"The Rise of Kaalnemi, the Devourer of Souls"

The forest had never felt so alive—yet so close to death. The sky above churned with black clouds, swirling unnaturally, reacting to the clash of ancient powers below. Flames rose from Agni’s wings, crackling fiercely as he fought beside Valmiki. The ground beneath them trembled, unable to bear the weight of their unleashed energies.

Aghori stood opposite them, his eyes glowing with a crimson rage. Dark smoke curled around his body, rising like twisted serpents eager to strike.

“Valmiki… Rudra… you both think you can stand against me?” he growled, stretching his arms wide. “Let me show you the true depth of my power!”

Agni tightened his fists, flames pulsing violently around him. “I’m not afraid of you, Aghori!”

Valmiki raised his staff. “Rudra, stay alert. He’s preparing something dangerous.”

Aghori’s expression darkened. He slammed his palms together and began chanting in a deep, ancient tongue. The air cracked like shattered glass. The trees around them bent backward, succumbing to the sheer force of his spell.

Suddenly, the ground behind Aghori split open with a deafening roar.

A foul smell crawled out of the darkness, thick and suffocating.

Agni stepped back. “What is that…?”

From the gaping chasm emerged a towering creature—its body made of shadowy bones wrapped in smoky flesh. Its eyes burned like purple embers, and its mouth held rows of jagged, obsidian teeth. Spikes protruded from its back, dripping dark liquid that hissed when it touched the ground.

Valmiki’s eyes widened in horror. “Impossible… that creature… it cannot exist in this realm!”

Aghori’s lips curved into a wicked smile.
“Welcome, my loyal servant… Kaalnemi, Devourer of Souls.”

The monster roared—a sound so deep it shook every leaf and stone in the forest. Kaalnemi bowed slightly to Aghori.

“Master…” its voice echoed like a thousand whispers layered together. “Whose soul should I consume first?”

Agni felt his flames flicker. Even his fire seemed afraid.

Aghori pointed toward Agni and Valmiki.

“Kill them both.”

Kaalnemi moved with terrifying speed. His skeletal claws slashed through the air, creating shockwaves that threw Agni backwards. Agni crashed into a tree, splintering it instantly.

“Rudra!” Valmiki shouted.

Agni stood weakly, flames dimming for a moment. “I-I’m okay…”

Kaalnemi roared again, and the dark spikes on his back shot forward like arrows. Valmiki struck his staff into the ground, forming a barrier of golden light. The spikes shattered against the shield, leaving vibrating cracks.

Valmiki gasped. “His power… it rivals Aghori’s!”

Aghori laughed loudly. “Kaalnemi is born from pure dark energy. No mortal, no Sadhu, no demon can match him!”

Agni wiped blood from his lip. “We’ll see about that!”

He ignited his wings and launched himself at Kaalnemi. A trail of blazing fire followed him. Agni landed a punch square on the monster’s face, causing a burst of flame that engulfed them both.

But when the fire faded… Kaalnemi stood unaffected.

The monster’s purple eyes glowed. “Your flames… are delicious.”

Before Agni could react, Kaalnemi grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Agni struggled, kicking wildly. Kaalnemi opened his jaw wide, releasing a swirling vortex of dark energy.

Valmiki shouted, “Rudra! He’s trying to drain your life force!”

Agni felt his strength fading as the monstrous energy pulled at his soul.

“Aghhh—Valmiki! Help!” he choked.

Valmiki lifted his staff and shouted a mantra that lit the sky in golden brilliance. A beam of light shot from the staff and struck Kaalnemi directly in the chest. The monster stumbled backward, dropping Agni.

Agni fell to the ground gasping for air as flames returned to his body.

Valmiki rushed to his side. “Rudra, are you able to fight?”

Agni clenched his fists, eyes burning fiercely. “I won’t stop… not until Aghori is defeated!”

But Aghori wasn’t idle. His hands moved rapidly, weaving dark symbols in the air. The forest began to decay around him—trees withered, soil turned black, and life drained from everything nearby.

Valmiki turned pale. “He’s performing the Rakt-Aksha ritual… Rudra, if he completes it, Kaalnemi’s power will multiply!”

Agni pushed himself to his feet. “Then we stop him now!”

Kaalnemi roared and charged at them again. Valmiki struck the ground, creating a vine-wall of enchanted trees. Kaalnemi smashed through them with brute strength.

Agni dashed forward, fire bursting from his legs, and tackled the monster. They rolled across the ground, exchanging blows—fiery fists clashing with dark claws.

Kaalnemi slashed Agni’s arm, leaving a deep wound. Agni cried out but retaliated with a blast of fire straight to the monster’s face.

Still, Kaalnemi didn’t stop.

Valmiki faced Aghori. “I will not let you complete that ritual!”

Aghori’s eyes were wild. “Try if you dare!”

The two former friends clashed—Valmiki’s golden light against Aghori’s black storm. Sparks of magic scattered across the battlefield like stars falling from the sky.

Agni, bleeding and exhausted, continued battling Kaalnemi. Every punch he landed was met with greater resistance. Kaalnemi seemed to grow stronger with every moment.

Agni panted, “Why… why isn’t he getting hurt?”

Kaalnemi laughed, a chilling sound. “I absorb your power, child. Every flame fuels my strength.”

Agni’s eyes widened. “Then… I won’t use fire.”

He closed his eyes, focusing deeply. The flames around him dimmed. Kaalnemi charged, expecting heat—but Agni suddenly vanished.

He reappeared behind the monster and kicked him with pure physical force. Kaalnemi stumbled.

“No flames now,” Agni said coldly.

He punched again, then again, landing rapid blows before Kaalnemi could adjust. The monster roared in frustration as Agni delivered a powerful knee strike to its jaw.

But suddenly—

Kaalnemi’s tail, sharp like a spear, whipped around and stabbed Agni in the side.

“AHHH!” Agni screamed, collapsing to one knee.

Valmiki turned, terrified. “RUDRA!”

Aghori grinned. “Yes… bleed, child of fire.”

Kaalnemi lifted Agni from the ground again, preparing to tear him apart.

Valmiki cried out, “No! Release him!”

But Aghori held Valmiki back with a wave of dark energy.

Kaalnemi opened his massive jaws.

Agni felt darkness swallowing him.

But then…

A tiny spark of flame flickered in his palm.

His voice trembled. “I said… NO more flames…”

Suddenly—

The spark exploded into a massive burst of white fire—
a flame Agni had never produced before.

Kaalnemi screamed, dropping Agni as the holy fire spread across his body.

Aghori’s eyes widened in terror. “That flame—NO! That is Divya-Agni, the sacred fire!”

Kaalnemi staggered backward, roaring in pain.

Agni stood, body shining with white-gold flames, eyes glowing brighter than ever.

“This is a flame you cannot absorb,” he said fiercely.
“This flame exists to destroy evil.”

Valmiki whispered, “Rudra… you have awakened the Sacred Fire.”

Aghori shouted, “Kaalnemi! Destroy him NOW!”

The monster charged again, but Agni countered with a blazing punch that split the air like thunder.

The white flames consumed Kaalnemi’s chest.

The battle of monstrous darkness and divine fire had begun —
and the jungle trembled under the fury of Kaalnemi vs. the awakened Agni.