Chapter 12: The Sunken Throne
The waters shimmered beneath the glow of the moon, their surface deceptively calm. Yet beneath the waves lay an empire lost to time—a labyrinth of coral-covered spires, crumbled walls, and forgotten grandeur.
Sona stood on the deck of the hovercraft, her gaze fixed on the endless expanse of ocean. A flicker of emotion crossed her face, too quick for the others to catch.
“It’s down there,” she said, her voice quieter than usual. “What’s left of it.”
Prithvi stepped forward, the thrusters on his suit humming softly as he adjusted their energy output. “Your palace?”
She nodded, her grip tightening on the railing. “The heart of my kingdom. Before… before Varunasura took it.”
Arjun leaned against the edge of the craft, spinning Vritra in his hand like a baton. “Let me guess. He’s using it as a base now?”
“Not just a base,” Vikram interjected, his glowing gauntlet projecting a three-dimensional map of the palace. The image flickered with distortions, its outlines warped by the anomalies surrounding the area. “The energy readings here are off the charts. He’s channeling the palace’s ancient wards to amplify the rings’ power.”
Prithvi studied the map, his expression grim. “So, he’s fortifying himself.”
“And corrupting it,” Sona added, her tone sharp. “Those wards were meant to protect my people, not fuel his madness.”
Kaal, standing silently near the shadows of the cabin, finally spoke. “He’s smart. Using what’s already there instead of building something new. It means getting to him won’t be easy.”
“Nothing ever is,” Arjun muttered.
Prithvi turned to Sona, his voice steady. “What can you tell us about the palace? Anything we can use?”
She hesitated, her eyes flicking back to the ocean. Memories surfaced—flashes of sunlight streaming through crystal-clear waters, of hallways alive with laughter and music, of a throne room where her father had once presided with wisdom and grace.
“It’s a maze,” she said finally. “Built to confuse invaders and protect its secrets. Even if you know the layout, the currents can pull you off course. And that was before Varunasura corrupted it.”
The hovercraft slowed as it reached the coordinates Vikram had marked. Below them, the waters seemed to ripple unnaturally, the faint glow of the palace’s wards visible even from the surface.
“We’ll need to go in stealthily,” Prithvi said. “A direct assault will get us killed.”
“And what happens when stealth fails?” Arjun asked, his tone light but his grip on Vritra tightening.
“Then we adapt,” Prithvi replied.
“I’ll take point,” Sona said, her voice firm. “This is my home. I know its currents, its defenses.”
Prithvi hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. But we stay together. No one splits off unless there’s no other choice.”
Vikram adjusted his gauntlet, syncing its readings with the team’s suits. “The distortion field is strongest near the throne room. If Varunasura’s here, that’s where he’ll be.”
“Then that’s where we’re headed,” Prithvi said.
The team donned their underwater gear, the advanced suits designed to withstand the crushing pressure of the deep. Prithvi’s thrusters reconfigured, switching to an aquatic propulsion mode, while Sona activated the Ring of Chandra, its energy rippling through the water as she tested her connection.
“Stay close,” she said, her voice cutting through the comms. “The currents here don’t play nice.”
“Neither do we,” Arjun replied with a smirk, his suit’s systems humming to life.
With a final nod from Prithvi, the team slipped into the water, the world above vanishing as they descended into the depths. The ocean enveloped them, its silence almost deafening after the constant roar of the storm.
As they approached the palace, its outline began to take shape—a sprawling network of towers and corridors, its once-brilliant architecture now coated in coral and shadow. Faint tendrils of energy pulsed through the structure, a reminder of the power that Varunasura now wielded.
“This place,” Sona murmured, her voice tinged with both awe and sorrow. “It used to shine like the sun. Now it’s… a grave.”
The team moved cautiously, their lights cutting through the murky water as they entered the outer perimeter of the palace. Strange shapes flitted in the distance—remnants of the palace’s defenses, now twisted into hostile forms.
“Whatever Varunasura’s done to this place,” Vikram said, his tone uneasy, “it’s not just corruption. It’s transformation. He’s reshaping it into something… alive.”
Prithvi tightened his grip on his gauntlets, his resolve hardening. “Then we cut out the infection.”
