Chapter 34: The Weapons Ambush
The underground hideout buzzed with nervous energy as Arjun and the resistance fighters prepared for their mission. The British were transporting a shipment of weapons—rifles, ammunition, and explosives—through the outskirts of Lucknow. If the resistance could intercept it, they would gain enough firepower to shift the balance of power in the region.
Arjun studied the map spread out before him. The convoy would be moving along the Kukrail River road, a narrow and winding path surrounded by dense forests. A perfect place for an ambush.
Jai Pratap, standing beside him, tapped the map with his dagger. "The British will have at least twenty soldiers guarding the convoy, plus reinforcements nearby. If we don't hit fast and hard, they'll call for backup."
Arjun nodded. "Then we need a plan that takes them out before they even have a chance to react."
Amrita Bai spoke up. "The real problem isn't just the guards. The Asuras might be involved."
The room fell silent.
Arjun clenched his fists. His last battle with Jivraj had proven that the Asuras weren't just manipulating things from the shadows. They were actively hunting him.
Ramesh, standing nearby, frowned. "Are you saying they're protecting British weapons now?"
Amrita shook her head. "No. But if the Asuras are interested in this convoy, it means there's something more valuable than just weapons inside."
Jai exhaled sharply. "Then we'd better be ready for anything."
Setting the Trap
As night fell, the resistance fighters took their positions along the Kukrail River road. Arjun crouched behind a rocky outcrop, his hand gripping his sword. His system notifications flickered in his vision.
[Mission Objective: Intercept the British Convoy]
Primary Goal: Capture the weapons.
Bonus Goal: Discover any hidden Asura involvement.
Jai and his team were hidden in the trees, bows and muskets ready to fire. Ramesh and a few others were positioned near a makeshift barricade, prepared to block the convoy's path.
Then, in the distance—
The sound of hooves and wheels on dirt.
The convoy was approaching. Five wooden carts, each carrying crates, surrounded by heavily armed British soldiers. Their leader, a tall officer in a red coat, rode at the front.
Arjun inhaled slowly. Steady. Wait for the right moment.
The convoy entered the kill zone.
Jai gave the signal.
BAM! A hidden explosive—crafted by resistance fighters—detonated beneath the lead cart. The explosion tore through the wooden frame, sending debris flying.
Chaos erupted.
The Battle Begins
"AMBUSH!" the British officer roared.
Before the soldiers could react, arrows rained down from the trees. Several guards fell, clutching their wounds. Jai and his team fired rapidly, hitting their marks with deadly precision.
Ramesh and the others rushed forward, engaging the British soldiers in close combat.
Arjun moved like lightning. His sword flashed in the moonlight as he cut down the first soldier in his path. His system-enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge a musket shot at close range, countering with a devastating strike.
[Skill Activated: Enhanced Combat Instincts (Lv.3)]
He felt his movements sharpen, his body reacting almost before his mind could process. The battlefield became clearer, every enemy's motion predictable.
A British soldier lunged at him with a bayonet. Arjun sidestepped effortlessly, slashing his blade across the man's chest.
The officer in red, realizing the ambush was well-planned, barked orders. "Regroup! Hold the line!"
But it was too late.
The resistance fighters had cut through half of their forces already. The British were losing.
Then—
A chill ran down Arjun's spine.
The Asura Appears
From the last cart, the wooden doors burst open.
A figure in black armor stepped out.
Tall. Muscular. His skin was an unnatural shade of gray, his eyes glowing a deep crimson.
Arjun's system flashed an urgent warning.
[Danger Alert: High-Level Enemy Detected]
Name: Unknown (Asura Affiliation Confirmed)
Threat Level: Deadly
Power Signature: Dark Energy Manipulation
The Asura warrior smirked, stepping forward. He raised his hand, and the air shuddered as a pulse of dark energy erupted from his palm.
The wave hit the battlefield like a storm, sending rebels flying backward.
Arjun barely had time to react before the Asura vanished—only to reappear right in front of him.
A punch to the chest.
Arjun's vision blurred as he was sent crashing into a tree, pain exploding in his ribs.
Coughing, he forced himself up, gripping his sword tightly. The Asura warrior watched him with amusement.
"So," the Asura said, his voice deep and mocking. "You're the one they've been talking about."
Arjun steadied his breath. I have to end this fast.
A Battle of Strength
The Asura charged.
Arjun activated every skill he had, his blade clashing against the Asura's fists. Sparks flew with every impact.
The Asura was strong—inhumanly strong. Each attack shook the ground, his movements almost too fast to track.
But Arjun was learning.
His system analyzed the Asura's attacks, feeding him real-time combat strategies. He dodged. Countered. Adapted.
Then—he saw an opening.
The Asura swung wide, leaving his ribs exposed for just a moment.
Arjun lunged, driving his sword deep into the Asura's side.
The Asura howled in pain, dark blood spilling onto the ground.
"You… little…" he growled, stumbling.
Arjun pulled back, ready to finish him off. But before he could strike again, the Asura vanished into black mist.
A chilling laugh echoed.
"This isn't over, warrior."
Then—he was gone.
Victory… and New Questions
The battlefield was silent.
The British forces were defeated, the weapons secured. The resistance fighters let out a victorious cheer.
But Arjun wasn't celebrating.
He stared at the spot where the Asura had vanished, his mind racing.
Why were the Asuras protecting this convoy? What were they truly after?