The first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, painting the rugged mountain peaks in soft hues of gold and crimson. The air was crisp and carried the faint scent of moss and damp stone. Shrivayu leaned against a rock, watching Taraksha tinker with the glider.
“You sure that thing’s going to hold all three of us?” Shrivayu asked, his tail swishing idly behind him.
Taraksha didn’t look up from his work, his small claws deftly tightening a loose bolt on one of the glider’s wings. “Relax, Shrivayu. I upgraded the engine last night. It can handle the weight.”
Karvata, standing a few paces away, raised an eyebrow. “Your machine may hold, mongoose, but if it fails, I will not.” He rested his massive stone club against his shoulder, his tusks catching the morning light.
Shrivayu smirked. “I think what he’s saying is he doesn’t trust your flying, Taraksha.”
Taraksha straightened, pushing his goggles up onto his forehead. “I’m the best pilot you’ll find in these parts. If you’ve got a better way to cross the canyon, be my guest.”
Karvata didn’t reply. Instead, he stepped forward, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the glider. Shrivayu raised an eyebrow, wondering if Karvata was about to crush the machine with a single swipe of his club.
But the boar guardian simply placed a hand on the glider’s frame, his sharp eyes inspecting it closely. “Your craft is sound,” he said finally. “But speed alone will not protect us if Rayankar’s forces attack.”
Taraksha rolled his eyes. “You guardians and your ‘strength and balance’ speeches. Trust me, big guy, I’ve got this.”
Shrivayu laughed, clapping Taraksha on the back. “Alright, let’s not waste daylight. The faster we get to the next relic, the less chance Rayankar has to mess things up.”
Karvata nodded, stepping onto the glider with surprising grace for someone his size. The platform creaked under his weight but held steady. Shrivayu hopped on next, perching on the edge with his tail flicking eagerly. Taraksha climbed into the pilot’s seat, adjusting the controls as the glider’s engine whirred to life.
The machine hummed softly, its blades spinning faster until the wind caught beneath its wings. With a lurch, the glider lifted off the ground, carrying the trio into the open sky.
The world below unfolded like a living tapestry. Jagged cliffs gave way to sprawling forests, their emerald canopies dotted with bursts of wildflowers. Rivers carved winding paths through the landscape, their surfaces sparkling like liquid silver.
Shrivayu leaned over the edge, letting the wind whip through his fur. “Now this,” he said with a grin, “is how you travel.”
Taraksha chuckled from the pilot’s seat. “Told you it’d hold.”
Karvata, standing in the center of the platform, remained silent. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon, his grip tightening on his club.
“We’re not alone,” he said suddenly.
Shrivayu straightened, his grin fading. “What do you mean?”
Karvata pointed toward a distant ridge. Shrivayu followed his gaze and saw them—small, glinting shapes rising from the treetops like birds of prey.
“Drones,” Taraksha muttered, his voice tense. He adjusted the controls, steering the glider into a shallow dive.
The drones—Skyhawks—spread out in formation, their sleek, angular frames catching the sunlight. Each one was armed with mounted cannons that glowed faintly blue, and their movements were sharp and precise, like synchronized dancers in the sky.
“They’re tracking us,” Karvata said. “Rayankar knows we’re here.”
“Good,” Shrivayu said, cracking his knuckles. “I was starting to get bored.”
Taraksha shot him a look. “If you could wait to start showing off until we’re not airborne, that’d be great.”
The Skyhawks closed in, their glowing cannons swiveling toward the glider. Taraksha yanked the controls, sending the craft into a sharp roll just as the first volley of energy bolts streaked past.
“Hang on!” Taraksha shouted, pulling the glider into a steep climb.
The wind roared around them as the glider shot upward, narrowly avoiding another barrage. Shrivayu gripped the edge of the platform, his tail whipping in the turbulence.
“Alright, mongoose,” Shrivayu called over the wind. “Tell me you’ve got a plan.”
Taraksha grinned, pulling a lever on the dashboard. “Always.”
With a sharp click, two compartments on the glider’s underside opened, releasing a pair of small, spherical devices. The spheres fell into the path of the pursuing drones and detonated, releasing bursts of blinding light.
The Skyhawks faltered, their sensors overwhelmed. One spun out of control, crashing into the treetops below.
“Not bad,” Shrivayu said, bracing himself as Taraksha leveled the glider. “But they’re still coming.”
