**Paras City – Ruined Streets, Heavy Rain**
Rain poured down in thick, relentless sheets—cold drops hammering broken concrete, turning streets into shallow rivers of mud, green blood, and shattered glass. Lightning cracked across the dark red sky, illuminating twisted silhouettes of collapsed buildings and abandoned cars. Thunder rolled like distant artillery. The city was a ghost town—windows dark, doors hanging open, papers and debris swirling in the wind. Everyone had fled to Tokyo for the tournament. Everyone except the monsters… and the boy who refused to leave.
Astra and Nai sat inside a broken house—roof half-collapsed, rain dripping through cracks and pooling on the cracked tile floor. A small battery lantern flickered between them—weak yellow light fighting the dark, casting long shadows on blood-smeared walls. Water dripped steadily from a hole above—plip… plip… plip—mixing with the sound of their breathing.
Astra opened a fridge—door creaking painfully—pulled out whatever was left: soggy bread, cheese slices, a couple of bruised apples, bottled waters. His eyes were sleepy, heavy with exhaustion, eyelids drooping. Blood crusted on his jacket, fresh cuts still weeping red under torn fabric. His breathing was slow, deliberate—like he was forcing himself to stay awake. Bruises darkened across his cheek, jaw, and neck. A deep gash on his forearm throbbed with every heartbeat.
Nai—knees drawn up, katana resting across them—watched him quietly. Her red skin glistened with rain and sweat, black aura dimmed to faint wisps. Her expression was a mix—grief, guilt, fragile hope. She looked smaller than before, shoulders hunched against the cold.
"We have to revive and save everyone."
Astra placed the food on a rickety table—voice tired but steady.
"Sure. But for now… let's eat something. If we don't, we won't have energy to fight or reach the jungle."
Nai nodded—slow, grateful—sat across from him.
Rain drummed harder overhead—like thousands of tiny fists.
Astra grabbed a sandwich—took a slow bite—chewed mechanically. The bread was damp, cheese tasted like nothing. He swallowed—winced slightly from the pain in his throat.
Astra—soft, almost absent.
"Nai…"
Nai—looking up.
"Yes?"
Astra—meeting her eyes, sandwich paused mid-air.
"You're a kid just like me… but your sword art is too cool and strong. Impressive. How did you learn?"
Nai—looking at her hands—voice quiet, almost ashamed.
"Yeah… those are. But…"
She trailed off—sadness thickening her voice.
"After I turned into a demon… my strength and speed increased. I didn't learn anything. I was just a normal girl before. The katana… came with it too. Like it was part of the curse. I hated it at first… but then… it was the only thing that kept me alive."
Astra stopped mid-bite—stared at her—silver eyes widening slightly.
"Hm… you aren't really a normal human after all… You have hidden strength. That's why you were able to fight equally with me—even though I'm a dragon."
Nai—genuinely shocked—leaned forward.
"You're a dragon? Like… a real dragon!?"
Astra sighed—small, tired smile.
"Yes… but we look like humans instead of big monsters with tail, wings, horns… It's complicated."
Nai—sweating, voice small.
"I… don't trust you."
Astra—shrugging, taking another bite.
"You don't need to trust anyway. Just help me fight and I'll fix everything."
He stood—put a hand in his pocket—felt the gem's cool surface.
"Okay… let's go."
Nai—standing too—gripped her katana tighter.
"Sure."
She looked outside through the broken window.
"It's raining outside. Also… there are many monsters."
Astra—quiet.
"No worries. I'm here."
Silver flames rose around them—forming a perfect dome shield.
Rain drops hissed and evaporated before touching them.
Monsters nearby—growled, eyes glowing—but didn't dare approach. Some backed away—instinctively sensing the danger.
Astra—soft.
"Come with me…"
Nai held his hand—they stepped outside.
The shield moved with them—rain boiling off the surface like steam.
Monsters watched—growling low—but kept distance.
Suddenly—a giant monster with nine eyes slammed its hand down.
The shield shattered—shockwave knocking them back.
Astra—quick.
"Watch out!"
He pushed Nai sideways—took the hit.
Kicked the monster's face—silver flames exploding.
Nai—grabbing her sword.
"Let me help you."
She slashed—deep cut across the monster's chest.
It roared—green blood spraying—rain washing it away.
A monster threw a giant axe at them.
Nai froze—eyes wide.
Astra grabbed her wrist—rushed into a subway entrance.
