"Huh? How is this possible? How can I be dead?"
Vishnu stood frozen in confusion.
"I'm standing right in front of my own body... unharmed."
Suddenly, a divine voice echoed in his mind:
"Root Chakra activated."
With the Root Chakra awakened, Vishnu could now foresee what a person wanted or was about to do. Slowly, he walked toward his lifeless body, kneeling down to touch its cheek.
"So... this is the power Balveer was talking about," he murmured.
The environment around him shattered like glass.
And then—
Vishnu snapped back to reality. Not even a second had passed.
He exhaled sharply.
"Even if I try to negotiate... the attack is unavoidable. Even with the Root Chakra unlocked, I can't withstand the brute strength of that masked man."
Vishnu raised his voice.
"Masked man! Who are you?"
When there was no response, he shouted louder:
"I asked you! Are you deaf?"
The masked man tilted his head slightly, an irritated twitch in his movements.
A faint hiss came from his respirator, like a sigh of frustration.
"Heh... you think yelling makes you brave?" he muttered, his tone darkening.
"My kindness was already wearing thin, but I tried, didn't I? I spoke with respect. I gave you a chance to walk away."
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it—just venom.
"This world has no place for polite people like me. And scumbags like you? You don't even deserve my patience."
He drew his sword, its presence radiating killing intent.
"Just die already."
Then, with twisted pride, he declared:
"You people... you're the reason I suffered. All of you. Your words, your screams—they drove me to this. You don't deserve to live."
His voice cracked, a mixture of rage and twisted conviction.
"I, Kira, will kill you all—and make this world peaceful again."
Without waiting, he lunged.
But Vishnu had already foreseen the strike. He dodged smoothly.
Kira's eyes widened.
"No one's ever predicted my move before. Predicting my attack is like knowing where lightning will strike—with perfect accuracy. Impossible."
Bhagya's Thoughts (Internal Monologue):
What... what is happening?
This isn't the outside world I imagined...
My life's in danger. My father's in danger.
Why am I crying? I never felt this way in Shambhala—not even once...
Why is this happening to me?! Why?!
Tears spilled from Bhagya's eyes, falling in the middle of the battlefield.
Kira turned slightly, confused.
"Huh?"
Vishnu's eyes locked onto him.
This is my chance. He's distracted. I'm going to win. I have to win. Win for my family. Win for myself. I won't lose.
Suddenly, the Root Chakra flared again—
Power surged from Vishnu's very soul, burning with spirituality.
but Kira stepped forward.
"I never thought I'd use this power against someone... but thank you—for giving me a reason."
Then, the masked man did something unexpected.
He removed his mask.
Both father and son froze.
The man's right eye glowed bright red—but it wasn't real.
It was a mechanical implant, whirring softly as it scanned the air.
"This isn't an ordinary eye," he said coldly.
"It's a military implant. It lets me communicate with my comrades... and analyze whether a target is a threat."
He looked young—like a teenager. Handsome, but dangerous.
One eye was deep blue. The other, a glowing machine.
His long, silvery-gray hair shimmered under the light.
In his hand, he held a sword crackling with electric aura.
Vishnu and Bhagya stood frozen, horrified by what they were facing.
The sword's power rose:
"Destroyer Protocol — Person-Killer, Building-Breaker, Maximum Output."
Kira smirked.
"This much power should be enough for you."
With his Root Chakra awakened, Vishnu's mind brushed against Kira's thoughts, peering into countless branching futures. Trillions of possibilities unfolded before him—each darker than the last.
Not a single path favored the father and son.
Vishnu's Inner Monologue:
There are trillions of possibilities he could play against me...
I think this is the end. I'm going to die.
In reality, Kira was preparing his peak attack from the Destroyer Sword.
Vishnu whispered, "Bhagya... I think this is the end for me and you."
He wasn't even finished speaking when—
Kira's preparations were complete.
But suddenly, he stopped.
Vishnu's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering—why had his enemy paused so abruptly?
With a creepy smile, Kira said to Vishnu:
"Let's be friends, brother."
Vishnu blinked. "Huh?"
Shocked, he stood protectively in front of Bhagya.
"Friends? But you just tried to kill us... didn't you?"
Kira smiled eerily, stepping closer and placing a hand on Vishnu's shoulder.
"Yeah... but now I said we're friends, aren't we?"
"Okay... but let us go," Vishnu said cautiously.
Kira frowned.
"Go? Go where? Friends don't leave each other."
Vishnu replied, "You were going to kill us, weren't you?"
Kira smiled calmly.
"No, I wasn't. Actually... my hand slipped."
Vishnu frowned, confused. "Huh? Your hand slipped? How can someone's hand slip like that?"
Kira chuckled. "Okay, man, leave it now."
Vishnu stared at him, unsure whether to argue or just nod. Finally, he muttered, "...Fine. What's your name?"
"Kira. I'm a member of the military. A Divine General," he said proudly.
"Oh... okay. So are you really not going to kill us?" Vishnu asked again.
Kira replied, smiling slightly,
"I said yes. That means yes. I don't betray people I call friends."
Vishnu's Inner Monologue:
"The worst betrayal Vishnu had ever faced was when a sibling stole his snacks without asking. That, in his mind, was the peak of treachery.
He had never known betrayal deep enough to scar the soul—never believed it could even exist.
But the world had a way of teaching lessons... harsh ones.
And so, with a naive heart, Vishnu accepted Kira's offer.
Kira's eyes narrowed. He gave Vishnu a wide smile.
Vishnu thought it was the beginning of their friendship.
But it was something much darker.
"Something the world would soon show Vishnu... the price of misplaced trust."
To be continued...
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