As dusk settled over the Persian Gulf, Khalid Al-Mansour's stronghold stood stark against the fading light, its obsidian walls gleaming under a sky bruised with storm clouds. The chamber within was a fortress of shadow and power—runes etched into the walls pulsed with encrypted energy, a circular table now dim, and the air crackled with the electric hum of Khalid's Lightning primordial. Arjun Kapoor, 28, stood in a tailored navy suit, his sharp jaw set, haunted eyes burning with vengeance. Beside him, Noor Al-Bakri, her dark hijab framing a poised face, watched silently, her role as Khalid's operative complete. Tonight, Arjun would face the Sound primordial to claim his father's power and hunt the God of Darkness, the rogue proxy who killed Aryan Kapoor in his Satpura cube. Khalid, proxy of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and the Gulf states, stood at the chamber's center, his white ghutra framing eyes that sparked with controlled power.
Khalid raised his hands, his voice resonating like distant thunder. "Arjun Kapoor, heir to Sound's legacy, the ritual begins. I, proxy of Lightning, will summon my primordial to commune with Sound. If it accepts you, you'll wield its power—equal among the 25, bound only to Sound."
Arjun's gaze was piercing, his voice steady but edged with arrogance. "Get on with it. I'm here to avenge my father, not to bow to rituals."
Khalid's smile was tight, masking his unease at Arjun's boldness. He stepped onto a rune-carved platform, the air growing heavy with static. Lightning arced from his fingers, jagged bolts illuminating the obsidian walls, converging into a swirling vortex above. The chamber trembled, the runes glowing fiercely as Khalid's voice boomed, reverent yet strained. "Great Lightning, storm of eternity, I beseech you. Open the path to Sound, present Arjun Kapoor as its proxy, heir to Aryan's mantle."
The vortex pulsed, a deafening crack splitting the air. A presence descended—not visible, but felt, a primal force of electricity and fury. Khalid bowed his head, his posture servile, his voice a plea. "Mighty Lightning, grant this favor. Call Sound to judge this man." The vortex hummed, approving, and a low, resonant frequency filled the chamber, vibrating the walls—a sign of Sound's awakening. Khalid's eyes flicked to Arjun, his tone careful. "Sound listens. Step forward, speak your intent."
Arjun stepped onto the platform, unflinching, his voice cold and commanding. "Sound, I'm Arjun Kapoor. My father wielded you, and the God of Darkness killed him. I seek your power to make him pay. Accept me, and I'll claim his legacy."
The frequency intensified, a harmonic pulse that rattled Arjun's bones. Noor watched, her face unreadable, while Khalid remained bowed, his awe of Lightning palpable. But Sound's resonance shifted, growing ominous. Suddenly, a powerful shockwave of sonic force slammed into Arjun, forcing him to his knees, the pressure crushing his chest. He gasped, struggling against the invisible weight, his arrogance shattered. The Sound's voice boomed in his mind, deep and resonant, carrying the weight of eons.
"This is the posture to speak to me, mortal. On your knees, as your father bowed before me. I grant power only to those who serve wholeheartedly. Your father was my servant, and you will be mine. Either bow in submission, or die where you stand."
Arjun's eyes widened, the reality of his position crashing down. His wealth, his influence, his mortal arrogance—all meaningless before the primordial force. The Sound's power pressed harder, threatening to crush him. With gritted teeth, he lowered his head, bowing fully, his voice trembling but resolute. "I... I submit. Make me your proxy."
The sonic pressure eased, Sound's resonance softening to approval. The ritual was complete—Arjun Kapoor, heir to Aryan, was now Sound's servant, bound to wield its power in vengeance against the God of Darkness.