When Kakraj reached the two figures, they vanished like a mirror image breaking.
Immediately, a crimson flash erupted from the ground beneath, striking Kakraj and causing smoke to billow from his body.
Despite possessing powerful magical abilities, Kakraj bore no visible wounds.
However, his eyes glowed crimson with rage—not from the attack, but because his expensive coat had been ruined.
"You old sorcerer, you ruin my coat,when I'll find you and I'll kill you!" he complained, his voice raw with fury.
Meanwhile, Lekhaam and Virat were safely positioned on a distant hill.
They had teleported away moments before the attack, their escape facilitated by the Mirage Spell which had cleverly deceived Kakraj's eyes.
"How can he be standing straight after an attack that powerful?" Virat said anxiously.
"He is no ordinary being," Lekhaam explained grimly. "He is immune to all magical and physical attacks."
"What? Then how are we supposed to kill him?" Virat demanded.
Lekhaam responded, "To defeat him, we must use this dagger." He drew the weapon and handed it to Virat.
Virat hesitated. "But you are far more powerful and experienced than I am. You should be the one to use it."
"No. Only you can wield this. I cannot use it," Lekhaam stated.
"I can use it, but you can't? How is that even possible?" Virat pressed.
"This is not the time for questions and answers. Take the dagger. You must do this."
Virat took a deep breath. He steadied himself and murmured, "You can do this. Don't forget, you chose this path."
"Now do your duty"
Virat braced himself. Lekhaam instantly teleported both of them right in front of Kakraj.
Kakraj, who was still roaring curses, spotted them. "Ah, you two runaways are here!" he sneered, and immediately fired a searing purple beam from his mouth.
To shield them, Lekhaam instantly deployed a protective barrier.
"Listen, Virat," Lekhaam urged, his voice strained as he held the shield. "I will protect you from every one of his attacks, "But you will be the one who takes him out."
"Okay I will do it, he said."
Lekhaam placed his hand on Virat and began chanting a spell.
Virat's body started to glow a faint blue. "What's happening to me?" Virat exclaimed.
"I have granted you enhanced physical strength and speed for a few moments," Lekhaam replied. "You are now fast and strong enough to strike him."
Virat felt an extraordinary surge of power course through his body.
"Go, Virat! Now you are superior! You can do this!" Lekhaam urged.
Virat darted towards Kakraj with incredible speed. He aimed the dagger directly at Kakraj's heart, but Kakraj was equally swift. He dodged the strike with surprising agility.
Then, Kakraj snarled, "Pulse Rate!" and unleashed a deep purple shockwave of energy. It slammed into Virat, but Lekhaam's timely shield intercepted the full force of the blast, protecting him.
An invisible barrier now enveloped Virat, a powerful defense conjured by Lekhaam. It was so potent that Kakraj, despite his continuous onslaught, could not shatter it.
Kakraj launched attack after attack, but Virat, with his newfound speed, would swiftly dodge, or Lekhaam's shield would intercept the blow. Yet, Kakraj was incredibly fast himself.
Not a single one of Virat's empowered strikes could connect with its target.
Kakraj let out a mocking laugh and, with a powerful beat of his wings, ascended high into the air.
Seeing this, Lekhaam began chanting another spell. Virat's body once again began to glow blue.
"Go, Virat!" Lekhaam commanded. "Now you can fly! Try it!"
As Virat concentrated, his feet lifted from the ground, and he began to float in the air.
However, his balance was wobbly. Seeing his struggle, Lekhaam quickly cast another incantation, and Virat's balance instantly stabilized.
With newfound control, Virat soared into the air, reaching Kakraj's altitude.
"Do you really think you can defeat me?" Kakraj sneered.
I know. I am just a mortal man without monstrous and magical powers like yours. But I possess a great purpose."
"And I possess the will to see it fulfilled."
"I have to save this world, and for that, I will go to any length. It is my divine purpose, and I will see it done!"
You won't succeed," Kakraj declared.
"I will succeed!" Virat countered passionately. "I will do this for my family, I will do this for my father, mother, and my friends! To save this world from ruin! For my beloved Soumya—I must see this through!" he shouted, his voice ringing with conviction.
"Wow, what a speech," Kakraj drawled. "A weak, ordinary human talking such big words."
"But you are just a frail human"
"Whom I could crush in an instant."
"This Crow is quite the loudmouth," Lekhham said. He stood at a distance.
"Being human is my strength, not my weakness! Today, it will be a human who kills you," Virat announced fiercely.
After this battle, I will strip the flesh from your bones and feast on it!"
