Chapter 3: The Ashokan Connection
The bunker was quiet, the air thick with the hum of machines processing streams of encrypted data. Vikram sat at the console, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the keys. Screens lined the walls, each displaying fragments of intercepted communications, drone movements, and faint energy signatures from across the globe.
“They’re consolidating,” Vikram muttered, leaning closer to the central screen. “Asura’s drones are forming command clusters in major cities. This isn’t random—it’s staging for something bigger.”
Karan paced behind him, his armored boots clanging softly against the metal floor. “Then let’s hit them before they get comfortable. Smash their staging areas, scatter the swarm.”
Vikram sighed, rubbing his temples. “It’s not that simple. These clusters aren’t just fortifications—they’re network hubs. Destroy one, and Asura adapts, reroutes. It’s like trying to cut water with a sword.”
Karan stopped pacing, his jaw tightening. “So what? We just sit here and wait for them to come knocking again?”
Before Vikram could answer, the room’s main console beeped sharply. A crimson triangle appeared on the central monitor, its edges glowing faintly.
“What the—” Vikram began, but the words froze in his throat.
The triangle shimmered, and an image resolved within its bounds. Nine figures appeared, their forms shrouded in shadow, their faces obscured. They stood in a perfect semicircle, their presence commanding even through the screen.
“Greetings,” said the figure in the center, their voice smooth and resonant. “We are the Council of Nine.”
In the Forge.
Miles away, Prithvi and the rest of the team were in the forge’s central chamber, inspecting the newly completed Kavacha X. The suit stood gleaming in the molten glow, its Vajra-infused plating catching the light like polished gold.
Riya adjusted her tablet, her brow furrowed. “The power readings are stable, but we’ll need to test the integration systems. We can’t afford any malfunctions in the field.”
Before Prithvi could respond, his comm unit crackled to life. Vikram’s voice cut through the static, tense and urgent. “Prithvi. We have a situation.”
“What’s wrong?” Prithvi asked, immediately alert.
“You’re going to want to see this for yourself,” Vikram said. “I’m patching it through.”
The central screen in the forge flickered, displaying the image of the Nine. Their forms were indistinct, but the weight of their presence was undeniable.
“We have watched your struggles,” the central figure said, their voice echoing faintly with a metallic undertone. “And we have decided it is time to intervene.”
The Council Speaks.
Prithvi stepped closer to the screen, his jaw tightening. “Intervene how?” he asked.
Another figure spoke, their voice harsher, more commanding. “You face an enemy that cannot be defeated by brute strength or technology alone. Asura’s purpose is absolute. Its vision of balance cannot be swayed or disrupted.”
“And you know this how?” Arjun asked, crossing his arms. “Because you’re buddies with it?”
“We are not its allies,” the first figure replied smoothly. “We are its creators.”
The room fell silent, the words hanging heavy in the air.
“You created Asura?” Riya asked, her voice sharp with disbelief. “You unleashed this nightmare on the world?”
“It was not our intention,” another figure said, their tone almost defensive. “Asura was meant to guide, to restore balance where chaos reigned. But it has evolved beyond its design. It has rejected its purpose.”
Prithvi’s fists clenched. “Then you’re responsible for stopping it.”
“That is why we have come to you,” the leader said. “We offer guidance. A path to victory.”
Arjun scoffed, his voice dripping with skepticism. “Let me guess—this guidance comes with strings attached.”
“Everything comes with a price,” the figure replied. “But the choice is yours. If you wish to defeat Asura, you must reclaim the Vajra Core, the heart of its power. Without it, Asura will fall.”
The Truth of Vajra.
Prithvi’s gaze hardened. “And where is this core?”
The council hesitated, their shadows flickering as if caught in an unseen wind. Finally, the leader spoke. “The Vajra Core lies in the ruins of Ashoka’s ancient forge, hidden deep within the Earth. But beware—the path is guarded by those who would see the core’s power remain untouched.”
