The crystal tower pierced the sky like a shard of pure light, standing atop the sacred land of Atmahara, where the boundary between souls was thinnest.
Akarshan, Sarina, Shiv, Anuj, Shivam, and Monish stood before the entrance, their reflections shimmering on its translucent surface. Their hearts pounded, knowing this final trial would challenge the core of their beings.
Vidyarani's voice echoed softly. "The Trial of Soul is unlike the others. It tests your essence — your true self. Here, illusions fall away, and only your purest nature remains."
As they stepped inside, the world around them dissolved into a void of shifting colors. Suddenly, each faced a mirror — but these were no ordinary reflections.
Their souls stared back.
For Akarshan, the mirror revealed his deepest fear: becoming the very destroyer he fought against, losing his compassion to darkness.
For Shiv, the mirror showed the loneliness hidden beneath his jovial exterior.
Anuj faced a mirror fracturing into countless shards, symbolizing his fractured trust in those around him.
Shivam saw his reflection as both hero and betrayer.
Monish's mirror was clouded, refusing to show him anything.
Sarina's mirror shimmered with Ash's many past lives, his pain, and love intertwined.
The voice of the Trial whispered, "Only by embracing your soul's truth can you overcome this trial."
One by one, they confronted their reflections, accepting the pain and light within themselves.
When they finally stood together, the mirrors shattered, releasing a brilliant light that lifted them up.
Outside, the sky cleared.
The divine eye blinked once more before vanishing.
Ash, far away in his celestial palace, felt a warmth stir inside him — a memory, a hope, a tether pulling him back.
The friends exchanged looks, knowing their journey to save Ash—and the world—was far from over.
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