The night deepened as Hiro walked through the ancient forest, every step crackling over fallen leaves, every breath misting in the cold air. The orb floated beside him like a silent lantern, casting pale gold light on the path ahead.
Moonlight filtered through tall pines, glistening on dew-covered branches. The world here felt untouched, preserved… almost sacred.
Yet the deeper Hiro traveled, the heavier the atmosphere grew.Not threatening—watching.
It felt as though countless unseen eyes were studying him from the shadows.
He didn't flinch.
If anything, the scrutiny only sharpened his steps.
"Is this the way?" Hiro asked.
The orb pulsed. "Yes. We approach the forgotten lands—the last remnants of the loyalty your past self once commanded."
Hiro exhaled, a mix of awe and unease settling in his ribs.
"My past self… how strong was he?"
"Strong enough for gods to fear him," the orb replied calmly. "Strong enough to make eternity tremble."
Hiro's jaw tightened.His chest warmed with something dangerously close to purpose.
But then—
A faint rumbling shook the ground.
Hiro stopped. "You hear that?"
The orb dimmed slightly. "Yes. The temple is warded… but its outer presence detects a familiar signature within you."
"Mine?"
"No. Your past's."
The rumbling grew louder, like stone shifting after centuries.
Ahead, the forest parted suddenly, giving way to a massive valley — and Hiro froze, breath stolen by what lay before him.
THE RUINED TEMPLE OF A FORGOTTEN ERA
The temple rose from the valley floor like a slumbering titan.
Columns the size of towers leaned at crooked angles, vines crawling up their sides like veins. Half the structure lay collapsed, buried under centuries of decay, yet even broken, it radiated a powerful aura.
A shattered statue stood at the entrance, its upper half missing, but the lower remained intact — a figure wearing flowing robes, once holding a blade pointed skyward.
A symbol glowed faintly at the statue's base.
The same symbol burned across Hiro's arms.
His heart skipped.
"It's… me."
"Your former incarnation," the orb corrected. "Before your memory was stripped, before your power was bound into the mortal vessel."
Hiro stepped forward, boots scraping over the cracked stone.
The air vibrated.
The closer he got to the temple, the more resistance he felt.Like the structure itself was testing him.
"Should I force through?" Hiro muttered.
"No," the orb said. "Let it feel you. Let it recognize you."
Hiro placed one hand on the crumbling stone pillar.
The temple answered instantly.
A hum spread across the ruins, low and ancient — as if waking an old beast from deep hibernation. Runes etched into the walls ignited one by one in warm golden light, forming pathways of memory.
A gust of wind brushed past Hiro, almost gentle, almost… welcoming.
"It recognizes me."
"It remembers who you were," the orb whispered.
Hiro stepped inside.
THE HALL OF SHATTERED SIGILS
The interior was cavernous, lit only by moonlight bleeding through holes in the broken ceiling. Dust floated in the air like drifting stars.
The walls were lined with carvings — battles, divine gods kneeling, celestial beasts roaring under a lone figure's command.
The same figure repeated in every mural.
Hiro.
Or rather, the him-before-him.
"Damn," Hiro murmured. "Was I really this…"
"Terrifying?" the orb finished. "Yes."
Hiro walked deeper, fingers brushing ancient stone.
Every mural felt alive — not in motion, but in energy, in meaning.As if telling him:
Welcome back, Sovereign.
Suddenly, the orb drifted ahead, glowing brighter.
"This way."
Hiro followed until the corridor widened into a grand chamber—the heart of the temple. A collapsed dome overhead revealed the night sky.
In the center of the chamber lay a circular altar, cracked yet majestic.And atop it floated—
A sword.
THE RELIC THAT REMEMBERED HIS TOUCH
It was not forged of metal.
The blade shimmered like condensed starlight, edges glowing with celestial fire. The hilt was simple, ancient, and elegant — wrapped in what looked like ethereal threads of light.
The sword hummed softly, resonating with Hiro's heartbeat.
He felt it before he even understood it.
This wasn't just a weapon.
This was his.
The orb lowered its voice.
"Behold… Astravyr, the Starbound Blade. The weapon that once channeled your dominion. A relic feared by the divine council."
Hiro's fingers hovered over the hilt.
The blade pulsed.
He tightened his jaw. "Why would they let this survive?"
