Chapter 109 Vajra and Halahala
In Kailasha
The boundless Akasha stretched infinitely, its vast expanse shimmering with divine radiance. The Trimurti, Tridevi, Rishi, and Munis stood in silent witness as the great game unfolded below.
Mahadeva sat motionless, his expression unchanging, yet the air around him pulsed with a presence that could shake creation. His Trishul rested in his grasp. Though his face remained serene, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered at the corner of his lips as he observed Indra using his boon masterfully against Haygriva.
Beside him, Vishnu watched, his lotus-eyes glinting with quiet amusement. His smile was not of surprise, nor curiosity, but of absolute control, as though every move had already been foreseen. His four arms moved in slow, rhythmic precision, and within them, the Sudarshana Chakra spun effortlessly, its golden glow casting ripples through the fabric of existence.
Yes, this was how it should be.
When faced with overwhelming force, sometimes the only answer… was to overturn the table.
But of course, no one could overturn it for Mahadeva or Narayana.
And Shakti? She was the force that overturned the table because she is the force behind all change.
In Satyaloka
"He certainly knows how to turn the tide," Devi Saraswati mused, her melodious voice carrying a note of admiration. A delicate smile adorned her youthful face, her eyes shimmering with divine wisdom.
Brahma, seated upon his lotus throne, nodded slightly. From his very being, waves of Tapas-Shakti radiated outward, sanctifying the boundless realm of Brahmaloka, making it even more resplendent.
And yet…
Could Indra truly outwit Hayagriva's boon, granted by the cosmic decree?
Brahma's brows furrowed, a shadow of concern flitting across his usually tranquil features. The very wording of Mahadevi's boon had made Hayagriva nearly invincible—Ajeya (unconquerable) and Avadhya (unkillable) except by one of equal nature and similar to him.
Not only that…
Hayagriva's power was twofold, rooted in the blessings of both as the King of Svargaloka and Pātālaloka. As an Asura, his endurance was beyond mortal comprehension, bolstered by the very realms of merits and pleasure & Rajas, and Tamas.
This battle would not be easy. If Indra faltered, Narayana would be forced to intervene.
But there was something more.
Madhu and Kaitabha.
Born from the remnants of Vishnu's Yoganidra, these two Daityas, manifestations of his tamasic energy, were no weaker than Hayagriva. Their very nature disrupted the cosmic balance, distorting Dharma itself. Deep within Rasātala, their tapasya ascended ceaselessly, bringing them ever closer to divine perfection, which even gave them the confidence to challenge The Preserver.
Brahma exhaled slowly, his divine gaze piercing through the vast layers of existence, shifting toward Amarāvati, the celestial capital of Svarga.
There, far beyond the clouds of Somagandharva's melodies, battle was about to erupt.
"Hurry, Indra," he murmured.
The skies of Triloka trembled in anticipation.
...
From the skies, countless black embers rained down like dying fireflies in the heart of a summer night—flickering for a moment before vanishing into the vast, starry abyss.
Indra exhaled sharply, a wild grin spreading across his face.
"I never thought I'd see the day when I could overpower others with boons from Trimurti!"
"This is incredible!"
His heart pounded with exhilaration. His arms, sanctified by Lord Shiva himself, carried an unshakable divine power. As long as his will remained firm, no weapon in existence could withstand his grip.
Proof of this lay before him, the once-indestructible battle axe of his enemy, reduced to nothing more than dust. Real dust.
Indra clenched his fist. The sensation of absolute power surged through him.
"Impossible..." His voice wavered, caught between rage and disbelief.
His crimson eyes widened as he stared at the space where his weapon had once been. This wasn't just any weapon, it was forged by Mayasura himself, crafted from the essence of conquest after he had laid claim to both Svarga and Pātāla. A blade meant to sunder gods, now reduced to nothing.
"No... this can't be..." Hayagriva took a staggering step back, his breath ragged. "How could my attack be... worthless?!"
