Shubhu and Satya were mere moments away from reaching Jedna village, the wind whistling past them as they rode swiftly on their horses. Shubhu could sense the ominous aura growing stronger with every passing second. Satya, alert as ever, kept his hand on the hilt of his sword. They knew something terrible was waiting ahead.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them, blocking their path—a man dressed in dark robes, his eyes gleaming with malice. It was Karan, his face twisted into a wicked grin. With a swift motion, Karan raised his hand, conjuring a dark, sinister energy. Before Shubhu or Satya could react, Karan slashed the air with his hands, sending a black, ominous wave of energy toward them.
The horses neighed in terror as the black slash hit them, their bodies collapsing immediately under the weight of the dark magic. Shubhu and Satya were thrown off their mounts, hitting the ground hard.
"Shubhu! Satya!" Shubhu winced as he stood up, glaring at Karan. His voice was filled with both recognition and disdain. "Evil God's pawn, Karan, what are you doing here?"
Karan smirked, his eyes filled with arrogance. "Pawn? No, no... I'm no longer a mere pawn, Shubhu. I've become something far more powerful. A rook." His voice dripped with newfound pride.
Satya, brushing the dirt off his clothes, stood up beside Shubhu. "Shiva, is this the one who attacked you and your comrades before?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Shubhu nodded grimly. "Yes, he's the one."
Satya chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "Well then, it's time to send him back to his master."
Without waiting for a response, Satya charged at Karan with fury. His fists radiated with destructive energy, each punch creating ripples in the very fabric of space around them. His blows were swift and powerful, each strike carrying the force to shatter mountains. But Karan, surprisingly, blocked Satya's attacks with ease, deflecting each one with his dark energy.
The battle quickly escalated into chaos. Satya unleashed his full might, his punches creating shockwaves that caused the ground to tremble and the air to distort. The sheer power of their clash sent debris flying in every direction, and the once-quiet landscape around them was now a war zone. But Karan was no pushover—he matched Satya's strength blow for blow, and even countered, landing a heavy punch on Satya's chest that sent him flying back several feet.
As the two continued to exchange devastating blows, Shubhu found himself surrounded by Karan's minions—dark pawns, their faces twisted into grotesque shapes, their bodies cloaked in shadows. They lunged at Shubhu with their weapons raised high.
Shubhu, although wanting to help Satya, knew he had to deal with these pawns first. With swift movements, he dodged their attacks, his mind racing to find an opening. Summoning his own powers, he focused and flung several objects around him toward the pawns with incredible precision. Despite his initial weaker state, Shubhu's control over telekinetic forces had improved, and he could fight with more agility.
The fight dragged on, and Shubhu's breath grew heavy as he eliminated pawn after pawn, each one more relentless than the last. But his resolve remained unshaken. He couldn't afford to lose—not here, not now. In one last push of strength, he summoned a surge of energy, knocking back the remaining pawns and collapsing to his knees, exhausted but victorious.
Meanwhile, Satya and Karan's duel had intensified. Their fight had torn apart the surrounding landscape, reducing everything to rubble. Dust and debris clouded the battlefield, making it difficult to see. But through the swirling chaos, Karan emerged, dragging a barely conscious Satya out from the dust storm. His hand gripped Satya's collar as he tossed him aside like a rag doll.
"So, you managed to defeat the pawns," Karan said, his voice dripping with mockery as he looked at Shubhu. "Do you think that just because you beat them, you stand a chance against me? You're gravely mistaken." He motioned with his hand, and five more dark figures appeared—evil generals, each dressed in the same black robes as Karan. They formed a line behind him, ready for battle.
Karan's smirk deepened. "Let me introduce you to my army's finest: the Rook, the Bishop, and the Horse. Together, we will crush you."
Shubhu glanced at Satya, who lay unconscious nearby. He needed to act fast. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a potion, quickly pouring it into Satya's mouth. Karan laughed mockingly, his dark aura pulsating. "You think a little potion will revive him? Even if he wakes, he's far too injured to fight."
Shubhu smirked, not meeting Karan's gaze. "Who said this was a healing potion? This is a deep sleep potion. I don't want him getting in my way." The grin on Shubhu's face was cold and dangerous as he stood up straight, power radiating from him. "This fight is between us now."
