The Mask Man's knife was in the air — and Kavita was pressed against the wall, eyes closed.
Rohan and Meena screamed together —
"Kavita!!!"
Blast.
But Kavita wasn't there at all.
The Mask Man's hand cut through empty air. He froze for a moment.
My attack had hit Kavita — so this...
Kavita had come near Rohan. Rohan looked toward her.
Rohan: What power do you have anyway?
Kavita: I can change reality. But I can only use the shift twice.
Rohan: Can you use it one more time right now?
Kavita: Yes. But if I use it one more time I'll fall unconscious — it takes way too much energy.
Rohan slowly stood up. His ribs were hurting, but his feet steadied on the ground.
Rohan: Alright. Now I'll have to use my power.
Meena turned and looked at him.
Meena: Are you a hunter? Why didn't you say this before?
Rohan: I didn't want to tell Aryan — or anyone. There are two reasons behind this.
He paused for a moment.
Rohan: First — Aryan hadn't awakened yet, and I already had. Hearing this he would have been sad — which I didn't want. And second — I don't have any attack power. I can only support. Surveillance, information — just that.
Meena was about to say something, but Rohan spoke up first.
Rohan: Meena, Kavita — both of you attack. I'll support.
Meena and Kavita both lunged at the Mask Man.
The Mask Man struck back — but every time, as if Meena and Kavita knew in advance. A moment before every blow they would move away.
The Mask Man's brows furrowed.
Before these two couldn't even see my attacks — now they're dodging my every strike. How...
He looked toward Rohan. Light energy was coming out of Rohan's body — like a wave.
Mask Man: So all of this is happening because of Rohan.
Rohan was connected to both girls' minds — every moment, the Mask Man's every move, his every movement — was reaching both of them directly. That's why they were dodging.
Slowly this dawned on the Mask Man.
Mask Man: Rohan must be finished first.
He moved toward Rohan — and got right up close to him.
Just then —
A jolt of energy burst out from Meena's body. She came in front of Rohan — and with full force landed a punch right on the Mask Man's face.
The Mask Man went back. Blood started flowing from his mouth.
Mask Man: This girl... her attacks don't hit the body — they directly hit the internal organs. Most hunters are strong on the outside, not on the inside. This is the biggest problem — she must be defeated first.
At that very moment Kavita attacked from behind. The Mask Man turned and grabbed her hand — slammed her onto the ground once, twice, and then hurled her toward the building wall.
Kavita crashed into the wall and fell down.
The Mask Man moved toward Meena — fast, direct. But coming right up close he dissolved into the air. And appeared behind Rohan.
Rohan didn't even get a chance to understand anything.
The Mask Man grabbed his head — and slammed it into the ground with full force.
There was a blast. Cracks appeared in the ground.
The Mask Man turned toward Meena. There was something different in his voice for the first time — a strange kind of respect.
Mask Man: Meena, you are quite strong. Your power is unique. I'll give you one more chance — take Rohan and leave from here. I only need to kill Kavita. Once the mission is complete I'll leave.
Meena looked at him for a moment. Then picked up an iron pipe from the ground.
Meena: I would prefer to die — but I won't prefer to watch an innocent person die in front of me.
She released all her Maya energy. The air became heavy.
Meena attacked — one after another. The Mask Man kept dodging every blow. But when the iron pipe touched his body — something else broke inside. Direct effect on the organs.
The Mask Man filled his left hand with energy — that energy was like the jaws of a dragon, black and heavy. A powerful punch on Meena's chest.
Meena fell back. There was blood from her mouth.
Rohan had gotten up. There was pain — but he quietly went to Kavita and lifted her.
Rohan: Can you use your reality change power one more time?
Kavita nodded yes.
Rohan: Then call a monster — one that can fight this.
Kavita: I can call one. But I can't control it. It could attack us too.
Rohan: Don't worry about that. Just call quickly — I'll handle the rest.
Kavita stood up. She joined both hands, closed her eyes.
Kavita: Reality Manipulate.
The ground started shaking.
First a crack — then the crack widened, and the ground split open. Something emerged from inside it. Face of a lion, body of a human — fifty to a hundred feet tall. A deep, terrifying roar echoed through the air, nearby windows shook.
And Rohan ran.
He kept climbing up the monster's body — hand, shoulder, neck. Reaching near the ear he joined both his hands and said —
Rohan: Aatma Cut — Infinity Pieces. Blood started dripping from his hands. Rohan placed his palm near the monster's ear — and pushed a small piece of his soul, through that blood, inside its ear.
A moment of silence.
Then the monster's eyes changed — from red to human. Exactly like Rohan's eyes.
The monster lifted Rohan, Meena, and Kavita — all three — in its palm and threw them far away. Safe.
Then it turned around.
One hand struck the Mask Man — the Mask Man flew through the air and fell back.
The Mask Man laughed as he got up.
Mask Man: Monsters are more powerful than humans — but they still lose. Know why? Because they don't have intelligence.
He raised his sword and moved forward, slashing the monster's left arm.
But the monster didn't stop.
It cut off its own left arm.
And with the right hand one punch — the Mask Man went straight into the building behind. The wall broke, rubble fell.
The monster leaped into the air — and when it stepped back onto the ground, there was a tremendous blast. All the surrounding buildings shook, glass shattered and fell.
The Mask Man emerged from the rubble. His gaze fell on the monster's eyes.
Mask Man: This monster can think. Can understand. Its eyes... are exactly like that boy Rohan's. Is this his power?
For a moment something else was on his face — surprise.
Mask Man: Truly the children who are awakening now... their powers are incredible.
He raised his sword in the air. A tremendous energy burst out from it — straight toward the monster.
The monster was cut in half.
A wave ran through Rohan's body — as if someone had pulled from inside. He doubled over.
Rohan: He killed the monster.
Meena: Kavita has completely lost consciousness — used too much power. And I also have quite a few injuries. I can't fight again. And you don't have attack power either.
Rohan: Calm down.
He took out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
And just then the Mask Man came back — footsteps were slow, but the intention was clear.
Mask Man: A lot of time has been wasted. Now I'll finish all of you at once.
He moved forward.
But just then he stopped.
The air changed. A heavy pressure — as if the sky was coming down.
For the first time that night a real smile came on Rohan's face.
Rohan: Now you are going to die — because the one I called... has arrived.