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There was a young man assassinating the officers of Scarlet Armband Army in the night at Kowloon, he was walking past the dead officers while holding the chokutō that has black scabbard and matching hilt, and was a larger size than a normal chokutō. He has a neck-length light brown messy hair with vermillion streaks on his long bangs similar to cranes, as well as the hair at the nape of his neck. He holds a pair of violet-blue eyes and alabaster complexion, with a three silver piercings on his ears. He wears a black sleeveless turtleneck bodysuit under his black and purple haori with elbow-length sleeves and long black fingerless gloves, in addition of golden obi with a bow at the front and wears a white pants with black stripes. With a thigh-high black knee-length boots with back heels, he wears a red overcoat with feather patterns of a crane, with a detached hood that has his crane logo on it--he also carries a violin case on his back.

Kashitenshi Ayatsuji or his codename 'Seraph', a mysterious seventeen-years old Japanese-American assassin who was a freelance hire only work by the government in countries including Japan. Despite the multiple tasks of retrieving the treasures and eliminating the troublesome bandits, he is originally supposed to be a candidate on becoming Vidyadhara--which indeed he inherited the Core of Deva from the God of Blessings to keep himself protected from the bad luck and deaths. However, the male didn't believe in divinity or rebirth because of his past--until he learned the truth about the world he belongs.

Seraph sensed that somebody is following him in hiding, so he swung his chokutō--producing a ringing bell sound and the resulting energy makes the follower stagger his steps in falling to the ground. He turned around with no fear, only glaring behind while pulling his hood--that's where the enemy find themselves the 'subconscious fear'. He obtained what he needed, the Tears of Samsara--the crystal shard that was an artifact or a sacred treasure that allow one to open a barrier, or a gate--and traveled beyond and to reach the outside world without much energy draining away.

"Seraph, right?"

Sadana greeted while standing near the lamppost, causing the young assassin to aim the tip of his chokutō towards him. He wasn't surprised at the latter's cautious stance, until the spirits were warning their descendants' spiritual powers. "I thought that you will arrive soon, therefore no one wanted to know your identity aside being a killer," he added, Seraph's eyes flared. "After all, the Ayatsuji clan meant to be the enemy of Shinobu clan--who are you trying to avoid?" Sadana asked, before he introduced himself to him. "Sadana Tanuwijaya, leader of Narayana's Scions."

Seraph narrowed his eyes, before he sensed the God's power emanated through his small presence. He hesitated a little, before he pulls down his hood. He looks like one of the warriors and he just got his Vidyadhara's power, maybe this could have chance... for him to fight the Devas. "I assume you have collected the Tears of Samsara as I have said," he asked, Seraph nodded silently before he handed the shards of crystals to Sadana. "Then, I think it is the time to unite our journey with the others."

Right when they're walking on the street, Seraph carried his case while conversing about the Devas and the Scarlet Legion in the empty streets of Kowloon with the Vidyadhara. "The Phantom Beasts?" he asked, bewildered by this. Sadana explained to him what have his ancestors have wrote and tell tales with the phantoms during his age, he was considered a 'troublesome' to the group of the Phantom beasts that are known as the Seven Lords--right until the Vidyadharas who went to fight in the battlefield became extinct. Then, the era had changed for thousand years after the last warrior dies, and the reason why he wanted to persuade them.

"What are you looking for, Seraph?"

Sadana asked, watching him turned his head and eyeing the people and the children. The latter felt wary from his own emotions, and everything around him are just like nothing he had imagined... it is clear that he was born and raised for both in Asian and American cultures, and also the spirits of crane resides within his veins--he's a dual national and carries two of a soul is either good or bad. Ever since he knew it that his parents' luck are not that great, so he resolved that he will never bring his parents the curse anymore--without further realizing the other side of truth in a story--he was born from the tragic life.

Sadana couldn't shake off the feeling of Seraph's powers are similar to the dark, mysterious power he's using. "I'm looking for Yomi Bosenmori Amagiri, she's a lonesome female samurai who was coming after the other gods who responsible for the Phantom Eruption in my homeland... Victoria City," he answered, tipping the hood of his cloak. Since he was an American born with Hong Kong and Japanese mixed blood in Kowloon and New York, both his parents were raised there which they fled by escaping through boat--for a good year or two weeks, along bringing the shards in order to unlock a gate and keep themselves being pursued. He didn't know he still has relatives even though some of them were half-Japanese like him, but he has seen their blood spilled due to the civil war.

