Author's Notes:

Exams get closer and i'm getting more serious. Here's the weekly dose as promised, next week one as well. Cheers, all!

(Updated 11/06/2017 11.07pm)


(Brrrrrrrrrrrrr)

The sound of cloth ripping was the more optimistic version of what resounded out from the barricaded Royal Palace. Where a pack of angry 7.92mm hornets flew out of an MG42 at the approaching traitors, cutting them down despite the heavy body armor issued to them by the Royal Armories align to the Canton Lords. The same weapon had seen combat when Ajay held back the Yinkians and Golden Path at Lanka, and now it was serving a higher function in defending the overlord of Kyrat.

There were collective screams from the survivors whom had lost a limb or two from the nature of armour piercing rounds specially loaded by none other than the Royal Armorer himself. Samar was always at the Royal Palace, gunsmithing was a hobby and passion his liege helped him realize. But his primary function was always his personal protector in the Royal Palace, the Chief Palace Guard.

They would not repeat the same mistake as the late Devi Dynasty, ended so quickly while they were asleep and Mohan who had survived in his failure to save his lord and family from death.

"Come on, Traitors! Is that all you've got!" Samar taunted from the window slits, aided by the Royal Palace staff that had taken up arms alongside him and the only two Palace Guards remaining.

The prospects were grim, but they would hold out for as long as possible with the inventory they had. They knew their enemies wanted Pagan's head, but they would have to go through a bloody gauntlet of their tenacity to so muc has touch a hair on his head.

The troops outside began to get annoyed that they could not take the Royal Palace so easily, and begun requesting the use of explosives and rockets to flush them out. "Denied." Replied their superiors, for if there was no body to confirm Pagan's death, then it was worthless.

All they could do was come in waves of numbers to storm the Royal Palace.

But at least for the defenders, they could hope to delay them long enough for someone to come to their rescue.

How long would that take? They had no idea.

Against his will once more, Pagan had been locked in the cellar with Yuma to keep them hidden as long as possible. The non-combatant's roamed the palace to create traps and decoys to fool the rebels when they breached the front barricade.

While in the direst of straits, there was a tinge of fulfilment in all of their hearts. For the first time in a long stagnant time, the men and women of the Royal Palace could finally carry out their duties to the utmost.


Cruising in hovercrafts was an unfamiliar and quite nauseating feeling, despite its rather smooth cruise on the waters with its air cushion. The tremor vibrations that rattled the superstructure was a norm due to the powerful engines keeping the craft levitated about the surface via air flow from the lift generated. Noore had already thrown up twice during the trip barely ten minutes in. While the boys seem to enjoy it more as a tour through Kyrati waterways, it was just not for everyone.

The craft Noore, her nurses and Ajay were in, was flanked by the other heavily armed gunboat versions, Jeevan stood by the weapon station of the Command Vehicle of the forces to provide fire support and marking of targets for the stabilized-remote 30mm autocannon turret on the parrellel craft in front of them.

Jeevan had only a brief moment to check around with the twelve crew on the vessel he was on, they all seemed estatic with the prospects of going into battle in their new outfit. A trial by fire to test new concepts and tactics in water-borne operations, since their primary function as ravine patrol did not incur much activity beyond police raids when they required heavy firepower to bust drug and smuggling syndicates which was barely necessary.

"Sir, our CO would like to have a word with you." One of the crew gunners patted him on the shoulder to inform him as he pointed towards the bridge capsule. Jeevan nodded and went inside.

It was a nice change not to have wind and mist blowing at your face, but daunted by a powerful hum from the diesel engines rattling the superstructure. It indicated the age of the crafts and the strain it had with the payload of weapons and armor in its repurpose.

"Hey." The Captain waved to him from the bridge where two other crew members steered and controlled the craft.

"Hey."

"I've kinda guess what's going on so far. Canton Lords got greedy, didn't they?" Jeevan nodded.

"With no Golden Path hindering them and the elite forces overseas, this seems like a perfect opportunity. Especially when the demon won't be around to bother them."

"The Golden Path are coming back." Hearing this new intel from Jeevan made him shiver to the core.

"They just don't quit, do they?" He sighed.

"We need to end this rebellion asap."

"Even if you say that, what about his grace?"

"….."

"Shouldn't we be stopping at Lanka instead for protection?"

"Brigadier Kul has his hands full with the Cantons."

"Where did you hear that? I've not received a single word from my superiors or high command."

"High Command has been overrun, they jammed our signals and are converging on the Royal Palace, Lakshman and Lanka. I heard this from the Instructor Yip."

"Instructor Yip? Where is he in the grand scheme of things then, is he trustworthy?" Though Captain Hada had the highest regard for their former instructor, he was still suspicious because of his background as a Canton.

