Gerda stood tall, the thrill of his one-sided victory coursing through his veins. The battlefield was a testament to his newfound might, bodies strewn around him like discarded dolls. A surge of pride swelled within him, his chest heaving with exhilaration. "Thank you, Lord Raezi, for this power," he mused, a triumphant laugh bubbling up. He could already picture the envious gazes of the other shadows as he recounted his glorious triumph.

But soon Gerda's body began trembling aggressively as he shrunk back into his original form. His limbs twisted in pain. He creaked out in suffering. Blood dropped out of his nose as he tried to wipe it off immediately. He blacked out as he couldn't handle the toll that divine scales took on him. He still couldn't maintain that form for long.

He fell to his knees. He rubbed his eyes, trying to maintain consciousness. As his senses came back to normal, he was astonished to see the view in front of him.

Turning around to survey the battlefield, he called out in confusion, "Where has everyone gone?" The battlefield lay eerily empty. There were no undead, and even the soldiers' bodies had vanished without a trace. Slowly, he stood, trying to make sense of the situation.

"What is this feeling?" he murmured as his body began to warm up. Darkness enveloped him once more, and he collapsed to the ground.

After a while, his vision returned. Blinking slowly, the blurry world around him came into focus. He gasped in horror at the sight of his own headless body standing before him. "What?" he uttered, fear and disbelief mingling in his voice as blood began to cloud his eyes. Vanya stood behind his lifeless form, still embracing it. She let go, walking gracefully towards his severed head as the lifeless body crumbled to the ground.

She lifted his head with a delicate touch, holding it aloft. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the carnage around him. His once-proud army lay in pieces, while Vanya's forces stood unscathed. "But... how?" he stammered, his voice cracking. The large plains were now silent, filled with corpses of the undead. A rotten smell engulfed the place.

Vanya lowered his head, gazing into his dark, blood-streaked eyes. His mouth quivered in shock. He looked into Vanya's purple deep eyes that engulfed him. She smiled gently and said, "I might have spared you some mercy if you hadn't called me a bitch." She chuckled, covering her mouth with a hand. "I let you feel the thrill of victory, heightened your spirit," she continued, bringing his head closer. "And now, I'm going to crush that little dream of yours."

With a slow, deliberate movement, she began to press down on his head with both hands. Her fingers dug into his temples, and as his skull began to fracture, black blood dripping from his chin, she leaned in closer. Her face was a mask of serene satisfaction, her eyes half-closed as if savouring the moment.

Gerda's face finally grew calm after a long time, a peaceful resignation washed over him. "I can finally meet my wife again," he whispered, his voice a mere breath.

Vanya's smile softened for a brief moment, almost tender, as if acknowledging his final wish. Then, with a final, crushing force, she shattered his skull. The sound of bone cracking echoed around them, and she let his remains fall to the ground. She stepped back, surveying the gruesome scene with a satisfied smile, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and dark amusement.

Elsewhere, Avyan's eyes fluttered open, and he bolted upright as his senses returned. Instinctively, he leaped off the bed, raising his hands in a defensive stance, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Relax, you're safe," Anirudh's calm voice came from the adjacent bed. He lay on his back, his waist wrapped in bandages. In the corner, Ishan waved, a grin on his face as he sipped juice, his leg suspended in the air by a rope and encased in a plaster cast.

Avyan exhaled a sigh of relief, scanning the room. It was a spacious, white infirmary with large windows letting in the soft, healing light. "We're in Lunaria," he murmured, recognizing the surroundings. Anirudh nodded, his expression serious.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/be4d81b4d279ee7a3b57d22c630484df1b79dbc7/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7a79523144784f37344655626a773d3d2d313436313031383435302e313765313838306565353833393038393830333036303932343537342e706e67]

"We all went unconscious on the battlefield. If it weren't for Pulkit, we would have been long dead. It's been two days since." Anirudh explained, his voice tinged with gratitude.

Avyan's eyes widened in shock. "Pulkit took care of that giant beast all by himself?"

"Yes, Kanghis," Anirudh confirmed.

Ishan set his juice down and picked up a plate of chocolate waffles. "Pulkit seems to be the strongest here," he added between bites.

Avyan pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture of disbelief. "What? Even stronger than Lector?"

Ishan nodded. "Yes. At least, that's what Elara told us."

