The situation looked dire. For the first time, Priya saw fear on Bhumi's face. With Forge collapsed on the ground, Sapna smiled smugly. "Oh my — your little friend fell. Now it's your turn," she taunted.
It seemed like the end for the group — until a voice cut through the chaos."My, my — aren't you arrogant. Why don't you pick him up?"
Bhumi's face lit up. The voice continued, closer now, "Bhumi, I told you—you would lose."Bhumi snapped back, "I still have time, Shiva."
From the shadows stepped a man with red hair and red eyes, a mighty trident in his hand. Shiva moved like a storm. "Well, now that I'm here, I might as well help," he said, and leapt at Sapna with his eyes closed.
Seeing Sapna distracted, Bhumi slammed her hands to the ground and built a box around her, sealing the area. Forge began to stir; Sapna's absence gave them a moment. Together, Bhumi and Shiva tore into the henchmen.
Priya watched, stunned — Bhumi felled one or two enemies at a time, precise and controlled, while Shiva tore through ten, fifteen at once. She turned to Forge and asked, bewildered, "How is he—how can he be so fast?"
Forge, rubbing his shoulder as he got to his feet, explained, "We use spiritual energy to power our abilities. Shiva's power looks simple, but it's extremely effective. Normally the brain sends a signal to the body to perform an action. Shiva cuts out the middleman — he coats his trident with spiritual energy and makes the weapon an extension of his own body. It moves, senses, and acts as if it were part of him."
With Shiva's help, the henchmen were quickly slaughtered. Shiva wiped his blade and smirked. "Now that that's done — Forge, how are you? I told you going with Bhumi was a mistake."
Bhumi shot back, "Oh shut up. You're just bitter because he took me — are you going to cry?" Shiva glared at Bhumi, but Forge put a hand up. "Let's finish this and go home. Bhumi — bring the wall down on my command."
Forge then produced a set of eye-masks and handed them around. "This will help," he said.
Priya frowned. "How can you fight without using your eyes?"
Forge answered, "Shiva can echolocate. He strikes the trident on the ground; the vibrations spread through the earth and map the surroundings. Sight isn't required."
At Forge's signal, Bhumi brought the walls down. Sapna, who had sheltered above the carnage, froze when she saw the henchmen fallen and the group wearing eye masks. "So you found my weakness," she hissed. "I can paralyze anyone who meets my gaze. You must be proud — but how will you fight me blind?"
Shiva smiled coldly. "We'll make it work." He charged, pounding his trident into the ground. Waves of energy rippled outward, revealing Sapna's position to him. He closed with terrifying speed, and in the clash he slashed — catching her unprepared and slicing off her nose. Sapna howled in rage and enraged words tumbled from her lips — but before she could finish, Shiva struck again and severed her from her body.
Sapna collapsed, body broken, the platform above her empty as her henchmen lay defeated. The battle was over.