With a tiny spark of hope he had gathered from the ruins, Shubhu kept walking for hours. The broken stone roads of the fallen city slowly disappeared, replaced by the barren Shuke Banjar Forest—twisted roots, strangely shaped herbs, and a terrifying silence that felt as if it was breathing.
The glowing figures floated behind him, their soft light guiding the way through the darkness.
Yet in Shubhu's heart, the same burden remained—the destruction, the screams, and his guilt.
Both worlds—Earth and Satal—had now merged into one terrifying reality.
And at the center of this madness… he knew it was him.
He sat on a fallen tree trunk. The forest air was cold, but for the first time, something warm stirred inside him—a strange feeling that maybe… maybe he wasn't completely alone.
And in that moment, the silence of the forest broke.
Tiny glowing lights began to appear around him.
Faint at first, then slowly brighter.
The same lights—but this time, more defined, more alive.
Shubhu looked closely.
Among them, one shone brighter than all the others—as if it were their guide.
It slowly floated towards him.
There was no voice, and yet words echoed directly inside his mind—
"What has happened cannot be changed."
Its voice was deep but free of hatred.
"But what is yet to come… we can change."
Shubhu held his breath.
"Who… are you?"
The spirit came closer. Its glow was gentle, warm, almost human.
"We are the beings born from the birth of this new world."
"Your experiment created this world… and we are its result."
"You did not only destroy… you created something too. Us."
"And now, you are not alone."
A small spark of hope lit inside Shubhu.
Could he really… fix things?
With slight hesitation, he asked,
"Will… you help me?"
The spirit's light intensified.
"We will help you… and in return, you will help us."
"This will be a contract."
Shubhu blinked.
"A contract?"
"Yes."
"You need a new identity and strength… and we need your guidance."
"We will grant you our power. In return, you will protect us and help us understand this new world."
It was a chance—
a new path… and maybe redemption.
Shubhu took a deep breath.
"Alright… I accept your contract."
And in that very moment—
the entire forest lit up.
Countless flames swirled around him.
Their light poured into him—an unfamiliar energy pulsing through his veins.
His face tingled.
As if an unseen force was reshaping him.
The spirit's voice echoed again—
"We grant you a new face. A form that the gods will not recognize."
"This disguise will protect you."
Shubhu felt it—
he was no longer the same person.
Slowly, he stood up, fingers touching his new face.
A new form…
a new identity…
a new beginning.
The spirit spoke for the final time—
"This is the beginning, Shubhu. Give us a name."
Shubhu thought for a moment, then whispered,
"Spirits."
"Very well," the flame replied.
"From this moment, our kind shall be known as the Spirits. And now… your journey truly begins."
New power, a new face, and the Spirits by his side—
Shubhu was finally ready to face the world he had unknowingly created.
Author's Note
Shubhu's past still lies shrouded in shadows.
Who was he truly… and what made him capable of merging two entire worlds?
Was it merely a scientific accident, or something hidden deep within him—
a force even he never understood?
And then, the spirits.
Why are these glowing beings drawn to him?
Why do they feel connected to him—as if they have known him long before the collapse of the worlds?
And the greatest question of all—
What exactly are the powers of the Spirits?
What can they do?
Are they protectors of this new world…
or the first signs of something far greater, far more ancient?
Shubhu's forgotten past, the true nature of the Spirits,
and the secret behind the creation of this merged world—
all remain mysteries waiting to unfold.
To uncover these answers—
keep reading Divine Echoes.