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Chapter 43
The Demon's Hunger
"Because I will be the bait."
The words dropped into the clearing like a smooth stone tossed into a quiet forest pool. Ripples of surprise spread across every face. For a long moment, no one breathed. The warm night air grew still, heavy with the weight of the moment. Even the tiny fireflies drifting between the leaves froze in place, their soft golden lights hanging like frozen stars suspended in the dark canopy above. The ancient trees around them seemed to lean in closer, their branches whispering softly as if the forest itself was listening to the choice that had just been spoken.
Then the silence shattered.
"Absolutely not!"
Bhishma stepped forward, his tall, strong body looking even bigger in the flickering firelight. His white hair shimmered like threads of moonlight, and his shadow stretched long across the ground behind him. His voice rang out clear and sharp, filled with deep care and the weight of years.
"Suyodhana, my child, this is too dangerous. A prince of Hastinapur cannot walk straight into a demon's jaws like some helpless offering. We have fought together through storms and battles. I will not watch you throw your life away."
Suyodhana stood calm in the middle of the group. A gentle smile touched his lips. His eyes, steady and bright, met Bhishma's worried gaze without flinching.
"Do not worry, Pitamah," he said softly, his voice warm like a promise carried by the wind. "You know me. I am stronger than I seem. Much stronger."
He turned slowly, looking at all the faces gathered around the small fire.
The Nishad warriors stood there, their dark eyes shining with loyalty and quiet respect. The Kaurava brothers clustered close together, ready to follow him without hesitation. Karna stood tall with his golden bow resting calmly at his side, the firelight reflecting off the metal like living sunlight.
"While you are all here with me," Suyodhana continued, his tone light but sure, "tell me honestly—who could truly harm me?"
Bhishma opened his mouth to answer, but before a single word left his lips, others moved.
"We will be the bait!"
Karna's voice cut through the night, strong and steady like a blade of light.
He stepped right beside Suyodhana, shoulder to shoulder, his golden eyes glowing with fierce determination. The firelight danced across his armor, making it look like living flames moving across molten gold.
"If the demon must see someone first, let it be me. I have stood by your side through every trial. I will not let you face this alone."
Dushashan moved next, his fists clenched tight.
"Or me," he said, his voice rough with brotherly love. "I have followed you since we were small boys chasing each other through the palace gardens. Let me stand in front."
Vikarna joined them quickly, his younger face set with quiet courage.
"We can take turns if we must. No one here will let our elder brother risk everything by himself."
Duraj lifted his hand high, determination shining in his eyes.
"I volunteer too!"
Even Dushshala, standing a little behind the others, looked ready to speak. Her eyes were wide with worry for her brother, but Bhishma gently rested a hand on her shoulder, holding her back with kind firmness.
The whole clearing burst into noise.
Voices rose like a sudden storm wind through the trees.
"No, I will do it!" one Nishad hunter shouted.
"You cannot risk the prince!" another cried.
"Let me go instead!"
The arguments tumbled over each other, loud and full of heart. The fireflies scattered upward in a sparkling cloud, as if startled by the sudden energy. Leaves rustled high above as the forest canopy stirred restlessly.
Suyodhana raised one hand.
"Hey."
His voice was calm, but it carried the clear ring of command.
Everyone fell silent at once.
The forest seemed to quiet too.
The leaves stopped rustling.
The night birds paused their songs.
Even the glowing mushrooms at the base of the trees dimmed slightly, as if waiting to hear what would be decided.
Suyodhana crossed his arms over his chest.
"I do not want to watch this drama any longer."
He looked at each prince, each warrior, one by one. His gaze was steady, filled with the same warmth and strength that had guided them through so many adventures.
"As your elder brother…"
He paused, letting the words settle in the quiet air.
"And as the prince of Hastinapur…"
His voice grew firm, like iron wrapped gently in kindness.
"I order everyone here."
"I will be the bait."
"There will be no arguments."
A heavy quiet settled over the group.
No one dared speak against him now.
Even Bhishma only let out a long, quiet sigh. His wise eyes still held worry, but he bowed his head in acceptance.
The ancient trees above rustled again, almost as if they too had agreed with the decision.
At that exact moment, something magical happened.
A glowing blue window of light appeared right in front of Suyodhana's eyes. It shimmered softly, like moonlight rippling across still water. Tiny particles of light floated around its edges like drifting stars.
Only he could see it.
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DING
Achievement Unlocked
The One Who Sacrifices Himself
Reward:
• Nishad Peak Loyalty
• 50,000 Coins
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Another message followed right away, the blue light pulsing gently like a living heartbeat.
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Sub Quest Activated
Slay the Asura Baka
Objective:
Defeat Baka with the minimum sacrifice possible.
Reward:
• Scaled according to victory performance
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Suyodhana blinked once.
A small, secret smile curved his lips.
Well… that's a nice bonus, he thought.
The glowing window slowly faded away like morning mist under sunlight.
For a brief moment, he felt a warm spark of new energy deep inside his chest.
As if the forest itself had given him a quiet blessing.
"Alright," he said to the group, his voice bright again, carrying a quiet confidence that moved through the forest like a gentle wave. "Let's prepare."
