The silver blade of Rudra Sen cut through the night like lightning.
Its target was clear.
Devika Agnivarna's heart.
The hunter had made his decision.
If the parasite could not be separated from the hosts—
Then the hosts must fall.
Across the shattered rooftop, Arivaan felt the danger instantly.
The floating panel flickered violently.
Host Stability: 72%
Critical Damage Incoming
Devika's body moved instinctively.
Her flames exploded outward in a violent burst.
But Rudra Sen's silver aura split the fire apart.
The blade kept coming.
Inside Devika's mind, something shifted.
For the first time since Arivaan had taken control—
Her consciousness surged forward.
"You will not kill me!"
The voice echoed violently inside the shared mental space.
Arivaan blinked.
"Oh."
"You're still fighting?"
Devika's presence flared like a wildfire.
Her will slammed against the invisible chains controlling her body.
The rooftop battlefield froze for half a second.
Because Devika's flames suddenly surged without Arivaan's command.
A pillar of fire erupted between her and Rudra Sen.
BOOM!
The explosion forced the hunter backward.
Arivaan raised an eyebrow inside the shared mind.
"Well."
"That's new."
Devika's voice burned with fury.
"You think you own me?!"
Arivaan chuckled.
"You're surprisingly energetic."
Inside the mental world, the battlefield looked different.
Devika's consciousness appeared like a blazing figure made of fire.
The invisible chains of Manas-Bandhan wrapped around her like shadowy threads.
But she was pushing against them.
Hard.
The floating panel flickered.
Host Resistance Detected
Control Stability: 68%
Arivaan sighed.
"That's inconvenient."
Devika roared inside the mind-space.
"Get out of my body!"
Arivaan crossed his arms mentally.
"You know that's not happening."
But Devika's resistance grew stronger.
On the rooftop—
Her body trembled violently.
Her flames surged higher.
Uncontrolled.
Unstable.
Across the battlefield, the Rakshaks noticed immediately.
One of them shouted,
"Devika is fighting back!"
Rudra Sen's eyes sharpened.
"…Good."
Varun turned his head slightly.
His voice remained calm.
"Master?"
Arivaan sighed.
"Stand by."
Varun obeyed instantly.
But Devika's body kept shaking.
Inside the mental space—
She charged forward.
Her blazing form slammed against the chains binding her will.
The pressure rippled through Arivaan's control.
The floating panel flickered again.
Host Stability: 65%
Devika's voice echoed like thunder.
"I will not become your puppet!"
Arivaan rubbed his temple.
"You already are."
She attacked again.
Her will crashed against the chains with explosive force.
For a brief moment—
One of the chains snapped.
Arivaan blinked.
"…Impressive."
On the rooftop—
Devika's arm moved.
Not by his command.
Her flames surged violently around her body.
Rudra Sen immediately recognized the opportunity.
"Everyone!"
The Rakshaks raised their weapons.
"Hold her!"
Two warriors dashed forward.
They grabbed Devika's arms from behind.
Another prepared a sealing talisman.
Devika screamed in rage.
"Don't touch me!"
Her flames exploded outward again.
The Rakshaks were thrown backward.
But the momentary chaos created something worse.
Arivaan felt it instantly.
Devika's resistance had weakened his control.
The floating panel flickered wildly.
Control Stability: 61%
Arivaan frowned.
"Alright."
"That's enough."
Inside the mental space—
He stepped forward.
The shadowy chains tightened again.
Devika tried to break them.
But Arivaan raised his hand.
The invisible force crushed down on her consciousness.
Devika staggered.
"You… coward…"
Arivaan sighed.
"You had your moment."
The chains reformed.
Stronger.
Tighter.
The floating panel flickered again.
Control Stability: 70%
Devika's resistance faded slightly.
Her flames on the rooftop weakened again.
Rudra Sen stepped forward cautiously.
His sword still raised.
"…So close."
Arivaan smiled faintly through Devika's lips.
"Nice try."
Devika's voice echoed weakly inside the shared mind.
"…I will break you…"
Arivaan chuckled.
"Good luck."
But even he knew something had changed.
Devika had proven something dangerous.
Hosts could fight back.
And if her resistance grew stronger—
The entire control system might become unstable.
Across the rooftop, Rudra Sen raised his sword again.
His voice calm but heavy.
"She's still inside."
Arivaan tilted Devika's head slightly.
"Of course she is."
The hunter's eyes burned with determination.
"Then we cut you out."
The wind swept across the shattered rooftops again.
But the battle had entered another stage.
Because the hosts were no longer just puppets.
They were prisoners fighting from the inside.
And the war for Devika's body had only just begun.