The golden rays of the morning sun had only just begun to touch the eastern horizon when a streak of blazing light tore across the skies.
It was not a comet.
Nor was it any ordinary celestial sign.
It was the divine chariot of the Suryaputra.
Pragjyotishpura stood proudly upon the mountains—an impregnable fortress city.
Massive stone walls encircled it like an unbreakable ring.
Deep moats and sheer cliffs guarded every approach.
Narakasura and his asuras had woven invisible formations above the kingdom, layer upon layer of sacred barriers strong enough to repel even celestial intruders.
Yet none of those defenses slowed Karna's advance.
The divine horses pulled the radiant chariot through the heavens as though the mountains themselves did not exist. Only when the translucent dome of the barrier stretched fully before him did Karna rein in the horses. His calm gaze swept across the shimmering surface.
"So this is the legendary protection of Pragjyotishpura…"
The mantras woven into it pulsed with ancient power. Ordinary warriors would have considered it impenetrable. Karna merely extended his hand.
Golden radiance gathered beside him. Vijaya Dhanush materialized in his hand. Without hesitation, he drew the string. A celestial arrow condensed upon the bowstring, forged from his own divine energy.
He released it.
The arrow became a streak of pure sunlight.
BOOM!
The barrier shook violently.
Sacred runes flared across the sky before cracking one after another.
Within moments, an opening was forcibly torn through the countless layers of protection. The divine chariot surged forward. Even as the barrier began repairing itself behind him, Karna had already crossed into the skies above Pragjyotishpura.
His eyes remained calm.
"I may not be destined to slay Narakasura… but I will not allow that treasure to plunge the world into chaos."
Below him, the fortress city had already awakened.
Merchants arranging their stalls froze in place.
Children pointed toward the heavens.
Citizens looked up in disbelief as a golden chariot streaked across the sky like a second sun. Warning conches soon echoed from one watchtower to another, their deafening cries spreading through the streets.
"Enemy attack!"
"The barrier has been breached!"
"Someone has entered the capital!"
Panic erupted almost instantly.
Soldiers rushed onto the walls.
Archers hastily prepared their bows.
Yet none of it mattered.
The divine chariot was simply too fast. Before anyone could even loose an arrow, it had already disappeared deeper into the city, leaving only a trail of golden light behind.
Karna's gaze soon settled upon the royal palace. His brows knitted together.
The magnificent structure that should have symbolized Narakasura's power was now little more than a battlefield.
Entire sections had collapsed.
Stone pillars lay shattered. Smoke drifted into the morning sky.
Even from thousands of feet above, Karna could feel violent tremors spreading through the earth—and a terrifying asuric aura surging upward from beneath the palace. Far stronger than Narakasura's.
Without slowing, the divine chariot descended.
Outside the ruined palace, countless royal guards stood frozen. Some were covered in blood. Others supported wounded companions. Maids huddled together with pale faces, staring toward the depths of the palace. No one dared enter. No one dared flee. They simply stood there as the ground continued shaking beneath their feet.
Then the sunlight vanished.
Every head instinctively lifted.
A golden chariot descended from the heavens, its brilliance illuminating the ruined courtyard like a second dawn.
"Who is that?"
"Look at the chariot. The flying chariot with seven horses. It is… The… the Suryaputra…"
"It's Dakshina Kalinga Naresh!"
"Karna? Why was he here?"
Some guards stared in stunned silence. Others instinctively stepped aside, lowering their weapons without realizing it.
They had all heard of Karna's stories in the city. And they all knew that Narakasura hated Karna the most, because of the defeat at Dvarika.
The divine horses landed gracefully amidst the shattered courtyard. Without another glance at those around him, Karna stepped down from his chariot. Vijaya rested firmly within his grasp. He walked toward the collapsed throne hall. Each step echoed through the ruined structure.
When he crossed the broken entrance, the scene before him caused even Karna's eyes to narrow slightly.
The enormous hall had become a battlefield.
Narakasura was locked in a fierce sword duel against a monstrous being with the head of a gigantic crocodile. Every collision of their blades sent violent shockwaves through the chamber, reducing marble pillars to rubble. Standing calmly behind them was another familiar figure.
Shukracharya—the revered Guru of the Asuras.
Karna recognized the crocodile-headed demon almost instantly.
Devavinashaka.
Nearly eighteen years ago, Shukracharya had abducted him and extracted his divine essence for the creation of this very being. Karna had believed the creature perished at the hands of Nandi, back then itself. Yet it still stood before him.
His gaze slowly shifted.
At the very center of the hall, upon an ancient pedestal, rested a strange crimson pearl. Dark crimson veins pulsed beneath its surface. Within it swirled an eerie mixture of blood-red light and poisonous green mist, as though two completely opposite forces had been imprisoned together. Even from a single glance, Karna understood.
This was no ordinary treasure. It should be the treasure from Matysa purushas...
"The Kalarakta Mukta…"
Before another thought could cross his mind, Shukracharya's eyes snapped toward him.
"Stop!"
His voice echoed like thunder throughout the chamber.
Both Narakasura and Devavinashaka halted immediately. The hall fell silent. All eyes turned toward the newcomer.
Karna calmly walked forward, Vijaya resting in his hand. Despite standing before the Guru of the Asuras himself, he showed neither hostility nor arrogance. Instead, he respectfully joined his palms. Shukracharya is a disciple of Lord Shiva and an ardent devotee; Karna cannot disrespect him even if he is an enemy.
"Revered Acharya."
Shukracharya silently returned the greeting with a slight nod.
Only then did Karna speak.
"I won't allow that treasure to fall into the hands of the Asuras and bring chaos to the world. Kindly give up this obsession and madness for power and choose peace, Guru Shukracharya."
Devavinashaka's crimson eyes fixed upon him. A cruel smile slowly spread across his monstrous face.
"…Suryaputra. My nemesis."
Before he could take another step, Shukracharya raised his hand, stopping him.
"No."
His voice carried absolute authority.
"Right now, he has become too strong for you. You are not ready to face him."
Then the aged guru slowly turned toward Narakasura, who was staring at Karna as well.
Then the Asura Guru spoke to the King of Pragjyotisha instead of replying to Karna.
"We can discuss the possession of treasure later, King Narakasura." His calm voice echoed through the chamber. "But first… we must deal with him."
Narakasura frowned.
Shukracharya continued, voice steady yet absolute.
"That treasure should belong to the Asuras, whether it is you or me. If it falls into Karna's hands, he will undoubtedly surrender it to Suryadev, who will then hand it to Indra. And once the Devas possess it… they shall use it against our race." His wrinkled hand tightened around his staff. "I cannot personally strike him. The blessings of Mahadeva rest upon Karna. To raise my hand against one protected by Him would be disrespectful to my faith. But you… can."
Narakasura's eyes burned with raw hatred as they locked onto the Suryaputra. His grip around the sword tightened until the hilt groaned. A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Do not worry, Acharya. There is no one I wish to tear apart more than that human."
The next instant—
BOOM!
An overwhelming surge of asuric energy erupted from Narakasura's body. Dark crimson flames exploded around him as both hands gathered an enormous sphere of destructive power. The palace shook violently. Even the shattered walls cracked further beneath the pressure.
Without another word, he thrust both palms forward.
A massive beam of scarlet energy roared toward Karna, swallowing pillars, rubble, and air itself in its path. The very atmosphere screamed.
Karna's expression remained tranquil.
He slowly raised Vijaya. There was no arrow. He did not reach for his quiver. Instead, his fingers merely pulled back the bowstring. Golden divine energy condensed between string and grip, vibrating with immense brilliance.
The moment he released it—
BOOM!