The cold steel of Rudra Sen's sword hovered just inches from Arivaan's throat.
The lantern above them flickered again, casting shifting shadows across the narrow street. The Rakshak scouts surrounding the rooftops watched silently, their weapons ready in case the situation escalated further.
Devika stood several steps behind Rudra Sen.
Her flames had faded slightly, but her eyes burned with frustration as she struggled internally against the invisible commands controlling her body.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
Yet Arivaan remained strangely calm.
In fact… he was smiling.
Rudra Sen noticed immediately.
"You don't seem afraid."
Arivaan chuckled softly.
"Should I be?"
"You're seconds away from death."
Arivaan shrugged slightly, careful not to move too much with the blade so close to his throat.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Arivaan's eyes shifted slightly upward.
A glowing panel floated quietly in his vision.
Assimilation: 80%
And beneath it—
A new line had appeared.
New Ability Unlocked: Override Command
Arivaan's heartbeat quickened slightly.
So this was what happened when the connection strengthened.
The system evolved.
And with it… his control expanded.
Rudra Sen spoke again, his voice calm but firm.
"Release Devika Agnivarna."
Arivaan glanced briefly at Devika.
She stood rigidly behind the hunter, her body still partially under his control.
Then he looked back at the blade near his throat.
"You're a very confident hunter."
"I rely on observation."
Rudra Sen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're not strong enough to defeat me."
Arivaan laughed quietly.
"You might be right."
Rudra Sen pressed the blade slightly closer.
"Then stop this."
For a moment, Arivaan didn't respond.
Instead, he focused on the floating panel.
New Command Available
Override Command — Temporarily seize control of additional targets
Arivaan blinked slowly.
That was… interesting.
Devika noticed the subtle change in his expression.
Her instincts immediately reacted.
Something had changed.
Arivaan's voice remained calm.
"You're very observant, hunter."
Rudra Sen didn't reply.
"But you missed one detail."
The hunter's eyes sharpened slightly.
"What detail?"
Arivaan's smile widened.
"This ability…"
"…is still evolving."
Before Rudra Sen could react—
Arivaan activated the new command.
Override Command: Activate
The floating panel flashed.
For a brief moment, a strange pulse of energy spread from Arivaan's mind outward like an invisible ripple.
The effect was subtle.
But immediate.
One of the Rakshak scouts standing on the nearby rooftop suddenly stiffened.
His eyes widened slightly.
The command had reached him.
Arivaan's mind filled with new information.
Secondary Target Acquired
The hunter noticed the change instantly.
Rudra Sen's gaze flicked toward the rooftop.
"What did you—"
Before he could finish speaking—
The controlled scout moved.
He jumped down from the rooftop.
The sudden movement surprised the other Rakshaks nearby.
"Hey—!"
The scout landed behind Rudra Sen.
Then drew his weapon.
Devika gasped.
"Arivaan!"
Rudra Sen turned instantly.
But that moment of distraction was enough.
Arivaan stepped back quickly, slipping away from the blade at his throat.
The controlled scout attacked Rudra Sen from behind.
Steel clashed violently.
CLANG!
Rudra Sen blocked the strike effortlessly.
But his eyes had changed.
Now they were sharper.
More alert.
"You controlled another person."
Arivaan stretched his neck slightly.
"That's right."
Devika stared at the rooftop where the other scouts remained frozen in shock.
"That ability…"
"…it expanded."
Arivaan smiled.
"Looks like it."
Rudra Sen quickly knocked the controlled scout backward with a powerful kick.
The man crashed into the stone wall but immediately stood again.
Still under Arivaan's command.
Rudra Sen glanced between the two enemies now standing before him.
Arivaan.
And the controlled Rakshak scout.
Devika clenched her fists.
"You're turning them against each other."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Efficient, isn't it?"
Rudra Sen slowly lowered his sword into a ready stance again.
"You've crossed a dangerous line."
Arivaan laughed.
"That line was crossed the moment your organization banned this power."
Rudra Sen's voice turned colder.
"Control of another person's body is a violation of everything the Rakshak Sabha protects."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Arivaan looked toward the controlled scout.
"Interesting."
Then he turned back toward the hunter.
"Because from my perspective…"
"…this just leveled the playing field."
The floating panel updated again.
Primary Target: Devika Agnivarna
Secondary Target: Rakshak Scout
Control Stability: 88%
Arivaan felt the strange power inside his mind expand slightly.
Two connections now existed.
Two bodies responding to his will.
It was intoxicating.
Devika watched him carefully.
"You're enjoying this."
Arivaan didn't deny it.
"For the first time in my life…"
"…I'm not the weakest person in the room."
Rudra Sen's grip tightened on his sword.
"You're becoming something worse."
Arivaan smiled.
"Maybe."
Then he pointed casually toward the hunter.
"Devika."
Her body stiffened again.
"Yes."
"Attack."
Devika's flames erupted once more.
At the same time—
The controlled Rakshak scout lunged forward.
Two attackers.
One hunter.
The street exploded into motion.
Steel clashed.
Flames roared.
And for the first time since the fight began—
Rudra Sen realized something troubling.
This battle had just become far more complicated.
Because the enemy he was facing…
Was evolving faster than expected.