"He was the assassin they sent to kill my mentor, he told me this in his last dying breaths." The Captain didn't need to figure out what had happened, he was certain that Jeevan was the one that ended his life, if not he wouldn't be here with Badala.

"Madarchod, I hate them already." Jeevan thought about their situation and how every Canton would have felt in this coup, especially what "that group" was thinking.

"Yunno…. Not all of them shared the same beliefs."

"How would you know?"

"….. 2nd Hussars. Is there any intel on where they are?"

"Are you kidding me? Those are the Cantons' Golden Boys! Ever since they came back from Yinke, the canton echelons haven't shut up about how they beat the Yinkian elite."

"Even when their winning strategy was by a Kyrati, Bipin. And they chose to follow him despite differences."

Captain Hada couldn't fault him.

"Trust me on this, when Jatayu fought alongside them there was a different air about them. It wasn't that usual loathing you felt with the Canton boys in Royal Academy. Plus, Samuel also owes my teacher big."

"Another of their white horse! These guys are the people representing the Cantons, not neutral agenda-."

"Is there anyway we can contact them besides the main channels."

"Hey! Listen to me! Don't go calling them in the middle of this, the Duke's safety comes first! Then we can see if those guys'll help us."

"So you're with us all the way then?" Jeevan asked with a grin.

"Buddy, I'll regret it if we didn't." His friend returned one his way.

"Sir, we're approaching King's Bridge. There's a checkpoint up ahead." His pilot notified him.

Jeevan reached for the binoculars and observed the waters ahead. To be specific, it was a roadblock to Lanka on the road next to them, but they'd been spotted in the far end of the river next door.

Captain Hada reached for the intercom microphone to communicate with the rest of the Company.

"Alright boys, keep your wits about you but try not to look suspiscious."

No sudden movements, they couldn't determine if they were align to the rebels or just being asked to blockade the road.

"What's the excuse?" Hada asked him as he distributed suborders to his subordinates on the command craft.

"Answering a 15-0-11 at Baghadur."

"What?"

"If they're rebels, then it'll make sense that we're going to Baghadur to raze it. If not, it would seem like we're just helping them out."

"…. I hope you're right." Captain Hada returned to his company operations while Jeevan disembarked the control module and out the hatch to man the mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun, charging the weapon with a pull of the cord.

"Guys, we've had a run in with a roadblock. Friendly or not, we're just gonna play pocky and hope to drive by. No sudden movements. Noore, secure yourselves in the bulkhead compartments in case they want to have a quick search."

*(Static) Understood, over.*

"The same for you as well, boys. I'm afraid they'll recognize you with Badala."

*Will do, over.*

*You hear that, they'd recognise us. How popular, you think we are?* Ricardo was just being to optimistic before Samson shut him from the front most craft they were occupying.

"Poker faces now everyone." The Sergeant Major on board announced before they entered audible range.

The hovercrafts slowed down their speed and approached the two troopers from the pack that were maintaining an eye on them from the roadblock. The command vehicle came to a stop right next to them and Captain Hada himself came out to speak with them.

"Destination and Unit."

"Baghadur, we're in a bit of a hurry boys. You see we've got a-…. "payload" to deliver. Hada smartly patted the canister containing their breaching rocket chained explosive device for clearing minefields or blowing fortifications. The trooper looked back at his Commander and motioned an inter-platoon silent gesture that no one but they knew. The Roadblock Lieutenant returned something after a brief scanning of their fleet.

"Alright, let us confirm with Command about thi-."

"Tick- tock Tick- tock. We have a schedule to meet before Airforce arrives, and you know how quick they can get here. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time after this to explain to Lord Min why you made us dally." The expression of the soldier changed and he backed away slowly before running to his officer and explaining quickly.

The Lieutenant walked forward to confront Hada.

"Sir, orders by the General Staff to isolate this road and several other sectors. You need to produce paperwork regarding your dispatch."

"Then can I ask you if 2nd Hussars came this way?"

"Yes, sir. Just fifty minutes ago."

"And did you stop them and ask for their paperwork?"

"That-…." The officer stumbled as he had no answer to that, his orders were to blockade Lanka but he had ignored the battalion coming through with the other regiments because of the presence of a Colonel amongst them and he wasn't going to question a senior officer about his mission.

"So what do we have here then?" Captain turned to Jeevan with a grin.

"Neglegience of duties, perhaps." Jeevan responded.

"And how many days in the brig is that, Lieutenant?" Hada cased a cold glint from his eyes at the roadblock officer.

Caught tongue-tied, the lieutenant had difficulty justifying his stand at the post if he had just let someone go just because he was of a higher rank.

"How will we do this now, Lieutenant?"

"(Sigh)…..Tsh….. You're free to go." He finally gave up.

