"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

Ryden rushed into the room like a storm, his cloak trailing behind him. His eyes locked onto Veon—collapsed, trembling, drenched in sweat and sorrow.

"Veon!" Ryden dropped to his knees, gripping his son's shoulders tightly. He shook him gently but desperately. "Veon, look at me. What's going on? Where's Kaen?"

Veon slowly lifted his tear-streaked face. His lips quivered. His voice came out like a whisper laced with guilt and heartbreak.

"Father… Kaen…"

Ryden's eyes widened. "No… don't say it—don't say it, Veon."

"I couldn't protect him," Veon cried, breaking down. "I couldn't protect my little brother. I was right there… and I couldn't move. I—"

His voice cracked. His fists clenched. He lowered his head, broken.

At the entrance of the room, Auren stood frozen. The light from the hallway fell over his face, but his eyes were dark, clouded with shock.

"Kaen?" Auren whispered.

His knees weakened. Tears slid silently down his cheeks.

The name echoed in his ears again.

"Kaen…"

Auren's body trembled, unable to take a step forward. Everything inside him screamed.

"Kaen? No more…?"Tears rolled faster. "Kaen… no more?"Again, as if repeating it would change the truth. "Kaen… no more?"

In the kitchen, Lisa lost control, smashing utensils, screaming, "This can't be true!"

Ryden ran to her, heart racing. He grabbed her tightly, pulling her into a desperate hug. Both of them cried—loud, broken, uncontrollably.

Back in the room, Veon sat still… hollow… unmoving. Grief drenched the walls.

And at the entrance… Auren stood frozen, like the world had stopped spinning.His breath forgot to exist.Eyes wide."Kaen…?"

Tears dripped down Auren's face, his breath becoming shallow and uneven. His chest rose and fell in stuttering gasps.

Veon stood up, trembling—his expression carved with desperation and rage. His fists clenched. His breathing turned heavy. "I will devour Yuzen... I will tear them apart," he growled, eyes blazing. "They'll drown in blood... they'll scream the way we screamed!"

He stormed out of the room—only to stop when he saw Auren standing silently near the door.

Veon's red, furious eyes locked onto him.

"Why are you here?!" he shouted, voice shaking with wrath. "I'll kill you! You don't deserve to live here! We don't need you!"

Auren didn't move.

Tears still slipped from his cheeks as he looked up at Veon, his voice soft, broken."Brother… is Kaen… really gone?"

Suddenly—Ryden appeared, storming out of the kitchen. The fury in his steps thundered like a marching beast.He didn't look at Veon.Didn't blink at Auren's tears.

He walked straight toward Auren.

Ryden's rage exploded.He grabbed Auren by the jaw and threw him inside the house.

Veon, consumed by grief, slammed his door shut behind him, locking it from inside. The echo rang in the heavy silence.

Ryden's face twisted with fury. He walked toward Auren, fists trembling, eyes burning with something beyond pain.

Then, his fist collided with Auren's face.Thunder.Auren cried out in pain, collapsing against the floor, blood already dripping from his lip.

"Kill me, Father!" Auren screams, through blood and tears. "I don't want to live anymore!"

Ryden didn't stop."You're the reason he's dead!" he roared."You were his older brother—and you couldn't even protect him! You're not a mage… you're a curse to this family!"

His fists rained down like hammers.Auren couldn't even fight back.Punch after punch—his ribs, arms, head, chest, face—blood splattered the floor. The pain drowned his screams.He wasn't being treated like a son.Just a punching bag of guilt and hatred.

"I don't want this life!" Auren gasped. "Kill me… please…"

Lisa came running from the kitchen."RYDEN!!" she screamed in horror.She pulled at his arm, trying to stop him."I already lost one child! Don't make me lose another!!"

Ryden stopped.His breathing was uneven.His fists trembled at his sides.

Auren was barely conscious, face swollen, body bleeding, lips cracked and red.

Ryden looked down at him.

"Auren…" his voice cracked. "…Hate me.""As much as you want. I'm your villain. Curse me if you want… but never show me your face again. Get out of my house."

Lisa stood frozen. Then said firmly—

"He's not going anywhere. He's my son too. I won't lose two sons today."

Auren coughed blood, forcing himself to speak."Mom… I was already planning to leave."He struggled to sit up. "There's nothing left for me here."

Tears fell freely.

"Kaen died because of me.""My little brother… is gone because of me…"

He clutched at his chest. "But I promise you… I'll come back. When Ryuki City needs me most—I'll return.""Stronger. Unrecognizable. And I'll avenge Kaen."

His tears washed down over his blood-soaked cheeks.

"I'll come back, Mom."

Ryden stayed silent.

Auren turned to him one last time."You told me to hate you. But I can't.""That's not who I am."

Lisa fell to her knees, embracing Auren in silence.

"I hate what you did…" Auren said softly. "…but I can't hate you. You're still my father."

Ryden stared at the floor, clenching his fists.

"Then you can never be a mage," he muttered. "Leave. Now."

Auren looked at his mother."Let me go… I promise I'll come back stronger."

He stood up. His legs barely held him. He limped toward the stairs.

Every step left behind a red print—the stairs turning crimson.

Lisa stood shaking, her teeth clenched in pain."I'll never forgive you, Ryden…" she whispered.

Ryden turned away, his voice hollow."It had to be done."

—

Upstairs, barely climbing, in unbearable pain, blood dripping.

I am Ash Phantom, I am sure. I will get my powers, I will come back, and I will take revenge on my brother's enemy.

Auren entered his room.His vision blurred.He began packing silently, slowly.

As he pulled out his bag, something fell from underneath.

A parchment.

On it, a single word was written:

—Address Enclosed.

BAKU CITY- THE CITY OF BEAUTY AND NATURE..

BETWEEN SABO TOWN AND EITO TOWN

HOLLOW MOUNTAIN