You're responsible for everyone's death, Vikram…"
Feathered Nightmare's words echoed in Vikram's head, over and over again, dragging him into a spiral of guilt and confusion.
Power said in mind , her voice urgent and steady.
"Vikram, don't listen to him. You're not responsible—you're a victim of all this, not the cause."
But Vikram's gaze was fixed on Nightmare. His eyes burned.
"Don't… you dare blame me for the things I've suffered!"
With that, he lunged forward, aiming a punch straight at Nightmare's face.
But Nightmare shifted, swift as a shadow. He caught Vikram's wrist mid-air, twisting it, and with a brutal force hurled him out through a hole left in the wall from the earlier fight. Vikram crashed onto the compound wall , dust rising as his body hit the ground.
"VIKRAAAAM!" Anu screamed, her voice shrill with panic.
Nightmare began walking toward Vikram, but before he could reach, Vikram's mother—Anu—threw herself at him. Wrapping both arms tightly around Nightmare's neck from behind, she held on with all her strength, trying to restrain him.
Irritated, Nightmare grunted and flailed like a beast provoked—like a bull trying to throw off a rider. Vikram watched this unfold, rage boiling in his chest. He turned and rushed forward, pouring every ounce of his power into his next punch.
He was just about to strike—when suddenly, Nightmare spun Anu into his path, using her like a shield.
Vikram froze mid-strike.
"Tch… Mom?"
Before he could even react, Nightmare twisted and slapped Vikram across the face with the back of his hand. The force was monstrous—Vikram was sent flying, crashing through the roof and out of the house like a ragdoll.
Anu screamed again, trying to break free and run after her son, but Nightmare caught her hands mid-unravel. With a cruel twist, he knotted her arms around his neck like a rope—tight, inescapable.
"Aghhhhh!" she cried in pain, her voice raw.
Nightmare turned to leave, but Aaji grabbed his hand, her frail fingers trembling. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded,
"Why are you doing this? All these years… I thought you were our protector."
Nightmare looked at her, eyes cold and distant.
"I'm not a protector. I'm just a soldier… following the orders of my leader."
With those words, he raised a single finger and pressed it against her forehead.
Aaji's body collapsed instantly—lifeless.
"No… Aai!"
Anu's scream tore through the air, her cries heavy with pain and unbearable loss.
Nightmare walked out without a glance back. As he stepped into the open, he began to levitate, rising above the house.
"Don't cry," he said coldly. "Let me take you to meet your son."
Without another word, he surged forward like a hunting eagle, diving from the sky toward Vikram.
Vikram stood below, unmoving—until the very last second. Then, he leapt into the air, meeting Nightmare mid-flight, their fists about to clash in the sky.
But just before impact, Nightmare twisted in the air, turning his back to Vikram.
And there—dangling helplessly—was Anu, bound behind him.
Vikram froze mid-strike, his eyes wide. His fist halted, trembling with hesitation. He bit his lower lip in frustration.
Nightmare seized the opening.
Spinning swiftly, he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Vikram mid-air, sending him crashing down.
Vikram lay on the ground, blood trickling down from his forehead. Slowly, he rose to his feet, unsteady but defiant.
Above him, the Nightmare hovered with a twisted grin, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Come on, Vikram. Show me the power you used against that poor fisherman. What's the worst that can happen? Maybe… you and your mother can die together."
He laughed coldly, taunting him.
Vikram's fists clenched, knuckles white, his glare fixed on Nightmare. Rage simmered behind his eyes.
Just then, Power's voice rang in his ears, calm but urgent.
"Vikram, I have an idea. Just do as I say."
Vikram went still, the storm inside him momentarily silent. Nightmare narrowed his eyes, suspicious—but said nothing, just watched.
Then, without warning, Vikram took a deep breath and leapt into the air, his voice thundering with fury:
"I'll make sure you regret everything!"
Nightmare reacted instantly, pulling Anu in front of him as a human shield, her back facing Vikram.
Mid-air, Vikram froze, his strike halted—his eyes locked on hers.
Nightmare grinned and spun around, slamming a punch into Vikram's face. Vikram took the hit, blood flying from his mouth—but his focus hadn't shifted. In that exact moment, from his tightly clenched fist, a glowing seal shot backward—toward Nightmare's back.
The seal materialized in Power . With swift precision, she placed a foot on Nightmare's back and yanked Anu free. The knot her own hand, twisted and wrapped unnaturally by Nightmare into a living restraint.
But now, that bind came undone.
With a burst of strength, power shoved Nightmare backward with her foot.
Vikram, still airborne, descended with all his might—his fist crashing into Nightmare's chest .
The impact echoed like thunder.
Blood spurted from Nightmare's mouth. The bones in his ribcage cracked under the force. His eyes rolled back.
And for the first time—he looked close to unconscious.
Power caught Anu just as she was about to fall, shielding her with her own body. They crashed onto the roof of a nearby house. Thankfully, Anu was unharmed—Power had absorbed the entire impact.
But she was bleeding.
Anu had already lost consciousness. Power looked down at her pale face, then glanced at her own bloodied hands and muttered bitterly,
"Tch. This is why I wish every last demon would vanish from existence."
Meanwhile, elsewhere—Vikram fell hard onto the road below, his body hitting the concrete with force. Nightmare landed just beside him.
Both of them slowly began to rise.
It was obvious—Vikram had the edge in raw power, thanks to his indestructible Vajra bones. But Nightmare wasn't lacking in abilities either. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, grabbing at Vikram's head.
But Vikram's response was immediate—a single devastating punch.
His fist slammed into Nightmare's chest with such force, it tore a gaping hole through the left side.
Nightmare collapsed, blood pooling around him on the asphalt.
Vikram stood still, chest heaving.
He exhaled slowly, eyes scanning the surroundings.
"It's finally over... Mom... Power?" he whispered.
He looked around, staggered toward the roadside wall for support. But then—his eyes caught something.
Up on the wall.
Sitting casually where no one should be—was Nightmare.
Untouched. Unscathed.
As if he had never fought. As if none of it had happened.
Vikram's eyes widened in disbelief. He turned to glance back at where the body should have been.
It was gone.
The blood on the road—vanished.
Nightmare leapt down effortlessly, landing in front of Vikram with a mocking smile.
"That was quite the warm-up," he said, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Now… shall we begin Round Two?"