When they all woke up, the sun was already high, and the heat was intense. After a quick breakfast, they walked back to the village. People were quiet, their eyes filled with fear.
Aditya stepped forward. "Where is Tsar?"
An old man pointed toward the distant dark mountains. "His palace... it's beyond that cliff. But no one who ever went there came back."
Ayaan looked at his empty hands, realizing he left the stick in the mansion. "Let's move."
They all nodded and set off. The path was rocky, dry winds hitting their faces. After hours of walking, they finally stood in front of the giant gates of Tsar's palace. It was massive, covered in shadows and vines, looking abandoned.
They pushed the heavy doors open.
Silence.
No guards. No servants. No traps. Nothing.
Only a cold wind blowing through the dark hall.
They walked in slowly, their footsteps echoing.
"Why is it so empty?" Anshuman whispered.
They all looked around, nervous.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
When they rushed back to the village, what they saw froze their hearts.
The entire village… was gone.
Houses were burned to ashes, the fields were turned to black smoke, and the ground was cracked and scorched. Lifeless bodies of villagers lay everywhere — people they had just spoken to that morning.
Anant fell to his knees. "No… no… how did this happen?"
Aditya clenched his fists. "Tsar… he did this."
Rhea stood silently, tears falling from her eyes. "He waited for us to leave…"
Ayaan's eyes were glowing with fury. His voice was quiet, but full of rage. "We should've brought the stick…"
Anshuman kicked a broken cart. "He played us… we went to his palace, and he came here."
In the silence, the wind carried a chilling message — burned into a piece of wood, written in fire:
"Come to me, or more will fall." — Tsar.
Ayaan turned around slowly, his eyes dark.
"No more running."
As they turned around, a thunderous sound cracked through the sky.
A massive mountain behind them — one that had stood tall and silent for centuries — shattered in an instant.
BOOM!
A giant chunk of it came crashing down toward them like the sky itself was falling.
"MOVE!" Aditya shouted, grabbing Anant.
But before any of them could react—
The huge mass stopped mid-air… hovering above them.
Floating in the sky, calm as death, was a man — not massive, not beastly… but their height. A simple cloak fluttered behind him. His face hidden by shadows. His presence alone made their knees heavy.
He didn't say a word. Just hovered, looking down.
And then, with a wave of his hand…
CRASH!!!
The mountain chunk slammed into the ground just beside them, shaking the earth so hard it cracked in lines miles wide.
Rhea gasped. "Wh-Who is he?"
Ayaan's eyes narrowed.
"…Tsar."
Tsar raised one hand… and slowly pointed a single finger at them.
No words. No expression.
Just silence.
The skies darkened.
The air became ice.
Everyone froze in place — not from fear, but because they couldn't move. It felt like the entire world had stopped responding. Time itself stood still.
Ayaan's eyes twitched, trying to lift even a toe.
Nothing.
Tsar's finger glowed with dark red energy — swirling like a storm, building, rumbling with death. His body didn't move, but his power did. It cracked the ground, twisted the sky.
And then—
He slightly tilted his head…
As if saying: "You're not even worth it."
With a flick, the energy around his finger vanished.
He turned around… and vanished into thin air like smoke.
The moment he disappeared — they all fell to their knees, gasping. Their bodies finally moved again.
Aditya clutched his chest. "I thought I was dead…"
Anshuman was pale. "He… he didn't even try. He just pointed… and we almost…"
Ayaan looked up, fists clenched.
"…We're not ready."
The massive mountain came crashing down on them like the sky itself had collapsed.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
A deafening blast echoed as dust and fire filled the air.
When the smoke cleared… he was standing there.
Tsar.
Calm.
Cold.
Unshaken.
He looked at them and finally spoke, voice like thunder dipped in ice—
"I will kill you."
Before anyone could move, time stopped.
Mid-breath.
Mid-blink.
Mid-heartbeat.
Everything… froze.
Ayaan's eyes widened. His fingers trembled as he tried to move. He looked down and whispered, "Stick… come to me…"
Nothing.
His heart raced.
Aditya, Anshuman, Rhea, Anant — all frozen, but their eyes screamed one thing:
"Ayaan... help..."
Tsar tilted his head slowly.
