The Path of Control

Morning sunlight touched the rooftops of the village, painting everything golden. Birds were chirping softly, and the town looked peaceful. But inside Rudra’s heart, there was no peace at all.

Valmiki stood outside Rudra’s house with a serious face. He looked older today, like the weight of the universe was on his shoulders.

“Rudra,” he said, “from today, your training truly begins.”

Rudra nodded slowly. “I’m ready, Guruji.”

But inside, he wasn’t fully sure. His demon powers scared him. The voice inside his dream scared him even more.

Still, he followed Valmiki into the forest.

After walking for almost an hour, they reached a hidden place. It was an open area surrounded by giant trees. A small waterfall flowed beside them, filling the air with a soft sound. The ground glowed faintly with ancient symbols carved thousands of years ago.

Rudra looked around in surprise.

“What is this place?”

Valmiki replied, “This was once the training ground of ancient demon slayers. And now… it will be your training ground too.”

Rudra took a deep breath.

“So this is where I learn to control my powers.”

Valmiki shook his head.

“No. This is where you learn to control yourself. Power is only energy… but the real danger is when the mind becomes weak.”

Rudra remembered the dream.

The voice.

The darkness.

He shivered.

Valmiki noticed it. “The demon energy inside you is waking up faster than I expected. That means Aghori will move even faster. We must not waste time.”

“Sit,” Valmiki ordered.

Rudra sat cross-legged, facing the waterfall.

Valmiki drew symbols in the air. They glowed bright blue, gently floating down and forming a circle around Rudra.

“Close your eyes. Feel the demon power inside you. Don’t run from it. Don’t fear it. Just… listen.”

Rudra swallowed hard, then closed his eyes.

At first, nothing happened.

But slowly… heat began to rise inside his chest.

He heard a heartbeat.

Thump… thump… thump…

But it wasn’t his heartbeat.

It was deeper… louder… ancient.

Suddenly, black flames flickered around his arms.

He gasped.

Valmiki shouted, “Control your breath! Do not let the flames think you are afraid!”

Rudra tried. But the flames grew stronger. His hands turned red. His veins glowed.

Then a voice echoed inside his mind again:

“Let me out.”

Rudra clenched his teeth.

“No!”

The voice laughed.

“You cannot silence me. I am you.”

Rudra grabbed his head, shaking.

Valmiki quickly placed his palm on Rudra’s back.

“Rudra! Focus on my voice! Not the demon’s!”

Rudra tried harder. He breathed slowly… in and out… again and again.

Slowly, the flames began to shrink.

His heartbeat calmed.

The dark voice faded.

Finally, the flames vanished completely.

Rudra fell forward, breathing heavily.

Valmiki helped him sit up.

“You did well,” he said. “Better than I expected. But this is only the beginning.”

Rudra wiped sweat from his forehead. “Guruji… who is that voice?”

Valmiki looked serious.

“That is your demon form. Your inner spirit. If you don’t learn to control it, one day it will take over completely.”

Rudra felt cold inside.

Meanwhile…

Deep underground, in his dark cave, Aghori was laughing.

Black liquid splashed across the floor as giant monster pods cracked open one by one.

The creatures inside were huge—bigger than Kaalnemi. Their skin looked like thick armor. Their eyes glowed green like poison. Each monster had twisted horns and claws sharp enough to tear metal.

Aghori walked proudly between them.

“My children… born from darkness… born from my hatred…”

The monsters growled like hungry wild beasts.

Aghori raised his staff. “You will all serve one purpose—destroy Rudra Singha and bring me the power of Saktra!”

The monsters roared loudly.

Aghori pointed to a huge creature at the back. It stood taller than all the others, with a long tail and four burning eyes.

Its name was Duryodha.

Aghori smiled. “You will lead the attack soon.”

Duryodha growled deeply, the sound shaking the entire cave.

“Your time will come,” Aghori whispered. “But not yet. First I need… more soldiers.”

He placed his hand into the cauldron again, letting its black magic travel through his veins.

He screamed in pain—but smiled with madness.

“Soon… Rudra… soon I will crush your destiny.”

Back at the sacred ground, Rudra stood up slowly.

“That meditation… felt like fighting a monster inside me.”

Valmiki nodded. “The demon inside you is powerful. But you can win. You must.”

He pointed toward a stone pillar nearby.

“Your next lesson is physical control. Use your demon power—not by transforming fully, but only a small part.”

Rudra blinked. “Like… half transformation?”

“Yes.”

Rudra gulped. “I’ll try.”

He stretched his hand toward the stone pillar. He tried to summon just a little flame.

At first, nothing.

Then a small spark.

Then more.

A tiny flame appeared on his palm.

He smiled. “I did it!”

But the flame suddenly grew bigger—

“R-Rudra! Control it!”

Rudra tried… but the fire burst out of control. It hit the pillar and exploded, blasting the entire pillar into pieces.

BOOM!

Dust flew everywhere.

Rudra coughed and waved his hand. “Oops… sorry…”

Valmiki sighed. “We have a lot more work to do.”

Rudra scratched his head nervously. “You think I can really control this power?”

Valmiki smiled softly. “I believe in you. That is why I choose to train you.”

Rudra felt warm inside. His courage slowly returned.

As the sun began to set, Rudra stood by the waterfall quietly.

He thought about his town.

His father.

His friends.

Hiroshi, who still didn’t understand cricket.

And the bracelet… the one that had protected him since childhood… now broken.

Rudra clenched his fists.

“I will not let Aghori hurt anyone. I will control my power. No matter how hard it is.”

Valmiki walked up beside him.

“Good. Because soon… monsters will attack again.”

Rudra turned sharply. “Already?”

Valmiki nodded. “Yes. Aghori is creating an army.”

Rudra’s heart pounded.

“So we have to be ready.”

“Yes,” Valmiki said calmly. “And we will be.”

Rudra looked at the sky.

“Tomorrow… we train harder.”

Valmiki smiled.

“That’s the spirit.”

While Rudra and Valmiki walked back toward the village, something moved in the darkness of the forest.

Something huge.

Its glowing green eyes watched Rudra carefully.

It was one of Aghori’s new monsters.

It whispered in a deep, rumbling voice…

“Found you… Rudra…”

The creature turned and disappeared into the night, heading back to its master with the news.

A war was coming again.

But this time, it would be bigger than before.

And Rudra had to be ready.

No matter what.