Chapter 17: The Meeting of the Two Suns
The gates of Lanka loomed—miles of high walls made of gold and magnetic Chintamani stones. Vikram stood at the threshold of the Setu, his hand firmly on the shoulder of the bound Meghanada.
Suddenly, the ground began to vibrate. From the mainland, a sound like a thousand rolling thunders echoed across the water.
[ SYSTEM ALERT: MAJOR ENTITY DETECTED ]
Source: The Vanara Army of the North.
Veda-Drishti Analysis: Two sources of INFINITE GOLDEN TEJAS approaching.
Vikram turned his head. His Eye of Truth (L8) nearly blinded him. Two figures were leading the charge. One was fair-skinned, radiating a cool, silver light like the moon; the other was dark-complexioned, but his soul was so bright it looked like a sun had been compressed into a human form.
Rama and Lakshmana had arrived.
The Dramatic Encounter
As the Vanara army reached the bridge, they stopped dead. They saw a lone boy, barely reaching the chest of a man, holding the most feared warrior of Lanka—Indrajit—as a common prisoner.
Lakshmana, the fair-skinned warrior, stepped forward, his bow Gandiva humming with lightning. "Who is this child? And how does he hold the snake Meghanada in chains?"
Vikram didn't speak. He knelt. His Charm (L10-MAX) reacted with the divinity of the brothers. The air filled with the scent of heavenly sandalwood.
"My name is Vikram, the Iron Sage of Vajra-Grama," he said, his voice reaching the hearts of every warrior on the field. "I have broken the Southern Gate and brought the first head of the Ten for judgment."
(Though the setting is the sea, the architecture of the bridge and the divine radiance match the Treta-vibe).
The Recognition of the Avatar
Rama stepped forward. His Varna-Aura was not just gold; it was Transcendent Blue. He looked at Vikram, and for a moment, the Karmic System in Vikram's mind went completely silent. No numbers. No stats. Only a profound sense of Dharma.
"Vikram," Rama said, his voice a balm to the soul. "The Akasha spoke of a craftsman who would walk the path of the Sage. You have done what an entire army could not. Why do you stand as a side-character in this war?"
"Because the Sun does not need a candle to show the way," Vikram replied, standing up. "You are the Light, Lord Rama. I am merely the one who will ensure the darkness has no place to hide while you shine."
[ NEW QUEST: THE SECRET ALLY ]
Objective: Act as the 'Hidden Blade' for Rama's army.
Role: Specialist in Sabotage and Karma-Purging.
Reward: Blessing of the Preserver (Path to L11 Speed).
The Strategy Meeting
Inside the Vanara camp, Rama looked at the map of Lanka.
"The walls are protected by the Ten Pillars of Ego," Rama explained. "As long as they stand, Ravana is invincible. He can regenerate his heads faster than my arrows can strike them."
Vikram looked at the map through his Eye of Truth (L8). He saw the black threads connecting the pillars to a central laboratory beneath the palace.
"Lord," Vikram said, "While your army attacks the main gates, let me take Meghanada. I will use his blood-print to enter the Patala Labs. If I can sever the connection from below, Ravana's immortality will end."
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]
Current Punya: 250,005.
Requirement for 'L11 Speed' Blessing: 200,000 Punya + Permission from a Divine Being.
"Go, Vikram," Rama said, placing a hand on the boy's head. "The shadows are your domain. Cleanse them."
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Blessing of Rama Received!
Requirement Met.
Speed: L10 ➔ L11 (Transcendent).
New Ability: [Kaala-Gati] — You can move so fast that time appears to stop for 5 seconds.
The Infiltration
Using Akash-Gaman, Vikram slipped past the golden walls of Lanka, dragging the broken Meghanada with him. They appeared in a dark, subterranean hall filled with the smell of sulfur and ancient machinery.
This was the Vajra-Forge of Lanka, where Asura-scientists were using the blood of captured Nagas to create weapons.
"Show me the central pillar, Meghanada," Vikram commanded, his L11 Strength making his grip on the Prince's arm feel like a mountain's weight.
Meghanada pointed a trembling finger toward a massive, pulsing column of black crystal in the center of the room. "There... the Pillar of Lust. It powers the South-Western defense."
[ TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Object: The Pillar of Lust (1st of 10).
Defense: Guarded by a Mechanical Asura-Beast (Level 65).
Karmic Opportunity: Shattering this pillar will grant +50,000 Punya and weaken Ravana's first head.
Vikram is in the heart of the enemy's tech-lab. How will he handle the first pillar?
The Overload: Use L11 Strength and Vajra-Mushti to punch the pillar directly, risking a massive explosion.The Hacker's Stealth: Use Mantra-Hacker (L2) and L10 Intellect to rewrite the pillar's code, making it drain Ravana's energy instead of feeding it.The Beast-Tamer: Use your Charm (L10) on the Mechanical Asura-Beast, attempting to "Reprogram" it to fight for you.
How will the Hidden Blade strike?