Realizing brute strength alone would not defeat Karna, Narakasura suddenly retreated several steps.
Then he raised both hands.
Darkness erupted outward instantly.
The entire forest dimmed unnaturally.
Cold wind screamed through the trees while black mist spread rapidly across the battlefield. Strange, distorted whispers echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Illusions.
Sorcery.
The shadows themselves began moving.
Multiple false images of Narakasura appeared around Karna simultaneously, each carrying weapons, each radiating corrupted energy.
Then the storm came.
Dark clouds gathered overhead unnaturally fast while violent rain and thunder descended upon the battlefield. Visibility dropped rapidly beneath the chaotic storm.
From every direction, attacks surged toward Karna.
But Karna remained still.
Then calmly... closing his head, he murmured, invoking the mantra.
Om Adityaya Namah
Tejah Prakataya Svapatham
Suryastram Prajvalaya
Andhakaram Nashaya
Jval Jval Prakashaya
In response, divine light emitted from his body, as Suryastra, the divine astra, blessed him directly from his father, has been unleashed.
This divine light released a wave of rays in every direction. The night became as clear as day in the surroundings; the intense heat generated by the divine light of Lord Surya evaporated the water, removing the unnatural shadows instantly. The forest illuminated bright orange while the heat pushed the storm back temporarily.
The false illusions dissolved.
Narakasura's breathing became rougher.
His confidence began cracking.
"How…" he muttered in disbelief.
How could a human do this?
How could a mortal overpower him so completely?
He was the invincible Narakasura.
Feared by devas.
Blessed through terrifying powers.
And yet this man before him moved like an immovable mountain.
Panic finally crept into the demon's chest.
And so...
He chose trickery.
Dark energy suddenly exploded outward again.
This time, the illusion struck directly at Karna's senses.
The world distorted instantly.
The forest vanished.
The battlefield twisted into countless false images and voices.
But Karna reacted immediately.
A divine energy arrow formed in his hand. As he shattered that arrow, the divine energy spread around, shattering the illusion with pure radiance.
The false world broke apart instantly.
And when his vision returned... Narakasura had already mounted the horse again.
Subhadra was still tied before him.
The demon king immediately turned and fled the battlefield, not intending to waste his time here anymore.
Karna's expression darkened. "I would have left you alive had you left the princess behind and run away from the fight, but you still dared to carry out this adharmic act? Today, you will have to meet my brother Yama."
He mounted Tvara instantly and gave chase.
The pursuit tore through the forest like lightning.
Branches snapped apart while both horses raced dangerously fast across narrow paths beneath the moonlight.
Karna resummoned the bow of Vijaya, and just as he was about to conjure an arrow, Narakasura suddenly shouted backward.
"Come closer, and I kill her!"
Subhadra's terrified eyes widened.
Karna's hand paused.
That single hesitation gave Narakasura more distance.
The demon king laughed hoarsely while continuing toward the northwestern cliffs.
But Karna did not stop chasing.
His eyes remained fixed ahead.
Cold.
Focused.
Eventually...
The forest opened into a massive cliff that appeared ahead, overlooking the roaring black ocean below. Moonlight reflected across the crashing waves far beneath, while violent sea wind howled against the rocky heights.
With nowhere left to run, Narakasura stopped again.
Then he attacked desperately.
This time, Karna no longer held back.
Golden light erupted from his body.
His divine armor manifested instantly over him, radiant and invincible beneath the moonlight. Every hidden sorcery Narakasura attempted was shattered uselessly upon the armor's radiance.
The battle resumed brutally atop the cliffside.
And soon... Narakasura was losing badly again.
Bleeding.
Exhausted.
Cornered.
Yet suddenly, even while injured, the demon king began laughing.
"You fool…" he spat blood while grinning madly. "You cannot kill me. I possess the boon that only my mother can kill me!"
Karna's eyes hardened completely. "You think so, wouldn't you?"
He raised his hand and murmured. "Brother Yama, I depend on you now."
"Om Yamaya Namah
Dharmarajaya Namah
Paashena Bandhaya Jivam
Karmaphalena Niyatam Kuru
Yamapashastram Prajvalaya
Mrityum Avaahaya, Antam Samarpaya
Dehinam Hridayam Grihnatu
Atmanam Mokshayatu
Niyatam Mrityum Samarpaya"
As the mantra of the weapon of Yamraj being involved, the atmosphere itself changed. Dark golden energy gathered into an arrow unlike anything before. The surrounding air grew heavy and suffocating while even the ocean below seemed to be still for a moment as if it was respecting the divyastra that has never been granted to any mortal or immortal in the history.
Mruthyuastra.
The weapon carrying the authority of Lord Yama himself
Karna's voice turned icy as he aimed the bow, "Narakasura, this contains the power of Yamapasha."
The divine arrow pulsed ominously.
"There is no curse in this world that can stop this arrow."
"There is no boon in this world that can stop this from delivering your death."
"I can only use it once, but for the sake of removing adharmic kings like you who misuse their boons and act recklessly, I'm willing to part with this divyastra gifted to me by my elder brother."
For the first time... true fear appeared in Narakasura's eyes, not just from Karna's words but also the scent of death emitted by the arrow. Even he could sense the power of Lord Yama in that divyastra.
Karna shouted aloud, his voice passed through the ocean like waves, "The time of your death is here. Prepare to die."
Karna was about to release the weapon.
But then suddenly...
A blinding flash of light erupted across the cliff.
Everything froze around as if the time had stopped.
Karna didn't see anyone, but he only heard a voice that echoed through the radiance.
"Karna, the time for Narakasura's death hasn't arrived. You cannot kill him using the weapon bestowed upon you by Yama. His death is as significant for women as that of Mahishasura. And his death is written in the hands of Bhuudevi's incarnation. And when the time comes, you will be there to assist her to clear her path."
The voice carried absolute authority as it added, "But for now, spare him alive and let destiny take its course."
Silence followed.
Karna's grip tightened briefly.
Then slowly…
The Mruthyuastra dissolved away from the bow, and the time around Karna has been unfrozen.
Narakasura stared in disbelief before quickly realizing he had survived.
But Karna did not spare him completely.
A new arrow formed instantly with pure divine energy condensed into it.
Then...
TWANG!
The arrow pierced Narakasura's abdomen, and divine energy entered his body.
*Gaaaah*
The demon king screamed instantly.
Unlike physical wounds, this attack burrowed directly into his corrupted divine energy. Karna's divine power spread through him like burning needles piercing every vein, while the asuric aura inside him violently resisted.
Narakasura fell to one knee, roaring in agony.
Then suddenly...
Rage overtook him.
Madness.
Hatred.
In reflex, he grabbed Subhadra violently.
And before Karna could react... Narakasura shoved her off the cliff. "Die..."
"RAJKUMARI!"
Karna's shout thundered across the night.
"Karna—!"
Subhadra's terrified voice echoed back as her body fell toward the raging ocean below.
Without hesitation, Karna jumped after her.