The crimson skies darkened further as the moon eclipse reached its peak, its eerie glow flooding the stone walls of the fort with ghostly light. The air itself trembled with unnatural energy.
Laila looked up, her eyes shimmering like liquid silver. "It's time," she said with a wicked grin, turning to Veer. "The moon eclipse is at its peak, Veer. His powers will be at their weakest now."
Veer's lips curved into a dark smirk. "Then let's not waste this divine opportunity."
Laila lifted both her hands, chanting ancient lunar incantations. A moon orb—pale, glowing, and pulsing with energy—materialized above Vihaan's cage. It crackled with silver lightning, humming like a hungry beast.
The family watched in horror, struggling against their bonds.
"Stop it! Please stop!" Sharda screamed, her tear-streaked face contorting in agony.
But Laila's laughter drowned her out.
The orb descended slowly until it hovered right above Vihaan's head. As it began to spin, thin streams of dark red light—Vihaan's demonic essence—started pulling upward from his body into the orb.
Vihaan clenched his teeth, his eyes glowing red as pain tore through every vein. "Aaaaah!" His scream echoed across the fort, raw and guttural.
The more the orb absorbed, the dimmer the glow of his divine trident mark became.
"Stop! You're killing him!" Yug shouted, his wrists bleeding as he fought his ropes.
Veer merely smiled, watching Vihaan's agony like it was music. Slowly, he revealed a dagger forged from black moonstone, its blade glinting with unholy energy.
He walked closer to the cage, his tone calm but venomous.
"You know what this dagger is made for, brother?" he said mockingly. "It's a Naashak dagger, crafted to kill what even the gods cannot. Once I stab you, I will absorb every drop of your cursed serpent power… and become unstoppable."
"Veer… no!" Sharda sobbed. "You're my son! You can't—"
But Veer silenced her with a cold look.
"I was your son," he whispered, "until you chose him."
He looked up at the moon, his voice rising into the storm.
"Tonight, under the blood of the moon eclipse, the Sarvansh bloodline ends!"
Laila clapped slowly, enjoying the spectacle. "Do it, Veer. Let the moon witness his end."
Vihaan struggled to breathe, his strength draining into the orb.
The chains around his wrists glowed red-hot, binding him tighter, but his eyes—half divine, half cursed—still burned with defiance.
Through the agony, his voice rasped out,
"You'll… never win, Veer… Because love… is my strength, not power…"
Veer tilted his head, sneering. "Let's test that theory."
He raised the dagger high—its blade shimmering under the moon eclipse—ready to strike.
The family screamed Vihaan's name in unison as the air around the fort split with lightning and divine thunder.
Veer's dagger gleamed under the shadowed crimson light of the moon eclipse, its tip inches from Vihaan's heart. Vihaan lay weak, his dark energy still being siphoned by the orb that hovered above him.
A manic grin spread across Veer's face. "Time to end the Sarvansh line once and for all."
But before the blade could strike—
Veer's hand froze midair.
His fingers locked around the hilt as though gripped by invisible iron. His smirk vanished, replaced by confusion and fear. "What—what is this?" he hissed, trying to move, but his body wouldn't obey.
The orb above Vihaan flickered erratically, its light destabilizing.
A pulse of energy rippled through the hall, rattling the stone pillars.
Then—
The cage around Vihaan shattered.
The force flung Veer and Laila backward, crashing against the moon-carved wall. The shattered remains of the magical bars fell like glowing embers across the floor.
Breathing heavily, Vihaan pushed himself to his feet, still trembling from exhaustion, yet a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Looks like…" he rasped, eyes burning with resolve, "…someone finally came to end you both."
Laila and Veer turned sharply toward the entrance.
From the swirling silver mist emerged Gauri, her hand raised and eyes glowing with fierce determination. Beside her stood Chandni, her moon staff blazing once again, and Charvi, her aura laced with faint silver butterflies.
Gauri's voice echoed through the chamber, calm yet laced with divine authority.
"You wanted to drain my husband's life to strengthen your darkness," she said, stepping closer. "But your eclipse has met its end."
Laila's eyes widened. "You—how did you escape from the love tower?"
"Faith and love,my love had saved me," Gauri replied simply. "The same power you could never understand."
Veer gritted his teeth, straining against the invisible force still holding his arm. "You can't stop me, Gauri! You're too late!"
Chandni's moonlight flared beside her. "No—she's right on time."
Charvi stepped forward, holding Urvashi's stone tightly. "The truth is clear now, Laila. You were the one who attacked the family… not Chandni."
Laila's composure cracked, but before she could respond, Gauri clenched her fist. The draining orb above Vihaan shattered, dissolving into harmless particles that vanished in the air. Vihaan gasped as strength returned to his limbs, his eyes locking with Gauri's.
For a heartbeat, the chaos faded.
There was only the quiet relief of finding each other alive.
Then Veer's voice split the silence.
"You think love can save you from me?" he roared, his fury lighting the hall like wildfire.
Gauri turned her gaze on him, steady and fearless.
"No," she said softly. "But it will destroy you."