The remaining drones regrouped, their cannons glowing brighter as they adjusted their formation. Karvata stepped forward, gripping his club tightly.
“Bring us closer,” he said.
“Closer?” Taraksha repeated, incredulous. “Are you trying to get us killed?”
Karvata didn’t answer. Instead, he planted his feet firmly on the platform and raised his club, the runes on its surface glowing faintly green.
Shrivayu’s eyes widened. “You’re not seriously thinking—”
Before he could finish, Karvata swung his club with incredible force. The wind howled as the weapon struck the air, sending a shockwave toward the drones. The force disrupted their flight patterns, causing two of them to collide and explode in midair.
“Whoa,” Shrivayu muttered, staring at Karvata in awe. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
The last drone adjusted, rising above the shockwave. It fired a concentrated energy bolt that streaked toward the glider.
Taraksha yanked the controls, but the bolt clipped one of the wings, sending the craft into a sharp descent.
“We’re hit!” Taraksha shouted, frantically adjusting the controls.
The glider wobbled, its engine sputtering. Shrivayu clung to the edge, his mind racing.
“Taraksha, stabilize it!” Karvata commanded.
“I’m trying!” Taraksha snapped, his hands flying over the controls.
The ground rushed toward them, the forest canopy looming closer. Shrivayu braced himself, his tail flicking anxiously.
“Hang on!” Taraksha yelled.
The glider crashed through the trees, branches snapping as it skidded to a halt in a clearing. The trio tumbled onto the ground, the damaged craft hissing faintly behind them.
Shrivayu groaned, pushing himself to his feet. “Well, that was fun.”
Karvata stood, brushing dirt from his fur. “Rayankar will not stop. We must move quickly.”
Taraksha sighed, inspecting the damaged glider. “She’s not flying again anytime soon. We’re on foot from here.”
Shrivayu grinned, stretching his legs. “Fine by me. I’m faster on the ground anyway.”
With the mountains rising before them and danger lurking in the shadows, the trio set off once more, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders.
The forest grew denser as the trio trekked further from the crash site, the towering trees forming a labyrinth of moss-covered trunks and intertwining roots. Shafts of sunlight pierced the canopy in thin, wavering beams, but much of the ground was cloaked in shadow.
Shrivayu moved with ease, his steps light and silent as he weaved through the trees. Taraksha followed close behind, muttering under his breath as he adjusted a small, palm-sized device—a makeshift scanner cobbled together from salvaged parts of the glider. Karvata brought up the rear, his massive frame surprisingly quiet for his size.
“This scanner will pick up any energy signatures nearby,” Taraksha said, not looking up as he fiddled with the device. “If Rayankar’s drones are close, we’ll know before they show up.”
Shrivayu glanced back at him, his tail flicking lazily. “You’re assuming those tin cans don’t already know where we are.”
Taraksha smirked. “I like to think I’m one step ahead of them.”
Karvata’s deep voice rumbled from behind. “Do not rely solely on machines, mongoose. The forest speaks to those who listen.”
Taraksha rolled his eyes. “The forest can’t detect advanced tech, big guy.”
Shrivayu chuckled, but the sound was cut short as the wind shifted abruptly, carrying with it a faint, mechanical hum. He froze, his ears twitching.
“Speaking of advanced tech,” he whispered, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows.
The hum grew louder, joined by the faint rustle of disturbed leaves. Above them, the sunlight dimmed as dark shapes passed overhead. Shrivayu’s tail lashed nervously.
“They’re here,” he said, crouching low.
From the canopy above, the Skyhawks emerged, their sleek frames slicing through the air with predatory precision. There were more this time—at least five—and they fanned out in a coordinated formation, their cannons glowing faintly.
Taraksha hissed under his breath, clutching his scanner. “They’re scanning for the fragment.”
Karvata stepped forward, his tusks catching the dappled light. “Then we must not let them succeed.”
Shrivayu grinned, crouching into a runner’s stance. “I’ve got the fast ones. You two handle the rest.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Taraksha warned, already digging into his tool belt for something useful.
The first Skyhawk dove, its cannons spinning to life as it fired a volley of energy blasts. Shrivayu darted forward, his movements a blur as he dodged the bolts with ease. He leapt onto a fallen tree trunk, using it as a springboard to launch himself into the air.
“Over here, birdbrain!” he yelled, twisting midair to grab a low-hanging vine.
