"Ack!!!" I clawed at my neck as the sudden feeling of weightlessness disappeared and colors returned to my vision.
I was on a straw bed, inside a muddy hut. I remembered visiting such homes in my previous life when I went adventuring around Satya Marta, crawling through temple dungeons, and hunting for divine artifacts. This was a typical minimalist sage's house, who has already given up on all material attachments, focusing solely on meditation and spiritual enlightenment. Even after awakening all your chakras, you need special realizations to break through the mortal barriers that restrict human beings to hover around the lower rankings of the power hierarchy established among the species that live in Brahmand.
In my last life, through Lord Vishnu's help, I had been able to break through four barriers, achieving the credibility to enter Jana Loka, the abode of the Gods. It is the fourth Loka above our Marta. Unless you're summoned by the Higher Beings themselves or forcibly teleported like what Rahu did to some of my batchmates, visiting the upper Lokas is generally tough, unless you break these barriers one by one.
Since I know the principles of breaking them after experiencing them once, I'll be able to achieve that again, and much faster. But the problem is, without Kalpa's sap, I won't be able to go through the Synchronisation ritual, hence not be able to absorb Shakti to awaken my chakras.
Wait, my body!! I looked down and curled my toes. My chest was fine, and my stomach was not disfigured anymore. There was a purple gooey substance in my hands after I had grabbed my neck instinctively.
"Yo, our saviour seems to have finally woken up." the door to the hut opened with a swing, as it came off its hinges and fell down flat on the floor.
"Ohh... Sorry father!! I'll fix this soon!!" the familiar female voice cried out in embarrassment and started spouting excuses looking behind. The commotion forced me to sit up and look at the Asura girl who had come to save me from Kalpa's incarnation by infiltrating right into my home.
My home...
Then it all came back rushing into my head. The pain and sadness of losing my mother. The uncertainty regarding the condition of my father. My sister... where did she even get teleported to? Then came the anger and frustration of being betrayed by the two people I had given my whole being to in my previous life. My vision went blurry uncontrollably.
"Heyy..." Divyani came and sat in front of me, whispering softly, "I'm sorry... don't cry like this. I have only known my father all my life, but the three years I trained under your mother and grandmother are very special to me now. They gave me such an unconditional love that it made me think that I was truly a part of your family. If only we had a little more time... Who knew Kalpa won't waste time speaking useless villain like things and get right into the action." her eyes were also teary.
I wiped away the corner of my eyes but the tears didn't stop rolling down.
What should I do now? This is totally different from my previous life. The events that had transpired right after I regressed made me believe that whatever was written in my fate for this life will be a polar opposite of what had happened in my preceding one.
I suddenly felt a massive pressure approaching the hut I was in.
"The door!!" Divyani exclaimed and jumped to remove it from the entrance as a sage with long braided white hair and flowy beard appeared at the doorway.
A rotting scar ran through his left eye leaving it impaired, but his forehead had a closed third eye that probably made up for the missing organ.
Shukracharya. I knew at an instant.
The Guru of the Asuras.
No wonder I was feeling such a pressure. I'm sure he was cloaking it, so that it didn't insta-kill me. But even the minuscule amount that couldn't be masked threatened to render me unconscious.
"Say thanks to my father. For reviving us from just a head and a hand using his Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya. If only I had something from your mother... he could have revived her too." she said, clearly disappointed. She really cared for her it seems. My mother had also wished for both of us to be safe before she was...
I suddenly felt bile rushing to my throat and nasal cavities. Those sickening sounds... I couldn't hold my nausea back as I reached the other side of my bed and vomited on the floor. My head was assaulted with a pain that was incomparable to anything I had ever felt. As if someone was scratching at my brain from inside my skull. My nose was also burning from the bile that had invaded there.
The sage kept standing there patiently. This was one of the strongest people in the Asura faction and the dignity he exuded clearly matched the levels of the highest ranking beings that I had met in my previous run.
"I'm sorry. I just... Thank you, for reviving me." I mumbled, somehow forming the words.
