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“By the way, how was the trip in Phantom Samsara?”

Akito asked the archaeologist while the group were somewhat curious on how did he survived, Sanju was relieved that he was okay--no scratch nor marks on him after his absence. Althair stared at them before shaking his head and smiled. Looks like he had a lot of things to explain, and there will be more to go.

"No idea, everything I remembered are the mess and chasms… I just remember a faint presence of me watching myself over there... turns out it was myself from the Eclipse. Long story short, he was talking to me about many things and explained what happened to me. Also, I learnt that I'm special, since I'm an empath and it might be helpful to us in the future," he explained to them, in truth he doesn't know how he had it all on him and what happened to him--until he sighed. "Then... I realized that... he DID touch something that made him corrupted and made everyone think in his world that he's dead. I was angry that he did that," he said that made all of them raise an eyebrow at him. "He said this before he 'left' the Phantom Samsara, it's started with: 'in your life, you meet a few special people. They're the ones who'll change you forever. But what about in an alternate reality? What if fate decides on a new pathway, diverting you away from what you've been accustomed to? Well, there's only one person who'd be your fated adversary'."

He quoted what his alternate self has stated with a monotone voice, still remembering what he just heard.

All of them widening their eyes that they couldn't believe what they've been told about, except Raiden who cleaned his ear that seems like not wanting to believe it--maybe due to his habit. "I asked who is it, so he answered: 'Come on, is it obvious? Or are you on your way to being senile?'."

He said to everyone, he knows because the 'special person' will change a bit. "Anyone can be fated adversaries with anyone, just not quite as strong as the one who are fighting against, hehe'... and he showed himself that he was corrupted after he entered the Eclipse Gate," Althair pointed out while looking around the others who couldn't believe his story and also that their future counterpart was definitely a cheeky bugger. "I don't know why but... in my case, I didn't get corrupted."

"Perhaps the Asuras in there were dead, I guess?"

Haruse guessed, giving them a theory but it was cut off by the words Althair said a second later. "It wasn't a theory... he stated: 'Oh yeah, by the way, the Asuras inside the Eclipse are all dead now. They choose to search for me, but in your world... where are they?' maybe it was the right thing that they choose not to meddle in human affairs since Asuras' matters are private... the one from our timeline. Anyways, I saw the fragments of Old World and Eclipse World--from the beginning until the end. Except, the New World where we lived."

The gate has re-opened again once the lever pulled back, watching the gate has working on its mechanism and the door opened. "Here it comes," Karuna warned them, watching the light radiates from the inside of the gate. The gate created the void portal that sent the gravity into pulling them inside, making all of them screamed that Jaemin pushed the button back into closing the gate. "What the heck was that?!" Raiden yelled.

"That portal shows the fragments that sends you into the Old World into the Eclipse World... I think I remember the code when I was in Phantom Samsara, hold on... let me review this again..." Althair said as he was busy figuring out the codes, until he noticed a set of numbers were displayed and a keyword. He pressed the numbers quickly on the keyboard, typing down the word he put. Sanju watched the screen lit up as the final piece was solved and the gate opened with blinding light.

"Right, the password to the Deep End is here!"

After the incident of the past that nearly almost goes awry because Future Raiden's sacrifice on letting the gate had damaged severely, Althair found the note that was hidden into the pocket that he didn't notice while finding the key which was still have the pieces of clothes attached in there. He couldn't believe what was the note say, until he decided to show it towards Sanju. He received the note, he had to ask Akito for help since he's good at deciphering cryptic codes, he did try his best to translate the note into a decent read.

Once they managed to analyze the notes, it turns out Future Raiden was intending to sabotaging the gate that prevented him from getting stopped from ending the curse once and for all. "The Eclipse Prophecy says: 'The sun is the last to take hold, but the first to lay to rest; and they shall return to their state of nonexistence'."

"In other words, whoever were inside the gate will cease to exist."

