Chapter 20: The Oncoming Storm

The sun hung low in the sky as Shubhu, Satya, Ansh, Kavi, and Tara made their way back toward the village, the wind carrying the whispers of impending danger. The once calm journey had now taken a darker turn, as a palpable tension filled the air. Shubhu, in particular, couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. His instincts were rarely wrong, especially now that his powers had begun to resurface. The spirit whispers were louder than usual, almost urging him to move faster.

"Something's wrong," Shubhu muttered to Satya, who rode beside him. His horse's hooves thundered against the ground, matching the quickening rhythm of his heart.

Satya turned his head, his brows furrowed in concern. "I feel it too. Whatever it is, we need to reach Jedna village as quickly as possible."

At the same time, a shadow approached Jedna village from another direction. Karan, a figure clad in black robes, led a group of nine individuals, all dressed similarly. They moved with purpose, their eyes fixed on the outskirts of the village. The villagers were unaware of the storm that was about to hit them.

In a clearing just outside the village, Karan and his group stopped. They formed a perfect nine-pointed star formation on the ground, their movements precise and calculated. In the center of this formation, Karan raised his hands, chanting in a language forgotten by most of the world. A sinister energy began to emanate from the ground as nine portals opened simultaneously in front of each member. Their dark swirling depths pulsated with malevolent power.

Every hour, nine new portals would open, and this would continue until 81 portals stood open. This was an evil formation, and wherever it had been activated before, no living soul had survived. Jedna village was now under the same dark curse.

As the first portals crackled to life, monsters began pouring out—hideous, grotesque creatures that seemed to embody pure malice. They snarled and roared as they tore their way out of the rifts in reality, their blood-red eyes scanning the peaceful village for prey.

---

Meanwhile, in the nearby adventurer guild, chaos was erupting. A disheveled adventurer burst through the doors, his face pale with fear and exhaustion. His armor was cracked, and his sword hung limply at his side, covered in dark blood.

"We're all going to die!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "The star formation... it's been activated! We're doomed!"

The guildhall fell silent as his words sunk in. This was not just any threat; this was something they had only heard about in dark legends. Those who had encountered a star formation and survived to tell the tale were few, and even they had never seen it fully activate.

The adventurer fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "My entire team... they're all dead. They were mid-rank God heirs... A-rank adventurers... but they were slaughtered. We didn't stand a chance."

Fear gripped the hearts of those gathered in the guild. The clattering of chairs and panicked footsteps filled the air as adventurers began rushing toward the exits, their survival instincts kicking in.

Just as pandemonium was about to break loose, a strong voice cut through the noise. "Why are you running?" Maya, the heir of the God of Voice, stood tall in the center of the room, her voice amplified by her divine power. "Have you all forgotten who you are? We are the survivors of one of the greatest disasters in history. We faced gods and monsters alike and emerged stronger for it. Now you cower at the first sign of true danger?"

Her words rang out like a clarion call, halting the fleeing adventurers in their tracks.

She continued, her voice full of righteous fury. "You trust Guild Master Gaurav, don't you? The first low-level god to complete the God Trial. The God of Strength! He's not running. Why are you?"

The room stilled as Guild Master Gaurav stepped forward, his massive figure commanding respect. He was a legend among adventurers—a man who had faced countless horrors and lived to tell the tale. His muscles rippled as he lifted his enormous battle-axe, the very weapon that had helped him ascend to godhood. His eyes burned with determination.

"If I die today," Gaurav boomed, his voice deep and unwavering, "I'll take a hundred of those monsters down with me."

The guild erupted in a cheer, the fear momentarily forgotten as Gaurav transformed. His body glowed with divine energy as he entered his God transformation. His vest morphed into a solid iron armor, the markings of a low-tier god emblazoned across it. His axe grew in size, now as tall as his massive 6-foot-7-inch frame. The air around him seemed to vibrate with raw power.

The adventurers, inspired by their leader's courage, readied their weapons, preparing to face whatever horrors would come their way. Maya, her voice still carrying the energy of the gods, shouted one last rallying cry. "We fight! Not just for ourselves, but for those who can't fight—the children, the weak, those who've yet to learn how to wield their powers. We stand together, or we fall apart!"

---

At the same moment, miles away, Shubhu's sense of dread deepened. He gripped the reins of his horse tighter, urging it to move faster. Satya rode beside him, equally tense.

"We need to reach the village," Shubhu said, his voice low but urgent. "Something... something terrible is happening. I can feel it."

The wind seemed to grow colder as they galloped toward Jedna village. Shubhu's powers, though still not fully awakened, were sensitive to the shifts in reality. He could feel the tear in the fabric of space that the star formation had caused. It was like a festering wound in the world, and it was only growing worse with each passing second.

Satya nodded, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "We'll make it. We have to."

---

Back at the village, Ansh had nearly arrived. His breath came in short bursts as he ran, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the faint roars of monsters in the distance, and the sky above the village seemed darker, more ominous than it had been just moments ago.

As he reached the village outskirts, the first wave of monsters broke through the tree line, their grotesque forms barely visible in the encroaching shadows. Ansh gritted his teeth, drawing his weapon. He knew he couldn't hold them all off alone, but he had to buy time for the others.

The village was still blissfully unaware of the terror that was about to descend upon them, but Ansh would fight with everything he had to protect it. Even if it cost him his life.

---

Key Details

1. Karan and the Evil Star Formation: Karan and eight others dressed in black activate an ancient and evil star formation just outside Jedna village. This formation opens nine portals every hour, unleashing monsters. The process will continue until 81 portals are open, and no one has survived where this formation has been used before.

2. Shubhu and Satya's Race Against Time: Shubhu senses something deeply wrong and races toward Jedna village with Satya. His growing powers make him more aware of the danger, but he doesn't yet know what exactly they're heading into.

3. Ansh's Arrival at the Village: Ansh, who is already close to the village, encounters the first wave of monsters. His goal is to protect the village, even though he knows he is outmatched.

4. Guild Master Gaurav and Maya's Rally: In the adventurer guild, chaos erupts when an adventurer reports that the star formation has been activated. Maya, the heir of the God of Voice, and Guild Master Gaurav, the first low-level God of Strength, rally the adventurers to stand and fight, rather than flee.

5. The Tension Builds: The chapter sets the stage for an impending large-scale battle as the village comes under attack from the monstrous forces unleashed by the star formation.