The Skyhawk adjusted its course, following him with unerring precision. Shrivayu swung from the vine, landing lightly on another tree trunk before sprinting deeper into the forest. The drone pursued, its glowing eyes locked onto the fragment in his sash.
Meanwhile, Taraksha flung a small disc toward another Skyhawk. The disc adhered to the drone’s wing and emitted a sharp burst of static, scrambling its systems. The drone wobbled in midair, its movements jerky as it spiraled downward and crashed into the undergrowth.
“Got one!” Taraksha called, grinning.
Karvata didn’t respond. The boar guardian stood his ground, waiting as a pair of Skyhawks swooped toward him. At the last moment, he swung his massive stone club, the force of the strike sending one drone crashing into a tree. The other veered sharply, its cannons firing wildly.
“Careful with those blasts!” Taraksha shouted, ducking behind a tree as a stray bolt singed the bark.
Shrivayu, still leading his pursuer on a wild chase, skidded to a stop near a shallow stream. The Skyhawk fired again, but Shrivayu leapt to the side, the blast gouging a smoking crater in the earth.
“Alright, your turn,” Shrivayu muttered, gripping a loose rock. He hurled it at the drone, striking its sensor. The Skyhawk faltered, its aim shifting as it recalibrated. Shrivayu took the opportunity to sprint toward a nearby tree, scaling it with practiced ease.
From his vantage point, he spotted the remaining Skyhawks regrouping. His eyes narrowed.
“Hey, Taraksha!” he called, balancing on a branch. “You got any more of those fancy bombs?”
Taraksha rummaged through his belt, pulling out a small orb with blinking lights. “Last one!” he yelled, tossing it up to Shrivayu.
Catching the orb, Shrivayu grinned. “Let’s see how they like this.”
He leapt from the branch, the wind swirling around him as he hurled the bomb into the midst of the Skyhawks. The orb detonated midair, releasing a shockwave of compressed wind that sent the drones tumbling. Two of them crashed into the trees, their frames sparking as they hit the ground.
The last Skyhawk hovered unsteadily, its frame dented but operational. It turned toward Shrivayu, its glowing eyes narrowing.
“Stubborn, aren’t you?” Shrivayu muttered.
Before the drone could fire, Karvata appeared behind it, his club raised high. With a single, powerful swing, he smashed the Skyhawk to the ground, its body crumpling under the impact.
The forest fell silent, the echoes of battle fading into the distance. Shrivayu landed lightly beside Karvata, brushing dirt from his fur.
“Nice swing,” he said, grinning.
Karvata nodded, his expression grim. “Rayankar’s forces are relentless. We must move quickly.”
Taraksha jogged over, adjusting his goggles. “They’re scanning for the fragment. It’s only a matter of time before they send more.”
Shrivayu’s grin faltered as he glanced at the glowing fragment in his sash. “Then let’s not stick around. We’ve got a relic to find.”
With the forest quiet once more, the trio pressed onward, the weight of their mission growing heavier with each step.
The forest thinned as the trio pressed forward, the dense undergrowth giving way to rocky terrain. The looming peaks of the mountains seemed closer now, their jagged edges silhouetted against the pale blue sky. A faint wind whispered through the valley, carrying with it the scent of stone and rain.
Shrivayu led the way, his movements swift and sure as he navigated the uneven ground. Taraksha followed close behind, muttering under his breath as he adjusted his scanner, which now emitted a faint, rhythmic beep. Karvata brought up the rear, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of movement.
“Anything on that fancy gadget of yours?” Shrivayu asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Taraksha frowned, tapping the side of the scanner. “It’s picking up faint energy signatures—probably relic-related. If we’re close to the temple, the core fragment is still active.”
“Good,” Shrivayu said. “I’d rather deal with ancient traps than more of Rayankar’s flying junk.”
Karvata’s deep voice cut through the air. “Do not underestimate the trials of the temple, Vanara. The relic it guards is not for the faint of heart.”
Shrivayu smirked. “Good thing I’ve got plenty of heart, huh?”
Taraksha rolled his eyes. “And just enough brain to stay alive. Barely.”
Before Shrivayu could respond, the scanner let out a sharp beep, its lights flashing red. Taraksha stopped abruptly, his ears twitching.
“Uh… that’s not good,” he said, his voice tense.
Shrivayu froze, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. The faint hum of machinery reached his ears, growing louder with each passing second.
