Author's Notes:

Looking back, there were a lot of things I would have liked to write about. But I guess I've come too far to change it. I can only ensure that quality stays consistent. Do forgive me now and then as in may screw up grammar due to mistyping or because I change a sentence and neglect to check punctuation.

Update from 18/03/2018:

I know it's been a long while, sry guys. I'm applying finishing touches right now. Posting tomorrow ASAP.


The people of Kumsa were exposed to a very different kind of environment upon the arrival of the new Federal Army's 4th Autonomous Brigade. The repeating fire of machineguns, detonations of hand grenades and mortar shells, and the thunder of cannons were all too overwhelming. Tearing through the notoriously invulnerable Golden Path in split seconds. They had been introduced for the first time, to the sounds of war.

Living generations of simple agriculture and contentment, the Kumsans were largely ignorant to the wars fought between and within the other larger states. Kumsa should never have even been a monarchy, but the blessings upon the Kumsa Ancestor had spiritually protected the people in their domain by severing absolute karma. So Kumsa prevailed no matter the crisis within the mountains.

But now that the "blessing" was given to its rightful inheritor, Kumsa was just as susceptible to diplomatic strife. And it frightened them, it frightened the Crown Prince as it had most certainly frightened the old King. But he believed in the words of his Ancestors, he trusted in Badala's abilities and the potential of his own people to learn and adapt. The world around them was getting bigger, the only question was if Kumsa would still fit in or be left in the dust by its neighbours.

The sovereign of Kumsa made a gamble, he bet the eternal safety of his family and people for a chance for them to be better than now. They might not recognize the benefit even now, but in time their children would reap the fruit of their labours.

In just twenty minutes of the massive airborne descent, the garrison forces of Golden Path had all been eliminated to the last man. The Kumsan Army and Guards quickly surrendered without a fight.

The Crown Prince openly declared the surrender, there were some who held loyalty to the Prince than the King. So they reacted violently to the Federal Army despite his vying for peaceful methods.

He could only receive the ill news that the Federation Soldiers had gunned down some and arrested the remainders. These weren't former Royal Army soldiers, these were the former Elite Royal Guard. A fighting force that prided themselves over their troop quality even as the Royal Army underwent reforms.

The Golden Path of this generation had unfortunately not ever encountered them to know the difference in morale, individual prowess and communication efficiency to their Royal Army counterparts. Within three hours, trenches and high walls had already been set in a matrix similar to a tortoiseshell. An old Chinese strategy employed to destroy cavalry divisions known as the Stone Sentinel Maze, with a slight modern twist to it. Courtesy of Colonel Roka, the engineering genius who designed super fortress Lanka.

It was designed to allow enemies through the flanks easily by tricking them into going down a maze of gorges surrounded by high trench ground and vulnerable to explosives. Every once in a while, the formation moved. New trenches were dug and buried to reconfigure and confuse the enemy upon their second assault or those still trapped inside. Machine gun emplacements were highly efficient due to the narrow field of fire the enemy was bottlenecked as they advanced.

And did they. The first victims of this trap were a Golden Path Division sent as reinforcements but were too late and switched over to retake the city. Four thousand men, expended like they were cannon fodder, how many men did Mohan's Golden Path recruit in such a short span of time? This formation completely decimated the division of mixed infantry. Sun Kwan and the other senior officers realized how dangerous of a woman she was. Her defensive strategies and tactics actually defeated modern spearhead assaults like the Blitzkrieg warfare, she could force an asymmetric warfare situation back into trench warfare with them on the high ground.

The 4th Autonomous Brigade had just had a baptism by fire in their first successful deterrence of the enemy force and morale was at an all-time high.

The only one who didn't celebrate was Bipin. Scanning the horizon scarily hard, observing the routed Golden Path as they ran back into the forest like they had a purpose. He understood that the real enemy they were dealing with was nothing like what the Cantons had ever fought before, so now was not a time to get cocky.

As such, a small group of officers were in the same mind as him. Standing by him, awaiting his directions to avert what could possibly be a military tragedy out of underestimating the enemy. The enemy wasn't Golden Path, it was the Rakshasa. As much as he didn't want to admit it when he came as a contingency, just in case, the Golden Path was too liberal with their forces and spread too wide. They weren't sent to attack, they had been sent to recce the defensive formation.

Even now, the Rakshasa was studying and deciphering a means to defeat the Stone Sentinel Maze defence formation. They'd apply a new strategy to turn the formation against them and Bipin could not let that happen.

"We're abandoning Bagua Zhen (Stone Sentinel Maze)." He declared an order. Field command had fallen into his hands while Sam and the higher staff officers maintained the flow of troops, supplies and formations.

The field officers did not question him on that matter, if he said they'd give up the formation Saraswati designed for them, then they'd give it up.

"Rakshasa! One klick away!" A lookout informed them, as the infantry units awaited their next orders right after he had declared they were leaving the Stone Sentinel Maze.

"Battalions 2nd and 5th withdraw to the second line in an orderly fashion. 12th Company, cover their retreat. And…. Give our visitors a demonstration of the "dragon's breath"." Upon hearing his dispatch, the commander of said company grinned with delight.

Standing exposed above the stone sentinel maze trench formation, he peered through the binoculars to observe the Rakshasas' advance and their tactical withdrawal. The Rakshasa could not be seen clearly, an unnatural fog concealed their advance, only figures with inhuman proportions lurked in the fog. But there was one figure that remained unconcealed, a woman.

She looked like something out of a fantasy novel or art depiction of Hindu epics. Her smooth pale blue skin was only highlighted by the ancient yet mysterious venerable golden armour she wore. A pair of katars hung on her waist. She stood over a kilometre behind near the treeline, she had the same role as him. The enemy commander.

"Shall I call in artillery?" The artillery observer who shared the trench space with him for high vantage suggested since the enemy commander had been located.

Bipin continued to observe without replying, and to his surprise, the eyes of the Rakshasa Commander looked right at him. The next response was left to interpretation because she blew a playful kiss in his direction.

It was clear that the Rakshasa wasn't taking this as seriously as they were. What were they planning? Didn't Ajay have a one-week truce with them? It was still two days away until the due date. Unless these were clones again, but deep within. Bipin knew that wasn't the case. Rakshasa strategy never made sense, yet even Ajay fell for the outcome of their plots. They weren't just warriors of a thousand battles for nothing. Even the lowest, most inexperienced warrior probably saw more than an entire lineage of military soldiers.

"No. She'll be out of harm's way even before the shells reach. Let's not waste it, instead…. Smoke barrage, direction 055, five salvos, creep in increments of five metres."

"But, sir-…. That's the enemy's position!" Was he helping them cover their advance?

"Do as I say! Send it!" The signaler reluctantly relayed his orders to the 152mm field gun batteries out over the mountains, some twenty-four kilometres away.

The advance of the Rakshasa was only limited by the speed of the fog, apparently, they'd learnt from their previous encounter with the joint task force at point 2153 of the capabilities of 21st Century weaponry. Especially the line of 100mm field guns that pointed out intimidatingly towards their direction. However, the fog and stone sentinel maze would provide much-needed protection.

Bipin fiddled with his radio which seemed fine. It was good news that the Rakshasa dubbed "Lightning General" wasn't here disruption radio communications. But which substitute came in his stead? They would have to find out the hard way soon.

"Zeta Actual to all forces, the enemy has begun a slow and steady advance. Make no mistake, they will take every opportunity to flank and overcome our defences. But time is on our side. It's a matter of how long they'll last before their strategic withdraw. Good luck, and Godspeed to you all. Over." After his message and warning, he killed the comms and stood by the trench wall to watch the arrival of the Rakshasa.

12th Company was visible out in front, a whole line that stood between them and the Rakshasa fog. The whistling sound of the 152mm smoke rounds howled as they entered the vicinity and burst overhead, making the fog even thicker.

A few seconds passed, and figures began to burst out of the thickened fog. Charging with haste and bellowing a warcry the likes they'd never seen. Because no one manned the Stone Sentinel Maze, they passed through without deterrence just as he suspected.

They deciphered the formation in such a short span of time. Method tactics and strategy could not be used to fight against them. Only instinct and careful deployment could be employed from now on.

He looked through the binoculars to find the Rakshasa woman still standing watching over here men in the same spot.

"You managed to beat Saras's Bagua Zhen in less time than we took making sense of it together." He said as if she heard him from over a kilometre or more away.

