The night above Ujjaini grew unnaturally still.
The wind that had carried ash and dust across the rooftops suddenly faded, as if even the air itself hesitated under the pressure building around Rudra Sen.
Silver energy surged along the hunter's blade.
Not flickering.
Not unstable.
But concentrated.
Like a storm collapsing into a single point.
Across the rooftop, Arivaan watched with growing interest.
"Well."
"That looks serious."
Beside him, Devika's flames dimmed slightly.
Even her fire reacted to the pressure gathering around Rudra Sen.
"That technique…"
Her voice tightened.
"…he only uses it against monsters."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"I feel honored."
Varun stood silently beside her, spear raised.
Both servants waited for the command.
The floating panel flickered before Arivaan's eyes.
Dual Combat Mode: Active
Servant Synchronization: 86%
Threat Level: Critical
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"Alright then."
Across the rooftop, Rudra Sen lifted his sword toward the sky.
Silver energy surged along the blade like lightning climbing a mountain.
The surrounding Rakshak warriors immediately retreated several steps.
One of them whispered nervously,
"He's activating Vajra Judgment…"
Another replied quietly,
"That technique destroys everything in its path."
Devika whispered urgently through the link,
"Arivaan… if that attack lands…"
"…even I won't survive it."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Then let's not get hit."
Rudra Sen lowered the glowing blade.
His voice echoed across the rooftop.
"You've corrupted two warriors of the Rakshak Sabha."
Arivaan nodded.
"Yes."
"You've turned them into weapons."
"Also yes."
Rudra Sen's eyes hardened.
"Then I will cut through both the weapon…"
The silver aura around him exploded violently.
"…and the wielder."
Arivaan chuckled.
"That's dramatic."
Then the hunter moved.
Rudra Sen vanished in a burst of silver light.
The rooftop cracked beneath the force of his step.
Devika reacted instantly.
Her flames erupted across the battlefield.
But this time—
The fire didn't stop him.
The silver aura split the flames apart.
Rudra Sen appeared directly in front of Varun.
His blade swung downward.
CLANG!
Varun blocked with his spear.
But the impact was monstrous.
The rooftop shattered beneath his feet.
Stone fragments exploded outward.
Varun slid backward several meters before stopping.
The floating panel flickered.
Synchronization: 83%
Arivaan frowned slightly.
"That actually hurt."
Rudra Sen didn't stop.
He turned instantly.
The blade flashed toward Devika.
She raised a wall of flame.
But the sword cut straight through it.
The impact forced her backward across the rooftop.
Devika gasped.
"That power…"
Varun lunged again.
His spear thrust toward the hunter's side.
But Rudra Sen twisted mid-strike.
The blade slammed into the spear shaft.
BOOM!
Another shockwave erupted.
The rooftop cracked further.
The surrounding Rakshaks watched in stunned silence.
Because Rudra Sen had just forced both servants backward.
Simultaneously.
Arivaan sighed.
"Okay."
"You're serious."
The floating panel flickered again.
Synchronization: 80%
Devika whispered urgently,
"He's breaking our rhythm again!"
Arivaan nodded.
"I noticed."
Rudra Sen stepped forward slowly.
The silver aura around him had grown even brighter.
His sword glowed like a falling star.
"You cannot control them under this pressure."
Arivaan smirked.
"Watch me."
The hunter attacked again.
This time—
Faster than before.
The blade flashed between Devika and Varun like lightning.
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
Each movement carried devastating force.
Devika launched a massive wave of fire.
But Rudra Sen split the flames apart.
Varun attacked from the side.
But the hunter deflected the spear effortlessly.
The floating panel flickered wildly.
Synchronization: 75%
Devika whispered,
"He's overwhelming you!"
Arivaan exhaled slowly.
"Maybe."
Rudra Sen raised his sword again.
The silver aura condensed along the blade.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"This ends now."
The energy around him surged violently.
Devika felt it instantly.
"…He's preparing the final strike."
Arivaan raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
Rudra Sen lifted the blade high.
Silver lightning erupted across the rooftop.
The surrounding Rakshaks jumped backward again.
Because they knew what came next.
The hunter's voice thundered across the night.
"Vajra Judgment!"
The blade descended.
A massive arc of silver energy erupted across the rooftop.
The attack surged toward Devika, Varun… and Arivaan.
Devika gasped.
"That will destroy everything!"
The floating panel flickered again.
Critical Threat Detected
Arivaan smiled slowly.
"Well."
"That's inconvenient."
But his hand lifted calmly.
Because even now—
He wasn't panicking.
And that meant he had already thought of something.