The 17th day of war had begun, but in the shadows of the battlefield, a different battle was about to take place. The battlefield raged with blood, steel, and aura clashing, yet none of it compared to the silence that filled the cold corridors of Manav's stronghold.
Arhaan moved carefully, his breath slow, his footsteps light as a feather. He had been here before—this fortress, this place of power that belonged to the man who had manipulated and crushed entire empires without lifting a single weapon.
Manav.
The name itself sent a chill through Arhaan's spine. He knew that this wasn't just any mission. This was **his final mission**.
The night before, Arhaan had received a **mysterious call**.
A distorted voice had whispered through the communicator.
**"You know what must be done."**
Arhaan clenched his fists. "Why me?"
**"Because you are the only one who can get close enough."**
There was truth in that. Arhaan had spent years studying the movements of every Goodie Hunter. He knew how their security operated, how their systems worked.
**But this was different.** This was **Manav.**
And Manav was **never predictable.**
The voice continued. **"Kill him. If you hesitate, you die."**
Silence. Then a final warning.
**"This is your last chance to prove your loyalty to Vinay."**
The line went dead.
Now, Arhaan stood inside Manav's fortress. He had successfully infiltrated the first few layers of security. He moved through the stone hallways, his heart pounding, but his aura was controlled. He knew that **any sign of weakness could alert Manav.**
A few guards patrolled the hallways, but they were nothing to him. With a swift movement, he neutralized them—silent, clean, efficient.
He finally reached the **main chamber**.
The place where **Manav was waiting.**
Inside the chamber, Manav sat at his desk. His expression was unreadable, as always.
Without even looking up, he spoke.
**"You're late."**
Arhaan froze. His fingers trembled over the hilt of his blade.
**How?**
How did Manav know?
Manav finally looked at him, his cold, calculating eyes piercing through the silence.
**"You've been sent to kill me."**
Arhaan didn't answer.
Manav leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His voice remained calm. **Too calm.**
**"Who sent you?"**
Arhaan swallowed. He wanted to speak, but no words came out.
**"Vinay?"** Manav smirked. "No, this doesn't seem like Vinay's style."
Arhaan gritted his teeth. Manav was already **inside his mind**, twisting his thoughts, poisoning his resolve.
He **rushed forward**, drawing his sword.
But before his blade could even reach Manav—
**SLASH!**
A sharp pain tore through his shoulder.
Arhaan gasped, stumbling backward.
**There was no one else in the room.**
And yet, he had been **cut.**
Manav still sat there, not moving. His eyes narrowed slightly.
**"Did you really think you could kill me?"**
Blood dripped from Arhaan's wound. His breathing became unsteady.
Arhaan fell to one knee. The weight of the war, the deaths, the betrayals—everything crashed onto him at once.
He had fought his own allies. He had lost friends. He had abandoned his beliefs.
And for what?
For a war that had no end?
His mind raced back to **Rudra.**
Rudra had seen this mission. He had seen Arhaan **walk toward his doom.**
And yet, **he had done nothing.**
Because Rudra understood something that Arhaan **did not.**
**This war was bigger than any of them.**
And Manav—
Manav had **already won.**
Manav stood up. His shadow loomed over Arhaan like a specter.
**"You were never going to kill me."**
Arhaan's fingers trembled. He could still fight. He could still try.
But deep down, he knew.
He had already lost.
Manav sighed, walking past him.
**"I won't kill you."**
Arhaan's breath hitched.
**"But they will."**
A sudden **sharp pain** pierced his chest.
His vision blurred.
His knees buckled.
He looked down.
A **sword** had been driven through his stomach.
And behind him stood—
**A shadowed figure.**
The same voice from the call whispered in his ear.
**"You failed."**
Blood dripped from Arhaan's mouth. His vision darkened.
Manav turned back, watching as Arhaan collapsed. His expression never changed.
No anger. No sadness. No sympathy.
Just **cold indifference.**
**"War isn't about strength."**
He turned and walked away.
**"It's about knowing when you've already lost."**
And as the darkness consumed Arhaan's vision, he realized—
**Manav had played him from the start.**
And now, he was nothing more than a forgotten pawn.