Chapter 13
The faint hum of the fragments was ever-present in the safehouse, a constant reminder of the looming threat. The morning light filtered through the boarded-up windows, casting long beams across the room where Rajesh sat hunched over his tablet. His fingers moved rapidly, pulling up energy signatures, maps, and encrypted data streams.
Ajit stood nearby, his arms crossed as he watched Rajesh work. His snake sense had been buzzing faintly since dawn, an uneasy warning he couldn’t ignore.
“Anything yet?” Ajit asked, breaking the silence.
Rajesh didn’t look up, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Nothing useful. The fragments are still resonating, but I can’t pinpoint where the energy’s going. It’s like they’re connected to something just out of reach.”
Padmini entered the room, a mug of tea in her hands. She set it down next to Rajesh and leaned against the table, her gaze flicking between him and Ajit. “If we don’t know where the energy’s going, how do we stop it?”
Ajit’s jaw tightened. “We figure it out. If the Asura are gathering strength, we need to cut them off before it’s too late.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” Padmini asked, her tone sharp but not unkind.
Ajit didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the corner of the room, where a makeshift training area had been set up. His tendrils sparked faintly as he flexed his fingers, venom pooling at his fingertips.
“By getting stronger,” he said finally.
The hours that followed were a blur of movement and tension. Ajit pushed himself harder than ever, his training relentless as he tested the limits of his abilities. His venom-coated strikes hit with greater precision, and his tendrils lashed out faster and farther than before.
Rajesh watched from a distance, occasionally glancing at his tablet. “You know,” he said, his voice carrying across the room, “punching the air won’t solve all our problems.”
Ajit paused, his breathing heavy. “It’ll help when the problems punch back.”
Rajesh smirked faintly. “Fair point.”
Padmini stepped forward, her arms crossed. “You’re not the only one in this fight, Ajit. You need to trust us to do our part.”
“I do trust you,” Ajit said, his tone firm. “But when it comes down to it, I’m the one they’ll come for. I need to be ready.”
Padmini’s expression softened slightly, but her gaze remained steady. “You’re already ready. What we need now is a plan.”
Later that evening, the three of them gathered around the fragments. Their glow had dimmed slightly, but the energy they radiated was no less potent.
Rajesh tapped on his tablet, pulling up a map of the region. “So, I’ve been tracking the resonance patterns from the fragments. They’re not random—they’re syncing with something underground.”
“Underground?” Padmini asked, frowning.
Rajesh nodded. “There’s a series of ancient tunnels beneath the city. Most of them are collapsed or sealed off, but a few still connect to… well, nobody really knows. Whatever’s down there, it’s old. And it’s alive.”
Ajit’s snake sense flared sharply, a sudden buzz that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “The Asura,” he said quietly.
Rajesh hesitated, then nodded. “Probably. If they’re waking up, it’s happening down there.”
Padmini leaned closer to the map. “So, what’s the next move? Do we go down there and cut them off?”
“Not yet,” Ajit said, his gaze fixed on the fragments. “We’re not ready.”
Rajesh raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one who just said we need to stop them before it’s too late.”
“We will,” Ajit said. “But if we go in blind, we won’t make it out.”
Padmini tilted her head, studying him. “Then what do you suggest?”
Ajit straightened, his expression resolute. “I need to push my powers further. The Asura are stronger than anything we’ve faced, and if I’m going to stop them, I need to be stronger too.”
Rajesh exchanged a glance with Padmini. “Alright,” he said slowly. “So, what does that mean exactly? More punching the air?”
Ajit smirked faintly. “Something like that. But this time, I’m not holding back.”
The next morning, Ajit left the safehouse and made his way to the outskirts of the city, where the dense forests and rocky terrain offered solitude. The quiet hum of nature surrounded him as he stepped into a clearing, the sun casting dappled shadows through the trees.
He closed his eyes, centering himself as he let his snake sense guide him. The faint buzz became a steady rhythm, pulling him deeper into his focus.
Ajit began to move, his tendrils lashing out in controlled arcs as he struck at invisible targets. Each motion was precise, his venom-coated strikes hitting with calculated force.
He pushed himself harder, his body contorting as he tested the limits of his flexibility. His tendrils extended farther than before, wrapping around tree trunks and pulling him into the air. He twisted and spun, using the momentum to land a series of powerful strikes that splintered the wood.
