The elderly man replied, "But it was your house, wasn't it? What about that?"
Abhimanyu said, "You saw me going towards my house?"
The elderly man replied, "How could I see that? Manglu's house is in between. But I didn't see anyone leaving the other side, so it must have been you going into that house."
Abhimanyu said, "Couldn't someone have gone into Manglu's house?"
Manglu said, "Why are you involving me? My house door was only opened at 5:30 AM when Manohar came to call me."
Inspector Vivek said to Abhimanyu, "You're just making excuses. Why don't you tell us where you were?"
Abhimanyu said, "I was sleeping at my house. Do I look like I was awake all night?"
Inspector Vivek looked closely at his face and found that he indeed looked very alert.
Abhimanyu said, "I'm just saying that they can't clearly mention me. And even if someone was out at night, it doesn't prove that the murder was committed by them. No one saw the murder happening, right?"
Abhimanyu then looked at the first man and asked, "Where is your house?"
The man replied, "Over there, near the jungle. That red house is mine."
Abhimanyu said, "How can you say that the person went into the jungle? There's a path leading to the hills and another towards the ruins. You can't see the entire jungle path from your house at 1 AM."
Inspector Vivek asked, "So, are you saying it wasn't you?"
Abhimanyu replied, "No, it wasn't me."
Inspector Vivek said, "Let's check the CCTV footage at the panchayat office to see who it was."
Abhimanyu replied, "You do have a brain, let's see."
Yashvardhan, Abhimanyu's friends, and the police headed inside the panchayat office while the villagers stayed outside.
Shruti approached Abhimanyu and quietly asked, "How are you here?"
Abhimanyu replied, "After that Shivpura case, I somehow got involved with all this."
Shruti said, "Just like I did."
Abhimanyu replied, "You could say that. I was surprised to see you here."
Shruti said, "It happened because of solving the Shivpura mystery. By the way, it seemed like it was you who went out last night."
Abhimanyu replied, "Yes, it was me, but if I admit it, this stubborn inspector will arrest me."
Shruti said, "You know I'm also an inspector, right?"
Abhimanyu replied, "So, are you going to arrest me?"
Shruti said, "If you committed the murder, I will."
By then, they had reached the panchayat office, which had three cameras: one in the office, one on the back road of the village, and one near the entry gate.
Inspector Vivek said, "Show us the footage around 1 AM and fast forward a bit."
At 1:13, the footage cut off for a while, as if the camera had malfunctioned, and resumed at 1:16, showing nothing.
Inspector Vivek rewound the footage and played it slowly, noticing a shadow entering the frame just before the video stopped recording, and then resumed after some time when the shadow had left.
Then, he checked the footage around 4 AM and found the recording had also stopped for a while.
Abhimanyu was just smiling.
Shruti quietly asked him, "How did you do that?"
Abhimanyu replied, "It's an army secret."
Shruti instructed, "Copy the footage from yesterday and today and have it analyzed."
Inspector Vivek responded, "Yes, ma'am."
Abhimanyu asked, "Do you need anything else from me?"
Inspector Shruti said, "I need to take your statements. Shall we go outside?"
After stepping outside, Shruti led them towards the temple, where no one else was present.
Shruti asked, "Now tell me, why were you out last night?"
Abhimanyu's friends realized that Abhimanyu had been out last night, but seeing Shruti directly addressing him, they were surprised.
Abhimanyu replied, "I was out investigating."
Shruti asked, "Towards the jungle?"
Abhimanyu replied, "No, I went towards the ruins."
Shruti said, "Alright, go on."
Abhimanyu continued, "And I returned before dawn."
Shruti asked, "Did you hear anything unusual, like a noise? You were quite close to the spot."
Abhimanyu replied, "No, I didn't hear anything."
Shruti asked, "Did you find anything in the basement?"
Abhimanyu replied, "It's filled with water. No human could go there."
Shruti, surprised, said, "It's filled with water? That complicates things."
Abhimanyu said, "Not all secrets are buried in basements. Sometimes they're out in the open."
Shruti said, "Alright, if you find anything else, contact me. I didn't know you had a twin."