His voice wavered, and for the first time, doubt seeped into his once-unshakable confidence. His hooves scraped against the trembling ground as he retreated further, his eyes locked onto Indra as though staring at a monster.
Behind him, the Asura generals, once brimming with warlust, hesitated. Their hands trembled around their enchanted weapons, uncertainty clouding their expressions.
Should they charge forward? Or retreat?
A storm of thoughts raged in Hayagriva's mind, his pupils contracting.
"A blessing... It has to be a boon from at least one of the Trimurti!"
Hayagriva's teeth ground together, his breath ragged as he muttered, his mind racing.
"I possess the blessing of invulnerability... I am invincible! I will face Indra myself!"
His crimson eyes burned with fury as he whipped his head around, his gaze locking onto his forces.
"Shumbha! Take the others and seize the Devas!"
There was no hesitation—no room for doubt. Without waiting for a response, he surged forward, his massive frame shaking the battlefield with every thunderous step.
BOOM!
As his hooves struck the ground, the power of Svarga and the earth entwined, blessing him in return.
Volcanoes erupted. Tsunamis raged. The very planet trembled under his fury.
RUMBLE!
Both devas and Asuras took to the skies, their figures turning into radiant streaks of light as they fled from the cataclysm.
Swish! Swish!
Indra moved, leaping into the air with supernatural grace. He raised his right hand, divine light pooling into his palm, forging a weapon of overwhelming power.
The Vajra.
The diamond pestle gleamed like crystal, its jagged edges resembling a fusion of a hammer and a staff, its ends ringed with divine markings.
Lightning crackled violently across its surface, the very air quivering from its sheer intensity. Thunder rumbled in response, rippling through the heavens in dazzling flashes.
And then, Indra's will surged through the weapon, binding it to his command.
The Sahasra Kavacha flared to life, radiating divine brilliance.
At that moment, the essence of Halahala—the blue-green poison of cosmic destruction—coiled around the vajra like a living entity, flowing alongside the lightning.
The venom and lightning entwined like twin Naga, their bodies slithering and twisting, their fangs dripping with annihilation.
Indra's grip tightened. He swung the vajra.
CRACK!
The air screamed as the divine weapon tore through the sky, descending upon Hayagriva with the force of celestial judgment.
BANG!
The vajra struck true, slamming into Hayagriva's forehead. The impact shattered his mighty mane, sending divine sparks and remnants of fur flying.
At the same time—
BOOM!
Hayagriva's fist, charged with unrestrained power, crashed into Indra's chest.
The vacuum itself fractured. For a single, frozen moment, time seemed to halt.
And then. Indra exploded into light, his body sent hurtling backward at impossible speed.
"AAAAHHHH… IT BURNS! It burns!!!"
His voice cracked, raw with agony. Clutching his head, his fingers dug into his skull as though trying to rip the pain away. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body trembling violently.
"This… this is impossible!" he rasped, his crimson eyes wide with disbelief. "What… what have you done to me?!"
His knees buckled, his vision blurred by searing pain. "No… NO! I AM HAYAGRIVA! I CANNOT BE HARMED LIKE THIS!"
His divine boon granted him invulnerability—no wound could mar his body, no force could truly harm him. Unless an existence identical to his own appeared in this world, he could neither be injured nor slain.
And yet—!
There was no wound, no gaping injury. But the pain was real. Unbearable.
"Is this… Halahala?!"
Now he understood. No wonder neither Hiranyaksha nor Hiranyakashipu could resist the agony!
Still clutching his head, Hayagriva let out a pained hum. He had long since read of the world-corrupting poison stirred up from the churning Kshira Sagara.
Halahala—!
A venom so potent it burned even Lord Shiva's throat blue. A poison so insidious it had seeped into Indra's divine armor itself.
He just never expected it to hurt this much! And he didn't want to go through that again!
"AGHH…! H-Halahala?!" Hayagriva's voice wavered between agony and rage, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His entire body tensed, the searing pain latching onto him like a venomous serpent.
