The impact didn't echo.
It roared.
A violent surge of energy exploded between Feroz and Zarqaan—
Not controlled.
Not measured.
Chaotic.
The ground beneath them shattered outward.
Cracks ran across the circle—
Reaching the pillars—
Disturbing the balance of the entire space.
Feroz was pushed back—
Sliding across the ground—
But he didn't fall.
Not this time.
He forced himself to stop.
Breathing heavy.
His vision blurred—
Not from weakness—
But from overload.
Too much energy.
Zarqaan stood still.
Untouched.
Watching.
"…this is what I wanted to see," he said calmly.
Feroz wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You think this is control?"
Zarqaan tilted his head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
"I think this is truth."
Feroz's energy surged again—
Wild.
Unstable.
The golden markings beneath him flickered—
Then turned erratic—
As if rejecting him.
Haroon stepped forward—
Urgent now.
"Feroz, stop! You're losing it!"
Feroz didn't respond.
Because something inside him—
Was louder.
A voice.
Not external.
Not distant.
Closer than anything else.
"Let it out…"
Feroz's eyes widened slightly.
"…what?"
Zarqaan's faint smile returned.
"…you hear it now."
The air darkened around them.
The energy surrounding Feroz shifted—
Less golden—
More… distorted.
"You don't need to control it," Zarqaan continued.
"Control is a limitation."
Feroz clenched his fists.
"No…"
But his voice—
Was uncertain.
Because the feeling—
Was real.
That pull—
That urge—
To stop holding back.
To release everything.
The ground cracked again beneath him.
Haroon moved closer.
"Feroz, listen to me!"
But Feroz didn't look at him.
He couldn't.
Because his focus—
Was breaking.
Zarqaan stepped forward slowly.
Every step calm.
Every movement precise.
"You've already crossed the line," he said.
"Why pretend you can go back?"
Feroz's breathing grew heavier.
"I didn't lose control…"
Zarqaan interrupted—
"You did."
A pause.
"And you chose it."
Silence hit harder than any attack.
Because it was true.
Feroz knew it.
He didn't get pushed.
He stepped forward himself.
The energy around him surged violently.
This time—
It didn't just react—
It spread.
The darkness within it—
Visible now.
Haroon stopped.
"…this is bad."
Younus stepped forward slowly—
For the first time intervening.
"Feroz," Younus said firmly.
"Look at me."
No response.
"Feroz!"
His voice echoed through the circle.
For a brief moment—
Feroz's eyes shifted.
Toward him.
And in that moment—
Younus saw it.
Not just power.
Not just instability.
Something deeper.
Something forming.
"…he's not just losing control," Younus said quietly.
"…he's changing."
Zarqaan heard that.
And smiled.
"Exactly."
He raised his hand again—
But didn't attack.
Not yet.
"Do you know why your father failed?" Zarqaan asked.
Feroz's eyes snapped toward him.
"Don't talk about him."
Zarqaan ignored the warning.
"He tried to protect you from this."
A pause.
"From yourself."
Feroz stepped forward—
Anger rising.
"I'm nothing like you."
Zarqaan's expression didn't change.
"No."
A pause.
"You're worse."
The words struck deep.
The energy exploded outward again—
Stronger this time.
Uncontrolled.
The pillars of the circle flickered violently.
The seven figures moved back—
For the first time—
Not observing—
Avoiding.
Because this—
Was no longer within their balance.
Zarqaan moved.
Faster than before.
Feroz reacted instantly—
But his movement—
Unstable.
Their clash—
Was different now.
No balance.
No precision.
Only force.
Feroz attacked—
Relentlessly.
Wave after wave—
Uncontrolled bursts of energy.
Zarqaan blocked—
Dodged—
Redirected.
Effortlessly.
"…this is not strength," Zarqaan said while deflecting another attack.
"This is collapse."
Feroz roared—
Another surge exploding from him.
The ground beneath him broke further.
The circle—
Destabilizing.
Haroon shouted—
"Feroz! Stop this!"
But Feroz couldn't hear him.
Or maybe—
He didn't want to.
Because in that moment—
For the first time—
The power didn't feel heavy.
It felt…
Free.
Dangerously free.
Zarqaan saw it.
And that—
Was the moment he had been waiting for.
"…now," he whispered.
He stepped forward—
Not to block—
Not to defend—
But to strike.
A precise movement.
A focused force.
Not aimed at Feroz's body—
But at his control.
The impact landed.
Not explosive—
But deep.
Feroz froze.
For a second—
Everything stopped.
Then—
It broke.
The energy inside him—
Collapsed inward—
Then burst outward—
Completely uncontrolled.
A shockwave erupted—
Massive—
Unstable—
Destructive.
The circle shattered.
The pillars cracked.
The ground split open.
Haroon was thrown back.
Younus barely held his position.
The seven figures—
Disappeared.
Forced out.
And at the center—
Feroz stood.
Breathing heavily.
Eyes glowing—
Not gold anymore.
Something darker.
Something deeper.
Zarqaan stood in front of him—
Watching.
Not surprised.
Not concerned.
But satisfied.
"…there it is," he said quietly.
A pause.
"The Devil among angels."
Silence fell—
Heavy.
Real.
Feroz didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Because inside him—
Something had awakened.
Not fully.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough to change everything.
And for the first time—
Zarqaan didn't look at him like a child.
He looked at him like—
A beginning.