After the competition, Om had finally returned home.
Days passed.
And strangely…
Life had become too peaceful.
For the last fifteen days, nothing unusual had happened in Om's life or in the lives of the people around him. No sudden chaos. No danger. No unexpected twists. Even Om himself had been trying to stay away from trouble lately because for the past few days, he had completely buried himself in gathering information about the Aravalli mountains.
The urge to find his grandfather had now become impossible to control.
But honestly…
That was exactly what felt strange.
For so many days, Om hadn't fallen into a single problem.
And that silence itself felt unnatural.
This uneasy calm wasn't affecting only Om.
The soldiers of Badallok and the leaders of the many allied species who had been repeatedly sensing tremors from deep beneath the earth also felt the atmosphere becoming far too quiet.
Even Vipul and the two boys traveling with him had begun feeling the same thing.
The winds had become still.
But instead of peace…
That silence carried fear.
A strange suffocating feeling.
Like the world itself was holding its breath before something horrifying.
Meanwhile…
On one of the highest cliffs of Badallok, Guru Dhumketu stood alone, silently feeling the direction of the winds.
Worry covered his face.
Again and again, his eyes moved across the sky while his hands remained folded behind his back.
He just kept staring upward with deep seriousness.
Then suddenly, climbing the mountain while breathing heavily, Kakbhushundi finally reached him and complained dramatically,
"How did your old bones even climb such a massive mountain? And if you're so proud of these ancient bones of yours, you could've at least thought about another old creature like me before dragging me all the way up here!"
Hearing that, Dhumketu smiled faintly.
"Great Kakbhushundi… you embarrass me with such words. A being who can travel through time itself, whose age can change in the blink of an eye… how can his bones truly grow old?"
Seeing Dhumketu smile, Kakbhushundi also smiled warmly.
"If you want… I can make your bones young again."
But Dhumketu slowly shook his head.
"No… I don't wish to live that long. I seek peace now. I seek liberation."
The moment Kakbhushundi heard that answer, the smile on his face weakened.
He stared at Dhumketu seriously for a moment before looking toward the horizon and speaking softly,
"That's fine… but why stand here so troubled?"
Then he chuckled lightly.
"You know, the soldiers below were saying, 'Look… that old man up there is probably crying.' Thankfully, I scolded them immediately. I told them… that man never cries."
Then his tone became gentler.
"Though honestly… crying isn't a bad thing."
Dhumketu stayed silent.
"And stop punishing yourself this much," Kakbhushundi continued quietly. "Meeting your grandson and speaking your heart out isn't weakness. Who knows whether life will give you that chance again?"
His eyes turned serious.
"You are a commander standing before war… and you know very well I don't speak sweet lies."
Hearing those words, Dhumketu looked toward him and smiled again.
"Great Timewalker… you already know I don't wish to know my future."
His voice remained calm.
"I prefer walking forward without knowing what awaits me. Otherwise… what colors would life even have left?"
Those words hurt Kakbhushundi deeply.
Because this wasn't the first time they had spoken like this.
Over countless journeys through time, he had heard the same answer from Dhumketu again and again.
Then suddenly Dhumketu's face turned serious.
"Master… the winds have stopped."
Kakbhushundi looked at him silently.
"It feels as if absolute silence has swallowed everything… endless silence."
Kakbhushundi slowly replied,
"Not every silence carries peace, my dear student."
Dhumketu nodded faintly.
"I know this silence isn't peaceful. These still winds… this terrifying calm… they are signs of an approaching storm."
He looked toward the dark sky.
"I've observed everything carefully. There's no movement in the underworld. Even the human world feels strangely calm… almost beautiful."
Then his voice lowered.
"But this silence frightens me."
For a moment, his eyes darkened.
"I can feel the anger inside me scratching to come out."
Hearing those words, Kakbhushundi suddenly fell silent.
He quietly felt the eerie stillness surrounding them.
Then slowly…
With moist eyes and a trembling voice, he spoke,
"I have witnessed the Ramayana… the Mahabharata too. I have seen the many divine forms of Lord Vishnu with my own eyes. Those were sacred moments in my existence…"
Then he looked directly at Dhumketu.
"But you…"
A faint emotional smile appeared on his face.
"You taught me what the bond between a master and disciple truly means."
Dhumketu looked at him quietly.
"I understood devotion like a worshipper understands prayer… but you brought friendship into my life."
Kakbhushundi's eyes filled with emotion.
"My dear friend… my beloved student… the moments we spent together as teacher and disciple, and as friends… they will remain precious forever."
Then his voice softened even more.
"And remember this… if you truly wish it, I will pray to the gods themselves for your long life. I can protect you from death. One call from you will be enough."
He held Dhumketu's shoulder tightly.
"Just remember me when the time comes."
But Dhumketu slowly shook his head.
"I don't wish to overturn fate."
His voice had become tired now.
"I know in the end… I am meant to become a sacrifice."
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"And honestly… I would rather die as a warrior."
Kakbhushundi's eyes trembled.
"I don't need a long life," Dhumketu continued softly. "And thank you… because of you, I found my wife. Because of you, I found a true friend."
His eyes slowly drifted away into the distance.
"For me too… our friendship will always remain one of the most beautiful parts of my existence."
Then his voice cracked slightly.
"But master… I'm getting tired now."
A painful silence spread.
"I've lost too much…"
For the first time, Dhumketu looked truly broken.
"And in the end… I just want to return to my wife."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You know her lap is the only place where I find peace."
Then suddenly, folding his hands emotionally before Kakbhushundi, Dhumketu said,
"I only need one promise from you…"
Kakbhushundi immediately grabbed his hands with trembling fingers, tears filling his eyes.
"Tell me, my friend… what can I do for you?"
Dhumketu looked straight at him.
"My friend… my grandson…"
But before he could finish—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion shook the Earth Realm so violently that even Badallok trembled for a moment.
The mountain beneath them shook violently.
Dhumketu's expression changed instantly.
Panic flashed across his face.
Without wasting a second, he immediately chanted a powerful mantra.
At once, a gigantic mirror-like portal appeared before them.
It worked like a living screen through which Badallok could observe the happenings of Earth.
And the moment Dhumketu looked inside it…
Fear exploded across his face.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
His eyes widened in horror.
Because whatever he saw inside that mirror…
Was enough to terrify even him.