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The Ether of Dreams: Between Gods and Shadows
Capítulo 25: The Invasion of Lanka

Capítulo 25: The Invasion of Lanka

The ocean wind roared as the ship carrying the protagonists, Shiva, and Rama approached the shores of Lanka. The mythical island, home to the fearsome Ravana, emerged on the horizon like a dark and ominous fortress, its towers bathed in a black mist that seemed to rise directly from the underworld. The stories of the great battle that had once taken place there echoed in the minds of the protagonists. However, they knew that this time the challenge would be even greater, for Ravana had returned, more powerful than ever.

The girl and the boy remained silent, watching the coasts of Lanka with a mixture of fear and determination. The atmosphere was charged with tension; the peace they had known in India felt distant, as if the chaos of the island sought to suppress any glimmer of hope. Around them, armies of humans and divine beings accompanied them, ready for battle.

“Ravana awaits us,” said Rama, his voice firm as he held his bow. Beside him, Shiva nodded, his trident glowing with divine energy.

As the boats touched the shore, the ground vibrated beneath their feet. As if Lanka itself responded to the challenge of the gods, the sky darkened, and from the depths of the kingdom emerged hordes of demons and Asuras, vile creatures with monstrous bodies, sharp claws, and eyes full of hatred. The demonic roars echoed across the coast, and the clash of swords and war cries soon filled the air.

The human armies advanced bravely, but the demons and Asuras were formidable. They seemed endless, attacking with unprecedented ferocity. Shiva, with a single swing of his trident, decimated entire legions, his dance of destruction as beautiful as it was terrifying. Rama, for his part, fired arrows imbued with divine power, piercing enemy ranks with lethal precision.

“Protect yourselves!” the girl shouted as she raised her hands to the sky.

Her magic responded to her call, forming luminous barriers around the human soldiers, shielding them from the fiercest attacks of the Asuras. The infernal creatures charged at the barriers, but the girl, focused and determined, held them firm, knowing that any failure in her magic could mean the destruction of the entire army.

The boy, though without powers, stood at the front, leading the humans with courage that ignited the morale of his companions. He wielded his sword skillfully, but more than his ability, it was his determination that set him apart. He fought without fear, inspiring the men and women who followed him. Every strike of his sword reminded the soldiers that, though they were not gods, they had the strength and valor to resist.

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However, for every demon struck down, others took their place. Chaos reigned, and for a moment, it seemed as though the battle was about to tip in favor of the Asuras. But then a thunderclap echoed in the sky, and the earth itself trembled.

From the depths of Lanka’s fortress, a colossal figure emerged. Ravana, the demon king, with his ten heads and twenty arms, appeared on the battlefield. His presence was overwhelming, and his laughter echoed like a macabre echo. Each of his heads displayed a different expression: anger, disdain, pride, bloodlust. His body radiated a dark and ancient power, and his weapons gleamed with corrupt energy.

“Shiva! Rama!” Ravana roared. “You have come to die, and you will bring the ruin of everything you protect!”

Rama raised his bow, aiming directly at Ravana’s heart, but the demon king was fast. With a gesture, he unleashed a wave of dark energy that swept across the battlefield. Shiva intervened, blocking the attack with his trident, but the impact was devastating. The human and divine forces faltered, and the girl fell to her knees, exhausted from the effort of maintaining her barriers.

“This is no ordinary enemy,” Shiva murmured. “Ravana has gained more power than we imagined.”

The boy ran to the girl, helping her up as enemy forces surrounded them. They knew they couldn’t face Ravana directly, not without a strategy.

“We can’t defeat him with brute force,” the boy said, watching as Ravana lashed out at Shiva and Rama, who defended themselves with everything they had. “We need to find a way to weaken him.”

The girl, catching her breath, looked at Ravana closely. There was something strange in the way the demon king moved, a slight hesitation in his attacks, as if he were hiding a weakness. Then she remembered what Rama had told them before arriving: Ravana was a master of manipulation and illusions. His true power lay not only in his physical strength but in his ability to sow chaos and deception.

“The illusions,” the girl whispered. “He’s using illusions to strengthen himself. We have to break them.”

The boy nodded, understanding immediately. Their goal wasn’t to defeat Ravana with force, but to find and destroy the source of his illusory power.

“Shiva!” the boy shouted. “We need to find the core of his power! He’s not invincible!”

Shiva, in the midst of battle, exchanged a glance with the boy and understood the plan. With a swift motion, he unleashed a bolt of energy toward the sky, parting the clouds and unleashing a storm. The waters of the nearby rivers and seas began to churn, and in the midst of the storm’s fury, Ravana’s illusions began to fade.

“Now is the time!” Rama shouted as his arrows, now charged with the power of truth, began to penetrate the demon king’s defenses.

Ravana roared, enraged to see his illusory power crumble. The real battle had begun, and now the protagonists, along with Shiva and Rama, faced the true Ravana, without the veils of deception that had protected him.

The invasion of Lanka was far from over, but the heroes had already taken the first step toward victory.