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'curses'
Narayan's mind went blank—his body motionless, unable to understand what to do as the sword closed the gap.
He stared at the sword, as if accepting fate.
'clank'
The sound of something crashing against metal.
The sword's trajectory changed and slightly grazed Narayan's cheek, leaving a small cut. That sudden change snapped his mind back into motion.
He looked around, trying to understand what had happened, his mind unable to comprehend it.
"Zero!"
He looked a few feet away. Zero lay on the ground, trying to stand, his fur burned on one side.
What? Are the others here? Was it Zero? I gotta stand up—
Shit… move, damn leg.
I can't remove this dagger or I might die from blood loss.
Shit.
Narayan's eyes moved restlessly, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in them.
But his face soon turned pale.
I can't see anyone. Are they still not here…? Then how did Zero— wait, Zero.
He glanced again at Zero, who was still struggling to stand.
How strong was that impact? No— first I gotta reach him.
Narayan pointed his hand toward Zero, trying to teleport him.
Nothing happened.
What…? Why isn't it working? Is my stamina low? Damn it.
He cursed himself.
I gotta do something… I have to stall for time until the others arrive.
"Narayan!"
A scream echoed from the opposite side—Aryaraj.
"Move!"
Narayan's eyes instinctively shifted toward Mayank.
"Curse!"
He threw himself to the left, pushing off the ground with his hands as another flaming sword flew toward him.
Can I survive like this…? Only if—
A sudden wave of heat brushed his face—another sword.
How is he doing this?
Narayan fell onto his back, narrowly dodging it.
'woof… woof'
Narayan looked up from the ground.
Zero had somehow managed to stand and was now barking at Mayank.
"No!"
Narayan panicked, trying to stand.
Zero charged at Mayank, slashing with his claws—but Mayank sidestepped and kicked him hard, sending Zero flying.
Before Zero could crash into the burnt vehicle, his body froze mid-air—floating.
Narayan glanced toward the vehicle and felt a flicker of relief.
The others had arrived.
Dhanprabha stood with her hands raised, her ability holding Zero in place. She gently pulled him back and lowered him into Ankit's arms.
Gautam looked around, confused.
"What's even happening here?"
Dhanprabha and Tehsin rushed toward Jasmine, Ritika, and Aryaraj, who were sitting by the side of the road.
"What happened to you all?" Dhanprabha panicked.
"I told you not to go," Tehsin said, her voice filled with worry—and regret.
Gautam turned toward Mayank.
"What happened to him?"
"I don't know," Aryaraj babbled. "He just started attacking us out of nowhere. He doesn't reply—he keeps throwing those blazing swords at us."
"What?! Mayank?" Gautam asked, staring at him.
"Then why isn't he attacking now?"
Mayank stood still, fingers trembling slightly. Two swords revolved around him, their flames dim.
"I don't know…" Aryaraj swallowed. "He does this sometimes. Maybe he's observing… or recovering. But one thing's certain—he's too strong. We couldn't even scratch him. I don't think any of us can fight anymore."
Gautam clenched his fists.
"Then what do we do…"
While everyone gathered around the injured, Ankit didn't move. He carefully checked Zero for injuries—then ran toward Narayan.
"What happened to your leg?!"
His eyes widened at the dagger embedded there.
"It's fine," Narayan said quietly. "Is he okay?"
"No… I think he has broken bones," Ankit muttered, jaw tight.
He took his bag off his shoulder and handed it to Narayan.
"You can do something… right?"
"I will."
Narayan opened the bag and pulled out a bottle.
"Where's Akshat?" Ankit asked, panic creeping in.
"I don't know," Narayan replied. "I heard him scream my name when the dagger hit… but everything went blank after that."
He tried to stand slightly. "We have to find him."
"You stay here. I'll go," Ankit said, glancing at Zero.
Zero barked, looking toward the far side of the road.
Ankit ran off.
Narayan exhaled slowly.
I hope Akshat is okay…
Now let's get ready. I don't know how much time we have.
He glanced at Mayank, chugged the water, then quietly took something out of the bag and slipped it into his pocket.
Mayank stood motionless, as if observing, flaming swords revolving around him like a shield.
This might be the best time, Gautam thought as he looked at everyone.
