The wind blew cold across the shattered rooftops of Ujjaini.
Devika's flames had lowered, leaving the battlefield dimly lit by scattered lanterns and drifting sparks. Broken tiles crunched beneath the boots of the surrounding Rakshak warriors, but none of them dared move forward.
Because at the center of the rooftop stood Captain Varun.
His body no longer moved naturally.
His shoulders twitched.
His fingers tightened around the spear in uneven intervals.
And his eyes—
They still held awareness.
But something else now lived behind them.
Across the rooftop, Arivaan watched with calm fascination.
The floating panel flickered.
Primary Servant: Devika Agnivarna – Stable
Secondary Bond: Captain Varun
Bond Progress: 73%
Arivaan tilted his head slightly.
"Still climbing."
Devika whispered through the link,
"He's almost gone."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Almost."
Varun's breathing came out in ragged bursts.
Each breath sounded like it carried pain.
His spear trembled violently.
But slowly—
The weapon lifted.
Not by his will.
By Arivaan's control.
The captain tried to force it down again.
His arm shook.
His muscles strained.
But the invisible command pushed harder.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 75%
Varun's resistance weakened.
Across the rooftop, one Rakshak warrior stepped forward cautiously.
"Captain…?"
Varun's head turned toward him.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
His lips trembled.
"…Run…"
The warrior froze.
But Arivaan simply raised his fingers slightly.
Varun's arm jerked forward.
The spear shot outward.
The Rakshak barely jumped back in time.
The weapon stabbed into the rooftop instead.
CRACK!
Stone shattered beneath the blade.
Shock spread through the formation.
"He just attacked us!"
Devika exhaled quietly.
"It's happening."
Varun staggered again.
His body twisted slightly as two wills fought for control.
His own—
And Arivaan's.
The captain roared in rage.
"I… will… not… serve…"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"Technically you already are."
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 77%
Varun's legs moved.
One step.
Then another.
Not toward Arivaan.
Toward the Rakshak warriors.
The group immediately raised their weapons.
But none of them struck.
Because they could still see the man fighting inside the puppet.
Rudra Sen stepped forward slowly.
His glowing sword remained lowered.
"Captain."
Varun's head turned toward him again.
His voice cracked.
"…Kill… me…"
Arivaan sighed.
"You people are obsessed with that solution."
Devika muttered,
"Because it works."
The captain's spear lifted again.
This time—
Without hesitation.
His arm moved faster.
Stronger.
The invisible bond had tightened further.
The floating panel flashed again.
Bond Progress: 80%
Varun's body lunged forward suddenly.
The spear flashed toward one of the Rakshaks.
CLANG!
The warrior barely blocked the strike with his sword.
But the force pushed him backward.
Another Rakshak shouted,
"Captain Varun—stop!"
Varun's voice came out distorted.
"…I… can't…"
Arivaan flexed his fingers again.
The spear twisted.
Varun's body pivoted.
He attacked again.
This time—
More controlled.
More deliberate.
Devika watched carefully.
"You're synchronizing his movements."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Practice."
Rudra Sen stepped forward at last.
His sword rose again.
"You're crossing a line you cannot return from."
Arivaan chuckled.
"That line disappeared hours ago."
Varun's spear swung again.
The Rakshaks scattered to avoid the attack.
The captain moved like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.
But every movement still carried hints of resistance.
His muscles strained.
His voice trembled.
"Stop… me…"
Arivaan ignored the plea.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 82%
The invisible control deepened.
Varun's body straightened.
His stance stabilized.
The erratic twitching slowed.
Devika whispered softly,
"…He's losing."
Arivaan nodded.
"Almost fully mine."
The captain turned toward the Rakshak formation again.
His spear pointed directly at them.
And this time—
There was no hesitation.
The puppet had begun to move.
And the battle had changed.
Because the Rakshaks now faced something far worse than a villain.
They faced their own captain.