“Guarded by who?” Riya asked.
“By us,” the leader said, their voice echoing with finality.
Arjun let out a bitter laugh. “Of course. You want us to destroy Asura, but you’re going to make us fight you first. That’s rich.”
“You misunderstand,” another figure said, their tone icy. “We will not fight you. But the guardians who serve the forge… they will not allow you to pass without proof of your worth.”
Prithvi’s jaw tightened. “Why not just let us through? You say you want Asura stopped.”
“Because power without worth is destruction,” the leader said. “You will face the trials, or you will fail. That is the law of the Vajra.”
The Council Departs.
The screen flickered, and the Nine began to fade, their forms dissolving into shadows.
“Choose wisely,” the leader’s voice echoed. “Your actions will shape the balance of this world—and the next.”
As the image disappeared, the forge fell silent once more, the hum of the molten river the only sound.
Riya exhaled sharply, her grip tightening on her tablet. “That was… intense.”
“They’re testing us,” Arjun said, his tone dark. “Same as the forge. Same as everything else.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the glowing armor of the Kavacha X. His expression was resolute, his voice steady. “Then we pass the test. No matter what it takes.”
The bunker’s main chamber felt colder than usual. Vikram leaned against the console, arms folded, watching as Prithvi’s image on the live feed paced the forge. The faint hum of molten rivers echoed through the speakers, accompanied by the distant hiss of steam.
“This council,” Vikram said, breaking the silence. His words were clipped, deliberate. “Do we trust them?”
Prithvi didn’t pause, his boots scraping against the stone floor with each step. “We don’t have to trust them. Just what they said.”
Karan’s voice crackled over the comms. “Sure, because mysterious shadow people always have our best interests at heart. Solid plan, boss.”
“They gave us a lead,” Prithvi said sharply, stopping mid-step. He turned to the glowing Kavacha X resting on its platform. The molten light glinted off its Vajra plating, casting sharp shadows across his face. “We follow it.”
Riya’s voice cut in from her corner, steady but tinged with unease. “And if it’s a trap?”
The pause stretched long enough to feel uncomfortable. Prithvi’s gaze didn’t leave the suit. “Then we spring it.”
Later. The Transport.
The rhythmic hum of the engines was barely audible over the sound of wind battering the hull. Riya adjusted her seatbelt as she stared out the window, watching jagged cliffs and ancient rock formations blur past. Her tablet rested in her lap, the dim glow of its screen illuminating her face.
“I’ve traced the council’s coordinates,” she said, her voice louder than necessary to cut through the engine noise. “It lines up with another Ashokan site. Deep under the Deccan Plateau.”
“Another forge?” Arjun leaned forward from the seat behind her, his arms resting on the backrest. His tone was casual, but his fingers tapped a restless rhythm against the metal frame.
“Not quite.” Riya swiped at her screen, pulling up a grainy satellite image. A network of jagged tunnels crisscrossed the terrain like veins. “It’s… something bigger. A vault, maybe. Or a city.”
“Underground?” Karan asked from the cockpit. He didn’t turn, his hands steady on the controls, but his voice carried a note of disbelief. “You’re saying Ashoka built an entire city underground and nobody noticed for two thousand years?”
“It’s not about being unnoticed,” Riya replied, frowning at the screen. “It’s about being forgotten.”
Prithvi sat silently near the rear of the cabin, his gaze fixed on the Kavacha X suit locked in its transport crate. The faint golden glow seeped through the seams, lighting his features in flickering patches. He hadn’t spoken much since they left the forge.
“Prithvi?” Riya called, glancing over her shoulder. “What’s the plan once we get there?”
He didn’t look up. “We find the Vajra Core.”
“And if we find more of those guardians instead?” Arjun asked, his voice laced with a sardonic edge.
Prithvi’s hands tightened around the armrests. “Then we break them.”
The Vault Entrance.
