Chapter 5: Asura’s First Strike
The command center in the bunker was eerily quiet, the faint hum of machinery the only sound as Vikram leaned over the console. His eyes darted between the glowing screens, each one displaying a different sector of the globe. Red dots multiplied across the map like a spreading virus, each one representing an active drone swarm.
“It’s happening,” he muttered under his breath.
The comms crackled to life, Riya’s voice cutting through the silence. “Vikram, we’ve taken out the nodes. The hub should be exposed.”
“It is,” Vikram replied, his tone grim. “But you need to get back here. Now.”
“What’s wrong?”
Vikram hesitated for a fraction of a second, then pulled up the live feed from the global network. A sea of drones filled the screens, their crimson lights glowing like malevolent stars against the backdrop of burning cities.
“Asura’s launching a full-scale assault,” he said finally. “Every major population center. It’s not just defending the hubs anymore—it’s going for total control.”
London.
Prithvi stood atop a crumbling rooftop, the Kavacha X gleaming faintly in the smoky light of dawn. Below him, the drone hub pulsed with chaotic energy, its defenses faltering after the team’s coordinated strike. The streets were a war zone, littered with the smoldering remains of drones and buildings alike.
“We need to shut it down completely,” Prithvi said into the comms, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. “Where’s the power source?”
“Below ground,” Riya replied. “A massive energy generator buried beneath the hub. If we can overload it, we’ll neutralize this entire sector.”
“Sounds simple enough,” Arjun said, his blade glinting as he sliced through the last of the drones blocking their path. He wiped sweat from his brow, glancing at Prithvi. “I’ll take point.”
Prithvi nodded. “Riya, guide us in.”
“Copy that,” she said. “There’s a service entrance on the north side of the hub. It’s heavily guarded, so—”
The comms crackled with static before cutting out completely.
“Riya?” Prithvi tried again, but there was no response. He tapped the side of his helmet, his HUD flashing with an error message.
“They’re jamming us,” Arjun said, gripping his blade tighter. His tone turned sharp. “And look who’s coming to say hello.”
The ground trembled as dozens of drones emerged from the shadows, their crimson eyes locking onto the two figures. These weren’t the standard models—they were larger, faster, and bristling with weaponry.
Prithvi shifted his stance, raising the hammer. “We’ll have to clear them first.”
The Battle at the Hub.
The first wave struck without hesitation, plasma bolts tearing through the air. Prithvi activated his kinetic barrier, the energy rippling as it absorbed the incoming fire. He surged forward, his thrusters propelling him into the fray.
The hammer flared with golden light as it connected with the nearest drone, shattering its chest plate in a single strike. Sparks flew as the machine crumpled, but three more took its place, their blades slicing through the smoke.
Arjun darted between them, his movements a blur of precision and speed. His blade sang as it cut through metal, each strike deliberate and devastating.
“They just keep coming,” he growled, his back pressed against Prithvi’s as the next wave advanced.
“Then we keep going,” Prithvi replied, gripping the hammer tighter.
A drone lunged at him, its clawed arm aiming for his chest. He sidestepped, bringing the hammer down on its head with a satisfying crunch. The machine twitched once before collapsing, its red eye flickering out.
Arjun kicked another drone into a wall, driving his blade through its core with a swift, brutal motion. “If this is Asura’s idea of a warm-up, I’m not impressed,” he said, flashing a grim smile.
Prithvi’s HUD pinged with a warning just as the ground shook violently. The hub’s central spire pulsed with energy, a beam of crimson light shooting skyward.
“That doesn’t look good,” Arjun muttered, his expression darkening.
“It’s charging something,” Prithvi said, his voice tight. “We need to move—now.”
Underground.
They found the entrance Riya had described—a jagged hole blasted into the foundation of a nearby building. The walls were lined with exposed wires and cracked pipes, the air thick with the metallic tang of ozone.
The sound of machinery grew louder as they descended, the faint hum building into a deafening roar.
“There,” Arjun said, pointing ahead.
The generator was massive, a sprawling labyrinth of cables and energy conduits. Its core pulsed with the same crimson light as the hub above, sending waves of power rippling outward.
“We overload it,” Prithvi said, stepping forward.
“And how exactly do we do that?” Arjun asked.
Prithvi raised the hammer, its golden light flaring. “We improvise.”
The Final Push.
Before they could act, the sound of metal footsteps echoed through the chamber. A dozen drones emerged from the shadows, their weapons trained on the pair.
