Chapter 10 Enter Into Wilderness
The march into the wilderness began under a sky dimmed by the dense canopy stretching endlessly beyond Indraprastha. As the gates opened, the Rakshak sena advanced in disciplined ranks, their armor steady and their steps synchronized, while the Vanguard units moved ahead like silent blades.
At the front walked Dhruv, calm and unshaken, his presence alone anchoring the entire force. Beside him strode Shikhanda, his massive war hammer resting across his shoulder, its head faintly glowing with contained heat.
Leading the Rakshak sena was Captain Raghvendra—a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp eyes and a voice that carried authority without effort. He turned slightly toward his squad and said, "Stay tight. No one breaks formation unless ordered."
A younger soldier beside him, Arjun, nodded firmly "Yes, Captain."
Behind them, Bhaskar adjusted his grip on his spear "Feels too quiet," he muttered.
"It won't stay that way," replied Dev, scanning the trees carefully.
The jungle responded soon enough with a dreadful roar.
Without warning, a massive horned beast burst from the undergrowth, tearing through roots and vines as it charged directly toward the formation.
"LEFT SIDE!" Arjun shouted.
"Brace!" Captain Raghvendra commanded.
Before the front line could absorb the impact—
"CLANG!"
Dhruv stepped forward, his blade intercepting the beast mid-charge, halting it just enough to break its momentum.
"…Solid," Dhruv muttered.
"Then let's crush it," Shikhanda replied, already moving.
He swung his hammer.
"BOOM!"
The impact landed with devastating force against the creature's flank, a wave of heat and pressure rippling outward. The beast roared violently, staggering.
"Forward!" Raghvendra barked.
The Rakshak sena responded instantly.
"SLASH! CLACK!"
Arjun and Dev moved in sync, striking from opposite sides, while Bhaskar drove his spear into the creature's shoulder.
The beast faltered. Dhruv stepped in—
"SHINK!"
The fight ended. The formation tightened again as if nothing had happened.
Arjun exhaled "…That was faster than training."
Raghvendra glanced at him "Good. Then keep up."
Shikhanda smirked "Don't relax. That was the warm-up."
They pushed deeper into the jungle. The light dimmed as the canopy thickened, strange plants reacting to their presence—some glowing faintly, others curling inward as they passed. The air was heavy but stable, filled with raw prana.
Later that day, a soldier suddenly slowed "…Movement."
From the shadows, a pack of wolf-like creatures emerged, circling them.
"They're surrounding us," Bhaskar said.
Raghvendra raised his voice "Outer formation! Don't let them close in!"
Dhruv nodded. "Break their circle."
Shikhanda grinned slightly "My turn."
The creatures lunged. "NOW!" Raghvendra shouted.
"BOOM!"
Shikhanda slammed his hammer into the ground, sending a shockwave outward that threw several beasts off balance.
"Advance!" Dhruv commanded.
"CLASH! SLASH!"
Arjun cut one down cleanly. Dev blocked and countered another. Bhaskar drove forward with controlled force. Within moments, the pack was gone. Raghvendra scanned the area and command his soldiers "All clear. Reform ranks."
By the end of the second day, Dhruv halted. Ahead lay a vast clearing—open ground, steady water flow, and stable prana.
"This is it," Dhruv said.
Raghvendra nodded "Perfect for a stronghold."
Arjun looked around in awe "We can build here…"
Shikhanda rested his hammer on the ground "Then let's take it."
But the land was not unclaimed. A deep, thunderous rumble shook the clearing. The ground trembled. Birds scattered. Then—
It emerged.
A monstrous, rhinoceros-like beast stepped into view—its size towering like a two-story building. Its entire body was formed of hardened rock-metal, layered like natural armor forged by the earth itself. Every step it took cracked the ground beneath it.
Its horn—massive and curved—glowed with a deep blue light. Strange inscriptions pulsed along its surface, ancient and unnatural, as if carved with power beyond understanding.
"…What is that…" Arjun whispered.
Dhruv replied "It's tier 9 Blue horned Rhino"
Raghvendra's expression hardened "Everyone—hold position."
The creature exhaled heavily, steam-like energy escaping its nostrils. Its eyes burned with fury—locked directly onto Dhruv and the soldiers. They had entered its territory. And it knew,
"GRAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
The roar shook the entire clearing. Bhaskar tightened his grip "That thing's not normal…"
Shikhanda stepped forward, gripping his hammer tightly "…Good."
Dhruv moved ahead calmly. "Stay back," he said.
Raghvendra immediately raised his hand. "All units—hold! No one engages unless ordered!"
The creature charged.
"BOOOOOM!"
The ground shattered beneath its weight as it rushed forward like an unstoppable force. Dhruv stood his ground.
"CLANG!"
His blade struck the creature's head—but the impact barely scratched its armor.
"…It's tougher than anything we've faced," he said.
"Then we break it properly," Shikhanda replied.
He rushed in from the side—
"BOOOOM!"
His hammer slammed into the creature's flank, sending a shockwave through its body. The creature roared, swinging its massive head violently.
"MOVE!" Dhruv shouted.
They split apart just in time as the horn tore through the ground, leaving a deep trench behind. Dev shouted from the back, "That horn—it's different!"
Raghvendra narrowed his eyes and said "That's the weak point. It's channeling energy!"
Shikhanda grinned "Then we hit it there."
The creature charged again.
"BOOM! BOOM!"
Each step cracked the earth. Dhruv dashed forward, drawing its attention.
"Come!"
The beast lunged. At the same moment—
"NOW!" Dhruv shouted.
Shikhanda leapt into the air, raising his hammer high.
"BURN!"
The weapon ignited with intense heat as he brought it down directly onto the creature's horn.
"CRAAAAACK!"
The glowing inscriptions flickered violently. The creature let out a deafening roar, staggering.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh"
Dhruv didn't hesitate. He moved in— Fast, Precise and Energy surged along his blade.
One strike.
"SHINK!"
The blade cut through the fractured horn, slicing deep into the creature's core. The glow shattered and the beast froze. Then—
Collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Silence.
Arjun whispered, "…It's down…"
Bhaskar exhaled slowly "We actually took it down…"
Raghvendra looked at Dhruv, then at the fallen beast.
"…This territory is ours now."
Shikhanda rested his hammer on his shoulder, breathing steadily. "Now it feels like we earned it."
Dhruv turned, scanning the clearing once more.
"We build here."
Orders followed immediately.
"Set perimeter!" Raghvendra commanded.
"Arjun—east side!"