Hours passed, and Ajit’s movements became more fluid, more instinctive. His venom sprayed with greater accuracy, coating distant targets with ease. His tendrils moved like extensions of his body, lashing out and retracting in perfect synchronization.
Finally, he stopped, his breathing heavy but controlled. The clearing was littered with the remains of his training—splintered trees, upturned rocks, and scorched earth.
Ajit flexed his fingers, venom sparking faintly at his fingertips. His snake sense buzzed softly, a reassuring hum that told him he was on the right path.
The Asura were coming.
And so was he.
The forest felt alive in a way that Ajit had never noticed before. The rustle of leaves, the soft hum of insects, and the distant calls of birds blended into a symphony that mirrored the rhythm of his snake sense. As he stood in the clearing, catching his breath, he let the sensations wash over him, each sound and movement sharpening his awareness.
The world was quiet—but only for now.
He glanced at the horizon, where the city of Imphal lay bathed in the morning light. Somewhere beneath those streets, the Asura were stirring, their power resonating with the fragments in the safehouse. The thought made his tendrils spark faintly, an involuntary response to the tension coursing through him.
Ajit tightened his fists. “Stronger,” he muttered to himself. “I have to be stronger.”
Back at the safehouse, Rajesh paced in front of the fragments, his tablet clutched tightly in his hands. The pulsing glow of the stones reflected off his glasses, and his brow furrowed with concentration as he tracked the fluctuating energy signals.
Padmini leaned against the table, watching him work. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” she said, her tone light but edged with concern.
Rajesh glanced up, his expression distracted. “Sorry. Just trying to make sense of this. The fragments are… reacting to something. But whatever it is, it’s still underground—and it’s huge.”
“How huge?” Padmini asked, her voice steady.
Rajesh hesitated, then turned the tablet toward her. The screen displayed a three-dimensional map of the tunnels beneath the city, overlaid with glowing red lines that radiated outward like veins.
“This isn’t just a single chamber,” he said. “It’s an entire network, and the energy readings are strongest here.” He pointed to a central node on the map, where the lines converged in a pulsing red dot.
“That’s where the Asura are gathering,” Padmini said, her eyes narrowing.
Rajesh nodded. “And it’s not just them. The fragments’ energy is syncing with whatever’s down there. If we don’t cut this off soon, the whole system could go critical.”
Padmini straightened, her gaze shifting to the door. “Then we need to tell Ajit.”
Ajit returned to the safehouse an hour later, his steps steady and his expression calm. His movements had an air of precision now, as if every step, every breath, was calculated.
Rajesh looked up from his tablet as Ajit entered, his voice tinged with urgency. “We’ve got a problem.”
Ajit raised an eyebrow. “Just one?”
“Funny,” Rajesh said dryly, tapping the map on his tablet. “But seriously, we’ve pinpointed the source of the energy. It’s deep underground, and it’s massive. Whatever’s down there, it’s feeding on the fragments’ power—and it’s not going to stop.”
Ajit studied the map, his snake sense buzzing faintly as he took in the glowing red lines. “This is where they’re gathering,” he said, his voice quiet but resolute. “It’s the heart of their operation.”
Padmini stepped forward. “So, what’s the plan? We can’t just wait for them to come to us.”
“We won’t,” Ajit said. “We go to them.”
Rajesh blinked. “You mean down there? Into the tunnels? Because I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but those aren’t exactly known for their… uh, stability.”
Ajit’s gaze was steady. “It doesn’t matter. If we don’t stop them now, we might not get another chance.”
Rajesh sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright. But if we’re doing this, we need a way to level the playing field. The Asura are going to have the advantage down there, and we can’t rely on brute force alone.”
Ajit nodded. “Then we use their power against them. The fragments are the key—they’re connected to whatever’s down there. If we can disrupt that connection, we can cut off their strength.”
“And how do we do that?” Padmini asked, her tone calm but serious.
“We find the central node,” Ajit said, pointing to the pulsing red dot on the map. “That’s where the connection is strongest. If we destroy it, the entire network will collapse.”
Rajesh hesitated. “And if it doesn’t?”
Ajit’s tendrils sparked faintly as he straightened. “Then we make sure it does.”
