Viranth wasn't sure he heard correctly.
"Can you repeat that, Senapati?" he asked, blinking in disbelief.
But the Senapati's response was firm and serious—no trace of jest in his voice.
Before Viranth could question further, he suddenly felt a presence behind him—no, a touch.
A hand rested on his shoulder.
His instincts kicked in instantly. In a blur of motion, he terminated the transmission, summoned a barrier of water with a shouted incantation, and spun around, launching a torrent of water at his attacker's face.
It was a reflex—one born of war.
But to his shock, the intruder dodged effortlessly. The figure stepped forward, fire glowing in his palms, and struck, pushing Viranth back with a wave of heat.
Viranth's heart pounded. No one should have been able to cross the Lakshman Rekha. The magical defense around the base should've alerted him—unless… there was a gap in the barrier.
Still, this wasn't the time to question what had already happened.
He narrowed his eyes. The man before him radiated power.
Soul Stage... and fire-based.
Viranth drew his Transcendent sword without hesitation and entered his stance. The stranger unsheathed his weapon as well—his body and blade glowing with a deep crimson aura that distorted the air around him.
This was the worst-case scenario.
A Soul Stage opponent… with a Soul Stage weapon.
Viranth kept his face neutral, masking his fear. He knew he couldn't win. But if he could buy even a few precious moments—it would be enough.
With a silent breath, he activated a legacy technique from his clan, drawing on its Second Mastery. His movement blurred with speed. He had no intention of letting the enemy strike first.
But his opponent parried easily—and exhaled a stream of fire straight at his face.
The flames collided with the water barrier, sizzling and boiling the air. Though the barrier held, Viranth could feel the pressure. The enemy was wasting no time, throwing raw Soul Energy with abandon. He had the advantage of a fully unlocked Fourth Chakra—massive reserves of spiritual power.
Viranth dodged and reappeared behind his foe, aiming a precise stab with his sword.
But the man caught the blade with a single flaming hand, gripping it tightly. Viranth's sword trembled violently in his grasp, heat distorting the metal.
He went for a kick to the abdomen, but another hand intercepted him, throwing him back. Yet the commander refused to retreat without a fight. Using the enemy's grip as leverage, he pivoted and drove his knee into the man's face with all his might.
Had the enemy not been protected by Soul Energy, the blow would have knocked him unconscious. Even so, it visibly shook him—and drained a significant portion of his aura.
But it came at a cost.
Viranth winced. His thigh was scorched where he made contact, the fire aura burning through his clothes and skin.
Still, he stood, ready for more.
Then—suddenly—the enemy stopped.
His aura faded. His Soul Power dissipated.
Viranth's eyes narrowed. He's dropping his defenses? On a battlefield?
It made no sense.
Just as he was about to strike again, the man's communicator chimed. He answered casually—like they weren't in the middle of a deadly fight.
To Viranth's utter disbelief, Senapati's face appeared on the call.
"I believe introductions are no longer necessary," Senapati said calmly. "Commander Viranth, meet Chief Sumit of the Surya Clan. He is a Fourth Stage Soul user—and has been sent to aid you in defending this base."
Viranth froze.
He looked again at the man—Sumit—who now had a small, amused smile on his face. The realization sank in.
Sumit could have killed him the moment he touched his shoulder. And yet… he hadn't used a single fatal Soul Technique.
He was testing him.
Viranth exhaled and sheathed his sword.
"Chief Sumit," he said respectfully, "I, Commander Viranth, am at your service."
Sumit chuckled. "No need for formality, Commander. I just wanted to see what kind of warrior you were. Senapati spoke highly of your leadership. From what I've seen… he was right. This base still stands because of your strength."
"Thank you, Chief," Viranth replied.
Sumit's smile widened. "We'll handle this together. Let's devise a counterattack. This stronghold won't fall—not on our watch."
Senapati nodded through the hologram. "I trust both of you. Update me by the end of the day."
Together, the two warriors raised their fists and declared, "To Dharma!"
The call ended.
Sumit turned to Viranth, his expression now serious. "I've been observing from the shadows. We need to isolate the enemy's Soul Stage commander. Lure him out—alone. Then we strike."
Viranth nodded. "It's a solid plan… but he won't come out unless we offer the right bait."
There was a pause.
Then, Viranth spoke with quiet resolve.
"I'll be the bait."