Chapter 17: The Seal of Balance
The biting chill of the Himalayan wind whipped against Prithvi’s face as he stepped out of the craft, his boots crunching into the thick snow. The peaks rose like jagged sentinels around them, their icy facades glistening in the faint sunlight.
Behind him, the rest of the team disembarked, their expressions a mix of awe and exhaustion. Sona adjusted her hood, her breath visible in the frigid air. “Remind me again why ancient secrets are always buried in the most inaccessible places?”
“Because secrets worth keeping require effort to uncover,” Vikram replied, tapping away on his datapad. “Besides, this isn’t just any secret. If the intel is right, this artifact could hold the key to understanding the Phoenix Prophecy.”
“‘If the intel is right,’” Arjun echoed, rolling his eyes. “That’s always reassuring.”
Kaal Sarp moved ahead, his steps silent despite the snow. “Less complaining, more focus. This isn’t just a treasure hunt. If Varunasura catches wind of this, we’ll have company.”
“Good thing we’re experts at avoiding trouble,” Arjun said, smirking.
Sona gave him a withering look. “Right, because that’s been going so well lately.”
“Enough,” Prithvi said, his voice cutting through the banter. He pointed toward the steep path winding up the mountain. “The entrance to the Shadow Council’s vault should be at the summit. Stay sharp.”
The climb was grueling, the thin air making every step a battle. Prithvi led the way, his eyes scanning the path ahead for any signs of danger.
Vikram lagged slightly behind, his datapad beeping intermittently as he monitored their surroundings. “The energy signatures are getting stronger,” he said between breaths. “We’re definitely on the right track.”
Sona glanced at him. “What kind of energy are we talking about? Elemental? Arcane?”
“Both,” Vikram replied, his tone thoughtful. “It’s… complicated. Whatever’s up there, it’s not like anything we’ve encountered before.”
“Great,” Arjun muttered. “That’s always a good sign.”
After hours of climbing, the team reached a plateau. In the center stood a towering stone archway, its surface etched with intricate carvings that glowed faintly with golden light. The air around it hummed with power, a sensation that made the hair on the back of Prithvi’s neck stand on end.
“This is it,” Vikram said, his voice tinged with awe. “The entrance to the vault.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the carvings. The symbols were ancient, their meaning lost to time, but there was something familiar about them—something that resonated deep within him.
“Can you open it?” Sona asked, her voice cutting through the stillness.
Vikram hesitated, his fingers hovering over his datapad. “Maybe. But whatever’s inside, it’s protected by some serious wards. If I mess this up…”
“Don’t mess it up,” Kaal said bluntly.
Vikram rolled his eyes but began working, his datapad connected to the carvings through a series of glowing lines. As he worked, the air around them grew colder, the hum of energy intensifying.
“This isn’t just a door,” Vikram muttered, his focus unwavering. “It’s a test.”
“Test of what?” Arjun asked, gripping Vritra.
“Worthy intent,” Vikram replied. “The wards are scanning for something—maybe purpose, maybe integrity. It’s hard to say.”
Prithvi stepped closer, his voice quiet but firm. “Let me try.”
Vikram hesitated but stepped aside, his gaze wary. “Be careful. If the wards don’t recognize you—”
“They will,” Prithvi said, placing his hand on the stone.
The carvings flared to life, the golden light spreading across the archway like ripples on water. Prithvi felt a surge of energy rush through him, testing, probing. For a moment, he thought he might be rejected, the sheer force of the wards overwhelming him.
But then, the light steadied, and the archway began to shift, the stone grinding as a hidden passage revealed itself.
“Well,” Arjun said, breaking the silence, “guess you passed.”
The team stepped cautiously into the passage, the glow of the walls providing just enough light to see. The air inside was warmer, but it carried a weight that pressed on them with every step.
At the end of the corridor, they entered a vast chamber. In the center, atop a pedestal of black stone, rested a golden artifact shaped like a lotus, its petals etched with more of the glowing symbols.
“That’s it,” Vikram whispered. “The Seal of Balance.”
Prithvi approached the pedestal slowly, his heart pounding. The artifact pulsed faintly, its energy both inviting and foreboding.
“What does it do?” Sona asked, her voice hushed.
Vikram’s datapad beeped as he scanned the artifact. His expression darkened. “It’s… linked to the prophecy. To the Phoenix.”
“What kind of link?” Prithvi asked, his eyes locked on the artifact.
Vikram hesitated, his fingers tightening around the datapad. “It’s not just a tool. It’s a safeguard. It’s designed to restore balance, but there’s a cost—a big one.”
