"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Sia entered the battlefield. Her boots crushed the ashes of burnt streets, her eyes wide in horror. "What is this... the blood of my comrades?" she whispered. Her voice cracked. "It's my fault. I came here late."

She looked around—Mekamaru… Sakura… Even the troops... fallen.

"If I had come earlier... this wouldn't have happened."

Her cat, Bubu, jumped into her arms. Sia's grip tightened. Her voice, once soft, turned into steel.

"This ends now, Viny."

Viny spun her staff and smirked, still bleeding. "Try me, Sia."

Sia set Bubu down gently. "Bubu... go."

The little white cat sparked with lightning energy, its fur crackling with electric rage. With a blinding roar—ZAAAP!! Thunder erupted from the mountaintop as Bubu launched at Viny.

Viny dodged—barely. She flew back into the air. "What's with her power?! She's stronger than before!"

Viny snarled. "Fine. Mori, arise!"

From the ground, the Death Mori—a beast of wind and blades—screamed into existence and charged at Sia.

Sia raised her hand toward the sky. "Galaxy Justice."

Above the clouds, dozens of lights appeared like stars—each glowing with divine force.

Viny looked up—eyes wide. "What is that? Thunder? No... it can't be..."

THUUD! THUUD!! THUUUUD!!!

Death Mori was struck before even reaching Sia. It collapsed into a pile of broken wind and light.

Viny gasped. She looked at her hand.

"W-What?! My arm... my left hand is... gone?!"

She screamed in pain and horror.

Sia walked forward, her eyes burning with fury. "This... is what justice looks like."

Viny, shaking from the pressure of her aura, stepped back. "H-How did you become this strong?! Back in the Bazaar, you were nothing like this!"

Sia didn't stop. "Because I care for people. We Ryukis don't fight for ego… we fight for peace. I didn't use my full power before, because I knew… using it could hurt our own people too. But now…"

She glared.

"...now I have no choice."

Viny growled, blood dripping from her arm. "I'm not done yet! You think I don't have a trump card?!"

She raised her staff. "Wind Golem!"

The sky twisted— A massive golem made of roaring wind took form, eyes glowing blue, fists larger than towers.

WHOOSH! Cyclones swirled around it.

Sia took to the sky, Bubu riding lightning beside her.

"This... power is incredible," she muttered.

The Wind Golem roared—"HHMMMMHHHHAAAAAA!!"

It swung its giant fists.

Towers flew. Mages flew. Even dead bodies rose into the wind.

And still—Sia soared.

Sia soared high, lightning cracking at her fingertips. "Galaxy Justice!!" Thunder roared again, slicing through the sky—CRASH!! The divine bolt struck the Wind Golem.

But...

Sia's eyes widened. "What?! That… went through him?!"

She gasped, realizing. "The Golem… it's linked to her. If I take out Viny, the Golem vanishes."

She looked down—Viny, barely standing, blood-soaked, her body trembling.

But then… A shadow moved behind her.

Sia narrowed her eyes. "Who is that...? Evon?!"

The figure, limping and drenched in blood, walked slowly behind Viny. His sword gripped tight, eyes locked on the target.

"Kill her, Evon..." Sia whispered under her breath. "Just end this."

But Viny… Viny was no longer fighting. She was thinking.

"Sir Aster…" "I won't live much longer. I've lost too much blood." "My body… it's shutting down."

Her breathing slowed. Her thoughts echoed in silence.

"I always wanted you to notice me." "I always wanted to impress you." "But… some dreams stay dreams."

She looked up at the sky—eyes hazy, lips cracked.

"This… is the end for me."

A soft smile touched her lips. Her memories swirled in broken frames.

"Two decades ago…" "Everyone in my family died in that war." "I was sixteen… standing in a pool of my parents' blood. Alone."

Then…she remembered him.

"You showed up, sir." "You were younger then—new to the elite." "You grabbed my hand… and lifted me up."

Tears welled in her eyes.

"I couldn't speak. Couldn't cry. Just stared at the corpses." "You took me to your home." "You… cared for me."

"I still remember the words you told me… Life and death are two parts of the same coin. To live in this world… we have to carry that coin.'"

Her lips trembled.

"Aster, sir… Did you ever love me?"

"Maybe that question will always remain a mystery…"

She closed her eyes.

"But I… I loved you."

SHHHHINK!

Evon's blade pierced clean through her back—out through her chest.

Blood sprayed.

She gasped… but smiled.

The Wind Golem shattered into thin air—gone.

Sia, watching from above, exhaled.

"...Yes. We did it."

Viny collapsed—a small, peaceful smile still on her lips.

She died…not as a villain. But as someone… who once wanted to be loved.

*****

Scarlet stepped closer, eyes locked on Sunny, her voice trembling but firm.

"Sunny… tell me. Who is your buddy?"

Sunny, still crying uncontrollably, screamed out:

"BUDDYYYYYYY—MY BUDDY IS YUZEN!!"

Scarlet's heart stopped.

"Yuzen…? W-What? You mean… Yuzen City?"

Her mind reeled. That can't be right…

"What are you saying? How can Yuzen be your buddy?! What does that even mean?!"

She grabbed Sunny's shoulders. "Tell me, Sunny—is this something from the Grand Era?! Please—who is Yuzen?!"

Sunny, eyes glowing with tears, whispered:

"Yuzen is the name of my buddy… He looked up, as if through the roof, into another world." He came from the Third World."

Scarlet gasped. Her hands trembled.

"Th-Third World…?" Her voice cracked. "What… What is the Third World?!"

Sunny's voice turned heavy… distant… like a spirit speaking through him.

"The Third World of the Sea… A place where no human can go. A world ruled by beasts and sealed gods…"

He fell to his knees, clutching his head.

"My buddy is one of them. He's calling me now… Someone sealed him."

Then, Sunny's lips quivered. A new voice seemed to echo through his own.

"Free me, my friend… I'm in pain. I'm still waiting…"

Tears flowed harder now.

Sunny screamed, ,WAIT, BUDDY! I'LL FREE YOU!" "I'LL FREE YOU, YUZEN!!"

Scarlet stood frozen.

"…Yuzen… is not just a city…

******

Aster, walking in the Scholar Plateau, suddenly felt a pulse.

His eyes narrowed. From his robe, he pulled out a small communication orb.

He tapped it. The orb glowed—a panicked voice crackled from the other side.

"Sir! Sir! A massive earthquake has hit Yuzen City!

Aster's expression twisted.

"What...? What are you saying?"

"Sir—the city… It's screaming. We don't know what to do!"

Aster clenched his teeth, his grip tightening around the orb.

His mind raced.

Aster's eyes widened in horror.

For the first time—the mighty Guardian of Yuzen... Felt fear.

"No… this can't be happening… Not now."