There was a silence between them, before someone snapped. "Pfft-! Wait, the sun came first before the moon and... wasn't it supposed to come on its own?"

The rest are speechless that they are starting their journey with a note... once more.

Deep in the depths of the Eclipse's core laid the last remnant of the New World, and the final step for the world to finally have a true peace after. Salihin take out his script book and pen, before Althair whispered his next clairvoyance to his ear--it always been confidential, after Salihin done it. "Is there anything else?" he asked his superior, Althair seemed tired that he needed some rest since he didn't sleep a wink, merely passing out at the base after expending all of his magical energy. "No, there's no changes. Just follow as per instruction and make it quick," the Flame Raksha said when he shrugged nonchalantly, Salihin nodded.

"Let's take a break, seriously I'm so exhausted after what just happened recently," Althair told the others, they agreed for a moment since they wanted to sort out their objectives.

While they're still in the Central Terrace...

"Sanjaya, have you ever believe in the power of friendship?"

Sanju snorted at his friend's question when he was standing beside him, looking at the garden with the fountain. He gave him an 'are you kidding me' look but he shook his head before he replied back with the truth. "What was your mind thinking about, to ask a question like that? Out of the blue?" he asked, Senja close his eyes--taking a deep breath before he explained to Sanju.

"You and your father, you have a hard life to go through in yours and I... I don't know how to comfort you both in a sense that you guys never let yourselves overshare anything to anyone."

To be honest, Senja is a listener and someone who would help others to sort out their problems, even he himself wasn't not the kind of man who seek any advices from others. Yet, the truth is that he knew most of the time it was hard for him to help them, however, as his friends... he can't just give up helping them until his efforts are fruitful. He had tried everything to make everyone open up their minds to open their hearts to them, so they're no longer hurting by themselves. He can be blunt and brutally honest, even if the truth is too harsh to say--yet he told them that things must be done.

Sanju stared at him, before he turn his head around to look at the flowers which bloomed even brighter with their flowers. "You never know what we've been through together, not just me and my father... I wished if I was less naive than my current self before and... I kind of messed up a lot of times I went by myself without you. Maybe, you're just right. That I need to let loose a bit sometimes, besides... I'm not perfect and I know that you know it too," he stated, understanding the situation in hand and accept himself for what he is.

Senja glanced forward, sometimes he does like to be a lone wolf that does his thing--he always felt that he doesn't fit in. "Honestly Sanjaya, I had a complicated background and there was a time I often... wanted to die after I became a Binding Raksha. No matter how much the wounds I had, it always healed... I hated myself because I'm a Raksha... until I meet you. You're the reason my hatred was gone... you showed me how can there be love in a world like this... I thought, if there's such love in our lives... would there be still war and death like how it used to be?"

Sanju stayed quiet as he walked with his friend into the depths of the center of the garden.

"I admit, you showed me how to live through the storm. And to keep my hopes from turning empty shells. No matter how many times you had to endure the pain after losing your mentor, even betrayed by your close ones and losing some of your friends during the Phantom Eruption. Yet, you still tried to do everything you could... not giving up on the fight. You always smile even if you're lonely, you always giving us the support... despite the challenges. That's why I admired you, Sanjaya."

Listening to him is like a miracle to him, someone who brought a sense of hope to his heart even in this hardship life he was carrying. Sanju's solemn and calm expression did not betray his composure, watching him giving him a genuine smile while whispering a fond sentence that makes him remembered someone he cared the most. "Thank you, for showing me there's still life in this world."

That simple sentence holds the value of everything Sanju has, before he heard he hummed softly while walking. "No problem," Sanju replied simply, not needing any words to express what he'd been feeling right now, the memories that linked all of them before. After both of them bonded through the battle, they went into against their enemies and the struggle to overcome their insufficiency of themselves. "Do you believe in romance, by the way?" he asked.

