The Forbidden Element

Surya stood motionless, staring at the spot where Varun had vanished. His fists trembled. Not from fear—but from frustration.

He had pushed himself beyond his limits. Yet, it wasn't enough.

Even worse, he had been saved.

By someone he didn't even recognize.

His mind raced. Who was that masked figure? Why did he have the same energy as me?

His breathing was ragged, his body screaming in exhaustion, but he forced himself to stay upright. The battlefield was eerily silent now—no howling winds, no clashing swords.

Just the weight of his failure.

Then, a voice broke the stillness.

"Surya!"

Saria.

He turned just in time to see her rushing toward him. Her eyes were filled with concern.

"You're hurt!" she exclaimed, grabbing his arm to steady him. Blood dripped from his wounds, his tunic in tatters, his once-golden aura now flickering weakly.

"I'm fine," he muttered, though the dizziness said otherwise.

Saria frowned. "Fine? You almost died!"

Surya chuckled weakly. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Her grip on his arm tightened. "That's not funny!"

Before he could respond, Kiran and Rudra arrived, both looking equally shaken.

Kiran exhaled. "That guy... he wasn't normal. You felt it too, right?"

Surya nodded. "He was on a different level."

Rudra crossed his arms. "And what about the one who saved you? That masked man—who the hell was he?"

Surya didn't have an answer. But something about that figure... it felt familiar.

Not just the energy.

Something deeper.

Saria examined his wounds, her brows furrowed. "We need to get you healed."

Surya shook his head. "No. First, we need to figure out what Varun was after."

Kiran sighed. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Surya smirked. "I get that a lot."

Before they could continue, a gust of wind rushed through the battlefield. The shadows around them shifted.

Something—or someone—was watching.

Surya's eyes narrowed. "We're not alone."

And then—

A whisper.

"So, you survived."

The voice was cold, dripping with amusement.

Then—they emerged.

Figures in dark cloaks, their faces obscured, standing atop the broken cliffs surrounding the battlefield.

Kiran cursed. "Who the hell are they?"

One of the figures stepped forward.

The hood lowered slightly, revealing piercing crimson eyes.

"We are the Shadow Order."

Surya's blood ran cold.

They were here.

The true war was about to begin.

TO BE CONTINUED...