The stars above Sector 5 dimmed that night—as if the sky itself was holding its breath.
Far from Aryan and Yasha's training ground, deep beneath Sector 2's ruins, the air grew colder. In a forbidden catacomb soaked in ancient blood, a sealed coffin—covered in divine chains—began to tremble.
---
### **Scene 1: The Chains Break**
The hooded man from before stood before the coffin, whispering incantations in a forgotten tongue. Blood runes on the floor lit up, one by one.
> **Hooded Figure (whispering):**
> "Three chosen… one to consume, one to awaken, one to die. Rise, oh forgotten beast…"
The divine chains cracked.
A monstrous eye opened within the coffin, glowing a deep crimson.
> **The Coffin (voice like thunder):**
> "Flesh… at last…"
A massive skeletal creature wrapped in black tendrils burst forth—**half-man, half-god**, once a failed creation of divine fusion.
Now reborn.
> **Hooded Figure (kneeling):**
> "Go. Hunt the ones chosen by the temple. Begin with the boy carrying the Brahma mark."
---
### **Scene 2: Aryan's First Kill**
Back in the woods, Aryan and Yasha sat near a fire. Aryan's focus was intense—he had begun to feel the **rhythm of Qi** in the world.
Suddenly, he froze.
> **Aryan (eyes narrowing):**
> "Something's coming."
From the shadows leapt a **beastlike cultivator**, corrupted by demonic Qi, snarling and ravenous.
> **Beast Cultivator:**
> "Give me your bones, boy… they carry the taste of god!"
Yasha unsheathed her daggers.
> **Yasha (tense):** "That's not a normal rogue cultivator…"
> **Aryan (activating Future Sight):** "I see its moves… barely. But it's too fast!"
A brutal battle unfolded—Aryan blocking, dodging, and finally, **piercing the beast's heart** using a burst of Vajra energy.
He collapsed beside the corpse, trembling.
> **Yasha (impressed):**
> "That was your first kill… you didn't flinch."
> **Aryan (looking at his bloody hands):**
> "No. I just remembered what it felt like to be hunted… and refused to feel it again."
---
### **Scene 3: Warning from the Temple**
That night, Aryan dreamed.
He stood before the **three divine thrones**, empty and silent. From the void behind them, a whisper echoed.
> **Temple Voice:**
> "The Devourer has awakened… You must ascend… or all realms shall fall."
The temple showed Aryan a brief glimpse of **floor 3**—flames, tears, and a familiar face screaming in agony.
Aryan jolted awake, sweat pouring down his face.
> **Aryan (whispers):**
> "They're coming… I need to reach the third floor. Now."
---
**To Be Continued in Chapter 8: Flames of the Forgotten**