The mansion shook as Vikram and Varun burst through the shattered doorway, their breath catching at the sight before them. The grand hall—once glowing with divine serenity—was now drowned in red haze, the chandeliers flickering like dying flames.
At the center lay Kiara, bleeding and pale, held tightly by her mother and Chandrika. Her vermillion was smeared, her forehead bruised, but her eyes still blazed with the stubborn fire of a Reevavanshi.
"Kiara!" Vikram shouted, running toward her. He dropped to his knees, gathering his daughter into his arms, his voice trembling. "I should have come sooner… I'm sorry, beta."
Kiara's eyes shimmered with tears, but she smiled faintly. "You came without me calling, Papa… that's enough for me."
Varun knelt beside her, holding her shoulders as she leaned on him weakly. "You've done enough, Kiara. Now it's our turn."
The family's eyes turned toward the center of the hall.
There stood Yuvaan, eyes closed, surrounded by a pulsing black-red formation. His aura radiated waves of raw, destructive power. Shadows coiled around his feet like smoke, and his chest glowed faintly with the sigil of Kaal.
Vikram's expression hardened. "The ritual… it's almost complete," he muttered. His fingers clenched around the heart relic pouch. "We're running out of time."
Varun's voice was grim. "Then we stop him now."
Vikram reached into his robes, pulling out a small pouch filled with shimmering Rudramani dust—divine crystals infused with the blessings of Lord Shiva. He pressed it into Kiara's palm.
"Listen to me, beti," Vikram said softly. "Yuvaan isn't the same anymore. He's no longer bound by mortal laws. This dust—" he paused, "—it may not work on him, but if there's even the faintest trace of humanity left… it might awaken it. Keep it safe. If we fall, you'll know what to do."
Kiara nodded, clutching the pouch tightly, tears brimming in her eyes. "Papa… I won't let darkness win."
Varun stepped forward and handed Vikram the Heart Relic, the gemstone glowing faintly with divine blue light. "You'll need this to separate Yuvaan from Kaal's essence."
Vikram took a deep breath. "Then let's begin."
The two Reevavanshis stepped closer to the formation, their mantras resonating through the hall. But before they could complete the chant, a violent shockwave erupted from Yuvaan's body—blasting everyone off their feet.
The Heart Relic flew from Vikram's hand, rolling across the marble floor.
Kiara's eyes widened as she reached for it—but before she could move, Yuvaan's voice echoed through the hall, cold and resonant like the voice of doom itself.
"The ritual is complete."
He opened his eyes.
Blackish-red light blazed from his pupils, and the formation beneath him flared to life, glowing like molten lava. The entire mansion trembled.
Outside, the night sky turned crimson, clouds swirling like a vortex of blood. The air crackled with unnatural energy.
And in every corner of the world—Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, even distant lands—young girls around the age of twenty-five clutched their hearts and gasped for breath. Their bodies glowed faintly as invisible tendrils of red mist rose from them, drifting skyward.
Their life force was being drained.
Vikram staggered to his knees, horror dawning on his face. "He's begun harvesting the souls… of every girl born on his day."
Bhoomi screamed, clutching Kiara's hand. Chandrika whispered, "Mahadev save us…"
Kiara stared at Yuvaan through tears, her voice breaking. "No, Yuvaan… please stop this… you're killing innocent souls…"
But Yuvaan—no, Kaal—only smirked, his voice a chilling echo that filled the mansion.
"The age of light ends tonight."
The air inside the mansion pulsed with demonic energy. Flames flickered in every corner, shadows twisting across the walls like living things.
Varun and Vikram raised their bows in perfect unison, eyes locked on Yuvaan. Their arrows gleamed—etched with sacred reeva symbols meant to pierce through darkness.
"Forgive me, Yuvaan," Vikram whispered under his breath. "But I must save your soul, even if it means breaking your body."
Both released. The arrows shot forward, glowing trails streaking through the smoky air.
But before they could even reach him—
Yuvaan opened his eyes, and the arrows disintegrated midair, turning into black ash.
"Pathetic," Kaal's voice echoed, deep and merciless. He raised a hand, his aura flaring red-black. "You think mortal weapons can touch me?"
In a flash, both Vikram and Varun were lifted off the ground, their bodies suspended in midair by invisible force. Kiara screamed, "Papa! Varun bhaiya!"
Yuvaan's eyes blazed. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled them across the hall. They slammed against the marble walls, crashing down hard.
"Dad! Varun!" Kiara cried, stumbling toward them, her voice shaking. Bhoomi and Chandrika tried to rise, but the weight of Kaal's aura pinned everyone down.
Bruised and bleeding, Vikram forced himself up on one knee, coughing. "Kiara… the relic…" he rasped. "Get the Heart Relic before it's too late…"
Kiara's eyes darted toward the fallen gemstone glowing faintly near the temple steps. Gathering what little strength she had left, she sprinted toward it—her anklets clinking with every hurried step.
But just as her fingers brushed the gem—
a strong hand caught her wrist midair.
"Where do you think you're going?" Yuvaan's voice slid into her ears like venom.
He yanked her back and slammed her against the wall, the impact knocking the breath out of her. His crimson-black eyes bore into hers, emotionless yet burning with dark intensity.
"Still running to save the world?" he mocked, pressing his hand against her arm. Dark energy pulsed beneath his touch, and her skin seared where his fingers met flesh.
"Yuvaan…" she gasped in pain, tears welling. "Please… stop… this isn't you…"
He leaned closer, his breath cold, his tone cruel. "You still think Yuvaan exists? Foolish girl. He died the moment you failed to save him."
Blood trickled down her arm where his grip tightened. The Heart Relic lay just a few feet away—its faint glow reflecting in her eyes, flickering like hope itself.
"Let me go…" she whispered weakly.
He smirked. "Why? So you can defy your king?"
Kiara's voice trembled, but her spirit didn't. "No. So I can remind him… who he really is."
For a fleeting second, his expression faltered—something human flickering behind those demonic eyes.
And Kiara saw it.