"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Auren staggered to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He wiped his face with his right hand, his eyes locking onto Yidan like a predator finding its prey.

In a cold, rasping voice, he growled, "Come now, Yidan."

Yidong didn't hesitate. He swung his stick with force.

Auren dodged—just barely.

But Yidan moved fast. Crack! A savage kick landed square on Auren's ribs.

Thud! He crashed into the wall and slumped to the ground.

Yidan charged in for another brutal kick. Auren rolled aside.

Smash! The wall took the blow instead.

Without wasting a second, Auren lunged—And bit into Yidan's leg.

His teeth sank deep, his eyes wild… a beast awakened.

Yidanscreamedd, "AAAHHHHHHH!"

Foshhh!He smashed the stick down on Auren's skull.

Blood sprayed, dripping down Auren's face.

But he didn't let go.

He kept biting. Like a mad lion.

Yidan's face twisted in pain and fury. He raised his stick, charging it with magic energy.

BOOM!

The blow struck hard.

Auren's body hit the ground—Limp. Bloodied.

But clenched between his teeth…

A piece of Yidan's leg.

Auren spat the flesh onto the ground.

The dirt sizzled red as blood soaked into it.

Yidan staggered back, screaming in pain, jumping around wildly.

"AAAHHH! MY LEG! IT HURTS, YOU MOTHER FUCKER..

Fury flared in his eyes. He charged.

His stick moved like lightning—Thud! Thud! Thud!

Back.Face.Arms.Chest.

Blow after blow rained down, brutal and relentless.

Auren didn't block. Didn't move.

But with every strike, his eyes grew redder. Deeper. Wilder.

Then, he stopped the stick. With one hand.

Yidan gritted his teeth and kicked again. And again.

But Auren didn't flinch.

With his other hand, without a second thought, He grabbed Yidan's balls.

And squeezed. Hard.

Yidong screamed in agony.

"LEAVE IT! I SAID LEAVE IT!!"

Desperate, he summoned a green snake—It slithered out of thin air and lunged forward.

Hiss—CHOMP!

Its fangs sank deep into Auren's neck.

Within seconds, Auren's grip loosened. His eyes rolled back.

Thud. He collapsed, unconscious.

Yidan dropped to his knees, breathing heavily. Still trembling in pain, he limped toward the bed…And sat down, barely able to breathe.

Yidan gritted his teeth, whispering to himself:

"That kid… he's something else."

He glanced at Auren's unconscious body.

"This venom will kill you in three minutes."

Groaning, he grabbed a cloth and wrapped it tightly around his bleeding leg. As his fingers touched the wound—

"Aghhh—!"The pain shot through his body like fire.

He leaned back on the bed, gasping, chest rising and falling. His breathing grew heavier, uneven.

Then—From Auren's mouth…

White fumes began to erupt. Soft at first. Then more.Thicker.Wilder.

Something wasn't right.

Yidan slipped into a deep, exhausted sleep.

But—

A sharp, blinding pain exploded from his other leg!

His eyes shot open.

"What the—!?"

He jolted upright—Only to see Auren, awake, feral, biting his second leg!

Yidan's eyes widened in disbelief.

"This… can't be real—AAAGGHH!!"

He charged his stick with power and slammed it down on Auren's head.

CRACK! Auren's body was sent flying—Smashed into the wall. Blood was dripping from his skull.

But Auren wasn't done.

He rose again, eyes burning red.

"AAAAAAHHH!!!"He charged like a demon.

Combat erupted.

Auren's fists flew like hammers—Yidan blocked, countered, and struck back with his stick.

THUD! Auren hit the wall.SMASH!He slammed to the ground.

But even as Yidan's blows rained down—Auren's furious punches were landing, hard, bruising.

In the chaos, Auren saw an opening.

He darted to Yidan's side, grabbed him from behind, clutched him around the waist, and SLAMMED his head against the wall.

CRACK!

But Yidan, even through pain, clenched Auren's head with both hands.

His voice is dark. Cold. Monstrous.

"I'll kill you."

He raised a fist—

BOOM! A heavy punch smashed into Auren's face.

Yidan stood up, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his lip.

His voice was calm—too calm.

"I don't know how you survived the venom…"He looked at Auren, still twitching."…and even after all this, you still won't fall."

"No matter what... You will die here."

Blood dripped from Auren's head.

He was barely standing—His legs were shaking, his vision was fading, eyes were closing again and again. Just as he was about to collapse, he forced himself to stay upright.

Yidan stepped forward.

"Join us, Auren," he said coldly."You'll live. But if you don't… You die here."

Auren let out a low, broken laugh.

"Huh…"His voice was rough, filled with pain.

"I don't fear death. I'm already dead."

He lifted his head slowly, eyes still half-closed, blood running down his cheek.