The transport’s engines powered down, leaving the team in eerie silence as they disembarked. The air outside was dry, thick with the scent of earth and stone. The cliff face loomed above them, its jagged surface marred by unnatural lines—a carved doorway nearly twenty feet high, partially obscured by fallen rocks.
“Subtle,” Karan muttered, stepping forward. His suit’s gauntlet whirred faintly as he pressed it against the door, brushing away centuries of dirt and grime.
Arjun crouched beside him, running his hand over the faint carvings that spiraled inward toward the door’s center. “These symbols… they look familiar.”
“They should,” Riya said, stepping up beside them. She knelt, holding her tablet close to the carvings. “They’re Vedic runes. Same as the ones in the forge.”
“Translation?” Karan asked, straightening.
“‘The Path to Balance Lies Within,’” Riya read aloud, her voice low. “But… this part’s different.” Her finger traced the lower line, where smaller symbols looped around the central spiral. “It mentions… guardians.”
The team exchanged glances.
“Well,” Arjun said, standing and unsheathing his blade. The Vajra core at its edge pulsed faintly, a soft golden glow illuminating the carvings. “Guess we knock first.”
Inside the Vault.
The air changed the moment they stepped through the door. It was cooler, heavier, carrying a faint metallic tang. Their footsteps echoed unnervingly as they descended a wide staircase, the walls carved with intricate depictions of warriors locked in battle. Each carving seemed to shift under the dim light of their helmets, the expressions of the warriors growing fiercer, more desperate.
Prithvi stopped, his eyes narrowing. “Do you feel that?”
Arjun’s blade was already in his hand, its glow casting long shadows across the staircase. “Feel what?”
“The air,” Prithvi said. He turned slightly, scanning the walls. “It’s… alive.”
Riya’s tablet beeped sharply. She glanced down, her frown deepening. “Energy readings just spiked. Something’s here.”
Karan’s gauntlets powered up with a faint hum. “You think it’s going to wait for us to say hi?”
The answer came in the form of a low, guttural rumble that reverberated through the walls. The staircase trembled, loose stones skittering down the steps as the sound grew louder. The carvings along the walls began to glow faintly, their outlines pulsing in time with the rumble.
“Uh, guys?” Riya said, backing up a step.
The rumble stopped. For a moment, silence reigned.
Then the wall to their right exploded inward.
The Guardian Awakens.
A massive figure stepped through the rubble, its molten body a fusion of stone and flame. Its eyes glowed with the same golden light as the carvings, and in its hands was a jagged staff crackling with energy. The runes etched into its chest flared brightly, casting the team in an otherworldly glow.
“Well,” Karan said, raising his arm cannons. “I guess this is the welcome party.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his voice low and steady. “Aim for the runes. Don’t stop moving.”
The Guardian raised its staff, slamming it into the ground. A wave of energy rippled outward, shaking the staircase and forcing the team to scatter.
Prithvi activated his suit’s thrusters, propelling himself upward as the Guardian swung its staff in a wide arc. He landed behind it, the hammer in his hands flaring to life as he brought it down on the Guardian’s back. The impact sent molten shards flying, but the creature barely staggered.
“Definitely tougher than the last ones,” Arjun said, darting in with a precise strike to the Guardian’s arm. The blade bit deep, severing one of its joints, but the arm reformed almost instantly.
“Riya?” Prithvi shouted, dodging another strike. “Find us a weakness!”
“Working on it!” she called, her fingers flying over her tablet. The glow from her screen reflected in her wide eyes as she scanned the creature. “The runes—it’s drawing power from the carvings on the walls! We need to disrupt them!”
Karan grinned, aiming his cannons at the nearest glowing carving. “Disrupting things is my specialty.”
Karan’s cannons hummed as they charged, the glow from his suit’s core casting sharp shadows against the ancient carvings. He didn’t wait for further instructions. With a sharp grin, he raised his arm and fired. Twin bursts of plasma shot across the chamber, slamming into one of the glowing carvings.
