Chapter 22:
Manjula VS Gilstone
Hizashi No Kage
Hizashi No Kage
Chapter - 22
Gilstone paused for a moment and then said, “Alright, that’s fine. Now I’ll kill you and your little slime first.”
With those words, Gilstone threw off his robe and dropped his staff. What emerged was an extremely muscular giant glowing with magic. This was Gilstone’s true form.
“Neelu, save the children!” Akash shouted, steeling himself to face his death.
“No one is leaving here alive today,” Gilstone said with a demonic laugh. He turned his hands into stone and charged at Akash at full speed.
Akash couldn’t dodge even a single punch. After just four blows, he was in terrible shape—bloodied and battered—and collapsed.
Then Gilstone advanced toward Neelu, who was still trying to move the children to safety. With one strike, Neelu crashed into the wall and couldn’t get up again.
“No one touches these children. These kids are the key to bringing my queen back to life. Once my queen is revived, the first ones she’ll kill are those Windhearts who dared to bury her statue here and then had the audacity to build their palace on top of it. How dare they!!!” Gilstone said while carefully placing the children back in their original spot.
Akash didn’t understand most of it, but one thing was clear: the Windheart palace was directly above them.
Gathering every last bit of strength, he stood up. In the very next moment, he activated a new skill.
Gilstone turned and was surprised to see Akash still standing. He immediately launched a barrage of Stone Bullets from a distance.
For the first time, Akash used two skills simultaneously. He kept the one he was already activating going and also activated Light Shield.
Gilstone charged straight at him. But right then, Akash formed a spear of light.
Gilstone stopped, thinking Akash would attack him—but instead, Akash hurled the spear upward. It pierced through the ceiling and disappeared.
The next instant, Akash shouted with all his might:
“Manjula!!!! Stage 10 Danger!!!!”
Gilstone scratched his head. “You really think someone’s coming to save you? Do you even know how deep underground this place is?” he sneered.
In response, Akash simply smiled.
Gilstone lunged again. Akash fell. Gilstone mounted his chest and unleashed a storm of Stone Punches.
Akash somehow managed to form a Light Shield over his face, but it shattered in one hit. After that, Gilstone pummeled his face so brutally that Akash was barely alive.
As Gilstone prepared one final punch to crush Akash’s skull, someone attacked him from behind—A Shadow Spike.
Gilstone instantly leaped off Akash and dodged.
Manjula had already realized this demon was overwhelmingly powerful. So She attacked with full force from the very beginning.
Akash understood that Manjula had saved him. Smiling weakly, he began healing himself as quickly as possible.
Manjula and Gilstone fought fiercely. They were almost evenly matched. But Manjula had the ability to hide in shadows. She vanished into them and struck from within.
Gilstone’s defense was also extremely tough.
Keeping the unconscious children’s safety in mind, Manjula didn’t drag the fight out. She instantly trapped Gilstone in Super Shadow Bindings, then sent a barrage of Shadow Spikes straight at his body.
Gilstone covered himself with Stone Armor at once. Manjula responded by slashing with her Shadow Sword—so powerfully that she cut off both his armor and his right arm.
Gilstone screamed and collapsed. He couldn’t get up again.
Manjula came over to Akash, who was still lying there healing himself.
“How do you always manage to put yourself in such danger?” she said, scanning the room.
“Because I know my Waifu will come save me,” Akash said in his mind only.
Manjula asked again, “Can you tell me anything? What’s going on here?”
“I don’t know everything… This stone demon was trying to revive that statue. He was about to sacrifice all these children. Your palace—”
Before he could finish, a portal opened and an extremely powerful demon stepped out.
Manjula and Akash immediately assumed fighting stances.
First, the demon fed Gilstone a super healing potion.
The next moment, another portal opened behind Akash and the demon kicked him hard into the far wall.
Then a portal opened to Manjula’s right and the demon landed a devastating punch.
Manjula dodged the first one, but in the blink of an eye, the demon hit her with three more punches.
She collapsed unconscious.
The demon then lifted the large statue and walked over to Gilstone, who had now fully recovered.
“We’ll have to go to Plan B. You failed, Dron. The humans are coming,” the demon said.
