The moment Rudra Sen lifted his sword toward the sky, the atmosphere changed.
Silver energy spread outward from the blade like ripples across water. The glow illuminated the surrounding rooftops, reflecting off broken tiles and drifting smoke.
Then the rooftop beneath them began to tremble.
At first, it was subtle.
A faint vibration.
A low cracking sound deep inside the structure.
But within seconds—
The entire building started to groan.
Devika's eyes widened.
"He's going to collapse the building!"
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"That's dramatic."
But the next second proved her right.
CRACK!
A deep fracture split through the center of the rooftop.
Stone tiles shattered apart.
Dust burst upward into the air.
The entire structure shifted dangerously.
Below them, terrified voices echoed from the street.
Citizens who had been watching the battle from a distance suddenly scattered in panic.
Inside the building itself, furniture toppled as the shockwaves traveled through the walls.
Rudra Sen lowered his glowing sword slowly.
The silver energy still surged around it.
"If the battlefield disappears," he said calmly,
"your advantage disappears with it."
Arivaan looked around at the spreading cracks.
"Well…"
"That's inconvenient."
Devika turned toward him sharply.
"You're not taking this seriously!"
Arivaan shrugged.
"I am."
Another violent tremor shook the rooftop.
A large section of stone collapsed near the edge.
Broken tiles and debris rained down into the street below.
The building would not survive much longer.
Rudra Sen stepped forward again.
Even as the structure collapsed around them, his movements remained steady.
"You rely on stability."
Arivaan crossed his arms.
"And?"
Rudra Sen's voice remained cold.
"If you lose your footing…"
"…you lose your control."
Arivaan smirked.
"That's a theory."
The hunter didn't answer.
Instead—
He attacked again.
Rudra Sen dashed forward across the cracking rooftop.
Devika reacted instantly under Arivaan's command.
Her flames exploded outward again.
But the unstable ground made the movement slower.
The cracked tiles shifted under her feet.
Rudra Sen slipped through the attack.
His sword flashed toward Arivaan again.
Devika intercepted.
CLANG!
Steel collided with flame.
But the force of the clash shattered another section of the roof.
BOOM!
Part of the structure collapsed completely.
A massive hole opened beside them.
Through the dust and falling debris, the interior of the building became visible.
Wooden beams snapped.
Walls cracked.
The entire building was seconds away from complete collapse.
Devika shouted through the link.
"The structure is failing!"
Arivaan glanced down into the widening hole.
"That's obvious."
Another tremor shook the rooftop.
This time—
The entire right side began sinking.
Rudra Sen stepped backward slightly to avoid the collapsing section.
Devika's flames surged again.
But the shifting ground made precise attacks harder.
The floating panel flickered.
Control Stability: 90%
Arivaan frowned slightly.
"Okay, that's annoying."
Rudra Sen noticed immediately.
"The bond weakens when your balance breaks."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Maybe."
But the cracks continued spreading.
The rooftop tilted suddenly.
Devika slid slightly across the broken tiles.
Arivaan steadied himself against a damaged beam.
Rudra Sen remained balanced in the center of the collapsing structure.
The hunter's stance remained perfectly stable.
"You cannot fight effectively on unstable ground," he said calmly.
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"You seem comfortable."
"I trained for worse."
Another violent crack echoed across the rooftop.
This time—
Half the building collapsed completely.
The floor beneath them gave way.
Wooden beams shattered.
Dust and debris exploded upward.
For a brief moment—
Everyone fell.
Devika reacted instantly.
Her flames burst outward as she launched herself upward.
Arivaan grabbed a remaining beam and pulled himself onto a surviving section of the structure.
Rudra Sen twisted midair and landed smoothly on another rooftop nearby.
The original building collapsed completely behind them.
CRASH!
The sound echoed across the district.
Clouds of dust rose into the night sky.
Pieces of stone rained into the street below.
When the dust began to settle—
Three figures remained standing.
On separate rooftops now.
The battlefield had changed completely.
Arivaan brushed dust off his cloak.
"Well…"
"That escalated."
Devika landed beside him again.
Her flames flickered as she regained balance.
Across the narrow gap between buildings, Rudra Sen stood calmly once more.
The hunter lifted his sword again.
Now the surrounding rooftops were quieter.
But the destruction had drawn attention.
Far in the distance—
The sound of approaching Rakshak patrols echoed through the streets.
Devika heard it first.
"More Rakshaks are coming."
Arivaan glanced toward the distant lights.
"Looks like reinforcements."
Rudra Sen nodded slowly.
"That was inevitable."
Arivaan grinned.
"So your backup finally arrives."
The hunter's voice remained steady.
"You will not escape this city."
Arivaan stretched his arms.
"We'll see."
The wind swept across the rooftops again.
The battlefield had expanded.
And now—
More hunters were coming.