"Flames of Death, Black Flame Release"
A blazing inferno erupted from Aditya's hands, consuming every enemy standing before him, as if the fire had been starving for ages.
"One down, another one, and the rest... How pathetic. Killing insects like you makes me feel merciful."
His laughter echoed across the Ganga ghat, sending chills through the air.
"Get up, Dev. This is no time to rest."
Aditya's voice was firm as he looked at Dev, who stood helplessly beside him, his body trembling.
"M...M... MASTER! You…?"
Dev's entire body shook with fear.
"Interesting… I should have killed both of you together."
A voice interrupted them, and a figure emerged, holding an umbrella in one hand.
"Mr. Aditya… and his son, Vasudev. What a surprise! What a surprise! Today, I shall erase all three of you at once."
"Ignis Liberare, Flames of Death!"
A dark aura erupted from Anurag's body, engulfing him in a shadowy blaze.
"Well then, Aditya… Let me show you what true power looks like."
The flames surrounding Anurag turned completely black, his eyes glowing a deep crimson.
"This is the end… Ignis Liberare!"
A sword materialized in Anurag's hand, pulsating with overwhelming energy.
"Confidence is good. But do you even understand why they call me… 'The Death of Death'?"
Aditya extended his right hand, his eyes turning completely black, void of any mercy.
"You still have time to surrender, or else…"
"Or else what? What can you possibly do?"
Anurag's voice dripped with rage.
"What do you think you are, Mr. Aditya?"
His sword, once dark, had now turned completely white.
"People like you… wielding such immense power… Unforgivable! You are unworthy of this strength."
Without wasting another second, Anurag lunged forward, slashing his sword at Aditya.
"Let me tell you something… People only believe in the truth that serves them best. Even gods like you are bound by this reality."
Blocking every strike with ease, Aditya smirked.
"From your words, it seems like deep down, you already know you are weak. Do you truly deserve the power you wield? I don't think so."
Hearing Aditya's words, Anurag gritted his teeth.
"Shut… up…! Who gave you the right to speak about beings as supreme as us?"
His furious attacks grew wild, but something was changing—his power was waning. Somewhere, deep within, Anurag knew the truth—he was no match for Aditya.
"AMENTIS!"
The moment Aditya uttered the word, Anurag's entire body froze in place.
Amentis—A technique that traps its victim in an inescapable loop of their own emotions.
"DECLINE…"
"Did you really think that such petty attacks could defeat me, Mr. Aditya?"
Lifting his sword toward the sky, Anurag roared—
"PURPLE LIGHTNING!"
Swords of lightning descended from the heavens, crackling with an immense surge of energy.
"You cannot kill what is already dead."
Anurag laughed maniacally.
"Neither can you!"
With those words, Aditya drove his blade straight through Anurag's chest.
"ATOMIC DESTRUCTION!"
As soon as Aditya activated the technique, Anurag's entire body began to disintegrate, piece by piece.
"You fool… In trying to destroy me, you have ensured your own demise as well."
Anurag chuckled, his form fading away.
"I know… but I don't care how I die. The only thing that matters is… you die first."
Aditya's laughter echoed like that of a madman.
Suddenly, a PURPLE PORTAL opened right above Anurag's head. His entire body was sucked into it, vanishing without a trace.
"MASTER… why did you…?"
Dev's voice trembled as he watched in horror—Aditya's body, too, was slowly fading away.
"Do not worry… I will return. This is my promise."
More than half of Aditya's body was now gone.
"Unbelievable… Today is Vasudev's birthday… and yet—"
With great difficulty, Aditya reached for a small capsule behind Dev, cradling a baby inside.
"He looks just like his mother…"
Aditya's left side had completely disappeared.
"Dev, I thought I would give Vasudev the most amazing gift on his first birthday… But perhaps, fate had other plans."
Tears welled up in Aditya's eyes.
Handing over a sword, he gently placed it beside the baby.
"Take this, Vasudev… Consider it a token of your father's legacy. I trust you. By the time I return, you will have become strong enough… and together, we will save this world."
Only a fragment of Aditya remained.
"Dev… One final request…
KEEP HIM SAFE."
And then—Aditya was gone.
"MASTERRRRR…!"
Dev screamed, his cries echoing across the deserted ghat.
"Your sacrifice has given this world something to believe in…"
A new hope was born that day—
VASUDEV, THE INFINITE EMPEROR.
The once chaotic battlefield had turned eerily silent. Thick clouds rumbled in the sky, mirroring the despair in Dev's heart.
Dev's eyes were bloodshot, his cries filled the night.
"This… This happened because of me… If only I were stronger—"
Tears of blood streamed down his face.
A soft voice interrupted him.
"The truth cannot be denied, Dev. Aditya is gone… He is never coming back."
Dev roared in defiance.
"NO! HE WILL RETURN!"
His voice cracked, yet his determination did not waver.
"He made me a promise!"
His breath hitched, his grief turning into rage.
"A promise…?"
The girl let out a hollow laugh.
"Such meaningless words… This world is like a fragile dream—when it shatters, reality takes its place. And just like that, promises too… are meaningless."
She sat down beside Vasudev's capsule. The child, still an infant, remained motionless inside. Slowly, the capsule unlocked with a faint click.
Dev clenched his fists, turning towards the girl.
"Who the hell are you to call my MASTER'S WORDS MEANINGLESS?!"
In a flash, he lunged at her, his attack swift and furious.
"SUCH A FOOL!"
With a mere flick of her wrist, the girl stopped Dev's attack midair, without even touching him.
"You care for Vasudev… but I care for him even more. Stop acting like a reckless idiot."
Without another word, she reached down and picked up Aditya's sword.
"FLAMES OF DEATH."
As soon as she whispered the words, a brilliant energy erupted from the blade, engulfing everything in its presence.
"You do not need to protect Vasudev… The presence of this sword is enough."
Her eyes glowed an eerie blue, and before Dev could react, her entire form was absorbed into the sword itself.
For a moment, Dev was left speechless.
Then—realization struck him like lightning.
"Impossible… No one but Master has ever seen the true form of the DEATH SLAYER… Not even the strongest warriors could survive witnessing a SUPREME CLASS SWORD SPIRIT'S transformation… Who is she…?"
Staring at Vasudev, Dev could only whisper
"Who… are you?"
TO BE CONTINUED…
Stay tuned for the next chapter of The Infinite Emperor!