"Finally, we stepped inside,” Nico let out a huff, his breath catching in his throat as he released a sigh of relief. The others, however, kept their senses heightened, their bodies tense and ready for whatever might come next.

"Don't let your guard down yet," Tara cautioned, her eyes scanning the dark corners of the space as if searching for hidden threats lurking just out of sight.

"I also think there might be more puppets around here," Mia added, her voice low but firm, a careful awareness in her tone.

Regardless of the threats still present, Dhruv took a breath and acknowledged the reality of their situation. "Either way, we’re already in the lion's den, so let’s face whatever awaits us together." He eased up a bit, allowing some of the tension to escape as he revealed a thoughtful vulnerability. "You know, when we first met, I honestly thought you guys would turn against us. It’s surprisingly reassuring that you didn’t."

"Yeah, no, I still don’t trust you," Nico interjected abruptly, not missing a beat and keeping his defensive stance.

"We need to move. We can’t afford to sit around dodging bullets. Mia haven't gotten enough time to recover, and you two look like you’ve been through a storm," Tara ordered with determination, her voice leaving no room for argument.

"I get that, but can you answer just one little question for me? What on earth are you doing here? I really don’t see how you’ve contributed to this battle," Nico challenged, pushing back against her authority and wanting clarity in a time of uncertainty.

"You don’t need to worry about my part in this. I have my role to play," Tara replied, her expression resolute.

Dhruv turned to Mia. "Can you open up a path for the soldiers when we reach the next room?" he suggested, and just like that, the bickering fell silent as they focused on the task at hand.

Mia concentrated, channeling her skill ‘Harmony’ to create an opening from their previous entry point. The soldier who had brushed against the ominous black layer cautiously approached the newly formed hole. As he entered, he was met with a surprising absence of danger. With bloodshot eyes filled with urgency, he called out to the other soldiers, “Come on, it’s safe! Let’s step into this hell and take down the main culprit behind all this!” Anger underlined his voice, urging others to follow.

As everyone pushed deeper into the dimly lit mansion, the pervasive black layer cast an eerie shadow. Outside, a helicopter hovered majestically above, its blades slicing through the thick air. “Continue observing; if you spot any loopholes like this again, act immediately,” the Commander instructed Sniper A, then turned to another soldier. “Make sure Sniper B gets that order too.”

Within the mansion, Shambu was in a state of panic, though he tried to mask it. His brother Anbu sat calmly, seemingly unaffected by the chaos surrounding them. “I can’t hold on much longer. How long until we execute your final plan, brother?” Shambu whispered, desperation creeping into his voice.

Anbu turned to him with a smile, “I don’t have any plan.”

“What!! Are you for real?” Shambu asked, confusion etched across his face. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing, murmuring to himself in disbelief.

"Yeah, this arrangement is a setup by the Lord himself. I can't take this credit." Anbu tried to put his mind at ease.

“Oh, thank God. I was about to lose it! ” Shambu sighed with relief, finally relaxing somewhat.

“Let’s get this show on the road.” Anbu said and raised his hand.

Suddenly, the air split with gunfire—Pew Pew Boom!

The sound of the gunfire emerged from their back, armed puppets ready to fight confirmed their fears, but there was something strange about it. "Why didn’t they attack us directly? Why are they going straight for the soldiers?" Tara questioned, curiosity piqued as she felt a sense of unease settling around them.

"I think something’s off too. It’s as if they’re trying to lead us somewhere," Mia added, her intuition on high alert.

Dhruv, sensing the gravity of their situation, responded, “We’re already cornered; there’s no backing down now. Both sides have taken hits, and this is the prime opportunity for us to strike back, especially with our numbers on our side.” His voice held a mixture of resignation and determination, understanding the weight of their predicament.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Step Step Step Tak!

They moved through the sprawling mansion, shifting from one elegantly decorated room to another. Leading the group were Dhruv and Tara, their expressions a mix of determination and uncertainty. Following closely behind them were Nico and Mia, both of whom exchanged glances filled with apprehension as they navigated the labyrinthine corridors. Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished marble floors, heightening the tension that hung in the air. After what felt like an eternity of walking, they finally reached the main hall of the mansion, a grand space that commanded attention with its high ceilings and opulent furnishings.

In the center of the hall, they spotted a man reclining comfortably in a large, imposing chair, exuding an air of authority and ease. It was Anbu, the mastermind behind countless schemes, his presence both intriguing and intimidating. Next to him stood his brother, Shambu, a silent yet formidable figure, watching the newcomers with keen interest.

Anbu’s lips curved into a smirk as he regarded the group. “You all gave me a roller coaster of emotions,” he said, his tone playful yet laced with an underlying seriousness. “Now then, what do you think we should do about this situation?”

Nico, feeling the tension rise, shot back defensively, “What’s there to talk about?” His voice dripped with disbelief, clearly not in the mood for games or negotiations.

Standing nearby, Dhruv couldn’t shake off the discomfort that washed over him at the sight of this Black Soul user appearing so at ease. It felt wrong, watching Anbu display such confidence while the rest of them were on edge.