“Drones?” Shrivayu asked, his tail flicking nervously.
Taraksha shook his head. “Worse.”
From the shadows of the valley emerged a massive machine, its body glinting in the sunlight. The Excavator Mech towered over the landscape, its legs reinforced with thick, plated armor. A massive drill arm jutted from its right side, spinning with a menacing whir. Its left arm ended in a claw-like appendage, each finger tipped with serrated edges.
The machine’s head, shaped like a blunt triangle, swiveled toward them, its single glowing lens narrowing as it locked onto its targets. The faint whir of smaller drones accompanied the mech as two Earthsplitter Drones emerged from its sides, their smaller frames built for speed and precision.
Shrivayu let out a low whistle. “Rayankar really doesn’t know when to quit, does he?”
Taraksha took a step back, his hands instinctively reaching for his tool belt. “We’re not equipped to take that thing down.”
Karvata stepped forward, gripping his massive club. “It matters not. We stand, or we fall.”
The Excavator Mech let out a deafening roar as its drill spun faster, sending chunks of rock flying. The Earthsplitter Drones darted ahead, their movements quick and erratic as they circled the group like predators.
Shrivayu crouched, his muscles coiled like springs. “Alright, big guy,” he said, glancing at Karvata. “You handle the drill. Taraksha, see if you can disable those little ones. I’ll keep it distracted.”
Karvata nodded, his tusks gleaming as he stepped forward. Taraksha hesitated, muttering, “This is a terrible idea,” before rummaging through his belt for another gadget.
The Earthsplitter Drones struck first, their claws slashing through the air. Shrivayu darted forward, his movements a blur as he dodged the first attack. He leapt onto a nearby rock, using it as a springboard to launch himself at the nearest drone.
“Hey! Over here!” he shouted, grabbing its attention.
The drone swiveled toward him, its claws extending with a sharp hiss. Shrivayu grinned, darting backward and leading it away from the others. The second drone followed, its movements quick and precise.
Karvata, meanwhile, charged toward the Excavator Mech, his massive frame moving with surprising speed. The mech swung its clawed arm, but Karvata ducked low, the wind from the strike ruffling his fur. With a powerful roar, he slammed his club into the mech’s leg, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground.
The mech staggered, its drill arm lowering as it recalibrated. Karvata seized the opportunity, swinging his club again and striking the joint of its leg. Sparks flew as metal bent and groaned under the force of the blow.
Taraksha worked quickly, attaching a small, blinking device to the nearest Earthsplitter Drone. “That should slow you down,” he muttered, leaping back as the device emitted a burst of static. The drone jerked, its movements faltering as its systems scrambled.
Shrivayu led the second drone toward a narrow ravine, the wind propelling him forward as he darted between the rocks. The drone pursued relentlessly, its claws scraping against the stone walls. Shrivayu glanced over his shoulder, his grin widening.
“Let’s see how good your reflexes are,” he muttered, darting to the side just as the drone lunged.
The machine’s momentum carried it forward, its claws sinking into the rock. Before it could recover, Shrivayu kicked off the wall, flipping over the drone and landing behind it. With a sharp tug, he yanked a panel from its back, exposing a tangle of glowing wires.
“Night-night,” he said, slamming the panel into the wires.
The drone sputtered and collapsed, its glowing eyes dimming. Shrivayu dusted off his hands, turning back toward the battlefield.
Karvata continued to hammer the Excavator Mech, his blows relentless. The machine roared, its drill arm spinning wildly as it tried to regain its footing. Taraksha flung another gadget, this one releasing a cloud of smoke that obscured the mech’s sensors.
“Shrivayu!” Taraksha called. “We need a finishing move!”
Shrivayu grinned, sprinting toward the mech. “On it!”
The wind howled as he leapt onto the machine’s arm, his claws finding purchase on its smooth surface. He scaled the mech with practiced ease, reaching its head just as its glowing lens flared red.
“Too late, buckethead!” Shrivayu yelled, pulling the fragment from his sash.
The fragment’s glow intensified as Shrivayu slammed it into the mech’s sensor. The machine let out a deafening screech, its systems overloading as energy surged through its frame. Sparks flew, and the mech staggered backward, its massive frame teetering on the edge of the ravine.
“Karvata, now!” Shrivayu shouted.
