The night inside the Directorate facility felt heavier than usual.
No one was laughing.
No one was relaxing.
Every agent, every technician, every supernatural operative knew the same thing.
Tomorrow… something massive would happen.
The Dragon King had arrived near the city.
And when Rudra finally moved, the battle would begin.
Inside the command center, the giant holographic map of Delhi glowed softly in the dim room.
Director Meera stood silently in front of it.
Dozens of small lights represented Directorate agents stationed around the city.
But the most terrifying symbol on the map was the single crimson signal outside the city limits.
Rudra.
Even after several hours, the signal had not moved.
A technician nervously spoke.
"Director… the energy readings are increasing again."
Meera looked at the data.
The crimson signal pulsed slowly.
Each pulse was powerful enough to disturb nearby energy fields.
"He's not hiding his presence anymore," Arjun said quietly.
Meera nodded.
"He's sending a message."
Kabir leaned over the console and stared at the glowing signal.
"That message being…?"
Dev answered casually.
"I'm here. Try to stop me."
Kabir sighed.
"Well that's comforting."
Sana crossed her arms.
"We should assume he'll attack the facility."
Arjun nodded.
"That's the most logical move."
Meera looked at Aadhya.
"And that's why tonight is important."
Aadhya understood what she meant.
Tonight might be their last chance to prepare.
A few minutes later…
The team gathered in the training arena again.
But this time it wasn't a simulation.
It was strategy planning.
A large holographic display appeared in the center of the arena.
It showed the underground structure of the Directorate facility.
Multiple layers of defenses.
Energy barriers.
Combat units.
Emergency evacuation tunnels.
Meera began explaining.
"If Rudra attacks, he will most likely target three locations."
She pointed to the map.
"The main entrance."
"The energy core."
"And the central command room."
Dev looked impressed.
"So basically the entire base."
Meera gave him a small smile.
"Yes."
Kabir raised his hand.
"I have a question."
Everyone looked at him.
"What if Rudra just… blows the entire place up?"
Silence filled the room.
Arjun finally answered.
"That's exactly why we can't let him reach the core."
Sana nodded.
"The core powers the defensive barriers."
"If that falls, the facility collapses."
Kabir scratched his head.
"So… no pressure then."
Aadhya wasn't really listening anymore.
Her focus had shifted somewhere else.
The serpent mark on her collarbone had started glowing again.
Faint at first.
Then stronger.
She closed her eyes slightly.
And suddenly…
She could feel something.
A distant presence.
Hot.
Overwhelming.
Ancient.
Her eyes snapped open.
"That's him…"
Everyone turned toward her.
Arjun stepped closer.
"You can feel Rudra?"
Aadhya nodded slowly.
"It's like… a burning storm."
Meera looked thoughtful.
"That's the Dragon Bloodline aura."
Kabir blinked.
"Wait… if she can feel him…"
Dev finished the sentence.
"…then he can probably feel her too."
No one liked that thought.
Outside the city…
The wind moved across the empty hill where Rudra stood.
The sky above him was filled with dark clouds.
Crimson energy flickered around his body like slow-moving flames.
His eyes were closed.
But he wasn't sleeping.
He was sensing.
And there it was.
A faint emerald pulse somewhere beneath the city.
The Serpent Bloodline.
Rudra opened his eyes slowly.
"So you can feel me too…"
He smiled slightly.
"Good."
Because the connection between the two bloodlines was real.
Ancient.
Inevitable.
For thousands of years, Dragon and Serpent had been natural rivals.
Opposites.
Fire and venom.
Destruction and patience.
And now both bloodlines had awakened again.
The wind around Rudra suddenly intensified.
His crimson aura spread across the ground like wildfire.
Behind him, several Dragon warriors appeared.
"My lord."
Rudra didn't turn.
"The army is ready."
One warrior continued.
"We can attack the city tonight."
Rudra shook his head slightly.
"No."
The warriors looked confused.
"My lord?"
Rudra finally turned toward them.
His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.
"This battle is not just about victory."
The wind around him roared louder.
"It's about dominance."
He looked toward the distant city skyline.
"And tomorrow… the entire supernatural world will watch."
Back inside the Directorate facility…
The team had finished their planning session.
Agents across the base were preparing weapons and defensive systems.
Kabir sat on a bench in the arena.
He looked unusually serious.
Dev noticed.
"You're quiet."
Kabir sighed.
"I'm thinking."
"That's dangerous."
Kabir rolled his eyes.
"I'm serious."
He looked toward Aadhya.
"You're going to be the main target tomorrow."
Aadhya didn't argue.
Because it was true.
If Rudra wanted to eliminate the Serpent Bloodline…
She was the first obstacle.
Sana spoke calmly.
"We won't let him reach you."
Dev nodded.
"Yeah. He'll have to get through us first."
Kabir forced a smile.
"Hopefully we survive that part."
Aadhya looked at her friends.
For a moment she felt something warm in her chest.
Fear was still there.
But now…
She wasn't facing it alone.
Later that night…
Aadhya returned to the training arena one last time.
The room was dark.
Only the emergency lights were on.
She walked to the center of the arena and stopped.
Her breathing slowed.
The serpent mark began glowing again.
Emerald energy flowed through her arms.
The serpent aura appeared behind her.
Larger than ever before.
The ghostly serpent slowly circled around her body.
Almost protectively.
Aadhya whispered softly.
"Tomorrow…"
The serpent aura raised its glowing head.
She could feel its emotions now.
Calm.
Patient.
Ready.
And somewhere outside the city…
Rudra suddenly opened his eyes again.
His crimson aura flared violently.
Because he felt it.
The Serpent Bloodline growing stronger.
He smiled.
"Excellent."
The Dragon King slowly turned toward the glowing city lights.
"Tomorrow will be interesting."
The wind howled around him.
Crimson flames flickered in the darkness.
Because the moment everyone feared was finally coming.
The first real battle between the Dragon King…
And the future Serpent Queen.