They had stepped through the suddenly opened mystical gate, vanishing without a trace. No matter where the warriors of Velmora searched, they could not find them.
The place the magical passage had taken them to was none other than the hidden realm buried beneath Velmora itself.
When the three of them finally opened their eyes, the world before them felt strange and unfamiliar. The air was heavy, the surroundings silent, and confusion clouded their minds. They had no idea what to do next.
That was when they learned they had been saved by a man named Sambura.
"Why did you save us?" they asked him.
But Sambura only smiled and refused to answer.
At that moment, Rudhran stepped forward.
"You people have been living beneath Velmora without anyone knowing?" he asked cautiously.
"Even if I explain it now, you would not understand," Sambura replied calmly. "What you need right now is rest. Sleep well. After that, I will tell you how to obtain the thing you came searching for… and the possibilities that await you."
With those words, the old sage sent them away.
The three of them rested for a long time before returning to meet him again.
This time, Rudhran spoke first.
"How do you know what we came here searching for? First answer that."
Sambura let out a faint chuckle.
"There are many things I know. For now, just listen carefully."
His expression slowly turned serious.
"The moment you entered this world, the powers you once possessed disappeared. And the weapons you seek… they rest within the sacred ruins of Velmora Veil. In your current state, you cannot even set foot there."
The three fell silent.
"To survive in this world," Sambura continued, "you must first gain strength. Hidden powers sleep throughout this realm. If you wish to claim them, you must overcome many trials. Only then will those powers become yours."
"What must we do?" asked Parivendhan.
"For now, do exactly as I say."
Sambura pointed toward the endless darkness stretching beyond the cavern.
"If you walk straight from here, after some distance you will encounter a demon. You must retrieve the ring it possesses. But remember this carefully — only by using both your physical strength and mental will can you obtain it."
The three exchanged determined glances before beginning their journey.
The distance was far greater than they had expected. Every step drained their strength, and before long, exhaustion consumed them.
Then thirst struck.
There was no water anywhere around them.
Their bodies weakened rapidly.
Rudhran wiped the sweat from his forehead and said bitterly,
"We are already collapsing without water. I don't even know how we are supposed to face a demon in this condition."
As they continued walking, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
"If we keep walking like this, all three of us will collapse. Instead, two of us can carry one person at a time on our shoulders. That way, at least one person can conserve energy."
Parivendhan immediately nodded.
"That's a good plan. We are not competing against each other now. We need those weapons more than anything. And among us, you are the smartest, Rudhran. You should conserve your strength."
The others agreed.
So they carried Rudhran while continuing forward.
After some time, a terrifying roar echoed through the darkness.
The demon.
The sound alone was enough to freeze their blood.
Rudhran quickly turned toward them.
"You two hide somewhere nearby. None of us can defeat that creature directly. I'll distract it and wear it down first. Once it's exhausted, we'll take the ring."
The plan was risky.
But they had no other choice.
Rudhran stepped forward and began provoking the demon, forcing it to chase him relentlessly. Again and again he dodged its attacks, slowly draining its stamina.
After a long struggle, the monster finally began to weaken.
That was the moment.
Parivendhan and Parthiban emerged from hiding.
The exhausted demon staggered in place.
Rudhran seized the opportunity.
With a powerful leap, he raised his sword high into the air and brought it crashing down onto the demon's head.
A horrifying scream echoed through the cavern.
Then silence.
The demon collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
Breathing heavily, Rudhran removed the ring from its body.
Without wasting another second, the three hurried back to Sambura.
Rudhran handed the ring to him.
Sambura examined it carefully before nodding in satisfaction.
"Well done. You have completed the first task exactly as I instructed."
Then he looked at them meaningfully.
"Do you know why I asked you to retrieve this ring?"
The three shook their heads.
"This trial was never about the ring alone," Sambura explained. "I wanted to measure your strength, your courage, and your mental endurance."
He lifted the ring slowly.
"The demon's power now rests within this ring. Whoever wears it will gain that strength… and the ability to control it."
The three stared at the ring in shock.
"So," Sambura asked, "which one of you will claim it?"
Without hesitation, Rudhran answered.
"Give it to Parivendhan."
The others looked at him in surprise, but Sambura simply smiled.
As Rudhran wished, the ring was given to Parivendhan.
"Now go and rest," Sambura said. "Tomorrow, we will continue."
Exhausted beyond measure, the three returned to their chambers and fell asleep.
But deep into the night…
While Rudhran slept, he suddenly felt something cold and sinister creeping toward him.
A shadowy black figure.
It moved like smoke and entered straight into his body.
A terrifying sensation spread through him.
Rudhran's eyes shot open instantly.