Shiva stood tall over the remains of the defeated Evil God's , his chest rising and falling heavily from the exhaustion of battle. His companions—Ansh, Kavi, and Siya—gathered around him, still struggling to steady their breathing. The fight had been terrifying, and its impact on the dungeon was clearly visible. What were once magnificent and intricate corridors now felt unstable. Cracks had spread across the walls, and faint sounds of shifting stones echoed through the silence.
"It's over," Kavi muttered, staring at the fallen god. A wave of relief crossed his face—but it didn't last long.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Ansh looked around, his eyes widening in fear and realization.
"The core… the dungeon core has been destroyed!"
Kavi added, "It's possible the Evil God was collecting his power through the dungeon core."
The others turned toward him in shock. The dungeon core was the lifeline of the entire dungeon—it kept the structure stable and intact. Without it, the dungeon was destined to collapse.
"Run!" Shiva shouted.
The walls began to shake violently, and massive chunks of stone fell from the ceiling. Cracks spread across the floor, revealing deep pits of darkness below. The entire dungeon started to crumble around them.
Ansh reacted instantly, summoning a barrier wall to hold back the falling debris for a short time.
"We need to get out—now!" he yelled.
Without hesitation, Shiva gave a mental command to his spirits—Dhara, the Spirit of Earth, and Rudra, the Spirit of Wind.
Dhara immediately stabilized the ground beneath their feet, creating a safe path through the chaos. At the same time, Rudra summoned a powerful whirlwind that pushed away falling rubble and formed a protective barrier of wind around them.
"Follow me!" Shiva called out as the spirits cleared the way.
They sprinted forward while the dungeon collapsed all around them, the roar of destruction growing louder with every step.
The dungeon shook violently, as if trying to trap them inside forever. Just as they neared the exit, a massive stone pillar crashed down in front of them, blocking the path. Panic surged through the group.
"We're trapped!" Ansh shouted.
But Shiva refused to give up. He summoned the power of his blade spirit, Kartika. A sharp, cutting gust of wind tore through the air and shattered the stone pillar into pieces.
"Keep moving!" Shiva commanded, his voice firm and resolute.
At last, they burst out of the dungeon entrance into the open air. In the very next moment, the entire dungeon collapsed behind them with a deafening explosion. Dust and debris shot into the sky as the ground trembled one final time before falling silent.
Panting heavily, they stood outside, their bodies covered in dust and sweat, staring at the pile of rubble that had once been the dungeon.
"We made it," Kavi said between breaths. "We're alive."
Ansh wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded.
"Barely."
Shiva silently stared at the destruction.
"This isn't over," he said quietly. "The dungeon may be gone, but the Evil God's forces will come after us now."
Siya looked at him, her eyes hardening.
"You're right. We've only defeated one pawn… much more is yet to come."
In the Depths of Darkness…
Miles away, deep within an ancient and terrifying fortress, a sinister figure sat upon a massive stone throne. In the dimly lit chamber, shadows seemed to move as if they were alive. The air was thick with decay and darkness.
A deep, rumbling voice echoed through the hall.
"One of our pawns has been destroyed."
The voice belonged to Evil King Ivan—a towering figure wrapped in dark robes. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his glowing red eyes burned with rage as they pierced the darkness.
"Find out who did this," he commanded. "Send the bishops, knights, rooks, and the remaining pawns. This insult will not go unpunished."
A hunched servant in tattered robes stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Yes, my lord. I will summon them at once."
Moments later, the chamber filled with terrifying figures—each more twisted and dark than the last. They were the Evil King's elite, his most trusted and powerful minions.
Evil King Ivan rose from his throne, his shadow engulfing the room.
"One of our pawns was slain in Jedna Village. Who can tell me who was responsible?"
A heavy silence fell. No one dared to speak. After a few tense moments, Karan—one of the knights—stepped forward.
"My Lord," Karan said in a trembling voice, "I was in Jedna Village. There, I encountered an extremely powerful God's Heir. He nearly killed me, but I barely managed to escape. That heir… he was unlike anyone I've ever faced. He controls water, blades, fire… and even time."
"Time?" Evil King Ivan's lips curved into a dark smile.
Karan nodded slowly.
"Yes, my lord. I have never seen such power. I believe he is a high-tier divine heir… perhaps even a descendant of the Time God."
Whispers spread across the chamber.
"Is that possible?"
"The Time God was supposed to be dead!"
"Has he returned?"
The Evil King raised his hand, silencing them. His voice turned cold and dangerous.
"The Time God has been gone for centuries… but if this heir truly is his descendant, then we must proceed with caution."
A cruel glint flashed in his eyes.
"Keep a close watch on him. Do nothing for now. If he truly is the Time God's descendant… we will deal with him when the time is right. Until then… we wait."
The chamber fell silent once more, but the shadow of this new threat lingered in every mind.
Shiva's Unease
Back in the village, Shiva and his companions sat at a local restaurant, trying to relax after the dungeon's destruction. Plates of food lay on the table, and laughter filled the air—but Shiva felt restless.
"Are you alright?" Siya asked, noticing his silence.
Shiva paused before replying.
"I don't know… something feels strange."
"Strange? How?" Ansh asked, his mouth full of food.
Shiva shook his head.
"Maybe it's nothing… I'm probably just tired."
But deep inside, he knew it wasn't nothing.
Some dark force had awakened in the world—and it was moving straight toward him.
Shiva could feel it.