Deep in the stillness of the night, while the rest of the camp was surrendered to sleep, Raksha remained restless. She slipped away from the dying embers of the fire, drifting into the heavy shadows cast by the surrounding trees.

  As she approached a gnarled trunk, a sharp thwack shattered the silence. An arrow quivered in the wood, inches from her temple.

  Raksha froze, then turned slowly toward the source.

  "Not a good time for a stroll, Lady," Aishwarya said, stepping out from the gloom, her bow still partially raised.

  "I am aware," Raksha replied, her voice steady despite the adrenaline. "I only came out for the air."

  Aishwarya’s eyes narrowed. "Words... I’ve never been one to trust the word of a Mythic. But since Pedro vouches for you, I won't question your morality."

  "And why are you awake at this hour?" Raksha asked, ignoring the jab.

  "I haven’t slept since the sun went down," Aishwarya stated flatly.

  Raksha offered a dry, mocking smile. "Why? Are you a Mythic too? Do you prefer the midnight hunt?"

  "The weight of command," Aishwarya replied, her gaze shifting to the sleeping forms by the fire. "I have a team to protect. Mythics strike when the world is dark and eyes are closed. So, I choose to stay awake."

  Raksha softened, her expression shifting from mockery to genuine observation. "I initially took you for an arrogant leader... but you actually care for them."

  "Only for my team," Aishwarya corrected, her tone icy once more.

  The silence that followed was short-lived. A guttural, bone-chilling roar erupted from the heart of the forest, tearing through the peace of the night.

  In an instant, the camp was a hive of motion. Surya bolted upright, hand reaching for a blade. "What was that?"

  "The scream of a Mythic, most likely," Pari said, his voice tight with suppressed fear.

  The members of Section D and Section B scrambled to their feet, gathering at the center of the camp.

  “No doubt,” Aishwarya commanded, her voice cutting through the panic. “It’s a Titan. Team, gear up. We’re moving out.”

  “Titan? What exactly is a Titan?” Rohan asked, his voice trembling as he tightened the straps on his gear.

  “That’s how we classify Mythics of massive scale,” Nova explained, checking his gauntlets. “They’re —living siege engines used as pets by the Cave Demons.”

  “That sounds terrifying,” Rohan muttered.

  One of the Trinity sisters stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly with spiritual resonance. “I can sense three distinct life forces roaming the forest. They’re moving fast.”

  “Alright. We split into three squads,” Aishwarya ordered. “Each squad must have a Devotee Vessel—one of the Trinity sisters—to track the life signatures. We don't fight blind.”

  “We can help,” Pari offered, stepping toward her.

  “Our joint forces can end this quickly,” Surya added.

  “Not required,” Aishwarya snapped. “You stay here. If I get an update on the Cave Demon King or those twin Vampires, I’ll signal you. This is an elite-level hunt.”

  “But it’s dangerous to hunt such massive Mythics with small squads,” Vaishu countered.

  “Not for us,” Sheetal said coolly.

  Nova looked between the two groups and sighed. “Actually, Aishwarya, I think it’s better if we merge. Section D is an Omega-level unit. They have two Celestials, one Devotee, and three Para-Normans. We could use the coverage.”

  Surya nodded firmly. “And most importantly, we’re led by a brilliant leader,” he said, gesturing toward Pari.

  Aishwarya’s gaze was like flint. “Fine. If you’re so intent on risking your necks, come. But I won't be responsible for your lives if things go south.”

  “Deal,” Surya said. “Pari, split the teams.”

  “Why him?” Aishwarya intervened. “I know the dynamics of this region and exactly how to combat Titans. My tactical split is the only one that makes sense.”

  Surya opened his mouth to argue, but Pari placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “She’s right, Surya. She knows the terrain. Aishwarya, call it.”

  Aishwarya didn't waste a second. “Team One: Myself, Pari, Nuvan, and Mayi. We take the eastern sector.

  Team Two: Nova, Chandru, Jatayu, and Mia. You secure the western pass.

  Team Three: Sheetal, Surya, Vaishu and Mona. You take the center—the heart of the forest.

  The rest stay here to guard the camp. Move out!”

