The clash of power didn't end.
It grew.
The air around Arjun and Aanya trembled as their combined energy pushed against the invisible force of the man before them. Cracks spread rapidly across the walls, the ground shaking beneath their feet, yet neither of them stepped back.
Not this time.
Arjun tightened his grip on Aanya's hand.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Aanya looked at him, surprised—not because of the words, but because of the certainty behind them.
"…You can't protect me alone," she replied softly.
Arjun shook his head slightly.
"I'm not alone," he said.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment, everything else faded again.
The man watched them silently.
Then—
he raised his hand.
The pressure around them suddenly doubled.
Kabir was thrown backward, hitting the wall hard.
"Damn it—!" he groaned, struggling to stand.
Arjun gritted his teeth as the force pushed against him, threatening to break his control.
"Still holding on?" the man said calmly. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Aanya felt it first.
Something changing.
Not outside—
but inside Arjun.
"Arjun…" she whispered.
His energy… was shifting again.
Not wild.
Not uncontrolled.
But heavier.
Darker.
Arjun's breathing became uneven.
"…I can feel it," he said slowly.
"Feel what?" Aanya asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
His eyes flickered slightly.
"…Something inside me… waking up."
The man smiled faintly.
"…There it is."
Suddenly—
the force around them changed direction.
Instead of crushing them—
it pulled.
Aanya's grip slipped slightly.
"Arjun—!"
He grabbed her hand tighter instantly.
"I'm not letting go!"
But the pull grew stronger.
Like something was trying to separate them.
The man stepped closer.
"You don't understand," he said calmly. "That power inside you… was never meant to exist with her."
Aanya's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," he continued, "the more you stay together… the more unstable he becomes."
Arjun froze for a second.
"…What?"
The pull intensified.
Aanya struggled to hold on.
"That's a lie!" she said.
"Is it?" the man replied. "You felt it too, didn't you? Every time his power rises… it reacts to you."
Silence.
Aanya didn't answer.
Because—
it was true.
Arjun noticed.
"…Aanya?"
She looked at him.
For the first time—
there was hesitation.
The man's voice dropped.
"If you stay with him… you will be the reason he loses control."
"No," Arjun said immediately.
But his voice wasn't as strong.
Aanya tightened her grip again.
"I don't care," she said.
The man smiled slightly.
"Then prove it."
The pull suddenly became violent.
Their hands began to slip.
"Aanya!" Arjun shouted.
"I'm here!" she replied.
But the force kept increasing.
Their fingers slowly separating.
"Let go," the man said calmly. "Or he will break."
Arjun's mind raced.
His power was rising again.
Faster than before.
Harder to control.
"Aanya…" he whispered.
She shook her head.
"No."
His grip weakened slightly.
Not by choice—
but because of the pressure.
"If you don't let go," the man continued, "he will destroy everything around him… including you."
That was enough.
Aanya froze.
Arjun saw it.
"…Don't listen to him," he said quickly.
But she didn't respond.
For the first time—
fear wasn't for herself.
It was for him.
"…Arjun," she said softly.
"No," he replied immediately.
"Don't say it."
Her fingers tightened once more.
Just for a second.
"…Trust me," she whispered.
Arjun's eyes widened.
"No—Aanya, don't—"
She gently loosened her grip.
And then—
she let go.
Everything changed.
The moment their hands separated—
the energy around Arjun exploded.
Not outward.
But inward.
Like something inside him had finally broken free.
"AANYA!" he shouted.
The force vanished.
The pressure disappeared.
But the silence that followed—
was worse.
Arjun stood there alone.
His power surging violently around him.
Unstable.
Uncontrolled.
The man watched quietly.
"…This is what happens."
Aanya stumbled back, breathing heavily.
Her chest tightened as she looked at him.
"…Arjun…"
He didn't respond.
His head was lowered.
His body shaking.
"…Arjun?" she called again.
Slowly—
he looked up.
And her heart stopped.
His eyes—
had completely changed.
Not glowing.
Not calm.
Dark.
Empty.
"…You shouldn't have let go," the man said softly.
Aanya's hands trembled.
"…What did you do to him…?"
The man smiled faintly.
"I didn't do anything."
A pause.
"…You did."
Silence.
Arjun took a step forward.
Slow.
Unsteady.
"Aanya…" he said.
But his voice—
didn't sound like him anymore.
Her eyes filled with fear.
"…Arjun… it's me…"
He stopped.
For a second—
something flickered in his expression.
Recognition.
But it didn't last.
The darkness returned.
The energy around him surged again—
stronger than ever before.
And this time—
there was no one to stop it.