The collision split the Divine War Realm.
Mountains cracked.
Storm clouds tore apart.
Rivers of molten metal rose like waves from the force.
Saksham slid backward across broken ground, boots carving trenches through stone.
Across from him, the monster reflection stood unmoved.
Six black wings spread behind it.
Red eyes burned without emotion.
Its shadow blade hummed like something hungry.
Eltharos grinned fiercely.
"Good."
"At last he meets a worthy opponent."
Vaelthor's expression remained unreadable.
"This is not an opponent."
"It is temptation."
The monster moved first.
No wasted motion.
One step.
Then it was in front of Saksham.
CLANG!
Iron blade met shadow sword again.
Sparks exploded like meteors.
The monster's strength was monstrous.
Saksham's knees bent under the pressure.
He twisted aside and countered low.
The monster blocked with one wing.
A wing.
Saksham clicked his tongue.
"That's rude."
The monster answered in his own voice.
"You are slow."
Then kicked him through a ridge of black stone.
At the Royal Academy, Aryan was punching a wooden post with bandaged fists.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Roderic watched nervously.
"You've hit that thing for an hour."
Aryan punched harder.
"It still deserves it."
Victor walked in carrying two practice swords.
"Your anger is sloppy."
Aryan stopped.
"I'm not angry."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"The post disagrees."
Aryan looked away.
He could not explain it.
Since morning, his chest felt restless.
Like somewhere far away, someone important was bleeding.
Victor tossed him one sword.
"Fight me."
Aryan sighed.
"That's your answer to everything."
Victor smiled.
"It solves many things."
Back in the War Realm—
Saksham burst from rubble and charged.
Lightning wrapped around the iron blade.
"Storm Sever!"
He swung with full force.
The monster caught the blade barehanded.
Lightning spread across its arm.
It did not flinch.
Then it smiled.
A twisted version of Saksham's smile.
"More."
Shadow exploded outward.
Dozens of dark chains shot from the ground.
Saksham leaped high.
Wings beat once.
The monster appeared above him.
A downward slash sent Saksham crashing back to earth.
BOOOOM!
Crater.
Dust.
Silence.
Eltharos frowned slightly.
"He's letting rage drive rhythm."
Vaelthor nodded.
"He hates what he sees."
"Thus he fights blindly."
Saksham stood slowly in the crater.
Blood ran from his forehead.
His breathing deepened.
He stared at the monster.
That thing wore his face.
Used his voice.
Held his power.
And every strike whispered the same possibility:
This could be you.
The monster pointed its blade at him.
"You want strength."
"I am strength without chains."
"You want victory."
"I am victory without mercy."
"You want to protect them."
"I would destroy all threats before they rise."
Saksham's grip tightened.
Tempting words.
Dangerous words.
At the academy, Victor and Aryan exchanged rapid strikes.
Wood cracked.
Feet slid.
Aryan was improving fast.
Still reckless.
Still emotional.
Victor suddenly stepped in and struck Aryan's chest with the flat of the blade.
THUD!
Aryan stumbled back.
"Why do I keep losing?"
Victor lowered his sword.
"Because you attack with your feelings."
Aryan froze slightly.
The words hit deeper than the strike.
Victor pointed at his own head.
"Anger is fuel."
"Not steering."
Then pointed at Aryan's heart.
"Care there."
Back in the War Realm—
The monster attacked again.
A storm of slashes.
Saksham blocked the first three.
Dodged the fourth.
The fifth cut his arm.
The sixth nearly took his throat.
He jumped back.
Closed his eyes.
Just once.
Breath in.
Breath out.
When he opened them, calm had returned.
"Finished talking?"
The monster tilted its head.
Then rushed again.
This time Saksham did not meet power with power.
He stepped sideways.
Redirected the blade.
Used the monster's momentum against it.
The shadow form overextended.
Saksham drove his elbow into its jaw.
Then slammed the iron blade into one knee.
CRACK!
The monster dropped.
Eltharos barked a laugh.
"There he is!"
The monster roared and spread all six wings.
Dark feathers became spears raining from the sky.
Saksham ran through the storm.
Left.
Right.
Slide.
Turn.
Every movement precise.
No panic.
No wasted energy.
He reached the monster's chest and whispered:
"You are me without discipline."
Then thrust his palm forward.
"Gravity Pulse."
A compressed burst detonated point-blank.
The monster flew backward through three mountains.
Vaelthor's blindfold fluttered slightly.
"He learns quickly."
Saksham pursued instantly.
No pause.
No mercy.
He landed beside the fallen monster and raised the iron blade.
The monster grabbed the weapon.
Both strained.
Face to face.
Red eyes against steady eyes.
The monster hissed:
"If you deny me…"
"You deny power."
Saksham answered quietly.
"No."
"I choose what kind."
He headbutted it.
Then drove the blade downward.
CRAAAAASH!
The monster split into black light.
The six wings disintegrated into ash.
Silence returned.
Saksham stood over the fading remains, breathing hard.
Vaelthor approached.
"Lesson three."
"Power is never the danger."
He tapped Saksham's chest.
"Ownership is."
Eltharos walked over laughing.
"Well done."
"You killed yourself."
"Many fail that test."
Saksham wiped blood from his chin.
"How encouraging."
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
Not from battle.
From something deeper.
The black moon above expanded.
Its crack widened.
A gigantic eye opened within it.
Watching.
Ancient.
Malicious.
Even Eltharos's smile disappeared.
Vaelthor slowly turned toward the sky.
"It found the route."
Saksham lifted his blade again.
"What is it?"
Eltharos answered grimly.
"The one who defeated gods."
At the academy, every student froze as the sky darkened for one second.
Aryan looked upward.
His fists clenched on instinct.
Somewhere beyond sight—
Something had noticed them.
Back in the War Realm, the giant eye focused directly on Saksham.
Then a mark of black fire appeared on his forehead.
System window flashed violently.
[HOST TARGETED]
[UNKNOWN CURSE INITIATED]
[EMERGENCY RESPONSE FAILED]
Saksham staggered.
Pain exploded through his skull.
He dropped to one knee.
Vaelthor's voice became sharp for the first time.
"Eltharos!"
The God of War spun his spear.
"Too late."
The eye in the moon blinked once.
And Saksham screamed.
END OF EPISODE 9