The distress on Kri's face was apparent as he fought to breathe, gasping for air. He ingested multiple doses of strengthening formulas. "In your concealment within a lowly world, it reveals your vulnerability," Kri said. "Even your power is constrained in this realm."
Kri's skin dripped poison that dissolved anything it touched. Darkness emanated from him, and his expression mirrored that of an intoxicated person. His gaze darted all over the place. A grin crept her purple lips. His army of angels, also had infused by the power of formula, enveloped each of them in a visible aura. Their blue had taken a darker shade.
"Are they changing their mode or something? Like normal to sports?" she said.
With a chuckle, Dhruv expelled some black blood.
"Exactly like that," he said.
"And why's your blood black?"
"Don't know the details. It's like this from the beginning. There's a saying among us that all beings were a part of eternal darkness, but only a few stood against it."
Atharv single-handedly dealt with every winged being, using his orange, now red, rope-like material to restrain those targeting Manya and Dhruv. His smooth and quick moves inflicted her with an adrenaline rush, messing with Dhruv's comfort. "Sorry." she said. "Why am I getting excited after seeing mamu tearing them apart?"
"The demise of evil or bad offers solace to those who are struggling with the complexities and moral doubts of the real world. But you. You are just a freak."
"Whom, you want to marry?"
"Is there a 7 days reconsideration period?"
Many pinched his chest. Dhruv was recovering, but at a much slower rate. Her own wounds had transformed into two thin scars and then healed completely within a matter of seconds. With each passing moment, the desire to join the battle tortured her.
Atharv began teasing Kri by repeatedly throwing his lackeys at him whenever he charged. Even though the wings were not real, they looked eerily similar to genuine ones. As if I have seen the real ones. Countless feathers and deceased angels had filled the entire ground.
***
Kri's astonishing speed allowed him to disappear. She had to depend on Atharv's movements to keep track of him.
"How is he fighting him by being slow?" she said.
"I think he wants you to see," Dhruv said.
"What?"
"That how cool is he?"
Atharv's powerful blow sent Kri crashing into his own followers. The arrogant angel, despite the clear loss, refused to accept defeat and instead burst into maniacal laughter.
Kri gazed at the screens.
"Achievement of divine purpose has come to pass," Kri said. "My demise shall find its place in the Annals of Valor. I, Kri, the 35th—"
Atharv grabbed an angel's wings and kicked him at Kri, and turned to Manya, while holding the torn wings. "A piece of art, aren't they?" Atharv said. Manya nodded. He looked at the entrance. But to her surprise, there wasn't anyone.
Kri stood up, still pressing his wounds. "You couldn't even save your abode. Your strength, aren't mighty as the tales suggest."
Atharv wielded the wings, their sharp blades slicing through the air as he attacked Kri. Against the attacks, Kri's unsettling smile never wavered.
"My Home. Destroyed?" Atharv stretched his stressed arms and back.
With a snap of his fingers, Atharv changed the footage on the screens. It shifted from destruction and death to scenes of normalcy and vitality. Famous landmarks and government buildings that were wrecked—appeared untouched.
Kri laughed. "Your illusions do not deceive me; my awareness transcends their veils!"
"Thank you for the compliment, but this isn't an illusion," Atharv said.
Atharv's hair colour returned to its original shade. A minute later, she realised Dhruv was no longer in her lap, and then a wounded angel caught her attention. He was moving towards Atharv. "Dhruv?" Blood stains marked his footsteps, holding a black, sharp object. He charged at Atharv.
"Mamu!!"
In a blink, Atharv vanished from sight, bringing a sigh of relief. She again heard Kri's unsettling, eerie laughter. "Break is over," Atharv's voice reached her. Before she could react—an unseen force pulled her forward, sending her straight towards Kri and Dhruv.
The invisible force spun her around, troubling her stomach juices. Right after composing herself, a strong pressure brushed her left arm. She whipped her neck and found Dhruv standing there with a sharp object made from his own blood. Crimson aggression filled his eyes.
"Dhruv?" Manya said.
Dhruv roared and lunged at her to stab. Once again, she got pulled away, and ended up in the air, inches from the ceiling, covered with indefinite small cracks emitting a metallic breeze. More of Kri's lackeys entered the throne room. They were so close to her, then a gust of wind blew them away.
"Hey," a whisper. "Why fear, when I am here?" Atharv said.
"Stop it!" Manya said.
The pulling didn't stop there; she felt as though she was being stretched like a rubber, being pulled to its limit. Dhruv, Kri and the angels; all consumed by a terrifying thirst for blood, with their weapons closing in on her.
