The group huddled behind the trees, their breaths uneven but their minds connected through Ruhi's telepathic link. The air was heavy with the smell of burnt bark and smoke. Their bodies ached, but there was no time to rest one wrong move, and that man could wipe them out completely.
Aarav caught on immediately. " Ruhi and I will distract him. We'll keep him focused on us, make him think we're the main threat."
Sanvi's lips curved into a confident smirk. "And I'll handle Ekaksh. That basement we sensed earlier he's there. I can use my portal magic to slip through the basement. I'll get him out before that psycho even realizes."
The group exchanged brief nods. They all knew the risk. One mistake, one wrong calculation, and they'd all end up like the villagers gone without a trace.
"Be careful," Ruhi murmured softly, her eyes flicking toward Kian and then to Sanvi. "If anything happens-"
"Nothing will," Kian interrupted, his tone flat but his eyes sharp. "Just stick to the plan."
Aarav gave a short signal, and they broke into motion. Ruhi and Aarav moved out first, stepping from behind the trees and into the clearing where the man stood, still surrounded by faint trails of smoke. His posture was relaxed, too relaxed, as if this entire fight was just a game to him.
"Oh? You're back already?" His voice was smooth, mocking. "I was beginning to think you'd run away."
Ruhi and Aarav didn't answer. Aarav unleashed a wave of compressed flame while Ruhi followed with shards of glowing lighting and fire mix, with wind energy, each magic aimed to catch his attention. The man countered lazily, flicking his wrist to nullify each blast.
Meanwhile, far behind the trees, Kian closed his eyes, focusing his energy. The forest blurred around him as he extended his awareness, his mind reaching toward the man like invisible threads of energy. Every heartbeat, every word, every flicker of thought began to pulse faintly in his mind.
At the same time, Sanvi swirls an oval of golden-blue light before her, rippling like water. Without hesitation, she stepped through.
Inside the basement, it was cold and dark. The faint sound of muffled magic chains filled the air. Her eyes caught a familiar figure tied against the wall. "Ekaksh!" she hissed.
He looked up, surprised. "Sanvi?"
"Don't talk. I'll get you out." She placed her palm on the chain, focusing her lightning energy into it. The magic seal sparked and shattered, releasing him. He stumbled slightly, rubbing his wrists.
"How long was I gone?" he asked, still dazed.
"Long enough," she said shortly. "Come on. The others are fighting for their lives."
Together they ran through the portal she reopened, appearing beside Aarav and Ruhi within seconds. Aarav turned, startled but relieved. "You actually did it."
The man's smile faltered for the first time. His gaze darkened, confusion flickering across his expression. "How is this possible? He was bound with magic binding chain." He stepped forward, his voice rising. "You little brats played some trick on me, didn't you? Doesn't matter. I'll kill all of you anyway." His eyes darted across the group. "But where's the fifth brat?"
Kian remained hidden behind the thick tree line, eyes shut, his breathing steady as his consciousness finally broke through into the man's mind.
A rush of chaotic thoughts hit him all at once arrogance, greed, echoes of madness. And then words began to form, sharp and clear.
These kids think they can win. Pathetic. No one can defeat me. I have the Shinigami's power. My power might be low level power but still . Even I don't know how they could possibly counter it. This Deadly Wish may be one of the weaker ones, but still… no one has ever managed to impress even one of the fifteen Shinigamis. I'm the only one. I sacrificed everything my wife, my children to gain it. That shinigami finally gave in.
Kian's eyes tightened. He forced himself to focus, digging deeper.
If they even want to beat me, they'll never know what my wish truly grants. The Shinigami blessed me with the ability to nullify any attack I recognize completely & weaken their defense. No matter how powerful the magic, if I've seen it once, it's useless.
Kian's fists clenched, sweat dripping from his temple. He had heard enough. He broke the connection and exhaled shakily.
Through the mind link, his voice echoed clearly in the others' heads. Listen to me carefully. I know what his Deadly Wish is. He can nullify any attack he recognizes. Every attack he sees once becomes useless against him. That's why none of our magic worked.
Aarav's mind voice came next, tense but steady. So what do we do now?
Kian's eyes opened, the sharp glint of determination replacing his exhaustion. Now that we know what he can do, we'll make sure he never gets to recognize our next move.
