Chapter 11: The Truth of the Mirror

Arjuna stared in the mirror as the room seemed humming with ancient power. Her reflection was no longer just a passive image – it was alive, full of malice, anger, and regret. The reflection of itself in the mirror seemed to reach outward, its features twisting, getting darker, more distorted with each passing other.

“You’re weak,” the mirror reflection scoffed. “You can never escape who you are. You have always failed. You will never save anyone. Not even myself.

Arjuna’s breathing quickened and his heart pounded in his chest. The words sting, much deeper than they should have been. His mind fell back on every mistake he had made – every failed attempt to protect the people he loved. He saw the faces of those he could not save – innocent lives lost in battles with the Asuras, the helplessness he felt when he first discovered the immense power of divine powers. Every step he took forward, it felt like something—someone—was always holding him back.

“You’re right,” whispered Arjuna, his voice almost lost in thin air. “I have failed. I’m not strong enough.

But as the words left his lips, a surge of energy shot through him. It was the divine energy that had always been within him, waiting to be unlocked. Doubt, self-loathing—it was all part of the confusion. He had faced the worse before and overcome it. This time he won’t be a victim of it.

Suddenly, the mirror began to crack, the darkness inside it was moving around like a living thing. The reflection twisted and screamed, its form distorted, but it could not catch up. With a final, defiant roar, the mirror shattered, sending a shockwave through the chamber.

Arjun stood later, breathing heavily, but this time, with a stillness that settled deep in his chest. He wasn’t the one who started this journey. That was something else.

Behind him, he heard a voice—a whisper—so quiet, it was almost lost in peace.

“Victory ... Not in beating others,” said Avni as she stepped out of the shadows. “But in defeating yourself.

Arjuna said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “It wasn’t easy.

Avni smiled softly. “There’s nothing worth ever happening.

Vikram, Radhika, Meera and others had gathered around her, watching her closely. Each of them had faced their own trials, and now they stood as witnesses of his victory. But Arjun knew that this was only the beginning.

“You have done well,” said Vikram, his tone filled with approval. “You have passed the tests of the Jyotirlinga order. Now the real challenge begins.

Arjuna shook his head. Fragments of the broken mirror slowly dissolved in the air around them, leaving only the lightest trace of their former appearance.

The heart of the fort

With the final test behind them, the group made their way to the inner sanctum of the fortress. It was a huge, hollow chamber, far larger than anything they had seen before. The stone walls were decorated with intricate carvings of ancient battles, figures of powerful warriors frozen in time.

In the center of the room stood a pedestal, on top of which lay an ancient book, the cover of which had darkened with age. It radiates a faint, ethereal glow.

“That’s it,” Vikram said, moving on. “The Codex of the Jyotirlinga.” Knowledge of order.

Radhika also stepped forward, her hand moved towards the book. But as her fingers brushed the cover, a pulse of energy shot through the air, cracking with divine power. The book responded to her touch, the glow was getting brighter, almost blind.

“I don’t know if it’s safe or not,” Arjun warned, but his voice was muffled by the growing hum of energy in the air.

“I think it’s too late for caution,” Mira said, her eyes widening with understanding. “The codex is giving us feedback.

Suddenly, the pages of the book began to turn on their own, the ancient text overflowing with wisdom. The words glossed over the pages as they moved and changed, revealing secrets that had been hidden for centuries.

The room seemed to pulse with a convergence of energy, divine and mortal realms. Arjuna could feel the power rising, flowing around him like a river of light.

“The Asuras will not let us keep this knowledge,” said Vikram, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “We must act quickly.

The Arrival of the Asura

The temperature of the room dropped as Vikram spoke. The doors of the sanctum sanctorum slammed off with a splendid crash, and the shadows around them thickened with malice.

A faint laugh rang from the darkness—a sound that made Arjuna’s blood cold.

So, for the mysteries of the mortal gods have come, a voice booming, deep and dangerous. “How bizarre.

Stepping out of the shadows, a figure emerged—a huge, dangerous asura, his eyes glowing with fire. He was unlike any of the Asuras whom they had fought before. His body was wrapped in armor made of black stone, and his hair was torn from dark energy.

“I am Kiritan, the leader of the Asuras,” said the figure with a cold grin. “And this codex will be mine.”

Arjuna’s heart was beating in his chest as Kiritan raised his hand, summoning the dark forces that surrounded him. Arjuna immediately moved forward, his sword shining in the dim light. His warriors stood ready to fight by his side, but Arjuna knew that this war would be different.

Kiritan was powerful, far more powerful than any enemy he had faced. He wasn’t just a soldier - he was a general, a mastermind.

“I won’t let you take it,” said Arjuna, his voice steady despite fear.

The chief smiled. “You won’t have a choice in this matter.

With a deafening roar, Kiritan jumped forward, his huge sword crackling with dark energy. The battle for the Codex had begun.

Battle for the Codex

Arjun averted Kiritan’s first strike, but the force behind the blow almost hit him against the wall. He gritted his teeth, fighting to stand on his feet. Radhika, Meera and Vikram were already engaged in a war with Kiritan’s minions – shadowy figures that seemed to melt in and out of existence.

But Arjuna’s focus was on Kiritan. The Asura chieftain was not an ordinary opponent. He fought with a force of a thousand monsters, each strike designed to wipe out anything in his path.

“You are stronger than I expected,” said Arjuna through his teeth, his sword shaking with power. “But I won’t back down.

Kiritan laughed. “You can’t beat me. You are nothing but a mortal, a mere pawn in the grand game. The codex will be mine, and with it, I will tear the very fabric of reality.

But Arjuna’s eyes lit up with determination. That was it. This was the final exam. He had to defend the Codex, and he had to defeat Kiritan.

With a battle cry, Arjuna unleashed the full power of his sword, the blade shining brighter than ever. The battle was on.

Chapter end