Ahead, the main gates loomed, their intricate carvings glowing faintly with ancient energy. Sona paused, her hand brushing against the stone.
“This is where it starts,” she said quietly. “Once we’re inside, there’s no turning back.”
Prithvi stepped up beside her, his voice steady. “We’re with you, Sona. Whatever it takes.”
She nodded, her gaze fierce. “Then let’s take back my home.”
The team moved through the gates, their journey into the heart of the Sunken Throne just beginning.
The palace gates creaked open, the sound reverberating through the water like a warning. Beyond them lay a corridor of twisted coral and glowing wards, the once-grand entrance now a warped reflection of its former glory.
“Stay sharp,” Prithvi said, his voice steady through the comms. “We don’t know what Varunasura’s done to this place.”
Sona moved ahead, her steps purposeful but cautious. The Ring of Chandra pulsed faintly on her hand, responding to the energy that thrummed through the walls.
“This is all wrong,” she murmured, her voice tinged with both anger and sorrow. “These wards were meant to guide and protect. Now they’re… predatory.”
The team followed her lead, their lights cutting through the murky water. Arjun held Vritra at the ready, its blade shimmering with a faint blue light. “So, when you say ‘predatory,’ are we talking ‘annoying traps’ or ‘sudden death’?”
“Both,” Sona replied, glancing back at him. “The wards were designed to disorient intruders, but if they sense hostility…”
“Got it,” Arjun said, tightening his grip on the blade. “Don’t make them mad.”
“Too late for that,” Kaal muttered, his shadowy form blending with the dim light. “The moment we stepped in here, this place knew we didn’t belong.”
Ahead, the corridor split into three paths, each one pulsing with a different color of light. Sona hesitated, her gaze flicking between them. “The palace layout shifts to confuse enemies. These paths… they weren’t here before.”
“Chanakya?” Prithvi said, his visor scanning the area.
“Analyzing,” the AI replied. “The energy signatures suggest that each path leads to a separate convergence point within the palace. However, the patterns are unstable. The routes may not remain consistent.”
“Fantastic,” Arjun muttered. “So we’re playing a game of underwater roulette.”
Prithvi ignored him, turning to Sona. “You know this place better than any of us. Which path do we take?”
She closed her eyes, focusing on the pull of the Ring of Chandra. The water around her seemed to respond, its currents guiding her hand toward the leftmost path. “This one,” she said, her voice resolute.
The team moved forward, the narrow corridor pressing in on them as the light grew dimmer. Strange shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, and the walls seemed to shift when they weren’t looking directly at them.
“This is unsettling,” Vikram said, his gauntlet scanning the environment. “The palace’s defenses are creating illusions, but they’re layered with temporal distortions. It’s like the past and present are bleeding into each other.”
“Then let’s not stick around to find out what the future looks like,” Prithvi said.
As they advanced, the corridor opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling covered in glowing runes that cast an eerie light over the space. At its center stood a massive statue of a sea serpent, its eyes gleaming with malevolent energy.
“Let me guess,” Arjun said, eyeing the statue warily. “That thing’s not just for decoration.”
The moment he spoke, the runes on the ceiling flared, and the statue began to move. Its stone scales rippled like water as it coiled around the chamber, its glowing eyes locking onto the intruders.
“Called it,” Arjun muttered, raising Vritra.
The serpent lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from Prithvi as he activated his thrusters to dodge. “Spread out!” he shouted, firing a blast of lightning at the creature’s head. The attack struck true, but the serpent barely flinched, its form absorbing the energy like a sponge.
“It’s feeding off the wards!” Sona shouted, her plasma baton crackling as she struck one of the serpent’s coiled limbs. “We need to disrupt its connection!”
“On it,” Vikram said, his gauntlet projecting a stream of data as he analyzed the runes. “The energy flow is anchored to three points in the chamber. If we take those out, the serpent loses power.”
Kaal moved silently through the shadows, his Ring of Rahu glowing faintly as he approached the first anchor point. The runes pulsed ominously, but he ignored them, his tendrils of darkness lashing out to sever the connection.
