Outside the tomb's entrance, the skies had darkened. Not with clouds, but with pressure. Qi swirled in sharp gusts, stirring the leaves into a frenzied dance. And at the centre of it all—

Crack!

A bolt of silver lightning tore through the air, smashing into a rising wave of spiralling water. Steam hissed as the two forces clashed, crackling along the grass-stained earth.

Elder Ma skidded back, robes soaked but stance unbroken. "Still barking, Dharun? You've aged, not ascended."

Across the clearing, Dharun stood tall, crackling arcs dancing around his gauntlets. "Then why are three of you still failing to shut me up?"

To his side, Elder Kezan thrust a hand forward. Roots erupted from the soil like snakes, coiling toward Dharun's feet. At the same time, Elder Jun swept a wide arc with his sleeve—fwsh!—a wave of fire roared to life, riding the roots like fuel.

Dharun didn't flinch. "You're coordinating now? Adorable."

He stomped the ground. Boom! A ripple of thunder burst outward, shattering the roots and sending dirt flying in all directions. He dashed forward, fist wreathed in lightning, and slammed it toward Kezan's chest.

Elder Jun intercepted—whoosh!—a pillar of flame shielding Kezan just in time. The blow met fire. Thunder rang out, and both men staggered back.

Elder Kezan wiped ash from his face. "This is your mistake. You've bitten off more than your sect can chew, Dharun."

"Don't tell me there was a quota of how much one should take." Dharun's eyes narrowed as he mocked. "Don't dress it up as righteousness."

Elder Ma raised both palms. A swirling disk of water hovered between them, humming with rotating force. "Then defend. Let's see how long Evernight stands."

The disk launched forward with a high-pitched whine. Dharun sidestepped, lightning surging along his shoulder, and hurled a thunderbolt which took the form of a spear. The two attacks collided mid-air—BOOM!—a blinding flash forcing the onlookers to shield their eyes.

Farther off, near the mouth of the tomb, Yashan folded his arms with a smirk, standing atop a flat stone ledge. Shivul lounged nearby, leaning on his spear, while Veiyra stood with a mild, disinterested gaze.

Below them, Rudra and the remaining Evernight disciples stood encircled by disciples from three sects.

"Come on, Rudra," Yashan called lazily, "how's it feel? Being the lost rat scurrying around while your elder coughs blood?"

Shivul chuckled, twirling his spear once. "Thought you'd at least pretend to fight. Or did you leave your guts inside the tomb?"

Rudra said nothing, fists clenched, his shoulder still marked from earlier scuffles.

Veiyra stepped forward, voice soft but clear. "At least that outer disciple didn't freeze. Pity he's dead."

One of Shivul's disciples snorted. "He's as good as buried. That pit looked bottomless."

Rudra's jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to the bait.

Yashan tilted his head mockingly. "Don't worry, if he somehow miraculously survived, he will be staying here with all of you."

Just then, another thunderclap echoed from the battlefield. Dharun was still standing, now breathing heavily, arms scorched and robes tattered, but his gaze never wavered.

"Three on one," he growled. "Is this your sect's sense of honour? Or just cowardice dressed in senior robes?"

Elder Jun's smirk flickered.

Kezan raised a brow. "We're elders, Dharun. No need for these childish taunts."

Blood trickled down Dharun's brow. The scorched earth beneath him smoked with every step. And still—he didn't back down.

"Fine, then. Come at me all of you." Dharun raised both hands. Lightning danced between his fingers, wild and raw. "If I must fall for Evernight to rise, then so be it."

🔱 — ✵ — 🔱

Another thunderclap boomed across the battlefield, briefly drowning out the hiss of water and crackle of flame. Lightning lit up the sky in jagged streaks, followed by the roar of wind and the scent of scorched wood.

Dharun staggered a step, a burn seared across his left shoulder, but he didn't fall. His stance held. Opposite him, Elders Ma, Jun, and Kezan regrouped, forming a loose triangle, circling like wolves.

And then—

From the dark entrance, a figure stepped into the light.

A young woman. Barefoot. Her robes, though worn and dusted from within the tomb, flowed around her like calm water. In her hands, loosely held as if weightless, was a scroll faintly pulsing with golden threads of light—brighter, deeper, and far more alive than anything the others had seen.

Even the elders froze.

Yashan's jaw clenched. Then a greedy spark lit in his eyes. He elbowed Shivul with a grin.

"Looks like today really is our lucky day," he murmured. "All the inheritance… right in front of us."

Shivul's grin was wolfish. "Let's take it before she gets any bright ideas."

Veiyra stepped down from the ledge, her arms folded. Her tone was as even as ever.

"Three of us... one scroll. That never ends well."

"We'll discuss that," Shivul said, his voice edged with steel, "after it's in our hands."

