That U.S. building looked like any ordinary government office from the outside — but the scene inside was different. Blue light spread through long corridors, screens were glowing on every side, and the soft hum of machines was mixed into the air. In a large room on the upper floor, James was sitting in his chair — eyes on the screen, mind somewhere else entirely. Just then the door swung open quickly.
An employee rushed in panting, sweat on his forehead.
Employee: Sir James, a very big problem has come up — inside the machines.
James: Then fix it. Why are you so panicked?
Employee: Sir, you should come and take a look once.
James got up from his chair and without saying a word, walked toward the machine room.
As soon as he stepped inside the hall, his eyes locked onto that large screen. The machine, as big as the entire wall, was showing a map of the world — every country's borders were in blue lines. But over India, a deep red spot was blazing. Waves of Maya energy in the surrounding area were visibly being pulled toward that single point — as if something very large was breathing there.
James's jaw clenched.
James: This is not a problem in the machine. Something big is about to happen in the world.
Employee: What exactly is going to happen?
James: Look carefully — red is showing over India. It is pulling the surrounding Maya energy toward itself. Go quickly, inform the world that something is happening in India. What will happen after this — we don't know. We need to find out fast. Is India hiding something from us?
Employee: Yes sir.
He turned around and walked out with quick steps.
Thousands of miles away in India, that place was now unrecognizable. There were deep craters in the ground, stones were scattered everywhere, and the air smelled of dust and burnt Maya energy. Between broken walls was a heap of rubble.
Something stirred in the middle of that heap.
Slowly one hand rose, then another. Aryan pushed through the rubble and stood up. His clothes were torn, marks of injuries were on his body — but his eyes... they were not the same as before. They used to be black. Now there was a deep red glow in them, as if a fire was burning inside.
Aryan: I'm feeling immense power inside me. It feels like I can defeat anyone. This power is incredible.
He looked toward Raju — there was cold anger in his eyes.
Aryan: And yes, now I want revenge. Because of him I had to endure so much pain.
But can I defeat Raju? I'm alive again — I'll kill Raju even if it kills me.
Aryan: Get ready to die.
Raju: If you can kill me then go ahead and kill me.
Aryan paused for a moment and looked at Raju. Then slowly raised his hand — and showed him the middle finger.
Raju's eyes filled with rage. His jaw clenched, veins tightened — and he lunged at full speed. But Aryan wasn't there.
Aryan: My speed has become quite fast — and I can see every single attack coming.
Raju kept attacking again and again — every time Aryan moved away a moment before him. Every attack cut through the air and missed.
Aryan: Raju, being a high rank hunter and you'll lose to a kid? Who just awakened?
A cold thought ran through Raju's mind.
Aryan has become quite powerful — but not more than me.
Raju: Aryan, you were weak and you will always be weak. Now die.
The sword flashed through the air and lunged at Aryan. Several cut marks appeared on Aryan's body in different places — but he stayed standing. As if nothing had happened at all.
Raju: This... what kind of power is this? My attacks are landing — but why is nothing happening to him?
In that one moment of surprise, Aryan clenched his fist — and landed a powerful punch right on Raju's face. There was a blast, Raju went sliding back.
Aryan: I don't know how my power is working — but whatever is happening, I can win with it. I just need to make him angry. When angry he won't be able to think, he'll make random attacks — only then I can defeat him.
Aryan ran forward.
Raju: You've forgotten — I am an assassin. Who is difficult to defeat in the darkness of the night.
And he dissolved into the air — as if he was never there.
The night's darkness was deep. The moon had hidden behind the clouds. Aryan's eyes were scanning every shadow, ears alert to every sound.
Aryan: Defeating an assassin at night is difficult — but not impossible. But Raju is not just an assassin, he's a warrior too.
Assassins are those who are not awakened — they push their physical strength to such limits that they can even defeat hunters. And one who is both an assassin and a hunter — they are extremely rare. And extremely dangerous.
Raju emerged from the darkness and started striking one attack after another. Every blow was landing on Aryan — but there was no damage whatsoever.
Just then Raju's sword came — Aryan caught it with his palm, and with the other hand landed a punch straight to his chest. Raju fell back.
Raju: Aryan's every attack is getting faster than before.
Aryan's speed was increasing every second — his physical power was not stopping.
Raju: I need to finish this quickly — otherwise he'll become equal to me. And then my assassin skills won't be of any use.
Aryan: Are you afraid of me?
Raju gave no answer. He closed his eyes — and the very next moment, a deep black Maya energy started rising from his body. The air became heavy, light cracks appeared on the ground.
Raju: You've forced me to use my real strength. By the way you are a warrior — and I am a warrior too.
Aryan: Who said I'm a warrior? I am a magician.
Raju stopped for a moment.
Raju: Then why aren't you using your magic?
Aryan: Don't want to waste my power on a weak hunter like you.
The truth was that Aryan himself didn't know how to use his power.
The spark that Aryan wanted ignited in Raju's eyes.
Raju: Today you will be killed by my hands — no one can save you.
Red energy also started rising from Aryan's body.
Raju slammed his fist into the ground — the blast was so tremendous that the ground cracked, stones flew into the air, and Aryan flew up with them. Aryan moved toward Raju stepping on the stones flying in the air but suddenly landed a powerful punch — whose force sent Aryan crashing straight through the wall of the building behind and into it.
Raju: Game over.
The dust settled. Walls were still falling. There was silence.
Then a shadow stirred from within the rubble.
Aryan came out dusting himself off — clothes torn, but the same crooked smile on his face.
Aryan: That punch was quite powerful.
He raised both hands' middle fingers at the same time.
Raju's veins bulged. He came running toward Aryan grinding his teeth —
And suddenly stopped.
A wave — as if a thousand needles had pierced inside all at once. Raju's knees trembled, breath gave out, his body felt like it was breaking from within.
Raju: This... what is happening?
And then it came back — Aditya. He had released poison inside Raju's body. Nothing had happened at that time because Rudra Pratap had sealed Aditya's power for a while. But that time was now over.
Raju said grinding his teeth: These two brothers have troubled me a lot. Aditya ruined my plan.
Aryan noticed — Raju wasn't moving.
If he won't come to me, then I'll go to him.
Aryan landed a powerful punch. Raju went back — but Aryan didn't stop. Punches, kicks, one after another — Raju crashed into the building wall, rubble started falling on him.
Raju: I can't move my body — as if I've been paralyzed.
Aryan came close to him and leaning down said: Maybe you have lost.
Red energy flames were rising from Aryan's hand.
Aryan: Now I'll finish this.
Raju: You didn't defeat me — I'm weak because of your brother. Don't think that you can defeat anyone. You can never be stronger than your brother.
A small pause — then Raju said something more.
Something such, that Aryan's hands stopped. His eyes widened.