Chapter 35: "Awakening of the Timeless Guardian"

Shubhu's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Ansh's lifeless body. Trembling, he said, "Brother... forgive me... it's because of me that you had to lose your life." His heart was heavy with sorrow and regret. He knelt where he stood, consumed by the thought of what he could do to save his friends, Tara and Kavi, from the Dark King's dimension.

Though Shubhu had become a divine being, his memories from his previous life had not yet returned. Moreover, he was still unable to use his time and space powers to their full potential.

Suddenly, as Shubhu was immersed in his grief, a voice pulled his attention. It was Satyam's voice. Emerging from the mist, Satyam ran up to Shubhu, panicked, and said, "Shiva! You're here! We need to leave, now!"

Shubhu looked at him in surprise and asked, "Why? What's going on?"

Satyam spoke gravely, "All the gods have told their successors that you are the one responsible for this terrible destruction. And now, they are all coming to kill you."

Shubhu took a deep breath and asked, "So, you won't take revenge on me? Do you still trust me?"

Satyam looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Whatever happens, you are my friend, and I will stand by you."

At that moment, Saras, Shubhu's spirit, appeared and warned, "King, you must leave immediately. If you stay, more trouble will come your way."

Shubhu nodded and, using his space powers, transported himself and Satyam to the dimension where he had first met his spirits. When Satyam arrived there, his eyes widened in disbelief. He exclaimed, "How did you get here? This is unbelievable!"

Shubhu spoke softly, "Perhaps the experiment that caused all of this also gave me these powers."

Satyam observed the surroundings carefully and said, "Shubhu, you may not realize it, but these powers are not ordinary. There is a divine essence within them, and it's an immensely powerful divinity."

Then Satyam asked, "Where are Kavi and Tara?"

Shubhu responded with a sorrowful voice, "They are trapped in the Dark King's dimension. I have to save them."

Satyam looked at Ansh's body, still lying beside Shubhu. Shubhu said again, his voice filled with grief, "It's because of me that Ansh died."

Satyam took a deep breath and said, "Shubhu, gods don't die. They just get trapped somewhere, and since Ansh has become the Water God, it's possible he might return to life."

Believing in Satyam's words, Shubhu used his new space powers to send Ansh's body to a pocket dimension so that it would remain safe, leaving the hope of his return intact.

Now, Shubhu's face became serious. He said, "We have to save Kavi and Tara, no matter what. But how do we get to the Dark King's dimension?"

Just then, Shubhu felt an odd presence. Suddenly, a dark spirit appeared, named Ark. Bowing before Shubhu, Ark said, "King, we can help you reach there."

At that moment, around 20 other dark spirits arrived. They all looked at Shubhu, and one of them spoke, "From what we can sense, there are at least 120 dark dimensions. And with the help of your space powers, we can travel through them all and help you find your friends."

Shubhu tried once again to regain control over his new powers. He used his space abilities to empower the dark spirits. An incredible light radiated from them, and each spirit began the process of entering different dimensions.

Shubhu's face was serious, but a new power and determination had awakened within him. He was beginning to understand that he had control over time and space, but there was still much he needed to learn to use it effectively. Nevertheless, he had made a vow to save his friends. No matter how dark it got, no matter how many powers were against him, Shubhu was no longer going to retreat.

Author's Thought:

As the story continues to evolve, Shubhu's character is reaching a pivotal moment where his divine powers are awakening, but he is still grappling with the weight of responsibility and guilt for the events that have unfolded. This chapter highlights Shubhu's inner turmoil, not only as someone who caused devastation but also as a being of immense potential who is learning to harness godlike powers. His struggle to balance both his mortal and divine identity is central to his journey.

In writing this chapter, I wanted to explore the theme of sacrifice, particularly through Ansh's decision to protect Shubhu despite the overwhelming odds. This sacrifice acts as the catalyst for Shubhu's transformation. It forces him to confront his own weakness, triggering the release of his latent abilities. Ansh's fall serves as both a moment of great sorrow and the beginning of Shubhu's path toward mastering time and space.

The introduction of the dark spirits and their willingness to assist Shubhu is also crucial as it sets the tone for future alliances. Shubhu's journey will not be one of solitary strength; it will involve building connections with both spirits and mortals who see beyond his past mistakes and recognize the potential for redemption and change.

In this chapter, I aimed to show that even amidst chaos and destruction, there is room for growth, self-realization, and hope. Shubhu's awakening signifies that the true battle is just beginning, and his role as the avatar of the God of Time and Space will challenge not only his power but also his moral compass.