SHIVA was thinking about the events of the past few days; everything was so strange. Before Pragya merged into Siya, she had sent Shiva one last telepathic message. For some unknown reason, even before Siya became a God, there was a realm within her soul. Saras had told Shiva that whenever an Heir becomes a God, a realm is formed within their soul called the 'Soul Realm.' However, a Soul Realm already existed inside Siya in a sealed state, as if someone were hiding her true identity.
At the same time, Rudra mentioned that Ansh's soul was as if someone had shattered it, and the most shocking part was that after becoming a God in the God Trial, it somehow became whole again. Karan's repeated attacks on Jedna, the strange visions seen in the ruins of Drone Mountain—Shiva remained silent, but his mind was deeply restless.
Suddenly, a memory flashed before his eyes—a vivid, powerful scene. He found himself standing in an ancient assembly hall, surrounded by towering figures. Their faces were blurred, but their voices echoed with authority and devotion.
"We pledge our loyalty to you, %#%#," they chanted, but for some reason, Shiva could not hear the specific name being called. Their voices resonated throughout the massive chamber.
Shubh (Shiva) felt a profound connection to the scene, as if it weren't just a dream, but a memory of a forgotten past. His heart began to race. He was trying to grasp the details when suddenly, the vision vanished.
Upon hearing someone call his name, Shubh blinked rapidly and returned to the present. His friends—Ansh, Kavi, and Tara—were there.
"Shubh?" Tara asked, seeing the lost expression in his eyes. "Are you okay?"
Shubh nodded, trying to clear the mental fog. "Yes… it was just a strange memory, perhaps."
Before anyone else could speak, there was a rustling of leaves in front of them. Kavi turned to look. Satya was standing there, gravity etched clearly on his face.
"Shiva," Satya said, "I am going for the God Trial."
Silence filled the room. The God Trial was a dangerous path from which many never returned. Satya's voice softened slightly.
"I might not come back. I don't know why, but I felt I should tell you. Something… isn't right. Darkness is rising in this world, more dangerous than ever before."
Shubh looked into Satya's eyes. He felt an unspoken bond between them. He wanted to stop Satya, to keep him away from the danger, but he knew—he didn't have that right.
"You will return," Shubh said softly, though he wasn't certain himself.
Satya nodded, cast one last look at Shubh, and left. The sound of his footsteps echoed down the corridor. As soon as Satya was gone, Ansh leaned forward.
"Do you think he can do it?"
Tara was hesitant. "If someone like you can become a God, why not Satya?"
Everyone began to laugh, but Shubh remained silent. The turbulence of that memory was still within him. Something in the world was changing—and he felt that somehow, everything was connected to him.
The Dark Fortress
Meanwhile, far away in a dark fortress... where even light was afraid to go, the Army of Darkness stood ready to destroy the world. The atmosphere was terrifying; a black miasma so thick that any ordinary creature entering would be transformed into a monster. In the sky, horrific black creatures circled continuously. Titans, whose footsteps could bury entire mountains into the earth, stood guard.
Through dark corridors, in a massive room, the Evil King sat on his throne. Behind his throne was his 10-foot-long sword, which looked like a massive, heavy chunk of metal. A terrifying aura spread around him, and Karan stood before him with his head bowed.
"I forbade you from fighting Shiva, didn't I? How did you have the audacity to disobey my command? It seems you are tired of being alive," the King said in a cold, anger-filled voice.
Karan kept his head bowed, but there was a strange excitement in his tone.
"My King, I admit my mistake is worthy of death; in fact, I should be given a punishment even harsher than death. But I could not let that opportunity go. However, I have discovered something… something very important that is enough to refute all current knowledge."
The King's eyes narrowed. "Oh? What have you found? If I don't find your words convincing, I will give you a punishment you haven't even imagined."
Karan stood up straight and spoke with a voice full of confidence.
"Shiva is no ordinary human. When I was fighting him, I saw some strange beings. Beings that were extremely powerful—existences never seen before—appeared with him. At first, I thought they were Gods. They killed three of our most powerful Generals without any effort."
The King's expression changed. "Beings as powerful as Gods? What are you saying? Could they be descendants of the Ancient Gods? But it is impossible for them to come here; they cannot survive on this earth because of Guru Shukracharya's curse."
Karan replied, "I have never felt such power. I believe those beings are linked to Shiva. They are his true strength. He is not just a human… he is far more dangerous than that."
The King's eyes grew deep. "And Jedna Village? The battle there?"
Karan smirked. "We suffered losses, yes. But we also gained a lot. We have handed over all the corrupt souls from there to the Queen. Many Heirs were killed by our hands. Their power will be the stepping stone for our next moves. Jedna was just the beginning."
The King leaned back, formulating new plans. "Good. Let them feel safe. We will strike again—and next time, Shiva will not survive."
Upon the King's command, Karan turned to leave and whispered to himself: "My foolish King, you think you are making everyone dance, but you yourself are becoming someone's pawn.