The war had not yet begun, but the shadows had already clashed.
Vinay's forces moved in silence, slipping through the cracks of Goodie Hunters' defenses. These were not mere soldiers; they were trained **spies, assassins, and saboteurs**—each handpicked by **Vinay's most enigmatic commander, Rudra.**
Rudra was **not like the others.** He did not boast of power, did not seek recognition. Yet, among Vinay's commanders, he was **whispered about in awe and fear.**
Some said **he had never lost a battle.**
Some claimed **his power was so absolute that even the strongest warriors dared not challenge him.**
Others believed **he was more myth than man.**
But one thing was certain—**Rudra was unstoppable.**
---
Under Rudra's command, **Vinay's spies infiltrated Goodie Hunters' strongholds.**
- **Supplies mysteriously vanished.**
- **Key officials turned up dead in their chambers, no signs of forced entry.**
- **Important war maps were stolen from Karael's war room.**
The Goodie Hunters **knew something was wrong.**
Karael was **furious.** Despite her meticulous planning, someone was **outmaneuvering her.** Someone was **watching, predicting, countering.**
_"Who is doing this?"_ she muttered under her breath, staring at the reports of sabotage.
_"Rudra."_
The name came from **Elyas, the silent executioner.** He had seen traces, subtle signs of **a master infiltrator at work.**
_"I don't know how he moves, but I know one thing—if he is in play, we are already at a disadvantage."_
Karael exhaled, her mind racing. **This was no ordinary spy. This was an invisible force, a ghost in the war.**
_"Then we make him visible,"_ she whispered.
---
Karael began her own **counter-intelligence campaign.**
- She planted **false information**, feeding it through compromised channels.
- She used her own spies to **track movement patterns.**
- She deployed **Elyas** into the shadows, setting traps where she believed Rudra's men would strike next.
The trap was **set.**
One night, within a supply base, **a group of Vinay's spies slipped in, expecting another easy raid.** But the moment they touched the stolen maps—
**Steel flashed.**
In a heartbeat, **every spy except one was cut down.**
The survivor, wounded and gasping, barely managed to look up before a shadow fell over him.
**Elyas.**
_"Who sent you?"_ Elyas demanded.
The spy coughed, blood dripping from his lips. **"You already know his name."**
_"Rudra,"_ Elyas whispered.
The spy gave a weak smirk before his body went limp. A whisper passed through the air, and suddenly—
**The temperature dropped.**
Elyas turned sharply, his every instinct flaring. Someone **was here.**
No, not just someone.
**Him.**
A **figure** stood at the far end of the room, leaning against a pillar. His silhouette was barely visible in the dim torchlight.
_"So you finally noticed,"_ the man murmured, his voice calm, collected—**detached.**
Elyas took a step forward, but something in the air told him to **stop.**
This man was **different.**
**"Rudra,"** Elyas said, gripping his weapon tighter.
Rudra **smirked.**
_"Took you long enough to catch up."_
---
Rudra **was unlike any warrior Elyas had faced.**
His **presence was unnatural.** There was no anger, no bloodlust—**just control.**
Elyas had fought **assassins, spies, warriors.** He had fought men who could tear through walls, summon fire from the heavens.
But **Rudra felt different.**
There was **no wasted movement, no fear, no hesitation.**
Elyas had heard the rumors.
- That **Rudra never used his full power.**
- That **no one had ever seen him struggle in battle.**
- That **he had no weaknesses.**
And now, **Elyas was staring at him.**
For a brief moment, **neither moved.**
Then—**Rudra was gone.**
Not teleported. Not blurred by speed.
Just… **gone.**
And suddenly—
**A blade was at Elyas' throat.**
_"You're quick,"_ Rudra murmured, standing behind him now. **"But not quick enough."**
Elyas remained still. **If he moved even slightly, he was dead.**
But then—**Rudra stepped back.**
_"I don't need to kill you,"_ Rudra said, sheathing his weapon. **"Not yet."**
Elyas turned, his eyes narrowed. **"Why?"**
Rudra smirked. "Because I don't fight battles that are already won."
With that, **he vanished again.**
Elyas stood frozen. **For the first time in years, he felt something strange—helplessness.**
**Who was Rudra?**
And **why did he feel… unstoppable?**
---
The next day, Karael **reported everything to Manav.**
Manav listened in silence, his fingers steepled. When Karael finished, she **waited for his reaction.**
Instead, Manav simply… **smiled.**
_"Interesting,"_ he mused. **"I had almost forgotten about Rudra."**
Karael frowned. **"You know him?"**
Manav's eyes gleamed. **"More than you think."**
She hesitated. **"Then what do we do?"**
Manav stood, walking toward the window. Outside, the empire remained calm—unaware that the storm was **already here.**
_"We wait,"_ Manav said.
_"Because soon, Rudra will realize that even he is not beyond my sight."_