The rest of the day was spent preparing for the descent. Rajesh modified their equipment, adding reinforced shields and compact energy disruptors designed to interfere with the Asura’s resonance. Padmini tested the gear meticulously, her calm demeanor masking the tension in her movements.
Ajit trained silently, his focus unshakable as he honed his venom-coated strikes and tendril attacks. His snake sense buzzed faintly in the background, a constant reminder of the danger they were about to face.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a deep orange glow, the group gathered around the fragments one final time.
“This is it,” Ajit said, his voice steady. “Once we go down there, there’s no turning back.”
Padmini met his gaze, her expression resolute. “We’re ready.”
Rajesh adjusted the strap of his backpack, his usual humor replaced with a rare seriousness. “Let’s do this before I change my mind.”
Ajit placed a hand on the case containing the fragments, their glow casting faint shadows across the room. His tendrils sparked faintly as he took a deep breath, his resolve firming.
The Asura were waiting.
And so were they.
The tunnels beneath Imphal were darker than Ajit expected. Their flashlights barely pierced the suffocating blackness, the narrow beams of light illuminating only jagged walls and the occasional crumbling support beam. The air was thick and stale, carrying a faint metallic tang that Ajit’s snake sense could almost taste.
Rajesh muttered under his breath as he navigated a particularly narrow passage. “This place is straight out of a horror movie. All we need is some ominous chanting and—boom—we’re done for.”
“Keep it down,” Ajit said, his voice low but firm. His snake sense buzzed faintly, a subtle but insistent warning.
Padmini walked ahead of Rajesh, her flashlight steady as she scanned the path ahead. “How much farther to the central node?” she asked.
Rajesh tapped on his tablet, the glow from the screen casting faint shadows on his face. “Not far. The signal’s getting stronger—should be another half kilometer, give or take.”
“Let’s hope it’s not giving,” Padmini muttered.
The tunnels grew wider as they descended, their rough-hewn walls replaced by ancient stonework etched with faint, glowing patterns. The carvings pulsed faintly, their rhythm almost hypnotic. Ajit stopped to examine one of the symbols, his fingers tracing the grooves as his snake sense buzzed sharply.
“This isn’t just a network,” he said quietly. “It’s a conduit.”
“A conduit for what?” Padmini asked, stepping closer.
Ajit’s gaze darkened. “Power. The Asura’s power.”
Rajesh adjusted his glasses, his tablet beeping softly as he scanned the carvings. “It’s definitely connected to the fragments. The energy flow’s strongest here—whatever’s down there, it’s feeding on this.”
“Then we’re on the right track,” Ajit said, straightening.
Padmini glanced down the tunnel, where the glowing carvings grew brighter. “If this is what the Asura need to wake up, we can’t let it happen.”
Ajit nodded, his tendrils sparking faintly. “We won’t.”
The group continued deeper into the tunnels, the carvings growing more intricate and the air heavier with energy. The pulsing glow of the walls cast eerie shadows that danced with each step, and Ajit’s snake sense buzzed louder with every passing moment.
Rajesh’s voice cut through the silence. “Okay, bad news. The energy’s spiking ahead. Whatever’s down there, it’s big.”
“How big?” Ajit asked, his tone calm but edged with tension.
“Big enough to make these tunnels look like a prelude,” Rajesh said, gesturing to the glowing walls.
Padmini adjusted her flashlight, her grip tightening on the modified disruptor Rajesh had given her. “Then we stick to the plan. Find the central node, disrupt the connection, and get out.”
“Easy for you to say,” Rajesh muttered. “You’re not carrying all the tech.”
Padmini shot him a look. “Would you rather I carry it?”
Rajesh hesitated. “Point taken.”
The tunnel opened into a massive chamber, its walls lined with towering pillars carved with more of the glowing patterns. At the center of the room stood a massive structure—an intricate lattice of stone and metal that pulsed with the same faint light as the fragments.
Ajit’s snake sense flared sharply, and he raised a hand to stop the others. “This is it.”
Rajesh stepped closer, his eyes wide as he took in the sight. “That’s the central node,” he said, pointing to the lattice. “It’s pulling energy from the fragments and channeling it… somewhere.”
“Somewhere underground,” Padmini said, her voice low. “Probably to whatever’s feeding on it.”
