[Ashraya – War Chamber, One Day Later]
Akarshan stood before the crystal map, watching the flow of dark divine energy on the move. The goddesses had confirmed it: a new threat was approaching—not sent by Ash, but by another unknown force.
At his side, the group was quiet… except for Reyansh, who had joined them after the Dream Realm expedition.
He was strong, skilled, insightful.
But something about him never quite fit.
And now, Akarshan was starting to see it.
---
[Earlier That Morning – Shivam's Discovery]
Shivam, the seer among them, had wandered through the halls of Ashraya. His eyes flickered silver—the gift of foresight blessing him again.
In a corner of the Temple Archives, he found an unmarked scroll, hidden behind spells of misdirection.
On it, a prophecy written in divine tongue:
> "The False Star will rise among them, bearing truth twisted by shadow. He shall bleed with their blood, cry with their pain, then deliver the wound none shall expect."
Below it, the name: Reyansh.
Shivam froze.
---
[Confrontation – Tower of Winds]
That night, the five confronted him.
The stars howled with wind as Reyansh stood across from them, cloaked in divine mist.
> "You knew," Akarshan said quietly, "who sent you."
Reyansh didn't deny it.
> "Adityan offered me something your gods didn't. Power, yes… but also answers."
Anuj narrowed his eyes. "You walked through Ash's dreams. You felt his pain. And you still want to betray him?"
Reyansh laughed softly.
> "Exactly. I saw a god who made this world with love, and now wants to burn it with wrath."
> "If I take his place—maybe I can fix it."
Monish drew his blade. "You're no savior. You're a tool."
> "So was Ash once. Until he broke free."
With that, Reyansh vanished, escaping through a forbidden divine gate. His soul signature now bore the mark of Adityan—the first full betrayal.
---
[Elsewhere – Throne of Broken Light]
Adityan smiled as Reyansh knelt before him.
> "You did well. The seed of doubt is planted."
> "Now, we begin the fall of gods."
---