Part 4: The Grind

  The next two weeks were the hardest of Arjun's life. Every morning, he meditated before dawn—reaching for the golden energy, learning to hold it longer each day. Every evening, after classes and work, he trained in the mindscape until his mind felt like it would split open. And in between, he fought.

  The second possessed avatar appeared on campus. Arjun was leaving from his evening classes, walking through the central courtyard, when his danger sense screamed again. He followed it to find a student—a young woman, eyes blazing purple— hunting for prey to catch. This time, he was better prepared.

  He charged in, using the techniques Garuda had drilled into him. Enhanced speed let him dodge the first wild swing. Enhanced strength let him block the second. And when he punched back, he did something new. He pushed. Not just with his fist—with wind. A concentrated gust exploded from his strike, and the possessed student crashed backward onto the ground.

  The dark energy flickered, weakened. Arjun pressed the attack. Another wind-enhanced blow. Another. The student fought back with unnatural ferocity, but Arjun was faster now. Smarter. A final gust—stronger than the others, a miniature gale—slammed the student into the wall. The purple glow died. The corruption fled. The student collapsed, sobbing.

  "What... what happened?" she wailed. "I couldn't control myself. I saw everything, but I couldn't stop!"

  Arjun knelt beside her, his voice gentle despite his hammering heart. "It's okay. It's over. You're safe now."

  "Who are you?"

  But campus security was approaching, and Arjun slipped away before he could answer.

  ---

  Three more encounters followed in the next two weeks.

  An office worker in the marketplace—possessed, violent, dangerous. Arjun put him down with a combination of enhanced strikes and wind bursts.

  A teenager in an alley near his apartment. A quick, brutal fight that left Arjun with cracked ribs, but the teenager was freed.

  And then—the worst one. A young mother in the park. She was standing over her own child, fist raised, eyes burning purple. The toddler was crying, confused, and not understanding why Mommy was hurting instead of hugging. Arjun moved faster than he'd ever moved in his life, propelling himself forward with wind blasts.

  The fight was brief. The mother was smaller and weaker than the others. But watching her struggle against the corruption—watching her try to stop herself even as her body moved against her will—That was something Arjun would never forget. When it was over, the mother collapsed to her knees, pulling her child into a desperate embrace.

  "My baby," she sobbed. "I almost... oh god, I almost..."

  "But you didn't." Arjun's voice was steady despite the trembling in his hands. "It's over. You're free."

  She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "Who are you?"

  He thought about the question. Thought about everything that had happened since that day in the temple.

  "Just someone trying to help," he said.

  And he walked away before anyone else could see him.

  ---

  Part 5: The Cost

  The physical toll was becoming impossible to hide. Dark circles carved permanent shadows beneath Arjun's eyes. His clothes hung looser on his frame—muscle hardening, but weight dropping from meals skipped and sleep sacrificed. Every morning, he catalogued new bruises, new cuts, new aches. But worse than the physical damage was the psychological weight. Five people possessed in three weeks. Five victims trapped in their own bodies, forced to hurt others against their will. And somewhere out there, something was causing it.

  *"Someone is orchestrating this,"* Garuda confirmed during one of their training sessions. *"The possessions are too frequent, too targeted. This isn't random."*

  "Who? Why?"

  *"I don't know."* Frustration edged the god's voice. *"The energy is masked. Ancient but hidden. But I feel... recognition. Like an old enemy glimpsed through fog."*

  "A demon?"

  *"Perhaps. Or something worse."*

  Arjun absorbed this in silence. Then: "Whoever's doing this is turning innocent people into weapons." Arjun's hands clenched. "That's... that's monstrous."

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  *"It is the way of dark powers. Corruption cares nothing for consent."*

  "I need to find out who's behind this. Stop them at the source."

  *"Agreed. But you're not strong enough yet. These possessed vessels are foot soldiers—pawns. Whoever commands them will be far more dangerous."*

  "Then I'll train harder."

  *"Your body has limits, Arjun. Push too far, and you will break."*

  "I'll be careful. But I can't just do nothing. Not when people are suffering."

  Garuda was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke again, something had shifted in his voice—something that might have been respect.

  *"Spoken like a true warrior."*

  ---

  Part 6: Priya's Concern

  The day after the park incident, Arjun had taken down another possessed; he limped home with a badly sprained ankle. He'd landed wrong during the fight, twisting it on the uneven ground. Nothing was broken, but every step sent pain shooting up his leg. He moved slowly, carefully, trying not to make it obvious.

  He failed.

  "Are you okay? You're limping." Priya stepped out of her apartment just as he reached his door. Her sharp eyes immediately locked onto his uneven gait, his careful movements.

  "I'm fine," Arjun said automatically. "Just... tripped."

