The rooftop had become a battlefield of shattered stone and fading fire.
Broken tiles lay scattered across the surface, some still glowing faintly from the heat of Devika's flames. The cool night wind swept through the damaged rooftop, carrying sparks into the dark sky above Ujjaini.
But neither Arivaan nor Rudra Sen paid attention to the destruction around them.
Both were focused on the same thing.
Time.
The invisible panel before Arivaan's eyes flickered once again.
Assimilation: 96%
The number pulsed like a heartbeat.
Closer.
Closer to completion.
Across the rooftop, Rudra Sen raised his glowing sword again.
This time the hunter didn't speak.
He simply moved.
His body surged forward with explosive speed.
The rooftop cracked beneath his first step.
Arivaan reacted instantly through Devika.
"Block!"
Devika's flames surged outward again, forming a defensive barrier.
But Rudra Sen's blade crashed into the fire with unstoppable force.
BOOM!
The impact scattered flames across the rooftop.
Devika staggered backward again.
Arivaan felt the shock ripple through the Command Link.
But something was different this time.
The connection didn't weaken.
Instead—
It adapted.
The floating panel flashed again.
Assimilation: 97%
Arivaan laughed softly.
"Interesting."
Rudra Sen's eyes sharpened.
"You're stabilizing the link."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Looks like it."
Devika growled in frustration.
"You're turning my resistance into strength."
Arivaan smirked.
"That's the system's decision, not mine."
Rudra Sen dashed forward again.
This time faster.
His glowing blade cut downward toward Devika.
Arivaan reacted through her instantly.
"Step left."
Her body moved.
The blade slammed into the rooftop instead.
CRACK!
The impact shattered several tiles completely.
Devika counterattacked immediately.
Flames spiraled around her arms as she launched a rapid burst toward the hunter.
But Rudra Sen blocked again.
The clash of steel and fire echoed through the night.
From the street below, several citizens had begun gathering cautiously.
They stared up at the rooftop battle with fear and confusion.
But none dared approach.
Up above, the fight continued.
Rudra Sen stepped forward again.
"You're relying on time."
Arivaan nodded casually.
"That's the plan."
Rudra Sen raised his sword again.
"And I'm running out of patience."
The hunter's aura flared brighter.
Silver energy surged across the blade like lightning.
Devika felt it immediately.
"That attack again…"
Arivaan asked through the link,
"Another link-breaker?"
Devika's voice trembled slightly.
"No."
"Stronger."
Rudra Sen suddenly vanished.
For a moment—
He disappeared completely from sight.
Arivaan blinked.
"Where—"
Then Devika's instincts screamed.
Above.
Rudra Sen dropped from the air with terrifying speed.
His glowing sword descended like a falling star.
Arivaan reacted instantly.
"Devika—move!"
Her body twisted sideways.
But the attack was too fast.
The blade struck her shoulder armor.
BOOM!
The explosion of energy sent Devika crashing across the rooftop.
She slid across the broken tiles and slammed into the edge of the building.
Arivaan felt the impact through the link.
The connection shook violently.
The floating panel flickered red.
Control Stability: 49%
Even Arivaan winced.
"That actually hurt."
Devika struggled to stand.
Her flames flickered weakly.
The strike had shaken her badly.
Rudra Sen landed smoothly a few meters away.
"You're nearly finished."
Arivaan glanced at the panel again.
Assimilation: 97%
Not yet.
The hunter raised his sword once more.
"This ends now."
Devika forced herself upright.
But something strange happened.
Instead of weakening further—
The connection surged again.
The floating panel flashed brightly.
Assimilation: 98%
Arivaan blinked.
The Command Link suddenly deepened again.
Now he didn't just feel Devika's emotions.
He could feel her memories flicker faintly.
Training sessions.
Past battles.
Fragments of combat experience.
It flooded into his mind like distant echoes.
Arivaan's eyes widened slightly.
"So that's how you fight…"
Devika froze.
"You're seeing my memories?"
"Not all of them."
Arivaan smiled slowly.
"Just the useful parts."
Rudra Sen noticed the change instantly.
"You're learning her combat skills."
Arivaan nodded.
"That's a nice bonus."
Devika's body moved again under his control.
But this time—
Her stance was different.
More refined.
Because Arivaan now understood her techniques better.
The flames around her hands burned brighter again.
Rudra Sen's expression hardened.
"You've crossed another threshold."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Looks like it."
The floating panel pulsed again.
Assimilation: 99%
Arivaan's smile widened slowly.
"One more."
Rudra Sen's eyes sharpened dangerously.
The hunter raised his sword once more.
This time—
With absolute determination.
Because both of them knew the truth now.
If the number reached 100%—
The balance of this battle might change completely.
And Rudra Sen had only one strike left to stop it.
The night wind howled across the rooftop again.
The final moment was approaching.