His crimson eyes flared with fury as he glared at Indra, his teeth grinding audibly. "You insidious bastard…! Using the very poison that devours existence itself—not to seal it, but to weaponize it?!"
He staggered back, his fingers clawing at his skin as if trying to rid himself of the unseen torment. "Cunning filth! You dare drape yourself in the essence of destruction—just to turn every touch into suffering?!"
His nostrils flared, his breath sharp and uneven. "You would twist even death itself into a shield, just to lay waste to your enemies!" His voice dripped with venomous hatred, but beneath it, a flicker of something else—wariness, perhaps even fear.
A flicker of divine light ignited in his palm. With a sharp snap, a massive black bow materialized in his grip. He pulled the bowstring taut, summoning an arrow of roaring flame, its tip burning like a star. His eyes locked onto Indra, now tumbling through the distant sky.
No more close combat.
He would shoot Indra to death from afar.
Meanwhile…
Indra's body was still hurtling through the cosmos.
"Oof…"
His arms spread wide, his body weightless as he gazed up at the stars, their lights streaking past him like falling comets.
"That punch… damn…"
"That was exhilarating."
Sucking in a deep breath, he pressed a hand against his chest, feeling the lingering ache beneath his fingertips. Divine chakra surged through his body, chakra igniting as it mended the damage from Hayagriva's devastating blow.
Indra exhaled sharply. He had to admit it.
With the combined blessings of Svarga and the Patalaloka, Hayagriva's strength had reached terrifying heights. His raw power, amplified both by divine numerics and celestial mechanisms, had exceeded Indra's expectations.
Right now—right now—he couldn't afford a direct clash.
Time to switch tactics.
Time for a bow and arrow!
BOOM!
A pulse of divine energy rippled through the void as Indra suddenly righted himself, his body snapping into position.
He stretched out his hands.
In a brilliant burst of multicolored radiance, Indradanush materialized within his grasp, its seven-colored brilliance illuminating the starry battlefield.
His fingers pulled back the bowstring, divine energy condensing into an arrow of pure celestial might.
"Vajra-Shakti!"
In that instant, both warriors released their shots—
Flaming death streaked across the Svarga.
---
Chapter 110 Vedas
A sharp whistle cut through the skies.
The moment both warriors fired, the battlefield was bathed in radiant light. Vajra-Shakti, blazing with Indra's celestial wrath, streaked across the heavens—an arrow of pure lightning forged from the very essence of his thunderbolt.
Yet, Hayagriva did not waver. His lips curled into a knowing smirk as he invoked that which dwelled within him—a power long hidden, waiting for this moment.
From deep within his being, Samudrāstra awakened.
His bow, gleaming like the crescent moon, pulsed with ethereal energy. But he did not fire it. He became it.
BOOM!
As Vajra-Shakti hurtled toward him, an oceanic force erupted from within his form. Waves of cosmic water surged forth, not from an arrow, but from his very existence. Samudrāstra was no mere weapon—it was a part of him, a blessing stolen from the depths of Rasatala, imbued with the might of Varuna himself.
FWOOOOOOSH!
The skies tore apart. A celestial deluge poured forth, an unending flood born from Hayagriva's essence itself, rushing forth to drown the heavens.
Lightning clashed against the cosmic sea. Vajra met the abyssal torrents.
CRACK!
A deafening explosion shook the fabric of existence, the raw forces of Indra's storm colliding against the infinite waters of Samudrāstra. For a moment, the heavens themselves seemed to hesitate, the power of sky and sea locked in a cosmic struggle.
Through the chaos, Hayagriva's laughter rang out—deep, guttural, triumphant. His burning red eyes locked onto Indra as he spread his arms wide, the tides of destruction swirling around him.
"You thunder in the heavens, Indra, but I am the abyss beneath! You call yourself a king, yet what is a king before the ocean that drowns empires?"
Indra's grip on Indradanush tightened. His bowstring thrummed at his fingertips, divine might still coursing through his veins.
This battle was far from over.
Then, without a word, Indra raised his bow.
