The Shattering of Vaitarak

The battlefield was covered in dust, smoke, and broken trees. The golden light from Valmiki’s spell still floated in the air like glowing dust. The ground was cracked in every direction.

Valmiki knelt on one knee, breathing heavily. His body trembled. He had used almost all of his power. His vision was blurry, and his hands shook uncontrollably.

In front of him stood Vaitarak — Rudra’s monstrous form — still struggling between two forces:
the monster’s hunger and Rudra’s human heart.

Vaitarak let out a low growl. His body flickered, like two souls were fighting inside him. One moment, darkness controlled him. The next moment, Rudra’s voice tried to break through.

“Val… Valmiki… stay away…” Rudra’s voice came faintly from within the monster.

Valmiki wiped blood from his lips and whispered, “Rudra… I won’t leave you.”

The monster roared and slammed a foot into the ground, creating a shockwave that pushed Valmiki back. The sage rolled on the dirt and coughed.

Vaitarak’s golden eyes turned blood red again.

The darkness was winning.

Vaitarak raised his massive clawed hands, black flames swirling around him.

WHOOMM!

The black fire spread like waves, forming a giant burning circle around the monster.

Valmiki’s eyes widened.

“This… is the Demon Circle Fire…” he whispered. “If he releases this… the entire forest will burn.”

Vaitarak crouched down, preparing to launch the attack.

Valmiki forced himself to stand. His legs wobbled.

“Sanskrit Seal… Divine Lines… Rise…” he whispered.

Golden symbols appeared under his feet — but flickered and disappeared.

His power was too weak.

Vaitarak jumped high into the air, spinning with flames around his body.
He aimed straight for Valmiki.

“NO ESCAPE!” the monster roared.

Valmiki braced himself.

But suddenly—

A voice echoed through the air:

“STOP!!!”

A shockwave of wind blasted between them.

Vaitarak halted in mid-air, as if something grabbed him.
He twisted and roared wildly.

Valmiki looked around. “Who…?”

A figure ran through the smoke.

A small, thin figure…

It was Hiroshi.

Hiroshi stood in front of Valmiki, breathing hard. His clothes were torn, and his face was dirty from running through the forest.

“Valmiki-ji… I found you…” he said, trying to catch his breath.

Valmiki was shocked.
“Hiroshi? Why are you here?”

Hiroshi looked scared, but his eyes were brave.

“I… I followed Rudra after school yesterday. I saw him disappear into light. I knew something was wrong… so I came.”

Valmiki grabbed Hiroshi’s arm in fear.

“You shouldn’t have come! This is dangerous!”

But Hiroshi shook his head.

“I won’t leave my friend!”

Before Valmiki could answer—

Vaitarak roared so loudly that the air vibrated.

He landed on the ground, smashing it into pieces.

His eyes were fixed on Hiroshi now.

A new target.
A weaker target.

Valmiki stepped forward, but he was too slow.

Vaitarak charged like a beast.

“Hiroshi, RUN!” Valmiki shouted.

But Hiroshi didn’t run.
His legs froze.
He was terrified.

Vaitarak’s claws rose—

And the monster attacked.

Just as the claws were about to hit Hiroshi—

Something happened.

Vaitarak stopped.

Completely stopped.

His claws trembled.

His eyes flickered rapidly between red and gold.

Inside the monster… Rudra’s voice screamed:

“NO!!! DON’T HURT HIM!!! THAT’S MY FRIEND!!!”

Vaitarak stumbled backward, clutching his own head like he was in terrible pain.

Valmiki’s eyes widened.

“Rudra! Yes! Fight it!”

Hiroshi fell to the ground, shaking, but unharmed.

Vaitarak roared, slamming his claws into the dirt.

“STOP… TALKING… RUDRA!” the monster growled in two voices.

Rudra’s voice fought back:

“I WON’T LET YOU CONTROL ME!”

Vaitarak grabbed his chest, the cracks of glowing red light flashing again.