"Yomi... Bosenmori... Amagiri?"

What the fuck? Sadana need to shortlist that name in case there is a female samurai or something who seeks after them. Maybe Seraph might say something if he get to know one of them too, it's possible that it is not just Scarlet Legion members that are after them. "Riyanda, what do you think?" he asked with a smile, making Seraph flinched when Ren landed on the ground--he just fucking fell from the rooftop after Sadana called him. "The fuck! Fuck's sake!" he ranted, his eyes were filled with so much anger from that fall--that he has to deal with his shit for the future. That's too embarrassing for him, that was his 'normal' trait. "So... you're Riyanda Tjahyana?"

Seraph asked, he DID know him because a certain someone accidentally revealed to him when Ren has fought a god at an unknown place, until a little bit secret. "Yes, I am the former vessel of God of Pledge's power but it's changed a little," he replied with a tone of annoyance, standing up with his Cosmic Wrath polearm because the fall was so rough on his shoulder. His knees were in pain and there was dirt all over him, so it made the Japanese-American young male winced at the aura before turning his head to Sadana's direction. "Former... vessel of God of Pledge?" he asked curiously.

"Kuran died with God of Wealth, who was Nanda."

It was a huge shock for the gods, but not for Vidyadharas. Seraph seemed appalled by this, what the hell did just happened when he didn't know that some gods have died in the chaos with the Phantom Beasts. Ren saws the violin case, curious. "You're... a musician or something? Well, that violin case..." he muttered, seeing Seraph hold the case behind his back. "Oh, this? It's my violin, I'm not a professional since I played this instrument as a hobby," Seraph explained, holding the case with a free hand. "Can I play a song for you and for myself?" he requested with a nod, Ren's eyebrow twitched. "Just play it with your own style and rhythm."

Yeah, that kind of music will help bring himself ease. So he takes his cue and leave while Ren has an idea to invite him to the Floating Restaurant of the Gods, in a hope he wants to learn more about Phantom Samsara. But, they also have to help Seraph in finding Bosenmori Amagiri--seriously what's his purpose in looking for her? He handed both of them the flyer of Bosenmori Amagiri, making Ren convinced that this is indeed a Vidyadhara.

Yomi has a is a tall woman with pale skin, long dark purplish-black hair with a fringe that covers her left eye and frames her face along layered bangs below her ears, she has a bright light violet eyes and has deadpan expression. Some parts of her hair behind her ears were pulled behind her head with a black ribbon, also a white-pink beads and light violet ribbons on them. She wears an outfit with Japanese motifs from her black sleeveless top with a black choker, a white-purple and black jacket with a long furisode sleeve reminiscent of a kimono, long black fingerless gloves and buttons under her bust which has white and pink patterns and blue and yellow designs, and the frills and golden cords on the front. Lastly, she wore black shorts with gold belts, black long thigh-high boots that have sole colored black and heel color red. She has a pair of black arm sleeves that ends at her middle-finger, as well as golden buttons on the front side with a strap behind--a long katana on her left hip and a red Japanese parasol.

Yomi is somber, deadpanned and lonesome seventeen-years old girl who travels outside the world by herself, hoping to find worthy warriors who will face her. She was considered an outcast from her own people; a small village where she was trained in the way of the blade as Tashigi Musumi. She remembered the words from the Elder said to her, which stated: 'Seek after the godless ones and protect the Vidyadharas, so your people will know that peace has not yet begun as far as I tell, therefore protect the path to their victory.'

***

"So, are there anyone dare to challenge me?"

Yomi asked, facing Ren who was standing in the empty training grounds, while Izumo, Kaizo, Hakuren and Seraph was staring through the gaps between the wooden shōji panels. Ren gritted his teeth before swinging the Cosmic Wrath polearm against her katana, causing both clashed in the impact and it would have made the battle looked as intense as it got. He remained calm as always, but why the hell she's a Vidyadhara, right? 'Damn... and also she didn't budge from the attack...' Ren pondered, taking few steps back and started to dodge her attack, causing their audience feel a little bit nervous or tense. "What Core of Deva did you wield?" he asked.

