The blood-red sword had pierced deep into Avir's chest. His face was etched with a mix of surprise and disbelief as he collapsed to the ground. Yet, amidst the pain, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He found solace in the fact that he was not dying out of fear but fighting till the very end. Smiling softly, Avir closed his eyes. As his consciousness faded, his mother's words echoed in his mind, reminding him of her wisdom just moments ago.
In the real world, Avir's body was trembling violently. Shashi, standing nearby, looked at him in distress and turned to her grandfather, Vaidya Sajiwan. "Grandfather, what's happening to Avir? Is he going to be okay?" she asked with worry evident in her voice.
Vaidya Sajiwan let out a heavy sigh and replied, "Child, I warned him about the dangers. It seems the curse is overpowering him." Hearing this, Shashi's face fell, and tears filled her eyes.
Back in the dark void, the girl—the manifestation of the curse—stood in front of Avir with her signature devilish smile. Looking down at him, she said mockingly, "You were quite captivating, Avir. I even liked you. But as long as you lived, I could never step into the real world. Now, with your defeat, I will take over your body." Her wicked laughter echoed in the emptiness.
But her laughter abruptly stopped.
Avir's eyes suddenly snapped open, and he rose to his feet. His face bore a calm yet confident smile as he fixed his gaze on her. The girl's smirk faltered as she noticed his wounds beginning to heal. Her expression shifted to one of unease.
Avir, standing steady, spoke with a quiet yet commanding tone, "As my mother said, everything is in my hands."
With a mere gesture from his hand, the dark void around them began to transform. What was once a realm of endless shadows turned into a lush, vibrant forest bathed in golden sunlight. The curse-girl's face now showed visible worry as the power shifted.
Avir's voice rang out, laced with arrogance, "This is my world. And here, I am the king."
Enraged, the girl summoned a spear from her own blood and hurled it toward him. The spear sped through the air, aiming directly for Avir's face.
Yet, Avir stood motionless, his hands casually tucked in his pockets. Just as the spear approached, it stopped in mid-air, inches from his face. His crimson eyes gleamed with power, and with a flick of his gaze, the spear reversed its course, hurtling back toward the girl.
The spear barely missed her, grazing her arm, leaving a deep gash. Blood began to trickle down her arm, flowing toward her palm. She glared at Avir with fiery hatred, using the blood to forge a sword.
The girl charged at him with the sword, but before she could strike, the ground beneath them began to shift. The very fabric of their world was in chaos. The terrain flipped and twisted; what was once the ground became the sky, and everything inverted and transformed every passing second.
The girl, despite her strength, found herself disoriented. She stumbled, struggling to maintain her footing in the ever-changing environment. Her frustration grew as she realized that, no matter how hard she tried, the world itself was now working against her.
Suddenly, the world around them shifted again, and the girl fell from above, landing hard on the ground. Nearby, Avir sat on a stone throne in the shadows, a devilish smile playing on his lips as he watched her. The girl, now glaring at Avir with pure hatred, disappeared in the blink of an eye and reappeared near him, swinging her sword at him. But despite her efforts, she couldn't move any closer to him.
Avir, his voice calm and serious, said, "I know you wish to escape into the outside world, but because of your bond with my mark, you cannot leave. However, if you swear loyalty to me, I, as the master of this mark, can allow you to step outside when needed."
The girl hesitated, her expression shifting as she mulled over his proposal. After a moment of silence, she nodded in agreement.
In the real world, Avir's body glowed with a bright crimson light. Shashi, watching with growing concern, turned to Vaidya Sajiwan. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Grandfather, what's happening to Avir? Is he okay?"
Vaidya Sajiwan glanced at her and smiled faintly. "Don't worry, child. That stubborn boy has done it. His body is now absorbing all the spiritual energy that the curse couldn't devour. Let's leave him alone now."
Hearing this, Shashi nodded with a relieved smile.
A Few Days Later
City of Anantagiri
Dark clouds loomed over the sky as a battle arena stood in the middle of the city. Around it were rows of seats, where many prominent figures sat, including the heads of Anantagiri's three great families. This gathering was to hold a competition that would determine control over the city's marketplace, a decision made collectively by the three families to maintain peace among them.
