After searching for more than an hour, all Rudra did was collect some common herbs that could be useful for him while looking for the Rudhirasthiphala. But unexpectedly he spotted some movement in the bushes. Upon peeping from the bushes Rudra found a squirrel.
But except for all that only one thought surfaced in his mind, 'it is an animal of this forest, what if it could lead me to some hidden treasure?'
Rudra observed that the small squirrel carefully dug out the seed and engulfed it, storing the seeds in its mouth. Rudra knew about the squirrels' habit of hiding the seeds found by themselves in a special spot underground. Therefore when that squirrel ran away he decided to follow it, what if coincidentally he found some valuable herbs?
After a few minutes, the squirrel stopped near a tree and began to dig the ground with its small hands. Just in a few moments with its speed, the squirrel dug out a huge hole in that spot. Rudra watched all of this from behind a tree. This was when Rudra heard the sound of something getting scratched which came from where the squirrel was digging.
Rudra waited until the squirrel filled the hole and ran away. Rudra immediately ran to that spot and began to dig the hole. Rudra dug down with his hands. Rudra kept digging until the hole got big and deep enough to reveal a piece of wood buried over there.
Rudra dug out the mud around that piece of wood, only to realize that it was a huge trapdoor, when Rudra opened it all he found was a small stone crate hidden under that trapdoor. With the size of the stone crate, it seemed as if the hidden compartment was made to hide it.
Rudra took out that crate and found a lot of chains wrapped around it, he then broke the chains through his dagger and then Instantly opened the crate to find something that made Rudra think that all this time he spent to find this was in vain.
Inside that stone crate, there was nothing except a small piece of stone, it was a small stone tablet. Rudra now realized that if this tablet were to be ordinary, it won't be hidden with so much security. Therefore he used his spiritual energy to check upon that stone tablet.
But as soon as his spiritual energy approached that stone, he felt a huge bounce back, as if a hidden power from that stone tablet deflected his spiritual energy. Rudra then spotted the tiny mantras carved on that stone tablet and knew that it was sealed by those mantras.
But he wasn't able to break through that seal, because the seal seemed a bit stronger. Rudra kept the stone tablet in his spatial sack bag and went ahead. Soon he came across a huge and tall tree and an idea struck his mind.
He decided to climb that tree, just to get a better vision of the far-off places, to be able to explore more. Rudra climbed the tree with a lot of struggle and then surveyed the nearby area to find a water source, because he was feeling thirsty. Somehow he was able to get a glimpse of a stream of water at a distance. In excitement, he jumped down and ran towards that stream.
Rudra ran in that direction, and after a few minutes when he arrived there, he found a small water stream that cascaded through the huge stones and went in its path. Rudra knelt down as he took a handful of water, and as he drank the water he spotted something he hadn't expected.
It was a plant filled with small red cherries, he left drinking and went close to that plant and a starry shine appeared in his eyes because he was excited for what he found.
It was the Rudhiraasthi plant. That plant was filled with cherries and he was very happy but then he heard some footsteps. Through the footsteps it didn't seem like a single person, it was a group. Before Rudra could think anything, a group of young boys, came out, moving the bushes aside.
"Hey, Divit, look is this the plant you were talking about?", Veeraj pointed towards the plant filled with those red cherries.
"Yes, pluck out all of them, don't leave even a single of them behind.", Said Divit.
But as all four of them ran towards the plant they were halted by someone.
"Wait!", Rudra joined his palms to greet them as he said, " I discovered this plant first so, can you please let me take some cherries first!"
But an indignant expression appeared on Divit's face as he heard that. He said with arrogance reflecting in his voice, "It doesn't matter who found it! If we let a pathetic one like you take the cherries, what about the reputation of our Masaan clan."
Rudra clenched his fist upon this and retorted, "This is a treasure from nature, whoever finds it first will have authority over this, even after that consider yourselves fortunate that I am letting you have some of these Rudhiraphala."
"You fool, do you even know who you are talking to?", Veeraj shouted.
"Yes, I am talking to the members of the pathetic Masaan clan that can play any dirty tricks for its benefit."
"Ugh, enough of this, I won't let this brat live!", Sumer, a short-tempered guy Rushed towards Rudra.
Rudra also took a fighting stance. As Sumer was about to punch Rudra in his face, Rudra ducked down, and Counter attacked with a punch in the stomach. Rudra without giving a second delivered an uppercut punch to Sumer's jaw.
Sumer staggered back a few steps but managed to balance himself. Sumer touched his jaw to feel an insane pain. In anger, he charged back to Rudra. This time Rudra ran towards Sumer and threw a kick, but Sumer was prepared this time, he raised his hands and managed to block the kick, and then pushed Rudra backwards.
