Author : Vasudeva_AY
The vast expanse of the sky had transformed into a canvas of midnight hues, painted with the delicate strokes of stars that danced across the heavens. The moon, a luminous sentinel, bathed the land below in its ethereal glow, casting shadows that whispered secrets to the night.
Nestled amidst the embrace of an endless forest, a mighty river flowed with majestic grace, its waters carrying a solitary basket upon its rippling surface. As the gentle breeze swirled around him, Vivek, cradled within the confines of the basket, rode the waves like a valiant voyager, his small form cocooned in a cushion of comfort.
The symphony of nature unfolded around him, the chirping of birds giving way to the nocturnal chorus of crickets. The once gentle breeze now transformed into a swirling dance of wind, enveloping Vivek in its chilling embrace.
"Thoughts seem to linger, slower in this infantile form," Vivek pondered, his mind grappling with the limitations imposed by his new body. Each mental exertion drained him, like grains of sand slipping through an hourglass, leading him into the comforting embrace of sleep. And so, amidst the melody of the river's gentle lullaby and the nocturnal serenade of the forest, Vivek journeyed onward, navigating the currents of his new existence with a sense of quiet determination.
Yet, amidst his musings, a sense of unease lingered, like a whisper of forgotten truth.
Vivek's keen eyes caught sight of strange shapes cascading across the sky, akin to land mammals in flight. He couldn't help but relate this surreal sight to his own state of being—a baby, perhaps reborn into a world of ancient mysteries and forgotten lore.
As he gazed skyward, the vast expanse of stars above beckoned to him, their shimmering brilliance captivating his senses. Unbeknownst to him, however, a silent watcher lurked beneath the murky depths of the river, its presence hidden from sight.
As the river's once serene surface churned with newfound intensity, Vivek remained oblivious to the impending turmoil, shielded by the confines of his basket. Unbeknownst to him, a shadow danced upon the water, gradually expanding until it resembled the looming silhouette of an elephant.
With startling speed, the shadow surged towards Vivek's vessel, unleashing a torrent of water that engulfed the night in a cacophony of sound. In an instant, the stars vanished, replaced by the ominous presence of a colossal creature—a behemoth of scales and sinew, its gaping maw adorned with dagger-like teeth.
Each tooth gleamed with a malevolent glint, stained crimson with the blood of countless victims. Rivulets of saliva dripped from its monstrous jaws, hissing and sizzling as they touched the water below. Its body, adorned with scales of blue and white, seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly glow, casting eerie shadows upon the river's surface.
The creature's dark eyes fixed upon Vivek. Yet, even in the face of such terror, Vivek's reaction was not one of fear, but of exhilaration and curiosity.
As the colossal creature hovered ominously above, its gaping maw poised to consume its unsuspecting prey, Vivek's heart relaxed, "Liberation," he thought. "I hope I die in one shot," Vivek muttered to himself, "getting chewed isn't exactly on my bucket list."
Yet, just as the creature prepared to strike, a blinding white light erupted from its midst, slicing through the darkness like a celestial blade. Vivek watched in stunned silence as the creature froze in mid-air, its monstrous form paralyzed by an unseen force.
"What now?", Before he could make sense of the surreal scene unfolding, the creature split vertically down the middle, its massive halves crashing into the river with a deafening roar.
"What!" Vivek babbled, his babbling tinged with incredulity as he stared at the split apart creature. But as confusion clouded his thoughts, a reassuring hand reached out to the basket, pulling him to safety across the turbulent waters.
"Are you alright, little one?" a voice asked, filled with warmth and concern. It was a man, his playful tone masking the gravity of the situation.
Vivek's gaze remained fixed on the mysterious figure before him, his eyes wide with incredulity as he observed the man shrouded in black from head to toe. In the man's grasp gleamed a weapon of mesmerizing wonder—a sword fashioned entirely of white fire, its ethereal flames casting an otherworldly glow.
The events of moments ago flashed through Vivek's mind like a storm, the image of the colossal creature torn asunder lingering in his memory. "Could this man truly be responsible?" Vivek questioned inwardly, his skepticism warring with the evidence before him. "Impossible," he concluded, though uncertainty gnawed at his thoughts.
