The platform beneath Bhumi's feet was still wet with blood.
Bones lay scattered across the stone like relics of forgotten battles, and the iron stench of death clung heavily to the air. At the edge of the arena, Priya stood frozen, her hands trembling as her eyes refused to leave Bhumi's back.
The battle was about to begin.
Bhumi lowered herself into a defensive stance, her palms hovering just above the ground. Across from her stood Tara, wearing a smug smile that made Bhumi's fists itch. She wanted nothing more than to wipe that expression off her face—but she knew better.
The first move was coming.
As the bell rang, Tara burst into laughter.
"Come on," she said mockingly. "Get over here and I'll give you a quick and painless death. Or you can resist and die screaming."
Bhumi smirked. "You're getting awfully cocky for someone who doesn't even know my Teaching. I still have a chance."
Tara laughed even louder. "You? Defeat me? Fine—let's see."
She raised both hands into the air and slowly closed her fists. Water gathered instantly, forming a floating sphere the size of her head. As Tara rotated her wrist, the sphere compressed violently, reshaping itself into a spiraling drill of condensed water.
Bhumi reacted instantly.
She slammed her hands onto the ground, pulling up a massive earthen wall between them. The stone rose just in time—but Tara calmly extended a single finger.
The water drill fired.
It tore through the wall as if it didn't exist.
The impact sent shards of stone flying, and the drill grazed Bhumi's arm, slicing through flesh. Blood splattered onto the ground.
Bhumi gritted her teeth.
She's strong… far stronger than I expected.
Her eyes hardened. Fine. If defense won't work—then I'll trap the beast.
Bhumi pressed her hands into the stone again. Three massive walls erupted from the ground, forming around Tara from multiple sides. Slowly, relentlessly, they began to close in.
"Let's see how you escape this," Bhumi muttered.
Five seconds passed.
Then—
Four water bullets burst outward from inside the enclosure, smashing through the walls from all directions. Stone collapsed in chunks as the barriers disintegrated.
When the dust settled, Tara stood completely unharmed, laughing.
Something was different.
Behind her, water flowed unnaturally, shaping itself into a wing-like structure—fluid, sharp, and alive.
Bhumi noticed it… and dismissed it.
That was her first mistake.
"Enough of this," Bhumi growled. "No more defense."
She slammed her hands down once more, ripping a massive chunk of earth from the arena floor. With all her strength, she hurled it straight at Tara.
Bhumi knew it wouldn't kill her—but if it staggered her even for a second, that opening would be enough.
The ground crashed down—
And as the dust cleared, Bhumi's eyes widened.
The water had reshaped itself again, forming a dense, rotating shield that absorbed the impact completely.
Not a scratch.
Tara's smile only grew wider.
If you enjoyed this chapter, a Power Stone helps a lot."