Chapter 8
The safehouse was cloaked in uneasy silence after Prakash’s revelation. Rajesh’s fingers flew over his tablet, the faint glow of the screen casting sharp angles across his face. Ajit stood by the window, staring out at the bustling streets of Imphal as the weight of Prakash’s words pressed down on him.
“The fragments of the Nagamani… scattered… the Asura will not wait.”
“Anything?” Ajit asked, his voice cutting through the tension.
Rajesh shook his head, frustration seeping into his tone. “I’m cross-referencing every myth, legend, and half-baked conspiracy theory I can find about the Nagamani. There’s some mention of fragments in ancient texts, but no specifics. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Keep looking,” Ajit said, his tone firm.
Prakash let out a weak chuckle from his chair, his voice barely audible but dripping with mockery. “Even if you find them, it won’t be enough. The fragments’ power is… diminished. The Asura are rising, Nagaman. You can’t stop what’s already begun.”
Ajit turned, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to the bound man. “You’re going to tell us everything you know. Where to find the fragments, how to use them—everything.”
Prakash’s smile faltered, but his defiance didn’t waver. “I told you enough. The rest is for you to figure out. If you’re as clever as the stories say, you’ll survive long enough to see the end.”
Ajit’s fists clenched, but Rajesh interjected before things could escalate. “Wait,” he said, holding up a hand. “I might have something.”
Ajit turned to him, his expression tense. “What is it?”
Rajesh tapped the screen, pulling up a map of northeastern India. Several locations were marked with red pins, scattered across the region.
“Ancient sites,” Rajesh explained. “Temples, caves, places tied to Naga mythology. If the fragments are scattered, these spots are our best bets.”
Ajit moved closer, studying the map. “How many?”
“Too many,” Rajesh admitted, rubbing his temples. “But one stands out.”
He zoomed in on a site near Loktak Lake, a sprawling freshwater lake southwest of Imphal. The pin was labeled “Keibul Lamjao: Floating Ruins.”
“There’s a submerged ruin here,” Rajesh said. “It’s been abandoned for centuries, but recent sonar scans picked up something unusual—an energy signature matching the Nagamani’s description.”
Ajit’s snake sense buzzed faintly, confirming Rajesh’s words. “That’s our first stop.”
Rajesh hesitated. “It’s not that simple. The site’s deep underwater, and it’s unstable. You’ll need to be careful.”
Ajit smirked faintly. “When am I not?”
Rajesh didn’t respond, his frown deepening. “I’ll stay here and monitor everything. But if you run into trouble—”
“I’ll handle it,” Ajit said, already moving toward the door.
The drive to Loktak Lake was quiet, the weight of the mission heavy in the air. Ajit’s mind raced with possibilities and dangers, his snake sense buzzing softly as the lake came into view.
Loktak Lake stretched out before him, its surface shimmering under the afternoon sun. The floating phumdis—natural vegetation islands—dotted the water, their lush greenery a sharp contrast to the tension building in Ajit’s chest.
He parked the van near the edge of the lake, stepping out and scanning the area. A small boat was tied to the dock, its weathered surface bobbing gently in the water.
Rajesh’s voice crackled in his earpiece. “You’re there. The energy signature’s coming from a point near the center of the lake, about thirty meters down. You’ll need to dive.”
“Got it,” Ajit said, removing his jacket and rolling his shoulders. The cool air bit at his skin as he approached the boat, untying it and stepping inside.
The journey across the lake was slow and steady, the gentle lapping of water against the boat lulling him into a strange calm. But his snake sense never stopped buzzing, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking below.
When he reached the center of the lake, he anchored the boat and slipped into the water. The cold shock of it jolted him, but he pressed on, his enhanced lungs allowing him to stay submerged longer than any normal human.
The ruins came into view as he descended—a sprawling, crumbling structure partially buried in silt and vegetation. The carvings were similar to those in the chamber at the eastern hills, their intricate patterns glowing faintly in the murky water.
Ajit’s snake sense flared sharply, guiding him toward a central chamber within the ruins. As he swam closer, the faint glow of the carvings intensified, illuminating a small pedestal at the heart of the chamber.
A shard of the Nagamani rested on the pedestal, its faint blue light pulsing like a heartbeat.
Ajit reached for it, his hand hovering over the fragment. But as his fingers closed around the shard, the water around him churned violently.
