Silence returned slowly.
The blinding light faded until the chamber returned to normal darkness.
Arivaan groaned softly.
"My head…"
A strange warmth spread through his body.
It felt as if something had entered his mind.
Something powerful.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Devika.
She had fallen forward during the explosion and was now lying partially on top of him.
Her orange hair brushed against his shoulder.
"Ugh…"
Devika groaned as well, clearly disoriented.
For a brief moment they both remained still.
Then Devika realized their position and jumped back immediately.
"What are you doing?!"
Arivaan raised his hands defensively.
"Hey! That wasn't my fault!"
She glared at him.
"You—"
Suddenly she stopped speaking.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Because something appeared in front of Arivaan.
A translucent glowing panel.
Arivaan blinked.
"…What?"
The floating panel displayed strange symbols and words.
Target Identified: Devika Agnivarna
Divya Ability: Agni Shakti
Imprint Status: Stage One
Arivaan stared at the screen.
His mouth slowly opened.
"What… is this?"
Another line of text appeared.
Available Commands:
• Body Control• Ability Suppression
Arivaan's heartbeat accelerated.
Is this… a power?
The fragments of the shattered jewel had disappeared completely.
It was as if their energy had been absorbed into his body.
Meanwhile Devika shook her head, still recovering.
She raised her hand again.
"Enough of this."
Flames began gathering in her palm.
"You're coming with me."
Arivaan's eyes flicked back toward the floating panel.
His mind raced.
Ability suppression…
Almost instinctively—
He focused on the command.