Haidoro stood on top of the boulder, holding the defeated Ganaraj.
Ganaraj had lost consciousness.
Mala, Grimori, Kel and Surya stared at him with nervous eyes.
Gaja had joined them too.
But Gaja was furious.
His ruler was being held disrespectfully?
That was something he couldn't accept.
He tried to attack Haidoro, only to be knocked out by Grimori.
Rage would only cloud his judgement.
Haidoro threw Ganaraj away.
The southern pole of the planet had been completely destroyed due to the battle between Ganaraj and Haidoro.
[Haidoro]: Seems like your happiness witnessed an eclipse.
Haidoro said in a deep voice.
[Haidoro]: As they say, celebrating before the win will only drag you away from your goal.
He glanced at Surya.
[Haidoro]: I have finally realised that no matter how many times I defeat you, you will all return stronger. I can see it. In that case, I shall finish you once and for all.
He said as he started walking towards them.
[Kel]: Don't worry. He must have used Range Shiftling, Speed, a lot during his fight against Ganaraj. He won't use it again. He won't have the speed advantage.
[Grimori]: No. Even without Range Shiftling, he is faster than almost all of us.
Grimori said, analysing Haidoro.
Before anyone could understand what was happening, Haidoro's fist was already approaching Kel's face.
Kel could barely perceive it.
CLINK.
Haidoro's punch was intercepted by Surya's sword.
Kel jumped back to a safer distance.
[Haidoro]: Do you insist on being the first?
[Surya]: Shut up.
Surya said, forcing Haidoro back.
[Surya]: 1000 Swords.
Images of a thousand gigantic swords appeared in the sky before launching themselves towards Haidoro.
Not a single one could touch him.
He was standing on top of a monument formed from the swords, glaring at everyone below him.
[Haidoro]: I need to start with the easiest prey.
He said.
Kel tried covering himself, thinking Haidoro was talking about him.
He was wrong.
Haidoro reached Ganaraj and raised his hand, preparing to fire a magma beam straight through his head.
[Mala]: Don't do that!
Everyone tensed.
Everyone cared about Ganaraj.
DHOOMP.
Something crashed down.
Ganaraj was saved.
Ganari had finally arrived.
She took Ganaraj away with her.
The Queen Regnant of Morco Ganas.
The wife of Ganaraj.
Ganari.
Surya sighed in relief.
Haidoro could only give an annoyed expression.
[Haidoro]: Seems like the bugs are increasing.
Haidoro dashed towards Ganari, caring nothing about the others.
Surya tried to intercept him but was thrown away.
Ganari was struck in the head by Haidoro's fist and sent flying.
[Haidoro]: One down.
[Mala]: Range Shiftling, Boost.
As soon as she uttered those words, she lunged towards Haidoro.
However, Haidoro reached Kel first and punched him in the neck, knocking him out.
[Haidoro]: Two down.
Only three remained.
*
Nini and Pratik were running through the burning forests.
[Nini]: Can't you use your teleportation for moments like this?
[Pratik]: Sorry, but... I can't remember my initial coordinates well.
Pratik said, making a goofy, apologetic face.
[Nini]: I can only hope everyone is fine.
[Pratik]: Me too. I have finally found a way to take down Haidoro. We can surely win this.
[Nini]: Yeah, we need to hurry. Thanks to Lila, we finally made a serum that can remove the effects of anti-healing. Surya will recover from all his previous wounds.
She said with concern in her voice.
[Pratik]: Someone seems to be too fond of Surya.
Pratik said, giving her a teasing side-eye.
[Nini]: Ghg... You're the worst.
She said with a red, embarrassed face.
Just a few moments later, they would witness something they would never forget...
*
Haidoro had almost recovered all of his power.
[Haidoro]: Now I should check the extent of the power I have recovered.
He said as he transformed into Dragon Beast Form.
His roar alone almost knocked Mala, Grimori and Surya unconscious.
The gigantic transformation stared at them with eyes that already seemed victorious.
At this moment, everyone realised it.
They had no chance of winning against this monster.
But something even worse awaited them.
Divya Dru.
Surya knew how it worked.
Despite all his efforts, he already knew the result.
Surya burst his Aura towards Mala and Grimori, who were frozen in place, throwing them out of the battlefield.
Surya remained as the target.
Divya Dru chose Surya as its target.
The slash departed from Haidoro and immediately began approaching Surya at an untraceable speed.
Realising the depth of the situation, Surya released his most powerful attack stored within him.
[Surya]: 1000 Swords Combination.
An imaginary giant sword with unbelievable strength appeared in front of Surya.
Divya Dru could erase concepts themselves.
So, if it erased Surya's technique, he could still counter its secondary ability, Destruction, with his other sword.
Those were Surya's thoughts.
In a sense, he was right.
It would have been entirely true if he were fighting the weakened Haidoro.
However, against a 70%-recovered Haidoro, this no longer held true.
The imaginary sword was bisected in half, just as Surya expected.
And then something unexpected happened...
*
Pratik and Nini finally reached the battlefield.
It was dark, with everything illuminated only by the burning forests and the lava pools scattered everywhere.
As soon as they reached a cliff, they saw something they never thought could be true.
Their hearts raced at an unbelievable pace.
Nini dashed towards the battlefield without another thought.
Pratik fell to his knees, his eyes widened.
Tears left his eyes.
They witnessed the upper body of Surya falling apart.
Surya's upper body fell while his lower body remained standing on the ground.
He coughed more and more blood.
His eyes grew heavy.
Nini reached him and immediately gave him several doses of serum.
She couldn't stop crying.
Her whole body was trembling with horror.
None of the serum was working.
She became even more terrified.
[Nini]: Wake up. Wake up! You said we would marry, right?! I accept it!! Didn't you want it? I finally accept it. Please don't leave me. I'm sorry, I always rejected you, but now I finally accepted it. Please don't leave me.
She was losing her words.
It was becoming difficult for her to even speak.
[Nini]: Please don't leave me!!! After everything we've lived through!! Please let us live more!
[Surya]: Seems like this ends here... Find yourself someone else... I am sorry...
Surya said softly as his eyes began closing.
Nini screamed as she collapsed.
But just before Surya's eyes could completely close, he witnessed something else entirely.
He found himself surrounded by endless light.
What was this?
His body?
No.
It seemed to be his soul.
Three entities stood before him...
The three entities considered the pinnacle of omnipotence.
The End Trio.
The warning given by White Cloak had finally come true.
One of Pratik's allies would face a trial before death.
A trial the ally must refuse...
[End Trio]: You have been given two choices, O honoured one.
[End Trio]: Accept, and you will be granted limitless power, but you will lose your will. Refuse, and you will lose your life as it is. What do you choose?
Surya simply stared at them in silence, mild surprise visible on his face.
What would he choose?
To be continued...