Novels2Search
Phantom Samsara: Path of Asura
Chapter XXXV: Void Of The Eclipse

Chapter XXXV: Void Of The Eclipse

*ೃ༄

The Eclipse World shows nothing but chaos while showing the same timeline as theirs, the difference is that they believed that Althair in that world is 'dead' but turns out he was corrupted--making the conflict grew worse and leading to destruction. "Good, now that we learn about these Three Worlds, we'll finish the Project ARK-ECLIPSE; to find the existence of Phantom Samsara, to prove the theory about Tree of Universe--to unravel the mysteries of Phantom Samsara, and to find the being that was known as a Intention of the Reverse."

Althair explained, because they don't know how strong the Void is--they had to bring at least the strongest Rakshas to back them up from behind while they were inside the Phantom Samsara to assist them and their friend-leader. Radithya and Ryoma will be eyeing the portal, ensuring that there won't be a glitch on the portal. As for Karuna, he will be coming with them while Haruse is monitoring all of them. "Oh right, one more thing... I'll be with you guys," he said to his friends and Sanju who nods, watching the group were preparing their battle weapons. "How's the others?" Sanju asked, referring to his friends outside the sphere--he wondered if Izana, Haruna, Damian, Nadine, Masaki, Juha and Marthen are okay out there--plus Kirana who is his close friend. "They are outside, except Haruna... I don't know why is he still sentimental about you, he didn't get what he wants."

He seems shocked about Haruna, since Damian only told him to leave him--without another word from him, he decided to just let him be. At least the others understands about his attitude that was unlike their own Sanju, unless he used to be more cheerful than he is but over the years, he had to be serious that makes him a no-nonsense person. Sanju just smiled softly, before staring at his mentor after he returned the glance. "Look, let's not hate him... but ever since he betrayed my trust... thrice, we can't trust him fully," he stated, meaning he's just tired of him already for keeps messing the team up and wasting his precious time because of Haruna's attitude who doesn't know how to improve for himself to fit into the team.

"Man, I'm tired by his attitude now--how many times I told him he's a fucking asshole to anyone and doesn't listen at all," Raiden whined, scratching his head and sighed when the group were snickering at him. "Enough moping already, it's like past regret--just skip that part," Akito stated, although he wasn't wrong--but he does that as a challenge since Sanju was facing the same problem. So, they choose to move on and focus on the mission.

"Darn... the concentration of the corrosion is high in there," Senja muttered, he can sense the energy level rapidly changed and grew more dangerously than ever--which means they had to be careful now. They happen to jump on the platforms of the abode to avoid touching the light-surrounded corruption, while Haruse and Althair were guarding the others from the other side with their allies for a while until the portal opened up for two minutes only. "It's the place where all of the Samsara existed, the place that many Rakshas from past decades ago has been exploring," Akito explained when they noticed the scenery wasn't actually beautiful that they know it, but it was messy.

Then, they heard a two screaming people that fell above them--they look up and Raiden yelped when Izana fell on top of him and Kirana also fell on top of Sanju which surprised him that she was just fine. "Oh fuck, oh shit!" Izana cursed in a scared tone, while Raiden was groaning when he tried to stand up and hold on the platform they stood earlier. "What the fuck--how did you two get here anyway!?" Althair snapped.

Sanju stared at her, trying to hold the platform but he lost his balance when she got him up and sighed before realizing it was a very dangerous height, then Kirana jumped off. "Long story short... I was poking through the portal without noticing the other members on their mission," she replied, as she was explaining everything she knew where was she sent during the portal. "So, you were looking for a clue but you ended up on there?"

"Yeah... mind if we can join the exploration? The reason Izana was here because he was pulling me from the gate, saving me before it closes and then just... poof, we teleported here. And yeah, there we go."

The ADVENT members stared at their friend-leader Sanju, waiting for his decision--but they also need confirmation from Althair who was the leader of Silver Slumbering Dragon--even Karuna as the Superintendent of Nirvana Organization. Sanju folded his arms, glancing at Althair and Karuna. "Well... as for Kirana, the honorary member of Silver Slumbering Dragon... you're still not used to the corruption level yet, but seeing that you're immune just like Izana... for some reason, you managed to pass it but almost... thanks to the void orb," Althair gave a firm nod, assuring her that she had to train under him that how to manage herself through the corruption. "Okay, you're in."

