The sun peeked over the horizon, casting golden light on the rough sands of the island. One by one, they stirred awake, rubbing sore bodies and blinking against the bright morning.
Ayaan sat up, his gaze scanning the strange land around them. "He only punched us once," he muttered, "and we ended up here. How are we supposed to beat the Ocean King if one hit throws us this far?"
Anant stretched, wincing. "Yeah, that punch felt like it could've crushed us. We're nowhere near ready."
Aditya frowned, pacing back and forth. "We can't just sit here. We have to find a way to fight smarter. Strength alone won't win this."
Anshuman looked out at the crashing waves. "The Ocean King's power comes from the sea itself. Maybe if we understand his domain, we can find his weakness."
Rhea, quietly listening, finally spoke. "We survived the king's punch. That means we're stronger than we think. We just need to be clever."
The group fell silent for a moment, each lost in thought. The ocean roared in the distance, a reminder of the battle still ahead.
"We'll train," Ayaan said firmly. "Learn the island. Prepare ourselves. The Ocean King won't catch us off guard again."
Ayaan stood tall, the ocean breeze brushing against his face. He pulled out a small waterproof case and opened it, revealing fifteen shiny, dark-blue gums inside.
"This gum," Ayaan said, holding one up, "will let us breathe underwater for two hours. We have fifteen. If all five of us eat one now… we'll have ten left."
Everyone stared at the gums like they were magic pearls.
Aditya grabbed his. "So we're going underwater?"
"Yeah," Ayaan nodded. "We're going to find the Ocean King's weakness. And whatever it is… it's not on land."
Anshuman whistled. "Alright then. Time to go deep diving."
Rhea took her gum quietly and looked at Ayaan. "Let's find what he's hiding."
One by one, they all chewed the gum. A strange coolness filled their lungs, like breathing in minty fog. Then, without another word, they ran to the shoreline, dove into the ocean, and disappeared beneath the waves—heading straight into the kingdom of the Ocean King.
As they swam deeper into the ocean, everything around them grew darker, quieter—except for one thing.
Thump… thump… thump…
Ayaan suddenly stopped mid-swim. His eyes narrowed.
"Wait," he signaled to the others, pointing downward.
They paused, floating in the deep blue silence. The sound grew louder in Ayaan's ears—like a giant heart pounding from somewhere below the seabed.
Thump… thump…
"It's not just sound," Ayaan whispered through their underwater comms. "It's alive. Something's… beating. I think it's a heart."
Anshuman looked around, confused. "You mean like a monster?"
"No," Ayaan replied. "I think it's his heart. The Ocean King's power source. If we break it… he gets weaker."
Aditya stared into the depths. "Cool. So how do we reach it?"
They all looked down. Far below, through layers of glowing kelp and thick shadows, a faint reddish glow pulsed with every beat—protected by layers of sharp coral, whirlpools, and massive sea creatures swimming in circles like guards.
Rhea swallowed. "Well… anyone got a plan that doesn't involve getting eaten?"
Ayaan clenched his fist. "Yeah. We break through it. One step at a time."
And they began to descend—toward the heart of the sea, and the secret that could bring the Ocean King to his knees.
The deeper they swam, the louder the thumping grew. The glowing red heart was massive—bigger than a house, pulsing slowly in a deep underwater cave surrounded by strange black rocks and swirling currents.
Ayaan floated in front of it, eyes locked. "This is it," he said. "Let's see if this thing feels pain."
He pulled back his fist and slammed it into the heart.
BOOOOM!
The heart shook. Instantly, a deafening roar echoed through the ocean. It was so loud, it made the water tremble.
"The Ocean King…" Anshuman gasped.
Aditya's eyes widened. "He felt that."
"Then let him feel more!" Rhea shouted.
All five of them charged at the heart and punched it together, again and again. The cave shook with each blow, cracks spreading across the heart's glowing surface.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
And then—everything went silent.
The water turned colder.
In less than ten seconds, a shadow appeared.
The Ocean King emerged right in front of them, his enormous body floating like a mountain in the sea. His eyes locked onto them, glowing like deep-sea fire, his face twisted in fury.
He didn't speak. He just stared—a deadly, furious stare that made the ocean itself feel afraid.
