The grand gates parted.
Pratik and his companions stepped across the threshold into the palace.
From the outside, the massive structure looked as though it were enveloped in eternal flames.
Its outer gates towered higher than fifty-story skyscrapers—so heavy that chained giant beasts were used as door-keepers just to heave them open for arriving guests.
The palace grounds stretched endlessly into the distance.
Lila would later report that the estate spanned thousands of miles across—a domain nearly as vast as the entire Ka77 Kingdom itself.
(Author's Note: For context, the real-world surface area of Russia is approximately 6.6 million square miles. However, within the universe of the BI Series, Russia spans a vast 2.64 billion square miles.)
As the group walked down the grand causeway, they passed hundreds of heavy carts leaving the palace grounds, loaded with tons of solid gold.
Each cart was hauled by massive, horned beasts that resembled Indian Gaurs, though their burning eyes and demonic frames made it clear they were something far more terrifying.
*
As we reached a central promenade, a towering knight materialized before us.
He felt strangely familiar.
"I shall guide you into the presence of His Majesty," he said.
Stepping ahead to lead the way.
We definitely needed a guide—getting lost in a palace this huge meant you might never find your way back out.
Mala frowned, her eyes narrowing as she studied the back of his armor.
[Mala]: You radiate an incredible amount of power. What is your name?
She wasn't exaggerating.
The pressure leaking off this guy was unreal—it easily dwarfed Crocus and felt dangerously close to Master Krishna's level.
I'm running into absolute monsters today.
If this guy wanted to, he could probably wipe all of us out before we even realized what hit us.
[Kara]: My name is Kara.
The knight replied evenly, never breaking his stride.
[Kara]: I am merely a knight in service to the Supreme Ruler. If my presence disturbs your senses, I shall suppress my aura further.
What?!
He was already suppressing his aura?!
That was insane.
If this was his suppressed state, did that mean... he was actually stronger than Master Krishna?
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
My instincts are rarely wrong.
In terms of raw combat output, Kara's power felt comparable to—or even greater than—the Leader-Ranked Sorcerers when using their transformations.
I needed to watch my words very carefully.
I glanced back at my companions.
Mala, Grimori, and Kel were all moving with extreme caution.
They were hardened veterans when it came to reading danger; I was still the amateur in the room.
After a half-hour walk through endless, cavernous corridors, we finally reached the main audience hall.
Except... this courtroom didn't look like a royal sanctuary.
Blood splatters stained the stone pillars, and whole sections of the walls lay crumbled in ruins—as if a catastrophic battle had taken place here and was left completely untouched.
[Mala]: Why is this place in ruins?
[Kara]: A relic of an ancient rebellion.
Kara answered calmly.
[Kara]: His Majesty chose to preserve the destruction as a permanent mark of history for all who enter.
[Kel]: A rebellion?
[Kara]: Many centuries ago, this realm was ruled by a tyrant named Tamasho. The entire Monster Realm groaned beneath his cruelty. He governed through ruthless warlords who expanded his dominion by enslaving smaller territories. But one day, a single warlord made the mistake of provoking a man who would tear that entire hierarchy down.
He continued.
[Kara]: That man fought his way to this very room, freed the slaves, and cut Tamasho down where he stood. He claimed the Monster Realm for himself and became the Supreme Ruler you are about to meet today.
The story caught me completely off guard. It sounded... surprisingly noble.
Almost human.
[Grimori]: He sounds like a remarkable leader.
Grimori observed softly, analyzing the knight's posture.
[Kara]: His Majesty often says that the nature of a man's character lies entirely in the eye of the beholder.
The ruler sounds wise, too.
[Pratik]: Were you part of that history as well?
I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
[Kara]: I was. I am Tamasho's younger brother. My brother imprisoned me beneath this palace for several decades before the Supreme Ruler liberated me. That was the start of rebellion.
No wonder he feels so bound to this hall and its history.
A few moments later, we reached the heart of the chamber.
The room was bathed in shadow, lit only by low-burning braziers set against towering stone pillars.
A chilling draft swept across the floor.
At the far end stood a throne carved out of rough, unpolished stone.
A ruler who gave away tons of gold every single day, sitting on a throne made of plain rock... It was a striking contrast.
Footsteps echoed off the walls.
Instinctively, we all bowed our heads in respect.
I wasn't going to pull any reckless stunts here—Empress Chandrika had beaten proper royal etiquette into me four years ago.
"Raise your heads."
The voice was serene, completely unhurried.
Yet the moment it echoed through the hall, my body locked up.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I looked up to see the stunned expressions on my friends' faces.
I knew that voice.
I'd recognize it anywhere.
Sitting upon the stone throne, flanked by a towering aura of absolute authority, was the Supreme Ruler of the Monster Realm.
[Kae]: I am Kae.
[Pratik]: You... you're—
[Kae]: Devil perhaps?
He said gently, that unreadable, tranquil smile resting on his lips.
It was him.
The very same man who had disguised himself as Girishika and teleported us away from the Dragon Empire four years ago.
Cold sweat broke out across my forehead.
Kara stepped up to stand beside Kae's throne, his hand resting near his blade. I couldn't wrap my head around what was happening.
BOOM!
Without warning, the ceiling above us exploded.
[Kae]: It appears we have guests and intruders arriving in equal measure, Kara.
Kae remarked softly.
Kara merely nodded.
Dropping through the shattered ceiling, Master Krishna and his inner circle hit the floor in combat stances.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
Master Krishna is here...
Before anyone could speak, the floor beneath us fractured.
Dozens of high-ranking Sorcerers erupted from the lower chambers—including several Society Leaders I recognized instantly.
The top powerhouses of the Sorcery World were gathered in a single room.
[Kae]: Such a dense concentration of power in one space can prove... volatile.
The moment the words left Kae's mouth, Kara blurred.
In a fraction of a millisecond, Kara intercepted Master Krishna.
Before I could process whether my master was dead, the shockwave of Kara's strike detonated—blowing several Society Leaders backward through dozens of stone walls and out into the open courtyard!
[Pratik]: "What the hell is going on?!"
I yelled over the deafening roar.
Kara leapt out of the breached wall to engage the Leaders outside, while monstrous guardians erupted from the shadows to clash with the remaining Sorcerers.
Just as I prepared to draw my weapon, everything stopped.
The roaring debris froze in mid-air. The dust settled into complete stillness.
Only I could move.
I looked around in horror.
Master Krishna was slowly turning his head, his eyes narrowed.
His hands resting in his pockets.
[Krishna]: This is...
[Kae]: A domain where time bends to our perspective.
Kae said, his voice echoing cleanly through the frozen room.
[Pratik]: What is the meaning of this?!
I demanded, turning back to Kae.
[Pratik]: Was bringing us here all part of your plan?!
[Kae]: Precisely.
Kae replied, his smile widening ever so slightly into a soft chuckle.
[Kae]: Have you not yet recognized the common thread that binds us?
A common thread?
Is he talking about our talent? Our strength?
No... if it were just about talent, I wouldn't fit into this equation.
[Kae]: The three of us in this frozen moment... we are the only ones who know the events of the future, child.
My breath hitched.
Master Krishna's eyes narrowed into sharp slits as Kae's words hung in the silence.
I stood there, paralyzed by sheer terror.
How does he know about that...?
To be continued...
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