As Karan's generals prepared to attack, Shubhu whispered softly, "Adam, first spirit born—smartest and strongest—Fëanor, high-tier fire spirit, Raava, spirit of light, Nereus, high-tier water spirit—arise."
In an instant, the air around Shubhu shifted. Spirits materialized around him—ethereal beings glowing with divine light, their presence alone enough to make the ground tremble. Each spirit exuded immense power, and together, they formed an unstoppable force.
Karan's expression faltered for the first time. He hadn't expected Shubhu to summon so many powerful spirits at once.
"Now, let's see if you and your generals can handle this," Shubhu said, his voice calm but filled with authority.
The battle that ensued was nothing short of epic. Fëanor unleashed torrents of fire, scorching the ground and engulfing the enemy in flames. Raava's light blinded the generals, while Nereus summoned massive waves of water, drowning Karan's dark energy. Adam, with his unmatched strength and intelligence, coordinated the spirits with precision, overwhelming the generals one by one.
Shubhu fought alongside them, using his own powers to manipulate the battlefield, sending shockwaves through the earth and tearing apart Karan's defenses.
Karan, now desperate, tried to rally his generals, but it was too late. One by one, they fell under the combined might of Shubhu and his spirits. When the last general was defeated, Karan realized that victory was impossible.
"You... you may have won this battle, Shubhu... but the war is far from over," Karan hissed before retreating into the shadows, his remaining forces vanishing with him.
As the dust settled, Shubhu knelt beside Satya, gently healing his wounds with Raava's help. When Satya finally stirred awake, he groggily asked, "What happened? Did we... win?"
Shubhu smiled, hiding the truth. "Yes, we won. But the evil generals... they vanished before I could fight them. It seems they weren't as strong as we thought."
Satya nodded, too exhausted to question further. Together, they began their journey back toward Jedna, unaware that Karan's retreat was only the beginning of something far more dangerous to come.
---
This chapter marks the beginning of Shubhu's rise, as his connection to the spirits and his increasing strength make him a formidable force. It also sets the stage for future battles, with Karan and his evil forces lurking in the shadows, plotting their next move. The stakes are higher t
han ever, and the dark mysteries of the evil gods grow deeper.
Here are the key details from Chapter 22: Clash in the Dark:
1. Karan's Entrance: Shubhu and Satya are ambushed by Karan, who unleashes a black slash that kills their horses and throws them off course. Karan reveals that he is no longer a pawn but a powerful "rook."
2. Satya vs. Karan: Satya identifies Karan as the one who previously attacked Shubhu and launches an all-out attack using his destructive powers. However, Karan proves to be a strong match, easily blocking Satya's punches and injuring him in their fierce battle.
3. Shubhu's Struggle: While Satya battles Karan, Shubhu is surrounded by dark pawns. Though exhausted, Shubhu manages to defeat the pawns with his telekinetic powers but is left drained by the fight.
4. Satya's Defeat: Karan drags an unconscious Satya out of the dust cloud created by their fight, taunting Shubhu about his friend's defeat. Karan then summons five more evil generals (Rook, Bishop, and Horse) to continue the fight, confident in their combined strength.
5. Shubhu's Response: Shubhu tricks Karan by giving Satya a deep sleep potion instead of a healing potion, allowing him to fight without distractions. He then summons several powerful spirits:
Adam, the first and strongest spirit
Fëanor, a high-tier fire spirit
Raava, the spirit of light
Nereus, a high-tier water spirit
6. Spirit Battle: Shubhu and the spirits engage in an intense battle against Karan and his generals. Each spirit uses its powers to overwhelm the dark forces:
Fëanor scorches the enemy with fire.
Raava blinds them with light.
Nereus creates massive waves, drowning Karan's dark energy.
Adam coordinates the fight with intelligence and strength, ensuring the generals are defeated one by one.
7. Karan's Retreat: Realizing defeat is imminent, Karan retreats with his surviving generals, vowing that the war is far from over.
8. Aftermath: Shubhu heals Satya using Raava's powers and hides the full truth about Karan's retreat, claiming that the evil generals vanished before the fight could intensify. Satya accepts this explanation without question.
9. Foreshadowing: The chapter ends with Karan's ominous departure, hinting that this is only the beginning of a larger and more dangerous conflict between Shubhu and the forces of the evil gods.