The Internal Resonance
Rudra ke dimaag mein wo thandi awaaz kisi bijli ki tarah kaunchi thi. Warehouse ki deewaron se takra kar nikal rahi bachi-kuchi cheekhein ab use dhundli lag rahi thi. Uska poora dhyan us "Awaaz" par tha.
"Tu... tu kaun hai?" Rudra ne dimaag mein hi chillakar pucha.
"Main Murderous Ruin Stone ki chetna (consciousness) hoon, Master. Aapne mujhe 'Gluttony' ke zariye jagaya, aur 'Extraction' ne hamare astitva ko ek kar diya. Main aapka 'Ruin Soul' hoon."
Rudra ne apni mutthi kaske band ki. Uske sharir mein Level 11 ki taqat dore ki tarah daud rahi thi. Uska HP aur MP (1,100 / 1,100) ab ek naye level par settle ho chuka tha.
The Magnetic Walk (Dominance of Lust)
Rudra warehouse se bahar nikalne laga. Bahar Mumbai ki baarish shuru ho chuki thi. Gate se nikalte hi bache huye dungers aur media ki bheed wahan jama thi.
Ajeeb baat ye thi ki pehle jo log Rudra ko ek "Dummie" ya "Nakaam Hunter" samajh kar dhakka de rahe the, wo ab khud-ba-khud uske liye raasta chhod rahe the. Rudra ki Dominance of Lust ka magnetic charm apna kaam kar raha tha. Log use nafrat se nahi, balki ek anjaane khauf aur aakarshan (attraction) se dekh rahe the.
"Master, aapka aura badal chuka hai," Ruin Soul ne phir se kaha. "Ab bheed aapko ignore nahi kar payegi."
Rudra ne kisi ki taraf nahi dekha. Uske dimaag mein sirf ek hi cheez chal rahi thi—Aryan.
The Hospital: The Final Hour
Rudra Mumbai ki sadkon par ek saaye ki tarah dauda. Level 11 ki Agility ne use kisi super-car se bhi tez bana diya tha. Jab wo hospital pahuncha, wahan ka mahool thanda tha. Doctors ne pehle hi keh diya tha ki Aryan ke paas ab waqt nahi hai.
Rudra Aryan ke ICU bed ke paas khada tha. Aryan ka sharir safed pad chuka tha, saansein thami hui thi.
"Kya main use bacha sakta hoon?" Rudra ki awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
"Haan Master. Gluttony's Sanctuary activate kijiye. Wahan waqt ruka hua hai. Jab tak aap use wahan rakhenge, maut use chhu nahi payegi."
The Shift: Gluttony's Sanctuary
Rudra ne apna haath Aryan ke maathe par rakha. Uske left wrist ka tattoo tez baingani roshni mein chamakne laga.
"Gluttony's Sanctuary... ACTIVATE!"
Achanak hospital ki lights blink hui aur bed par leta Aryan ek kaale-baingani dhuyein mein badal kar Rudra ke andar samane laga. Kuch hi seconds mein bed khaali tha. ICU ka monitor jo 'Flat-line' dikha raha tha, wo ab band ho chuka tha.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Target: Aryan — Successfully Stored in Sanctuary.
Time Status: Frozen (0.00s)
Environment: Sterile / Safe.
Rudra ne chain ki saans li. Aryan ab maut ke panje se bahar tha. Tabhi, usne hospital ke kaanch mein apna aks (reflection) dekha. Uska chehra pehle se zyada sharp aur aankhein gehri baingani chamak rahi thi.
The Sovereign's Question
"Ab aage kya?" Rudra ne pucha.
"Master, Sanctuary ko maintain karne aur Aryan ko zinda nikalne ke liye aapko 'Life Force' ki zaroorat padegi. Aur wo sirf bade 'Hell Gates' ke Bosses se milegi. Aapko shikar jaari rakhna hoga... aur apni Rank badhani hogi."
Rudra ke hothon par ek shaitani muskurahat aayi. Usne apne 21,500 crystals ko dekha aur phir hospital se bahar nikal gaya. Ab wo kisi ka intezaar nahi karne wala tha.