62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8dporWDHWThey arrived at the foot of the massive rocky cliff.
Descending the slope, the group approached the grand stone mansion. Darshan and Chandu looked up at the structure, their faces etched with disbelief. Piecus took the lead, guiding them toward a narrow, cave-like entrance hidden within the rock. He stepped into the darkness first, and the other three followed closely behind.
As Darshan peered inside, he let out a low breath. "Whoa..."
"This is even bigger than it looks from the outside," Chandu added, his voice echoing against the damp walls.
They ventured further into the depths until they reached a steep drop. They descended into the hollow, and what they found left them paralyzed with shock. Sarunya and Viyog grew visibly nervous, while Darshan and Chandu stood frozen in awe.
Inside the cavernous space were hundreds of people.
Their faces were gaunt and withered, devoid of joy, looking like souls consumed by prolonged suffering and agony. As the group entered, the trapped inhabitants turned their hollow eyes toward Piecus, Viyog, Darshan, Chandu, and Sarunya. They stared for a moment before offering weak, dry smiles—the smiles of people who had forgotten how to feel hope.
"What? This... this is impossible!" Darshan stammered.
"Are... are all these people trapped here too?" Chandu asked, his voice trembling.
Sarunya pulled back, her eyes wide. "This is truly terrifying!"
Viyog looked at the sea of faces, his expression dark. "So many souls trapped here in the Ovul dimension. Who knows how many more will be pulled into this trap..."
Suddenly, three figures broke away from the crowd and hurried toward them. "Hey, Viyog!"
Viyog’s face lit up. "Hey! I’ve been looking everywhere for you guys!"
Friend 1 (Sai): "I finally get to see you! I honestly thought you had died somewhere in this dimension."
Friend 2 (Ajay): "It’s so good to see you alive, man!"
Friend 3 (Rohit): "We’ve been so worried about you, Viyog."
"I'm fine, guys," Viyog reassured them, a rare look of relief crossing his face. "Somehow I survived, and I'm right here. Seeing that you all are safe... that’s all that matters to me."
The four friends pulled each other into a tight, emotional embrace, momentarily forgetting the nightmare surrounding them.
Darshan carefully lowered Sarunya from his arms. "Sarunya, can you sit here for a while?"
"Okay, Darshan... I'll sit here," she replied softly. As he helped her settle onto a smooth rock, Sarunya whispered, "Th-thank you so much, D-Darshan."
Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson. Darshan gave her a gentle, small smile. "It’s just my duty, Sarunya," he said simply.
The sheer "cuteness" of his smile caught her off guard. Overwhelmed by shyness, her face turned even redder. She quickly turned away, hiding her face in her hands to cover her blushing nose and cheeks. He is so cute! she screamed internally.
Darshan turned his attention to Chandu, who was wandering around the space with an innocent, wide-eyed curiosity, trying to take in every inch of the massive cavern. Darshan walked over to him.
"Don't stare too much," Darshan teased.
"It's not that, man," Chandu replied, still looking around. "It’s just... this place is so much bigger than I ever imagined."
"Well, at least we made it here," Darshan said, his tone shifting to a relieved calm.
Chandu looked at him and offered a genuine, warm smile. "Yeah. We did."
Meanwhile, Viyog sat with his friends, deep in conversation.
"There are already so many people here," Viyog said, looking around the cavern. "I have no idea how many more will be dragged into this place."
"Actually, Viyog, from what I've observed, people have stopped arriving," Sai noted. "No new souls have entered this dimension from that machine in the real world for a while now. If you ask me, I think someone on the other side is acting as a 'Shield' to block it. It’s a huge relief, honestly."
Viyog nodded. "That is good news. No one else should have to be trapped in this hell."
"Very good news," Ajay agreed. "If things stay that way on Earth, maybe the worst is over. Perhaps that machine won't cause any more trouble."
But Viyog’s expression remained grim. "We can't be sure of that, Ajay. Even if they've deactivated 'Machine-Ex' for now... it’s not enough. This won't just stop. The problems will return. That’s why we don't just need to stop it—we have to destroy it."
His friends stared at him, silenced by his intensity.
Rohit finally spoke. "You’re right. That’s a brilliant idea. We’re the ones who built it—we were proud of it once. But now, it’s a disaster threatening the entire world. Destroying it is the only way forward."
"But there's something else," Viyog added, his voice dropping an octave. "I need to find the person who gave me that core device. This all started because of them. That specific device is the reason we were able to build the machine in the first place. We have to learn how to properly deactivate it. If we just try to smash it, we might trigger an even bigger catastrophe. If we ever make it out of here, the first thing I’m doing is dismantling that machine and wiping it from existence."
His friends looked at each other and nodded firmly. "Count us in."
On the other side of the cavern, Darshan, Chandu, and Sarunya sat together. The air between them was heavy.
"Darshan," Chandu began, his voice barely a whisper. "I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead," Darshan replied. Sarunya watched them, sensing the shift in mood.
"What would you do... if it turns out I am the vessel for Demansion?"
Darshan flinched, snapping at him in a moment of panicked protection. "Don't even say things like that, Chandu! Just shut up!"
Chandu looked down, his expression pained. "How can I just stay quiet, Darshan? The way Mr. Piecus and Mr. Viyog look at me... I can feel it. I feel like it's true."
"That’s nonsense," Darshan insisted. "Just because they look at you a certain way doesn't mean you're a vessel. It’s impossible. His world and ours are completely different."
"He's right, Chandu," Sarunya added, trying to sound firm despite her own nerves. "It's completely logicless. Don't think like that."
But Chandu wasn't finished. "Maybe... but Darshan, make me a promise."
"What promise?"
"I think Mr. Piecus and his father, Ferran, believe I'm the vessel. There's a strong chance they might try to kill me to stop Demansion."
Darshan and Sarunya’s eyes widened in horror. Darshan placed a trembling hand on Chandu's shoulder. "Chandu... no..."
"Listen to me, Darshan!" Chandu’s voice cracked. "If they try to kill me... promise me one thing. Promise me that you will get everyone else out of here safely. Promise me you'll take them home."
Darshan stared at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of terror and agonizing grief. He lowered his head, closing his eyes tight as he gripped Chandu’s shoulder. "Chandu... that’s... that’s not going to happen."
"Promise me anyway." Tears began to well in Chandu’s eyes.
A single tear escaped Darshan's closed eyes. Sarunya watched them, her heart racing with fear.
From a distance, Piecus watched them. Though he couldn't hear their whispers, his eyes remained fixed on Chandu. He eventually turned away, walking through a hidden stone doorway into a deeper chamber.
A voice echoed from the shadows: "Come in, Piecus."
Piecus stood before a tall, weathered figure. "How are you, Father?"
"I am fine," Ferran replied. "Did you find out anything?"
"Yes. And it’s bad news."
"What is it?"
"Flame and Demansion have discovered that we are helping these humans," Piecus said grimly. "They won't leave us alone now."
"I see..." Ferran paused. "Don't be afraid. They won't find us here in this stone mansion. We are safe for now, Piecus."
Piecus looked at his father with a chilling intensity. "Who knows, Father? He might be watching us right this very second."
"What are you saying, Piecus? I don't understand."
"The vessel of Demansion... is already here. Inside this mansion."
Ferran’s eyes flared with a sudden, lethal rage.
To be continued...!!
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