*Chapter 43: The Invasion of Sri Lanka — The Final Jewel of Bharat**
### **Chapter 43: The Invasion of Sri Lanka — The Final Jewel of Bharat**
**Year:** 351 CE | **The Campaign for Sri Lanka**
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### **1. The Call to Conquer — Akhand Bharat's Final Campaign**
With the plans finalized, **Vijay** and **Kanta** stood on the deck of the grand flagship as the fleet sailed towards **Sri Lanka**. Thousands of warships, adorned with the banners of **Bharat**, split through the ocean waves, their golden sails catching the rising sun.
The goal was clear — unite **Sri Lanka** into **Akhand Bharat**, completing the grand vision that had spanned centuries.
Vijay's **System** displayed the mission details before his eyes:
> **Mission: Conquer Sri Lanka**
> *Objective:* Capture the capital within **6 months**
> *Bonus Objective:* Secure the royal family to gain complete submission.
> *Reward:* "Strategic Mastermind" Title + 50,000 System Points
Vijay's heart beat with anticipation. Beside him, **Kanta** studied the coastline through a spyglass, her mind calculating every possible move.
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### **2. The Two-Front Assault — Breaking the Island's Defenses**
The invasion strategy unfolded with precision:
- **Northern Fleet:** A blockade cut off Sri Lanka's supply routes, preventing reinforcements and creating panic among the local population.
- **Southern Army:** Vijay led an elite force through the dense jungles of the south, launching guerrilla-style assaults on key forts, collapsing the outer defenses quickly.
Within **two months**, half of the island had fallen under Bharat's control. Temples were spared, and local nobles who pledged loyalty were integrated into the empire's ranks. Vijay sought not just conquest but unity — a reflection of his vision of **Akhand Bharat**.
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### **3. The Royal Palace — Capturing the Three Princesses**
The turning point of the campaign came when Vijay and Kanta breached the gates of **Anuradhapura**, the royal capital of Sri Lanka. The **Sri Lankan King**, cornered and desperate, attempted to escape with his three daughters but was intercepted.
- **Princess Anika** (*21*) — Fierce and proud, a trained warrior who fought alongside her father's generals.
- **Princess Meera** (*19*) — Wise and strategic, known for her deep knowledge of diplomacy and politics.
- **Princess Rani** (*17*) — The youngest, gentle but sharp, skilled in music and the arts, embodying the cultural grace of Sri Lanka.
Vijay confronted the royal family personally. **Anika** lunged forward, sword drawn, but Vijay parried effortlessly, disarming her without harming her.
_"I will not kneel to invaders!"_ she spat, her eyes blazing.
**Vijay** met her gaze calmly. _"I'm not here to destroy your land. I'm here to unite it. Your people will not suffer — but your resistance will only bring ruin."_
**Kanta** stood nearby, her aura sharp as steel, watching how Vijay balanced diplomacy with dominance.
The three princesses were captured but treated with respect, housed in the grand palace as honored guests rather than prisoners.
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### **4. Consolidating Power — Sri Lanka Joins Akhand Bharat**
With the royal family in custody, resistance quickly collapsed. **Sri Lanka** officially became part of **Akhand Bharat** within **five months**, well within Vijay's System objective.
> **System Notification:**
> ✅ *Mission Complete — Sri Lanka Conquered*
> 🎖 *Reward Unlocked: "Strategic Mastermind"*
> 💠 *50,000 System Points Gained*
The island underwent rapid integration:
- **Temples** dedicated to **Lord Shiva** and **Vishnu** were constructed, alongside local shrines to respect the native beliefs.
- **Bharatiya schools** opened, teaching the **Bharatiya language** while preserving the local dialects.
- **Trade routes** expanded, connecting Sri Lanka to ports in **Gujarat**, **Bengal**, and **Deccan**.
Vijay and Kanta established a new **Southern Naval Command** on the island, strengthening Bharat's hold over the seas.
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### **5. The Princesses' Fate — A Complicated Bond**
The three captured princesses, though initially defiant, began to see a different side of **Vijay** as weeks passed.
- **Anika** admired Vijay's strength and leadership, though her pride still prevented her from openly showing respect.
- **Meera** found herself intrigued by Vijay's vision and often engaged him in long discussions about diplomacy and the future of the empire.
- **Rani**, the youngest, softened first, fascinated by Bharat's culture and even joining the court musicians in their performances.
**Kanta**, however, couldn't help but notice the subtle glances exchanged between Vijay and the princesses, especially **Anika**. A strange emotion — jealousy — stirred within her, though she masked it behind her usual composure.
The **System** further complicated her emotions:
> **Affinity Update:**
> - *Anika ➔ 40%*
> - *Meera ➔ 35%*
> - *Rani ➔ 30%*
> - *Kanta ➔ 85%*
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### **6. The Emotional Rift — Kanta and Vijay**
That night, under the full moon, **Kanta** confronted **Vijay** in the palace gardens.
_"You're growing closer to them,"_ she said, her voice sharp but tinged with vulnerability.
Vijay sighed. _"They're part of the empire now. Winning hearts is as important as winning battles."_
**Kanta** hesitated before speaking, her emotions swirling. _"And what about my heart, Vijay? Do you even realize how much I—"_
But she stopped herself, her words hanging in the air. Vijay looked at her, his youthful face filled with conflict — part of him was still the boy she had mentored, but another part, deeper and older, recognized the bond they shared through countless lives.
> **System Alert:**
> *A pivotal moment has been reached in the bond between Kanta and Vijay.*
> _"The path you choose will shape not just your destiny but the soul of Bharat itself."_
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### **7. A United Akhand Bharat — But At What Cost?**
With **Sri Lanka** now fully integrated into **Akhand Bharat**, the map stretched gloriously from the **mountains of Gandhar** to the southern coasts, a vision centuries in the making.
But unity came with its own tensions:
- The delicate balance between **Vijay** and **Kanta's** bond was under strain.
- The three **Sri Lankan princesses** added new complexities to court politics and Vijay's heart.
- And far to the **west**, whispers of a rising power beyond the **Great Bharat Wall** hinted that Bharat's challenges were far from over.
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### **Next Chapter Preview:**
- Political alliances shift as the Sri Lankan princesses integrate into Bharat's court.
- The emotional tension between Vijay and Kanta intensifies, pushing them toward a decisive moment.
- A new threat emerges from the distant west, challenging the empire's stability just as unity seemed within reach.