The bowstring trembled, thrumming with divine power. An arrow formed at its nocking point—seven radiant hues shimmering along its length, merging into a single beam of celestial brilliance.
"Thunder is my wrath! Lightning, my fury! Rainbows, the path of my triumph!"
"Amritavisha!"
Lightning crackled through the sky as Indra loosed his arrow.
FWOOOM!
A seven-colored radiance erupted from his bow, spiraling into the heavens. The arrow did not merely cut through the waters—it commanded them, shaping the flood into a bridge of light.
The surging deluge turned upon its master.
Hayagriva's eyes widened. Horror flickered across his face as the very ocean he had summoned now roared toward him, a cosmic tide reversing its course by Indra's decree.
"No...!"
He thrust his hands forward, summoning his divine might to dispel the raging flood. The celestial waters shattered, dispersing into mist.
But in that very instant—
THWACK!
The Indradhanushastra struck him square in the chest.
"GRAAAH!"
A searing pain shot through him. His body convulsed. His fingers clawed at the wound. His breath came in ragged gasps.
"P-Poisoned...?!"
His voice trembled. His crimson eyes flickered with shock. It was no ordinary wound. The weapon was imbued with Amritavisha—a paradox of nectar and venom, a force that eroded the strength of the Asuras yet could not be healed by their Maya.
But an asura king does not fall so easily.
With a growl of defiance, Hayagriva wrenched himself upright. His hands gripped his bow with renewed fury, his defiant glare piercing through the storm.
FWOOOSH!
He loosed his next arrow. Its form twisted and coiled, writhing like a living entity.
One became two.
Two became four.
Four became eight.
Eight became sixteen.
A thousand spectral Nagas burst forth, their fangs gleaming like crescent moons in the void.
Sarpaastra.
The divine serpent-arrow, its venom drawn from the depths of the Nagas of Patalaloka, slithered through the air. Each serpent bore a venom potent enough to sunder the very life force of any being it touched.
Yet Indra did not flinch.
He raised his bow once more.
But this time, his aim was not at the serpents. His gaze locked onto Hayagriva.
His Sahasrakavacha gleamed, an armor forged from his devotion and granted by Brahma himself, imbued with the years of his austere practice and Halahala itself. No poison could pierce it. No venom could claim him.
The war was far from over.
And so, he whispered:
"Halahalaastra."
The air grew heavy. The battlefield shuddered.
A single black arrow formed, its presence twisting the very fabric of space. It carried the essence of Halahala, the primordial poison, born of the churning of the ocean, potent enough to bring devas or Asuras alike to their knees.
Indra released his shot.
Indra's divine armor, Sahasrakavacha, shimmered with celestial radiance, illuminating the vast expanse of the battlefield. Like the ocean reflecting the first light of dawn, its golden surface rippled with the energy of a thousand sacrifices offered by him.
Threads of blue lightning surged forth, weaving together along the bowstring of Indra Dhanusha. The divine energy coalesced, condensing into a single, brilliant Astra blessed by the very essence of Rudra's fury.
FWOOOSH!
The Halahala Astra tore through the battlefield like a comet unleashed by the cosmos itself. In its wake, lesser arrows disintegrated, their power insignificant before its might.
Meanwhile, countless Naga Astra loosed by Hayagriva twisted through the air, each imbued with the venom of the primordial serpent Vasuki. Fanged serpents emerged from their shafts, their spectral bodies writhing like the coils of Ananta Shesha himself. Their ghastly hissing filled the battlefield.
Hayagriva's lips curled into a victorious sneer. His grip tightened around his bow.
"Strike him down!" he commanded.
The serpentine arrows surged forward, their fangs bared to sink into Indra's divine flesh.
Yet—
CRACK!
The moment they touched Indra, the arrows shattered into nothingness. The spectral serpents shrieked as their venom was consumed, siphoned away by the divine glow of Sahasrakavacha. Like the sacred Samudra Manthan, where Shiva had swallowed the Halahala poison to save creation, Indra's armor absorbed the venom, rendering it powerless.
