The Journey Beyond Bhuloka

by Krutant Iyer

  “I don’t know what happened, Lokapati,” Shumbha admitted, addressing him by the title accorded to all the Kings of the Lokas.

  “More than half of my army has been wiped out and you are telling me you don’t know what’s happening?” Kirmira yelled. “I don’t care how many of our soldiers die, I want those guys to suffer and die.”

  “They will, Lokapati. But first, we need to get you within the castle.” Shumbha said.

  The King grunted in response, gesturing him to move quickly.

  Shumbha commanded the spearmen to hold their shields up and retreat towards the castle gate.

  Following their commander’s directive, the spearmen started moving in the direction of the castle gate. They had only moved a few metres when another whizzing sound was heard and a spear came flying in from the watchtower. Although the spear itself did not penetrate the iron shields, the impact of the strike managed to break the huddle formation as some of the spearmen went crashing down. The remaining spearmen immediately closed the gap as they continued moving towards the gate.

  “Someone has broken into the watchtower,” Shumbha said.

  “The watchtower!” Kirmira’s eyes widened in horror. “That means the Armoury and the Ballista …”

  Realization suddenly dawned on Kirmira.

  “They have taken over the Armoury, you fool! How the hell did you allow them to get through?” Kirmira shouted.

  “But no one except that little boy…” Shumbha did not complete his sentence.

  He saw the colour drain from Kirmira’s face, as he recalled the Seer’s prophecy.

  Shumbha knew that Kirmira shuddered even at the mention of the prophecy. That’s why when the soldiers had caught a bunch of Manavas, he had immediately ordered their execution. He wished to prove the prophecy wrong, once and for all by killing the group of Manavas.

  To show he wasn’t afraid of them, he had even ordered a public execution where he planned to behead the Manavas himself. But his plans had been ruined due to the intrusion of Rakshasas and Vajra. And now his commander-in-chief was informing him that a boy had managed to slip past him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier, you fool? You allowed a boy to get past you.” Kirmira thundered.

  “Lokapati, please do not worry. He may already be dead. There’s no way he is going to survive inside the fortress.”

  “Why did he enter the fortress?” Kirmira asked.

  “I am not sure, but I am guessing he was headed towards the dungeon to try and save the Manavas,” Shumbha said hesitantly.

  Upon hearing this, Kirmira couldn’t control his rage and shoved Shumbha to the ground. He fell head over heels and went crashing into the wall of spearmen shielding them. The formation was broken for a split second, as the soldiers came tumbling down with their commander, but they recovered almost immediately.

  “Useless Dog!” he shouted. “I will deal with you after taking care of this mess.”

  Shumbha did not respond, as he regained his balance from the abrupt assault from his King. He knew he had let his King down. The infantry had come to a halt by the sudden outburst of anger from their King.

  “Lokapati, please rest assured. I will not show you my face till I have vanquished those rebellious Rakshasas and that Siddhari.” Shumbha declared.

  “Hmph!” Kirmira grunted, flaring his nostrils, as he turned away.

  Shumbha signalled the infantry to keep moving and get the King to safety, as he exited the formation. He was overcome with fury at having let down his King. He looked up in the direction of the armoury. He could only see the two Ballista protruding from the small hole on top of the tower.

  He looked on the other side of the fortress, but could not see the Krupa’s Nisacharas from where he stood. Krupa’s archers had a good view of the entire field, they did not need to step out from the cover of the darkness to aim at their targets. Their mission had already been accomplished, and their quiver had run out of arrows.

  Shumbha gathered the handful of swordsmen and elite soldiers who were still standing. With the Swordsmen leading the charge and the elites covering from behind, Shumbha proceeded towards the Rakshasas and Vajra with a renewed vigour.

  After witnessing more than half of Kirmira’s soldiers getting wiped out even before the battle could begin, Vajra and the Rakshasas had understood Murari had succeeded in releasing his friends and also managed to get some help.

  Kali looked sideways at Bhrihu and smirked while raising a questioning eyebrow. Her faith in Murari had paid off. Bhrihu returned her smile. Having seen the havoc wreaked upon Kirmira’s soldiers, he was convinced beyond doubt that Murari was indeed their saviour.

