1. The golden flash

2. Three trails

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Hah! Hah!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A man was pushing his bike up the hill straight toward the burning sun in the distance.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Ring! Ring!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The phone in his pocket continuously rang. He gritted his teeth and picked up his phone&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Hello!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The man replied.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Where the fuck are you? It&#x27;s been over an hour for fuck sake... where the hell are you?&#x22; The lady in the call yelled at him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Will be there within five minutes mam.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The man replied politely.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Nah I canceling the order!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The lady yelled and disconnected the call.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Hah...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The man sighed and slid the phone into his pocket and looked up at the sky frustratingly.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;&#x27;Why is this happening to me?&#x27;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He muttered gritting his teeth.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;His name is Asuran a man in his mid-twenties who was striving to survive. He works as a delivery boy in the evenings and as an office employee during the night. To top it off he works in a local departmental store and on weekends he works on construction sites.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran is a man of passion and sheer will. He is the breadwinner of his family. With his sister and mother being bedridden he could not seek help from his not-so-helpful alcoholic father. So, he ended up being the one who has to carry all the burden.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;As a man, he didn&#x27;t whine and just accepted his fate. And chose to chase his dreams whilst supporting his family which made his life ultimately even harder.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;To increase the burden even more there was a heavy debt that needed to be paid. These all stressed him even more.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;***&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;&#x27;Hah...It is what it is.&#x27;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran mumbled inwardly entering his house.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;It was a small house with just three rooms. With one being the hall and the other being the kitchen the last room was the bedroom where both his sister and mother were resting.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;His father was lying on the floor, next to him were a few liquor bottles.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Give me some money... Give me money!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;His father yelled grabbing his ankle.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Fucking drunkard!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran cursed as he removed his t-shirt.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He had to get ready for the night shift. So he couldn&#x27;t waste his time fighting him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The room was not even big enough to contain more than three people yet, it was dumped with things here and there, making it even smaller.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;As far as there was a place for shelter Asuran and his family didn&#x27;t see a problem with that.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He moved to the bathroom wearing a towel and stopped in front of the mirror.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;&#x27;I am rich! I am Happy! I am strong!&#x27;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He affirmed looking at the mirror.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;His eyes were burning with passion in the reflection. But, his complexion conveyed a different story. There were dark circles around his eyes and they were droopy, clearly showing that there was a scarcity in his sleep.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;From the outside, he had a tough shell and the appearance of a calm man, but internally he was in chaos. He was tired and fed up with everything. Now all that&#x27;s left was a lifeless man pushing himself to provide for his family.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;After finishing his bath he got out of his bathroom with a freshened look. And dressed up neatly for his night shift.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Water...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A voice too low to be heard gained his attention as he was tucking his shirt.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Mother?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He asked raising his eyebrows.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Water!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Thud!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The sound of a person falling to the ground was heard followed by the request.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Ahhh!Dammit!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran cursed and pushed the tv near him in anger.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;His drunken father asked looking at him with his reddened eyes showing that he was high.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Without paying attention to him, Asuran entered the bedroom.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;There she was groaning in pain. It was none other than his mother.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Why am I even alive?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He uttered helplessly as he lifted her body and placed her back.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Knock! Knock!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Someone knocked on the door viciously. He knew who that was but stayed quiet. He prioritized giving medicine to both his mother and sister and then approached the door.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Thud!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Suddenly the door broke open as the latch got detached. There were a few men standing at the entrance of the house. All of them looked crude and rowdy judging by their appearance.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;How many times should we come and go? When the hell are you planning to pay?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Sir... I&#x27;ll pay my debt by next week.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Next week? I need it now!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I don&#x27;t have anything, sir...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Don&#x27;t have anything? Your si...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Before he could finish the sentence Asuran threw a blow with all his might.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The man fell to the ground as his teeth flew in the air. In the next few moments, multiple fists raced toward Asuran.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x27;Fuck&#x27;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran cursed inwardly realizing that he was done for.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;You son of a bitch! You dare to attack us?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;One of the men said and stomped on him and the next second another guy slammed a stool on his back.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;You don&#x27;t even have the resource to return back the money you received! You dare to attack us?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;One of the men scolded and punched his face.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran endured all the attacks until the men grew tired.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;If you don&#x27;t pay the money by tomorrow. I&#x27;ll take your sister.&#x22; One of the men named Varun said wearing a smile.