Chapter 5: The Wound of the Guardian
The Vanara's mace, carved from a single slab of meteor-stone, rested on the mossy earth, yet the ground groaned under its weight. The creature's eyes, amber and ancient, searched Vikram's soul. In the Treta Yuga, the Vanaras were not mere animals; they were the scholars of the wild, their strength second only to their loyalty to Dharma.
Vikram didn't flinch. His Eye of Truth (L5) was working overtime, peeling back the layers of the Vanara's golden-crimson aura.
[ SYSTEM INSIGHT ]
Attribute Check: Eye of Truth (L5) + Dhi (Intellect L5).
Diagnosis: The Guardian suffers from a Visha-Shakti (Poisonous Energy) infection in his right shoulder.
Source: A needle of 'Dark Vajra-Loha'—the same metal the spy sought at the forge.
"You speak of hurricanes, Guardian," Vikram said, his voice resonating with the depth of his Charm (L10). "But you are already fighting one from within. Your mace is heavy today, not because of your age, but because the Shadow has already bitten you."
The Vanara flinched. The bronze fur on his shoulder bristled. "How can a human cub see what even our tribe's healers could not?"
The Healing Mantra
Vikram stepped forward. He didn't have a healing skill in his status bar yet, but he had the Karmic System. He accessed the Akasha Shop with a desperate thought.
"System! I have only 5 Punya. Is there anything—anything at all—that can neutralize Asura-poison?"
[ SHOP RESPONSE ]
Current Punya: 5.
Affordable Option: Mantra-Root Translation (Single Syllable).
Recommended Syllable: "REUM" (The vibration of Cellular Purging).
I'll take it!
The knowledge flooded Vikram's mind. It wasn't just a sound; it was a frequency. He walked up to the towering Vanara. The creature could have crushed his skull with a finger, but Vikram's Charm acted like a divine tranquilizer. The Vanara sat, his breath ragged.
Vikram placed his small hand on the massive, burning shoulder. He visualized the black sludge of the poison.
"REUM..."
He didn't just say it; he vibrated it from his Anahata Chakra (Heart).
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]
Action: Divine Healing (Minor).
Mantra-Hacking Synergy: You are manually rewriting the "Poison Code" in the Vanara's body.
Success Rate: 92%.
A thin, black wisp of smoke hissed as it exited the Vanara's skin. The stone-mace suddenly glowed with a pure, earthy brown light. The Vanara let out a roar of relief that shook the leaves from the trees.
The Bond of the Forest
The Guardian stood up, his height reaching nearly fifteen feet. He looked at his shoulder, then down at the boy.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Karmic Achievement: Healed a Sacred Sentinel.
Reward: +2,000 Punya.
Reputation Gained: Friend of the Vanara Tribe.
Title Gained: [The Physician of Prana].
"Human cub... no, Sadhaka Vikram," the Vanara said, kneeling so his head was level with Vikram's. "I am Sugriva-Ansh, a sentinel of the Sun-bloodline. The Shadow that passed here did indeed wound me, thinking I would slow you down. He underestimated the light you carry."
He reached into his fur and pulled out a small, silver whistle carved from a bone. "The Patala Gate is guarded by an illusion of a thousand weeping willows. You will get lost before you see the gate. Blow this, and the forest itself will move for you."
The Akasha Shop: Preparing for the Breach
Vikram now had 2,005 Punya. He knew the gate was close, and beyond it lay the underground realm where the laws of the surface didn't apply.
"System," Vikram whispered. "I need a weapon upgrade and protection. Open the Shop."
[ AKASHA SHOP: BATTLE PREP ]
[Sattva-Loha Refinement]: Upgrade your sword The Whisper of Kalindi to C-Rank. (Cost: 1,500 Punya).[Kavacha of Vayu]: A passive armor of wind that deflects 20% of projectiles. (Cost: 500 Punya).[Mantra: Surya-Deepa]: Creates a floating orb of light that reveals invisible Asuras. (Cost: 300 Punya).
Vikram made his choice instantly. He felt his sword vibrate against his hip as it turned from matte black to a shimmering, translucent silver. The wind began to swirl around his body, forming a faint, protective hum.
[ STATUS UPDATE ]
Weapon: Whisper of Kalindi (Rank C) — Effect: Deals 2x damage to Asura-type entities.
Armor: Kavacha of Vayu (L1)
Remaining Punya: 5
"Go now, Vikram," Sugriva-Ansh commanded, picking up his mace. "The Blood Moon rises in three nights. If the Gate isn't sealed by then, the River Kalindi will turn into a river of ash."
The Gate of Tears
Vikram used Flash-Step (L7). He was a streak of indigo light moving through the emerald deep. Suddenly, the forest changed. The vibrant greens turned into a weeping grey. A thousand willow trees stood before him, their branches hanging like long, thin fingers.
Through his Eye of Truth (L5), he saw it. The trees weren't trees. They were Pretas (Hungry Ghosts) bound by a spell, their Paap levels flickering at a steady 5,000.
In the center of the weeping willows stood a massive stone archway, dripping with black ichor. The Patala Gate.
Standing before the gate was the spy, Kala-Nemi, but he wasn't alone. Beside him stood a figure clad in armor made of dragon-scales, holding a spear that hummed with the sound of a thousand screams.
[ TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Name: General Rakta-Vija.
Rank: Maharathi (Level 55).
Varna-Aura: Deep Ink-Black.
Paap: 250,000.
Threat Level: MORTAL.
Vikram is face-to-face with a Maharathi while he is only L1.
The Whistle: Blow the Vanara Whistle to summon Sugriva-Ansh and a pack of Vanaras to balance the numbers.The Sabotage: Use Mantra-Hacker to find the "Anchor Syllable" of the Gate and destroy it, sealing the General inside Patala before he can cross.The Charm Gambit: Step out into the open. Use Charm (L10-MAX) to force the General into a conversation, buying time for the "System" to find a weakness in his armor.
What is the plan, Vikram?