Ajit stepped forward, his tendrils sparking faintly. “We take out the node. Without it, they lose their connection to the fragments.”
Rajesh hesitated, his gaze flicking between the node and Ajit. “You sure about this? That thing’s pumping out enough energy to fry us if we get too close.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Ajit said. He turned to Padmini. “Can the disruptor handle it?”
She nodded, though her grip on the device tightened. “It should. But we’ll need to get close.”
Ajit’s gaze swept the chamber, his snake sense warning him of something unseen. “Then we move fast. Rajesh, stay back and monitor the energy flow. Padmini and I will take out the node.”
“Great,” Rajesh muttered, retreating to a safe distance. “I’ll just be over here, hoping nothing explodes.”
Ajit and Padmini advanced cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. The pulsing light from the node grew brighter, the rhythm quickening as they approached.
“Whatever’s down there knows we’re here,” Padmini said quietly.
“Good,” Ajit replied. “Let them know.”
As they reached the base of the node, Ajit’s snake sense buzzed sharply, and he instinctively lashed out with his tendrils. A shadowy figure leaped from the darkness, its glowing green eyes fixed on him.
The Asura soldier snarled, its movements fluid and inhuman as it lunged again. Ajit twisted, delivering a venom-coated strike that sent the creature staggering.
“They’re guarding it!” Padmini shouted, raising her disruptor as more Asura soldiers emerged from the shadows.
Ajit moved quickly, his tendrils lashing out to block another attack. “Padmini, take out the node! I’ll hold them off!”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, turning her attention to the glowing lattice.
Ajit’s movements were a blur as he fought the advancing soldiers, his venom-coated strikes and tendril attacks cutting through their ranks. But for every soldier he defeated, two more seemed to take their place.
“Hurry!” he shouted, his voice strained.
Padmini planted the disruptor at the base of the node, her fingers moving quickly as she activated it. The device hummed to life, emitting a high-pitched whine that grew louder with each passing second.
“Almost there!” she called out.
Ajit twisted, narrowly dodging another attack as the chamber shook violently. The node’s glow flickered, its energy destabilizing under the disruptor’s influence.
With a final press of a button, Padmini activated the disruptor’s overload sequence. The device emitted a blinding burst of light, and the node let out a deafening crack as it began to collapse.
“Ajit, move!” Padmini shouted, sprinting toward him.
Ajit lashed out with his tendrils one last time, clearing a path through the soldiers before turning to follow her.
Behind them, the node crumbled, its light fading as the chamber trembled with the force of its destruction.
The chamber trembled as the node collapsed, sending waves of energy rippling through the tunnels. Chunks of stone fell from the ceiling, crashing to the ground in deafening bursts. The glow of the carvings along the walls flickered erratically, their rhythmic pulse faltering.
Ajit and Padmini sprinted toward the exit, their breaths ragged and hearts pounding as the air around them grew thick with dust and heat. Behind them, the Asura soldiers dissolved into the shadows, their forms unraveling as the node’s energy failed.
“Rajesh!” Ajit shouted into his communicator, his voice barely audible over the roar of the collapsing chamber. “We’re on our way—get ready to move!”
Rajesh’s voice crackled through the earpiece, frantic but focused. “You better hurry! This whole place is coming down, and I don’t think it’s stopping with the node!”
Ajit tightened his grip on Padmini’s arm, pulling her forward as the ground beneath them buckled. “Move faster!”
When they reached the corridor leading back to the surface, the tremors intensified. The walls cracked and groaned under the strain, and streams of debris rained down around them.
Rajesh was waiting at the base of the tunnel, his face pale but determined. “Took you long enough!” he said, holding out a hand to steady Padmini as she stumbled into view.
Ajit nodded sharply, his snake sense buzzing faintly. “The node’s down, but the tunnels are destabilizing. We need to get out of here now.”
“Great plan,” Rajesh said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “Except the path we came in on? It’s blocked. Collapsed about two minutes ago.”
Padmini’s eyes widened. “What? How do we get out, then?”
Rajesh gestured to a smaller side passage that branched off from the main corridor. “This way. I mapped it earlier—it should connect to an old service shaft that leads to the surface. Should.”
“‘Should’ isn’t good enough,” Ajit said, his tone sharp.
