The flames surrounding Devika Agnivarna crackled across the rooftop, casting wild shadows against the broken tiles. The battle had already destroyed half of the building, and the heat from her power continued rising into the night air.
Across from her stood Rudra Sen.
The hunter's armor was scorched in several places, but his posture remained steady. His sword still glowed faintly with silver energy, though the light had dimmed slightly after the prolonged fight.
And yet—
His eyes were calm.
Not desperate.
Not defeated.
Calculating.
From the far side of the rooftop, Arivaan noticed immediately.
"You're still thinking," he said casually.
Rudra Sen didn't respond right away.
Instead, he slowly adjusted his grip on the sword.
"You believe this battle is over."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Isn't it?"
Devika stood between them like a blazing wall of fire.
Her flames curled violently around her arms as she waited for the next command.
The connection between her and Arivaan had become absolute.
The hunter knew it.
Which meant attacking her directly would only waste time.
Rudra Sen spoke again.
"You misunderstand something."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"What's that?"
The hunter lifted his sword slightly.
"I was never trying to defeat you."
Arivaan blinked once.
Then he laughed.
"That's a strange thing to say during a fight."
Rudra Sen's voice remained calm.
"I was trying to understand you."
Arivaan's smile faded slightly.
That answer felt… dangerous.
"You've been analyzing the ability," Rudra Sen continued.
"Every command."
"Every reaction."
"Every change in the connection."
Arivaan crossed his arms.
"And what did you learn?"
Rudra Sen looked directly at him.
"That the power isn't limitless."
Arivaan chuckled.
"Everything has limits."
"Yes."
Rudra Sen took another step forward.
"And yours depends on focus."
The rooftop fell silent for a moment.
Arivaan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's a theory."
Rudra Sen replied calmly,
"No."
"It's an observation."
Devika's flames surged slightly under Arivaan's control.
"You talk too much," Arivaan said.
"Devika."
"Yes."
"Attack."
She lunged forward again.
Flames exploded outward like a burning wave.
But this time—
Rudra Sen didn't block the attack.
Instead, he stepped directly into the fire.
Arivaan frowned.
"That's reckless."
The flames swallowed the hunter completely.
For a moment—
Rudra Sen vanished inside the blaze.
Devika's fire roared violently across the rooftop.
But then—
A flash of silver light erupted inside the flames.
WHOOM!
The fire split apart.
Rudra Sen stepped through the blaze unharmed.
His sword now burned with brilliant energy.
Arivaan blinked.
"That's new."
Devika whispered through the link,
"He's pushing his energy beyond the limit."
Rudra Sen dashed forward.
But not toward Devika.
Toward Arivaan.
The speed of the movement caught Arivaan off guard for a split second.
Devika reacted instantly under his command.
She intercepted the hunter with a burst of flames.
But Rudra Sen wasn't aiming to strike her.
He raised his sword and slammed it into the rooftop between them.
BOOOOM!
The impact released a massive shockwave of silver energy.
The rooftop exploded.
Tiles shattered.
Stone fragments flew into the air.
Arivaan staggered backward.
The sudden shock disrupted his concentration.
And in that single moment—
The Command Link trembled.
Devika gasped.
"I can feel the control weakening!"
The floating panel flashed again.
Control Stability: 81%
Arivaan's eyes widened.
"So that's your plan."
Rudra Sen stood in the center of the destruction.
His breathing had grown heavier now.
But his voice remained steady.
"I don't need to break the bond."
Arivaan stared at him.
"Then what?"
The hunter lifted his sword again.
"I only need to break your focus."
Arivaan's smile slowly returned.
"That's clever."
Rudra Sen didn't respond.
Instead—
He attacked again.
But this time the hunter ignored Devika completely.
Every movement.
Every strike.
Every burst of energy—
Was aimed at forcing Arivaan to react.
To think.
To defend.
To split his attention.
Devika attacked repeatedly to intercept him.
But Rudra Sen kept slipping past her flames.
The rooftop battle turned chaotic again.
Arivaan had to concentrate harder now.
Control Devika.
Track Rudra Sen.
Maintain the link.
Every second required effort.
The floating panel flickered again.
Control Stability: 79%
Arivaan laughed softly.
"You're annoying."
Rudra Sen replied calmly,
"I'm effective."
Devika's flames roared again.
But this time—
Arivaan felt the strain clearly.
The hunter's strategy was working.
Not breaking the bond.
But overloading the controller.
Arivaan wiped dust from his cloak.
"Well…"
Rudra Sen raised his sword again.
"Still smiling?"
Arivaan grinned.
"Of course."
The hunter frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Arivaan pointed casually at Devika.
"Because you're forgetting something."
Rudra Sen's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Arivaan chuckled.
"I only need to control one person."
Devika's flames surged violently again.
And this time—
Arivaan stopped moving entirely.
He let Devika fight alone.
The Command Link stabilized again instantly.
The floating panel updated.
Control Stability: 95%
Rudra Sen realized the mistake immediately.
Arivaan leaned casually against the broken wall again.
"Nice strategy."
The hunter's expression hardened.
"But it won't work."
The wind swept across the rooftop again.
And the battle entered yet another phase.
Because now both sides had revealed their true strategies.