A furrow creased Vivek's brow as he scrutinized the flaming sword, his curiosity piqued by its mystical properties. "What manner of weapon is this? And why does the fire not consume him? he is literally holding fire."
The man's features remained obscured by the cover, but his smile conveyed a sense of reassurance as he regarded Vivek's babbling as being fine.
With a glance towards the fallen creature, its blood staining the river crimson, the man's voice held an air of nonchalance. "A mere rank 1 beast," he remarked casually, dismissing the creature's threat level with a wave of his hand. "Let us depart before its blood betrays our location."
As the man's fiery sword dissipated into the air, evaporating like morning mist, Vivek's mind swirled with a whirlwind of questions, each one adding to the layers of confusion and mystery shrouding the encounter.
A feminine voice pierced through the jungle's canopy, drawing their attention to another figure cloaked in the same black garb. "Are you all right?" she inquired, her concern palpable even beneath the veil of secrecy.
The man's response was tinged with a hint of amusement as he gestured towards Vivek in the basket. "No need to worry, my dear. That beast was but a trifle, a mere rank 1," he explained nonchalantly. "And as for this little one," he added, motioning towards Vivek, "he's perfectly fine."
"He did really kill it," Vivek pondered, his mind spinning with incredulity. "And that too in one fell swoop," he continued, marveling at the sheer power displayed by the mysterious man. "What kind of power is this? Killing a creature like that in one blow..."
His thoughts took a turn, a touch of disappointment coloring his reflections. "And again I am alive. Somehow I am always alive," Vivek quipped inwardly.
The other figure removed the cover from her head, revealing a woman with flowing black hair, fair complexion, and jade-like eyes that sparkled with warmth and curiosity. She smiled tenderly at the baby, her hand reaching out to gently caress his face.
"He's so beautiful," the woman remarked, her voice filled with awe. "It's as if he's already purified."
The term "purified" was a testament to the ethereal beauty the baby possessed, a quality that seemed to radiate from within.
"Indeed, he is," the man agreed, his tone reflecting a sense of agreement with the woman's observation.
"But where did this baby come from? Have you checked if there is someone nearby?" the woman inquired, turning to the man for answers. With a nod, the man agreed to investigate.
Meanwhile, inside the basket, Vivek absorbed the scene unfolding around him, piecing together fragments of their conversation. "Rank 1 beast? A flaming sword? Interesting" Vivek babbled to himself.
In the moment the man's entire body became covered in azure blue strands of energy. And after a while replied.
"No one nearby, at least within a 500-meter radius," the man reported, his voice steady and composed. The woman nodded in agreement, her demeanor calm and collected as if such occurrences were routine.
Vivek observed them with a mixture of confusion and intrigue, unable to decipher their nonchalant expressions. To them, it seemed, this was merely another day in the forest. Yet, deep within himself, a spark of fascination ignited—a newfound attraction to this remarkable power.
"Let's move quickly before other beasts are drawn to the scent," the man suggested, his tone decisive. With him leading the way and the woman carrying the basket, they navigated through the forest with purpose and determination.
Vivek's keen observation skills kicked into high gear as he took in the extraordinary surroundings—flying wolves, three-headed snakes, and multi-tailed beasts roamed the land. Yet, unlike before, his mind remained calm, primed for the mysteries that lay ahead.
"This place, it's definitely not Earth, not even close. I thought I had traveled through time, but I was mistaken. I've been reborn on another planet," Vivek concluded, his eyes scanning the towering trees that seemed to reach the heavens themselves.
The woman carrying him couldn't help but smile at the inquisitive baby in her arms. Instead of succumbing to fear or tears in such an unfamiliar environment, he observed everything with a meticulous gaze. She found his curiosity exciting, while the man beside her found it rather peculiar for a baby to be so quiet and observant.
As they reached a cliff, a settlement came into view below. "After three years, we're back," the man exclaimed with a sigh, his companion standing beside him.
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