Avyan settled back onto his bed, his mind racing. "I thought Lector's strength was the epitome of power. How can someone be stronger than that?" he pondered. Something tugged at the edges of Avyan's memory as he recalled the final moments of his battle with Kanghis. "What did I do?" he wondered, his voice tinged with amazement. The scenes replayed in his mind like a vivid dream. "How did I do that? How is that even possible?" He searched his memory, trying to grasp the power he had summoned.

Anirudh turned on his side, closing his eyes to catch some sleep. "I can't believe we lost," he muttered, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Ishan's expression grew sombre. "It was my fault. I got injured before the big battle even started. I have to train harder," he thought, a determined look crossing his face.

As the boys reflected on their recent ordeal and what they could have done differently, Elara entered the room carrying a tray. She handed bowls of capsules to Ishan and Anirudh, her face lighting up with joy when she saw Avyan. "Oh, finally you're awake, master," she exclaimed.

"Hey, Elara, how are you?" Avyan asked, his tone warm.

"I am alright, master," she replied. Avyan hesitated. "You can call us by our names, Elara. We're all friends here."

Elara went quiet, her eyes wide with surprise. Avyan wondered if he had said something wrong. "Why is she shocked? Did I hurt her feelings?" he questioned himself.

Then, Elara's face broke into a radiant smile. Avyan felt a wave of relief wash over him. "When do I need to take my medication?" he asked.

Elara began walking out of the room, her voice trailing behind her. "You're awake now. No medications will work."

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Avyan shouted after her, "What do you mean?"

Elara whispered to herself, a knowing smile on her lips, "Your body will now heal itself."

Avyan lay in his bed, Elara's cryptic words echoing in his mind. "You're awake now" she had said, leaving him with more questions than answers. As he mulled over the implications, he heard hurried footsteps in the corridor. His gaze fixed on the door as it was flung open, revealing Akash.

Akash rushed towards Avyan, his face lighting up with joy. "I was wondering if you'd ever wake up again," he exclaimed, enveloping Avyan in a tight hug. Avyan returned the embrace, a reassuring smile on his face. "I'm fine now, Akash."

With excitement bubbling over, Akash asked, "There are rumours in the air." He glanced meaningfully at Ishan, and Avyan knew exactly what he was referring to. "I don't know how I did it," Avyan admitted, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't replicate it. Even I am shocked."

Akash's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh! I wish I could have seen it in person. I wish I was there when it happened."

Anirudh, lying on his bed, couldn't help but mock Akash. "Believe me, you do not want to have been there," he said, eliciting laughter from the group.

Akash chuckled, then his expression grew serious. "I was just here to see you all one last time." Ishan's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I'm leaving Lunaria," Akash revealed. "I've made some advancements in my research and traced back the origin of the fungus." The boys exchanged surprised looks. "We're leaving tomorrow at dawn, heading south. I'll be going with a team."

Avyan's concern was immediate. "But it isn't safe out there in the open for you."

Akash nodded, understanding the worry in his friend's eyes. "Believe me, I worried about this more than you can imagine. I've personally checked our security measures. We're traveling with a large army. I'll be safe. Besides, the risk is worth it. If we discover the fungus's origin, it might help us develop a cure."

The room grew quiet as everyone processed Akash's words. They understood the gravity of his mission and his dedication to finding a cure, especially given his sister's plight. Despite their worry, they knew he had to go.

Avyan's thoughts drifted back to his battle with Kanghis. "What did I do?" he mused, still grappling with the enormity of his actions. "How did I do that? How is that possible?"

Akash took a final look around the room, his eyes lingering on each of his friends. "Take care, everyone," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

As Akash turned to leave, Avyan called out, "Stay safe, Akash. We'll be waiting for your return."

With a nod and a determined smile, Akash walked out, ready to face the unknown for the sake of a brighter future. The boys watched him go, their hearts heavy with both pride and worry, each silently vowing to do their part in the battles yet to come.

After a long period of contemplation, Avyan finally voiced the question that had been nagging at him. "Anirudh, the wound on your stomach was fatal, wasn’t it? How did you survive? And how is it now?"

Anirudh sighed deeply, staring at the ceiling as if searching for answers. "I don't know what's going on with us, Avyan. When I opened my eyes, the wound was already partially healed, even before we got to Lunaria. I can't explain it."

Ishan chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Even my wounds healed faster than I could have imagined. I'll be back in action in a day or two."

The trio sat in silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. They couldn’t fathom the changes their bodies had undergone in such a short time. Avyan, still puzzled by his actions during the battle with Kanghis, felt a gnawing need for answers. He knew there was only one person who could provide them: Pulkit. But Elara had informed them that all the Marshalls were on missions, leaving them in the dark.

