Some disasters were loud.
Battles.
Betrayals.
Blood.
Others were quieter.
A single invitation.
A polished dice set.
A smile that hid poison.
This one—
Never happened.
Krishna felt it before anyone spoke.
The system chimed sharply one afternoon as he sat with the Pandavas, helping Sahadeva organize scrolls.
«Critical Timeline Deviation Detected.
Event: Dice Assembly.
Risk Level: Catastrophic (Emotionally and Historically).
Probability: 87% if Unchecked.»
Krishna raised an eyebrow. "That high?"
«Shakuni is feeling inspired.»
Krishna sighed. "Of course he is."
Across the palace, Duryodhana paced.
"This feast—this gathering—it's tradition," he insisted to Dhritarashtra. "A friendly game between brothers."
Vidura's grip tightened on his staff.
"A game," Vidura said carefully, "played with loaded intent."
Shakuni smiled pleasantly. "Intent is irrelevant. Skill decides."
Krishna entered the hall casually, right on cue.
The system chimed.
«Dramatic Timing: Flawless.
Confidence Impact: Severe.»
"Ah," Krishna said lightly. "I hear there's to be a game."
Duryodhana stiffened. "This is family business."
Krishna tilted his head. "Then why does it smell like strategy?"
Laughter rippled—brief, nervous.
Yudhishthira glanced at Krishna, uncertainty flickering across his usually calm face.
Krishna met his eyes.
And shook his head.
Once.
Firmly.
Yudhishthira inhaled slowly.
"I decline," he said.
The room froze.
"What?" Duryodhana snapped.
"I decline," Yudhishthira repeated calmly. "A game that risks harmony for entertainment is not dharma."
Shakuni's smile twitched.
The system chimed, delighted.
«Catastrophe Averted.
Dice Count: Zero.
Historical Trauma: Deleted.»
Duryodhana slammed his fist down. "Cowardice!"
Krishna smiled pleasantly. "Calling wisdom cowardice doesn't make it so."
Shakuni leaned forward. "And if we insist?"
Krishna's gaze shifted.
The temperature dropped—not magically.
Decisively.
"Then," Krishna said softly, "you would be choosing conflict."
Silence.
Bhima cracked his knuckles.
Arjuna's hand rested near his bow.
Dhritarashtra swallowed. "Enough."
The gathering dissolved.
No dice rolled.
No laughter twisted into cruelty.
No vows sworn in humiliation.
The system updated.
«Mahabharata Major Divergence Confirmed.
Outcome: Improved.
Author Satisfaction: Likely.»
Later that evening, Yudhishthira sought Krishna privately.
"You stopped me," he said quietly.
Krishna nodded. "Yes."
"I would have lost," Yudhishthira admitted. "Not the game—my balance."
Krishna smiled gently. "Knowing that is why you won."
Elsewhere, Duryodhana raged.
"Everything slips through my fingers!" he shouted.
Shakuni's eyes narrowed. "Not everything."
But even he felt it.
The board was no longer rigged.
Krishna walked under the night sky, Radha's presence warm even from afar.
The system chimed one final time, smug.
«Dice Event Neutralized.
Fate Still Intact.
Stress Level: Minimal.
You're Welcome.»
Krishna laughed softly.
Sometimes—
The greatest victory—
Was preventing the throw.
--chapter 27 ended--