FADE IN.
Neel's eyes remain fixed on Niki, his mind still processing everything she just told him. The weight of history, the endless cycle, the war that could never truly be won.
His throat feels dry, but he finally speaks.
NEEL (hesitant): "So... when does the Supreme Being return? When does this cycle finally end?"
Niki exhales, glancing at the mural once more. The warrior remains frozen in his endless battle.
NIKI (calmly): "450,000 years from now. Or at least… within that period. We don’t know exactly when. But until then… someone has to keep fighting."
Neel's fingers tighten into fists. He exhales sharply.
NEEL: "So we just keep holding the line... for that long?"
Niki finally turns to him, a small smirk forming on her lips.
NIKI: "Unless you'd rather sit and wait for 450,000 years?"
Neel scoffs, shaking his head.
NEEL (serious): "No. I’d rather take action. I need to fight back."
Niki nods.
NIKI: "Good. Because before you go back… you need to learn something first."
Neel raises an eyebrow.
NEEL: "Learn what?"
Niki steps forward, her eyes locked onto his.
NIKI: "Tantra."
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Neel frowns.
NEEL: "Tantra? You mean the ancient mystic arts?"
Niki nods, walking toward an old wooden chest at the corner of the ashram. She kneels, wiping away centuries of dust before lifting the heavy lid. Inside, old scrolls rest beside a small stack of what looks like… bullets.
She picks one up and tosses it to Neel. He barely catches it, inspecting the strange markings etched into its surface.
NIKI: "Tantra isn’t just about power. It’s about balance. It has seven levels—each one deeper and more dangerous than the last."
Neel rolls the bullet between his fingers.
NEEL: "And what’s this? Doesn’t look like any bullet I’ve seen before."
NIKI: "Because it’s not just a bullet. My grandfather created these using the cremated ashes of ancient sages and rishis. They don’t kill ghosts. They cleanse them."
Neel blinks.
NEEL: "Cleanse? You mean… give them salvation?"
Niki nods.
NIKI: "Ghosts aren’t just mindless creatures. They’re trapped. Tied to Bhootlok because of their sins. Good souls go to the divine realms. But these… these are the ones that escaped judgment. The ones who refused to accept their fate."
Neel looks back at the bullet.
NIKI: "These bullets help release them. But… they’re limited. We only have 411 left out of 501. Once they're gone, we have no other way to give them moksha."
Neel swallows hard. The reality of this war—the responsibility—sinks in.
NEEL: "And Tantra? What does that do?"
Niki pulls out an old scroll, unrolling it in front of him.
NIKI: "Tantra enhances our abilities. But it comes at a cost. Every level of Tantra has a price. And the higher you go, the greater the sacrifice."
She points at the seven symbols drawn on the scroll, each glowing faintly in the dim candlelight.
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Level 1: Energy Control – The foundation of all Tantra. Learning to manipulate internal energy.
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Level 2: Astral Sight – The ability to see beyond the physical realm.
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Level 3: Physical Augmentation – Enhancing speed, strength, reflexes.
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Level 4: Elemental Manipulation – Controlling fire, water, wind, and earth.
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Level 5: Spirit Binding – Temporarily restraining ghosts and preventing their escape.
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Level 6: Ancestral Invocation – Calling upon the spirits of past warriors for aid.
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Level 7: Divine Intervention – A forbidden technique that bends reality itself. Few have ever reached it.
Neel's eyes widen slightly.
NEEL: "And the cost?"
Niki’s face darkens.
NIKI: "Each level takes something from you. Energy, memories… even years of your life. Tantra gives, but it also takes. Use it carelessly, and you might not live long enough to regret it."
Neel grips the bullet tighter. He exhales.
NEEL: "Then I guess I better learn how to use it wisely."
FADE TO BLACK.
TO BE CONTINUED…