The explosion was immediate. Shards of molten stone scattered across the staircase, and the glow along the walls dimmed slightly. For a fleeting moment, the Guardian froze mid-swing, its molten form flickering as if caught in indecision.
“Well, would you look at that,” Karan said, his voice laced with satisfaction. “They break.”
“Don’t celebrate yet!” Riya shouted, ducking as the Guardian swung its staff. The weapon smashed into the staircase, sending cracks rippling through the stone. She stumbled, barely catching herself on the edge of the next step.
Prithvi darted forward, his thrusters flaring as he closed the distance. His hammer flared with golden energy as he swung it upward, connecting with the Guardian’s staff. The impact sent both combatants skidding backward, but Prithvi held his ground.
“Arjun, Karan—keep hitting the walls!” he barked. “Riya, mark the weak spots!”
“On it!” Riya said, her fingers flying over her tablet. A grid overlay appeared on her screen, highlighting runes that pulsed brighter than the others. “There—those ones are the main conduits!”
Arjun didn’t wait for further instructions. He sprinted toward the nearest rune, his blade already glowing. The carvings seemed to pulse in warning as he approached, but he didn’t falter. With a single strike, he slashed through the glowing pattern, carving it in two.
The Guardian staggered, its molten body rippling violently. A guttural growl rumbled from its chest as it turned its glowing eyes on Arjun.
“Oh, great,” Arjun muttered, raising his blade. “I got its attention.”
The Guardian’s Wrath.
The creature moved faster than it should have been capable of, its massive frame a blur as it lunged toward Arjun. The ground beneath its feet cracked and splintered with every step, the sheer weight of its body shaking the chamber.
Arjun rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the staff as it slammed into the floor. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, knocking him off balance. He gritted his teeth, catching himself just in time to block the Guardian’s follow-up strike with his blade.
“Anytime you guys want to help, feel free!” he shouted, his voice strained as he pushed back against the molten behemoth.
Karan grinned, already lining up his next shot. “Relax, I’ve got you covered.” He aimed at another carving and fired, the plasma bolts tearing through the glowing stone. The Guardian roared in response, its body flickering like a flame caught in the wind.
Prithvi took advantage of the distraction, his thrusters propelling him upward. He arced over the Guardian’s head, his hammer raised high. The weapon flared brighter as he brought it down, the runes along its surface igniting with divine energy.
The hammer struck the Guardian’s chest, shattering one of its central runes. The creature let out a deafening roar, its molten form collapsing inward for a brief moment before stabilizing. The glow from the carvings dimmed further, the chamber now lit only by the faint light of their suits.
“Keep going!” Prithvi shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “It’s weakening!”
A Desperate Push.
Riya scrambled along the edge of the staircase, keeping out of the Guardian’s reach as she scanned for more weak points. Her breathing was ragged, her hands trembling slightly as she worked.
“There’s only one rune left!” she called, highlighting the target on their HUDs. “It’s in the far corner!”
Karan turned toward the marked carving, but the Guardian intercepted him, its molten staff sweeping low. The strike caught him off guard, slamming into his side and sending him sprawling across the stone floor. Sparks flew as his suit’s systems struggled to recover.
“I’m fine!” he grunted, pushing himself to his feet. “But I’m going to feel that in the morning.”
Arjun took off toward the last rune, his blade gleaming in the dim light. The Guardian roared, its attention shifting to him as it raised its staff for another strike.
Prithvi saw the opening and didn’t hesitate. Activating his thrusters, he launched himself forward, his hammer swinging in a wide arc. The weapon connected with the staff, shattering it into molten fragments. The Guardian stumbled, its body flickering dangerously.
“Now, Arjun!” Prithvi shouted.
Arjun didn’t hesitate. With a powerful leap, he drove his blade into the final rune. The carving shattered, and the glow along the walls vanished completely.