Ekaksh blinked up at Kian and said, breathless with the leftover adrenaline, "How about we play defensive the whole time, then?"
Kian's eyes narrowed. His voice was sharp. "It's not even been a few minutes since you came back and you're already talking nonsense. Defensive? How long do you think you can defend against him? At some point you will run out of energy. And anyway, making defensive weak is part of his wish. Don't be so naive."
Ekaksh flinched, then brightened as if struck by a new thought. "Oh, I got one more idea."
Kian's tone was flat. "Shut up. Not again. I do not want to hear your pathetic idea."
Ekaksh's voice went small for a second. "Please, please, please hear me out. If you listen, I will do anything. I will fulfill one wish of yours."
Kian sighed in irritation but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "Okay, fine. Tell me."
Ekaksh launched into it, all earnest and ridiculous. "What if I use my transformation magic to become a ghost and scare him?"
Aarav pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a sound that was half laugh, half groan. "Don't be stupid, Ekaksh. This is not the time for jokes."
Ekaksh waved his hands, indignant. "I am not joking."
Kian let out a low, controlled laugh that had the edges of steel in it. "I have an idea," he said. "It sounds risky, but it might work if we time it perfectly." He looked at each of them in turn, coldly efficient now that the plan had come together in his head. "We will create smoke by combining water and fire. Ekaksh, you will transform into a rabbit and go in front of him. Sanvi, you will enter the basement and retrieve the magic binding chains. Aarav, use your spatial magic to get behind him so you can strike from the back. Ekaksh, while you are a rabbit, you will go near him, then switch back into human form and strike him, surprising him. At the same time Aarav will attack from behind, and Ruhi and I will attack from the sides, and ruhi add him in our mind communication, so ekaksh and sanvi can speak rubbish and scream to stop him from thinking. He can block at most three attacks at once. The others will hit him. Sanvi, the moment he is struck, you bind him with those chains so he cannot move. If timing is right, we overwhelm him while his defenses are still trying to adjust."
He paused, letting the plan land in each of their faces, watching for the tiny flicker of understanding or doubt. Ekaksh's grin returned, ridiculous and wide. Aarav's jaw set with that quiet determination Ruhi knew so well. Sanvi's eyes flashed with a dangerous excitement. Ruhi nodded once, steady and calm. They all felt the weight of it. The gamble was enormous. The hope was simple.
They moved like a single organism, every breath and step tuned to the same desperate rhythm. Kian's plan felt reckless even as it clicked into place, but reckless was better than being ground down until nothing was left.
Aarav and Ruhi stood up from behind their cover and stepped into the clearing as if they were the ones starting the fight again. Aarav let his flame flare openly, then folded it into a narrow stream that licked the forest floor. Ruhi answered with water, letting it steam and curl where the two elements met. The steam rose fast, white and thick, swallowing the light and turning the air sour and heavy. The smoke rolled over the ground like a low cloud, and the man's eyes narrowed as the world blurred between him and his enemies.
Ekaksh crouched very small behind a mossy stone and closed his hands. His face shifted, features shrinking and softening in a ridiculous, uncanny way until he was no longer a stupid prankster but a trembling rabbit with a tuft of pink hair in its ears. He stamped his tiny paws in the dirt and darted out into the wispy smoke toward the man as if chased by some invisible thing.
Sanvi didn't hesitate. She slipped away using spatial magic into the basement, that they had found earlier. Inside the basement she moved along the shadowed corridor on silent feet until she found the iron rack where the magic binding chains had been kept. She opened her portal, threw the chains into the portal, then herself stepping out not far from the man , hiding behind the tree.
Aarav drifted into place the way a shadow folded into another shadow. He did not run through any showy opening. He materialized at the man's flank, the air around him humming as he pushed his presence forward. He had fire braided into one fist and a quiet, fierce control in his stance.
Kian, lodged about eight hundred meters away, had his mind tethered to the man. He had closed his eyes and reached inward, threading himself into the enemy's thought-stream. He felt arrogance, confusion, and a brittle certainty that nothing could touch him. He felt the man's attention turn broad and then narrow as the smoke thickened, and that was the moment Kian had been waiting for.
The smoke thickened in the air, curling through the trees like a restless spirit, the man was not able to get rid of the smoke because it was neither defensive nor offensive. The plan had to be perfect. There was no other way .