Sanju answered, so did the others when they're joining together in the group. Sanju walked slowly, feeling nervous and tense--having flashbacks of the past that made him have second thoughts about this. "Don't worry Sanju, we'll keep an eye on you, and you can back off if you want," Kanae assured him, he glanced at his group with a determined yet uncertain expression--until...

One step, two step, three step... his boots were stepping towards the end of the floor of the Samsara. They have arrived at the main abode, Izana hummed when she's folding her arms looking around her surroundings. "So, what do you think? We almost reached the final phase of this samsara, do you think we can make it?" she asked, grinning that they have gone through a lot of adventures together.

Sanju nodded, looking up at the skies before he look forward at the floating abodes around them. "It was worth the adventure, we have gone through a lot of things together--and we made it here," he said as he let out a soft sigh, Izana unfolded her arms and was about to adjust her posture until she stumbled a little. "Ah!"

Akito swiftly put his arm around Izana, hugging her close before he sighed. "You're falling as usual, huh?" he asked, watching the platinum blonde haired girl wide-eyed--before she grew flustered and smacked him away. "Go away you dog!" she yelled, pushing him as she looks annoyed--but her cheeks were flushed. "I can see that coming," Sanju muttered, feeling relieved that Juha isn't here or else he'll be beating him up.

Juha sensed something from the distance while he and the group still at the Central Terrance, he narrowed his eyes that made Damian asked him. "What's the matter, Juha?" he asked, Juha rubbed the bridge of his nose before he answered. "Nothing... I felt like something happened at the west from the Phantom Samsara," he sounds... dark, like when he gets this aura around him--it means he's like serious or triggered. When Juha speaks like that... it will be not going to end well. Nadine wondered, did it had to do anything with Izana's presence?

Oh well, he's just worried.

Back to the Phantom Samsara, they were approaching the area of the ruins where there are bones of the Phantom Beasts remains dead, while the eyes were glowing on the skulls and skeletons of the beasts--however, no blood was spilled around their area. "Okay that's disturbing... I can feel the energy in here," Haruse told the others to be cautious and make sure they wouldn't get killed, before they began to investigate the ruins. "This is the bones of Asuras… they have abnormally sharp canines unlike humans."

Karuna told them when he was holding the skull of the dead Asura, showing the skeletal part to them. "Woah… no wonder we have sharp canines like them…" Akito said, before touching his own canine and hissed when he touched the tip. "That's right, Rakshas also affected by these changes with the shape of human features--except internal organs," Althair stated, before he hold the bone of the skeletal hand. "This must be it then, their claws are also sharp," Yukito said, rubbing his chin reassuringly at the being.

Sanju poked his own canine that was sharp exactly like the skull, making him hissed at how painful the sharp tooth stabbed him without he noticed it, Althair told him not to play with his teeth--he's pretty sure that's not a fun game anymore. Raiden saw the bones of Asuras from outside, his gaze turns grim when he saw the huge ass skeletons around them, then Senja watched how the other members trying to look at the skeletal ones first until Kanae brought the Asura and handing the skull to the ADVENT group.

"Ouch, that's why they can crush hard objects in no time…" Raiden muttered, feeling his tongue recovered from poking his canine. Kanae also tried, she hissed when she touch her canine. "It'll be easier to crush a shell huh? Good for removing the crab shells for me," Karuna heard Althair said that, making him huffed. "You know I'm allergic of seafood."

Haruse was observing his surroundings for a while, until he stand up from the ground after kneeling and he kept his pupils sharpened. The foreign energy was detected, making him growled and holding his katana-like Brahmastra; Conquest of Vayuda. "Oi, did you sense that?" he asked, making them look back at him when he broke the moment. "What's the matter, Haruse?" Kinana asked, making them look back at him when he growled. "Over there! Watch out!"

Senja knitted his eyebrows together at the familiar figures, his eyes rose wide that he saw the binding strings launching at him and wrapped around his limbs. "Senja! Karina" Raiden shouted, he got restrained by the strings that keep them from escaping. "Why… can't I release myself?!" Karina cursed, wriggling from the strings but no use.

The group are all restrained by the strings around their limbs but keeping their Raksha forms, Karuna growled when he tried to resist until he saw the elders approaching them. "No way…" he clenched his teeth, recognizing the features that they are from his family as well.

"Karuna… I didn't expect you to have come here, hm?"