“Before I leave, I’m taking revenge for my humiliation. That girl disgraced me,” Gilstone said furiously.
The other demon opened a portal and said - “Hurry up.”
Gilstone aimed a massive Stone Spike at the unconscious Manjula and launched it at full speed.
Manjula couldn’t do anything—she was out cold. The spike hurtled toward her.
At that moment, Akash appeared between the spike and Manjula.
He had entered Stage One of Lightspeed skill, which allowed him to save her.
But the spike pierced deep into his stomach. He collapsed.
The other demon shouted, “Can’t you do even one thing right, Dron? Let’s go now or I’ll kill you myself.”
Dron and the demon left with the statue.
In the room, everyone lay unconscious— the children, Neelu, Manjula, and Akash, who was fading away.
---
It was around 7:00 in the evening.
Manjula and Ramya were strolling in the garden. Zara was flying behind them.
Suddenly, Manjula became alert. She sensed a magical attack approaching.
The ground in the garden burst open and a glowing spear shot up from below, creating a small hole.
Before anyone could react, Manjula’s super hearing caught Akash’s shout:
“Stage 10 Danger!”
Her expression turned serious.
“Ramya, bring Roman Uncle to the spot where this spear came from. I’m going ahead,” Manjula said, then used her shadow magic to descend into the hole.
A short while later, Ramya, Roman, and Roman’s disciple Zakaar arrived in the room where Akash was on the verge of death.
Ramya immediately took a super healing potion from her pocket and poured it into Akash’s mouth.
But his injuries were so severe that he didn’t fully recover—he remained unconscious.
The others weren’t in good shape either.
Royal soldiers were summoned and everyone was taken to the palace medical room.
When Akash finally opened his eyes, he saw Ramya standing in front of him.
Ramya noticed he was awake and quickly came closer.
“Is Manjula okay?” Akash asked first.
The enthusiasm Ramya had shown vanished. Still, she replied, “Yes, Didi is fine.”
“And the children?” Akash asked next.
“The children are okay too. They’ve all regained consciousness,” Ramya said.
“And Neelu? Where’s Neelu?” Akash asked again.
From under the bed, Neelu crawled out and sat near Akash’s face.
“Who saved me, Ramya?” Akash’s questions kept coming.
After thinking for a moment, Ramya said, “A priest from the royal palace. You’re in our palace’s medical room right now. No more questions—lie down quietly.”
Akash continued, “No, someone gave me a potion. Who was it? I want to thank them.”
“I gave it to you, and I don’t need your thanks. Just rest,” Ramya said sternly.
Akash still went on, “Hey, this feels just like the first time. Do you always carry a potion with you?”
“Rest.” With that, Ramya left.
Akash fell back asleep.
The next day, the king of the country—Ramya and Manjula’s father, Hulk Windheart—personally came to visit Akash in the medical room.
Akash’s condition had improved, so he sat up comfortably and spoke.
Just from the king’s attire, Akash knew who he was.
“So this is the king of our country, Hulk Windheart. Nice,” he thought to himself.
The king’s first question was: “Did you save my daughter’s life?”
“No, your daughter saved mine,” Akash replied clearly.
“From what we’ve learned from investigating the scene, it appears a fatal attack was aimed at Manjula, and you took it instead. Isn’t that true?” the king pressed.
“That’s true, but she saved me first,” Akash stood firm.
The king laughed. Then he asked Akash to explain the entire incident. Akash described every detail. The questioning lasted nearly half an hour.
The officials listened carefully and recorded everything.
Upon hearing about Ajeez’s betrayal, the king ordered a full investigation of all the soldiers.
When everything was over, the king said, “Everyone leave the room. I want to speak to this brave boy alone.”
They all left.
Akash felt a little suspicious, but the king spoke: “You’re the same Akash who saved Manjula’s life eight years ago, aren’t you?”
Akash was surprised—he hadn’t expected the king to remember the incident from eight years ago. But he quickly replied, “Even eight years ago, Manjula saved me first.”
This time the king laughed loudly. Then, turning serious, he said, “Ramya has told me everything. I’m glad you’re also keeping that secret. Continue doing so.”