Ruhi stood hidden behind a tree, her hand pressed to her temple as she reached out with her mind. Her voice echoed inside the others' heads, calm but commanding. On my signal, everyone moves. Ekaksh, when I say now, shout. Confuse him. Kian, be ready to strike. Aarav, behind him. Sanvi, wait for your moment.
The air went still, only the faint rustle of leaves whispering above them. Then, Ruhi's voice again, firm. Now.
From the mist, a small white rabbit bounded forward Ekaksh in his transformed form hopping fearlessly into the open. The man frowned, momentarily thrown off by the ridiculous sight. And then, as planned, Ekaksh's form twisted and stretched back into his human body. He landed on his feet, drew in a deep breath, and screamed with all the force he had through the mind communication which was only between ruhi ,ekaksh, and the man , a wild, ear-splitting shout .
The man screamed, blinking hard as the sound pierced through his focus, holding his ears in pain . That single moment of confusion was all they needed. Aarav's attack came from behind, his fire bursting like molten light, while Ruhi's fire+ lighting magic surged forward with sharp precision. Kian's wind-slashed katana cut through the haze at the same time, and Ekaksh charged from the front, swinging hard with wind + fire magic.
All four of them attacked together from front, behind, and both sides their powers intertwining in one dazzling strike. The man roared, reacting just in time to nullify three of the attacks, his defense magic flickering like a dark shield. But Kian's plan had worked Ekaksh's shout had rattled him, and his reaction came a heartbeat too late. Aarav's attack slipped past his defense, striking him across the back in a flash of searing energy.
The man staggered forward, stunned, his magic trembling. And before he could regain his balance, the air beside him rippled Sanvi appeared through a glowing portal, her face set with fierce determination. In one smooth motion, she unfurled the magic binding chains and wrapped them around him. The links glowed as they tightened, reacting to her command. The man thrashed, furious, his power surging in waves, but the chains held firm, strengthened by the lingering energy of Ruhi and Aarav's magic.
The five of them stood there, their breathing heavy, eyes locked on the man who had nearly destroyed them. The forest fell into silence except for the faint hum of the bindings. For the first time, the enemy looked uncertain and they, though exhausted, stood tall together, the plan executed to perfection.
The man struggled helplessly in the grip of the binding chains, his eyes wild with rage and disbelief. "This… this can't be possible!" he shouted, his voice echoing. "I'm the only one who ever got the Shinigami power! And now, I've been defeated… by a bunch of lowly little brats!"
His voice broke into a crazed laugh, half anger, half madness. "Do you even know what I had to sacrifice to get this far? How many lives I gave up just to reach here? And yet you managed to counter my wish… and defeat me?"
For a moment, none of them spoke. Ekaksh opened his mouth to speak, perhaps to tell about their plan, but Kian immediately cut him off sharply. "Shut up," he said, his tone quiet but dangerous. Ekaksh glanced away, biting his lip.
Then Ekaksh spoke again, softer this time. "Where are the villagers?"
The man's smirk returned. "I won't tell. Not that it matters. Even if you find them, they won't be in good condition. We've been feeding on their energy… to keep our monsters alive."
Kian's jaw tightened, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of his katana. "You better tell," he said, stepping closer. His eyes glowed faintly with fury. "Or else, you'll regret it."
The man sneered. "You think I'm afraid of—"
Before he could finish, Kian pressed the cold blade of his katana against the man's neck. The faint edge of the steel caught the flickering firelight. "Try me," Kian said flatly.
The man gulped, beads of sweat forming at his temple. "Fine… fine! They're… one kilometer underground. There's another basement below like this one."
Without another word, Aarav raised his hand, his portal magic swirling open before them like a glowing whirlpool of blue light. All leaped through the portal, landing in a dimly lit underground chamber.
Aarav & Ekaksh go inside the basement , the sight froze them for a moment Around hundred of villagers, weak and pale, their bodies bound by glowing magic chains that pulsed faintly with dark energy. "We found them," Ekaksh whispered. Together, they broke the chains, the sound of shattering magic echoing through the room.
As the last villager was freed, Ruhi stepped forward, her hands glowing with a soft white light. "Stay still," she said gently. She moved from person to person, healing wounds, restoring strength, until her face grew pale and tired. Sanvi appeared beside her, opening a golden portal that shimmered like sunlight. "This will take you back to Rose Village," she said. The villagers, still weak but smiling, thanked them with tears and stepped through the portal one by one, disappearing into safety.
