The red fog had thickened, and the air was filled with a faint scent of iron and wet soil. With every step, a soft thumping sound could be heard from the ground—like the valley itself was alive.
Riya was walking ahead, her blade ready. Her face was calm, but her green eyes held a focused tension.
"This is the core of the Heart Zone. There's no way back from here, Aarya. Those who don't clear this zone… become a part of it."
Feran walked close to Aarya, his fur standing on edge. His telepathic tone was sharp: "Every tree, every thread here can hear your breath. One wrong emotion… and this place will consume you."
Aarya steadied his breath. His Granthnishaan reacted with a faint warm pulse, and his heart was beating a little faster—but still under control.
--
After walking a little further, they reached a large open space. In front of them was a massive crimson cocoon-like structure made of threads and thorns. A soft breathing sound came from within it, and red petals on its surface moved with each heartbeat.
Aarya said softly, "It's… breathing."
Riya gave a small nod. "This is the heart of the Heart Zone. The Queen… Lysara… is inside."
Feran growled, his tone more cautious: "She's waiting for you. She remembers your name, Aarya. This zone became more active after you arrived."
Aarya tightened his Granthnishaan. "I understand. We're not here just to survive… we have to clear this zone."
Riya looked at him, and for a moment, her expression softened. "And we have to return alive."
Aarya gave a faint smile. "Together."
Riya nodded slightly, but there was a tiny spark in her eyes.
---
As they stepped into the cocoon, the world around them completely changed.
The fog grew denser, and the branches of the trees now swayed like red threads. From every branch hung leaves that whispered softly, their voices gradually growing louder.
"…Aarya… you've come back…" "…You left me… you'll leave again…" "…You're just like the girl who died because of you…"
Aarya felt those voices in his ears. His chest warmed for a moment, and his Granthnishaan reacted with a faint red glow.
"Aarya, stay in control!" Riya immediately grabbed his hand. "These voices are playing on your guilt. Ignore them."
Aarya steadied his breath and looked at Riya. Her green eyes held that same calm strength. Slowly, the red glow of the Granthnishaan began to fade.
Feran growled, his telepathic tone firm: "Focus on her. This zone wants to separate you from her."
---
A faint vibration rippled through the ground, and slowly red threads from the cocoon began to shift. They twisted together and started forming a feminine shadowy figure.
She gradually took shape—half human, half beast, her body made of threads and thorns. Her face was half-beautiful, half-twisted, and her glowing red eyes pierced directly into Aarya.
Riya immediately stepped in front of Aarya, blade ready. "Lysara…"
Lysara's voice was soft but chilling, like poison mixed with honey: "…Aarya… your name tastes so sweet. When you look at me, the boy inside you stirs… the one who's already broken… the one who wants to break again…"
Aarya tried to steady his breath, but a sudden flash burst in his mind—a girl's scream and red blood. His heartbeat quickened.
Granthnishaan flared briefly in red.
Feran growled, his telepathic tone sharp: "Aarya! Steady your breath. She wants to break your mind."
Riya gripped his hand tighter. "You're not alone, Aarya. Look at me."
Aarya turned to her. In her calm green eyes was the same strength he had seen in earlier trials. Gradually, his breathing returned to normal, and the Granthnishaan shifted back to a white glow.
---
Lysara let out a soft laugh—gentle, but hollow inside. "…You two dare challenge me? Let's see how strong your bond really is…"
Suddenly, the threads around her began to move. The red threads wrapped around the ground and trees, forming a giant arena. Thorns and threads rose from all directions, swaying with every heartbeat.
Riya readied her blade and stood shoulder to shoulder with Aarya. "Ready?"
Aarya activated his Granthnishaan, his chest steady. "Together."
Feran growled and stepped between them. "Then the hunt begins."
And with a fierce roar, Lysara lunged at them.
—
The thread-forged arena began to feel more and more alive. With every heartbeat, the thorns emerging from the ground swayed, and the air rang with an increasing bell-like hum.
Lysara stared directly at them—her glowing red eyes digging into Aarya. She gave a twisted smile. "…let's see how long your bond lasts…"
And without another word, she lashed out all her threads at once.
---
Two massive threads flew straight toward Aarya. Riya spun her blade sharply and sliced the first, but the second thread shot up from beneath her feet and began forming a ring around her.
"Aarya, be careful! She's trying to separate us!" Riya shouted.
Aarya activated his Granthnishaan and rolled to the side. His mind was sensing the vibrations of the zone's threads, but for a second he lost focus—Lysara's voice echoed in his ears:
"…you won't be able to save her… just like you couldn't save that girl…"
Aarya's heartbeat spiked for a moment, and the Granthnishaan flickered into a faint red glow.
---
Lysara raised her hands and dozens of small threads burst from the ground. They twisted together into a maze, slowly cutting off the path between Aarya and Riya.
"Aarya! Focus on my voice! I'm right here!" Riya's voice echoed from the other side of the maze.
Feran growled, his telepathic tone sharp: "Steady your breath! You're not alone, I'm here!"
But Lysara's voice grew louder, soft yet dripping with poison: "…see, you're alone again… like always…"
A flash burst in Aarya's mind—a girl screaming, blood. His heartbeat raced, and the Granthnishaan now glowed even redder.
---
"Aarya!" Riya's voice grew louder. "You're not alone! Look at me!"
Aarya shut his eyes and steadied his breath. His mind slowly began to calm, and the zone's threads began glowing with white trails again—as if they were showing him their roots.
"Riya, can you hear me?" Aarya called out loudly.
"Yes!"
"I'm going to destroy its root. Are you ready?"
"Always!"
---
Aarya intensified the glow of his Granthnishaan. Every thread's flow was now visible to him. He picked a perfect spot and dived straight toward it.
His Granthnishaan blazed white as he slammed his hand onto the root of the threads. The root burned, and the maze's threads crumbled with a roaring sound.
Riya rushed to his side, her blade still ready. Her face was serious, but her green eyes held a small smile. "You're learning fast. Your instincts… they're under your control now."
Feran growled, a bit of pride in his tone: "You and this zone… you're in rhythm now, Aarya."
---
Lysara let out a roar that echoed across the arena. Her body twisted even more—she absorbed the nearby trees and threads. Now half of her body was fully beast-like, and with every movement, her threads pulsed through the ground and air.
"…so… you want to break me? Let's see how strong your heart really is…"
She lashed dozens of threads at once. They slithered like snakes, lunging at Riya and Aarya.
Riya readied her blade and stood beside Aarya again. "That was just the beginning. Now she's getting serious."
Aarya activated his Granthnishaan, his chest steady. In his mind, he could now clearly see the threads of the zone—like he was hearing the heartbeat of the zone itself.
"Then let's end this."
Feran growled and stepped forward. "The hunt has only begun."
And with another fierce roar, Lysara lunged at them.
TO BE CONTINUED..