Devi closed her eyes.
The attack was about to land.
Everything slowed down—
the wind… the sound… even her heartbeat.
And then—
BOOM!!
A powerful impact shook the ground.
A figure appeared out of nowhere, blocking the attack completely.
Before anyone could react—
THUD!
A punch slammed straight onto Indra's head.
"You idiot!" she snapped, fury blazing in her eyes. "Are you trying to kill your own comrade?!"
Indra stumbled back, shocked and confused.
"N-No! It was a mistake!" he said quickly, panic filling his voice. "I didn't mean to attack her! I saw someone from behind holding a head—I thought it was Ashura killing people, so I attacked from a blind spot!"
"M… mistake?" Her voice trembled with anger. "Because of your mistake, she could have died!"
"I'm sorry!" Indra lowered his head. "Please forgive me… it won't happen again. I promise."
He paused, then looked at her carefully.
"Wait… who are you? You look… familiar."
Maya's eyes twitched in rage.
"You idiot! First you attack your own comrade, and now you don't even recognize me?! I'll kill you!"
"Calm down, Maya."
Devi's calm voice cut through the tension.
Indra froze, blinking in confusion.
"Hold on… did you say Maya?"
He looked at her again—this time properly.
Radiant armor wrapped around her body, glowing faintly like divine light. A sword floated behind her, humming with power. Her presence alone felt overwhelming.
"…You look completely different," he muttered. "More… beautiful. And deadly."
"And what's with that armor? And that floating sword…?"
"This is her Valkyrie form," Devi answered calmly.
Indra narrowed his eyes.
So this is Maya's Valkyrie form… I've never seen her like this before. No wonder I couldn't recognize her.
Maya crossed her arms.
"Forget that. More importantly—why are you here?"
Indra looked up at the sky.
"I saw a blue light coming from this direction," he said. "I thought it might be you two, so I came to help. But… what are you doing here? You should have been in the village by now."
Devi's expression darkened.
"We were… but when we arrived, the village was empty."
"What?"
"Everyone was gone," she continued. "Then an injured man came crawling out of a house… barely alive."
Her fists tightened.
"He told us some strange people attacked. They took many villagers—mostly girls—and headed toward the eastern jungle…"
Maya lowered her gaze.
"He died right in front of us… and we couldn't save him."
Silence fell.
"So we followed them," Devi continued. "But on the way… we were ambushed."
Indra's eyes sharpened.
"Ambushed? By whom?"
Maya answered,
"They looked human… but something was wrong."
"Their eyes…" Devi added, "…they had dark circles, like they hadn't slept for ages."
"And their leader…" Maya continued slowly, "…he was different. He kept talking, like someone else was speaking to him."
Indra's face suddenly turned pale.
"What… did he say?"
"He said, 'Master told me to bring them alive. After that, he will grant me power.'"
"And when we killed them," Devi added quietly, "…they turned back into normal humans."
Indra's heartbeat skipped.
Black eyes… controlled… talking about a master…
No way…
His voice trembled.
"Maya… Devi… we need to leave. Right now."
"What? Why?" Maya asked.
Indra's eyes filled with fear.
"Sun… might be in danger."
"Fire Arrow!"
Karan released the arrow.
It tore through the air like a blazing comet.
The ground melted beneath its path—stone turning into liquid from the sheer heat.
Everything in its way—
Destroyed.
Ashura saw it coming.
But he didn't move.
Instead—
He smiled.
A cold… emotionless smile.
He raised his twin scythes and crossed them.
BOOM!!!
The impact exploded across the battlefield.
Fire and dust swallowed everything.
"Now!" Deva shouted.
He tightened his grip and charged forward.
But before he could reach—
Something shot out from the dust.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Deva barely raised his sword—
CLANG!!
The impact threw him backward.
He dropped to his knees, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Deva!" Karan shouted, rushing toward him.
"Are you okay?! You're bleeding!"
"That attack… it was powerful…" Deva groaned. He tried to stand, but his body refused to move.
Karan quickly supported him, helping him stay on his feet.
"Thanks… I'm fine," Deva said, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"You think you can still fight?" Karan asked.
"I think so…"
From within the dust—
A voice echoed.
Cold.
Mocking.
"You weaklings…"
Both Karan and Deva turned toward the sound.
"You really think I would fall for such a trick?"
Ashura stepped forward as the dust cleared.
Completely unharmed.
He swung his scythe—
A massive burst of wind exploded outward, forcing Karan and Deva to shield their eyes.
When the dust finally cleared—
They saw it.
Behind him…
Dark spheres floated in the air.
Like miniature dark moons.
One…
Two…
Then—dozens.
Ashura stepped forward.
"I haven't even used ten percent of my power," he said calmly. "And you're already dying…"
Deva's breathing grew heavy.
"This is bad…" he muttered. "He's on a completely different level…"
Karan clenched his fists.
"Damn it…"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then Deva spoke.
"So… what's the plan?"
Karan looked at him.
"I hope backup arrives soon…"
Then he asked quietly,
"Can you still fight?"
Deva grabbed his sword tightly.
"I won't lie… that bastard broke my ribs."
He winced in pain.
"But if backup is coming…"
He raised his head.
"…then we just have to hold him until then."
Karan looked into his eyes—
And saw it.
Determination.
Hope.
A fire that refused to die.
Karan smiled.
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
He picked up his bow.
Drew an arrow.
Aimed straight at Ashura.
"And Deva…"
He smirked slightly.
"Don't die here. We still have a fight to finish."
Deva chuckled.
"Yeah… same to you."
They steadied themselves.
Facing death—
Without fear.
"Ready?" Deva asked.
Karan nodded.
"Always."
"Then… let the second round begin."