The boar guardian roared, delivering a final, earth-shaking blow to the mech’s leg. The machine toppled, its weight pulling it over the edge of the ravine. It disappeared into the depths, a massive explosion shaking the ground as it hit bottom.
Shrivayu landed lightly beside Karvata, panting but grinning. “Well, that was fun.”
Karvata nodded, his tusks gleaming in the fading light. “You fought well, Shrivayu. But this is only the beginning.”
Taraksha jogged over, adjusting his goggles. “Next time, let’s avoid the part where we almost die.”
Shrivayu laughed, clapping him on the back. “Where’s the fun in that?”
As the trio turned toward the looming mountains, the faint glow of the temple entrance appeared in the distance, marking the next step in their journey.
The temple stood at the heart of a rocky plateau, its towering stone spires etched with ancient carvings. Glowing veins of green light pulsed faintly along the temple walls, casting eerie patterns on the ground. The air here felt charged, humming softly as if the temple itself was alive.
Shrivayu, Taraksha, and Karvata climbed the final stretch of the rocky path, the glow of the temple drawing them onward. Shrivayu’s tail flicked nervously as they approached the massive archway that marked the entrance.
“Well,” Shrivayu said, his voice low, “this place definitely screams ‘important relic inside.’”
Taraksha adjusted his goggles, squinting at the carvings on the archway. “These symbols… they’re ancient. Pre-dynastic. The whole structure’s probably been standing here for centuries, maybe longer.”
Karvata stepped forward, his tusks gleaming in the faint light. “The temple was built to guard the Prithvi Shakti Core, a relic of immense power. Only those deemed worthy may enter.”
Shrivayu smirked. “Good thing I’ve got you two with me, huh?”
Karvata’s eyes narrowed. “This is no jest, Vanara. The temple’s guardian will not allow passage lightly. Prepare yourself.”
As if on cue, the ground beneath their feet rumbled, sending loose stones skittering down the path. Shrivayu tensed, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows within the archway.
From the darkness emerged a massive figure, its body seemingly carved from the very stone of the temple itself. The Stone Guardian was humanoid in shape, standing at least twice the height of Karvata. Its rough, angular frame was covered in glowing runes, each one pulsing faintly with the same green light that coursed through the temple walls. Its eyes, hollow and unblinking, glowed like twin emeralds.
The guardian raised one massive arm, its fingers curling into a fist. The air around it seemed to hum with power as it stepped forward, its movements slow but deliberate.
“Who seeks passage into the sacred temple?” the guardian intoned, its voice resonating like thunder.
Shrivayu stepped forward, his usual grin faltering under the creature’s imposing presence. “Uh, hi there. Name’s Shrivayu. We’re here to… protect the relic?”
The guardian tilted its head, the runes on its body flaring brighter. “The Prithvi Shakti Core is not to be disturbed. Prove your worth, or leave this place.”
Karvata gripped his club tightly, his expression grim. “The trial is inevitable. Stand ready.”
Shrivayu sighed, rolling his shoulders. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
The guardian’s eyes flared, and the ground trembled as it raised both arms. With a deafening crash, it slammed its fists into the earth, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Shrivayu leapt into the air, the wind carrying him to safety as Taraksha and Karvata dove to the side.
“Big guy means business!” Shrivayu called, landing lightly on a nearby boulder.
Taraksha fumbled with his tool belt, pulling out a small, blinking device. “We need to hit it where it’s weakest—look for cracks in the stone!”
Karvata charged forward, his massive frame a blur as he swung his club at the guardian’s leg. The impact sent shards of stone flying, but the guardian barely flinched. It turned toward Karvata, its glowing eyes narrowing.
With a low, rumbling growl, the guardian raised one arm and brought it down in a sweeping arc. Karvata ducked, the wind from the strike ruffling his fur, and countered with another swing of his club. This time, the runes on the guardian’s leg dimmed slightly.
“Focus on the runes!” Karvata shouted. “They are the source of its strength!”
Shrivayu darted forward, weaving between the guardian’s massive legs. He spotted a cluster of glowing runes near its left knee and grinned. “Got it!”
The wind swirled around him as he leapt onto the guardian’s leg, his claws finding purchase on the rough stone. The runes pulsed brighter as the guardian shifted, trying to shake him off.
“Keep it steady!” Shrivayu yelled, clinging tightly.
Karvata roared, slamming his club into the guardian’s other leg. The blow sent cracks spidering across the stone, and the guardian stumbled, its movements slowing.