The next hour passed in a busy, focused rush. The Nishad warriors moved like shadows slipping between the trees. They adjusted their hidden traps with practiced hands—thick ropes woven with forest vines that glowed faintly in the dark, as if tiny spirits lived within the fibers, waiting for the moment to spring. Archers climbed high into the branches of giant oaks whose trunks were so wide that three men could barely circle them. Their bodies blended perfectly with the bark and leaves, becoming almost invisible to the eye.
Soft green light from glowing moss lit their paths, making each step sure and silent. The moss shimmered faintly whenever a foot touched it, like a quiet blessing from the forest itself.
Hunters slipped behind large rocks and thick bushes, their spears and bows ready. Spearmen lined both sides of the narrow path, crouching low so the tall grass hid them completely, their breaths slow and steady like hunters waiting for the perfect moment. Bhishma chose a deeper spot in the woods, where ancient roots twisted through the soil like old serpents. His long spear stood planted firmly in the earth beside him like a silent guardian watching over the forest. The weapon seemed to hum with quiet power, its polished tip catching the silver glow of distant starlight.
Karna crouched on a thick branch of the tallest oak, his golden bow resting across his knees. From that height he looked like a watchful eagle perched on a mountain cliff, his eyes scanning every shadow of the darkness below. The faint glow of his armor reflected softly through the leaves like hidden sunlight.
The Kaurava brothers spread out into different hiding places—Dushashan behind a fallen log covered in moss, Vikarna hidden within a cluster of tall ferns, Duraj balanced high among another tree's branches where the wind barely stirred. Every movement they made was careful, silent, and filled with love and loyalty for their prince.
The whole forest seemed to hold its breath.
Even the wind moved more softly now, as if the trees themselves wished to protect the secret hidden beneath their branches.
Meanwhile, Suyodhana changed his clothes behind a screen of hanging vines that swayed gently in the breeze like green curtains. His fine royal garments—rich cloth stitched with golden threads that once shone in palace halls—were folded away carefully. In their place, he put on simple villager clothes: a rough cloth shirt that smelled of earth and woodsmoke, a plain brown wrap around his waist, and simple sandals worn smooth by many steps.
He rubbed handfuls of soft dust across his arms and face until his skin lost its princely glow and looked like any tired young traveler returning from work in the woods. Now he appeared no different from the villagers who carried offerings along these lonely forest paths.
No one would guess a prince stood there now.
He grabbed the wooden handles of the waiting cart.
It was piled high with fresh fruits that glistened with juice, sweet-smelling breads wrapped in leaves, and juicy cuts of meat—the offering for the demon.
"Alright," he whispered softly to himself.
"Let's go meet our guest."
He began pulling the cart down the forest path.
The wheels creaked softly over tangled roots and scattered stones. The sound echoed gently through the silent forest like an old cart traveling toward fate.
Behind him, hidden among trees, rocks, and deep shadows, the entire group followed like silent protectors. Their footsteps made no sound at all, disappearing into the moss and leaves.
The deeper they went, the darker the forest became.
The trees grew taller and older, their twisted trunks rising like ancient storytellers who had watched centuries pass beneath their branches. The air felt thicker here, heavier, as if an unseen weight pressed down from the mountain ahead.
Birds had stopped singing long ago.
Even the fireflies stayed behind, their tiny lights fading in the distance like stars disappearing at dawn.
A faint, cool mist began to swirl around Suyodhana's feet.
It glowed pale blue like magic from another world.
The mist whispered against his skin, curling around his ankles like curious spirits. It carried the scent of damp stone, cold caves, and something wild… something hungry.
The path opened at last into a wide, rocky clearing at the foot of the dark mountain.
Huge boulders stood like sleeping giants scattered around the clearing. Their shadows stretched long and crooked beneath the moonlight.
This was the place where the demon always came for his offerings.
Suyodhana stopped the cart in the center.
He looked around calmly, his eyes scanning the silent rocks and the dark cave entrance hidden in the mountainside.
Then he sat down on a flat rock beside the cart, just like a worn-out villager resting after a long day of work.
He waited.
The silence stretched on, thick and heavy.
Seconds slowly turned into minutes.
The mist grew a little brighter, swirling lazily around the cart as if it too was curious about what would happen next.
Then a deep voice rolled out from the shadows of the mountain.
"So…"
The sound was rough and low, like giant rocks grinding together beneath the earth. It carried hunger and a dark kind of amusement that echoed through the clearing.
"Food has arrived… huh?"
A massive shadow shifted across the rocky wall.
Something enormous began to step out from the black mouth of a hidden cave.
The ground trembled under its heavy footsteps—once… twice…
Small stones bounced across the clearing like frightened insects.
Two glowing red eyes opened in the darkness, bright as burning coals taken from the deepest fires beneath the earth.
They fixed straight on Suyodhana.
And the cart.
The air grew colder.
The mist around the cart swirled faster, as if trying to warn him.
Far behind in the trees, hidden eyes watched with held breath.
Karna's fingers tightened around his bowstring.
Bhishma's hand rested firmly on his spear.
Every heart in the forest began beating faster.
The huge shape kept coming.
Its massive shoulders scraped the sides of the cave opening, grinding against the stone with a sound like distant thunder. Dust and pebbles fell from the rock as the creature forced its way forward.
A low, rumbling chuckle echoed again.
Suyodhana sat perfectly still.
His face calm.
His heart steady.
He could feel the presence of the hidden warriors behind him—their strength, their loyalty, their silent readiness.
The demon stepped fully into the clearing.
And the forest seemed to shudder beneath its weight.
To be continued…