The island trembled.
The calm night was shattered as killing intent filled the air. The wind howled violently, carrying the scent of blood and ash across the isolated island.
Lioran and Bheem stood several meters apart.
Neither spoke.
Neither blinked.
Their eyes alone declared war.
A second later—
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath Bheem's feet as he shot forward like a black comet. Dark Prāṇa wrapped around his fist, distorting the air around him.
Lioran narrowed his eyes.
"So fast..."
Just before Bheem reached him—
"Prāṇa Fist!"
Instead of attacking Bheem, Lioran slammed his glowing fist into the ground.
BOOOM!
The earth burst apart.
Massive cracks spread across the battlefield as chunks of rock flew into the air. The violent impact created an uneven surface beneath Bheem's feet.
His balance faltered for a split second.
"What?"
That tiny opening was all Lioran needed.
Golden Prāṇa exploded beneath his feet.
"Prāṇa Swift!"
A glowing golden sigil appeared beneath him, launching him forward with explosive speed.
WHOOSH!
Before Bheem could regain his footing—
Lioran had already disappeared from his sight.
Behind me!
Bheem's instincts screamed.
He immediately turned—
But Lioran's palm had already touched the center of his back.
"Got you."
A smile appeared on Lioran's face.
"Prāṇa Swift!"
A brilliant golden symbol materialized behind Bheem.
The symbol erupted with force.
BOOM!
The tremendous burst launched Bheem across the rocky battlefield like a cannonball.
He skidded dozens of meters before digging his feet into the ground.
Chunks of stone flew everywhere as he forced himself to stop.
"...Interesting."
Bheem smiled faintly.
"I didn't expect you to use Prāṇa Swift like that."
Lioran grinned.
Before either of them could continue—
Something strange happened.
A black shadow spread beneath Bheem's feet.
"Hm?"
The darkness expanded rapidly.
It swallowed Bheem inside it.
"Bheem!"
Kamali shouted.
Before anyone could react—
Similar shadows appeared beneath everyone present.
Booma looked down.
"What is this?"
Daabur looked at the path followed by those shadow.
Those shadow were coming from Sharin.
"So you are behind this." Daabur said.
"Oh you found it." Sharin smiled.
"What are you doing?" Kaali asked.
"Dont worry! I'm just giving everyone their area for battle." Sharin said.
The shadows swallowed all of them.
The entire battlefield disappeared into darkness.
The Grassland Battlefield
A vast grassy plain stretched beneath the sunlight.
A ripple spread across the ground.
Two figures emerged from the shadows.
Sharin.
Daabur.
Daabur immediately looked around.
"This place..."
His brows furrowed.
"What did you do?"
Sharin brushed the dirt off his clothes before smiling.
"Simple."
"I just separated everyone."
He pointed toward the endless plain.
"Now every fight has its own battlefield."
Daabur looked impressed.
"So this is another ability of the Ākāśa Attribute?"
Sharin shrugged.
"I didn't know I could do this either."
He looked around curiously.
"The more I train..."
"...the more mysterious this attribute becomes."
Daabur slowly smiled.
"Interesting."
Yellow Prāṇa began flowing around his body.
"But do you really think you can defeat me?"
Sharin immediately took his stance.
"I guess we're about to find out."
Daabur mirrored him.
The wind stopped.
Neither moved.
Then suddenly—
Sharin swallowed nervously.
"...Wait." He thought.
His confident expression disappeared.
"Why am I acting brave?"
He looked at Daabur again.
"He's over ten years older than me."
"He has years of experience."
"And his techniques are far superior."
A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"I might actually die..."
For a brief moment—
Fear consumed him.
Then another memory appeared.
Kaali's desperate face.
"Please... save my friends."
Sharin smiled softly.
"I guess..."
"...I'm not fighting because I think I'll win."
He remembered every memory with Lioran.
Laughing together.
Training together.
Arguing over silly things.
The countless moments they had shared.
"I'm fighting..."
