Chapter 20: Bloodlines and Divine Chariots

The sun rose like a golden promise above the peaks of the Himalayas, casting long shadows across Parshuram's ashram. Aryan and Karna stood side by side, young yet transformed. Years of training had etched wisdom into their eyes, strength into their limbs, and purpose into their hearts.

The air was heavy with farewell and fulfilled destinies. Birds sang, but even their melody seemed subdued—aware that something divine, and perhaps dangerous, stirred.

The Last Lesson

Guru Parshuram's eyes rested on both his students with silent pride. They had learned everything he could offer. For Karna, it was mastery over celestial archery. For Aryan, it was everything—swordsmanship, medical arts, alchemy, the forgotten sciences. And with the System's multiplier, Aryan's every talent had bloomed to demi-god levels.

Their final test had been one of heart and will—a simple stone Parshuram had set deep in the forest, pulsing with divine suppression. Both boys were tasked not just to retrieve it, but to listen to it.

> "That stone," Parshuram had said, "is a silent guardian. Some power must be felt, not wielded. Go, and return with humility."

Aryan had knelt before the stone, feeling its pulse match his own heartbeat. He had returned without touching it.

Karna, ever proud but now matured, had returned with the stone—wrapped in silk, not out of fear, but out of reverence.

Parshuram had smiled then. "You both passed."

The Blade That Remembered Blood

Now, Parshuram turned toward Aryan, holding a sword wrapped in celestial cloth.

> "This belonged to Indrajit—son of Ravan. He who defeated even the gods before his fall. I give it to you, not for what it was… but for what it may become."

Aryan unwrapped the blade. It shimmered black-red, humming with sealed power. The moment his hand touched it, the steel sliced his palm—drawing a single drop of his blood.

> 🔱 SYSTEM CRITICAL ALERT 🔱

Blood Resonance Detected!

Asura Lineage Awakening (x1000 Multiplier)

Transformation Triggered: Indrajit's Sword → Ravan's Sword (God-Level Artifact)

The sky crackled with unnatural thunder. Aryan staggered back as the sword coiled around his arm like it had recognized him. The air burned with the scent of old wars and deeper truths.

> "He is marked," Parshuram murmured to himself. "Not by fate. But by blood."

The World Reacts

Far away in Lanka, Mandodari's silver mirror shattered. Her eyes widened in horror. "No… It cannot be. Not again."

In Kishkindha, Hanuman's meditation was broken. His golden eyes flashed. "This scent... of Ravan?"

In Hastinapur, Shakuni's enchanted dice burst into flame. He sneered through the pain. "So, the demon's child finally breathes."

And in the forest nearby, Simba—now a towering lion cub, son of Narasimha himself—growled low. His fur bristled. Something ancient had returned.

The Chariot of the Sun

Karna, unfazed by the storm of fate brewing beside him, stepped forward and raised his right hand.

> "Vijaya!" he called.

The ground trembled. A golden chariot burst from the earth, wreathed in solar fire. Drawn by 5 divine horses, its wheels spun with a hum of cosmic energy.

Karna nodded, almost shyly. "It comes when I need it

Parshuram observed the chariot with narrowed eyes. "That chariot will outrun time itself if your heart stays true."

The Pulao of Farewell

Before departure, Aryan insisted on cooking one final meal for his Guru.

He gathered herbs, grains, and spices from the nearby forest. With the System's Demi-God Cooking Skill, every ingredient transformed. He poured his soul into it—creating Pulao so aromatic, the very breeze carried its essence across the valley.

Parshuram took a bite. His stern face softened.

> "This… this is not food. This is prasad," he said, voice thick with feeling. "You've fed my body and soul today."

Aryan knelt, eyes misty. "I will return one day, Guruji. When the world needs guidance again, I will be there."

Parshuram's palm rested on Aryan's head. "Go, child. May the gods bless your sword, but may your heart always lead it."

Departure from the Ashram

They rode out in Karna's divine chariot. Aryan sat beside him, sword wrapped tightly, eyes gazing toward the plains that led to Hastinapur.

> 🔱 SYSTEM STATUS 🔱

Ravan's Sword Sync: 22%

Golden Rule (Passive): 1000x Resource Accumulation

Divine Affinity: Detected by Asura and Deva factions

Simba: Roaming near Vindhyachal, training intensively

Karna's Status:

Vijaya Dhanush: Mastered

Chariot of the Sun: Active

Allegiance: Duryodhan (Friend) | Aryan (Brother)

Across the Kingdoms

In Hastinapur, Gandhari felt a tremor in her prayer beads. She looked eastward. "They're coming…"

Duryodhan polished his sword, smiling. "My brother will return stronger. I'll wait, Karna."

Dhusala, grown taller, still played with the tricycle Aryan had made. She whispered, "You promised you'd come back."

In Vrindavan, Radha fed Krishna laddus, unaware the breeze that danced through her hair carried Aryan's scent. Krishna giggled. "He's almost here."

Vasumati, now in Hastinapur, had moved under Gandhari's protection due to whispers of danger in Vrindavan. Aryan's sister, now radiant and bold, studied scrolls by torchlight, preparing to meet her brother again.

---

As the chariot flew through the clouds, Aryan whispered to the blade at his side, "You're not my curse… you're my reminder."

And below, the kingdom waited.

A storm was coming.

But it carried hope.