1 Prologue 1

The Maurya Empire, Capital city of Magadha-

Tick tock tick tock…..

Agor was standing outside a huge chamber in a glittery hallway passage filled with golden decors and pearl white statues. He looked at the clock tower anxiously and berated through the chamber door right beside him.

"Your Excellency Prince Sharman Vir Maurya hurry up or you will be late for your own ceremony",

Sharman opened his eyes leisurely, it took him some time to register and get accustomed to the broad daylight. He could feel his dry throat and so he got up and started walking towards the side table situated near his bed while rubbing his eyes. Sharman poured some water from the kettle into a golden chalice before gulping it down in one sip.

But just as his head became clear, he heard a soft moan coming from behind him. Sharman as if he just realized something turned around with wide-open eyes, and what awaited him was a girl with slender and delicate figure sleeping on his bed squirming in delight. Half her body exposed while other half-covered with a white silky blanket, the sunlight falling on her blonde hair created a dazzling effect almost tempting Sharman to jump on the bed again.

But Sharman knew at the back of his mind something was amiss. He then recalled that last night on the occasion of his 'holy Ceremony' taking place the next day he had thrown a party for his friends and drank a lot in happiness, after all, he was going to become the youngest contender for the throne by undergoing the ceremony, well what happened thereafter didn't need an explanation.

But Just then Sharman heard the hoarse voice from coming from outside his chambers, he quickly remembered what exactly was amiss it was his absence for his own ceremony that was supposed to start 2 minutes earlier.

"Agor man give me some break, will you"Sharman replied in haste

Sharman then picked up the Royal Dress that was to be worn today and started dressing up. He then wrote a note on a screen tab and placed it on the side table which stated-

"Good Morning Alice, sorry for not accompanying you for the aftermath of our beastly activities but rest assured this won't be our last time and please do find your way out before the steward comes for cleaning"

Sharman then opened the door and started walking with Agor leading the way forward.

After a few minutes passed by Sharman was now standing in front of a huge door with royal knights clad in heavy armor guarding it on both sides.

Agor hurriedly started speaking as if afraid that Sharman will create some trouble. He was Sharman's butler and having seen Sharman grow up from a boy to a man he knew willingly or unwillingly Sharman had a unique trait of causing trouble everywhere he went.

"This is it, young master, now make sure not to pull off any stunts once you are inside or even her majesty Alita won't be able to help you."

Sharman winked at him casually commenting "you know me Agor, I never cause trouble" as he pushed open the door, barging in with wide confident steps, while the door behind him creaked before closing in again.

The Devil's Den...

Sharman walked in and was mesmerized by the grandeur of the hall, huge pillars supporting the magnificent crystal roof, viewing balconies created across them. But above all what impressed him was the aura that the hall emitted like that of an ancient beast in slumber. He also noticed that the temperature had increased quite much.

But what made him curious was the cultist feeling he was getting as he found the gazes of everyone directed towards him but as if that was not enough everyone in the hall was wearing a mask with devil horns on them covering the upper part of their faces

"Why so serious huh?"

Sharman almost cracked a smile.

His attention then fell upon the center of the hall where a huge circular altar stood up with an enormous red fire burning at its center.

But his focus was on none other than the Man who released constant surges of cold destructive aura that would make anyone shudder and kneel if directed towards them, Sharman recognized who that man was. His father 'Emperor of the Great Maurya Dynasty, Vir The Mighty'.

As Sharman climbed the stairs and stood upon the Alter, the emperor's gaze finally fell upon him, he had the urge to take a step back instinctually but just then a hand grabbed his shoulder firmly, the touch was light and soft Sharman immediately recognized who was under the mask, His Mother, Queen Alita. The woman he loved the most.

His mother then moved in front and tied the knot of Sharman's cape properly while speaking,

"My Dear Son… what was so important you had to attend to that you came late for your own ceremony"

Sharman just gave a dry laugh, while his mother continued, "I have calmed down your father but make sure you follow the rituals properly lest you anger him again, now go"

She then moved aside signaling Sharman to move ahead, Sharman finally stood in front of the Red Fire, The Emperor placed his hand in the flame. The priest Signalled Sharman to do the same.

The other priests on the alter then started chanting mantras, The fire started becoming more and more livelier.

Time passed by….

And the fire had now transformed into the shape of an eye, it looked at The Emperor then at Sharman, Sharman stood where he was without flinching even a bit. The eye as if it was provoked controlled the surrounding fire element which then rushed in Sharman's direction.

