Siya remained unconscious.
Perhaps it was not her body that refused to wake — but her mind.
As if somewhere deep within, it had chosen silence over reality.
Outside her chamber, Ali, Andy, and the others waited in visible distress. No one spoke much. The tension itself was loud enough.
Inside, Trikala sat beside her.
He leaned closer, his voice calm yet firm.
"Siya… don't bury yourself again in the same darkness you fought so hard to escape. You write your own destiny. No one can weaken you unless you allow them to."
Her breathing shifted faintly.
"If you keep blaming yourself for what has already passed… what about the people still waiting for you? The ones who believe you will restore this world? Who will they rely on?"
He paused.
"And do you think Jate would want this? Would he want you to fall back into that abyss he pulled you from? If you lose yourself there again… he won't be able to come save you this time."
A flicker of movement crossed her face.
"And your two lions outside?" he added lightly. "They're staring at me as if they might kill me any second. Your warriors are ready for the hunt."
A faint smile curved at the corner of her lips.
Relief flooded Trikala's expression.
He pulled her into a sudden embrace, exhaling deeply as if life had returned to him.
She let out a small laugh. "I'm fine. You're acting as if I just returned from death."
"These past few hours felt exactly like that," he replied quietly.
The door slid open and Ali and Andy rushed in, relief overtaking discipline as they embraced her tightly.
"Easy," Siya protested. "I just woke up. Don't send me back to sleep."
Ali shook his head. "Boss, don't say nonsense like that. We just got our breath back. What happened? Why did you faint?"
Trikala intervened smoothly. "It's better not to discuss it right now. She needs rest."
Ali considered this and nodded. "Come on," he told Andy. "Let's give her space."
They turned—
"Wait," Siya said.
Her tone was steady now.
"Close the door. Come here."
Once alone, Siya told them everything.
Every word Trikala had revealed.
Every truth about George.
Every truth about Jate.
Andy's voice cracked first. "So George… wasn't George? He was Jate? Then who was the real George?"
Siya inhaled slowly.
"The real George was the one we found in the lab."
Andy frowned. "But that was—"
"Trikala," she finished.
Silence tightened the room.
"Trikala had already taken control of George's body before we reached him. The moment I touched him, the dormant power inside awakened. The energy was too immense. George's weakened soul couldn't withstand it."
Her voice softened.
"He merged into me… and ceased to exist."
Andy's jaw clenched.
"The crimes George confessed to — he truly committed them. But the one who stood by us… who faced death beside us…"
Her eyes trembled.
"That was Jate. My Jate. The one I thought was a demon."
Ali spoke carefully. "Then who was the one who looked exactly like Jate? The one responsible for the destruction?"
Siya's gaze sharpened.
"That answer lies with Trikala."
She stood. "Call him."
Trikala entered calmly.
This time, Siya's voice was composed — almost strengthened by resolve.
"Tell me," she said, "who caused the devastation in that era? If it wasn't Jate… then who was it?"
The gravity in her tone left no room for evasion.
Trikala's expression hardened.
"It was the same one," he said slowly, "who now walks this world wearing Jate's face… and seeks your death."
The air seemed to drop in temperature.
Siya's mind raced.
"Two Jates," she whispered. "If the one I killed wasn't the real one… then who is this being standing before me as my executioner?"
Trikala's voice turned colder than steel.
"Kaal."
The name alone felt heavy — ancient.
"The ruler of the Asuras," he continued. "At the mere mention of his name, realms once trembled. If something caught his desire, he would shatter every boundary to possess it."
His eyes darkened as if recalling a memory not meant for mortals.
"He was infinitely powerful. Even the gods feared him."
He paused.
"But once… he was one of them."
Siya's gaze locked onto him.
"He was cast out of the celestial realm. His ambition surpassed devotion. He sought to rise above the very One who created him — the Supreme Creator. Power was not enough for him. He wanted supremacy."
There was a strange gleam in Trikala's eyes — as if he had seen Kaal with his own eyes.
Siya spoke slowly. "So he desired Divine Energy. That was his true crime."
"Yes."
"And Jate?"
Trikala replied quietly, "His brother."
The room stilled.
"Two brothers. Identical in appearance. Created alike by the Supreme. But their wills were opposite. One wished to let the world exist in divine order. The other wanted to rule it — reshape it — control it."
Siya exhaled sharply. "Kaal wanted to become a god himself. To make the world move at his command."
"Then Jate was framed," she realized.
"But if that was true," she continued, "why didn't Jate step forward? The Supreme knew the difference. Why did Jate stay silent?"
"Because no one would have believed him," Trikala answered. "After so much destruction, any face resembling Kaal would have been seen as the enemy. If he came to you and said, 'I am Jate,' would you have believed him?"
Siya's silence was answer enough.
"No one would have listened," Trikala continued. "They would have killed him again without hesitation. So he chose to remain George. To remain near you."
A painful realization dawned in her eyes.
"The one I killed back then… wasn't even the real Kaal," she murmured. "It was a clone."
"Yes," Trikala confirmed. "Engineered in his likeness. Powerful, yes — but not the original."
"But such power…" Siya whispered. "Even a clone carried immense ascetic energy. Years of preparation. Years of seeking Divine Energy."
"Kaal spent centuries attempting to harness it," Trikala said. "And failed."
Siya's eyes sharpened again.
"And the one who appeared before us recently… that wasn't the real Kaal either. That was an advanced ultra-intelligent AI projection. A deception to show us he exists here, in this world."
A faint smile touched Trikala's lips. "You grasp quickly."
"Then where is he?" she demanded.
Trikala's expression darkened.
"I truly do not know. Even my powers cannot trace him. That is something you will have to discover yourself."
He stepped closer.
"One of his goals is complete. The world is already fractured. Now he focuses on strengthening his own mutated dominion."
Siya's jaw tightened.
"And to increase his power… he will need me."
"Yes," Trikala replied. "Because now, the entire source of Divine Energy resides within you."
Silence filled the room.
Siya's eyes no longer held confusion.
Only fire.
"Then let him come," she said quietly. "Let's see what he does next."
Far away — beyond dimensions — something ancient stirred.
And this time… it was no clone.