"Let's mount up, we're making up lost time! You have my thanks, Lieutenant." Captain Hada smiled cooly before returning to the hatch to button down as the engines of the rotors spun, blowing the air surrounding them. Unfamiliar to the craft, the three guards stepped back and returned to their posts. The lieutenant made one more look before returning to his post to make some calls, but by the time he did, they wouldn't be around anymore.

Jeevan sighed in relief that they could pass incognito at this stage still as they were already a distance away from the checkpoint earlier.

"Looks like we made it." Jeevan informed the rest.

(Screech) But he spoke too soon, as from the top of the cliffside where the road went up to King's Bridge while the river followed the valley, a few ATVs followed them on parrellel. One of them signalled for a countersign from them.

"Looks like this is as far as we go." Jeevan announced the end of their cover as he turned the heavy machine gun towards the ATVs whom shuddered as the group of hovercrafts showed signs they weren't on the same side.

(Boboboboboboom) The thunder of 12.7mm rounds rattled the simple mount and blew up the dirt around the ATV squad and dispatched a few of them. The rest of the crew fired their weapons at the survivors albeit shocked that the young man had made that decision for them in such a short time.

*Damn the gods, Jeev! When this is over, you owe me big!*

"You know I'll return more than I owe, Hada." Jeevan answered calmly.

*(Sigh) Damn! No use crying over spilt Yak milk. Men, from here on out is enemy territory!* Hada knew that if he didn't fire, they would have harassed them nonetheless, these ATV squads were likely the forces sent to create a double layer to prevent anyone from getting to Lanka.

The atmosphere upon the five hovercrafts changed to that of wariness as they monitored their surroundings for anymore hidden adversaries.

(Boom)…. (Pop) In front of them to the West where Lanka lay, a red smoke signal was shot into the sky.

Everyone on board knew what it was, they had been compromised. Smoke trails from the narrow road ahead could be seen as a convoy of RPG equipped ATVs and machine gun mounted technical began their pursuit of the Company.

"Eyes up, lads! We've got company!" The Sergeant Major made the group aware through the intercom.

Samson and the boys got out and manned the empty guns as there was no use hiding now. It was then that the cliff previously blocking sight of Lanka had finally revealed onto them the true state of Lanka. Smoke bellowing from the superstructure of the flak towers and bastion walls from the forces besieging Lanka. Smoke and burning wrecks weren't exclusive to Lanka, but a bulk of the early opposing forces' waves. Tracers of different intensity were flung to and fro, causing high strength concrete and rolled homogeneous steel to blister.

A very grim picture was captured by those that saw it from a distance. It only be summarized on one word.

Rebellion.

Jets roared overhead from the direction indicating Sagarmatha Airbase toward their target, the loyalist soldiers in Lanka. The worse had happened, the enemy had taken control of the Royal Army's most powerful asset. He didn't need to guess that someone amongst Lupus Caelum was taking the coin from the Canton Families pockets to cooperate in this coup, and it wasn't a small group. His prediction, likely that worthless filth that had been drifting from country to country looking for employment. Where was Raghu in all of this, probably at the Royal Fortress.

Jeevan turned away from the sight of Lanka burning towards the front craft where Noore and his teacher were. In his heart, he wished with all his soul that his teacher's eyes would open and send fear rushing through the rebels in an instant.

If they lost, the Cantons had no hope of leading Kyrat to victory against Golden Path in its current state. If they won, Jeevan could only imagine the slimness of their chances of fighting them on their own. Golden Path was coming, and the Cantons had just witlessly made it easier for them to return unhindered.


The scene and mood was like something out of the Christian Bible, the exodus back to the promise land. Back home in the familiar fertile soil. Everyone had the same optimistic feelings, all twenty thousand men and women that made up the reformed Golden Path. Comprising not just of the old Golden Path and Shining Way apostles but men and women who had heard of the liberation of Kyrat from none other than Mohan himself and align themselves to him. Young men and women from the indigenous tribes and villages on the long road, all hoping for the same thing, a place to call theirs. They replenished the ranks and formations of the Golden Path almost to its former state, but even that might not be enough to make the legendary fortress wall tremble. They marched through the familiar mountains with the help of the pathfinders and geographic maps across the harsh winterscape lands.

They found temporary sanctuary in the mountains in a stroke of luck. Someone brushed the pillars of the ancient structure and a name was found. Akaash Monastery, a holy place in the mountains, built there purposely by the worshipers of old to be closer to their god. Lost to time, but served its purpose in sheltering the many thousands from the cold winds for a night. Thanks to the structure being carved out of the mountain stone, they had plenty.

So for this brief time, the fighters of Golden Path were given brief respite to wash off their fatigue and to recharge their spiritual strength by paying homage to the statues of the deity that reigned the lands, the same deity that they had prayed to all their lives could be found all the way in this harsh lands.

Was this a sign of divine intervention, that Kyrat should be theirs for the taking? It gave them hope.