Her forces were just a few metres from the line formation made by the 12th Company who raised up large rectangular tower shields that blocked the Rakshasas' charge. But who were they to stop a Rakshasas' strength?

"But don't think you've made sense of me."

The moment the Rakshasa reached the shields, they detonated reactively at point-blank. Blasting them back into shock with severe wounding effects. For these weren't ordinary shields, but ones rigged with exposed Kontakt reactive armour tiles taken from the vehicle depots. Originally a countermeasure to save tanks from anti-tank missiles, reactive armour had one fatal flaw. Which was the violent explosion of the 4S22 explosive compound upon impact, meaning that infantry was at risk of being killed if in the vicinity of the detonation? This flaw was used to their advantage in a different kind of scenario. Keeping them away.

"Fire at will!"

The 100mm field guns kicked back from recoil after expending a cartridge in a salvo towards the Rakshasa in their stand still.

What came next, was the rest of the weapons fire from behind being set upon the now-exposed and stunned Rakshasa assault wave.

"3rd Battalion, rise!" Upon his command, the walls of the Stone Sentinel Maze which the Rakshasa bypassed collapsed and out came a full force of eight hundred soldiers who flanked the Rakshasa who had lost their charging momentum.

The Rakshasa behind the frontline were surprised that such a strategy had been thought out to such great lengths to defeat them. As the vanguard had been suppressed, with some making a tactical withdrawal through a wormhole or by smoke.

Narmada stood with a look of wonder rather than surprise. It was not every day for the General of the West Gate to have witnessed a human commander having managed to defeat an assault by them and counterintelligence they knew of the human formation. She was where the human could see her, as he was for her, it was almost as if these troops of theirs were nothing more than chesspieces in this game of strategy. She obviously had better quality troops, but the human also had some quality to his in one way or another. Perhaps he would have figured it out by now, that both of them weren't method strategists, but instinctual commanders.

The reports indicated that this human was the vessel's comrade. His soul held no fear just like many in the vessel's company. It was a shame to have to kill such a commander she saw as an equal, but her orders were absolute. "Ensure Golden Path supremacy." Tarakeshwar's strategy for ensuring they reach Shangri-la with minimal losses had to be carried out. Or they won't be able to use every ounce of strength in their real fight against the rulers of the mountains. She was not at all deterred by the human's seemingly advantageous situation. After the battles she had fought over the centuries, this was considered child's play.

[Forgive me, boy. I truly wish you would have better in the next life.] She said a silent prayer for his soul and those that stood in their way.


Here they were in a purple illusionary world grafted up by a discarnate soul of all things, a fragment of its former-self left behind due to an unfinished worldly concern.

That concern was the very item these two races competed for. Kaalapatthargada. Known widely by the Yaksha as the weapon that ended the reign of the Rakshasa, yet they weren't the ones in control of it. But they were trying their best to obtain it nonetheless, although they were a little late on acquiring it after so long.

If given the choice, the discarnate soul would rather scuttle the weapon than let them have it. But the weapon wasn't the greatest of his concerns. It was the numerous souls of his comrade-in-arms that had yet to pass on due to unfinished last rites or because of worldly attachments that chained them to the world as wandering ghosts. In any case, it was not leaving without them.

Century after century, the conceited Yaksha intruded its mausoleum to get it to hand over the weapon. Its people were gone so it didn't matter to the discarnate soul, but it held a deep grudge for the Yaksha. For it was they who destroyed its city and slaughtered its people after all it had done for them out of virtue and justice when it was alive. It was too stubborn to see that it was he who had been in the wrong, this was the price for committing that sin of destroying the true innocence.

The late Vanara Chieftain accepted that. When the time came to descend into hell and face Yama, it would at least say it had done its best in this life as Varish, Great Chieftain of the Vanara tribe.

Then one day, a curious individual stumbled upon this place. A human, coming alone and in his possession, three statues bearing the marks of the three clans. Clan idols. What's more, this human was not native to these mountains.

He had come as penance for the horrible things he had done to monkey kind in the past. Things like making restitution with them on account of "See-four" vests. It was not sure what that was but was probably some sort of torture device.

He was probably the first human to have come in thousands of years, alive and well that is. The Yaksha had kept it spiritually intact with souls of departed humans. How they sourced them could only be of one means.

Humans were worshipping the Yaksha, more specifically "him".

Dedicating their lives, body and soul. "He" was the most cunning of their kind after all.

The discarnate soul was quick to see the character of this human from the way he brought himself about and talked. Taking the effort to tidy the chambers with broom and rag, every fortnight he would return to make the place a little cleaner. He polished but never disappeared with a single one of the treasures that lay in the room. Despite the light in his eyes due to their dazzling splendour, he exercised restraint. But more than that, it seemed it wasn't he who desired the treasures but rather what it could do for others. There were earnestness, humbleness and moral qualities in this human.

And as if it were a presence the human felt, he talked about the recent happenings down below in a human country known as Kyrat. The kingdoms rising and falling, a certain seeker who ventured into Shangri-la by the name of Kalinag. Wonder how it went for him, the discarnate soul mused. Not too well it supposed since he had trodden in Yaksha grounds and they were a very selfish race, to begin with.

A local patron god had made its way into this Kyrat, the discarnate soul had some suspicions of its origin. And like any religion, a god must have an antithesis. A devil.

Such a role was taken by an entity known widely as Yalung. The discarnate soul was not a fool to the spiritual flow around the mountains. Once, long ago, it felt a spike of energy burst out from the earth and engulfed the mountains natural law. Never had there been an occurrence like that before, the discarnate soul did not know what happened and neither did the Yaksha tell him. Although, they seemed highly spooked when he inquired despite their cautious nature. This Yalung was the real deal, something that scared even the Yaksha and for good reason.

Years later to the present, Kyrat was engulfed in a civil war. Internal strife caused by outsiders, while twenty years were a blink of an eye to it. It was the longest war the country had ever endured. And this was when the human became excited, this was when Badala appeared in his story.

A man soon to be herald as the Demon God's spawn. The human exaggerated these tales a bit but were not too far off. He fought alongside him as an equal, he claimed. The discarnate soul found it humorous although the human's soul said it told no lie, but did not tell the entire truth either, just his perceived point of view. This Badala had done much for the human here, influencing him, teaching him to value himself more. Badala an important existence to him, like an older brother.

After his usual duration had ended in paying his visit, the human would return home. The discarnate soul felt weird, that it missed his conversation. Although it was clear the human did not have enough spiritual awareness to hear or see it. The human must have been a very lonely person in his years of living to be talking to empty wall from his perception, this was why Badala was such a treasured existence to him. The discarnate soul looked forward to his next visit every two weeks. For the longest time, it felt regretful. Not to be able to leave this place, to have the cold unkind winds as the only company. The human gave him the greatest experience of what it meant to be alive despite not having much himself.

Then lately, the human came to him emotionally compromised. A friend of his had been murdered by another sworn brother of his, and Badala was beyond enraged, swearing to hunt him down like a dog and kill him. The human implored for answers, yet the discarnate soul could give none even if it desperately wanted to advise or console him. The human deserved that much for all he had done for it. Then he went down, promising to find a solution to the problem himself. The discarnate soul was proud, that the human had indeed grown above his own self-esteem to save his brothers. The discarnate soul looked forward to hearing from him the news, whether it be good or bad. At least he had tried. If possible, the discarnate soul would be ready to relinquish Kaalapatthargada in its entirety to him. If it would even aid him a little. At least, in his hands, it was better off than with the Yaksha.

On the appointed day of his routined return, he did not appear. The discarnate soul wondered what had delayed the human. Soon, a day had passed, and the discarnate soul continued to wait with patience hoping it was just a minor change in schedule. But as the days went by, the discarnate soul grew more and more worried. A week passed, and the discarnate soul feared the worst.

It paced about in the confines of the soul stone that held its consciousness together. Until it finally made the conclusion, the human was gone. A month had gone all on its own. It was alone again, set to guard the tomb for eternity.

[He! This truly is a fitting punishment…]

The discarnate soul slowly slipped back into slumber, only disturbed once by a Demon Banisher. But returned back into the endless limbo, until….

Consume the Yaksha

It heard a rather distinct resonation coming from Demon Banishers stalking another group of Yaksha that had come to plead for a chance at its safe keep. And as much as it enjoyed seeing the Yaksha suffer even a little bit, its caution was with that Demon Banisher. Doing things that hardly resembled an initiate of the order, only in the name was he one of them. In the flesh, or underneath it, this Ajay Ghale was someone else.

