Pranith flew across the battlefield, experiencing for the first time what a real fight for peace looked like. He drifted above the fallen bodies of soldiers, watching the chaos from up close. Dhruva was defeating every soldier who came his way, but his expression carried something different—something painful. His eyes were watery, filled not with rage, but with sorrow… yet his magic was merciless.
Pranith couldn't understand it.
Why does Dhruva look like he's about to cry? What is happening to him? He's defeating everyone, but his eyes… they're saying something else.
Pranith grew frustrated. I want to know why Dhruva is acting like this…
Then an idea sparked in his mind.
If I could enter Rudra's mind, maybe I can enter Dhruva's too. If I can see what he sees… maybe I can understand.
Without hesitation, Pranith attempted to enter Dhruva's mind.
Instantly, Dhruva's emotions flooded him—raw, intense, overwhelming.
Ten Minutes Earlier
"Dhruva, get ready," Rudra said. "Let's finish this quickly." The atmosphere grew heavy as soldiers advanced toward them.
Dhruva asked, "I'm ready, but do you have any plan to defeat them?"
Rudra smirked. "Well… I got one."
"Then tell me," Dhruva demanded.
"It's simple. I'll go defeat the commander who threw that woman at us. Meanwhile, you handle the soldiers. After that, we go for their leader."
Dhruva rolled his eyes. "What a lousy plan… Let's hope it works."
"Don't call it lousy. It's a master plan," Rudra insisted.
"Ahh, yeah, I see," Dhruva sighed. "Alright, I'll take care of the soldiers."
Dhruva charged forward, taking on the soldiers alone. At first, everything seemed normal… until he saw one of their faces up close.
A soldier rushed at him with a sword. Dhruva froze—not from fear, but shock.
The soldier's eyes were blood-red. The veins around them were swollen and dark, crawling toward the black pupils like roots. Dhruva quickly glanced at another soldier—same condition. Every soldier's eyes were corrupted.
Dhruva tried speaking to them, but the soldier cried out: "Kill us… please, free us! Free us from this endless curse… please!"
Yet even as he begged, his body continued attacking Dhruva without stopping.
Dhruva realized they were under a powerful spell.
He attempted to break the spell, but nothing changed. The curse was too deep.
Another soldier slashed toward him, tears in his own eyes as he whispered:
"We cannot be fixed… we've been like this since childhood… please kill us and free us… I'm begging you…"
From that moment on, Dhruva heard nothing but:
"Kill us… free us…"
"Kill us… free us…"
"Kill us… free us…"
He fought them relentlessly—cutting them down one by one. His magic slaughtered them, but his eyes betrayed a truth:
He didn't want to kill anyone.
Pranith finally understood Dhruva's behaviour. Dhruva wasn't killing enemies—he was granting mercy to cursed victims.
Pranith wanted to help, but then he saw the truth in Dhruva's heart.
The soldiers wanted freedom. Dhruva is freeing them. I shouldn't interfere. He will overcome this.
With that, Pranith turned to find Rudra.
Rudra vs. Cain
As Pranith reached Rudra's battlefield, someone flew past him and crashed to the ground—face covered in blood, eyes burning with rage.
A massive man with a muscular body, holding a spear, roared: "Rudra! I'm going to kill you, bastard!"
Pranith searched for Rudra and found him about a hundred meters away, standing calmly with his sword drawn, eyes locked on his opponent.
"If you want to kill me," Rudra said coldly, "you need more than power… Cain."
Pranith finally learned the name of the second-in-command: Cain.
Cain lunged with his spear, attacking wildly. But Rudra dodged every strike like he could read Cain's movements perfectly.
Pranith was stunned. Rudra was dominating the fight completely.
Rudra didn't want to drag the battle on. He raised his sword and released a technique.
"Sword Strike."
The attack sliced through Cain's spear—an iron weapon forged from a volcanic ore said to be unbreakable. The spear shattered into two pieces.
Cain was stunned, then smiled bitterly.
"You're as good as the old days… It's been years since we last fought."
Rudra placed his blade against Cain's neck.
"Tell me what I ask. Tell the truth. If not… die by my blade." Pranith watched closely.
Cain raised his hands in surrender. "Ohh, calm down, Rudra. I'll answer."
Rudra leaned forward. "Why is your group attacking this village?" Cain smirked. "I think you know that better than I do." "So it's about the children?"
"On the spot," Cain said. "You know what we're after. But you missed one more thing."
Pranith held his breath.
"What thing?" Rudra demanded.
Cain exhaled. "We're not the only group destroying villages. There are countless others out there. And we all follow one organization. They give the orders. We follow."
Rudra tightened his grip. "What was your order?"
"It wasn't a normal kidnapping mission," Cain replied. "This time… they were searching for something."
"What is it? Did you find it?"
"I don't know," Cain said. "Only the leader knows."
Rudra's voice hardened. "Then tell me the name of your organization."
Cain sighed.
"The Secret Shadows."
"I don't know much about them… but don't mess with them, Rudra."
Rudra smirked. "The ones who work in shadows… die in shadows. How's that?"
Cain chuckled weakly. "You still have humor… I never thought I'd see this version of you. Must be because of your friend."
Rudra's eyes softened for a moment.
Cain continued, voice trembling. "Rudra… I'm sorry. For what I did to this village… and for what I did in the past. But to atone… there is only one way."
Cain fell to his knees.
"Kill me here, Rudra. Please."
Rudra closed his eyes. "I always hoped you would walk the righteous path… but you chose evil. Cain… if you are reborn somewhere else, be a good person. That is my last wish for you."
Cain smiled. "Thank you… for being my friend. Goodbye."
With one swift strike, Rudra ended Cain's life.
Cain died with a peaceful smile.
Pranith stood silent, overwhelmed.
What… what exactly happened here…?