"Fight… fight… fight…"
The echoes surrounded him endlessly.
Ashura stood in a black void. His gaze was dark… filled with something broken.
It felt like betrayal had consumed him completely.
He slowly fell to his knees. His fists clenched tightly.
"I… I didn't deserve this hatred…" his voice cracked.
He gasped for air. Regret flashed in his eyes for a moment.
"Why… always me…?"
His voice trembled.
"Why… why… WHYYY?!"
His scream echoed in agony. Each time louder than before.
The void remained silent.
Empty… dark… endless.
Ashura lowered his head.
"It's just like my future…"
His voice turned cold.
"Dark… and empty."
His eyes lost the last bit of light.
Ashura gasped heavily.
His breaths hitched unevenly.
His hands trembled slightly. His heartbeat pounded violently inside his chest.
Those stares…
They wouldn't leave him.
"You deserve to die…"
"You are a murderer…"
"Let him die… we don't need a brother like him…"
The voices echoed around him.
Closer… louder… suffocating.
Ashura's tears slipped down silently.
He broke down completely.
"…Am I really that bad…?" his voice cracked.
His fingers dug into his chest. His breathing became unstable.
His vision blurred.
"…Why don't I just die…?"
His voice faded into the void.
A presence appeared behind him.
Cold… silent… watching.
"…Are you crying?"
"You've always been like this, Ashura…"
A cold voice echoed behind him, carrying a mocking tone.
"Thinking you're right… but never proving it."
Ashura turned back instantly. Anger flashed across his face.
"Who are you…?" his voice trembled slightly.
His hands shook. His heartbeat pounded violently in his chest.
The void fell silent.
For a moment… everything stopped.
Ashura stared ahead.
"…You…"
A figure stood there.
It looked exactly like him.
Same face… same presence… but something felt wrong.
His arms were folded calmly.
His eyes were deep… cold… lifeless.
A faint smirk rested on his lips.
"Who are you…?"
Ashura stood up instantly. He stepped back, a rare hint of fear in his eyes.
His breathing turned unstable for a moment. Something about this presence felt… wrong.
He shook his head slowly. "Who the hell are you…?"
"…And why do you look exactly like me?"
The figure stepped forward calmly.
His gaze was steady… almost mocking.
"You're a victim…" he said quietly. "And yet, you think you're protecting others."
He licked his lips slightly. His eyes glared into Ashura's soul.
"You believe you're protecting your sisters…"
"Yeah… I am!" Ashura yelled.
His voice carried anger… but also doubt.
The figure tilted his head slightly.
"But have you ever thought about protecting yourself?"
His voice became colder.
"You've gone through so much suffering…"
"And still… you choose to protect others."
Ashura clenched his fists tightly.
"…Who are you?" he asked again, his voice lower this time.
The figure stepped closer.
He placed his hand on Ashura's shoulder.
"I'm someone who knows everything…" he whispered.
"…but can't help you."
A mocking smile appeared.
"You're just a crybaby…"
"You can't even defend yourself."
"What did you say?!" Ashura snapped.
He threw a punch straight at his face—
But it passed through.
No impact.
Nothing.
Ashura froze.
"…How…?"
The figure smiled coldly.
"You're such an idiot…"
"I'm not something that can be hurt."
He leaned closer.
"I'm you…"
"…just a darker… and more mature version."
"You've been betrayed…"
The figure's voice turned colder.
"Labeled as a criminal… hunted… meant to be killed."
He suddenly raised his hand.
SLAP—
The impact echoed sharply.
Ashura fell to the ground.
"Ahh—!" he clutched his cheek tightly. Pain burned across his face.
"How… how can you hurt me…?" he stared in anger.
His breath grew heavy.
The figure looked down at him.
"You can't hurt me…" his tone was calm… cruel.
"But I can hurt you…"
"Because you're weak."
He lifted his leg.
Then—
BAM—
It slammed into Ashura's chest.
The force crushed him into the floor.
"AAHH—!" Ashura screamed in pain.
"Does it hurt?" the figure stared coldly.
"Don't you feel it…?"
