Chereads / A Vessel Of God / Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: A New Alliance

Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: A New Alliance

Srestha, his smirk unwavering, cast a glance at Sachi, his eyes lingering for just a moment too long. "Well," he said, his voice dripping with innuendo, "she looks hot. I wonder how good she'll be at serving me."

Sachi, taken aback by Srestha's comment, blushed furiously, her hand shooting out to slam against his chest. "What did you... you damn pervert!" she hissed, her anger clear in her voice.

Azazel, quick to intervene, placed a hand on Sachi's shoulder, calming her. "Sachi, I think you meant that differently," he said, his tone gentle. "Not... not like sexually."

Srestha, still smirking, offered a nonchalant response. "Well, at least one person here has a brain."

With that, Srestha pulled off his shirt, revealing a toned, muscular physique. He proceeded to engage in a series of push-ups, his movements fluid and powerful.

Azazel, watching with a raised eyebrow, couldn't help but comment. "It's very dramatic of you to rip off your shirt. The real Srestha is going to need a new one."

He, too, began to perform push-ups, his own form a testament to his prowess. It was clear that both Srestha and Azazel were preparing for a potential confrontation, their postures tense and ready.

The air between Srestha and Azazel crackled with magic as they prepared to engage in combat. Srestha, his confidence unshaken, launched a side kick towards his opponent. Azazel, anticipating the move, attempted to dodge it, expecting it to send him flying.

But Srestha's kick was stronger than anticipated, and Azazel found himself caught off guard. The force of the blow was enough to make him stagger back a step, his expression a mixture of surprise and respect.

"Tough one, I see," Srestha remarked, his voice laced with amusement.

Azazel, smirking, retaliated with a swift left palm strike, aiming for Srestha's face. The blow connected with a nearby pin in the road, shattering it and sending shards flying. The debris, however, missed Srestha by a hair's breadth, the young magician having deftly sidestepped the attack.

Srestha, his momentum carrying him forward, retaliated with a powerful kick to Azazel's stomach, the force of the blow sending the elder magician stumbling backwards.

The citizens of Narayanganj, now fully aware of the unfolding battle, watched with bated breath as the two powerful beings clashed.

Srestha, his body glowing with the energy of ancient magic, followed up his kick with a massive boot to Azazel's face. The impact echoed through the streets, the sound of bone crunching against bone ringing out amidst the chaos.

Azazel, his body still reeling from Srestha's powerful kick, managed to regain his footing just before he collided with the side of a building. He stood, shaken but unbroken, his eyes locked on Srestha's.

"You're not human," Azazel stated, his voice laden with awe. "You're beyond it."

Srestha, his annoyance evident, retorted, "What makes you think so?"

Azazel, his gaze unwavering, replied, "If you were a vengeful spirit, I would be able to see a link between you and your body. But I can't. Your essence, your soul, it's all inside you."

Srestha, momentarily taken aback by Azazel's insight, let out a sharp breath, then replied, "Wow. I think you're also beyond the norm to see it."

Azazel, his curiosity piqued, asked, "Why?"

Srestha, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, explained, "Because you can see souls and their connections. That's called a soul watcher."

Azazel, his face registering surprise, nodded in agreement. "Oh, you're right. It's rare for anyone to have this ability."

The battle between Srestha and Azazel paused, the air thick with the unspoken understanding that they shared something unique. Their clash, while fierce, had revealed a mutual respect, a bond forged in the crucible of their conflict.

Sachi, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and concern, intervened, her voice ringing out over the lingering tension between Srestha and Azazel. "Both of you need to stop," she implored. "What's the point of fighting, anyway?"

Srestha, his eyes meeting hers, responded with a wry grin, "Oh, darling, do you think you're an anti-hero? Your first job is completing your mission, then saving others comes second."

Sachi, her cheeks reddening, retorted, "I'm not your darling."

Azazel, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, agreed with Sachi. "She's right. Our mission is complete. We've defeated the Knife Angel, so we should move on."

Srestha, his playful demeanor returning, let out a sigh of mock disappointment. "Boring. I thought I'd have more fun."

Azazel, his gaze steady on Srestha, offered a proposition. "You can have fun if you like. Join us."

Srestha, his expression turning serious, shook his head. "That's impossible. My body... the real Srestha will return to it at any moment. He's in charge of protecting the system."

Azazel, his curiosity piqued, commented, "You really care about your vessel, don't you?"

Srestha nodded, his voice firm. "Yes, I do. He's the one who protects the system, and that's why I'm here, inside him."

Azazel, his curiosity piquing, pressed Srestha for more information. "What are you really?" he inquired.

Srestha, his expression unreadable, replied, "It won't be a big deal. Trust me."

Azazel, puzzled, asked, "Why?"

Srestha, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips, responded, "Even you know what I can do. I'll make a deal with you. If you can convince the real Srestha to join you and become an anti-hero, I'll help him prepare for any dangers that come his way."

Azazel, his eyes narrowing in intrigue, challenged, "What dangers?"

Srestha, his face a mask of amusement, remained silent, a smile playing on his lips.

Exasperated, Azazel released a breath and agreed to Srestha's terms. "Alright, I'll do it. Now, tell me."

Srestha, his expression serious, revealed the truth. "I am one of the three Supreme Gods in Hindu mythology. I am Vishnu, the God of preservation and protector of the universe."

The air around the trio crackled with the weight of Srestha's confession. The heroes and anti-heroes, once at odds, now stood united in their shared purpose. The revelation of Srestha's true identity transformed their alliance into something far more significant, their destinies now intertwined in the grand tapestry of cosmic fate.

Azazel and Sachi, both visibly shocked by Srestha's revelation, stood in stunned silence. After a few moments, Azazel, still processing the information, managed to regain his composure and offered a wry smile. "So that's why it makes sense. You mean the real Srestha is an avatar?"

Srestha, amused by their reactions, clapped his hands and confirmed, "Yes, he's the tenth avatar of mine."

Azazel, his curiosity piqued, pressed further. "So when you say you're protecting the system, you mean saving humanity?"

Srestha considered his question before replying, "Not just humanity. I'm the god of preservation and protector of the universe, not just humans."

Azazel nodded, his understanding growing. "That makes sense, right, Sachi?"

He turned to look at Sachi, but her shock had rendered her momentarily speechless. Azazel, noticing her reaction, offered a reassuring smile. "Sachi, you're still in shock. It's understandable. He's a divine being, after all."

Srestha, his tone gentle, addressed Sachi. "Darling, don't be too surprised, or afraid of me. I won't bite."

Sachi, still processing the information, managed to stammer out a response, her voice trembling slightly. "A divine... being."

The alliance between the heroes and anti-heroes had taken an unexpected turn, the revelation of Srestha's true identity forever altering the course of their shared destiny. The citizens of Narayanganj, now aware of the divine presence among them, watched in awe as these powerful beings, guided by their newfound understanding, prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.

{MEANING OF NAME

ENGLISH NAME—ORLIGINAL LANGUAGE NAME—MEANING

SRESTHA—শ্রেষ্ঠ—GREAT

DURGA—दुर्ग—INVINCIBLE

SACHI—サチ—DIVINE GRACE

Vishnu (Sanskrit: विष्णु, meaning 'All Pervasive',), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.}