The war chamber of Ang remained silent long after the spy's words faded.
The Council of Ashes.
A hidden force moving across kingdoms.
Destroying.
Manipulating.
Preparing for war.
But now… they had made their move too soon.
Karna stood before the large map of Aryavarta, his gaze steady.
Torches flickered along the stone walls.
Their light danced across the carved borders of kingdoms.
Beside him, Duryodhana leaned against the table, arms crossed.
His expression had lost its earlier ease.
"This changes things."
Karna did not respond immediately.
Vrinda stepped forward instead.
"They destroyed Vaidarbha in secrecy."
Her voice was calm, but carried cold anger.
"But Ang is not Vaidarbha."
Asha smirked slightly.
"Let them try."
Duryodhana shook his head.
"No."
Everyone turned toward him.
His eyes sharpened.
"They won't attack blindly."
He tapped the map.
"They will weaken us first."
"Divide us."
"Isolate us."
Vrinda nodded slowly.
"That's how they destroyed my kingdom."
A heavy silence followed.
Karna finally spoke.
"Then we do not give them that chance."
He turned toward Duryodhana.
"Send word to Hastinapur."
Duryodhana raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"For unity."
The word lingered in the air.
Asha frowned.
"You expect the entire kingdom to move for Ang?"
Karna shook his head slightly.
"Not for Ang."
His gaze sharpened.
"For what is coming."
Duryodhana studied him carefully.
Then a slow smile appeared.
"Good."
He straightened.
"Because things in Hastinapur are already changing."
Vrinda looked toward him.
"What do you mean?"
Duryodhana exhaled slowly.
"The Pandavas."
The name immediately shifted the atmosphere.
Asha crossed her arms.
"I've heard of them."
"Warriors trained by Drona."
Duryodhana nodded.
"Yes."
His voice grew colder.
"They've returned stronger than ever."
Karna's expression remained calm.
But inside—
A familiar name echoed.
Arjuna.
Duryodhana continued.
"The court is divided."
"Some support me."
"Others… support them."
Vrinda frowned.
"And the elders?"
"Watching."
Duryodhana's tone carried faint irritation.
"They always watch."
Karna stepped closer to the map.
His finger rested on Hastinapur.
"Then we go there."
Everyone looked at him.
Asha raised an eyebrow.
"You're leaving Ang now?"
"No."
Karna shook his head.
"I'm stepping into the center of the storm."
Vrinda understood immediately.
"If the Council is moving…"
"They will target power."
Duryodhana smirked.
"And there is no greater center of power than Hastinapur."
At that moment—
A sudden gust of wind swept through the chamber.
The torches flickered violently.
For a brief second, the flames bent unnaturally.
Then—
A calm voice echoed from the entrance.
"Interesting."
All of them turned.
Standing at the doorway…
Was a man dressed in yellow silk.
A gentle smile on his face.
Eyes that seemed to see everything.
Krishna.
Asha immediately tensed.
Vrinda narrowed her eyes.
But Duryodhana simply sighed.
"You appear everywhere."
Krishna chuckled softly.
"I go where the story becomes interesting."
His gaze shifted toward Karna.
"And yours is becoming very interesting."
Karna met his gaze calmly.
"You knew."
Krishna tilted his head slightly.
"About the Council?"
A faint smile appeared.
"I know many things."
He stepped into the chamber.
His presence was calm.
But it carried something deeper.
Something immeasurable.
He walked toward the map slowly.
"The balance of Aryavarta is shifting."
His fingers hovered over the kingdoms.
"Hidden forces rise."
"Old rivalries awaken."
"And powerful warriors begin to choose sides."
His eyes lifted toward Karna.
"And you…"
A pause.
"Stand at the center of it all."
Asha frowned.
"If you know so much, then speak clearly."
Krishna smiled.
"I always do."
He turned slightly.
"The Council you face…"
"Is not the true storm."
Silence fell.
Vrinda stepped forward.
"Then what is?"
Krishna's gaze shifted toward the north.
Toward Hastinapur.
"The war that will decide the fate of this world."
Duryodhana's expression hardened.
"You speak as if it is inevitable."
Krishna met his eyes.
"It is."
Karna remained silent.
But his thoughts moved quickly.
Council of Ashes.
Pandavas.
Hastinapur.
War.
Everything was beginning to connect.
Krishna looked at him once more.
"When the time comes…"
His voice softened slightly.
"You will have to choose, Karna."
A faint breeze passed through the chamber.
"And that choice…"
His smile faded just slightly.
"Will shape the future of Aryavarta."
Without another word—
He turned and walked toward the exit.
As if his presence had never disrupted the room.
Silence followed after he left.
Asha exhaled slowly.
"I don't like him."
Duryodhana smirked.
"No one ever does."
Vrinda looked toward Karna.
"What do we do?"
Karna stepped forward.
His decision already made.
"We prepare."
He looked toward the northern horizon.
Toward Hastinapur.
"The battlefield is not here."
"Not yet."
His golden eyes burned with quiet intensity.
"But it will be."
Far away…
In the grand halls of Hastinapur…
Another warrior stood silently in training.
A bow in his hand.
An arrow drawn.
His focus absolute.
Arjuna.
The arrow released.
It struck the target with perfect precision.
The storm was no longer coming.
It had begun.