  Vajra observed Kirmira and his spearmen heading back towards the fortress gate. Though Murari had managed to release everyone, he had not seen them come out of the gate yet. He knew once the Nisachara King got inside the gate, it would be difficult for Murari and the rest of the guys to get out without getting noticed.

  As he stood there contemplating his next move, he noticed Shumbha and his small regiment of soldiers heading in their direction. He clenched his fist. He didn’t wish to waste time fiddling with Shumbha any longer.

  But he had to make sure Murari was safe before he could go all out on his attack. Tapping his lathi on the ground, he activated his Touch of Indriya and sent out waves of vibration, covering the entire expanse of the field and the fortress.

  He sensed a small group of people beyond the fortress gate. He detected a familiar pattern of vibrations coming from three particular individuals. Vajra smiled, knowing Murari had managed to rescue them all, but who was the one missing. He did not have time to scan the rest of the fortress. Shumbha’s swordsmen were almost upon him.

  As the Rakshasas prepared to battle once again, Vajra lifted his hand, signalling them to remain behind him. Although they didn’t know what he was up to, they had come to trust his judgement.

  Vajra calmed his senses and exhaled stridently.

  “Jvala-attaka!”

  As soon as he yelled the mantra, his lathi transformed into a tower of fire.

  The Rakshasas stepped back several paces to get away from the blazing tower of fire.

  Vajra lifted his enflamed lathi and spun it over his head using both his hands, till a vortex of fire emerged from the spinning lathi and rose high up in the air. Shumbha and his forces stopped in their tracks upon seeing the vortex of fire.

  Like Vajra, Shumbha also wielded the Siddhi of Isitv. He had the ability to turn any part of his body into reinforced steel. That’s how he was able to fend off Vajra’s attacks. But as he looked at the vortex of fire, he too shuddered.

  Once the vortex had gained enough momentum, Vajra brought his lathi down, pointing its head in Shumbha’s direction.

  “Gargara!”

  The vortex of fire twirled and went flying at the regiment of Nisacharas. Even before they could react, the vortex had engulfed them in its impetus. Even the Rakshasas shuddered at the sight of the mammoth whirlpool of fire that was scorching the enemy forces without mercy.

  One could only hear screams and cries for help from inside the fire vortex. The torrid fire refused to die down even as Nisacharas came running out of it, their bodies burning like a funeral pyre.

  The agonising screams continued for some time. Soon the screams died down and all that could be heard was the crackling of the roaring blaze.

  ✽✽✽

  Saptadasha

  The Dawn Breaks

  Vajra thumped his lathi on the ground once, and the whirlpool of fire dissipated to reveal the destruction it had wreaked.

  Numerous piles of black ashes remained where the Nisachara regiment had been standing only a few moments ago. As Vajra walked over to the area of destruction, he noticed the sweltering molten steel; remains of the commander-in-chief of Kirmira’s forces.

  The entire battlefield was stunned into silence. The panicked War-Elephants had started running away from the fire, towards the fortress gate.
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  The spearmen were about to reach the gate when Muka and the rest of Krupa’s Nisacharas in Murari’s unit emerged from the darkness and fell upon the unsuspecting spearmen. Before they could react to the ambush, Muka had charged into their formation, holding a shield against his shoulder he sent many spearmen flying into the moat.

  As soon as their formation was broken, the rest of Krupa’s Nisacharas fell upon the already terrified spearmen. They did not wish to kill their fellow Nisacharas if they could help it, so they directed their Parashu at the spearmen’s shields, using the impact of their attack to send the soldiers flying into the moat.

  Murari followed closely by Ballu and Raaka then ran out to assist the Nisacharas, who were already clearing the huddle at an impressive rate.

  Suddenly, several Spearmen appeared on either side of the huddle. They had abandoned their position at the rear end to assist their comrades on the front.

  While they engaged Krupa’s Nisacharas and Muka, the handful of spearmen that remained rushed inside, protecting their King.