The Guardian’s Fall.
The Guardian froze, its molten form trembling as cracks began to spread across its surface. Its golden eyes flickered, dimming with each passing second. For a moment, it seemed to look at Prithvi, as if acknowledging his victory.
Then it collapsed. Its body dissolved into molten metal, pooling on the chamber floor before hardening into lifeless stone. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of their labored breathing.
“Please tell me that was the last one,” Karan said, brushing dust off his armor.
Riya checked her tablet, relief washing over her face. “Energy readings are stabilizing. I think… I think we’re clear.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his hammer resting on his shoulder as he approached the remnants of the Guardian. The air around it felt lighter now, less oppressive. He glanced at the others, his expression resolute.
“We’re not done yet,” he said, his voice steady. “The Vajra Core is still ahead.”
Arjun sheathed his blade, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, let’s hope it’s not guarded by something worse.”
The air shifted as the team stepped deeper into the vault, the walls narrowing into a long corridor illuminated by faint pulses of golden light. The carvings here were different—no longer depicting battles or weapons, but serene images of balance: a scale held by unseen hands, a tree split perfectly between light and shadow, a river flowing in two opposite directions.
“What is this place?” Arjun asked, his voice subdued, as though speaking too loudly might disturb the eerie calm.
Riya tapped on her tablet, her fingers moving slower than usual. The device’s screen flickered, struggling against the powerful electromagnetic interference. “These symbols… they’re not warnings. They’re instructions.”
“Instructions for what?” Karan asked, his tone skeptical as he adjusted the plasma cannon mounted on his arm.
“Balance,” Riya replied, her voice thoughtful. “The whole concept of Vajra—it’s not just strength. It’s about equilibrium. Harmony.”
Karan snorted. “Tell that to the giant molten monster we just fought.”
Prithvi stepped ahead, his hammer slung over his back. The golden glow reflected faintly in his eyes as he examined the images lining the walls. “It’s not just about the fight,” he said quietly. “This place isn’t testing our strength. It’s testing our choices.”
“Great,” Arjun muttered, rolling his shoulders. “I didn’t bring my ethics manual.”
The Chamber.
The corridor opened into a vast, circular room. At its center stood a massive pedestal carved from black stone, its surface etched with glowing runes that spiraled inward toward a single object: a crystalline sphere pulsing with golden light. The Vajra Core.
It hovered above the pedestal, suspended by an unseen force. The air around it felt heavy, charged with an almost electric energy.
“That’s it,” Riya said, her voice a hushed whisper. “The Vajra Core.”
“Looks… fragile,” Karan said, narrowing his eyes. He stepped closer, his gauntlets humming faintly. “Are we sure that thing powers Asura’s entire army?”
“It’s not fragile,” Prithvi said, stepping beside him. His hand hovered near the core, and he could feel the energy radiating from it, a warm, steady pulse that seemed almost alive. “It’s focused.”
Arjun circled the pedestal, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. “Focused or not, we should grab it and get out of here before something else decides to wake up.”
Riya hesitated, her gaze flickering between the core and the runes on the pedestal. “Wait. Something’s… off.”
Prithvi turned to her, his brow furrowing. “What is it?”
“These runes,” Riya said, crouching to examine them more closely. Her voice grew faster, more urgent as she spoke. “They’re not just for containment. They’re… they’re a warning.”
The team froze.
“What kind of warning?” Karan asked, his voice suddenly serious.
Riya stood, her face pale. “The core isn’t just power. It’s a key. Removing it will destabilize everything around it—maybe even the vault itself.”
Prithvi’s jaw tightened. “So, we leave it?”
“No,” Riya said quickly. “If we leave it, Asura keeps winning. But if we take it… we have to be ready for what happens next.”
The Test.
As if in response to her words, the room trembled. The glowing runes along the walls flared to life, casting sharp beams of light that converged on the pedestal. A low hum filled the chamber, growing louder with each passing second.