The Ocean King hovered in front of them, his body radiating pressure like a tidal wave. The currents around him swirled violently, the sea darkening with his rage. His eyes burned into theirs—but something was different.
Ayaan narrowed his gaze. "He's slower… his aura's weaker. The heart's damage—he felt it."
"Only 10% damaged," Anshuman said, teeth gritted. "And he's still a monster."
"He's still too strong for a full fight," Aditya growled. "We can't beat him head-on."
Anant turned to Rhea. "You saw how the heart reacted to your energy. You hit it harder than anyone."
Ayaan nodded. "You're the key now. Rhea, you go for the heart. We'll keep him busy."
Rhea's eyes widened. "What? Alone?"
"You're the fastest here underwater," Anshuman said. "And your punches shook it last time."
The Ocean King raised his massive arm.
"No time to argue," Ayaan barked. "Go, Rhea!"
Without hesitation, the four boys swam straight toward the Ocean King, drawing his attention with blasts, quick attacks, and risky feints.
"HEY! FISH HEAD!" Aditya shouted, slamming into the King's chest.
"Over here, ugly!" Anant taunted, darting past his arm.
The Ocean King growled and lunged at them.
Meanwhile, Rhea turned, clenched her fists, and swam at full speed toward the massive heart—ready to shatter it with everything she had.
As Rhea shot toward the heart like a streak of lightning, the Ocean King suddenly froze. His glowing eyes shifted—locking onto her.
He felt it. The threat.
With a furious roar that made the sea itself tremble, he turned and charged at her with terrifying speed, faster than anyone expected.
"NO!" Ayaan shouted.
"HE'S GOING FOR RHEA!" Anshuman yelled.
Without a second thought, all four of them swam in front of the Ocean King, forming a living shield.
Aditya slammed his fists into the king's face.
Anshuman slashed past him with blinding speed.
Anant grabbed his arm, trying to slow him down.
Ayaan drove a full-powered Shadow Storm into the king's chest.
But it wasn't enough.
With one massive swing, the Ocean King slammed all four of them into a giant rock wall. The impact shook the entire cave. Blood mixed with the water.
Then—he didn't stop.
BAM!
A punch into Anshuman's gut.
BAM!
A backhand across Aditya's face.
BAM BAM BAM!
Fists rained down like underwater thunder on Ayaan and Anant.
They couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. He was going to crush them—to end them.
And as the king roared again, Rhea's eyes burned with fury.
She clenched her fists, screamed underwater, and launched forward—toward the heart, and toward revenge.
Rhea reached the heart, its pulsing weaker now, but still alive—still glowing. She clenched her fists and screamed underwater, slamming punch after punch into it.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
But no cracks appeared.
Her knuckles bled. Her arms trembled. Her strength—wasn't enough.
Behind her, the Ocean King unleashed his fury.
BAM!
Aditya's body floated limply after another blow.
CRACK!
Anshuman's back slammed into the rock again, unmoving.
BOOM! BOOM!
Ayaan and Anant were crushed beneath the king's fists, blood spreading into the water like smoke.
They were barely conscious—broken, bruised, silent.
Rhea looked back, heart breaking. Her friends… her family… They were dying.
Tears mixed with the sea.
She turned to the heart again, fury rising like a storm inside her.
"I won't let you win…" she whispered, fists shaking.
"I WON'T LET YOU KILL THEM!!"
And something inside her began to awaken.
Rhea's scream echoed through the water—not from fear, but from awakening.
A sudden burst of light exploded around her, swirling like a storm. Symbols danced across her arms. Her eyes glowed fiercely. The ocean trembled.
"I… I can feel them," she gasped. "The creatures of the sea… they're answering me."
Monster Control —a rare, ancient power long forgotten.
She stretched her arms out wide. "Come to me, guardians of the ocean!"
From the shadows of the deep, enormous sea monsters emerged—massive turtles with glowing shells, serpent-like eels with lightning coursing through their bodies, and a whale-sized shark with a crystal horn. They circled around her, roaring silently through the waves.
Rhea pointed at the Ocean King. "Attack!"
The creatures charged, surrounding the Ocean King. For the first time—he looked surprised.
BOOM!
The turtle slammed into him.
ZAP!
The electric eels coiled and struck.
CRACK!
The shark tackled him with a roar.