Hayagriva's eyes widened in horror.
"Impossible!"
And then, the Halahala Astra reached him.
A deafening ROAR split the battlefield.
The divine arrow twisted, its form shifting mid-flight. From its core emerged a terrifying entity, shrouded in the cursed fumes of Halahala, the primal poison birthed at the churning of the cosmic ocean. Four elongated fangs gleamed in its monstrous maw, its wild mane billowing like a storm-tossed sea. Its eyes, burning with unrelenting malice, mirrored the wrath of Shiva.
With an ear-splitting shriek, the being lunged for Hayagriva's forehead.
BOOM!
The entity erupted upon impact, a devastating explosion of poisonous energy engulfing the Asura King.
"AAAAAAGHHHHH!"
Hayagriva's scream echoed across the battlefield, shaking the very fabric of existence. The celestial beings bore witness as his divine essence withered beneath the relentless assault of Halahala. His body convulsed violently, his veins burning with a pain beyond mortal comprehension.
Indra's gaze remained steady, his divine authority unshaken.
"It is not yet over."
With a measured breath, he drew Indra Dhanusha once more.
TWANG!
Arrow after arrow, infused with the sacred poison, tore through the battlefield, each one guided by divine will. They fell upon Hayagriva like the wrath of Rudra unleashed during Pralaya, inescapable and absolute.
The Asura King's desperation peaked. He loosed more Naga Astras, summoning a great swarm of spectral serpents, their venomous fangs glistening like crescent moons in the darkness.
But the poison-born entities summoned by Halahala Astra turned upon them.
CHOMP!
The ghastly beings devoured the serpents, consuming their essence and growing stronger.
"NO!"
Panic overtook Hayagriva. His form blurred as he leaped through the battlefield, twisting and weaving in a desperate bid to escape. But the divine arrows pursued him relentlessly, like the unerring judgment of Kala himself.
From the skies, the Devas roared.
"The Asura King falters!"
"Behold the might of Indra, Lord of the Skies!"
"Victory to the Devas! The Asuras shall fall!"
Their voices thundered across the battlefield, their divine energy flaring like a celestial inferno, igniting their spirits with the fire of impending triumph.
…
Amidst the deafening roars of battle, the Asura generals were in turmoil—some trembling in fear, others seething with rage, while a few wavered, hesitation creeping into their eyes. Some had already begun to retreat, choosing to stand aside and watch the battle unfold from a safe distance.
Kailasha.
From his divine seat upon Mount Kailasa, Vishnu observed the battlefield below with a knowing smile.
Victory was within reach.
All that remained was to find a way to shatter the boon of Hayagriva, whose blessings had rendered him nearly unkillable until the conditions were met.
But in the very next instant—
BOOM!
A sudden thunderclap shattered the silence of the universe.
Vishnu's smile faltered. His expression darkened, and his keen eyes snapped toward Svarga.
And he wasn't the only one.
Mahadeva Shiva, Parvati, and Devi Lakshmi all turned their gazes toward the celestial realm.
Something was terribly wrong.
Somewhere in the depths of creation. Madhu and Kaitabha's penance… had borne fruit.
BOOOOM!
The skies above Kailasha trembled as an ominous force erupted. Darkness poured forth from Svarga, swallowing the heavens in its abyssal maw. The very fabric of dharma wavered, flickering like a fragile flame struggling against a violent storm.
Vishnu's voice, low yet carrying the weight of the cosmos, resounded through the heavens.
"Madhu has stolen the Vedas."
Lakshmi's eyes widened in alarm. She turned to her husband, her divine radiance dimming with an uncharacteristic unease.
Parvati inhaled sharply, her breath catching in her throat. Rage twisted her features, her celestial form trembling with barely restrained fury.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Shiva gripped his Trishula tightly. His piercing gaze flashed with glacial brilliance, his expression unreadable. The Damaru in his other hand resounded with a deafening cosmic rhythm, its celestial echoes pushing back the consuming darkness, preserving the sanctity of Kailasa.
