The wind howled wildly atop the mountain.
Whoooosh—!
Dust and shards of rock scattered across the ground as Lioran and Aishwarya faced each other under a dark sky..
The duel that had been awaited for days—the Dwandh—was begun.
Aishwarya's black short hair fluttered in the tempest as her eyes locked onto him, sharp and burning.
"This time," she said, her voice cold as embers hissing under rain, "you won't be saved."
Lioran smirked slightly, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
"Let's see about that."
Without another word, Aishwarya's palms ignited.
FWOOOM! FWOOOM!
"Flame Ball!" Blazing spheres of fire burst into existence, spinning in the air before being hurled toward him with searing force.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Lioran darted sideways, barely avoiding each impact. The fireballs struck the stone ground, bursting into showers of molten sparks.
His body flickered—his steps almost weightless—He was using Prāṇa Swift to dodge those blazing spheres.
"These attacks…" Lioran muttered as he rolled across the ground and leapt back to his feet. "I saw them that night."
[Flashback – One Day Ago]
Lioran stood before Shourya, the setting sun painting the ashram in orange and gold.
"Shourya," he said, "what were those fiery Prāṇa spheres Aishwarya used? They were different… sharper… alive."
Shourya's expression hardened. "Hmm… so she's learned that already."
"What do you mean?" Lioran asked.
"Those who master the common Prāṇa techniques," Shourya said slowly, "can fuse them with their Prāṇa attribute—fire, wind, water—to forge new attacks. They become techniques born of one's essence."
Lioran clenched his fist. "So… she can mix her fire with raw Prāṇa?"
"Exactly," Shourya nodded. "But don't worry. She's only recently learned it. Such fusion consumes enormous stamina and Prāṇa. Her control isn't mature yet. You…"—he smiled faintly—"have a much larger Prāṇa reserve. Wait for your chance."
Lioran nodded silently. "Hmm."
[Back to Present]
Fwoosh—! Fwoosh—!
Aishwarya's flames chased him like angry spirits.
Lioran slid across the rocky ground, using Prāṇa Swift to blur his figure again and again.
(I just have to keep dodging… until her stamina runs dry.)
Aishwarya's breath grew heavier. Her steps faltered slightly, her attacks slowing.
"How is he still this fast? He's using Prāṇa Swift… perfectly!" she thought, frustration flickering behind her fiery gaze. "I underestimated him. I'll have to end this quickly!"
She slammed her palms together.
THUMP!
The air rippled as new flames swirled around her.
Lioran saw his chance.
He lunged—WHOOSH!—and charged straight toward her, fist blazing with golden Prāṇa.
"PRĀṆA FIST!"
Aishwarya's eyes widened in shock.
(He's attacking head-on?!)
She slammed a hand onto the ground.
"Flame Wall!"
BOOOOOM—!!!
A sheet of fire erupted from the earth, splitting the battlefield in two.
Lioran's golden fist stopped inches before the blaze. Instinctively, he twisted midair, invoking Prāṇa Shift to push himself back just before the flames devoured him.
Swoosh—!
But from behind that blazing wall—
Aishwarya burst forth!
SHHHHH—!
Her figure emerged like a phoenix, arm pulled back.
"Fire Punch!"
CRACK—!
Her flaming fist slammed into his stomach.
"Gah—!"
Lioran was hurled backward, crashing onto the rocky ground.
THUD!
Smoke curled from the burned hole in his shirt, the fabric blackened, skin charred underneath.
Aishwarya exhaled sharply, flames dying from her hands.
"Oh… did I overdo it?" she said, panting. "I hope you knew our bet."
Lioran's vision blurred, but her words reignited his will. The memory of that bet flashed in his mind.
He gritted his teeth and pushed himself upright, leaning on a boulder for support.
Aishwarya raised a brow. "You still have strength to stand? Don't worry," she said, her tone mockingly gentle. "I'll knock you out quickly… and painlessly."
Her fist glowed with deep orange light as she gathered Prāṇa once more.
The ground cracked beneath her step as she lunged forward—
ZOOOM!
Her punch cut through the air toward his face—
—but at the very last instant, Lioran tilted his head aside.
SWISH—!
Her fist missed by an inch.
"What—?!"
Lioran grabbed her arm, twisted, and drove his Prāṇa-infused fist straight into her abdomen.
THUD!
Aishwarya coughed, staggering backward. "Hhh—khaa!"
