It was 4 in the morning when Shiva suddenly woke up from sleep with a jolt. His body was tense and drenched in sweat. The same terrifying dream had returned again—the clear memories of that experiment which had almost destroyed two worlds. He sat cross-legged and stared at his hands. How did everything go so wrong? The merging of Earth and Satal, the destruction, and now this journey through dungeons to survive. He knew he couldn't stay trapped in the past for long. Today was another new day to move forward.
He began remembering yesterday's incident. Siya was telling him — "this is black mold slime, and they rarely attack, these are silk spiders and as long as you don't touch their webs, they remain completely calm." Inside the dungeon, there were small puddles of water in some places. Tara pointed toward those puddles and said, "these are sonic bats, they look dangerous but they wake only 3 months in a year, and during that time this dungeon stays closed."
Shiva said, "why do I feel like all the monsters here are harmless?"
Kavi laughed from behind and said, "oh man my brother, maybe you don't know why this is a low-tier dungeon. Because except for the boss room, all dangerous monsters have already been killed. And now monsters exist only in the boss room, and when we kill the boss monster, we'll get treasure chests more valuable than bloodstones."
Shiva said, "okay, but if we can get bloodstones without fighting the boss monster, then what's the need to fight?"
Siya said, "you really are naïve. Let me explain—when we are here, we are weak and defeating us is easy. When boss monsters are killed, their energy takes a new form and with time regains its strong form again. That's why these boss monsters are only up to D-level."
"Oh, now I understand," Shiva said.
Kavi said, "and as far as getting bloodstones without killing the boss monster—no, that won't be possible, because all the stones outside the boss room have already been mined. And only inside and outside the boss room some evil miasma remains, so the stones will be found only there, my brother."
Talking like this, Shiva—along with his new companions: Ansh, heir of the God of Ponds; Kavi, heir of the God of Knives; and Siya, heir of the Goddess of Fire—was now standing in front of the boss room of the dungeon.
They had fought through several waves of small monsters together, and their teamwork had brought them here. With them was Karan, a mid-tier god heir who had led the group. He was someone everyone trusted—until now.
As they stood before the huge doors of the boss chamber, Karan said, "friends, now we have to enter the boss room. Even if the boss monster is weak, it's still a boss monster, so we must be at our peak." Then he took out some vials from his pocket and handed everyone small bottles. "Drink these," he said casually. "You'll need strength for the final battle."
Kavi said, "wow big brother Karan, you are so kind, giving us mana nutrient liquid," and thanked him. Everyone bowed their heads slightly toward Karan.
And then Shiva…
Without thinking, Ansh, Kavi, and Siya trusted Karan's guidance and drank the potion. But an odd restlessness rose in Shubhu's heart. Something didn't feel right. Still, he hesitated for just a moment and drank his potion as well.
Siya said, "wow, I feel my full strength returning. I think I can defeat the boss alone now."
But within seconds Siya and the others staggered and fell to the ground one by one.
But Shiva… remained standing.
Seeing this in astonishment, Karan's smile widened, becoming more terrifying.
"Interesting," he said, stepping closer to Shiva. "Looks like this potion had no effect on you."
"What… what did you do?" Shiva asked, his heart pounding. His eyes drifted toward his unconscious friends.
"These potions sever the connection to the gods," Karan replied coldly and confidently. "Once that bond breaks, their bodies begin turning into monsters. Then their bloodstones are extracted and fed to the dark gods."
Shubhu's breath caught. His friends were in danger, and he had to act—immediately. But how?
Karan took another step forward. "But why didn't it affect you? Maybe you are far more than what you appear to be. Are you perhaps a pawn of the evil gods yourself?"
Shiva's mind raced. He couldn't show fear. He had to buy time—somehow save Ansh, Kavi, and Siya.
Then a thought flashed—spirits.
Karan, or any evil god, knew nothing about the spirits who had been with Shubhu since the worlds merged. These spirits were born from the merging of Earth and Satal and remained invisible until Shubhu wished to reveal them.
Karan continued mocking him. "What exactly are you, Shiva? Why weren't you affected like the others? Maybe you have secrets too?"
Shiva decided to keep him talking.
"Karan," he said in a calm voice hiding his fear, "why are you doing this? We trusted you. You were supposed to help us."
