Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Grand Tournament of the Peaks

Arjun Vikramaditya emerged from the Patala Abyss a transformed force, bone spikes faintly ghosting his knuckles, red curse seals simmering beneath his skin. The Himalayan Divine Peaks thrummed with anticipation for the Grand Tournament—a crucible where inner disciples vied for core status, drawing holy land scions from across Bharatvarsha. Floating arenas hovered like lotus thrones amid aurora storms, encircled by crystal spires chanting Vedic hymns. Headmaster Parashurama announced from his axe-hewn dais: "Fight with dharma or perish in illusion. Top three claim relics of the rishis." Arjun's name drew gasps; Kaurav banners loomed opposite, Duryodhan returned with patriarch Dronacharya's blessings, arm healed by forbidden elixirs. �First rounds blurred in prana clashes. Arjun faced a Pandav rival, wielding storm tridents. Golden Roc Shattering Void made him a phantom; Vel's Flowers in a Storm sealed victory in petal-thunder nets, forcing surrender without blood. Duryodhan sneered from sidelines, his chakra disc now abyss-forged, swirling with Patala curses. Semifinals pitted Arjun against Shakuni's kin—a sly archer raining Karma Arrows that homed on souls. Arjun's Three Lives Pupils ignited, eyes piercing fate threads. He dodged predestined paths, countering with Myriad Karma Wheel—violet vortex devouring arrows mid-flight, soul essence rebounding to paralyze the foe.Finals dawned under blood moon echoes. Duryodhan charged, roaring Eclipse Serpent Vortex, chakra fusing viper essence with graha fury, carving arena chunks. Arjun met head-on, Foundation Vel Technique unyielding as Everest. Abyss Devil form partially awakened: demonic mist cloaked him, six arms phantom-lashing. "You poisoned springs, sent assassins—your clan ends here!" Clashes shook peaks—thunderfire vs. curse winds. Duryodhan grazed him, venom searing flesh, but Arjun's Jatayu flames purged it instantly.Rage channeled to precision: Navagraha Annihilation. Vel bloomed a nine-planet lotus, black-hole core imploding Duryodhan's defenses. The prodigy vomited blood, chakra shattering. Arjun loomed, Pulse Severing Palm hovering at throat. "Mercy for dharma's sake?" Dronacharya pleaded from stands. Arjun's ruthless heart recalled Ouyang lessons—no roots left to regrow. Palm struck true: Duryodhan crippled, sterile, clan humiliated. Parashurama awarded first: Rishi's Prana Orb, merging with cube, boosting meridians to Revolving Core threshold.Crowds chanted "Vikramaditya!" as Kaurav banners burned. Parashurama pulled him aside: "Chakravarti rises. Next: Vindhya Alliance Wars. Greater foes muster—rakshasa kings from Patala depths." In his grotto, Arjun refined orb energies. Cube unveiled Celestial Tyrant's Hundred Layered Waves, strength multiplying per strike. Visions swirled: Young Chakravartin stage, conquering holy lands. Enemies fled, but shadows of grander clans gathered. From valleys to peaks, each crown forged the emperor. 33 Lokas quaked faintly; his sanatana dharma blazed toward Trimurti supremacy.