"Huh? How is this possible? How can I be dead?"
Vishnu stood frozen in confusion.
"I'm standing right in front of my own body… unharmed."
Suddenly, a divine voice echoed in his mind:
"Root Chakra activated."
With the Root Chakra awakened, Vishnu could now foresee what a person wanted or was about to do. Slowly, he walked toward his lifeless body, kneeling down to touch its cheek.
"So... this is the power Balveer was talking about," he murmured.
The environment around him shattered like glass.
And then—
Vishnu snapped back to reality. Not even a second had passed.
He exhaled sharply.
"Even if I try to negotiate... the attack is unavoidable. Even with the Root Chakra unlocked, I can't withstand the brute strength of that masked man."
Vishnu raised his voice.
"Masked man! Who are you?"
When there was no response, he shouted louder:
"I asked you! Are you deaf?"
The masked man chuckled darkly.
"Oh my god... This world has no place for polite people like me—those who speak with respect. But scumbags like you? You don't even deserve that much."
He drew his sword, its presence radiating killing intent.
"Just die already."
Then, with twisted pride, he declared:
"You people… you're the reason I suffered. All of you. Your words, your screams—they drove me to this. You don't deserve to live."
"I, Kira, am going to end you."
Without waiting, he lunged.
But Vishnu had already foreseen the strike. He dodged smoothly.
Kira's eyes widened.
"No one's ever predicted my move before. Predicting my attack is like knowing where lightning will strike—with perfect accuracy. Impossible."
Bhagya's Thoughts (Internal Monologue):
What... what is happening?
This isn't the outside world I imagined...
My life's in danger. My father's in danger.
Why am I crying? I never felt this way in Shambhala—not even once...
Why is this happening to me?! Why?!
Tears spilled from Bhagya's eyes, falling in the middle of the battlefield.
Kira turned slightly, confused.
"Huh?"
Vishnu's eyes locked onto him.
This is my chance. He's distracted. I'm going to win. I have to win. Win for my family. Win for myself. I won't lose.
Suddenly, the Root Chakra flared again—
Power surged from Vishnu's very soul, burning with spirituality.
He stepped forward.
"I never thought I'd use this power against someone... but thank you—for giving me a reason."
Then, the masked man did something unexpected.
He removed his mask.
Both father and son froze.
The man's right eye glowed bright red—but it wasn't real.
It was a mechanical implant, whirring softly as it scanned the air.
"This isn't an ordinary eye," he said coldly.
"It's a military implant. It lets me communicate with my comrades... and analyze whether a target is a threat."
He looked young—like a teenager. Handsome, but dangerous.
One eye was deep blue. The other, a glowing machine.
His long, silvery-gray hair shimmered under the light.
In his hand, he held a sword crackling with electric aura.
Vishnu and Bhagya stood frozen, horrified by what they were facing.
The sword's power rose:
"Person-Killer Activated."
"Destroyer leveled up."
"Building-Destroyer Activated."
Kira smirked.
"This much power should be enough for you."
Vishnu, with his Root Chakra activated, glimpsed into the future through Kira's mind.
He saw trillions of possibilities—what Kira could do.
Vishnu's Inner Monologue:
There are trillions of possibilities he could play against me...
I think this is the end. I'm going to die.
In reality, Kira was preparing his peak attack from the Destroyer Sword.
Vishnu whispered, "Bhagya... I think this is the end for me and you."
He wasn't even finished speaking when—
Kira's preparations were complete.
But suddenly, he stopped.
With a creepy smile, he said to Vishnu:
"Let's be friends, brother."
Vishnu blinked. "Huh?"
Shocked, he stood protectively in front of Bhagya.
"Okay... but let us go," Vishnu said cautiously.
Kira frowned.
"Go? Go where? Friends don't leave each other."
Vishnu replied, "You were going to kill us, weren't you?"
Kira smiled calmly.
"No, I wasn't. Actually... my hand slipped."
"What's your name?" Vishnu asked.
"Kira. I'm a member of the military. A Divine General," he said proudly.
"Oh... okay. So you're really not going to kill us?" Vishnu asked again.
Kira replied, smiling slightly,
"I said yes. That means yes. I don't betray people I call friends."
Vishnu's Inner Monologue:
No one is so far gone that they would betray someone they call a friend.
In Shambhala, the worst betrayal Vishnu had ever faced was from an elder he never fully trusted—even after confronting Brahma. The second-worst? When his sibling ate his snacks without asking.
That was the greatest betrayal he had ever known.
So, having never truly experienced betrayal... he believed it didn't exist.
And so, Vishnu accepted Kira's offer.
Kira's eyes narrowed. He gave Vishnu a wide smile.
Vishnu thought it was the beginning of their friendship.
But it was something much darker.
"Something the world would soon show Vishnu... the price of misplaced trust."
To be continued...