Chapter 32 Manas With Lord Shani.

Manas lay on the barren, cracked land, his vision blurred and his body trembling with exhaustion. The once-vivid aura of his power had dimmed, and every inch of him ached from the grueling battle. Dust and smoke from their clash swirled in the air, painting a grim scene of desolation.

Kaelan approached him slowly, her shadow stretching ominously over his fallen form. Her confident laughter echoed across the wasteland, cutting through the eerie silence. Her dark mist swirled around her, forming a crown-like shape above her head, as if to signify her dominion over the moment.

"This is the end, little boy," Kaelan sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. She crouched slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto his weakened frame. "You gave me a good fight, I'll admit. More than I expected from someone so... fragile. But it wasn't enough, was it? You're just a speck of light trying to survive in the shadows. And now, your story ends."

Kaelan extended her hand, her dark energy coiling around her fingers like living serpents. "But don't worry," she added with a malicious grin. "Your sacrifice won't be in vain. These two rings of yours—they'll serve a far greater purpose in my hands than in yours. I'll use their power to reshape this world. Darkness will reign, and none of these pathetic towns will dare defy me again."

Manas tried to move, tried to push himself up, but his arms buckled under his weight. His body screamed in protest, yet his mind was sharper than ever. Despite the overwhelming pain, he refused to give in. His breath was ragged, but his resolve burned fiercely in his chest.

Kaelan stepped closer, now looming directly over him. Her smile widened as she raised her hand, a dark blade materializing in her grasp, its edge pulsing with malevolent energy. "You've become a nuisance, Manas," she said, her voice colder now. "And nuisances... must be eliminated. So let's end this. Once and for all."

The blade descended, aimed directly at his chest.

But just as it was about to strike, a faint glow emerged from Manas's body—the Power Ring and Zephyrion reacting in unison. The glow intensified, a surge of wind and golden light bursting outward, forcing Kaelan to step back momentarily.

Manas, his voice weak but filled with determination, whispered, "I... am not done yet."

Kaelan's eyes narrowed, her irritation evident. "Still clinging to hope, are we?" she mocked. "It's pointless, boy! Just accept your fate!"

But within Manas, a storm was brewing. Zephyrion's voice echoed in his mind, calm yet powerful: "Manas, the fight is not over. Rise. Your strength lies in your spirit, not just your body. Use the power we've entrusted to you!"

The Power Ring chimed in, its tone sharper, almost commanding: "Prove yourself, boy. Show me you are worthy of wielding me. Do not falter now."

With a guttural roar, Manas summoned every ounce of his remaining energy. The golden shield around him expanded, the wind swirling into a vortex that lifted him off the ground. His body, though battered, was infused with new vigor. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of determination and defiance as he locked gazes with Kaelan.

"You want the rings?" Manas said, his voice steady now despite the pain. "You'll have to take them from me... if you can."

Kaelan's grin faltered slightly, replaced by a flicker of unease. "Foolish to the end," she muttered. "Fine. Let's see if you have anything left." She lunged forward, her blade aiming to pierce through his defense.

Manas, drawing on the combined power of the rings, raised his hands. "Garudastra!" he shouted, his voice reverberating like thunder. The eagle-shaped wind avatar reappeared, larger and more radiant than before. This time, its form was solid, its eyes blazing with unyielding fury.

Kaelan hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to retreat. But before she could react, the Garudastra dove toward her with unparalleled speed, engulfing her in a storm of wind and golden light. The force of the attack shattered the dark mist around her, exposing her to the full brunt of its power.

Kaelan screamed as the Garudastra collided with her, the impact creating a massive shockwave that shook the entire wasteland. When the light faded, she was on one knee, her body trembling and her dark blade shattered. She glared at Manas, hatred burning in her eyes, but her voice betrayed her exhaustion. "This... isn't... over,"

Manas collapsed to his knees, his strength spent but his spirit unbroken. The rings' glow dimmed, and the battlefield was silent once more. Though battered and bruised, he had stood his ground—and won. For now.