And then, a hand, firm yet gentle, rested upon Shiva's shoulder.
"Mahadeva, please wait. I shall handle this."
Vishnu's voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of absolute resolve.
The Sudarshana Chakra, the Panchajanya Conch, and the Kaumodaki Gada pulsed with radiance, their divine energies piercing through the cosmic gloom.
SWOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, Vishnu lifted his celestial mace—and vanished from Kailasa.
…
Among the Stars
Darkness devoured the cosmos.
In an instant, the radiance of the universe dimmed, swallowed by an abyssal void.
A creeping sense of dread settled over the devas as they felt their divine power begin to wane, their strength draining away like water slipping through trembling fingers.
But the asuras, too, were affected. Fear flickered in their eyes as they staggered, realization dawning—the very tattva that sustained them was being eroded.
Indra's gaze dropped to his hands, his heart pounding.
The divine glow that once shrouded his body in brilliance was fading, dissolving into the creeping darkness.
His strength was vanishing.
"Could it be… the Vedas have been stolen?!"
His mind raced, piecing together the implications.
"Hayagriva is here, it could not have been him. Then… Madhu and Kaitabha?!"
A surge of shock ran through him.
At that very moment, two figures emerged from the shifting void before Hayagriva—
Madhu and Kaitabha.
The horse-headed Asura's eyes widened in disbelief. His gaze immediately locked onto the golden Vedas, glowing brilliantly in Madhu's grasp—its sacred essence shimmering like a pillar of cosmic wisdom.
"You succeeded?!"
Hayagriva's voice trembled with exhilaration.
Madhu let out a triumphant laugh, his grip tightening around the divine scriptures.
"I HAVE IT!"
And then!
FWOOOSH!
A blinding radiance erupted across the celestial expanse, banishing the encroaching darkness in all directions.
A towering presence had arrived.
Vishnu.
The Supreme Preserver stood bathed in golden light, his divine radiance piercing through the abyss, scattering the gloom like the first dawn breaking over the horizon.
"!!!"
Hayagriva's breath hitched.
Without hesitation, he threw his head back, his gaping maw opening as a violent gust of wind whirled into existence.
WHOOSH!
The golden Vedas shimmered—then vanished into his throat in the blink of an eye.
Hayagriva wiped his mouth, his equine eyes flickering with determination. He turned to the two demon brothers.
"You delay him." His voice was cold, decisive. "I will take the Vedas and depart."
And with that!
SHOOM!
His form blurred, vanishing into the cosmic void, retreating into the depths of Rasatala, beyond the reach of the divine realms.
For the first time, Vishnu's calm demeanor wavered. His sharp gaze bore into Madhu and Kaitabha, but his voice reached the ears of a still-reeling Indra.
"Indra!"
The command thundered through the heavens.
"Pursue Hayagriva and recover the Vedas!"
---
Chapter 111 Oath of Indra
When Indra heard this, he tilted his head, momentarily stunned.
Wait... what?
Did he hear that right? Vishnu wanted him to chase after Hayagriva? The very same Asura who had stolen the Vedas and plunged the cosmos into darkness?
Wasn't this... just a little absurd?
"Naryana!" Indra clasped his hands, his voice a mixture of reverence and sheer disbelief. "Even in battle, I relied on divine boons to stand against him! Now you ask me to pursue him? Even if I catch up, how am I supposed to defeat him?"
Indra scowled. His celestial armour rendered him immune to weapons, his arms could shatter steel and celestial blades alike, a deva of thunder and war, a weapon destroyer in his own right.
But even a cornered rabbit would bite.
If he pushed Hayagriva too far, the Asura might panic. And now, with the wisdom of the Vedas in his grasp, who knew what he was capable of? Perhaps he could strike Indra down with mere words, truth so absolute it unravelled his existence.
Oh! Right, he had the Amrita. He could not be slain.
But just because he couldn't die didn't mean he wanted to be pummeled into the ground. Immortality had its drawbacks, namely, the very real possibility of becoming a divine punching bag.