But the Ocean King snarled and began fighting back. One by one, he tore through them. His power was still overwhelming.
Rhea floated, weak. "I… I can only control friendly monsters. These were all I had…"
The last monster fell, and the Ocean King turned to her, eyes blazing with victory.
BAM!
He punched her hard across the face, sending her crashing into the sea floor.
He laughed—a loud, booming, cruel laugh that echoed through the water like thunder. He raised his fist again, ready to end it.
But then—everything stopped.
A deadly silence.
A shadow appeared behind the king. The water around it pulsed with power. The Ocean King turned—too late.
CRAAACK!!
Ayaan, his aura blazing brighter than ever before, slammed his fist straight into the Ocean King's face.
The impact sent the king flying backward, crashing into the same rock where the others had nearly died.
The water shook. The cave rumbled. The Ocean King didn't move.
Rhea, floating weakly, opened her eyes. She saw Ayaan—glowing, fierce, alive.
Then she saw Aditya, Anshuman, and Anant floating up beside him—wounded, but standing.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She swam forward and wrapped her arms around all of them.
"I thought I lost you guys," she whispered.
"You never will," Ayaan said quietly.
And for a moment, in the depths of the ocean, surrounded by danger… there was only warmth.
As they floated together, recovering for just a moment, something shifted.
The water darkened once again.
The Ocean King slowly rose from the shattered rock wall, cracks across his body, blood trailing from his mouth—but his eyes burned brighter than ever.
He stretched out his hand and growled, voice echoing through the deep:
"MY OVERPOWERED TRIDENT… COME TO ME!"
A deafening hum filled the ocean.
From the depths below, the water split apart. A blinding light shot upward—and into his hand flew a weapon that made the sea tremble.
It was enormous, glowing with ancient power—the Legendary Trident. Its blades shimmered with gold, lightning cracked around it, and strange runes pulsed like a heartbeat.
The Ocean King's body was engulfed in a new aura—dark blue and silver flames wrapping around him like armor.
He pointed the trident at them, a cruel smile on his face.
"You damaged my heart… but now I'll break yours."
But the team wasn't backing down.
One by one, they stepped forward.
Aditya's fists lit up with red fire.
Anshuman's speed aura shimmered like lightning.
Anant's aura wrapped him in solid stone and wind.
Rhea's aura returned, stronger—brighter than before.
And Ayaan… his aura flared like a dark storm, swirling with shadows and light combined.
All of them stood, side by side, their auras burning strong beneath the waves.
Ayaan stepped forward. "Legendary Trident or not… this ends now."
The Ocean King slammed his Legendary Trident into the ocean floor with a thunderous force. Cracks spiderwebbed across the seabed, sending shockwaves rippling through the water.
The ground trembled violently beneath them.
But before the king could raise the trident again, a powerful fist burst from behind him—Ayaan's punch crashing into his back with unstoppable force.
The Ocean King grunted, staggering forward.
Then, from every direction, the others surged forward, their fists and powers striking together in perfect unison.
Aditya's fiery fists burned bright, smashing into the king's side.
Anshuman blurred like lightning, slashing rapid strikes across his arms.
Anant's stone-wind aura slammed into the king's legs, trying to bind him.
Rhea's controlled monsters surged beside her, their energy adding to the assault.
They hammered the Ocean King relentlessly—punch after punch, strike after strike—until the Legendary Trident trembled in his grip.
The king roared in pain, staggered, and the battle raged on beneath the crashing waves.
The Ocean King, blood dripping from his lips, gripped his trident tighter and shouted with rage,
"MY TRIDENT… CRUSH EVERYTHING!"
He lifted it high, and with a deafening surge of power, the trident unleashed a colossal underwater blast. A massive shockwave of light and energy exploded outward—shattering rocks, ripping currents apart, and launching Ayaan and the others flying in all directions.
Silence followed.
Bubbles rose. Debris floated. The sea grew eerily still.
The Ocean King stood tall, breathing heavily, thinking it was over. He slowly lifted his trident again, a twisted grin forming.
But then—
five shadows appeared in front of him.
Through the fading dust and broken currents… stood Ayaan, Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, and Rhea—burnt, bleeding, and bruised—but standing.
Their eyes were glowing.
Their auras burned brighter than ever.
