**Paras City – Abandoned District, Late Afternoon**
The sky over Paras City was wrong—dark red, glowing like embers behind bruised clouds, as if the horizon itself was bleeding. No birds. No wind. Only silence so thick it pressed against the skin like wet cloth. The streets were empty—cars abandoned mid-turn, windows shattered, doors hanging open. Papers fluttered like ghosts across cracked pavement. Somewhere far off, a building groaned as it settled deeper into ruin. The entire city felt hollowed out—everyone gone to Tokyo for the tournament, leaving only monsters and the boy who stayed behind.
Inside one of those broken buildings—a half-collapsed convenience store—Astra stood in front of a cracked sink. Cold water ran over his hands, turning pink, then red, then pink again as it swirled down the drain. His black long jacket hung open, blood splattered across the fabric like dark paint. Beneath it, his gi and shirt were torn, stained darker. Silver hair stuck to his forehead with sweat and grime. His silver eyes—usually bright with mischief—were dull, serious, older than ten years should ever look. Bruises bloomed across his cheek and jaw. A fresh cut on his lip still wept blood.
Nova sat on the counter beside him—white fur matted with dust, pink eyes watching quietly, tail wiggling slowly.
Astra stared at the water—voice low, flat, almost numb.
"I forgot… Sensei Sai said some gem or shrine things are pure cursed. Why did you give it to me? Look what monsters are doing here… I have a tournament too."
Nova tilted her head—then spoke.
Her voice was small, soft, almost childlike—but it carried an echo, like wind through a hollow cave.
"I didn't know it was cursed… It was a strong weapon, so I carried it to the shrine and let you take the gem."
Astra froze—water still running over his hands.
He turned slowly—eyes wide, disbelief cracking through the exhaustion.
"You can talk too?"
Nova nodded—tail stilling.
"Of course I can… because I am a demonic creature."
Astra shut off the tap—hands dripping, blood and water mixing on the floor.
"Then why didn't you talk when I talked to you?"
Nova looked down—ears flattening slightly.
"That time… I was sealed."
She lifted her gaze—pink eyes shimmering with guilt.
"Actually… the gem was covered by soul fragments. So when you took it from the shrine and used it… my soul completed. I was waiting for this day."
Astra's breath caught—voice rising, sharp with hurt.
"Wait!? You were waiting for this day!? To wake up monsters!?"
Nova lowered her head—voice small, guilty.
"I'm sorry… I did it because I wanted to be unsealed."
Astra narrowed his eyes—anger flickering, then fading into something heavier. Exhaustion. Betrayal. Loneliness.
"So you… going now?"
Nova nodded—slow, sad.
"Yes… I have to go… Thanks for the journey."
She began to dissolve—white fur turning to black dust, drifting upward like smoke.
Astra lunged—reached for her.
"Nova—wait!"
Too late.
The dust scattered—gone.
Astra fell to one knee—clutching his fist so hard his knuckles whitened.
"She's gone… I'm alone in the whole Paras City… Everyone is in Tokyo… far away… watching the tournament."
He stood slowly—walked to the broken window.
Outside—quiet. Too quiet.
No people. No cars. Only monsters—hulking shadows moving between buildings, low growls, the occasional crash of glass or stone.
Astra whispered.
"I don't even know if anyone is still here… or if they all went to the tournament. I've been slaying demons since morning… and it's afternoon now."
He turned—walked to the small kitchen area behind the counter. Found a chocolate bar on the floor—wrapper torn but intact. He picked it up, unwrapped it, took a bite. The sweetness felt wrong—too sweet against the taste of blood in his mouth.
Walls were bloody—claw marks, splatters, smears.
A monster crawled behind him—low, slithering.
It touched his shoulder.
Silver flames erupted—burned it instantly. A scream—short, cut off.
Astra didn't even turn.
He broke through the wall—glass and concrete shattering.
Jumped from the third floor—hair and jacket fluttering.
He focused—tried to fly.
Nothing.
"No… I can't even fly… it's not working…"
Before he hit the ground—he teleported—appeared on the cracked street below.
Sealed dojo of Sai in the distance—door still locked, windows dark.
A monster with six wings flew overhead—shadow passing over him.
Astra didn't look up—just walked forward.
A monster lunged—six arms swinging.
Astra punched—silver flames burned it to ash.
Another—bigger—slammed a giant hand down slowly.
Astra ran—speed blurring.
The hand was too long—too giant.
It slammed.
Astra held the blue gem—sliced the hand off with a scythe form.
Green blood sprayed.
The monster roared—sky shaking.
Astra didn't look back—kept running.
The roar echoed—felt in Tokyo.
**Tokyo – Stadium (Simultaneous)**
The arena trembled—small quake.
Crowd gasped—then laughed nervously.
Yuki—heart lurching.
"What was that…?"
Wano—pale.
"Paras City… something's happening there."
Uraka—tense.
"Astra…"
**Back to Paras City**
Astra kept moving—monsters everywhere—shouting, breaking buildings, tearing metal.
He narrowed his eyes.
"I have to free the city… at any cost. And I have a tournament today."
A monster attacked—six arms.
Astra punched—sent it flying.
More came—from opposite sides.
Astra blinked—silver eyes flashing.
