Suraj's eyes widened.
"Fire! Fire!"
He immediately started shouting.
"Bring water! Quick!"
At the same time, he hurriedly called the fire brigade.
Within minutes, chaos spread throughout the mansion.
Servants ran in every direction.
Buckets of water were thrown.
But the fire simply refused to stop.
Instead…
It kept spreading.
Slowly.
Relentlessly.
Within an hour, the entire mansion had been swallowed by flames.
Everyone stood outside helplessly as the huge building burned like a giant torch in the night.
Soon, the fire brigade finally arrived and started trying to control the fire.
Meanwhile, the villagers had already gathered outside the mansion.
Among them were Vikram, Venkatesh, and many other men of the village.
Everyone watched the terrifying fire with nervous expressions.
Trying to calm the crowd, Suraj raised his voice.
"Don't worry everyone."
"It's just the mansion."
"It can be rebuilt."
"I'm just thankful no one lost their life."
But just then—
A terrified man pushed through the crowd and rushed toward him.
At the same time, another man in the crowd was desperately searching for someone while trying to call a phone.
But the call wouldn't connect.
"Chote Malik… my daughter is missing!"
Suraj looked shocked.
"What?"
"What are you saying?"
The man spoke nervously,
"When I woke up, I couldn't find her anywhere… We all went to sleep after dinner but now she's gone… I'm scared Malik…"
Suraj tried to calm him.
"Don't panic."
"Maybe she came here after hearing about the fire."
"She'll return soon."
But the man shook his head nervously.
"But Malik… where would she wander this late at night?"
Suddenly, a young man in the crowd laughed lightly.
"Obviously she ran away."
Another villager frowned.
"Hariya, what nonsense are you saying?"
The young man shrugged.
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Everyone knows she had an affair with Billu Kaka's son."
"If you don't believe me, ask the others."
"And speaking of which… I don't see Billu Kaka's son here either."
He smirked.
"Where is your son, Kaka?"
Everyone's gaze instantly turned toward Billu.
Billu looked extremely nervous as he tried calling someone repeatedly.
Then lowering the phone, he muttered,
"I'm trying to call him… his phone isn't connecting…"
The young man laughed again.
"Of course it isn't."
"They must've already run away by now."
Suddenly—
SLAP!
The girl's father grabbed the young man's collar and started hitting him.
"My daughter is not like that!"
"Do you understand?!"
"She would never run away!"
Several villagers quickly pulled them apart before things got worse.
Billu also spoke defensively.
"My son isn't like that either."
Suraj raised his voice again to calm everyone.
"Enough!"
"Both of them might still be somewhere in the village."
"Let's find them first."
"We'll talk about everything later."
Meanwhile, Vikram stared at the burning mansion with narrowed eyes.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
"This fire…" he murmured.
"It doesn't feel normal."
"I feel something strange inside it."
Standing nearby, Aarav chuckled softly.
"What?"
"Does it feel cold instead of hot?"
Vikram looked puzzled.
"Yes… actually."
"This fire feels… cold."
Before Aarav could reply, Rasika stepped forward.
"It's because this fire was created using dark energy."
"That's why it feels like that."
Her expression turned serious.
"It seems Vasukinath ji's prophecy is coming true."
"Capturing Vanshika didn't end this game."
Not far away, Aarav stood silently watching the burning mansion.
Inside his mind, he spoke calmly.
"Was being that flashy really necessary?"
A soft laughter echoed in his head.
Vanshika's voice replied playfully.
"Well… I just returned to this world in my own body."
"A welcome party was necessary, don't you think… boss?"
Aarav sighed.
"Next time… don't do something so flashy that it ruins my sleep in the middle of the night."
The darkness of the night was slowly fading.
A faint light began to spread across the horizon as dawn approached. The cold air carried an unsettling silence… as if the village itself was holding its breath.
Suddenly—
A man came running toward the crowd near the mansion ruins.
He was panting heavily, his face pale with fear.
"I… I went to the pond… there…"
Before he could finish, he bent down, struggling to catch his breath.
The people around him exchanged worried glances.
A bad feeling settled in their hearts.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
—
A few hours later…
Police vehicles surrounded the pond.