Their prayers went out to the hundred or so victims of the failed entrapment of the demon, when the foreigner sniper once known as Hurk had detonated explosives to allow for Badala's escape. It was a tragedy to them, but a godsend to Mohan as much as he hated to admit it. Because with the hundreds that died from the cavern caving in, the word of Badala being the son of Mohan did not spread beyond that.

Though only a brief moment, he saw the faces of the hundreds when he had declared Ajay his son he was looking for all this time. And there wasn't a single person without a look of despair on their faces. There were a few reasons this was so, mainly "the son of Mohan opposed the beliefs of his own father." Making him technically on par with himself in boosting morale if Ajay so chose to reveal it. But he knew that Ajay would not reveal it, not now at least. The Cantons would be the biggest impediment to his true identity as they had real beef with Mohan, he knew they hated him already and to add reason for them to hate him more was to cause Kyrat to submerge into Civil war again. It should have been good to provoke, unfortunately it would also damage his own armies' morale. How much more, he was not entirely sure but he wasn't willing to test it out.

Mohan had a moment to venture into the inner sanctums to find magnificent works of art, statues that had not been lost to age or decay and wall paintings that depicted an almighty being shining his light through a young girl upon the ravaged lands, bringing life back to them.

He knew what it was, the oldest story in the scriptures back home. The providence of almighty Banashur, and the living idol Tarun Matara.

"A lie for ignorant herds." His mistress told him with utter scorn, he had been with her for nearly twenty years and never once had she lied, though she would never tell the whole truth if she didn't want to either. She had been around since or perhaps even before the Golden Age of the Lowland Kingdom, that was nearly five thousand years of history, even before the faith had existed onto itself. She knew the ancient tongue of the temples that even Bhaskar-ji would struggle in, lore that hadn't been heard by human ears for millenia. There was always a shroud of mystery around her.

Mohan had done some digging into ancient scriptures on his own with the best of efforts to understand what was the motivations of the Mistress whom had not once revealed her name onto anyone. In his decades of research and cross reference with what the Mistress had indulged him he had some discoveries that had not been known by the ignorant pious.

Most fascinating of all was the story of how Kalinag became the demon Yalung. An epic that ended in unnecessary tragedy and had broken the original Devi bloodline, the first true overlords over the lands that became Papir, Kumsa, Yinke and Kyrat. The Devi dynasty had caved in to corruption and there was Kalinag, returning from his spiritual journey to dutifully inform the King of the whereabouts of Shangri-La as a seeker.

At some point, something had happened.

Something that could twist his enlightened soul that was bound for transcendence and sever his divine ascension to paradise, ended with his death on orders of the Royalty. The Devi bloodline continued to indulge in a lavish lifestyle for two more decades before a demon burst from the unburied remains inside of Kalinag's dried up corpse. From within, his Nirvanic heart had cracked and flowing out of it was a torrent of agony and hatred melded together to poison every living thing that came into contact with it. And so began the seven night long terror upon the lowland kingdom.

An unwritten part of history was that an ancient order of exorcists had sealed him away before his power rose. How did Kyra fit into the picture, he did not know. Or was it just out of helplessness that the people of old turned towards an unshaken soul for comfort, fabricating the myth of Tarun Matara healing the people and the lands as a saint would?

Mohan didn't care for these minor details, the real reason was understanding the fate which Ajay had been tied to as the apostle of that bloody demon. And his mistress was doing something to accelerate his deterioration almost as if she was encouraging the demon to awaken. Bursting from Ajay as it did to Kalinag. Would that demon be the same? Or was it another one all together.

Somehow in his naiviety, he wondered if there was a way to reverse this process. Why was this feeling unfolding within him at a time like this? His encounter with Ajay with the intention to break his resolve in Pagan had backfired. In the end, it was he who began to question the workings of his return. Ajay would have known exactly how Ishwari would have felt all those years. She didn't betray him like he betrayed her and made her pay for her betrayal through despair.

Mohan thought these while he was on his way to the mistress's secluded corner, an entire cave with a stunning view of the windy mountains. But its surroundings had been scratched and torn with fingermarks and a bit of blood mixed into the gorges. These however, had not been there before when she occupied this temporary abode. Vel had left after being resuscitated on her mistress's orders.

"This is the first time I've seen hesistation in your indomitable spirit, scion of Kalinag."

Mohan turned to the direction of the voice, but he was not expecting to see what he saw.

Leaning to the side with a flagol beside her was a fair-skinned woman with snow white hair. Not the usual appearance hidden from plain sight but this beauty adoned in light satin-like material gown that no picture could fully capture. Her appearance could only be described in one word….

Goddess.

Mohan turned away on reflex as a constricting feeling overwhelmed his chest. While he felt a discomforting feeling that if he looked for a second longer, he would lose himself in wild adoration for her. As if all he needed in life was to have one more look and he would die happy. That was how frightening it was and if he did not have the intuition that he did just now, he would have just signed his own death warrant.