[Make your stand in this world and discover the means to escape.]

It gave its next trial to the two groups represented by Ajay Ghale and Yaksha Prince Andhakan.


[The sky around you, yet the earth beneath your feet.] The Discarnate began reciting a poem that sounded like a clue to a riddle.

[A castle high above in heaven, a fortress resides within the underworld.] They all listened attentively. A shine from the sky as an illusionary bastion floated on high and a dark glow from another under the earth below.

[How will you break the encirclement...?] Ajay looked around the illusionary forest and found that the Yaksha was no longer near their proximity, warped in a different area of this world.

[If ascending nor descending may grant you relief from this world.] The discarnate soul ended his recital.

[I bid you the very best of ventures and pray for your success. Your failure would only mean eternity here.] It ended off with a chuckle of malice, both teams were unaware of who it was meant for the most.

Scanning their surroundings, it was easy to discern where they were, a floating mass of earth. Suspended by an unknown law of physics to act as the ground beneath their feet. Other islands were found in the distance as well.

Darshan took a seat to reflect alone, meditating with closed eyes.

"Shouldn't we be putting our heads together?" Ajay's suggestion was apparently ignored. Darshan clearly wanted to do things himself.

Ajay sighed, Darshan probably didn't think he was capable of getting past this stage due to his upbringing in the Bronx. But mostly because their reason for success in the last trial was a quotation from a movie starring Schwarzenegger. Ajay couldn't refute as he'd often slackened during literature classes and took the poet's society as a joke to him back then.

Ajay sat as well, gazing out into the scenery for god knows what answer. He took a rock and threw it down below, it continued to fall down a never-ending chasm. Letting him know that there were no physical limits to this place. In computer terms, this would be something like a sandbox. Everything confined to a miniature world with enough algorithm to keep it sustained indefinitely.

Ajay took a seat under a tree that shaded him from the shining light of the sky castle looming over their floating land. He wondered what kind of answer the Yaksha would give, probably one embedded in poetics like the discarnate soul intended.

As he sat thinking back on the riddle, he realized the analogy seemed coincidentally similar to his own situation with the Himavanan States. The heavenly and hellfire fortresses represented the real-world obstacles of the United States and Golden Path-Rakshasa pact, in the front and at their back.

Both had to be dealt with. Ajay smiled as it seemed to get easier for him to understand. It a way, it would also answer the big question to the Himavanas dilemma.

"So how will you do it?" Ajay posed this question to himself.

In truth, the Himavanas were no match for both. It depended on the way of the world to shamelessly protect it. For the United States, it was the international community. For the Rakshasa, it was the natural law of the mountains. The Himavanas was still in its infancy, with no one to stand up to protect it. While he did say once, that he didn't care for the rule of the mountain. That was exactly what the Rakshasa was aiming for if they were rulers once more, what right did they have to live in the mountains that were theirs? The Yaksha was not throwing anyone a bone either, it was exactly like his visions had told him. While they did let humanity live their lives in the mountains, he was sure there was some sort of price for it. The discarnate soul and Yaksha mentioned a tribute of souls which emulated the signature of human ones. Where did they get them? He was pretty sure the recently departed people didn't give their willing consent.

Since the Yaksha weren't doing anything, it was up to the people to save themselves. What can thirty million people do to defeat both adversaries?

[By building a kingdom upon the earth.]

(rumble) With the Yaksha's answer came a tremor that shook the limited earth. The ground uprooted and reformed, stone walls began to form and overlap upon one another. Until a city popped out of nowhere to the East.

[Mmm. If one cannot ascend nor descend, they should make the best of what they have. A kingdom on the earth is still a kingdom.] In other words, if you can't leave then become the very best in your territory.

A castle started to take shape amongst the city that had formed in an instant. And on top of it were the silhouettes of five figures, Ajay didn't need to guess who they were. They scanned the distance from the elevated ground just as the Prince had commanded, although he was the first to find what he had them looking for as he stared Ajay and Darshan's way. A grin crept upon his face with such satisfaction it could not be hidden well.

[Found you.]

The figures dashed down their castle towards Ajay's position who knew a fight was upon them. He had wondered why the discarnate soul had not warped them out to intervene. But if they were awake back in the real world, Ajay and Darshan would not. And would, therefore, be helpless outside, although they weren't much different in here, he figured.

But at least, in here, he could fight back.

He gripped the handle of one of the knives made of Vanara steel. The other held his bow drawn and deployed. Passing a glance towards Darshan who remained motionless in his own meditation. It appeared he was doing this alone.

Two talismans were thrown at Darshan to create a field, Ajay dug into Darshan's pocket and placed a soul stone upon the paper talisman. The most recently acquired one from the Yaksha Aryan.

The forest before him rattled as a force approached him with such speed and killing intent, it wanted to not just kill him over and over but make him crave death forever.

He threw two smoke grenades to mask his surroundings, his bow drawn and ready to meet the threat.

Then, a figure burst from the smoke not where he aimed but on his flank. Sending a chakram flying his way.

(pow) (BOOM) Firing off an explosive shot, the chakram blew into bits. But it had achieved its purpose to draw fire and allow the elder Yaksha the opportunity to come into close combat.

The bow was cast aside to draw the second knife in a two-handed defence. (clang) The vibration of the strike delivered by a sword pushed Ajay back a few steps. Taking advantage of his stumble, the elder Yaksha took the offensive.

The elder Yaksha attacked with an overhead swing which Ajay deflected weakly, but that was nothing more than a feint. A knife popped out of his shoe as he kicked upwards with intent to pierce his jaw. Only to be parried.

[Oh? So you do have some skill and not talk after all.]

Ajay only responded with action, flinging talismans upon him and around him to act as protection. He drew out his slugger slung on his back and pointed the threatening end towards the elder Yaksha.

(Boom) A .700 Nitro round blasted a tree behind to smithereens but failed to hit the Yaksha as it rebounded off some sort of energy shield similar to the talisman one protecting Darshan, but more powerful.

-Troublesome.- He flung a bag full of incendiary explosives at the Yaksha who dodged effortlessly as it detonated behind him. And effectively created a wall of fire sustained by blessed incendiary fuel harmful to spiritual entities. The elder Yaksha realized that Ajay always thought two steps ahead of him, every move he made had a purpose or two. Regardless of how he avoided or countered, it would be repurposed for some other benefit.

The elder Yaksha was in an agreement with himself, this Demon Banisher was too dangerous to be left alive to interrogate for the whereabouts of the remaining members.

[For my lord, you shall die here, Demon Banisher!] The elder Yaksha declared as he turned back from the firewall only to find him in the midst of presenting the first ever Demon Banisher spell he'd seen in a long time.

"My will is the mountains, my karma is the mantra!..." Sensing a build up in demon banishing aura from Ajay's unfamiliar recital, the Elder Yaksha put him on the defensive, using his natural agility to outplay him. Hurling the powerful staff to keep him on his toes and distract him from reciting.

The other Yaksha seemed to be getting closer from behind, as the flames began to die down. It would make it more difficult to fight against all five where two were already exceptional. To slow down his advance, Ajay sent two talismans to the ground and activated "Mire".

"Banish all creation against nature!"

[Don't underestimate me!] The Elder Yaksha roared and donned a pair of gauntlets that caused the talisman to burn into flames.

He charged once more as his brethren closed in. Although, Ajay didn't send the spell his way but dropped a grenade his way.

(BOOM) The Elder Yaksha was blown back a few metres but relatively unharmed due to an ancient armour under his torn robes.

Now, Ajay had his window. He grinned as he pointed in the direction of the approaching Yaksha Prince. The Elder Yaksha had realized who his spell had been intended for but was too far to intervene.

"8th Demon Banishing Hex! Seal!" A karmic thread flew out of his fingers like a potent lightning strike towards its intended and surprised target.

The Yaksha Prince demonstrated ruthless cunning and wit as the first response to this was pulling a comrade into the line of the writ of karma. The Yaksha Aryan companion of his was in disbelief as he had been sacrificed for the Prince's survival. Crying out in pain as his body was forcefully frozen.

During this time, Ajay had the time to finish nuancing the second Hex.

"Banish this writ of Karma. 4th Demon Banishing Hex! Sever!" Now that Karma had been formed between Ajay and the helpless Yaksha, he could employ the 4th Hex of Karmic Severing. In this spell, he not only destroyed his own Karma to the Yaksha but the Yaksha's karma to everything. Thereby erasing his existence forever.