She clutched her stomach, eyes wide. "How…? You took a direct hit from my fire punch! Some of your ribs must be broken. How can you still move?"
Then she froze.
The smoke from his burned shirt cleared—
—and a faint, glowing circle of symbols shimmered on his stomach.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "No… that can't be… You know Prāṇa Sigil?!"
Lioran nodded slightly. "Yeah. I learned it… recently."
His voice was calm, steady, almost serene now. "Now it's my turn."
He dashed forward—BOOM!—and the battlefield erupted into close combat.
Their fists collided with raw force.
THAAM! THAAM! THAAM!
Sparks of fire and golden light scattered each time they struck.
Aishwarya attacked ferociously, her movements a blur of fiery afterimages, but Lioran matched her blow for blow.
Their battle grew faster, rougher—each punch echoing like thunder.
"What do you think?" Aishwarya growled through clenched teeth. "I trained every single day… to overcome my weakness!"
Lioran smiled faintly. "That's it. Keep pushing."
BAM! BAM!
Their fists met again, shockwaves spreading through the ground.
"So this is real close combat… far tougher than sparring dummies." Lioran thought. His arms ached, lungs burned, but something within him—an instinct—kept driving him forward.
"He's really improved this much in just a week?" Aishwarya thought, struggling to keep pace. "No… I won't lose to him!"
CRACK—!
They clashed again, sweat and dust flying through the air.
Far away, on a rocky cliff overlooking the battlefield, figures cloaked in black watched silently.
"Look at them," one whispered, peering through binoculars. "So foolish. They don't even know… they're about to die."
A deeper, rougher voice answered from the shadows. "Enough watching."
The speaker stepped into the dim light—It's Bheem.
"Leader," another cloaked man said, "everything's ready. We're waiting for your order."
Bheem's expression was cold, almost bored. "Hand me the binoculars."
He peered through them, eyes narrowing as he focused on the Lioran fighting amidst the flame. "That face…" he murmured. "It's him."
He lowered the binoculars, his lips curling into a faint grin. "The world really is small."
"Sir," one of his men said, pointing, "the launcher's ready."
Bheem turned.
Behind them stood a massive missile launcher, hidden under camouflaged netting, its barrel aimed directly toward the sacred peak where Lioran and Aishwarya fought.
"Perfect," Bheem said. He cracked his knuckles. "Let's end this."
Back on the battlefield, Lioran's golden Prāṇa flared again. He landed another solid hit against Aishwarya's abdomen.
THUD!
She staggered back, falling to one knee.
"How… how did he get this strong in just one week?" she thought, clutching her stomach, her breath trembling. "Could it be… he really is Vaelion's heir?"
Lioran's chest heaved as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "She's so strong… even now I can barely keep up. If she weren't exhausted, I'd have already lost."
Aishwarya tried to rise, but her body trembled. Her flames flickered weakly around her hands. "My stamina's almost gone… my Prāṇa too… but this—this will be my final strike."
She drew a deep breath, gathering the last of her strength.
Her hand burst into a fiery glow, brighter than before.
"I'll end this in one hit," she whispered. "All of it!"
Lioran mirrored her, summoning golden energy to his own fist.
Particles of light swirled around his fist, forming tiny motes like drifting fireflies.
Aishwarya shouted, "Fire Punch!"
Lioran roared, "Prāṇa Fist!"
The mountain trembled as they charged toward each other.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Every step cracked the earth beneath them. The air itself warped from the heat and pressure of their converging forces.
Far above, on the cliff—Bheem pressed the trigger.
KAA-CHUNK!
A deafening roar followed.
SSSHHHHHH—!!!
A missile tore through the sky, leaving behind a white tail of smoke and fire. The sheer pressure of its launch shook the entire valley.
Lioran's and Aishwarya's fists were inches away from colliding when Lioran's eyes widened—he felt the incoming surge of danger.
"A missile…?"
He stopped his attack instantly. But Aishwarya, unaware, drove her flaming punch straight into his stomach.
CRASH—!
"Guh—!" Blood splattered from his mouth, yet instead of falling, he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her backward with all his might.
Aishwarya stumbled, confused.
Lioran turned his back to her and faced the oncoming missile. His body glowed faintly with golden light.
"Prāṇa Sigil" he shouted.
SHOOOOOM—!!!
The missile struck.
KAAAAA—BOOOOOOM!!!
A blinding explosion engulfed the mountaintop.
Flames erupted skyward, swallowing everything in a furious inferno.
BWWWWOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
TO BE CONTINUED…