Abhimanyu replied, "No, he just looks like me."
Shruti, surprised, said, "Really, you two look exactly the same except for the hairstyle. Alright, I'll be going."
After Shruti left, Black Dragon said, "I didn't know you and Inspector Shruti had become such good friends. You only stayed there for a day, right?"
Abhimanyu replied, "If you help solve her cases, she would be impressed. Maybe she thinks I can solve this case too."
Riya said, "I suspected she knew you. Can you tell us your story?"
Abhimanyu replied, "She's the inspector we met in Shivpura."
Ammy said, "The one whose house you stayed at?"
Abhimanyu replied, "Not just me, my friends too, but poor Sidharth was turned down by her."
Surya said, "It's a small world, isn't it?"
Abhimanyu replied, "Alright, listen carefully. The person Victor was a ghoul."
Black Dragon asked, "What is a ghoul?"
Ammy explained, "Ghouls are ferocious creatures that eat human flesh. They are humans who attempt to become vampires but aren't capable enough, so they turn into ghouls. They crave human flesh."
Abhimanyu continued, "Ghouls always move in groups. The process of becoming a vampire involves 13 people performing a satanic ritual. If even one person turns into a ghoul, the others also become ghouls.
The first method involves a group ritual, while the second happens when a demon directly tries to turn a human into a vampire. In this case, the vampire can turn humans into ghouls, wights, or other creatures, which the vampire can't control. The third method is when a demon directly turns someone into a ghoul."
Surya said, "I didn't know you believed in such things. You all are educated, right? Abhimanyu, you talk about these things as if you've seen them firsthand."
Abhimanyu replied, "How I know about this is something we can discuss later. For now, focus on what I'm saying."
Abhimanyu continued, "If the first method was used, there are 12 more ghouls. They stay calm during the day and act like normal humans, but at night, they crave human flesh.
If the second method was used, there's a vampire roaming free. If the third method was used, we need to find a demon."
Surya said, "Abhimanyu, don't be offended, but it seems like you've lost your mind."
Abhimanyu played a video that Saily had recorded of him fighting the ghoul.
Surya was shocked after watching the video. He paused it and closely examined the ghoul's face, then looked at Abhimanyu in astonishment. He then watched the entire video, seeing the ghoul suddenly calm
Surya was astonished after watching the video. He paused it to look closely at the ghoul's face, then looked at Abhimanyu in disbelief. He resumed watching the video and saw that the ghoul suddenly became calm and died. Abhimanyu left the body there and walked away.
Surya asked, "How did it die? You didn't strangle it too hard."
Abhimanyu replied, "It died as soon as I started absorbing its energy because it was already dead. There was just a demonic force inside it that had merged with its soul. I absorbed that force."
Surya said, "You absorbed it? Is this some kind of magic?"
Abhimanyu explained, "If you learn to control your spiritual energy, you can do something like this too."
Surya asked, "Spiritual energy? What is that?"
Abhimanyu said, "When you punch someone in a fight, don't you feel that your punch is stronger than that of an average person?"
Surya responded, "Yes, but that's because I've strengthened my punches with daily exercise."
Abhimanyu agreed, "Yes, that's true, but due to that daily exercise and fighting, your spiritual energy has also developed. Try to feel it."
Abhimanyu then taught Surya how to sense his spiritual energy.
Surya sat down to meditate right there and tried to feel his spiritual energy as Abhimanyu instructed. Within a few minutes, Surya felt a white light inside him, and then he felt that light overflowing throughout his body.
When he tried to control it and direct it elsewhere, he couldn't manage it. A frown appeared on Surya's face.
Abhimanyu said, "It's not separate from you. Don't command it or try to grab it. Think of it as if you are that spiritual energy, and you need to flow in the other direction."
At that moment, Surya saw that the energy was indeed traveling according to his intention.
Abhimanyu continued, "Now, by directing this energy in different ways, we can perform various attacks and defenses, which may seem magical. But don't try to absorb the ghoul's energy unless you can control demonic energy, or your own energy is stronger and more controlled than the ghoul's."