The serpent roared, its movements growing more erratic as the first anchor point dimmed. “One down!” Kaal said, retreating into the shadows before the creature could retaliate.
“Two more to go,” Prithvi said, his gauntlets flaring as he unleashed a barrage of fire and earth to keep the serpent distracted. “Arjun, Sona—you’re up!”
Arjun leapt toward the second anchor point, his blade slicing through the water with deadly precision. The runes crackled as he struck, the energy dispersing in a burst of light.
“Got it!” he shouted, flipping backward to avoid the serpent’s thrashing tail.
Sona moved toward the final anchor, her connection to the water guiding her movements. The serpent turned toward her, its glowing eyes narrowing as it sensed her approach.
“You’re not stopping me,” she muttered, raising her baton. The Ring of Chandra flared as she struck the anchor point, the energy within it collapsing in a wave of light.
The serpent let out a final roar, its massive form disintegrating into a torrent of water that cascaded harmlessly to the floor. The chamber fell silent, the runes above dimming as the wards’ energy dissipated.
“Nice work,” Prithvi said, landing beside Sona.
She nodded, her breathing heavy but her gaze determined. “This is just the beginning. The closer we get to the throne room, the worse it’ll be.”
“Then we’d better keep moving,” he said, his tone firm.
The team regrouped, their resolve steeled as they prepared to face whatever horrors lay ahead.
The corridors of the palace grew narrower and darker, the oppressive weight of the water pressing against them from every angle. The walls seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive, and the faint hum of Varunasura’s corruption echoed in the distance.
“This place is a death trap,” Arjun muttered, his voice low. He gripped Vritra tightly, its blade casting an ethereal glow over the group.
Sona led the way, her movements precise as she navigated the labyrinthine corridors. The Ring of Chandra pulsed faintly on her hand, guiding her forward like a heartbeat.
“Keep moving,” she said, her voice steady. “The throne room isn’t far.”
The team reached a large chamber, its ceiling stretching upward into shadow. The room was lined with jagged coral spires, their tips glinting with a faint blue light. At the center stood a figure, tall and imposing, his armor shimmering like liquid silver.
“Aquaeus,” Sona said, her voice sharp.
The commander of water turned, his trident gleaming in the dim light. His scaled armor flowed seamlessly into his skin, giving him the appearance of a creature born from the depths. His eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto the group.
“Well, well,” Aquaeus said, his voice carrying a mocking lilt. “The exiled queen returns to her ruined throne. How poetic.”
“Step aside,” Sona said, her baton crackling with energy. “You don’t have to die today.”
Aquaeus laughed, the sound echoing ominously through the chamber. “You misunderstand, my queen. I don’t serve Varunasura because I have to. I serve him because I believe in his vision. And if that means crushing you and your little band of misfits, so be it.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his gauntlets flaring. “You’re outnumbered, Aquaeus. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
Aquaeus raised his trident, the water around him rippling in response. “Outnumbered? No, Prithvi Rao. I’m exactly where I need to be.”
Before anyone could react, Aquaeus slammed his trident into the ground. The chamber shook violently, and walls of water erupted from the floor, separating Sona from the rest of the team.
“Sona!” Prithvi shouted, his fists slamming against the barrier. But the water held firm, its surface shimmering with a powerful energy.
“Focus on your own survival, Rao,” Aquaeus said, his gaze fixed on Sona. “The queen and I have unfinished business.”
Sona tightened her grip on her baton, her eyes narrowing. “If you wanted a fight, all you had to do was ask.”
Aquaeus lunged, his trident slicing through the water with terrifying speed. Sona dodged, the currents carrying her out of his reach. She countered with a strike from her baton, but Aquaeus parried effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise.
“You’ve gotten better,” he said, his tone almost mocking. “But you’re still no match for me.”
“We’ll see about that,” Sona replied, summoning a surge of water with the Ring of Chandra. The wave slammed into Aquaeus, driving him back, but he recovered quickly, his trident spinning in a deadly arc.
The two clashed again and again, their movements a blur as they danced through the chamber. Each strike was precise, each counter perfectly timed.
Outside the barrier, the team worked frantically to break through.
“Chanakya,” Prithvi said, his voice tense. “Options?”