Ayaan wiped blood from his mouth. "Rhea… go. Hit him. Now."
Without hesitation, Rhea dashed forward and launched a full-force punch into the king's chest.
BOOM!
The Ocean King flinched—but barely. The damage was minimal.
He growled and raised his arm to strike her.
But before he could—
they were all there.
Ayaan.
Aditya.
Anshuman.
Anant.
Standing in front of Rhea, shoulder to shoulder.
Their eyes locked on the king—staring him down to death.
No words.
No fear.
Only one message in their glare:
"You lay a hand on her, and you're finished."
The Ocean King let out a final roar of fury, lifting his Legendary Trident high into the water, aiming to slam it down one last time—enough to crush the sea floor and bury them all.
"THIS ENDS NOW!" he bellowed.
But before the weapon could strike—
Ayaan moved.
In a blur of speed and power, he appeared above the king, eyes blazing with unstoppable energy. His hands gripped the trident mid-air.
The ocean froze.
Everyone stared.
Ayaan's muscles tensed, his aura exploding around him like a black-and-gold storm. The trident fought back, glowing violently, sparks of energy cracking through the water.
"You don't end this," Ayaan growled, "I DO!"
And with a final, earth-shaking scream—
CRAAAAACK!!
He snapped the trident in half.
The moment the weapon broke, a blinding explosion erupted. The entire ocean lit up with white-blue flames. The shockwave blasted through the water like a tsunami, sending rubble flying, shaking the sea to its very core.
The Ocean King let out one final roar—then vanished into the blast.
Gone.
Silence followed. The waters calmed.
Slowly, glowing particles of energy drifted through the sea… and each one of them—Ayaan, Rhea, Aditya, Anshuman, and Anant—was surrounded by a soft, glowing light.
A notification appeared in their minds:
[STATS INCREASED!]
+2 Strength
+2 Speed
+2 Intelligence
+3 Health
New Ability Unlocked: Team Sync Mode
They floated in the quiet, eyes wide, hearts pounding.
They had done it.
They had defeated the Ocean King.
The ocean slowly began to calm, the battlefield now just broken rocks and drifting silence. The shattered remains of the Ocean King's domain settled into darkness.
Ahead of them, the gates of the ancient Temple of Tides creaked open.
Inside, glowing blue lights lit the path, and at the end of the grand hall stood a towering throne—made of coral, sea crystals, and ancient gold. The throne of the Ocean King.
Ayaan walked forward.
Silent.
Each step echoed through the water like thunder. His aura still burned around him—dark, calm, but terrifying. His eyes didn't blink. His fists remained clenched.
Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, and Rhea watched in silence. No one said a word.
He reached the throne.
Then, with the weight of a ruler who had conquered kingdoms, Ayaan turned around... and slowly sat down.
The ocean trembled slightly, as if the sea itself was now bowing.
In that moment—he didn't look like a challenger anymore.
He looked like a king.
A deadly one.
A silent one.
The new ruler of the deep.
As their glowing auras slowly faded, silence wrapped around the Temple of Tides. The team stood in awe, taking in the beauty of the ancient ocean temple—glowing walls, statues of sea guardians, and a calm that almost felt peaceful.
But something didn't feel right.
Rhea noticed a small stone box near the base of the throne. "What's this?" she asked, swimming toward it.
Inside was a note—old, water-worn, but still readable.
She opened it carefully, and all five gathered around as she read the words carved in deep blue ink:
"When the Ocean King falls, the true end begins."
"Beneath the deep underworld of the ocean, far below even this temple, a force far older sleeps."
"He is not a god, not a beast—he is the forgotten."
"The only ruler in history who stood as tall as a mortal man..."
"...but wore the most powerful armor ever forged beneath the sea."
"He held the power to destroy the entire ocean in a single blow."
"He was sealed—not defeated."
"And now… with the Ocean King gone…"
"He will awaken."
The note ended with a chilling final line:
"You have defeated the king. Now… face the consequence of that victory."
The temple suddenly rumbled.
From deep below—a low, echoing sound like a giant heartbeat.
Ayaan stood from the throne, eyes narrowing.
"It's not over," he said darkly. "Something worse… is coming."
The temple shook gently beneath their feet, the water stirring with unseen energy. The heartbeat-like thumping from the deep underworld grew louder… slower… heavier.