Like a thread had been cut within him, the Yaksha dropped to the ground motionless and vanished into the mist. This was, after all, an illusionary world. But the Yaksha was likely dead in the real one too. Highlighting the threat that Ajay was. Ajay dropped to a knee as he coughed out blood, a small price for killing an entity physically and spiritually stronger than a human.

The Yaksha retainers of the Prince stumbled in their horror, in just this simple trial, two Yaksha had been killed off by a single Demon Banisher. Whoever he was, he wasn't an ordinary initiate. A Legacy Disciple? They guessed, someone of the same importance as the Prince within the Demon Banishing Order. Someone who succeeded a Patriarch, it could only be.

They noticed the older Demon Banisher in a protected field meditating. It confused them as their roles seemed to be the opposite of what they'd expect.

[That man is not your protector?!] The elder Yaksha asked in surprise.

"No." Ajay rolled and unslung the slugger in his possession.

"He's my handler." He said with an intimidating grin as he wiped the blood from his lips with his tongue. The Elder Yaksha realized that Ajay was more dangerous than they originally foreseen. He was no prince to the Demon Banishers, wherever they were. But a weapon without conscience.

The Yaksha formed an encirclement around him while two Yaksha were probing Darshan's field.

(Boom) He sent another .700 Nitro slug their way, managing to only graze a Yaksha. Shearing his upper right arm to a greater degree. He ejected the round with a "ping" sound from its breech block mechanism, giving them an indication he was reloading.

[No!- Stop!] The elder Yaksha called out in vain, he was familiar with Ajay's cunning to deceive them into taking advantage.

They gathered too close which was a perfect opportunity for an airburst grenade. A 40mm hellhound struck one of the Yaksha dead-centre on his armour and detonated. Sending hot molten shrapnel embedding into their flesh. Several wails of pain could be heard within the smoke, with the exception of the Prince. His quality of armour was of a different level, protecting him fully from many of the powerful small-arms Ajay employed and modified with Vedic talismans and consecrations. Hence, he was the only one standing in shock, that a single human was pushing the very best and brightest of the Yaksha youths back by himself. Even the elder Yaksha.

But right now, they were together no longer separated. They stood around his flanks as did the Prince to engulf him the same way a wild animal was surrounded by the hunt. He won't stand a chance against all four of them this time attacking all at once. And to their surprise, he lowered his weapon and grinned uncomfortably to them.

"So a kingdom, huh?" Ajay commented on the Prince's answer.

"You chose not to challenge heaven or hell but built a domain on earth. Therefore, becoming its king."

The Yaksha Prince suddenly felt like indulging him in his last few words. It wouldn't be a story of how he killed a Demon Banisher without telling tales of their conversations. His raised hand was the only consent the rest needed to back off.

[Even you should know where to stop, a Yaksha cannot challenge a Deva. Just as a mere Human cannot kill a Yaksha. Your demon banishing kind has been the biggest blight on the mountains since their arrival.]

"Well, when you wake into this world so ignorant to your surroundings, no guide, no teacher. Sometimes you just have to find out where your limits are. And then you'll see that God wasn't actually god, but a mere figment of your imagination."

The Yaksha seemed highly offended despite not mentioning them. They viewed him as a blasphemous infidel, the irony that he was among the most holistic of orders.

"You laugh at humanity, you smirk at their unknowing. But in the same instance, you couldn't even do half of what we do. One of these days, humanity will be the kings of their own mountain." As Ajay spoke in such rebellious spirit, he suddenly realized what they should have done all along.

The answer to the riddle was right there all along. Ajay looked to the illusionary sky and spoke of the path which he chose to tread.

"My answer is… we won't accept our fate. If heaven restricts us, we'll smash it! If hell drags us down, we'll shrug there undead hands! This world isn't theirs any longer….."

If the discarnate soul could laugh with his lips, it would.

"This world is ours!"

[Heresy!] The Prince roared with such distortion on his expression, he no longer looked beautiful.

(rumble) The world shook, and the sky began to collapse like a mirror that shattered. Peeling away to reveal an empty void. The heavenly fortress and hellish keep crumbled as did the Yaksha's kingdom on earth. As Ajay's answer triggered a change in the landscape. A distance yet close voice cackled with mirth and elation. A voice belonging to the discarnate soul of the Vanara Great Chieftain Varish. Never in his life would he imagine such an individual would exist, especially not in an era where the Yaksha reigned the mountains and the Humans were the lowest and last species inhabiting it.

[Not bowing to the heavens nor submitting to hell. A mortal that knows no greater audacity. Yet even at such adversity, what can the heavens do, what can hell do when man rejects both?! They can do nothing!]

The last sentence resounded louder than usual. They first thought that even the discarnate soul disapproved of his answer. But they were mistaken. The discarnate soul was awed.

[You truly are an embodiment of Rebellion against nature! Ajay Ghale.] The discarnate soul laughed with a twist of insanity.

Darshan awoke, flashing open his eyes. The elder Yaksha had his wits about him, if he was this human's handler, then it took serious skill to reign him.

[Wh-….Who are you?!] The Yaksha Prince stumbled back wondering who he was, for no human could dare dream up such audacity. He had never heard of such.

The human turned his way with an expressionless look.

"I'm Ajay Fucking Ghale."

The world crumbled, and their vision turned black.


In a blink of an eye, he was standing where he had been before. As did the rest who had entered the illusionary world.

Ajay glanced over to Darshan who to his surprise, gave him a nod of respect. The day was hitting off quite well.

The Yaksha had been rather quiet for a while, so he looked over to find the elder Yaksha cradling the lifeless body of the Yaksha he shot with the 4th Demon Banishing Hex. This Hex could be cast in a variety of ways, at a single target or area of effect. This Yaksha exhibited the effects of a concentrated spell, a spell that could rob life.

When they saw him staring, the other Yaksha dared not look him in the eye. Today, they had experienced the horror of two Yakshas' deaths at the hands of a single…. Monster. The Prince, on the other hand, was a different breed of leader as he stared knives at him and pointed his way. The elder Yaksha kicked off the ground and swung some sort of hidden weapon under his garb.

[He must not be allowed to live! Kill him!]

The order was given, the Yaksha weren't waiting for another trial for him to ace. They had to kill him now or else the possibility of Kaalapatthargada falling into the wrong hands was high. In his hands, they didn't want to fathom the threat he posed.

As the elder Yaksha reached five metres from him and deployed his hidden weapon, who else was there to stand in his way but Darshan. Flinging a wooden sword that impaled his arm holding what appeared to be a glass dagger. Said weapon fell from his hand as the wooden sword denied him responsiveness to his fingers and shattered onto the ground, releasing an eerie mist. As if it carried some kind of poison.

[Kill him!] The Yaksha Prince called out once more, but not to the elder Yaksha. This time, it was five more guards that gave off the same aura as the elder Yaksha. Royal Guards.

It seemed that Ajay was right, after all, there were more hidden away somewhere and/or on their way to assist the group.

Darshan and Ajay ended up being back to back.

"Would love to have said I told you so-." Ajay wisecracked.

"Later!" Darshan responded as he latched Ajay's arm to be spun to deliver a kick at one of the many Yaksha guards that converged on them all at once. Ajay used the Vanara knife to stab another in the throat as he lunged to close. But a repulsing force seems to keep the blade from reaching the Yaksha's vitals. He was right, they were just as dangerous.

Ajay's sixth sense was going off like crazy, they attacked from all angles in a coordinated effort to outflank them. If Darshan didn't have his back and him of his, they'd be in real trouble. He had to resort to depleting his explosive munitions, instead of attempting to hit them he tried to predict where they would be and fired.

"Don't waste explosives, you'll hit the C4!" Darshan reminded him, forcing him to stow away his M79 for the "Slugger" Anti-material weapon.

"No… I have him where I want him." Ajay grinned with delight as a Yaksha entered his path that had been wrecked by the explosives into craters. The Yaksha was slowed down by the incline of the craters, allowing him to take an aimed shot instead of a wasteful potshot.

(Boom) The force of the .700 Nitro round's kick was absorbed by a piston assembly as the round flew true, the bullets properties negated the repulsing force and struck. Impacting the Yaksha Guard in the jaw and pulverizing his head into a wet mist with the full force of a wildcat cartridge.

