Murunda's Underground Lab

  Murunda paced back and forth in his dimly lab, breathing heavily. His hands shook as he looked through the files, but there was nothing—no trace of Krakash, his prized crocodile hybrid. No signs of life, no tracking signal. He was gone.

  Suddenly, the door slid open and two scientists rushed in, panic on their faces.

  Scientist 1: “Murunda! The crocodile hybrid... he’s gone. The police found burnt remains on a city rooftop. It’s Krakash. He’s dead.”

  Murunda froze. His heart stopped for a moment.

  Murunda (quietly): “What?”

  He clenched his fists, and with a roar, he punched a nearby metal panel, the sound of cracking metal echoing through the lab.

  Murunda (shouting): “He was the strongest of them all! How dare they do this!”

  Murunda stormed down the hall, past tanks and monitors, until he reached a chamber covered in shadows. Inside was a humanoid form, its scales shimmering in the dim light. The figure’s eyes twitched, still closed.

  Murunda (softly): “Sarpiksh, my son… wake up.”

  The eyes snapped open, glowing with violet light.

  Sarpiksh (hissing): “Yes, Father?”

  Murunda: “Your brother is dead. Burned. Betrayed. Find those who did this and make them pay. First, kill the Phanin boy. Let his nightmares consume him before you end his life.”

  Sarpiksh grinned, his smile twisted and snake-like.

  Sarpiksh: “Their minds will be their grave.”

  The chamber opened with a hiss, and Sarpiksh slithered out, his form disappearing into the shadows.

  City Outskirts

  Garuda sat on a ruined rooftop, staring at the horizon. Something was wrong. He could feel it in the air, a cold shiver running through his feathers.

  Garuda (to himself): “Something dark is coming.”

  City – Afternoon Turns to Night

  The air seemed to shimmer. At first, people just stumbled. Then chaos broke out.

  Screams filled the streets as people attacked each other—mothers turning on their sons, police firing at unseen enemies, neighbors dragging each other into the street.

  A street vendor screamed, “Monster! Get out of my head!” as he smashed his cart into a passerby.

  High above them, on top of a glass building, Sarpiksh stood. His form flickered like a glitch in reality. His violet eyes pulsed, and mist like poisonous smoke poured from his body, spreading over the city.

  Near the Forest Edge

  Adir and Vani stood beside a screen, watching the breaking news. The anchor's voice trembled.

  News Anchor (shaky): “...unprovoked violence... hallucinations... we urge all civilians to stay inside. Something is—” Static.

  Vani (eyes wide): “It’s starting.”

  Adir (gritting teeth): “We’re going.”

  In a flash of golden and white light, they soared toward the city.

  City Center – Rooftop

  Garuda stood at the edge of a rooftop, hearing the screams below, but something else caught his attention. He wasn’t alone.

  Adir stood before him. But something wasn’t right.

  Adir (coldly): “You came back, after all the blood.”

  Garuda (confused): “Adir…?”

  Adir (stepping closer): “Do you even realize how many lives were lost because of you, Garuda? The children? The police officers? You led the attack. The skies were full of eagles. You were the one who caused it.”

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  Garuda’s eyes widened in shock and pain.

  Garuda: “I wasn’t in control then… I—I was being controlled. Doctor Kiran helped me break free.”

  Adir (accusing): “Doctor Kiran couldn’t undo the harm you caused.”

  Garuda (firmly): “I’ve changed! And it wasn’t just me. Murunda—he’s the one behind it all. He’s creating hybrid animals, turning us into weapons!”

  Adir (growling, voice turning colder): “You know too much. That makes you a threat.”

  Suddenly, Garuda felt a chill. Something wasn’t right. The illusion around him began to twist.

  Adir (softly): “You should’ve stayed gone, Garuda.”

  The rooftop warped, and Garuda was hit with visions of the past—of the attack, of blood and flames, of people running in fear. It felt real again.

  Adir (shouting through the illusion): “Look at what you are! Look at what you’ve done!”

  Garuda gasped. The blow from the fake Adir’s wing hit him hard, sending him reeling back. His feathers scattered.

  Garuda: “This isn’t real! You’re not Adir!”

  With a snap, the illusion shifted again. Now Garuda saw himself—a snake, scales covering his arms, a long tail coiled behind him. The fake Adir stood there, grinning.

  Sarpiksh (disguised as Garuda): “You’re the monster! Hiding among us all!”

  Garuda (terrified): “No, wait! I’m not—!”

  Sarpiksh: “You are the snake! I’ll kill you before you trick anyone else!”

  The rooftop exploded in chaos again as Garuda fought to break free from the illusion.

  Adir and Vani Arrive

  Above them, a golden streak of light appeared, followed by a flash of white. Adir and Vani landed hard, their power radiating like shockwaves. But when they looked around, nothing made sense.

  There were two Garudas.

  One had blood on his claws, his feathers ruffled, his eyes wild—clearly the Garuda they had fought beside. The other stood tall, calm, but pointing at the first with sharp, accusing eyes.

  Sarpiksh (disguised as Garuda): “That’s him! He’s the snake hybrid! He attacked me! He’s trying to replace me!”

  Garuda (real, gasping): “No—it’s not me! Adir—Vani—it’s him! He’s inside your minds! This is all an illusion!”

  Vani’s eyes darted back and forth. She felt the tension, but what was real?

  Vani: “Which one…?”

  Adir (conflicted): “Both of you sound the same… but only one of you called me a traitor.”

  Suddenly, the fake Garuda’s eyes glowed violet. Just a flash. Enough to give him away.

  Adir (realizing): “...You.”

  The illusion shattered as the fake Garuda lunged at Adir. Vani’s claws shot out, meeting him in mid-air, and a violent fight broke out.

  Adir unleashed a blast of golden light, shattering the illusion completely. The twisted skyline turned back to normal, and there, standing before them, was the real Sarpiksh, revealed as he truly was—a giant, monstrous snake hybrid, his violet eyes blazing.

  Sarpiksh (snarling): “You were supposed to kill him, Adir.”

  Garuda (breathing heavily): “Told you.”

  Adir stepped forward, his fists glowing with power.

  Adir: “You messed with the wrong memories.”

  Vani (growling): “And the wrong hybrids.”

  The three of them—Adir, Vani, and Garuda—stood together. The eagle, the tiger, and the snake.

  Sarpiksh (hissing): “Then die together