Anshuman's voice cracked through the silence, "We need to move. Now."
Ayaan nodded and quickly pulled out the last pieces of glowing gum—the very last five.
"This is it," he said, handing one to each of them. "Last batch. After this… we've got five hours underwater."
Aditya took his with a smirk, masking the tension. "Five hours to survive the end of the ocean? Easy."
Anant popped his in. "Better than five minutes."
Rhea clenched hers tightly before chewing. "No more running. We finish what we started."
One by one, they chewed the final gum. Instantly, a rush of cool air filled their lungs—lungs now ready for one final descent.
Ayaan looked down toward the dark pit beneath the temple, where the heartbeat grew louder.
"Five hours," he said.
"Let's find out what's waiting in the deep."
And together, they dove into the abyss—toward the underworld of the ocean, where the true terror was beginning to rise.
As they swam deeper into the abyss, the light from the Temple of Tides faded behind them—swallowed by crushing darkness. The water grew colder. Thicker. Heavier.
Then they saw them.
Massive shadows moving in the black.
Eyes—dozens of them—glowing red and yellow. Teeth like jagged blades. Tentacles with armored scales. Gigantic fins that sliced through the water without a sound.
They weren't just sea creatures.
They were monsters born from nightmares.
Each one was stronger, faster, and far more terrifying than anything they'd faced before. The team pressed their backs to the jagged walls of underwater cliffs, holding their breath despite the gum, praying not to be noticed.
One of the monsters—easily the size of a submarine—slid right past them, its body covered in ancient scars and broken chains, like it had once been imprisoned.
Rhea whispered through her comm, "These things… they weren't here before. They're coming from the underworld too."
"They're guarding something," Anshuman said, voice tight.
"No," Ayaan said, his eyes locked ahead. "They're running from something."
The others turned to look. The shadows of the monsters were moving upward—away from whatever lay below.
And in the deepest pit, they could feel it.
That heartbeat again. Slow. Steady.
BOOM…
BOOM…
Something ancient was waking up.
Something even the horrors of the deep feared.
As they descended to the very bottom of the ocean, the water turned pitch black. Not even their lights could cut through the darkness. But then—
A massive pulse of energy rippled through the deep.
A faint glow appeared… revealing a sight so overwhelming that they froze in place.
There it was.
A gigantic throne, carved from the bones of sea beasts and black stone, fused together with ancient power. Coral had wrapped around its base, glowing ominously. And sitting upon it… was him.
An armored warrior.
Not like the Ocean King they had just defeated—no. This one was something else. His armor was jagged, thick, and ancient, pulsing with blue flames that didn't belong underwater. His helmet had no face—only darkness and two burning blue eyes within.
And in his hand…
A sword.
It was long. Taller than most of them. The blade shimmered with a cursed light, etched with runes of destruction. It looked like it had drunk the blood of crores of monsters and kings. The air—or rather, the water—around it felt heavy with death. Every sea creature nearby had fled. Every soul instinctively wanted to bow or run.
Even Ayaan's heart skipped a beat.
The warrior didn't speak.
He slowly stood.
And as he did, the ocean floor trembled. The pressure around them increased. Their gums were working—but barely.
Aditya whispered, "That sword… it's not just a weapon. It's a graveyard."
Anant muttered, "What… what is he?"
Ayaan narrowed his eyes and said quietly, "Not a king. Not a guardian. He's the Executioner of the ocean."
The figure raised the sword—
—and pointed it straight at Ayaan.
The battle of the abyss was about to begin.
In the blink of an eye—
CLANG!
The warrior dropped his massive sword.
Before anyone could react, he vanished.
BOOM!!
A blur—faster than lightning—slammed his fist right into Ayaan's chest. Ayaan's eyes widened as he was launched backwards, crashing through a stone pillar with thunderous force.
Before the others could even blink—
WHAM! WHAM! THUD! THUD!
Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, even Rhea—were all struck down in an instant. One blow each. No wasted movement. They didn't even see his punches coming. It was as if he was teleporting with pure speed and pressure.
They all lay scattered across the throne room floor—gasping, dazed, in shock.
The warrior stepped forward slowly, his armored boots crushing bits of the stone floor beneath him.
He wasn't towering or monstrous in size. In fact… he was around the same height as them.