The fire made contact with him, he felt pain but this wasn't like the pain one felt while burning the pain was like something was burning the insides of his body, it was agonizing. Sharman Clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He still continued glaring at the Eye. Sharman had always been the most hardworking among all of his brethren but the sad part was that he had no talent for nothing neither sword skills nor hand to hand combat or even for guns and archery all but science and research. He was often called the 'Useless Scholar'.

Even his own father had denied his audience more than once on the pretext of, "I have more important matters to deal with instead of pampering a child".

Sharman didn't hate his father because he knew logically speaking the Emperor would always favor the strong. But Sharman wanted recognition which he never got neither from his brother and sisters or the nobles and nor from his own father so he endured the pain. This was his chance to get it, after all, today was the day the magic inside him was going to be awakened. and this Magic potential was entirely dependent on one's own talent.

Sharman endured until he clenched his jaw so hard that he could hear the gnashing of his jaws, blood seeped out of the corner of his lips but he still endured. He turned to look at the Emperor and imagined the cold indifferent look underneath the mask which made him even angrier, he looked at the crowd standing and watching him, he imagined there ridiculed faces underneath the masks he became angrier, He saw his mother's shivering hands, he imagined the look of worry on her face as he might be too weak to endure any more, he became angrier.

Sharman Finally closed his eyes after he opened them he was no longer the same, even if his prowess hadn't increased the vibe he gave was astoundingly threatening. He started walking towards the center of the fire, The entire crowd gasped at this sight.

As Sharman took the 5th step half of his entire body was covered in the red fire, Even the Emperor himself widened his eyes incredulously.

But Sharman had no plans of stopping yet, each step he took forward made the pain more and more worse but he endured it.

Finally, he stood entirely inside the fire and looked at the eye above it directly he noticed that the pain had stopped increasing, he then after collecting enough strength cracked a smirk signifying his victory to the eye.

Sharman's back was facing the audience so they didn't know what happened but Vir saw it clearly with his own eyes what happened, his own child had dared to ridicule the almighty flame of Satan. Vir involuntarily shook at this sight but there was a sense of pride and happiness flowing through his chest.

"This child...is indeed capable of leading the Maurya"

Even the Eye Showed a sign of surprise after which the entirety of the Red Fire Condensed into a smaller and smaller size and finally when it was the size of fist it changed color to Violet. The eye then took one final look at Sharman and dispersed into flames combining with the violet flame.

The Entire hall fell Silent, no one could believe what they were seeing right now. There had been records of blue flame but attaining a Violet flame was unprecedented. The flame of colors more or less defined one's talent in magic starting with red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, at the top there was also black flame but it was just stuff of legends as far as reality was concerned Violet meant the highest attunement in magic at least as per the Maurya Dynasty traditions.

The hall was filled with murmurs about the incident but just as Sharman was going to fall down due to strain caused on his body by the awakening he was supported by a strong shoulder firmly, he had never felt so secure before. Sharman turned to see who it was and was immediately shocked not only him but even the entire hall fell silent because the neck around which Sharman placed his arm for support was none other than that of The Emperor Vir himself.

Sharman then grabbed the flame with his other hand, he staggered but just then he heard a whisper coming from his father.

"realize who you are, let loose your powers, let loose the havoc, let loose the Devil inside you".

As if the reaction to this stimulation Sharman felt a strong surge of power running across him, he took heavy steps before opening his clenched fists and catching the fire violet fire which was immediately absorbed by his body and a red mark of a star inscribed in a circle formed on his forehead which became invisible slowly before the entirety of Sharman's aura burst in a ripple across the hall.

Whoosh !!!

The entire crowd shuddered some weaker one's even knelt as they watched a man floating in the sky with black feathers extending out from his back, the violet fiery aura he released made the entire atmosphere heavy.

The man finally opened his eyes, devil horns extended out from his forehead glowing by the same violet fiery color as the violet flame he absorbed, his eyes were sharp but calm like an unsheathed sword with a cold glint in them, his body surrounded by the violet flames, his ripped muscles all visibly pumped up forcing his clothes to tear open by even the slightest of the movement.

His entire body had turned into dark blue, His face resembled his old self but at the same time, the vibe he gave of was thousand times deadly and overwhelming, to say the least.

All knew as of this moment Sharman had finally awakened the Devil inside!