“Yes, sir,” Akash replied simply.
The king left.
Chapter - 22
Gilstone paused for a moment and then said, “Alright, that’s fine. Now I’ll kill you and your little slime first.”
With those words, Gilstone threw off his robe and dropped his staff. What emerged was an extremely muscular giant glowing with magic. This was Gilstone’s true form.
“Neelu, save the children!” Akash shouted, steeling himself to face his death.
“No one is leaving here alive today,” Gilstone said with a demonic laugh. He turned his hands into stone and charged at Akash at full speed.
Akash couldn’t dodge even a single punch. After just four blows, he was in terrible shape—bloodied and battered—and collapsed.
Then Gilstone advanced toward Neelu, who was still trying to move the children to safety. With one strike, Neelu crashed into the wall and couldn’t get up again.
“No one touches these children. These kids are the key to bringing my queen back to life. Once my queen is revived, the first ones she’ll kill are those Windhearts who dared to bury her statue here and then had the audacity to build their palace on top of it. How dare they!!!” Gilstone said while carefully placing the children back in their original spot.
Akash didn’t understand most of it, but one thing was clear: the Windheart palace was directly above them.
Gathering every last bit of strength, he stood up. In the very next moment, he activated a new skill.
Gilstone turned and was surprised to see Akash still standing. He immediately launched a barrage of Stone Bullets from a distance.
For the first time, Akash used two skills simultaneously. He kept the one he was already activating going and also activated Light Shield.
Gilstone charged straight at him. But right then, Akash formed a spear of light.
Gilstone stopped, thinking Akash would attack him—but instead, Akash hurled the spear upward. It pierced through the ceiling and disappeared.
The next instant, Akash shouted with all his might:
“Manjula!!!! Stage 10 Danger!!!!”
Gilstone scratched his head. “You really think someone’s coming to save you? Do you even know how deep underground this place is?” he sneered.
In response, Akash simply smiled.
Gilstone lunged again. Akash fell. Gilstone mounted his chest and unleashed a storm of Stone Punches.
Akash somehow managed to form a Light Shield over his face, but it shattered in one hit. After that, Gilstone pummeled his face so brutally that Akash was barely alive.
As Gilstone prepared one final punch to crush Akash’s skull, someone attacked him from behind—A Shadow Spike.
Gilstone instantly leaped off Akash and dodged.
Manjula had already realized this demon was overwhelmingly powerful. So She attacked with full force from the very beginning.
Akash understood that Manjula had saved him. Smiling weakly, he began healing himself as quickly as possible.
Manjula and Gilstone fought fiercely. They were almost evenly matched. But Manjula had the ability to hide in shadows. She vanished into them and struck from within.
Gilstone’s defense was also extremely tough.
Keeping the unconscious children’s safety in mind, Manjula didn’t drag the fight out. She instantly trapped Gilstone in Super Shadow Bindings, then sent a barrage of Shadow Spikes straight at his body.
Gilstone covered himself with Stone Armor at once. Manjula responded by slashing with her Shadow Sword—so powerfully that she cut off both his armor and his right arm.
Gilstone screamed and collapsed. He couldn’t get up again.
Manjula came over to Akash, who was still lying there healing himself.
“How do you always manage to put yourself in such danger?” she said, scanning the room.
“Because I know my Waifu will come save me,” Akash said in his mind only.
Manjula asked again, “Can you tell me anything? What’s going on here?”
“I don’t know everything… This stone demon was trying to revive that statue. He was about to sacrifice all these children. Your palace—”
Before he could finish, a portal opened and an extremely powerful demon stepped out.
Manjula and Akash immediately assumed fighting stances.
First, the demon fed Gilstone a super healing potion.
The next moment, another portal opened behind Akash and the demon kicked him hard into the far wall.
Then a portal opened to Manjula’s right and the demon landed a devastating punch.
Manjula dodged the first one, but in the blink of an eye, the demon hit her with three more punches.
She collapsed unconscious.
The demon then lifted the large statue and walked over to Gilstone, who had now fully recovered.
“We’ll have to go to Plan B. You failed, Dron. The humans are coming,” the demon said.
