The rooftop burned with silent tension.
Devika's flames flickered along the cracked tiles, lighting the faces of the surrounding Rakshak warriors. None of them moved.
None of them spoke.
Because the man standing in the center of the battlefield—
Captain Varun—
was no longer fully himself.
His spear hung loosely in his hands.
His shoulders twitched occasionally.
And every few seconds, his fingers tightened around the weapon without his command.
Across the rooftop, Arivaan watched calmly.
The floating panel flickered again.
Primary Servant: Devika Agnivarna – Stable
Secondary Bond: Captain Varun
Bond Progress: 88%
Arivaan folded his arms.
"Almost finished."
Devika glared at him.
"You're enjoying this too much."
Arivaan shrugged.
"It's interesting."
Varun suddenly staggered.
His body leaned forward as if something invisible pushed him.
His muscles trembled violently.
Inside his mind, the battle continued.
But now—
The difference between the two forces had grown enormous.
His will fought desperately to stay in control.
But Arivaan's influence had spread deeper into his nerves, his reflexes, his movements.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 89%
Varun dropped to one knee.
The spear struck the rooftop with a dull metallic sound.
Across the battlefield, one of the Rakshaks shouted,
"Captain!"
Varun lifted his head slowly.
His eyes still held awareness.
Still held anger.
But the exhaustion in them had grown overwhelming.
"…Stay… back…"
Arivaan sighed.
"You keep saying that."
Devika whispered softly,
"He's still conscious."
Arivaan nodded.
"Barely."
The invisible bond tightened again.
Varun's arm lifted slowly.
His spear rose into the air.
The captain tried to force it down again.
But this time—
His muscles refused to obey.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 90%
Varun gasped.
"No…"
Arivaan smiled faintly.
"That's the point where resistance becomes… inefficient."
The captain roared in frustration.
His body lunged forward suddenly.
The spear shot toward one of the Rakshaks.
CLANG!
The warrior barely blocked the strike.
The force pushed him backward across the rooftop.
Shock spread across the group.
Varun's voice came out broken.
"…Run…"
But his body moved again.
Another strike.
Another attack.
This time—
Faster.
Cleaner.
More precise.
The invisible control had begun synchronizing his movements.
Devika watched carefully.
"You're fully controlling his reflexes now."
Arivaan nodded.
"Almost."
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 92%
Varun's resistance weakened further.
His spear spun in his grip.
His stance straightened.
The trembling in his muscles began fading.
But not because he had regained control.
Because he had lost it.
Across the rooftop, Rudra Sen stepped forward slowly.
The hunter's sword glowed faintly in the firelight.
His expression remained calm.
But the weight in his eyes had grown heavier.
"Captain."
Varun's head turned toward him.
But this time—
The motion was smooth.
Controlled.
His voice came out quieter now.
"…Too… late…"
Arivaan flexed his fingers slightly.
Varun's body straightened completely.
The spear lifted again.
But this time—
There was no hesitation.
No resistance.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 95%
Arivaan smiled slowly.
"There it is."
Devika stared at Varun.
"…He's gone."
Varun stepped forward.
His movements had become perfectly coordinated.
The chaotic twitching from earlier had vanished.
Now he moved like a trained warrior again.
But every motion followed Arivaan's will.
The spear spun once in his hand.
The blade pointed toward the Rakshaks.
Rudra Sen raised his sword.
"You've stolen enough."
Arivaan shrugged.
"Borrowed."
Varun lunged.
The spear flashed toward the hunter.
CLANG!
Rudra Sen blocked the strike.
But the impact forced him backward.
The surrounding Rakshaks watched in horror.
Because the man attacking them now—
Was their own captain.
The floating panel flickered again.
Bond Progress: 97%
Inside Varun's mind—
The last fragments of resistance faded.
His voice echoed faintly.
"…Don't… forget…"
But Arivaan barely noticed.
The invisible strings had tightened completely.
The captain's body stood ready.
His spear steady.
His stance perfect.
Arivaan raised his hand calmly.
"Varun."
The captain responded instantly.
"Yes… master."
The rooftop fell completely silent.
Because the bond had nearly finished.
And Captain Varun—
The leader of the Rakshak patrol—
Had fallen.