Everything was covered in smoke.
The air felt heavy as black ash filled the surroundings.
Coughing echoed faintly. Burned bodies lay scattered across the ground.
The land itself was destroyed. Craters and ashes painted a horrifying scene.
Far away, Ayush's body lay motionless.
His breathing hitched slowly, fading with every second.
"Mom…" he muttered weakly. His voice barely came out.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't bring you back…"
A tear slipped from his eye.
Flashback
Ayush stood inside a gym, lifting a dumbbell confidently.
He smiled proudly as girls behind him whispered in admiration.
"See?" he chuckled. "I told you I'm strong."
One girl spoke shyly. "You really are… Mr. Ayush…"
Ayush blushed slightly. "Thanks…"
Flashback Shift
Ayush stood inside a lab, wearing a red coat.
Gloves covered his hands. A glass shield hid his eyes.
"You're saying… you can revive my mother?" his voice trembled.
The bald man smiled softly.
"Of course, boy…" he said calmly.
"If we obtain their power… we can do anything."
"We will become gods… and rule the world."
He raised his hand slowly.
"Join us."
Ayush grabbed his hand without hesitation.
"Thank you… you're my savior…"
Present
"…Maybe I shouldn't have agreed…" Ayush whispered weakly.
Regret crushed him harder than pain.
"Mom… please forgive me…"
His heartbeat slowed.
Then—
It stopped.
His eyes closed forever.
Inside the police station, the atmosphere felt cold and silent.
The lights were out. Only darkness lingered in the air.
Officer Roger stood still, his expression sharp.
"Someone destroyed the power plant…" he muttered coldly.
"…Who could it be?"
He slowly turned his head toward another officer.
Officer Arsh stood up from his chair.
"We don't know much yet, sir…" he replied seriously.
He paused for a moment.
"…Let's go check it ourselves."
He grabbed the keys from the table.
Roger picked up his jacket calmly.
He slid his arms into the sleeves, his movements slow and controlled.
"…Let's move quickly," he said in a low tone.
Both of them walked toward the door.
Each footstep echoed in the silent station.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Arsh spoke again, his voice lower this time.
"…Maybe it could be…"
He hesitated for a second.
"…Ashura."
Back at the destruction site, everything was burning.
Broken houses lay scattered, destroyed by the explosion.
Bodies were lying everywhere.
The power plant was engulfed in flames.
The blast had been… insane.
At the edge of the ruined ground, the bald man stood still.
He coughed blood from his mouth.
"We… lost to a 17-year-old boy…" his voice trembled.
"Shame on us…" his words broke halfway.
"Twenty-four guards… two supernatural beings…" "Ishaan… Ayush…"
"…and even the commander me…"
"Still… we couldn't defeat a single boy."
He slowly turned his back.
His steps were unsteady as he began to walk away.
"Ashura Rivaan…" he muttered coldly.
"I won't leave you next time."
He carried Ayush's lifeless body beside him.
Ash and blood stained everything around them.
Behind him, Ishaan spoke weakly.
"…Let's leave…"
His body was fragile, burned and damaged.
Ishaan lowered his gaze.
I lost…
A shura… you're stronger than me…
Within the flames, Ashura lay on the ground.
His body curled protectively around something he held close to his chest.
His skin was burned red.
It looked like it would peel off at any moment.
He gasped for air.
His eyes trembled as he slowly looked at his palm.
"…Thank God… it's fine…" he muttered weakly.
He opened his hand slightly.
The pendant rested there… safe.
A small, fragile smile appeared on his lips.
"…Ruhi's birthday…" he whispered.
His clothes were torn and burned.
One of his eyes darkened from the damage.
His hair was messy… yet somehow made him look more dangerous.
Ashura clutched his chest tightly.
Pain shot through his entire body.
Still—
He forced himself to stand.
"…Let's go…" he muttered.
"It's already late…"
His legs trembled violently.
But he didn't fall.
From the side, Aaron watched in shock.
His own body was cracked and burned.
He was too weak to even sit properly.
"…How is this even possible…" Aaron whispered.
"He fought… he dominated…" his voice shook.
"He's injured… completely broken…"
"…and still…"
"…he's standing…"
Aaron coughed blood.
"Ashura Rivaan…" he muttered weakly.