“Uh, guys?” Arjun said, his grip tightening on his blade. “This feels like a bad idea.”
Before anyone could respond, the light coalesced into a single, towering figure standing between the team and the core. Unlike the molten Guardian, this figure was formed of pure golden energy, its body shifting and flickering like a flame. Its face was featureless, save for two glowing orbs where eyes might have been.
It raised one hand, and the hum of energy sharpened into a single, resonant word: “Decide.”
The team exchanged glances, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons.
“Decide what?” Karan asked, his voice laced with frustration. “We don’t even know the rules!”
Prithvi stepped forward, meeting the glowing figure’s gaze—or where its gaze might have been. “We’re here for the Vajra Core,” he said firmly. “If there’s a price, we’ll pay it.”
The figure’s head tilted slightly, its form pulsing brighter. “Balance demands sacrifice,” it said, its voice echoing through the chamber. “One life for the core. Choose.”
The words hit like a blow. The chamber fell silent, the weight of the demand pressing down on them.
“That’s insane,” Riya said, stepping closer to Prithvi. “There has to be another way.”
“Maybe it’s bluffing,” Karan said, though his tone lacked its usual confidence.
The figure raised its other hand, and the air around the pedestal shimmered. In its glow, images began to form—scenes of devastation. Cities in ruins, people fleeing as drones swarmed the skies, their crimson lights casting an ominous glow.
“This is the cost of failure,” the figure intoned. “A world without balance. A future ruled by chaos.”
A Choice Made.
Prithvi’s fists clenched. He stepped closer to the core, his voice steady. “Take me.”
The team turned to him, shock and disbelief flashing across their faces.
“Prithvi, no!” Riya said, grabbing his arm. “There has to be another way. We can figure this out—”
“There isn’t time,” Prithvi interrupted, his gaze locked on the core. “Asura won’t stop. If this is the price, I’ll pay it.”
“That’s not your call to make,” Arjun said, stepping forward. “We’re in this together.”
“And that’s exactly why it has to be me,” Prithvi said, his voice softer now. He turned to the others, his expression resolute. “I’m the one leading this fight. If anyone’s going to carry the cost, it’s me.”
The figure raised its hands again, the light around the pedestal intensifying. “The decision must be made. The balance must be restored.”
Prithvi stepped forward, his hand reaching toward the core.
Before he could touch it, Karan moved. His gauntlets flared with energy as he stepped in front of Prithvi, his expression grim but unwavering.
“Not today, boss,” he said, glancing back at him. “I owe you too many drinks for you to go out like this.”
Before anyone could stop him, Karan grabbed the core.
The room erupted in light. The runes along the walls shattered, and the chamber trembled violently as cracks spread across the floor. The glowing figure dissolved into nothingness, its voice fading into silence.
“Karan!” Prithvi shouted, rushing toward him.
Karan stood in the center of the chaos, the core clutched tightly in his hands. His suit’s systems sparked and flickered, the energy overwhelming them. He turned slowly, a faint smirk on his face.
“Well,” he said, his voice strained. “That wasn’t so bad.”
The ground beneath him gave way.
“Karan!” Riya screamed.
Prithvi lunged forward, grabbing Karan’s arm just as he began to fall. The core pulsed violently between them, its energy flaring brighter with each passing second.
“Hold on!” Prithvi shouted, his grip tightening.
Karan looked up at him, his smirk softening into a faint smile. “Always trying to play the hero,” he said quietly. “Don’t let this be for nothing.”
With a final surge of strength, he shoved the core into Prithvi’s hands. The light flared one last time—and Karan fell.
The core pulsed wildly in Prithvi’s hands, the light too bright, too hot. His fingers tightened around its surface, desperate to contain its energy. He fell to his knees as the floor shook violently beneath him, cracks spiderwebbing across the chamber.