Yomi did not answer his question, which is resulted her to rush at him as she wielded her katana with lethal strikes, then he blocked her swings from the side as he read his opponent's movements and then used his polearm's hooked end as he leaped to evade the attacks. Thus ended in a powerful blast of thunder and flames between them, Ren sensed the Core from within her--so he hummed. "Right... God of Redemption..." he uttered, making her emotionless eyes widened at the last word. "I had a bad feeling that I saw you from somewhere," he hissed while holding his polearm's pointed end on the floor, only this time he wanted to defeat her. "Or perhaps, you showed some memories to me?"

Right when Ren slashed her katana with his polearm, Yomi was now had her left eye was revealed under her bangs--which he sensed some kind of agony and painful sight behind her unbending expression, surprising Ren. He landed on the ground, on his feet--holding his polearm as he sensed that she's going to ambush him. Only to have his longtime friend Dinda to play her zither, creating a melody that stopped Yomi in her place. Her cold gaze slowly turned soft, and lowered her blade before kneeling on one leg. "You have the right to finish me..." she spoke before hanging her head, awaiting for the former vessel God of Pledge to make his decision.

Ren closed his eyes, the rain of the night falls--this has brought him to the painful memories in his heart and the suffering of sins... he opened his eyes as he look down at her. "Yomi, stand up..." he told her, his voice was hoarse from the recent injuries--but a hint of fury swirled with his powerful aura that almost made the leaders eyes widened. Not long after the rain came to the cold surface of the cloudy misty sky, Ren refused to spill any blood onto her--knowing that they both were destined to complete the task to save the world.

"You're so lucky, it would've not made us met. Now I know, we are allies..."

The light rainfall is almost like a salve for Ren to revive a dying plant's spirit back from life, the samsara never ends--and somehow, he wants to move on from that endless circle because it is foolish to lose yourself in death. Yomi was confused, tilting her head before standing up--looking straight at Ren as he declared his vow. "We are trying to protect the humanity from Phantom Samsara."

This made her mouth slightly opened, until Ren pulled the sacred treasure, revealing the Tears of Samsara that Seraph handed to him--as a proof of his intentions. "There will be no need to continue this battle if you can't cooperate, we don't wish to take your Core or kill you," Ren assured with a serious expression, both the Vidyadharas, Farlan and the rest are silent when the Yomi stared at them--seeing it's truth, behind the weapon is an enemy's gaze. "I want to kill the deities and Phantom Beasts for what they've done to my village. I will fight... until my last breath..."

Yomi vowed, looking up at him. "Riyanda Tjahyana... you may not a god, but a Vidyadhara, and a human... please guide all of us to the better path."

***

Ren was looking at the mahjong board while they're gathering in the Floating Restaurant of the Gods, he was making a strategy on how to defeat the gods in the Heavenly Palace--and he really made no mistakes just because of the experience he received from other reincarnations and his prior memories. Beside, he needed a piece of advice. He look up at Sakura who was serving the customers happily, seems like she was enjoying her service--the God of Rebirth has helped him so much that he thanked her for everything. Then, he watched Ruanyi--the God of Creation was playing her yueqin with her calm expression; along with the other musicians.

Now he need to make an alliance with the gods that Kuran used to rule--also he began talking to Yomi about the war at Shambala, which causes him to experience another reincarnation battle. He prayed for them, and the people who sacrificed their lives from the deviations caused by the Phantom Eruption was so tragic. "How many gods that the God of Pledge has allied with in the past?" he asked, looking at Sadana since he's the leader of Narayana's Scions. "There are plenty of deities Kuran has encountered and allied, some are good and some are... not," Sadana answered calmly, his fingers were flipping through the pages of the book. "According to my ancestor's note, these three gods..."

