The Royal Arena of Hastinapur roared with excitement.
Thousands of spectators filled the massive stone stands.
Nobles, warriors, scholars, and common citizens had gathered to witness the skill of the Kuru princes.
At the center of the arena stood Arjuna.
His bow moved like lightning.
Arrow after arrow struck their targets with perfect accuracy.
WHOOSH!
THUD!
WHOOSH!
THUD!
Each shot drew louder cheers from the crowd.
"Prince Arjuna is unmatched!"
"The greatest archer in Aryavarta!"
Vrinda looked toward Karna.
"They're praising him a lot."
Karna watched silently.
Inside his mind—
'His archery is impressive… but far from perfection.'
Arjuna prepared one final demonstration.
Five clay targets were thrown into the air simultaneously.
Without hesitation—
He released five arrows.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
All five targets shattered mid-air.
The entire arena erupted.
"ARJUNA!"
"ARJUNA!"
"ARJUNA!"
Arjuna lowered his bow proudly.
His eyes carried confidence.
Then suddenly—
A calm voice echoed across the arena.
"I can do better."
The cheering stopped instantly.
Thousands of eyes turned toward the entrance.
Karna stepped forward.
The sunlight reflected brilliantly off his Kavach and Kundal.
The divine Vijaya Dhanush rested on his back.
The moment he entered the arena—
The entire crowd fell silent.
Whispers spread across the stands.
"Who is that?"
"Look at his armor…"
"That warrior looks divine…"
Vrinda stood quietly near the entrance, watching nervously.
Inside her mind—
'He's really doing this.'
Arjuna narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Karna stopped a few steps away from him.
His voice was calm.
"My name is Karna."
The name echoed through the arena.
Arjuna spoke coldly.
"This arena is reserved for the royal princes."
Karna smiled slightly.
"Is skill limited only to princes?"
The crowd murmured again.
Arjuna frowned.
"If you believe you are superior…"
"Then demonstrate your skill."
Karna nodded calmly.
He walked toward the archery position.
Picked up five arrows.
And waited.
The instructor threw five targets into the sky.
They spun rapidly in different directions.
Karna pulled the string of the Vijaya Dhanush.
The bow hummed with divine power.
Inside his mind—
'Let's give them a proper introduction.'
WHOOSH!
Five arrows shot forward like beams of sunlight.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
But Karna didn't stop.
His arrows pierced the broken pieces again mid-air.
Shattering them into dust before they even touched the ground.
The entire arena froze.
Absolute silence.
Then—
The crowd exploded with shock.
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Did you see that?!"
"He shattered the pieces mid-air!"
Even Arjuna's eyes widened slightly.
In the royal balcony…
Duryodhana leaned forward in excitement.
Inside his mind—
'This warrior…!'
Beside him, Shakuni smiled slowly.
At the center of the arena…
The royal teacher Kripacharya stepped forward.
His voice echoed through the arena.
"Young warrior."
"You possess incredible skill."
Karna bowed respectfully.
"Thank you."
Kripacharya continued.
But his tone changed slightly.
"However… there is a rule."
The crowd quieted again.
"Only warriors of royal birth may challenge Prince Arjuna."
He looked directly at Karna.
"Tell us your lineage."
"What kingdom do you belong to?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
Everyone watched Karna.
Waiting for his answer.
Inside Karna's mind—
'Here it comes.'
The moment history had always remembered.
Karna spoke honestly.
"My father is Adhirath."
"A charioteer of Hastinapur."
Gasps spread across the arena.
"A charioteer's son?!"
"Impossible!"
"He cannot challenge Prince Arjuna!"
Arjuna's expression hardened.
Kripacharya spoke firmly.
"A charioteer's son cannot duel a prince."
For a moment…
The arena fell silent.
But suddenly—
A loud voice rang out from the royal balcony.
"THEN I SHALL MAKE HIM A KING!"
Everyone looked up in shock.
Prince Duryodhana stood proudly.
His eyes burned with excitement as he looked at Karna.
Inside his mind—
'I have found him.'
The warrior who would change the fate of the kingdom.
Karna looked up at the prince calmly.
Their eyes met for the first time.
And in that moment—
A legendary friendship was born.