The Forbidden Element

The battlefield was eerily silent, save for the crackling energy in the air. Surya's golden aura shimmered wildly around him, illuminating the scars and blood on his battered body. His chest rose and fell, each breath a reminder of the pain surging through his ribs.

But none of it mattered.

Not the pain. Not the exhaustion.

Because standing before him was the embodiment of an unbreakable wall—Lord Varun.

The King of the Western Seas, the Tyrant of the Crimson Tide.

And today, Surya would not kneel.

Varun touched his cheek, his fingers brushing against the thin trail of blood Surya had managed to draw. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then—he chuckled.

"A rare sight," he mused. "It's been years since someone made me bleed."

His deep crimson eyes glowed with something dangerous.

"And the last man who did... is no longer breathing."

Surya's grip on his sword tightened. His instincts screamed at him to move, but before his body could react—

Varun disappeared.

A chilling gust of wind followed.

Surya's eyes widened.

He barely had time to shift before—

BOOM!

A monstrous force struck his side, sending him flying through the air like a comet. His body tore through a stone structure, the impact sending debris scattering in all directions.

Pain shot through every nerve in his body.

Before he could even breathe, Varun was there again.

A shadow in the storm.

CRACK!

A knee to his gut.

The air rushed from Surya's lungs as he coughed up blood, his vision momentarily blacking out.

Varun didn't stop. He seized Surya's head and slammed him into the ground with bone-shattering force. The ground cratered, dust and rubble shooting into the air like an explosion.

For a moment, nothing moved.

Then, a slow dragging sound.

Varun pulled Surya up by his collar, their faces inches apart.

"I expected more from the so-called last heir of Veer Raj." His voice was laced with disdain. "Is this all your kingdom has to offer?"

Surya's fists clenched, his teeth gritted. Not yet.

His golden aura flickered, his body struggling to rise.

Varun sighed. "A wasted effort."

He reared his fist back, preparing to end it.

And then—

A faint golden glimmer flashed in Surya's irises.

Varun's fist swung forward.

But before it could land—

A shockwave erupted from Surya's body.

Varun's attack was stopped mid-air.

His eyes narrowed. "Oh?"

A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.

The air felt different. Charged. Heavy.

Surya's body trembled, but his aura was no longer wild—it was refined. Controlled.

He exhaled. And as he did—

The ground beneath him shattered.

Golden light erupted from his form, crackling like divine thunder.

His wounds burned—but not with pain.

With power.

Varun took a step back, studying him with new interest.

Surya lifted his gaze. His once weary eyes now burned with something unshakable.

"I'm not done."

And for the first time—

Varun smiled.

"Good."

TO BE CONTINUED...