Time.
It is an unstoppable concept of the universe. Many tried to master it, to control its flow or manipulate its essence, but time remained an enigma, transcending mortal understanding. In the grand tapestry of existence, it wove the threads of destiny, connecting every soul, deity, and realm.
But there were some memories that even time couldn't wash away with its powerful current. Among those memories were the echoes of the ancient warrior born from the shadows of Lord Shiva and the love of Goddess Parvati.
Ashborn, the eldest son of the divine couple, was a being of unparalleled power and destiny. His existence had left an indelible mark on the celestial realms, and the memories of his sacrifice lingered in the hearts of those who witnessed the cosmic upheaval.
Ashborn.
He was a freedom-loving and free-spirited individual, Ashborn's presence defied the conventional norms of the celestial realms. His laughter echoed through the corridors of time, a testament to his joyous spirit even in the face of adversity.
The abandoned Celestial realm, where Yama, the Lord of Death and Justice, was now headed, held the echoes of Ashborn's sacrifice.
It was a place where the fabric of existence had been scarred by a war that sought to protect the cosmic balance. Ashborn's sacrifice, though painful, had played a crucial role in preserving the order of the realms.
"He was an elder brother who stood against the encroaching darkness, a guardian of cosmic harmony. His sacrifice was not in vain, for it halted the advance of evil forces that sought to disrupt the delicate balance between creation and destruction."
The Shadow Monarch.
It was the title given to him by those who understood the gravity of his sacrifice. Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch, had embraced the shadows not as a place of darkness but as a realm of potential, a canvas upon which he painted the strokes of his destiny.
He who played on the thin line of life and death had left a legacy that resonated through the ages. As Yama approached the portal leading to the abandoned Celestial realm, he couldn't shake the memories of that fateful time. The war had been brutal, the stakes high, and the sacrifice immense.
As the Lord of Death and Justice stepped through the portal, he could sense the lingering energies of the conflict. The celestial landscape, once vibrant, now bore the scars of battles fought between cosmic forces. Yama's divine senses extended, reaching out to the threads of existence that intertwined with past events.
In the ethereal silence of the abandoned Celestial realm, Yama called out, "Ashborn, if your essence still lingers in this place, know that the cosmic balance is once again under threat. An anomaly disrupts the very fabric of existence, and I fear it may be tied to the shadows you once embraced."
The air seemed to carry whispers, the memories of the past echoing in response. Yama's gaze moved across the desolate landscape, seeking any signs of disturbance. The cosmic patterns, normally predictable, now danced with an unsettling rhythm.
"Hmm?"
!!!
"WHAT!!! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???"
Yama's exclamation echoed through the abandoned Celestial realm as he detected an anomaly that defied the established cosmic laws.
"H-How? This realm is c-connected to someone?"
The realization struck Yama like a celestial thunderbolt. The abandoned Celestial realm, once sealed and forsaken, now bore the mark of a connection to another realm or being. The threads of existence, normally flowing in a harmonious pattern, were entwined with an external force.
Yama's divine senses honed in on the anomaly, and a name resonated through the cosmic energies—Ashborn. The very essence of the Shadow Monarch seemed to resonate with the disturbance as if his legacy was entwined with the unraveling cosmic threads.
"Is it possible... that Ashborn's sacrifice has not concluded as we believed?" Yama muttered to himself, the weight of the revelation settling upon his divine shoulders.
Yama, the Lord of Death and Justice, approached the seemingly fresh bodies with a mix of curiosity and concern. there were no souls just shadows flickering every now and then among the celestial ruins. The shadows danced in a haunting manner, their forms flickering like remnants of forgotten echoes.
"Could it be that Ashborn's sacrifice transcended the boundaries of time and space, leaving a connection that persists even now?" Yama wondered aloud, contemplating the mysteries that unfolded before him.
Crackling~
The celestial silence was shattered by a crackling sound, and tendrils of ethereal fire began to snap and dance in the air. Yama's eyes narrowed as he witnessed the emergence of a portal, a gateway between realms that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
From the portal, a figure stepped forth. Clad in shadowy armor that seemed to absorb the very essence of light, a silhouette materialized—a silhouette that bore a striking resemblance to Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch.
"Impossible... Ashborn?" Yama uttered his voice a mix of disbelief and recognition.
The figure, surrounded by the remnants of celestial flames, turned to face Yama. The eyes, once filled with the vibrant spirit of Ashborn, now held a mysterious depth, as if they had seen ages pass.
"You speak the name of a bygone era, Lord Yama," the figure intoned, the voice echoing with a resonance that carried the weight of ancient wisdom.
