The battle became chaos.
Aryan swung his sword again and again, his Vanara biting, slashing, dodging. He could no longer count how many beasts had come. His arm burned from the weight of each strike. His heart pounded in his ears.
But the branded beast still stood.
Kael tried to strike it head-on, but Brukk was knocked back with a painful yelp. The beast was too fast, too smart.
"Fall back!" Bhairav called. "We need to regroup!"
"No!" Aryan shouted. "We can't let that branded one escape!"
"Aryan!" Vaidehi called out. "Don't!"
But it was too late.
Aryan kicked his Vanara forward, breaking formation, heading straight for the corrupted beast. Steel met bone as he struck—but the creature twisted, grabbing Aryan's leg and throwing him off his mount.
He hit the ground hard. Pain exploded in his ribs. His sword clattered away.
The beast raised a jagged claw.
And then—
A blur of silver light shot past. Vaidehi's crane slammed into the beast's side, knocking it off balance just long enough for Aryan to roll aside.
"You stubborn idiot!" Vaidehi shouted, kneeling beside him. "You'll die if you keep fighting alone!"
Aryan gritted his teeth. "I wasn't alone…"
His Vanara came crashing through the trees, leaping onto the corrupted beast, slamming it down.
Aryan grabbed his sword and stood, blood dripping from his brow.
He didn't speak.
He just charged.
The final clash was fast and brutal. Vanara and Aryan moved together in perfect rhythm—strike, leap, dodge, slash. With one final roar, the Vanara crushed the beast's neck.
Silence.
The forest was still again.
Aryan stood there, breathing hard, covered in scratches and bruises. Vaidehi stood beside him, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
"You scared me," she said quietly.
Aryan blinked. "Sorry."
She looked at him for a long moment, then smiled softly. "Just… try not to be reckless. You're not alone out here."
Kael walked up, dragging a limp beast behind him. "Show-off," he muttered, but his tone was half admiration.
Devran joined them, holding a scroll with faint, fading light. "That brand… it was Unbinder magic. They're getting bolder."
Bhairav nodded. "And smarter. This wasn't a random attack. It was a message."
Aryan looked out into the trees, now silent once more.
A message.
The war wasn't coming.
It had already begun.