  “Aishwarya, excuse me for intervening,” Pari said, his voice calm but firm. “But the math changes if we prioritize safety over raw power. Every team should have one flier or teleporter and one Devotee. If a squad falls into an ambush, the Devotees can use their telepathic link to alert the others instantly. Only they have that mental bridge.”

  He stepped forward, gesturing toward the dark treeline. “And if someone is hurt, we need an aerial Vessel or a teleporter to evac them back to camp immediately.”

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  Aishwarya’s expression remained stony. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. That’s a weak plan—it dilutes our striking power.”

  “Actually,” Nova spoke up, glancing at the forest, “his logic is sound, Aishwarya.”

  Aishwarya turned, her eyes flashing. “My formation has the highest win-ratio. If we follow my lead, no one gets injured."

  She turned towards Pari, "Your plan expects failure. Even if we go by your way and someone is wounded... how would they even be treated? We don't have a doctor.”

  “We do,” Pari replied, pointing toward Raksha.

  Aishwarya’s bow hand tensed. “She is a Mythic. You expect me to trust her with our lives?”

  “She saved one of our own already,” Pari countered. “She’s been studying the medicinal properties of Himalayan herbs under our Section D healer (Medicine lady). She is our field medic.”

  Aishwarya stepped into Pari’s space, her voice a low growl. “Then what is the fault in my teaming? Why break what works?”

  “Your teams are strong,” Pari met her gaze, “but you’ve left the camp vulnerable. The freshers staying behind have no Devotee to call for help. If they’re attacked while we’re deep in the woods, they’re dead before we even know there’s a fight.”

  The clearing went silent. Aishwarya looked around the circle. “How many of you agree with him?”

  Every hand in Section D went up in perfect unison.

  Sheetal and Nova shared a hesitant glance. They didn't want to defy their leader, but the truth was written in their eyes. Aishwarya saw it—the shift in loyalty toward the better strategy.

  She exhaled a sharp, frustrated breath and lowered her bow. “Fine,” she snapped. “We’ll do it your way. But if your plan fails because we split our strength and any of us dies, their blood is on your hands, Pari.”

  In the quiet of the forest, Section D prepared for the hunt.

  Pari donned his signature green suit, pulling on his ninja mask and testing the tension of his retractable gauntlet blades. Moonmask adjusted his gloves,mask and his classic black suit.

  Surya stepped forward, revealing his upgraded gear. His old mask had covered his hair and forehead, leaving his jaw exposed; the new design flipped the aesthetic. It covered the lower half of his face with a sleek, charcoal-black guard—a hybrid of Pari’s ninja style and Moonmask’s full-face cover—leaving his eyes and hair open to the wind.

  "Nice mask, Surya," Pari noted with a nod of approval.

  "Thanks," Surya replied, his voice slightly muffled but confident.

  Without another word, the joint sections split. The strategy was set:

  Team 1 (East):

  Team 2 (West):

  Team 3 (Center):

  They left Subha, Aaron, Varun Raksha, Nuvan and Rohan back at the camp.

  It is the early morning. The shadows of the night begin to fade, but the place remains dim and cloudy.

  As Team 3 trekked deeper into the Central Heart, Surya glanced at Sheetal.

  “I noticed that none of your team members wear a mask,” Surya said, glancing at the others as they trekked. “Is there a specific reason for that?”

  Sheetal paused, looking back at him with a skeptical arch of her brow. “That’s a weird question. Why would anyone want to hide behind a mask when they have a face this beautiful?”

  Surya blinked, unfazed. “But without masks, your identities are exposed to the Mythics. Is that really safe?”

  “It’s more than safe,” Sheetal replied, a cold smirk playing on her lips. “If the Mythics are going to die, they deserve the honor of seeing the face of the Mountain Angel before the end.”

  “Mountain Angel?” Surya tilted his head, genuinely confused. “Who is that?”

  “I’m talking about me, you idiot!” Sheetal shouted, her voice echoing through the silent pines.

  “Uh... sorry. I didn't realize,” Surya muttered, quickly looking away.

  Sheetal exhaled a frosty breath, her annoyance visible in the mist. “How old are you, anyway?”

  “Nineteen,” Surya replied.

  “And how old do you think I am?”

  Surya looked her up and down, considering the question with his usual seriousness. “Probably nineteen.”

  “Wrong!” Sheetal snapped. “Do I really look that old? I am exactly eighteen years and 447 days old.”