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran stared at him gritting his teeth as Varun licked his lips wearing a wicked look on his face.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x27;Varun...Just wait until I get back at you bastards!&#x27;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Varun is a local landlord and rowdy who grew up in the slum. Most importantly Varun was Asuran&#x27;s childhood friend but as they grew up they both chose different paths.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Since he was a friend in his past Asuran borrowed from him but, unfortunately Varun was the worst of all the other loan sharks he had debts with.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Come on! Let&#x27;s go!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;One of the men called Varun and pulled him out of the house.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran sighed inwardly and turned his eyes toward the clock.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;...!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He was late for his work.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He raised up and once again began to continue with his work as though nothing happened. After tucking his shirt he mounted his bike.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;***&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He was speeding through the road without giving a damn about the signals. He was broke the traffic laws just to reach on time.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He could rather go late than pay a huge sum of penalty but, his reason for rash driving was not that he was late. It was because he was enraged.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He disregarded his life and engaged in thrill. He rushed toward a bus that was on the other side and quickly made a sharp cut.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A strange ecstasy took over him as he smiled like a madman.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Beep!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A notification rang on his phone that was attached to the bike and the very microsecond he averted his attention to it, he was hit by a car mirror. With how fast he was traveling, a slight nudge could throw him over.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;....!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;That was all, everything became slow as he was floating in the air, and the momentum was forcing him toward the truck. In any case, he couldn&#x27;t react or move his body. In fact, he couldn&#x27;t even think.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;It was as though he was watching it happen from a third-person point of view.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Crash!!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;His vision slowly faded.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;***&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A few months later,&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Beep! Beep!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The slow lullaby of beep sounds reached his eardrums. He gulped a huge lump of air as his throat was filled with dryness.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Doctor! Doctor the patient has woken up!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He hadn&#x27;t opened his eyes but he could tell that this was the nurse. When he opened his eyes, he couldn&#x27;t see anything. Everything was blurred.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;When he tried to descend the bed...&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Thud!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He fell to the ground.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He couldn&#x27;t sense his legs. That&#x27;s when he realized that he had lost his legs.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Ahhh!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A scream filled the room.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;After a while, the doctors came and calmed him down. They explained that he&#x27;s lost his legs as a consquence of the accident and he can&#x27;t see past the range of five meters since he recieved brain damage after testing him with scans and sorts. He was gifted with several disabilities on top of his unfortunate life now.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Did anyone come to visit me?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;When Asuran asked the nurse, she looked at him wearing a distressed look on her face.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I am sorry... Both your mother and sister have died after being unable to get proper treatment.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;After that, she left him alone.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He stayed in the hospital for a few days in solitude unable to mourn their deaths. A few debt collectors stormed in and urged him to pay money and took all his remaining belongings. It seems his father has ran away from the city to somewhere else.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Now, he had lost his job and none to console or support him. There was no source of income and he was in ditress.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Sitting in his wheelchair he stared at the sky and slowly began to speak.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Why god why? Why did this happen to me?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He gritted his teeth and began to curse unable to endure the wrath and miserable feeling.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Are you even there? If so come down you fucker! Why don&#x27;t you answer my calls? &#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Suddenly a blinding golden light flashed and lit across the entire streets.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Though he had a blurry vision he could clearly feel the brightly shining person before him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I am real...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A dignified voice reached him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Why now of all times?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran questioned wearing a sad look.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Because your time on earth has ended.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Did he mishear?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Ended?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran asked once again to verify whether what he heard was true. Because he couldn&#x27;t digest the truth. The man proclaiming to be god has appeared, now of all times and he&#x27;s saying that his time on earth has ended. He just couldn&#x27;t accept it...&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Asuran has led a life filled with misfortune and trouble. A drunken father, mother, and sister who were on death bed, in heavy debt, a hard life that was his life back ground.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;But after he met up with one of the unfortunate events that crippled him and in the aftermath, everything changed. He lost the ability to walk and see.&#x26;nbsp;Being frustrated after losing his family he cursed at the heavens as a means to subside his anger.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;However, surprisingly one of the gods arrived in front of him.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Unfortunately, he was there just to communicate that his life span has expired. But there was a chance for him to oppose the absolute certainty called death.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;To not rot in hell and suffer for eternity he must fulfill one of the three trials under the gods&#x27; command in order to safely ascend.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;After choosing the toughest of all the trails Asura embarks on a journey once again as a peasant in a world that was already filled with heroes who are going against the wicked king.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Will he outshine the heroes and the villains? What is the reason behind is unfortunate life?&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;