Surya said, "I understand. By the way, can you show me some techniques?"
Abhimanyu replied, "I can teach you, but only if you call me master."
Surya said, "Yes, master."
Abhimanyu, laughing, said, "Alright, here you go." With that, he imparted some angelic techniques and some demonic techniques into Surya's mind. The angelic techniques were mostly nature-based, like controlling water, fire, earth, air, sound, and understanding animal languages. The demonic techniques were mostly anti-nature, such as hypnotism, hallucinations, blood techniques, and other similar methods.
Surya asked, "Alright, if demonic energy and divine energy depend on their flow, then what are these vampires and ghouls? Do they have different flows inside them?"
Abhimanyu said, "Understand that their bodies can only have one type of energy flow. In this entire universe, only a human can control their energy flow to become either demonic or divine. If we control this flow normally, we can control demonic energy too. But for vampires and ghouls, demons forcibly alter their energy flow to make it demonic. After that, they can't control their energy flow anymore, and ghouls and other such beings are controlled by demonic energy, trying to increase their own power."
Surya said, "That sounds quite dangerous."
Abhimanyu said, "That's why I said we need to find them."
Saily asked, "But why don't you read their souls?"
Abhimanyu replied, "There was no memory in its soul. When someone becomes a ghoul and is in rage mode, they forget everything. Even after dying, it had no memory."
Surya asked, "So these demons can turn anyone into a ghoul?"
Abhimanyu said, "No, unless the person wants it, no demon can disrupt their energy flow."
Kashmira asked, "But how does that happen if they can't control their spiritual energy?"
Abhimanyu said, "They don't do it intentionally, but naturally. Like Surya, this spiritual energy is inside everyone, but it's more in some and less in others. It increases or decreases based on daily activities. If people intentionally try to become vampires, their energy also starts flowing like demonic energy and eventually converts."
Riya asked, "So how do we find them now?"
Abhimanyu said, "We'll have to go out at night and keep an eye everywhere. Maybe we'll find something."
Black Dragon said, "Alright, I, you, and Ammy will keep watch at night."
Surya said, "Brother, did you forget me? I'm coming too, and what can this girl do?"
Abhimanyu said, "Look, someone has to stay with the girls, right?"
Surya said, "Yes, you're right. Okay, I'll protect them."
Abhimanyu smiled and said, "Alright, let's go to the library."
Shortly after, they were heading towards the library. When they reached, they heard a voice from behind asking who would explain all this. They turned to see Inspector Shruti, who had followed them alone.
Abhimanyu ignored her, opened the gate, and everyone went inside. Shruti followed them inside, realizing it was a library.
Shruti said, "What's a library doing in the middle of the jungle, and such a clean one?"
Abhimanyu said, "We found it just yesterday. We haven't read all the books here yet. Since you're here, help us read these books. They are written in different languages, so you can use a translation app. Okay, we finished that shelf yesterday; today, we'll start with this one."
Everyone started translating and reading the books. In a few minutes, Abhimanyu had completely scanned one book and was looking for another. He found a book on martial arts techniques and asked his friends to read it and make notes as the techniques could be useful.
Abhimanyu continued scanning other books but found nothing special. He was scanning each book quickly because he didn't want to return to this library. Then he found a book related to black magic, scanned it completely, and pretended to put it back on the shelf while storing it in his ring. They stayed in the library for a long time, and it was almost night.
Abhimanyu had turned every book in the library and found no other useful book or clue. He said to Shruti, "It's not safe to return to the city now. You can stay with us."
Shruti said, "Yes, you're right. First, I gave you shelter in my house; now it's your turn."
Jin Gyong cleared his throat and said, "That house belongs to Surya."
Shruti didn't respond to this.
Abhimanyu said, "Alright, let's go."
They left the library, and after walking a short distance, Abhimanyu and Ammy felt a demonic energy nearby. They stopped and looked in that direction.
Surya asked, "What happened, brother? Why did you stop?"
Ammy said, "There's some demonic energy over there."
Surya said, "I don't feel anything."
Abhimanyu said, "Let's go and check."
Shruti said, "What are you guys up to now?"
