The Forbidden Element

The shattered throne room reeked of blood and burning embers. The tension in the air was suffocating.

Varun Singh, the Bloodfang Warrior, stood with his massive battle-axe resting on his shoulder, a confident smirk playing on his lips.

Across from him, Emperor Indra Varma I gripped his golden spear, his expression cold and unreadable.

The air between them crackled with raw power.

Surya Raj, barely conscious, watched from the ground. Every inch of his body screamed in pain, but his mind remained sharp.

"These two... they aren't like normal warriors."

And then—

BOOM!

Varun lunged forward, his sheer presence shaking the palace to its core. His battle-axe came crashing down with monstrous force, aiming to cleave Indra in half.

But—

CLANG!

Indra's spear intercepted the strike, sending shockwaves through the throne room. Cracks webbed across the marble floor beneath them.

Varun's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"You're faster than I expected, old man."

Indra remained silent. His answer came in the form of a counterattack—his spear flashing with divine light, moving at an impossible speed.

Varun twisted his body—deflecting the first strike.
Dodging the second.
Blocking the third.

Then—

Indra's knee slammed into his ribs.

CRACK!

Varun coughed blood, but his smirk only widened.

"Hah. That actually hurt."

Before Indra could withdraw, Varun seized the spear mid-strike, yanking the emperor forward.

Then—

THWACK!

A brutal headbutt smashed into Indra's face.

The impact sent Indra staggering back, his golden aura flickering for just a moment.

Varun laughed.

"You're strong, no doubt." He cracked his knuckles, eyes burning with challenge. "But I didn't come here just to trade blows."

Indra wiped the blood from his lip, his gaze darkening.

"Then why are you here?"

Varun's eyes flickered to Surya.

"I'm here to get the kid out of this hellhole."

Surya tried to push himself up, his arms trembling under his weight. His golden aura had completely faded.

"Damn it... I can't even move."

Varun's arrival had given him a chance, but it wouldn't last. If they didn't act fast, they were all going to die here.

Saria and Rohan rushed to his side, barely able to steady him.

"Surya!" Saria's voice was laced with panic. "We need to get out of here!"

Rohan turned to Varun. "Can you hold him off long enough for us to escape?"

Varun grinned.

"Hold him off? Kid, I plan on pissing him off so much he forgets about you entirely."

Then, he turned back to Indra.

"Besides, I haven't fought someone this strong in a long time."

Indra's piercing gaze swept over them, calculating.

"Running will not save you." His golden energy flared. "Even if you escape, I will hunt you down."

Surya clenched his teeth.

He wasn't lying.

If they fled, Indra would come after them. Again. And again. Until they were all dead.

"We need a distraction," Saria whispered urgently. "Something that will force him to focus on something else—"

Rohan's fists tightened.

"Then let's create one!"

Raging flames ignited in his palms, swirling with destructive force. Beside him, Saria's hands glowed with deep blue water magic, the air around her turning icy.

Surya, despite his exhaustion, forced his body to move.

"I have to do something... anything!"

Then—suddenly—

A deep, unfamiliar pull surged through his veins.

Something was calling out to him.

His vision blurred—then flashed with memories.

The warriors Indra had slaughtered.
The bodies littering the battlefield.
The rage of his people.

And then—

He understood.

With trembling fingers, he reached toward the bloodstained floor.

And whispered—

"Ascend."

The air shuddered.

Shadows twisted.

From the pools of blood, figures emerged—flickering, warped silhouettes, rising like ghosts from the abyss.

The fallen warriors of Dakshina.

Their hollow eyes burned with golden light.

Saria and Rohan staggered back in shock.

"What... is this?" Rohan whispered.

Surya panted, barely able to stay upright.

"This is... my power."

For the first time—Indra's eyes widened.

"You..."

A rare look of surprise flickered across his face.

"You inherited it after all."

Then—Surya's shadows lunged.

And the battlefield erupted into chaos.

Indra moved like a tempest, golden energy slicing through the shadow warriors with effortless precision. But for every one he struck down, another took its place.

It was the only opening they needed.

Varun acted instantly.

He grabbed Surya and slung him over his shoulder.

"Time to go, kid!"

Saria and Rohan sprinted after him as Varun smashed through the palace walls, leading them into the burning city.

Behind them, the sounds of battle raged on.

Surya, barely conscious, forced his eyes open.

"Where... are we going?" he rasped.

Varun grinned.

"Somewhere safe."

Saria glanced back at the collapsing palace, her heart hammering.

"We barely made it out alive..."

Rohan's fists clenched.

"We'll be back."

Surya, his vision fading, whispered:

"One day... I'll return and take everything back."

As the kingdom of Dakshina burned behind them, the fallen prince and his new allies vanished into the night.

End of Chapter 4