  Seeing them, Murari dashed towards the approaching spearmen.

  He had noticed the spearmen holding their shields at chest level, but their underside was left undefended. Given their height difference, Murari saw the gap left below the shield as the only possible way for him to penetrate the huddle.

  He knew the risk of such a move. The moment he was inside the huddle, he would be surrounded by the enemies. But the number of enemies had dwindled and the remaining spearmen could be counted on fingertips.

  Murari knew he couldn’t let Kirmira and his soldiers into the fortress or Mitra, Krupa, and the rest of Krupa’s crew members on the rampart of the fortress would be in trouble.

  Running as close to the spearmen as possible Murari got down on his knees and slid on the ground, while stretching his upper body as far back as he could, firmly gripping the handle of his sword, in his outstretched hands.

  He easily slid through the gap and slashed his sword at the spearmen’s unguarded legs as he did. Quickly rolling on his back, Murari stood up and even before he could find his balance, he swung his sword relentlessly at the Nisacharas all around him. Taken aback, the Nisacharas broke formation to get away from Murari’s frenzied attack.

  Ballu, Raaka, and the remaining Nisacharas from Murari’s unit fell upon the spearmen, completely tearing down the huddle and leaving Kirmira out in the open, undefended.

  The open area outside the inner gate turned into a chaotic mess, as Krupa’s Nisacharas battled Kirmira’s Nisacharas. Ballu and Raaka were fighting alongside Murari.

  Seeing Murari and his friends, Kirmira charged at them with his sword drawn out. The three friends already had their hands full and did not see the storming Nisachara King. Kirmira lifted his sword diagonally, and brought it down with all his might, aiming for Murari’s neck. But his attack was blocked by a long spear. Kirmira looked up to see Krupa holding the other end of the spear.

  “You spineless coward! You dare to attack a kid while his back is turned towards you.” Krupa roared.

  Kirmira’s eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the ex-commander-in-chief of Nisacharas.

  “I will be your opponent. Come, fight me!” Krupa shouted.

  Kirmira grimaced at the brazen challenge from a prisoner. He immediately lifted his sword to attack Krupa. Reacting almost instantaneously, Krupa quickly stepped forward, not giving enough room for Kirmira to swing his long sword.

  Krupa did not stop at that. He bent his knees and crouched low, launching his body, left shoulder first, like a spear directed at Kirmira’s abdomen. The Nisachara King did not have time to react. He felt his feet leave the ground, as he gasped for breath. He felt his rib crack under the force of the tackle.

  Kirmira was thrown several feet away from where Murari lay on the ground. He shrieked in pain as he pressed his hands tightly on his chest. Krupa got off the ground and stood over him, pointing the tip of his spear over Kirmira’s face, even as the King wriggled with pain.

  “It’s over Kirmira. Know when you are beaten.” Krupa said.

  Seeing their King at Krupa’s mercy, the rest of his soldiers lost their will to fight. Dropping their weapons, they put up their hands.

  Ballu and Raaka helped Murari off the ground. By then even the Rakshasas and Vajra had arrived near the gate. Mitra and the pirates also joined up with the rest of their friends on the field.

  As Krupa got momentarily distracted looking up to see Vajra, Kirmira caught the spear in his hand. Pulling it sideways, he kicked Krupa in the gut, sending him staggering back several paces. Kirmira got up and growled like a maddened hound. His eyes were burning with rage.

  “You filthy Pig! You think you all can defeat me?” He growled.

  Even as everyone watched the hysterical King of Narakaloka, he gathered the natural energy around him, and his features started transmuting.

  Kirmira’s fangs extended, as his ears stretched out over his head. His bodily hair transformed into black fur covering his frame in its entirety. Huge wings emerged from behind his outstretched hands and legs.

  As soon as he had completely transformed, Kirmira took a deep breath and flapped his wings wildly, letting out a strong gust of wind that sent many Nisacharas in its range, along with the boys flying back with such a force that they went crashing into the wall of the fortress, while some of his own soldiers fell into the moat.