A silence enveloped her ears. Someone had muted the chaos around her. All she could feel was the vibrations and heat, and happiness. "Stars. Changing," a mysterious male voice echoed in her ears. A rush of vitality surged from her heart and to her veins—awakening every fibre of her existence. Setting her senses on fire.
The moment Atharv tried to pull her again, she gripped his arm—causing them both to stumble and collapse onto the ground, narrowly escaping the dangerous trajectory of the weapons assault.
"What are you doing?" Atharv said. The intensity of Manya's gaze caused him to flinch. This was the second occasion on which she had observed his weak behaviour. "Someone wants to take the charge? Be my guest."
"Who me?" Manya said. "I can't even stand straight, yet alone fight." The mysterious energy brought dizziness with it.
"The one who kills more will be the head chef." Without a trace, he vanished.
Her surroundings spun in circles—made her grab the floor beneath. A ring of angels drew near, and she was struggling with her body swaying in a circular motion, as if taking part in an ancient ritual. "My head!"
"Mortal!" Dhruv rushed to her and was ready to stab her? She dodged it, but still got a cut on her shoulder.
"What's wrong with you?"
Once again, he charged at her and she kicked him away. However, she sooner regretted kicking her boyfriend. Dhruv landed on the field of feathers, which pierced his lower body. Manya rushed to him, "Dhruv! Sorry, it wasn't me. It's like a weird current is flowing inside me."
Her arms trembled off, touching the feathers. Dhruv was struggling to open her eyes. His body had turned cold. Several momentary glitches disrupted her vision. Like the chaos was just a figment of her imagination. "What was that?"
"Die you peasant!!" Kri launched his feathers at her.
Holding Dhruv, she leaped to dodge, but Dhruv pushed her away and took the hit meant for her. The feathers had pierced his abdomen. Before she could get to him—Dhruv vanished.
"Stop it!" Manya said.
Kri laughed. "The only facet of your being that I hold in the highest reverence. Your pain soothes the depths of my celestial essence."
Sooner, Dhruv appeared in the middle of the sea of feathers—making it impossible for her to reach him. He was gathering every ounce of strength to express—to express what his eyes were screaming. He pulled his arm ahead. "I… I… Lo… Lov-Love…" He fell on the knees.
"I know, nothing's going to happen to you," she turned to Atharv. "Mamu!"
Atharv's eyes widened in disbelief and he disappeared the next moment. A powerful gust of wind brushed past her. Atharv's scream pierced through the air. Manya turned around. Atharv was standing beside her, struck by a sharp weapon made of blood. Atharv shoved Dhruv away.
Avoiding touching the weapon in her abdomen, he faced Manya. "If only I had a phone with me, this would be an iconic photo."
Her heart sank as she stumbled backward, a gasp escaping her lips at the sight of her loved one's being brutally stabbed. She hurried to Atharv, wiping her tears and hesitating to touch the weapon. Atharv removed the object out with a loud gasp.
"We have to take you to the hospital," Manya said.
"Shhhh!" He used his sleeve to wipe away her tears. "And I told her, I will never make you cry."
"We-We have to hurry."
***
Even with critical injuries, Atharv showed more concern for her tears. They were both torn apart by a sudden, forceful gust of wind. Kri flew to Atharv and yanked Atharv by the neck, leaving him gasping for breath.
Manya felt a touch on her leg. She turned and saw Dhruv lying beside her, his grip weak and his life fading. "Dhruv!" She gently placed her head in her lap. "Everything's going to be ok. Don't worry, every-everything will change back as it was." Her hand trembled as she wiped off thick black blood from his face.
"Many… a," Dhruv gasped. Even though he was weak, he was determined to reach out, trying to move his arm.
When she extended her hand, he rejected it. She moved her head closer to his hand. He ran his fingers through her hair. With a gentle touch, he brushed away her tears with his thumb. "My blessing," Dhruv said. She pressed a tender kiss onto his hand.
Manya wrapped him in her arms. "I-It's just a bad-bad dream," she sobbed.
Dhruv's body had turned fragile and cold. The glow in his eyes seemed to fade away. But not his smile. She cleared off her tears falling on his face.
"Though I approach the end of my journey, I do not feel fear," Dhruv said. His voice was powerful. "The time I spent with you was greater than being a descendant of God."
He surrendered to eternal slumber; a sense of peace washed over him. In her arms, he exhaled his last breath. She held her closer in her arms. "Yes, I'll marry you! Please! Come back!" Warmth embraced her body; as she opened her eyes, it disappeared—leaving behind a lifeless body and the memories of a being who had been eagerly looking forward to reuniting with his family. The one who had promised her a love that would transcend time. All—became a memory.