Rose placed her hand on her chest.
“The air… has become very heavy…”
Luk tightened his grip on his swords.
“Stay alert…”
Beyond the fog, a figure stood.
Slowly, it became clearer.
A man.
Om’s eyes narrowed.
“Wait… look under his left eye…”
Everyone’s gaze turned there.
Under his left eye were two red lines.
Om said in a serious voice—
“That Mark… he is from the Asura race.”
Thick black smoke formed a ring around the Asura.
The forest had become completely silent…
As if every creature wanted to stay away from that presence.
Just as the fog grew even darker—
Om’s voice echoed.
“Don’t breathe at all!”
Lucy understood immediately.
She extended her magic staff forward.
“When the wind changes its direction under the impact of obstacles…
And suddenly forms a vortex of air with unexpected speed!
I invoke that powerful wind—
Answer my call and manifest,
And protect us from evil forces!
— Vikshobham!”
In an instant, a fast wind barrier formed.
A rotating transparent shield appeared around them.
The demonic mist struck the shield and began to push back.
The Asura smiled slightly.
“Hm… you turned out to be clever…”
The next moment—
His body dissolved into the fog.
Luk’s eyes narrowed.
But it was too late.
The Asura suddenly appeared behind him.
With his long black claws, he slashed fiercely.
Clang!
Luk blocked the strike with his dual blades.
Sparks flew.
Rose immediately raised her staff.
“When water droplets freeze at extreme speed…
And air bubbles become trapped within them!
From that is born a hardened form—
I call upon it to appear and strike the enemy!
— Karka-Praharah!”
Blue icy energy gathered around her staff.
But before the attack could be released—
The Asura disappeared again.
And the next moment, he was standing back in his original place.
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Om stepped forward.
His spear began spinning rapidly.
One strike.
Second strike.
Third strike.
But the Asura easily avoided every attack.
Luk also joined the fight.
Suddenly—
The red mark under the Asura’s eye began to glow.
The air trembled.
Om shouted—
“Fall back!!”
In an instant, black mist exploded outward.
Everyone stepped back.
But Luk’s arm received a deep wound.
Blood began to flow.
Yet he remained standing.
The Asura laughed mockingly.
“Is that all the strength you have?”
Rose immediately rushed to Luk.
“I invoke the flowing water power equal to divine nectar…
Let new vitality flow through your son’s body…
And let the burning wounds heal instantly!
— Jeevan-Pravaham!”
A gentle blue light surrounded the wound.
It slowly began to heal.
Meanwhile—
Kartik closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.
“Alright… that’s enough. Looks like I’ll have to step in too…”
He calmly picked up his sword and began walking forward.
The moment Kartik stepped ahead—
The Asura felt something.
As if a mysterious power beyond his understanding was slowly approaching him.
The Asura suddenly trembled.
His eyes widened in fear.
Sweat began to appear on his forehead.
Suddenly—
He began slashing wildly in every direction.
Just like a frightened cat striking randomly with its claws, he started attacking madly.
At that moment Om shouted—
“Kartik! Stop! We’ll handle this!”
Hearing this, a faint proud smile appeared on Kartik’s face.
He quietly turned around again and went back to stand behind Lucy.
In his mind, only one thought remained—
My friends… they truly are something special.
Just then—
Luk dashed forward.
The Asura staggered and said,
“What do you think? That I’ll be defeated by kids like you? Hah… impossible…”
Luk struck fiercely with his dual blades.
A deep wound appeared across the Asura’s chest.
Without wasting a moment, Luk struck again—
And one of the Asura’s arms was severed from the shoulder and thrown away.
But—
Even after such horrific wounds, nothing changed.
The torn flesh began to move…
And within seconds, his arm and wounds started regenerating.
The Asura said in a tired voice,
“I have killed countless adventurers like you with my own hands.”
He gave a proud smile.
Seeing this, Luk stepped back slightly.
Lucy was breathing heavily.
“Finish this quickly…
I can’t hold him any longer…”
Her magical energy was almost exhausted.
Om’s eyes grew serious.
“Rose… give me 50 seconds.”
Rose nodded.
She placed her hand on the ground.
“When extreme cold turns water into stone…
And the entire world disappears into white ice!
I invoke that primordial power—
— Maha-Hima-Stambhanam!”
In an instant, the area around the Asura began to freeze.
The ground.
The trees.
The air.
Everything began locking in ice.
His legs became trapped in the frozen ground.
His movements slowed.
He growled loudly.
At that moment—
Om raised his spear toward the sky.
“When impact upon stone gives birth to intense heat…
And flames ignite with the union of vital air!
I invoke that blazing power—
— Agni Astra… Agni Shoolam!”
Streams of fire formed around the spear.
The earth trembled.
Om lunged forward.
A strike from the right.
A strike from the left.
A blow from above.
Then—
He leaped into the air and brought the spear down with full force.
The spear pierced straight into the Asura’s chest.
It passed completely through his heart.
For a moment, everything froze.
The Asura looked shocked.
Tears filled his eyes.
The hole in his chest…
The tears flowing from his eyes…
And the red lines beneath his eye slowly began to disappear.
The Asura fell to his knees.
He muttered in disbelief—
“What…? But I… I was immortal…
They told me I could never be killed…
No… no…!”
“Ahhhh—!”
He cried loudly in despair.
And within moments—
The Asura stopped breathing.
The fog slowly began to dissolve.
His body collapsed onto the frozen ground.
For a few seconds, complete silence spread.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Lucy dropped to her knees.
Kartik slowly peeked his head out.
“He’s… dead, right?”
Om pulled out the spear and smiled slightly.
“Yes…”
They walked toward the Asura’s body.
Luk bent down.
With his dagger, he cut open the Asura’s chest and reached inside.
He pulled something out.
In his hand was a glowing red magic core.
The moment the core was removed—
The Asura’s body suddenly began to burn.
Dark flames spread across it.
Within moments, the body turned completely into ash.
The cold wind scattered the ashes into the air.
The forest became silent once again.
That night they carefully completed their return journey.
By the time they exited the forest, dawn was approaching.
The first rays of sunlight passed through the branches of the trees.
They had finally left the forest.
In the morning, they arrived at the Guild.
Om submitted the full mission report.
After inspection, the Guild officials gave them the reward money.
After the difficult mission that lasted the entire night, satisfaction could be seen on everyone’s faces.
By evening, celebration had begun in their favorite tavern.
Tables were filled with meat dishes, hot food, and drinks.
Laughter and jokes were everywhere.
Music was playing.
Some people were dancing.
It was a moment of relaxation and joy after a tense night.
Luk was laughing loudly and telling stories.
Rose quietly sipped her drink while watching them.
Om, as usual, looked slightly serious.
Kartik was also enjoying the atmosphere.
But suddenly—
In the crowd of the party, a little girl came running and bumped into Lucy.
Lucy was slightly startled.
Before she could say anything, the girl placed an old book in her hand.
Before Lucy could ask anything—
The girl disappeared into the crowd.
“Hey— wait!” Lucy called out.
But she was nowhere to be seen.
Lucy looked at the book in confusion, turning it in her hands.
The next morning.
Everyone was sitting in their house discussing the next mission.
Maps and notes were spread across the table.
At that moment, Lucy opened her bag.
She took out the book.
Everyone’s attention turned to her.
“A girl gave this to me at the party yesterday,” Lucy said.
Placing the book on the table, she continued—
“She left without saying anything.”
Silence spread in the room for a few moments.
Om carefully looked at the book.
Luk raised his eyebrows.
“Which girl?”
Lucy gently shook her head.
“I don’t know…”
