52. The Return of Destruction

Ruchi screamed, "Nooo!" She was frustrated following the order from the divine land. Moreover this was not the only reason for her to behave in this way and go against the entire land.

She spoke," it doesn't matter, but whatever happens I will surely protect Sambh at any extent." She looked so confident in saving Sambh since they had passed through life and death together.

Trikanth rose to his feet, his expression dark with rage. "How dare you disobey the orders of the divine..."

Ruchi also stood from her place and walked towards him," i can go to any extent to save him. i hope we don't need to fight against each other." She looked at the eyes of Trikanth which had turned red with frustration.

Before he could finish, his mouth froze mid-sentence, and his eyes became motionless. A deep, guttural voice escaped from his lips, though they did not move.

"He has revived… destruction is inevitable now."

A violent cough shattered the silence as Sage Sandh suddenly vomited blood. His hands trembled as he clutched his chest. "The barrier… it's broken," he gasped, his voice hoarse.

"The entire city… it's being hunted by ghosts. He is coming."

Ruchi's heart pounded. "Who is he?" she demanded.

But before anyone could answer, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. A dark, jelly-like substance slithered across the floor behind her, shifting unnaturally as if it had a mind of its own. Her eyes widened as she followed its path—straight into Sambh's body.

Her breath hitched. "This creature…" she whispered.

"I've seen it before. In the underworld. And on Cannibal Island… when we retrieved the Mirror of Fate."

Trikanth's face twisted in horror. "What? You brought back the Mirror of Fate?"

Ruchi's jaw tightened. "Yes. It's inside Sambh's body."

Trikanth took a step back, his voice laced with panic. "Oh no… that explains everything. That's why we received the order to kill him. He—he's the perfect vessel. The souls… they will all revive through him!"

The realization struck like lightning. Ruchi's eyes flickered toward Sambh's still body, his form now covered in the inky, pulsing darkness.

Trikanth turned abruptly. "I must inform the divine land before it's too late!"

But before he could move, Sambh's eyes shot open. A deep, hollow gaze replaced his once-familiar expression. His body convulsed as thick, shadowy tendrils shot from his back, snaking through the air like living chains.

With a flick of his wrist, the tendrils lashed out, wrapping around Ruchi, Trikanth, and Sage Sandh, lifting them high into the air. They struggled, but the grip was unbreakable.

Suddenly, the tunnel beneath them collapsed, and they were hurled out into the open.

Smoke and fire filled the air. Screams echoed through the burning streets. The city was engulfed in chaos. Buildings crumbled, their golden walls reduced to rubble. Dark, nightmarish creatures prowled the streets, slaughtering everyone in their path.

Sambh hovered above the destruction, his voice a deep, unnatural growl. "Who will protect you now?"

Ruchi gritted her teeth. "I will."

Without hesitation, she summoned her power, and in an instant, blinding white light burst from her body. The dark tendrils holding them shattered into nothingness, freeing her, Trikanth, and Sage Sandh.

Trikanth's eyes widened in shock. "She was hiding her strength all this time?"

Sambh's gaze darkened. "It's rare to see someone who can absorb energy directly from nature."

The sky shifted. The thick, suffocating darkness thinned, giving way to streaks of radiant gold. Sambh hissed in pain as the light burned into his skin.

Ruchi raised her hand. From the heavens, a wand materialized in her grasp, glowing with divine energy.

Sambh let out a feral snarl. With a single motion, he shot high into the sky and launched himself toward her.

Ruchi stood her ground. She pointed her wand, and a burst of power erupted from it, slamming into him.

Sambh let out a guttural scream as pain rippled through his body. He staggered midair, eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you hurt me again?!"

He retaliated, summoning all his strength, but something was wrong. His power—once unstoppable—was fading.

His eyes flickered with uncertainty. "No…" he whispered. "Why…?"

At that moment, a rustling sound came from below. Leaves twisted unnaturally in the wind before launching toward them like deadly knives.

Ruchi's senses sharpened. "Sam."

She turned, spotting a figure emerging from the shadows.

She didn't hesitate. With a powerful strike, she sent a shockwave crashing toward him. Sam was thrown back violently, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

"You won't escape this time," Ruchi declared. Her eyes burned with determination.

"I made a mistake by letting you live before. This time, I will end it."

Sam smirked, wiping blood from his lip. Instead of attacking, he walked straight toward Sambh. He knelt before him, bowing his head.

"Welcome back, Your Highness," he murmured.

Sambh's body trembled, his breathing ragged. But as Sam reached into his robe and pulled out a golden spear, something changed.

Sambh's expression shifted. The rage, the agony, the hunger—it all melted away into something more… aware. His fingers wrapped around the golden spear. He exhaled sharply, his grip tightening.

"Tell me," he said, his voice colder than ice. "How do I kill her?"

Sam grinned. "She can only be killed by her own wand."

Ruchi's heart stopped. For the first time in ages, a flicker of doubt crossed her face. A loud, triumphant boom echoed in the distance.

Ruchi turned, and in that instant, her chariot descended from the heavens, gleaming like molten gold. She climbed onto it, the wheels burning with divine energy. She soared into the sky, circling above them.

Below, the dark creatures faltered, their movements sluggish under the force of her power. The wounded on the battlefield stirred as a golden aura surrounded them, healing their injuries.

The city began to change. Light spread across the ruins, pushing back the darkness. Sambh gritted his teeth, his body trembling as the golden spear in his hand pulsed violently.

Ruchi's voice carried through the sky, resolute and unwavering. But this time, only one of them would survive.