"Hmph. How shrewd of you. But what now, scion of Kalinag? That you've seen myself….." She teased.

In a split second, a feeling of body warmth rested upon his back.

"…. not wish of it." A seductive voice like honey ran down his ears, causing him to shiver and tried to divert his thoughts to something else instead of imagining her body line against him.

"…ahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHA-….(Sigh) Look at you, like a mere child." She replied towards his reaction, but Mohan sensed both pain and loneliness from that mockery. Was it even meant for him, or for herself.

"… You're-…. drunk?" Was that even possible for an entity like her.

She raised the flagon that was by her side a moment ago, the smell permeated from the cap and almost intoxicated him from just the scent alone, giving a clear idea that it wasn't normal alcohol.

"Could you be wondering what this is?..." She said with a voice like honey, no longer shrouded and ethereal hollow. Like she was a normal human being and yet something celestial.

"….." Mohan remained quiet trying his best to gain control over his thoughts.

She finally released Mohan and sat at the ledge to a thousand metre drop down the mountain where she gazed out into the vast expanse of mountains blasted with high torrents of wind and snow.

"An acquaintance had once brewed many bottles for this one. All he cared for was the joy and pleasantness that his beverage could bring to his customers. Now I'm the only one who can appreciate his sentiments."

For such an acquaintance to brew something that could make an entity like her tipsy, was that person also in the same class as her, not human?

She could read his thoughts without even trying, that it was almost as if Mohan was actually asking her directly.

"You know of the legends of the lowlands like the back of your hand…. But did you know there was more than just humanity living within sanctuary of the mountain and valley?"

She continued on after taking a drink from the flagon.

"Humanity occupied much of the valley which they call lowlands but they once shared that place with other races like all others did of humanity. Another of the gods grand design to make all under them peacefully coexist." She snorted at the last part indicating that she didn't believe it the slightest. Mohan hadn't the slightest idea why she was indulging him this knowledge, maybe it was because of that wine, maybe it was merely to fulfil his urge to understand the scripts on the walls like he had previously been doing.

"In the bountiful forests lived the Vanara monkey tribes, the most lavished parts of the valley by the lakes lived the Yaksha. And in the mountains-…." She seemed to pause on reflex as she recalled images of the past.

"… In those cold frigid mountains, lived the Rakshasa."

Mohan's mind went blank, she was suggesting that once upon a time. Entities that had once occupied the epics and lore had once lived among them in this valley. But even the Rakshasa!

"I can feel your thoughts, Scion of Kalinag. And they are unsightly!" She replied to his ill thoughts of the demon race.

"Forgive me! That was ill of me to think that way, I was ignorant." Mohan genuinely apologized.

"Scion of Kalinag, look upon me."

Electricity ran up his spine at the command she gave.

"My mistress, I will continue to serve you as always even without a glimpse-."

"Scion of Kalinag, LOOK-…AT-… ME….."

Her voice caused the solid mountains to tremble around, making the Golden Path warriors assume the worse of an avalanche and made the appropriate preparations. Gulping and doing his best to control his thoughts he looked her way.

Once again, he was exposed to that fair skin, luscious eyelashes, a curvascious figure and eyes so sharp that it was like they stared into your soul. Mohan bit his lip to wake himself from the trance as she approached him.

"What is it you truly seek down here, scion of Kalinag? Decide for yourself this once." She tapped his chest before breaking eye contact with him and releasing him from a self-agonizing pain.

"Can Ajay no go through this? Can he not take up the mantle which you've aligned him to?" Mohan spoke from his heart with genuine feelings that the witch sighed as he'd spoken forwardly for the first time in a long while.

"So even your heart agonizes to see a loved one hurt that you wish you be in their place instead of them. Then what about this one?" She placed her hand to her chest as she refered to herself.

"I've waited for over several millenia. Nine lifetimes…. Nine different realities…. All to find him… All to walk by his side again! And you want me to give up all this for a son you forsook over pride!?"

(Rumble) The mountain shook to her voice once again but rapidly calmed down.

"You said to him that you would be a better father to him in the next lifetime, that I will not intervene. Your Karma has already been linked to him inevitably. But the boy of this lifetime is mine." She made it adamantly clear to him.

"This is the tenth and final incarnation that he will take, if I fail now. I will never be able to find him again."

But unlike the nine others, this one proved stronger in spirit. The nine incarnations that had either surcome to hatred or despair. Which was to her benefit and at the same time, disadvantage. How was she to create a catalyst for his rebirth if his spirit would not break easily? But hope was in the right place for her, his will was stronger than the rest by a mile and yet even when she had orchestrated all these events to put him at odds. Not once did she detect resentment against her for it. If anything, she could sense a familiar glow in his soul. Now, her chances for success were beyond failure on her end, it was now up to her to decide whether he would go through it or not. But if by chance that he did fail…..

