Only V

Chapter 21 - Mist uncovered

Avyan looked around, his heart pounding in his chest, but nothing changed. Nothing happened. Kanghis stood at a long distance, smiling smugly as Avyan tried to make sense of the situation. The eerie calm was unnerving.

"Think, Avyan. Think!" he muttered under his breath, scanning the area in desperation. His eyes darted around, searching for any signs of an impending attack. His gaze landed on Anirudh, lying on the ground, a pool of blood spreading around him. Panic surged through Avyan. "No, not Anirudh!".

He bolted towards his fallen friend, but the ground began to rattle violently. The bodies of the undead, the rubble, the stones, even the leaves, everything was shaking, creating a haunting symphony of rattling sounds.

Avyan stumbled back, his eyes wide with horror as he turned to Kanghis. He was bent over, hands clutching his head. The rattling seemed to emanate from him. Blood began to flow rapidly within Kanghis, his body swelling, muscles bulging, and skin shedding to reveal armour-like metallic scales underneath. He shouted aggressively as his muscles grew double in size, and the bands around his hands exploded from the sheer pressure

Avyan's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe what he saw in front of him. He wondered, "What is happening? It looks like he is evolving. What should I do?". He sprinted towards Anirudh and picked up his friend's broken hammer. "Why is this so heavy?" he grunted, struggling to lift it. He pointed it towards the monstrous Kanghis, bracing himself for whatever came next.

Kanghis laughed maniacally, the sound echoing ominously. "It's a shame your friend couldn't see my perfect form," he sneered. "I am a little disappointed. He was interesting." He then turned his piercing gaze on Avyan. "You, on the other hand, are useless. A weakling."

Avyan's heart sank. The words stung, piercing through his confidence. "I know," he wailed, tears streaming down his face. "I know I'm a weakling, but I have to do this." He looked up at Kanghis, determination hardening his features. "I have to try."

In that moment, something shifted within Avyan. He felt a new energy surge from deep inside him. His feet trembled with fear, but his heart was resolute. "I must flow, just like an endless river," he thought, embracing the metaphor. The words of his grandpa echoed in his mind, reminding him of the strength he held within.

He charged at Kanghis, his speed noticeably faster than before. He shouted, a battle cry filled with raw emotion and newfound determination. Kanghis's smile faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. Avyan swung the hammer with all his might. Kanghis blocked it with one hand and threw a punch with the other.

Avyan anticipated the move. He leaped onto Kanghis's arm, using the momentum to rotate in mid-air, landing a powerful kick directly on Kanghis's face. The force of the kick made Kanghis stumble, his balance faltering.

Seizing the opportunity, Avyan swung the hammer again, this time aiming for Kanghis's back. The blow was so powerful that the ground beneath Kanghis cracked, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

Kanghis lay on the ground, his colossal form heaving with exertion. Avyan knew this was his chance—his only chance. Summoning every ounce of strength, he lifted the hammer high above his head, his muscles straining with the effort. The new power surging within him fuelled his resolve. He roared, a primal sound that echoed through the desolate, hollow buildings around them. The hammer began its descent, aimed directly at Kanghis's head.

Just as the hammer was about to make contact, Kanghis vanished in a blinding flash. Avyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "No, not again!" he thought desperately. He could feel Kanghis behind him, but before he could react, a devastating punch landed squarely on his back. The force of the blow sent him hurtling forward, skidding across the ground, and crashing into a bus stand. The impact created a crater, but it also brought him to a jarring halt.