Chapter 14: The Storm of the Serpent
Vikram stood at the edge of the Dandaka forest, where the ancient trees finally gave way to the salt-spray of the Southern Sea. Before him lay the Setu—the legendary bridge of stone that connected the mainland to the fortress of Lanka.
But the bridge was not empty.
The sky above the ocean had turned a bruised, electric purple. Lightning didn't strike from the clouds; it crawled across them like snakes. In the center of the bridge stood a chariot pulled by eight horses made of solidified smoke. On the chariot stood a warrior whose skin glowed with the hue of a dark emerald, his eyes burning with the arrogance of a being who had conquered the Heavens.
[ TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Name: Meghanada (Indrajit — The Conqueror of Indra)
Rank: Atirathi (Level 75)
Primary Attribute: Maya (Illusion) L10 / Agility L10
Current Punya: 500,000 (Stolen from Devas)
Current Paap: 1,200,000
"So," Meghanada spoke, and his voice was a thunderclap that shook the very stones of the bridge. "The little blacksmith has become a 'Transcendent.' You think because the Mahadev gave you a spark of His strength, you can cross my path?"
Vikram took a step onto the bridge. With Strength L11, the stone beneath his heel didn't just crack; it turned to fine powder. He didn't feel the weight of the General's pressure. He felt nothing but the focus of a craftsman.
The Sage's Preparation
Before the first arrow was fired, Vikram accessed the Akasha Shop. He had only 5 Punya, but he had the [Iron-Vulture Feathers] from his previous kill.
[ AKASHA SHOP: MATERIAL EXCHANGE ]
Trade: 10x Iron-Vulture Feathers.
Value: 5,000 Punya.
Total Punya: 5,005.
[ PURCHASE CONFIRMED ]
Item: Anjana-Astra (Ointment of the Third Eye).
Effect: Grants immunity to all illusions (Maya) below Rank Maharishi for 5 minutes.
Vikram smeared the silver ointment across his eyelids. The purple storm and the smoke-horses suddenly vanished. In their place, he saw the truth: the bridge was covered in thousands of invisible, venomous serpents, and Meghanada was actually standing twenty feet to the left of where his image appeared.
The Duel of Heavens
"Your illusions are but dust, Meghanada," Vikram said.
Meghanada's sneer faltered. He raised his bow, the Nagapasha, and fired a single arrow. Mid-air, the arrow transformed into a literal dragon of black fire.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
Skill Detected: Nagapasha (Serpent Noose).
Threat: Concept-level Binding.
Vikram didn't dodge. He used Flash-Step (L10) to move forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. He channeled the Rudra-Shakti into his fist.
"PRITHVI-KAMPANA!" (Earth-Shaker!)
Vikram didn't hit the dragon. He punched the Air in front of it.
The L11 Strength didn't just move the air; it shattered the atmospheric pressure itself. A vacuum-tunnel formed, and the black fire dragon was sucked into the void and extinguished instantly. The shockwave continued, striking the side of Meghanada's chariot.
The indestructible celestial wood splintered like dry twigs.
The Warrior's Fear
Meghanada leaped from his falling chariot, his face twisting in rage. "No mortal should have that strength! I am the one who defeated Indra! I am the master of the Occult!"
He reached into the air and pulled out a spear that hummed with a terrifying, golden light—the Vasavi Shakti.
"If you want to play as a God, boy, then die as one!"
[ SYSTEM WARNING ]
Weapon Detected: Vasavi Shakti (Divine Tier).
Note: This weapon has a 100% Hit-Rate and 100% Kill-Rate on anything below Tier 100.
Current Counter: None found in mortal database.
The Vasavi Shakti is about to be launched. Vikram's L11 Strength cannot block a weapon that ignores physical matter.
The Charm Sacrifice: Use your Charm (L10-MAX) to attempt to "Soul-Bind" with Meghanada. If he kills you, the Karmic backlash of killing a L10-Charm being will destroy him and all of Lanka instantly.The Mantra-Hacker Gamble: Use Mantra-Hacker (L2) and your L10 Intellect to try and find the "Cancel-Code" in the spear's divine vibration as it flies.The Rudra-Transcendence: Use your L11 Strength to grab the Bridge of Rama itself and flip the entire stone structure between you and the spear, hoping the "Ancient Earth" can dampen the blow.
What is your final move on the bridge, Vikram?