Sanju, however, still uneasy when it comes to that. Despite his Phantom Eruption PTSD he was trying to cope with, he was unable to show a lot of feelings to express himself to all of the members. He feels guilty for it, since most of them were going through a lot of things behind them and being the leader to direct their lives together. "I used to, but now? I couldn't afford forming a bond through my own PTSD of losing one of them. A strong feeling you love someone and lose them, hurts ten times more."

"Sanjaya, are you insecure?" Senja was worried when he asked that, he didn't expect that from his friend's perspective. Not wanting him to see him in a vulnerable state--if anything, then Senja understood since his job took most of his time and be occupied a lot to even socialize. Sanju nodded. "Yes, because I can't trust people around me anymore... not even my own friends after Haruna betrayed me that day, I know he can be fragile but... I thought he learned his lesson after I forgive him for the first time and... now he..." he trailed off, before he added. "Oh, I haven't tell you about this one right? You already know the first one."

Senja narrowed his eyes, what the fuck is Haruna doing to Sanju AGAIN? Like seriously? He was done trying to have to deal with that son of a bitch's shit. To know what the relationship is, he is the silent supporter and someone who will understand everything--but he will help only when they wanted to fix the gap or make it worse as all hell. "Oh great, what is he up to now? Come on, you can let it out. Just tell me," he encouraged his friend, then he reminded of something. "Oh wait, is it the one when we're in Manila?" Senja asked.

"Yeah, before we were packing up for tomorrow."

Oh right, the group were so damn mad because the fiasco was worse than the first one--this is the second fucking time Sanju had to cut ties with Haruna, and now the third time came out is a major red flag to put it nicely. Why, just why does someone still have to tolerate that bastard after each time they were warned not to give him a chance.

Flashback...

Sanju was gathering with his team as he was talking with them in the empty area of the garden, discussing about the plan for the next mission to find the Core of the Samsara. They didn't know that Haruna and his friends like Damian, Izana, Juha, Masaki, Nadine and Marthen were in Manila--not even the Silver Slumbering Dragon members are aware of this either. "Alright, here's the plan," Akito began, they were with him at first in the rooftop. All of them were so scared due to Akito's history in ghosting, they managed to avoid it this time though.

They've been waiting all week at the rooftops, but something interrupting them a little when there's someone appeared towards them and turns out it was Haruna. "Found you!" he snapped, making Sanju turn around and his eyes widened when he suddenly landing a straight first towards him--which he evaded to the side in a blink of an eye, before taking a deep breath and shake his head with a bitter laugh. "That was close..."

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

There's only Haruna and Damian who came to see them.

Everyone in his teams narrowed their eyes on Haruna, who seems mad. "Haruna, what the fuck is this all about?" Karina asked, Haruna staring at them with a shocked face. "No wonder! You didn't even trust me after everything I did, what's the hell were you guys thinking?!" he raised his voice, making most of his friends winced at the second red flag--if the first one was forgiving him. "Wait, what?" Kanae whispered, she seems wary of his second intention of ruining the friendships once more. "What are you talking about? Sanju already forgave you, now what?" Raiden yelled, annoyed at him as always for the second time.

He seems triggered when he can see more hatred towards him, thinking there was no means of stopping this feud yet he was mad at Sanju for not trusting him. "You know what, Sanjaya? Now that I have my own team, I can do this without your help!" he yelled and turned on his heel to leave, making the tension between them are thick enough to be cut using the blades.

However, a hand grasped his shoulder to stop him walking away. "What was that?" Sanju asked when he narrowed his eyes as his deep grey eyes stares into his eyes with a pissed off expression, his thin lips forming a line as he continued. "... about how it ended? Hmm? Do you really wanted to become a monster that would hurt everyone you had helped until the end?" Haruna chuckled, before he flicked his hand off his shoulder and faced him with a distraught before pulling his face closer that doesn't even care Sanju was trying his hardest to push his hands back, saying words of disgusts at him. "Fuck, no! At least mine is better than you! You let your friends got hurt while you sit down and cry because you have no idea of leadership?! How fucked up is that!?"

