Novels2Search
The Ether of Dreams: Between Gods and Shadows
Capítulo 26: The Battle Against Ravana

Capítulo 26: The Battle Against Ravana

The sky darkened as Ravana, the dreaded ten-headed demon king, descended from the heights in his golden chariot, which gleamed like a cursed sun in the firmament. His laughter echoed like thunder, shaking the battlefield, while the forces accompanying the protagonists felt the overwhelming weight of his presence. In his many arms, Ravana wielded magical weapons, each imbued with power as ancient as the cosmos itself, and his gaze radiated pure arrogance.

"Did you think you could defeat Ravana, the conqueror of worlds?" he roared as he unleashed a blast of energy that made the earth tremble.

Shiva, the god of destruction, advanced with his trident raised, ready to unleash his power against the demon king. Rama, the avatar of Vishnu and master of dharma, stood by his side, his bow drawn, arrows glowing with divine energy. Both gods, symbols of divine power, launched their attack, their movements perfect, fast, and precise. But Ravana was ready.

With a movement of his many arms, Ravana blocked Shiva's attack, stopping the trident before it could reach him. At the same time, with another of his arms, he deflected Rama's arrows, tossing them into the air as if they were mere toys.

"Is this all the gods can offer?" Ravana mocked, his voice full of disdain.

The battle became fiercer. Shiva and Rama, gods of immeasurable power, began to fight in earnest, unleashing their attacks with a force that shook the very earth. Waves of energy erupted across the battlefield, shattering the ranks of demons and Asuras nearby. However, every time they managed to strike Ravana, he rose even stronger, as if each attack only increased his power.

The protagonists watched from a distance, searching for a way to intervene. The girl tried to use her magic to weaken Ravana's defenses, but her spells bounced off the invisible barriers surrounding the demon king. The boy, despite his bravery, knew he couldn't approach without being destroyed in an instant.

"We can't face him directly," the girl gasped. "He's too powerful!"

The boy clenched his fists, frustrated by his helplessness. He knew they couldn't abandon Shiva and Rama, but every physical attack seemed futile against Ravana. It was as if the demon king had anticipated every move the gods made, neutralizing their efforts without apparent effort.

Then, suddenly, everything changed. The boy felt the world around him begin to fade. The sounds of the battle, Ravana's roars, the crashing of divine attacks—all of it disappeared. In his mind, a clear vision appeared: Buddha, the Enlightened One, sat calmly under a tree.

"You have come far," Buddha said, his voice soft but firm. "But the battle you face cannot be won with physical strength. Ravana is more than just a warrior. His true strength lies not in his body but in his ego, in the arrogance that fuels his power."

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The boy looked at him, perplexed.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "How can we defeat him if our weapons don't work?"

Buddha smiled wisely.

"Ravana is invulnerable to physical attacks because his ego sustains him. As long as his pride, his vanity, and his thirst for power remain intact, he will continue to be invincible. You cannot destroy his body without first destroying his ego. Attack his pride, make him doubt his greatness, and you will see how his power begins to crumble."

Suddenly, the vision faded, and the boy returned to the battlefield. Buddha's words echoed in his mind. He realized then that this was not just a physical battle but a spiritual one. Ravana fed on his arrogance, on his belief in his own invincibility, and that was what they had to destroy.

"It's his ego!" the boy shouted to the girl and the gods. "We can't defeat him by attacking his body! We have to make him doubt his own strength, his power."

Shiva and Rama exchanged looks, understanding the wisdom behind those words. Both knew they couldn't simply strike Ravana down. His power was too great because it was fueled by the illusion of his own superiority.

"Rama!" Shiva shouted. "Use your wisdom to break his pride. We must make him doubt himself."

Rama, with a serious expression, nodded. He raised his bow, not to shoot an arrow but to channel his energy into words. His voice resonated across the battlefield.

"Ravana, king of Lanka!" Rama shouted. "You think you're invincible, but you're nothing more than a prisoner of your own ego! You cannot see beyond your lust for power, and that will be your downfall."

Ravana, though still fighting, paused for a moment. His many heads turned toward Rama, and for an instant, a spark of doubt appeared in his eyes. Rama's magical words had begun to penetrate his mind.

Shiva, picking up the cue, added:

"You, who think yourself immortal, do not understand the true power of destruction. It is not force that makes you strong, Ravana, but your acceptance that everything, even you, can fall. You are nothing but an illusion of power!"

The words struck Ravana like a storm. His mocking laughter began to fade, and although he continued to fight, his energy waned. Doubt had begun to take root in his mind.

The girl, understanding the plan, used her magic in a new way—not to physically attack but to create images and visions that reflected Ravana's own failures, his hidden fears. Ravana saw in the illusions the moments when he had been defeated before, his losses, his mistakes. And with each image, his power diminished more and more.

The boy watched as Ravana, the invincible demon king, began to falter—not from the gods' blows but from the attack on his ego. He knew that at that moment, they were closer than ever to victory.

"You are not invincible, Ravana!" the boy shouted. "Your power isn't real; it's only a shadow of what you could be!"

Ravana, now weakened, roared in frustration. His ego, the core of his power, was being torn apart from within. And then, in a final desperate attack, he tried to gather all his strength to destroy the gods and the protagonists. But it was too late. His invulnerability had been shattered, and with one last cry, Ravana fell to the ground, defeated not by force but by wisdom.

The battle was over, but the protagonists knew that the true victory wasn't in Ravana's destruction but in the lesson they had learned: the power of the ego can be more dangerous than any weapon, and only by facing it can true victory be achieved.