Crack…
The ground beneath them split open.
Dark energy surged like waves around Tsar, and the pressure crushed the air itself.
Ayaan gritted his teeth. "Come on… COME ON!"
Then… a spark.
Deep in his chest.
In his heart.
Not from his hand, not from the mansion…
But from within.
He whispered, "I call you… not as a weapon… but as my soul…"
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
The stick came crashing down from the heavens like a comet. It shattered the time barrier, ripped through reality, and landed in Ayaan's hand with a thunderous quake.
A colossal explosion followed.
The entire sky turned white.
Everything broke.
Stone. Earth. Air. Magic. Time.
And Tsar… finally blinked.
When the blinding light faded…
And the world stopped shaking…
They all slowly opened their eyes.
Aditya looked around.
Anshuman stood up, coughing.
Rhea held her head.
Anant was breathing hard.
But—
Ayaan was gone.
Rhea's voice cracked, "Where's… Ayaan?"
Before they could even move—
Tsar was standing right in front of them.
So close they could feel his breath.
So quiet it was terrifying.
He didn't speak.
Didn't blink.
Didn't move a muscle.
He just stared at them.
One by one.
Eyes like storms ready to swallow their souls.
And none of them could move.
Not because they were frozen…
But because they were afraid.
Tsar stood still.
His presence alone felt like the weight of the sky pressing down on them.
Every breath was heavy.
Every heartbeat louder than thunder.
Aditya took a step forward — his foot trembled.
Anshuman gritted his teeth, whispering, "Where is he… where's Ayaan…"
Anant slowly reached for his weapon, hand shaking.
Rhea didn't move.
She was too focused on Tsar's eyes — deep, ancient, and filled with something worse than hate…
Indifference.
Tsar's gaze lingered on each of them, as if deciding who would die first.
But then—
His cold, hollow eyes stopped on Rhea.
He tilted his head slightly.
Just a small movement.
And from behind her—
FWOOOOOOSH!!!
A blinding, burning beam — moving faster than light — tore through the air, aimed straight at Rhea's back.
Aditya screamed, "RHEA, MOVE!"
Anshuman tried to run — but a crushing pressure held him still.
Anant shouted, "NO!" — but he couldn't even lift a finger.
Rhea turned—
Too late.
She saw the glowing light.
Felt its scorching heat.
Heard it screaming through the air.
She froze.
There was no escape.
No time to think.
She just closed her eyes…
And whispered, "Ayaan…"
And in that instant—
KRAAAAKKKKOOOOOMMM!!!
A massive, bone-shattering explosion split the sky.
A dark shape had appeared — faster than the beam itself.
It smashed into it with raw power, splitting the deadly energy in half, sending sparks and fire raining across the ruined land.
And standing in front of Rhea…
His back to her.
Hair wild.
Eyes glowing like shadows caught in a storm.
And in his hand—
The stick.
But it no longer looked like a stick.
It had changed.
Dark metal laced with glowing red cracks pulsed like a heart.
Its surface shimmered like the night sky.
It radiated danger. Fury. Death.
Ayaan stood tall.
Alive.
And this time…
He was different.
The ground was silent.
The wind had stopped.
Even time itself seemed afraid to move.
Tsar stepped forward — slow, deliberate.
Every step he took cracked the earth beneath him.
Ayaan didn't flinch.
He matched him.
Step for step.
Breath for breath.
Until finally—
They stood face to face.
So close.
Their foreheads nearly touching.
Their eyes locked.
One glowing with eternal darkness.
The other burning with rising fury.
No words.
No warnings.
Just a deadly silence…
A silence heavier than any roar.
Rhea could barely breathe.
Aditya whispered, "He's gonna do it."
Anshuman's heart pounded in his ears.
Anant couldn't look away.
Ayaan's grip tightened on the stick.
The ground beneath him cracked like spiderwebs.
His body trembled — not with fear, but with power barely being held back.
Tsar tilted his head.
His pupils shrank to slits.
He raised a finger slowly…
Pointing straight at Ayaan's chest.
And then—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The entire land erupted in a shockwave as their powers collided—
Face to face.
Blow for blow.
Rage vs destruction.
The real war had just begun.
Tsar's cold eyes flicked briefly to the side.