"When that happens, there will no longer be a reason for me to exist here forever more." She indicated suicide if her wish could not be granted.

A complicated expression ran done Mohan's face as he thought about her experience from mere description alone. And it was fair evident from what his mistress was disclosing to him.

Ajay was an incarnate of someone she held dear to her heart. To think she had gone this far for someone for so long, it was unfathomable in his pretext as a human.

Though, he was deeply reluctant, he was inclined to agree. This was already beyond his capacity to intervene, so he should carry through with it all the way. Yet even so, he was glad. For the first time, his mistress had shown trust in his ability and conscience to share her plans. The Karma that she sowed with him at death's door will be fulfilled before he would return to the cycle of reincarnation to be reunited with his son in another lifetime.

The witch gazed upon the only token from the person she yearned for in her satin wrapped hand. An item that had once been lost but found again, and coincidentally, from the boy's hands. A simple bamboo flute with character and intricate designs of the himalayan animal kingdom adorning it. Once a gift to her from him, and yet again in this lifetime. It gave her a genuine hope that somewhere deep down, he was there slumbering deep within the boy's soul. But it also brought back the memories of how she'd lost it to circumstance, the circumstance brought about by one foul being that had both ruined her life and torn him away from her whilst leaving his laughter echoing into the distance from high up in the dais of paradise.

The witch's hand tightened around the ornamental treasure as she did all she could to suppress her rage at that memory of the ultimate betrayal.

"But before that…. I will make sure that person will not get his way. Even if it means tearing down Shangri-La to get to him."


The hovercraft escorts sped along the riverbed with quickness that put a strain on their overworked engines, but with the on-board technicians there to ensure they continued to run, that was no issue.

They could instead focus on the problem at hand, the pursuing high speed vehicles whom were identified at the High-speed reconnaissance battalion, one of the former Royal Guard regiments that were dissolved and merged with the Royal Army. It was apparent that some commanders weren't the least bit satisfied with the change in command structures. It was likely due to the deterioration of their officers' prestige for being "demoted" to mere Royal Army from the once-exclusive ranks of the Royal Guard Army which was just as big as the former.

But in Ajay and Arjun's opinion, it was not economical and rightly so. When they reformed the Armies, it gave them a large surplus of cash to support the other areas of statecraft such as the industry, infrastructure, housing, education and healthcare. The public was by no means against this reform, if anything they were highly appreciative of this genuine change. But the Kyrat's Military elite were inclined to disagree, they'd held their tongue in the presence of the awe inspiring demon till today when the Cantons had announced their intentions to overthrow Pagan and bring back the old ways.

Jeevan's priorities were different, it involved killing everyone that got in his way.

Tracers of heavy machine gun fire and grenades were fired towards the high-speed reconnaissance forces on armed buggies and quad bike armed-RPGs. Accompanied by return fired from their end as well.

(BOOOM) A rocket-propelled grenade struck the led hovercraft in the propellers causing a fire to break out and the craft to slow down.

But the commander of the point craft was not about to let their demise impede the rest, so he made the hovercraft beach and block the road ahead of the aggressor vehicles. He wished them the best of luck as they passed him and his platoon without stopping and fought for his platoons' survival.

"Tsh!" At this rate, they would lose more and more. They were only running from the problem at hand without confronting it. The Canton commanders were anticipating them to do that too, to withdraw to regroup and hold out. They weren't going to give them that grace. Lanka was just overhead towering over them from the side of the cliff of the ravine they were on towards Narrapur town.

Then, the chopping of blades in the air were heard. Choppers began to chase after them from the regiments sent to attack Lanka. Someone clearly knew the importance of the escort that was on board. A stream of rockets were unleashed from a gunship variant at the second craft to lead their point, but unlike the first there were no survivors to the fireball that ignited from the barrage of 80mm high explosive rockets.

*NAGA!- Goddamnit!* Hada mourned the lost of his Lieutenant, killed so swiftly.

Even so, the remaining three crafts rolled on without pause but now warier of air attacks than they were previously. The helicopter that had unloaded its ammunition into the second craft flew off back to base after depleting its munitions for a resupply. Hada crawled out of the hatch cocking his rifle and firing it at the impossibly far heli gunship.

He tossed the emptied rifle in the departing helicopter's direction. "I don't care who you are! When this rebellion is over…. I WILL FIND YOU!"

Hada returned to his control room hatch to return to his command station, passing Jeevan who gave a solemn glimpse.

"I don't need your pity, I've said all I've needed to say. I will find that sunnovabitch and gut him…. But now, we've got more pressing matters. Agreed?" Jeevan nodded, helpless to the maturity of his classmate's thoughts.

"What will you do after sending us?" Jeevan asked this simple question.