The three moved as one, each splitting to encircle the girl from a different angle.

But she didn't flinch.

She didn't even look at them.

Her gaze remained fixed on the battlefield, where Dharun's thunder clashed with water, wood, and fire. Her expression was unreadable—neither concern nor triumph. Just a stillness that didn't belong to a battlefield.

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A breeze caught the edge of her sleeves. Her hair shifted, but her eyes never did.

As if the chaos of the world was merely background noise.

As if time moved differently around her.

She stood like a mountain carved from silence. Unbothered. Unshaken.

And yet, something in that calm made even the circling trio slow down.

But the calm wouldn't last.

Shivul's grip tightened on his spear.

"Don't waste time," he muttered. "She's just trying to bluff."

But none of them were entirely sure anymore.

The girl didn't move as the pressure around her surged. Disciples poured out from the shadows—more than fifteen of them, all from the Cloud Pillar Sect, Starfall Valley, and Crimson Serpent Hall. They moved in calculated formation, surrounding her like a tightening noose. Yashan, Shivul, and Veiyra led the pack, their eyes locked on the scroll.

Yashan cracked his neck and took a step forward, nodding once toward Shivul. "Let's end this quickly."

Shivul lifted his spear in silence, but a faint grin played at his lips.

Then Yashan carefully stepped forward as he prepared his first strike.

"OI! STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU SCROLL-THIRSTY, SPIRITUAL-BANKRUPT, GREED-INFESTED GOON!"

The shout rang across the battlefield like a thunderclap. Everyone froze.

Even the elders.

Even the lightning.

Yashan's attack fizzled mid-air as his eyes widened. "What—?"

From the far side of the tomb's mouth, a figure jumped into view. Panting like a bull, dirt-streaked, hair an absolute mess.

Aaryan.

He pointed dramatically at Yashan with wild eyes and a voice full of righteous fury.

"HOW DARE YOU! That girl is… is…" He paused for half a breath, chest heaving.

"…someone you don't attack, okay?! Have you no sense of romance?!"

Silence.

Then chaos.

The elders stared.

Dharun's thunder aura flared before fading into confusion. He blinked, taking a step forward.

"Aaryan? But—wait." His brows furrowed. He looked again.

"…You were at third stage when you entered the tomb. How did you advance to the eighth stage so quickly?"

Even Elder Jun squinted toward Aaryan. "What?"

Yashan took a step back. "How the hell—how are you alive?!"

Shivul's mouth hung open. "He… he must've found some worldly treasure inside. There's no way this rat jumped five stages in less than two hours!"

Even Veiyra's eyes narrowed, her calm shaken for the first time. "...This shouldn't be possible."

Down below, Rudra looked like he'd swallowed a rock. "He—he was dead. Didn't they say he fell into a bottomless pit? And now… Eighth stage?"

Dharun shook himself and snapped back into focus. "Forget it. Aaryan! Good timing—coordinate with Rudra. Take as many disciples out as you can. I'll hold the elders off."

Aaryan's hand went up like a protester at a marriage ceremony.

"Can't do that! I'm afraid we must… punish these evil doers for their crimes against beauty—I mean, decency!"

Dharun turned sharply. "What?"

He glanced at Rudra for some form of explanation.

Rudra, still nursing his own pride, rubbed the back of his neck. "I—I don't know either. He was acting all weird inside the tomb as well and he just gave the strongest orb to that girl. Just like that. I had to! He was about to hand them over with a bow and a smile! Elder, the man was under some sort of… love spell, probably."

Everyone stared at Rudra.

No one believed his excuse.

But the room went even quieter.

Eyes turned, one by one, to Aaryan.

Even Elder Ma shook her head in sheer disbelief.

"You gave her the strongest treasure?" someone muttered.

A Cloud Pillar disciple whispered, "Just like that?"

"Was she his sister?" asked another.

Aaryan's neck flushed bright red. "I—it's not like that. I… I was just, uh…" He coughed into his fist, eyes darting everywhere but at the girl.

"It was a symbolic offering, alright?! A… spiritual wedding gift. You wouldn't get it."

Veiyra blinked slowly.

Shivul nearly dropped his spear.

Even Dharun's eye twitched.

But—

At the centre of the storm, the girl finally moved.

Her head tilted the barest degree. A subtle shift. And then—just for a heartbeat—a faint smile curved her lips.

Aaryan saw it.

And his jaw dropped. His heart practically exploded in his chest.

He clutched his ribs dramatically. "By the Heavens, was that… a smile? Someone catch me. I'm ascending."

He nearly tripped on a rock.

Someone from Starfall valley asked. "Is he always like this?"

And one of the outer disciples who had known Aaryan from way before in the sect mumbled "It's getting worse."

