The Circle of Origin trembled.
Before Ravana stood nine reflections—each version of himself across timelines, lifetimes, and dimensions. They were not illusions. These were the Ravanas that could have been, or once were.
One stood cloaked in arrogance—a golden-crowned king
Another bore mechanical arms, forged in a future where Ravana ruled with machines.
One had no flesh at all—pure energy, fueled by rage against the gods.
Another was a peaceful sage, who surrendered his power to avoid war.
Each spoke with a different voice, but one truth echoed among them:
"You must conquer us to become whole."
Nazha, Hanuman, and Wukong stood outside the circle—watching, unable to interfere.
The battle began.
Ravana moved like a storm, wielding dark fire and celestial gravity. But every self he struck down—he absorbed, not destroyed. With each victory, he cried out—not in pain, but revelation.
He remembered.
He remembered everything.
He was not born of evil.
He was Ashura's Core—the first will of nature, a being forged to balance the arrogance of the gods.
He was the sword meant to keep creation equal.
But the gods grew fearful and sealed his truth in fragments across lifetimes. They made him a villain. They made him forget.
Now, as the last reflection—a version of him consumed by revenge—charged, Ravana did not fight. He embraced it.
Light and darkness collided.
The circle shattered.
From the wreckage, Ravana emerged—his body glowing with markings of old Ashura script, his ten heads appearing not as flesh, but ten halos of knowledge and force, spinning behind him.
In his hand, a weapon formed—not a sword or staff, but a living artifact: The Origin Edge, the blade that splits fate.
Black, the guardian, knelt. "You are ready."
The sky cracked open. Divine light spilled through as the gods looked down—not with mercy, but preparation.
Because they knew what was coming.
The War of Return.
Ashuras had reawakened.
Humans, once caught in the gods' games, now remembered who their first protectors were.
The war would not be good versus evil.
It would be free will versus control.
And leading that charge… was Ravana, the True Balance.