“Before I leave, I’m taking revenge for my humiliation. That girl disgraced me,” Gilstone said furiously.
The other demon opened a portal and said - “Hurry up.”
Gilstone aimed a massive Stone Spike at the unconscious Manjula and launched it at full speed.
Manjula couldn’t do anything—she was out cold. The spike hurtled toward her.
At that moment, Akash appeared between the spike and Manjula.
He had entered Stage One of Lightspeed skill, which allowed him to save her.
But the spike pierced deep into his stomach. He collapsed.
The other demon shouted, “Can’t you do even one thing right, Dron? Let’s go now or I’ll kill you myself.”
Dron and the demon left with the statue.
In the room, everyone lay unconscious— the children, Neelu, Manjula, and Akash, who was fading away.
---
It was around 7:00 in the evening.
Manjula and Ramya were strolling in the garden. Zara was flying behind them.
Suddenly, Manjula became alert. She sensed a magical attack approaching.
The ground in the garden burst open and a glowing spear shot up from below, creating a small hole.
Before anyone could react, Manjula’s super hearing caught Akash’s shout:
“Stage 10 Danger!”
Her expression turned serious.
“Ramya, bring Roman Uncle to the spot where this spear came from. I’m going ahead,” Manjula said, then used her shadow magic to descend into the hole.
A short while later, Ramya, Roman, and Roman’s disciple Zakaar arrived in the room where Akash was on the verge of death.
Ramya immediately took a super healing potion from her pocket and poured it into Akash’s mouth.
But his injuries were so severe that he didn’t fully recover—he remained unconscious.
The others weren’t in good shape either.
Royal soldiers were summoned and everyone was taken to the palace medical room.
When Akash finally opened his eyes, he saw Ramya standing in front of him.
Ramya noticed he was awake and quickly came closer.
“Is Manjula okay?” Akash asked first.
The enthusiasm Ramya had shown vanished. Still, she replied, “Yes, Didi is fine.”
“And the children?” Akash asked next.
“The children are okay too. They’ve all regained consciousness,” Ramya said.
“And Neelu? Where’s Neelu?” Akash asked again.
From under the bed, Neelu crawled out and sat near Akash’s face.
“Who saved me, Ramya?” Akash’s questions kept coming.
After thinking for a moment, Ramya said, “A priest from the royal palace. You’re in our palace’s medical room right now. No more questions—lie down quietly.”
Akash continued, “No, someone gave me a potion. Who was it? I want to thank them.”
“I gave it to you, and I don’t need your thanks. Just rest,” Ramya said sternly.
Akash still went on, “Hey, this feels just like the first time. Do you always carry a potion with you?”
“Rest.” With that, Ramya left.
Akash fell back asleep.
The next day, the king of the country—Ramya and Manjula’s father, Hulk Windheart—personally came to visit Akash in the medical room.
Akash’s condition had improved, so he sat up comfortably and spoke.
Just from the king’s attire, Akash knew who he was.
“So this is the king of our country, Hulk Windheart. Nice,” he thought to himself.
The king’s first question was: “Did you save my daughter’s life?”
“No, your daughter saved mine,” Akash replied clearly.
“From what we’ve learned from investigating the scene, it appears a fatal attack was aimed at Manjula, and you took it instead. Isn’t that true?” the king pressed.
“That’s true, but she saved me first,” Akash stood firm.
The king laughed. Then he asked Akash to explain the entire incident. Akash described every detail. The questioning lasted nearly half an hour.
The officials listened carefully and recorded everything.
Upon hearing about Ajeez’s betrayal, the king ordered a full investigation of all the soldiers.
When everything was over, the king said, “Everyone leave the room. I want to speak to this brave boy alone.”
They all left.
Akash felt a little suspicious, but the king spoke: “You’re the same Akash who saved Manjula’s life eight years ago, aren’t you?”
Akash was surprised—he hadn’t expected the king to remember the incident from eight years ago. But he quickly replied, “Even eight years ago, Manjula saved me first.”
This time the king laughed loudly. Then, turning serious, he said, “Ramya has told me everything. I’m glad you’re also keeping that secret. Continue doing so.”
“Yes, sir,” Akash replied simply.
The king left.
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