He showed the three gods to Ren, there are the God of War; Liu Bei is the enemy god and responsible for causing wars against Nanda and Kuran--plus; the reason behind their betrayal, the God of Stratagems; Zhuge Kongming who gave him a strategy in exchange of the Soul of Knowledge which will be provided by Ren, and the God of Nature; Yuanzhi has his memory and memories of Kuran were wiped away after gaining the God of Spring's divinity of his body in the last confrontation. Although it seems to make Ren distraught, his expression darkened. He glanced at Sakura for a moment, before he called her. "Sakura, do you know the whereabouts of the God of Nature?" he asked, then the latter replied. "Unfortunately, Ren. No one has ever seen him again after the Second Siege of Shambala two years ago. No one has ever found the other part of the key--"

Key? The part of the key? "How about the part of the key for the gate? Where's the other one?" Ren asked again.

"In fact, the oracle keeps the remaining Core within the eye inside their temple. Apparently, they want their guardian to keep what remains of the Core and fulfill their duty. The God of Truth has split the divine particles inside their body," Prime revealed in the conversation, his eyes that covered by his plague doctor's mask were looking at Sakura. Izayoi was eyeing the activities of the Scarlet Armband Army from his tablet, since he can access their technologies due to the android's ability to gather data. "From the database, I've figured out. That key you have is also one part of the key, except for the strange key you possessed; and the other one must be hidden somewhere," the android male wondered.

Prime indeed meet the Oracle's Eye before, but he choose not to meddle because of the danger they posed. After the discussion, Ren's father made a temporary plan since none of the allies has arrived yet--before the Six Paths of Samsara could have interfered with their paths. This made Ren had to make a step approach and guidance on how to restore the balance; so he need to explore around the regions around the Asia--including the origins of these gods. "Are we going to East Asia?"

Seraph asked, the team's been planning to get past through the places that the enemies wanted and to obtain the clue or pieces to a puzzle that will lead them to the Heavenly Palace. "But, we must have a backup or a guide to escort us at the area of the Eastern Asia," Kaizo argued when he heard the proposition, but it's not a bad plan when Ren's not the one to suggest that. "Which is why these two androids who were with us are our 'tour guides' to translate all the languages and barriers," he said, looking at Izayoi and Prime--these defected androids from Scarlet Armband Army has been joining them, also Ren was kinda glad to recruit them both. "Come on, you guys need to learn foreign languages someday."

Izayoi said, holding the German shepherd puppy as he was playing and cuddling with him--he remembered that moment he promised something to make this dog was saved. Prime was busy with testing the blue glowing liquid on his flask, the scientist-android always loved to experiment and research. Kaizo and Izumo gulped, before Hakuren glanced at them as she scowled. "Yeah right, you two need to learn more like Ren," she declared coldly, which caused Kaizo to sweat drop with a slight growl and Izumo gaped in shock. "What was that, Haku?!" Izumo cried.

"Say what?!" Kaizo protested in reply.

SHANGRI-LA will proceed with the next mission: Reach the Heaven's Gate Mountain in Zhangjiajie in order to find the first piece of the puzzle, they have arrived as they could feel the cold air with several tourists are walking through the high stairway--it is a surreal sight to behold, as it used to be a remote village and has become a famous natural arch a million years after its creation. "Alright, now where's the puzzle... if we want to head to the Heavenly Palace, we need to have the first piece that leads there," Ren muttered, using his Cosmic Wrath polearm to detect for nearby presence or other mystical beings. He stepped forward when he felt a strong sensation before lifting the polearm and stopped--turning his head to right, watching the clouds are flowing above them to the sky.

Oh wait, he and the six Vidyadharas are in public AND THEY WERE BEING WATCHED BY THE TOURISTS AWAY FROM THEM.

"This is just freakin' great..." Ren wheezed, having no idea how his father even recruited them without spooking these human beings. His father was right, now they had to be cautious, sneaky and not get into a trouble--or else they'd become a legend. Dinda was enjoying the view, adjusting the zither behind her back as she walked with Ren. "Do you remember our last trip back then, Riyanda?" she asked him with a smile, and he turned his head to her while pouting. "Back then I was still a vessel of God of Pledge and Dumbass gave me a bad time," he muttered, the female student giggled at her childhood friend's gesture. It kinda amuse her.

