S3 :- Anandvana and beginning of New journey

**Season 3, Episode 1**

Previously, we concluded Season 2 with ease. I know there are several flaws in my writing, but you know what? I keep those flaws intentionally. What you're reading now is a prototype—the real deal is going to be much more detailed and refined. So without further ado, let's continue...

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### Nero

"Days have been passing in peace," Nero muttered, gazing out over the tranquil horizon. "I can't even remember the last time I enjoyed a life like this…"

From behind, Eri's voice called out, breaking his reverie.

"Can you hurry up? Today's the day Obsidian summoned us for a meeting."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done," Nero replied lazily, stretching as if to prolong his peaceful moment. "I wonder what he wants this time… probably another problem he expects us to deal with. Damn, I really hate it. Can't we just live in peace for once?"

Eri chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Why do you always assume there's going to be a problem? Maybe it won't be so bad this time. Either way, let's get going."

With that, Nero and Eri made their way to the Divine Plane, unaware of the gathering of power holders from various Gates already awaiting them.

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### Arrival at the Divine Plane

As they entered the majestic hall, the whispers started immediately. 

"Isn't that Nero, the Gate Slayer?" one voice murmured.

"I heard he took down a Gate 5 user. That can't be true, can it?" another scoffed, doubt thick in their tone. "There's no way someone like him could do that. Must be a lie."

Nero's eyes narrowed as he caught the snide remarks. Turning to the doubter, he said in a voice that could freeze the air, "If you're so eager to find out the truth, how about I send you to meet your friends on the other side? Or you can move aside."

The sheer weight of his words was enough to make the man tremble, and without a second thought, he stepped back. The room fell into a hushed silence as all eyes followed Nero's path. Among the crowd, Nero's gaze met with Aekai's for a fleeting moment. Both exchanged silent glances before parting ways, neither speaking but both understanding that the real battle was yet to come.

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### Obsidian's Request

A short time later, Nero and Eri stood before Obsidian, who greeted them with his usual formal tone. 

"I hope there were no issues in getting here," Obsidian began, his voice masking the tension that hung in the air.

Nero wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. "Let's cut to the chase. What's going on, and why are there so many power holders here?"

Obsidian's face darkened. "There's bad news."

Eri leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "And what is that?"

"Aekai is after the final fragment," Obsidian answered grimly. "He already has five of them. Only two remain—one is here, and the other lies in Anandvana, the Land of Freedom and Knowledge."

Nero crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Look, Obsidian, I appreciate that you've saved my life more times than I can count. But I'm out this time. Every battle I fight pushes me closer to death. I'm not afraid of dying, but why me? You have plenty of subordinates, and many are stronger than me. Send them."

Obsidian sighed heavily, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Due to the peace agreement, none of my subordinates—nor Aekai's—can engage in combat without proper permission. I wouldn't ask this of you if there were any other choice, but you… you're different. You possess the power of both Gates. There are no laws or agreements that bind you the way they bind the rest of us. You're 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 would I risk my life for this? What's in it for me? I could be living peacefully with my family instead of walking into another war."

Obsidian's jaw dropped, stunned by Nero's blunt refusal. "Millions of lives depend on your decision! How can you be so indifferent?"

Eri placed a gentle hand on Nero's shoulder, trying to calm the situation. "Nero…"

"Wait," Nero interrupted her softly, his tone shifting from annoyance to thoughtfulness. "Look, Obsidian… I respect you, I really do. But let me ask you something—if I go and things go rough, can you guarantee my safety? Can you promise that you'll save me from the consequences of what's to come?"

Obsidian hesitated, clearly caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

"I can see the future," Nero replied, his voice low and serious. "I've seen it, Obsidian. If I go, there's going to be a lot of blood. Even you won't escape unscathed this time. So tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Obsidian's face paled as he realized the gravity of Nero's words. "You can see the absolute future? How?"

"That's not important right now," Nero said sharply. "The question is—what's your answer?"

### Obsidian's Dilemma

Obsidian's mind raced as he processed Nero's words. The weight of the decision bore down on him. After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"I want you to go to Anandvana, Nero. Even if you choose not to go, the consequences will still be dire. But if you do go… there might be a chance to avert the worst of it."

Nero leaned back slightly, folding his arms as he weighed his options. "Well then…"

Just as he was about to turn away, Obsidian stopped him, extending a small, glowing amulet towards him.

"Take this," Obsidian said. "It will guide you to the wisest people in Anandvana. With their help, you may even unlock the power of Gate 5… or perhaps even the Sixth."

Nero raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "Alright… thanks."

Without another word, Nero pocketed the amulet. He glanced at Eri, who smiled knowingly, and together they stepped into the shimmering portal that would take them to Anandvana.

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### A New Land

As soon as they arrived, the sight that greeted them left them both speechless. The land of Anandvana stretched out before them like something from a dream. Lush, verdant forests lined the horizon, and the air was rich with the scent of blossoms and the hum of life. Towering structures of white stone stood in the distance, their beauty unmatched by anything Nero had seen before.

"Wow," Nero breathed, his eyes widening in awe. "This place… it's incredible."

Eri nodded, equally amazed. "Yeah, it's beautiful… but the city gates are still far away."

Nero groaned, already dreading the walk ahead. "Ugh, how much longer do we have to walk?"

Eri chuckled, shaking her head. "Just keep walking, lazybones."