“Now!” Taraksha shouted, tossing the blinking device to Shrivayu.
Catching it mid-leap, Shrivayu pressed the device against the cluster of runes. The gadget hummed, emitting a sharp burst of energy that sent cracks radiating through the guardian’s frame. The runes flickered, their glow dimming.
The guardian let out a deep, echoing groan as it staggered backward. It raised one arm, as if to strike, but the cracks in its body spread rapidly, and the runes finally went dark.
With a final, resounding crash, the Stone Guardian collapsed, its massive form breaking apart into lifeless rubble.
Shrivayu landed lightly beside Karvata, brushing dust from his fur. “Well, that wasn’t so bad.”
Karvata nodded, his tusks glinting. “You fought well, Shrivayu. The guardian’s defeat proves your worth… for now.”
Taraksha approached, inspecting the fallen guardian with a mix of awe and relief. “I can’t believe we actually took that thing down. Those runes must’ve been ancient tech, powered by the temple’s energy.”
Shrivayu smirked, patting Taraksha on the back. “Yeah, yeah, save the lecture. Let’s grab the relic and get out of here before more surprises show up.”
The trio stepped through the archway, the glow of the temple intensifying as they ventured deeper inside. The air grew heavier with each step, the hum of ancient power resonating through the stone walls.
At the heart of the temple, a pedestal stood bathed in green light. Resting atop it was the Prithvi Shakti Core, its surface gleaming like polished jade. The relic pulsed faintly, its energy radiating outward in gentle waves.
Shrivayu approached cautiously, the fragment in his sash glowing brighter in response. “So… this is it,” he said, his voice low.
Karvata stepped forward, his expression reverent. “The Prithvi Shakti Core. Its power must not fall into the wrong hands.”
Taraksha scanned the room, his goggles reflecting the green light. “No sign of traps, but we should be quick. If Rayankar’s drones followed us here, we don’t have much time.”
Shrivayu nodded, reaching out to touch the core. The instant his fingers brushed its surface, a surge of energy rippled through the room, and the walls began to tremble.
“Uh, guys?” Shrivayu said, glancing around. “I think I triggered something.”
The sound of distant whirring reached their ears, growing louder by the second.
“Drones,” Karvata growled, gripping his club.
Shrivayu grabbed the core, tucking it into his sash alongside the fragment. “Time to run!”
With the relic secured, the trio turned and sprinted toward the temple’s entrance, the sound of Rayankar’s forces closing in.
The temple shook violently as the trio dashed through its ancient halls, the glow of the Prithvi Shakti Core radiating from Shrivayu’s sash. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling, and the rhythmic hum of Rayankar’s machines grew louder with every step.
“They’re cutting through the walls!” Taraksha yelled, glancing at his scanner as he ran. “Multiple signatures—at least a dozen drones. And something big!”
Shrivayu’s tail flicked anxiously. “Great. Just what we needed—more toys from Boltbrain’s workshop.”
Karvata, running ahead with his stone club resting across his shoulders, glanced back. “If we are surrounded, fight with precision. Focus your strikes. Rayankar’s forces may be many, but their strength is fragmented.”
“I’ll focus on not getting squashed, thanks,” Shrivayu muttered, leaping over a fallen pillar as the main entrance came into view.
The trio burst through the temple’s archway and onto the plateau, where the first signs of Rayankar’s assault greeted them. A swarm of Earthsplitter Drones hovered just beyond the entrance, their compact frames illuminated by the glow of the temple’s energy veins. Behind them, the ground trembled as a massive, tank-like machine rolled into view: the Excavator Mark II, its reinforced drill arm spinning menacingly.
Perched atop the Excavator was a tall, shadowy figure wrapped in a crimson coat that flared dramatically in the wind. His bald head gleamed in the sunlight, and his sharp mustache twitched as he surveyed the scene.
“Shrivayu!” the figure called, his voice dripping with mockery. “How nice of you to retrieve the relic for me. Saves me the trouble of tearing this place apart.”
Shrivayu skidded to a halt, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Rayankar. Still compensating for something with all these mechs?”
Dr. Rayankar’s thin smile widened, his hands clasped behind his back. “You’re as insufferable as ever, little Vanara. But it matters not. The Prithvi Shakti Core belongs to me now.” He gestured toward the drones, which swarmed forward like a flock of metal crows.