He moved his hands up, targeting Mayank.
A force pulled Mayank down; he stumbled a bit but still stood. Slowly, he raised his hands again—pointing the swords toward Gautam and the group.
"Dhanprabha, use your ability to keep his hands down," Gautam panicked.
Dhanprabha pointed her hands toward Mayank as a faint blue light covered his arms, forcing them down. "Will this work?"
But the swords still shot toward them. Two blue energy spheres crashed into them mid-air, changing their direction.
"Don't worry about these things," Tehsin said as she formed two energy spheres floating in her hands.
Another pair of swords started to form around Mayank.
"This won't work like this," Narayan said as he teleported behind everyone, stumbling and struggling to stand.
"Narayan!… Your leg," Dhanprabha gasped.
"Focus, Dhanprabha," Gautam shouted, pulling her attention back to Mayank.
"We won't be able to do much like this. We need to knock him down," Narayan thought for a moment. "Tehsin, can you make a bigger one?"
"Yes, but I need some time," Tehsin replied.
"Okay. Make two," Narayan said, glancing at Mayank as another pair of swords shot toward them.
Narayan teleported the swords behind Mayank, but he dodged them without breaking a sweat.
How is he still dodging while being restrained… I can't waste much time.
Narayan teleported behind Mayank and threw a punch—but Mayank dodged it without even looking back.
Mayank then threw a blazing dagger that sliced through the air.
Do it fast, Tehsin!
Narayan teleported a few feet away.
"Take this!" Tehsin shouted as a massive energy sphere—almost as big as a bike—shot toward Mayank.
But Mayank formed a shield before it could hit.
"Not happening," Narayan mumbled.
The energy sphere suddenly appeared behind Mayank.
Boom.
The blast sent dust flying everywhere.
"Did it have any effect?" Gautam clenched his teeth.
"Another one, Tehsin!" Narayan shouted.
As the dust cleared, Mayank was still standing, though minor scratches covered his body.
It had some effect… his legs are trembling. We might be able to end this now.
Narayan watched as Mayank pointed again, launching another pair of swords toward him.
Narayan teleported the swords behind Mayank once more.
Mayank created two shields to block them.
Let's end it now.
Narayan teleported another energy sphere directly in front of Mayank—this time blasting straight into his face.
As the smoke cleared, relief spread across everyone's faces.
Mayank lay on the ground—awake, but motionless.
"Finally," Aryaraj said with a relaxed grin.
"How long did it take?" Jasmine asked.
"It would've been faster if my mana didn't run out," Ritika bluffed.
"My energy spheres are what did it," Tehsin said to Ritika, rubbing her nose.
"Let's check what happened to him first…" Dhanprabha mumbled, but her voice was lost in the noise.
"Where's Ankit?" Gautam asked.
"He went to find Akshat," Narayan sat down on the road. Now let's think.
He won't attack us like this… so it's another awakener's ability. Maybe mind-related.
Hmm… but he's stronger than before too… and he still doesn't seem okay.
Do I have to find that awakener?
Narayan looked around the road, then his eyes stopped at an unfinished five-story building around fifty meters away,
That's the nearest one… should I check it out?
"Hey guys, I'm back!" Ankit shouted from a distance, Akshat—half conscious—on his shoulder, Zero walking slowly by his side.
"As I thought, you did it, Narayan," Ankit blurted out as he put Akshat down near Aryaraj.
"You okay?" Aryaraj asked.
"I can still do a deadlift," Akshat said sarcastically.
"Heh, idiots," Narayan muttered, still looking at the building. It feels lively here… I think I should check that place.
Narayan glanced at Mayank, then slowly stood up.
"Hey Gautam, listen. I'll be back in a few minutes. Restrain him till then, please."
"Where are you going?" Gautam asked.
"To find the root cause. Don't worry—I'll be back soon," Narayan replied.
He glanced at everyone once, then teleported to the building's ground floor. Let's check silently.
He moved floor to floor using teleportation, scanning each one carefully, but found no one.
This is the last floor.
Narayan turned back—
A big wooden stick accelerated straight toward his face.
---
Near the group,
"ANKIT!" Gautam and Aryaraj screamed together.
A blazing blade accelerated toward Ankit.
To be continued…
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