When the last villager left, Aarav turned back to the captured man. "Now tell us," he demanded. "Who else is part of your group? The ones who want to destroy the world."
The man laughed again, a low, mocking sound. "Even if you try to kill me, you'll get nothing. You can't hypnotize me, can't read my mind. My body is bound by a magic far stronger than any existing magic as much as i know. I can't speak about them."
He looked up, his eyes cold. "But I'll tell you this much… The ones I serve are not ten times stronger than me. Not a hundred. Not even a thousand. They are a million times more powerful. And … this world will crumble, maybe not in a few years, maybe this very year."
His words left a heavy silence in the air. Then, suddenly, Ekaksh clenched his fist and punched him hard across the face. The man fell to the ground, silent at last.
Kian exhaled sharply, frustration written all over his face. Aarav turned away, summoning another portal. "We'll leave Sanvi at her house first," he said. "Then we'll head to the Topaz house ."
The portal shimmered open, and as they prepared to step through, Ruhi eye's fluttered, and before anyone could react, she collapsed.
"Ruhi!" Kian shouted, rushing forward. He caught her before she hit the ground, his hand gripping her shoulder. Her skin felt burning hot, her breathing shallow. Ekaksh shouted too, and hurried over, worry in his eyes.
Kian looked down at her, realization dawning. "The poison from that monster… it went deep into her blood," he murmured. "She healed herself just enough to survive, but she's been fighting, healing others, using mind magic this whole time. She pushed way past her limit."
Aarav nodded grimly. "She should've been resting the moment that poison hit her."
Carefully, the two of them lifted her Kian holding her right shoulder, Ekaksh taking the left. Together, they carried her through the portal to Aarav and Sanvi's house.
The moment they stepped out on the other side, the night air hit them. It was quiet too quiet and the tension still hung heavy around them. But for now, their only concern was Ruhi. They laid her down gently, as Aarav rushed to find some water.
Kian, his expression unreadable. "You did good, Ruhi," he whispered softly. "Now rest."
Five minutes later, the house was quiet except for the soft crackle of a small fire in the corner. Ruhi, still lying on the couch, stirred weakly. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, the faint light reflecting in them. Aarav, Kian, Ekaksh, and Sanvi were nearby watching her with relief and concern. Even the captured man sat slumped in the corner, his hands bound tightly, his energy completely drained.
Ruhi tried to sit up, but Kian gently stopped her. "Don't push yourself," he said, his tone softer than usual.
Before anyone could say more, Sanvi went to get some warm water.
Ekaksh suddenly pushed Kian lightly aside and hurried to Ruhi's side. "Ruhi!" he said, his voice filled with worry. He knelt down beside her, touching her forehead. "You're burning up. You have a fever, high fever."
Ruhi smiled faintly. "I'm fine," she said, her voice a little weak but steady.
"No, you're not," Ekaksh said immediately, frowning. "If you're feeling weak, I can lift you. I'll give you a piggyback ride if you want."
Ruhi blinked, a bit surprised but amused by his sudden offer. She was about to respond when Aarav, who had been watching quietly, spoke up with a teasing tone. "You don't have to give her a piggyback ride, Ekaksh," he said, crossing his arms. "Why don't you just use your wind magic? Like you helped me the other day you made me fly, remember? You can just do the same and lift her up with your magic."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Ekaksh shot him a disappointed look, and Kian couldn't hold back a laugh. Aarav smirked, looking smug, and soon all of them were laughing together.
The mood lightened a little. The tension from the battle, the fear, the exhaustion it all seemed to fade for a brief moment.
After the laughter settled, Aarav turned serious again. "Let's go. We need to reach the Topaz house before it's too late."
Kian nodded, standing up and checking the binds on the prisoner. The man was still muttering nonsense, trying to curse them, shouting and growling incoherently. Aarav sighed in irritation and taped his mouth shut with a quick with tape. "That's better," he muttered.
Ruhi stood up slowly, supported by Ekaksh on one side and Kian on the other. Aarav opened a glowing blue portal in front of them, swirling with magic.
They said they goodbyes, to sanvi.
Without wasting another moment, the four of them Aarav, Kian, Ekaksh, and Ruhi stepped through the portal, dragging the bound man behind them, heading straight toward the Topaz house .