Damian tried to stop them but it was too late, suddenly Sanju kicked Haruna in the face to make him fell hard to the ground, wiping the non-visible blood off his nose. Sanju was horrified, shaking his head and muttered 'what have I done' before he heard Haruna stood up while spitting out the non-visible blood. However, everyone stopped him since they didn't want to cause more destruction than necessary, thus the red flag appears. "Why are you saying that? What did I do wrong to you?" Sanju asked, not even bother that he knocked him out again after he apologized by a tight slap towards his cheek.

"You tell me," he hissed, narrowing his eyes with pain on his face as he held his reddened right cheek--he realized Haruna have no fucking chill about anything. "Alright, looks like I have to clear the misunderstandings first..." Damian sighed, then he started to reveal what actually happened to Sanju first. "I know you sounds hurt by this, Sanjaya... but if you ask me if what I have to said was true, then listen carefully. He had more allies than you, he gets the members who were so powerful they are fighting with you. Before that happens, they talked so I come there to see that they were..."

Sanju was unfazed, he won't gonna lose--why did he care if there are lot of his friends have been joined his team? It never hurt Sanju that he was able to make his own team, but why Haruna said that he doesn't need his help? What the fuck. "You are the definition of someone who doesn't know themselves," he commented, referring to Haruna who has been so confused he hated him while he never insulted him or being mean and cold like how he was every time he's facing him. "I've been saving your ass before you got killed by one of those Legion Raksha members, so you can defeat them by yourself. Now? Ever since you thanked me, you never repay me back in return. Who knows that I have been facing some problems as well without helping?"

In terms of the Silver Slumbering Dragon's rules, it says that only high ranking members had the privilege to appoint apprentices under their wing. Of course that included all of them in the case of the members who are appointed as one, there's a way of appointing a friend under their wing. Sanju was getting enough, Haruna does nothing but made the unbearable mess once again but this time it was serious. "I still can't accept that you're joining Silver Slumbering Dragon, don't you see how shady they are?" he gestured his hands on the surrounding.

Before all of them stopped Haruna from doing his stupidity that nearly broke Sanju, all of his friends were pissed off and wanted to beat him up while Damian was holding Haruna to stop him from attacking his former friend. "If I ever did something wrong to you, then... from the deep down in my heart... I'm sorry," Sanju apologized, sounding so soft at the fact Haruna was so mad and trying to do some damage control he could think of to make his old team went down. "No Sanju, you haven't done anything to him! Trust me, don't listen to him, he's mad!" Akito yelled, reassuring him since Haruna was more dangerous.

All of Sanju's old teammates shook their heads and tried to reason him, however, Sanju was ready for the worst since he accepted to suffer the consequences after years of putting up with his antics. "Look, Sanjaya... it's okay," Damian spoke, watching him shook his head and sighing softly while closing his eyes. "You know what, we're done. End of the story."

The group widened their eyes, not because they lost a potential in believing that Haruna would turn himself into a different person than he used to be before; but because he already broke Sanju's trust too far the bridge that he can't turn back anymore. "If there's something I regret that... I was never good enough for you... ever. Goodbye Haruna," Sanju told him, telling him not to force himself to do the same thing as he did before to everyone else--before walking away with his shoulders were tensed up. Haruna tried to change his mind but he turned around with a stoic gaze he never seen before as he said firmly.

"Don't ever try to prove me wrong because... I'm really done with you."

With that, Sanju left without another word.

Haruna tried to call him again, but he already left--while everyone were shaking their heads and were utterly disappointed, making him paled and Kinana scowled at him. "Haruna, you could've clear up the misunderstanding. But instead you hate Sanju because you thought of a wrong assumption," Yukito scolded him after he listens to everything from the beginning, before continued. "Now look, you have damaged this all. You messed up a second time, what were you thinking of pushing everyone's boundaries to the limits? Here you go, are you happy now?" he asked.