Karan smiled—a laugh hidden inside his expression. "Trust? Trust is for fools. Here only power matters. The gods you serve are nothing compared to the gods who are about to rise. Your friends are just the beginning."
As Karan spoke, Shiva quietly summoned the spirits and sent them toward his unconscious companions. Silent and invisible, they began hovering over Ansh, Kavi, and Siya. Slowly the spirits began working, neutralizing the monstrous effects of the potion.
Shubhu knew—one mistake, and everything would end.
He kept Karan busy.
"Power is temporary," Shiva taunted. "You're also just a pawn of the gods, aren't you?"
Anger flickered in Karan's eyes, but vanished behind a cold smile.
"Oh let me tell you," he said. "I am not a pawn of gods, but of the evil god. And you talk like you understand the nature of gods. But you know nothing, Shiva. Soon you will see."
The spirits worked without pause. Shiva could feel Ansh, Kavi, and Siya slowly regaining consciousness, and their connection to their gods being restored.
But Karan still did not stop.
"I was wrong about you," he said, pacing. "You're not just another heir. There is something more in you, isn't there? Are you yourself a god? No… impossible. After the catastrophe, gods fell into deep slumber. Unless… you are something else entirely. Are you too a pawn of the evil gods like me?"
Shubhu clenched his fists. He needed to act soon, but he had to wait until his friends were fully awake.
"Maybe you're afraid," Shiva said in a steady voice. "Afraid that you're not as powerful as you think."
Karan's face twisted with rage.
"I'll show you fear."
He raised both hands and darker-than-dark energy began spilling from them.
While this was happening, at that very moment Ansh moved, then Kavi and Siya too. Their eyes opened and they slowly sat up.
Karan saw them waking and his eyes narrowed.
"No… this can't be!"
He raised his hand, summoning dark energy.
"I'll end this right now!"
But before he could attack, Ansh's eyes glowed. He pulled water from the air and bound Karan's legs like chains. Kavi summoned a barrage of knives that pierced Karan's body. Flames erupted in Siya's hands and she unleashed a ferocious wave of fire that engulfed Karan.
For a moment it looked like they had won.
Karan's burning body fell to the ground.
But then a chilling laughter echoed through the flames.
"You really thought that would be enough?"
Karan's voice was cold and dangerous. He stood up—his body charred but rapidly healing.
"You low-tier heirs think you can defeat me? I'll show you real power."
He released a wave of darkness that flung the entire group across the floor.
Karan stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury. "Now, Shiva, it's your turn. You cannot hide your true identity anymore."
He attacked Shiva, sending him flying into the air, and leaped up after him, landing punches and kicks mid-air before slamming him to the ground.
Panting and injured, Shubhu stood up.
Karan laughed—a filthy, spine-chilling laugh.
"Wow, you can still stand? No one can't die? First watch your little insect-friends die."
The spirits circled around Shiva, giving him strength, but it wasn't enough. He needed more time… and more power.
Then something deep inside him awakened.
Shiva's vision blurred, his eyes glowing with otherworldly light. Time itself slowed. Light burst from Shiva and struck Karan. Karan's movements became sluggish and broken.
It's happening again… Shiva thought.
Karan froze.
"What… what is this?" he said in shock.
Shubhu focused on time. Slowly, Karan's body began to age—his skin wrinkling, strength draining away.
But as Shiva prepared to strike the final blow, a sharp pain shot through his head. Blood trickled from his nose. The pressure of time's power was too great.
Karan, weakened, stepped back.
"You… you almost defeated me," he said angrily. "But now you'll pay the price."
Before he could attack—Ansh, Kavi, and Siya were fully awake. They launched a combined assault. Water bound his hands, knives pierced his chest, and fire engulfed him again.
But this time Karan didn't retaliate. He looked at Shubhu and smiled.
"This isn't over, Shiva. We will meet again."
And the next moment, he vanished into shadows.
Shubhu collapsed to the ground. Ansh came to him and gave him a healing potion.
"Shiva, you saved us. Nothing will happen to you. Without you, we wouldn't have survived."
They all took Shiva back to the guild and told everything to assistant Rehka. She apologized for Karan's betrayal and gave rare guild passes for a month as compensation.
While returning to his room, one thing did not leave Shiva's mind—Karan knew far more about him than he should.
Who was he really?
And why did Karan call himself "pawn"?
The answers would come with time.
But one thing was certain—
this battle was just the beginning.