The ash had not yet settled.
Meera knelt on the still-warm ground of the boss chamber, her chest heaving with exhaustion. Dev stood over her, his back bleeding from a deep cut, his breathing ragged. The shattered remains of Maya Danava's mechanical illusions sparked and fizzled in the dim light. The monster that had twisted reality itself now lay still—its body dissolving into faint trails of golden dust, carried upward like the soul of a vanquished demon.
A soft chime echoed.
System Notification: GATE CLEARED – BHARAT RAKSHA COMPLETE
Status: SUCCESS
Survivors: 29 out of 50 Duos
Total Fallen: 31 duo
Boss Defeated: [Maya Danava – Lord of Illusion & Machines]
MVPs: Dev Rajan & Meera Sharma
Rewards Processing…
Global Buff: +15% for India (Training / Recovery / Dungeon Clear Rate)
National Ranking: Increased to Tier A
All Indian Awakened: +50 Stat Points
Relics Awarded [x10] – S to SSS Rank
1. [Scripture of the Second Dawn] – Bound to Dev Rajan
2. [Crown of Unyielding Spirit] – Bound to Meera Sharma
3-10. Dispersing to other top-performing Duos…
As the air shimmered and the Gate's divine mechanism began to fade, the surviving 29 duo Awakened were teleported outside, emerging on a green hillside now scorched with battle scars. The sky above Himachal Pradesh pulsed one final time—and the Gate collapsed inward, vanishing.
Silence fell across the mountains.
Thousands had gathered to watch from a safe perimeter. When the final chime rang, a wave of cheers erupted—but it died almost as quickly as it rose. Not all returned. More than half were gone.
The victory felt too quiet.
---
In Delhi, 62 coffins were laid beneath a canopy of silent grief at India Gate.
Soldiers, families, citizens, and Awakened gathered for the national funeral. There were no speeches from the government. No marching bands. Just names—read one after another by a System-generated voice.
> "Arvind Patel… S-Rank…"
"Chaya Das… SS-Rank…"
"Karthik Rao… UR-Rank (Deceased – Abandoned Partner Protection Protocol)"
"Anjali Verma…"
"Rakesh… Dev's roommate…"
Dev stood still before the last name.
It wasn't just another number. It was the boy who shared rice with him when he starved during their early Awakened days. The same boy who cracked jokes in the face of death.
Meera touched Dev's hand gently. He didn't flinch. But his fingers curled around hers.
They stayed like that long after the names ended. Until the flags were folded. Until the fires were lit. Until the sky burned orange with the smoke of sacrifice.
After the ceremonies, a System window appeared before every Indian citizen.
India has Cleared Its First National Gate
– Those who walk in Dharma are honored by the System.
– The world recognizes your sacrifice.
10 Sacred Relics have been bestowed.
Your spirit guides humanity's path.
That night, news channels across the globe were silent. Social media was flooded with tributes. Even the international Awakened communities, usually divided by ego, bowed their heads.
In a small village in Tamil Nadu, a mother wept over her son's name carved into the System's digital Hall of Remembrance.
In a skyscraper in Mumbai, a father clutched the relic his daughter had earned posthumously.
And in a quiet apartment in Tokyo...
---
Kaito looked at the screen and leaned against the balcony rail.
He didn't speak for a long time. Just watched the stars. Aya stood behind him, arms folded.
"She carried him through the Gate when he fainted," she said softly. "They faced illusions no one else could survive. They didn't fight once."
Kaito gave a small smile. "That's what makes them terrifying. They're each other's anchor."
Aya nodded. "You think they'll make it to the top?"
"Maybe," Kaito replied. "But... the Tower doesn't play fair. That first Gate was a warm-up."
He turned and walked inside.
Aya lingered on the balcony, watching the last remnants of the Indian Gate vanish into the sky like embers in the wind.
---
Seven days later, as the world tried to return to normal, a new sound rang through every awakened soul.
System Notification: WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCEMENT
Tower of Trial: Second Floor – Opening in 7 Days
Entry Restriction: Only Officially Paired Duos
Difficulty: +400% from First Floor
Note: All lower Floors remain sealed until Second Floor is cleared.
Failure to clear within 1 year will result in structural collapse of Floor Zones.
Prepare for the Trial of Balance.
Kaito's phone buzzed. He didn't look.
Aya walked in holding two cups of tea.
He accepted one and glanced at the window. "Looks like it's finally our turn."
Aya's eyes glimmered.
He smiled faintly. "I'll still try to nap through it."
She rolled her eyes—but her hand lingered against his just a moment longer than usual.
---
[End of Chapter 18]