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"Do I even bring my wallet from the bag?" Yomi asked herself, and the rest groaned. Even her expression remained deadpan, they just knew that the female samurai has forgotten something--now Kaizo have to pay off with her shit. "No no, let me handle this," Seraph reassured, pulling out the coin pouch on his golden belt. Seriously, it was an emergency money. "Goddamn, I thought samurai is rich--but you're broke as hell..." Izumo muttered, glaring at her--Yomi just glared back with no emotion.

Later...

Ren entered the natural arch where he sensed the puzzle, he saw the shard was floating in the middle. It was round shard from an unknown rock in the shape of a blue-green pearl. The aura from the shard was felt real, even the people unaware of its significance or even Phantom Samsara is, however, he sensed the enigmatic aura inside. Ren reached for it, once he touched the shard--his vision was filled with white and blinding light that surrounded the place--before he 'flipped' through his past. He grabbed the shard and lifted up to remove the darkness, before he nodded at the others. "Let's go back, I got the first puzzle."

They froze when they encountered a creature that they never seen before, it was... Phantom Beast. "Fuck, I should've known," Ren cursed before stepping forward, grasping the Cosmic Wrath polearm and using his power until the beast shrieked when it faced the powerful flames. Its scales were reflecting through the dark side of the mirror, and thus transformed into a spirit that ran through their portal--before Izumo aimed his tanegashima to shot down the creature and soon exploded. They were gasping after they escaped the area before they were caught and even almost like they would face the disaster, due to their divine powers and everything made the locals or the army might see a threat they need to eliminate. "Not all gods are perfect, but... it is what made them become strong..."

Ren said, landing on his feet--he made a choice that they must stop the Phantom Beast before they could harm anyone.

That day...

Dinda wondered what is Ren doing during his training, so she visited her childhood friend in the training pavilion of the Floating Restaurant of the Gods. Rihan watched his son training in the pavilion, before he saw his son's close friend entered the open doors. He was well-aware after Ren told him about her background, so he let her passed through. "Mr. Tjahyana," she greeted Ren's father, he nodded at her in return. This confirmed her to head towards the young man's direction, watching him spar against Sadana--seemingly their powers were combined to form a swordplay. She could sense every magic he's creating and also listening his heartbeat from that pace, her fingers seemed to want to touch the familiar string of the zither that could erase a being's free will.

"So, how long have you known Riyanda?" Rihan asked, turning to Dinda who was leaning against the trunk of a huge tree. She responded with a light chuckle. "Ah, he's one of my old friends since the kindergarten until high school--but I moved to Tibet because I got accepted to the school there with scholarship, it seemed to be a prestigious religious school," she answered, making him curious about her studies. "Not surprised, he indeed has a soft spot for you," Rihan teased, but she knew how serious the situation has been for his son. Yet, Dinda found him truly a kind, responsible man that he'll lead them to end the chaos forever.

"It is alright. He's just following his promise to let everyone lives the life they want to..."

Ren sensed an incoming attack from the front and swiped to the right with his left heel to the opposite direction, breaking his fall with the wooden lance after dropping his polearm and punching at the Sadana's polearm. Dinda was surprised, she could never imagine that a normal human with the soul of the Divinity can wield multiple of divine weapons such as the lances and polearm, but that's not enough for her. "When I learned that Ren used to be a victim of sexual harassment from his former teacher in high school... I was shocked when he told me that, even though that teacher is no longer in this world--the trauma didn't disappear."

Rihan muttered, making Dinda frowned as she was aware of it. Just as she knows, Ren is too good to forgive... or maybe, he still feels unsafe and became a nihilistic for protecting himself. "His former teacher is a male, he was also our former teacher in primary school years..." Dinda said, remembering how that bastard once made a subtle move to the young Ren before continuing into middle and high school--because he has that strong-will of a student. "Plus, the former teacher has a family--how's that even more worse... to go along those things," Dinda added, tsking as she was absolutely furious at the horrible memory from what they went through. If only she wasn't involved in the sudden transfer of schools, she'd go and make a mess of their mind. "Ren told me about it, I believe in him... what made him stronger."

