The Test Has Begun

Chapter 02 : The test has begun

"What is it, Master?" Karna asked, deep concern etched on his face. The head priest, his visage a mask of wisdom and curiosity, replied reassuringly, "My son, Karna, fear not. I am your master, and together, we shall unravel this mystery."

Alokdhama, a small island nestled to the south of Abhivyktadesh, held secrets that had been lost in time. According to local folklore, Abhivyktadesh was once a unified land ruled by mighty Devas, god-like beings known for their mastery of martial arts and weapons. These Devas were not just protectors but teachers, passing down their knowledge through the ages. They created various martial arts techniques, and their legacy lived on, safeguarding the people from the encroaching darkness.

The head priest, a disciple of one such monastery, was a guardian of this ancient knowledge. His venerable eyes, filled with both experience and curiosity, examined Karna. He sensed a unique energy coursing through Karna's veins, a power unlike any he had encountered before. It seemed to repel the surrounding darkness. He couldn't help but wonder which deity had left their divine inheritance within Karna.

"Karna," the master urged gently, "try to sense the presence of this power and describe what you feel."

"Yes, master", Karna answered.

Karna, under the watchful gaze of his master, closed his eyes and delved deep within himself. He could sense the mysterious power, no larger than a grain of sand, coursing through his bloodstream. Though small, its presence emanated a profound aura, dispelling the darkness around him.

The master watched closely, knowing that Karna's description might hold the key to unraveling this mystery. Karna knew his master would never let him suffer any backlashes. As Karna continued to focus, the presence of this power became more tangible.

Encouraged by his master's unwavering support, Karna decided to attempt Amitva once more. He picked up his weapon, an Urumi, a flexible sword with a whip-like blade. He chose this weapon for its versatility—it could be used as a sword, a whip, or wielded with the fluidity of water, allowing for unpredictable strikes.

In Alokdhama, mastering weapons followed distinct stages. Karna had already achieved the 'Abhivadya' stage, where harmony between the weapon and the practitioner was realized. Strikes flowed effortlessly, and combat's ebb and flow became second nature. Now, he aspired to reach the 'Smarth Yodha' stage. This advanced stage allowed the practitioner to infuse their inner energy into the weapon, forming a unique weapon spirit.

However, gaining a weapon spirit was no easy task. It required passing a trial set by the Devas themselves. This spirit resonated with the wielder's soul, reacting to even the slightest intent during combat.

As Karna prepared for his training, the master pondered the significance of this newfound power. It held the promise of safeguarding Alokdhama from the looming darkness. He remembered everything started when he entered the trial of Devas.

----------------------------------------------------

Few months ago.

Karna had always been a peerless genius among his peers. Though he was an orphan, he learned from his master that his master found him near the capital city of Abhivyktadesh. He was on his trip meet his childhood gurukula¹ friend. He didn't knew what to do with the baby.

But suddenly an ascetic in white robes appeared infront of him. There were many sects in the capital city and white-clad sect was one among them. The man had a picchi made of fallen peacock feathers in his hand.

"Son, take the boy home, groom him as your son, he would be filial to you and to the land. Teach him what you know, he would be a genius in the future who would surpass you.", said the person and disappeared infront of eyes.

Head priest : (⊙_☉)

The head priest was flabbergasted because he had vowed to uphold his chastity.

He sighed and took the baby to his monastery. The bond between them was excellent. They were more than like a Master and disciple or father and son. Both trusted each other to the core. They were like best friends.

Karna's journey towards forming a weapon spirit took an unexpected turn when he ventured into a sacred cave. This cave was hidden deep within the mystical forest. It was known only to the most accomplished disciples, a place of great trials where few dared to tread.

The cave was in the deepest part of the mystical forest . none of the islands had direct access to the cave directly. So disciples who were excellent had to find a path which might bring to the cave.

The selected few as a group who had mastered 'abhivadya' stage tread towards the cave. They may encounter some wild animals or demon beats who were controlled by the dark power. These beats would attack anyone and consider them as their prey. There weren't any herbivores animals after the invasion dark powers. Some animals had a strange regenerative power that helped them to resurrect themselves even if it was only a piece of flesh remaining. So the forest was always filled with animals.

Deeru," I didn't expect Deep guruji to sent me this early to Trails cave."

Anurag, "what's there to expect every disciple who master the abhivadya would have to attempt this trail if you wanted to be powerful."

Sachin, "hmph, it's very tough to find the path even we go as a group, but I don't understand why Karna Bhai is along with us. He is just 17."

Deeru, " my guruji said he is a genius and mastered the abhivadya at this young age"

Anurag, "sigh, he might be peerless but he has never fought with us yet. So how could we test his strength?"

Sachin, "Bhai, why are you so silent ? We trying to have a conversation here."

Karna looked at them seriously and said, " dont make much noise the demon beats are very strong. If we encounter any powerful one we might have to seek help from gurus. But if we use it we cannot enter the trail this year"

Anurag, " don't be so silly. We are four here. We might fight even if we find a demon best with 'red-horned beats'."

The beasts were differed from their power according to the color of their horns. The lowest rank among them were hornless dark beats. And red-horned, purple-horned, or black-horned. The dark energy they hold differs them other normal beasts. Normal beats weren't affected by the dark power. The question is still unanswered .

The group slowly advanced though it was little noisy karna had no choice rather than joining them. He was cheerful boy though he was very strict in his cultivation. His master never allowed him to fight with his peers other than talking and mingling with them. He was repeatedly asked to spar with his master. And he was always injured or exhausted after his training.

"Grrrrrr"

The sudden sound made the whole group to be trembled. Karna looked ahead without fear. He took out his weapon, a 'Ponthi'. It is a weapon consisted of a long staff or pole, typically made of bamboo or a similar lightweight material. At one end of the staff, there was a curved, bladed attachment resembling the beak of a bird. This blade is often sharp and can be used for striking and slicing.

Though the group was frightened by the sudden growl of the beast but suddenly recovered themselves from initial stupor and wielded their weapon.

Anurag held a pattari, a short sword. Sachin had a Paricha, a broadsword with a thick, double-edged blade. And Deeru held his Kuruvadi, a smaller, dagger-like sword. Everyone stood in their fighting pose. Suddenly a beast sprang infront of them. It was a hornless beast, it's head was similar to a rabbit with long pointy ears, but it's legs were similar to a guinea-pig, body wasn't short or small but of the size of a calf, looking similar to a cat. It looked at them fiercely and growled.

"Grrrrr"

Karna, "Sachin attack it from left, I would hold it down of it hopes again."

Suddenly the beast jumped towards karna as he was at the front. Karna held his ponthi tight, and let his inner energy pass through his each blood vessel and took the first of his martial art. As the beast jumped towards him, he quickly moved towards the right and held one end of the ponthi and struck the metal sword part towards the beast. As he struck attained perfect harmony with the weapon, the metal sword penetrated the hide of the beat and it howled in pain.

"Meowwwwww"

Right at the moment Sachin moved to the left and slashed his paricha towards the beast. It head and body was separated.

One of the master who was watching them silently from afar muttered, " the test has begun."

To be continued.

[Author's note: it's my first attempt to right a novel combining different ideas of Indian myths and South Indian martial arts and weapons. I am trying to combine wuxia to this styles to create a fantasy world for me. Please don't mind if anything you find is contradictory to the reality😜😜]