Time: 11:00 PM
The jungle was alive, but not in the way nature intended. Predators that usually stalked the night—ferocious beasts on the prowl—scurried back into the shadows, whimpering. They had sensed something far more predatory than themselves: the unnatural spiritual aura of the approaching Tantriks. Like rats fleeing the scent of a cat, tigers and wolves vanished into the thickets.
The procession of Tantriks moved with unnatural speed, cutting through the darkness.
"Hasten!" the Acharya, the head Tantrik, bellowed, his voice slicing through the humid air. "If this night passes before we begin, a great catastrophe will befall us!"
He halted, turning sharply. "Kunal! Come here. Everyone, listen closely. Whatever transpires tonight, do not let your spirit waver. The demon will weaponize your emotions. It will bait you, and if you fall into its illusion, you are lost. Your body will remain, but your soul will be enslaved by that satanic spirit."
As the group pressed forward, the Acharya leaned in close to Kunal's face, a sinister, twisted grin stretching across his lips.
"I know what plagues your mind," he whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "You are still thinking of your sister. May Kaal Bhairav grant her soul peace. I know you desire to resurrect her, but you forget, boy... in doing so, you are violating the fundamental laws of nature."
Kunal stopped, his eyes narrowing. "You were the one who preached that with this human vessel, we could achieve the impossible. Why do you preach caution now, Acharya? I thought you stood with me. Or... have I been brought here merely as bait?"
The Acharya paused, taken aback by the boy's defiance. Then, he threw his head back and laughed—a loud, maniacal sound that echoed through the trees.
*"Yada manushyasya vinashakalah samupasthitah bhavati, tada tasmai hitavachanani katuni, anarthakavishayah cha priyah bhavanti,"* the Acharya recited. "When a man's time of destruction arrives, wise words sound bitter to him, while destructive paths seem sweet. In such a state, only the Divine or his own inner conscience can save him."
He patted Kunal's shoulder heavily. "You are weak now, but no matter what happens, do not break. The demon will exploit your grief. But fear not... if you fail, I am here. Hahaha!"
They marched deeper into the heart of the forest until suddenly—
"HALT!"
The Acharya dropped to his knees, pressing a palm against the earth. He grabbed a handful of soil, closed his eyes, and began to chant. "OM HIMBRIMTRIMBHAIRAWAYE DUNTAMUCHITANANM..."
His eyes snapped open, gleaming. "Splendid. We have found it. We perform the Maya Yagya here. Move!"
The Tantriks sprang into action with practiced efficiency. Groups of five began drawing complex geometries on the forest floor using red ash. They inscribed a circle containing a five-pointed star, with crescent moons adorning the tips. In the center, a human skull was placed, marked with red sandalwood paste. Beside it sat a black doll.
Offerings were placed at the star's five points: a lemon pierced with iron nails, a live animal, a carcass, a plate brimming with blood, and a grimoire of dark spells that seemed to radiate a gloom of its own.
"Watch and learn, Kunal," the Acharya commanded, stepping away from the group. "Center your mind. A single mistake in concentration will cost you your life."
While the other Tantriks engaged in their elaborate rituals, the Acharya stood alone. He held a human skull in one hand and raised the other toward the heavens. Standing on one leg, he bent his body into a grotesque arc and began to rotate his raised hand, chanting furiously.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The air grew heavy and cold. The lush greenery around them began to wither; life was being drained from the trees and shrubs to fuel the ritual. A gale-force wind kicked up, carrying with it the sound of invisible, weeping voices.
Suddenly, a bluish-purple flame—pure, concentrated energy—erupted from the skull in the Acharya's hand. It spiraled into the air, wrapping around the Acharya's body like a spectral serpent.
Kunal watched, wide-eyed with terror and awe. "What is this power? I have never felt such terrifying energy... I underestimated the Acharya."
The Acharya's eyes flew open, ablaze with blackish-purple fire. He slammed the skull onto the ground.
BOOM.
Upon impact, green flames erupted from the earth, spontaneously forming the intricate ritual circle and symbols without human hands. The sheer pressure of the energy unraveled the matted hair of the surrounding Tantriks, sending their locks flying in the wind. The Acharya, however, did not stand—he was levitating, hovering in the air in a meditative posture.
"Excellent... very excellent," the Acharya cackled. "Kunal! You know what to do. Do not spare a single ghoul. I will drag the soul of the Brahmarakshas out of the void!"
"Rest assured, Acharya," Kunal shouted over the roaring wind. "I will not disappoint you."
As the grand Yagya commenced, Kunal reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wooden doll, no larger than six centimeters.
"Come on, Mohna," he whispered. "Let us begin."
The wooden doll began to fracture. From the cracks, a searing red energy pulsed, hungry and ready for war.
Scene Shift: The Mutant Ambush
On the other side of the clearing, the air was filled with the deafening roar of gunfire. Virendra, Vijay, Kashi, Jaspreet, and Husain stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their rifles spitting lead at the towering mutant monster.
"Sir! You and Jassi get to Virendra!" Kashi screamed over the muzzle flashes. "Vijay and I will hold this thing back!"
The bullets struck with precision, but the result was horrifying. The rounds didn't penetrate; they merely left shallow scratches on the creature's hideously thick skin.
Though the monster was blind, its head tilted, nostrils flaring. It caught the scent of blood and the sound of frantic heartbeats. With a guttural growl that shook the ground, the mutant locked onto Kashi's position and began to charge, a mountain of unstoppable muscle and rage.
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UPCOMING: THE BLAZE UNDER THE FALLEN SKY....