Axe hit the subway gate—destroyed it—locked them inside.
**Inside the Subway**
Dark—emergency lights flickering red—rainwater dripping from ceiling cracks.
Nai—breathing hard.
"Why did you enter the subway?"
Astra—panting.
"Because outside it's raining, plus too many monsters. We need to reach the jungle—not just slay everything."
Nai—nodding.
"Good plan… but are you sure monsters can't enter?"
Astra—looking around.
"I don't know. But it's a shortcut, I think."
They walked down stairs—into darkness.
A monster hit Astra—it burned instantly—scream echoing.
Another—head burned on touch.
One bit him—teeth exploded—monster screamed, burned.
Nai—amazed.
"Woah… they're burning by their own."
Astra—calm.
"That's because they dared to touch me."
Nai—soft.
"That's… quite impressive power."
Astra closed his eyes—opened them.
Silver glow lit the tunnel—bright enough to see.
They walked on broken tracks—through dark tunnels.
Astra—quiet.
"I think… putting the gem back won't fix everything. We need to fight whatever's producing the negative energy. Only then… everything will be fixed."
Nai—nodding.
"You're right. But it might be really hard."
Astra—small smile.
"Yeah… it is. But not impossible."
A monster roared ahead—three snake heads, snake body, two arms.
Nai—eyes shrinking.
"What is it?"
Astra—serious.
"This is danger."
The monster charged—massive atomic energy charging in its mouths.
Before it could shoot—
Nai grabbed her sword—slashed the subway roof.
She pulled Astra up—outside.
The monster crawled after them.
Astra—standing.
"This thing isn't going away… We need to do something."
Nai—gripping her sword.
"I think we have to fight it."
Astra got into fighting position—Nai beside him—sword tight in both hands.
The monster shot—atomic blasts.
Nai reflected them—sword flashing.
Astra shot silver flaming bullets.
The monster reflected—hands blocking.
It slammed its tail—road cracked.
Astra pushed his hand back—raised his palm.
"Flame Thrower!!"
Silver beam hit—monster blocked, flames burning its body.
Nai jumped—slashed down—massive cuts.
Astra charged—energy orb—threw.
It blasted—monster roared—unhurt.
Astra—sweating.
"Nothing happening to the monster…"
More monsters rose—surrounding them.
Rain poured harder.
Astra moved faster—punching, burning.
Nai slashed—cutting through.
Monsters screamed—dying one by one.
Green blood splashed—rain washing it away.
Astra—breathless—held his chest.
Nai—fell to one knee.
Astra—looking around—faint smile.
"No monsters left for now… Let's keep going."
Nai—panting.
"But they keep attacking… If we keep slaying, it will take too much time and energy."
Astra—nodding.
"So let's skip them… reach the jungle shrine."
Nai—standing.
"Sure."
They ran—faster than supercars.
Afterimages trailed behind them.
Astra jumped—broke through a building wall—landed from air, jacket and hair fluttering.
Monsters chased—growling.
Nai ignored them—ran faster.
Rain stopped.
They reached beyond Paras City—into the jungle edge.
Astra stopped—at the flower garden he once lay in.
Astra—soft.
"Nearby this location… there is a shrine."
Nai—nodding.
"Okay… we have to fight."
They walked deeper—trees thicker, shadows darker.
Astra turned—pointed.
"Oh… there it is."
The shrine—ancient, moss-covered, faint blue glow from the center.
Nai—quiet.
"It's time to place the gem."
Astra pulled it from his pocket—looked at it.
Then at Nai.
Astra—hesitant.
"Should I put the gem there? It's… a really good weapon."
Nai—shocked.
"Of course… put it…"
Astra—disagreeing.
"I don't want to… Let it be with me…"
Nai—clenching her sword.
"You… you can't lie like that in the end time. I trusted you."
Astra—backing off, clutching the gem.
"I've used the gem many times… now it's a memory for me… I'm sorry but now I don't want to."
Nai's expression changed—eyes wet.
"Please… do it. For my family. Save them…"
Astra—guilty—looked at her.
"Okay… I will."
He stepped inside—placed the gem in the center stone.
It glowed blue.
But nothing happened.
Nai—shocked, fist clenched.
"Nothing… nothing fixed."
Suddenly—from the ground—a hand erupted.
Then a person.
A corrupted cursed being—body full dark, only two glowing red eyes.
Its figure glitched—words glitched.
