"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Auren grabbed Rose's hand. His grip was gentle, but his eyes were firm.

"Rose… Do you like adventure?"

Rose blinked. "Yes…"

Auren smiled softly. "Then… I want to go on an adventure with you. Together. You have a power inside you, Rose. Something that could help both you… and me."

Rose hesitated. She looked down, her eyes slowly closing.

"But…" she whispered. "I don't want to become special in front of you. If you don't have a mage ability, then… I won't use mine either."

Auren held her hand tighter—this time with both hands.

"Rose. Listen to me."

His voice cracked with emotion.

"You're already special to me. Mage or no mage. You brought something new into my life… something important. You're the most special thing this world has to offer me."

He gently tilted her chin up.

"Choose, Rose. Choose your power."

Rose looked into his eyes, then slowly turned toward Violet. "Alright… if you say so."

She looked ahead, where strange boxes floated mid-air, glowing gently.

"What are those?" she asked.

"There are orbs inside," Violet said, smiling. "We call them… packages."

"Packages?" Rose tilted her head. "What does that mean?"

Violet explained, "We've grouped orbs into themed sets. Like that white box you see? It has a healing orb, a water arrow orb, and a small monkey summon. That set costs 500 Vita."

Auren whistled. "A monkey summon?"

Violet nodded. "But Rose, you can go higher. I even have a 1000 Vita package—if you're ready."

Rose looked uncertain.

"But before that," Violet added, "you need to decide. What type of person do you want to become?"

"Healer? Fighter? Spirit contractor? Seer? Summoner?"

"I… I don't know," Rose murmured. Her voice was unsure.

Violet chuckled and clapped her hands. "Then let destiny decide!"

Suddenly, a large magical wheel appeared before them, glowing with symbols.

"Step up, Rose," Violet smiled. "Spin the Wheel of Destiny."

Rose slowly walked forward, her heart beating fast. She looked at the spinning symbols… and then gave it a strong spin.

The wheel turned.

Click. Click. Click…

It slowed… and finally landed on:

Seer

Violet clapped once more. "So destiny has chosen you to become a Seer."

Auren whispered, "Seer…?"

"There must be a reason," Violet said. "And now, I have two special Seer packages for you."

She clapped again. Two glowing boxes floated out of the orb shelves and hovered near Rose.

"Now pay attention."

Violet pointed at the one on the right.

"This one contains:

A summon: Kity, a tiny, cute cat. She's playful, emotional, and full of charm. She doesn't fight much, but she motivates you, comforts you, and never leaves your side. If she dies, she can be summoned again after three days. (Cost: 90 Vita)

A water arrow spell. Shoots high-pressure water arrows with solid accuracy. (Cost: 150 Vita)

And finally, Sheer, your main Seer ability. It lets you locate people from many miles away, see their backgrounds, and even speak to them from a distance. You'll also get a faint sense of upcoming events. (Cost: 750 Vita)

Total cost: 990 Vita."

She then turned to the left box.

"This one contains:

A small loyal dog is summoned. Playful and sharp. (Cost: 95 Vita)

A snake summon—real snakes you can command. (Cost: 169 Vita)

And the Seer skill again—this time with a twist. You'll be able to view people through the eyes of animals nearby them. (Cost: 700 Vita)

Total cost: 964 Vita."

Rose stood quietly, her eyes locked on both packages.

Auren asked, "So? Which one?"

Rose paused. Then smiled.

"I like cats more than dogs."

"That's your reason?" Auren blinked.

Rose giggled. "Yes. That's my reason."

Auren chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, that's the most Rose-like reason I've heard all day."

*******

Meanwhile, at the battlefield…

"YAAAYAAAA! You can't defeat me, Mekamaru!" Levi laughed like thunder itself, spinning his giant hammer.

Mekamaru smirked, fists ready. "Maybe I can't defeat you… but I can kill you, Levi."

The two elites charged—hammer vs. fists—a clash of raw power echoing across the mountains.

"You've gotten stronger, Levi. The last time we fought, there was no winner," Mekamaru said, dodging a swing.

"YAAAAYAAAA! That was nearly two decades ago," Levi shouted. "Let's settle it now!"

Thunderbolt Splash! Electric energy surged through Levi's hammer, making it grow massive and glowing. SLASH! It hit Mekamaru straight in the chest—he went flying like a cannonball, crashing through the mountain.

"Hahaha! I win!" Levi howled.

But then… The ground shook. A shadow grew behind him.

"Huh? What… WHAT IS THAT?!"