“Not today!” Shrivayu shouted, darting to the side as the first volley of energy blasts streaked toward him.
Karvata roared, charging into the fray with his club raised high. He brought it down with a thunderous crash, shattering two drones in a single swing. Taraksha darted between the rocks, flinging small, blinking devices that scrambled the drones’ targeting systems.
Shrivayu moved like a blur, the wind carrying him effortlessly through the battlefield. He darted between the drones, baiting them into firing at him before leaping onto the Excavator’s treads.
“Hey, Boltbrain!” Shrivayu shouted, climbing toward the machine’s cockpit. “Why don’t you come down here and fight me yourself?”
Rayankar arched an eyebrow, his smile never faltering. “Why waste my time when my creations can handle you?”
As if on cue, the Excavator’s drill arm whirred to life, spinning dangerously close to Shrivayu. He yelped, leaping clear as the massive drill gouged a deep trench into the ground.
“Guess I’ll handle it myself,” Shrivayu muttered, landing beside Taraksha.
Taraksha was busy disabling another drone, his scanner lighting up with red alerts. “We’ve got a problem!” he yelled, tossing a scrambled drone aside.
“Just one?” Shrivayu quipped.
Taraksha pointed to the Excavator’s rear, where a glowing compartment pulsed with faint green light. “The mech’s drawing energy directly from the temple! It’s using the Prithvi Shakti Core’s power!”
Shrivayu’s grin vanished. “So, we stop the mech, or the temple gets drained?”
“Exactly,” Taraksha said, adjusting his goggles.
Karvata joined them, his tusks glinting as he surveyed the battlefield. “The machine’s energy core is its weakness. Strike it directly, and its power will fail.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Shrivayu said, flexing his fingers. “Let’s make it happen.”
The trio split up. Karvata charged head-on, drawing the drones’ attention with a thunderous roar. He swung his club in wide arcs, smashing the mechanical foes with practiced precision. Taraksha darted through the chaos, planting small explosives on the Excavator’s legs to slow its movements.
Shrivayu sprinted toward the rear of the machine, the wind propelling him forward. The glowing compartment came into view, its energy output fluctuating as the temple’s power coursed through it.
“Almost there,” Shrivayu muttered, leaping onto the Excavator’s treads.
Rayankar noticed the movement, his smug expression faltering. “Stop him!” he barked, slamming his fist against a control panel.
The remaining drones swarmed toward Shrivayu, their cannons firing in rapid bursts. He dodged with ease, flipping and twisting as the wind carried him higher. Reaching the glowing compartment, he pulled the fragment from his sash, its energy resonating with the mech’s core.
“Alright, let’s see how you like this,” Shrivayu said, slamming the fragment into the compartment’s control panel.
The reaction was immediate. The compartment’s glow intensified, and the Excavator shuddered violently. Sparks flew as its systems overloaded, the green energy surging uncontrollably.
“Get clear!” Taraksha yelled, his voice barely audible over the screeching of metal.
Shrivayu leapt from the machine just as it exploded in a burst of green light. The shockwave knocked him off balance, but the wind cushioned his fall, and he landed lightly on the ground.
The battlefield fell silent as the remnants of the Excavator smoldered, its drones lying in shattered heaps around it.
Rayankar, standing atop the wreckage, dusted off his coat and glared down at the trio. “Impressive,” he said, his voice cold. “But don’t think this is over. The relics will be mine.”
With a sharp gesture, Rayankar pressed a button on his wristband, summoning a sleek, bird-like aircraft. He stepped onto its platform as it hovered beside him, casting one final glare at the group before disappearing into the clouds.
Shrivayu collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. “Well, that was fun,” he said, his grin returning.
Karvata nodded, his expression grim. “Rayankar will return, stronger and more prepared. We must move quickly.”
Taraksha adjusted his goggles, staring at the temple’s glowing walls. “There’s more to this than just the core. If Rayankar’s already tapping into its power, we’re running out of time.”
Shrivayu stood, brushing dirt from his fur. He glanced at the Prithvi Shakti Core in his sash, its light dim but steady.
“Then let’s not waste it,” he said, his tail flicking determinedly. “What’s next?”
Karvata gestured toward the distant peaks. “The next guardian. If we are to protect the Navaniddhis, we must seek their wisdom.”
As the trio set off into the mountains, the weight of their mission grew heavier, but so did their resolve. The fight against Rayankar was just beginning.
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