The ruins groaned, and a massive shape emerged from the shadows—a serpentine creature with glowing green eyes and a body that seemed to merge with the water itself.
Ajit’s grip tightened on the shard as the creature let out a deafening roar, its movements sending shockwaves through the chamber.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said through gritted teeth, his voice muffled by the water. “I’ve got company.”
The water rippled with the serpentine creature’s movements, its massive form undulating as it circled Ajit. Its glowing green eyes locked onto him, filled with an intelligence that sent a chill down his spine.
Ajit gripped the shard of the Nagamani tightly, his snake sense buzzing like a warning bell in the back of his mind. The creature’s roar reverberated through the water, its force rattling the ruins and sending clouds of silt billowing upward.
“Rajesh,” Ajit muttered through his earpiece, his voice strained, “any advice on fighting a sea monster?”
Rajesh’s panicked voice crackled back. “Don’t die? Seriously, what the hell is that thing?”
“Not the time,” Ajit snapped, twisting his body as the creature lunged. Its massive jaws snapped shut inches from him, the force of its attack sending a shockwave that pushed Ajit back.
The shard pulsed in his hand, its faint blue glow intensifying. Ajit glanced down at it, the artifact warm against his palm. He could feel its energy resonating with the creature, as if the two were connected.
The creature roared again, its coiled body lashing out with terrifying speed. Ajit dodged, using his enhanced reflexes to twist out of the way. The creature’s tail slammed into a nearby pillar, shattering it and sending debris cascading through the water.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, swimming toward an opening in the ruins, “I think the shard is making it angrier.”
“Then maybe put it back!” Rajesh yelled.
“That’s not an option,” Ajit growled, narrowly avoiding another strike. The creature’s tail whipped past him, its sheer size and strength forcing him to retreat further into the ruins.
The carvings on the walls glowed brighter as Ajit moved deeper, their patterns pulsing in time with the shard’s light. The creature followed, its movements deliberate, as if it were herding him.
Ajit’s snake sense flared sharply, and he twisted just in time to avoid the creature’s jaws snapping shut around him. He retaliated with a venom-coated punch to its side, his fist connecting with the shimmering scales. The venom hissed on contact, but the creature barely flinched, its glowing eyes narrowing with fury.
“Okay,” Ajit muttered, pushing off the wall to gain distance. “That didn’t work.”
“Ajit,” Rajesh’s voice crackled through the earpiece, “those carvings—they’re reacting to the shard. Maybe you can use the ruins against it!”
Ajit’s gaze darted to the glowing walls. The carvings depicted scenes of battle between Nagas and monstrous figures, their energy radiating from intricate patterns that seemed almost alive.
The creature lunged again, forcing Ajit to swim upward. He grabbed a loose piece of stone from the debris and hurled it at the creature’s head. The impact distracted it just long enough for Ajit to dart toward the center of the chamber, where the carvings were brightest.
The shard pulsed in his hand, its light synchronizing with the glow of the carvings. Ajit held it out, the energy radiating from the artifact resonating with the ruins.
The creature paused, its movements growing hesitant. It let out a low, guttural growl, its glowing eyes flickering as the shard’s light intensified.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, his voice tight, “it’s working. The shard is disrupting it.”
“Great!” Rajesh said. “Now just figure out how to keep it that way!”
The creature let out another roar, shaking off its hesitation and lunging forward. Ajit dodged, slamming the shard into the nearest glowing carving.
The reaction was immediate. The carving flared with blinding light, and a shockwave rippled through the water, sending the creature reeling. It thrashed wildly, its movements growing erratic as the light spread across the walls, connecting the carvings like veins of energy.
Ajit swam toward another carving, pressing the shard against it. The light grew even brighter, the energy crackling through the chamber like lightning.
The creature roared in agony, its body convulsing as the energy from the carvings enveloped it. The water churned violently, the ruins trembling under the force of the reaction.
“Ajit, get out of there!” Rajesh shouted.
Ajit didn’t hesitate. He turned and swam for the exit, the shard still clutched tightly in his hand. The chamber behind him collapsed, the creature’s roars fading into the chaos as the energy consumed the ruins.
He broke the surface of the lake, gasping for air as the sunlight hit his face. The calm surface of the water rippled with the aftershocks of the destruction below, but the immediate danger had passed.
Rajesh’s voice crackled in his ear. “Please tell me you’re alive.”