The Yaksha Guards who witnessed the weapon that killed their comrade were appalled and slightly shaken. But they were combat veterans unlike the "Princes", and they recognised the capabilities of the two of them. By far, he had not seen a single spell from their end. What was keeping them? Weren't these the Yaksha, beings just as powerful as the Rakshasa?

He looked over to the skeleton, as he recalled the events that transpired. Then to Darshan, recalling what he said about their magic being associated with the natural law. And then it hit him, a great big smile was plastered over his face, much to the dread of the elder Yaksha who watched while tending to his wounds.

"They can't use their magic in here." Ajay spelt it out to both Darshan and the Yaksha listening. They realized the severity of these Demon Banishers and their own disadvantage. Ajay remembered the basic principle of the mountains natural law. No being exceeds a certain limit to their strength and magic power, beings that do were subjected to the tribulation lightning. Yet the Discarnate soul unleashed pretty powerful illusionary magic and influenced these powerful formations within this mausoleum. The Natural Law never once sought it all this time, it was either out of boundary or was being negated somehow. Because the natural law wasn't here, then their magic would not function either. The magic that the Prince and the Yaksha Aryans' released that one time was powerful, but after the Discarnate soul appeared, all the aura of their principle magic disappeared.

"Aathva Rakshash ko Nirvaasit Karna Tantra! (8th Demon Banishing Hex)" Darshan was already employing his Demon Banishing Magic at maximum efficiency, striking all of the Yaksha guards that encircled them. It was pretty well established that his ability to use the Banishing Hexes were a level above Ajay's. As the Yaksha guards stood rigid and unmoving.

Slitting their weapons across their throats, it was like smothering a baby in a crib. As heartless as it was, these fellows were still going to kill them for even a shred of mercy. The Vanara steel blades made it too easy a job, imagine if these weapons were given to their ordinary troops.

The spell dissipated, and the bodies fell to the ground. Now, all that was left were the four remaining Yaksha, standing on their guard as the Demon Banisher pair had just exhibited that they were much more capable than previously anticipated.

Then, Ajay walked over to Darshan and placed his hand upon his raised sword.

"…." In that short and unspoken passing of thoughts, Darshan huffed a sigh and sheathed his weapon.

The Yaksha were astounded by the humans' relinquishing their intent against them after all they'd done.

"Get lost. You're no longer qualified to bother this place again." Ajay said directly to the Yaksha Prince in particular.

[You…. How dare you! A lowly insect of the mountain!] But the Prince was fuming mad. Ajay had not only insulted and humiliated him many a time, but had also for the time crushed his unyielding pride with sheer overwhelming dominance. This show of mercy could be no greater an insult.

[And how dare you! Bastard son!] The discarnate soul boomed, the Yaksha ended up puking out fresh blood from their mouths. The Prince was on his knees, holding his chest that seemed afflicted.

[You disgrace yourself with your dishonourable actions! I had kept my evaluations of your race to myself! But all you have done is hardened my resolve on your race! You are all nothing but shameless and arrogant thieves!] A gust of wind blew, conveying the discarnate soul's fury with it that heated the wind. And yet, the wind only seemed to blow gently upon Ajay and Darshan. As the Yaksha, dead and alive were thrown out.

The Prince hung around the longest, he stared at Ajay with eyes of insanity. Burning the image of Ajay into his mind so that he wouldn't miss him by chance again. For every minute that he was alive, was suffering to the Prince. Ajay did not realize it at the time, but Karma had a big impact on entities like the Yaksha especially. His encounter and interaction had bred ill karma between him and the Prince, causing detriment to Andhakan's future.

The soul stone sitting on the altar seemed weak. The energies of the discarnate soul that inhabited it was fading.

(rumble) The ground shook like a ram battering a gate in a rhythmic bang.

[Now that the trash has been cleared…. Come forward, Ajay Ghale.] It said weakly.

Ajay obediently came forward to the dais where the remains of the former Vanara chieftain lay.

[Those Yaksha have gone and done it now…. He-…he-..]

"Ajay, there's a build-up that's approaching this place!" Darshan informed him and confirmed his sixth-sense feeling.

It was a similar feeling to the natural law but felt more fractured and then consolidated. He was not outside of the mountain to witness it, and if he had, Ajay would never have believed it possible. The aura of the King of the Mountain erupted from emerald clouds that gathered and broke away to reveal the sunlight. And coming through that light in a fashion similar to an angel's descent, the kinsmen of Prince Andhakan had arrived.

An Army of Yaksha.

Standing amidst the cloud like some kind of celestial army, looking down at the earth with a disdainful arrogance. Somehow, Ajay and Darshan were able to see this as the discarnate soul projected its spiritual divine sense into them, seeing what it saw.

[By decree of the Lord of the Mountains, all remnants of Vanara shall be wiped from material existence!] A brilliantly armoured Yaksha taking the lead proclaimed as he pointed condemningly towards the mountains that held the tomb city of the Vanara.

With a deafening roar, the horde of Yaksha descended like comets, smashing into an invisible shield constantly. This was why the discarnate soul seemed weakened. One or a few individual entities, it could handle without problem. But an entire army was a different matter.

[Here me, Ajay Ghale….. Time is short, I entrust to you not only the weapon the Yaksha coveted so. But this soul stone which you desire so, use it as you see fit. Whatever treasures you may carry, if this place is to be destroyed, I can only hope some of it may survive away from this tomb.]

Darshan was already walking towards the soul stone as he sensed all oppressive might around it dissipate.

[Ajay Ghale, will you fulfil a selfish request that this one has?]

Ajay was all ears as he gave the discarnate soul a nod. After the bounty he received a little favour wasn't so hard if it was within his means. The rumbling of the mountain siege was ever prevalent.

[Please…. Gather as many jewels as you can, and pass them to my devotee.]

"Your devotee?" He was finding it strange that a discarnate soul would even have a follower. This place was a treasure trove, instead of worshipping a dead spirit all the treasures of a forgotten race were here for the taking. Who would bother to spend time with statues and skeletons in this dusty place?

Although, thinking about this chamber, in particular, it was rather clean for a place not visited for thousands of years. No cobwebs or obvious rubble seemed apparent for the ruins this place was. So someone was here after all. Darshan halted and gave Ajay a look that said he also believed it, he had the same feeling when he first arrived here.

[Rather than devotee… perhaps I may be allowed the honour-… a friend.]

"Where do I find him?" The discarnate soul was uncomfortably quiet for a long while.

[….. I do not know.] Its response was not helping him.

"Then does he have a name at least?"

At the time, Ajay had not realized it nor would he have with the current situation at hand and one key factor…

[His name is….. Hurk.]

He was not the only one who remembered the forgotten soul of Kyrat.


The discarnate soul knew not what shook Ajay Ghale so greatly by that name. Naturally, a devotee of his would no doubt be well renowned within the human kingdoms.

[Do you know where he is?]

A shimmer of hope yet existed. Or so it thought. The demon banisher's silence was too long.

[Ajay Ghale?]

"…. So he was here…" The discarnate soul barely caught what Ajay had murmured to himself.

[Are you his enemy?] What other reason would it be then for the reaction he gave? Then the most surprising thing happened.

Tears dropped from his eyes.

The discarnate soul found it hard to believe, yet it felt he was sincere. [Are you-…. Badala?]

It could only piece together what it knew from Hurk's visits and gossip. The description almost fell into place when it thought about the resemblance between Ajay Ghale and the Himalayan Demon. What was most unbelievable was that this demon fellow, described as fearless and indomitable, he could personally endorse it. But to see him cry after the mention of this Hurk.

The discarnate soul feared the worst, only for it to be true.

"… Embodiment of Vanara… answer me." Ajay wiped his tears which he did not know how to control after hearing that Hurk's existence was not entirely erased, inquired of the discarnate soul. He even addressed it in a formal title.

"Is it possible to erase a person's entire existence, all the karma he's gathered and bound?" One question continually eroded him. Darshan specifically stated that only the person himself could sever every part of his karma to his entire existence. The 4th Demon Banishing Hex severed their lives but the memory of the victim remained. The memory of Hurk was removed entirely from everybody's minds.

[….. Possible.]

"How? And who did it?"

[What will you do with such details?] The discarnate soul asked, yet it already came to a conclusion from the expression that hardened upon Ajay's face.

"…. Karma!" He growled in a strong undertone of malice. What goes around comes around, he was going to make the one who erased him suffer. Be they allies he once knew, or allies all the same. They would suffer.

[Who was Hurk to you?]