Usually, when the students find out that Ren is a victim--they were either calling him crazy for having that dreams that involved himself being molested and almost left alone by the ones that cared for him, or just going to hate him until people realized that the former teacher was not the one who they all thought about. They were in full denial, even when Ren is a Student Council President because of his trustworthy attitude, and that's how he ended up to lose a trust towards everyone. "It's okay, the pain is real enough to bring him suffer but I know... his friends still supported him, not judging him... real friends would never give up just because the circumstances break them apart," Dinda uttered, knowing that they stood with him as his rival, friend or a savior.

The training is over, Sadana told him to eat, drink and rest so he can stand up to the power of the Phantom Beasts and the gods in the battle. It has come to this, a journey will be endless for all the members of SHANGRI-LA until they die by their enemies or themselves.

"Riyanda!" she called out for him, making Ren turn around. She rushed to him, making him stepped back in surprise as they ended in a warm embrace. "Ah, Dinda--" he was stuttered, cheeks turned red to slightly pink. 'So the training hasn't changed him at all, as usual...' Dinda thought as she laughed.

"Don't get carried away on your mind, we're going to enjoy the paradise. The Floating Restaurant of the Gods isn't a bad idea, for a place to stay and eat," she told him as his hands reached her shoulders. He blinked, staring back at her determined expression. "Just this time, I want to fight with you... at the same level," Dinda decided, his eyebrows perked in curiosity before placing his left hand on her cheek--making her flushed by his sudden move. "You know..."

Huh?

"...I think you're just been lazy, so please do train if you've got the time."

Dinda was petrified comically, he was so fucking blunt towards her despite it wasn't a big deal. Because he is so... this... ARGH!!! He reminded her of her brother, making her let out an unladylike voice when she groaned out loud from embarrassment--and why Rihan is amused by his own son?! "Riyanda, stop that! Are you saying that I need to cease my weight?!"

"I didn't say that, it's your fault that's why you're always complaining about your--"

"AS IF THAT HAD A RELATION WITH THE TRAINING!"

Ren yelled when she held him in chokehold, Dinda roared in the challenge of the intense stare as Rihan tried to separate them, trying to make a quick conclusion of his son's opinion--but both Dinda and Ren are so chaotic for being all of sudden for one week. "Told you," Rihan mocked his son, before he shrieked when Dinda tossed a stick towards the side of his shoulder. "SOMEBODY SAVES ME!" he shouted. Everyone included came rushing to the training ground, seeing Ren laying on the ground like a cat while being pulled by his own leg by Dinda. "Fuck... I take it back! You can't be a lazy to others, DAMN!" Ren wailed as she tickled his side, squirming around and pushing her away.

Both Rihan and Sadana let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of their nose in defeat. "Girls are scary..." Izumo muttered, he yelped to see Hakuren glared at him when she heard that. "I hear you guys... let's just go get some sleep after this long training," she snapped, making him hiding behind Kaizo who was so done with Izumo's pranks--which he probably gonna punch the latter to make sure that he'll behave. "I need a bath after this too. We're so fucking tired after this intense training!"

Few hours later, Dinda's mood went back to normal and Ren had to make sure his words are never ungrateful, she has forgiven him because she had promised--how she turned to be so naive and nice yet so badass as fuck person he ever meet. "Even after what happened to me and my friends, you still stand by my side--even us. What have I done to deserve your feelings.... and who have you been to keep you going?" he asked, she looked at him with a gentle smile. "What I can do, that's what I did for all my life, you and your friends included..." Dinda responded, standing beside him in front of the large pond of lotus flowers in the night.

"What I am to you?"

Ren inquired, as they both sat on the large flat rock and leaning onto the trunk of tree that bears white and lavender flowers with a sweet and relaxing aroma. Dinda fell silent for a moment, she didn't expect him to asked the most strangest question and she wanted to keep moving forward. "You were the very person that I've met in the past, my other self. I have the strength to accept my fate and live as I chose to. The things that I shared with others, are through the experience."

Dinda replied, he understands her. There were countless of times when he started his missions such as eliminating the targets, but as he sees his new home, he feels relief of the pain he's leaving behind--that will soon died to the eternal. "Ah, the things about us will be the most painful reminder."

