The crimson portal swallowed them whole.
Aamir and Riya stepped through, leaving the hill behind—the grave, the guardian beast, and the silence of PurushottamPuri fading into memory.
On the other side, the world shifted. They emerged near the fortified walls of Base One, the largest stronghold of the resistance. Torches burned across its battlements, their flames casting shadows that stretched like weary sentinels.
The night was quiet here. Too quiet.
Aamir exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging for the first time since the battle. Riya's hand still rested lightly in his own, her warmth anchoring him even when his chest felt hollow.
Neither of them spoke at first. The portal closed behind them with a dull shimmer, cutting them off from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, at Base Three…