Once again, hatred vanished from his face in an instant. Replaced with a look of deepness then a slight smile appeared on his face.

"He was my brother."

The discarnate soul felt no lie of his words.

"He died-… protecting his other tatbro." The discarnate soul, upon hearing the word which Hurk had used affectionally for Badala believed Ajay wholeheartedly that it was as he said.

[That is good….. Then at least he will have place in paradise.]

Paradise? Where was that? Ajay believed in no god nor did he think he had a place in any religious haven or paradise. The things he'd done, even he was conscious of it. But if there was a paradise willing to take his companion's soul, he would be eternally grateful. What were the criteria for entering that Hurk had fulfilled?

"Do you think you'll end up there yourself?"

[I am a fragment of Great Chieftain Varish. Once my time comes, I will fade into nothingness as my whole self had intended.] So, no.

"I see….."

(rumble) The battering sounds grew louder as pieces of stone fell from the ceiling.

[There is no time to waste! Ajay Ghale, my Vanara legacy lies within the wellspring of the city! Now go! And my the gods look upon your valiant soul with favour!]

The rumbling grew greater and even Ajay knew that the tomb was beginning to collapse. (BOOM) (BOOM) Some of his C4 charges were getting set off due to the homemade sensitive explosive trigger firing off.

"We have to go now!" Darshan shouted as he lifted the soul stone off its stand and into his bag strangely easy for such a bulky item. Ajay was about to do the same as he grabbed the bag of ancient Vanara weapons when the discarnate soul stopped him once more.

[Ajay Ghale. Will you fulfil another of my requests?]

Once more, Ajay halted his footsteps, despite the urgency of the situation.

[I have nothing more to give in return-.]

"You've given me plenty, you may not understand it. But you've saved possibly millions."

Seeing that Ajay was willing to further indulge in his selfishness, the discarnate soul was obligated to say his last words.

[There is only one who is capable of destroying one's all-karma.] Ajay's eyes strained when the discarnate soul pointed him to a potential culprit.

"Why wasn't your karma destroyed?"

[Karma here and Karma among the mountains are two different things. Which is why all who fell under the influence of the Mountains have forgotten your brother ever existed. You do not fall under its influence, that is as clear as daylight and neither does this place.]

"…" Ajay understood, but what did that mean?

[The only one capable of destroying Karma under the mountains…. Is none other than the Lord of the Mountain himself.] The discarnate soul explained.

"That's impossible…" How and why would the Lord of the mountain whose name shall not be spoken be responsible if Hurk, such a small existence hardly seemed a threat to that type of being?

[There is a catch, are you listening?]

"I am."

[The lord of the mountain must have some sort of Karma to Hurk for it to be severed. In other words…]

"In other words?"

[Someone who Hurk knew, was also associated with the Lord of the Mountain. A friend that perhaps even you know, was the one who did it.]

Ajay scrapped his head in internal conflict. A friend had done this. A friend betrayed Hurk. It kept revolving around in his head. Someone who had a deep association with the current Lord of the Mountain. Who was the Lord of the Mountain?

Eternal Heaven.

Esha, the Rakshasa and most recently the Yaksha had all pointed to that loathsome entity that usurped the mantle millennia ago. What was the closest thing to being associated with Eternal Heaven? Ajay didn't need to second guess it. The "Son of the Mountain". There was only one person with that title, which no one save Ajay knew had it.

Sabal.

Ajay was washed over with a sense of emptiness. If it really was Sabal, who all evidence pointed to since Sabal was present during Ajay's rescue, then it was meaningless to pursue. But some dreadful feeling gripped his heart, something was telling him that it wasn't Sabal. And if it wasn't him then it meant…. That there was another "Son of the Mountains". One that Ajay was not even aware of, lurking amidst his ranks. Ajay understood the graveness of the assessment that the discarnate soul conveyed to him.

There was an agent for the Lord of the Mountains in his company.

Ajay knew that he could not stay any longer, with the place beginning to collapse upon itself.

"I'll find out the truth." He declared with strong resolve as he ran off to the exit. Leaving the discarnate soul to its last moments of oblivion.

It had given up everything to the demon banisher. The soul stone that fuelled it, Kaalapatthargada, many of the weapons that lay unused, and perhaps, the hope of the Vanara tribe. Humanity was indeed to go through tough and troubling times, to be sucked into a war between the Yaksha and Rakshasa when their current descendants knew next to nothing of their existence. The only thing standing in front to shield their people were these two Demon Banishers.

Even now, the Yaksha battered against its weakening barrier. How was Humanity to fight against the likes of demi-gods? But as it came in close proximity to Ajay Ghale, when he approached the skeleton in which its soul rested, not that soul stone. It sensed a familiar aura it had not felt in a long time. An aura that had once overwhelmed the Natural Law of the Mountains in its entirety. Maybe, there was some hope for the Human race after all.

[I know you will.]


The archaeological gold mine was now in danger of collapsing permanently. The group outside was exposed to major tremors that threatened a cave in of the magnificent tomb city. They gathered at where they originally split, it was around the time that Ajay had also returned. He found Saras discussing heatedly with Maya over something about disappearing off somewhere, that conversation ended when they saw his arrival as the last man.

"Did you get it?" Saras asked them, as Darshan unravelled the football-sized ruby out of its wrappings.

"Then let's get the hell out of here!" Anish said as any sensible human being would say.

"We've got just one more thing to collect."

"Forget it, we got what we came for." To his surprise, Darshan opposed of him getting it.

"I'm not letting the Yaksha take it!" Ajay shouted back.

"Yaksha?" The group seemed too confuse.

"Wellspring of the city…. Wellspring of the city…." Ajay recited what the discarnate soul had told him on where the weapon was placed.

The collapsing of the vicinity grew louder, some explosives left behind were discharged as well, increasing the area of the ceiling falling upon the city. The discarnate soul was now burying everything itself.

"We can't stay here, Ajay!" Saras advised him.

"Go… Get out of here! I'll catch up! Go!" He shooed them instead as them leaving would reduce the possible casualties.

Ajay looked to Darshan who was ready to leave. "You do what you need to do."

Upon hearing his ok, Darshan gave a curt nod and went off on his own. But Saras and the others were defiantly staying.

"I'm not even going to argue anymore."

"Just tell us how we can help," Anish said annoyed as he reluctantly stayed around.

Ajay looked around, the crumbling ruins of the city were not a very good sign for a search bound by a riddle.

"Where is the wellspring of the city?" He posed the question to them as they thought deeply.

Even as the city collapsed, they maintained their ground. Until Saras had the epiphany and turned to where they discovered the source of water.

"The ziggurat!" They were quick about on their feet as they arrived at the "wellspring of the city".

And as they turned the corner of the street facing the water-stream ziggurat. Who would appear before them other than the most recent acquaintance?

[Human filth!] A sabre came cutting down right in front of him as his reflexes allowed him to avoid a near-death blow. As he dodged, the next thrust was already on the way, what stopped it was only his ancient Vanara steel blades. (clang)

Maya, Anish and Saras were no longer sceptical about what he meant by Yaksha. Confronting Ajay was an entity that barely resembled a human in its all-perfect complexion and brilliant bronze-finish armour. Here was some magical entity out of mythology attacking their comrade.

"Jesus fuck! You're annoying!" Ajay delivered a roundhouse kick that was deflected by the flat end of the sabre. Instead, Ajay used that opportunity to kick off from it and gain distance. His fast hands already dug into his back harness to retrieve and loob a 40mm grenade from his M79.

(slice) But the same tricks couldn't be played twice, as the sabre parted the tub in half, effectively destroying the grenade launcher.

[Where is it?!] The Prince roared at him.

"Fuck off!" Ajay had no time to deal with this nuisance, the city was collapsing, and a weapon needed to be retrieved. A parasite which persisted in its claim for the mace was not what he asked for.

Seeing him occupied with the aggressor, Saras accompanied by Anish scaled the slippery slopes of the ziggurat with the aid of a grappling hook. Maya stood guard in case the Yaksha went beyond as he began to suspect it was where they were heading. The desperation of Ajay was another clue to its whereabouts.

[Its here, isn't it? Eka!] The Yaksha called out to the elder Yaksha who left concealment, the other Yaksha were no longer with them apparently.

[Pay this Demon Banisher company in my stead.] The Prince detailed him to Ajay as he planned to approach the ziggurat himself.

"As if!" As Ajay went to apprehend him, the elder Yaksha moved in to attack his opening.