"What… are you…?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"…Maybe that's why they're hunting you…"
His vision blurred.
"…Thank you…"
Aaron's eyes closed.
He fell unconscious.
Ashura forced himself to run.
His legs were weak… almost broken… yet he didn't stop.
Pain shot through his body with every step.
Still—he kept moving forward.
I made her cry last night…
His thoughts echoed faintly.
I can't do the same today…
"I have to reach… before the birthday ends…" he muttered weakly.
His voice was barely audible.
It felt more like a thought than sound.
At home
Ruhi stood near the window.
Her fingers tightened against the glass.
"He still hasn't come…" she whispered nervously.
"His phone is off…"
Avni's voice turned cold.
"He's unbelievable…"
Yash slammed his hand on the table.
"How could he do this?!"
"Does he even remember he has a sister waiting for him?!" he shouted.
"How cruel can Ashura be…?"
Neha yelled in anger.
"I swear… I'll slap him when he gets here!"
Ayman muttered under his breath.
"He made my girl cry…"
Riya gently held Ruhi's arm.
She pulled her closer protectively.
"We won't forgive him," she said coldly.
Nyra sighed, clearly irritated.
"Rishabh, can you go check on him?"
Rishabh sat still, thinking.
"It's too dark… and the lights are out…"
"I don't want to get lost…"
"You're not a kid, big bro," Harsh snapped.
His voice was filled with anger.
Rivaan glanced at Aryan for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Can you go check on my son… please?"
He reached for the keys slowly.
Aryan nodded with a calm expression.
"As you say, uncle…"
Shina stood silently near the window.
"…We can wait," she whispered softly.
"He'll come soon…"
"Bhabhi, don't say that," Reyansh pouted angrily.
"He always does this…"
Ruhi's eyes filled with pain.
Her gaze turned colder.
Silence surrounded her.
From behind, Shizu leaned closer to Shina.
"Hey… don't support Ashura right now," she whispered.
"Everyone's already angry…"
Shina nodded nervously.
"…Okay…"
Aryan's eyes darkened slightly.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
The plan worked… step by step…
His inner voice turned colder.
Now everyone thinks Ashura ran away…
But in reality… he's already dead.
Thanks to Riya…
He slowly shifted his gaze toward her.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
He blinked subtly.
A signal.
Riya smiled calmly.
Her expression looked soft… but her eyes were cold.
It worked…
He's finally gone…
Now there's only one target left…
Shina.
From the side, Shizu watched both of them carefully.
Her brows narrowed slightly.
Something's wrong…
She inhaled slowly.
I can feel it…
She leaned slightly toward Shina.
Just as she was about to whisper—
The lights suddenly turned back on.
The room filled with brightness.
Everyone gasped at once.
"…Finally…" Yash muttered.
Relief spread across his face.
Riya grabbed Ruhi's arm.
"Ruhi, let's cut the cake… that idiot isn't coming," she snapped.
Ruhi hesitated.
"But… it's our birthday… we should wait…"
"No more waiting," Ayman said, slamming the cake box on the table.
Neha nodded seriously.
"Yeah… we're tired of waiting. It's already 9:13."
Yash muttered under his breath.
"I won't forgive you, brat…"
Everyone stood in silence, exchanging looks.
"Let's start," Rivaan said coldly.
For a moment, his eyes looked… harsh.
Ruhi lowered her gaze.
"…Okay… let's cut."
She picked up the knife.
Her hand trembled as she raised it.
"Sing…" someone said softly.
The room filled with a forced cheer.
"Happy birthday to you…"
"Happy birthday to you…"
"Happy birthday dear Ruhi…"
"Happy birthday to you…"
Ruhi smiled faintly.
It didn't reach her eyes.
She sliced the cake.
A piece came off clean.
"Dad… eat…" she said, trying to sound normal.
Rivaan leaned forward. "Ahh—"
BANG—
The door slammed open violently.
The sound shattered everything.
Everyone flinched.
Ruhi stumbled back, hitting the table.
"Ah—!" she fell to the ground.
Rishabh grabbed a knife instantly.
"Who's there?!"
A figure rushed inside.
Fast. Unsteady.
Ashura.
Blood covered his body.
His skin was burned.