"Yes, Divyani has already briefed me on what happened. It was a truly unfortunate miscalculation on my part. It was unexpected that Kalpa had been moving so discreetly, laying down plans much before we even became aware of what was happening." the sage said, his words vibrating in the air as if he was casting spells with each one of them.
"The Saptarishis have divined the future of the entities she deems dangerous for her plans. She's been taking care of them one after another, before they even got to accumulate their power. You were the target this time." He said, while touching his missing eye, "The thing is, we don't have any information of the future. And Divyani let me know of something really interesting. This isn't your first time living through this life right? I would appreciate it if you tell me everything that had happened last time. Hope you still remember all of it.".
I stayed quiet.
"Can't I return back to my home for once? If I get the remains of my mother we can revive her again..." I mumbled instead.
"Arvind, that house... that space doesn't exist in the Brahmand anymore. It has been wiped off the face of this Universe by Kalpa along with everything in it." Divyani apologised, "I tried to go back by modifying the portal, but there was only the infinite space between dimensions on the other side."
I ran my fingers through my hair sighing loudly in frustration.
"Can I know how my sister is doing? I want to atleast tell her that I'm fine..." I requested looking at Shukracharya.
"She's..." Divyani looked at me awkwardly, "Even my father can't find a trace of her in the Lokas. Only your mother knew where she sent her daughter to keep her safe. And I would request you not to meet her under any circumstances. She's Kalpa's guardian, and the one you should be staying far far away from. Kalpa must have had special reasons to make your sister her guardian in this iteration. For reasons other than finding ways to invade your isolated space. So I think your sister should be safe for now. I'm just speculating... that's all."
I glanced at Shukracharya helplessly.
"I will say it only once so listen to it carefully. And also let me tell you beforehand that nothing like this happened in my earlier life. So there's no guarantee that the things which occurred last time will also come to fruition in the current iteration."
With their nod as a cue, I started recollecting the memories of my past life one after another.
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"So Kalpa already has the three Hiranyagarbhas. Last time, a mysterious person using Asuran Aksharas struck some kind of a deal with Vishnu and succeeded in destroying Kalpa, ultimately fighting each other at the end because of their differences and destroying the Brahmand as a consequence. Whoa... that's crazy. If you remember correctly your Guru Parashurama suspected him of being a disciple of my father..." Divyani did her best to summarise everything one by one.
"But all these happened much later. Before that, you had to retrieve seven ingredients for the germination of the new Lokas to take place... Either divine artifacts or loots from divine beings." she continued.
"Did she send you on these quests one by one, or all at once?" Shukracharya asked.
"No, we went on these expeditions one after another. As if she was still experimenting things out and sent us on errands whenever she felt that something was missing. But this life, she already has knowledge of the ingredients just like me. Someone from my party decided to join hands with her." I answered, my expression still bitter.
"Then it's a race against time. The one with the most ingredients will dictate the direction this World takes in the future " Shukracharya concluded and walked out of the hut.
"Gather all the representatives. It's an emergency." he announced with a thundering voice that rattled the bed I was sitting on.
A huge commotion started outside as Asuras of different skin colors started calling out names and gathering around, keeping Shukracharya at the helm.
"Last life, before I regressed, I kept thinking why Kalki and Shukracharya's disciple had to fight, when they both wanted to stop Kalpa. And there I was, trying to defend Kalpa all by myself standing against two juggernauts. One outright ignored me, telling me I was a puppy in front of him, and the other simply took over my body, destroying the very thing I was supposed to protect. I'm missing so much information, and with the current circumstances, even the meagre amount of the experiences that I had went through last time are now deemed useless." I started speaking out my mind to Divyani who was now relaxing on the bed, looking at the crowd that was gathering outside with a fixed gaze.
"It stinks!" She suddenly muttered and clicked her fingers. A thin sheet of water based Kundalini covered the floor of the hut, removing every impurity instantly. Then it evaporated away just as randomly as it had appeared.
"That's all you had to say in response to my worries?" I complained sarcastically.
"I don't think worrying over things like that will be of any benefit to you. It's better to become a disciple under my father and advance your knowledge since you have a lot of time now compared to those living in Marta." she explained.