"Support Baghadur, at least there we know they can be trusted."

"…. Understood." Hada turned away to return.

"Hada… I owe you."

"You're damn right you do. I'll be taking interest from you." Hada said lightly before closing the hatch entirely.

"Boats! Three o clock!" Called out the foreman pointing in that general direction. True to his words, a swarm of monitor-class boats and several zodiacs begun to converge in a pincer style of attack.

*That mark!-….. that's 13th battalion!* Hada announced on the channel, a fellow rivine guard protecting the Southern waters had turned on them for their own benefit.

-There's no end to this greed and ambition….- Jeevan lamented with a fallen face.

But then he steeled his senses. -No! We can't keep being on the retreat, these traitors!-….. They must die here today!-

Jeevan quickly scanned his surroundings as the firefight raged on for what would become the biggest brownwater naval battle in Kyrat of all time. His eyes landed upon one of the jetski vehicles used by the battalion to confuse their opponents or board enemy vessels for sabotage.

"Hada, bring me pass that jetski!"

*What?!*

"Don't argue! Noore, I leave my mentor in your hands."

The hovercraft turned to head directly for a small watercraft boat that accompanied the bulk of the Southern rivine forces. The driver of said boat was shocked to see the huge hovercraft heading for it in ramming speeds and tried to get away. Whilst this was happening, the other boats exchanged heavy volumes of firepower at each other.

Jeevan slung all the explosives he could gather along with a handheld M79 grenade launcher.

*Jeevan- are you listening! What are you doing?!* Noore called out astounded by his choice.

"Delaying them, don't worry. I'll come out of this alive. Have faith."

*Jeevan? Jeevan!?-…. No!-Brother!* His sister called out to him, but by that time he'd already disconnected the channel and readied himself by the railings. The jetski was just a few metres in distance from him before he jumped on board.

"Huh! What-." Jeevan plunged his knife into the back of the former operator of the jetski and threw his bloody corpse off as he took the controls of the fast-moving vehicle.

The larger monitor vessels were preoccupied with attacking the hovercrafts to notice one of their smaller specialist had his jetski commandeered as it didn't seem like a huge affect to their battle power. But they were dead wrong.

It gave Jeevan the opportunity to sneak up on the large vessels from behind. He primed a C4 charge to the back of the boat and went on to the next one. He was able to repeat this process about thre time before he was spotted by an armed zodiac which fired its machine gun at him and forced him to make zig-zags at high speed to avoid being hit.

(Click) (BOOM) (BOOM) (BOOM) Explosions erupted from the back of three vessels and shocked the crew into wondering if they'd been hit by something terrible. The C4 was enough to take out their engines, halting their pursuit of the hovercrafts entirely and leaving the smaller boats vulnerable to the heavy firepower of the hovercrafts still present.

But now, they turned their attention to that hidden adversary.

"Don't let him escape!" Shouted someone from the tower on one of the boats, indicating to Jeevan he was the Commander of the forces. His mouth curled into a smile, he had just made things easier for him. The zodiac continued its chase and fire at him from behind, but the instability of the sharp turns and accounting for Jeevan's predicted direction made it difficult to hit him and resulted in them make overshots.

He passed another boat and threw a grenade into the cabin area while the boat captain was unprepared. The grenade turned the steering cabin into a fiery wreck and forced the rest of the crew to abandon ship for fear of the flames spreading to the ammunition on board.

Switching to his grenade launcher, he fired back handed at the zodiac chasing him. The first shot landed just in front of them, splashing their front and blinding them temporarily from where he was. When they came out of the mist, they faced Jeevan head on as he passed them after firing another grenade into their mount.

(Thump)(BOOM) The zodiac was vaporized.

By now, the rest of the company of 13th battalion was clear that they had stumbled upon someone they shouldn't have gone after.

They begun to regroup at their commander's request while he called for whatever support he could garner.

Jeevan had just made him the number one target of the afternoon as he turned the throttle of the jet pump to maximum and went straight on for the Command Boat.

"Ki- Kill him!" The Commander ordered, having a bad feeling about what he intended to do. Two boats positioned themselves between Jeevan and the Command Boat, making it impossible for him to get there without bumping into them first.

Jeevan looked around and found his entry onto the Command Boat, he turned the jet ski to face a derelict turned-over boat he'd destroyed previously whilst dodging the grenade rounds that were being shot at him from afar. For some reason, he felt the adrenaline run through him like never before, pushing him onwards to progression in what he did without fatigue or fear.

-Was this what teacher felt?- He was both estatic as he was disgusted with himself.

But it didn't change the fact that to end this fight, that Commander had to go. He engaged the throttle to the end as he positioned the jetski's trajectory to the Command Boat and let gravity and kinetic energy do the rest. The jetski and him flew in the air over the heads of the boat crew blockading his way to their commander. All of which stared wide-eyed at that sport-style jump over their five-metre-long and three-metre-high vessels.

