Arjun stood tall, facing the Rift Lord as the city around him crackled with dark energy. He had just saved Vikram from a fatal blow, but there was no time to exchange words. The weight of Kal's power surged inside him, unfamiliar, dangerous.
Vikram stared, his breath uneven. "Arjun... how did you—?"
"No time for questions," Arjun interrupted sharply, eyes fixed on the Rift Lord. "Get everyone out of here. I'll take care of this."
The Rift Lord sneered, towering above them, his body emanating raw, chaotic energy. His eyes locked onto Arjun, sizing him up, and his lips curled into a cruel grin. "You? A mere insect? You'll regret standing in my way."
Arjun's pulse quickened, but he held his ground. He could feel Kal's presence deep within, urging him forward, pushing him to tap into the power that was now his. Kal's voice echoed in his mind, cold and calculated.
"Don't hold back," Kal whispered. "You need my power to survive this."
The Rift Lord wasted no time. With a deafening roar, he lunged at Arjun, his massive fists tearing through the air like a storm. Arjun barely dodged, feeling the force of the strike graze his skin. He countered with a swift kick, followed by a strike to the Rift Lord's chest. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the Rift Lord barely flinched.
"I can't win this by holding back," Arjun realized, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the limits of his body pushing against the flood of energy Kal had awakened. It wasn't enough.
Kal's voice returned, more insistent. "Let go. You've barely touched the surface of what I can offer."
The Rift Lord unleashed a barrage of dark energy, sending Arjun flying across the battlefield. Pain surged through his body as he hit the ground hard, gasping for breath. He clenched his fists, feeling his control slipping.
"Kal... I need more," he thought desperately.
"Then take it," Kal replied, a sinister edge to his tone. "I'll give you more."
Suddenly, a wave of dark energy pulsed through Arjun's veins, overwhelming every sense. His body surged with power, but it wasn't just strength—there was a darkness to it, something deeper and more consuming. He could feel Kal unlocking more of his power, 5% of the total strength hidden within. The flood of energy was almost too much to handle, but Arjun gritted his teeth, focusing the chaos into his fists. He was stronger now, faster.
He looked down at his hands and watched as darkness flowed from them, twisting and shaping itself into a weapon—a massive black spear, forged from the very essence of Kal's power.
The Rift Lord faltered, sensing the shift in the air.
Arjun took a deep breath and launched himself forward, faster than before, the spear in his grip like an extension of his own rage. He swung it with precision, landing a devastating blow across the Rift Lord's chest. The creature howled in agony, stumbling back, his once arrogant demeanor replaced with fear.
Arjun pressed forward, driving the spear into the Rift Lord's flesh again and again. Each strike was harder, more precise, fueled by Kal's influence. The dark energy around them clashed violently, sparks of chaotic power lighting up the sky.
"You should have never come here," Arjun hissed through clenched teeth, feeling the energy pulse through every fiber of his being.
The Rift Lord staggered, his once mighty form starting to crumble. For the first time, he looked truly afraid.
"This power..." the Rift Lord rasped, struggling to catch his breath. "What are you?"
Arjun's grip on the spear tightened. He could feel Kal's presence growing stronger, whispering in his mind. "Finish him."
But as Arjun prepared for the final strike, he hesitated. The darkness in his chest was growing, twisting his thoughts. He could feel Kal's power pulling him deeper, making him colder, more ruthless. His emotions were becoming erratic, harder to control.
"I can't... lose myself to this," he thought, fighting the urge to fully give in to the power.
"You fear it," Kal's voice taunted. "But this is only a fraction of what you can achieve."
Arjun shook his head, struggling to maintain control. But there was no time to dwell on the internal battle. The Rift Lord made one last, desperate attempt to retaliate, gathering a massive orb of dark energy in his hands and hurling it towards Arjun.
Without hesitation, Arjun plunged the spear forward, cutting through the energy like it was nothing. In one swift motion, he drove the spear into the Rift Lord's chest, impaling him with a final, crushing blow.
The Rift Lord gasped, his body crumbling into dust, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No... this can't be..."
And then, he was gone.
Arjun stood there, breathing heavily, the dark spear dissolving into nothingness as the battle came to an end. The city was silent, the chaos finally over, but Arjun felt no victory. Only the weight of the power he had tapped into—and the fear of what it might do to him.
Vikram and the others rushed over, their eyes wide with shock as they took in the destruction, the remnants of the battle, and the immense chakra still swirling around Arjun.
"Arjun..." Vikram whispered, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. "What... what happened to you?"
But Arjun didn't answer. He couldn't. He didn't know himself.
---
Back at the Suryastra Clan HQ, Arjun lay in a bed, staring at the ceiling. The fight was over, but his mind was racing. The whispers of Kal still echoed in his thoughts, and the surge of power he had felt was both exhilarating and terrifying.
The clan leaders gathered outside, murmuring about what they had witnessed, the immense chakra that had come from Arjun. They were both amazed and wary.
"This is beyond anything we've ever seen," one of the clan members whispered. "His chakra... it's not just Maha Rank. It's something else entirely."
The Clan Leader nodded solemnly. "We'll have to be careful. His power is going to attract attention—from everyone."
Inside, as Arjun tried to rest, Kal's voice broke the silence once more.
"You've unlocked a mere 5% of my power, Arjun. You're stronger now, yes. But this is only the beginning."
Arjun closed his eyes, feeling the weight of Kal's words settle heavily on his chest. "What aren't you telling me?" he whispered.
Kal's voice was cold and dark. "Greater threats are coming. Rift Lords are nothing compared to what lies ahead. Soon, you'll need much more than just 5%."
Arjun felt a chill run down his spine. He knew Kal was right. This was only the beginning.