Yama's gaze remained fixed on the enigmatic being. "Who are you, and what connection do you hold with Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch?"
The figure lifted its hand, and the shadows responded, coalescing into spectral shapes that seemed to echo the past. Scenes from the ancient conflict played out—the battles fought, the sacrifices made, and the cosmic threads woven by the hands of destiny.
"I am the Echo of Shadows, the residual essence of Ashborn's sacrifice. The cosmic threads that bind this realm to others have awakened me," the figure explained, its form shifting between solidity and the ephemeral nature of shadows.
Yama's mind reeled with the implications of this revelation. The sacrifice of Ashborn had not faded into mere memories; it had left an imprint, an echo that resonated through the realms.
"The disturbance in the cosmic balance, the severed connections of souls—it all traces back to this echo," Yama deduced, his eyes focused on the figure before him.
Chuckles~
"No...I would like to ask a simple question to you, Lord Yama," The figure, the Echo of Shadows, chuckled softly. The sound echoed in the desolate expanse of the abandoned Celestial realm, adding an otherworldly resonance to the atmosphere.
"What question do you have, Echo of Shadows?" Yama asked, his gaze steady but brimming with curiosity. The echoes of ancient battles and the enigma of Ashborn's sacrifice had intertwined, creating a moment pregnant with revelations.
The figure stepped forward, the shadows parting to reveal a face that bore the semblance of Ashborn but with an ethereal quality. "Who do you think can separate souls from the dead and turn them into the shadow soldiers?"
Gasp!
"A-Ashborn, Y-You cannot be Ashborn!" Yama exclaimed, his eyes widening with a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
The Echo of Shadows chuckled again, a haunting sound that resonated through the celestial ruins. "I am not Ashborn in the flesh, Lord Yama. I am but a remnant, a manifestation of the choices and sacrifices made in the name of cosmic balance."
"But you should have guessed by now, right?"
Yama's mind raced, connecting the dots between the disturbance, the severed connections of souls, and the enigmatic figure before him. The Echo of Shadows carried the essence of Ashborn's sacrifice, resonating with the cosmic threads that bound the realms.
Tears started to fall from Yama's eyes as he realized the profound implications of the Echo of Shadows' presence. The figure that stood before him held not just the essence of Ashborn's sacrifice but also the power to manipulate the souls of the dead. The tears were not just of sorrow but also of a long-buried hope rekindled.
"Reincarnation?"
"Yes, What? you thought the Shadow Monarch, The King of Deads would die so easily?" The Echo of Shadows chuckled, the resonance of the laughter echoing through the cosmic expanse.
"Death is but a transition, Lord Yama. The cosmic dance continues, and the threads of destiny weave a tapestry that transcends the boundaries of mortality."
Crackling~
The fire flickered again announcing the time for the remanent to disperse had come as, The Echo of Shadows began to dissipate, its form unraveling like tendrils of mist carried away by a gentle breeze. Yama, still grappling with the revelation, watched as the echoes of Ashborn's sacrifice faded into the cosmic expanse.
"Wait! Where is your reincarnation?"
"He will show himself when the time is right..."
The remnants of the Echo of Shadows dissipated into the celestial winds, leaving Yama alone in the abandoned Celestial realm. The revelation weighed heavily on the Lord of Death and Justice. The cosmic dance, the interplay of life and death, had taken an unexpected turn.
As Yama contemplated the echoes of Ashborn's sacrifice and the promise of reincarnation, he couldn't shake the feeling that the threads of destiny were once again being woven into a complex pattern—one that transcended the boundaries of mortal understanding.
The Lord of Death and Justice retraced his steps through the celestial ruins, his divine senses attuned to the lingering energies of the Echo of Shadows. The severed connections of souls, the disturbance in the cosmic balance—all were connected to this enigmatic remnant.
Yama emerged from the abandoned Celestial realm, the portal closing behind him. The vastness of Yamaloka awaited, and the weight of the revelation pressed upon his immortal shoulders.
"My lord? Where are you smiling?" Chitragupta, the divine record-keeper, inquired as Yama emerged from the portal, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
Yama's gaze lingered in the direction of the closed portal, a subtle smile playing on his lips. The gravity of the cosmic revelation weighed on him, but there was also a glimmer of hope—the promise of reincarnation, the continuation of the cosmic dance.
"My lord? Where are you smiling?" Chitragupta, the divine record-keeper, inquired as Yama emerged from the portal, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
Yama's gaze lingered in the direction of the closed portal, a subtle smile playing on his lips. The gravity of the cosmic revelation weighed on him, but there was also a glimmer of hope—the promise of reincarnation, the continuation of the cosmic dance.
"Because...HE IS BACK!!!"