The peaceful days in Aryavarta felt like a dream. Mornings were for lazing in the sun, afternoons for training, and evenings for walking with Eri. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Nero's life was… normal.
"Days have been passing in peace," Nero muttered, leaning against a balcony railing and gazing at the tranquil horizon. "I can't even remember the last time I enjoyed a life like this..."
His moment of Zen was shattered by a familiar voice.
"Can you hurry up?" Eri called from inside, her tone a mix of amusement and impatience. "Today's the day Obsidian summoned us for a meeting."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done," Nero replied with an exaggerated stretch, trying to cling to his fading serenity. "I wonder what he wants this time... probably another world-ending problem he expects us to clean up. Damn, I really hate it. Can't we just live in peace for once?"
Eri chuckled, appearing in the doorway with a knowing smile. "Why do you always assume the worst? Maybe it's good news. Either way, let's get going. Keeping a Primordial waiting is bad manners."
With a shared look of resignation, Nero and Eri opened a portal, stepping through to the Divine Plane, unaware of the gathering storm awaiting them.
---
Divine Plane: A Gathering of Power
The hall was majestic, filled with beings whose auras hummed with immense power. Gate Users of various levels were already there, their conversations creating a low murmur that echoed through the vast space.
The moment Nero and Eri entered, the whispers began.
"Isn't that Nero, the Gate Slayer?"
"I heard he took down a Gate 5 user single-handedly. That can't be true, can it?" another voice scoffed, laced with disbelief. "There's no way someone like him could do that. Must be a lie."
Nero's eyes, half-lidded with boredom, snapped towards the doubter. The air around them grew cold.
"If you're so eager to find out the truth," Nero's voice cut through the noise, sharp and cold as a blade, "how about I send you to meet your friends on the other side? Or you can move aside."
The sheer, murderous intent in his words made the doubter physically recoil, scrambling back without a second thought. A hushed silence fell over the hall as all eyes followed Nero's path.
Among the crowd, his gaze briefly locked with another—Aekai. No words were exchanged. Just a fleeting moment of silent recognition, a promise of a future clash that both knew was inevitable. Then, they parted ways.
---
Obsidian's Grim Request
They found Obsidian in a private chamber, his form radiating a tense energy.
"I hope there were no issues," he began, his voice formal.
"Let's cut to the chase," Nero interrupted, his arms crossed. "What's going on, and why is this place crawling with power holders?"
Obsidian's face darkened. "There's bad news. Aekai is after the final Fragments. He already has five. Only two remain—one is here, under heavy guard, and the other lies in Anandvana, the Land of Freedom and Knowledge."
Nero let out a short, humorless laugh. "Look, Obsidian, I appreciate everything you've done. But I'm out. Every battle pushes me closer to death. I'm not afraid to die, but why me? You have legions of subordinates, many stronger than I am. Send them."
"It's not that simple," Obsidian sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of cosmic politics. "The peace agreement forbids my subordinates—and Aekai's—from engaging in direct combat without explicit permission. You... you're different. You possess the power of both Gates. No laws bind you. You are the only one I can rely on, Nero. I need you to go to Anandvana and destroy the Eternal Fragment."
Nero's eyes flashed with irritation. "Why should I risk my life? What's in it for me? I could be living peacefully with my family instead of walking into another meat grinder."
Obsidian looked genuinely stunned. "Millions of lives across dimensions depend on this! How can you be so indifferent?"
Eri placed a calming hand on Nero's arm. "Nero..."
"Wait," Nero said, his tone shifting from annoyed to dangerously thoughtful. "Obsidian, I respect you. But answer me this—if I go and things go to hell, can you guarantee my safety? Can you promise you'll save me from the fallout?"
Obsidian hesitated. "What do you mean?"
"I can see the future," Nero stated, his voice low and serious. "I've seen it. If I go, there will be a river of blood. This time, even you won't escape unscathed. So I ask again, what do you want me to do?"
Obsidian paled. "You can see the absolute future? How?"
"That's not important. What's your answer?"
Obsidian's Dilemma
The Primordial's mind raced, the gravity of Nero's vision pressing down on him. After a long, heavy silence, he finally spoke, his voice resolute.
"I want you to go, Nero. Even if you refuse, the consequences will be catastrophic. But if you go... there is a chance, however slim, to avert the worst of it."
Nero leaned back, his arms still folded, weighing his options. "Well then..."
As he was about to turn, Obsidian stopped him, offering a small, intricately carved amulet that glowed with a soft, inner light.
"Take this," Obsidian said. "It will guide you to the wisest sages in Anandvana. With their help, you may even unlock the power of Gate 5... or perhaps even glimpse the Sixth."
Nero raised an eyebrow, a spark of genuine interest cutting through his reluctance. He pocketed the amulet. "Alright... thanks."
Without another word, he glanced at Eri. She nodded, and together they stepped into the new portal that shimmered to life, leaving the Divine Plane behind for the unknowns of Anandvana.
---
Anandvana: A Land of Beauty
The air that greeted them was thick with the scent of exotic blossoms and rich, earthy life. Anandvana stretched before them, a breathtaking panorama of lush, emerald forests and majestic structures of gleaming white stone that pierced the clouds.
"Wow," Nero breathed, his cynicism momentarily replaced by genuine awe. "This place… it's incredible."
Eri nodded, her eyes wide. "It's beautiful… but the city gates are still a long way off."
Nero groaned, his laziness instantly returning. "Ugh, how much longer do we have to walk?"
Eri chuckled. "Just keep moving, lazybones."
---
The Ambush
Unbeknownst to them, their arrival had not gone unnoticed.
Shadowy figures moved between the ancient trees, their eyes tracking the newcomers.
