For a single frozen moment, the rooftop battlefield went silent.
The wind swept across the shattered tiles, carrying sparks from Devika's flames into the dark sky above Ujjaini.
But every Rakshak warrior on the rooftop stared at the same man.
Captain Varun.
His body stood rigid.
His spear hung loosely at his side.
And his muscles refused to obey his will.
Inside his mind, chaos raged.
Two voices pulled at his movements.
Two impulses fought for control.
His own will—
And Arivaan's influence.
Across the rooftop, Arivaan slowly lowered his hand.
The floating panel flickered.
Primary Servant: Devika Agnivarna – Stable
Secondary Bond: Captain Varun
Bond Progress: 50%
Arivaan exhaled softly.
"Well."
"That's new."
Devika glanced at Varun carefully.
"He can't move."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Temporarily."
But the captain's eyes burned with fury.
His body trembled violently.
"You… parasite…"
Arivaan smiled slightly.
"You're still conscious."
Varun forced his fingers to twitch.
Just barely.
The spear in his hand rattled against the stone rooftop.
Rudra Sen stepped forward instantly.
His glowing sword raised.
"You asked for it."
Varun clenched his jaw.
"…Do it."
Several Rakshaks hesitated.
One of them shouted,
"Captain!"
But Rudra Sen didn't hesitate.
The hunter moved.
His sword flashed toward Varun's chest.
Arivaan reacted instantly.
"Devika!"
"Yes."
"Intercept."
Flames exploded across the rooftop.
Devika launched forward like a blazing comet.
CLANG!
Her fire shield collided with Rudra Sen's blade.
The shockwave blasted sparks across the battlefield.
Rudra Sen slid backward slightly.
But his eyes never left Varun.
"Your control is incomplete."
Arivaan shrugged.
"For now."
Devika glanced back at the captain.
"He's fighting it."
Varun's body trembled violently.
Slowly—
His arm lifted.
Just an inch.
The spear rose slightly from the rooftop.
The floating panel flickered.
Bond Stability: Unstable
Control Balance: 55%
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
"He's stronger than I thought."
Inside Varun's mind—
The battle intensified.
His consciousness slammed against the invisible barrier controlling his limbs.
Move.
Move!
His muscles responded.
Barely.
His spear lifted another inch.
Arivaan pushed back.
Varun's arm froze again.
Devika whispered through the link,
"This is a tug-of-war now."
Arivaan chuckled.
"Exactly."
Varun forced himself to stand straighter.
His body shook violently.
But slowly—
The spear lifted again.
Rudra Sen stepped forward cautiously.
"Captain."
Varun's voice came out hoarse.
"I'm… still here…"
Arivaan smirked.
"Barely."
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 52%
Varun felt the pressure surge again.
His arm dropped suddenly.
Not by his will.
Arivaan's influence forced it down.
The captain roared in frustration.
"You… coward!"
Arivaan laughed softly.
"I prefer strategist."
Devika watched the captain carefully.
"You're pushing him too fast."
Arivaan shrugged.
"He's resisting too much."
Varun suddenly lunged forward.
Not toward Arivaan—
Toward Rudra Sen.
The spear shot forward violently.
The Rakshaks gasped.
But Rudra Sen didn't move.
Because he saw the truth instantly.
The spear stopped inches from his chest.
Varun's arm trembled violently.
"I'm… still fighting…"
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"That's impressive."
But then—
He flexed his fingers slightly.
The invisible control tightened.
Varun's arm jerked violently.
The spear twisted sideways.
Devika gasped.
"You moved him again!"
The floating panel flickered.
Bond Progress: 54%
Varun collapsed to one knee again.
The mental strain had become unbearable.
His mind felt like it was being torn apart.
Two wills pulling his body in opposite directions.
Rudra Sen stepped closer.
His voice calm but heavy.
"Captain."
Varun forced himself to look up.
"…Don't… hesitate."
Arivaan tilted his head.
"You're really committed to this martyr thing."
Varun spat blood onto the rooftop.
"I will never be your puppet."
Arivaan smiled.
"We'll see."
The panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 55%
The invisible connection tightened further.
Varun's arm lifted again.
But this time—
He couldn't stop it.
The spear turned.
Slowly.
Pointing toward the other Rakshaks.
The surrounding warriors froze.
Devika whispered softly,
"…He's losing."
Varun screamed in rage.
His body trembled violently.
For one final moment—
He forced his arm to turn back.
The spear aimed toward the ground instead.
Then—
He slammed it into the rooftop.
BOOM!
The explosion shattered more tiles.
Dust burst into the air.
Varun collapsed to both knees.
Breathing heavily.
Arivaan watched with interest.
"Well."
"That was dramatic."
But the floating panel told a different story.
Bond Progress: 56%
The captain's resistance had slowed the process.
But it had not stopped it.
And the invisible war for his body was far from finished.