But his aura… was monstrous.
Ayaan, coughing and clutching his ribs, looked up with gritted teeth. "He's not… a beast…"
Aditya groaned, "He's... a machine in armor…"
Anant muttered, "No emotion. No delay. Just... destruction."
Anshuman whispered, "That punch… felt like I got hit by a planet."
The armored warrior finally spoke, in a deep voice that echoed through the water like thunder:
"You killed the Ocean King.
You opened the seal.
Now face the true guardian...
The one who was never meant to wake up."
His fists clenched, and the pressure of the deep sea twisted around him like a storm.
Ayaan pushed himself up slowly, blood leaking from his lip.
He whispered to the others, "This is the real trial..."
And then louder, he shouted—
"Get up! This is the fight that decides everything!"
The underwater abyss had become a battlefield.
And the deadliest enemy yet had just begun his attack.
The armored warrior's voice rumbled like an earthquake underwater—cold, broken, and filled with unimaginable rage.
"I was the only one who defeated all the kings... alone. No armies. No help. Just me and my son."
He took a slow step forward, and with each step, the ground cracked beneath him—even underwater. The currents around him began to twist violently.
"But they feared my strength. They feared what we could become."
His fist clenched tight—metal groaning.
"So they trapped me here... and in front of my eyes..."
The warrior's voice cracked—just once.
"They killed my son."
The water around them rippled violently, like a coming tsunami.
His helmet lifted slightly as he looked toward the ruined ceiling of the temple.
"I screamed... I broke mountains in my rage. But nothing brought him back."
He looked back at Ayaan and the others now standing weakly, blood dripping, bruised—but refusing to fall.
"Now... your world has awakened me.
Your war has broken the seal.
And my rage... will destroy everything."
A massive aura exploded from him like a dark explosion of wrath. His once glowing eyes turned to blazing red, and his broken sword floated back to his hand on its own—metal reforming, alive with the souls of the kings he once destroyed.
Ayaan whispered to Rhea, "He's not just a warrior…"
Aditya growled, "He's a god of vengeance…"
Anant muttered, "His power… is like standing in the middle of a volcano…"
Anshuman stood beside them, shivering slightly, "And we woke him up."
Ayaan stepped forward slowly, bruised but burning with resolve.
"Then let your rage come, old warrior…
We've faced kings. We've faced monsters.
And now we'll face you."
The throne room shook.
The final fight in the abyss had begun.
And it would be war.
The warrior's laugh echoed through the ocean temple like a demonic thunderclap. Even the water around him seemed to vibrate with fear.
"You call yourself brave..." he said, his voice now twisted with mockery.
"That king you fought—his full power couldn't scratch me when I was using only one percent of mine."
He stepped forward again, and the throne behind him crumbled into dust from the pressure of his aura.
"You think you're strong because you broke his heart?"
"You think destroying a heart means victory?"
His chestplate suddenly ripped open, revealing… nothing.
Just a black void—a swirling emptiness where his heart should've been.
"I have no heart.
No weakness.
No soul left to break."
The ocean grew darker. Even the glowing fish fled. Even the monsters that had terrified Ayaan's group were now swimming away in terror.
"You defeated a king...
But I am not a king."
He raised his blade to the sky.
"I am the curse that made kings kneel.
I am the weapon that ended gods.
I am Wrath itself!"
The entire ocean temple began to tremble as the sword ignited with black-red energy. Pillars shattered. The water boiled near him.
Rhea whispered, terrified, "He's... not alive anymore. He's a storm."
Ayaan stood still, eyes sharp. He cracked his neck once.
"Then it's simple," Ayaan said coldly.
"We fight the storm."
Aditya punched his fists together. "Let's destroy his 1% first…"
Anant pulled out his upgraded blade. "We've come too far to drown now."
Anshuman's eyes flashed. "Let's make the ocean remember who we are."
The final battle beneath the sea was about to begin.
Against a warrior with no heart.
No weakness.
And no mercy.
The Wrath of the Abyss has awakened.
As all five of them — Ayaan, Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, and Rhea — roared and charged forward, they unleashed their combined punch, their powers swirling together like a storm:
Shadow Storm from Ayaan Blazing Fury Fists from Aditya Lightning Mirage from Anshuman Phantom Blade Aura from Anant And even Rhea's rising force, glowing with her newly awakened strength
Their punches collided and formed a massive energy vortex, tearing through the ground, shaking the ocean temple.