The leader of Elder Council asked, their longtime nemesis who was thought to be dead appeared with his whole clan and allied themselves to the Void for a millennium of existence to continue their endless destruction. They tossed Sanju's father Radithya, Ryoma who was Raiden's father and lastly Rayhanda--Kirana's father across them and they also got restrained. "Father!" Kirana yelled, seeing him laying beside her while being restrained. "Shit... my weapon went useless for some reason," Ryoma cursed, knowing the strings cannot get destroyed unlike their weapons.

The Elder Council member looked at his council members, the members were group of elders with long white hair and long beards, wearing white robes on their bodies. At least they aren't blinds or something, then looking back to the Rakshas in front of them. "What are you guys doing here?!" Althair yelled at the elders, his expression stern and filled with hatred--then again, they don't give a fuck. "You fucking monsters... how did you know where the Phantom Samsara is located?!" Althair protested, but a fist landed on the ground on where he was standing, scaring the hell out of his team members. "FOOL! How did you know that? HOW!? Are you truly stupid enough to ask that question? Do you really not know what we can do with it... are you?" they asked.

Althair gritted his teeth, fighting back the instincts from releasing his power. After several years of torture, he has been tired of this and left the alliance to pursue his freedom and his studies to become archaeologist even scholar "Sanjaya Adinata, you're just like your father!"

One of the clan elders of his scolded him, the Elder Council he loathed came right before his eyes and feel rage within his chest that burns from them. "I'M LITERALLY RIGHT HERE!" Radithya snapped, trying to wriggle himself from the binds while glaring at his parents. "Of course I am, because you betrayed my family--even as my grandparents!" Sanju stated, glaring at his grandparents who betrayed him and his father, their expressions on the Elder Council remained stoic--not even bothered that they were yelling at them. “We have taken hostages of your friends out there, do you think you can leave our sight so easily?” the chieftain stated with elderly tone, pinning the staff that made a loud thump to them.

“Rakshas are nothing but a pests, unholy creatures! You conspired with them after all, making yourself fugitives to society! Have a shame!”

They didn't like the Elder Council because they believed on the fakes, and not believing on the truth about their existence instead--even Sanju who even tried to protest only resulted in a loss. But when Sanju was leaving to another place to be with the people who believed in him, the Elder Council... they were unable to understand due to their senility--they blamed it on them, including the parents. "You're such a rebellious spawn, young man."

Before they heard something that will turn out to their heads off.

"You're the punching bag in here!"

Raiden's voice booming from them, making them surprised by his resistance of their binds. "We're trying to find out the truth here, why are you getting into our way?! This is none of our business with you!" he yelled that his piercing magenta-silver eyes with purple hue shimmered, making them suddenly threatened by his presence. "And stop making us suffer again, do you think it'll work for us?!"

"Silence!"

Sanju finally got the chance to resist when he unleashed his spreading flame-hazing burning red-gold wings in Garuda Raksha form, cutting off the strings from around him and furthermore cutting the other strings that has restrained his friends. "That's it… you're testing my patience…" he muttered, carrying a Brahmastra on his hand when he scowled at them. "You're nothing but a failure!"

The elders stopped them by holding onto them before they unleashed their power, while on the others didn't hold back their weapons and began to activate them:

Sanju held his Brahmastra, which then turned to the elders. "I suppose we have to take all of you into the pits of hell huh?" Kanae spoke, before she slammed the blade of her glaive--creating a cracks around them and Senja using his sword to create an Anti-Phantom field around the entire area, he growled at the elders when he was surrounded with energy from around the arena. Izana uses her polearm and creating a huge water vortex around the elders, trapping them despite their struggles.

Akito poisoned some of the elders with his Insect Spectramancy, with Yukito distracting the elders with the Flower Spectramancy--creating a petals with flowers and the aromatic scent on them-making the elders had to cover their noses. Senja used his Binding Spectramancy to manipulate the strings into his own commands, making him conjuring the strings and the chains against the elders before she goes to launch the attacks. "Karuna, now's the time!"

Karuna nodded before he goes all frenzy, smirking at them that he finally got the freedom he wanted. "Let's do this!" Althair nodded, before bursting the flames from his claymore-like Brahmastra--Radiance of Agnivastra and blasting them to ashes with his flames. "Stop getting into our way!"

"Kurikara!"