A deep rumble shook the ground beneath their feet.
From the shadows behind him, a monstrous shape emerged.
A beast as massive as a mountain—wings stretching wide enough to blot out the sun.
Its scales glowed black like molten coal, and fierce flames of dark fire licked from its jaws and claws.
Smoke billowed from its nostrils, burning the very air.
Tsar's pet.
A creature of legend and nightmare.
It let out a deafening roar that shook the sky and sent a wave of scorching heat crashing toward the heroes.
Tsar turned back to Ayaan with a sinister smile.
"This ends now."
Ayaan's eyes flickered toward his frozen friends, trapped helplessly in Tsar's time loop.
With a fierce roar, he slammed the stick into the cracked earth beneath him.
CRACK!
The ground shattered like glass, sending shockwaves that shattered the time barrier.
One by one, his friends broke free, gasping for breath, blinking as if waking from a nightmare.
Ayaan raised the stick high, its dark energy pulsing wildly.
He pointed it toward them, and a surge of power flooded their bodies — strength, speed, resilience like never before.
Rhea's eyes blazed with newfound fire.
Aditya cracked his knuckles, muscles bulging.
Anshuman grinned fiercely.
Anant nodded, ready.
Ayaan's voice was steady, commanding:
"With this power, you fight that dragon. I'll take Tsar."
Without hesitation, the team turned toward the roaring, black-flamed beast.
The battle had just begun.
With a deadly stare, the fight began.
Tsar and Ayaan shot into the sky at lightning speed, crashing into each other with a boom that echoed across the entire land. The air rippled around them, clouds split apart, and sparks of dark and golden energy flashed through the sky like thunderbolts.
Down below, Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, and Rhea were staring wide-eyed as the dragon, burning in black flames, roared and charged toward them. Its eyes glowed red like molten lava, and every step it took cracked the earth beneath.
Anshuman shouted, "RUN!!"
Aditya yelled, "How do we run from that?!"
But then suddenly, they felt something.
A golden pulse surged through their bodies — Ayaan's power. It activated deep within them. Their feet lifted off the ground, wind spiraling around them.
They could fly.
Anant blinked. "Wait… are we seriously—?"
Rhea, floating just above the ground, pointed at the dragon and smirked. "Looks like the chase just got interesting."
Aditya cracked his knuckles. "Dragon come and catch us if you can!"
The four of them zoomed into the air, dodging black fireballs that exploded behind them. The sky turned into a battlefield of fire and flight — a deadly game of tag with a flame-throwing monster behind.
And high above all that — in the eye of the storm — Ayaan clashed with Tsar, their powers shaking the heavens.
Ayaan and Tsar clashed in the sky —
BOOOOM!
The world trembled. Mountains cracked, clouds vanished, the wind stopped — as if nature itself was terrified. Their punches were like thunder, their speed beyond sight, and the sky had turned into a storm of gold and black lightning.
Next Scene — Down below, the others were in full chaos mode.
The black-flamed dragon roared and attacked. It swooped down, its wings spreading fire across the sky. Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, and Rhea split in different directions, trying to confuse it.
Anshuman zipped past its face. "HEY UGLY! OVER HERE!"
Anant shouted, "I got its attention—WAIT NO I DON'T—ADITYA HELP!"
Aditya flew in with a punch to its jaw. "Back off, flame-chicken!"
But the dragon wasn't going down easily.
Rhea screamed, "Guys, it's too strong!"
Suddenly—
From the sky, Ayaan saw his friends struggling.
His eyes narrowed. "Hold on..."
He raised his hand. The glowing stick in his other hand pulsed — then he threw it with a sharp woooosh.
The stick spun like a golden spear and slammed straight into the dragon's chest.
BOOOOOOOM!!
A shockwave exploded. The dragon howled as the blast tore through its body, black flames flying everywhere. Its wings shattered, and it crashed down — roaring in pain, half-destroyed.
The stick flew back like a boomerang, right into Ayaan's hand.
But in that moment —
Tsar appeared out of nowhere and punched Ayaan with monstrous force.
CRAAASH!!
Ayaan was slammed into the ground, carving a huge crater, dust flying everywhere.
The others turned and gasped.
