Chapter 36: A Choice That Changes Fate
The battlefield's eerie silence was only broken by the crackling flames of the destroyed British convoy. The rebels stood in a tense circle around the Shard of Andhaka, its dark mist curling in the air like ghostly tendrils.
Arjun's hand trembled as he stared at the ominous relic. This wasn't just a simple artifact. It pulsed with something ancient, something powerful—and something very, very dangerous.
His system notification still glowed in his vision, urging him to make a decision.
[Decision Point: What Will You Do?]
Destroy the Shard Immediately.
Seal It Away.
Attempt to Absorb Its Power.
Jai Pratap's voice was sharp. "Whatever that thing is, Arjun, we need to get rid of it. Now."
Amrita Bai, usually calm, had a hint of fear in her eyes. "This is no ordinary relic. The Asuras will come for it. The longer we hold onto it, the more danger we invite."
Arjun exhaled. He knew they were right. But a strange pull inside him made him hesitate.
Then, his system reacted.
[New Mission: Power of the Forgotten]
Objective: Unlock the hidden knowledge of the Shard of Andhaka.
Reward: ???
His eyes widened. The system is treating this as an opportunity.
Jai stepped forward. "Arjun?"
Arjun clenched his fists. If this shard contained knowledge—a weapon that could help him make India the strongest nation in the world—how could he ignore it?
His heart pounded. Then, he made his choice.
Absorbing the Darkness
"I need to understand what this thing is before we destroy it," Arjun said finally. "If it's a power the Asuras fear, maybe it's something we can use."
Jai scowled. "That's madness! You saw what it did when we opened the crate. That darkness—it's alive."
Arjun met his gaze. "That's exactly why we need to know more."
Before anyone could stop him, he reached out and placed his hand on the shard.
A cold shock ran up his arm.
The world around him blurred.
Darkness rushed into his mind, pulling him into a swirling void of ancient whispers and forgotten screams.
Inside the Shard
Arjun found himself standing in a vast, endless abyss.
A deep voice echoed through the void.
"You… dare claim the power of Andhaka?"
Arjun turned.
A figure emerged from the darkness—a towering Asura with glowing red eyes, his body covered in ancient scars. Shadows writhed around him like living chains.
Arjun's system flashed with warnings.
[Entity Identified: Andhaka's Shadow]
Power Level: Unknown
Status: Bound to the Shard
"You are unworthy," the shadow hissed. "The power of darkness is not for weak, mortal hands."
Arjun stood firm. "I don't want to serve the darkness. I want to understand it."
The shadow laughed, a terrible sound that echoed across the abyss. "Then let us see if you can survive it."
The darkness rushed forward.
The Trial of Andhaka
A sudden pain shot through Arjun's mind as memories that were not his own flooded into him—visions of ancient battles, of Asuras marching against the gods, of destruction beyond imagination.
He fell to his knees.
His system struggled to keep up.
[Warning: Memory Overload Detected!]
Mental Strain Reaching Critical Levels
Shutting Down Non-Essential Functions…
Arjun clenched his teeth. He couldn't let this consume him.
Through the storm of memories, he focused on his will—on his purpose.
I am not here to serve the darkness.
I am here to master it.
The darkness shuddered, as if it recognized his defiance. The figure of Andhaka's Shadow paused, tilting its head.
"You do not break easily," it murmured.
The swirling void began to settle. The pain dulled. And for the first time, Arjun felt something shift within him.
The darkness… was no longer fighting him.
It was becoming part of him.
[New Ability Unlocked!]
Skill: Shadow Dominion (Lv.1)
Allows limited control over darkness and shadow energy.
Enhances stealth and night combat abilities.
Can weaken minor Asura creatures.
Arjun gasped, feeling the energy coursing through his veins. The trial was over.
And he had won.
Back to Reality
His eyes snapped open.
The rebels were staring at him, shocked.
"Arjun…" Amrita whispered. "Your eyes… they're glowing."
Arjun blinked, his vision adjusting. His body felt different—stronger, sharper, like his senses had expanded.
The Shard of Andhaka lay in his hands, now completely dark and lifeless. Whatever power it once held… was now inside him.
Jai's expression was grim. "What did you do?"
Arjun stood up, looking at the burning convoy, the defeated British soldiers, the fallen rebels.
He clenched his fist, feeling the new power thrumming beneath his skin.
"I did what needed to be done," he said simply.
But deep inside, he knew this was just the beginning.
The Asuras would come for him.
The British would hunt him.
And now… he had a power that might change everything