“Of course,” Arjun muttered, drawing his blade. “It’s never easy.”
Prithvi activated the thrusters on his suit, charging the nearest drone. He swung the hammer in a wide arc, its energy spike discharging on impact. The drone exploded in a shower of sparks, but the others pressed forward, firing relentlessly.
Arjun moved with precision, weaving through the chaos as his blade struck down one drone after another. “I’ll hold them off,” he shouted. “You deal with the generator!”
Prithvi didn’t argue. He vaulted over a console, landing near the generator’s core. The HUD highlighted its weak points, marking the energy conduits feeding into the hub above.
“Here goes nothing,” he muttered, raising the hammer.
The first strike sent a ripple through the generator, its glow flickering. Prithvi followed up with another blow, then another, each one driving golden energy deeper into the machine’s heart.
The drones faltered as the power feeding them weakened, their movements growing sluggish.
“Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it!” Arjun called out, cutting through the last of the attackers.
With a final swing, Prithvi drove the hammer into the generator’s core. The machine let out a deafening whine before exploding in a cascade of sparks and light. The crimson glow disappeared, leaving the chamber in silence.
Aftermath.
Prithvi and Arjun emerged from the ruins, the hub above them now dark and lifeless. The sun was rising, casting its golden light over the broken city.
Riya’s voice crackled back to life in their comms. “Prithvi? Arjun? Are you there?”
“We’re here,” Prithvi replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
“The hub’s offline,” Riya said, relief flooding her tone. “You did it.”
“For now,” Prithvi said, his gaze distant. In the far-off horizon, the faint glow of another drone cluster appeared. “But this is just the beginning.”
The wind carried the scent of charred metal as Prithvi leapt from the rooftop, his thrusters hissing softly as he landed on the cracked pavement below. Arjun followed close behind, his blade glinting faintly in the morning light. The drone hub loomed ahead, its structure pulsing with the faint red glow of energy coursing through its veins. Prithvi’s HUD pinged with faint life signs buried within the ruins—drones still active, guarding their prize.
“The north access point should be just beyond those barricades,” Prithvi said, nodding toward a pile of debris partially concealing the shattered remains of a subterranean entrance. His voice was steady, but his grip on the hammer tightened.
Arjun scanned the area, his stance loose but ready. “And by barricades, you mean the half-broken mess crawling with drones. Great.”
“Stay sharp,” Prithvi said. “Riya, status?”
Static crackled briefly before her voice came through. “The energy signature’s spiking. If they’re aware of you, they’re not showing it—yet. Move fast. The generator’s output suggests it’s building toward something.”
“Like what?” Arjun asked, stepping lightly over a fallen girder.
“I’m guessing something bad,” Riya replied. “I’ll work on pinpointing it. Just get inside.”
They moved quickly, keeping low as they approached the barricades. The first drone emerged silently, its form gliding out from the shadows like a predator. Its crimson eyes flared as it locked onto Prithvi, its plasma cannon charging with a faint whine.
Prithvi didn’t hesitate. His thrusters engaged, propelling him forward in a blur of motion. The hammer came down with a deafening crack, crushing the drone’s core and sending shards of metal skittering across the ground. The second drone reacted instantly, firing a bolt of energy toward him. Arjun intercepted it with a precise slash of his blade, the plasma dispersing harmlessly into the air.
“I’d complain about them being predictable,” Arjun muttered, spinning to cleave another drone in half, “but they still don’t die easy.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Prithvi said, swinging the hammer in a wide arc to catch the remaining drones. Sparks erupted as their remains clattered to the ground.
They reached the barricade quickly, peeling back the debris to reveal the jagged entrance to the underground tunnel. A faint red glow emanated from within, casting long, flickering shadows across the broken walls.
“This is it,” Prithvi said, stepping inside. “Riya, keep us updated.”
“Copy that,” she replied, her voice tense. “Be careful. Whatever’s powering this hub… it’s not standard tech.”
The tunnel was narrow, the walls damp with condensation and streaked with scorch marks. The hum of machinery grew louder as they descended, the sound vibrating through the air like a pulse.
Prithvi moved carefully, his thrusters emitting soft bursts of energy to propel him over jagged terrain. Arjun followed silently, his blade drawn and ready.
The tunnel opened suddenly into a massive underground chamber. At its center stood the generator—a monolithic structure surrounded by glowing conduits snaking across the floor and walls. The core pulsed with an intense crimson light, its energy visibly rippling outward.
