Black Rebirth – Asta’s Journey in Soul Society

Asta's heart pounded like a war drum. His breath came in ragged gasps as he glanced back and forth between the two choices laid before him.

On one side, the young boy clutched the arm of the older man, his tear-filled eyes locked onto Asta with silent pleading.

On the other, the young woman lay weakly on the cold stone floor, her body trembling with every labored breath.

"Damn it…!" Asta's hands clenched into fists. "This isn't fair!"

Every instinct in him screamed to save everyone. That's what he always did. No matter the odds, no matter how impossible the situation, he always found a way to defy it.

But this time…

The weight of the choice pressed down on him like a crushing force.

No second chances. No magic solution.

No one coming to help.

Asta gritted his teeth. He couldn't afford to waste another second.

"Think! Think!"

His eyes darted between them again, analyzing.

—The young boy was unharmed, but terrified. The older man beside him looked gravely injured, barely conscious.

—The young woman was in worse condition. Her breathing was weak, and she had lost a lot of blood.

Who could he actually save?

Asta swallowed hard. If he took the boy and the old man, the man might not make it. If he chose the woman, there was a chance she'd die before he got her to safety.

"No matter what I do… someone's going to suffer."

The realization hit him harder than any attack he'd ever taken.

But he wasn't going to run from it.

Even if it tore him apart inside…

He had to decide.

Asta took a sharp breath—then ran.

He reached the young boy and the older man first.

Asta knelt down, steadying the boy with both hands. "Listen to me! I'm going to carry him. You stay close to me, alright?"

Tears streamed down the boy's face, but he nodded. "O-Okay…"

Asta wasted no time. He carefully lifted the older man onto his back, his muscles straining under the weight. The man groaned in pain, but Asta adjusted him as best as he could.

Then—he turned to the young woman one last time.

She hadn't moved.

Asta's jaw tightened. A part of him wanted to run to her, to try and somehow save them all.

But deep down… he knew.

He had already made his choice.

With a deep breath, Asta sprinted forward, carrying the man while keeping the boy close at his side.

The darkness that had once surrounded him now seemed to pull at him, whispering doubts into his ears.

"You left her behind."

"You failed her."

Asta gritted his teeth. He knew those thoughts weren't real, but that didn't stop them from hurting.

He just kept running.

Kept moving forward.

And as the chamber's exit came into view, he swore—

He would never forget this moment.