And who in their right mind would sign up for that? That was a job for Asura King!
"Do not be afraid."
Vishnu's voice was calm, absolute, a still ocean that could drown all doubt.
"The Vedas are wisdom itself," he said. "They contain your hymns. As long as you recite them, their divine radiance will guide you through the darkness, illuminating your path."
"The Vedas are truth, they will not protect a adharmi like Hayagriva."
Vishnu's tone softened, yet his authority did not wane.
And then.
A golden light shimmered from his form.
FWOOOSH!
The glow unfurled like the first light of creation, chasing away the surrounding shadows. It was the dawn of a new age, radiant and overwhelming, flooding the battlefield with its divine brilliance.
A single ray descended and wrapped itself around Indra.
As the golden radiance merged with his skin, he felt it, a presence, another armour. It was not mere light. It intertwined with his very being, a celestial shield that moulded itself to his form like a second skin.
Warmth. Strength. Resilience.
"This is my Kavacha," Vishnu declared.
"It will shield you from the strike meant to destroy you. It will protect your mind from illusion and preserve your strength through this darkness. But it will only protect you once. When that moment has passed, it will vanish."
Vishnu's gaze bore into him, unwavering.
"Go, Indra. Defeat Hayagriva and reclaim the Vedas."
His words were not a suggestion. They were a divine decree.
Indra exhaled sharply. His fingers clenched into fists. There was no turning back now.
Indra's eyes widened as he lowered his gaze, staring at the golden light encasing his form.
Vishnu's armour…
This was no mere blessing. Even if it could withstand only a single blow, it was still a divine safeguard beyond mortal comprehension. A force that could halt even the destruction of pralaya itself.
A one-time invincible biff!
Indra's lips curled into a grin.
"This is good!"
For a fleeting moment, a wild thought flickered through his mind.
If I were an Asura… wouldn't I be able to challenge even the Trimurti?
His eyes gleamed with mischief.
Right now, he bore a boon that made him impervious to harm from Vishnu and his incarnations. He wielded the power to shatter weapons with his bare hands. His Sahasrakavacha absorbed toxins and rendered him immune to blades.
And now, with Vishnu's divine armour, he was untouchable, except by Shiva.
For just an instant, he entertained the notion of going rogue, of testing his strength against the very gods who ruled the cosmos.
If only this armour weren't a one-time use…
Indra sighed, shaking off the fantasy.
Then, like a whisper in the vast corridors of time, a memory surfaced: Ravana.
That mighty king, once invincible, had stood with the power of boons far greater than this. He had laughed in the face of death, believing himself beyond its reach. Yet, in the end, it was not a weapon nor a warrior that sealed his fate.
It was his pride, his certainty in his invulnerability, that led him before death's door.
Indra's fingers tightened. His golden armour gleamed, but the weight of that lesson pressed heavier upon him.
"The boons that grant invincibility also sow the seeds of downfall. Boons give power, power breeds arrogance, and arrogance brings ruin swifter than any curse.
A smirk tugged at his lips, but it no longer held the reckless arrogance of before. Instead, it was tempered and wiser.
Deep within, something unfamiliar stirred. It was gratitude.
Pressing his hands together, he bowed in reverence. His expression grew solemn as he met Vishnu's gaze. When he spoke, his voice rang out, filled with duty and divine purpose.
"Dhanyavad Lord Vishnu!"
His words carried the weight of righteousness.
"Hayagriva, that wretched Asura, defied the cosmic order! He stole the sacred Vedas, shrouding the universe in darkness and chaos!"
"For such a crime, there is no forgiveness."
Indra's eyes burned with conviction.
"As Indra, King of Svarga and son of Aditi, I take this vow upon the very winds that carry the Vedas. I shall reclaim what was stolen. I shall restore Dharma to its eternal throne. Let my thunder strike down the veil of illusion and bring light where there is none."
He brought his palms together, then touched them to his brow, heart, and crown.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and strode toward the gathered Devas.