His clothes were torn apart.
He stood there, barely holding himself.
His breathing was broken.
A weak… fragile smile appeared on his lips.
"…I'm back…"
His voice cracked completely.
Ashura looked at everyone for a moment.
He smiled weakly, still holding the pendant like nothing had happened.
"…Sorry… I'm late," he said quietly.
"You all… cut the cake already…?"
He tried to step forward.
His leg trembled.
Nyra stared in disbelief.
Her hands began to shake.
"What… happened to you…?"
Shina covered her lips.
A scream escaped her.
"Ahhhh—!"
Harsh rushed toward him instantly.
"Ashura!" his voice broke.
He grabbed his shoulders tightly.
"What happened to you?!"
Ashura smiled faintly.
"…Nothing…"
Ruhi stared at him.
The room went completely silent.
"…Did you kill someone again…?" she asked softly.
Her voice trembled.
Ashura gulped.
He avoided her gaze.
"…Yeah…"
Ruhi's tears began to fall.
"You promised last night…" her voice cracked.
"How could you do this…?"
"YOU BRAT!" Rivaan shouted in rage.
"You did it again?!"
He grabbed Ashura by the shoulder.
Then slammed him against the wall.
His hand rose—
SLAP—
"Ahhh—!" Ashura cried out.
His already broken body shook from the impact.
Shina cried in fear.
"Uncle, please stop!"
Aryan stared silently.
Shock filled his eyes.
He… survived…?
Riya swallowed nervously.
How…I
Ashura gasped for air.
His teeth clenched tightly as pain spread through his body.
"Dad… stop…" his voice broke.
Rivaan didn't listen.
SLAP—
Another hit landed on his cheek.
"Why did you do it again?!" Rivaan roared.
He kicked Ashura in the chest.
"Ahhh—!" Ashura cried out.
His grip loosened.
The pendant slipped slightly from his hand.
His fingers trembled as he tried to hold it again.
Reyansh… Harsh… Yash…
All stood silently.
They could have stopped Rivaan.
But they didn't.
Their eyes stayed cold.
…Yet a hint of regret flickered deep inside.
Rishabh stepped forward quickly.
"Dad, please stop…" he grabbed Rivaan's hand.
"He's already at the brink of death…"
"I DON'T CARE!" Rivaan shouted.
"I don't need a son like this!"
Avni's tears fell silently.
"You promised last night…" her voice trembled.
"And you broke it again…"
"You deserve this…"
"You don't deserve our love…"
"…Why don't you just die?"
Those words pierced Ashura's chest.
Sharper than any wound.
"…Sorry…" he lowered his head.
His voice barely existed.
Neha held Ruhi's arm nervously.
"Please… don't cry…"
But Ruhi broke down completely.
"Why did you do this?!" she screamed.
She grabbed the lamp beside her.
And threw it.
CRASH—
The lamp hit Ashura straight in the chest.
"Ahhh—!" his body trembled violently.
He gasped for air.
BANG—
The door slammed open again.
Rishabh turned instantly.
"Who's there?!"
Officer Roger and Arsh rushed inside.
Their guns pointed straight at Ashura.
"Capture that traitor!" Roger shouted.
"He killed almost 29 people!"
Shina froze.
"…29…?" her voice broke.
Rivaan stepped aside.
His voice turned cold.
"…Take him away."
Ashura slowly stood up.
His body trembled, barely holding together.
He raised his hand.
The pendant rested in his palm.
"Ruhi…" he smiled weakly.
Tears mixed with blood on his face.
"…Please… take this…"
"Your birthday gift…"
Neha stepped forward.
She snatched it from his hand.
Then—
She threw it outside the window.
"Don't ever call yourself our brother!" she yelled.
Ashura froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Tears filled them instantly.
He looked around.
Searching.
For someone.
Anyone.
But no one met his gaze.
Not even his sisters.
Roger grabbed his hair roughly.
"Let's go, traitor."
He dragged him forward.
Ashura didn't resist.
He turned his head one last time.
His lips moved softly.
"…Happy birthday, Ruhi…"
Silence.
Chapter 19 Ended.
Sorry guys i was buzy in exams stuffs and you know please support me with Powerstone vieww are going down and share your opinion in comments about chapter