The dragon roared when he summoned him, commanding him to unleash the almighty red thunders towards the elders. The elders barricaded themselves by using their barriers, which even much more difficult for them to defeat them. Finally, they were released from the bindings--it was painful for them to have their body being restricted by the bindings of the elders. "Come on, let's leave them... shit... our strength got drained." Yukito winced when he was wiping his palm on the strings, realizing that his entire system was drained due to his battle against them. Kirana helped her father Rayhanda to stand, seeing him coughing from the elders earlier and their allies are quite dizzy from their power when they attacked them.

After they escaped and leaving them distracted, they reverted back into their non-Raksha forms--they became physically drained and it might take a while for them to restore their strength back. "Are you guys okay...?" Althair asked, panting heavily while maintaining his balance. After a while, they have finally escaped and saved--if there's a problem in here, it means they're not only getting closer... they'll arrive sooner or later. Karuna nodded, he coughed a little before he cleared his throat. "Oh crap, I got myself drained..." he said, having a dry mouth and an empty stomach. "Good thing I brought a water bottle just in case," Raiden whispered, Izana sighed after she sat down as well to rest for a while.

"You know that's not part of the exploration plan... Elder Council coming inside this... does make sense," Sanju stated, after a few minutes of them trying to recover from the traumatic experiences. When he heard this, they widened their eyes--so that they might be the one to interfere with their mission and also the reason why the Eclipse's Gate was damaged, creating that dangerous instability? Oh crap, this isn't good. "You need to rest, Karuna..." Kinana said with a frown, when seeing the bandages that was covering his injuries which didn't seem to be the good ones, even when they treat their wounds... those elders weren't even giving a single remorse about them.

"It's fine... I will regenerate but it might not be long so..." he said, which Althair also got injured which means their regeneration ability becoming slower than before. "I will be staying behind too, you guys can go ahead... Haruse--you'll be leading them," Althair told him, Haruse nodded, albeit he had to turn himself into his Tiger Raksha form. Radithya, Ryoma and Rayhanda also had to rest with them--due to their strength decreased after the effect of the bindings. "I will, you guys can rest here. Let me know if any of you want to join, and don't be foolish and reckless."

They haven't done the mission yet, but it seems that Haruse came up with a conclusion. "Come on, ADVENT..." Sanju told them, they nodded before Izana and Kirana followed them. It appears like Sanju got himself physically drained because of the effects of the elders, which make Althair worried. However, he let Sanju move forward because the rest of the team also got injured and he can't let them stay behind him--just enough for Althair and Karuna have the same recovery speed. At least he got his allies beside him to help around the issues at hand, it will be very difficult if it wasn't because of the outside help.

Haruse paused at the sight of the shining figure with yellow color, somewhat familiar and warm but seems to be harmless.

"Be not afraid."

Sanju landed on the ground smoothly when he stand up, facing the young man who seems to be the 'creator' of the Phantom Beasts. "I can tell you came here for good reason, so there's no reason for me to put harm on you," the entity said when he was standing in front of them, folding his fingers on his front waist--radiating a warm vibe from him. "Let me lead the way for you, Raksha."

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

The entity turn around to lead the way for them so they follow his path, Haruse didn't trust the entity at first--but Sanju gestured them to follow him-he decided to let it go and does what he ordered. The group trailing from behind him when he jumped through the abodes and the broken bridges, until they have arrived at the ruins of the area in the abode where there are relics around here.

"Thousand years ago, the sinners became ostracized by humankind because they committed crimes… although they wanted to atone their sins… they didn't forgive them. Anger, the sin of greed, pride, jealousy… they began to reincarnate as Phantom Beasts."

The entity explained when he was blankly looking forward with his eyes kept closed, not even opening them just yet. "Have you ever loved and lost somebody, that you cared the most? If you do, then you're not the only one… I was cursed because of loving someone and my own brother that ends in the creations of Phantom Beasts. I never knew I could hurt others this much, I wished things happened a better way," he stated with a small sad smile. "Devas are cruel even what they thinks it's right to do… and that's no different with humanity…"

Raiden could see the hint of tiredness he have, he started to feel bad for him that he had to live in the endless state of samsara. Every world he reappears with the Void must have scarred him, he just wanted to reunite with his brother and the person he truly loved but costs happiness and freedom. "This is the history of our existence starts here… and lived more than human lifespan,… we Asuras existed through the Gandapana wine that made us stronger… the original Asuras are created by Devas… as their cousins. But, it's beyond their expectations."