The entire area had been sealed.
Two bodies floated lifelessly in the water.
But what made the scene horrifying was—
Both bodies were headless.
Near the edge of the pond, on a tree branch, hung two severed heads.
Their lifeless eyes stared into nothingness.
These were the same two men who had been killed the previous night by Satan's pawn.
Their families sat near the pond, completely broken, their minds shattered by grief.
Villagers stood silently behind them, offering helpless condolences.
But then—
Someone noticed something near the blood-stained ground at the edge of the pond.
A symbol.
A mark.
The moment people saw it…
Fear spread like wildfire.
Everyone recognized it.
Vanshika's mark.
But in truth…
It was Satan's symbol.
A cold wave of terror ran through the crowd.
Suraj turned toward Rasika, his voice filled with confusion.
"But… we sealed Vanshika… then how did this happen?"
Before Rasika could answer—
Vikram suddenly spoke.
"This… is not Vanshika's doing."
Everyone turned toward him.
His voice felt different.
"Heh… this is Satan's work."
Nikhil frowned.
"Satan?"
But the next moment—
Vikram blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Did I say something?"
Nikhil looked irritated.
"Rasika ji, do something about him."
"For the past two days, he keeps saying random things and then acts like he doesn't remember anything."
Rasika observed Vikram carefully.
Her expression turned serious.
"That wasn't Vikram."
"It was Vasukinath ji speaking."
Everyone was shocked.
"I think… there is some connection between you and him."
"That's why he can enter only your body."
—
Meanwhile, Inspector Manisha was questioning the villagers.
After finishing, she walked toward Vikram's group with a sharp look.
"Interesting."
"You people have been here for less than two weeks… and already three murders have happened."
Vikram frowned and replied coldly,
"You've also been handling this case for two weeks…"
"And you still don't have a single clue."
"And now there are two more bodies."
Manisha's expression darkened.
"What did you say?"
She stepped forward angrily—
But Venkatesh quickly intervened.
"Inspector Manisha… calm down."
Then he asked,
"Do you have any leads?"
Manisha clicked her tongue.
"The killer is smart."
"But we'll catch him soon."
—
Not far away, Aarav walked toward the bodies.
His gaze was calm… almost indifferent.
But inside—
His mind was already working.
He looked at the pond carefully.
Then his eyes narrowed.
A name surfaced in his thoughts.
Dibuk.
A demon.
A servant of Satan.
One that lived in water.
Usually, it dragged people into the depths and drowned them.
But this one was different.
It offered sacrifices to Satan.
Aarav's gaze shifted toward the center of the pond.
There—
He could see it.
A faint leakage of dark energy.
His lips curved slightly.
"So… you're hiding here."
But he didn't act.
Not yet.
Alerting Satan right now… would be a mistake.
—
Meanwhile, Vikram's condition was getting stranger.
Vasukinath's presence inside him was growing stronger.
Sometimes…
He would speak without control.
—
The next morning—
Aliya and Nikhil woke up early.
But Vikram was nowhere to be found.
They tried calling him.
No response.
Worry started to build.
They searched everywhere.
Just then, Aarav walked out lazily, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"What happened?"
Aliya said anxiously,
"Vikram is missing."
Aarav yawned again.
"Maybe he went to the temple."
Aliya shook her head.
"I know him. He would never go to a temple."
Aarav shrugged.
"Then maybe… Vasukinath went."
Everyone froze.
Without wasting time, they rushed toward the temple.
But he wasn't there either.
They asked the priest.
"Pandit ji, did you see our friend?"
The priest looked confused.
"That boy? Did something happen to him?"
Before they could respond—
A voice echoed in the temple.
Chanting.
Deep.
Powerful.
They turned—
And froze.
Vikram was walking toward the temple.
Dressed in a white dhoti.
A sacred thread across his body.
Tilak on his forehead.
In one hand, a pooja thali.
In the other, a bell.
And from his lips flowed the Gayatri Mantra—
"Om bhur bhuvah swaha… tat savitur varenyam…"
His voice carried a divine weight.
He stepped inside the temple and began performing rituals with perfect precision.
