The last bell rang, releasing waves of laughter and chatter into the evening air. Ariv walked out with Neel, Vaishnavi, and Rohit, the sun dipping low behind Dharavanar's skyline.
"Feels weird lately," Rohit said, breaking the silence. "Like something's watching the whole city."
"Maybe it's just you," Vaishnavi teased, but her voice lacked its usual spark.
Ariv didn't comment. His eyes scanned the quiet streets—every flicker of shadow, every breath of wind. He could feel it again. That heavy pull in the air.
Neel glanced at him. A small nod passed between them. They both sensed it.
"Stay close," Ariv said to the others, his voice calm, controlled.
The street ahead twisted with darkness. Then they appeared—shapes crawling out of the shadows, tall and jagged, eyes glowing like crescent moons. Their presence crushed the silence, heavy enough to make the ground hum.
Six of them. Each radiating a murderous aura thicker than anything Ariv had faced before.
He stepped forward, hands loose at his sides, eyes burning gold for a brief second.
"These… aren't the ones from before."
"No," Neel replied, moving beside him. "They're stronger."
Ariv tilted his head slightly, sizing them up.
"Tell me, Neel," he said, voice sharp as a blade. "Are they the highest level Kalarak we've got?"
Neel's lips curved in the faintest smirk. His answer was ice-cold.
"No. But they're high enough to kill anyone else."
The wind howled. The Kalarak advanced.