He Said with a laugh;
"Perhaps I'll even use some spices and marinate you properly before I eat you!"
After delivering his words, kakraj drew a sword from his mouth. Its hilt was like a crow's beak, from which a black blade was emerging. The entire sword was black, and a purple aura was emanating from it.
Let's see how much fight you have in you!" Kakraj challenged, preparing to strike.
Virat tightened his grip on his dagger and retorted, "Come on then! Let's see who's stronger!"
Kakraj lunged forward, and Virat met him halfway. When their blades first collided, a dangerous sonic wave erupted, creating a powerful blast.
The impact was so intense that it momentarily changed the atmosphere and dispersed the clouds above.
The two continued to clash their weapons repeatedly, each strike unleashing an even greater shockwave.
Whenever these shockwaves hit a nearby hill or tree, the object was instantly shattered to dust.
Then, one blow finally landed on Virat. He was sent plummeting toward the ground at high speed.
Just as he fell, Kakraj launched a Flash Attack with his sword—a swift, sharp purple wave shot out and was about to hit Virat.
But in that instant, Virat teleported.
He reappeared directly in front of Kakraj.
"You haven't forgotten me, have you, loudmouth bird?" said Lekhham.
Kakraj screamed in a fury of rage, "You coffin dodger old geezer! Don't you know how to fight fair and square?!"
Talk of 'fair and square'? Such honorable words don't suit a deceitful bird like you!" Lekhham said.
While Kakraj's attention was diverted elsewhere, Virat lunged at him.
But Kakraj was absolute speed and dodged the attack with effortless ease.
Virat was starting to tire.
"See? I told you!" Kakraj taunted, "Just a mere human-- just a mammal,—you can't win against me! Listen to me, and I'll give you an easy end."
Shut up, Crow!" Virat snapped, panting heavily. His voice was thick with fury. "You prattle on too much! If I am a mere mammal, then you are a loud-mouthed Crow whose wings I will clip today, and that sword you pulled out? I'll shove it right back where it came from!"
He fixed Kakraj with an intense stare. "I swear an oath today, you will die by my very hands!"
"Oh, really? Can you really?
Let's see you try," Kakraj replied. His tone was clearly one of mockery and provocation.
Let's see how you escape this," he snarled, and his surroundings instantly consumed by a crushing darkness.
No! This can't be!"
"No, this isn't possible! He can't use the Dark Dimension!" Lekhham cried out in astonishment.
"But now I've learned, kakraj replied, cackling with laughter.
My magic will weaken in the Dark Dimension!" Lekhham's warning was a desperate echo, but it was already too late. Virat had been utterly swallowed by the gloom.
He was instantly blinded, yet he sensed something wet and sickening beneath his boots. Reaching down, his hand met a cold, sticky, viscous liquid.
Then, a faint illumination pierced the blackness from above. It was the haunting glow of a purple moon, blazing with an unnatural violet fire. The sudden, blinding light forced Virat to recoil.
The sickening truth was revealed: he was standing in a mire of blood. Countless, mutilated corpses were strewn everywhere, being viciously torn apart and devoured by an endless, hungry swarm of crows.
From the peak of a mountain of decaying bodies, Kakraj's voice rang out.
"Look, Virat! Look closely! This is your recurring nightmare, isn't it? Just as those crows consumed you in your sleep, today I will ensure they tear you apart and devour you here!"
Lekhaam's magic was slowly fading, but only determination was visible in Virat's eyes. He had to destroy Kakraj no matter what. He looked straight into Kakraj's eyes, fearless, and said out loud, "I don't fear you."
"Oh, really? You don't fear me?" Kakraj sneered. "Let's see how you react after you witness this."
Kakraj spread his arms, and a fierce, purplish-red light erupted from his body. His muscles began to swell and bulk up, glowing an intense deep purple. The sound of his bones stretching and shifting echoed through the air as his shape started to distort. Virat watched the entire transformation in stunned amazement.
Above him, the rapidly growing shadow of Kakraj loomed. Then, a colossal silhouette became visible, its shape resembling that of a dragon, yet possessing the massive head of a crow. Its face was dominated by a large, light-gray beak and its eyes glowed a dark purple.
This immense being was suspended high in the sky—so vast that its shadow blocked a portion of the moonlight streaming down from the heavens.
The creature's massive, booming voice resonated, asking, "Tell me now... Do you still not fear me?"
"Even witnessing this horrific sight, where anyone would naturally feel the pull of fear, Virat remained standing.
He looked in his eyes, took a deep breath, chuckled softly and then he said...
You know what people say,
They say
"when it rains, it pours."