After completing the worship, he sat down in a meditative posture before the Shivling.
Everyone stood stunned.
But then—
Something even stranger happened.
Aarav quietly walked in.
And sat beside him.
In meditation.
Aarav… who had no interest in such rituals.
But this wasn't about devotion.
This was about energy.
Divine energy was rapidly gathering inside the temple due to Vasukinath's presence.
And Aarav wasn't someone who would miss such an opportunity.
Outside, Chandni suddenly noticed something.
Her eyes widened.
Around both Aarav and Vikram…
She could see it.
Energy.
Two different auras.
Distinct.
Powerful.
After an hour—
BOOM.
A silent burst of energy spread across the temple.
A wave.
Subtle.
But real.
No one else noticed it.
But something had changed.
Both of them slowly opened their eyes.
Vasukinath had regained a portion of his power.
He had re-entered the path of cultivation.
His Muladhara Chakra had awakened.
But then—
His gaze fell on Aarav.
And his expression changed.
Aarav's first chakra was also awakened.
And even more—
It was already half-filled with energy.
Vasukinath looked at him with interest.
"You seem talented."
"Will you become my disciple?"
Aarav smiled lightly.
"It would be my honor…"
"But my parents might not agree."
Vasukinath nodded.
"One must seek their parents' permission before accepting a guru."
"I will speak to them."
"But before that… I have some work to do."
Aarav reached into his pocket.
He took out a blue crystal.
And handed it over.
"A small gift… from your disciple."
Vasukinath took it.
His expression turned serious.
"Where did you get this?"
Aarav smiled faintly.
"From the place… where you left it."
Vasukinath's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
"Have we met before?"
Aarav turned away calmly.
"No."
"We haven't met."
"You should absorb it."
"I'll take my leave."
He started walking away.
Vasukinath looked at the crystal.
Then at Aarav.
Then—
He pressed the crystal against his chest.
The crystal dissolved into his body.
The next moment—
His eyes glowed blue.
Inside his soul—
All seven chakras awakened instantly.
Though externally… nothing changed.
That crystal—
Contained his sealed power.
And now—
He had regained enough strength to defeat Vanshika easily.
But still…
Not enough to face Satan.
—
As Vikram stood up, holding the pooja thali—
Nikhil and Aliya approached him.
"Vikram—"
But he interrupted calmly.
"Vasukinath."
They froze.
Chandni stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Pranam, Dada Guru."
Vasukinath blessed her.
"Ayushman bhava, child."
"You are Goraknath's daughter, aren't you?"
"You've grown… and become beautiful."
He chuckled softly.
Then looked at Aliya and Nikhil.
"Do not worry."
"I am both Vikram… and Vasukinath."
"In this life, my name is Vikram."
"In my previous life, I was Vasukinath."
"They are not separate."
"But our paths are different."
"I cannot remain bound by worldly ties."
"Forget me."
"I have responsibilities toward the world."
And with that—
He walked away.
Aliya stomped her foot in frustration.
"We need to get this 'Vasukinath ghost' out of him!"
Nikhil looked worried.
"Will Vikram ever become normal again?"
Chandni spoke softly,
"He is still Vikram…"
"But Vasukinath's path is far deeper."
Just then—
A voice interrupted.
"Not necessarily."
They turned.
Aarav was leaning against a pillar.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"Vasukinath's path isn't greater than Vikram's."
"In fact… I'd say Vikram's path might be even greater."
Nikhil scoffed.
"Talking to you is pointless."
"You show up, sit in meditation, and now you're giving lectures."
But Chandni ignored him.
She looked directly at Aarav.
"What was that light… that came out of both of you?"
Aarav looked at her, confused.
"What light?"
Chandni held his gaze for a moment.
But when she realized—
He had no intention of answering…
She said nothing more.
Because deep down—
She knew.
Aarav was hiding something far bigger than anyone could imagine.
Aliya looked straight at Aarav, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Leave all that… what did you mean when you said Vikram is stronger than Vasukinath?"
Aarav shook his head lightly.
"I never said stronger."
His tone was calm, almost casual.
"Vikram and Vasukinath are the same person."