"...because my best friend would never leave someone behind."
Black smoky Prāṇa slowly rose around him.
Daabur's yellow Prāṇa intensified.
Small rocks began floating around his body.
"So..."
Sharin smiled confidently.
"I don't regret standing here."
Daabur nodded.
"Good."
"Then come."
The next instant—
Both disappeared.
BOOM!
Their first clash shook the grassland.
The Forest Battlefield
Far away...
Aishwarya and Kamali emerged from another shadow portal.
They found themselves inside a dense forest illuminated by moonlight.
Tall trees surrounded them from every direction.
Kamali looked around cautiously.
"So this is where we're fighting."
"I guess so."
Aishwarya cracked her knuckles.
"At least nobody can interrupt us."
She slowly raised her hands.
Brilliant crimson flames erupted around her body.
The heat instantly spread through the forest.
Kamali narrowed her eyes.
White Prāṇa surrounded her body like flowing silk.
"Oh?"
She smiled.
"You sound confident."
Aishwarya smirked.
"I am."
Kamali chuckled.
"Confidence..."
"...and overconfidence are different things."
The white aura around Kamali intensified.
"I hope you know which one you have."
The forest suddenly fell silent.
Then—
The flames exploded.
The Mountain Battlefield
High above the island...
Kaali and Booma appeared atop a rugged mountain ridge.
Cold wind roared between the cliffs.
Booma immediately stepped away from Kaali.
The moment Kaali reached toward him—
Booma slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me."
His voice was cold.
"Traitor."
The single word pierced Kaali's heart.
"...Booma."
Sadness appeared in Kaali's eyes.
"So you've already decided."
"I have."
Booma's expression remained emotionless.
"Everything you've said since betraying us has been a lie."
Kaali clenched his fists.
"No."
"I only wanted to save—"
"Enough!"
Booma roared.
The mountain trembled.
"You keep pretending you're helping us."
"But all you did..."
"...was betray us."
Pain flashed across Kaali's face.
"You were my brother."
Booma's voice cracked.
"I trusted you more than anyone."
His emerald Prāṇa erupted violently.
Wild winds began circling around him.
"But now..."
He pointed toward Kaali.
"I'll make you pay."
The surrounding wind became a raging storm.
Kaali slowly closed his eyes.
Then took a deep breath.
Sticky acidic liquid began flowing over both his hands.
"So..."
He raised his fists.
"If beating some sense into you is the only way..."
His expression hardened.
"...then forgive me."
The mountain echoed as two former brothers prepared to fight.
The Rocky Battlefield
On the eastern side of the island...
Lioran and Bheem emerged onto a massive rocky plateau.
Jagged stone pillars surrounded them.
Bheem looked around calmly.
"So..."
He glanced toward Lioran.
"This was your plan."
Lioran shrugged.
"Not really."
A grin spread across his face.
"I'm simply going to beat you until you come back to your senses."
Bheem laughed.
"You still believe you can defeat me?"
Dark Prāṇa surged around him.
Lioran slowly assumed his fighting stance.
Golden Prāṇa surged from his body, illuminating the battlefield.
"Yeah!"
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Because I've prepared some new tricks."
Bheem's smile widened.
"Good."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Without another word—
He vanished.
BOOM!
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
Lioran immediately activated Prāṇa Swift.
Golden light exploded beneath him.
Instead of retreating—
He launched himself directly upward.
"I made Kaali a promise."
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"And I always keep my promises."
Golden Prāṇa gathered around his fist.
"Prāṇa Fist!"
He descended from above like a meteor.
Bheem looked upward.
A savage grin spread across his face.
Black Prāṇa engulfed his own fist.
"Then show me..."
"Prāṇa Fist!"
The two fists collided.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!
Golden light.
Black darkness.
The impact shook the surrounding area.
A massive shockwave erupted from the collision, flattening nearby trees and sending enormous cracks racing across the rocky plateau.
The battle between hope...
And despair...
Had finally begun.
TO BE CONTINUED…