Akito clenched Haruna's collars, before he warned. "If you ever... EVER came to our lives again, and mess this all again. Next time, I will fucking hunt you down and shove my blade into your worthless mouth and slash you to pieces," he hissed venomously at him, dropping him down. "Seriously, you don't remember what he did to save your ass? Now that's embarrassing, damn I thought you will change for the better and turn out you were nothing but a scumbag who does a dirty trick to win a bet," Raiden told him directly, it was ridiculous that they once believed in this person but he didn't even consider everyone's emotions.

Kanae stared at him once more, before letting out a sigh. "You know what Haruna, now that you keep telling us how much we betrayed you... like hey, we have a friendship for three years. You always wanted us to be a Phantom Raiders, right? Well... not all of us deserve it, because one; we're Rakshas and World Government hated us to the core. Two, we're not born with that ability. Our lives are difficult enough and this is how you treat us, you say we're a loyal friend and support for you and when you have no use for us, we're discarded like old things, never going to be useful for us anymore. We have our own problems and you didn't even know."

Marthen, Juha and Nadine are the ones who witnessed this incident from the distance, waiting for the final sentences until Kanae finally arrived in the conclusion to Haruna. "A while ago I feel insecure about my past, and now that you thought we are good and close friends that was just an illusion you are seeing to yourself when you looked in a mirror. Don't worry, we're all sick of you already."

That was their words from the ending, waiting for their leader's words but it seems like Sanju refuse to say anything, which is understandable because he's very quiet. Until, after a silence for a few minutes, Sanju turned around and replied coldly. "ADVENT... do whatever you want with him, I'll be taking a fresh air now."

Sanju leave without saying anything again, except Haruna knows that he will no longer trust him for the third time. They glared at him as ordered by Sanju, didn't want to deal with him once more if he kept doing that to many people he had helped; like seriously though, stop being an entitled cunt like him for just one fucking second and think if what he had done actually considered as a human decency to do after the warnings.

Haruna was surprised, before Senja continued. "Don't apologize, just let it go. It must be normal for you, you little runt," Senja chimed in, being curt when mentioning him as a runt. "Yeah! Man, who messes with us, messes with our leader. We will kill anyone if we have to just for him because not only we're his best friends, he is one of us--he always gets our backs on every fight, he'd never risk anything to make himself happy even though he suffered. He may not be perfect, but you shouldn't throw him under the bus like that."

Raiden stated, followed by his other friends. After an intense fighting with them, both Haruna and Damian are forced to return back or else they would pay the consequences; they only walked away with Damian apologized to his old friends for what has happened between them before. "I'm sorry, all of you... we also surprised that Haruna starting to behave like this--he never been like this before," Damian apologized after Haruna left, before Senja sighed. "It's fine," he replied, even though he actually disgusted for meeting him but after Damian's sincere apology--he was slowly forgiving him. Damian and his team were gone, leaving the members here.

And so, they left to catch up on Sanju.

"Sanju, are you okay?" Raiden asked, watching him looking at the old town beside him. The team began to console him, Sanju gave a small smile and shook his head to reassure them. "No, thank you for understanding all of you. I knew, the times has changed... me, I'm fine. I just feel like it's just unfair that he doesn't trust me enough to do what he likes... I mean it's also my fault... I never realized that I lost a friend like that."

Sanju trailed off, shaking his head and pushed down his hand from his shoulder--causing Raiden raised an eyebrow when he saw that Sanju is getting better. "It's alright," he turned around to face his best friends with a calm gaze. "It would be the best if I shouldn't give him another chance, so..."

"Look, not only you have been backstabbed before. All of us did, this is the third time we forgave him. As someone who hurt us so much, this will be a big red flag to put it nicely," Akito muttered, speaking the whole team's thoughts. "It's time to move on from the past, it has been so long and we did everything that we wanted to do. We did survive this," Raiden spoke, placing his hand onto his friend's shoulder and smiled. The rest also comfort him, before they hugged him and stayed together like a real group--where they came in a long journey together and support each other through.