Prithvi’s stomach sank. “What kind of cost?”
“The prophecy wasn’t just about power,” Vikram said, his voice heavy. “It was about sacrifice. To wield the Phoenix’s full strength, someone has to pay the price.”
The words hung in the air like a weight, the team exchanging uneasy glances.
“So, what are we talking about here?” Arjun asked, his voice tense. “A ring? A life? What kind of sacrifice are we dealing with?”
Vikram didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked directly at Prithvi. “The Phoenix Prophecy was always tied to you. If this artifact is right… the cost is your life.”
Prithvi felt the weight of the words settle over him, the truth undeniable. The Seal of Balance wasn’t just a tool—it was a warning.
The silence in the chamber was suffocating. The glow of the Seal of Balance bathed the team in golden light, but its warmth felt cold against the weight of Vikram’s revelation.
“Prithvi,” Sona said quietly, her voice shaking just enough to betray her usual composure. “This can’t be right. There’s got to be another way.”
Prithvi stared at the artifact, his expression unreadable. The golden lotus seemed almost alive, its energy pulsing faintly in rhythm with his own heartbeat. “The prophecy always spoke of balance,” he said at last. “I just didn’t realize it would come at this price.”
Vikram tapped nervously on his datapad, his calculations casting faint blue light against the chamber’s dark stone walls. “There’s more. The artifact’s design… it’s ancient, but it’s tied to something larger.”
“What do you mean ‘larger’?” Arjun asked, his voice sharp with frustration.
“It’s connected to Ashoka,” Vikram said, his eyes flicking to the team. “To his empire, his legacy. The Nine Unknown Men.”
Kaal Sarp stepped forward, his tone cold and precise. “Then speak plainly. What do they have to do with this?”
Vikram adjusted his datapad, the symbols on the artifact reflected in his glasses. “Ashoka wasn’t just a ruler. He was a protector. The Nine Unknown Men weren’t just his advisors—they were the keepers of balance, charged with guarding knowledge too dangerous for the world.”
“And this artifact?” Sona asked, her arms crossed.
“It’s one of their creations,” Vikram said. “A failsafe. They knew the Phoenix’s power couldn’t be left unchecked. So they built the Seal of Balance to contain it—at a cost.”
Arjun shook his head, pacing the chamber. “Let me guess. Ashoka used it. That’s how he unified India, how he built his empire. He gave himself to this thing, and now it’s expecting Prithvi to do the same.”
“It’s not that simple,” Vikram said, frowning. “Ashoka didn’t just use the artifact. He found a way to sustain balance without destroying himself. But those details were lost. The Nine Unknown Men buried the truth to protect it from falling into the wrong hands.”
“And now we’re supposed to pick up where they left off?” Sona said, her voice rising. “This is insane.”
Prithvi raised a hand, silencing the rising tension. His eyes were still on the artifact, his voice steady. “If it’s the only way to stop Varunasura, we don’t have a choice.”
“Don’t do that,” Sona snapped, stepping closer to him. “Don’t act like this is all on you. You’re not a martyr, Prithvi.”
“I’m the one tied to the prophecy,” he said, meeting her gaze. “If someone has to make the sacrifice, it has to be me.”
“No,” she said firmly. “We don’t know enough yet. There has to be another way. You’re just willing to throw your life away because—”
“Because it’s the right thing to do,” Prithvi interrupted, his voice cutting through the air like steel.
The tension between them was palpable, but Vikram stepped in, his tone measured. “Sona’s right. We don’t have all the pieces yet. The Seal is tied to something larger, and if Ashoka found a way to use it without sacrificing himself, then maybe we can too.”
Prithvi glanced at him. “And how do we find out? The Nine Unknown Men are a myth, Vikram.”
“Not entirely,” Vikram said, a spark of determination in his eyes. “If this artifact is real, then so are they—or their legacy. We need to dig deeper, retrace their steps. The answers are out there.”
Kaal Sarp, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “If the Nine Unknown Men hid their secrets, they didn’t do it lightly. Finding their knowledge won’t be easy. And even if we do…” He glanced at Prithvi. “There’s no guarantee it will change anything.”
“We have to try,” Sona said, her voice resolute.
Arjun nodded, his grip on Vritra tightening. “For once, I agree with Sona. If there’s a way to do this without losing anyone, we owe it to ourselves to find it.”
Prithvi looked at each of them in turn, their faces filled with determination, doubt, and defiance. For a moment, the weight of their shared burden seemed unbearable.