“The barrier’s energy signature matches the trident,” the AI replied. “Disrupting the trident’s connection to the palace may weaken it.”
“So, we need to take him down,” Arjun said, his tone grim. “Great. Let’s just sit here and watch while Sona does all the work.”
“She’s buying us time,” Kaal said, his shadows probing the barrier for weaknesses. “Let’s make it count.”
Inside the barrier, Sona ducked under another strike, her baton sparking as it collided with Aquaeus’s armor. He grunted, the impact forcing him to retreat slightly.
“Not bad,” he admitted, his voice tinged with amusement. “But you’re still holding back.”
Sona’s eyes blazed. “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
She summoned another wave, this one larger and more powerful, and sent it crashing toward him. Aquaeus countered with a vortex of his own, the two forces colliding in a violent explosion of water and energy.
The force of the blast sent Sona tumbling backward, her baton slipping from her grasp. She scrambled to recover, but Aquaeus was already moving, his trident aimed directly at her.
At the last second, Sona activated the Ring of Chandra, the water around her hardening into a shield. Aquaeus’s trident struck the barrier, sending cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
“You’re stronger than I expected,” he said, his tone almost admiring. “But strength alone won’t save you.”
Sona gritted her teeth, her resolve hardening. “I don’t need saving.”
She surged forward, her shield shattering as she drove her baton into Aquaeus’s side. The energy discharge sent him reeling, giving her the opening she needed to press the attack.
The two warriors clashed once more, their movements a blur of speed and power. For a moment, it seemed as though Sona might gain the upper hand. But Aquaeus was relentless, his attacks growing more ferocious with each passing second.
Finally, he landed a brutal strike, his trident slamming into Sona’s shoulder and sending her crashing into the chamber wall. She cried out, the pain sharp and immediate.
Aquaeus approached slowly, his trident raised for the final blow. “Any last words, my queen?”
Sona glared up at him, her hand clutching the Ring of Chandra. “Yeah. Go to hell.”
The ring flared with a blinding light, and the water around her erupted in a massive surge. The force of the attack slammed into Aquaeus, driving him back and shattering the barrier that separated her from the team.
Prithvi and the others rushed in, their weapons drawn as they surrounded the weakened commander.
“You should’ve stayed down,” Arjun said, his blade glowing ominously.
Aquaeus grinned, blood dripping from his lips. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice defiant. Then, with a flick of his trident, he vanished into the depths.
Sona collapsed to her knees, her breathing ragged. Prithvi knelt beside her, his hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, though her expression was grim. “He’s stronger than I thought. If we don’t stop Varunasura soon…”
“We will,” Prithvi said, his voice firm. “Together.”
The team helped her to her feet, their resolve stronger than ever. The path to the throne room lay ahead, and they were ready to face whatever awaited them.
The tremors began subtly—just a faint shudder beneath their feet, easily mistaken for the aftermath of Sona’s battle with Aquaeus. But as the team regrouped, the vibrations grew more violent, shaking the coral-encrusted walls and sending cracks splintering through the floor.
Prithvi’s visor flashed with an alert. “Chanakya, what’s happening?”
The AI’s voice was calm but urgent. “The palace’s structural integrity is failing. Energy readings indicate that Varunasura’s corruption is destabilizing the wards. This collapse is imminent.”
“Perfect timing,” Arjun muttered, his grip on Vritra tightening.
“We need to move,” Sona said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her eyes. She glanced toward the corridor leading to the throne room, now obscured by falling debris. “If the palace falls, Varunasura won’t care who gets caught in the wreckage.”
The team sprinted down the hallway, their suits’ propulsion systems struggling against the chaos of the shifting currents. The walls buckled around them, sections of coral crumbling into the water. Strange shadows moved in the periphery—manifestations of the palace’s decaying defenses, their forms distorted by Varunasura’s influence.
“Energy signatures ahead,” Vikram called out, his gauntlet scanning the path forward. “Looks like more of those corrupted wards.”
“Great,” Kaal said, his voice laced with dry humor. “Because we didn’t have enough problems.”
The shadows coalesced into a massive figure blocking their path—a grotesque amalgamation of stone and coral, its glowing eyes fixed on the intruders.