"There's no craving left in me to stay alive… but still—"His eyes snapped open wide, burning with fire.

"I have a responsibility."

He took one trembling step forward.

"So I will live."His voice turned cold, defiant."You can't kill me."

Yidan raised his hand, giving a silent command to his stick.

The stick floated into the air—its tip pointing straight at Auren.

Yidan: "Shoot."

Fhosshhh!

The stick blasted forward, piercing Auren's stomach—A clean, brutal hole.

Auren's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't resist anymore. He fell forward.

Bummm!

The stick glowed red from the blood.

Yidan walked slowly toward him, dragging one leg behind.

He pointed the stick at Auren's head.

"Die, stupid."

A sudden flash of light—

An arrow fushhh—It struck Yidong right in the head. He collapsed instantly.

Thud.

*******

Voice: "Auren! Are you okay? Hey—Auren!"

Auren slowly opened his eyes. Everything was… white. A bright light.A white room. People standing around him.

His voice was weak: "Where… where am I?"

"Where am I…"

Vivi (worried ):"Auren! You're awake. Are you okay?"

Auren: "That man… the one who tried to kill me… Where is he?"

A voice came from beside him—Ravi, standing with folded arms:

"He's dead. I finished the job."You're safe now."

Auren tried to sit up, wincing.

Doctor (sternly): "Don't move. You need rest—there's a hole in your stomach."

Vivi stepped forward, her eyes brimming with tears. A soft concern clouded her delicate face.

Vivi (gently, voice trembling): "Auren… are you okay? I was so worried about you."

Auren's face was wrapped in thick bandages, and only his eyes were visible.

She couldn't hold back. She leaned forward to hug him—slipping slightly—and broke down, sobbing into his shoulder.

Auren (gritting his teeth ):"Ahh—no, no—ouch… it hurts… so much…"

Ravi quickly pulled Vivi back.

Ravi (firmly): "Don't be reckless, Vivi! He has a hole in his stomach!"

Vivi wiped her eyes, sniffling.

Vivi (pouting )..aaaaaww

Auren blinked, looking at Vivi…But in that moment, he wasn't seeing her.

He was seeing Rose.

Her soft face appeared in his fading vision.

Rose (softly ):"Are you okay, Auren?"

His lips parted.

Rose (whispering): "I'll go with you… You'll be lost without me…"

He felt the memory of her hug again. The warmth.The stillness.The love.

Every moment with her flashed through his mind like a dream on fire.

A single tear rolled down his cheek—Quiet.Undisturbed.Falling.

Ravi (arms crossed, serious ):"Auren… tomorrow, we're all heading to Baku City. But listen—considering the state you're in, there's no way you can go to Hollow Mountain."

He paused, his tone becoming heavier.

"That mountain is far—very far. Clouds constantly swirl around its peak. You can't even see the world below from there… onlendless mistt."In your condition, it's impossible."

"You're coming with us to Baku Palace."

Auren clenched the bedsheets.

His eyes burned with desperation. His voice cracked as he spoke.

Auren (emotio nal): "I have to go to Hollow Mountain… I can't waste any more time."My entire life depends on it!"

Ravi (firmlinterruptingng): "No, Auren. Not like this. You're barely holding yourself together. "When you're ready—when you're healed—we'll take you to Hollow Mountain ourselves."

Auren turned his head toward the doctor, eyes pleading. Aurenn: "How long will it take? Tell me honestly."

The doctor stepped forward, checking his chart.

Doctor genuinely surprised, "Normally… with this kind of damage, a man wouldn't survive at all."But you—your endurance is something else."

He paused.

"If your condition stays stable, you might recover… in a week."

Vivi (smiling brightly, eyes sparkling): "Yes, Auren! You're coming with us!"She giggled, clasping her hands in excitement."King Vemor is my father's best friend. We're planning to stay in Baku for a while. You can rest, expand lore, and enjoy as much as you want!"

She twirled lightly in place like a girl caught in a dream, her joy uncontained.

"I'm so thrilled, Auren… it'll be so much fun!"

But Auren didn't respond.

He just stared ahead—silent.

No smile. No reaction.

His eyes, half-lost in thought, were fixed on something far away.

A clock ticked softly on the wall.

Tick… tick… tick…

Time was slipping.

And Auren… was waiting.

Waiting for something beyond comfort, beyond palaces, beyond anyone's understanding.

Ravi: Auren… do you know that guy?

Auren: No, I didn't. But he was a pirate… and his group's name was Litos…?

Ravi (suddenly tensing, eyes wide): Litos?

A quiet tension filled the room.

Doctor (nervously adjusting his coat): I've heard rumors… about the Tideborns. Are they… here? Sir, do you know anything about them?

Ravi (lowering his voice ): Yes… I do. More than I'd like to.