Elder Jun's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Enough of this farce. Shivul. Yashan. Remove that fool—now. Take the scroll from the girl before something unexpected happens."

His eyes flicked to Elder Ma and Elder Kezan. A slight nod passed between them.

Without a word, the three elders surged forward, elements roaring to life once more as they resumed their assault on Dharun. Lightning clashed with water, flame, and wood, lighting the battlefield in bursts of violent colour.

Shivul and Yashan peeled off, advancing toward Aaryan with grim focus. The rest of the disciples tightened their formation around the girl, ready to strike if she moved.

Yashan's lip curled into a sneer. "Look who's still breathing. Didn't learn your lesson the first time, huh?"

Aaryan didn't respond.

He was still staring at the girl—utterly captivated. Not blinking. Not breathing. It was like the world had dimmed, and she was the only thing left glowing.

Yashan's brow twitched. "Oi. I'm talking to you."

Still nothing.

The sneer vanished. Yashan's jaw clenched. And then, with a growl, he lunged forward and threw a punch meant to shatter teeth.

It never landed.

A thunderous crack rang out as Aaryan's fist met his. He didn't just block it—he punched straight through, sending Yashan skidding, clutching his arm with wide eyes.

Aaryan snorted. "Rude. Didn't your parents teach you not to interrupt a man in love?"

He straightened, gave a dramatic sigh, and then shot a look toward the girl—who hadn't moved, hadn't flinched, and still carried that unreadable calm.

"Stay dazzling, scroll maiden. I've got a few bugs to squash."

He gave a small, reverent bow.

Yashan, still coughing, tried to recover his footing. Shivul stepped up beside him, wary now.

Aaryan turned to them, cracking his knuckles.

"You watched me fight sixth-stage disciples while I was third-stage. And now I'm eighth. Tell me—how stupid do you feel right now?"

Yashan paled. Shivul took a step back despite himself.

But before either could respond, a sharp whoosh cut through the air.

A blade sliced across Aaryan's shoulder—just barely missing his neck. He twisted, eyes narrowing. His gaze locked on Veiyra, standing at an angle behind him, her sword already resetting for the next strike.

Aaryan raised a brow. "Veiyra? You wound me. And here I thought you were a kind-hearted girl."

Veiyra tilted her head, a glint of mockery in her eyes. "I didn't strike you before because I wasn't needed. Clearly, that's changed."

She lunged forward.

Her sword dancing and Aaryan dodging it, and then countering her with ferocious punches and kicks. They danced through the fray—no Qi, no dazzling arts—just raw strength, training, and reflex. For a time, Veiyra held her ground. She was fast, precise, and utterly without wasted movement.

But Aaryan was faster.

And when he struck, it was like being hit by a bolt from the sky.

In one brutal sweep, he sidestepped her thrust and seized her by the neck, pinning her arm with the other hand. Her sword clattered to the ground.

"Sorry, Veiyra. You're clever, but I've been dealing with betrayal all morning. I'm not in the mood."

Then, raising his voice, he shouted across the field:

"Elder Ma! You might want to see this."

The chaos paused again—just for a moment.

Elder Ma turned mid-attack, her gaze snapping to Aaryan.

The look she gave him was venomous, a predator interrupted mid-feast. She bared her teeth.

"Release her. Now."

Aaryan smiled, cold and unbothered.

"I'll let her go," he said, tightening his grip just enough to make his point, "when you stop trying to barbeque my elder. Seems fair, yeah?"

Elder Ma hissed. "You dare—!"

Elder Jun's voice rang out again. "Ma, don't. We can still—"

"No," Elder Kezan interrupted, eyes flicking warily to Aaryan. "Look at the girl. Where is she?"

Heads turned.

The scroll girl was gone.

No footsteps. No exit. No sign.

Just… vanished.

Even Aaryan blinked. "Wait—where'd my bride go?"

Elder Ma's lips twisted in fury, but after a tense breath, she withdrew her aura. "Fine," she snapped. "Release her."

Aaryan loosened his grip, stepping back and letting Veiyra fall to her knees, gasping.

But Ma was already moving.

Faster than expected, she shot across the battlefield—not toward Aaryan—but behind him.

Toward Dharun.

"Watch—!" Aaryan shouted.

Too late.

A blazing arc of fire slammed into Dharun's side, sending him crashing into the earth with a sickening thud. Blood sprayed. His aura flickered—weak, unstable. For the first time, Dharun looked… vulnerable.

"Dharun!"

Aaryan's eyes went wide.

Ma straightened slowly, eyes like embers. "You think you can manipulate me, boy?" she said. "You'll learn the cost of mocking an elder."

Aaryan's fists clenched, and the air around him began to thrum.

No more jokes.

Not now.

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