Oh, it just came across to Dinda that Ren also had been harboring an unfamiliar feelings towards her. But, he don't know what kind of feelings it could be because he just have seen the 'inner beauty' within her--who stood strong during the obstacle in her life. To tell him the truth is much more impossible than breaking the samsara, because she realized that Ren was made of the future as his past lives had brought the power of legacy. Yet she found the first time in her life, she didn't felt the barrier from his strength--but instead, his own heart. Thus she's feeling different about him, to know the truth about Ren. Is it possible that he will return her feelings as well, or probably not?

Ren remained silent with his head leaning against her shoulder, his arms crossed with legs crossed. Dinda jumped a little when he almost fallen asleep, before sitting back and she sighed at the scene. 'My heart will never forget about you, I won't hold it against you,' she thought, placing a gentle touch on his right shoulder before shifting his position to lay on her lap, one of her left hand was stroking his hand and one stroking the strands of his short messy amber-brown hair. His sleeping face is so peaceful after the hard training, she wanted to be like him if she had someone to protect her dreams. Yet, she chooses to reject the old thoughts but the good ones, making her hum a song to relax and calm herself down.

"Please... stop appearing in my dreams... Nanda."

Dinda blinked when he mumbled in his sleep, she also find out that Nanda is the God of Wealth--the one that Ren mentioned. That time, he always get bothered and teased by her because he was Kuran's reincarnation; making him had enough of Nanda. Until, that awakening of the God of Pledge made Nanda betrayed Ren and the two gods died by Ren's resistance; rendering him becoming a Vidyadhara. She wondered if he still can sleep after their death, and she silently soothed his pain by singing the song that used to listen when she was born. 'I should play a zither for him, he need a music to relax...' she mused to herself, watching the moon as she carefully move his head to the flat rock beneath him.

Dinda placed the zither across her lap, then began to play a melody. This would help Ren from his nightmares, letting his mind rest as she will stay with him. 'Riyanda...' she whispered in her mind, creating a wishful hope that he will move on--and he will lead everyone to fight in their right path, in the end. "Oh, so this is Ren's childhood friend?" Nanda's spirit spoke which made Dinda stopped playing, she glanced up as she kept her composure--not wanting to move and wake Ren.

"Yuèguāng, right?"

Nanda narrowed her eyes, how dare this female Vidyadhara addressed her by her real name?! Dinda was courageous to ignore the God of Wealth's existence--before she stand up and hold the zither on her hand. "You think, I would forgive you, deities, because you tried to kill me in my own dreams and ruined everything I worked so hard?" Dinda whispered, turning to look at Nanda who tried not to feel angry at her for speaking something that what Ren would've said to his face. "You ungrateful brat! How dare you--"

"Do you understand... how did Riyanda felt?" she asked Nanda, no wonder she was confused. "You only care about Riyanda just because he was Kuran's reincarnation, right?" Dinda clarified, asking with a bitter smile as she looked up at the cloudy sky with cold twilight. Nanda couldn't help but feel the rage as if the human is mocking her, with that irritating yet melancholic smile for the girl. "After all this time," Dinda slowly turned around and staring at Nanda's angered face--as if the woman has chosen to avenge her. "You're just using him for your own advantage. What do you expect for him to be? A leader? Hero? You... can't change his fate nor his whole life."

Oh, now that's Nanda is willing to ruin his emotional struggles.

Nanda growled in disgust, clutching her right fist and the other to the handle of her precious smoking pipe. Dinda's smile still remained on her lips--but that happy-go-lucky attitude had turned to be calm and distant, she holds her zither with one hand as she prepared for the God of Wealth's next move. She shielded herself from the blast of spears that Nanda has conjured up and attacked her, and then the latter unleashed few series of slashes towards Dinda, but she managed to defend herself with the power she's used--a blast of her own white wave of wind energy and the plucking strings from her fingers converts the melody into ambush of a light sphere.

Damn... this girl is strong!

How come Ren can have a friend like her?

Before they can make a next step, they were put to a stop before clashing their weapons from each other. When Nanda stopped as there was a busting flames and she look down her head, Ren was standing in the middle--with his Cosmic Wrath polearm as he stood with his back on Dinda. "Riyanda..." Dinda muttered, glancing at his serious expression--it didn't suit him. "I had no words to say to those who want to toy me and make fun of others' misfortune," Ren stated despite she was a god, she was at the mercy of human desires. He was no longer weak since after he was awaken, so why would she want his full trust? As she is no human at all, he almost had enough of some god's pranks on him.