“Well, it’s all we’ve got,” Rajesh shot back, already moving toward the passage. “Unless you feel like digging through several tons of rock?”
Ajit exchanged a glance with Padmini, then nodded. “Let’s go.”
The side passage was narrower than the main corridor, its walls closing in on them as they navigated the uneven terrain. The carvings here were faint, their light dim and erratic, but the air still carried the faint hum of residual energy.
Ajit’s snake sense flared suddenly, and he raised a hand to stop the group.
“What is it?” Padmini asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ajit’s eyes scanned the shadows ahead, his body tensing as he listened. “We’re not alone.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the ground shook violently, and a deafening roar echoed through the passage. From the darkness ahead, a massive figure emerged, its glowing eyes fixed on them with predatory intent.
The creature was unlike the Asura soldiers they had faced earlier. Its body was massive and serpentine, its scales glistening with an otherworldly sheen. Two pairs of clawed arms extended from its sides, and its jagged teeth gleamed in the dim light.
Rajesh’s voice cracked. “What the hell is that?”
“The guardian,” Ajit said grimly, his tendrils sparking to life. “It’s protecting the passage.”
“Can we take it?” Padmini asked, gripping the disruptor tightly.
Ajit didn’t answer immediately. His snake sense buzzed sharply, warning him of the creature’s immense power. “We don’t have a choice.”
The guardian lunged, its claws tearing through the air with terrifying speed. Ajit dodged smoothly, his tendrils lashing out to counter the attack. The blow landed, but the creature barely flinched, its scales absorbing the impact.
“Rajesh, Padmini—get to the exit!” Ajit shouted, twisting to avoid another swipe.
“We’re not leaving you!” Padmini yelled, her disruptor firing a burst of energy that struck the creature’s side.
The guardian let out a deafening roar, its tail whipping around to slam into the wall. The force of the impact sent cracks spiderwebbing through the stone, and a chunk of the ceiling collapsed, narrowly missing Rajesh.
“Move!” Ajit barked, his voice sharp as he delivered a venom-coated strike to the creature’s chest.
Padmini hesitated for a moment, then nodded, grabbing Rajesh’s arm and pulling him toward the exit. “We’ll clear the way—just don’t die!”
Ajit smirked faintly, his focus never leaving the guardian. “Not planning to.”
The fight was relentless. The guardian moved with surprising speed for its size, its claws striking with devastating force. Ajit’s movements were a blur as he twisted and dodged, his venom-coated strikes aimed at the creature’s vulnerable joints.
His snake sense buzzed wildly, guiding him as he countered the guardian’s attacks. His tendrils lashed out, wrapping around its limbs and pulling it off balance. The creature snarled, its glowing eyes narrowing as it lunged again.
Ajit leaped into the air, using his tendrils to swing over the creature’s head. He delivered a powerful strike to its neck, venom sizzling against its scales. The guardian staggered, its roar echoing through the passage as it struggled to regain its footing.
But the creature was relentless, its claws slashing through the air as it pressed its attack. Ajit gritted his teeth, his body moving instinctively as he evaded the onslaught.
“Come on,” he muttered under his breath, his venom sparking faintly. “Just go down already.”
Finally, with one last venom-coated strike to the base of its skull, the guardian let out a final, guttural roar and collapsed to the ground. Its massive body slumped against the wall, the light in its eyes fading as the energy coursing through it dissipated.
Ajit stood over the creature, his breathing heavy as he steadied himself. His snake sense buzzed faintly, warning him of the still-unstable passage around them.
He turned and sprinted toward the exit, his tendrils lashing out to clear debris as he went.
Rajesh and Padmini were waiting at the service shaft, their faces tense but relieved as Ajit emerged from the shadows.
“Took you long enough,” Rajesh said, his voice trembling slightly.
Ajit smirked faintly. “Had to take care of something.”
“Let’s just get out of here,” Padmini said, gripping the edge of the shaft as the ground trembled again.
Ajit nodded, helping them climb into the shaft before following close behind. The tunnel groaned under the strain of the collapsing chamber, but the group pressed on, their movements quick and determined.
As they finally reached the surface, the faint glow of dawn greeted them, the cool morning air a stark contrast to the heat and chaos of the tunnels below.