“Looks like we’re not going anywhere until we deal with that,” Prithvi said, stepping forward as his gauntlets flared to life.
The creature lunged, its movements slow but devastatingly powerful. Prithvi dodged the first strike, countering with a blast of fire and earth that shattered part of its stony shell.
“Hit it hard and fast!” he shouted. “We don’t have time for a drawn-out fight.”
Arjun leapt onto the creature’s back, his blade carving glowing arcs into its surface. “You heard the man!” he said, driving Vritra deep into the beast’s core.
Sona darted beneath the creature, her plasma baton crackling as she struck its vulnerable joints. “Keep it off balance!” she called out.
The creature roared, its massive arms flailing as it tried to fend off the combined assault. Kaal’s tendrils wrapped around its legs, pulling it off-center and leaving it open for a final strike.
“Now!” Prithvi shouted, unleashing a concentrated blast that tore through the creature’s core. It disintegrated into a cloud of debris, the water swirling with the remnants of its form.
The team pressed on, the tremors growing more intense with each passing second. The once-majestic halls of the palace were now a maze of collapsing walls and rising currents, the water churning with debris.
“This place won’t hold much longer,” Vikram said, his voice tight. “We’re running out of time.”
“We’re close,” Sona said, her gaze fixed on the faint glow ahead. “The throne room is just beyond that corridor.”
A deafening crack echoed through the chamber as a massive section of the ceiling gave way, blocking their path with a wall of debris.
“Of course it is,” Arjun muttered, glaring at the obstruction.
Prithvi’s visor scanned the blockage, highlighting a narrow passage through the rubble. “We can make it through, but it’ll be tight. Kaal, can you clear a path?”
The shadows around Kaal surged, flowing into the cracks and prying the debris apart. “I can hold it,” he said, his voice strained. “But not for long.”
“Everyone, move!” Prithvi ordered.
One by one, the team slipped through the narrow opening, their movements hindered by the turbulence. Sona went last, her baton flickering as she kept watch for any more threats.
As they emerged on the other side, the sight before them made them freeze.
The throne room was a shadow of its former grandeur. Once a beacon of light and majesty, it was now a desolate ruin, its crystal pillars warped and twisted by Varunasura’s corruption. The throne itself stood at the center, a jagged, coral-encrusted mockery of its former beauty.
And yet, the energy emanating from the room was staggering. The air—if it could even be called that—pulsed with raw power, the currents swirling chaotically as if the ocean itself was alive.
“This is it,” Sona said, her voice barely audible. “The heart of the palace.”
“And Varunasura’s playground,” Arjun added, his tone grim.
A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the water around them began to glow faintly. Sona’s hand went to the Ring of Chandra, its energy pulsing in response.
“He knows we’re here,” she said, her grip tightening.
Prithvi stepped forward, his voice firm. “Then let’s make this count. We stop him here, or everything we’ve done means nothing.”
The team exchanged nods, their resolve unwavering despite the chaos around them. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but they were ready to face it—together.
As the tremors grew stronger, the throne room seemed to come alive, its corrupted energy building toward a climactic eruption. The final confrontation was at hand.
The throne room seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, its walls shimmering with veins of glowing coral. The water felt heavier here, dense with the power radiating from the corrupted wards that surrounded the jagged throne.
Prithvi scanned the room, his visor highlighting multiple energy signatures. “This isn’t just corruption,” he said, his voice tense. “Varunasura’s turned this place into a fortress.”
“And a trap,” Kaal added, his shadowy form blending into the dim light. “Those wards aren’t just for show. They’re feeding off the palace’s power—and ours.”
Sona’s eyes narrowed as she stepped forward, her hand brushing against one of the coral-encrusted pillars. “This was a place of peace,” she murmured, her voice tinged with anger. “Now it’s a weapon.”
“Then let’s disarm it,” Arjun said, Vritra flaring to life in his hand. “Starting with whatever’s sitting on that throne.”
As if on cue, the throne began to glow, its jagged edges crackling with energy. From the shadows behind it, a figure emerged—a massive, serpentine creature cloaked in swirling water and coral armor. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence and malice, and in its clawed hand, it held the Ring of Chandra, its light twisted and dim.