Abhimanyu said, "We're getting some negative vibes from over there. Let's check it out."
Shruti didn't say anything more.
When they reached the area, Abhimanyu felt the demonic aura more intensely. He told everyone to stay quiet and advanced further.
Shruti asked, "What's gotten into him now?"
Abhimanyu crouched near a bush and observed the scene. The others joined him and saw 14 people, including a tantric who seemed to be their leader, with 12 others in black robes and a 10-year-old boy tied up.
The tantric was drawing a pattern on the ground with a red liquid, probably blood, while the others were bowing before an idol with their hands raised. Some were eyeing the boy greedily.
The tantric said, "You can't even do one thing right. Now we'll have to please the demon lord and request him to make you vampires."
Seeing the boy tied up, Shruti started to move forward, but Abhimanyu tried to stop her. She shrugged off his hand, drew her gun, and moved towards the group, saying, "Stop right there! You're under arrest for kidnapping a child."
Abhimanyu, Ammy, and the others emerged as well. The tantric laughed and ordered the 12 people to finish them. The 12 people suddenly transformed into beast-like creatures, attacking on all fours with sharp claws and teeth.
Shruti was both terrified and astonished, but before she could react, Abhimanyu threw a copper coin that created an energy field, trapping the creatures. The coin was a magical tool Abhimanyu had acquired two years ago, used for shielding and trapping.
The creatures became more aggressive, clawing at the energy field, but it remained intact. The tantric was shocked to see this.
Abhimanyu said with a smile, "That's a magical tool. You might have heard of it."
The tantric said, "So, you're a martial artist."
Abhimanyu said, "You could say that."
The tantric said, "But defeating me won't be easy." He poured his demonic energy into the circle, making it glow. The circle rose into the air, emitting black demonic spirits.
Ammy stepped forward with a white katana and began slashing the spirits, turning them into bright flashes before they vanished. Her katana had the power to free demonic spirits.
Seeing this, the tantric recalled his spirits and absorbed them. As he did, a large claw emerged from the circle, grabbing the boy.
Ammy tried to slash the claw, but the tantric created a black energy barrier, which she quickly destroyed. She then cut the claw, freeing the boy without harm.
The tantric, furious, saw another claw appear and crush him. A massive, 35-foot creature emerged from the circle with eight lion-like paws, one of which was severed by Ammy. It had a tail with an arrow-like tip and three fiery heads.
The creature roared towards the sky. Abhimanyu and Ammy moved the boy away, taking their friends with them. Abhimanyu retracted the coin, but the ghouls couldn't move. The lion creature then devoured the ghouls.
Abhimanyu told his friends to run towards the village. He and Ammy stayed back, but the others hesitated.
Surya said, "And leave you alone? We might be weaker in martial arts, but we won't abandon you."
Black Dragon said, "I can't leave my junior to fight alone."
Jin Gyong said, "I'm not a weak girl either."
Kashmira said, "I might not know how to fight, but I won't leave you."
Shruti asked, "What's going on? What were those people doing, and where did this monster come from?"
Abhimanyu said, "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't rushed in trying to perform your duty."
Shruti said, "So I should have let the boy die?"
Abhimanyu said, "The boy could have been saved later. They were trying to become vampires. If disrupted, it would have backfired, harming them. But we alerted them early, and instead of the boy's life, they summoned demonic spirits. When the demon was taking the boy to the demonic world, Ammy cut its claw, angering it and bringing it here."
Shruti asked, "But what is that thing, and how will we face it?"
Abhimanyu said, "It's a lion. Can't you see? I don't know its name."
Ammy looked at him sternly and said, "You don't know?"
Abhimanyu said, "Is it the Hellfire Three-Headed Lion? It must have a different name."
Ammy facepalmed.
Abhimanyu said, "If we fight it, there will only be destruction. We need to calm it down."
At that moment, a girl with red wings and black and red hair flew in, stopping near Abhimanyu and glaring at the lion.
She said, "Who summoned this? Are these people crazy?" But then she noticed Abhimanyu and the others staring at her.
She landed, retracting her wings.
Abhimanyu said, "A demon?"