But to the latter's surprise, Ajay did not defend as he went straight for the Prince's jugular. The chakram grazed Ajay's skin with a deep diagonal cut as the price he paid for ignoring the incoming weapon.

[My Prince!] The Elder Yaksha called out to warn his liege who responded barely in a nick of time. (clang)

[Tsh! You persistent-….] But Ajay continued to push the initiative onto attacking the Prince. If the Prince was defending himself, then so would the elder Yaksha who was definitely prioritize his charge's life over the value of the weapon.

(Beww) A strange whistle resounds after a hypersonic projectile struck the ground next to the Elder Yaksha.

The superconductor fins sizzled as they tried to rapidly cool the gun barrel of the weapon Maya held. The Elder Yaksha passed a look towards the devastation wrought by that projectile weapon in her possession and turned to her as a critical threat.

Ajay saw what was happening and quickly devised a means to keep him from coming.

"Maya! Aim here!" He orders her to place them both in her crosshairs, him and the Yaksha Prince.

"But-…"

"Do it!" No sooner did he yell out did she point in his way. That moment the elder Yaksha turned pale, for the line of sight with where his lord was. He looked back to Ajay fearfully as he rushed forwards. This human greatly scared him not with prowess, or abilities. But pure resolve.

He had witnessed it multiple times already. He proclaimed defiance against heaven and earth, he let himself get hurt for strike opportunities, and he was not afraid to die when taking down his opponents. In all his hundred years of living, he had never seen a more vicious human ever to come into existence. Except maybe perhaps that one seeker.

[Noooo!] When he saw the reaction of Maya actuating the trigger, he used all his strength to get in the trajectory of the round.

(Beww) A second discharge happened, what followed was a powerful kinetic explosion against the Elder Yaksha who had successfully got in the way of the shot. The 10mm DU projectile struck hard and wrecked his ancient armour like burning through paper, by some miracle, what stopped the shot from going through him was a shattered Vanaran axe. The Elder Yaksha was now clinging to an inch of his life, yet he got up staring at Maya with bloodlust as he limped towards her.

Instantly, she raised the gauss rifle to fire another shot. And upon pulling the trigger was a dry click sound. She fiddled around with the weapon at the most inconvenient of times to find the weapon in a malfunction. An internal warning blinked off warning this, however, she had no remedy since the manual to the weapon was not available to them.

"Maya, run!" Ajay told her as he pushed off and cast talismans to deter the Prince.

[You will not hold me back from my destiny!] The Prince roared as he rushed through the talismans and received their effects. His destination was still the ziggurat.

"My will is the mountains, my karma is the mantra. Banish all creation against nature. 8th Demon Banishing Hex, seal!" Apart from the rather long enunciation, he was undeterred from chanting. As a result, the Prince was forcefully frozen solid against his will.

Ajay ran pass and grabbed Maya's hand to pull her along to the ziggurat peak. A pair of bloodshot eyes stared venomously at his back the entire way. In the Prince's conscience, Ajay was stealing what was rightfully his.

Ajay did not waste time with climbing, he used the grapple to immediately scale the ziggurat. Against the winch's original specification for only one person as it hummed in strain from two. On top, they found Saras and Anish looking down into what appeared to be a pool that seemed to go deeper than the entire height of the ziggurat.

"Ajay-.."

"Any clue?" He asked, but all they could do was look down into the deep pool.

Ajay understood what he needed to do, he took off his heavy harness and chucked his weapons aside as he neared the pool.

[Human! DIE!] The Prince screamed at the top of his lungs as he lunged at him from the air. Ajay was barely able to raise his holstered knives which only deflected the sabre from stabbing a fatal wound. Its end struck his shoulder instead. "Urgh!"

(splash) One collided with the other and fell into the water together.

As he entered head first, Ajay was quick to overcome his disorientation. Surveying his surrounding, he noticed a glint right at the bottom and began swimming downwards without taking in another breath of air up top. The Yaksha Prince had also recovered and swum down as quickly as his Herculean Yaksha strength could. Albeit sloppier than Ajay who adopted a proper breaststroke swimming style thanks to a certain someone who taught him during her training for the interstate swim.

They did not interrupt one another in their competition, they didn't have the breath to be fooling around other than collecting the prize.

The closer he swam to the bottom, the stronger the water pressure, but also the bottom seemed clearer. Right below, was a blurry protrusion sticking out of an elevated step underneath this mass of water that served as the city's reservoir.

(bang) Ajay suddenly felt a pressurized force strike him unprepared, causing him to lose some oxygen in his mouth. His opponent swum right by with haste and bubbles streaming from his sabre, he had delivered some sort of pressure attack at him. Greatly reduced by the body of water, but enough to shake him in this environment where his air reserve was everything.

He was now at a point where if he still swam up, he could make it. Casting a look down to where a weapon lay further down, the Yaksha continued without stop. In was undoubtedly going to be his. There was no sign of protective seals upon it, and those that were around had been turned off by the discarnate soul. It was now unlocked for anyone to take.

If he surfaced, he would live to protect his Kyrat. If he continued to swim down, there was no telling if he might die. Why did this instance feel so familiar? It felt like a turning point to something, where a single choice affected the fate of Kyrat. That weapon, Kaalapatthargada was a game changer that the Yaksha desired greatly. The weapon that broke the Rakshasa King's sword. Ajay understood the strategic importance it had, but that was not why it interested him. This weapon, it belonged to the only other soul that remembered Hurk. There would come a time when even he would forget about the person that believed in him despite his poor quality as a human being in the previous timeline. This memory, he didn't want to lose it. He didn't want to lose that karma to Hurk! He will never forget!

He'd rather die than let anyone else have it. But how could he close the distance between himself and the Yaksha to where the weapon lay. Upon patting around his body, his hands fell on the grapple hook and winch system. Within this body of water, it would not launch the grapple hook to much effect due to the resistance of the water. But he didn't need the grapple to get closer to the weapon. He pulled apart the back canister that contained all of the highly-pressurized air used to propel the grapple hooks forward. He couldn't use this air as an oxygen tank because it was pressurized, but that didn't mean he didn't have other ways of using it. Pointing the back end towards the direction he wanted, he used his knife to cut off the cap. (pssssssssssss)

With the stopper slightly exposed, the pressurized air sought to escape the confines of his canister and in doing so propelled him forwards. His speed continued to increase as he passed the Yaksha who stared in disbelief and was also shaken by the disturbance caused by the release of pressure.

His sixth-sense kicked in and he made a quick high angle manuever as a disturbance wave passed him, the same pressure attack from the Yaksha.

[This weapon is mine! If you take what is mine, I shall do the same to you!] Although he didn't say it, his eyes spelt it over and over. But Ajay ignored it as he came close to what he did not expect from the description of a mace. The Yaksha was already dust in the wind in terms of distance.

At the raised steps, floated a weapon suspended off the ground by two sets of stone clamps linked to giant chains on the stepped square. The part after the handle which was supposed to be the weaponised part did not seem bulbous like an ordinary mace.

It peculiarly resembled an Egyptian obelisk, four-sided with a pyramid top, and no bigger in dimension than the handguard. Ajay felt confused after approaching the weapon which had given off a glint at him from up top. What he was looking at was nothing shiny, only a mace entirely made out of stone, there were faded markings of an intricate design that had once been upon the guard and around the mace striking end. But after so long underneath this pool, without proper maintenance had resulted in a completely ruined weapon. The grip used to be wrapped in leather that was now flayed off, exposing the metal of the hilt that oxidized as well. But most of all, there was not a single hint of aura coming from this stone weapon. If anything, there was no sign of the legendary weapon here. It was just a weird empty stone-shaped mace.

(rumble)

Even within the pool, the imminent collapse of the city could be felt. Ajay turned to the chained weapon, was this the weapon the discarnate soul guarded and the Yaksha coveted for so long?

Not too long later, the Yaksha arrived as well. Wearing a different face though confused. His expectations were just as high for the weapon that decided the turning point of the War for Shangri-la. A sneer took hold of his expression as he figured that it was all a trick, the Vanara never meant to give it to anyone. And so, misled all of them, that being said, it had to be here somewhere. He just needed to look hard enough.

[Take it.] A familiar voice resounded in his mind. [Bear the might of the Vanara tribe in your grasp, our woes, resentment, and our spirit at your back!] The voice in his head encouraged. Here Ajay wondered why he ever let appearance fool him. It didn't matter how it appeared if it helped him or not. He wanted it as a remembrance.

