The dazzling light consumed Arjuna. It wasn't just the kind of light that dazzled your eyes—it was something that seeped into every nerve, every thought, filling his mind with raw, incredible power. For a brief, terrifying moment, he wasn't sure where he ended, and the light began.
Then, as soon as it came, the light disappeared.
Arjuna faltered, his knees bent. He no longer stood on cracked asphalt, but what felt like solid, polished stone. His surroundings had changed. The bustling street of Delhi was replaced by an endless expanse of darkness, dotted with stars swirling in the air and twinkling symbols.
"Where... Am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing unnaturally.
A figure appeared before him—a shadow-figure glowing faintly, his form was neither male nor female, but something in between. Its voice, when it spoke, resonated deeply, both ancient and commanding.
"You're in the middle space," it said.
"The space between what?" demanded Arjuna, though his voice trembled.
"Who you were and who you're going to become."
The medallion around his neck flared to life once more, spinning its intricate carvings, rearranged into symbols he could not comprehend. The glowing figure raised a hand, and a weapon materialized in the air between them.
A sword.
Its blade was unlike any Arjuna that had ever been seen – etched with celestial patterns that pulsed with a faint golden light, its hilt wrapped in dark leather that felt warm, alive.
"It's yours," Aakriti said.
"What?" Arjuna spontaneously stepped back. "No, I don't even know how—"
"You will learn. You must. There is no other way.
The figure shook his hand, and the sword lunged towards Arjuna. He instinctively reached out to block it, but as soon as his fingers touched the hilt, he received an electric shock in his body. Such images burst into his mind—the battles, the pristine realm, far more terrifying than the creatures that inhabit the streets of Delhi.
When the visions subsided, the sword was in his hand, its weight was both foreign and familiar. The figure disappeared, her last words hanging in the air:
"Fight.
Back on the streets
The darkness dissolved as it had suddenly appeared. Arjun finds himself back in the chaos of Delhi, the crack still lingering over him. The large creature loomed only a few feet away, its glowing eyes closed on him.
But something had changed.
The fear that had been rooted in her place the moment gone before, replaced by a quiet meditation. The sword in his hand felt natural, the extension of his body. Its light cast a golden glow around him, and for the first time, the creatures hesitated.
The little one first lunged, claws, and a speck of sinner. Arjuna's body began to move spontaneously.
With a fluid speed, he brought the sword up, repelling the strike of the creature. Sparks began to rise as soon as the claw blade met. The force of the blow echoed through his arms, but he held his ground.
The creature growled and leaped again, this time faster. But Arjun was ready. He went sideways, slashing downwards as it passed. The blade was slightly deep on its side, and the creature let out a high-pitched scream before it fell, black smoke rising from its wound.
Arjuna looked at the lifeless body, his chest getting heavy. His hands were trembling, but it was not from fear - it was adrenaline, a fire that he could not extinguish.
The great creature roared, his fury shaking the ground. It charged, moving faster than its massive frame.
The fight for survival
The skirmish was brutal. The strength of the creature was enormous, his attacks shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the air. Arjun ducked, rolled and Parry, each move was guided more by instinct than skill.
"You're not ready for this," she muttered under her breath, dodging another crushing blow.
But Sword seemed to disagree. With every swing, it hummed with power, guiding its attacks. It wasn't just a weapon - it was alive, responding to his intent, amplifying his activities.
The creature swung his huge arm, and Arjuna raised the sword just in time. The impact sent him skidding backward, his feet digging grooves into the asphalt. The creature did not trust, pouncing with terrifying speed.
In a desperate move, Arjuna pushed the sword upwards, causing the animal to catch the mid-jump. The blade pierced his chest, and a burst of golden light came from the wound. The creature let out a final, deafening roar before it was scattered to ashes.
There was silence.
Arjuna fell on his knees, the sword fell to the ground beside him. His breath fluttered and gasped, his whole body trembling. Around him, the streets were still terrible. The cracks in the sky began to close, its light fading until only the stars remained.
Arrival of Vikram
"Not bad for your first fight," a voice said from behind him.
Arjuna instinctively grabbed the sword and whipped it. A man stood there, tall and imposing, wearing in the dark armor that faintly glowed in the moonlight. His face was disfigured, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"Who are you?" demanded Arjuna, struggling on his feet.
The man smiled faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I can ask you the same thing. But I already know the answer. You're chosen, aren't you?
"What did you choose for?" quipped Arjuna.
"To protect this world," the man said simply. He stepped closer, extending a hand. "I am Vikram. Guardian of Delhi. And you've just taken your first steps in a war that's far bigger than you imagined.