Chapter 8: Bhool-Bhulaiyaa ke Raaz

Chakra Abyss Village abhi bhi Shadow Clan ke attack ke baad ke asar ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha. Riku apne Sensei aur Kaien ke sath ek emergency council meeting ke liye Sky Citadel jaane ki tayyari kar rahe the. Lekin unka andar ka shadow aur bhi unstable hota ja raha tha.

Sky Citadel Mein Pravesh

Sky Citadel ke bridges clouds ke beech tair rahe the. Yeh jagah ek divine aur advanced city lagti thi—roshni ke beams, floating towers, aur energy-powered pathways ne pure region ko ek ethereal look diya tha. Riku is environment ko admire karte hain, lekin unka andar ka tension aur bhi badhta ja raha tha. Sensei ko bhi ye pata tha ki unka "Seal of Prophecy" Sky Citadel ke leaders ke liye ek badi mystery banne wala hai.

Council Tower ke andar leaders ne Varnath the Obsidian aur Shadow Clan ke future plans par charcha shuru ki:

Council Elder: "Shadow Clan ka asli aim Ethereal Seal ko capture karna hai. Agar unka plan successful hota hai toh Swargam ka Chakra Stream puri tarah unka control mein aa jayega."

Kaien: "Lekin kya humare paas unke spies ko trace karne ka koi way hai?"

Tabhi ek loud voice room mein gunjti hai.

Elder: "Varnath ke spies humare andar hi chhupe hue hain. Humein ek powerful warrior ki zarurat hai jo unke plans ko disrupt kare—aur woh Riku ho sakte hain."

Riku shook ho jaate hain:

Riku: "Main? Mujhe toh khud apne andar ka balance nahi samajh aa raha. Main aapke liye kaise fight kar sakta hoon?"

Shinro: "Riku, tumhare andar ki shakti rare hai. Par iski asli power samajhne ke liye tumhe Chakra Peaks ke hidden tomb mein jaana hoga aur apne core ki sahi strength ko unlock karna hoga."

Chakra Peaks Ki Bhool-Bhulaiyaa

Council ke permission ke baad, Riku aur Kaien Chakra Peaks ke ek hidden pathway mein enter karte hain jise Obscure Path of Trials kaha jaata hai. Yeh ek dangerous maze hai jo sirf un warriors ke liye banaya gaya hai jo Divya-level shakti ki taraf badhna chahte hain. Har turn aur corner pe shadows ka ek alag roop hota hai, aur har mistake par ek chakra-draining trap trigger hota hai.

Riku ke andar ki shadow shakti maze ke environment ke saath react karne lagti hai. Kaien ko yeh realize hota hai ki Riku ke andar jo curse hai, woh is maze ke traps ko neutralize kar raha hai, jo ek abnormal cheez thi.

Kaien: "Riku, tumhare andar ek darkness hai jo maze ke rules ko tod rahi hai. Tumhe yeh control karna hoga, warna tumhara chakra collapse kar jayega!"

Riku: "Lekin mujhe yeh samajh nahi aa raha ki meri shakti mujhe control kar rahi hai ya main usse."

Kael Ki Vaapsi

Maze ke beech, ek dark corner se Kael the Silent Blade reappear karta hai. Woh directly Riku ko target karta hai, lekin is baar woh zyada aggressive aur confident lag raha hai.

Kael: "Harbinger, tumhara curse tumhe Swargam ke liye ek threat banayega. Tum jitna maze ke andar jaoge, utna hi apne destruction ke kareeb aaoge."

Riku apni Flame Strike Technique use karte hain, lekin Kael ka black mist defense usse absorb kar leta hai. Kaien aur Kael ke beech ek fierce sword battle shuru hoti hai, lekin Kael ki speed aur power dominant dikhai deti hai. Riku apne andar ki shakti ka ek raw surge feel karte hain aur woh ek Shadow Burst Attack accidental trigger karte hain, jo Kael ke barriers ko tod deta hai. Kael pehli baar retreat karta hai, lekin woh ek cryptic warning chhodta hai:

Kael: "Tum apne shadow aur light ke beech ka balance nahi samajh paoge, Harbinger. Tumhari shakti tumhe ya toh hero banayegi ya Swargam ka sabse bada villain."

Cliffhanger

Maze ke aakhri part mein Riku aur Kaien ek mysterious door ke samne pahuchte hain, jisme ek inscription likha hota hai:

"Jo apne andar ke light aur shadow ka balance samajhta hai, wahi is darwaze ko paar kar sakta hai."

Riku ek intense inner conflict feel karte hain, jab unki shadows aur flames ek hi saath unke haath pe activate hone lagte hain. Kya woh apne andar ka balance samajh payenge ya darwaza unke liye bandh rahega?