He paused for a moment before continuing,
"I'm just saying… Vikram's destiny is greater than Vasukinath's."
Everyone fell silent.
Aarav's words carried an unusual weight.
"It means," he continued, "Vikram will possess all the power of Vasukinath…"
"But he will still remain Vikram."
"However… it will take time."
Chandni narrowed her eyes slightly, staring at him with suspicion.
"And how do you know all this?"
Aarav smiled faintly.
"I trust Vikram bhai."
That was it.
No explanation.
No logic.
Just trust.
The others exchanged glances, but no one said anything.
By now, they had grown used to Aarav's strange behavior.
—
Meanwhile…
The mansion had turned into a blackened ruin.
The fire had finally been extinguished, but the damage was irreversible.
Burnt walls.
Collapsed roofs.
And a heavy silence lingering in the air.
Suraj walked inside the ruins, his expression tense.
He held his forehead as if trying to process everything.
Slowly, he approached a wall.
A half-burnt painting still hung there.
He pushed it aside—
Revealing a hidden button.
Without hesitation, he pressed it.
Click.
A secret door opened.
Behind it—
A staircase leading downward.
Suraj immediately stepped in and began descending.
Moments later, he reached the underground chamber.
The same place.
The same coffin.
But the moment his eyes fell on it—
He froze.
The coffin was open.
Empty.
For a second, there was silence.
Then—
A strange smile appeared on his face.
"So… it really was Vanshika."
He let out a low laugh.
"But she doesn't know… she has already fallen into my trap."
His laughter echoed through the dark chamber.
He bent down and wiped away the burnt soot from the floor.
Slowly—
A pattern revealed itself.
A circular formation.
A magic circle.
Without wasting time, Suraj stepped into it and sat down in a meditative posture.
His voice turned deep and commanding.
"Come."
—
Far away…
Inside an ancient, dark structure where Vanshika was resting—
Her eyes suddenly snapped open.
She felt it.
A pull.
A command.
Before she could resist—
Her body lifted into the air.
In the next moment—
She vanished.
—
Back in the underground chamber—
A figure suddenly appeared inside the magic circle.
Vanshika.
She looked around, slightly surprised.
Then her gaze fell on Suraj.
For a moment—
She was confused.
But then Suraj started laughing.
Loudly.
"Finally… I have you under my control."
Vanshika narrowed her eyes.
Suraj stood up slowly.
"I never expected that after all these years… you would suddenly find your body."
He smirked.
"But I was waiting for this moment."
"I had already placed my mark on your body."
"So the moment you returned to it…"
"You would become my slave."
His laughter grew louder.
"Something even Vasukinath couldn't do…"
"I have achieved it."
For a moment—
Vanshika tried to move.
But her body didn't respond.
She was stuck.
Bound.
The magic circle was suppressing her.
But then—
She felt something.
On her forehead.
A mark.
It began to glow faintly.
And suddenly—
A smile appeared on her lips.
The next moment—
She moved.
Freely.
As if nothing was restricting her.
Suraj's laughter stopped instantly.
His face turned pale.
"I-Impossible… how is this possible?!"
Vanshika chuckled softly.
Her voice was cold.
"You're new to this game… child."
Before he could react—
She appeared right in front of him.
Her hand shot forward—
Grabbing his throat.
Lifting him slightly off the ground.
His eyes widened in terror.
Vanshika leaned closer, her glowing red eyes locking onto his.
"You wanted to make me your slave… right?"
Her voice turned deadly.
"Now… you will become mine."
As she said that—
A mark appeared on her palm.
A familiar mark.
Aarav's mark.
Without hesitation, she pressed it onto Suraj's forehead.
Then she began chanting in a low, eerie tone.
The air around them grew heavy.
Dark energy swirled violently.
Suraj struggled at first—
But slowly…
His resistance faded.
His eyes lost their clarity.
And within moments—
He stopped struggling completely.
Silence filled the chamber.
Vanshika released him.
Suraj fell to his knees.
His head lowered.
His voice… empty.
"…My Master."
Vanshika looked down at him with a cold smile.
The hunter…
Had become the prey.