Morning came slowly over the city of Delhi.
But the sunrise brought no peace.
Dark clouds still covered the sky, and the air itself felt heavy.
Across the Directorate facility, agents moved quickly through corridors preparing for combat. Weapons were being distributed, defensive systems were activated, and energy barriers across the underground complex glowed faintly.
Everyone knew the truth.
Today was the day.
The Dragon King would make his move.
Inside the command center, Director Meera stood in front of the massive holographic map.
Multiple defensive zones were now highlighted around the city.
Arjun stood beside her, carefully watching the readings.
"Energy spike detected," one technician suddenly reported.
Everyone looked toward the screen.
The crimson signal outside the city had changed.
It was moving again.
Slowly.
But this time it was heading directly toward the city.
Kabir leaned forward nervously.
"Well… there goes our peaceful morning."
Dev cracked his knuckles.
"About time."
Sana stared at the map seriously.
"How long until he reaches the outer perimeter?"
The technician checked the calculations.
"Less than twenty minutes."
The room fell silent.
Twenty minutes.
That was all the time they had left.
Deep inside the facility, Aadhya suddenly felt the serpent mark on her collarbone burn.
She placed a hand over it.
Her eyes narrowed.
"He's moving."
Kabir looked at her.
"You can feel it already?"
She nodded.
"It's getting stronger."
Arjun turned toward the others.
"That means Rudra is no longer hiding his aura."
Dev smirked slightly.
"He's announcing his arrival."
Outside the city…
Rudra walked calmly down an empty highway.
Cars had stopped far away from him.
Even normal humans could feel something was wrong.
The air itself trembled with energy.
Crimson flames flickered around his body like a living storm.
Behind him walked nearly twenty Dragon warriors.
Each one powerful.
Each one silent.
One of them stepped forward.
"My lord, the city defenses are activating."
Rudra continued walking.
"Of course they are."
The warrior hesitated.
"Should we begin the assault?"
Rudra finally stopped.
His crimson eyes looked toward the distant skyline of Delhi.
"No."
The warriors looked confused.
Then Rudra raised his hand slowly.
A massive wave of crimson energy erupted from his body.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
The sky above trembled.
The Dragon King had just released his full aura.
Miles away…
Inside the Directorate facility…
Every alarm suddenly screamed at once.
WARNING — EXTREME ENERGY SIGNATURE DETECTED
The entire base shook slightly.
Kabir nearly fell out of his chair.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
A technician shouted.
"Energy levels just spiked ten times!"
Arjun stared at the screen.
"…he just released his full power."
Sana whispered quietly.
"That wasn't an attack."
Dev nodded.
"That was a warning."
Back on the highway…
Rudra lowered his hand.
His crimson aura slowly calmed again.
The Dragon warriors behind him looked stunned.
One finally spoke.
"My lord… that energy wave reached the city."
Rudra smiled slightly.
"Good."
He continued walking.
"Now they understand."
Inside the training arena…
Aadhya dropped to one knee suddenly.
Her serpent mark burned intensely.
Kabir rushed toward her.
"Hey! Are you okay?!"
She clenched her fists.
"He's… so strong…"
Emerald energy flickered around her arms.
The serpent aura appeared behind her again.
But this time it reacted violently.
Like it had sensed its ancient rival.
Arjun watched carefully.
"The serpent bloodline is responding to the dragon aura."
Dev frowned.
"So basically the two ancient monsters just noticed each other."
Sana nodded.
"Exactly."
Aadhya slowly stood up again.
Her breathing was heavy.
But her eyes were determined.
"So this is Rudra…"
She looked toward the ceiling.
"He's terrifying."
Kabir tried to smile.
"Well… at least he didn't attack yet."
As soon as he said that—
A massive explosion echoed through the facility.
The ground shook violently.
Emergency lights flashed everywhere.
A voice screamed over the communication system.
"OUTER DEFENSE BARRIER DESTROYED!"
Everyone froze.
Kabir blinked.
"…I think I spoke too soon."
On the surface above the hidden facility…
A massive crater smoked in the middle of an empty industrial zone.
The first defensive barrier had been completely shattered.
Rudra stood calmly at the center of the destruction.
His crimson aura burned like fire.
One Dragon warrior looked stunned.
"My lord… that barrier was designed to stop nuclear‑level attacks."
Rudra shrugged slightly.
"It slowed me down for about two seconds."
He began walking forward again.
"Let's see what the Directorate prepared next."
Inside the facility…
Agents rushed through corridors as combat alarms continued echoing everywhere.
Director Meera spoke through the intercom.
"All units prepare for combat!"
Arjun looked toward Aadhya.
"This is it."
Dev grinned.
"Finally."
Kabir swallowed nervously.
"I suddenly miss the training simulations."
Sana stepped forward calmly.
"Everyone remember the plan."
She looked at Aadhya.
"You're the priority."
Aadhya shook her head.
"No."
Everyone looked at her.
"If Rudra reaches the core… the entire base falls."
She clenched her fists.
"So we stop him before that."
Arjun watched her carefully.
"You're ready?"
The serpent mark glowed brighter.
The emerald serpent aura appeared behind her once again.
But this time…
It was enormous.
More solid than ever before.
Aadhya looked toward the upper levels of the facility.
Where the Dragon King was approaching.
"I don't know if I'm ready."
Her emerald eyes glowed faintly.
"But I won't run."
Above them…
Rudra finally reached the hidden entrance of the Directorate facility.
The massive metal gate stood in front of him.
Surrounded by energy barriers and automated weapons.
The weapons immediately activated.
Missiles launched.
Energy cannons fired.
Explosions covered the entire battlefield.
But when the smoke cleared…
Rudra was still standing there.
Completely unharmed.
His crimson aura burned brighter.
He slowly raised his hand.
Crimson flames gathered around his fingers.
Then he whispered quietly—
"Move."
The giant metal gate exploded inward.
Deep underground…
Aadhya suddenly felt the serpent mark ignite with power.
Because the Dragon King had just entered the battlefield.
And the war between Dragon and Serpent had finally begun.