Rhea: "Ayaan!"
Aditya growled, "We'll handle the dragon. GO!"
The four of them combined powers — Aditya charged in with brute force, Anshuman used his speed to confuse it, Anant aimed for its weak points, and Rhea fired focused blasts of light.
The dragon roared its last roar before collapsing with a thud, defeated.
They turned toward the sky…
Above, Ayaan stood up from the crater, bruised but burning with power.
Tsar floated down slowly, like a dark god, smirking.
Their eyes met again.
The real battle… had just begun.
The sky was silent.
For a moment, even the wind forgot to blow.
Then—
BANG!
Ayaan launched upward, shattering the ground beneath him. Tsar met him in the air, and their fists collided mid-sky. The impact split the clouds, forming a massive storm vortex around them.
Tsar smirked. "You've gotten stronger, Ayaan. But you're still just a flicker... in front of a storm."
He raised his hand — and the sky turned dark.
Thousands of black lightning bolts formed behind him like a demonic wing of energy. He snapped his fingers, and they all shot toward Ayaan.
Ayaan twirled the golden stick, his eyes glowing like suns. "Let's see whose storm survives."
He spun the stick and slammed it down — a golden shield of energy surrounded him. The lightning shattered against it, causing explosions that lit up the sky like fireworks from hell.
But Tsar was already in front of him. "Too slow."
SMASH!
A punch to the ribs — Ayaan coughed blood.
CRACK!
A kick to the jaw — he spiraled backward, barely catching himself mid-air.
But Ayaan grinned.
"Nice hits… now it's my turn."
He held the stick with both hands. It began glowing... words written in an ancient glowing language floated around it.
Then—
"FINAL MODE: STARBREAKER AWAKENING!"
The stick exploded into a massive double-ended golden staff, spinning with flaming runes and shining with cosmic energy. Ayaan's body surged — muscles tightened, aura blazing, eyes glowing white.
He vanished.
Tsar blinked. "Wha—?"
BOOM! A punch in the gut.
BOOM! An uppercut to the sky.
BOOM! A staff strike to the face, cracking Tsar's mask.
Ayaan wasn't holding back. He moved like a lightning god — every strike heavier than thunder, every blow faster than thought.
But Tsar screamed — and burst into black fire. His body transformed. Horns grew. His arms turned into massive blades of obsidian.
"YOU DARE?! I AM TSAR — THE TIME DESTROYER!"
Time around him froze.
Birds in the air stopped. Winds stopped. Even falling rain stood still.
Only Ayaan was moving.
Tsar charged, swinging his blade-arms at light-speed.
Ayaan blocked — barely.
"Even if you control time," Ayaan growled, "I control willpower."
His aura burst, breaking the time-freeze for a second.
They clashed again — faster, harder, deadlier. Each hit broke space. Rifts in the sky opened. Thunder fell like rain. Ayaan was bleeding, bruised, but smiling.
Because he was not alone.
Down below, his friends were watching, their strength awakened, their hopes burning like fire.
And Ayaan… was about to end this.
"TSAR!!" he shouted.
"Let's finish this — with one final blow!"
The wind vanished.
The earth held its breath.
The final clash was coming.
Ayaan rose higher into the sky, his golden staff burning like a small sun, his body surrounded by spiraling flames and ancient runes spinning faster than ever.
Tsar floated opposite him — fully transformed, now a beast of time and chaos. His blade-arms extended, eyes glowing black, and behind him, a giant shadowy clock formed, ticking slower… and slower… until it stopped.
"Time belongs to me, Ayaan," Tsar growled. "This is where you end."
Ayaan closed his eyes.
For a second, he remembered everything — the jungle, the training, his friends, Rhea's voice, Aditya's strength, Anshuman's speed, Anant's bravery…
And then—he opened his eyes.
They were blazing white.
"No, Tsar… this is where you fall."
BOOOOOM!!
They charged.
The sky couldn't hold them.
Each step broke clouds.
Each move tore the sky apart.
Tsar slashed forward — Ayaan dodged with a twist in midair, spun the staff, and smacked Tsar's blade-arm, shattering it into shards of obsidian.
Tsar screamed and countered — time bent, teleporting him behind Ayaan —
but Ayaan was ready.