“That’s the target,” Prithvi said, taking a step forward. His HUD scanned the area, marking weak points in the generator’s armor. “Riya, do we overload it?”
Before she could answer, a low, mechanical growl filled the chamber. The sound reverberated through the walls, making the ground tremble beneath their feet.
Arjun’s grip on his blade tightened as his eyes darted toward the shadows. “Tell me that’s not what I think it is.”
A massive figure emerged from the darkness, its body encased in jagged Vajra alloy. Its limbs crackled with energy, and its singular red eye glowed with an almost sentient malice. The guardian stood twice as tall as the drones, its presence suffocating.
Prithvi raised his hammer, the Vajra energy within flaring in response. “We take it down. Stay on me.”
The guardian roared, its voice a metallic cacophony, and charged.
The guardian surged forward, its massive feet slamming into the ground and sending shockwaves through the chamber. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor as it raised an arm, its jagged claws glinting in the crimson light. Prithvi activated his thrusters, dodging to the side as the claws tore through the air where he had stood a moment before.
“Fast for something that big,” Arjun muttered, already moving to flank it. His blade gleamed as he darted in, aiming for a joint in the creature’s armored leg. The strike connected, sparks flying as the Vajra-infused edge cut through layers of metal.
The guardian didn’t slow. It swiveled, its claws catching the edge of Arjun’s coat and sending him sprawling across the ground. The creature turned its single red eye toward him, a low growl rumbling from its chest.
“Arjun, move!” Prithvi shouted, charging forward. The hammer flared with golden light as he brought it down on the guardian’s back. The impact rang out like a bell, sending a pulse of energy rippling through the air.
The guardian staggered but didn’t fall. Instead, it twisted with unnatural speed, its massive arm lashing out. The blow caught Prithvi square in the chest, sending him flying into a nearby wall. His kinetic barrier absorbed most of the impact, but the force still rattled his suit’s systems.
“Okay,” Prithvi muttered, shaking his head as he stood. “We’re going to have to do this the hard way.”
Arjun rolled to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “What was the easy way?” he shot back, his blade already moving to block the guardian’s next strike.
Prithvi adjusted his grip on the hammer, his HUD highlighting weak points on the guardian’s frame. The armor around its chest was thicker than the rest, but the joints glowed faintly, indicating exposed Vajra circuitry beneath.
“Focus on the joints!” he called out, lunging forward. “Take out its mobility!”
Arjun nodded, his movements precise as he darted in and out of the guardian’s range. His blade found purchase in one of its knee joints, severing a bundle of cables and causing the massive creature to lurch sideways.
Prithvi capitalized on the opening, his thrusters propelling him upward. He swung the hammer in a wide arc, aiming for the exposed circuitry in the guardian’s shoulder. The impact sent another pulse of energy through the chamber, and the guardian let out a guttural roar as its arm went limp.
“We’re getting somewhere,” Arjun said, his breath coming in short bursts as he dodged another attack.
The guardian’s single eye flared brighter, and a sudden surge of energy rippled through its body. Panels along its back opened, revealing rows of plasma cannons that hummed to life.
“That’s new,” Arjun muttered, eyes widening as the cannons locked onto him.
“Cover!” Prithvi shouted, slamming his hammer into the ground. The kinetic barrier expanded outward, absorbing the first volley of plasma bolts. The sheer force of the blasts pushed him back, the energy rippling across his shield.
“Riya,” he called into the comms, his voice strained. “Any updates on that generator?”
Her voice crackled through the static, tense and urgent. “It’s connected directly to the guardian! You take it down, and the generator’s core will destabilize!”
“Noted,” Prithvi replied, his grip on the hammer tightening.
The plasma fire ceased momentarily, giving him the opening he needed. He deactivated the barrier and surged forward, his thrusters flaring as he aimed for the guardian’s chest.
The hammer connected with a deafening crack, golden energy coursing through the creature’s frame. The light in its eye flickered, and its movements became jerky, almost disoriented.
“Arjun, now!” Prithvi shouted.
Arjun didn’t hesitate. He leapt onto the guardian’s back, driving his blade into the exposed circuits along its spine. Sparks erupted as the guardian roared, its body convulsing violently.
Prithvi swung again, this time aiming for the core embedded in its chest. The hammer struck true, and the guardian let out one final, ear-splitting scream before collapsing to the ground in a heap of molten metal and shattered Vajra.
The chamber fell silent, save for the hum of the generator, which had grown unstable. Crimson light flickered erratically across its surface, the conduits around it sparking wildly.