Finally, he turned back to Vikram. “What’s our next move?”
Vikram hesitated, then pointed to the carvings surrounding the artifact. “The Seal has coordinates embedded in its design. They lead to a hidden archive, deep in the mountains. If the Nine Unknown Men left any trace of their knowledge, it’s there.”
“Then we go,” Prithvi said.
Sona frowned. “What about Varunasura? If he finds out we’re chasing this, he won’t just sit back and wait.”
“Then we stay ahead of him,” Prithvi said, his tone resolute. “We move fast, we stay focused, and we don’t stop until we have answers.”
As they prepared to leave the chamber, the artifact pulsed faintly, its glow dimming as if to acknowledge their resolve.
Prithvi lingered for a moment, his hand brushing against the pedestal. The energy from the artifact was warm, almost comforting, but it carried a weight that was impossible to ignore.
“Whatever happens,” he said softly, his voice barely audible over the hum of the artifact, “we finish this. Together.”
Sona, standing nearby, heard the words and felt a pang of fear. She didn’t respond, but the look in her eyes said enough.
The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the stakes had never been higher.
The howling wind cut through the jagged peaks as the team ascended a treacherous ridge, their breaths forming plumes in the icy air. Every step forward felt heavier, the growing weight of the Seal’s revelations pressing down on each of them in silence.
Prithvi led the group, his movements steady but purposeful. Behind him, Sona kept close, her sharp gaze flitting between the icy cliffs and the distant, ominous clouds.
“Coordinates are narrowing in,” Vikram said, his voice muffled through his scarf as he glanced at the glowing datapad in his hands. “We’re close. The entrance to the archive should be at the next summit.”
“Assuming it hasn’t been buried under a few millennia of ice and snow,” Arjun muttered, gripping his blade Vritra for balance as he climbed.
“Optimism suits you,” Kaal Sarp said dryly from the rear of the group.
Sona shot Arjun a glance. “You’re not helping.”
“And what about him?” Arjun nodded toward Kaal. “When does he ever help?”
“I help by staying alive,” Kaal replied coolly, stepping lightly across an icy outcrop. “Something you should try doing more consistently.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Prithvi said, his voice cutting through the tension. “Focus. We’re walking into a place no one’s seen in centuries, and if Vikram’s right, whatever’s waiting for us won’t be a warm welcome.”
The ridge leveled out into a flat, snow-covered plateau. In the center, partially buried under frost and stone, stood a massive stone gateway, its surface etched with symbols similar to those on the Seal of Balance.
“That’s it,” Vikram said, his voice tinged with awe. “The archive.”
The team gathered around the gateway, their breaths misting in the cold air. Sona traced her gloved fingers over the carvings, her brow furrowed. “These symbols—they’re older than anything I’ve ever seen. Pre-Vedic, maybe even older.”
“Looks like we’re not the first ones here,” Arjun said, nodding toward the scattered remains of ancient tools and weapons near the base of the gateway.
“Whoever they were, they didn’t make it far,” Kaal added, pointing to a rusted blade embedded in the ice.
Prithvi stepped forward, his eyes scanning the carvings. The energy radiating from the gateway was faint but unmistakable, a hum that resonated with the Seal.
“How do we open it?” Sona asked, glancing at Vikram.
“I’m working on it,” Vikram said, his fingers flying over his datapad. “The symbols suggest some kind of harmonic activation—probably tied to elemental or astral energy.”
Arjun raised an eyebrow. “English, please?”
“He means we’ll have to do more than just knock,” Prithvi said, stepping closer. He placed his palm against the gateway, feeling its ancient energy pulse beneath his touch.
The Seal of Balance on his wrist began to glow faintly, its energy resonating with the gateway. The carvings shifted, the stone groaning as the gateway began to respond.
“Prithvi, wait,” Sona said, her voice tinged with concern. “We don’t know what’s on the other side.”
“We didn’t know what was in the maze either,” Prithvi replied, his tone calm. “But we’re here for answers. We don’t turn back now.”
The light from the Seal intensified, spreading across the gateway like liquid gold. The ancient symbols flared to life, and the stone began to shift, sliding open to reveal a dark, cavernous passage.
The air inside was warm, almost unnaturally so, and carried a faint metallic tang. The walls of the passage glowed faintly with the same golden light, casting eerie shadows as the team stepped inside.
“Definitely not your average ruin,” Arjun said, his voice echoing slightly in the vast space.
