'What… is that?'
'A lizard?'
'It's eating a cockroach…'
'And its eyes… they're locked onto me.'
Above me, clinging to the ceiling, that grotesque lizard stared down with icy, indifferent eyes. Blood smeared its snout, and its jaw still twitched—as if I was the next course on its menu.
Where… where even am I?
Around me lay nothing but dust and dirt, and… bones? Pale, fragmented remains scattered like forgotten relics of the dead. And the stench—thick, putrid—clung to the air like a curse.
I tried to move, to push myself up—but my arms and legs... they didn't respond.
My whole body felt weightless. Not free—empty. As if I was nothing but a hollow shell.
Turning slightly, I caught a glimpse of something else—a second lizard. Larger. Much larger. It stood beside me, frozen in place. Its limbs trembled, and despite the chunks of flesh littered beneath it, it didn't eat.
Why isn't it eating? What's it looking at?
What in this nightmare could possibly terrify a creature that size?
I have to see.
Even if I can't feel my limbs... even if this body is failing me... I have to see who—what—is there.
Summoning what little strength I had left, I slowly lifted my head… and looked ahead.
A girl?
My vision was blurred, unfocused. But something about her… felt familiar. A face I'd seen before—somewhere between the edges of pain and memory.
My eyes… they were giving in.
With a shallow exhale, I lowered my head back down to the ground… and closed my eyes.
The air inside the cave had grown cold—deadly still. At the center of it all stood the Brahmarakshas, eyes locked onto the lone figure at the entrance. A girl. She stood tall, unwavering… framed against the mouth of the cavern like a vengeful shadow.
The monster narrowed his eyes. "That's the girl… the one who struck me down in a single punch back in the forest," he thought grimly.
"How did she find this place?"
On the other end, Luna's gaze was sharp—piercing. Her expression was stoic, emotionless. But beneath that calm, something darker churned. The sheer weight of her presence sent a chill through the air, a silent declaration of death.
The Brahmarakshas smirked. "Big mistake, girl."
His lips curled into a disturbing grin, one that reeked of arrogance and amusement—like a predator discovering a new toy.
Luna stepped forward—once, twice—and then stopped. That's when her eyes finally fell on him.
"Ayaan?" she whispered.
There he was… or rather, what was left of him. His body was in pieces—both arms and legs missing. One eye and an ear were simply gone. His stomach had been ripped open, vital organs spilling out onto the ground, blood pooling in a never-ending stream.
It was as if she'd walked into the aftermath of a massacre. She froze. Her breath caught in her throat. And then—
Darkness overtook her vision. Her knees buckled beneath her.
Luna collapsed to the ground, resting on her shins, hands trembling as they rose to cover her eyes. A raw, broken sound escaped her throat. And then she screamed.
Tears flooded past her fingers, soaking the dirt. Her hair fell over her face, but the sound of her sobbing was unmistakable. It echoed.
Luna's mind spiraled. "He's still alive… I know he is. I promised I'd find him, no matter what." She remembered those words. She had spoken them to Oliver.
But now…
Now, that resolve was shattering.
The Brahmarakshas, who had watched her in silence until now, let out a cruel, guttural laugh. "Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!" His laughter bounced off the cavern walls, mixing with Luna's sorrow grief and mockery woven into a chilling harmony.
The demon finally stopped laughing, tilting his head as he stared down at Luna.
"What kind of friend are you?" he asked, his voice deep and thunderous, each word echoing off the cave walls.
"All you do is cry. Cry, cry, cry. Don't you even want the remains of your precious companion?"
Luna's sobbing quieted. Her hands, however, still covered her eyes—trembling.
"If you had come earlier… what difference would it have made?"
"Would you have been able to steal him from me?" the Brahmarakshas mocked, voice curling like smoke.
"…I was the fool," Luna finally whispered.
"Huh?" The Brahmarakshas faltered, clearly confused by the sudden shift in her tone.
"How could anyone survive that long in this place?" she muttered. Then slowly… she lowered her hands.
Her eyes no longer filled with sorrow were now burning gold. A storm raged behind those glowing pupils. Her lips trembled not from pain, but from rising fury. Tears still fell, but they no longer carried weakness… only wrath.
"We may be forbidden from killing demons outright," she said, voice steady, almost cold. "But when it comes to protecting someone's life… I don't give a damn about the rules."
Her heart thundered. Her hands clenched. The urge to kill now surged through her like wildfire.
The Brahmarakshas sneered. "Ha! Ha! Ha! How adorable," he bellowed. "You think you can kill me in my own domain?!"
Luna didn't respond. Instead, she whispered softly under her breath, eyes still locked on Ayaan's torn body— "Ayaan… I'm sorry."
And then, like a bullet fired from rage itself, she dashed forward. Her speed shattered the air. Before the Brahmarakshas could even react, her fist connected with his face— 'BOOM.' The force rippled across the cavern, shaking loose pebbles from the walls and sending echoes into the hollow dark.
The Brahmarakshas was hurled across the cave like a ragdoll, crashing against a stone wall. He collapsed onto the ground, coughing.