Kanae nods when she was listening to him, while the others are exploring the ruins of the realm. "We rebelled against the divine, by replicating the life of humans and we were consumed by the Gandapana wine to satisfy our needs… we ended up thrown to Human World, we lived through fighting and warring against Yakshas who are our rivals, not only Devas… until that moment I stopped, just because of human woman. I couldn't forget about her, I truly loved her so much."

The entity was staring at his palm for a moment, before clenching it when he did and he turn to the side. "I fell in love with her, I didn't think it would be ended up like this… I learned about human emotions and what is love… my brother and the rest of my allies happens to learn about that too, that woman became my love of my life," the entity smiled, before frowns as he continue his sentences. "Until our leader find out what I'm doing, even with them."

Senja was listening carefully when he saw his expression didn't change, but a frown could be seen on him. "The leader put a curse upon me, thus I accidentally killed my own allies… my brother had to flee because of that. I thought this is the freedom that I'm expected, but I was wrong… they're even worse when they proclaimed their pride to be on higher degree than humans… that's why I disagree with them. I tried to tell them that I didn't mean it, but they starts to attack me… I was scared to hurt them… but ended with their death because of this curse."

The entity let out a sniff, until he turn around before walking away so they'll be following him from behind. "Everything is dead when I touch them, caring about the living creatures is just the same when they'll die…" he said, looking up before he stopped on his track at the wall. "I left them dead… so I decided to look for the woman I loved the most, and there she was waiting for me. I told her to stay away from me in case something happened, but she insisted no. I tried to stop her, but then… she died in my arms after her attempt to hold me."

Sanju frowned a little when he explained his past life, no wonder why he was like this and he listens to him. "The humans in her kingdom loathed all of us, the reason of her death was all aimed at me… Arkana's wish is a peace between the two kinds… but her parents didn't want to and they were planning to kill me next. I didn't want to kill them… I just couldn't… I want to love them but; they died when I cared about them. That was one thing in my mind that still replayed… sins will never leave us, nor if it's ours."

Akito nodded a little when he was all ears, not saying anything when he was speaking to them. "I had a beef with Shukra… if he ever want to reach me, he will be like his fate and cursed forever… living in immortal life without aging like humans. However, despite my efforts to push him away… he will always come to me," he let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head a little. "We didn't expect something like this to came up, and that moment I secluded myself in remote island… isolating myself from any society that tries to lay their hands on me."

Izana kept her hands clasped between her front chest, sympathizing with his past that he ended up like this. "I created those sinners as a sign of my frustrations and a desire to be killed, but they couldn't… they worshiped me like a cultists and followers of mine. I couldn't care less," he shrugged, before he look to the side with his closed eyes-covered by his bangs. "I created even more monsters… I called them Phantom Beasts, because of the sinners seeking for salvation from me… so I make them like that, they're no longer deserve to be humans by human society… that's why they avenge them."

Karina watched entity smiled tiredly, almost sad that he couldn't really smile once in the long time he spends as a human who survived the end of the world? This world is nothing but cruelty and the reason of his suffering--while he had been alive for thousands of year, keeping their powers intact as the last of their kind. "Vipralopa, Banaras, Padishah, Krishna… those are my best creations… not to mention Rakshasas… they are my secondary best creation… I have no regrets," his smile faded when he became serious, before he turn around to face them. "Until the Void came, it wasn't mine to begin… it was from the hollow of the world, I figured that sooner… and suddenly made a pact that I will be the vessel… telling history of the Void's existence in the end of Mesozoic Era."

Sanju was curious about the Void's involvement with this, but he can't just ask that yet. "The Void feeds on energy, it won't stop from taking energy until it gets what it wanted from the world, just like the humans stealing the resources from the Earth. Because it cannot be born from nothing, because I was here… the Devas cursed me to have this kind of power... Void has existed since prehistoric era, it consumes the world into nothingness; tearing up the world, distorting its laws and made several attempts to destroy the world. By repeating the process until the result succeeded… which created the samsara, the cycle of rebirth that came nonstop and also means world… it was the concept."

