The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, shafts of sunlight pierced through the broken canopy, glimmering against the mist that clung to the trees.
Lioran stood straight — his clothes torn, his body trembling, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. Every breath burned his lungs.
In front of him, Bheem lay motionless on the shattered ground, his colossal frame coated in dirt and blood.
Behind a fallen log, Aishwarya stirred weakly. Her Prāṇa had nearly run dry, her limbs quivered, her breathing shallow.
She smiled faintly. "Finally... you did it, Lioran…"
He turned toward her, forcing a small smile through the pain.
Her vision blurred as her head tilted to the side. "So you really are... Vaelion's heir…" Her voice faded, and her body slumped.
"Aishwarya!" Lioran shouted, stumbling toward her. He fell to his knees and caught her limp body in his arms. Her skin was cold, her pulse weak.
He checked her breath which was still going. He got relief. "You overused your Prāṇa due to which your body exhaust."
He lifted her gently in his arms. "Let's go. We have to get out of—"
FWOOSH!
A sudden chill ran down his spine. His senses screamed.
He turned around—
—and froze.
The ground where Bheem's body had fallen was empty.
His eyes widened. "No…"
A blur of motion cut through the mist.
THUD!
Before he could react, Bheem appeared behind him, his arm engulfed in blood-red Prāṇa. His body, though torn and battered, emanated a monstrous aura — primal, unyielding. His veins pulsed with crimson energy that cracked the earth beneath his feet.
"You thought that was enough to kill me?" Bheem's voice was hoarse yet thunderous. "I'll admit, boy... you pushed me further than anyone before. But this time…" He raised his burning fist. "This time, I'll definitely kill you."
Lioran's eyes widened. "Aishwarya—!"
He pushed her away just as Bheem's Prāṇa punch landed on him.
BAAAAMMM!!!
The explosion of Prāṇa sent him crashing through a tree. Bark shattered, soil erupted into the air. His body slammed against a boulder and dropped heavily to the ground.
"Ughhh…" Lioran spat blood, his vision spinning.
Bheem's shadow loomed over him. His eyes glowed faintly red — no longer human, but something far more savage.
"I underestimated you," Bheem growled, his voice guttural. "But now… I'll end this."
He raised his Prāṇa-coated arm, the air around it distorting.
Lioran tried to stand. His legs trembled. His lungs burned. He could barely breathe, let alone fight.
"Impossible…" Lioran thought, clutching his ribs. "I ruptured his inner body. Some of his inner organs definitely collapsed. So how… how is he still moving?"
Bheem lunged forward, the ground cracking under his weight.
SWOOOSH!
The colossal fist descended like a meteor.
"I… I can't dodge it…" Lioran thought, his mind blank. "I don't have enough strength left."
THUUUDD!!!
The impact shook the entire clearing. Dust billowed into the air.
Lioran's body flew backward, smashing into a tree. The trunk splintered. He fell to the dirt, coughing blood, his vision fading.
Through blurred eyes, Lioran looked up — blood trickling down his chin. He forced himself to stand, legs trembling like reeds in the wind.
Bheem stood over him, breathing heavily. "Why won't you just die?!"
"If I don't have strength," Lioran whispered, "then I'll stand with my will…"
He wiped the blood from his mouth. "Because I can't give up… not while they're still depending on me."
Bheem snarled. "You… infuriate me!"
THUUMMM!!!
He leapt again, his Prāṇa spiraling like a storm around his arm. The punch was aimed straight for Lioran's face.
Lioran clenched his teeth, preparing to take it —
—but the hit never landed.
A firm hand had caught Bheem's fist mid-air.
KRRR-ACK!
The ground beneath them fissured from the pressure.
Bheem's eyes widened. "What—?!"
A deep, commanding voice echoed through the forest.
"How dare you lay a hand on my student."
From the dissipating dust, a tall figure emerged. His white hair was glinting in the dawn light. His eyes were sharp and calm.
"Master!" Lioran said.
Shourya arrived there. His presence alone silenced the forest. The birds stopped. The wind froze. Even the sunlight seemed to dim before his aura.
"Y-You…" Bheem stammered. "Who are you?"
Shourya's expression was cold. "Someone who's about to end your existence."
He placed his palm against Bheem's chest.
BOOOOMMM!!!
A thunderous shockwave erupted, hurling Bheem backward like a broken doll. The ground split, trees tore from their roots, and debris scattered in every direction.
Bheem crashed into the far side of the clearing, rolling through the mud and rubble.