“Alive,” Ajit said between breaths, pulling himself back into the boat. “And I’ve got the shard.”
“Good,” Rajesh replied, relief evident in his voice. “Because I’ve got bad news.”
Ajit frowned, his snake sense buzzing faintly. “What now?”
Rajesh hesitated. “Those tremors? They’re spreading. The Asura aren’t just waking up—they’re moving.”
Ajit tightened his grip on the shard, his jaw setting in determination. “Then we move faster.”
As the boat drifted toward the shore, Ajit’s gaze lingered on the shimmering waters of Loktak Lake. The battle for the Nagamani’s fragments was only beginning, and the Asura were already one step ahead.
But he wouldn’t stop. Not until the fight was over.
The sun was sinking lower on the horizon by the time Ajit reached the shore of Loktak Lake. The weight of the shard in his hand seemed heavier than its size should allow, its faint glow pulsing with a steady rhythm. Rajesh was waiting by the van, his face a mix of relief and unease as Ajit stepped out of the boat and onto the muddy bank.
“You look like you wrestled a sea monster,” Rajesh said, though his attempt at humor fell flat.
“Close enough,” Ajit replied, tossing the shard to Rajesh. He caught it awkwardly, nearly dropping it as its warmth radiated through his hands.
“Whoa,” Rajesh murmured, holding the shard up to examine it. The faint blue light reflected in his glasses, giving his face an ethereal glow. “This thing feels… alive.”
“It is,” Ajit said, his tone grim. “And it’s connected to the Asura. The ruins reacted to it—some kind of defense mechanism. But it’s not enough.”
Rajesh frowned, slipping the shard into a protective pouch. “If the Asura are moving, we need more than fragments. We need a plan.”
Ajit leaned against the van, his arms crossed as he stared at the distant hills. “First, we figure out where the rest of the fragments are. Then we figure out how to use them.”
Rajesh nodded, pulling out his tablet. “I’ve been running scans based on the energy signature from this shard. If the other fragments are anything like this one, they should be putting out similar signals.”
“And?” Ajit prompted.
Rajesh hesitated, tapping the screen. “I’ve got a hit. Northeast, near the Brahmaputra River. There’s an old temple site there—remote, abandoned for centuries. The signal’s faint, but it’s there.”
Ajit straightened, his snake sense buzzing faintly at the mention of the location. “That’s our next stop.”
Rajesh sighed, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he climbed into the van. “I knew you were going to say that. Let’s hope the next fragment doesn’t come with another monster.”
The drive northeast was long and tense, the silence broken only by the hum of the van’s engine and the occasional update from Rajesh’s tablet. Ajit sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the road ahead but his mind elsewhere.
The shard’s energy still lingered in his senses, a faint hum that seemed to echo in the back of his mind. It wasn’t just a piece of the Nagamani—it was a part of something much larger, something alive.
“We’re getting close,” Rajesh said, glancing at the map on his tablet. “The temple site should be just up ahead.”
The landscape shifted as they neared their destination, the dense vegetation giving way to rocky terrain. The temple came into view, a crumbling structure perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Brahmaputra River.
Rajesh parked the van at the base of the hill, the two men stepping out into the crisp evening air. The faint sound of rushing water echoed in the distance, mingling with the rustle of leaves in the wind.
Ajit’s snake sense flared as they approached the temple, the buzzing sharper now, more insistent.
“Feel that?” he asked, his voice low.
Rajesh nodded, his grip tightening on his bag. “Yeah. Let’s just hope it’s the fragment and not something worse.”
The temple was eerily silent as they entered, its walls covered in weathered carvings similar to those in the ruins at Loktak Lake. The air was heavy with the scent of moss and damp stone, and the faint glow of the carvings cast long shadows across the floor.
“This place is ancient,” Rajesh whispered, his voice reverent.
Ajit moved cautiously, his enhanced vision scanning the dimly lit chamber. At the center of the room was a pedestal similar to the one he’d found at the lake, its surface glowing faintly.
“The fragment’s here,” Ajit said, stepping closer.
As he reached for it, his snake sense flared sharply. He froze, his eyes narrowing as a low growl echoed through the chamber.
“Not again,” Rajesh muttered, backing toward the wall.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a hulking humanoid creature with elongated limbs and glowing green eyes. Its body was covered in jagged scales, and its movements were unnervingly fluid, like a predator stalking its prey.