"What- the-!"

But whilst in the air found that he had overshot his target by and entire boat length and would fly overhead instead. Even so, he didn't despair. As he kicked down on the jetski to change direction to land on top of the boat instead while he jumped out and landed upon an enemy soldier with his knife to dampen his fall. The jetski crashed onto the deck of the Command Boat and struck their engine deck, but that was the least of their problems. For the monster responsible for half the Companys' destruction was on board with them.

(Bababababababaam) A rivine soldier open fired, accompanied by the symphony of his fellow soldiers' automatic fire. Jeevan replied with a 40mm grenade shot which turned the deck into a blazing mess. He then turned to where the commander was on the cabin platform but was surprised to find him on deck with him with a knife in his hand charging towards him.

To some, it would seem like a very credible threat as he had only a grenade launcher in hand that couldn't be used in close range. Jeevan's reaction to this was slightly on the unsound side when he smiled with satisfaction and glee while withdrawing his knife from the leather scabbard and dropping the grenade launcher. For quite some time since his CQC training from the paratrooper-trained Condotierri and the combat proficient Ajay, his days of practicing in the Royal Academy had been dull. At first, they were astounded and impressed, but later no one was willing to play fight with him, then the rumor spread like wild fire even to his unit with the Jatayu. Discouraging everyone save for Ajay from fighting with him and he knew better than to get in a practice run with his mentor. He always came out bruised and sore from when his mentor played dirty to teach him that not all knife fights or gunfights were fair. Unfortunately, he had no one to test and confirm it except for that one time with Sabal.

But now it was entirely different. This Commander knew jackshit about him.

"Errraggh!" But instead of fight with his knife, it was purely a ruse to have him drop his guard as the Commander slammed into him. "Guurghh!" He fought back the pain from being hit in the stomach, but lost his footing as the Commander pushed him over the ledge. They came to a stop at the railing against Jeevan's back, there he decided to gut him with the knife instead. Jeevan had no choice but to wrestle with his hand holding the knife towards his chest.

But the commander proved to be stronger than him as the knife inched closer and closer to his chest, Jeevan begun to struggle to keep it away. The Commander saw that light flicker out in his eyes and grew over confident.

-Nobodies gonna play knives with you in a gunfight.- The words resounded in Jeevan's mind as clear as his mentor had told him, Instructor Yip had said the same thing before. Now, Jeevan was clear on the meaning more than ever.

"It was a good experience." He said with difficulty but with a smile on his face, which confused the Commander. But that millisecond of hesitation was all Jeevan needed to wrench the knife away from his chest and kick him away towards the ledge himself. He however did not expect the Commander to grab hold of his clothing and drag him into the waters as well.

(Splash)

Both of them fell into the waters. Jeevan sunk deeper than the Commander due to the weight of the equipment that was on him. He realized that and begun to use his knife to cut free from the harness.

They both begun to prioritize their survival over killing each other, the Commander was unfortunately alone because his Company had fled with the sight of the Command Boat in flames so he was forced to swim toward the shore.

But what both of them didn't realize was that all this commotion in the usually calm waters had stirred up some inhabitants that shouldn't have been disturbed. Especially during their breeding period, and during that period, a particular alpha always reigned supreme in those dark cold waters. All the blood from the overboard corpses were attracting the natural predators to the waters.

Jeevan would not have noticed any presence within the waters had it not been for a streak of white pass him to his right amongst the reeds that had blocked line of sight of him from the king of the waters. His alarmed senses begun to kick off as he gazed in the direction of the creature that moved in the waters with such grace that it was clear it owned them.

He watched under the silence of the waters and limited oxygen, as the enemy Commander swam unawares to the danger that was approaching him. He saw a shadow approach the silhouette of the Commander from behind and grabbed him as it dove deep into the waters with his gittering corpse, leaving a bloody trail. A huge figure he had previously caught a glimpse of, at least the size of a shark. But in these fresh waters there was only one creature that fishermen were ever so wary of, a creature exclusive to the waters of Kyrat and have said to have been here since the early dawn of man.

If it had a name starting with demon, on the accounts of generations of water faring Kyratis, it may have very well have earnt it.


….

….

Ten Vedic Talismans

Ten Sacred Guardians

Seal the wrathful asura, beneath the everwinter mountains

Six perish, Six talismans shattered

And the seventh Sacred Guardian to be slain,

by the first apostle of the Asura

Ten Talismans to seal,

Ten Incarnates to break the hex

…..

…..


Author's Thoughts:

On the witch's demands overriding Mohan's conviction. (Captain Phillips parody)

Witch: "Hey!... look at me."

Captain Mohan: "Sure-."

Witch: "Look at me."

Captain Mohan: "Sure."

Captain Witch: "I'm the Captain now."