As Vexar set out toward the Erebus Galaxy, they were all unknowingly being drawn into a massive warâone that could claim their lives before they even understood its cause. Beyond every galaxy lay a vast universe containing millions more.
Each known universe was ruled by Arch Eternal Clans, who appointed a Universal Lord to govern it. In recent weeks, over twenty Universal Lords had been warned to ready themselves for battle.
A war between universes had begun.
The Narakava Asura Clan had officially declared battle against the Tyrannus Human Clan. The news left both sides stunned, yet no one would flee or hide. They were utterly devoted to their clans and the universes they governed.
And in one of these universes, on the world of Nara.....
Strolling through the hall of the Asurasâ abode were two stunning women who shared similar features. The taller of the two had long white hair streaked with black, a petite frame with perfect curves, and pale skin. Her void-black eyes, adorned with white-dotted pupils, gave her an almost divine presence.
She was none other than Sandra Narakava, the Princess of the Asuras and mother to Ash and Nia Originat.
Beside her stood Shia Narakava, with long black hair cascading down to her petite waist. Her eyes were a perfect mirror of Sandraâs, accompanied by a shadow-like tattoo beneath her left eye.
They walked in complete silence. Shia was unaware that just weeks earlier, a war unlike anything she had ever seen had erupted. Yet, from her mother, she sensed... bloodlust? Excitement?
It was hard to describe.
"Mother, where are we going?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.
Sandra smiled.
"To meet with your grandparents... itâs time for some retribution, my dear~" she said, unable to hide the glint of bloodlust in her eyes.
Shia swallowed hard, unsettled by this side of Sandra.
Normally, she was the picture of care and warmth, but since their return, Sandra had been shaping Shia into a true Asuraâone who relished war, battle, blood, and all the wild chaos that came with it.
Through this she could see flashes of her motherâs true nature, but now it was evident.
âMother... is crazy...â she thought, clenching her fist and allowing a small smile to form.
Her motherâthatâs who she aspired to be. Yet, even with that thought, did she really understand what it meant to be like Sandra?
"Tsk, youâre going to make little Shia turn into a crazy bitch too!" Lysa exclaimed in Sandraâs mind, lounging on a throne of darkness in their shared sea of consciousness. At that, Sandraâs eyes flicked to Shia, who wore a look of fierce dedication... and fire.
"Haha, good... My children will never be pushovers again," she said to Lysa as they approached the doors of the throne room.
The massive obsidian doors creaked open with a low, resonant rumble that rolled through the corridor like far-off thunder over a war-torn plain. Sandra strode in first, her very presence making the air heavy with a sharp, barely restrained menace.
Shia trailed a step behind, as she took it all in.
The throne room was a cavernous hall carved from black volcanic stone veined with crimson that pulsed like fresh wounds.
The room was packedâElders of the Narakava Clan in ornate black-and-crimson armor stood shoulder-to-shoulder with allies from allied Asura houses and vassal races, their auras clashing in a low, constant hum of restrained violence.
A massive war table took center stageâhewn from a single slab of living shadowstone, its surface flickering with holographic displays of battle lines, shifting troop positions, and shattered worlds.
Voices clashed in sharp, urgent burstsâplans barked, maps reworked, casualty numbers rattled off like grim verseâuntil the doors finally swung wide. Then, silence filled the room.
Every head turned.
Every aura stilled.
Even the holographic projections seemed to pause mid-flicker.
Then Lirael Narakava, the Matriarchâburst into laughter.
It was a wild, unhinged sound that echoed off the walls like breaking glass and rolling thunder all at once. She rose from the central throneâtall, imposing, white hair streaked with crimson, void-black eyes gleaming with manic delight, armor of jagged obsidian and bone that seemed to drink the light around her.
"Ahhh, there she isâmy beloved daughter and my favorite granddaughter!" Lirael exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine joy and a hint of barely contained murder-lust.
"Come on in! Donât just stand there like statuesâjoin the fun!"
Tylor and Kaelor both shook their heads at Liraelâs nonsense.
"Mother, sheâs the only granddaughter youâve ever known," Kaelor muttered.
Sandra smirked as she strode forward, Shia trailing close behind, the silence breaking into murmurs of respect and wariness as the two women approached the table.
Liraelâs eyes sparkled with madness as she gestured grandly at the war map.
"Before we continue planning the next slaughter... I have some interesting news." She snapped her fingers.
A butlerâtall, gaunt, skin pale as bone, eyes glowing faint crimsonâstepped forward from the shadows carrying a crystal orb on a velvet cushion. He placed it on the table.
The orb shimmered and projected two images.
First: Ash Originatâbounty poster, Ninth Calamity rank, rewards obscene.
Second: Nia Originatâenrollment at the Myriad Sect of Races, supposedly Fourth Calamity power level.
Lirael then looked at both Sandra and Shia.
"After scouring the Venia Galaxy, these are the only two whom meet your descriptions... faintly." She muttered, voice low and dangerous. "They are not Ash and Nia Solace.... but Originat."
Sandraâs heart skipped a beat the moment she saw themâsomething primal, maternal, and ancient stirred deep in her chest despite their completely different appearances. She turned to Shia, eyes blazing, and without needing any more details, gave her a task.
"Shia, you along with Zhareth, Shane, and Aliyaâgo and bring your siblings back. Things are about to get serious, and they need to be here."
Shia nodded, missing her siblings deeply. It felt strange, remembering how poorly sheâd treated Ash in the past, yet since leaving, sheâd carried a longing for him she couldnât quite explain. Then there was Nia, her little sister, whom she loved more than anyone.
Though expressing her true feelings was never easy, the thought of seeing them again filled her with excitement. With her fist clenched and fire in her eyes, she said,
"Yes, Mother."
She turned and strode out, with an elite group of Asura warriors who fell in behind her without a word.
Lirael watched her go, then shifted her focus to the battle.
"Enough distractions," she said, voice cutting through the room like a blade. Sandra stepped forward to the tableâher presence alone silencing the last whispers.
Seeing the expression on her face and the unmistakable aura of menace radiating from her, Tylor and Lirael exchanged knowing smiles. They stayed silent, letting Sandra take charge... after all, this war had begun because of her failure.
Now that her strength had returned to the level of a Cosmic Overlord, she was just as capable of unleashing chaos as they were. Standing at the table with every gaze fixed on her, she spoke in a cold tone that sent shivers down spines.
"Itâs time for retribution!" she shouted, waving her hands as the maps of worlds, galaxies, and universes shifted before her.
They stopped at a point in the Void, flanked by two Universes, one on each side. It was an unusual arrangement, considering the two Universes were on opposing sides of the War, each allied with either the Narakava or the Tyrannus.
"Here... the next attack will happen here. I donât care who joins usâthatâs for the Patriarch and Matriarch to decide. But I will personally bring ruin to this Universe of Goliaths and force the Tyrannus to come out and play."
Noting the location beyond the Aether Supreme Titan domain, Tylor gave a nod.
"Let it be as you say. Iâll contact the Supreme Titans and have them prepare the teleportation formations. Nara Battalions 1 through 8 will join you. You have twelve hours to get ready."
Sandraâs smile widened, and the room fell into silence before every Asura burst into maniacal laughter.