Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âWell, it might be normal for some demi-gods to refer to themselves as gods, right? Itâs in their title, after all. I know enough stuffy spirits around these parts that have a god complex,â Han Sen said, grasping at straws for a possible reason why the spirit might have called itself God.
âWell, those thoughts crossed our minds, too. And thinking it to be arrogance, we wanted to kill it even more. That, however, was when the spirit said something else.â When Dragon Kingâs sentence came to a close, his face drooped into an unsettling grimace.
Han Sen did not ask or prompt him to tell what was said; he just stared at Dragon King intensely.
With bent vocals, Dragon King stuttered out a few words. He said, âWhoever kills God will be erased.â
Han Sen didnât think much of it, at first. More than anything, he believed the demi-god that called itself God was merely bluffing. It was like a riff on the cliche of, âIf you strike me down, Iâll become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.â That sort of thing.
It would either be that, or âIâll haunt your *ss from beyond the grave.â
Dragon King went on to elaborate, given the awkward silence that followed what he had just spoken. He said, âAgain, we didnât care much for what the demi-god said. Asura had heard enough of the pompous spirit he believed it to be, and with great anger, he struck it down. This, of course, was to the grand and terrible displeasure of Mister Ancient Devil.â
âMe and Asura were tight. We were very good friends. That being said, I knew where my allegiances lay, and I did not want to betray Mister Ancient Devil. The others, for whatever reasons compelled them, did not. They were with Asura and immediately started fighting.â
âAsura was the strongest out of us all, though. After he killed the demi-god, that might and power were only amplified.â
âThose who followed him believed Asura would win. And as spirits often do, they gravitated towards the strongest amongst them, which was likely to be him. If Mister Ancient Devil was going to lose, of course the generals would want to support the master that took his place. But that did not come to pass, and shortly after the transgression, he disappeared.â Dragon King almost looked afraid, speaking this.
âWhat do you mean exactly?â Han Sen asked. The tale was riveting, and he was eager for an elaboration of every detail.
âHe disappeared. He vanished. He was simply gone. The prevailing belief over what might have occurred was split between two ideas; either he was taken to the Fourth Godâs Sanctuary, or he legged it and had no need for anyone else.â
Dragon Kingâs speech stumbled once more, as it frequently did. After a breath for composure, he went on to say, âAside from those of us who accompanied Mister Ancient Devil in the hopes of slaying a summoned demi-god, everyone seemed to forget Asuraâs existence. He was a famous spirit, and his name was heralded far and wide. But after those events, it was like he had been forgotten about. Everyone forgot who he was! Even spirits who had known him for one-hundred-thousand years forgot the name âAsura.â Neither his creatures nor his heirs recalled who he was. It was just as that frightening spirit had said, before its death... He who killed him would be completely erased!â
âThe only ones who remembered him were the generals that were there with him, but even that was only for a brief while. Even they soon forgot.â
Dragon King looked visibly afraid as he told this story, and he leaned closer to tell Han Sen, âBefore Asura left, though, he made me swear not to tell anyone what had transpired that day. He also wrote down the sutra on my scale. He told me to look after the people who practiced that power, and while I initially believed him to be talking about his kids, I later learned none of them had practiced his powers.â
âI tried looking for Asura for a long time after, but over time, the notoriety of our band began to fade, too. Even we were forgotten about; Mister Ancient Devil, included. We faded to legend, and then to myth, and then to nothing. The only difference was, we remained here,â Dragon King explained.
Han Sen was shocked, hearing all this. He told him, âMaybe Asura was taken to the Alliance, and the shura are his descendants. And maybe thatâs why they cannot enter the sanctuaries. It all adds up!â If the story was true, Han Sen firmly believed that to be the most logical reason. The pieces seemed to fit.
Dragon King said, âYou could be right! And if you have shura blood, you can practice the Asura Sutra. Iâve stewed in the memory of this strange affair for far too long, and I think itâs time I myself received some answers.â
Han Sen knew Dragon King had told him everything he could, and there was little more he knew. His mention of the shura blood was curious, but it had thinned and become so light, the relation was practically non-existent.
The one with the true blood relation was the Luo family who followed the shura.
âMaybe Iâll need to enter that shura tomb myself and do a little archaeology if Iâm to search for definitive answers. In retrospect, itâs almost a shame I did not associate myself a little more with the Luo family. Given my history and spats with them, I doubt theyâd let me take a peek in their big book of secrets now,â Han Senâs mind wandered down the various avenues of how he might learn even more.
Han Sen told Dragon King more about the shura and the Falsified-Sky Sutra, after that.
Judging from what he was told, Dragon King started to believe Asura must have indeed gone to the Alliance. But in regards to how that had even happened, he had no clue.
Perhaps he broke through the dimension, but if that was what had happened, Asura would have found himself in the Fourth Godâs Sanctuary, instead. The demi-god they had killed most certainly had some strange powers.
âI wonder, is Asura still alive?â Han Sen asked himself, fancying an encounter with him one day. Heâd have much to ask.
If his spirit stone had not broken, he should still be alive. Provided the rules for spirits still applied, even when they were outside the sanctuaries.