The air above the rooftops of Ujjaini grew unnaturally heavy.
The silver light gathering around Rudra Sen's sword illuminated the night like a second moon. Even the distant lanterns below seemed dim compared to the energy now swirling around the hunter.
Across the rooftop, Devika's flames flickered nervously.
Through the Command Link, Arivaan could feel her reaction clearly.
Fear.
Not panic—but recognition.
Devika knew exactly what kind of power Rudra Sen was preparing to release.
Arivaan focused harder through the connection.
"Explain."
Devika's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"That technique isn't just an attack…"
"It disrupts spiritual control."
Arivaan blinked.
"Meaning?"
Devika answered grimly.
"If he hits me with it…"
"…he might break your command."
That made things interesting.
Arivaan studied the glowing sword carefully.
So the hunter wasn't simply trying to defeat Devika.
He was targeting the link itself.
Clever.
Rudra Sen stepped forward slowly.
The energy around his blade pulsed rhythmically like a beating heart.
"You rely on control," the hunter said calmly.
Arivaan shrugged.
"That's the ability."
"And abilities have weaknesses."
Arivaan smiled.
"So do hunters."
Rudra Sen didn't respond.
Instead, he lifted the glowing blade toward Devika.
The pressure in the air intensified.
The rooftop tiles trembled faintly beneath their feet.
Arivaan's floating panel flickered again.
Primary Target: Devika Agnivarna
Assimilation: 92%
The connection still held strong.
But the warning Devika gave him lingered in his mind.
If that attack severed the link…
The battle would change instantly.
Arivaan focused harder.
"Devika."
Her body responded immediately.
"Yes."
"Maximum defense."
Her flames surged outward, wrapping around her body like a blazing armor.
The heat radiated across the rooftop.
Rudra Sen nodded slightly.
"You understand the danger."
Arivaan grinned.
"Of course."
Then the hunter moved.
Rudra Sen stepped forward and swung the glowing blade in a wide arc.
The energy burst outward like a shockwave.
BOOM!
The silver strike collided with Devika's flame shield.
The impact exploded across the rooftop.
Fire scattered into the night sky.
The shockwave shattered several nearby tiles.
Devika staggered backward.
Arivaan felt the impact through the Command Link.
It was like being struck across the chest.
The floating panel flickered violently.
Control Stability: 78%
Arivaan's eyes widened slightly.
"That actually worked."
Rudra Sen stepped forward again.
"You're beginning to understand."
The hunter raised his sword once more.
"That link between you…"
"…is fragile."
Devika struggled to steady herself.
Her flames flickered unevenly now.
Inside her mind, the invisible chains binding her movements felt weaker.
Not broken.
But strained.
Rudra Sen spoke calmly.
"Devika."
Her eyes shifted toward him.
"You can break free."
For a brief moment—
Her body trembled violently.
The command system resisted.
But her willpower surged.
Arivaan noticed instantly.
The floating panel flashed again.
Control Stability: 73%
Interesting.
The hunter's technique wasn't just attacking physically.
It was targeting the mental bond.
Arivaan raised his hand quickly.
"Devika!"
Her body snapped back into motion.
"Yes."
"Attack again."
Devika lunged forward.
Her flames erupted again in a massive burst.
But this time—
The movements were slightly slower.
The Command Link felt unstable.
Rudra Sen noticed immediately.
"You're losing control."
Arivaan chuckled.
"Maybe a little."
Rudra Sen dashed forward again.
His glowing sword struck Devika's flames once more.
The explosion shook the rooftop again.
This time the silver energy penetrated deeper into the fire.
Devika staggered backward again.
Arivaan felt the connection tremble violently.
The floating panel flashed red briefly.
Control Stability: 68%
Devika's voice echoed through the link.
"You're weakening…"
Arivaan smirked.
"Not enough."
Rudra Sen stepped closer again.
"You can't maintain control forever."
Arivaan shrugged.
"I don't need forever."
The hunter frowned slightly.
"What?"
Arivaan pointed casually toward the panel only he could see.
Assimilation: 93%
Then he smiled.
"I just need a little more time."
Rudra Sen's eyes sharpened.
"You're still evolving."
"Looks like it."
Devika launched another attack under Arivaan's command.
But this time Rudra Sen didn't block it directly.
Instead—
He stepped past her.
His sword flashed again.
But the strike wasn't aimed at Devika.
It aimed directly at the space between them.
At the invisible bond connecting her to Arivaan.
The silver energy exploded outward.
The rooftop trembled violently.
The floating panel flashed again.
Control Stability: 60%
Devika gasped.
Arivaan felt the connection nearly snap.
For a brief moment—
He almost lost control completely.
Rudra Sen lowered his sword slowly.
"That was your warning."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"You're giving me warnings now?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Rudra Sen's voice remained calm.
"Because the next strike…"
"…will sever that link permanently."
Arivaan looked at the panel again.
Assimilation: 94%
The number continued rising.
His smile slowly returned.
"Hunter…"
Rudra Sen didn't respond.
Arivaan stretched his arms casually.
"You might want to hurry."
Rudra Sen's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Arivaan grinned.
"Because the closer this gets to one hundred…"
"…the harder it becomes to break."
The night wind swept across the rooftop again.
Both men understood the situation now.
Rudra Sen had one chance left to break the link.
And Arivaan only needed a few more seconds.
The next clash would decide everything.