Blood dripped from his lips. He touched the trail of crimson with a clawed finger and stared at it for a moment.
"…Interesting," he murmured, before letting out a twisted smile.
He rose. Snarling, he lunged toward her, claws extended. They gleamed in the flickering torchlight.
Luna didn't flinch. She dodged—fluid, precise—and began circling, keeping her distance. Just then—
Rudra and Oliver entered the cave. Their eyes widened at the sight before them: Luna, alone, locked in battle with the creature.
"That's him?" Rudra asked, pointing at the reptilian monster. "That's the Brahmarakshas?"
Oliver narrowed his gaze, then muttered, "I… didn't expect it to look like a giant lizard."
"We have to help her," Rudra said urgently. "She can't handle that thing alone."
He started to move—but Oliver quickly caught his arm.
"Wait!" he said, pointing past the fight.
Rudra turned. His eyes landed on something… someone.
"Ayaan!!" he screamed.
In an instant, both he and Oliver rushed toward Ayaan's broken body lying across the dirt.
The two of them finally stood before Ayaan's lifeless body. "Ayaan!!" they both called out at once, desperation thick in their voices.
Rudra immediately dropped to his knees, gently pulling Ayaan into his arms. But Ayaan didn't respond. His body was ice-cold.
Oliver leaned in, inspecting him carefully. His expression darkened.
"Most of his vital organs are missing..." Oliver muttered.
He took a breath, then said the words that clenched the air in stone—"He's dead."
"Shit!!" Rudra shouted, slamming a fist into the dirt beside him.
"We never should've brought him here," Oliver said, voice low and tight.
"I thought... I really thought this boy was like us. Different. Special." Rudra's voice trembled now, bitter with guilt.
"And it was our carelessness that cost an innocent his life."
Oliver remained quiet, listening to every word. His face, too, was shadowed with sorrow. He placed a hand on Rudra's shoulder. "There's nothing we can do now. Pick him up. Let's get out of here." Regret flickered behind his glasses.
Rudra looked down. His jaw tightened. His voice fell silent.
And then—
"Aghh... Kha—Khaff!..." A rough cough broke through the silence.
Both Rudra and Oliver's heads snapped toward Ayaan.
"Aghh... Kha—Khaff!..." Again. Another cough.
Shock flooded their faces.
"Wha... What? How is this even possible?" Oliver whispered, eyes wide.
"Ayaan...?" Rudra called out softly.
Ayaan's eyelids fluttered open.
He was... breathing. He was alive.
"Ayaan!!" both of them cried at once, disbelief and joy crashing into their voices.
But before the moment could settle—A sudden gust of thick smoke came billowing from deeper inside the cave.
Rudra squinted and shielded his eyes. He looked toward Luna.
The Brahmarakshas had resumed his assault. His claws slashed through the air—and one finally connected. A sharp strike tore across Luna's chest, raking deep into her skin. She let out a sharp scream, staggering backward, blood spilling from the gash.
"LUNA!!" Rudra shouted and tried to rise to help. But Oliver grabbed his arm tightly.
"What are you doing?!" Rudra barked. "Let go! I need to help her!"
"No. Not right now." Oliver's voice was firm, steady. "Right now, you need to keep Ayaan alive."
Panic flashed across Rudra's face—but then his gaze drifted back to Ayaan.
Ayaan was watching him. With one bloodshot, exhausted eye… he was looking straight at Rudra.
Rudra's heart sank. He swallowed hard. "But... what about Luna?" he asked, voice trembling.
Oliver gave a small smile. "Don't worry about her."
"I believe she'll defeat him on her own."
"Huh...?!" Rudra's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hurry! We don't have much time!!" Oliver shouted, his voice sharp and urgent.
Rudra didn't argue—he nodded immediately.
The two quickly worked together, carefully lifting Ayaan's broken body and securing him against Rudra's back with tightly bound straps. Once the bindings were secure, Rudra leaned in and whispered near his ear, voice trembling with a mix of fear and hope.
"Just hold on a little longer, Ayaan. You're going to be okay... I promise."
Ayaan's face was pale—lifeless like a corpse—but one eye... one tired eye remained open. And that eye was fixed on Oliver.
Oliver noticed. He stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Ayaan's cheek. "You really are something special, Ayaan," he said softly.
"Don't you dare give up now."
A weak but warm smile spread across Oliver's face—and in that moment, a flicker of light returned to Ayaan's gaze.
His body might have been torn, half-ruined, mutilated beyond survival. But even now... even in the grip of death... Ayaan understood. He could feel their voices. He wanted to smile back—but his body no longer obeyed.
His eyelids grew heavy. And slowly, Ayaan closed his eyes once more.
Rudra turned to Oliver. "Take care of yourself."
Oliver nodded firmly, offering a small smile in return. "I will."
And with that—whoosh!—Rudra vanished, dashing off into the darkness with Ayaan strapped to his back.
Oliver watched him disappear into the distance, then turned his focus back toward the fight.