Chapter 15: The Invasion of Sikandar — Clash of Titans
### **Chapter 15: The Invasion of Sikandar — Clash of Titans**
**Year: 138 BCE** | **Vikramaditya's Age: 35**
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The western deserts trembled. Dust clouds rose like mountains as the mightiest force the world had ever seen crossed into the lands of **Bharat**. At its head rode the legendary conqueror — **Sikandar of the West**.
His army, a vast sea of steel and thunder, stretched across the horizon. **80,000** warriors, elite cavalry, siege machines, and mercenaries from distant lands — all united under the banner of one ambition: **to break Bharat** and carve it into the growing empire of the West.
But standing in his way was **Vikramaditya**, the reincarnated son of Ashoka, protector of **Akhand Bharat**, and master of war.
**The battle for Bharat had begun.**
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### **Sikandar — The Conqueror from the West**
Sikandar was no ordinary invader. Born under a blood moon and trained from childhood in the art of war, he had carved an empire that stretched from the **Mediterranean** to the fringes of **Persia**. His ambition knew no bounds, and now, his gaze had turned eastward — toward the rich, fertile lands of Bharat.
**"The East has stood untouched for too long,"** Sikandar had declared to his generals. **"It's time to tame it."**
His army:
- **30,000 Heavy Infantry** armed with long spears and iron shields.
- **15,000 Cavalry** — swift horsemen trained in hit-and-run tactics.
- **5,000 War Elephants**, captured from eastern conquests.
- **20,000 Mercenaries** — fierce warriors from desert tribes.
- **Siege Masters** — wielding massive catapults and battering rams.
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### **The Council at Ujjain — Preparing for War**
In the grand hall of **Ujjain**, Vikramaditya convened the **Round Table**. The air was thick with tension as reports of Sikandar's advancing army poured in.
**"We are not facing barbarians,"** Vikramaditya began, standing over the large map of Bharat. **"We are facing a master strategist. If we treat him as just another invader, we will fall."**
The kings and generals listened intently as Vikramaditya laid out his plan.
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### **The Defense Strategy — The Three Shields**
1. **The Desert Shield**
- Using the harsh desert terrain to his advantage, Vikramaditya ordered small, agile units to harass Sikandar's supply lines.
- **Guerrilla forces**, skilled in desert warfare, would strike at night, cutting off food and water supplies.
2. **The River Shield**
- The **Indus River** was fortified with defensive walls, watchtowers, and naval patrols.
- **Bridge traps** were set, designed to collapse under the weight of Sikandar's army.
3. **The Wall of Bharat**
- The newly built **Great Wall of Bharat** stood as the final barrier.
- Towers bristled with archers, and massive gates were reinforced with steel.
- **50,000 troops** were stationed along the wall, ready for the siege.
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
*Defense Readiness: 92%*
*Enemy Proximity: 50 miles from Indus River*
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### **The First Clash — The Battle of the Indus**
Sikandar's army reached the **Indus River**, expecting a straightforward crossing. Instead, they found an impenetrable fortress lining the riverbanks.
Vikramaditya, leading a **vanguard of 10,000 elite soldiers**, stood on the eastern bank, his jade-like armor gleaming in the sun.
**"You will not cross,"** he shouted across the water, his voice carrying.
Sikandar, atop his massive white stallion, laughed. **"No wall, no river, no man can stop me."**
The battle erupted.
- **Siege towers** rolled forward, trying to bridge the river.
- **Flaming arrows** rained from Vikramaditya's side, setting enemy war machines ablaze.
- **Elephants** swam across, but hidden underwater traps crippled them.
Vikramaditya personally led a cavalry charge across a shallow ford, cutting deep into Sikandar's flank.
The clash raged for **two days**, but ultimately, Sikandar's forces managed to cross, albeit with **massive losses**.
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
*Enemy Army Reduced by 25%*
*Vikramaditya's Forces Remaining: 80%*
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### **The Siege of the Wall of Bharat**
Sikandar, now facing the towering **Wall of Bharat**, unleashed his full might.
- **Catapults** hurled flaming boulders.
- **Siege towers** loomed over the walls.
- His **war elephants** battered the gates.
But Vikramaditya had anticipated this.
- Hidden **boiling oil cauldrons** were poured onto the siege towers.
- **Archers**, trained to target the elephants' weak points, brought down the mighty beasts.
- **Tunnels** beneath the wall collapsed under enemy battering rams, turning the ground into a death trap.
The battle was brutal.
On the **fourth day**, Sikandar himself charged at the gates, leading his elite guard. Vikramaditya met him in single combat atop the blood-soaked battleground.
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### **The Duel — Vikramaditya vs. Sikandar**
The two titans faced off, both masters of war, both undefeated.
Sikandar, wielding a **massive curved blade**, struck first, his sheer strength forcing Vikramaditya back.
But Vikramaditya, with his **System-enhanced body** and flawless jade-like form, countered with speed and precision.
Steel clashed against steel, the air crackling with the fury of gods.
**Sikandar:** *"You fight well, son of Bharat, but you'll fall like the others!"*
**Vikramaditya:** *"Bharat bows to no invader!"*
In a final, devastating move, Vikramaditya disarmed Sikandar and plunged his sword through the conqueror's chest.
Sikandar fell, gasping, his blood soaking the sands.
**"You may have conquered the West,"** Vikramaditya said, **"but Bharat will never kneel."**
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### **The Aftermath — A New Legend is Born**
With Sikandar's death, his army disbanded. Many mercenaries surrendered, and some even pledged loyalty to Vikramaditya.
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
*Invasion Repelled — Victory Achieved*
*Military Reputation Increased +80%*
*Empire Stability at Maximum*
Vikramaditya ordered the dead honored — friend and foe alike. The **Wall of Bharat** had held. The empire had survived.
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### **A New Era — The Title of Chakravartin**
Returning to **Pataliputra**, Vikramaditya was crowned not just as emperor, but as **Chakravartin** — the universal ruler who had defended Bharat from total annihilation.
He declared a festival that would last **30 days**, uniting the people in celebration.
**"Bharat stands eternal,"** he proclaimed. **"As long as I breathe, no enemy shall ever set foot upon our lands again."**
But as the cheers echoed through the empire, the **System** whispered its next challenge:
**[SYSTEM PROMPT]**
*Future threats detected beyond the eastern seas. Would you like to prepare naval defenses?*
Vikramaditya smiled. **"Let them come. Bharat will be ready."**
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**[TO BE CONTINUED...]**
In the next chapter:
- The rise of the eastern threat.
- Naval expansion and oceanic trade routes.
- Cultural golden age under Vikramaditya's rule.