Just as Nill's blade descended to end Viranth's life, a wall of earth surged up between them, halting the killing strike mid-swing.
Nill's eyes widened in horror. He hadn't sensed another presence nearby.
Before he could react, a gust of wind whispered behind him.
He turned slightly—too late.
A sword pierced through his armor, slicing cleanly from his back through to his front.
Viranth, gasping for breath, looked up from the base of the tree where he lay, blood dripping from his lips. His gaze drifted toward the flowing river behind the battlefield. He made it... He had reached the river.
A breath of relief left him as he turned to see the figure behind the sword.
Sumit.
Nill, staggering, jumped sideways just in time to avoid a fatal blow. The blade had missed his heart by a breath. He clutched his side, blood staining his armor, and growled in pain.
Had he rolled a second later, he would have died.
Sumit stood firm, withdrawing his blade, and turned briefly to check on Viranth. Then, without hesitation, he charged at Nill once more, sword glinting with intent to kill.
Nill quickly raised an earth barrier to shield himself, hurling rocks at Sumit in retaliation. But Sumit moved like wind and fire, slicing through the debris and shattering the wall.
What he didn't expect—was the trap.
The moment the barrier broke, a surge of flames erupted toward him.
Sumit instinctively leapt back, avoiding the worst of it, but scorch marks seared his armor. Though protected, his skin beneath stung from the heat.
Emerging from the blaze, Nill laughed, "So, it was a trap. That rat lured me here to die. No matter. Today, I'll kill both a Soul Stage and a Transcendent warrior. My name will be written in glory."
Sumit met his glare with a thin smile. "True—this day will be remembered. For your death."
At Sumit's taunt, Nill's expression twisted. He unsheathed his sword, and a faint white line shimmered around the blade.
Sumit's eyes narrowed.
Fourth Mastery... Nill's weapon mastery had reached a higher tier than his own. Sumit's was still at the Third Mastery. That single level meant a world of difference in close combat.
"You're trembling," Nill sneered. "When you used that earth barrier earlier to save your commander... I felt it. That wasn't your affinity, was it?"
Sumit didn't respond, but the truth stung.
His primary affinity was Fire, and his secondary was Wind. He had no connection to Earth. Using an Earth-element spell required invoking the blessing of Mother Nature directly—and the cost was brutal.
Normally, such a spell would cost twice the Soul Energy. But using it twice, then sustaining it, and breaking it under pressure had drained him fivefold. Combined with the stealth and infiltration earlier… Sumit was now fighting on less than half his energy reserves.
He knew time was against him.
From the outside, he looked composed. But inside, he knew this fight would only grow harder.
Still, he wouldn't back down.
He raised his sword and took his stance.
Nill chuckled. He summoned fire into his free hand and hurled a fireball at Sumit. Sumit blocked with his blade, then retaliated with one of his own, which Nill sliced apart with ease before rushing forward.
Their swords clashed—sparks erupting on contact.
Nill pressed forward, his strength forcing Sumit back. Then, with a breath of fire, he blasted flames from his mouth.
Sumit rolled aside, barely avoiding the inferno. But Nill wasn't finished. He raised a chunk of earth beneath Sumit, unbalancing him.
Sumit stumbled as Nill slashed at him, nearly severing his arm. The blade grazed his shoulder, cutting deep into the armor. Blood spurted out, but Sumit managed to fire a flame bullet from his fingertips, striking Nill at the wounded spot from earlier.
Nill howled, staggering.
Yet he didn't retreat.
Instead, he lunged again, this time striking Viranth, who had just managed to stand. A soul-charged punch landed near his liver, sending Viranth crashing to the ground once more.
Viranth groaned, his leg soaked in blood. He wrapped cloth around the wound, trying to staunch the flow. But dehydration and pain clouded his mind.
Water… he thought weakly. I need water.
The river was just meters away.
But he couldn't move.
His vision dimmed, the world turning black around the edges. His body trembled. His hands were cold.
