Three days after the Weapon Room Ceremony, the air around the temple felt different.
Heavier.
As if something unseen was watching.
The young guardians were summoned to a vast open ground far from the temple walls — a place where the wind carried no echoes of prayer, only silence.
Four figures stood in formation before Master Hari.
Except two.
Hari's look around
"Where are Indra and Deva?"
Maya exhaled slowly, I don't know where they are… and honestly, I don't care."
A playful smile curved across Devi's lips. "Oh, I know you don't care about them…"
She leaned slightly closer.
But you definitely care about him.
Maya's eyes turned cold. What did you say?
Before sparks could fly—
Sun cut in. She's not wrong. We all saw you in the stadium. The way you ran toward him without thinking.
A faint red tint touched Maya's cheeks, but her voice remained sharp.
Say that again.
Enough.
Karan's calm voice sliced through the tension like a blade.
We weren't summoned here for teasing.
Devi crossed her arms. Then what were we summoned for?
Maya answered quietly, That's the real question. Why are we all here at the same time?
Maybe it's a mission,Sun said. And maybe… they want us to work together.
All six of us?Devi whispered. What kind of mission needs all of us?
The wind howled across the ground.
Karan's eyes narrowed.
Three days after we chose our weapons…
They gave us time to bond with them.
To understand them.
Why?
If this is a mission… then it's not simple.
They wouldn't send six inexperienced guardians without reason.
Unless…
Something big is happening.
Suddenly—
There they are!
Hey! Sorry we're late!
The loud voice broke the silence.
Indra ran toward them, slightly out of breath, Deva following calmly behind him.
Finally, Maya muttered.
Well, what do you expect from an unreasonable prince and—
Just get here already! Maya snapped.
Indra scratched his head. We got lost.
You got lost,Sun repeated flatly.
Devi smiled warmly. At least you made it.
Deva gave a small nod, his expression unreadable.
Master Hari stepped forward.
The air shifted.
Now that you are all here… I will explain your very first mission.
The word mission struck like thunder.
Indra blinked. Wait — we're going on a mission? Nobody told me!
Nobody told you because we just got confirmation,Maya replied.
Hari's voice grew serious.
People have been disappearing.
Silence.
From three different villages. At the same time.
Deva's fingers tightened slightly.
Disappearing…?he repeated.
Yes. In the last three days, fifty people have vanished. Sixteen were found dead.
The wind stopped.
The remaining are still missing.
What…? Sun's voice trembled. Three villages at once? That's impossible.
Ashura, must be Maya said quietly.
But how? Devi asked. Three places at the same time?
They must be increasing their numbers, Karan said.
Everyone looked at him.
They're increasing their numbers.
Indra frowned. Like us?
Master Hari nodded slowly.
In recent few years, Ashura have been approaching criminals… offering them power.
A faint killing intent flickered in his eyes.
They are building something.
Maya's brows furrowed. This number is too large for random attacks.
They're planning something big Devi whispered. An experiment, maybe.
And your mission,Hari said, is to investigate where they are taking those people and why.
Indra muttered, I forgot to inform my father…
You're hopeless,Sun replied.
Hari raised his hand.
Listen carefully. You are not ready for direct confrontation. If you discover their location, you must inform us immediately. Do not engage.
His voice hardened.
We are short on manpower right now. These villages are close to the temple. Lord Seven has approved this mission.
The name carried weight.
You will operate in two-man teams.
Indra grinned. So how do we choose?
You will partner with the opponent you fought before,Hari said. The winner of that match will lead the team.
A charged silence filled the air.
Karan and Deva locked eyes.
Maya turned to Devi. Looks like we're together.
Devi smiled. I don't mind.
Indra leaned toward Sun. I wanted a different partner it will be better with girls
Same, Sun replied. Try not to slow me down.
Karan looked at Deva. Are you nervous?
Deva smiled faintly.
No. Let's complete this mission.
For a moment, something flickered behind his eyes — something darker.
Master Hari began assigning.
Team A — Maya and Devi. West village.
Yes, Master.
Indra and Sun — North.
