Inside, he found a child’s soul sitting on the roof, gazing at his parents. As Raghvendra approached, his breath caught. The child turned, and to his shock, it was none other than Mr. Kapoor’s son, Krishna.

  Raghvendra turned to Misty, his voice trembling with disbelief. “What did he do?”

  Misty’s gaze was calm as she replied, “See for yourself.” She placed Raghvendra’s hand over Krishna’s head.

  Instantly, a vision flooded Raghvendra’s mind. He saw Krishna, cold and merciless, drowning three children in the nearby lake. As they struggled for breath, Krishna laughed, his joy twisted and dark.

  Stunned, Raghvendra hesitated, his hand reaching for his sword. Just as he was about to strike, Karan suddenly grabbed him from behind, pulling him away. The two landed in Raghvendra’s house with a heavy thud.

  Karan shouted at him, “Are you mad or what?”

  Raghvendra’s eyes flared. “Don’t teach me,” he snapped. Then, with a sharp glance, he added, “Let me ask you the same question. Are you also mad?”

  Karan’s expression darkened. “You’ll know the truth soon enough.”

  Raghvendra’s voice was cold. “Talk less.” With that, he summoned his sword again, the blade gleaming in the dim light.

  Karan, undeterred, formed a massive flaming ball in his hand, preparing for the next move.

  Without warning, Raghvendra took a huge leap toward him. At that moment, Karan hurled the ball of flame. Raghvendra blocked it mid-air with a swift, precise strike, then swung his sword at Karan with full force.

  The clash rang out with a heavy thud. But Raghvendra didn’t made contact with Karan, his swing was effortlessly blocked. With a single, dismissive push, Raghvendra was sent sprawling several feet away. Barely able to keep himself upright, Raghvendra looked up—his future self-stood before him, cold and unyielding.

  Raghvendra’s gaze was fixed on his future self. “You finally showed up,” he said, his voice laced with a mix of challenge and defiance.

  His future version gave a commanding nod to Karan, who quickly created a protective barrier around them. The future Raghvendra then wielded two swords, one in each hand, his eyes filled with cold purpose. “Where it all began,” he warned.

  Raghvendra summoned a second sword in his left hand. “Where it all will end.”

  Both swords ignited with fire and lightning as they clashed together, the sound of the strike ringing out. They leaned toward each other, locked in a deadly dance.

  “The truth is right in front of you,” the future version said, his voice tinged with regret.

  Raghvendra’s reply was swift, a sharp retort. “At least I’m not consumed by grief.” With a quick motion, he swung his leg at the future version, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground.

  Summoning all his power, Raghvendra’s eyes blazed with both fire and lightning as he struck down on his future self. The impact was immense, but his future self-blocked the blow with fierce precision. The force was so powerful that it shattered the protective barrier, sending Karan flying out of the house.

  In a flash, the future Raghvendra gathered the power of the ocean, his fists crackling with energy. He punched Raghvendra with a force that sent him flying in the air. As Raghvendra struggled to regain control, the future version rose above him and, with terrifying speed, slammed him back down onto the ground with full force. The future Raghvendra sword dangled just above the pupils of Raghvendra. Raghvendra still smirked and told him to dang it in.

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  At that critical moment, Misty appeared with Krishna’s soul, shouting, "Kua can only defeat him!"

  The future version of Raghvendra momentarily looked toward Misty, giving Raghvendra the opening he needed. He threw his future self into the sky and rushed forward. Misty extended the soul, and Raghvendra hesitated before swinging his sword. The voice of his future self-echoed in his mind, his sword loomed in mid-air. His hands trembling, the boy reminding him of Arjun. But Misty urged, “Don’t listen to him!”

  Raghvendra ignored the voice and swung his sword. The future version rushed and leaped on Raghvendra but it was too late—the boy's soul was taken, and the balance was restored, or was it?

