The prison is never meant to breathe.
For thousands of years it remains silent—
—a sealed fragment of existence.
Only the endless walls of divine sealing.
And yet…
Something inside moves.
A crack of black energy crawls across the ancient barrier like a scar reopening after centuries.
The seals tremble.
Not breaking.
But reacting.
As if the prison itself suddenly realizes something inside it has entered.
Deep within the endless darkness, something slowly opens its eyes.
"…How fascinating,"
a voice murmurs from somewhere within the void.
"The universe still believes this cage can hold them."
But the disturbance has already begun.
Far away, on Earth, six months have passed since the battle with the alien invaders.
Morning sunlight stretches across a quiet training field outside the city.
Wind moves gently through the grass.
A sharp punch cuts through the air.
"501…"
Another strike follows instantly.
"502…"
Dust lifts from the ground.
"503…"
A small figure drops onto the grass.
Sin rolls onto his back, breathing heavily, staring up at the sky as if it might spin away from him.
"Enough, Dad… for today!"
Romen lowers his guard slowly.
Sweat runs down Sin's face, and his arms tremble from exhaustion.
For a moment Romen simply observes him.
Then he nods with quiet approval.
"I'm impressed, Sin."
The boy pushes himself up onto his elbows.
"It clearly reflects that you have my blood," Romen continues calmly.
"Your potential is impressive for a ten-year-old."
Sin tries to look proud despite barely being able to stand.
Before he can respond, another voice echoes from the nearby house.
"Romen. Enough."
Marina steps outside with her arms folded.
"He is just a kid."
Sin immediately points at his father.
"See!"
Romen sighs slightly.
"I'm sorry," he says, though he doesn't sound particularly guilty.
"But it's important."
Marina walks across the field and places a hand on Sin's shoulder.
"Important doesn't mean destroying him."
Sin wipes sweat from his forehead.
"I'm not destroyed," he says weakly.
Marina raises an eyebrow.
Sin pauses.
"…Okay maybe a little."
Romen chuckles quietly.
The peaceful moment lasts only a few seconds.
A rush of wind stirs above them.
A figure descends from the sky and lands lightly on the field.
Paul brushes dust from his coat.
"Morning."
Romen smiles slightly.
"Hey, Paul. What's up, buddy?"
Paul stretches his shoulders casually.
"Nothing much."
Sin brightens immediately.
"Uncle Paul!"
Paul gives him a small salute.
"Still surviving your dad's training?"
"Barely."
Paul laughs.
Romen glances toward Paul.
"I thought you were training with Punk."
Paul shrugs.
"Was supposed to."
Romen frowns slightly.
"Punk?"
"Yeah."
Romen looks away briefly.
"He doesn't talk that much with me right now."
Paul tilts his head.
"Still?"
Romen nods.
The wind passes quietly over the field again.
Then suddenly Romen freezes.
A faint voice echoes inside his mind.
Not loud.
But clear.
Romen.
Come to the Ascension planet.
Bring the others.
"Something bad is about to happen."
The voice vanishes as quickly as it appears.
Paul notices Romen's expression immediately.
"You heard something."
Romen exhales slowly.
"yes maybe ."
Paul's eyes sharpen.
"Ascension?"
Romen nods.
"We need Punk."
Paul smirks slightly.
"You know where he is?"
Romen shakes his head.
"No."
Paul folds his arms.
"But I do."
Romen raises an eyebrow.
"Where?"
Paul grins.
"At home."
"With his wife."
Romen blinks.
"…What?"
Paul nods calmly.
"Punk married Lancia."
Sin and Marina's jaws drop.
"Wait… Uncle Punk got married?"
Romen shakes his head slowly.
"Well… that explains a lot."
Paul points toward the sky.
"Let's go."
Romen nods once.
Both men launch upward.
Within seconds they disappear into the sky.
—
Punk's house stands quietly near the coast.
Inside, sunlight fills the small dining room.
Lancia places a bowl on the table.
"You should eat before it gets cold."
Punk leans back in his chair.
He looks calmer than he used to.
Less restless.
Marriage has clearly changed him in subtle ways.
He picks up his spoon.
Then the roof shakes slightly.
Punk sighs.
The door breaks .
Romen and Paul step inside.
Paul waves casually.
"Lunch time?"
Punk stares at them.
"You two ruined my door again."
"We landed gently," Paul says.
"You call that gentle?"
Romen looks around the house.
"So this is where you disappeared."
Punk crosses his arms.
"I didn't disappear."
"You married," Paul replies.
"Same thing."
Lancia smiles politely.
"You should sit."
Romen shakes his head.
"Sorry for interrupting."
Punk's expression turns serious.
" I was feeling god until you two come here "
"So why are you here?"
Romen answers simply.
"Ascension gods called."
"Then go. I'm giving you permission."
"We are not asking your permission," Paul says shockingly.
"You have to come."
"Punk," Romen says.
"It's serious. We need you."
Punk glances toward Lancia.
She already understands.
"Go," she says softly.
Punk grabs his combat jacket from a nearby chair.
Dark armor lines the shoulders and arms.
Paul adjusts his long coat and tightens the belt around his waist.
Romen simply rolls his sleeves slightly.
"Ready?" Paul asks.
Punk nods.
"Let's move."
They step outside.
The sky stretches wide above them.
Three figures launch upward together.
—
The Ascension planet floats far beyond the known systems.
A massive world surrounded by radiant energy and ancient structures.
When the three warriors arrive, a great gate opens before them.
Inside stand three figures.
The Supreme Ascension.
An Elder Ascension.
And another silent god observing from the shadows.
Romen, Punk, and Paul step forward.
The Supreme speaks first.
"The balance of the universe has shifted."
Romen folds his arms.
"What happened?"
The Elder Ascension answers.
"A prison sealed long ago has begun reacting."
Punk smirks slightly.
"And you want us to check it."
"Yes."
One small ring float forward.
"This is the balance ring," the Supreme says.
"This allow entry and exit through sealed zones."
Paul examines his ring.
"And the reward?"
"Power," the Elder replies calmly.
"You can become an Ascension god."
He then looks toward Romen and Punk and says firmly,
"Your suspensions can also be canceled."
Romen looks shocked.
"Canceled?"
"Finally…" Punk says with a smile.
Romen slips the ring onto his finger.
"Sounds interesting."
Romen steps toward the gateway opening behind the gods.
"When do we leave?"
The Supreme answers.
Now !
" But before leaving A warning to you all "
Warning?" Romen asks while smiling
The elder Ascension answers,
The chances of survival at that prison is only
1 % .
The sentence alone shocks the warriors
"What one percent only ?"
I am not going there then,
Paul says while Fear on his face reflecting clearly.
A gateway leading toward the sealed prison appears.
Romen smirks.
"Well."
"One percent?"
Romen smiles slightly.
"Then we just have to make sure we are the one percent."
Punk cracks his knuckles.
"One percent?"
Punk smirks.
"Good. I was worried it might be too easy."
"Let's see what's inside."
Romen steps forward first.
The portal swallows them in light.
And the three warriors enter the prison.
Chapter Ends.