SWALLOWING THE COSMOS
Chapter 29: The Tide of War
Ruins of Battle
Veer stood amidst the ruins of the battlefield where he had fought just a day ago. The ground was soaked in blood, the metallic scent of death thick in the air. Burnt-out vehicles, broken weapons, and fallen warriors littered the land as an eerie silence hung over the remains. The devastation was immense, yet it was only a fraction of what had been prevented. Had he not intervened, Mumbai would have suffered unimaginable losses.
Far in the distance, soldiers worked to recover the bodies of their comrades, their faces filled with a mix of grief and silent determination. Medical teams rushed to treat the wounded, their hurried footsteps echoing in the desolate landscape. Above them, massive screens mounted on military drones replayed the footage of the war—scenes of Veer cutting through beasts like a phantom, his flying knives leaving behind arcs of blood. The entire battle had been broadcasted, and the world had watched him fight.
Veer clenched his fists. He had saved many, but not all. The war wasn't over. It was never truly over.
A familiar mechanical voice broke through his thoughts.
[Well, well, meatbag, you sure love to stand dramatically in ruins, don't you? Very brooding. Almost like you enjoy the attention.]
Veer sighed, rubbing his temples. "Chatur, I don't have the patience for your nonsense right now."
[Oh, come on! You're famous now. Did you know people are calling you 'Guardian' instead of 'Phantom Warrior' now? I personally preferred the old name. Much cooler, much scarier.]
Veer remained silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The sky was darkening, and the air carried a heavy tension. Something was coming.
Chatur's tone shifted.
[Analysis complete. You're not going to like this.]
Veer exhaled slowly. "Give it to me straight."
[We've got another wave incoming. This time, they have a leader—a Level 4 Awakening Stage beast. Strong, fast, and smart. It's not just charging in like the others. It's commanding them.]
Veer's eyes narrowed. "A commander beast?"
[Yep. And trust me, it's not just muscle—it's got a brain. The lesser beasts are moving in formation. This isn't going to be an easy fight.]
Veer flexed his fingers, feeling the raw power surging through him. "Then we kill it first."
[Oh, sure! No pressure at all! Just take out the battlefield strategist leading an entire army of monsters. Piece of cake.]
Veer ignored Chatur and took a step forward, his body already preparing for battle.
Arrival of the Beast Commander
The rumbling in the distance grew louder. The ground trembled beneath Veer's feet. Then, through the dust clouds, it emerged.
A massive, obsidian-black lion with a jagged, spiked mane and crimson eyes. Its sheer size dwarfed even the other mutated beasts around it. The air around it seemed to vibrate with raw power, its presence alone causing the lesser creatures to grow more ferocious. This was no ordinary beast—it was a leader, one capable of coordinating an entire assault.
The moment its piercing gaze locked onto Veer, he knew.
It recognized him as the biggest threat.
Then, with a deafening roar, it issued its command.
The horde surged forward.
The Battle Begins
Veer launched himself into the fray, moving like a streak of shadow. The first wave of lesser beasts lunged at him, but before they could even reach him, his flying knives shot out in precise arcs. The blades moved with unnatural speed, cutting through flesh like paper. The first set of enemies fell instantly, their bodies collapsing mid-charge.
But the real challenge had yet to begin.
The commander beast was already in motion. It leapt with terrifying speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Its massive claws came crashing down toward Veer.
He barely managed to twist his body in time, the razor-sharp claws grazing his armor, sending sparks flying. The sheer force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his boots digging into the dirt.
"That thing's fast," Veer muttered.
[Oh, you noticed? What a genius observation!]
Before he could react, the beast struck again. This time, its long, spiked tail whipped toward him like a battering ram.
Veer raised his arms in defense, activating his telekinesis mid-motion. The invisible force cushioned the blow, but not enough to negate the sheer power behind it. The impact sent him crashing through a half-destroyed building, concrete and steel shattering around him.
Dust filled his vision. He coughed, pushing himself out of the rubble. His entire body ached from the hit.
[Oof. That looked painful. You alive?]
Veer wiped blood from his lips. "Barely."
[Great! Because it's coming again!]
Through the dust, he saw the beast charging straight at him.
Turning the Tide
This time, Veer didn't retreat.
Instead, he stepped forward.
As the beast's claws swung down, Veer didn't dodge—he caught it.
A surge of psychic energy burst from his body as he used his telekinesis to halt the creature's attack mid-air. The beast's eyes widened in shock.
That moment of hesitation was all Veer needed.
His flying knives, now under complete mental control, changed direction instantly. Instead of aiming for the body, they targeted the weak points—joints, tendons, and pressure points.
The blades struck deep.
A roar of agony erupted from the beast as its movements faltered.
Veer seized the opportunity. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, driving his fist directly into the beast's skull. The impact sent a shockwave through its body, cracking bone.
The beast staggered. Its legs trembled, struggling to hold its massive frame upright.
Veer wasn't done.
Channeling every ounce of strength, he delivered the final blow. His fist slammed into the creature's chest with enough force to cave it in completely.
The beast shuddered. Then, its body collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Dead.
Lifespan Absorption
As the last breath left the creature's body, a familiar sensation washed over Veer.
A surge of energy, raw and unfiltered, flooded his system.
[System Notification: Awakening Stage Level 4 beast defeated.]
[Absorbing lifespan…]
[+200 years acquired.]
Veer's breathing steadied as the newfound vitality spread through his limbs. He flexed his fingers, feeling the exhaustion of battle fade slightly.
[Not bad, Guardian. Not bad at all.]
Veer rolled his shoulders. "One down."
Chatur's voice crackled.
[Yeah… about that. You're not going to like what's coming next.]
The World Watches
As Veer stood over the fallen beast, high above him, drones captured the entire battle in real-time.
Across India—and the world—millions of people watched the broadcast. Every move, every strike, every impossible feat was recorded and replayed on screens.
In military bases, soldiers watching the live feed were left speechless.
"This guy… he's not human," one murmured.
"He's our Guardian," another whispered.
In Mumbai, Siya, Riya, and his parents sat in front of their screen, their eyes fixed on Veer's figure. Siya's hands trembled as she clutched the table.
"Come back alive, Veer," she whispered.
Back on the battlefield, Veer exhaled.
There was still more to do.
To be continued…
END OF THE CHAPTER.....
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