The underground chamber fell silent after Devika's sudden paralysis.
The faint glow of torches mounted along the stone walls flickered gently, casting long shadows across the floor. Dust still drifted slowly through the air from the earlier explosion, and fragments of shattered crystal lay scattered around Arivaan's feet.
But Arivaan barely noticed any of it.
His entire focus remained fixed on the woman standing motionless in front of him.
Devika Agnivarna.
A warrior whose name alone had made countless villains tremble.
Yet now she stood completely still, her body frozen mid-step as if time itself had suddenly stopped.
Only her eyes moved.
They glared at Arivaan with a mixture of anger and disbelief.
"What… did you do to me?" she demanded through clenched teeth.
Arivaan tilted his head slightly.
For several seconds he simply observed her, almost as if trying to confirm that what he was seeing was real.
A Rakshak warrior.
Powerful.
Feared.
And now completely unable to move because of him.
Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"I'm not entirely sure myself."
He stepped closer cautiously.
Devika's body trembled slightly as she struggled against whatever invisible force held her in place.
But no matter how hard she tried, her legs refused to move.
Her arms remained frozen.
Even her flames were gone.
Arivaan circled her slowly, studying her like a curious scientist examining a rare specimen.
"Interesting…"
Devika's voice sharpened.
"Stop staring and release me."
Arivaan laughed quietly.
"That doesn't sound like a request."
Her eyes flashed with anger.
"You think this will save you? Once my power returns—"
"Ah."
Arivaan raised a finger.
"That's the strange part."
He walked in front of her again and gently snapped his fingers.
Nothing happened.
Then he pointed at her palm.
"Go ahead," he said casually. "Try using your flames again."
Devika hesitated.
Then she focused.
Normally, igniting her fire required no effort at all.
Her Divya Shakti responded instantly to her will.
But this time—
Nothing happened.
Her expression darkened.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Not even a spark appeared.
Devika's breathing grew slightly heavier.
"That's impossible…"
Arivaan leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
"Looks like your fire doesn't listen to you anymore."
"You—!"
Devika struggled harder against the invisible restraint.
Her muscles tensed.
But the command controlling her body remained absolute.
The floating panel suddenly appeared again in front of Arivaan's eyes.
It hovered quietly in the air, displaying the same strange information as before.
Target: Devika Agnivarna
Ability: Agni Shakti
Imprint Stage: 1
Assimilation: 15%
Arivaan stared at the numbers thoughtfully.
"So that percentage increases when I use the power…"
He wondered what would happen when it reached one hundred.
Would the control become permanent?
Or would something even more interesting happen?
Devika watched him carefully.
"You're using some kind of artifact, aren't you?"
Arivaan chuckled.
"I wish I knew."
In truth, he had no idea what had happened when the jewel shattered.
The fragments had vanished completely.
But in return, this strange ability had appeared.
It felt like something had embedded itself deep inside his mind.
A system of commands he could trigger simply by thinking.
Devika continued speaking.
"Whatever trick you used… it won't last."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then he stepped closer again.
For the first time since meeting her, he looked directly into her eyes.
They were sharp and determined.
Even in this situation, Devika still radiated the presence of a warrior.
"You're not afraid?" he asked.
Devika glared at him.
"Of a coward who relies on tricks?"
Arivaan laughed.
"That's rich."
He gestured toward the fortress above them.
"You came alone and burned an entire organization to the ground."
Devika remained silent.
"You're strong," Arivaan continued calmly. "Stronger than anyone I've ever seen."
Then his voice softened slightly.
"But strength doesn't mean much if someone can simply turn it off."
Devika's jaw tightened.
The words had struck exactly where they needed to.
Her power—her greatest weapon—had suddenly become useless.
Arivaan turned away from her and walked slowly toward the center of the chamber.
The floating panel appeared again.
This time displaying something new.
Command Available: Movement Directive
He raised an eyebrow.
"Movement directive…?"
A new idea formed in his mind.
If this power truly allowed him to control someone's body…
Then perhaps he could give specific orders.
He turned back toward Devika.
"Let's try something."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Arivaan focused on the panel again.
Then he spoke clearly.
"Take three steps forward."
For a moment nothing happened.
Then Devika's body moved.
One step.
Two.
Three.
She stopped exactly where he had commanded.
Her expression shifted from anger to shock.
"No…"
Arivaan stared at her feet.
Then back at the floating panel.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"It really works."
Devika's voice trembled slightly now.
"You… you're controlling my body."
"Looks that way."
Arivaan felt a strange thrill run through his chest.
For years he had been powerless.
A mere soldier in a villain organization.
Someone easily ignored or discarded.
But now—
He possessed something extraordinary.
A power capable of controlling even the strongest warriors.
He walked back toward Devika.
The torchlight reflected in his eyes as he looked up at her.
"Tell me something," he said.
"What?"
"How many villains have you captured?"
Devika remained silent.
Arivaan chuckled.
"Don't worry. I'm not planning revenge."
He glanced again at the floating panel.
The assimilation percentage had risen slightly.
18%
"So it increases slowly…"
That meant time was on his side.
Devika spoke again.
"You're making a mistake."
"Oh?"
"Once the Rakshak Sabha realizes I'm missing… they will hunt you down."
Arivaan shrugged casually.
"Then I suppose I'll need to stay hidden."
He looked around the underground chamber.
The fortress above them might soon be crawling with Rakshak soldiers.
But this hidden tunnel system likely extended far beyond the mountain.
It could lead anywhere.
And now he had something even more valuable than an escape route.
He had a hero under his control.
Arivaan looked back at Devika one more time.
His smile returned.
"Well then," he said.
"Let's leave this place."
Devika's eyes burned with frustration.
"You won't get away with this."
Arivaan simply turned toward the deeper tunnel.
Then he issued another command.
"Follow me."
Her body moved again.
Against her will.
And as Devika Agnivarna took her first forced step into the darkness—
Arivaan realized something important.
Tonight had not only destroyed the Kaal-Chhaya Sangh.
It had also created something far more dangerous.
The beginning of a new villain.