The explosion from the clash between Saksham's fusion strike and the Void Guardian's dark meteor had shaken the entire battlefield.
Fragments of shattered stone continued falling from the ruins of Velkar Temple.
Dust filled the air like fog.
For several seconds, no one moved.
Then the wind slowly cleared the smoke.
Saksham stood in the center of the broken courtyard, breathing heavily.
His chest rose and fell as he tried to steady his breathing.
The fusion technique was powerful, but it drained his mana quickly.
Across from him, the Void Guardian had taken a step back.
Just one step.
But that single step shocked everyone watching.
Captain Leon stared in disbelief.
"That monster… moved."
Behind him, the surviving knights whispered among themselves.
"He actually pushed it back…"
"Who is that boy?"
Even the cultists looked surprised.
They had never seen anyone damage the Guardian like that.
At the temple steps, the cult leader remained silent.
His eyes carefully studied Saksham.
Then he spoke quietly.
"So this is the power of light and darkness combined."
"But the boy is still inexperienced."
He then turned his attention toward the man standing behind Saksham.
Orion.
Their eyes met across the battlefield.
For a moment, the storm itself seemed to grow quieter.
"Orion," the cult leader said calmly.
"You always did like creating trouble."
Orion sighed.
"You always did like destroying the world."
The cult leader chuckled softly.
"You still exaggerate."
"You left before you could see our true vision."
Orion stepped forward slowly.
The wind pushed against his cloak as he walked.
"I saw enough."
"You wanted to sacrifice thousands of lives just to open a gate to the Void."
The cult leader spread his arms slightly.
"A small price for unlimited power."
Captain Leon, overhearing the conversation, frowned.
"What gate?"
Orion didn't take his eyes off the cult leader.
"They want to open a path to another dimension."
"The Void."
Leon's expression darkened.
"And the Guardian?"
"Just the key," Orion replied.
Saksham looked between them.
"So if the monster reaches full power…"
Orion nodded.
"The barrier between worlds will break."
The cult leader clapped slowly.
"Very good."
"You still understand the ritual perfectly."
His eyes glowed faintly with dark energy.
"Which is exactly why I was disappointed when you betrayed us."
Orion's expression hardened.
"I didn't betray you."
"I stopped following a madman."
The cult leader laughed.
"Madman?"
"You call ambition madness?"
Then he raised his hand.
Dark mana gathered around him.
"You could have stood beside me."
"Together, we could have ruled the world."
Orion shook his head.
"No."
"I've seen what the Void does to people."
The cult leader's smile slowly disappeared.
"So you choose the weak instead."
He glanced toward the injured knights.
"Pathetic humans clinging to survival."
Then he pointed toward Saksham.
"And a child who barely understands his own power."
Saksham frowned.
"I understand enough."
The cult leader tilted his head slightly.
"Do you?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Tell me, boy."
"Do you know why you can control both light and darkness?"
Saksham froze for a moment.
He had never thought about that.
The cult leader smiled again.
"Exactly."
"You don't."
Orion immediately stepped forward.
"That's enough."
The cult leader shrugged.
"Very well."
He then raised both hands.
Dark energy exploded around the ritual circle.
The chanting cultists increased their voices.
The ground trembled again.
Inside Saksham's mind, the system interface flashed urgently.
SYSTEM ALERT
Void Guardian Awakening: 95%
Final Evolution Approaching
Saksham's eyes widened.
"Ninety-five percent…"
Captain Leon gripped his sword.
"We're running out of time."
The Void Guardian suddenly roared again.
The monster's wings spread wider.
Dark lightning struck its body repeatedly.
Its armor began changing again.
The evolution had not finished yet.
Orion clenched his fist.
"He's accelerating the ritual."
The cult leader smiled calmly.
"Of course."
"I want the gate open tonight."
Then he pointed directly at Orion.
"But before that…"
"I'll deal with the traitor."
Dark energy erupted from his body.
The pressure immediately increased across the battlefield.
Several injured knights collapsed under the force.
Saksham felt it too.
The cult leader's power was enormous.
Orion stepped forward calmly.
"So you finally want to fight me."
The cult leader smirked.
"I've been waiting for years."
Saksham looked toward Orion.
"You can handle him?"
Orion smiled slightly.
"Focus on the Guardian."
"That monster is your opponent."
Saksham turned toward the enormous creature again.
The Void Guardian was still evolving.
Dark energy continued flowing into its body.
Inside his mind, the system displayed another warning.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Primary Enemy: Void Guardian
Objective: Prevent Full Awakening
Failure Consequence: Dimensional Breach
Saksham slowly raised his hands again.
Golden light gathered.
Darkness followed.
The two energies began spinning together once more.
Fusion mana formed again between his palms.
Meanwhile—
on the temple steps—
the cult leader and Orion faced each other.
Two powerful auras clashed in the stormy night.
Teacher and student.
Master and traitor.
Their battle was about to begin.
And at the same time—
Saksham prepared for the final fight against the evolving Void Guardian.
The fate of the kingdom now depended on both battles.
To be continued…