Ajit’s fists clenched, venom pooling at his fingertips. “Stay back,” he warned Rajesh.
The creature hissed, its eyes locking onto Ajit as it bared its jagged teeth. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its claws slicing through the air.
Ajit dodged, rolling to the side and landing a venom-coated punch to the creature’s ribs. The venom sizzled on contact, but the creature barely flinched, its glowing eyes narrowing with fury.
Rajesh scrambled to the corner, his voice panicked. “Ajit, what is that thing?”
“Another reminder that the Asura don’t want us here,” Ajit said, dodging another swipe.
The creature moved with relentless aggression, its claws striking faster than Ajit anticipated. He ducked and weaved, each movement guided by his snake sense as he countered with precise strikes.
But the creature was stronger than anything he’d faced before. It adapted quickly, blocking his next punch and slamming him into the wall.
Ajit grunted in pain, pushing himself up as the creature advanced. He needed to end this quickly.
“Rajesh!” he shouted, his voice sharp. “Grab the fragment!”
Rajesh hesitated, his eyes wide with fear. “Are you crazy? That thing will tear me apart!”
“Just do it!” Ajit snapped, rolling out of the way of another strike.
Rajesh swallowed hard, then darted toward the pedestal. The creature turned, its eyes flashing with rage as it lunged toward him.
Ajit intercepted it mid-charge, wrapping his arms around its torso and driving it into the ground. “Not so fast.”
Rajesh reached the pedestal, his hands trembling as he grabbed the glowing fragment. The instant he touched it, the chamber trembled, and the carvings on the walls erupted with light.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as the energy from the carvings surged through the room.
Ajit pulled Rajesh back toward the exit, the fragment clutched tightly in his hand. The creature thrashed wildly, its glowing eyes dimming as the energy consumed it.
The two men stumbled out of the temple just as the ground beneath it began to collapse. They watched from a safe distance as the structure crumbled into the river below, the roaring water swallowing it whole.
Rajesh fell to his knees, clutching the fragment like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. “Please tell me that was the last one.”
Ajit’s snake sense buzzed faintly, a reminder that the fight was far from over. He looked at Rajesh, his expression grim. “Not even close.”
The roaring of the Brahmaputra River faded into a distant murmur as Ajit and Rajesh drove away from the collapsed temple. The fragment in Rajesh’s lap pulsed faintly, its glow casting eerie patterns across the van’s interior. The tension in the air was as heavy as the artifact itself, each beat of its energy like a reminder of the danger that still loomed.
Rajesh broke the silence, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “That’s two fragments. How many more are we looking at?”
Ajit kept his eyes on the road, his jaw tight. “We won’t know until we find them all. But it’s not just about the number. We need to figure out how to use them.”
Rajesh sighed, leaning back in his seat. “You think Prakash knows more than he’s letting on?”
“He always knows more than he says,” Ajit muttered. “But I think he’s scared. Whatever he unleashed, he’s realizing he can’t control it.”
Rajesh stared at the fragment, his brow furrowed. “These things… They feel alive. Like they’re trying to tell us something.”
Ajit glanced at him briefly, his snake sense buzzing faintly. “Maybe they are. The carvings in the ruins—they reacted to the fragments. They’re part of the same system. If we can figure out how to decode it…”
“We might have a shot,” Rajesh finished, nodding. “But first, we need to get back to the safehouse.”
The drive back to Imphal was uneventful, the road cutting through stretches of dense forest and quiet villages. By the time they reached the city, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the streets in a warm, amber glow.
Ajit parked the van near the safehouse, his snake sense buzzing faintly as they stepped inside. Prakash was still bound to the reinforced chair, his glowing eyes narrowing as he looked up at them.
“You’re persistent,” Prakash rasped, his voice weak but laced with mockery. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
Ajit didn’t answer immediately, tossing the fragment onto the table in front of Prakash. The artifact pulsed faintly, its light reflecting in Prakash’s eyes.
“Two down,” Ajit said, his tone sharp. “Where are the others?”
Prakash’s gaze flicked to the fragment, his expression unreadable. “You think collecting them will save you? The Asura are awake, Nagaman. The fragments won’t stop them—they’ll only delay the inevitable.”
“Then you’d better hope delaying is enough,” Ajit snapped, stepping closer. “Tell me where they are.”
