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8:50 AM — Abandoned Temple Courtyard, Ujjain
Aadiv's boots crunched over the old temple's cracked stones. Moss crept over the broken statues of forgotten gods. Rain clouds churned above, promising thunder.
He stopped at the center of the courtyard, embers flickering at his fingertips.
Across from him, the scarfed stranger stood — arms folded, boots caked in street dust, eyes glinting like a storm brewing at dawn.
Neither spoke for a moment. Just the distant rumble of thunder. Crows cawed from the temple's ruined pillars.
> Aadiv's voice was low, rough.
"You beat up some street dogs to get my attention. Now you have it."
The stranger chuckled, rolling his shoulders like a prizefighter warming up.
> "Didn't expect the city to go soft while I was gone."
His eyes locked on Aadiv.
"Let's see if you did too."
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8:52 AM — The First Strike
Aadiv moved first — a flash of flame surging from his palm as he dashed forward, closing the distance in two steps.
The stranger leaned aside — Aadiv's burning fist missed his jaw by an inch. A counterpunch slammed into Aadiv's ribs. Sparks flew as the impact met flickering flame.
Aadiv staggered, but grinned — eyes wild, blood singing.
> "Good hit."
He twisted his wrist — fire coiling up his arm — and swung a brutal backfist. The stranger blocked it with a raised forearm, the air around him crackling with static.
Aadiv's boot shot out — the stranger caught it, spun, and flung Aadiv across the courtyard like a rag doll. Aadiv rolled, flames scattering across the stones.
They lunged again — fists colliding, knees slamming into ribs, sparks and cinders flickering around them like dying stars.
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8:55 AM — Thunder Rises
Aadiv skidded back, spit blood to the side, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
> "You're not just muscle. Who the hell are you?"
The stranger just smiled beneath his scarf. He slammed his fist into his open palm — the air buzzed like a storm about to break.
The stones at his feet cracked — arcs of blue lightning danced around his knuckles.
> "I'm the one who'll see if your fire still burns."
He shot forward — faster than before. Aadiv ducked under a thunder-charged punch, flames roaring from his shoulder as he rammed his elbow into the stranger's gut.
They broke apart — the courtyard shook with the force of their clash.
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8:57 AM — Blades from the Dark
The stranger exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. From the shadows behind him, something shimmered — like darkness itself bending.
A hilt emerged from the gloom — he gripped it and drew it free. A double-edged long sword, its steel veins pulsing faint blue like captive lightning.
Aadiv's eyes flared, a dark grin curling across his lips.
> "A blade, huh? Good…"
He stretched out his right hand — shadows spiraled around his palm, swirling like a black hole tearing through the air.
With a sudden CRACK, a jet-black katana emerged from the void — its edge faintly glowing with ember veins, its guard shaped like a crescent eclipse.
The flames around Aadiv's feet hissed as he raised the blade.
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9:00 AM — Clash of Fire and Storm
The stranger lunged first — sword slashing in a silver-blue arc, lightning trailing in its wake.
Aadiv met the strike with his katana, sparks and embers exploding at the point of contact. The courtyard lit up in flickering pulses — fire and thunder colliding with every swing.
> Stranger's growl through gritted teeth:
"Your flames can't burn the storm down!"
> Aadiv, eyes burning:
"Then I'll turn the storm to ash!"
They circled — blades scraping stone, walls shuddering as flames licked the broken statues and bolts of lightning carved fissures in the ground.
Aadiv swung a horizontal slash — the stranger blocked, lightning arcing up the blade into the sky. The thunder roared, and rain began to spit down, steam hissing where drops hit Aadiv's burning aura.
They clashed again — the force sent a shockwave ripping through the temple, crows scattering into the gray sky.
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9:05 AM — The Power Clash
The stranger roared, lightning bursting around him — arcs dancing up his arms, blade glowing brighter.
Aadiv's feet dug into the stone, the black katana roaring with dark flames that twisted into searing crimson.
They surged forward at once — blades meeting in the dead center of the courtyard.
BOOM!
A blast of fire and thunder erupted — dust, sparks, and cinders swallowing both figures in a blinding explosion.
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