The rooftop trembled under the aftermath of Rudra Sen's last strike.
Broken tiles scattered across the stone surface while faint smoke drifted through the cool night air. The glow of silver energy still lingered around the hunter's sword, reflecting off the surrounding buildings like shards of moonlight.
Across from him, Devika stood unsteady.
Her flames flickered unevenly now.
Through the Command Link, Arivaan could feel the instability clearly.
The bond between them had weakened.
But it hadn't broken.
Yet.
Arivaan glanced at the floating panel again.
Primary Target: Devika Agnivarna
Assimilation: 94%
The number pulsed faintly.
So close.
Rudra Sen stepped forward slowly.
The hunter's eyes were colder now.
More focused.
"You're almost there," he said.
Arivaan chuckled.
"You noticed."
"Yes."
Rudra Sen raised his sword again.
"And that's why this ends now."
Devika's body trembled slightly.
Inside her mind, the invisible chains binding her movements continued loosening.
The hunter's earlier strike had shaken the connection deeply.
If Rudra Sen landed another blow like that—
The control might collapse entirely.
Devika whispered through clenched teeth,
"You're losing the link."
Arivaan smirked.
"Maybe."
Rudra Sen suddenly dashed forward again.
Faster than before.
His sword glowed brighter with concentrated energy.
Arivaan reacted instantly through Devika.
"Block him!"
Her flames erupted again.
But the hunter's attack cut straight through the fire.
The silver strike slammed into Devika's defense.
BOOM!
The impact blasted flames outward in every direction.
Devika slid backward across the rooftop.
The shockwave rattled nearby windows across the street.
Arivaan felt the connection shudder violently.
The floating panel flickered again.
Control Stability: 52%
Even Arivaan blinked.
"That's a bigger drop than expected."
Rudra Sen stepped closer again.
"You're losing."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Still standing."
Devika forced herself upright again.
Her flames burned weaker now.
The hunter's energy had disrupted the rhythm of her power.
Rudra Sen lifted his sword once more.
"You should release her."
Arivaan laughed softly.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you're about to lose control anyway."
Arivaan tilted his head slightly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Arivaan pointed toward the invisible panel floating before his eyes.
"Timing."
Rudra Sen frowned slightly.
But before he could respond—
Devika suddenly lunged forward again.
Flames erupted violently from her hands.
Even Arivaan felt surprised.
"I didn't command that."
Devika's voice echoed through the link.
"I did."
For the first time since the battle began—
She had managed to move on her own.
The weakening control gave her a brief moment of freedom.
Her flames surged toward Rudra Sen.
But the hunter reacted instantly.
His sword flashed through the air.
CLANG!
The strike split the flames apart once again.
Rudra Sen stepped past the fire.
His blade moved toward Devika again.
But this time—
Arivaan reacted faster.
"Devika… dodge!"
Her body twisted sideways instantly.
The blade missed her shoulder by inches.
Rudra Sen stepped back slightly.
"You regained control."
Arivaan grinned.
"Partially."
Devika growled in frustration.
"Stop talking like I'm not here."
Arivaan shrugged casually.
"You're very present."
The floating panel flickered again.
Assimilation: 95%
The number glowed brighter this time.
A strange pulse of energy surged through Arivaan's mind.
The connection with Devika suddenly felt… different.
Not weaker.
Deeper.
Devika gasped slightly.
"What…?"
Arivaan blinked.
He could now feel more than just her movements.
He could feel her emotions.
Her anger.
Her resistance.
Her determination.
It was like the link had reached a new level.
Rudra Sen noticed the shift immediately.
"The connection changed."
Arivaan smiled slowly.
"Looks like it."
Devika stared at him in disbelief.
"You're… inside my thoughts."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Not all of them."
Rudra Sen stepped forward again.
"You're evolving again."
Arivaan nodded.
"That seems to be the theme tonight."
The hunter lifted his glowing sword again.
But this time—
His expression had changed.
Less calm.
More urgent.
"You won't reach one hundred."
Arivaan laughed.
"Confident."
Rudra Sen's voice became colder.
"Certain."
The hunter suddenly launched forward again.
His sword moved faster than ever.
Devika reacted instantly under Arivaan's guidance.
Flames exploded outward again.
But Rudra Sen cut through them once more.
The rooftop shook from the clash.
Both sides were pushing harder now.
Because both understood the situation clearly.
Rudra Sen needed to break the link before it evolved again.
And Arivaan only needed a few more seconds.
The floating panel flickered once more.
Assimilation: 96%
Arivaan's smile slowly widened.
"Hunter…"
Rudra Sen didn't respond.
But his eyes hardened.
Arivaan raised one finger.
"You're running out of time."
The wind howled across the rooftop again.
And the final stage of the ability's evolution was rapidly approaching.