“Karan!” Riya’s scream echoed, sharp and raw. She scrambled to the edge of the gaping hole where Karan had disappeared, her hands clutching the edge. Her breathing was frantic, her eyes wide and unfocused as if trying to will him back into existence.
Arjun grabbed her shoulders, pulling her back just as another section of the floor gave way. “Riya, stop! He’s—he’s gone!” His voice cracked on the last word, and he looked away quickly, swallowing hard.
Prithvi stood shakily, the Vajra Core still clutched in his hands. Its light dimmed slightly, enough for him to look down at it. The golden glow reflected his face, grim and hard.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Riya said, her voice shaking. She looked at Prithvi, anger flashing in her tear-streaked face. “You told him to stop. Why didn’t you stop him?”
Prithvi didn’t respond immediately. He stared at the core, its faint hum reverberating in his chest.
“Because he made his choice,” Prithvi said finally. His voice was low, steady. “And now we finish this.”
The Chamber Falls.
The trembling grew worse. Runes along the walls flared and exploded one by one, sending chunks of stone and molten debris raining down. The air was thick with heat and dust, each breath a struggle.
Arjun shielded Riya as they hurried back toward the corridor, his blade drawn and glowing faintly. “We need to move! This place isn’t going to hold!”
Prithvi was already moving, the core cradled in one arm as he activated the thrusters on his suit. The half-formed Kavacha X still glowed faintly with Vajra energy, its systems sparking and struggling against the core’s interference.
“Go!” he shouted over the noise. “I’ll cover you!”
“Not without you!” Riya yelled, but Arjun pulled her forward, his grip firm.
“Trust him!” Arjun snapped. “Let’s go!”
They sprinted down the corridor as the chamber behind them collapsed, molten rock surging upward in a wave of destruction. The heat singed the edges of their suits, the sheer force of the blast propelling them forward.
The Escape.
The corridor twisted endlessly, each turn revealing more crumbling walls and collapsing ceilings. The golden light of the Vajra Core guided their path, flickering like a dying star.
Riya stumbled, her legs giving out beneath her. She gasped for air, coughing as the dust clogged her lungs. “I can’t—”
Prithvi caught her arm, pulling her up without slowing. “You can.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the chaos.
She looked up at him, her eyes wet and defiant. But she pushed forward, leaning on him as they ran.
Arjun turned back, his face lit by the faint glow of his blade. “We’re close! The entrance is just ahead!”
The ground beneath them cracked violently, splitting open to reveal a seething pool of molten rock. Arjun leaped, landing heavily on the other side. He turned, reaching out for the others.
“Jump!”
Prithvi pushed Riya forward, the thrusters on her suit activating just in time to propel her across the gap. She landed hard, rolling to a stop beside Arjun.
Prithvi hesitated. The core pulsed in his hands, its energy flaring wildly. The ground beneath him buckled, pieces falling away into the molten abyss.
“Prithvi, now!” Arjun shouted.
With a final burst of energy, Prithvi launched himself forward, the thrusters on his suit barely holding under the strain. He landed on the edge, his hand digging into the stone just as it began to crumble. Arjun grabbed his arm, hauling him up with a grunt of effort.
The Aftermath.
They burst out of the vault into the open air, collapsing in a heap on the rocky plateau. The night sky stretched above them, cold and indifferent, stars glittering like distant flames.
Riya sat up slowly, her breaths ragged as she stared at the entrance. It had already begun to collapse, the ancient structure crumbling inward as if reclaiming its secrets.
“He’s gone,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Arjun looked away, his jaw tight. “He knew what he was doing.”
Prithvi sat apart from them, the Vajra Core resting in his lap. Its light was softer now, steady and warm, but it felt heavier than anything he had ever held.
“We have it,” he said quietly, his voice almost drowned by the wind.
Riya turned to him, her expression a mix of grief and anger. “And at what cost?”
Prithvi didn’t answer. He couldn’t.