The obsidian chamber in Khalid Al-Mansour's Persian Gulf stronghold hummed with residual energy, its rune-etched walls still pulsing faintly from the ritual's climax. The air, heavy with the crackle of Khalid's Lightning primordial, now carried a low, resonant hum—the lingering presence of Sound. Arjun Kapoor rose from his knees, his tailored navy suit rumpled, his sharp jaw clenched, his haunted eyes alight with a new fire. Moments ago, Sound's crushing force had shattered his defiance, demanding servitude. He had bowed, submitting wholeheartedly to the primordial, and now its power surged within him—a vibrating pulse that thrummed in his veins, sharpening his senses. Khalid, proxy of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and the Gulf states, stood nearby, his white ghutra framing eyes that sparked with guarded satisfaction. Noor Al-Bakri, her dark hijab framing a poised face, watched silently, her role as envoy complete.
Arjun flexed his fingers, feeling a strange resonance in his chest, as if his voice could ripple the air itself. "This… power," he said, his voice low but vibrating with an unnatural edge, "it's alive. I feel it—vibrations, frequencies, like I could command this room to shake."
Khalid's smile was measured, his lightning aura flickering. "You are Sound's proxy now, Arjun. Its power lets you bend wills, sway minds, shape nations with a whisper. Your father wielded it to rule eight nations—India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and beyond. Now it's yours to master, to hunt the God of Darkness who killed him."
Arjun's gaze hardened, vengeance burning brighter than his lingering distrust. "The God of Darkness—India's legend, punisher of the corrupt. He took my father, and I'll make him pay. But you, Khalid, and your Council—why should I believe you're not using me? This power came at a price. Sound demanded I bow, called my father its servant. What's your game?"
Khalid stepped closer, his voice calm but resonant, like distant thunder. "No game, Arjun. You're one of us now—equal among the 25, bound only to Sound. My Lightning cannot control you, nor can the Council. We offered this to restore your father's domain, to stop the chaos the God of Darkness sows. Your vengeance aligns with our stability. Test your power—speak, and feel its reach."
Arjun's eyes narrowed, but he turned to the chamber's far wall, focusing on a steel panel. He spoke a single word—"Move"—his voice laced with a low, harmonic pulse. The panel shuddered, vibrating violently, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. Noor flinched slightly, her composure slipping, while Khalid's eyes widened, a spark of unease betraying his calm. Arjun's lips curled, a mix of awe and resolve. "This is just the start. I'll learn this power, wield it to crush him."
Khalid nodded, his tone guiding. "Sound is vast—vibrations to sway crowds, disrupt enemies, or command loyalty. Practice here, in my stronghold, where my Lightning shields us. Speak softly to influence, loudly to destroy. Your father used it to bind ministers, silence rebels. You'll need such control to face the God of Darkness."