"Wait… Your Majesty!"
The voice cut through the Council like a blade.
Sharp. Commanding.
Unavoidable.
All eyes turned at once—
And there he stood.
Guru Dhoomketu.
Clad in saffron robes, standing right in the center of the grand hall, his face calm… yet carrying a gravity that made even the strongest beings uneasy.
Neerja Devi's eyes widened slightly—
Then, without a second thought, she rose from her throne.
"Gurudev… you have finally arrived."
Her voice carried respect.
Deep respect.
She folded her hands and bowed to him.
And that—
Shocked everyone.
A queen… the Queen of Badallok herself…
Bowing to a human?
But the surprise didn't last long.
Because every being present there knew who Guru Dhoomketu was.
They had heard the stories.
Seen the legends unfold.
And one by one—
They all stood.
And bowed.
Neerja Devi smiled faintly.
"Welcome, Gurudev. Please, take your seat."
Then her tone shifted slightly.
"And tell us… why did you stop me just now?"
But Dhoomketu didn't sit.
He walked forward instead—
Right into the center of the hall.
And spoke.
His voice calm…
Yet heavy enough to shake minds.
"Your Majesty…"
"We have waited centuries for that child."
A pause.
"The winds have already begun to change."
"The prophecy is slowly unfolding."
His eyes swept across the whole Council.
"And that is exactly why…"
"…you must not reveal anything about that child today."
The hall went still.
Every word hit like a warning.
"I will speak honestly," Dhoomketu continued.
"When it comes to that child's safety…"
His voice hardened.
"…I cannot trust everyone sitting here."
A ripple of tension spread instantly.
"Do not misunderstand me," he added calmly.
"But for that child to survive…"
"His identity must remain hidden."
"For now… secrecy is not a choice."
"It is a necessity."
Neerja Devi understood.
Immediately.
She knew he was right.
Revealing the truth now—
Could put the child directly in danger.
But before she could respond—
Someone else stood up.
The Queen of the Lizard Clan.
Her expression calm…
But her words—
Sharp.
Calculated.
"Respected Gurudev…"
She spoke sweetly.
"What exactly are you afraid of?"
A slight smile.
"Or are you trying to say… that the leaders present here are not worthy of trust?"
A murmur spread.
She turned toward Neerja Devi briefly.
"My apologies, Your Majesty…"
Then back to Dhoomketu.
"But we deserve to know."
Her voice grew firmer.
"We will be fighting alongside that child in the coming war."
"Should we not know who he is? What he is capable of?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"How can we place our trust in someone… we know nothing about?"
A pause.
"And as for safety…"
Her tone sharpened further.
"Are you indirectly accusing someone here of being a traitor?"
The hall stirred again.
"Do you truly believe… that one of us could betray this cause?"
That was enough.
The tension snapped.
Voices rose again—
But this time, louder.
Angrier.
"How dare you say that, Gurudev?!"
"Are you calling us spies of the demons?!"
"Each one of us is a leader of a Great civilization!"
"You insult our honor!"
"We have shed blood in the last war too!"
"Our soldiers died fighting those demons!"
"And now you question us?!"
"Today, Gurudev… you've proven your thinking is no different from ordinary humans!"
The hall was on the verge of exploding.
Even Neerja Devi—
Couldn't control it this time.
Because this wasn't just anger—
It was wounded pride.
And every being present there…
Valued their honor more than life itself.
Neerja Devi looked at Dhoomketu—
A hint of concern in her eyes.
But still, she stood up again, lifting her staff—
Ready to silence the hall once more.
But before she could act—
It happened.
A roar.
Not loud—
But overwhelming.
"Silence!"
The voice didn't just echo—
It crashed through the entire hall.
Like thunder striking from nowhere.
Instantly—
Everything stopped.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Everyone looked around—
Trying to find the source.
But there was no one.
No visible figure capable of such power.
Then—
The voice came again.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Please… take your seats."
This time, everyone noticed—
The voice…
Was coming from where Guru Dhoomketu stood.
But—
His lips hadn't moved.
Not even slightly.
Confusion turned into shock.
And then—
Something even more terrifying happened.
A glow.
Saffron… golden… blazing.
It began to radiate from around Dhoomketu.
Slowly at first—
Then stronger.
Brighter.
So intense that several beings had to shield their eyes.
Some couldn't even look at him directly anymore.
A voice from the Council trembled—
"Impossible…"
"Has Guru Dhoomketu attained… divine union?"
"Are my eyes deceiving me… or is he truly that close to divine power?"
Before anyone else could react—
The Dragon Emperor spoke.
His voice low… but certain.
"No."
A pause.
"This is not divine power…"
He looked straight at Dhoomketu.
"But he has purified his body completely."
"And now…"
"…he stands on the path to attaining divine energy."
Another being stuttered in disbelief—
"That… that means…"
The Dragon Emperor turned fully toward Dhoomketu.
And said the words that shook the entire hall—
"Yes."
"It means…"
"Guru Dhoomketu… at this moment…"
"…is more powerful…"
"…than even Queen Neerja Devi."
Silence.
Then—
A collective gasp.
Every voice rose at once—
"What?!"
"Impossible!"