Mohana laughed—softly at first, then louder, echoing across the shore.
"Aww… look at you two," she taunted, tilting her head.
"Standing here with one baby and zero brains. You're alone. Absolutely alone. And you think you can fight a hundred of my children?"
Zombies snarled as they drew closer, forming a tightening ring.
Kiara pulled the baby to her chest, her breath trembling.
Yuvaan stepped protectively in front of her, fists clenched.
Mohana spread her arms smugly.
"This is the end for you."
The first zombie lunged.
CRACK!
A bullet tore through its skull.
Another zombie jerked back—an arrow impaled straight through its chest.
The entire horde froze.
Yuvaan and Kiara spun around.
Mohana's smile faltered.
"…what?"
From the trees, through the stormy mist, a squad of warriors emerged like an army descending from the heavens.
Vikram, stepping forward first, his Reeva bow raised, glowing with divine power.
Beside him, Varun, his expression cold, arrows already notched.
Bhoomi, dual pistols blazing with every step.
Susheela, dagger spinning between her fingers with lethal precision.
Aakash, Angad, and Vinod, each carrying shotguns locked and ready.
Riddhi and Moti Baa, shockingly fierce, wielding polished crossbows.
And Kajal—half woman, half serpent—slithering ahead with golden eyes and a massive serpent tail that cracked against zombies, sending them flying.
The family moved like a synchronized strike force, their footsteps heavy, confident, unstoppable.
Mohana staggered back a step.
"No… no, no, no—THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR BURIAL GROUND! How did—"
Vikram's voice thundered across the shore:
"YUVAAN! KIARA!"
He hurled a large bag through the air.
Yuvaan leapt up despite the wet sand, catching it mid-jump with one hand.
He landed hard, ripping open the bag instantly.
Inside—gleaming weapons.
Yuvaan grabbed the Reeva talwar, its blade humming with blue energy.
He turned to Kiara.
"Take this."
He placed a loaded crossbow into her free hand.
Kiara shifted the baby onto her back using her sling, tightening it securely, her eyes hardening with fire.
"Don't worry," she said, voice steady. "I'll keep him safe."
Yuvaan stepped beside her, sword raised.
Behind them, the family formed a protective semi-circle.
Mohana stared at them, almost shaking.
"This… this cannot be happening!"
But it was.
Because the moment the zombies surged forward again—
WAR ERUPTED.
Vikram's arrows struck like lightning.
Varun's arrows shot in rapid-fire succession.
Bhoomi unloaded bullets with perfect aim.
Susheela darted between the undead like a shadow, slashing throats.
Aakash, Angad, and Vinod blasted zombies back with thunderous shotgun blasts.
Riddhi and Moti Baa, shockingly agile, pierced skulls with their crossbows.
And Kajal's serpent tail slammed through rows of zombies, hissing with fury as her fangs glowed.
Yuvaan and Kiara stepped into the chaos, fighting back-to-back.
Their baby asleep and safe against Kiara's back.
Their family fighting like an unbreakable fortress.
Mohana watched her army crumble—rage twisting her face.
The battle had begun.
The last zombie fell with a thud that shook the sand.
Silence rippled across the shore.
The family stood panting, bruised, splattered with black ash—but triumphant.
Mohana stared at the decimated remains of her army.
Her eyes widened.
Her jaw tightened.
Her fury rose like a storm.
"You…" she hissed, voice trembling with rage.
"You insolent, foolish, pathetic mortals—you dare destroy my legion?"
The family didn't even hesitate.
Vikram stepped forward first, fire blazing in his eyes.
"You tried to kill my children."
Varun's voice cut sharper than his arrows.
"You threatened our future."
Bhoomi spat on the ground.
"You picked the wrong family."
Even Moti Baa raised her crossbow like she was ready to fight again.
"We do NOT bow to daayans."
Mohana's expression twisted, the rage too powerful for her human form.
The ground trembled.
Her braid—normally long—
burst outward, expanding, stretching, growing thicker and longer until it slithered across the entire island like a monstrous, living anaconda.
The hair coiled around trees, rocks, even the abandoned canoe.
Before anyone could move, the braid shot toward them—
wrapping around the entire family at lightning speed.
Vikram.
Varun.
Bhoomi.
Aakash.
Angad.
Vinod.
Kajal.
Riddhi.
Moti Baa.
Susheela.
Every single one of them was lifted into the air, bound from neck to feet, struggling to breathe.
Only two people were untouched.
Yuvaan and Kiara.
Mohana towered above them, her eyes glowing deep crimson.
Her voice shifted—deeper, layered, ancient.
"I am not just Mohana now," she declared, arms spreading as the sky darkened.
"I am Maha Daayan Mohana—the legendary witch feared across realms."
The island shook under the weight of her announcement.
Her braid raised the bound family even higher, tightening around them until they gasped.
"But I'll deal with them later," she sneered.
"You two… you will die first."
She flicked her wrist.
Yuvaan and Kiara were yanked into the air, slammed down at her feet, and forced to kneel.
Kiara shielded her baby instinctively, even while pinned.
Mohana laughed—a cold, echoing sound.
"Look at you," she mocked, stepping closer.
"No spells. No power. No army.
Just two college brats pretending to be warriors."
She leaned down, her face inches from theirs.
"You think love protects you?"
"Faith saves you?"
"I am darkness. I am end. I am power."
Her voice swelled with dark magic.
"When I am done crushing you under my foot, I will take your child—
and raise him in shadows you cannot even imagine."
Kiara's breath hitched.
Yuvaan's jaw clenched.
They looked at each other.
A single heartbeat.
A single silent promise.
A single shared thought:
It ends now.
Kiara's hand slipped toward her ankle.
Yuvaan's hand moved toward his pocket.
Mohana didn't notice—she was too busy basking in her own sermon on power, raising her arms, chanting, preparing a killing blow.
Her eyes blazed red.
Her braid tightened on the family.
Her shadow grew enormous behind her.
"NOW YOU DIE!"
Her scream rippled through the sky—
And in the same instant—
Kiara and Yuvaan struck.
Both leapt forward at the same time—
—and fastened the gleaming silver anklet around Mohana's foot.
The moment the metal clicked shut—
A thunderous crack split the air.
Mohana shrieked.
Her glowing eyes dimmed.
Her power drained instantly, ripping out of her like smoke in a storm.
Her braid collapsed to the sand.
The family dropped safely onto the shore.
The sky cleared.
Mohana staggered backward, choking on her own breath.
Her skin paled.
Her hair—
turned white in seconds
as if centuries of age hit her at once.
She crashed to her knees, trembling, powerless.
"What… have… you… DONE…"
Kiara rose slowly, still holding her baby, voice steady and cold:
"We ended you."
And Yuvaan stood beside her, sword in hand:
"Your darkness ends today, Mohana."