Eklavya’s eyes were barely open. His breathing was shallow, chest rising and falling with difficulty as the last remnants of soul power pulsed weakly through his veins. The air around him still trembled with lingering aftershocks of the battle, dust settling over the bodies like a thin shroud. The metallic scent of blood clung heavily to the wind. Anshvi stepped over the last corpse and hurried to his side, dropping to her knees without any hesitation.

  Her palm cupped his jaw gently as she slipped a pill into his mouth. He swallowed automatically, even in his half-faded state, trusting her without question. She watched him sit cross-legged, sweat lining his forehead, veins faintly glowing with the fading light of borrowed soul power. One-fourth of the first unsealed layer had been consumed. A dangerous amount. And the only way to refill that layer was through soul herbs or soul stones—both were extremely rare and precious in this region.

  Time passed slowly as the pill did its work. The faint tremble in his hands eased, the pale tint left his lips, and his breathing steadied. When he finally rose, his movements were firm again, though a ghost of exhaustion still lingered in his eyes. His gaze scanned the battlefield. Every attacker was dead—every one except one man. A grandmaster-realm warrior, lying a short distance away, he was barely clinging to life with desperate and rattling breaths. Eklavya approached him, the crunch of dried leaves under his boots the only sound in the silent forest. The man’s upper abdomen was torn open, blood pooled beneath him as he struggled to speak.

  Eklavya crouched beside him, his voice calm but icy. “Who sent you here to attack us?”

  The man coughed and blood sprayed his chin. His eyes lost their focus, drifting toward the canopy as if he were already stepping into another world. “Since… I am already going to die… I will tell you.” His voice shook. “It was… the clan leader of Marwah. He ordered us… to kill you… and take mine.” His fingers twitched weakly. By his clothing—simple and cheap cloth bound with leather straps—it was clear he wasn’t from any clan.

  Eklavya rose and dusted his hands. “Marwah… Neewansh.” He turned to Jai, who had just reached toward them, his weapon still drawn. “Tell dad about this. And tell him it was done by Neewansh.”

  He walked toward Anshvi, who was already standing a few steps ahead with her arms crossed, waiting for him with that fierce calm she always wore after a fight. Jai glanced between the two of them with a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Young master… who is she? I need to inform the clan leader, so…”

  Eklavya didn’t miss the teasing in his tone. “AAAH! She is my friend, Anshvi.”

  Anshvi turned slightly at the sound of her name, her lips curving, but she didn’t comment.

  Eklavya spoke before leaving. “Tell my father I will return tomorrow evening.”

  Jai’s smirk widened into a grin. “Okay, young master…. have a good day.” His tone was too cheerful and too suggestive.

  Eklavya sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Anshvi bit back a smile, amused by his reaction. With that, they set off deeper into the forest.

  They walked for hours, the sun climbing high above the trees, filtering down through dense green branches in scattered golden rays. The forest grew thicker, more humid, but neither complained. Beasts lunged from brush and shadows—first-tier beasts, second-tier with thicker hides, even hulking third-tier creatures with sharp bone armor.

  Eklavya handled the first tier swiftly, blades cutting through fur and flesh with clean efficiency. Anshvi, however, dealt with second and third-tier beasts alone. She moved with a dancer’s precision and a predator’s ruthlessness, weapon flashed like silver lightning, cutting down beasts whose strength rivaled Master warriors. Watching her fight was like watching a wild blade spirit unleashed.

  When the sun finally dipped and moonlight poured across the forest floor like an icy river, they reached a place. A towering ancient tree stretched upward like a pillar piercing the heavens, its roots thick as walls, sinking deep into the earth. Around its enormous trunk, hundreds of herbs glowed faintly as the moonlight touched them. Blue, green, violet, and silvery petals lit up the forest floor like a field of stars scattered across the earth. Soft, shimmering light filled the air, ethereal and serene.

  Anshvi breathed out softly. “We’re close. Just a little further.”

  Their destination lay only a hundred meters ahead, hidden under dense grass and thick bushes, where rarer herbs—the ones with spiritual potency—were said to grow.

  But before they could take even ten steps, a shadow fell across the moonlit clearing. A low growl rumbled like distant thunder. The ground trembled as something massive stepped out from behind a line of boulders.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  A Two-Snake-Tailed Lion. Fourth-tier beast—high tier. Its golden mane shimmered, but its eyes were feral, deep red. Two long serpent tails writhed behind it, each hissing with venomous malice. Its muscles were corded and thick, its presence was suffocating.

  A beast of this level could slaughter a Grandmaster. And this one was close to breaking into fifth-tier—nearing the strength of Spirit warriors.

  Anshvi’s grip tightened around her spear. She didn’t hesitate for a second. She shot forward, her spear slicing through the air

  —but the lion was too fast.