"We… We are Cursed beings… Our… Our name… Is… Flash… We… We… We… end only whoever takes away the gem from the shrine."
Astra—narrowed eyes—stood back.
"Actually… I didn't take the gem. Nova took it and gave it to me… but she's gone now. We did nothing. We're innocent. Just stop it."
Flash's head glitched—dark red aura rising.
Flash—voice distorted.
"You both… Must die… You have… Broken… Rules…"
In a blink—Flash was behind Astra.
It hit—faster than light.
Astra froze—blood mid-air.
Nai—eyes shrinking.
"They're really faster than light."
Before Nai could react—Flash was in front of her.
Nai raised her sword—slashed.
Flash punched.
Nai crashed through trees—froze mid-air.
Flash—behind both—at once.
Astra—before he could move—Flash attacked.
Both hits landed—turned into one Flash again.
Astra clutched his waist—fell to knee—blood vomiting.
Flash punched Nai.
Their punches—far faster, stronger.
Astra teleported—appeared in front of Nai—created silver flame shield.
Punches hit—shield broke instantly.
Nai—from behind—slashed at Flash.
Slashes went through—no scratch.
Astra—stomped ground—silver flames burned meters around.
Carried Nai on his back—so she wouldn't burn.
Flash—beyond the flames—like teleporting.
Flash—gazed.
"You must suffer…"
Flash jumped—moved—in front of Astra—still in air.
Astra—shocked.
Flash kicked his head.
**Crack!**
Bone sound—Astra hit trees.
Nai—"Astraaa!"
She landed—grabbed sword from sky—slashed.
Flash dodged effortlessly.
Flash—head moved—red eyes glowed.
Astra teleported—appeared in front.
Flash landed two strikes.
Astra tanked—bleeding.
Astra—gazed at Nai.
"Break the gem… right now."
Nai—shocked.
"But… you'll face Flash alone?"
Astra—shouting.
"Just do it!!"
Nai nodded—ran to shrine.
Flash noticed—moved faster.
Astra held its wrist.
"Where are you going?"
He punched—Flash dodged.
Flash—glitching body—moved.
Astra blocked one attack—but rapid punches landed.
Astra—creating silver shields—blocking.
Nai—reached shrine.
Flash—attacked her.
Astra—teleported—blocked.
**BOOOOOOM!**
Massive explosion—screen white.
Astra—one knee—highly injured. Breathing heavily.
Flash—turned to stone—then dust.
Astra—faint smile.
"We did it."
Buildings fixed—broken areas repaired.
Sky turned normal.
Monsters turned to dust.
Nai's katana faded—demon form gone. She closed her eyes—fell.
Astra caught her—head on his shoulder. Breathing heavily.
Astra—teleported her to Paras City.
Astra—soft.
"Well done, Nai… We did something great today."
Nai—opened eyes slowly—backed off.
"My family… are they okay now?"
Astra—nodding.
"Yes… they are. You don't need to worry. Return to your home."
Nai—eyes wet—couldn't control—rushed and hugged Astra tightly.
"Thank you so much… Astra…"
Astra—hugged back.
Nai—backed off—smiled through tears.
"Thank you for this… I thought I couldn't meet my family… ever again."
Nai—voice soft.
"I'm sorry for hurting you before… saying wrong things… Forgive me please… Now I understand it was Nova's fault."
Astra—gentle.
"You don't need to say sorry… It's okay."
Nai—crossing arms, smiling.
"You're injured… If you don't mind… you can come to my home? You can rest."
Astra—shaking head.
"No… I have tournament today… I can't rest."
Nai—nodding.
"Okay."
She waved—shy smile.
"See you later, Astra… You're really good."
Astra—scratched head.
"And you're cute…"
Nai—blushed.
"Stop calling me cute."
She waved again.
"I wish we meet again."
Astra—nodding.
"Sure."
Astra—teleported away.
**Tokyo – Stadium**
The arena shook again—stronger.
Yuki—standing—gasped.
"That's… Astra. He did it."
Wano—tears in eyes.
"He sealed it… the city's safe."
Uraka—smiling.
"That's our boy."
Blu—standing—small, proud smile.
"He's ready."
Announcer—voice shaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen… we have confirmation! Paras City is secure! The anomaly has ended!"
Crowd—cheering wildly.
Yuki—tears falling—smiled.
"Astra… come home soon."
The next gate opened—Astra's turn approaching.
And the stadium waited—for its youngest hero.