Raiden went tense when he stated that, somewhat warning them. "Phantom Samsara is the world where all kinds existed, I was the one who found that… with the help of the Void. I thought it was for greater good, but I'm fooled by him… I ended up becoming the enemy of the world… eruptions everywhere in this world… war and conflict never ends. Raksha is the only defenders who can kill me… I was expecting this coming, even Asuras. "

Akito watched entity smiled when he said that, he tried to touch them but he couldn't because of his state of the being. "The torch that lights up the world… ceasing the darkness from clouding the fears, I assume that those kinds has entrusted the gear to be kept, now the holder is you… right?"

Sanju was the one he had his eyes on, he wasn't surprised when he referred him.

"Will you do the honor to end my life, on behalf of your kinds?"

Sanju close his eyes for a moment, he was thinking about the choices of what to answer him--saving him or keep him alive. Perhaps killing him was a noble thing to do, but still--it has to mean something after these years of existence. It took him thirty minutes for him to think and construct his choice, until he open his eyes. His friends were looking at Sanju, waiting for him to give the choice. "I understand... that you have the noblest of heart."

Sanju started, looking up at the entity before he stated. "It must've been hard for you to live in isolation and finally, making the decision to kill yourself that you promised," he said, making the entity stare at him. "Perhaps it's not fair to you, who was trapped in the endless repetition--the cycle of existence is the same, you reincarnate endlessly until the void claims you. I'll be honest, it was not going to be easy with you as the target, despite being there where you at the level of divinity," he whispered, his fist clenched tightly. "But... do you feel any regrets, after killing those who innocent and trespassing in this world again for thousands years?"

"No... not after what I've done," the entity answered. "I can't change the past anymore, no matter what I've done--we can't change the past, everything was going to stay the same regardless of it... perhaps I've grew selfish, yet... I'm always a bystander of the happenings of the world."

Sanju bit his lip, but he kept calm when he listen to him. "I didn't know there are kind humans like you understanding how I felt, you know… I've killed a lot of innocents, are you justifying my actions?" the entity spoke.

"We're not justifying it, what you did is wrong… but you're already known that," Kanae stepped in, which Senja followed. "It can't be helped with the fact of what you've done in the past, although you suffered a lot… is that how you avenge the humans by destroying your allies with your power? It will not undo the damage that you've caused, and the guilt won't leave you alone once you realized the gravity of it."

Kinana said, frowning a little at the entity. "This isn't a day for celebration, nor will this not take down the threat in our hands," Senja hissed, he observed the entity's traits before folding his arms. "I know that, there's no need to spell it out. It won't come back, but still haunting you... you know that, right?"

The entity's expression grew grim, before he turned away--still empty when he's smiling. "Cocoon of the Void…" Raiden muttered, before looking at the entity again, as he's closing his eyes for a moment. "Everything and everyone will meet their fates. You're no longer destined to be redeemed, not after what you did to us--we can't choose it because that is what you had," he folded his arms as he heard that, before laughing a little with a hint of amusement behind that mask. "That's right, to be honest... my end is near..."

Haruse sensed something increasing from his energy, he knew something will happen and it was bad.

"Everyone! Wait a minute!"

They paused when she told them, Sanju didn't say anything when they spoke and Haruse gestured them to be quiet. "This entity is the Cocoon of the Void, right? So why do you sense that something is not right here with his energy?" Kinana whispered, Kanae yawned while she stood beside Kirana and Izana, after she noticed a slight shifting in the atmosphere of the realm. "We're getting closer to the Deep End, but... this is..."

"I can sense it, alright..." Haruse confirmed, almost made the entity smiled at them. He narrowed his eyes when she referred that, making him turning around to face him. "Is it true that the Void is now…"

The Creator clenched his fists when he was listening to them, he nodded when that word came up from his lips.

"Yes, that entity is inside me… I don't know what to do with it, I believe the curse that the leader sent to me is… the Void itself!"

What the fuck? Sanju thought. The others are also stunned, they couldn't believe what they heard earlier--they didn't expect that the entity was possessed by the void in the end of his life, since he couldn't control that curse due to his frustration--and being a mortal. That can't be good! "I'm cursed by Shukra himself, I'll be possessing an inner power that even I have difficulty to control it. I killed him by accident, but he casted a curse… the leader's death was unfortunate but because the darkness. Power grows unstable at the point of time that someone use a force to awaken it, creating the cycle of the emptiness before it consumes everything once more! Listen… the Core of the Samsara, I know where is it… but the Void… that entity hiding it somewhere… you must… you…!"

He screamed when the black and red wave came out from his whole body, engulfing the entire Realm to its deepest part--Sanju widened his eyes, did he use that much power that can disrupt the worlds at hand?

