Valmiki's Last Stand

The battlefield was silent for a moment. Only the wind moved, carrying dust, broken leaves, and the smell of fire. Valmiki stood weakly, his legs shaking. His clothes were torn, his hands trembling, and blood dripped down the side of his mouth.

Across from him, the terrifying demon form Vaitarak slowly approached. Each step felt like thunder. The earth cracked beneath his feet. His shadow-wings spread wider, like a giant creature ready to swallow the light.

“Rudra… you must return…” Valmiki whispered. His voice was soft, but full of sadness.

But Vaitarak was no longer listening.

His glowing golden eyes were wild.
His body pulsed with black and red energy.
His claws scraped the ground, sending sparks flying.

There was no friendliness left in him.
No memory.
Only hunger.
Only destruction.

Valmiki inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes for a moment and pressed his palms together.

“I did not want to fight you, Rudra,” he said softly. “But if I don’t stop this form… the world may burn.”

Vaitarak let out a low growl, a monstrous rumble that shook the surrounding trees.

And then—

He launched forward like a lightning bolt.

Valmiki barely had time to react.
He raised his hand and formed a bright shield of pure golden light.

Vaitarak’s claw hit the shield and the impact exploded like a bomb.
The blast pushed Valmiki back several steps.

Before he could recover, Vaitarak leaped again.
This time he swung both claws toward Valmiki’s chest.

Valmiki moved like a flash of white light, dodging left, then right, then jumping back.
But Vaitarak was too fast.

The demon’s claw grazed Valmiki’s shoulder, slicing a deep cut. Blood sprayed across the ground.

Valmiki winced but forced himself to stay calm.

“Steady your mind… steady your breath…” he whispered to himself.

He pointed two fingers forward.
A beam of golden light shot directly at Vaitarak’s chest.

The blast hit Vaitarak and pushed him backward… but only for a second.

Vaitarak roared and slammed both fists into the earth.
A massive wave of black-red energy burst outward, ripping the ground open.

Valmiki jumped into the air to avoid the shockwave, but even in the air, he wasn’t safe.

Vaitarak shot upward like a black arrow, claws stretched forward, eyes burning bright.

Valmiki formed another shield, but this time Vaitarak broke through it like glass.
He grabbed Valmiki by the ankle and swung him down, smashing him into the ground.

The earth cracked.

Valmiki gasped in pain.

Vaitarak landed beside him, growling like a beast.

Valmiki slowly stood up again. His legs shook, but he did not fall. His eyes were full of determination, not fear.

He lifted his hand toward Vaitarak and softly said:

“Rudra… I know you are in there.”

For a moment, Vaitarak’s movement stopped.

A soft voice—Rudra’s voice—echoed from deep inside the monster:

“Val… Valmiki… run… I can’t… hold him…”

Vaitarak violently shook his head, as if fighting with himself.

Then he roared, louder than before, and charged again with burning claws.

Valmiki dodged, forming defensive barriers one after another.
But Vaitarak shattered them all.

Claws slashed the air.
Light exploded.
The forest trembled.

Valmiki’s breathing grew heavier.
The battle was turning against him.

Vaitarak slammed a fist into Valmiki’s stomach, sending him flying into a broken wall. He collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.

His vision blurred.
His body felt numb.

Still, he placed his palm on the earth.

“I did not wish to use this… but I must.”

Lines of glowing Sanskrit symbols spread out around Valmiki like a halo.
The symbols floated upward, spinning in circles.

A calm, ancient power awakened.

It was not violent.
It was not destructive.
It felt like warm sunlight after a storm.

Valmiki stood up slowly.
His eyes glowed white.

The ground beneath him shined.

Vaitarak rushed toward him again like a meteor.

But this time, Valmiki lifted his hand—

And the Sanskrit symbols shot forward, forming chains of pure light.

The chains wrapped around Vaitarak’s arms, chest, and legs, stopping him mid-charge.

Vaitarak roared in anger and tried to break free, but the chains tightened, glowing brighter.

“Rudra… listen to me. You are stronger than this demon,” Valmiki said, voice firm and loud. “Fight him! Fight the darkness!”

Vaitarak trembled.
The red cracks on his body flickered.
The golden eyes glitched, almost turning back to Rudra’s normal eyes.

But the monster fought back.

“NO!” Vaitarak roared. “I AM THE TRUE POWER! HE IS MINE!”

The chains began to crack.

Valmiki pushed more energy, veins bulging in his neck. “Rudra… Don’t give up!”

For a moment, Vaitarak froze.
And out from the monster’s mouth, Rudra’s voice cried:

“Help… me…”

Valmiki almost smiled.

But then—

The cracks on Vaitarak’s body burst open like fire erupting from inside a volcano.

The chains of light shattered into dust.

Before Valmiki could react, Vaitarak appeared right in front of him.

He grabbed Valmiki by the face and slammed him into the ground.

Valmiki gasped, choking.
The monster climbed on top of him and raised both claws high in the air.

The claws glowed red.

One strike would kill him.

Valmiki looked up at the monster with sad eyes.
He still did not hate Rudra.
He still believed in him.

“Rudra… I forgive you. No matter what happens.”

Vaitarak roared and brought the claws down—

But Valmiki moved his hand just in time and created a small but powerful barrier over his chest.

The claws hit the barrier.

The impact made the ground explode, but the barrier held for a moment.

Valmiki pushed the monster off with one final burst of light and rolled away, gasping for air.

He stood again, but barely.

Both men—
the sage of light
and the demon of darkness—
faced each other.

Both were exhausted.
Both were hurting.
Both were fighting for control—one of the battle, one of himself.

Valmiki closed his eyes and whispered to himself:

“If this continues… Rudra may die. I must save him… even if it costs me everything.”

He placed his hands together.

A circle of golden fire appeared beneath his feet.

This was an ancient spell.
A forbidden spell.
A spell that could separate a soul from a monster form…
But only by sacrificing the caster’s energy.

If Valmiki used this, he could die.

He breathed deeply and whispered:

“Forgive me, Rudra. This is the only way.”

The golden fire rose upward like a pillar of light.

Vaitarak roared and rushed toward it, trying to stop the spell.

Valmiki lifted his arms, shouting:

“DIVINE SOUL BREAK SEAL!”

A massive explosion of light consumed everything.

The land shook.
The trees bent.
The night sky ripped open.

Vaitarak screamed, the sound full of pain and fury.

Valmiki cried out as his strength left his body.

The light swallowed both of them—

And then…

Silence.

Smoke drifted everywhere.
Rocks were scattered.
The ground was torn apart.

Valmiki fell to his knees, weak as a dying candle.

He looked ahead.

The monstrous form Vaitarak was still standing… but weakened.

The red cracks on his body dimmed.

His golden eyes flickered.

Inside the monster, Rudra’s voice whispered weakly:

“Valmiki… why… did you risk your life… for me?”

Valmiki smiled softly.

“Because… you are my student. And I believe… you will return.”

But Vaitarak growled angrily, fighting for control again.

He stepped forward—