Next, he needed a mount. The steed that could help him catch up to Hayagriva.
As Indra vanished into the distance, Vishnu's gaze lingered.
His eyes fell upon the twin demons, Madhu and Kaitabha.
His expression hardened. The ever-present serenity vanished from his face.
A shadow fell over him. The radiant, lotus-like glow of his visage dimmed, sinking into an abyss of wrath and sorrow. The very air trembled under the weight of his silence.
In his hands, Kaumodaki, his Divine Mace, began to rise.
A single pulse of its energy split the darkness, flooding the void with blinding light.
When he spoke, his voice rumbled like the endless depths of the cosmic ocean.
"Madhu and Kaitambha."
"I have come to end you."
…
In the darkness, the skies trembled.
Indra scoured the starry void, searching for the scattered Devas. The theft of the Vedas had thrown the cosmos into disarray, Dharma itself wavered, and the celestial order threatened to collapse. The sacred hymns that upheld the universe were gone, and with them, the very essence of divine power.
The stars had dimmed, their brilliance obscured, as if the firmament itself had lost its guiding light. The cosmic silence was unnatural, an absence that gnawed at existence itself.
Then, at last, he saw him.
Vayu, the Wind God, drifted in the void. His form, usually swift and untethered, now hung motionless. His eyes, clouded and distant, stared blankly as though he were lost in the unending abyss.
A wave of unease coursed through Indra. He descended swiftly, coming to a halt before his companion.
"Vayu!" he called, his voice a sharp command.
No response.
Indra reached out, grasping Vayu's shoulder, and gave him a firm shake. When that did nothing, he struck him lightly across the face, a crisp snap echoing through the void.
Still, Vayu remained listless, his limbs limp, his very essence dulled.
Then, at last, a whisper—thin as the breath of a dying flame—escaped his lips.
"…In…dra…"
Indra's eyes narrowed.
Even the Lord of the Winds… affected like this?
He clenched his jaw. It was the Vedas. Their loss had not only stolen wisdom but had weakened the very forces that sustained existence. Even Vayu, whose breath moved the heavens, was faltering.
"By the armour of Vishnu, I am shielded… but the others…"
A cold realisation dawned.
If Vayu, the swiftest among them, was caught in this unnatural stillness, then the others would soon succumb to slumber. And once that happened, the balance of the three worlds would collapse entirely.
There was no time.
Indra released Vayu and turned away, his form igniting with divine radiance as he surged forward.
If Vayu is here, then Surya must be close. And if Surya is near, so must be his steed.
Through the swirling void, Indra moved, his presence a streak of golden light against the eternal night.
Then, he saw it.
A celestial horse, white as the morning sun, motionless in the abyss.
Uchchaihshravas.
The king of horses, born of the churning ocean, now frozen like lifeless stone.
Indra descended swiftly, landing astride the divine beast. The armour of Vishnu flared, its radiance seeping into the stallion's form, infusing it with life once more.
A sharp, resounding neigh tore through the void as Uchchaihshravas reared its head, its mane flowing like a river of light.
Indra tightened his grip on the reins.
"The Vedas must be reclaimed," he murmured, his resolve firm.
Then, Vishnu's words echoed in his mind.
The hymns are written within the Vedas. Sing them, and their light will shine, guiding the way.
Indra hesitated. A fleeting grimace crossed his face.
Singing? Now?
He glanced around, reassured by the emptiness of the void. Then, clearing his throat, he steeled himself.
No matter. This was the duty of the King of the Devas.
Lifting his voice, he began to chant.
"O Lord of the Winds! O swiftest among the swift! May thy breath awaken the still air and guide the righteous upon their path!"
His voice echoed, rippling through the abyss.
Then—
A flicker.
A distant glow shimmered in the darkness, faint but unmistakable.
Indra's gaze sharpened.
He tugged the reins, and with a mighty gallop, Uchchaihshravas surged forward.
The hunt for the stolen Vedas had begun.
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