A Whisper in the Dark Can Shake a Throne

Three days had passed since Priyanshu defeated Ravindra in the courtyard.

But the ripples of that moment were still spreading across the empire like cracks on thin ice.

What seemed like a minor spar had become the center of countless rumors.

In the markets, people whispered.

"In a single touch, the royal bloodline user collapsed."

"They say the boy had silver eyes—just for a second."

"The flames bent around him, like they were scared."

In the palaces, elders debated.

"That technique isn't from any known sect."

"His spiritual pressure was distorted. Ancient. Forbidden."

And in the underworld, where power didn't care about fairness, leaders were suddenly alert.

"Track him. Study him. Or kill him before he rises."

But Priyanshu didn't care.

He had already moved on to the next phase of his plan.

Because while others argued about how strong he might be, he was quietly becoming stronger.

Not by training.

Not by pills.

But by peeling back the truth of his own past.

And preparing for the war only he could see coming.

—

Inside the hidden chamber of his base, Priyanshu stared at a massive black map painted on the wall. It wasn't an ordinary map. It didn't show kingdoms or trade routes.

It showed power flow.

Lines of spiritual influence. Points of unrest. Symbols representing factions and forces unknown to even the best intelligence networks.

And today, a new symbol had appeared.

A red circle pulsing in the far west.

He pressed his hand to it. The system responded instantly.

[Alert: Hidden Bloodline Temple Detected – Location: Ruins of Vaati Hills]

[Note: Contains Second Thread of Primordial Serpent Lineage – Sealed]

[Warning: Area Cursed. Entry Conditions: Kill the Guardian of Silence]

A slow smile formed on Priyanshu's face.

"So… the second thread reveals itself."

Anaya stood behind him, arms crossed. "You plan to go alone?"

"Yes."

"It could be a trap."

"I hope it is."

Zarek stepped in. "We just broke the royal heir. The empire is watching. If you vanish, they'll think you're plotting something big."

"I am."

He turned.

"Send decoys to the northern cities. Let them make noise. I'll move west under a false identity."

Tanya entered with a scroll. "Your new cover name is ready. You'll be known as Aresh, a wandering talisman scholar."

"Perfect," Priyanshu said. "Let the world chase ghosts, while I touch legends."

—

Two nights later, under the cover of a raging thunderstorm, Priyanshu rode a spirit beast through the narrow mountain paths of the Vaati region.

The land here was cold, cracked, and haunted by forgotten wars.

No towns nearby.

No light.

Only silence.

He reached the ruins just past midnight.

Massive stones lay broken across the ground like the bones of giants. What had once been a grand temple was now a field of shadows and broken memories.

But the energy was real.

Thick.

Dark.

Alive.

He stepped forward. The system rang in his mind.

[You are being watched.]

He smiled.

"I know."

A figure rose from the cracked ground. Tall. Thin. Face covered in wrinkled bandages. No eyes, no mouth. But an aura that screamed death.

[Guardian of Silence – Rank: ???]

[Challenge Condition: Do not speak. One word = instant defeat.]

Priyanshu exhaled slowly.

So that's what this was.

A battle of silence.

He stepped into the circle carved in the stones.

The Guardian raised its hand.

And the fight began.

It wasn't flashy.

No fireballs.

No sword clashes.

It was shadows twisting like blades. Wind slicing like whips. Energy colliding in a soundless storm.

Priyanshu moved with perfect control.

Dodging.

Countering.

Not a word escaped his lips.

Not even when the Guardian's attack slashed across his ribs.

Not when his shoulder cracked under pressure.

He simply fought.

Eyes focused.

Heart still.

Mind sharp.

And then—an opening.

The Guardian raised its hand again for a final strike.

But Priyanshu was already inside its guard.

He placed his hand against the Guardian's chest.

The pulse of his bloodline surged.

A silver glow burst from his palm.

The Guardian stopped.

For a second, time froze.

Then the Guardian slowly knelt.

Not dead.

But bowing.

Acknowledging.

Accepting.

The system rang again.

[Challenge Complete. You did not speak.]

[Second Thread Awakened.]

[Primordial Serpent Lineage – Phase Two Unlocked.]

[New Ability: Memory Leech – Temporarily extract memories from spiritual objects or living beings.]

Priyanshu staggered slightly. Power flooded his body.

Not raw strength.

But awareness.

The temple floor lit up. Symbols long buried began to glow. The walls whispered names he didn't recognize.

And one message carved into the center stone burned into his mind:

"He who carries the second thread must never kneel, never trust, and never forget."

He turned, breathing deeply.

The Guardian faded into dust.

The ruins became still again.

But something had changed.

In him.

Around him.

Every star above him seemed to blink slower, as if the world itself now recognized his presence.

He didn't smile.

He didn't cheer.

He simply walked away.

Because he was not done.

Not yet.

—

Back in the empire, panic had begun to rise.

Reports from the northern cities were conflicting.

One claimed Priyanshu had joined a sect in the Icy Mountains.

Another said he was seen buying slaves in the southern ports.

A third insisted he had entered seclusion in the Western Desert.

But none were true.

And that scared the people in power more than anything else.

"He's invisible," one elder snapped.

"No," another replied grimly. "He's a mirror. And we don't like what we're seeing."

—

That evening, Priyanshu returned quietly to his base.

Tanya was waiting.

"You're injured."

"I'm alive."

He walked past her and into the war room.

Pulled out a new map.

Marked a new spot.

The Southern Graveyard of Titans.

The location of the third thread.

Anaya stepped in with fresh bandages. "When will you rest?"

Priyanshu didn't look at her.

"When they start forgetting my name."

She stared at him for a long time.

"You know… there's something terrifying about the way you chase silence, Priyanshu."

He turned slowly.

"It's because silence is honest. You can't lie in it."

He sat down, eyes on the candlelight.

"And I'm done with lies."

Far away, in a royal palace drenched in luxury and pride, the Emperor's third son held a sealed scroll sent by a spy.

He opened it.

Read it.

Paused.

Then looked at his advisor.

"Prepare everything. We can't delay anymore."

"Why?"

The prince's voice was cold.

"Because the boy with the silver eyes is moving again."