“Stay alert,” Prithvi said, his gauntlets igniting briefly to illuminate the path ahead. “We don’t know what kind of defenses the Nine Unknown Men left behind.”
As they moved deeper into the archive, the passage opened into a massive chamber. Rows of stone pedestals lined the walls, each one holding a faintly glowing artifact—tablets, scrolls, and crystalline objects that seemed to hum with energy.
Vikram’s eyes widened, his voice a hushed whisper. “This… this is incredible. These artifacts—they’re repositories of knowledge. If even a fraction of what’s here is intact, it could rewrite everything we know about history, technology, and the elements.”
“Focus, Vikram,” Sona said, though her tone lacked its usual edge. She was just as awestruck by the sheer magnitude of what they’d found.
Prithvi stepped toward the center of the chamber, where a massive pedestal held an object covered in intricate runes. It was a disk, smooth and reflective, its surface glowing faintly with a pulsing light.
“What is it?” Arjun asked, standing beside him.
Vikram approached cautiously, his datapad scanning the disk. “It’s a key,” he said after a moment. “A central node, connected to the Seal. It’s designed to unlock the deeper levels of the archive.”
“And let me guess,” Kaal said, his tone flat. “Unlocking it comes with a price.”
“Not exactly,” Vikram said, though his voice carried a hint of hesitation. “But accessing the deeper levels will trigger a safeguard—something designed to test the worthiness of whoever tries to enter.”
“Another test,” Arjun said, groaning. “Perfect. Because the last one was so much fun.”
Prithvi placed his hand on the disk, feeling its energy flow through him. The runes flared to life, and a low rumble echoed through the chamber as a hidden passageway opened at the far end.
“The next level,” Prithvi said, turning to the team.
Sona stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. “Prithvi, if this test is tied to the Seal, it’s going to target you. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
“I don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice steady. “If the answers we need are down there, we’re going.”
The team exchanged uneasy glances, but one by one, they nodded.
As they stepped into the newly opened passage, the chamber behind them began to seal itself, the walls shifting back into place.
The path ahead was darker, the air heavier. The energy radiating from the walls grew stronger, pressing against them with every step.
“Whatever’s waiting for us,” Prithvi said, his voice low, “it’s not going to let us pass without a fight.”
Sona tightened her grip on her weapon. “Good. Neither will we.”
The team pressed forward, the weight of the unknown looming over them like a shadow.
The passage twisted downward, narrowing as the team advanced into the heart of the archive. The air grew warmer, almost stifling, and the golden glow of the walls pulsed in an unsettling rhythm, as though the place were alive and waiting.
“We’re not alone down here,” Kaal Sarp said, his tone calm but laced with an edge. His daggers were already drawn, their dark blades reflecting the faint light.
“You’re always so cheerful,” Arjun muttered, gripping Vritra tightly.
“Stay sharp,” Prithvi said, his gauntlets sparking to life with a soft hum. “This place is testing us, and I don’t think it’s going to play fair.”
As they stepped into a vast circular chamber, the energy in the air spiked, crackling with intensity. The walls were lined with enormous reliefs, each depicting scenes of cosmic battles, ancient rulers, and a radiant phoenix rising from flames.
At the center of the room stood a massive obelisk, its surface covered in glowing runes that spiraled upward. The energy seemed to radiate from it, filling the space with a thrumming pulse.
“What is this?” Sona asked, her voice hushed.
“It’s a challenge,” Vikram said, his datapad flickering erratically in the charged air. “The obelisk is a gate, but it’s locked behind some kind of trial. A test of worthiness.”
The room began to shift as the runes on the obelisk flared brighter. The floor beneath their feet trembled, and the air grew heavy with a suffocating pressure.
Prithvi stepped forward, his eyes locked on the obelisk. “If it’s a test, then I’m the one it’s after.”
“You don’t know that,” Sona said, moving to his side.
“Yes, I do,” Prithvi said, his voice steady but tinged with resignation. “The Seal of Balance… the prophecy… it’s all tied to me. If this place is going to judge anyone, it’ll be me.”
Before Sona could argue, the chamber erupted in blinding light. When the team’s vision cleared, they found themselves separated, each standing alone in their own section of the chamber, divided by walls of energy.
“Great,” Arjun muttered, his voice echoing in his isolated corner. “Of course it splits us up. Why wouldn’t it?”
Each member faced their own challenge.
For Arjun, the room shifted into a battlefield, the ghosts of his past rising before him. He saw Raaj among them, his form flickering like a mirage.
