Chapter 3 - Death of the Boy

As Yadwinder drifted into slumber, he was transported into the realm of dreams—a realm he frequented, where the bizarre and extraordinary converged. His voracious reading habits, spanning the domains of gods, demons, deviants, demigods, heaven, and hell, shaped his nightly visions.

With his adeptness in lucid dreaming—the ability to navigate and interact within dreams—Yadwinder found himself standing amidst a celestial garden. His gaze fixated upon a godlike figure, nestled in a meditative posture upon a stone. The man exuded a charm so captivating that Yadwinder dared not disturb his tranquility, longing to witness an awe-inspiring spectacle unfold. It was as if the man possessed an aura beyond the grasp of mortals.

Suddenly, the man's eyes fluttered open, radiating a resplendent golden hue tinged with hints of crimson. A smile graced his lips as he locked eyes with the boy, leaving Yadwinder entranced.

"Hey, Putra, what brings you here?" the man inquired.

The boy stood stupefied, astounded by the man's ability to perceive his presence within the dream, for he was well aware that he dwelt within the realm of his own subconscious.

"How can you see me, and who are you?" Yadwinder cautiously queried, a trace of wariness stirring within his heart.

The man's smile widened, as if he had been anticipating this very question. "In this dream, Putra, I see you because you desire to be seen. As for my identity, know that I am Karna, the character you read about in the book," he cryptically responded.

Yadwinder's mind reeled, grappling with the unexpected revelation. Yet, curiosity overcame his initial numbness, compelling him to inquire further. "If you truly are the Karna from my readings, why have you materialized in this particular scenario, rather than conforming to the predetermined fate I encountered in the book?"

With a wave of his hand, the man beckoned Yadwinder to join him on the stone, his voice carrying an air of mystique. "You see, dreams are crafted by the subconscious, not the conscious mind. Deep within your being, a longing stirred to witness Karna's fate rewritten, his path diverging from the predetermined course. Hence, you envision me here, as I chose solitude, embarking on a path of yoga and sadhana instead of surrendering to the shackles of destiny. Is this not the sight you yearned to behold?"

Seating himself upon the stone, Yadwinder responded with unbridled joy, "Indeed, that is precisely what I wished for—to witness your salvation from the immense suffering you endured."

With those words, the dream vision faded to black, and Yadwinder awoke, feeling the weight of exhaustion bearing down on his body. Rubbing his eyes, he rose from his chair, his legs trembling as he made his way to the bathroom. After splashing water on his face, he returned to the chair and settled back into its embrace.

"Ah, what a wondrous dream, how I wish it could have materialized in reality," he muttered to himself, succumbing once again to the allure of sleep.

For a while, Yadwinder roamed within the realm of dreams, until a blinding flash enveloped his vision, plunging him into complete darkness.

*Rumble*

*Thunder*

Initially, he dismissed it as a mere passing phenomenon, expecting to awaken once more. However, as time passed, the darkness persisted, devoid of any trace of light. This was no dream, for Yadwinder possessed full awareness within this consuming abyss.

"Why is it so dark here? Who extinguished the light? Is this some twisted prank?" he wondered aloud, his anger beginning to simmer as he contemplated the tasteless and inhospitable nature of such a jest.

But then, a voice, ethereal and tinged with levity, echoed through the void. "No one has extinguished anything... except the light of your very existence."

The voice carried a playful undertone, leaving Yadwinder both bemused and awestruck. His emotions surged uncontrollably, a maelstrom of feelings taking root within his being.

"Who speaks?" Yadwinder queried, his surprise evident in his tone. The voice felt omnipresent, defying the constraints of distance. It felt as though it had always existed, waiting to be acknowledged. Yadwinder realized, to his astonishment, that he felt neither fear nor terror; instead, he was immersed in an amalgamation of boundless emotions.

"Ah, the perennial question," the voice retorted, its tone casual as if weary of answering the same query repeatedly. "You already know the answer, buried deep within your being. Yet, you hesitate to accept it."

As the voice resounded, an elusive figure materialized out of thin air, enveloped in a resplendent golden radiance. The figure possessed an unmistakable outline of a man, his hair flowing and gathered atop his head, adorned with a crescent moon, from which a cascading stream of water gushed forth. An ethereal serpent coiled around his neck, while the most captivating sight lay within his grasp—a colossal trident.

The trident, towering in proportion to the man's height, emanated an amalgamation of ferocity and tranquility. These contrasting sensations coexisted effortlessly, as if inherent to the very essence of the weapon.

"Mahadev," Yadwinder uttered, his gaze fixed upon the trident. The realization of the figure's identity dawned upon him—it was none other than the god of gods himself.

An overwhelming desire to kneel and offer obeisance coursed through Yadwinder's being. Yet, he soon discovered a horrifying truth—he lacked a physical form. The room he believed himself to be in was a void, bereft of illumination. Even the radiant figure failed to cast light upon the darkness, for there was nothing to be illuminated.

"Do not fret, for you have peacefully departed from the realm of the living," Mahadev nonchalantly revealed, as though the news were of little consequence.

The words struck Yadwinder like a bolt of lightning, threatening to rend his being asunder. The notion of his demise loomed large, yet the god himself spoke with an air of indifference. Yadwinder, however, swiftly regained his composure, digesting this momentous revelation.

"Are you not too quick to accept this?" Mahadev remarked, his voice calm, teasing even, as it soothed Yadwinder's tumultuous emotions.

Author here, This chapter is also copied version of "I Become Karna With a Million Times Crit System In Mahabharata." Of "Formanaga"expect for my own content. So all the credit goes to him. I will write my version after reincarnation and have my own scenes that don't like in Original.

I have edited this chapter, Grammar and all the mistakes are corrected.

Thank You