  "You trip a lot." It wasn't a question. "You always have bruises. Cuts. Now you're limping." She stepped closer, concern overriding social boundaries. "Arjun, are you in trouble? Is someone hurting you?"

  "No! Nothing like that."

  "Then what?" Her voice was soft but insistent. "You can talk to me, you know. We're neighbours."

  Arjun wanted to tell her. The urge was overwhelming—to share this weight, to have someone who understood. But how could he explain? *Actually, Priya, a bird god lives in my head and I fight possessed people at night.*

  "It's complicated," he managed. "But I promise, I'm okay."

  She didn't believe him. He could see it in her eyes. But she didn't push.

  "Alright." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small tube. "At least take this. Antiseptic cream. For the cuts."

  Arjun accepted it, touched by the gesture. "Thank you."

  "We're neighbours," she said again. "We should look out for each other."

  She returned to her apartment, but paused at the door.

  "Arjun? When you're ready to talk... I'll listen."

  Then she was gone, and Arjun was alone with his secrets.

  ---

  Part 7: The Warning

  That night, in the mindscape, Garuda's demeanour was unusually grave.

  "Six possessions in three weeks," the god said. "The frequency is increasing. Whoever is behind this is escalating."

  "Were you able to sense anything more? Any hint of who—"

  "No. The energy is too well masked. But..." Garuda hesitated. "I know I’ve faced it before, I'm almost certain it's a Naga, though it could be any of my enemies"

  "A Naga? Enemies?" Arjun queried

  "Perhaps, Arjun. I am Garuda, King of Birds—I have warred with serpents since the dawn of my creation. I have made foes of demons and monsters and things that have no names."

  "That's... not reassuring."

  "It's not meant to be." Garuda fixed him with those burning eyes. "You are growing stronger. Your control improves daily. But you are not yet ready for what may come. If whoever is behind this decides to confront you directly..."

  "Then I'll fight."

  "And you'll lose. And you'll die." Garuda's voice was flat, certain. "I will not allow that."

  "Then help me train harder."

  "I am. But your body has limits that even I cannot overcome. Push too far, too fast, and you'll break yourself before any enemy has the chance."

  Arjun absorbed this in silence. The golden clouds drifted around them, peaceful despite the grim conversation.

  "I'll be careful," he said finally. "But I can't just do nothing. That's not who I am, that's not who Diya would want me to be."

  Garuda studied him for a long moment. "You truly mean that, don't you?"

  "Yes."

  "Even knowing it might kill you?"

  Arjun thought of Diya. Of her smile. Of the lessons she'd taught him about kindness and sacrifice.

  "Yes."

  Something shifted in Garuda's expression. Not quite a smile—He didn't smile frequently, not really—but something close. "Good," he said, "you are worthy after all."

  ---

  Part 8: Escalation

  Arjun woke from meditation to darkness. His small apartment was quiet, the city muffled beyond his window. Late night—well past midnight. He knew he should sleep; he felt his body begging for it. But he walked to the window instead, pressing his palm against the cool glass. The city sprawled before him, a tapestry of lights and shadows. Somewhere out there, people were sleeping. Working. Living their lives. Unaware of the darkness that walked among them. And somewhere out there, someone was pulling strings.

  "Didi," Arjun whispered, "I wish you could see this."

  The blue and gold threads were warm against his skin. Worn thin by years but still holding. Still keeping him connected.

  "I'm helping people. As you did, but it's harder than I thought. So much harder."

  He cracked open the window, a breeze stirred his hair—and for a moment, he imagined he could feel her presence. Watching. Proud.

  Then his danger sense exploded. Arjun staggered, clutching his head. The sensation was overwhelming—not one pull, not two, but many. Multiple sources of danger, scattered across the city like malevolent stars.

  *"Five,"* Garuda's voice was tight with alarm. *"No—SIX. All at once."*

  "Six people possessed?!"

  *"Yes. This is deliberate. Someone is making a move."*

  Arjun looked out the window. Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon—not natural weather, but something else. Something ominous. His hands trembled. Six possessed avatars. He'd barely survived fighting one at a time. But people were in danger.

  *"Arjun—"* Garuda began.

  "I have to go."

  *"You can't fight six of them!"*

  "I have to try." Arjun grabbed his jacket and shoved his feet into worn shoes. "Isn't that what you've been training me for?"

  Garuda was silent for a long moment. Then: *"Stay alive. That's an order."*

  "I'll do my best."

  Arjun threw open his door and ran into the night. Behind him, his small TV flickered on by itself—power surge, electrical glitch—and a news anchor's voice filled the empty apartment.

  "...breaking news over the past few nights, multiple violent incidents have been reported across the city. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors while they investigate what appears to be..."

  But Arjun was already gone, racing toward a confrontation that would change everything.

  ---