“Raaj…” Arjun whispered, his grip on Vritra faltering.
“You failed me,” the ghost said, its voice hollow and cold.
“No,” Arjun said, his voice rising in desperation. “I tried. I—”
“Prove it,” the ghost said, drawing a blade that burned with an unearthly light.
In another section, Sona found herself submerged in water. The walls closed in, and the pressure grew, threatening to crush her.
She thrashed against the currents, but the water seemed alive, pulling her deeper into its depths.
“You were supposed to protect us,” a voice echoed around her, low and mournful.
Her breath caught. “No…”
“You failed your kingdom. Your people. And now you’ll fail again.”
Sona clenched her fists, her determination flaring like a spark in the darkness. “I haven’t failed yet,” she said through gritted teeth, pushing against the current with all her strength.
Kaal Sarp’s corner of the chamber was shrouded in shadows. From the darkness emerged figures he recognized all too well—his former comrades, faces twisted with betrayal and rage.
“You betrayed us,” one hissed, stepping closer.
“No,” Kaal said, his daggers flashing in the dim light. “I did what I had to.”
“You abandoned your people,” another voice accused, its tone venomous.
“I chose survival,” Kaal said, his voice steady despite the tension in his stance. “And I’ll do it again if it means protecting this world.”
In the center of the chamber, Prithvi faced the obelisk. It pulsed with energy, the runes shifting to form words he couldn’t quite decipher.
“Are you willing to pay the price?” a voice echoed, deep and resonant.
Prithvi’s gaze didn’t waver. “If it means saving the world, then yes.”
“Even at the cost of your life?” the voice asked, its tone cutting like a blade.
Prithvi hesitated, the weight of the question settling over him. “If there’s no other way… then yes.”
The voice grew louder, filling the chamber. “Sacrifice is not enough. You must prove you can bear the burden of balance.”
The obelisk flared, and a figure emerged—a glowing silhouette of a phoenix, its fiery wings spreading wide. It let out a piercing cry, and the chamber erupted in chaos.
The walls of energy separating the team dissolved, and they found themselves back together in the center of the room.
“Everyone okay?” Prithvi asked, his eyes scanning the group.
“Define ‘okay,’” Arjun said, his voice tight as he glanced at the ghostly battlefield fading around him.
“I’m fine,” Sona said, though her tone was sharp with anger.
Kaal simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
The phoenix’s silhouette hovered above them, its eyes burning like twin suns.
“You have faced your truths,” the voice said, echoing from all directions. “But the path ahead requires more than resolve. The Seal of Balance is both a weapon and a warning. Use it wisely—or be consumed by it.”
The phoenix flared brighter before dissolving into a shower of sparks. The obelisk’s runes dimmed, and a hidden panel slid open, revealing a crystal-like sphere suspended in golden light.
Vikram stepped forward, his datapad glowing faintly. “This… this is the key. It contains the knowledge of the Nine Unknown Men.”
Prithvi reached out, his hand brushing against the sphere. A surge of energy flowed through him, and for a brief moment, he saw visions: Ashoka’s empire, the creation of the Seal, and the devastating cost of maintaining balance.
When the visions faded, he turned to the team. “We have what we need. But it’s only the beginning.”
Sona met his gaze, her voice firm. “Then we make it count.”
The team turned to leave the chamber, the path ahead clearer but no less daunting. They had the knowledge of the Nine Unknown Men—but unlocking its full potential would require sacrifices they were only beginning to comprehend.
The journey back through the mountain was quieter than the climb up. The knowledge they had uncovered hung over the team like a storm cloud, each step heavier than the last. The Seal of Balance now rested in Prithvi’s satchel, its faint hum a constant reminder of the burden they carried.
Sona broke the silence as they approached the craft, her voice low but sharp. “We need a plan. If Varunasura figures out what we’re after, he won’t wait for us to finish solving this puzzle. He’ll come for us.”
“He doesn’t have to wait,” Kaal said, scanning the horizon. “His influence is spreading whether we’re ready or not.”
Vikram, still buried in the readouts on his datapad, muttered, “He’s not wrong. The energy signatures I’m tracking… they’re spiking. Varunasura’s reach is growing faster than I anticipated. Entire coastal regions are destabilizing. If he gains control of even one more ring…”
“Then we stop him before he does,” Arjun said, his voice clipped. “We’ve got the ring of Indra. We’ve got this Seal. Let’s use them.”