"STARBREAKER STRIKE!"
He spun the staff in a cyclone and slammed it into Tsar's chest, sending him flying into the clouds.
A massive shockwave burst across the horizon.
Lightning struck randomly.
Winds howled like dying beasts.
But Tsar wasn't done.
He rose from the smoke, broken mask, bleeding, furious.
"I… will not lose…" he whispered.
He raised his hand.
The clock behind him shattered.
"FINAL TIME RIPPER!"
Everything froze.
Even sound.
The world turned grey.
Ayaan was caught mid-air… unmoving.
Tsar flew forward, his hand ready to pierce Ayaan's chest.
Then—
The staff moved.
Even frozen in time, Ayaan's soul was burning.
Golden cracks spread through the frozen sky.
And then—
"UNBREAKABLE WILL — INFINITY STRIKE!"
Time shattered like glass.
Ayaan's body burst into golden flames as he twisted mid-air and brought the full force of the double-ended staff down on Tsar's head—
CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!
The sky turned white.
Mountains bent.
The earth shook.
Winds screamed.
And then—
Silence.
A huge crater formed in the sky itself — a rip in space.
Tsar was falling.
His body burnt, broken, his powers vanishing.
He hit the ground like a comet, a final explosion bursting out.
Ayaan landed slowly, panting, glowing… victorious.
Down below, Aditya, Rhea, Anshuman, and Anant ran toward him, cheering.
Rhea: "You did it… Ayaan!"
Ayaan smiled weakly. "We all did."
Then he fell forward —
and his friends caught him.
The battle was over.
But the next trial… was already watching from the shadows.
The battle was over…
but the danger was not.
As the team gathered around the exhausted Ayaan, the ground beneath them was still warm from the impact. Tsar's body lay in the distance, turned to stone — a sign of his defeat. The dragon's remains smoldered silently. The air was thick with silence.
Rhea helped Ayaan sit up. "You really fought a god…"
Ayaan, barely conscious, smirked, "He looked worse than me."
Anshuman laughed weakly, "Barely."
Suddenly—
The ground shook once more.
But this time… it wasn't Tsar.
It wasn't the dragon.
It was something else.
Aditya stood up instantly. "That's not normal…"
Anant pointed toward the north. "The mountain… look."
They turned. In the far distance, past broken forests and shattered skies…
stood the next mountain — tall, jagged, and glowing red.
But now, it had started leaking molten lava down its sides.
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "It's reacting to Tsar's defeat…"
Suddenly, a symbol appeared in the air, glowing in crimson:
"Trial 4 — The Volcano of Judgment — Begins in 24 hours."
A deep, rumbling voice echoed from the sky:
"You have passed the Sky Trial. But the fire within you must now be tested. Survive the flames… or be consumed by them."
The timer began glowing in the sky, counting down.
Back at the camp:
They carried Ayaan back to safety. Rhea set up healing herbs. Anshuman lit a new fire. Aditya guarded the area while Anant studied the map.
Ayaan rested under the stars, his body bruised but spirit burning.
"I need to get stronger," he whispered.
Rhea looked at him. "You will. We all will."
Because tomorrow…
They enter The Volcano of Judgment.
They all looked at the glowing symbol in the sky and without saying anything, started moving toward the Volcano of Judgment.
Ayaan was walking slowly, holding his staff, his body still in pain but his eyes focused.
Aditya cracked his knuckles. "Next trial. Let's burn it down."
Anshuman jumped over rocks and trees as they moved. "That volcano's not ready for us."
Anant checked the map while walking. "This path leads straight to it… but it's dangerous."
Rhea walked beside Ayaan. "You sure you can walk?"
Ayaan nodded. "Let's go."
They all moved through the cracked forest, burned trees, and rising steam. The sky had turned red as if the volcano's heat had already reached them.
After hours of walking, they reached the edge of a black cliff. In front of them, a huge bridge of molten rock floated above lava streams. And beyond that—
The Volcano of Judgment stood tall, glowing red, spitting fire into the sky.
They all stood there, silent.
Then Ayaan stepped forward and said, "We go in."
They all stepped onto the molten rock bridge.
Each step sizzled beneath their feet, but the power Ayaan had given them kept them safe.
