Pain.
That was the first thing Anish felt.
Sharp. Burning. Real.
His body slammed against the fractured ground again, cracks of light spreading beneath him as if even reality struggled to hold his weight.
He coughed, forcing himself up.
In front of him—
Himself stood.
Calm. Unshaken. Watching.
Red eyes glowing in the collapsing fracture.
"You're weak," the other Anish said.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it echoed like a verdict.
Anish wiped the blood from his lip.
"Yeah… I noticed."
The other Anish tilted his head slightly.
"Then why are you still standing?"
A pause.
Anish took a breath.
"…because I don't want to lose again."
Something flickered in the other Anish's eyes.
Interest.
"Again?" he repeated.
Anish clenched his fists.
"I don't remember everything… but I know this feeling."
His chest tightened.
"That I ran away once."
Silence.
The fracture around them trembled violently.
Time flickered.
Moments overlapped.
In one second—
They stood still.
In the next—
The other Anish was already in front of him.
A punch.
Anish barely raised his arm—
CRACK.
The impact shattered the air around him, sending him flying again.
He rolled across the ground, gasping.
Too fast.
Too strong.
"How do I fight something that knows everything I'm going to do…?" he muttered.
"Because I am you," the other Anish said.
Standing above him.
"You can't win."
Anish forced a smile.
"Yeah… but I don't need to win."
The other Anish frowned slightly.
"What?"
Anish looked past him.
At the glowing sphere.
"I just need… that."
The moment the words left his mouth—
The other Anish moved.
Faster than before.
But this time—
Anish moved too.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
Just… different.
Instead of blocking—
He stepped forward.
Into the attack.
The punch landed—
But not where expected.
Anish twisted his body, letting the impact slide past just enough to avoid direct damage.
He grabbed the other Anish's arm.
For a second—
Both of them froze.
"So you learned something," the other Anish said quietly.
Anish smirked.
"Yeah."
He tightened his grip.
"You're predictable."
Silence.
Then—
A faint laugh.
"You're starting to remember."
The other Anish's body flickered—
Then disappeared.
Anish's eyes widened.
"Where—?!"
Too late.
A kick slammed into his back, forcing him to his knees.
Pain exploded through his spine.
"You're still too slow," the voice echoed behind him.
Anish gritted his teeth.
"…then I'll stop trying to keep up."
He closed his eyes.
The world around him blurred.
The noise.
The chaos.
The collapsing fracture.
He let it all fade.
"Running won't help you," the other Anish said.
"I'm not running."
Anish's voice was calm now.
"I'm listening."
Silence.
Then—
Something shifted.
Anish opened his eyes.
The world looked… different.
Slower.
Clearer.
The movements of his opponent—
No longer invisible.
He could see it.
A faint trail.
A distortion in space.
Like a shadow moving before the body.
"There…"
The other Anish attacked again.
But this time—
Anish moved first.
He dodged.
Clean.
Perfect.
The attack missed completely.
For the first time—
The other Anish stopped.
"…interesting."
Anish stood up slowly.
Breathing steady now.
"I don't need to be faster than you," he said.
"I just need to understand you."
The other Anish smiled.
"That's the same thing."
They clashed again.
Faster.
Harder.
Each strike shaking the fracture.
But now—
Anish wasn't getting thrown around.
He was keeping up.
No—
He was adapting.
Every movement.
Every attack.
Every reaction—
He learned.
And improved.
Mid-fight.
"You're evolving," the other Anish said.
A hint of approval in his voice.
"Is that surprising?" Anish replied.
"You made me like this, didn't you?"
A pause.
Then—
A laugh.
"Yes… I did."
The clash intensified.
The fracture around them began collapsing faster.
Chunks of reality breaking apart.
Time folding in on itself.
Behind them—
The sphere pulsed brighter.
Calling.
Waiting.
Anish saw it.
And made his move.
He feinted left—
The other Anish reacted instantly—
But that was the plan.
Anish shifted direction mid-step.
Breaking expectation.
For the first time—
The other Anish was caught off guard.
Anish pushed forward—
And reached the sphere.
The moment his hand touched it—
Everything stopped.
Completely.
Silence.
No movement.
No time.
Just him.
And the light.
The sphere expanded slowly, surrounding him.
Warm.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Memories flooded in.
Fragments.
Broken pieces—
But stronger than before.
He saw flashes:
A throne…
A war…
Zehrat… smiling…
Then crying…
Then—
Falling.
"No…"
His hand trembled.
"I did this…?"
The light pulsed.
Answering without words.
Behind him—
The other Anish spoke.
"You're not ready to remember everything."
Anish turned.
"Then why show me at all?"
"Because power without truth… is meaningless."
The sphere began to merge with him.
Light sinking into his body.
Burning—
But not painful.
Transforming.
The other Anish walked closer.
"…so, what will you do now?"
Anish looked at his hands.
The red glow returned.
Stronger.
More stable.
He clenched his fist.
"This time…"
He looked up.
Eyes glowing.
"I won't run."
The other Anish smiled.
Satisfied.
"Good."
His body began to fade.
"Because next time…"
His voice echoed as he disappeared—
"…I won't hold back."
Silence returned.
Then—
Reality snapped back.
Anish gasped.
Back in the fracture.
Everything collapsing.
And in the distance—
Zehrat.
Still fighting.
Still standing.
But barely.
"ZEHRAT!"
He stood up.
This time—
The power didn't disappear.
It stayed.
Controlled.
Alive.
Anish took a step forward.
And vanished.
Not moved.
Vanished.
Reappearing instantly beside her.
Zehrat's eyes widened.
"Anish…?"
He looked at her.
Calm.
Focused.
"I'm here."
The creature roared—
Attacking again.
Anish raised his hand.
"Stop."
And the world obeyed.
End of Chapter 7