“You’ve come far, little queen,” the creature said, its voice echoing through the chamber like the roar of the tide. “But you are too late. This throne, this ring, this power—they belong to me now.”
“Aquaeus,” Sona said, her grip tightening on her plasma baton.
The commander smirked, his scaled face twisting into a cruel grin. “I told you before, my queen. You cannot reclaim what you’ve lost. The ocean belongs to Varunasura. And soon, so will the rest of your pathetic world.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his gauntlets glowing with elemental energy. “You’re not keeping that ring,” he said, his voice firm. “Not while we’re still standing.”
Aquaeus laughed, the sound resonating through the water. “Then let’s see how long you last.”
With a flick of his trident, the room came alive. Coral tendrils shot from the walls, their jagged edges slicing through the water as they lashed out at the team. The wards on the throne flared, creating barriers of swirling energy that blocked their approach.
“Split up!” Prithvi shouted, dodging a tendril as it crashed into the ground where he’d been standing. “Keep him distracted!”
Arjun charged forward, Vritra cutting through the coral tendrils with ease. “You want to play rough?” he said, his grin sharp. “Let’s go.”
Kaal moved through the shadows, his tendrils wrapping around the barriers and pulling them apart piece by piece. “These wards are strong,” he said, his voice strained. “But not unbreakable.”
Vikram stayed near the edge of the room, his gauntlet projecting streams of data as he analyzed the wards. “The barriers are linked to the throne,” he called out. “If we take it out, the whole system collapses.”
“Then we focus on the throne,” Prithvi said, unleashing a blast of fire and lightning at Aquaeus. The attack struck the commander’s armor, sending a ripple of energy through his form, but he barely flinched.
Sona moved with purpose, her connection to the water guiding her through the chaos. The Ring of Chandra pulsed faintly on Aquaeus’s hand, its light flickering as if calling to her.
“This ring isn’t yours,” she said, her voice cutting through the din.
Aquaeus turned to her, his expression darkening. “You think you deserve it? You, who let your kingdom fall?”
Sona’s eyes blazed. “I didn’t let it fall. You took it. And now I’m taking it back.”
She surged forward, her baton crackling with energy as she struck at Aquaeus. He parried with his trident, their weapons clashing in a burst of light.
The two engaged in a brutal duel, their movements a blur as they fought across the chamber. Aquaeus’s attacks were precise and relentless, but Sona matched him blow for blow, her determination unyielding.
“You’re stronger than before,” Aquaeus admitted, his tone almost grudging. “But strength alone won’t save you.”
Sona dodged a sweeping strike, her baton slamming into his armored side. “It’s not just about strength,” she said. “It’s about what I’m fighting for.”
She summoned a surge of water with the Ring of Chandra, the wave crashing into Aquaeus and driving him back.
Prithvi and Arjun took advantage of the opening, their combined attacks shattering the remaining barriers around the throne. The room shook violently as the wards began to fail, their energy dissipating into the water.
Aquaeus staggered, his grip on the ring faltering. Sona seized the moment, her baton striking his hand with pinpoint precision. The Ring of Chandra slipped from his grasp, its light flaring as it returned to her.
The moment her hand closed around the ring, a surge of power coursed through her. The water around her came alive, swirling with renewed energy as the throne room began to collapse.
Aquaeus snarled, his form flickering as the wards’ power drained away. “This isn’t over,” he growled, his voice filled with venom.
Sona met his gaze, her expression fierce. “Yes, it is.”
She unleashed a massive wave, the force of it slamming into Aquaeus and sending him crashing into the far wall. His trident clattered to the ground, its glow fading as he disappeared into the shadows.
The team regrouped as the throne room began to crumble around them.
“We need to move!” Prithvi shouted, his thrusters flaring as he led the way toward the exit.
Sona glanced back at the ruined throne, a flicker of emotion crossing her face. Then she turned and followed the team, the Ring of Chandra glowing brightly on her hand.
The palace collapsed behind them, its ancient walls consumed by the ocean. But as the team emerged into the open water, the storm began to calm, the first sign that the tide was finally turning.