Chapter 6: The Blessing of the GodsThe sky above them seemed to split open, a blinding light pouring down from the heavens. The bandits paused, their eyes widening in shock as an ethereal presence descended upon the battlefield. The light engulfed Rudra, Shyama, and Bhadra, their bodies lifted slightly off the ground as if by an unseen force.Dhruv stood frozen, watching in awe as his friends were enveloped in the divine light. He could feel the power in the air, an energy that made his skin tingle. He watched as each of them received their blessings, their bodies transforming before his eyes.Rudra felt an intense warmth spread across his chest and back, a blazing mark appearing on his skin, radiating with the power of Surya, the god of the sun. The mark on his back burned with an intensity that filled him with strength. He could feel the fire coursing through him, his muscles swelling, his power unlike anything he had ever felt before. A smirk crossed his face as he realized what this meant—he had been chosen by the gods, his power recognized. This was proof that he was destined for greatness, and nothing else mattered.Shyama felt a calm energy wash over her, her mind sharpening as a symbol appeared on her forehead. It glowed softly, the blessing of Saraswati enhancing her senses, making her movements almost effortless. She could see every detail, anticipate every move of her opponents before they even made it. The world seemed to slow down around her, and she moved with a newfound grace that made her feel invincible.Bhadra felt the wind itself surround him, lifting him, empowering him. A fierce symbol appeared on his left shoulder, the mark of Vayu, the god of wind. He felt his body grow lighter, his muscles filled with strength and speed, as if the wind was carrying him forward. He roared in exhilaration, feeling the power surging through him, his body now an unstoppable force.Dhruv watched, his heart pounding. He could see the transformation in his friends—the power that now radiated from them. But as he looked down at himself, he saw nothing. There was no light, no mark, no blessing. He felt a pang of doubt, a fear that he had been left behind. But then he heard the cries of the villagers, the sound of his people fighting and struggling, and something within him reignited. He couldn't stop now. He had to fight, blessing or not.With their newfound powers, Rudra, Shyama, and Bhadra launched themselves back into the battle.Rudra roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield as he swung his staff with newfound strength. The mark on his back glowed fiercely, flames licking at his skin as he moved with a speed and power that was almost otherworldly. He struck down bandit after bandit, the fire within him fueling his every move. He was unstoppable, his strikes shattering weapons, his presence alone enough to send fear through the attackers. He fought not for the village, not for the people—he fought to assert his dominance, to show everyone that he was beyond them all.Shyama moved with a grace that seemed almost ethereal. Her eyes glowed with the light of Saraswati, her perception heightened to the point where she could see every weakness in her opponents' stances. She dodged their attacks effortlessly, her twin blades striking with enough precision to disable without killing. She moved like water, fluid and unstoppable, her every action guided by the divine wisdom she now possessed. She fought for the villagers, her heart filled with the desire to protect them and stand up against those who sought to harm them.Bhadra felt the power of Vayu coursing through him, his body light as a feather yet strong as steel. He moved with a speed that left the bandits unable to react, his mace striking with the force of a hurricane. He was a force of nature, his laughter booming as he knocked down attackers, the wind itself seeming to aid him, pushing his enemies back. He reveled in the power, his strength now unmatched, a true warrior blessed by the gods.Dhruv, despite not being blessed, found himself fighting with renewed energy. He watched his friends fight, saw the divine marks glowing on their skin, and instead of feeling envy, he felt a fire reignite within him. He swung his wooden sword, his movements filled with determination. He fought with everything he had, his strikes powerful and precise. He knocked a bandit to the ground, then turned, blocking another strike aimed at his back. He fought with the strength of his heart, his will unbreakable.The bandit army, which had been so confident moments before, now hesitated. They watched in shock as the three warriors before them seemed to transform into something beyond mortal. The power radiating from Rudra, Shyama, and Bhadra was undeniable, and fear began to spread through their ranks.The bandit commander, seeing the divine symbols and the sheer power emanating from the three warriors, knew they had no chance of winning. His face twisted in fear and disbelief, and he shouted the order to retreat."Fall back! Retreat!" he yelled, his voice cracking as he turned and fled into the forest.The bandits followed, their shouts of panic echoing through the trees as they disappeared into the darkness. The villagers, who had been hiding, slowly emerged, their eyes wide with awe at the sight of their protectors.As the bandits disappeared into the forest, the light surrounding Rudra, Shyama, and Bhadra began to fade. The divine energy receded, leaving only the glowing symbols on their skin. They looked at each other, a mix of amazement and confusion in their eyes. They had been changed, touched by something beyond comprehension.The villagers gathered around, their fear replaced with awe. They looked at the three warriors, their eyes filled with reverence. The village elder stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly as he approached."Rudra, Shyama, Bhadra," the elder began, his voice filled with wonder. "You have been blessed by the gods. This... this is not something that happens often. One in a thousand is chosen to receive the blessings of the divine, and in our village, we have not seen such awakenings in centuries. And yet today, we have witnessed not one, but three. The gods have truly smiled upon Maitraya."The villagers gasped at the elder's words, their awe only deepening. To see three awakenings at once was nothing short of miraculous. They began to murmur amongst themselves, calling it a sign that Maitraya was under divine protection.Dhruv stood slightly apart from the group, listening to the elder's words. He watched as his friends were praised, as the villagers bowed before them. He tried to smile, but there was a knot in his chest that wouldn't go away. He had fought just as hard—so why hadn't he been chosen? Why had the gods not blessed him as well?Rudra stood tall, the mark on his back still glowing faintly. He felt an immense pride, a sense of validation. The gods had chosen him—Surya had chosen him. This was proof of his strength, of his belief that power was the only thing that mattered. He looked at the villagers bowing before him, and he felt a surge of triumph. They feared him, they respected him, and now they revered him. It was amusing to him, almost laughable. He cared nothing for their adoration; their fear was enough.Shyama and Bhadra exchanged a glance, both of them humbled by what had happened. They could feel the change within themselves, the power that now resided in them. Shyama touched the mark on her forehead, feeling the warmth of Saraswati's blessing, while Bhadra flexed his arm, the wind swirling around him in response.Dhruv forced himself to step forward, to join his friends. He tried to push aside his feelings of doubt, to focus on the fact that they had won, that they had protected their village. But as he looked at the marks on their skin, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. His time would come—he had to believe that. Until then, he would keep fighting, keep proving himself.As the night fell, the village slowly returned to a semblance of calm. The villagers celebrated their victory, the fear replaced by hope. They spoke of the divine intervention, of the blessings that had saved them, and of the warriors who had protected them.Dhruv, Rudra, Shyama, and Bhadra stood together at the edge of the village, looking out at the darkened forest. They knew that this was only the beginning—that whatever lay ahead would be even more challenging. But for now, they had each other, and they had the strength to face whatever came next.Dhruv looked at his friends, determination in his eyes. He knew he still had a long way to go, that he had yet to prove himself worthy of the gods' favor. But he would not give up. He would fight, he would grow stronger, and one day, he too would be blessed.For now, he would stand with his friends, united in their purpose, ready for whatever came next. But Rudra, standing slightly apart, felt no such unity. His path was different, and as he looked at the village, he knew that someday, when the time was right, he would be the one to bring it all crashing down.