The sun had barely risen when Rihan, Arjun, Rohit, Bhima, and Professor Kelly set out to investigate the growing threat of the Asuras. The attack on Puri Jagannath had left them shaken, but it also sparked a new sense of urgency. With Krishna's heart stolen once and the mysterious connection to the Asuras deepening, the team knew that they had to uncover the truth behind the demonic forces that had been unleashed upon their world.
For days, they had searched for clues — ancient texts, relics, anything that could help them understand how the Asuras were summoned. It wasn't until they stumbled upon a cryptic message in an old manuscript found in Professor Kelly's vast library that they had a lead.
The message mentioned a long-abandoned temple hidden deep in the forests outside of Varanasi. It was a place few knew of, its existence almost erased from history. But the manuscript hinted that the temple held a secret, one that was connected to the summoning of demons and the dark forces that were threatening the balance of the world.
"This has to be it," Rihan said as they walked through the dense foliage. "If the Asuras are being summoned, there must be something in this temple that explains how."
Kelly nodded, glancing at the ancient parchment in her hand. "The texts suggest this temple was once a place of great power. But over time, it became corrupted. If we find anything here, it's going to be dangerous."
The group pressed on, their journey through the forest long and arduous. The air grew thick with tension as they neared the coordinates the manuscript had described. Eventually, the trees began to thin, revealing a massive stone structure hidden beneath layers of moss and vines.
The temple was old, its walls cracked and weathered by time. The carvings on its surface were faded, but some symbols were still visible — dark, twisted shapes that hinted at the power that once resided here.
"This place is crawling with dark energy," Bhima said, gripping his mace tighter.
Rihan approached the entrance cautiously. "Let's not waste any time."
Inside, the temple was vast and empty, the air thick with dust and an eerie silence that seemed to swallow their footsteps. The team fanned out, their eyes scanning the decrepit halls for any sign of what they were searching for.
It wasn't until they reached the heart of the temple, a large circular chamber illuminated by faint beams of light from the cracked ceiling, that they found it.
In the center of the chamber was a massive, intricate design carved into the stone floor. It was a magic circle, but not just any magic circle — it was ancient, radiating with a power that even now, after centuries of disuse, felt overwhelming.
"This… this is it," Kelly whispered, her eyes wide as she examined the markings. "It's an ancient summoning circle."
Rohit, always the careful one, crouched near the edge of the circle, studying its design. "These runes… they're Asuric. This circle wasn't just used to summon Asuras. It's a ritual meant to open a gateway."
"A gateway to Asuraloka," Arjun muttered.
Rihan walked to the center of the circle, his eyes narrowing as he traced the symbols with his finger. He could feel the power radiating from it. The lines of the circle were etched with precision, forming a complex web of ancient magic.
"This is how they're getting here," Rihan said. "This circle is the key to summoning them."
Bhima slammed his mace into the ground, his frustration palpable. "So what do we do? Destroy it?"
Kelly shook her head. "No, not yet. Destroying the circle might not stop the Asuras. We need to understand how it works."
The team spent hours poring over the circle, analyzing its design, cross-referencing it with the knowledge Kelly had gathered. The more they studied, the clearer it became. The circle was not just a tool for summoning; it was also part of a larger ritual that could be reversed.
"If we reverse-cast the magic, we can open a gateway," Kelly explained. "Not just to summon Asuras… but to go where they came from."
"To Asuraloka," Rihan concluded.
The idea hit them all at once. The circle wasn't just a weapon for the Asuras — it was a potential portal, a means of traveling directly to their realm.
Arjun looked around at the others, a mixture of determination and apprehension in his eyes. "We could stop them at the source."
Rihan nodded. "We reverse the summoning. We go to Asuraloka."
The group fell silent, the weight of what they had discovered settling on them. The idea of venturing into Asuraloka was daunting, but it might be their only chance to stop the Asuras from launching more attacks on Earth.
"Do we have everything we need to reverse-cast this?" Rohit asked Kelly.
Kelly frowned, thinking for a moment. "The circle is intact, which is good. But it'll take time to gather the necessary materials to perform the ritual. There's also the matter of the power required. We'll need a massive source of energy to sustain the gateway long enough for us to travel through."
As if on cue, Arjun's gaze shifted to the small, intricately carved box they had been carrying since the attack on Puri Jagannath. Inside was Krishna's heart, a vital artifact that had been recovered. It was now their most potent asset.
We have Krishna's heart," Arjun said, breaking the silence. "The power within it could be just what we need."
Rihan turned to him, eyes bright with realization. "You're right. Krishna's heart was imbued with divine energy. If we use it, we might be able to channel enough power to open the portal."
Professor Kelly's eyes widened as she considered the possibility. "It might be a risky move. Krishna's heart is not just a relic; it's a powerful artifact tied to the divine. Using it could have unforeseen consequences."
Arjun nodded solemnly. "But it's also our best chance. If we use it in conjunction with the magic circle, we could potentially control the portal and ensure it remains stable long enough for us to enter Asuraloka."
As they left the temple, the weight of their discovery still hung heavy in the air. The path ahead was dangerous, but they had found the key. The ancient magic circle, forgotten by time, would be their gateway to the final confrontation with the Asuras.
Little did they know, the forces in Asuraloka were already preparing for their arrival.