The rooftop battlefield had grown unnaturally tense.
Flames from Devika Agnivarna continued burning across the broken tiles, casting orange light across the surrounding rooftops. Around them, the remaining Rakshak warriors stood ready, weapons raised, their formation tighter than before.
But the real battle was no longer just physical.
It was happening inside a mind.
The spear captain's mind.
He stood in the center of the rooftop, gripping his glowing spear with both hands. Sweat ran down his forehead, his breathing heavy as he fought against the invisible pressure invading his thoughts.
"You… won't control me!" he roared.
Across the rooftop, Arivaan watched calmly.
Though his body appeared relaxed, the reality inside his mind was far more complicated.
Two connections pulsed within his consciousness.
Two streams of sensation.
Two separate wills resisting him.
The floating panel flickered again.
Primary Servant: Devika Agnivarna – Stable
Secondary Bond: Rakshak Spear Captain
Bond Progress: 26%
Arivaan sighed slightly.
"Slow."
Devika whispered through the link,
"That man is resisting with everything he has."
Arivaan chuckled.
"Good."
"Good?!"
"Yes."
The spear captain suddenly lunged forward again.
His spear cut through the air with explosive force.
Devika intercepted immediately.
CLANG!
Flames and steel collided violently.
The impact shook the rooftop.
But something had changed.
The captain's attack lacked the sharp precision it had earlier.
His movements had become… hesitant.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 28%
Arivaan smiled slightly.
"See?"
Devika frowned.
"You're slowing him down already."
"Not intentionally."
Across the rooftop, Rudra Sen noticed the change immediately.
"Captain Varun!"
The spear captain gritted his teeth.
"I'm… fine!"
But his voice sounded strained.
His grip tightened around the spear.
Another wave of pressure flooded his mind.
It felt like invisible hands trying to take control of his limbs.
He forced the sensation away with sheer will.
But the effort cost him.
Arivaan raised his hand casually.
"Devika."
"Yes."
"Push him."
Her flames surged again.
She launched forward with a rapid burst of fire.
Varun blocked the attack with his spear.
But the impact forced him backward.
His feet slid across the broken tiles.
And for a brief moment—
His arm twitched.
Not by his will.
But by Arivaan's.
The spear captain froze.
His eyes widened.
"What… was that?!"
Arivaan blinked in surprise.
"Oh."
"That worked."
Devika stared at him.
"You moved his arm again!"
The floating panel flashed.
Bond Progress: 31%
Rudra Sen dashed forward instantly.
"Everyone—pull him back!"
Two Rakshak warriors rushed toward the captain, attempting to drag him away from Arivaan.
But Varun suddenly stopped them.
"Don't touch me!"
He pushed them away violently.
The captain knew exactly what the villain was trying to do.
Distance might help.
But abandoning the fight meant surrendering the battlefield.
And Varun refused to retreat.
Arivaan tilted his head.
"That's stubborn."
Devika muttered,
"He's a captain of the Rakshak patrol."
"Explains it."
Varun steadied his spear again.
"You think controlling Devika makes you powerful?"
Arivaan shrugged.
"It helped."
The captain roared and lunged forward again.
His spear shot toward Devika with incredible speed.
But this time—
Arivaan didn't just defend.
Through the partial bond forming inside Varun's mind…
He pushed.
Just a little.
The captain's grip tightened unexpectedly.
His strike shifted slightly to the left.
Devika dodged easily.
Varun froze again.
"No…"
His arm trembled.
"You… touched my movement!"
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 34%
Arivaan laughed quietly.
"This is fascinating."
Devika stared at him.
"You're controlling both of us now."
"Not fully."
Varun roared again and attacked.
But every movement grew more unstable.
His mind fought desperately to keep control of his own body.
Yet every second—
Arivaan's influence deepened.
The connection spread slowly through the captain's nervous system like creeping shadows.
Rudra Sen realized the danger instantly.
"He's taking control of your motor responses!"
Varun gritted his teeth.
"I know!"
But knowing didn't stop it.
The pressure inside his mind increased again.
Arivaan raised his hand slightly.
"Let's test something."
Devika groaned.
"Please don't."
But Arivaan focused.
The panel flickered again.
Manual Override Attempt
He pushed.
Varun's fingers twitched.
Then—
For half a second—
The spear dipped downward.
The captain stared in horror.
"I didn't do that!"
Arivaan grinned.
"Two minds…"
He flexed his fingers slowly.
"…one controller."
The surrounding Rakshaks froze.
Because they could see it too now.
The captain's movements were no longer completely his own.
Rudra Sen's voice turned deadly calm.
"We stop this now."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"Try."
The wind swept across the rooftops again.
But the battlefield had already changed.
Because the villain now controlled one warrior completely…
And had begun taking control of another.
The Rakshaks were no longer fighting just an enemy.
They were fighting their own allies.
And that made the battle far more dangerous.