"They don't look like Gate Users," one muttered.
"Doesn't matter," another replied, their voice cold. "One looks weak, the other lazy. Finish them."
---
A Sudden Welcome
Nero's complaining was cut short as a powerful fist materialized from the shadows, aimed straight for his face.
Before it could connect, Eri was a blur of motion. She intercepted the blow, grabbed the attacker's arm, and slammed them into the ground with a sickening crunch.
"Dumbass!" Eri snapped, glaring at Nero. "Can't you dodge something that obvious?"
Nero shrugged, completely unbothered. "You've got my original body. I'm too lazy to do anything with this artificial one. Besides, why bother when I have you to protect me?"
Eri's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and fury. "You...!"
The ground suddenly trembled. More than twenty attackers emerged from the forest, surrounding them completely.
"Well, this is going to be fun," Nero said with a grin, promptly lying down on the soft grass. "Good luck, Eri. I'm taking a nap."
Eri rolled her eyes, but her body was already shifting, energy flaring around her as she prepared for the onslaught.
---
Eri's Stand
With blinding speed, Eri became a whirlwind of destruction. She cut down the first wave of attackers with precise, graceful strikes. But to her shock, the fallen enemies began to rise, their wounds healing almost instantly.
Still lying on the ground, Nero yawned. "Use Gate 3. Primordial Domain."
Eri nodded. Activating the Third Gate, chains of glowing, primordial energy erupted from the ground, binding the attackers and severing their connection to whatever power was reviving them.
Before she could catch her breath, a new, terrifyingly powerful aura approached from behind. Eri spun around, barely having time to react.
Nero was suddenly on his feet, the lazy glint in his eyes replaced by a sharp, dangerous light. "Don't worry, Eri. I'll handle this one."
In a burst of brilliant blue flames, his artificial body dissolved, and his true form took its place. He turned to face the new threat, his expression calm but deadly serious.
---
The New Challengers
Two figures emerged from the shadows. A tall, fierce woman with a drawn sword, and a man holding a spellbook that pulsed with arcane energy.
"Well, well," Nero said, his voice dripping with mock amusement. "Not very polite to backstab someone. Care to explain the reason for this warm welcome?"
The woman, Mooai, leveled her sword at him, her eyes burning with cold fury. "You killed our gods. And now, you want to talk?"
Nero's expression faltered for a fraction of a second. "Wait… are you talking about the incident in Aryavarta? That was—look, things escalated quickly. I might have… overreacted."
Ignoring him, Mooai launched a flurry of attacks, her sword moving faster than the eye could follow. Nero dodged each strike with an infuriating, lazy grace.
"Aren't you going to counterattack?" Mooai growled, her frustration mounting.
Nero grinned. "If I counter, I'm afraid I'll end up digging my own grave right here."
The taunt was the last straw. "Manil Now!" she shouted.
With a flick of his wrist, her companion, Mani, cast a barrier spell, trapping Nero inside with Mooai.
"You're finished," she declared, her voice final.
---
The Illusion of Victory
Nero glanced at the shimmering walls. "Well, this complicates things."
Mooai didn't give him a chance. She unleashed her full arsenal—a deadly, seamless combination of strikes that became a blinding whirlwind of steel. Nero dodged the first few, but the sheer relentlessness of her assault overwhelmed his defenses. In a final, decisive flash, her sword sliced through him.
He disintegrated into harmless blue flames.
Mooai sheathed her sword, her expression grim. "One down."
Mani clapped from behind the barrier. "Sis, you really are the best!"
But as Mooai turned, her triumph turned to horror. Standing directly behind Mani, completely unharmed, was Nero, holding a pale, shimmering dagger to his throat.
"Impressive," Nero said calmly, his voice like ice. "But I wouldn't celebrate just yet."
Mooai's eyes widened. "Don't touch him!"
"Easy now," Nero replied, feigning fear. "This is a Moonlight Dagger. One prick, and it's nearly impossible to survive. I could end this right now."
Mooai froze, her sword lowering slightly. "What do you want?"
"I'm just here to enter the city peacefully," Nero said, his tone deceptively light. "I'm not interested in your gods, your fights, or your grudges. I'm only here for knowledge."
Mooai glared, her suspicion etched deep. "Why should I believe you? You're a ruthless killer. You've left nothing but destruction in your wake. Even Aekai isn't as merciless as you."
Nero chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn, when did I become this famous? I'm really starting to regret some of those parties."
"We've all seen your recent battles," Mooai shot back. "There's no denying who you are."
---
A Contract Forged
Nero sighed, realizing words were useless. "Alright, how about this? We make a contract."
Mooai's eyes narrowed. "A contract?"
"I swear on my soul that I am only here to gain knowledge. I will not participate in any battles in Anandvana unless you approve it. Once my goal is achieved, I will leave and never return. If I break this contract, you are free to kill me on the spot. And until then," he added with a smirk, "you can keep an eye on me yourself."
Mooai didn't lower her guard, but she considered it. After a tense moment, she gave a sharp nod. "Fine. But if you even think of betraying this contract, I won't hesitate."
Nero swallowed his pride. "Hehe... sounds fair."
Mooai produced a scroll etched with glowing runes. Nero didn't hesitate; he signed it with a flick of his wrist, a wisp of his soul essence binding him to the agreement.
The moment the magic sealed, he retracted the dagger and stepped away from a very relieved Mani.
"You're lucky I'm a man of my word," Nero said, flashing Mooai a grin. "Otherwise, this could've ended very differently."
"Just shut up and move," Mooai muttered, sheathing her sword but keeping her glare firmly in place.
Their journey into Anandvana (Bharat- Sen Home) had begun, but it was clear this land of freedom was also a land of formidable foes.
To be continued...