"...He's no longer..."

An emotion of grief, anger and hate flowed within the realms of Phantom Samsara which the creatures began to shrieked in pain and despair, having felt a significant power of darkness that cannot be destroyed and it grows stronger than ever. At the end, Sanju and the others couldn't do anything--due to their efforts of reaching out for the Phantom Samsara, the entity had gone mad after thousands of years--and it ends like this?

They witnessed the large entity has appeared before them, this is the first time they meet the Void--it took form of a black, red and gold circular Evil Eye-like giant monster, completely hollow with red fire inside the eyes, mouth and other holes as one eye, while the red lines were formed like blood. Four golden spikes were at the bottom edge of the rings with the small yellow triangle from top to its bottom and they're pointing straight forward. They watched in horror since they were in the Deep End after all this time, the evil being reborn was resurrected in the depths of the worlds of Phantom Samsara.

"At last... our wait has come to an end..."

The Void has spoken with a distorted tone of voice with hint of malevolence, revealing thyself from the entity has absorbed himself within, thus controlling the remaining power he has left of the man. Sanju widened his eyes when the cocoon he had entered begun to dissolve, all that is left… is a fully bloomed, black flower. "Void of the Eclipse; none other than Void, this is our first time seeing this in person… and there's another one, Future Void of the Eclipse."

Haruse muttered, observing the entity who has bloomed within the presence of his power, he was truly corrupted in the end of his life--is that why he secluded himself in the islands because he knows that it won't be long before he takes his own life?

"Rakshas… Protectors of Humankind, Heroes of the World and more!"

The Void announced, clapping its hands with its tentacles that slowly formed, the sound is echoed through the endless realm of Phantom Samsara with an indescribable malice behind its voice. "Long have you anticipated and finally coming to claim your fates... What a rush, but this is what we expected, isn't it?" it spoke, closing his two-colored eyes shut and grinning in this terrible shape. "Have you anticipated our plan finally came true, Raksha? You went through difficulties from all time you have living and here it is… in the Phantom Samsara."

This is bad… Sanju gritted his teeth, when the Void finally speak and their worst fear has come, they have to face this fearsome evil… yet there's no turning back. "Is this the present Void, or the Future Void?" Akito asked, staring right at it and looking back at them. "There's the present Void, and the Future Void in existence—this makes my existence nulled that I'm here right now, the Creation and the Destruction of the Worlds."

Holy shit, how are they going to kill that kind of demon?

"What is the most destructive thing you can create, huh? This is what happens, when everything went wrong in the wrong way… and now it comes to the way we like it. Fate has given me no room to escape, so that my redemption cannot be achieved," the Void smiled even the vortex starts to engulf the entire area with the black rain, they jumped and stood on the pillars or the sharp edges of the broken bridges. "But indeed, it took us more than expected… and some of us didn't make it in time," Sanju smiled bitterly, gripping tightly onto his sword hilt on his hand, which his friends looked back at him.

"So… the Void of the Eclipse World... and Void of the New World, you're here after the Void of the Old World defeated by those Arbiters."

Senja stated, making the Void angered by the mention of 'Arbiters'--slowly recognizing Sanju who was the descendant of infamous Sanata Adinata; the Ancient Hero of the Old World. Of course, this lead the entity to be enraged by his presence. "You're... the descendant of Adinata clan! Beast Slayer's blood, one of the founders of Eleven Flame-Emanators!"

Well, that made Sanju angry in return and his temperament showing. "So what if I'm him?" he asked calmly, making the others were surprised by his sudden emotion earlier. "What are you, a petulant kid who keep using weaklings as their toys? You wanted to destroy the worlds, out of all things you did you're not trying to make amends," he laughed. "So basically, you're just a coward. You exist just to consume, nothing less and nothing more."

It was silent for a while, but then there was a low demonic roaring which signified the Void's anger of him. "You think that's a wise choice of yours? You'll regret what you said to me," his aura increasing that it made the entire realm shaken, before the waves of darkness engulfing the entire realm--until there's nothing left that can be seen by others. But, Sanju slammed the tip of his claymore--creating a burst of red-gold flames that pushing away the darkness wave from his surrounding, with his friends used their respective spectrums that the darkness didn't reach them.

That's how the Void battle begins, and they tried their best to slay him.