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"Which Loka is this then?" I asked back, ready to calculate the time difference.
"Talatala, the fourth Loka below your Marta." Divyani answered, "It will be weeks here until an hour passes back at the Ashrama. It also gets exponentially faster as we go down. No wonder so many Asuras could continue their penance for tens of thousands of years in the Marta timeline to get boons from the Trimurti. The Asuras these days are so lazy. None of the recent ones could make the heavens tremble like their predecessors. The clash with the Ashrama for the second time will be memorable. Last time Ahara assaulted the Ashrama without consulting us and failed miserably. He could have atleast told us how he managed to send such a massive army right at their doorsteps before getting released from the cycle of life and death. Nothing is working in our favour right now."
"You're saying all these right in front of me huh? Are you angry that Kalpa is only creating Lokas for the humans? And excluding the Asuras?" I asked purely out of curiosity. "How did you guys even get a whiff of what was happening?"
"Ask my father that question. His third eye gifted to him by Lord Shiva often shows him 'things'." she answered the second part of my question and suddenly started laughing remembering something.
"Lokas for the Manavas? You still believe that?" she snorted, trying to stop herself, "How naive can you be?"
"I believed in that notion all throughout my previous life. It was a goal I had worked tirelessly for, trying to realize it, hoping to create a brighter future for my fellow Manavas. Even after waking up today, the first thought that came to my mind was how I can carry out the plan successfully this time. How I can keep Kalpa safe until the Hiranyagarbhas safely give birth to their respective Lokas... And now, I just feel sick of it." I mumbled, regret and guilt overwhelming my already strained mind. "What do you think she's plotting then?"
"I am again just speculating. At the end of every cycle, everything is renewed except for the laws that govern the Universe. No exceptions. Three new Lokas will definitely be created, but it doesn't mean that the previous ones will stay as they were. Since our Atman is eternal, we often take on various reincarnations ranging across a wide array of lifeforms. Even our tainted souls will get purified to be worthy of being a part of the new Satya Yuga when the Wheel of Time starts rotating again after Pralaya. Kalpa is delusional. She thinks she's at the same level as the Trinity, taking the role of the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer in her own hands. She's afraid of losing her Ego during the process of renewal. She's probably jealous that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva get to keep theirs even after the whole Brahmand is restarted."
Well that certainly made sense, but how is a ten year old able to spout such logical statements?
"Are you that Divyani? Or named after her?" I asked her.
"You're quite rude you know? You can't even count how old she would be at this moment in time, and you correlated me with her. I'm just a normal Manava orphan Shukracharya picked up after he received the premonition of Kalki being born in the Sapta family. Did you not meet me in your previous life? I've been meaning to ask this since you glossed over every detail while recounting your past." she asked.
"No, the reason I was agitated after seeing you in my home was because of that only. You came in someone else's place. That person apparently regressed just like me and joined hands with Kalpa like last time. She's the reason I lost my mother..."
"Hmm... Well the first time has its own charms. I've been trained to support you from the very beginning, after Shukracharya adopted me and sent me to your mother for training. Maybe having the same name as his daughter saved me from a bleak fate. I also consider myself indebted to your family. So I'll stick with you for now. I've been trained by Shukracharya for quite a number of years here at Talatala before I went away for three years in Marta, but many more here, so you can rely on me if you feel lost. Though my confidence has suffered a little after that skirmish we had with Kalpa's incarnation." she said, her confident nature getting overshadowed by doubts during her speech.
"I didn't say my thanks to you properly, for saving me." I muttered softly.
"I technically didn't save you. You lost one of your ten lives because of me. If the first portal I was trying to create had been completed, I could have brought you all to safety. Who knew Kalpa would attack us directly like that. And here I was thinking of leading a slow, relaxed and undisturbed life for the next few years in your house. Guess nothing will ever go my way..."
I am the tenth vessel of Vishnu, having the same number of lives. Last time it was Guru Parashuram who took care of resurrecting me. And this time, it was Guru Shukracharya. I am lucky in that sense.