And he did reach out.

The weapon suspended and chained in water seemed to turn its handle towards Ajay to grab hold of. Like a force was making it so that the weapon sought his grasp.

This sudden reaction from the weapon caught the Prince by surprise as he had misunderstood, thinking that it was not what he sought. Seeing the weapon about to fall into Ajay's hands, the Yaksha Prince swam furiously towards the mace in order to snatch it. Just as he was but a mere metre away, a traction force grew in strength. Pulling him away from the mace altar and Ajay, in the upward direction which was out of the pool.

Defiance remained within him as he stabbed his sabre into the stonewalls to fight the mystical current pushing him away. As he hung on the best he could, Ajay was inching closer to the weapon of his dreams.

[No!- It was by divine providence that I- Andhakan Eternal would achieve heights to become Son of the Mountain!]

Words were transferred through thought somehow in the body of water by Darshan's translating talisman.

The weapon rattled within its stone bindings and chains as if it were alive, the mace began to heat up as Sanskrit texts appeared around the circumference of the striking end.

At last, his hand touched the mace. In response, the weapon stopped shaking about. Ajay slowly ran his hand over the bludgeon

-Hey, I dunno if you can answer me, if you're alive and conscious or not. I had no intention of coming here initially, but my Karma to a very important friend led me here. Fate, perhaps? I dunno…..-

He then undid the light blue bandana around his arm used as an armband.

-A couple have spoken of the incredible past you had as a sword breaker, I for one believe it wholeheartedly. But that power isn't what I want indefinitely. Someone erased my brother's Karma to the world, you are the last strand that the Discarnate soul of Varish bestowed upon him if he were still alive. I intend to find that bastard and beat him with you! Once that's done, I'll return you here to continue your rest.-

Ajay said his thoughts in the hope that it would transcend a vocal expression through his touch. He bound the fabric blue bandana around the hilt as a substitute for the leather wrap that used to be there. Now as he wielded it, it would always convey his wrath against those that wronged Hurk just as he had once been wronged to death.

-That's why Kaalapatthargada…. Lend me Justice!-

His hand gripped firmly around the restored hilt and pulled at the stone restraints, the huge iron chains, and the square which they were bound to. Wrenching it as if to tear it free of all that held it down.

(rumble)

The world around them shook, drowning out the rumbling of the city in terms of magnitude. The water that blew against the Prince grew even stronger, more like the water was beginning to get purged from the place where the weapon was.

[NOOOOOOOOOOOO!] A wail of utter pain came from where the Yaksha Prince was being forced up out of the pool.

A soft glow around the obelisk-shaped bludgeon began to light up with Sanskrit text written around it. The chains that held the weapon at bay strained but would not relinquish its hold. The stone restraints were crumbling slowly until finally- (crack) the mace broke free from the restraints, everything that had contained it had been broken, it was now free to reign in this new world.

Ajay hefted the surprisingly hefty mace with two hands, as the end returned to the base of the pool. It was too heavy for him to even raise! Ajay realised how different Vanara physiology was compared to a human being. A hundred kilos might weight absolutely nothing to them. This weapon weighted even heavier, and as the water was being forcefully flushed away the mace was almost getting to the point where he couldn't even lift it.

[Thief! DIEEE!] Up on high, the Prince managed to get past the water forces and descended with gravity as he pointed his newly-acquired sabre downwards to plunge into Ajay. His bloodshot eyes held all the possible resentment he had for anyone he ever encountered, he wished Ajay vanished, he never wanted to see him again. On his way to the afterlife, he would pluck his soul on the verge of reincarnation and personally torment for eternity.

[I leave the Legacy of the Vanara in your hands, Ajay Ghale. Do with it as you so wish. Our Karma to Hurk may have brought us closer, but your actions are what define your destiny. Succeed where we have failed. Be better than we have been. And most of all, never forget who you are. I wish you the very best, I am sure you will not let us down.] With this last conveyance of will, the aura of the discarnate soul vanished completely into thin air. With no barrier to withhold the Yaksha outside, they were free to enter. And with no Discarnate soul to distort the will of the mountains, a rumble of stormclouds began to form over the mountain of the Vanara.

The natural law was no longer obstructed, bringing with it stormclouds bearing the all-powerful tribulation lightning with it. It had detected the presence of a weapon that transcended natural law and not in the possession of those that were aligned with it like the Yaksha were. Bolts of precursor lightning struck the mountain to get past the multiple layers of rock. But these were of no consequence to Ajay yet.

The Yaksha Prince had also sensed his magic no longer restricted and released the full unrestrained power. His sabre began to light up purple as an energy coating it, increased its lethality and raw power. The Yaksha Prince also called upon the will of the mountain through his magic as an aura to crush Ajay where he stood. The stone around Ajay's feet began to crack as the gravity-like force pushed him into a stance of submission to the incoming blade.

Even before this, he was helpless to lift the weapon which he underestimated in terms of weight. Why was he letting another minor detail stop him from fighting back? It's not like he didn't possess the ability to call upon in lifting it.

There were no Rakshasa Pillars that cancelled his Demonic powers, there was no need to burn Karma indiscriminately.

"Yaksha!" Ajay called out in rising confidence as he tightened his grip till his palms bled, his muscle sinew bulged around his arm and leg. The Yaksha continued to descend with madness in his eyes, and the sabre tip aimed for Ajay's neck in an attempt to skewer and roast him.

Using the unhindered Demonic strength that was now his to swing the mace around in revolutions. With its building up momentum, was a howl of wind passing through its intricate groves, creating a sound similar to the howl of wolves. He continued to twirl it until the last possible moment where he would unleash it in a single thrust.

[DIEE!] The Prince said just metres from him.

Ajay looked upon with an expression of absolute defiance. "No-….."

He directed the release of the spinning mace upwards to where the Yaksha Prince descended and where the top was. The mace sky-rocketed with the demonic strength assisting its weight and took flight with Ajay holding onto it. If there was a similar image to describe it to the Yaksha who saw this he would have to live in the human realm and acquaint himself with Marvel's Thor and how he got around with Mjolnir.

"- you die!"

The mace sent him and itself flying like a projectile towards the astonished Yaksha Prince. But even he knew the limits of a human, he was on the other hand, a Yaksha. The pinnacle of strength under the mountain, obtainable to none but their own. He poised his blade to meet the mace with the intention of overpowering his puny human strength under-utilizing the powerful weapon.

(CLANG) The weapons collided.

(ting)

There was barely a second that went by when the next sound of cracking metal was overwhelmed by the first noise of the sabre striking, then snapping in half from the force and power delivered by the mace. Its repertoire as the sword breaker once again took hold of the Prince as it devoured its first sword victim in over thousands of years.

(Gong)

The Prince barely had time to be horrified, as the mace tip struck his protective boon armour with a loud gonging sound. The next minute, Ajay was flying upwards with the Prince's ancient armoured breastplate at the tip of the mace. There was no sound from the Prince, only a pained expression of being struck in the gut by an unearthly force, taking the breath from his lungs entirely.

The force of the blow he previous delivered was not enough to stop the mace, him and Ajay from rising out of the empty pool that was now just a deep ditch. It was a sight that surprised, Ajay's companions, and the approaching Yaksha warriors in the city outskirts, it made them stare wide-eyed as someone bludgeoned their Prince.

While wrestling the forces acting upon him as he reigned the mace, he felt the mace start to lose mass. While the ancient armour of the Prince seemed to be dented at the place that was struck, the mace did not go unscathed. Upon cracking, the stone of the blunt striking area above the hilt began to peel off to Ajay's initial shock, then it revealed an opaque black limestone finish underneath as more of the stone that apparently acted as a sheath to the actual component of the mace hidden within the stone outer layer.

The weapon was now truly free of all restraints. A powerful intimidation aura exuded from this hidden dark stone surface as black as night. This was where the glint came from, the weapon signalled him to release it from its prison. Apart from its domineering might, there was another felting that came out of it, a void. A nothingness that surrounded this weapon, no magic could go near it, no prana was allowed to be within its presence. It would absorb any living energy that was near it. It cancelled out the will of the mountain that was directed at it and its new master.

This newly-unveiled appearance matched its original name or rather its designation.

Kaalapatthargada…

Or Darkstone Mace


Author's thoughts:

This has to be the longest chapter I've done, the things I wanted to show almost couldn't be shown and would have had to be put in two chapters side by side. Not what I want. On another side note, officially one millions words. Damn. As always, the end is near.