Future Void also appeared outside the portal of the Central Terrace, the group were unable to defeat them until the last remaining four of Eleven Flame-Emanators appeared. Victoria, Leon, Aldiano and lastly Sanata--appeared as Jaemin look up at them. "The Arbiters... they're here too?" Damian asked, which they witnessed them appearing before the Void's eyes.

"Sanata Adinata, Hero of the Deliverance, Father of the Adinatas, and the Sire of the Eagles!"

"Victoria Salim, Swordmaster of Cerulean Dynasty, Mother of the Salims, and the Siren of the Blue Roses!"

"Leonhardt Tobing, Master of All Gamblers, Hero of the Desert Kingdom, and the Lion-Heart!"

"Aldiano Tatum, Warrior of the Ambrosial, Scion of Oxavian Sentry, you survived the whole time?!"

The Void snapped at the four heroes of the Old World who appeared from the thin air, facing them with his expression became serious in a click-second, or he might say upset when he saw them appeared. Sanata's cold expression remained intact, he has been battling the Void longer than aeons. This is his world that got destroyed and in the end, these bastards have resurrected from their slumbers and meet the Void of the Old World. "It's been a while, we just stunned you before we could escape the Old World's destruction by those Asuras. "

Victoria folded her arms with a grim smile, but the stance only can be said calm. Aldiano cracked his fingers. "You remember us after a long time that we just knocked you for quite a while," he said as he rolled his shoulders that let out a satisfying crack sound, Leon simply flipping his dice that revealed the ace numbers with the dragon face in golden color. "Our time has come, we're facing our final battle," he smirked.

"What makes you think you stand a chance against all of us?" Void spoke with his empty tone of voice, quite calm but amused that they're finally meeting the Four Stars of the Old World, along with their comrades in the end. "I fought against Eleven Flame-Emanators through an aeons ago, did you really think that those inexperienced soldiers are--" the entity paused when the ice spikes charged against itself, it came from Sanata who spoke. "Now... can you stop wasting our time. You're tired of your grandstand right, and a coward who always speak nonsense."

The entity frowned at the last remark, not so amused when the Arbiters already in formation behind them in the formation. Victoria waved at Damian, Juha, Masaki, Marthen and Nadine as she greeted them. "Welcome, Rakshas! You can fight together with us, because we need to stop this thing. Is that right, Aldiano?" she asked, Aldiano hummed through his face mask as Leon hummed with a pout. "Adiano, stop being so cold... we know that you actually loved us, in fact your emotions are suppressed to avoid getting hurt... it was the only way for you to grow, at least."

"That was not necessary, Leon. You know the consequences of being sentimental. Also, I didn't go soft on them because... they are the descendants of our families. Why would we teach them to act this strong and why they chose to do what they're doing?"

Sanata, Victoria and Leon stared at Aldiano with a comical gaze that says 'have you forgotten that?' look before he shrugged, making Victoria sigh and Leon was still gaping at him. "Hey now! Say that you missed us, that's not your personality! Damn, you're worse than that blockhead brother!" Aldiano immediately covered Leon's mouth when he told that part, not amused to have that kind of tone from the gambler.

"Silence, Leon. My mind remains adamant with my purpose," Aldiano answered, making Leon huffed. "That's enough," Sanata ordered, making the three of them obeyed what he said. "Let's finish off this eye-like thing."

Meanwhile, Radithya just recovered from his injuries with Rayhanda, Ryoma, Karuna and Althair as they watched the battle in the Phantom Samsara. He watched his son Sanju fought against the beast with his friends, before he spoke to them. "Should we assist them? They need as many backup as possible," he pointed out, glancing at his comrades. Rayhanda narrowed his eyes, before he stand up from the ground and check his walkie-talkie and began to talk with Jaemin. His eyes narrowed, before he grumbled. "The Arbiters are outside the Phantom Samsara, fighting the Future Void of the Eclipse. We had no choice but backing up our people as much as we have done."

As they listened to the battle, the Void was not going to give up without a fight--this is his vengeance, not just the Dark King, but the Creators who created him without any restraints or even planning to bring him to an end. Karuna huffed, he prayed that Vanya is alright because his daughter is guarded by the Nirvana Officers. "We need to guard the Eclipse Gate, we can't let it damaged if that happened… judging from this realm's abodes. Are you ready?" Ryoma asked, which Rayhanda, Radithya and Althair accepted the gesture.

*ೃ༄