Then Sumer unsheathed the heavy long sword that hung on his back, and here Rudra took out his small dagger. He prepared himself. But Looking at the dagger in Rudra's hands a sarcastic smile appeared on Sumer's face. Sumer swung down his sword towards Rudra, whereas Rudra raised his dagger to block.
But as soon as both of the weapons collided the dagger shattered into pieces under the powerful force implied by that heavy long sword. It also caused Rudra to take a few steps back to balance himself. Rudra looked at the sword in Sumer's hands in fear. He was now empty handed but then he remembered about the broken dagger given to him by Vihaan.
Rudra had no time as Sumer had already swung his sword at Rudra again, and Rudra just took out the rusty broken dagger and thrust it ahead. In the very next moment as the weapons collided the dagger was able to stop that ruthless heavy sword in its track, this time as the heavy sword was repelled by that dagger Sumer took a few steps back causing him to wonder.
Rudra rushed towards Sumer and swung his dagger which was blocked by Sumer's sword but then again Rudra repelled that heavy sword and punched Sumer on his shoulder. Sumer retorted with another sword swing but Rudra ducked down avoiding that blade and sliced his broken dagger at Sumer's knee.
Sumer with a lot of blood bleeding from the cut left behind, fell down to his knees. Rudra then kicked Sumer on the chest making him fall to the ground. Rudra then shifted his gaze towards those plants, only to find out that he was being distracted, as the other three people were collecting those cherries with all their passion.
Rudra immediately snatched the heavy sword from Sumer and rushed to the other three to stop them. Divit was able to sense Rudra, "Veeraj, you go and handle him."
Veeraj nodded as he ran towards Rudra. Rudra swung that sword towards Veeraj. But Veeraj was able to dodge it as he stepped aside. Rudra then swirled around and charged the sword ahead with his momentum. This time Rudra succeeded in hitting Veeraj in the shoulder, leaving behind a severe cut and a lot of blood gushed out of it.
Veeraj staggered but he still didn't give up, he stood up and punched Rudra. Rudra staggered a few steps but then he gripped his hands tightly around his dagger and delivered a deadly blow to Veeraj. Veeraj stepped aside but still, the dagger left behind a deep cut on his waist.
"Aah!", Veeraj screamed in pain as he looked at his wound. But in that pain he forgot he was confronting an enemy, as soon as he realized that, Rudra stabbed his dagger into Veeraj's legs, causing him to fall down. Rudra then took out his dagger and ran towards that plant again.
"This guy's power is on par with us, but still he defeated two of us.", Divit said, "Hey, Anay, you stay here I will go and handle him."
"No, don't leave me alone!".
"Just stay there, idiot!"
Divit rushed upon Rudra and with his speed unmatched, he delivered a ruthless punch to Rudra's face. Rudra staggered back but still, he was able to compose himself as he fell to his knees. Rudra touched the corner of his mouth and saw the blood on his hands. Of course, this was because Divit was more powerful than Rudra.
Still, Rudra stood up and swung that heavy sword towards Divit. But Divit stepped aside and easily dodged that swing. But then suddenly Rudra jumped and swung his dagger towards Divit. Divit to avoid the strike stepped aside and ran away.
But then Rudra threw that heavy sword towards Divit. Divit with the only thought again dodges that murderous projectile, as he ducked down. Divit had started to take deep breaths, it was a close call until his mind could catch up to what was happening, Rudra had already prepared his attack.
The kundalini circulated through his body and reaching his arm exerted a tremendous energy that surged out from his fist. Rudra rushed towards Divit and until he turned around realizing he had been distracted, Rudra launched his black line punch at him.
That punch blew off against Divit's chest. The tremendous power, caused Divit to be thrown away. But Divit managed to make himself stable, although right now he didn't seem to be in a condition where he could even stand.
"ugh," Rudra coughed a lot due to using his powers like that.
He was completely exhausted. He took deep breaths while he walked towards 'Anay'. Up until now, Anay had collected all the red somniferra cherries.
"Hey, look, friend, kindly hand those cherries to me!", Rudra gestured to Anay as he said.
"No, don't", Divit said writhing in pain.
As Rudra heard the words, he glared at Divit but then he asked out again in a polite way, "Look give it to me, I won't do anything to you!"
Listening to that, Anay cried out as he handed over the sack bag to Rudra, which was full of Red somniferra cherries.
'Finally,' Rudra looked at it. 'Rudhiraasthiphala.'