When the four of them stepped out of the portal and into the Topaz headquarters, the large marble hall immediately fell silent. Everyone turned to look. The sight was striking Aarav, Kian, Ekaksh, and Ruhi stood in the center, battered and bruised, clothes torn, carrying a man in chains whose mouth was tightly sealed by tape. His wild eyes darted around the room .
Whispers filled the air as the group walked past everyone without a word. Their faces were serious, their steps steady, their exhaustion clear but hidden under the pride of victory. They didn't stop anywhere not even to explain to anyone what had happened. Instead, Aarav led the way straight to the captain's office.
When they entered, Captain Nivaan looked up from his desk, startled. His sharp eyes widened as he saw the chained man being dragged in. "What on earth…" he began, but before he could continue, Aarav spoke.
"Sir, we've completed the mission," Aarav said firmly.
They told him everything about the monsters, the captured villagers, the man's Shinigami wish, the near-death moments, and how they managed to defeat him. The captain listened without interrupting, his expression shifting from surprise to disbelief, then to admiration.
When they finished, there was a moment of silence in the room. Then Captain Nivaan stood up from his chair and said, "I can't believe this. A mission this dangerous one that would normally take an elite member was handled by four Pawns in a single day."
He smiled proudly. "I'm genuinely proud of you four. You've shown courage, skill, and teamwork beyond your level. What you achieved today is something even some senior squads couldn't have managed."
They all exchanged small smiles, exhausted but proud.
"As for your reward," the captain continued, glancing at the board on the wall, "the base points for this mission were around fifty something . But considering everything you faced, and the magnitude of what you uncovered, I hereby grant your team two hundred and twenty points."
Ekaksh's eyes widened, Aarav gave a relieved grin, and Ruhi smiled softly. Kian gave a small nod of gratitude.
The captain went on, "And since your mission was meant to last two days, but you completed it in just one, tomorrow will be a full day of rest for all of you. You deserve it. Report to the infirmary for treatment first . Many of you look injured. And afterward, I will inform the prince and the king about what you learned. The existence of this group that wants to destroy the world is a grave matter."
His tone turned more serious at the end, worry flickering in his eyes. Still, he added with a proud smile, "Good work, all of you."
The four of them bowed slightly and left the room. By now, hunger had kicked in they hadn't eaten since afternoon. But first, they headed to the infirmary, just as the captain instructed.
Inside the room. The nurses rushed around, tending to different soldiers.
"Come on, Ruhi, & Aarav" Kian said gently, "lie down. You need to rest."
She shook her head lightly. "I'm fine, really. I can manage."
Kian sighed. "You don't have to act strong all the time. You're human too. You did amazing today. Now it's time to rest."
Ruhi hesitated but finally nodded and lay down. Aarav was already being treated on the bed beside her.
Ekaksh leaned against the wall with a small smirk. "Hey, that was my line to say to her," he said, pretending to be offended. Then he turned to Aarav and added teasingly, "Anyway, get well soon, Aarav. I can't wait to hug you again."
Aarav gave him a mock glare and replied, "Then I better stay sick forever."
Everyone burst into laughter, even Ruhi, who covered her mouth as she giggled softly. The sound lightened the whole room.
A few minutes later, the doctor came in to check them. After examining then he looked at Ruhi with concern. "The poison spread quite deeply," he said. "If it weren't for her healing magic, she'd be in a critical state. Her body's completely exhausted."
Then he turned to Aarav. "You're lucky. Since your wound was small & was healed early, the poison didn't enter your bloodstream. For you, it's no worse than a normal wound."
He wrote something on his chart and said, "Ruhi needs at least three to seven days of full bed rest. Minimum three, maximum seven. And don't worry this won't count as leave. It'll be registered as a recovery period under active mission service."
Ruhi nodded quietly. Aarav gave her a reassuring smile.
After the doctor left, Kian and Ekaksh decided to get food. They returned a few minutes later with four plates, steam rising from them. The smell of freshly cooked Rice with Curry & grilled Cottage cheese filled the air.
They sat down on the stools beside the beds . Passing the plates around, they all started eating together. The laughter from earlier returned, small jokes slipping between bites, the tension finally fading.
For the first time that day, they weren't warriors they were just friends, sharing food after a long, brutal day, grateful to still be together.
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