  Surya paused, doing the mental math. “Well... that’s mathematically nineteen.”

  “It is not—”

  “Guys!” Mona hissed, her hand flying to her temple. “Something big is coming. Fast. Get ready!”

  The bickering vanished instantly. Surya tightened the bandages on his wrists, heat beginning to shimmer off his skin like a desert mirage. Sheetal’s eyes began to glow with a piercing, glacial blue, the temperature around her dropping until the grass turned to brittle hoarfrost.

  A shape burst from a nearby bush, crashing through the undergrowth.

  “Freeze!” Sheetal cried.

  With a sharp flick of her wrist, a jagged wave of ice erupted from the earth, instantly encasing the target in a shimmering, crystalline prison. As the frost cleared, the team stood in a heavy silence.

  Surya lowered his guard, his eyes widening. “Wait... stop.”

  Sheetal blinked, the glow in her eyes fading as she realized what she’d caught. Trapped inside the ice was a terrified, motionless Sambar deer.

  She turned sharply to Mona. “What was that? You said something big was coming!”

  “Well, that deer is taller than me!” Mona defended herself, her voice high-pitched. “I didn't know! I thought it might be a Deer Titan or something!”

  “Who calls a four and half-foot deer a Titan?” Sheetal groaned, throwing her hands up.

  Vaishu stepped in, placing a calming hand on Sheetal’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Adrenaline is high, and the forest is playing tricks on us. Let’s just move on.”

  As they turned to leave, Surya walked toward the frozen animal. He placed his palm against the thick ice, and the veins in his arm began to glow a brilliant, molten yellow. Steam hissed violently as the intense heat from his hand melted the block in seconds.

  The deer, shivering but unharmed, scrambled to its feet and vanished into the darkness of the brush.

  "Let's move," Surya said, his voice low.

  Sheetal nodded, her usual fire replaced by a rare quiet as they continued their trek. After a few minutes of walking through the crunching leaves, she looked toward him.

  "Hey... Surya?"

  "Yes?"

  "Thanks for that," she murmured, referring to the deer.

  Surya gave a small, grounding nod. "You're welcome."

  "This isn't the first time I've... overreacted with my powers," Sheetal admitted, her eyes fixed on the path ahead.

  "That's okay," Surya replied. "Accidents are part and parcel of being a Vessel. We’re learning to hold a storm inside a glass jar."

  Sheetal looked at him, surprised by the metaphor. "You think so?"

  "I know so," Surya smiled faintly. "When I first ignited solar energy in my right hand, I ended up creating burn marks all over my Kartha’s favorite robes."

  "But... what if it hurts someone?" Sheetal asked. Her voice lacked its usual bite, and Surya instantly recognized the weight in her tone. She wasn't talking about clothes; she was talking about people.

  Surya’s expression softened. "That’s a heavy burden to carry. But doing something is always better than doing nothing. Your intention to save matters more than the mistakes you make while trying."

  Before Sheetal could respond, Vaishu stepped between them, her eyes darting from one to the other. "Hey! Look over there! Such a beautiful black bird chirping."

  They both looked up at the branch she was pointing at.

  "That’s a raven, Vaishu," Surya said flatly.

  "Yes... it is. But it’s beautiful, right?" she countered, her voice carrying a hint of defensiveness as she subtly maneuvered to break their conversation.

  As they continued to speak, Mona’s hand shot up, her fingers trembling. "Back off! Something big... it’s coming right for us!"

  Sheetal didn't even look up, a tired smirk on her face. "What is it this time? A boar?" she mocked.

  Mona’s face went pale. "Actually... yes."

  The ground didn't just vibrate; it groaned. A massive, dark shape tore through the thick underbrush, snapping ancient pines like toothpicks.

  "You were right," Vaishu whispered. "It is a boar. But..."

  "It’s huge," Sheetal finished, her glacial blue eyes widening.

  The creature skidded to a halt, its massive bulk casting a shadow that swallowed them whole. It stood eighteen feet tall, its hide scarred and matted with forest debris. Two curved, yellowed tusks—each the size of a man—protruded from its jaw, and its eyes burned with a cold, metallic grey.

  The Boar Titan lowered its head, its hooves digging deep into the Himalayan soil, preparing to charge.