Monsters turned to ash—screaming as they dissolved.
Another—big—shot green blasts.
Astra reflected them—one hand.
Green blood on his cheek, jacket—falling.
A monster broke a building—debris fell toward him.
Astra gathered his hand—silver flames spiraled in his palm.
"Divine Beam of Judgment."
He shot—the beam wiped the area—silver flames burning on the ground.
Monsters rose—more powerful.
Astra sighed—looked at the blue gem.
"I have to put it back… where it belongs. The old shrine in the jungle."
He tried to teleport—failed.
A monster slammed its claw on his cheek.
Astra bled—backed off.
Another hit his gut.
Astra's eyes widened—fell to his knees. Blood from his mouth.
He wiped his lips—stood slowly.
The monster charged.
Astra moved behind it—before it sensed.
Twice kick—first hit, second slammed it down.
Uppercut—the monster flew.
Hammer punch—crashed through two buildings.
Astra landed.
A monster grabbed his leg from the ground.
Hand burned away on touch.
Astra—observing.
Suddenly—a katana swing behind him.
Astra dodged—turned.
"Who's there?"
No one.
Astra—confused—scratched his head.
Katana swung again.
Astra held it with two fingers—smiling faintly.
"I seem idiot… but I'm not."
He turned—eyes on the person.
A young girl—red skin, holding a katana. Aura black, rising.
Astra backed off.
"Who are you?"
The girl settled—sad and angry mixed expression.
"I am Nai."
Nai held the katana tightly.
"I am ending you today…"
Astra—soft.
"Wait… why!? And what have I done?"
Nai—without words—rushed.
Slashed.
Astra dodged easily.
"Stop… what are you doing?"
Nai covered her sword with black aura—stabbed.
Astra switched places with a monster—she stabbed it instead.
Astra—standing.
"I said stop right now… I won't give any warning again if I start fighting…"
Nai's eyes glowed.
"You… because of you. I have lost everyone."
Astra—confused.
"Who? And why?"
Nai's hands trembled—voice breaking.
"Nova… your assistant… She gave you the blue gem. Because of it… the whole Paras City is under monster raid. And it turned me into a monster too… and because of it… I killed my family!! Only because of youuu!"
Nai rushed.
Astra—voice soft, pained.
"Wait… listen… Nova did it, okay? She brought the gem from the shrine. I never asked for it!"
Nai kicked his abdomen—slashed.
Astra covered himself.
Nai's eyes wet—sobbing.
"Nova did it for you… so it's your fault! I will end you!"
Nai punched his face—Astra blocked.
Then swung katana—cut from chest to waist.
Astra held his stomach—blood pouring.
He held his breath.
"I gave you a warning… If you don't stop… I have to lay hands on you."
Nai didn't listen—slashed again.
Astra dodged.
Nai chanted—portals opened—dark swords came like bullets.
Astra dodged through them.
In the background—swords hit monsters.
Astra—voice firm.
"Fine… you asked for it."
He rushed.
Punched.
Nai blocked with katana.
Wind blew harder.
Astra shot burning silver blasts.
Nai flash-stepped—dodged.
Kneed his gut.
Astra flew—hit ground.
Nai dashed—slashed.
Astra's silver flaming aura rose—but her katana cut through it.
Slash after slash.
Astra's jacket tore.
He froze for a second.
Nai shot black energy attack.
It blasted—Astra crashed into a broken building.
Smoke cleared—he hid behind an office chair.
A monster came behind—he snapped his finger—burned it off.
Nai reached the building—checking every floor.
Astra—thinking.
*I have to reach the jungle… place the gem on the shrine… everything turns good.*
Nai—slashing floors.
Building torn apart!
Astra stood on a big floor.
Nai came in front—punched his face.
Astra blocked—countered.
Nai backward.
Nai—sobbing.
"You are the cause of everyone's death and my curse… I will take revenge."
Astra—silent—rushed—punched her away from the building.
Jumped—punched mid-air.
Nai blocked.
She kicked his head—hard.
Astra's vision whitened—crashed.
Head bled.
Nai—above him.
Before she could strike—
Astra stood.
"Stop… I have a way to bring your family back. Turn you normal again."
Nai froze—eyes wide.
"Really…? You can!?"
She sobbed—katana lowering.
"Then please… bring everyone back… fix the city… I don't need revenge. I just need my family back."
Astra—rising his hand.
"Okay… then listen to me. First we reach the shrine—put the gem back. And everything will be fixed."
He looked at her—soft.
"I need your help to reach the jungle without facing too many monsters."
Astra—rising his hand.
"Would you like to come with me?"
Nai—shy at first—then nodded.
Placed her hand in his.
"Sure… for everyone… I do it."
They looked at the monsters—roaring, breaking.
Astra—quiet.
"Let's go."
Then—glanced at Nai.
"By the way… you're beautiful in demon form. Also… you're the same age as me."
Nai blushed instantly—turned away.
"Shut up… we're only here to save. Nothing weird, okay?"
Astra—small smile.
"Okay… nothing weird."
They ran—together—through the broken city.
Monsters roared behind them.
But for the first time that day—Astra wasn't alone.
And somewhere—far away—Yuki felt it.
A faint silver pulse.
Like hope.
Like family.
Refusing to die.