"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Veon slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry."…Mom?" he whispered.

Lisa rushed to his side."Veon! Are you alright?"

His eyes slowly adjusted. He looked around, confused."…Mom? Am I… home?"

Lisa hugged him tightly, wrapping her arms around him like she hadn't touched him in years."Veon…" she whispered, holding back her tears.

Then she gently grabbed his face with both hands, kissed his forehead, and looked at him closely."Are you okay, Veon? I was so worried… But—where is Kaen?"

Veon froze.

The name stabbed through his heart like a blade."…Kaen?" he repeated, softly.

Suddenly, He saw it again. Kaen standing alone on the battlefield… Yuzen mages charging toward him…

Veon screamed, "KAAAAEEEENNNNN!"

He jumped out of bed, ripping off the covers, running wildly through the room.

He screamed again, "KAEN!!!"

Veon started punching the wall—again and again—his knuckles bleeding."This can't be true!" he shouted. "Why… why did this happen?!"

He grabbed his hair with both hands, pulling in anguish."Kaen… Kaen…!"

Lisa stood in the doorway, frozen in trauma. Her eyes widened, lips trembling. Then her tears fell—fast and heavy.

She ran to him."Veon!" she screamed. "Tell me! What happened to Kaen?!"

She shook him violently."Tell me what happened to my son!"

Veon couldn't respond.

His breath shook, his mind shattered, and his heart—already broken—crumbled again.

Veon dropped to his knees, fists slamming against the ground, tears bursting from his eyes. "KAAEEEENN!!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the room like thunder.

Lisa, shaken to the core, ran forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

They held each other—two broken souls drowning in sorrow.

Lisa's voice trembled, barely a whisper between sobs. "Tell me, Veon… tell me he's alive. Kaen was in the war… please, just say something…"

Veon slowly looked up, his eyes red, tears streaking down his face. Then—he snapped.

"He fought the Yuzen army all alone!" he shouted. "And I couldn't even move… not an inch… I was lying there useless while he was—"

His breath caught in his throat. "I was hopeless… worthless… I couldn't protect him, Mom… I couldn't protect my little brother."

Lisa stumbled back, as if struck by lightning. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She shook her head violently.

"No…" she whispered. "No, no… that can't be true."

She backed away slowly, clutching her chest.

"Kaen is just a child… He's only thirteen… Don't tell me he's…"

Her voice cracked.

"…don't tell me he's gone."

Lisa's breath turned ragged. Her body trembled, and she collapsed to her knees, then slumped onto the floor. "This can't be true…" she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.

She staggered back to her feet, panic taking over. She ran to the Orb Call. Her hands trembled as she pressed the runes.

Riiiiing… Riiiiing…

The orb pulsed.

A voice answered: "Why are you calling me, Lisa?"

But Lisa screamed—"Just come home. Now!"

Before Ryden could respond, she ended the call.

Inside the Ryuki Dojo, Ryden stood in a quiet hall, staring at the glowing orb. His expression darkened.

He turned fast, running for the exit.

Hoshin Maru saw him.

Hoshin: "Ryden! Where are you going?"

Ryden didn't stop—his eyes fierce, steps swift.

Ryden shouted over his shoulder:

"It's important. I need to hurry!"

The streets were quiet. Auren walked alone, his head down, hands tucked inside his jacket pockets. The time was 5:20 a.m.The sun had risen, but the light was gentle—no heat, no warmth… just golden silence.

His footsteps echoed softly against the crystal pavement of Crimson Town.

"Why… why am I remembering him?"

Suddenly—Kaen's voice played in his mind."Brother! Chase me!"

Auren blinked. For a moment, it felt real.He looked up at the street before him—"This… This is where we used to run."

A soft smile crept onto his face.

But it vanished as another voice echoed—"Hollow Mountain… Power comes to those who dare."

His brows furrowed.

Then—

"Go alone."

The words stabbed him. He clenched his fists in his pockets.

Memory surged like a flood:Rose's hand in his.Sunny's voice on the cliff.Kaen laughing, running.

"You're not Ash Phantom."

"Auren, I want to touch you."

"Why does your father treat you like that?"

"Brother…"

The voices overlapped—echoing, clashing.Brother. Ash Phantom. Hollow Mountain. Go alone. Brother…

Auren stopped in the middle of the street.

His eyes stung. His chest ached.It felt like the whole world was whispering to him—and none of it made sense.

He looked up at the pale sky."What… am I supposed to become?"

***********

Auren looked straight ahead.In the distance, a figure drenched in sweat, soaked clothes clinging to his body, was running wildly through the street.

His heart skipped.Auren whispered to himself, confused:"Father? Why is he running like that…? What just happened…?"

Without a second thought, Auren took off behind him, his boots thudding against the stone streets.

Ryden turned sharply left, racing through the alleys of Crimson Town. He passed five blocks in mere seconds—and then—Slam!The gate to his home shattered open.

"LISA!" he screamed, chest heaving, voice cracked with dread."WHAT IS IT?!"

Lisa stood still, frozen like a statue. Her face was pale.

Inside the room—

Veon lay on the floor, folded at the knees, his face pressed against the wooden tiles, trembling violently. His fists tapped the ground again and again. Tears streamed endlessly from his eyes.

In the corner, the mage who had brought Veon stood in silence—head lowered, guilt in his gaze.

Beside him, Doctor Oramo, usually calm and steady, now stood with tears brimming in his eyes.

He whispered, voice barely audible—"Kaen… Kaen Ryuki… he was a sweet child."

His lips trembled."Why… Why does destiny keep bringing death to this family's door?"

Ryden's chest rose and fell like thunder.He stepped forward, fists clenched.

"JUST TELL ME…" he shouted again, voice echoing through the hall,"JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!"

Auren entered his house breathing heavily ..