Many years ago, when the world still swayed between fire and shadow,
there was a small settlement hidden in the depths of a mountainous forest, called Shantinagar.
But peace existed only in its name.
From the peaks of the Nilgiri hills came the bandit-chieftain Kalbhairav and his bloodthirsty gang,
spreading terror in every house of the village.
They seized crops, dragged away girls, and burned alive anyone who resisted—
just to see how long a person could scream in the flames.
It was a moonless night. The sky held no moon, only black clouds roared above.
Kalbhairav's gang had set fire in the middle of the village.
In front of them knelt the village elder, Rahmat Chacha.
A bandit raised his whip—the sound of tearing flesh was about to echo.
Then, the darkness split, and a deep, cold voice resounded:
"No matter how long the hand of the cruel reaches,
the shadow stretches far beyond it.
And today, that shadow will swallow you."
Everyone turned. There stood the village orphan, whom all called "Arian."
He looked ordinary, but his eyes… burned with blue-black fire.
The shadow at his feet rose from the ground, stretching toward the bandits—
like a living serpent.
Kalbhairav laughed, "This boy? I'll tear you apart with dogs!"
The bandits charged with swords and spears.
Arian did not move. Only his lips quivered into a terrifying smile.
The first bandit swung his sword—and Arian's shadow entwined with his,
the bandit screamed—his own shadow had grabbed his throat!
He tried to free himself with his hands, but the shadow shattered his fingers.
Blood splattered across the ground.
Arian spoke slowly, "You will receive far more than what you have done."
He closed his eyes.
Instantly, a river of fire surged through his veins.
His skin split, and red-black flames erupted.
He was no longer human—a burning shadow-beast.
Flashes of fire from his hands melted the bandits' weapons,
searing their bodies—but did not kill, only inflicted unbearable pain.
Then the most terrifying began.
Arian opened his eyes.
His gaze fell upon Kalbhairav.
The Mirror of the Mind awakened.
All the darkest sins of Kalbhairav—the ones he had murdered, burned, and looted—
stood alive before him.
Bloodied shadows surrounded him.
The girls and women he had humiliated climbed onto him, clawing at his body.
The dead stared into his eyes.
Kalbhairav screamed, "No… no… they're dead! They're dead!"
Arian advanced slowly.
His voice now thunderous and solemn:
"They are not dead. They live within you.
And today, they will consume you."
He raised his hand.
His shadow entered Kalbhairav's body.
Black smoke poured from his eyes.
Blood and fire erupted from his mouth.
He trembled and fell to the ground—alive, but insane.
His mind was shattered forever.
The bandits tried to flee.
But Arian's shadow rose from the ground, binding their legs.
Fire surged through them—inflicting pain, not death.
They screamed until they passed out.
The villagers watched, terrified and astonished.
Rahmat Chacha, his voice trembling, whispered, "You… who are you?"
Arian's eyes returned to normal.
But the fire inside him still burned.
He said,
"For the helpless who are alive.
For the cruel who will turn to ash.
My name is Arian.
And from today, any tyrant who sets foot in this land…
his shadow will be mine. His blood will be my fire.
And his mind… my mirror."
He melted into the shadows, leaving behind only a blazing mark—
and the insane screams of Kalbhairav.
A rumor spread through the village—
"A boy has come…
whose shadow brings death…
whose fire devours blood…
whose eyes make your sins come alive…"
But that was only the first taste of blood.
Deeper darkness, greater tyrants, more terrifying enemies awaited.
Arian's true battle had not yet begun.