As they continued their journey towards the city gates, Nero's grumbling filled the air, much to Eri's amusement.

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### The Ambush

Unbeknownst to Nero and Eri, a group of shadowy figures watched them from a distance, hidden among the trees.

"They don't look like Gate users," one of the figures muttered, eyes narrowing as they studied the pair.

"Doesn't matter," another replied, their tone cold and calculating. "One of them looks weak, and the other lazy. Finish them."

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### A Sudden Attack

Nero's complaints were cut short when a powerful fist came out of nowhere, aiming straight for his face. Before it could make contact, Eri reacted in an instant, grounding the attacker with a swift, decisive strike.

"Dumbass," Eri snapped, glaring at Nero. "Can't you dodge something that obvious?"

Nero shrugged, completely unfazed. "You've got my original body. I'm too lazy to do anything with this artificial one. Besides, why would I bother when I've got you to protect me?"

Eri's face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. "You…!"

Before Eri could continue scolding him, the ground trembled as more than twenty attackers suddenly appeared, surrounding them on all sides. 

"Well, this is going to be fun," Nero said with a grin, lying down on the ground. "Good luck, Eri. I'm taking a nap."

Eri rolled her eyes, but her body was already shifting into its power form, ready to take on the attackers.

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### Eri's Showdown

With a blinding flash, Eri leaped into action, cutting down the first wave of attackers with precision and grace. One by one, they fell, but after a moment, they began to rise again, their wounds healing almost instantly.

Still lying on the ground, Nero yawned. "Use Gate 3, Primordial Domain."

Eri nodded, activating the power of Gate 3. Instantly, chains of glowing energy shot out, binding the attackers in place and preventing them from reviving.

Before Eri could relax, she felt a sudden surge of energy behind her. A powerful aura approached rapidly, and she barely had time to react.

Nero, now fully awake, stood up, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "Don't worry, Eri. I'll handle this one."

In a burst of blue flames, Nero's artificial body vanished, replaced by his true form. He turned to face the new threat, his expression calm but deadly serious.

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### The New Opponents

Two figures emerged from the shadows. One, a tall woman with a sword drawn, and the other, a man holding a spellbook in his hands.

"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 Nero, her eyes filled with cold fury. "You killed our gods. And now, you want to talk?"

Nero's expression faltered slightly. "Wait… are you talking about the incident in Aryavarta? That was—look, things escalated quickly. I might have… overreacted."

Ignoring his explanation, Mooai launched into a flurry of attacks, her sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. But Nero dodged each strike with ease, his movements almost lazy.

"Aren't you going to counterattack?" Mooai growled in frustration.

Nero grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "If I counter, I'm afraid I'll end up digging my own grave right here."

The taunt only enraged Mooai further, and she signaled to her companion. "Mani! Now!"

With a flick of his wrist, Mani cast a barrier spell around them, trapping Nero inside with Mooai.

"You're finished," Mooai declared, her voice cold and final.

### The Duel Heats Up

Nero glanced around the barrier Mani had cast, his grin fading slightly. "Well, this complicates things."

Mooai wasted no time. She unleashed a deadly combination of strikes, moving with such speed that her sword became a blur. Nero dodged the first few blows, but her relentless assault soon overwhelmed him. In a matter of seconds, her sword sliced through Nero's body, disintegrating him into blue flames.

Mooai sheathed her sword, her expression grim. "One down."

Mani, watching from behind the barrier, clapped in admiration. "Sis, you really are the best."

But as Mooai turned to face him, her expression shifted to one of shock. Standing right behind Mani, completely unharmed, was Nero, holding a dagger to his neck.

"Impressive," Nero said calmly, tightening his grip on the blade. "But I wouldn't celebrate just yet."

Mooai's eyes widened in horror. "Don't touch him!"

"Easy now," Nero replied, feigning fear. "This is a Moonlight Dagger. Once it pierces the skin, it's nearly impossible to survive. I could end this right now."

Mooai stopped in her tracks, her sword lowered but her eyes still blazing with fury. "What do you want?"

"I'm just here to enter the city peacefully," Nero said, his tone nonchalant. "I'm not interested in any of your gods, your fights, or your grudges. I'm only here for knowledge."

Mooai glared at him, suspicion clear in her eyes. "Why should I believe you? You're a ruthless killer who has left nothing but destruction in his 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 battles."

Mooai's grip on her sword tightened. "We've all seen your recent fights. There's no denying who you are."

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### Striking a Deal

Nero sighed, realizing that convincing Mooai with words alone would be impossible. "Alright, how about this? We make a contract."

Mooai's eyes narrowed. "A contract?"

Nero nodded. "I swear that I'm only here to gain knowledge. I won't participate in any battles in Anandvana unless you approve it. Once I've achieved my goal, I'll leave and never return. If I break this contract, you're free to kill me on the spot. And until then, you can keep an eye on me yourself."

Mooai didn't lower her guard, but she seemed to consider his offer. After a moment, she nodded slowly. "Fine. But if you even think of betraying this contract, I won't hesitate to end you."

Nero smirked, swallowing his pride. "Hehe… sounds fair."

Mooai pulled out a scroll and laid it on the ground between them. Nero signed the contract with his soul, the binding magic sealing their agreement.

As soon as it was done, Nero retracted the dagger and stepped away from Mani, who looked visibly relieved.

"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, still glaring at him.

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