(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The underground chamber remained unnaturally quiet after Mahabir Lama finished speaking.
The dozens of oil lamps burning along the ancient stone walls cast dancing shadows across the faces of every member of the Black Sword.
Yet despite their leader's calm words, not a single face showed relief.
Instead...
There was uneasiness.
A kind of silence that only appeared when experienced warriors realized they might be facing something far beyond their expectations.
Mahabir slowly returned to his stone seat, his expression remaining as composed as ever, but he immediately noticed the subtle changes among his followers.
Normally, after he finished speaking, the room would echo with confident replies and renewed determination.
Tonight...
No one spoke.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Several commanders lowered their heads, while others exchanged uncertain glances with one another.
It wasn't that they lacked faith in Mahabir.
Far from it.
Every person inside this chamber had willingly chosen to follow him.
Some had abandoned their Gurukuls.
Some had sacrificed their families.
Others had spent decades helping him gather knowledge about the Nine Scriptures.
Their loyalty wasn't in question.
Their confidence was.
Finally, one of the older commanders slowly stood from his seat. His movements were respectful, careful not to sound as though he was questioning Mahabir's authority.
"My Lord..."
Mahabir lifted his eyes toward him.
"Speak."
The elderly man folded his hands respectfully.
"I do not doubt your vision."
"I never will."
"But..."
He hesitated for several seconds before continuing.
"...the appearance of Rudra Eswar changes everything."
The chamber became even quieter.
Several people silently nodded.
The old commander looked around at everyone gathered before speaking again.
"My Lord, we are not afraid of Rudra Eswar because he possesses the Brahmastra."
He slowly shook his head.
"That is only a part of the problem."
"The real danger..."
"...is the name he has built."
His voice carried genuine concern.
"A person's strength can be measured."
"Their Astra can be studied."
"Their techniques can be countered."
"But reputation..."
He sighed quietly.
"...reputation is another weapon entirely."
Another commander, a middle-aged Astra user with numerous battle scars across his face, finally joined the conversation.
"I fought during Dev's war."
His words immediately drew everyone's attention.
"I wasn't one of the famous warriors."
"I wasn't among the commanders."
"I was just another Astra user trying to keep my people alive."
He smiled bitterly.
"But I still remember those days."
His eyes slowly drifted toward the ceiling as old memories resurfaced.
"There were nights when entire Gurukuls were wiped out before sunrise."
"There were battles where we entered with hundreds of Astra users..."
"...and barely twenty returned."
"We lost friends."
"We lost teachers."
"We lost entire bloodlines."
His voice grew quieter.
"And every single day..."
"...another rumor spread that Dev had grown even stronger."
A heavy silence settled over the chamber.
The man continued.
"People weren't just losing battles."
"They were losing hope."
He looked directly at Mahabir.
"Then Rudra appeared."
Not as a legend.
Not as a chosen one.
"As a young Astra user who refused to retreat."
"I remember watching him fight when even veteran warriors had begun falling back."
"I remember seeing Amirtha standing against Dev even when everyone believed defeat was inevitable."
"I remember Mohan Bhargav holding an entire mountain pass with barely a handful of Astra users."
"And I remember Junoo creating illusions large enough to hide fleeing civilians from Dev's army."
He let out a slow breath.
"Those four didn't become legends because someone decided to praise them."
"They earned every bit of that respect."
Another younger member slowly stood up.
"My Lord..."
"There is something else."
Mahabir gave a slight nod.
The young Astra user swallowed before speaking.
"If Rudra Eswar decides to call for help..."
"...people will answer."
He wasn't exaggerating.
Everyone present knew it.
"He doesn't need to threaten anyone."
"He doesn't need to promise rewards."
"He only has to ask."
The young man looked around the chamber.
"The veterans who survived Dev's war..."
"The hidden Gurukuls..."
"The wandering Astra users..."
"The younger generation that grew up hearing stories about him..."
"Even those who simply seek worthy battles..."
"They will all answer."
Another commander quietly added,
"And they won't answer because he carries the Brahmastra."
"They'll answer because he is Rudra."
"That kind of loyalty..."
"...cannot be bought."
"It cannot be forced."
"It can only be earned."
Several people slowly lowered their heads.
The atmosphere had become noticeably heavier.
One elderly woman, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"My Lord..."
"We have powerful warriors."
"We have devoted followers."
"We have prepared for years."
She paused before finishing her sentence.
"But..."
"We are still nowhere close to what Dev commanded."
No one interrupted her.
Because everyone knew she was speaking the truth.
At his peak, Dev hadn't merely possessed strength.
He commanded an empire.
Ancient Astra clans had bent the knee before him.
Mercenary groups had fought in his name.
Countless fanatics had willingly thrown away their lives for his cause.
Even with such overwhelming power...
Dev had ultimately fallen.
And now they were preparing to fight the very man who had brought that era to an end.
Mahabir remained silent throughout their discussion.
His followers interpreted that silence in different ways.
Some thought he was angry.
Others believed he was reconsidering his plans.
In reality...
He was listening.
Carefully.
Because despite their fears, none of them had spoken out of cowardice.
They were experienced Astra users.
They understood exactly what Rudra Eswar represented.
After nearly a minute of complete silence, Mahabir slowly rose from his seat once more.
His footsteps echoed softly through the underground hall as he walked toward the ancient stone mural depicting the Nine Scriptures.
Running his fingers across the weathered carvings, he remained quiet for several moments before finally speaking.
"You are all correct."
Those four words alone surprised everyone present.
Mahabir rarely admitted another person's assessment so openly.
He turned around slowly, his expression as calm as ever.
"Rudra Eswar possesses something that cannot be created overnight."
"He possesses trust."
"Respect."
"Honor."
"They are rewards earned through sacrifice."
His eyes swept across every member of the Black Sword.
"And yes..."
"If he calls..."
"The Astra world will answer."
He neither denied it nor tried to lessen its significance.
Instead, he accepted it as fact.
"But you have all made one mistake."
Every person in the chamber instinctively straightened.
"You are still comparing me to Dev."
His voice remained calm, but every word carried absolute certainty.
"I have no intention of walking the same path."
He looked once more toward the carving of the Nine Scriptures.
"Dev gathered armies."
"He sought victory through overwhelming force."
"I do not."
He slowly clenched his hand.
"I seek something far simpler."
"The completion of the Nine Scriptures."
A faint smile finally appeared on his face.
"I don't need an army capable of conquering the Astra world."
"I only need enough people to keep Rudra Eswar occupied..."
"...while history quietly changes somewhere else."
The room fell silent again.
This time...
Not because their fear had disappeared.
But because they finally understood what Mahabir truly intended.
He wasn't trying to defeat Rudra in a grand war.
He intended to win before such a war could ever begin.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Guys My New Fic name is:
-->Karuppan: King of Openings.
Check it out... I hope you will like it
Whats your thought's guys.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone too!!!
Guys it will motivate me more?