A giant figure stood tall, muscles bulging, eyes glowing red.

"Mekamaru…?!"

Levi stared in disbelief. "When… when did you get this power?! I've never seen this orb in my city…"

Mekamaru's voice thundered. "Giant Body: Rage Mode."

His red aura cracked the rocks beneath him.

Levi gritted his teeth. "I'm not going to lose! Thunderbolt Prototype 2!"

He raised a massive storm-forged hammer. Lightning crackled around him.

Both warriors charged.

BOOM!

Fist and hammer collided mid-air. A massive shockwave exploded outward—so loud it felt like the sky cracked.

Mages nearby ducked.

"What's happening out there?!"

"We can't see anything… just energy waves! The whole ground is shaking!"

Levi and Mekamaru were clashing like gods.

"MEKAAAAAAMAAAAARUUU!!!" Levi roared.

"LEEEEEEVIIIIIIII!!!" Mekamaru screamed back.

A second later—BOOOOOOOM!

A huge explosion lit up the battlefield. Dust and fire covered everything.

Mekamaru crashed into a mountain. Levi slammed onto the earth below. Both were broken—bleeding—critically injured.

******

Aster stumbled back, holding his stomach.

"How did you… cut me, Sakura? Your second gate is something else."

Both swords clash hard.

Sakura's eyes burned green. She kicked Aster again—he flew into the mountain, coughing blood.

Just as he tried to stand—

WUUUSHHH—She was already there.

"Hello, mister," she smiled darkly.

CRACK! Another kick. Aster rolled over.

Again and Again and Again...

She is something -- Aster thought.. 

"YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN?!" he roared. "I'm Aster! You brat can't defeat me!"

"Graviton Grasp: Reversal!"

The earth trembled. Landmasses began lifting into the sky. Sakura's platform rose too—floating in midair like a shattered world.

"What kind of magic is that?! How do you even fight this?!" the mages screamed.

Sakura looked down, her breath heavy. "I have to win. I can't hold this Second Gate much longer…"

She leapt.

Downward charge! Her blade sliced through the flying rocks as she rushed toward Aster.

Aster, coughing blood, smiled wickedly.

"Matter Shatter Pulse!" —A spell that destroys matter itself.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

All the floating debris around her exploded. Sakura was caught in the blasts.

"Noooo!" she screamed—her body crashing down through the smoke.

Aster chuckled. "I told you… You can't beat me."

She looked at the sky… a single tear falling.

"I'm sorry, Sunny… I couldn't protect you… I just wanted… to see you one more time."

I wish only once I could see you smiling. my little brother 

I always loved you.

Sakura hit the ground, bleeding, eyes dazed.

Her eyes closed.

She fell unconscious.

Aster stood, barely, holding his wound. "They gave me some damage… serious damage."

Then he whispered, Critical Wound Recovery."

Golden light wrapped around him. His injuries disappeared.

"I'm fully healed now… but I can't use this again for a month."

He looked toward the battlefield. "Levi's down too."

Aster cracked his neck and turned to the plateau.

"Let's go inside… and protect Yuzen City."

Scene: Scholar Plateau—Streets Turn Silent]

The ground trembled as Aster walked slowly through the cracked roads of the Scholar Plateau. Rubble crumbled beneath his boots. Around him, mage troops stood frozen—not by magic, but by something far worse...

His presence. His aura.

Their bodies refused to move. Breathing became difficult. The fear clung to their skin like smoke.

Aster, blood still drying on his armor, smiled. His footsteps echoed—tap… tap… tap…

Then softly, almost like a lullaby, he began to hum...and sing.

🎵 Aster's Song: "I'm Just a Good Guy"

I'm just a good guy with a soft smile.

My shadow walks with me, mile by mile.

I never lie—just let things unfold.

The truth's too sharp, too cruel, too cold.

He chuckled. "Sing with me, won't you?"

The troops didn't move.

His voice turned razor-sharp. "Sing. With. Me."

Out of pure terror, they opened their mouths… voices cracking.

They all started singing with him. Aster wore his white hair then.

🎵They call me wicked, they call me wrong, yet still they hum my gentle song. I don't bring war, and no swords I raise, just silence wrapped in velvet praise.

🎵Say it with me—don't be shy:

I'm just a good guy… with a good eye." I see the pain you try to hide; I see the dreams you've locked inside.

🎵The fire falls, the rivers cry, but I still watch, with a knowing eye. And when the end begins to sigh... Just remember—I never lie.