Then something incredible happened:

A faint silhouette appeared around the monster’s body.

A human silhouette.

Rudra’s spirit.

Valmiki whispered, “He’s pushing out… he’s resisting…”

Rudra’s spirit looked at Valmiki with weak, desperate eyes.

“Help… me…”

Then the spirit was pulled back inside violently.

Vaitarak screamed in fury, shaking the forest.

Hiroshi grabbed Valmiki’s arm.

“What do we do?!”

Valmiki took a deep breath.

“There is only one way left… we must break the bracelet’s control forcefully.”

Valmiki raised both hands.
Golden strings of light rose from the earth and wrapped around his arms.

He shouted:

“SOUL SEPARATION SEAL — FINAL FORM!”

Hiroshi covered his ears.
The spell sounded like thunder as the very sky split open.

Vaitarak charged at them head-first.

Valmiki shot golden chains at the monster. The chains wrapped around Vaitarak’s arms, chest, and neck.

The monster roared, pulling against them, his muscles bulging.

But Valmiki shouted louder:

“RUDRA! LISTEN TO ME! COME BACK!”

Vaitarak froze.

Rudra’s voice answered:

“I… I’m trying…”

Valmiki pushed the magic harder.
His hands bled.
His eyes turned completely white.
His body glowed with golden flame.

The ground shook as if the world was ripping apart.

Inside Vaitarak, the human silhouette appeared again — stronger this time.

Rudra shouted:

“VALMIKI! BREAK THE BRACELET!”

Valmiki roared with all his strength:

“BREAK!”

Golden lightning struck Vaitarak.

The monster screamed.

The bracelet on Rudra’s wrist glowed brightly—

Then—

CRACK!

It shattered into pieces.

And the monster exploded in a wave of white light.

The forest went silent.

The smoke slowly cleared.

Hiroshi opened his eyes.

“Valmiki-ji…? Rudra…?”

Valmiki fell to the ground, exhausted, barely conscious.

A small figure appeared in the smoke…

A boy…

Rudra.

He lay on the ground, normal again, breathing weak but alive. His clothes were torn and burnt, but he was human once more.

Hiroshi ran to him.

“RUDRA!!! WAKE UP!”

Rudra slowly opened his eyes.

“Hiroshi…? Valmiki…? What… happened?”

Valmiki smiled weakly.

“You returned… my boy…”

Rudra sat up slowly.

“Did I… hurt you?”

Valmiki shook his head.

“You tried, but you fought back. You saved Hiroshi. You saved yourself.”

But before the moment could turn peaceful—

A loud, deep laugh echoed in the trees.

A voice they all recognized.

Aghori.

Smoke twisted at the edge of the forest.

A tall, dark figure appeared.

Aghori stepped out, smiling wickedly.

His eyes were glowing.
His body was covered in black ash.
And behind him stood hundreds of shadow soldiers forming.

“So…” Aghori said, clapping slowly. “Rudra survived the transformation of Vaitarak. Wonderful.”

Rudra stood up, eyes full of anger.

“You… YOU MADE ME A MONSTER!”

Aghori smiled.

“Oh no, Rudra. I only opened the door. YOU walked inside.”

Rudra clenched his fists.

Valmiki tried to stand, but he collapsed again.

Aghori pointed at Rudra.

“Your new form will awaken again soon… and next time, you will not return.”

Rudra glared at him.

Hiroshi stood beside Rudra, scared but brave.

Aghori gave one last smile.

“Enjoy your short peace. Soon, the real war will begin.”

And he vanished into black smoke.

Rudra knelt beside Valmiki.

“Master… I’m sorry…”

Valmiki put a hand on his shoulder.

“Rudra, your journey has only started. The true danger is coming… and you must be stronger.”

Hiroshi looked at the broken bracelet pieces.

“What… what will happen now?”

Rudra stared at them.

“I don’t know…”

But deep inside him…

A faint echo still remained.

The voice of Vaitarak.

Whispering:

“I will return…”