  One claw slammed into her mid-leap. The impact was so violent she crashed into a tree, the trunk cracking open like splintering stone. Leaves rained down. She staggered but stood again, blood trailing down her lip. Her eyes shone, not with fear, but with fierce determination.

  Eklavya didn’t think anything. He made hand signs and borrowed the soul power from the real token which was in his sea of consciousness. Immediately, a burst of Ki surged from his body. It came out like a pulse—like a shockwave—rippling through the air. His irises flashed a bright, unnatural blue, glowing like the eyes of an awakened ancient. Power roared through him, cold and scorching at the same time.

  They moved together. Anshvi from the front. Eklavya from the back.

  The lion roared seeing them. The sound shook the entire clearing, blowing leaves off branches and cracking small stones. Both were sent skidding back from the shockwave alone, feet digging trenches in the soil. They lunged forward again.

  Anshvi reached first. Her spear thrust forward, the sound slicing through the air. The blade bit into the lion’s shoulder, piercing deep. Blood sprayed, dark and thick. But the beast twisted, a serpent tail lashing out faster than lightning.

  She blocked the serpent with her spear shaft but the force of the strike cracked the wood and sent her flying sideways, tumbling across the ground.

  Eklavya didn’t waste the opening that she created. He sprinted up the lion’s hind leg, his blade drawn and steps were light as shadows. He slashed down hard on one of the tails, slicing halfway through. The tail writhed violently, spraying venomous blood.

  The lion roared in agony, spinning with terrifying speed. Its jaws snapped shut just inches from Eklavya’s head as he rolled aside. One claw raked across his arm, tearing flesh open and leaving a deep red wound. He hissed in pain but didn’t falter.

  Anshvi charged again. Her spear plunged into the beast’s side, twisting with ruthless force. Her eyes burned—not just in focus but in something fiercer. Something that surfaced only when Eklavya was in danger.

  The lion rammed its entire body weight into her, knocking the breath out of her lungs. She slammed into the earth, dirt flying, but she didn’t let go of the spear. She pushed upward, driving it deeper into the beast’s rib-cage.

  The beast let out a sound between a shriek and a roar, staggering as its blood poured like rivers. Eklavya used that moment. He jumped high, landing between both snake tails, green blade glowing faintly with the borrowed soul power.

  He brought the sword down with all his strength. The steel cut cleanly through the thick, bone-reinforced tail, severing it in one devastating strike.

  The beast roared again—enraged. Its remaining tail lashed out, striking Eklavya across the chest and sending him flying. He rolled across the ground, coughing blood as he forced himself upright. His vision blurred, colours fading at the edges.

  Anshvi pulled herself up too, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down her jaw. “We end it,” she growled, voice rough and low. He nodded once, his eyes burning blue. “Together.”

  They charged together.

  The beast lunged with the fury of a cornered king. Beast claws tore through earth. Jaws snapped like crushing steel. The serpent tail hissed, spitting venom that sizzled on the ground like acid.

  Anshvi dodged under its bite, rolling and stabbing upward. Her spear pierced the lion’s throat, blood spraying over her arm. The beast gagged, fury blazing hotter.

  Eklavya ran up its leg again, blade slicing along its spine, carving deep lines until bone showed. He leapt off the back as the lion tried to crush him under its weight.

  Both moved with savage desperation, each strike were fueled by instinct and sheer will. The lion lashed out one final time, claws sweeping in a wide arc.

  Eklavya ducked and Anshvi blocked—barely. The impact jolted her arm numb.

  Then, in perfect synchronisation, they delivered the killing blows. Her spear thrust into its heart. His blade stabbed into its skull.

  The lion convulsed violently. Blood gushed from its wounds as it staggered, its limbs trembling. With a final, earth-shaking collapse and then it fell. Silence blanketed the clearing.

  Eklavya staggered backward, his chest raised sharply as he gasped for breath. Anshvi caught his arm before he could fall. Her hand trembled slightly, but her voice was soft, surprisingly gentle. “You okay?”

  He nodded, wiping blood from his lip. “You?”

  Her smirk was tired but warm. “I am fine as—” Her words cut off as her eyes rolled back. Exhaustion overtook her, and she collapsed, falling unconscious in his arms.

  He caught her carefully, lowering her to the ground, thumb brushing dirt off her cheek. He turned toward the lion’s corpse, intending to store it and then carry her somewhere safe—

  —but a voice echoed from the trees, smooth and cold.

  “Well, well… impressive.”

  Eklavya spun instantly, his body screamed in warning though he was far too exhausted to fight again.

  Five men stepped out from the darkness. Their silhouettes moved like predators, their auras heavy and dangerous. Each of them carried the confidence of someone who had killed far too many times. Their eyes gleamed with interest.

  They had been watching the entire fight.

  And none of them were friendly.