But the same things applied to me too. Without my body parts, it would be impossible to resurrect me. I used to leave my pinkie finger back at the Ashrama, so I have to do that here too. Will my actual home where mother used to live have something like that? But I don't even know where that is. All I have known is that lonely place. Last life, after Kalpa teleported me to the Ashrama forcibly, I never got to return to see where my real home was. I regret not going back once. Deep down, I had resented my father for being like the way he was. Even though I knew it wasn't his fault. I just wanted an outlet for all the negative emotions I experienced after my sister also stopped coming to visit me. Why did he let her go to that temple... Was always on my mind. Something must have had happened to my family after my sister disappeared. It will only stay as a mystery for now.
"How many lives do you have left then? Two?" I asked.
"Yeah, probably. I've decided not to let that fact dictate how I live. I was already dying of starvation in the streets of Ayodhya, after the Kuru Kingdom attacked. Anything and everything is a bonus for me after that. So don't worry about me." she left the bed as the gathering of Asuras stabilized and went silent waiting for Shukracharya's next orders.
"We have the vessel of Vishnu's tenth avatar among us, after being betrayed by Kalpa, the very being he was supposed to protect. And this is not his first time living this life. We finally have information on what Kalpa needs to carry out her plan, but the thing is, she knows it better than us. Bring every forces you're in charge of and head to these locations in the Brahmand. We have to make sure that the Rakshaks of Ashrama do not get their hands on the artifacts before us. Kalpa needs all of them. But us, only one." Shukracharya stopped and looked around to take in all the faces that were infront of him.
"Can't we just not let them enter the temples?" Someone asked among the crowds.
"You'll have to fight taking care of both sides. The temple guardians at your back and the Rakshaks in front. There might also be secret entrances that they can use and we would keep guarding the main entrance while they do their work." another logically answered.
"Well, it's better to take them for ourselves. A lot of our problems will be solved if we can gather these divine artifacts. Mayaprastha is good and all, but we all know that this is an illusion, so let's concentrate on sending pilot groups for now. When we acquire one, all our forces will converge at that location to safeguard the artifact. First of all, I want two teams to head out right now for the sake of protecting the hibernating body of Vritra and Raktabeeja. Ask Vritra's clones to wreak havoc, distracting the Rakshaks for now. And tell Maya to create an illusive labyrinth to keep Raktabeeja safe and secure. Raktabeeja must start creating more of himself, and hide away his real body. Am I clear??" he continued, "I want a team to head out for the Jagannath temple in Marta, to procure Krishna's Brahma Padartha. One to the Padmanavaswamy Temple for Akshaya Patra. And another one to Kedarnath for the Dhwaja. I'll ask Rahu and Ketu to take care of Chintamani. For Kaalchakra, I have to do it myself.".
"Your orders will be our way of life. We sincerely thank you for your teachings." the Asuras said unanimously.
"Leave something behind, so that I can resurrect you. After you enter the temple dungeons, Arvind will be able to help you through my mind channels so it's better to be covert in your operations. Go in, take what you need and leave. I don't want you all to lose your lives uselessly. I hope everyone returns victorious, and be able to stop Kalpa. Otherwise, with the power of Renewal in her hands, there won't be an Asura race to be proud of in the next cycle. So come back with the artifacts. I wish you the best in your missions." Shukracharya finally finished giving out the orders.
The seven ingredients, all catered to the sustainability of life.
Kaalchakra maintained the time within the Lokas.
Brahma Padartha is a source of unlimited energy.
Akshaya Patra is a pot that never runs out of food.
Vritra's Mani can manipulate and hoard water.
Chintamani is technically a minting machine.
Dhwaja is a flag that cements an abstract idea, realising it in the World.
And finally, Raktabeeja who can reproduce asexually, will be a basis for the next generation of beings who can propagate without having the need to concern themselves with physical obligations.
All the conflicts in Marta and Patala arise from the need of having a decent life. Some are satisfied with what they have, and some are greedy. These artifacts can inherently get rid of the need to even worry about basic facilities that living beings require.