As you wish.
Karan and Deva — East.
Karan felt a strange weight settle in his chest.
East.
Why does that direction feel… wrong?
Hari's final words echoed across the ground.
As soon as senior guardians return, we will send backup.
He paused.
Until then… survive.
The wind rose violently.
Far away—
In the forests beyond the eastern village—
A shadow moved.
Red eyes opened in the darkness.
And somewhere deep underground…
A chained voice whispered—
My lord the guardians have begun to move.
A shadow ick figure sitting on a skull thrown open his red glowing eyes and said in very cold voice then let the hunt begun.
The six guardians left the temple grounds as the sun began to fall.
Three teams.
Three villages.
One unseen enemy.
None of them realized…
They were already being watched.
When Maya & Devi reached to the village
The western village was quiet.
Too quiet.
The houses stood intact. No signs of struggle. No blood. No broken doors.
Just silence.
Maya's boots pressed against the dirt road as she scanned the surroundings.
This doesn't look like an attack site, Devi whispered.
No, Maya replied. It looks like they have left this village
So what next Devi asked
A cold breeze passed between them.
Devi knelt near the well at the center of the village. No drag marks. No resistance. No signs of forced abduction.
Maya I feel something wrong in this place Devi whisper in fear they both cover each other back
Maya touched the hilt of her weapon.
Ashura don't usually act this clean.
Suddenly—
A faint sound.
Footsteps.
Both of them turned instantly.
From behind a house, an old man stumbled forward.
You… guardians? he croaked.
Maya rushed toward him. You're alive?
They… they came at night again and take many people with them mostly girls below 12 year the old man trembled. Not monsters. Humans.
Devi's eyes narrowed. Humans?
They promised power… promised protection… then those who refused…
His voice broke.
They were taken.
Maya's expression darkened.
They're recruiting.
Or converting, Devi added quietly.
The old man grabbed Maya's sleeve.
They were heading… toward the mountains.
The mountains.
That direction matched—
East.
Towards team C Devi whisper.
Maya and Devi exchanged a look.
Something bigger was unfolding.
In the north Village — Indra & Sun
Unlike the west, the northern village was chaos.
Burned houses.
Broken carts.
Blood stains on the ground.
Indra whistled. Well… this is definitely Ashura style.
Sun crouched near claw marks carved deep into wood.
No.
Indra blinked. No?
These aren't random attacks.
Sun stood slowly.
Look at the pattern. They destroyed the strong structures first.
Indra frowned. Strategic?
Yes.
A low growl echoed from the easten forest edge.
Both turned instantly.
From the shadows emerged three figures.
Humans.
But their veins pulsed black.
Their eyes glowed faint crimson.
Indra grinned. Finally. Something interesting.
Sun's voice sharpened. Careful. They're not fully Ashura… but they're not human either.
One of them stepped forward.
The guardians… arrived faster than expected.
Indra's smile faded.
You were expecting us?
The corrupted human tilted his head unnaturally.
Lord Varak will be pleased. After we serve more girls.
Sun's eyes widened slightly.
Lord?
Before they could react—
The three rushed forward.
Indra summoned lightning instantly.
The ground cracked as electricity exploded outward.
Sun moved like wind, molten lava chain flashing.
The battle erupted.
But something felt wrong.
East village when Karan and Deva reached they see everything this is good people are doing their work children are playing some people are buying goods everything looks normal nothing suspicious.
They both wider his eyes they can't believe Deva asked is this village is that one master Hari is talking about but every thing is normal heir.
I don't know either Karan replied.
So what next Deva asked.
We have to talk with this people about the incidence Karan replied.
Karan thought
The eastern path felt colder.
Darker.
Even before reaching the village, I felt it.
That presence.
You feel it too, right? Karan asked quietly.
Deva didn't answer immediately.
…Yes.
But it's looks everything fine heir
The village gates is open.
No damage.
No Ashura presence
Just people doing their daily life work
Karan stepped forward.
Well if we have to take with people then market is right place.
They both stepped towards the market from the age of the village a Ashura smiled and said they are here my lord.