"When gods begin to whisper, mortals bleed. When they bargain... the world burns."
Scene 1 – The Envoy of the Celestial Kingdom
The man before them radiated divinity, but not in the blinding, overwhelming sense Asura associated with the ancient gods. No, his presence was subtle—refined—like a polished dagger hidden in silken robes.
His golden irises shimmered like starlight. His hands were empty, unthreatening, but the moment he blinked, Asura's Supreme Martial Eyes flared. Behind the smile and elegance lay power—suppressed, but undeniable.
"I am Li Xiantian," he said, folding his arms behind his back. "First Envoy of the Celestial Kingdom's Divine Council, chosen by the Seventh Heavenly Prince himself."
Lira's body tensed. The Celestial Kingdom rarely sent envoys outside their domain. When they did, it was either for war or divine favor.
Kai stepped forward, slightly in front of Asura.
"If you're here to offer help, try again. You've never once involved yourselves in the Demonfang conflict."
Li Xiantian smiled softly. "That's because Vraxxion never interested us… until now."
His eyes met Asura's. "But you do."
Asura's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"Speak clearly. I don't like puzzles."
Li Xiantian chuckled, glancing toward the red-stained horizon of Demonfang's capital. "Very well. A storm brews in your path, one even you may not survive—not alone. The Demon King of Fang is preparing to awaken something ancient buried deep within his lands."
"A remnant of the First Calamity. A Void-Heart Seed."
The group froze.
Even Lira's breath caught in her throat.
"That's a myth," she whispered. "A creature born before even the gods... it took the joint sacrifice of eight Supreme Beings just to seal it."
Li Xiantian nodded. "And Vraxxion means to unseal it. Once it fuses with his demonic essence, not even the heavens can restrain him."
Asura didn't blink. He absorbed the words like a blade absorbs heat in a forge.
"And you're telling me this because…?"
The envoy's smile turned thin.
"Because the heavens want you to kill him before it's too late."
Scene 2 – The Celestial Bargain
The campfire crackled low, cloaked beneath the shadows of a bone forest. The group sat around it, but the air was anything but warm.
Asura sat opposite Li Xiantian, unmoving.
"Let me guess," Asura said slowly. "The Celestial Kingdom sends help, and in return… I owe you."
"Not quite," Li replied, sipping from a porcelain cup of spirit tea. "The Celestial Kingdom doesn't want you indebted. We want to ally with you."
That silenced the camp.
"You're lying," Xian growled. "Your kingdom has always seen Asura as an anomaly. You call him the Child of Chaos and Flame. A threat."
Li's eyes darkened slightly. "True. But threats can become weapons. And right now, we need one."
He leaned forward, folding his fingers.
"If Vraxxion completes the ritual, the Eight Kingdoms will fall within weeks. Even the Celestial Kingdom is not immune. We'd rather gamble on a boy with no fate than wait for the apocalypse."
"So we offer you this: information, maps of the Demonfang capital's inner sanctum, and the name of Vraxxion's true patron."
Asura narrowed his gaze. "He has a patron?"
Li Xiantian's voice dropped.
"Yes. A fallen god, exiled by the heavens. His name has been stripped from records, but his title remains: The Whisperer Beyond the Stars."
Even Asura, hardened as he was, felt a chill crawl across his spine.
"He was the architect of the First Calamity," Li added. "And Vraxxion serves him."
Scene 3 – The Price of Alliance
Silence settled again as the fire hissed.
Asura stared into the flame.
He had trained to become the strongest. To protect Yue Lin. To defy fate. To forge his own path.
But now, he stood not on a road, but on a blade's edge between gods and demons.
"I won't be your pawn," Asura finally said.
Li nodded. "Good. We want a sword, not a puppet."
"Then understand this," Asura continued, rising to his feet. "I will walk into Demonfang. I will kill Vraxxion. And if that fallen god dares show his face—"
His aura erupted, washing the camp in molten golden-red.
"—I'll burn him with or without your help."
Li Xiantian smiled again, bowing low.
"Then may the heavens witness your flame, Asura of the Azuranis."
He tossed a scroll at Asura's feet—a sealed celestial parchment.
"The map. And my personal seal. If you survive, come to the Celestial Kingdom. The Seventh Prince wishes to meet you."
Then, with a flash of divine light, Li Xiantian vanished.
Scene 4 – The Betrayer's Shadow
Later that night, as the others slept beneath protective barriers, Asura remained awake.
Eyes open.
Blade in hand.
He could feel it again—that strange twisting of fate. That itch behind his soul.
The prophecy.
"One of your ten will betray you."
He looked at the people sleeping around him. Lira. Xian. Kai. The new ones they'd met on the road. Nine.
And one yet to be chosen.
The betrayer was coming.
And they'd be closer than he expected.
End of Chapter 96
Chapter Highlights:
Introduction of Li Xiantian, envoy of the Celestial Kingdom and agent of the Seventh Prince.
Revealed: Vraxxion serves a fallen god known only as The Whisperer Beyond the Stars.
Asura is offered alliance with the heavens—but refuses to be a pawn.
The fallen god's plan: to awaken a Void-Heart Seed, leading to a new calamity.
The prophecy of betrayal creeps closer, with nine allies already by Asura's side.