  As Kirmira rose in the air, he recurrently kept blasting strong gust in his assailants’ direction. While Krupa had managed to hold his ground during the first wave, he could not withstand the pressure generated from the next one and was sent crashing into the fortress wall.

  Kirmira spun around and flapped his wings vigorously, sending out another blast of wind in the Rakshasas’ direction, sending them flying over the field.

  “I am going to destroy you all!” The transformed Kirmira boomed.

  Vajra had somehow managed to resist the attack and was the only one still standing on the field.

  “You – I know you. Weren’t you the one who fought alongside Veerabhadra? You are a powerful one. What will you gain from attacking me? Join hands with me instead. Together we can rule the Narakaloka, and maybe even bring Shalva to his knees.” Kirmira chortled.

  “Join hands with you? You think you are worthy?” Vajra sneered.

  Kirmira frowned at being slighted.

  “Fool! Do not mistake my generosity for my weakness.” He yelled.

  “If you are feeling so generous, why don’t you hand over your piece of the map to Devaloka?” Vajra said.

  Hearing Vajra’s demand, Kirmira roared with laughter.

  “You are a much bigger fool than I thought. If you want the piece of the map, why don’t you ask your Rakshasa friends.”

  “What do you mean?” Vajra asked, a frown forming on his face. “Why would they have the piece of the map?”

  “Don’t tell me you allied with them without knowing the truth.” Kirmira burst into another fit of laughter.

  “If you wish to obtain that piece of the map, you will have to get in line. I will be the one to fulfil my father’s dream of conquering Devaloka.” He thundered.

  “Your father’s dream? Hah!” Vajra struggled to control his rage. “So, you really do not have the piece of the map in your possession?”

  “Are you deaf! I am telling you those traitorous Rakshasas hold the piece of the ma–”

  Kirmira could not complete his sentence. A ball of fire entered his mouth and tore down his throat, burning his internal organs. Kirmira clutched his throat as he fell to the ground, his wings flapped helplessly. The fire came tearing out of his skin. He couldn’t even scream as the raging fire completely obliterated all the traces of his being.

  The Nisacharas recovered just in time to see Kirmira burn into oblivion. Krupa and his Nisacharas sat back, still disconcerted from Kirmira’s sudden onslaught. Murari, Ballu, and Raaka were lying unconscious with a bunch of other Nisacharas at the foot o
f the gate of the fortress.

  Vajra turned around and noticed Kali glaring at him incredulously.

  “I heard everything just now,” Kali revealed. “Why are you after the piece of the map to Devaloka?”

  Vajra did not hide his smirk.

  “Hand it over to me.” He said.

  “We have protected it for generations. It’s part of our legacy.” Kali retorted.

  Vajra silently studied Kali’s expression. Her expression remained stoic.

  “Let me put this in terms you will understand,” Vajra said, his face impassive.

  He thumped his lathi on the ground and a fence of fire formed around all the Rakshasas.

  “I will ask you one more time, if you refuse to hand over the piece of the map to Devaloka, I will burn every single Rakshasa.”

  Kali did not respond, standing defiant in the face of Vajra’s threat.

  The fence of fire moved a little closer to the terrified Rakshasas, as they huddled together in the middle to stay away from the heat.

  “Why are you doing this?” Kali asked.

  “The next words I hear from you better be about the piece of the map,” Vajra said a little louder.

  “I cannot give it to you,” Kali said, her resistance waning a little.

  The fence of fire closed in a little more. The flames from the dancing blaze were now almost touching the helpless Rakshasas.

  “Please don’t do it!” Kali pleaded with Vajra.

  She was torn between her duty to protect the Rakshasas as their chief, and her duty to protect the piece of the map.

  “Tell me right now. The Rakshasas may not be able to survive much longer.” Vajra said.

  “What are you doing?” a voice coming from behind drew Vajra’s attention away from Kali.

  Vajra glanced sideways to see Krupa and his Nisacharas running towards him.

  “Stay there if you know what’s good for you,” Vajra said.

  Krupa signalled his men to stop.

  “Why are you attacking the Rakshasas? Weren’t you fighting alongside them just now?” Krupa asked.