The palace of Ang was quiet long before dawn.
Most of the city still slept beneath the fading stars, but inside the royal palace, one figure was already awake.
Karna stood alone in the hidden Sun Chamber beneath the palace.
The ancient room glowed faintly with golden inscriptions carved into the stone walls. Symbols of the Sun God Surya shimmered under the dim torchlight.
At the center of the chamber stood the ancient pedestal Vrinda had discovered days earlier.
Upon it rested the weapon Karna had begun to understand only recently.
The Solar Spear.
Even now, faint strands of golden energy slowly moved along its surface, as if the weapon itself were alive.
Karna closed his eyes.
Slowly, he placed his hand on the spear.
The moment his fingers touched the weapon—
The chamber reacted.
Golden light spread across the walls.
Ancient symbols began glowing brighter.
Then suddenly—
A wave of heat filled the room.
Karna felt energy surge through his body like flowing fire.
His mind sharpened instantly.
Inside his consciousness, something awakened.
Solar Bloodline Resonance Activated
Karna's breathing slowed.
His body remained perfectly still, yet inside him power moved like a rising sun.
Memories of his training with Parashurama surfaced.
The knowledge of astras.
The discipline of a warrior.
The patience of a king.
All of it blended with the divine power flowing from the weapon.
Suddenly—
A vision appeared in his mind.
He saw a battlefield.
Thousands of warriors clashing under a burning sky.
Weapons collided.
Chariots crashed.
The earth itself seemed to tremble beneath the chaos.
And at the center of that battlefield…
A single golden figure stood against an entire army.
Karna.
But this Karna was different.
His armor blazed like the sun itself.
A massive sphere of solar fire formed above his spear.
Then—
The vision ended.
Karna slowly opened his eyes.
The chamber returned to silence.
But the weapon in his hand burned brighter than before.
A new power had awakened.
Solar Astra: Sunfire Manifestation
At that moment, footsteps echoed near the entrance of the chamber.
Vrinda stepped inside carefully.
Her eyes widened slightly as she saw the golden light filling the room.
"Karna…"
She paused.
"You felt it too, didn't you?"
Karna nodded slightly.
"The chamber is reacting to my power."
Vrinda walked closer to the pedestal, examining the glowing inscriptions.
"These markings are ancient," she said thoughtfully.
"Much older than the palace itself."
She traced one symbol with her fingers.
"These are not just religious symbols."
Karna looked at her.
"Then what are they?"
Vrinda's eyes narrowed slightly.
"They are instructions."
Karna frowned.
"For what?"
Vrinda pointed toward several connected carvings on the wall.
"A weapon system."
Karna remained silent.
Vrinda continued explaining.
"This chamber wasn't built just to store your weapon."
She looked around slowly.
"It was designed as a training ground for a Solar Warrior."
Karna absorbed her words quietly.
Everything began making sense.
The hidden chamber.
The ancient inscriptions.
The weapons.
All of it had been prepared long ago.
As if someone had expected the Sun's chosen warrior to eventually stand here.
Meanwhile…
Outside the palace walls…
The training grounds were already filled with soldiers.
But today something was different.
The soldiers were divided into smaller groups.
Each group faced a warrior dressed in dark armor.
At the center of the field stood Asha.
She watched the soldiers with crossed arms.
"This army cannot become strong if it fights like a crowd," she said firmly.
The soldiers listened carefully.
"So from today forward…"
She raised her sword.
"We create elite units."
She pointed to one group of warriors.
"You five."
Then another group.
"You four."
Her sharp gaze moved across the field.
"Small teams survive battles. Armies alone do not."
One soldier raised his hand nervously.
"Lady Asha… what will these units be called?"
Asha smirked slightly.
Her eyes turned toward the palace where Karna ruled.
"The Solar Guard."
The soldiers straightened immediately.
Even the name carried weight.
Asha continued.
"Your king carries the power of the sun."
She pointed toward their chests.
"You will carry his will on the battlefield."
Excitement slowly spread among the soldiers.
For the first time…
They no longer felt like a weak forgotten army.
They felt like warriors of something greater.
Far away…
Inside the royal court of Hastinapur…
Two princes stood near a tall balcony overlooking the capital.
One wore golden armor.
The other carried the confident posture of a born ruler.
Duryodhana and his brother Dushasana.
A royal messenger had just finished delivering news.
Duryodhana stared toward the eastern horizon thoughtfully.
"So…"
he said slowly.
"Karna has begun building his army."
Dushasana crossed his arms.
"Should we be worried?"
Duryodhana's lips curved into a small smile.
"Worried?"
He shook his head.
"No."
His voice became calm and firm.
"Karna is not our enemy."
He turned toward the messenger.
"Prepare a gift."
The messenger bowed.
"What kind of gift, Prince?"
Duryodhana's smile widened slightly.
"A king deserves proper support."
He looked toward the east again.
"Send him chariots, weapons, and gold."
Dushasana raised an eyebrow.
"You're strengthening another kingdom?"
Duryodhana replied immediately.
"No."
His eyes gleamed with ambition.
"I am strengthening my greatest ally."
Back in Ang…
Karna and Vrinda stepped out of the Sun Chamber.
The palace corridors were quiet.
But Karna could feel something changing.
The kingdom was slowly transforming.
The army was growing stronger.
New allies were appearing.
But somewhere beyond the horizon…
Enemies were also preparing.
Vrinda walked beside him silently before finally speaking.
"The storm is coming, isn't it?"
Karna looked toward the open palace balcony.
The morning sun had finally risen.
Golden light filled the entire capital.
Karna's expression remained calm.
But his voice carried quiet certainty.
"Yes."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"And when it arrives…"
The sunlight reflected brightly from his armor.
"The Sun will rise above it."