Behind Shourya, two figures appeared — Mukhi and Sharin.
"Master!" Mukhi called out.
Sharin's eyes widened in horror. "Lioran—! You are bleeding everywhere!"
"Take care of him," Shourya said, not taking his gaze off Bheem. His tone left no room for argument.
Then he turned and spotted Aishwarya's motionless body lying in the grass.
His breath caught. "Aishwarya…"
He rushed to her side, gently checking her pulse. When he felt the faint heartbeat, relief softened his expression for a moment — before it hardened into pure fury.
He looked at her injuries — deep burns, torn skin, the marks of overdrawn Prāṇa channels.
His eyes darkened. The air began to vibrate.
"Whoever did this…" his voice trembled with controlled rage, "will pay."
He handed her gently to Mukhi. "Take care of her. Not a single scratch more."
"Y-Yes, Master," Mukhi said, taking her with trembling hands.
Shourya rose. The aura around him changed — the tranquil presence of a mentor replaced by something dangerous and dreadful. The very earth seemed to shudder beneath his feet.
"Master…" Mukhi whispered.
"Don't stop me," Shourya said quietly. His eyes glowed faintly white. "He hurt my student… and my precious granddaughter."
He stepped forward.
Step… Step… Step…
Each footfall made the ground crack slightly, as if even the soil feared him.
Bheem managed to rise, his breathing ragged. His eyes widened when he saw Shourya walking through the dust like an executioner.
"You…" Bheem spat blood. "You also want to die?"
He clenched his fists, igniting what remained of his Prāṇa. The air shimmered red-hot. "Come then!"
Bheem roared and leapt forward, swinging his burning fist.
WHOOOMMM!!!
The punch collided —
—or so he thought.
Shourya had stopped it. With one finger.
Bheem's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wha—?! How?!"
The entire forest seemed to hold its breath.
Lioran gasped. "He… he stopped Bheem's full Prāṇa Fist with just one finger!"
Shourya looked up calmly, his tone almost bored. "You call that a Prāṇa Fist?"
His eyes glowed brighter. "Let me show you the real one."
He shifted his stance slightly, drawing in a slow breath. His fist was glowing with Prāṇa. The air grew dense — heavy enough to make even Mukhi and Sharin step back. The leaves trembled. The wind howled.
Shourya's arm moved — fast enough to blur.
KRAAAAAAAASSSHHHH!!!
His Prāṇa Fist slammed into Bheem's stomach like a divine hammer.
The impact exploded outward, sending a shockwave that tore through trees, flattened rocks, and blew away the lingering fog. The ground cracked in spiderwebs beneath them, light surging through the fissures.
Bheem's body was flung across the clearing, smashing through multiple trunks before finally crashing into a cliff wall.
THUUUUDDD!!!
A thunderous echo followed, birds scattering from miles away.
When the dust cleared, Bheem lay embedded in the rock, his entire body trembling. His jaw hung open in disbelief.
"What… what power is this…" he muttered. His bones creaked as he tried to rise, but his limbs wouldn't obey. "I can't… I can't defeat him…"
He clenched his teeth, desperation flashing in his eyes. "If I stay, he'll kill me."
He slammed his hand onto the ground. Smoke began to swirl beneath him.
Shourya narrowed his eyes. "Running away?"
Bheem growled, the smoke enveloping him. "Next time, I'll rip your heart out, Lioran."
Before Shourya could move, the smoke expanded —
BOOOFF!!
—and Bheem vanished.
Only the faint scent of burnt earth remained.
Shourya exhaled slowly, lowering his hand. "He's gone."
Sharin ran up beside him. "But will he come back?"
Shourya looked toward the sunrise. "I don't know but we should be ready."
He turned toward Lioran, who was on his knees, blood dripping down his chin, but a faint smile on his face.
"Master… I am still not strong enough," Lioran whispered weakly.
Shourya nodded. "You fought bravely, Lioran. Rest now."
Lioran's lips curved into a faint smile as his eyes closed, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion.
"Lioran!" Sharin shouted, running to him.
But Shourya placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "He'll live. His spirit burns stronger than his wounds."
The wind carried away the smoke and blood. The morning sun rose higher, casting a warm glow upon the battered warriors.
The battle was over. For now.
Shourya gazed toward the direction Bheem had vanished, his eyes narrowing. "He's no ordinary opponent. Something is wrong with his Prāṇa."
He looked down at his unconscious student and granddaughter, lying together beneath the sunlight.
"Rest, both of you," he murmured. "The storm has only begun."
TO BE CONTINUED…