  In a moment of joy, Raghvendra hugged Misty, but Misty stiffened slightly, discomfort flickering across his face. Before Raghvendra could inquire, the ground trembled. Cracks split the earth, and Kua emerged from beneath, towering and ominous.

  Kua greeted the future Raghvendra with a nod and praised the present Raghvendra’s efforts. But then, with sudden ferocity, Kua conjured a Trishul and swung it at Raghvendra. The future version of Raghvendra stepped in, blocking the strike and absorbing the full force of the impact. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Raghvendra, filled with awe, rushed toward his fallen future self. But as his fingers brushed against the future version’s armor, a surge of energy coursed through him, forcing his eyes shut. A flood of memories and visions overwhelmed his senses, forcing his mind to witness what had already been revealed.

  He saw the future Raghvendra uncovering Kua’s dark history in a black stone. The future Raghvendra explained that Kua was once the ruler of heaven but was demoted to hell due to his greed for power. He fed on the souls of the wicked, but eventually, he began consuming the good as well, growing stronger in his quest to reclaim his throne. Misty was a mere creation from Kua’s flesh, devoid of memories. Kua, wielded the power to manipulate minds, weaving false memories to ensnare his prey. The cherished memories of Raghvendra’s family were nothing but a cruel fabrication, designed to lure him into Kua’s web. Worse still, some of the souls Raghvendra had captured were good, innocent beings who had fallen victim to Kua’s insatiable hunger. The Soul Hunter system, far from being a force for universal balance, was revealed as a tool of manipulation, designed solely to serve Kua’s selfish ambitions.

  Furthermore, the stone clarified a critical truth: Krishna had never committed any heinous acts. The boy’s life ended tragically in a road accident. By the time the future Raghvendra uncovered these truths, Kua had grown unstoppable. Desperate to undo his failures, he travelled back in time, determined to change the course of events and confront the shadow that had ensnared them all.

  Realizing the truth, Raghvendra returned to the present, jolted from the vision. Raghvendra, burdened by betrayal, stared at Misty. Misty pleaded for forgiveness from Raghvendra. As Kua approached Raghvendra and said, “I guess now you know the truth.” He further apologized, “I am sorry... for a defect in my design”

  Suddenly, Kua pierced his Trishul through Misty’s chest. “The defect has been removed,” Misty, his eyes turned crimson, blood tripping from his mouth, with his trembling voice, “Thi…This is the…reward for my… lo…l…. loyalty.”

  Kua’s lips widened into a cruel smile. A beat of silence hung in the air before he said, his voice dripping with disdain, “Not because of your loyalty.” Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he hurled Misty’s lifeless body. Raghvendra’s arms shot out instinctively, catching the limp form. The weight of Misty’s body, now cold and lifeless, pressed against him, blood staining his hands and kurta. A gasp escaped Raghvendra’s lips as he stared down at Misty’s vacant eyes. A wave of pure, unadulterated rage washed over him as Kua continued, his gaze fixed on Raghvendra, “His.” Pointing towards Misty, he added, “human weakness infected them all. Karan. Your future self and you.”

  Raghvendra carefully lowered Misty’s body to the ground, his movements slow and deliberate. A silent farewell, a final acknowledgment of the bond they had shared. He, then looked at Kua, his eyes blazing with rage, charged forward, his sword crackling with lightning. With a fierce cry, he swung at Kua. The air around Raghvendra shimmered and distorted as Kua unleashed a force a blow that tore Raghvendra’s soul free. A scream tore from his throat, though no sound escaped his lip, the pain was beyond the physical, a wrenching of his very essence. His lifeless form crumpled to the ground, the sword slipping from his grasp.

  Kua stood tall amidst the chaos, his dark silhouette towering over the fallen. Around him, they all lay helpless, the weight of his power pressing down like an unyielding storm. He reached down and seized the future Raghvendra by the collar, dragging him effortlessly.

  Before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind a chilling note: “JUST THE BEGINNING.”