The Balancer moved without warning.
No flash.
No sound.
One moment it stood across the chamber—
the next,its palm was already inches from Kashyap's chest.
Mandakini reacted first.
She twisted, sliding between them, her hand still pressed to Kashyap's heart.
The Balancer's strike landed on her.
The impact should have shattered her bones.
Instead—
The chamber rang like a struck bell.
Mandakini gasped as a surge of cold fire raced through her body. Light flared beneath her skin—lines of living energy igniting across her arms, her neck, her spine.
Kashyap shouted her name—
—but the resonance snapped into focus.
Perfect.
Stable.
Controlled.
The Balancer froze, arm still extended.
"Unexpected," it said.
"Lock-Hybrid stabilization exceeding predicted thresholds."
Mandakini staggered but stayed upright.
"I'm fine,"she breathed—though her eyes glowed faintly.
Vasundhara watched in stunned silence.
"She's…synchronizing on her own," she whispered.
"That shouldn't be possible."
The Balancer withdrew, studying Mandakini with clinical interest.
"Explain,"it demanded.
Mandakini lifted her chin.
"No."
The Balancer turned its gaze back to Kashyap.
"Key,"it said.
"Resonate."
Kashyap felt the command slam into his mind like a hammer.
The hum surged.
Walls bent.
Glyphs screamed.
Reality strained.
Mandakini's hand tightened against his chest.
"Easy,"she whispered.
"I've got you.Follow my breathing."
He did.
The resonance steadied.
The Balancer took a step back.
"Impressive,"it said.
"But control under guidance is insufficient."
It raised both hands.
The chamber fractured—
splitting into mirrored layers of the same space.
In each reflection stood a different version of Kashyap.
Some calm.
Some enraged.
Some empty-eyed.
Mandakini's breath hitched.
"Kashyap…"
"These are your probability outcomes," the Balancer said.
"Every path your awakening can take."
One reflection stepped forward—
eyes hollow,body crackling with uncontrolled energy.
A Void-Seeker.
Mandakini felt something snap inside her chest.
"No,"she whispered.
"He's not that."
The Balancer turned to her.
"Then prove it."
The Void-Seeker version attacked.
Kashyap moved on instinct—
but Mandakini stepped forward,releasing Kashyap's chest.
For the first time since the training began, she stood alone.
Kashyap panicked.
"Mandakini,get back!"
She didn't.
She raised her hands.
The air around her folded inward—
not violently,
butprecisely.
A field of stabilizing light spread outward from her body.
The Void-Seeker struck it—
—and dissolved.
Not destroyed.
Not erased.
Neutralized.
The reflections vanished.
The chamber snapped back into one piece.
The Balancer stood motionless.
Vasundhara's voice shook.
"She didn't anchor him…
sheoverrode the resonance."
Mandakini lowered her hands, breathing hard.
"I'm not just his Lock,"she said quietly.
"I'm his counterweight."
The Balancer studied her for a long moment.
"Conclusion revised,"it said.
"The Key is no longer the primary threat."
It turned its gaze to Mandakini.
"You are."
Kashyap stepped beside her immediately.
"Then you deal with both of us."
The Balancer tilted its head.
"Very well."
It raised one final projection—
a vision of a distant world burning,cities collapsing, skies splitting open.
"This is the outcome if you continue together,"it said.
"Millions will die."
Mandakini didn't look away.
"And if we separate?"
The Balancer paused.
"Reality stabilizes.The Origin Gate remains sealed."
Silence.
Kashyap stared at Mandakini, fear tightening his chest.
She met his gaze.
The answer passed between them without words.
Mandakini turned back to the Balancer.
"Then reality will have to adapt."
The Balancer lowered its hands.
"Trial concluded,"it said.
"Judgment deferred."
With a flash of silver light, it vanished.
The chamber slowly relaxed.
Kashyap exhaled shakily.
"You didn't hesitate,"he said softly.
"You chose me over the universe."
Mandakini looked at him—eyes still glowing faintly.
"I choseus," she replied.
"And if the universe can't accept that…"
She took his hand.
"…we'll change it."
Vasundhara approached them, awe and dread mixing in her expression.
"You just defied the Balancer,"she said.
"There will be consequences."
Mandakini nodded.
"I know."
Kashyap squeezed her hand.
"What happens now?"
Vasundhara looked toward the Archive's horizon—where reality trembled subtly.
"Now,"she said,
"the Council of Origin stops observing…
and starts intervening."
Far away, something ancient awakened.
And for the first time since creation—
The multiverse took notice of Mandakini.