Prakash smirked faintly, leaning back against the chair. “Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you. You’re too late. The Asura’s power is growing, and you can’t stop them.”
Ajit’s fists clenched, venom pooling at his fingertips. “You unleashed this, Prakash. You’re going to help us fix it.”
Before Prakash could reply, Rajesh interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “Ajit, wait.”
Ajit turned, his snake sense buzzing faintly at the edge of his awareness. “What?”
Rajesh held up his tablet, the screen displaying a map of northeastern India. Several red markers dotted the map, but one in particular caught his attention.
“This site,” Rajesh said, zooming in on a marker near the Indo-Myanmar border. “It’s remote, hidden in the middle of a dense forest. The energy signature matches the other fragments—but it’s stronger. Much stronger.”
Ajit frowned, studying the map. “What’s there?”
Rajesh hesitated. “Not much. It’s an old Naga temple—practically forgotten. But if the energy reading is right, this could be where the largest fragment is. Maybe even the core of the Nagamani itself.”
Prakash let out a weak chuckle, his glowing eyes narrowing. “You’re walking into the serpent’s den, Nagaman. That place is sacred—and heavily guarded.”
Ajit ignored him, turning to Rajesh. “Can you get us there?”
Rajesh nodded reluctantly. “Yeah. But if the energy is that strong, it’s not going to be like the last two. Whatever’s guarding that fragment… it’ll make the others look like child’s play.”
Ajit’s jaw tightened, his snake sense buzzing louder now. “Then we don’t have time to waste.”
The safehouse was quiet as Ajit and Rajesh prepared for the journey. Rajesh packed his gear meticulously, his movements brisk but tense.
“Ajit,” he said, breaking the silence, “what happens if we can’t find all the fragments in time?”
Ajit paused, his gaze fixed on the fragment on the table. Its pulsing light seemed to echo the unease in the room.
“We will,” he said finally, his tone resolute.
Rajesh didn’t press further, though the doubt lingered in his eyes.
As they stepped outside, the cool night air wrapped around them, carrying with it the faint hum of the city. Ajit glanced back at the safehouse, his snake sense still buzzing faintly.
“Stay alert,” he said, his voice low. “We’re not the only ones looking for these fragments.”
Rajesh nodded, his grip tightening on his bag. “Let’s just hope we find them before the Asura do.”
The van rumbled to life as they drove into the night, the glowing fragment tucked safely in Rajesh’s bag. The road ahead was dark and uncertain, but Ajit’s determination burned brighter than ever.
The fight wasn’t over. Not yet.
The van’s headlights cut through the dark road as Ajit drove toward the Indo-Myanmar border. The night was heavy with silence, broken only by the occasional chirp of crickets and the hum of the engine. Rajesh sat in the passenger seat, his eyes fixed on his tablet, scrolling through maps and data with a furrowed brow.
“We’ll hit the forest’s edge in an hour,” Rajesh said, glancing up. “After that, it’s off-road. The temple site is deep in the jungle—too far for the van.”
Ajit nodded, his grip on the steering wheel firm. “We’ll hike the rest of the way.”
Rajesh let out a soft groan, leaning back in his seat. “Hiking through dense jungle at night to find a magical fragment guarded by who-knows-what. Yep, just another day in the life of Nagaman’s tech guy.”
Ajit smirked faintly but didn’t respond. His snake sense was buzzing again, a low hum at the back of his mind that kept him on edge. It wasn’t just the fragment’s energy—it was the awareness that they were being watched.
Rajesh seemed to pick up on his tension. “You feel it too, huh?”
Ajit glanced at him briefly. “Yeah. We’re not alone.”
Rajesh shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting to the shadows outside the van. “You think it’s the Asura?”
“Maybe,” Ajit said. “Or someone else. Either way, stay sharp.”
The van ground to a halt at the edge of the forest, the dirt road fading into a tangle of trees and undergrowth. The air was cooler here, heavy with the scent of damp earth and foliage.
Ajit stepped out, stretching briefly before grabbing his pack. Rajesh followed, pulling his tablet from his bag and checking the map again.
“The site’s about five kilometers in,” Rajesh said, pointing toward the dense jungle. “Straight shot east, but it’s not going to be easy.”
“Nothing about this is,” Ajit replied, shouldering his pack.
