The dust from the collapsed building still drifted through the air.
Broken stone and shattered beams lay scattered across the street below, while frightened citizens rushed away from the destruction. The once quiet district of Ujjaini had turned into a scene of chaos.
Above the ruined building, three figures stood on separate rooftops.
Arivaan.
Devika Agnivarna.
And the relentless hunter—Rudra Sen.
For a brief moment, the battlefield fell silent.
Then—
Distant footsteps echoed across the rooftops.
Multiple shadows appeared along the edges of nearby buildings.
Rakshak warriors.
They moved quickly, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with trained precision. Their armor gleamed faintly under the moonlight, each warrior carrying a weapon ready for battle.
Within seconds, the district was surrounded.
Arivaan glanced around slowly.
"Well…"
"That's quite the welcome party."
Devika's flames flickered slightly as she scanned the new arrivals.
"There are at least six of them."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"Only six?"
Rudra Sen stepped forward slightly.
"That's enough."
The hunters spread out across the surrounding rooftops, forming a loose circle around Arivaan and Devika.
Each one wore the emblem of the Rakshak Sabha.
Arivaan clapped slowly.
"Impressive coordination."
One of the newcomers stepped forward.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried a massive spear that glowed faintly with spiritual energy.
"Rudra Sen," the warrior called.
"We received your signal."
Rudra Sen nodded.
"The target is here."
The spear wielder's eyes shifted toward Arivaan.
"So that's the mind-controller."
Another Rakshak beside him frowned.
"And Devika…?"
Devika stood silently, flames dancing around her arms.
The warriors stared in disbelief.
"Her aura is wrong."
"She's being controlled."
Rudra Sen confirmed it calmly.
"The bond is complete."
A murmur spread through the group.
One of the Rakshaks clenched his sword tightly.
"That ability should be impossible."
Arivaan raised his hand cheerfully.
"Yet here we are."
Devika glared at him.
"Stop enjoying this."
Arivaan shrugged.
"It's entertaining."
The spear wielder turned back toward Rudra Sen.
"What's the plan?"
Rudra Sen's voice remained calm.
"We capture the controller."
"And Devika?"
"We subdue her."
The surrounding Rakshaks nodded.
They immediately began adjusting their positions.
Three warriors moved to block the rooftops behind Arivaan.
Two more spread out along the adjacent buildings.
The spear wielder stepped forward beside Rudra Sen.
The trap tightened.
Arivaan watched them carefully.
"Seven hunters."
Devika whispered through the link.
"You're surrounded."
Arivaan shrugged.
"I noticed."
The floating panel flickered briefly before his eyes.
Primary Servant: Devika Agnivarna
Control Stability: 94%
Still stable.
Arivaan smiled slightly.
Rudra Sen pointed his sword toward him.
"Release her."
Arivaan laughed.
"You keep asking that."
The hunter's voice hardened.
"This is your final chance."
Arivaan crossed his arms.
"You've already tried the violent option."
"Didn't work."
The spear wielder stepped forward.
"This conversation is pointless."
He lowered his glowing spear toward Devika.
"Take the villain."
Devika's flames surged instantly.
Arivaan raised his hand casually.
"Devika."
"Yes."
"Protect me."
Her body moved instantly.
Flames exploded outward across the rooftop.
The surrounding Rakshaks jumped backward to avoid the sudden wave of fire.
One of them shouted,
"Her power increased!"
Rudra Sen remained steady.
"Maintain distance."
The hunters quickly adjusted their formation.
Two warriors leapt onto nearby rooftops, preparing ranged attacks.
Another drew a glowing bow.
Arivaan blinked.
"Archers too?"
Devika muttered,
"This isn't funny."
Arivaan smirked.
"It's getting interesting."
The spear wielder charged forward suddenly.
His weapon glowed brighter as he thrust toward Devika.
Devika countered instantly.
Flames burst forward.
CLANG!
The spear struck her flame barrier.
The impact shook the rooftop.
But the warrior didn't retreat.
Instead, he pushed forward aggressively.
"You're stronger than before," he said through gritted teeth.
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"That's flattering."
Behind him—
Another Rakshak released an arrow.
The glowing projectile streaked toward Arivaan.
Devika reacted instantly.
Her flames intercepted the arrow midair.
The explosion scattered sparks across the rooftop.
Rudra Sen watched carefully.
"He's coordinating through her completely now."
The spear wielder nodded.
"Then we split his focus."
Three Rakshaks attacked at once.
One lunged from the left.
Another from the right.
The archer fired again from behind.
Devika moved under Arivaan's command.
Flames spiraled outward like a blazing shield.
But the attacks kept coming.
The rooftop battle exploded into chaos.
Weapons clashed.
Flames roared.
Arivaan remained standing calmly behind Devika.
But even he felt the strain now.
The floating panel flickered again.
Control Stability: 90%
Seven opponents.
Multiple attacks.
Even controlling one powerful warrior had limits.
Devika whispered through the link.
"They're overwhelming us."
Arivaan sighed.
"Maybe."
Another arrow shot past Devika's flames.
This one grazed Arivaan's sleeve.
The villain blinked.
"That was rude."
Rudra Sen stepped forward again.
"This ends now."
Arivaan slowly straightened.
His smile returned.
"You really think so?"
The hunters tightened their formation again.
Seven Rakshaks surrounded the rooftop.
Devika's flames burned brighter as she prepared for another wave of attacks.
But Arivaan suddenly raised his hand.
"Wait."
Devika paused instantly.
The Rakshaks hesitated.
Rudra Sen frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Arivaan glanced at the floating panel again.
Then his smile widened.
"Well…"
"That was faster than expected."
Rudra Sen's eyes narrowed.
"What was?"
Arivaan chuckled quietly.
"The system just gave me another option."
The wind swept across the rooftops again.
Because the villain had just realized something terrifying.
If he could control one Rakshak permanently…
Then controlling two might not be impossible.
And seven hunters had just arrived.