Ashura grabbed his leg desperately.
But his hands passed through.
Nothing.
"S-stop it…!" Ashura struggled.
He tried to push him away.
But he couldn't.
"You thought you were justice…" the figure spoke again.
His voice echoed like a judgement.
"But you were just a victim…"
"A victim who believed he could fix everything."
Ashura gasped heavily.
His chest rose and fell uncontrollably as pain spread through his body.
He felt… helpless.
He stared up at the figure in agony.
"Why… are you doing this…?" his voice cracked.
The figure looked down at him coldly.
"You need to be fixed…"
"Properly."
"You were blasted… injured… shot…"
"And still… you never thought about saving yourself."
His gaze sharpened.
"You protected that pendant… and ran for your sister…"
"Just because of a promise."
He raised his foot slowly.
Then—
BAM—
A brutal kick landed on Ashura's cheek.
"AAHH—!" Ashura was thrown to the ground.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He coughed weakly.
"Ugh… uhh…"
His body trembled as he tried to get up.
His eyes burned with anger and desperation.
"You… brat…" he muttered coldly.
The figure stepped closer again.
"Don't you think it's cute…?"
His voice dripped with mockery.
"Risking your life like that…"
"And still ending up betrayed by your own family."
He kicked Ashura's back brutally.
"If you're strong…" his voice echoed coldly.
"Then protect yourself."
Another kick landed.
Then another.
"AAHH—!" Ashura screamed, his body shaking in pain.
"Stop… please…" his voice cracked.
The figure didn't stop.
He kicked his chest… his forearms… again and again.
"Protect, right?" he mocked.
"You protect others so well…"
"Then why can't you protect yourself?"
He suddenly grabbed Ashura by the collar.
Pulled him up.
Forced their eyes to meet.
Ashura clenched his teeth.
"You…!"
His anger burned… but his body couldn't respond.
"Fight back…" the figure whispered.
"You were the one shouting—fight, fight, fight…"
His gaze darkened completely.
"Then why do you feel weak now?"
A pause.
Silence.
"Because…" the figure spoke again.
"You've finally met someone… truly dangerous."
Ashura lowered his head slowly.
"…Maybe," he muttered.
His voice was low… almost defeated.
The figure smirked.
Then—
He threw Ashura away.
"AAHH—!"
Ashura crashed onto the ground hard.
The impact echoed in the void.
Ashura slowly stood up.
His breathing steadied… his eyes turned cold.
"I don't care what people think about me…"
His voice was calm… but heavy.
"I don't care what others want…"
"I don't care who hates me…"
"Or who betrays me…"
He raised his fist slowly.
His grip tightened.
"I'll still protect my sisters…"
"And my friends…"
"No matter the cost."
He dashed forward instantly.
His speed cut through the air.
"AAHH—!"
His punch landed straight into the figure's chest.
In that moment—
Lightning burst through his veins.
Energy surged violently.
A shockwave exploded outward.
The figure's body was thrown back.
"AAHH—!"
He crashed hard onto the ground.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
Shock.
Ashura gasped heavily.
His chest burned as his thoughts finally broke free.
"My sisters… hate me…"
His voice trembled… but didn't stop.
"Because it was my fault…"
"But even then…"
"They always hid my sins…"
"They were never sure…"
"…about what to choose…"
He slowly raised his head.
"But in the end…"
"They would choose me."
"AAHHH—!"
He screamed.
The void trembled violently.
His aura became unstable… cracks spread across the space.
Everything felt like it was about to shatter.
The figure stood up slowly.
One hand pressed against his chest.
"…So you chose your path," he smirked.
His eyes held a strange satisfaction.
"So, Ashura…"
He walked toward him calmly.
"Stay safe…"
"Because someone wants to change you."
He placed his hand on Ashura's chest.
Ashura's eyes widened.
"…Huh…?"
A sudden push—
"Goodbye."
The void opened behind him.
A dark rift swallowed everything.
"AAHHHHHHHH—!"
Ashura fell endlessly into the darkness.
The figure stood still.
Watching.
"Goodbye…" he said coldly.
Chapter 22 Ended.