A week had passed since the furious battle. The Marshalls were still away on their missions, leaving the young warriors to their own devices. In the absence of their mentors, Ishan and Anirudh took to sparring against each other to test their growth and hone their skills. A large audience of servants and maids gathered around the open training ground within the palace, watching intently as the two friends clashed. Among the spectators stood Avyan, his eyes sharp as he analysed and learned from his comrades.

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The wind rustled the leaves, swirling in response to the movements of the sparring fighters. The ground itself seemed to tremble with each of their powerful strikes. Every spectator's eyes were locked on the battle, the air thick with anticipation.

Anirudh darted around the ground in wide circles, his shirt torn and flapping in the breeze. His eyes were locked onto Ishan, who stood his ground in the centre, a confident smile on his face as he waited for Anirudh's next move.

With a sudden burst of speed, Anirudh rushed forward. Ishan prepared to intercept him, but at the last moment, Anirudh changed direction, sidestepping with incredible agility. Ishan, carried forward by his own momentum, overshot his target. Anirudh seized the opportunity, delivering a swift, baffling kick to Ishan's back. "Hitting him feels like hitting concrete. His muscles are too hard," Anirudh thought, wincing from the impact.

Ishan stumbled but quickly regained his footing. Anirudh leaped forward to deliver another strike, but Ishan planted his foot firmly on the ground, catching Anirudh's leg mid-air. With a show of raw strength, he hurled Anirudh through the air with one hand. Anirudh crashed into a large rock, the impact sending dust and debris flying.

Cracking his bones and dusting himself off, Anirudh stood and flashed a quick smile. "I hope you don't mind if I speed things up," he called out, his tone mocking. Ishan's eyes narrowed, focusing intently on Anirudh's every movement.

In an instant, Anirudh vanished from Ishan's sight. "He's too fast," Ishan's mind raced. The spectators murmured in amazement, their excitement turning to unease as they felt the intensity of the fight escalating.

Anirudh reappeared from Ishan's blind spot, executing a swirling kick aimed directly at Ishan's head. Ishan managed to turn just in time, blocking the kick with his hands. The force of the blow dragged his feet across the ground, leaving deep grooves in the dirt.

The sparring turned into a brawling spectacle of pure hand-to-hand combat. Punches were thrown and dodged in rapid succession, each one more deadly than the last. Despite their contrasting physiques—Ishan's large, bulky frame against Anirudh's lean and agile body—they stood on equal ground. Ishan's attacks were powerful, but Anirudh's speed gave him an edge. However, Anirudh's swift strikes seemed to have little effect on Ishan's solid body, while Ishan's powerful blows, if they landed, could be fatal for Anirudh.

Anirudh -

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Ishan -

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The battle grew increasingly out of control. The spectators, who had been captivated moments before, now felt a sense of danger as the fight escalated. Avyan, sensing the impending risk, shouted from the sidelines, "Stop it now! It's getting out of hand!"

But Ishan and Anirudh were too engrossed to heed his warning. One wrong move could result in serious injury. "I think I'll stop holding back my punches," Ishan declared, his voice grim. Anirudh, breathing heavily but still determined, replied, "You've gotten stronger, but it won't matter if you can't land a hit."

Both warriors roared as they decided to go all in. Ishan took a deep breath and launched a powerful punch with all his might. Anirudh's eyes widened as he saw the punch coming, its speed faster than anything he had anticipated. "I just have to be faster," he thought, preparing to dodge.

Before the punch could land, a figure intervened. Lector appeared, blocking Ishan's punch with both hands. Anirudh had already ducked below. This sudden interruption snapped them both out of their battle trance and back into reality.

They stepped back, a few feet apart, their chests heaving from exertion. The spectators began to disperse, chattering excitedly about the fight they had just witnessed. Avyan joined them, his face a mix of concern and admiration.

Lector patted both fighters on the shoulder, a proud smile on his face. "You two have gotten a lot stronger," he praised them.

Ishan frowned, disappointment clear in his eyes. "You shouldn't have interfered. We were having fun."

Lector's expression turned serious. "There are more important things than this right now. I've come to take you. You've been called for an emergency meeting."

the playful atmosphere dissipated. Avyan, Anirudh, and Ishan exchanged glances, understanding that their training session had been a brief respite from the greater challenges that awaited them. They followed Lector, ready to face whatever lay ahead with newfound strength and resolve.