Battle Inside the Mind

Dust swirled around the broken street. Pieces of stones lay scattered everywhere. The wind felt heavy, like the entire world was holding its breath.

Valmiki lay on the ground, weak and injured. His staff was just out of reach. Blood ran down his forehead. His hands shook. Still, he looked up bravely.

Above him stood Jinnah, no longer controlled by Rudra.
His eyes glowed dark red.
His claws shone like sharp metal.
His breath came out like fire.

He raised his hand, ready to strike.

“Rudra…” Valmiki whispered, almost breathless, “please… come back.”

But Rudra’s voice was lost deep inside the monster.

Inside the demon’s mind, Rudra found himself standing in a dark world. There was no ground, no sky, no sun. Only black smoke everywhere.

He called out, “Hello?! Anyone here?!”

His voice echoed like he was trapped in a cave.

A deep laugh echoed behind him.

“Little boy… welcome to my home.”

Rudra turned and saw Jinnah—but this Jinnah was even larger, scarier, and darker than the one outside. His eyes burned like fire.

Rudra took a step back. “This… this is inside my mind?!”

Jinnah smiled. “Yes. And here… I am stronger.”

Rudra clenched his fists. “I won’t let you hurt Valmiki!”

Jinnah’s eyes narrowed. “You have no choice. You called me. You asked for my power. Now you want to control me?”

Rudra shouted, “YES!”

Jinnah walked closer slowly, each step shaking the dark ground.
“You are too soft. Too emotional. Too human. You hesitate. I do not. That is why I must take over.”

Rudra swallowed nervously. “No! This is MY body!”

Jinnah roared. “NOT ANYMORE!”

He rushed forward and attacked. Rudra barely jumped aside.

A long scratch mark appeared on the dark ground, glowing with fire.

Rudra looked down at his hands—they were still human. Weak. Small.

“How am I supposed to fight him?!” he whispered.

But he knew one thing:

He must try.

Outside, Jinnah prepared to strike Valmiki with a killing blow.

Valmiki whispered a spell quickly, drawing a small glowing circle with his finger.

A weak transparent barrier formed just before Jinnah’s claws hit.

CRACK!

The barrier cracked immediately.

Valmiki’s body trembled. “Rudra… return… come back, child…”

Jinnah roared, “HE IS MINE!”

He slammed the barrier again.

CRACK… CRACK…

The shield was almost gone.

Valmiki looked up at the sky. “If I die… let it be while saving him.”

He pressed his hands together and muttered a stronger spell.

His aura flared one last time.

Rudra ran through the dark world, Jinnah chasing behind him like a hungry tiger.

Jinnah roared, “You cannot run from me!”

Rudra jumped over black flames and dodged claws that sliced through the air.

Finally, Rudra stopped running.

He turned around, breathing heavily. “I’m done running!”

Jinnah smirked. “Good. It will be easier.”

Rudra remembered something Valmiki had once told him:

“Your heart is your greatest weapon. Even demons fear a strong heart.”

Rudra placed his hand on his chest.

“I’m not scared anymore.”

Jinnah snarled, “Then die bravely!”

He charged again.

Rudra dodged left, then right, then jumped. He punched Jinnah’s face—Jinnah barely flinched but looked surprised.

“You… hit me?”

Rudra smirked. “Yeah. And I’m not done.”

He punched again. And again.
But Jinnah grabbed his arm.

“Child, you cannot win with strength.”

He threw Rudra across the dark space.

Rudra crashed hard and groaned in pain.

Jinnah walked forward slowly. “Your fear… your anger… your sadness… they feed me. And you, Rudra, are full of emotions.”

Rudra looked up, face dirty, body bruised.

“But emotions are not weakness,” he said softly. “They make us human.”

Jinnah froze for a moment.

Rudra stood. “And humans… don’t give up.”

Outside, Valmiki used the last drop of his energy. His hands glowed bright white.

Jinnah was inches away, claws raised.

“STOP!” Valmiki shouted.

A bright blast pushed Jinnah back slightly—but Valmiki collapsed to his knees.

He had no more strength left.

Jinnah stood tall again and growled, “You’re finished, old man.”

He rushed forward, claws ready.

Valmiki closed his eyes.

“Rudra… please… return.”

Jinnah punched Rudra again. Rudra fell. He stood. Jinnah punched harder. Rudra fell again. He stood again.

Jinnah growled, “Why do you keep getting up?!”

Rudra wiped his bleeding lip.

“Because… Valmiki needs me.”

Jinnah snarled, “No one needs you! You only bring pain!”

Rudra shook his head. “Valmiki never gave up on me. So I won’t give up on him!”

His bracelet glowed faintly inside the dark mind space.

Rudra closed his eyes and whispered:

“Please… help me… help me save him…”

Suddenly the darkness around him trembled.

A voice, soft and ancient, whispered:

“Rudra… courage is your true power.”

A warm light wrapped around Rudra.

His clothes changed. His body glowed.

He stood taller. Stronger.

A new symbol shined on his chest—the symbol of the true holder of Saktra.

Jinnah stepped back slightly. “What is this?!”

Rudra clenched his glowing fist. “This is MY world. MY body. MY power.”

Jinnah growled and charged.

Rudra charged too.

This time, they were equal.

Inside the mind, Rudra and Jinnah clashed with massive force.

Outside, Jinnah’s body trembled as the demon’s control weakened.

Valmiki looked up weakly. “Rudra… is that you…?”

Jinnah roared as Rudra punched him in the mind-world, breaking a piece of the demon’s armor.

“This ends… NOW!” Rudra shouted.

He gathered all his energy, all his courage, all his love for his mentor, and punched Jinnah with a burst of light.

BOOOOOOM!

The dark world cracked.

Jinnah screamed as he was pushed back, dissolving into black smoke.

“Noooo! I am not done! I will return! You cannot lock me away forever!”

His voice faded.

The darkness faded.

Light filled Rudra’s vision.

In the real world—

Jinnah’s body froze.

His red eyes flickered.

The dark aura disappeared.

Slowly… painfully… Jinnah transformed back into Rudra.

The claws disappeared.
The red eyes faded.
The black skin changed back to normal.

Rudra fell to his knees, exhausted, breathing heavily.

He whispered, “Valmiki… sir…”

Valmiki smiled weakly. “Good… job… Rudra…”

Rudra crawled toward him. “I’m sorry… I lost control… I almost—”

Valmiki raised a shaking hand and touched Rudra’s head gently.

“You came back… that is what matters.”

Rudra’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry…”

Valmiki smiled softly. “A true hero… is not the one who never falls… but the one who always stands again.”

Rudra hugged him carefully.

The war was over… for now.

But a darker future was coming.

And both of them knew it.