The winds of the wasteland howled ominously as Kaelan stood, her body partially healed by her dark recovery magic. Shadows writhed around her form like living tendrils, and her crimson eyes blazed with fury. She glared at Manas, who remained on his knees, eyes half-closed, unable to muster the strength to rise. Her voice, venomous and dripping with malice, echoed through the barren land.

"You thought you had won?" she spat, her tone seething with disdain. "Pathetic boy. You barely understand the power you wield, yet you dare challenge me? Now, you'll pay the ultimate price. I'll make sure you never stand again."

Kaelan raised her hand, summoning the immense force of her signature move. The air itself seemed to tremble as she shouted, "Black Hole Slash!"

A massive, crescent-shaped wave of darkness erupted from her blade, its edges crackling with shadowy energy that devoured everything in its path. The ground beneath it scorched, and the air grew cold as it hurtled toward Manas with unstoppable force.

Manas opened his weary eyes, seeing the enormous attack bearing down on him. His body refused to move, and his mind raced with despair. He thought of his journey, his friends, and the rings entrusted to him. Is this how it ends? he wondered, closing his eyes in resignation as the attack neared.

The darkness roared closer, and Kaelan's triumphant laughter echoed through the wasteland. But just as the devastating strike was about to reach Manas, a resonant sound like a thunderclap filled the air, and the attack stopped mid-flight. A sharp metallic clang reverberated, and the black energy shattered like glass, dissipating into harmless wisps.

Manas's eyes shot open in shock. Standing before him was a tall, imposing figure cloaked in an aura of authority and power. His presence radiated an unshakable calm, yet carried a weight that made even the fierce Kaelan pause.

In his hand was a scepter—a black, ornate weapon that pulsed with an otherworldly energy. The staff's surface seemed to absorb the surrounding light, its dark aura coiling like smoke around its length. The stranger stood firm, his posture regal and unmoved by Kaelan's attack. He turned his head slightly, and Manas's heart skipped a beat.

"Master Rudra?" Manas whispered, his voice barely audible.

The man's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. His sharp features and commanding presence seemed far removed from the gentle mentor Manas had known, yet the resemblance was undeniable. His eyes, however, were different—glowing faintly with a cosmic energy, as though they held the weight of the universe itself.

Kaelan's eyes narrowed, and she took a cautious step back. "Who are you?" she demanded, her tone laced with both anger and unease. "And why do you interfere?"

The man chuckled softly, the sound deep and resonant. "Interfere? Oh, Kaelan, you should know better." His voice carried a weight that made the very ground seem to steady beneath him. "This boy is under my protection. And you..." He raised the scepter, pointing it directly at her. "You've overstayed your welcome."

Kaelan's expression twisted with fury. "Do you think I fear you? Whoever you are, I'll—"

Before she could finish, the man took a step forward, and the aura surrounding him flared. The scepter pulsed once, and Kaelan was forced to stagger back, her confidence faltering.

"You will not touch him again," the man said, his voice firm yet calm. "Leave now, or face the consequences."

Kaelan clenched her fists, her pride preventing her from retreating. "This isn't over," she hissed, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. She vanished into the shadows, leaving the battlefield behind but not without one final glare at Manas and his enigmatic protector.

As the wasteland fell silent once more, the man turned to Manas, his stern expression softening slightly. He extended a hand, helping the young warrior to his feet. Manas, still in disbelief, stared at him.

"Master Rudra...?" he asked again, his voice filled with confusion.

The man smiled faintly, his aura of mystery still palpable. "Yes, Manas. But there's more to me than you've known. You've done well to come this far, but your journey is far from over."

Manas's mind raced. The scepter, the aura, the immense power—this wasn't just Master Rudra. This was someone far beyond anything he had imagined. Lord Shani. The name echoed in his mind, but he dared not speak it.

For now, all he could do was nod, his heart filled with questions and awe as the figure he once called his master stood before him, a silent guardian in the face of darkness.