“It’s not that simple,” Prithvi said, stepping into the conversation. His tone was calm, but there was an edge of exhaustion in his voice. “The Seal is more than a weapon. It’s a responsibility. If we misuse it—if we don’t understand its limits—we risk destroying everything we’re trying to protect.”
The craft loomed ahead, its sleek frame partially buried under the snow. Sona climbed aboard first, moving swiftly to the cockpit. As the others followed, Vikram lingered, still staring at the datapad.
“What are you seeing?” Prithvi asked, turning back to him.
Vikram hesitated, then glanced up. “It’s not just energy spikes. I’m picking up strange distortions—ripples, almost. Like reality itself is bending around certain areas.”
Prithvi frowned. “Varunasura?”
“Most likely,” Vikram said. “If he’s using the rings to manipulate elemental forces on a global scale, it’s going to leave a mark. These ripples… they’re a warning sign. A storm is coming, Prithvi.”
Inside the craft, the tension was palpable as the team strapped in. Sona powered up the engines, the hum of the thrusters filling the cabin.
“We need to regroup,” she said as the craft lifted off, her eyes fixed on the horizon. “Figure out our next move before he makes his.”
“And what if he already has?” Kaal asked from the corner, his tone as cold as the air outside.
Sona glanced at him. “Then we take the fight to him.”
Arjun leaned back in his seat, his grip tight on Vritra. “That’s assuming we can find him before he finds us.”
Prithvi sat in silence, his thoughts a jumble of strategy and doubt. The visions he had seen when he touched the Seal replayed in his mind—images of destruction, of ash and fire, of a world teetering on the brink.
Sona’s voice pulled him back to the present. “Prithvi. You’ve been quiet. What’s the plan?”
Prithvi looked up, meeting her gaze. “The Seal gives us a chance—a way to counter the rings and their influence. But it’s not a guarantee. We need to learn more about how it works, and we need to do it fast.”
“What about the Nine Unknown Men?” Arjun asked. “Is there more we can pull from their archives?”
“Maybe,” Vikram said. “The key we retrieved should give us access to additional data—if we can decrypt it in time. But even then, it might not be enough. The Seal is tied to the prophecy, and the prophecy…”
“…requires a sacrifice,” Kaal finished, his voice flat.
The cabin fell silent again, the weight of the words pressing down on them.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Sona said firmly. “If there’s a way to stop Varunasura without losing anyone, we’ll find it.”
Prithvi didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stood and moved toward the viewport, staring out at the distant mountains. “If it comes to that,” he said quietly, “we’ll do what’s necessary.”
The craft descended into the valley where their temporary base was hidden, the setting sun casting long shadows over the snow-covered terrain. As they landed, the team moved quickly to unload the Seal and Vikram’s equipment, each of them focused on the task at hand.
But as they worked, the air around them began to shift, growing heavy and charged. Prithvi’s instincts flared, and he turned just in time to see the first ripple in the sky.
“Get down!” he shouted, igniting his gauntlets as a bolt of dark energy tore through the air, striking the ground near the craft.
The team scattered as more bolts rained down, the impact sending shockwaves through the valley. From the sky descended a squadron of Varunasura’s forces—armored soldiers wielding weapons crackling with elemental power.
“Looks like he found us,” Arjun said, drawing Vritra as the first wave of enemies charged.
Prithvi stepped forward, flames roaring to life around his fists. “Protect the Seal! Don’t let them get close!”
The battle erupted in a blur of fire, lightning, and steel. Sona and Kaal moved in tandem, their attacks precise and devastating as they held the enemy at bay.
At the edge of the battlefield, Vikram worked furiously to secure the Seal inside the base, his datapad flashing with warnings. “I need more time!” he shouted over the chaos.
“Take it!” Arjun replied, cutting down another soldier. “We’ve got this!”
Prithvi’s gauntlets flared as he launched a torrent of fire at the enemy, forcing them back. But as the battle raged on, the ripples in the sky grew stronger, their energy distorting the air around them.
“He’s not just sending troops,” Prithvi said, his voice grim. “He’s testing us. Weakening us.”
As the last of the soldiers fell, the ripples began to fade, leaving the team battered but alive.
Sona wiped blood from her cheek, her expression hard. “That wasn’t a full assault. He’s toying with us.”
“He knows we have the Seal,” Kaal said. “And he’ll come for it himself when he’s ready.”
Prithvi nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Then we need to be ready too. No more waiting. No more reacting. It’s time to take the fight to him.”
The team exchanged tense glances, their resolve hardening. The storm was coming, but they wouldn’t face it unprepared.