They moved into the forest, the undergrowth crunching softly under their boots. The trees loomed overhead, their branches weaving together to block out most of the moonlight. Rajesh activated a flashlight, the beam cutting through the darkness, but Ajit moved without it, his snake sense guiding him.
The jungle was alive with sounds—the rustle of leaves, the distant calls of nocturnal creatures—but beneath it all was a faint vibration, a rhythmic pulse that seemed to resonate with the shard in Rajesh’s bag.
“Do you hear that?” Rajesh asked, his voice hushed.
“I feel it,” Ajit said, his tone serious. “We’re close.”
They pressed on, the pulsing vibration growing stronger with each step. Ajit’s snake sense flared suddenly, sharp and insistent. He froze, holding out an arm to stop Rajesh.
“What is it?” Rajesh whispered, his flashlight beam darting nervously through the trees.
“Something’s here,” Ajit murmured, his eyes scanning the darkness.
A low growl rumbled from the shadows ahead, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. The beam of Rajesh’s flashlight landed on a hulking figure—an Asura.
The creature was even larger than the ones Ajit had encountered before, its elongated limbs rippling with muscle and its glowing green eyes burning with intelligence. Its scaly body shimmered faintly, blending with the shadows as it moved closer.
“Rajesh,” Ajit said, his voice calm but firm, “stay behind me.”
The Asura let out a deafening roar, charging toward them with terrifying speed. Ajit moved instinctively, pushing Rajesh aside and dodging the creature’s massive claws.
“Run!” Ajit shouted, landing a venom-coated punch to the Asura’s side. The blow barely staggered it, but the venom sizzled on its scales, drawing an enraged hiss.
Rajesh scrambled to his feet, clutching the bag with the fragment as he bolted into the trees. The Asura turned toward him, its glowing eyes narrowing.
Ajit lunged, wrapping his arms around the creature’s torso and driving it into a tree. The impact sent leaves and branches raining down, but the Asura barely faltered. It twisted, throwing Ajit off with a powerful swipe of its claws.
Ajit hit the ground hard, but he rolled to his feet quickly, his snake sense guiding his movements as the Asura lunged again. He dodged, grabbing a thick branch from the ground and swinging it with all his strength.
The branch shattered against the Asura’s head, but the creature barely flinched. It snarled, its claws raking through the air as it advanced on Ajit.
“Rajesh, keep moving!” Ajit shouted, dodging another swipe.
“I’m trying!” Rajesh called back, his voice panicked.
The shard’s glow intensified as Rajesh neared the temple site, the pulsing energy spreading through the air like a heartbeat. The Asura hesitated, its glowing eyes flickering as it turned toward the source of the energy.
Ajit seized the moment, driving a venom-coated punch into the creature’s ribs. This time, the venom burned deeper, and the Asura roared in pain, staggering backward.
“Go!” Ajit yelled, sprinting after Rajesh.
They burst into a clearing where the temple ruins loomed, their crumbling walls covered in glowing carvings. The energy here was overwhelming, the air vibrating with raw power.
Rajesh stumbled to a halt, his gaze fixed on the pedestal at the center of the ruins. Another shard rested there, its light brighter than the first two combined.
Ajit’s snake sense flared sharply, warning him of the Asura’s approach. He turned, positioning himself between Rajesh and the creature as it charged into the clearing.
“Get the shard,” Ajit said, his voice steady.
Rajesh hesitated, then nodded, sprinting toward the pedestal. The Asura roared, lunging after him, but Ajit intercepted it, slamming his shoulder into the creature’s chest and forcing it back.
The creature lashed out, its claws grazing Ajit’s side, but he didn’t falter. He grabbed a broken piece of stone from the ground and drove it into the creature’s leg, forcing another enraged howl.
Rajesh reached the pedestal, his hands trembling as he grabbed the shard. The instant he touched it, the carvings on the temple walls flared with blinding light, and a shockwave rippled through the clearing.
The Asura froze, its body convulsing as the energy enveloped it. Ajit staggered back, shielding his eyes as the light consumed the creature.
When the glow faded, the clearing was silent. The Asura was gone, and the shard pulsed faintly in Rajesh’s hands.
Ajit approached him, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. “You okay?”
Rajesh nodded shakily, holding up the shard. “Yeah. But I’m really starting to hate these things.”
Ajit smirked faintly, but his expression quickly turned serious. “We’ve got three. Let’s hope it’s enough.”