feeling the sweat running down from his head despite having an air conditioner inside the ryokan room. That was… that was just a dream? He thought, before he think about the man he had seen in his dream. No way, how come his face looks like… please tell me this isn’t some kind of joke…

Sanju grunts when he was sleeping on his futon across him, disturbed by his voice when he woke up in the early morning. “Raiden… it’s four in the morning…?” he asked with hoarse and sleepy voice, both of his eyes still closed due to being woken up.

“Sanju, sorry…” he bowed at him a little, before he laid down on the bed when he sighed softly with his eyes closed tiredly. “I had a nightmare… I don’t know, just that… I can’t forget it… not even…”

Raiden explained tiredly when he pulled the cover over him, seeing him was adjusting his sleeping position. “You had a nightmare…?” he nodded at him, opening his eyes to see him rubbing his eyes and sitting up a little. “I see…” he sighed when he was opening his eyes a little, before looking back at him when he ran his fingers through some of his bangs before falling down. “What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?” Raiden asked, usually it would be fun for him to tease him at the same time.

“No… I’m just…”

Sanju mumbled when he look back at him, yawning while he folded his knees and looking back at him. “Sheesh… I’m a bit disconnected from reality after I wake up… I was about to say that,” Raiden laughed a little, that cheered him up a bit when he sat up beside him. “You can go back to sleep, okay? After you,” he nodded when he laid down and goes back to sleep, the Thunder Raksha began to sleep as well after that.

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