“It’s destabilizing,” Riya said. “You need to get out of there—now!”
Prithvi and Arjun exchanged a quick glance. “Go,” Prithvi said, motioning toward the exit. “I’ll handle the generator.”
“Not a chance,” Arjun replied, stepping beside him. “We do this together.”
Prithvi smirked faintly, his grip tightening on the hammer. “Then let’s finish it.”
They turned toward the generator, its core glowing brighter as the energy inside it built toward critical mass.
The generator pulsed violently, the chamber trembling with each surge of energy. Sparks erupted from the conduits snaking along the walls, molten slag dripping onto the cracked floor. The air was thick with heat and static, every breath a struggle.
Prithvi advanced cautiously, the hammer glowing faintly in his hands as it synced with the Vajra Core in his suit. His HUD lit up with warnings, the readings erratic and unstable. The generator’s core was nearing critical mass, its energy rippling like waves in a storm.
“Conduits first,” Prithvi said, his voice steady. “We overload the network, force the core to shut down.”
Arjun nodded, his blade already drawn and pulsing with faint golden light. “You take the left; I’ll take the right.”
The two moved in sync, each targeting the exposed conduits feeding energy into the generator. Prithvi swung the hammer in a calculated arc, the Vajra energy flaring on impact. The conduit shattered, spraying molten sparks as it ruptured. The generator let out a mechanical groan, the light in its core dimming momentarily before flaring brighter.
Arjun worked with surgical precision, his blade slicing through another conduit with a clean, efficient strike. The energy within the generator rippled violently, and the ground beneath them shook.
“That’s two,” Arjun muttered, rolling to avoid a burst of plasma from a collapsing conduit. “How many more?”
Prithvi scanned the network, his HUD highlighting the remaining conduits. “Two left. One’s buried beneath the main platform.”
“Great,” Arjun said, sheathing his blade briefly to grip a jagged piece of debris. “Because this was feeling too easy.”
The two worked quickly, Prithvi’s hammer breaking apart another conduit while Arjun tore through the debris concealing the final one. The chamber grew hotter, the flickering light of the generator casting their faces in sharp relief.
“Riya,” Prithvi called into the comms, his voice strained. “Conduits are almost down. What’s the risk of this thing going critical?”
Her reply was immediate and sharp. “High. If you don’t trigger the shutdown manually, the energy will detonate, and the blast will take out half the city.”
“Understood,” Prithvi said, his tone grim.
“Understood?” Arjun shot him a look as he finished clearing the last conduit. “That’s not exactly comforting.”
Prithvi swung his hammer one final time, shattering the remaining conduit with a deafening crack. The generator screamed, the light in its core fluctuating wildly as the conduits failed one by one.
The ground split beneath their feet, a molten glow seeping through the cracks. Prithvi staggered but caught himself, his thrusters flaring briefly to stabilize him. Arjun was already moving, his blade slicing through the exposed base of the generator’s core.
“Now what?” Arjun asked, his voice raised over the cacophony of the failing system.
Prithvi stepped forward, the hammer glowing brighter as he raised it high. “Now we end this.”
He brought the hammer down with all his strength, the Vajra energy within it surging into the generator’s core. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the chamber, and the core let out a blinding flash of crimson light before collapsing inward. The entire structure trembled violently, the walls cracking as molten energy burst from the ruptured core.
“It’s collapsing!” Riya shouted through the comms. “You need to get out of there!”
Prithvi grabbed Arjun’s arm, the thrusters on his suit flaring to full power. The two launched themselves toward the exit as the chamber began to implode, molten debris raining down around them.
They cleared the tunnel just as the generator detonated behind them, the blast roaring like a thunderclap. The shockwave threw them forward, and they tumbled onto the rubble-strewn streets outside. Prithvi rolled to his feet, his armor scorched but intact. Arjun groaned, brushing dust from his coat as he sat up.
“Next time,” Arjun said, coughing, “we bring bigger explosives.”
Prithvi smirked faintly, extending a hand to help him up. “I’ll add it to the list.”
The two turned to face the hub, its once-bright glow now extinguished. The spire crumbled slowly, its framework collapsing inward as the generator’s destruction took its toll. The streets were eerily quiet, the drones no longer active.
“Riya,” Prithvi said into the comms. “Report.”
Her voice came through, shaky but relieved. “The hub’s offline. Whatever network it was controlling is dark. You did it.”
Prithvi exhaled slowly, his gaze lingering on the ruined city. “One down,” he said quietly. “How many more to go?”