"Ren... it's been a while, no?"

Nanda stood as she hold her smoking pipe, making him clenched his teeth. That... expression he wishes he could forget, the feelings had never changed despite everything was changing--they had became strangers in the heart. "You're wasting my time, Yuèguāng," he replied that surprised her because why is he calling her that now? That alone making Nanda offended that now Ren daringly addressed her real name. "To the battle, or do you want to die earlier in this form? Didn't you try to speak with my other 'reincarnation' when his spirit tried to escape in order to help me? Too bad, he's dead because of my resistance... and how he betrayed me."

Dinda hold his arm gently, making sure he calmed down to avoid any complications in his mental state. Nanda gritted her teeth, wanting to finish him off but when she glanced at Dinda--watching her with an indifferent gaze, making her growled, and soon... she felt some kind of jealousy emerged through her heart. Something tells her, they have more chance than she did after she died once. "I thought you're dead," he said to Nanda, remembering the last time when his life was forcefully taken away from Kuran's betrayal. "Kuran was with me during my hardest times," Nanda reminded him, holding his free hand and bring to her own chest. Ren narrowed his eyes, making her flinched a little. "Her soul is mine, I shall..."

Her eyes widened, her lips moved and trying to release her own screaming--but only to pull out of her spiritually-weak body, landing on the ground softly and the former vessel of God of Pledge actually holding the heirloom; the burr puzzle that was missing. "You stole this? It's not yours, but it is mine," Ren demanded for the puzzle, Nanda blinked as she stood. "I can't believe you've found the truth," she sobbed, and trying to use her magic--but something cuts the flow of her energy. Dinda used her zither to cancel out the power of a deity, seeing his old friend's hatred towards the God of Wealth had convinced Nanda that maybe, for his happiness and everyone else's--they need a new chapter.

"I may be Kuran's reincarnation, but he and I are different..."

A tear that slips from her cheek, the truth was more painful than death itself--that's how Ren thinks that Nanda are hiding the lie she planted in order to control his destiny and bind to her will. "Riyanda!" Dinda cried, moving next to his side when the God of Wealth becoming wrathful from all the sins her people committed to herself. "You damn human! Damn it! And to think I chose you to be mine, you are Kuran. Your memory was with him..." Nanda's dark expression shows the despair within, she was now insane and losing control as she started to summon the spirits around her in order to attack them. "Your heart... your body... you soul is my..."

"Not so fast, Nanda."

But Rihan stood in the way, protect his son and close friend from the spirits. He summoned his polearm known as Celestial Oath, a legendary weapon from the God of Destruction and he slammed the polearm's handle to the ground--causing a powerful dark wave that made the spirits disappear and silencing the voices of everyone except for Nanda. "I know the promise, but it looks like she won't listen," he muttered before stabbing Nanda with his polearm, resulting her to scream in horror and agony. "My deepest apologies."

"No, how dare you... Rihan... KILL HIM!" Nanda shrieked, using her magic to burst at him until Dinda plucked the string--casting a spiritual barrier around them and Rihan effortlessly killede the spirits and dispels the attack from Nanda. Ren raised his polearm above her body, clenching his teeth and he pierced her physical heart. "My heart..." she gasped, slowly choking by her own blood. "May you reunited with Kuran... or... his real name, Lánzhōng," he muttered, ending the reincarnation cycle as he pulled out the blade--ending her death within a minute, thus left behind a glowing of her Core on his palm.

They watched her disappear into the moon, seeing the imagery of their reunion. Ren frowned, finally releasing the past and able to move on completely from them, he felt his father hand patting his shoulder--making him lowering his head a little. "Did we... make it?" he asked, Rihan nodded with a smile. "Yes, but this isn't over yet... the gods up there should've known and they know about our warnings, is that right Dinda?" he asked.

Dinda agreed, looking up at the moon--as if she sensed the gods were angered at what Ren have done in front of their eyes. "It should work, which means... we're ready for the battle."

They heard a news from Prime, that some patron gods from the Heavens were somewhat angered by their actions.

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