The Divine Dais shimmered under the weight of two titans.
On one side stood Vaikunth Varna, half-beast, half-mind lord, pulsing with destructive psychic power and crystal-bound fury.
On the other, Raghav Pandit, now glowing with silver flame—his body surrounded by radiant markings, his staff transformed into a blazing Trishula, and Nyra's soul fully fused within him.
The spectators, masters, and even the judges sat in stunned silence.
The air bent around Raghav.
"This isn't cultivation," whispered one elder. "It's... divine embodiment."
Vaikunth struck first. With a roar that shattered sound, he launched himself forward, delivering a flurry of blows that cracked the floor beneath them. But Raghav—calm, silent—countered each strike with fluid grace. Every motion of his Trishula sang with spiritual harmony.
With a sweep of his hand, Raghav unleashed a wave of Judgment Flame—a searing blue and gold blaze that spiraled like a serpent and slammed into Vaikunth. The fusion titan staggered, crystal hide melting at the edges.
But Vaikunth wasn't done.
"NO!" he roared. "I will not fall to a peasant blessed by gods!"
His mind power flared. Chains of pure thought wrapped around Raghav's limbs, pulling him into a storm of illusions. Images of pain, betrayal, loss—crafted perfectly to break his spirit.
But inside the illusion, Raghav smiled.
"I've lived this already. You can't break what's already been reforged."
He burst through the illusion with a divine howl, Nyra's voice echoing with his. Light engulfed the platform, and with a final leap, Raghav brought the Trishula down—piercing the ground and erupting in a vortex of flame and soul force.
Vaikunth screamed as his fusion unraveled. Kaalraksh was thrown back, unconscious, while Vaikunth himself collapsed to one knee, barely breathing.
Master Arvind stood. "Enough!"
Silence.
The runes above glowed:
Winner: Raghav Pandit
The Colosseum erupted. Cheers thundered across the mountains. Elders whispered of prophecies rekindled, while students shouted his name.
Raghav exhaled deeply. His divine form faded, the Trishula returning to its dormant shape. Nyra materialized beside him, weak but smiling.
Arvind approached, placing a hand on Raghav's shoulder.
"You've not only defeated the strongest mind-warrior of your generation… you've awakened something far older than this tournament."
He looked toward the skies.
"And the heavens are watching."