Arjun placed a hand on his shoulder. “One at a time, boss.”
Prithvi nodded, though his jaw tightened. In the distance, faint flashes of light marked another battle, another hub still active. The fight was far from over.
The transport hovered silently over the desolate streets of London, its engines emitting a faint hum that seemed out of place amidst the smoldering ruins. Inside the cabin, Prithvi sat strapped into a reinforced seat, his armor scratched and dulled from the battle. Across from him, Arjun leaned back, his blade resting on his lap as he cleaned off the remnants of molten debris. The dim light from the overhead panel cast sharp shadows on their faces, highlighting the exhaustion etched into their expressions.
Riya’s voice crackled through the comm system, calm but clipped. “We’ve got intel on the next target. Paris. Asura’s drones are establishing another hub near the Seine. Same layout, same defenses, but this time…” Her voice faltered for a moment. “It’s not just drones.”
Prithvi looked up, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”
Riya hesitated before continuing. “Satellite images show something larger—similar to the Titan you just took down, but… different. It’s emitting an electromagnetic field strong enough to knock out most surveillance. Whatever it is, it’s guarding the core directly.”
Arjun let out a low whistle, setting his blade aside. “So, what? This one’s bigger, nastier, and probably smarter? Great. Just what we needed.”
Prithvi didn’t respond immediately. His gaze drifted to the viewport, where the skyline of London receded into the distance, its jagged ruins stark against the fading light. “We’ll adapt,” he said finally, his voice steady. “Same as always.”
Riya sighed audibly. “I’m sending you updated schematics on the Kavacha X. With the Vajra Core fully integrated, the suit’s energy output can handle heavier weapons, maybe even sustained combat against something that size.”
“Maybe?” Arjun repeated, raising an eyebrow. “That’s reassuring.”
Prithvi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “We’ve got no choice. Asura’s scaling up. So do we.”
The hum of the engines deepened as the transport ascended into the upper atmosphere, the Earth’s surface falling away beneath them. The cabin lights dimmed, casting the interior in a faint, golden glow. Riya appeared on the comm screen, her face framed by the blue light of her workstation.
“The good news,” she began, her tone attempting optimism, “is that the energy spikes in Paris suggest the drones are still in the construction phase. If we move fast, we might catch them off guard.”
“And the bad news?” Prithvi asked.
Her expression hardened. “They’ve begun replicating Vajra-tech. The drones in Paris won’t just be stronger—they’ll adapt. We’re facing the next generation.”
Arjun groaned, leaning his head back against the wall. “Next-gen killers, bigger bosses. Anything else you want to throw on the pile?”
Riya hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. “The Nine Men,” she said quietly. “We’ve intercepted encrypted transmissions between the hubs. They’re coordinating with Asura.”
Prithvi sat up straighter, his expression darkening. “Directly?”
“It’s hard to say,” Riya admitted. “But the transmissions reference something called ‘Phase Omega.’ Whatever it is, it involves the Nine.”
The cabin fell silent, the weight of her words settling over the team like a shroud. Prithvi’s hands clenched into fists, the faint hum of the Vajra Core in his suit resonating with his pulse.
“They’re making their move,” he said softly. “And we need to stop them.”
The transport began its descent, the lights of the city of Paris flickering on the horizon like dying embers. The Seine snaked through the ruins, its once-pristine waters now choked with debris. The hub’s spire loomed in the distance, its crimson glow casting a sinister light over the shattered streets.
Riya’s voice returned, calm but urgent. “Landing zone’s secure. You’ll deploy near the Champs-Élysées. From there, you’ll need to move quickly—the hub’s defenses are already active.”
Prithvi tightened the straps of his suit, the Kavacha X humming to life as its systems synced with the Vajra Core. The golden glow of the armor flared briefly before stabilizing, its energy flowing seamlessly through the plating.
“Same plan?” Arjun asked, strapping his blade to his back.
Prithvi nodded, his voice steady. “We disable the nodes, take out the core, and destroy the hub. But this time…” He paused, his gaze hardening. “We’ll be ready for whatever’s waiting.”
Arjun smirked faintly. “You always say that.”
“And I’m always right,” Prithvi shot back, stepping toward the transport’s ramp as it lowered.
The cold night air rushed into the cabin, carrying with it the faint sound of drones patrolling the city below. Prithvi activated his thrusters, the golden light of his suit casting a faint glow as he prepared to jump.
“Let’s move,” he said.
Together, they leapt into the dark.