Ajit turned to look back at the entrance, his snake sense buzzing faintly as the ground settled. The Asura’s presence had weakened, but he knew the fight was far from over.
This was only the beginning.
The surface world seemed almost surreal after the chaos of the tunnels. The soft breeze carried the scent of damp earth and grass, mingling with the faint metallic tang still lingering on Ajit’s skin. For a moment, the group simply stood there, catching their breath as the first rays of sunlight pierced the morning mist.
Rajesh slumped against a boulder, his tablet tucked under one arm. “I think I just aged ten years,” he muttered, his voice shaky but tinged with relief.
Padmini leaned against a nearby tree, her eyes scanning the horizon. “We did it,” she said softly, though her tone held little triumph. “The node is gone. The connection’s broken—for now.”
Ajit stood a few paces away, his gaze fixed on the distant city of Imphal. His snake sense buzzed faintly, a low hum that refused to let him relax.
“For now isn’t good enough,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “The Asura are still out there. And they’ll find another way.”
Rajesh groaned, rubbing his temples. “Can’t we at least pretend this is a win for, like, five minutes? You took down a giant snake monster, wrecked their power source, and saved the city. Feels like a win to me.”
“It’s a step,” Ajit said, turning to face them. “But it’s not the end. If anything, this was just the opening move.”
The trek back to the safehouse was quiet, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The city stirred to life around them as they reentered Imphal, the hum of morning activity a stark reminder of the normalcy they were fighting to protect.
By the time they reached the safehouse, the tension in the air was palpable. The fragments pulsed faintly in their reinforced case, their glow dimmer than before but still steady.
Rajesh collapsed into a chair, his tablet already in hand as he pulled up the latest readings. “Alright, let’s see how bad things are.”
Ajit stood over him, his arms crossed as he watched the screen. Padmini moved to the fragments, her fingers brushing lightly over the surface of the case.
“They’re quieter,” she said, glancing back at Ajit. “Is that a good sign?”
“Maybe,” Ajit said, though his tone was uncertain. “The node was amplifying their energy. Without it, they’ve lost their connection—for now.”
Rajesh frowned at the screen, his fingers flying over the keys. “The resonance is definitely weaker, but it’s not gone. There’s still something out there—something big. And it’s still drawing power.”
Padmini turned to him, her expression tense. “From where?”
Rajesh hesitated, then tapped on the map, which now showed a faint but distinct signal deep beneath the city. “Here. The energy’s coming from this point. It’s not as strong as the node, but it’s growing. Slowly, but steadily.”
Ajit stepped closer, his snake sense buzzing faintly as he studied the map. “That’s where the Asura are regrouping.”
“Great,” Rajesh muttered. “So, what do we do? Go down there and blow up another ancient power source?”
“We prepare,” Ajit said, his voice firm. “We’ve bought ourselves time, but we need to use it wisely. If the Asura are growing stronger, we need to be ready for whatever comes next.”
Padmini nodded, her gaze steady. “Then we make a plan. We find out everything we can about the Asura, their connection to the fragments, and how to stop them for good.”
Rajesh leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh. “Research, training, and maybe—just maybe—some sleep. Sounds like a plan to me.”
Later that evening, the safehouse was quiet, the tension of the day settling like a heavy fog. Ajit stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the city below. The lights of Imphal twinkled in the distance, a reminder of the lives he was fighting to protect.
Padmini joined him, her footsteps soft as she approached. “You should rest,” she said gently.
“I will,” Ajit replied, though his tone lacked conviction.
Padmini studied him for a moment, then placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get through this, Ajit. Together.”
He nodded, his gaze softening slightly. “I know.”
In the corner of the room, the fragments pulsed faintly, their glow casting eerie shadows on the walls. Rajesh glanced up from his tablet, his expression thoughtful.
“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “we should probably start thinking about a backup plan. Just in case the Asura decide to pull something even bigger out of their cosmic bag of tricks.”
Ajit turned to him, his expression calm but resolute. “We’ll handle it. Whatever it takes.”
Rajesh smirked faintly. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
The room fell silent again, the faint hum of the fragments filling the air. The fight against the Asura was far from over, but for now, they had a moment to breathe.
Ajit closed his eyes, letting the tension in his body ease slightly. His snake sense buzzed softly, a constant reminder of the challenges ahead.
The war was just beginning.