The black lightning tore through the sky.
Fast.
Too fast.
Aarya barely had time to react.
She raised her hand instinctively—
Dark energy forming a shield.
Impact.
A massive explosion.
The ground shattered.
Dust and energy spread everywhere.
Kabir was thrown back again.
"AARYA!"
He struggled to stand—
His heart racing.
When the smoke cleared—
Aarya was still there.
Standing.
But barely.
Her shield cracked.
Her breathing heavier now.
So even this power…
Has limits…
The cloaked figure lowered its hand slowly.
"That was only one."
Aarya's eyes widened.
One…?
The sky roared again.
This time—
Multiple black lightning strikes formed.
Each one sharper.
More intense.
More deadly.
Aarya clenched her fists.
Her energy rose again—
But this time—
She didn't wait.
She moved.
Fast.
She dodged the first strike.
Then the second.
The third exploded right behind her—
Sending shockwaves through the ground.
She leaped forward—
Closing the distance.
If she stayed defensive—
She would lose.
She had to attack.
She had to end this.
Aarya appeared right in front of the figure again—
Her hand glowing with concentrated energy.
"This ends now!"
She struck.
Directly at its core.
The figure didn't move.
Didn't block.
Didn't dodge.
The hit landed.
A massive burst of energy exploded outward.
Everything went silent.
For a second—
It felt like she had done it.
Like it was over.
Aarya stepped back slightly.
Breathing heavily.
"…it's done…"
But then—
A hand.
From the smoke.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Grabbing her wrist.
Aarya's eyes widened.
No…
That's not possible…
The smoke cleared.
The cloaked figure stood there.
Unharmed.
Completely.
Its grip tightened.
"…you still don't understand."
Aarya struggled—
But this time—
Her strength felt useless again.
"Power without purpose…"
It pulled her closer.
"…is just noise."
Her heart pounded.
Her mind raced.
Then what am I missing…?
The figure raised its other hand—
Dark energy gathering into something sharp.
Something final.
"Let me show you what real control looks like."
Aarya's eyes widened.
She tried to break free—
But couldn't.
Kabir ran forward.
"STOP!"
But he was too far.
Too late.
Chapter 30 Suspense (Cliffhanger):
The attack moved toward Aarya's chest—
Slow—
But unstoppable.
She closed her eyes.
For a second—
Everything faded.
Her thoughts.
Her fear.
Her pain.
And then—
A memory.
Kabir's voice.
"I trust you."
Her eyes snapped open.
Something clicked.
Something she hadn't understood before—
Finally made sense.
Her breathing slowed.
Her body relaxed—
Even in that moment.
And just before the attack hit—
Aarya whispered softly—
"Now… I get it."
The energy around her shifted completely.
And in the next second—
Everything changed.