It's clear that Kalpa has given a lot of thought in formulating her plan. But why will the other species sit back and await their destruction? If they are to be destroyed, it's better to die to the Laws than for a being who's biased through and through.
"I'll have to contact Rahu." Shukracharya mentioned, "Once I know how he managed to send so many Asuras to the Ashrama, I'll be able to send all of you to the strategic locations. For now, choose 16 representatives for each location and get ready. I'll have to start preparing for the ritual to break through the Maya barriers. Hopefully time flows slow enough at the Ashrama to give us sufficient time to brace ourselves."
The crowd slowly dispersed as Shukracharya looked back at us.
"Divyani, prepare for the Asuran Synchronisation Ritual that I had conducted on you. I'll personally share a few of my divine vessels with him." he said as goosebumps popped up on my arms. I shivered at the thought of how much more powerful I can be with his divine vessels instead of Kalpa's third rate vessels inside me. Divyani also went through this. No wonder she felt like an Asura despite being a Manava.
A smile crept up my lips thinking about an unknown future.
"Are you sure father?" Divyani asked nervously, "Won't you get weakened because of it? You also wanted to take care of Kaalchakra by yourself."
"It's okay, won't be much of a problem." Shukracharya mentioned nonchalantly.
"You best stay here for the time being. Gather back your power. We can't have you losing more lives after Divyani did her best to bring you back."
"Yeah, understood." I nodded, truly grateful for what he's about to do just for me.
"Guru Shukracharya..." an Asura with a crane's head and white folded wings suddenly arrived in front us. He was clearly agitated, his wings trembling.
"What happened, Bak-asura?" Shukracharya didn't break his composure.
"My minions in the skies of Satya Marta reported dozens of Vimanas moving towards the three locations you mentioned in Satya Marta. Even the alumni have received quests from Kalpa enticing them with Vishwakarma's creations..." Bakasura nervously reported.
"Your information sharing skills really are extraordinary. What are our shapeshifter allies doing in Marta? Send your minions to each of them, with orders to gather near the temples. The other Asura factions should also be starting to move by now. It's finally time to unite Patala." Shukracharya was finally excited. The scar across his left eye suddenly started twitching uncontrollably as his jaws dropped and his posture broke. His third eye finally opened as he suddenly fell on his knees, sweat forming on his forehead.
Divyani silently helped her father up. This was probably not the first time it happened.
"A creature of terrible poison and curses is going to claim numerous lives in the Jagannath Temple. It's better for the Asuras to leave that location and try for the others... Ask them to...arghh..." Shukracharya stopped short as yellow blood started dripping down his third eye. "The others too... what's happening? Who's sending them? Kaliya, Andhaka, Yali... So you all wish to stand in our way?? If only I could send everyone there..."
The little green village that was bathing in illusive sunlight just a few moments ago suddenly turned dim, the colors graying out because of the stormy clouds that appeared out of nowhere. Shukracharya and Divyani's faces turned red, reflecting the light from the blood red cracks that appeared all around us. I have seen them before.
The space around us vibrated and contracted, the scenery around us changing and twisting as the cracks grew bigger and expanded.
On the other side of the cracks we could see temples of Satya Marta and their incredible architectures. A smile appeared on Shukracharya's face. "I have to be careful of what I wish for."
A sudden growling voice filled the air, rumbling directly inside my head. "Consider this as a belated Guru Dakshina from your laziest disciple, Shukra. Thanks for everything. Or should I say that this is an early gift?"
Shukracharya laughed hearing it.
"Don't waste time gawking at the portals. Rush the Rakshaks. Send them back to Alik, where they came from. This is not their battle to fight. It's Kalpa that we need to hunt!! Not her lackeys! Go and bring me your Dakshinas. Someone else is much further ahead of you!!" Shukracharya finally shouted, instilling courage into the hearts of the Asuras. Not sixteen for each temple. There were now thousands of Asuras entering the dimensional portals, brandishing their rod like weapons as they rushed to the locations they were allocated to.
"We need to take care of you now. Get ready." Shukracharya placed his hand on my shoulder.
I nodded, my heart about to burst in excitement.