The wind grew colder.
Not natural.
Not random.
Controlled.
Feroz stood still, his eyes locked on Zarqaan Khan.
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then—
Zarqaan took a step forward.
The ground beneath him did not crack.
It submitted.
The golden markings of the valley flickered—
As if unsure whether to resist him… or recognize him.
Feroz felt it instantly.
His chest tightened.
"He feels different…" Feroz whispered.
Haroon stepped slightly ahead of him.
"Don't underestimate him," Haroon said quietly. "He's not like the others."
Zarqaan's faint smile returned.
"Still protecting him, Haroon?"
Haroon didn't respond.
Zarqaan's eyes shifted back to Feroz.
"Let me see," he said calmly, "what my brother left behind."
The mention of Qadir Khan burned inside Feroz.
"I'm not something he left behind," Feroz said.
Zarqaan stopped.
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"No?"
Feroz stepped forward.
"I'm what he tried to protect."
Silence.
For the first time—
Zarqaan's expression changed.
Just slightly.
Then—
He smiled again.
"Then show me."
The air snapped.
A sudden pressure filled the valley.
Feroz's mark began to glow.
Not slowly—
Instantly.
Haroon's voice came sharp—
"Feroz—control it!"
But it was too late.
Zarqaan moved.
In a blink—
He was in front of Feroz.
Feroz barely raised his arm—
Impact.
A force slammed into him.
Not explosive—
Precise.
Focused.
Feroz was thrown back, crashing across the stone ground.
The valley shook.
Feroz coughed, trying to stand.
"What… was that…?"
Zarqaan didn't follow.
He simply stood where he struck.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"That," Zarqaan said, "was restraint."
Feroz forced himself up.
Anger rising.
"You call that restraint?"
Zarqaan tilted his head slightly.
"If I wasn't holding back… you wouldn't be standing."
Feroz clenched his fists.
The mark on his arm flared brighter.
This time—
He focused.
Remembering what Haroon showed him.
Not force.
Direction.
Balance.
Feroz stepped forward again.
The golden markings beneath him responded.
His energy didn't burst—
It aligned.
Haroon's eyes narrowed.
"…good."
Zarqaan noticed it too.
His smile faded.
"Interesting."
Feroz raised his hand—
And released a controlled wave.
Not wild.
Focused.
The energy shot forward.
Zarqaan didn't dodge.
He lifted his hand—
And caught it.
The energy twisted in his palm.
Then—
Disappeared.
Feroz froze.
"…impossible."
Zarqaan lowered his hand.
"No," he said calmly.
"You're just behind."
The words hit harder than the attack.
Feroz's breathing grew heavier.
"Why are you doing this?" he demanded.
Zarqaan walked slowly toward him.
"Because your father made a mistake."
Feroz's voice sharpened.
"Protecting me was not a mistake!"
Zarqaan stopped.
His eyes darkened.
"No."
He said quietly.
"Letting you exist… was."
Silence shattered everything.
Feroz's heart pounded.
"You're wrong."
Zarqaan took another step closer.
"You don't understand yet."
"Then explain it!" Feroz shouted.
For the first time—
Zarqaan's voice rose slightly.
"Your power is not meant to live freely!"
The valley trembled.
"It is meant to be controlled!"
Feroz stepped forward.
"And who decides that?"
Zarqaan didn't hesitate.
"We do."
Feroz shook his head.
"No."
His voice steadied.
"You control everything because you're afraid."
Zarqaan's expression hardened.
"Afraid of what?"
Feroz's eyes locked onto his.
"Of losing power."
A sharp silence followed.
The wind stopped.
Even the valley held its breath.
Then—
Zarqaan moved again.
Faster than before.
Feroz reacted instantly.
This time—
He didn't get thrown.
Their energies collided.
Blue and gold.
Dark and light.
Clashing.
The ground beneath them cracked.
Feroz pushed forward—
Struggling.
But holding.
For the first time—
Zarqaan didn't overpower him immediately.
Haroon watched closely.
"…he's learning."
Younus nodded slowly.
"But not fast enough."
The clash broke.
Both stepped back.
Feroz's breathing was heavy.
Zarqaan looked at him carefully now.
Not like before.
Not dismissing him.
Measuring him.
"You've changed," Zarqaan said.
Feroz didn't respond.
Zarqaan's eyes narrowed.
"Haroon…"
He glanced toward him.
"You taught him."
Haroon remained silent.
Zarqaan looked back at Feroz.
"Then this ends now."
The air grew colder.
Darker.
More dangerous.
Feroz felt it immediately.
Something was changing.
Not just power—
Intent.
Zarqaan raised his hand slowly.
"This time," he said quietly,
"I won't hold back."
Feroz clenched his fists.
The mark burned brighter than ever.
Behind him—
The valley glowed.
Beside him—
Haroon stepped forward.
And for the first time—
He spoke with force.
"You will not touch him."
Zarqaan smiled faintly.
"Then try to stop me."
The ground trembled again.
The balance of the valley began to shake.
And in that moment—
The fight was no longer just between uncle and nephew.
It had become something far greater.
A clash of ideologies.
A clash of control and freedom.
A clash that would decide—
Not just Feroz's fate…
But the future of everything connected to him.