Subash floated high above the endless sky, gliding toward the location Roshan had shown him. His body shimmered with divine light as he tore through the air at the speed of light itself.
(I've completely surpassed my past self. I'm far too powerful now… maybe even too powerful. I need someone to help me control this strength — it's too much for me alone.)
As he flew across the vast expanse, something unusual caught his eye — a massive mountain rising far above the clouds.
(Wait a minute… I've traveled this way countless times before, but I've never seen this mountain in my life.)
Curiosity piqued, he descended. The mountain's peak vanished into the mist, but when he entered, his eyes widened in awe. The interior was unlike anything he had ever seen — a breathtaking paradise filled with flowers, shining lakes, and radiant birds soaring in peace. At the very center stood a grand mansion, elegant and serene.
Before he could take it all in, Roshan appeared before him, his expression calm and welcoming.
Roshan smiled. "So, you've come. Let's have a seat."
In an instant, they were transported to a beautiful garden atop the mountain. The air shimmered with life, and the scent of blooming flowers surrounded them. At the center, a stone table stood between them. Roshan poured two cups of tea and handed one to Subash.
"Congratulations on your successful evolution into a True Demon Lord," Roshan said softly, taking a sip. "I can sense your level has reached eighty — and you're right at the peak. You'll soon break through to eighty-one."
Subash smiled faintly and took a sip of tea himself. "Thank you. But before anything else, I have questions." His gaze sharpened. "You told me to protect this world and maintain its balance of power. I'll do it, but I want to know why."
Roshan met his eyes and smiled knowingly. "You see, this world — the Central World — is the strongest world in the entire boundless universe. It is the heart, the core of all creation. If this world were ever destroyed, the universe itself would weaken… or collapse entirely. That is why I want you to protect it."
His voice grew quiet but heavy — each word echoing with truth. Subash stared at him, stunned.
"You're asking me to be the protector of the world's heart?" Subash said, eyes wide. "What if something from outside the cardinal realms attacks this world?"
Roshan chuckled softly. "I chose you because I already know what's to come. Before I abandoned my omnipotence, I foresaw the future — and you are the one best suited for this task. Don't worry. You still have plenty of time to learn and grow stronger than you are now."
He spoke calmly, sipping his tea again, while Subash sat in silent disbelief. After a moment, Subash closed his eyes and nodded.
"Well then," he said quietly, "let's begin the training."
Roshan nodded in return. With a wave of his hand, the two were transported into another dimension — one where time flowed differently. A single day in the real world was equal to an entire year there.
There, the training began.
Roshan showed no mercy. He fought Subash relentlessly, crushing him again and again, forcing him to rise each time. He taught him the deep laws of the universe — the nature of ultimate skills, the essence of energy, and the balance of creation and destruction. Under Roshan's guidance, Subash learned to control his overwhelming power, refined his swordsmanship to perfection, and even created new skills of his own.
Years passed like moments. Subash grew stronger with every battle, breaking through to level ninety. In time, he discovered a new ability tied to his dragon core — something that left him speechless — but he only smiled in response.
A hundred years passed.
In the tranquil garden, Subash sat beside Roshan on a stone platform, gazing at the flowers swaying in the breeze. He looked older, taller, and radiated calm confidence.
"Well," Subash said with a faint smile, "it's time. I'll begin my duty as this world's guardian. I should also prepare myself — I'm definitely not doing all of this alone. For now… goodbye."
Roshan nodded, his voice gentle. "You may go. You've mastered your power and even broken through to level ninety in just a mere hundred years."
Subash's eye twitched slightly.
('Mere' hundred years? Easy for you to say…) he thought bitterly. (It felt like thousands of years of endless battles and death. You didn't even spare me once!)
Indeed, throughout their training, Roshan had shattered Subash's limits — over and over again — forcing him to grow beyond what seemed possible.
With a final nod, Subash vanished from the garden, leaving Roshan alone, sipping his tea in silence.
Roshan gazed up at the shimmering sky.
(The universe is still young… but things are about to get interesting. And soon, she will arrive — just a few thousand more years, and I'll meet her again…)
He closed his eyes, whispering softly to himself, a gentle smile forming on his lips.
"Lucia…"