A man in the arena stood tall and spoke in a loud, authoritative voice: "From the side of Chief Ram Kirpali and Manohar, their contestant will be Ram Kirpali's second son, Mayank, who is at Spiritual Level 8. From Chief Prithviraj Maurya's side, anyone at Level 9 or below may challenge him."
Prithviraj's face fell with worry, as his chosen fighter—his son—was absent. Just then, a sweet and cheerful girl approached him with a bright smile. Her gentle voice broke his concern. "Father, let me fight in Avir's place. I'm your daughter too, am I not?"
Hearing her, Prithviraj smiled softly and replied, "Yes, Anya. The future of the Maurya family is now in your hands."
Meanwhile, Ram Kirpali smirked cunningly as he glanced at Anya. The referee in the arena then announced gravely, "Let the battle begin."
In the arena, Mayank and Anya faced each other. Mayank immediately increased his spiritual energy and launched a direct attack on Anya. The sudden assault surprised her, but she quickly composed herself and blocked his every move. The battle seemed evenly matched until Anya placed her hand on Mayank's chest and shouted, "Wind Force!"
Mayank was hurled backward, crashing near the seats. Prithviraj's face lit up with pride, while Ram Kirpali's expression darkened with anger.
Mayank, lying on the ground, seethed with rage and hatred. Quietly, he pulled a pill from his pocket, hiding it from the audience, and swallowed it. As he clenched his fists and slammed the ground, he rose to his feet, his body surging with newfound energy.
This pill was known to temporarily increase the user's spiritual level. However, its use was strictly prohibited in official duels or competitions. If caught, the offender faced imprisonment in the dungeons, with the length of the sentence depending on the extent of the damage caused.
Meanwhile, Mayank's eyes began to turn pitch black as he struggled to control the overwhelming spiritual energy surging through him. A dark aura started emanating from his body, his eyes filled with darkness and his face twisted with fury. He screamed like a madman, completely losing himself.
Seated in the audience, Ram Kirpali glared at Mayank with anger and muttered under his breath, "Foolish boy, what have you done?" His eyes burned red with rage, for now, regardless of whether Mayank won or lost, the outcome would tarnish their family's reputation. Worse still, he feared the disgrace this would bring to their lineage.
On the other hand, Prithviraj, sensing the danger, urgently called for the match to be stopped. But before the authorities could intervene, Mayank, now moving with lightning speed, charged toward Anya. At this point, Mayank's power had escalated to a Warrior Council Level 3. The difference in strength between a Warrior Council fighter and a regular Level 9 spiritual warrior was immense.
Despite this, Anya stood firm, her face showing no sign of fear. Flames as black as night flickered around Mayank's hands. These flames, a mark of a true warrior, could only be summoned by those who had transcended the ordinary realms of spiritual power.
As Mayank's fiery fist hurtled toward Anya's face, a streak of crimson lightning flashed in front of his eyes, and Anya vanished from where she stood. Mayank's punch collided with the arena wall, leaving a deep gash and sending debris flying into the crowd, injuring several spectators seated near the front rows.
On the other side of the arena, Anya was now in someone's arms. Her delicate hands rested against a broad, strong chest. One of the man's hands held her slim waist securely, while the other was cradling the back of her head, pressing it gently against his chest.
Anya looked up at him, and as soon as her eyes met his face, her lips curved into a radiant smile as though she had found the greatest happiness in the world. Her sweet voice trembled with joy as she said, "Avir! You're back. I missed you so much."
But Avir's face remained stern. Ignoring her words, he spoke with grave seriousness, "Anya, are you alright? Foolish girl, why were you standing there like a statue?" He scolded her, but Anya, still pressed against his chest, simply smiled, unbothered by his tone.
Meanwhile, Prithviraj was astonished and elated to see Avir and his enhanced power. He wondered just how much Avir's spiritual strength had grown. Nearby, Ram Kirpali and Manohar, who had witnessed Avir's lightning-fast speed, were both shocked and visibly unsettled. They weren't the only ones left stunned—Navod, too, stood frozen in disbelief before noticing something that brought a sly smile to his face.
Mayank, still consumed by his rage, suddenly rushed at Avir, aiming a powerful punch directly at his head. A loud, piercing scream echoed through the arena.
Anya's face went pale with fear, her heart sinking at what had just happened.
What happened to Avir? Why did Anya's face turn pale with fear?
Stay tuned to find out!