"RAAAAAH!!"
The vortex blasted toward the armored warrior—Wrath himself.
But…
He didn't dodge.
He didn't raise his sword.
He didn't even blink.
He simply took one step forward.
And in that single step…
BOOM!!!
A shockwave exploded from his body, so fast and strong it shattered the vortex like glass.
Before they could even understand what happened—
SLAM!!!
All five of them were sent flying, crashing into the massive stone wall behind them like rag dolls.
The impact was so loud, it echoed like an earthquake.
Dust and rubble flew. Blood dripped. The wall cracked behind their bodies.
They all groaned, barely conscious.
Wrath didn't move anymore. He stood still.
"You dare raise your hands against me?"
His voice was like thunder in a coffin.
"Your combined strength is equal to the first swing of my blade when I was 10."
He looked at them with eyes that had seen wars, betrayal, and pain.
"You are brave.
But not enough."
He began to walk toward them, sword dragging behind him, carving lines in the ground.
"This ocean will be your grave."
Ayaan clenched his teeth, blood trickling from his mouth, and whispered:
"Not yet…"
The armored warrior's footsteps echoed like thunder through the underwater temple as he slowly approached the broken, battered team.
He raised his head slightly, his glowing red eyes locking onto Ayaan, who was trying to push himself up despite the pain.
"I know what you're after…"
His voice was calm, but every word carried crushing weight.
"That gem from the Deadliest Mountain."
Everyone froze.
Even through the pain… their hearts skipped.
"You think you're ready for that?"
"That mountain… guards the Mythical Beast. A creature so powerful, even gods run from its roar."
The warrior pointed his massive, cracked sword at them, his voice darker now.
"You couldn't handle 1% of me. You're not warriors. You're still just kids chasing dreams."
He clenched his fist, shaking the ocean floor beneath them.
"That beast…? He is the strongest living being in this world. Even I, the one who killed crores of kings and monsters, the one who was betrayed by the heavens themselves...
Even I cannot defeat him."
A deathly silence filled the temple.
Even the glowing lights from the ocean crystals dimmed for a moment.
Aditya wiped blood from his mouth and said weakly:
"Then why are you telling us this? Why not just kill us?"
The warrior stared at him for a moment… and then…
He smiled.
A sad, broken, but proud smile.
"Because you remind me… of my son."
Everyone looked up, stunned.
"He too… wanted to climb that mountain. He too… believed the impossible.
And they killed him for that hope."
He turned away for a moment.
"If you really want to climb that mountain…
Then you must prove your fire isn't just noise."
Suddenly—he raised his sword and plunged it into the ground.
A huge arena formed around them—crystal walls rising high, glowing with ancient runes.
"You have one chance.
Survive 3 minutes in battle against my True Form…"
"And maybe… I'll believe you can face that beast."
Suddenly his armor cracked.
His eyes blazed like suns.
His body began to glow red-hot… transforming…
True Wrath Form Activated.
Ayaan whispered, shaking:
"Guys… we're fighting a living god."
The warrior's transformation paused. His blazing red aura dimmed just slightly as he looked at the exhausted team—bruised, breathless, but still standing.
He smirked.
"Hmph… stubborn fools.
You've earned something very few ever get from me—mercy."
He slammed his sword back into his shoulder with a loud CLANG.
"I'll give you 2 days.
One day to rest. That's today.
And tomorrow…"
He turned, his voice dropping into a deadly growl.
"Tomorrow will be the test of your soul."
The floor beneath them shifted, and a glowing portal opened behind the warrior.
"There's a camp prepared for you on the other side.
Eat, sleep, heal.
And say goodbye to weakness."
He gave them one last look and said:
"Because if you step into my arena unprepared…
You won't leave alive."
He disappeared into the portal.
Silence.
The group looked at each other—tired, broken, but still alive.
Aditya coughed, "One day to rest… and then hell begins."
Anshuman grinned weakly, "At least he's giving us food, right?"
Ayaan stood slowly, his eyes burning with determination.
"Let's survive this.
And show him… we're not afraid of that mountain, that beast, or even a god."
Than they sleep.