Anbu’s gaze shifted, locking onto Dhruv. “You there, my friend,” he began, his voice smooth and enticing. “You are a fellow Black Soul user, although we haven’t heard of you until now. I’m really curious to know why you’ve decided to side with these guys.” He leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. “If your only intention is to get your hands on the Soul Box, we can arrange that for you. You don’t have to disrupt our plans or make this more complicated than it needs to be. How about it? Are you willing to side with us?”

“I might have accepted your offer earlier, but now I don't think I can. And about helping them, I think it's none of your business.” Dhruv replied.

“Ah! What a pity that along with Thieving Maiden we also have to track you down. Your soul-absorbing skill is quite good; if we can research it, it will be quite helpful to all the Black Soul users.” Nico replied pitifully with a sense of greed.

Dhruv cast a fleeting glance at Tara, their eyes locking for a moment. Confusion flickered between them, but both shared an unspoken determination. With a focused intent, Tara activated her 'Treasure Grab' skill, instigating a sudden and eerie phenomenon. A spectral white hand emerged forcefully from the ground behind Shambu, aiming directly for his head. Yet Shambu, with a swift instinct, sidestepped just in time, allowing the hand to miss its mark entirely.

Anbu's voice broke the tension, cool and measured. "It doesn't look like you want to talk very well then. Code 6B."

The words sent an alert through Dhruv, Tara, and Mia, heightening their senses. Though it seemed like an eternity, only seconds passed without a follow-up.

Then, in the tenth second, chaos erupted. Two sharp spears pierced through Dhruv and Mia's chests with brutal precision. Dhruv's gaze dropped in disbelief to the spear embedded in his chest. 'Isn't this Nico's spear? So, you were a traitor all along,' he murmured, the betrayal settling heavily in his mind as he turned to meet Anbu's gaze, where a sinister smile awaited him. His eyes quickly flicked to Tara, who wore a similar expression of shock, and then to Mia, whose bewilderment mirrored their own.

The impact of the white soul energy was immediate and devastating, particularly against Dhruv, who bore the Black Soul. He staggered and collapsed to the ground, the force of the blow causing a cracked Purple Star to detach from his body, fleeing away at alarming speed from the main hall.

Tara was in a bit better condition than him, but Shambu quickly used his skill, quickly compelling her to her knees. The moment was dire as her very essence seemed to waver, on the brink of being lost to the void. Yet at that critical juncture, Anbu intervened, rising from his chair and advancing toward her.

"Thieving Maiden, please don’t take this personally; it’s all about benefits. You’re simply in our way, leaving us with no other option. Ah! When you return to your main body, do inform her that we Asters will hunt you down relentlessly, so you’d best stay vigilant," he stated, his tone chillingly polite, betraying the malice beneath.

With measured effort, Tara raised her head, her voice barely a whisper. "Call me Tara."

"Huh? Whatever. Hand over the Soul Box, or I will have to destroy you entirely and extract it myself. Since you are merely a 'Will' clone, your existence can be erased," he insisted, a thin veneer of civility masking his aggression.

Tara remained silent, a faint smile spreading across her face as she took out the Soul Box in her palm. Anbu’s confusion deepened. "Why are you smiling? You must realise you have no path to survival here. That man is in soul-wisp form, and by the time he recovers himself, we will have already left this planet."

"You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. But if I can’t have this Soul Box, neither can you," she replied resolutely, flinging the Soul Box into the air. It was on the brink of hitting the ground when she invoked her 'Treasure Identifier' skill, shattering the black barrier encasing the mansion.

"Get ready to use your skill, Tara; it’s time to end this. We tried to take more but failed," came Dhruv's main body’s voice from somewhere nearby, casting a glance at the damaged Purple Star 'Mind Clone' in his hand.

"It’s already far beyond what I could have achieved," Tara responded, closing her eyes as she summoned her 'Treasure Grab' skill.

From the open glass panel of the mansion on top, Sniper A observed the unfolding chaos in the main hall and immediately grasped the gravity of the situation upon sighting the spear. He steadied his aim. Sniper B, positioned at a distance, also recognized the urgency and took his shot.

Time seemed to stretch when the Soul Box finally made contact with the ground, flooding the main hall with a brilliant shaft of sunlight. Simultaneously, two sniper shots rang out in perfect unison. A spectral white hand erupted from the earth, snatching the Soul Box away just as the bullets hit their target. One shot struck Nico from above while the other pierced him from the left. The combined force was catastrophic; his head shattered, and blood sprayed in a gruesome display.

In a moment of confusion, Shambu used his skill toward Tara, desperate to retrieve the Soul Box, but it had vanished without a trace. Instead, Tara collapsed to the ground 'plop' due to Shambu's skill. A radiant Purple Star shot skyward covered in dense white fog, disappearing into the ether.

"What?!" The exclamation escaped from Anbu’s lips, followed by a wave of disbelief washing over him and everyone else present, rendering them momentarily frozen in shock.

"Nicooo…" Mia’s voice broke through the silence as Nico's White Soul emerged from his tattered body.

"Well, that was crazy, by the way." Nico in his clone form remarked.