The heat was intense. Lava bubbled on both sides. Smoke rose in thick clouds, and the sky above was a burning orange.
They crossed without speaking.
As they reached the volcano's entrance, a massive gate of black stone opened by itself with a loud rumble.
Inside, the volcano glowed from within — red-hot walls, rivers of lava, and platforms floating in the air.
Suddenly, a giant stone appeared in the center. On it, was written:
"Face your fire. Survive your judgment. Only the worthy may rise."
Then the ground split.
Four paths opened.
A voice echoed:
"Each of you must take a separate path. Your fear lives there."
They all looked at each other.
Ayaan gripped his staff. "Let's finish this."
They each stepped into their own path.
The gates closed behind them.
The Volcano Trial had begun.
Ayaan entered a narrow tunnel filled with rising heat. Lava dripped from the ceiling like fire rain. The path was dark, but his staff glowed, lighting the way.
Aditya's path was wide and full of giant lava beasts, already rising from the ground with burning fists.
Anshuman found himself on a twisting bridge floating above a lava lake. Fireballs shot from both sides, testing his speed.
Anant's tunnel was quiet—but too quiet. He heard whispers, saw illusions of his friends falling in lava. His fear of failure was waiting.
And Rhea stood in front of a giant door with fire symbols. As it opened, a voice inside said, "Prove your worth."
Each of them stepped forward, alone.
But all of them… were being watched.
Ayaan kept moving deeper. The tunnel twisted, and soon he stood in front of a massive lava giant made of rock and fire. Its eyes glowed, and it raised a molten sword.
Ayaan spun his staff and charged.
Aditya roared as he punched one lava beast, then kicked another into the fire. More kept coming. He laughed, "Finally, a challenge."
Anshuman dodged each fireball, spinning, jumping, barely landing on each floating rock. One fireball singed his hair. "Close! Too close!"
Anant was breathing hard, seeing visions of his friends screaming. He covered his ears. "You're not real." He kept walking, step by step, heart pounding.
Rhea's path had her face herself — a version of her in dark flames. "You're weak," the flame-Rhea said. Rhea raised her hand. "Not anymore."
They were all fighting.
Each in fire.
Each alone.
But each… getting stronger.
They all reached the end of their paths, bruised, tired, but victorious.
A massive stone door stood before them, glowing with the symbol of the volcano.
Without a word, they pushed it open.
Light burst through.
And in front of them—
A beautiful hill stretched out, covered in glowing flowers, soft grass, and a cool breeze that touched their burned skin like healing magic.
Beyond the hill…
stood the final mountain.
The place where the gem waited.
They walked slowly, breathing in peace after fire. As they reached the top of the hill, the sky turned pink and golden.
They set up camp.
Two tents.
A campfire.
Ayaan, completely drained, fell asleep first on the softest mat under the open stars.
Then—
Aditya: "I'm sleeping next to him. He trusts me the most."
Anshuman: "Yeah? Well, I'm fastest, I already claimed that spot."
Anant: "NO WAY! I carried him after the lava trial!"
Rhea crossed her arms. "I healed him! So obviously I should—"
They all stopped.
Stared at each other.
And then—
"CHALLENGE ROUND!"
They all shouted together.
Let the chaos begin.
Aditya cracked his knuckles. "Arm wrestling. Winner sleeps next to Ayaan."
Anshuman smirked. "Pfft, too easy. I'm speed-based. Let's do dodge-the-fire-stone."
Anant pulled out a stick. "No. Classic. Whoever balances this on their nose the longest wins."
Rhea sighed, then picked up a random rock. "How about this—whoever hits that tree first with this rock wins. Simple."
Everyone: "DEAL!"
They all started competing—throwing rocks, dodging fake fireballs, balancing sticks, shouting rules that made no sense, and accusing each other of cheating.
Meanwhile…
Ayaan kept sleeping peacefully, snoring like a baby.
After 15 minutes of madness, they all collapsed around the campfire, exhausted.
Then quietly, Rhea tiptoed over and sat beside Ayaan, smiling.
Aditya (half-asleep): "Hey... not fair…"
Rhea: "Shh. I won. Secretly."
And with stars shining above, the team fell asleep—ready for the final mountain.