"Everyone, stay behind me," Vihaan commanded, his eyes scanning the horde closing in. "We have to leave the restaurant. Now."
Yug looked around in panic. "Leave? They're blocking every way out, jiju! The doors, the corridors—everything's sealed off!"
The growling grew louder. The venom bearers shuffled closer, their black eyes gleaming, their jaws twitching as if eager to bite into life itself.
Vihaan clenched his jaw. "Then I'll make the way."
He tore off the bracelet from his wrist — the very one that kept his power sealed. The air around him crackled with energy. Crimson light flared from his palms, swirling like a storm of fire and lightning.
"Sarvansh Shakti!" he shouted, thrusting his hand forward.
A wave of crimson magic blasted through the hall, hitting the venom bearers with a force that made the chandeliers tremble. The creatures screeched and fell—slammed across tables and walls, their bodies scattering across the marble floor.
For a fleeting moment, silence reigned.
Then, one by one, the venom bearers began to stand up again. Their bones cracked back into place, their mouths stretching into sinister smiles.
Vihaan's eyes widened. "What—? That should have destroyed them."
Gauri stepped forward, fury replacing fear. "Not if I can help it."
She slipped the divine ring from her finger, her eyes glowing faintly blue. "Jai Devi Maa!"
With a swift motion, she threw the ring forward. It transformed midair into a Tidal Chakram, blazing with light and cascading water. The spinning weapon sliced through the horde with a roar, its edges shimmering like liquid lightning.
The creatures staggered as the chakram slashed through them—but to everyone's horror, not a drop of blood fell. Their wounds began to close almost instantly.
The chakram dissolved into droplets of water and reformed into Gauri's ring, sliding neatly back onto her left finger.
Gauri's breath hitched. "They're not even… human anymore."
Sharda's voice shook slightly, but she spoke with the wisdom of someone who knew too much. "I remember," she whispered. "Magic doesn't work on them for long. The venom in their veins repels divine energy."
The family stood surrounded again—their brief hope extinguished—as the venom bearers began to growl louder, closing in from every side.
Vihaan glanced at Gauri. "Then we'll have to fight them another way."
Vihaan's eyes burned crimson as he struck down the venom bearers, his movements swift and fierce—each swing of his arm releasing bursts of energy that threw the infected staff to the floor. But no matter how hard he hit, they kept rising again, their faces twisted, their veins dark as shadowed ink.
"Everyone—run!" Vihaan shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Now! Move through the cleared path!"
"Come on!" Gauri called out, guiding Dadi, Shyom and Urvashi forward while Yug helped Charvi. Sharda followed close behind, clutching her sacred pendant. One by one, they ran past the narrow path Vihaan had carved open with his power.
But then—
"Aahh!"
The family froze. Veena had tripped on a fallen chair, crashing to the marble floor. Her hand reached out as the venom bearers surrounded her, their growls echoing through the empty restaurant.
"Maa!" Vihaan's scream tore through the air.
He tried to rush toward her, but three of the venom bearers blocked his path, hissing and snarling.
Gauri's heart pounded. Her instincts screamed at her to do something—anything. She raised her trembling hand, and the divine ring on her finger blazed to life with a sapphire glow.
"Jai Devi Maa!"
The light expanded, forming a shimmering wave that pulsed outward. Time itself seemed to slow—the venom bearers' movements turning sluggish, their snarls stretching into deep echoes.
Everyone looked at her in awe as Gauri, her body shaking from the energy she'd unleashed, whispered hoarsely, "Vihaan… go! I've slowed them down—just go!"
Without a second thought, Vihaan sprinted through the slowed chaos, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. He reached Veena, lifting her into his arms just as the divine glow began to fade.
The time-freeze shattered like glass—the venom bearers roared back to motion, but Vihaan leaped through the last gap, carrying his mother to safety.
As he landed on the other side, Gauri grasped his hand, helping steady him. Their eyes met—hers still glowing faintly blue, his crimson fading with exhaustion.
"Are you okay?" she whispered breathlessly.
He nodded, tightening his grip on her hand. "Because of you."
Behind them, the venom bearers howled again, but the Kotharis were together—and that made them stronger than any darkness.