With a weak smile, he whispered, "Oh Narayana… I've always been your devotee. If this is my last moment… let my soul rest with you. Let me serve you in the afterlife."
And then—he heard it.
A serene voice, resonating behind him, chanting softly, Om...
"Oh Viranth," it said, warm and divine. "Your time on Earth is not over. You still have much to do."
Peace swept over him. The pain vanished. His trembling stopped. A trance-like state overtook him.
"Water…" he whispered.
The voice responded, "Here you go."
The voice faded, and Viranth slowly opened his eyes.
He was back on the battlefield—but calmer. His pain was fading. Was this an illusion?
Then… BOOM.
Thunder rumbled overhead. Within seconds, rain began to fall.
Heavy, holy rain.
Viranth stared in awe. A moment ago, the sky had been clear. And now—blessed rain poured down from the heavens.
He opened his mouth, drinking the rain like nectar. He had not seen rain in this part of the land for over a decade.
It was real... the voice was real. Narayan heard me... and saved me.
He laughed—loudly and freely, like a madman finding joy at the edge of death.
"OM NAMO NARAYANA!"
On the battlefield, the rain drenched the warriors. Sumit and Nill stood soaked, their fire spells sputtering uselessly.
Fire chakra weakened drastically in rain. Both were forced to stop using it.
Sumit's face tensed. Without fire, his offensive power was halved. Running crossed his mind—but if he fled, Viranth would die for certain.
No... I will not run.
He took his stance again.
Nill noticed. "You're nearly out of energy. Your fire is gone. You're a sitting duck now."
Sumit spat blood from his mouth. "Then stop talking and fight."
Nill turned toward Viranth and laughed. "That rat won't last long either. This rain will only hasten his death."
But then—they heard it.
From the trees behind them, where Viranth lay, a chant echoed through the rain.
"OM NAMO NARAYANA!"
Viranth stood again—drenched but alive. His voice was strong. His eyes were filled with light.
Nill scoffed. "He's gone mad. Praying in the rain, knowing he's about to die."
But Sumit smiled.
"No. He's alive. The gods have chosen to save him."
He turned to Nill. "We will live, and you will die."
They clashed once more.
Nill sneered. "You don't even realize... your eyes are yellow. Your liver is failing. You're dying."
Sumit glanced at his wound. He knew Nill was right.
He had little time left.
If he wanted to survive, he'd need the Chief Vaidya immediately—but there was no time.
Sumit accepted his fate.
And charged.
"This ends now."
He locked Nill in a tight embrace.
Nill's face twisted in horror. "You're... you're going to...!"
"Yes," Sumit whispered. "You're right. I won't survive this. But I'll make sure neither will you."
With a roar, Sumit ignited his Soul Core.
Nill screamed, trying to escape, but Sumit held tight.
BOOM.
The explosion shook the forest.
Viranth, barely standing, ran toward the blast.
He saw Sumit, broken and breathing his last.
"Sumit!" he cried, trying to hold him.
Sumit smiled. "I destroyed my Soul Core... I wouldn't have survived anyway. My liver was already done."
Tears fell from Viranth's eyes.
Sumit reached for him. "Live, my friend. You're a warrior our king needs. Always walk the path of Dharma. This isn't your fault—it's my fate."
He coughed, blood spilling from his lips.
"For the first time, I found someone worth giving my life for. You were meant to survive. I felt it. And the gods agreed."
Viranth whispered, "I was dying moments ago. Then I heard Narayan's voice… and rain fell."
Sumit chuckled. "Then live. It was His will."
With one last breath, he smiled.
"I fulfilled my Dharma."
And he was gone.
Viranth knelt beside him, tears in silence.
He turned to Nill, barely alive, burned and broken.
The rain poured harder.
Viranth whispered, "This is your will, Narayan. I will play the role you give me."
And then—from the shadows of the downpour—he heard it.
A baby's cry.