The rain fell in sheets, blurring the giant cranes and shipping containers of the Mumbai Port. Under the cover of the storm, Vikram and Rohan moved through the service tunnels under Sector 4, their boots splashing in the water.
In a control van parked two blocks away, Rhea's fingers typed fast. "I'm in the port's light system," she whispered in their earpieces. "The light towers are under my control. I'll turn them on on your mark."
"Got it," Vikram said, looking out from a metal cover.
Ahead lay Container 404, a heavy metal box guarded by four men in dark coats.
"Rohan, take the left guard," Vikram whispered. "On three. One... two... three. Rhea, lights!"
Instantly, six giant floodlights on the towers turned on, filling the wet yard with blinding white light. The guards cried out, covering their eyes.
Rohan ran out, tackling the left guard into a pile of wooden boards. Vikram ran forward, his fists crackling with blue electricity. He hit the center guard's jaw, the electrical shock knocking him out instantly.
But before they could reach the container door, a dark sphere of shadow expanded in the center of the yard.
The bright light from the towers bent around the dark sphere as if avoiding it. The air temperature dropped, and frost formed on the metal containers.
The dark sphere parted, and **Javed** stepped out.
His scarred cheek was pale, and his hands were covered in thick gloves of solid shadow. "You don't learn, Rathod," Javed sneered. "Just like your father. He thought he could fight the dark too. Do you want to see how he died?"
Javed jumped forward.
He threw a punch, launching a wave of cold shadow force.
Vikram jumped out of the way, but the blast hit his shoulder, throwing him against the metal container. The touch felt like ice, numbing his left arm instantly.
"He died screaming, Vikram," Javed mocked, stepping closer. The shadows crawled up the containers, blocking the light from the towers. "He begged for your life."
Javed raised both hands, a giant ball of black energy forming above his head, ready to crush Vikram.
Vikram looked at the dark ball, then at his numb arm. He remembered his father's final words: *Prana is not in your muscles, Vikram. It's in your blood. Ignite it.*
He closed his eyes, focusing on his heartbeat.
*Ignite.*
A bright blue spark flared from Vikram's chest, running down to his fists. The electrical hum was loud, the rain turning to steam as it touched his hot skin.
He opened his eyes. They were glowing with a pale blue light.
Javed threw the dark ball.
Vikram stepped forward, driving a straight punch directly into the center of the incoming shadow ball.
*Crack!*
The electricity hit the dark energy. The blast was blinding, throwing a wave of light and shadow through the yard. The container wall behind Vikram bent under the pressure.
Javed's dark ball broke into black mist, and the force of Vikram's punch carried through, hitting Javed's chest. The scarred enforcer was thrown back ten feet, his shadow gloves disappearing.
Javed spat blood, looking at Vikram with shock. "This is not over."
He stepped back into the shadows and disappeared.
"Vikram!" Rohan yelled, running to the container. "Javed started the self-destruct on the core console!"
Vikram ran inside the container. In the center sat three metal cylinders—the Tenebrous Cores—humming with a black light. On the screen, a red timer was ticking down: *00:14.*
"Rhea!" Vikram screamed. "Can you stop it?"
"No time!" Rhea's voice panicked. "Cut the main wires on the left side of the box! It will cut the power!"
Vikram willed his fading electricity into his finger, forming a thin, sharp arc. He slashed his finger across the wires.
The red timer stopped at *00:02.*
The black light in the cylinders went out, the hum dying down.
Vikram fell against the wall, his muscles aching, his skin covered in cold sweat.
But as he looked at the screen, his heart sank. A message was flashing in green:
*Upload Complete. Grid Status: ACTIVE. Main Transmitter: Gateway of India.*
Vikram looked at Rohan.
"They did not need the shipment," Vikram said, his voice shaking. "They already have the cores. It has started."