Sanju cringed when they hugged him and squished him, he likes hugs but can't stand some physical contact... all of them know that. "Hey, knock it off! Shit, that hurts!" he hissed in pain, watching them apologize since they don't notice it. After the problem is resolved, all of them are prepared to overcome their own problems.

After remembering everything, Sanju exhaled. "From now on, I don't usually make rules--but I will state this as an official rule after what we've been through... if our teammates do that to their old friends, 'them' have to come here by their own means. Means, they have to seek answers for their own. Second of all, if one of you betray the team--then I will not hesitate to either kick them out or end them with my own hands. They no longer have to meet us ever again unless they are the ghosts, since it will be for the best since it proves they have already damaged the bonds to the limits and beyond," he said, giving more details for the future incidents. "And last but not least, chances. I only give you one chance as long it's not harmful for us. But, if you already break it... no more second chances, understood?"

All of them nodded, before they continue their discussion.

End of Flashback...

Renata watched Salihin said something to Sanju and his group quietly and he nodded--she seems curious but they had to stay behind. Sanju took a deep breath, before he glanced at his team.

"ADVENT... assemble now."

Kanae glanced at him together with Karina and Kinana, while Senja, Akito and Raiden listens as well to their friend-leader before them--Sanju took a deep breath before he gave a stern gaze. "We're going to explore the Phantom Samsara, a moment once and then it's gone forever... the journey begins here. Today, there was a day... where an incident that goes too far from our expectations, makes me and everyone have a difficult time... but, we still stands--we still continue what was left untouched from the past, until we succeed," he continued as Haruse has recorded their journey with his camera.

"Sometimes people made the wrong choice, so do we. Let's not do this just for ourselves, but for humanity and the ones we held close with us," he said that Althair nodded and agreed. "For me... I'm doing this so I wouldn't have regrets anymore, because that mistake was for a long time ago that changes my view about myself. For Raiden... you and your family, you're important for us--and you're not just my best friend--but for all of us."

Raiden was glancing at his friends, before smiling. "Me? Hey, c'mon, I did fight beside you guys," he said that made the others chuckled a bit, not to mention their adventure was a funny moment. "To Karina, we've done this because we've fulfilled our wish... but that doesn't mean we'll be splitting apart. We're not just friends, we're... family," Sanju said, it made Karina wide-eyed by him before he continued. "Senja, I know you have a bit of a temper... but, I'm glad we worked together in our team and I really appreciate how attentive you are--despite your cold disposition."

Senja remained calm on his expression, but he truly was happy he acknowledged him with such praise. "Akito, you may be a playboy--but your intelligence and strategic mind is one of the best. And for being an Insect Raksha, you deserve a celebration after we're done," Akito was holding back from his ears getting blocked for a while but he was relieved that he has changed for the better, although he wasn't confident from that trait of his.

"For Kanae, I know you're always sleepy because of your narcolepsy... but you're like a wildfire when you're awakened on a battlefield. You also cared about us from the beginning, so... thanks for that," he complimented her, Kanae was covering her yawn that made him and the others smiling. "Thank you Sanju... for being a leader for the group," she thanked him politely, which he gave her a thumbs up.

"For Kinana, thanks for being one of the best fighters and how you showed your trust. But please... don't push yourself like that okay?" he asked, while placing his hand on her shoulder--her small frame might be light but she can still punch on the wrong place that Sanju knew that well. Kinana nodded, before she smiled when he ruffled her silver-white long hair, she chuckled playfully. "Sure."

Renata whistled when Althair was recording them through his camcorder, before Haruse nudged his elbow to Althair. "Can you like, record from other angle?" Haruse groaned in his mutters, while they hushed. "I can see that you can do good from a distance, you old man," Althair's eyes twitched before whispering at him. "Bitch, I'm like twenty-five like all of you. Besides, no one is old enough."

They began their journey from the Eclipse's Gate, first off they stepped inside...

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