"They didn't know it did," the orb said. "Your followers hid it in this sanctuary before the gods wiped them out."
Hiro swallowed hard.
"My followers… were executed?"
"Yes. For refusing to betray their Sovereign."
Silence hit like a hammer.
Rage simmered under Hiro's ribs, controlled but alive.
He reached for the blade.
The moment his skin brushed the hilt—
FWOOM!
A blast of divine light erupted through the chamber. Runes blazed across the walls. The entire temple trembled.
Hiro staggered back, teeth gritted.
"What—"
"Do not resist," the orb said quickly. "It is verifying your essence."
The blade floated up, pointing at Hiro, humming like a heartbeat.A warmth flooded his body — not burning, but overwhelming.
Vision blurred. Voices whispered.
"Sovereign…"
"Return…"
"Unseal…"
And suddenly—
A flash of memory:
A battlefield of shattered stars.The blade in his hand, dripping divine blood.Gods fleeing before him.
The memory vanished as fast as it appeared.
A voice echoed from the blade:
"Welcome back… master."
Hiro trembled, breath stolen from his lungs.
Slowly, Astravyr lowered itself into his open palm.
The blade fit perfectly, as though sculpted for his hand alone.
Warm. Familiar. Alive.
Hiro closed his fingers around the hilt.
And the entire temple roared with unleashed power.
BUT POWER NEVER AWAKENS ALONE
The moment the blade bonded with Hiro, a pulse of energy shot into the sky — a massive beacon visible across miles.
The orb dimmed. "Hiro… someone felt that."
"Someone?"
"Something," the orb corrected. "The gods left many creatures in this world. Hunters. Watchers. Executioners."
A distant howl echoed through the forest, low, ancient, hungry.
Hiro sharpened his stance.
"That sounded big."
"It is," the orb murmured. "And it is coming."
The howl rose again — closer this time, vibrating the stones of the temple.
Hiro gripped Astravyr tightly.
"Let it come."
THE DIVINE HOUND ARRIVES
The back wall of the temple shattered as a monstrous creature leaped through the opening.
Its fur was carved from shadows, eyes burning with silver flame. Its jaws dripped ethereal mist that corroded stone. Chains of divine gold wrapped around its limbs — shackles placed by gods to bind their servants.
It locked eyes with Hiro.
A deep, guttural growl filled the chamber.
The orb whispered in urgency:
"Hiro. That is a Celestial Hound of Judgment. A divine tracker. It hunts only one kind of prey."
"Let me guess," Hiro muttered. "Me."
The hound pounced.
Hiro didn't run.
He lifted Astravyr.
The blade blazed.
And the moment steel and beast met, the world exploded into motion.
THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE ASCENDANT
The hound's claws smashed into the blade, sending shockwaves through the temple. Hiro slid backward but held firm, gritting his teeth.
The beast lunged again.
Hiro sidestepped, sweeping Astravyr upward. The blade carved a luminous arc that sliced straight across the hound's flank.
The beast howled as celestial blood splattered the floor, glowing silver.
Hiro blinked.
"That… was easier than I expected."
"It was a weak spot," the orb said. "Do not underestimate it."
The shadow-beast roared, darkness swirling around it, taking monstrous forms—fangs, claws, tendrils.
It charged.
Hiro inhaled.
Then—
He moved.
Astravyr cut through the darkness like a star carving through night.
The hound snapped at him. Hiro ducked under its jaw and drove the glowing blade into its throat.
Silver fire erupted.
The beast staggered, screeching into the ruins.
Hiro didn't stop.He remembered its purpose.He remembered who sent it.
"Tell your gods," Hiro growled, gripping the blade tighter, "I'm coming for every one of them."
He leaped, striking with all his strength.
Astravyr pierced its heart.
The beast let out a final, shuddering cry and collapsed, dissolving into silver wisps.
Silence.
Then—
A glowing rune mark floated above the remains, drifting toward Hiro like a final message.
He grabbed it.
A burning sensation etched itself into his arm — a new glyph forming.
The orb spoke softly:
"Your first divine kill. The path has begun."
Hiro exhaled.
Power thrummed through his veins again — hotter, heavier, clearer.
He looked at Astravyr, the blade still humming like it remembered countless battles.
"Good," he whispered. "Let them send more."
He turned toward the exit of the temple.
"This time… I won't be the one running."