The lake of Nilaya, calm moments ago, now churned with dark energy. Waves rose unnaturally high, forming walls of black water. Above, the crescent-shaped shadow in the sky pulsed like a living wound.
Tarka drew both her curved blades. "That's no storm."
Lakshya's Agni-Sutra burned on his hand, glowing brighter with each pulse of the crescent. "Something is waking. Something watching."
Then came the voice — low and resonant, like the groan of ancient mountains:
"You touched the Mirror. You stirred memory that should remain forgotten."
🌑 The Herald Emerges
The lake split open.
From beneath the waters rose a towering figure — over twenty feet tall. Its body was half-liquid, half-shadow, with ribs made of black obsidian and a head resembling a crescent mask with hollow, glowing eyes.
Tarka's jaw tightened. "That's not a spirit. That's a Herald of Shunyaka."
The being raised a clawed hand, and the air around them warped. Water transformed into chains of dark energy, slamming toward them.
"Move!" Lakshya shouted, rolling to the side as a chain struck where he stood, shattering stone.
🔥 First Clash
Lakshya activated Flame Heart, feeling his inner fire surge. His Vardaan flared:
[Combat Prompt: Shadow Entity Detected – Level 2 Threat]
[Recommended Skill Use: Bind of Aagniya + Echo Sight]
"Keep it busy!" Tarka yelled, leaping forward. Her twin blades danced like silver lightning, slashing at the Herald's legs. The strikes passed through its liquid shadow body but slowed it slightly.
Lakshya focused, activating Echo Sight. The world shifted. He could see glowing threads inside the Herald — its core, a shard of black crescent light buried in its chest.
That's its weakness.
He leapt forward, summoning Bind of Aagniya, fiery chains wrapping around the Herald's torso. It roared, the sound shaking the entire lake.
⚔️ The Battle Turns
The Herald slammed a massive arm into the ground, sending ripples of shadow energy across the platform. Lakshya was thrown back, landing hard, his breath knocked out.
"Lakshya!" Tarka shouted, blocking another attack with her blades, sparks flying.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself up. His inner flame flickered but didn't die. Eternal Spark burned within him now — the refusal to give up.
"Enough!" he roared. He poured every ounce of Shakti into his Agni-Sutra. The fiery chains intensified, glowing white-hot.
[Vardaan Surge Activated: Overdrive Mode — Duration: 7 seconds]
Lakshya dashed forward, striking at the glowing core. His palm burned like molten steel as it hit.
The Herald screeched, its body cracking and dissolving into streams of black mist.
🕯️ The Whispered Warning
As the Herald collapsed, its voice whispered one last time:
"The Devourer wakes… when the Second Mirror shatters. The black moon will fall."
Then it vanished into nothingness.
Lakshya staggered, breathing heavily. His Agni-Sutra was glowing faintly, a new rune etched into its design.
[New Skill Unlocked: Inferno Step – Dash forward with explosive speed, leaving a trail of burning energy.]
Tarka sheathed her blades. "That was just a Herald. Imagine what the real Shunyaka is like."
Lakshya looked at the dark horizon. "Then we'll just have to be ready. No matter what it takes."
🌌 The Road Ahead
As they left Nilaya, the Vardaan pulsed:
[Main Quest Updated: The Second Mirror – Location Unknown]
[Side Quest Unlocked: Find the Crescent Watcher – Ally or Foe?]
[World Status: Corruption 3% – Minor Disturbances Detected Across Mahakaal Lok.]
Lakshya clenched his fist. "The first step is done. But the shadows are moving faster than I thought."
To be continued…