Earth survived.
News rippled across its networks as unexplained auroras faded from the sky and satellites reported the sudden disappearance of an unidentified orbital structure. Scientists argued. Governments denied. Most people simply felt it—
A pressure gone.
A breath returned.
In the war chamber, silence lingered like smoke.
Mandakini lay on a suspended field of soft light, unconscious but stable. Her energy lattice no longer flickered wildly—
itflowed.
Vasundhara studied the readings with unease.
"She's not injured,"she said.
"She's…reorganized."
Kashyap stood beside her, unmoving.
"What did the Gate do to her?"
Vasundhara met his eyes.
"It acknowledged her as a Constant.Fully."
Agastya exhaled slowly.
"That makes her irreplaceable."
"And a target," Viraj added grimly.
Mandakini stirred.
Kashyap leaned forward instantly.
"Hey.I'm here."
Her eyes opened—clear, focused.
"I know,"she said softly.
"I can feel you now.All the time."
He swallowed.
"That doesn't sound reassuring."
She managed a faint smile.
"It is.For me."
She sat up slowly, then paused.
"There's something else."
Everyone leaned in.
"When the Gate flared," Mandakini continued,
"I saw what the Council is building next."
Vayu crossed his arms.
"Let me guess—something worse."
Mandakini nodded.
"They're not targeting worlds anymore."
Agastya stiffened.
"What are they targeting?"
"Timelines."
The room chilled.
"They're constructing a Chrono Sunder," she said.
"A device that doesn't erase reality—
itcuts it into incompatible futures."
Vasundhara's voice dropped.
"That would make repair impossible."
Mandakini looked at Kashyap.
"And it's keyed toyou."
Silence crushed down.
Kashyap closed his eyes briefly.
"Of course it is."
Viraj swore.
"So what—if they activate it,he becomes the trigger?"
Mandakini nodded.
"Every decision Kashyap makes would fracture reality further."
Vasundhara straightened.
"Then they intend to force you into action."
Kashyap opened his eyes—steady, resolved.
"Then we don't let it activate."
Agastya shook his head.
"The Chrono Sunder will be protected by the full Council and anchored at the Origin Gate itself."
Mandakini met his gaze.
"I can reach it."
Agastya's expression darkened.
"And if you do?"
She didn't hesitate.
"I won't come back the same."
Kashyap's chest tightened.
"No."
She touched his hand.
"This time,listen to me."
He looked at her—really looked.
"You already saved Earth,"he said.
"You don't get to disappear too."
She smiled sadly.
"I'm not disappearing,"she said.
"I'm evolving."
Vasundhara spoke quietly.
"There may be another option."
All eyes turned to her.
"The Gate recognized Union," she said.
"If Kashyap and Mandakini act together—not separately—they may rewrite the activation condition."
Agastya frowned.
"That kind of synchronization has never been tested."
Mandakini's eyes gleamed with understanding.
"It has now."
Kashyap took a breath.
"Then we end this together,"he said.
Outside the chamber, stars shifted—subtly, ominously.
Somewhere beyond causality, the Council completed the final segment of the Chrono Sunder.
And for the first time—
The multiverse began to choose sides.