Chapter No.17 Ashvasena (1/?)

[Aditya's POV]

"Fools~"

The remaining bandits faltered for a moment, their eyes widening as they saw the Leviathan Axe return to my hand. I could sense their fear, but desperation still drove them forward. Their movements were reckless, their attacks poorly coordinated, only then did I realised—

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[Name: Hissing Trouble]

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THEY ARE JUST BAITS!!!

"Ivaldi's Anvil!"

Just as the realization hit me, I activated Ivaldi's Anvil once again. The Leviathan Axe surged with energy as I jumped into the air, ready to deliver another devastating blow. But this time, something felt off. The bandits charging toward me weren't retreating like before—they were sacrificing themselves, rushing directly into the radius of my attack.

I slammed the axe into the ground, unleashing the frosty shockwave. Ice spread out in every direction, freezing the charging bandits in place. But instead of relief, dread gripped my heart. Why were they rushing so blindly into certain death?

Sizzle~~

From the weapons of the frozen bandits dark green liquid fell on the ice—the liquid began to hiss and sizzle as it touched the frozen ground, melting the ice with alarming speed. It was clear now: this was some kind of acid or poison!

The realization hit me like a hammer. The bandits had been nothing more than pawns in a larger, more sinister plot. Their reckless charge had a purpose—not to win the fight, but to deliver this noxious substance.

The frost from my Leviathan Axe hissed as the dark green liquid spread across the battlefield, rapidly dissolving the ice I had created. I could hear the unsettling sizzle as it ate through the frozen remains of the bandits, steam rising in thick, toxic clouds. The very air seemed to burn with the pungent stench of the acid.

I stepped back instinctively, pulling Draupadi farther into the carriage as the poison began to spread. I had to think quickly. Whoever had sent these bandits had anticipated my strength, and this was their counterattack. The acid would render my frost magic useless, and if it reached us, there would be no way to protect Draupadi from the deadly fumes.

"Aditya," Draupadi whispered, her voice laced with concern as she peeked over the seat, her eyes wide with fear. "What's happening? Is it—"

"We're not safe yet," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos around us. "This attack isn't just random. They knew we'd be here, and they came prepared."

I scanned the surroundings, looking for the true masterminds behind the ambush. The bandits had been disposable. The real threat was still hidden, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath us.

"Move, Draupadi!" I shouted as I grabbed her and leapt from the carriage, just as a massive, jagged fissure erupted through the earth where we had been standing moments before. The ground split open, and from the dark abyss, a towering figure emerged.

A huge serpent, scales as dark as the shadows of night, slithered forth with deadly grace. Its eyes gleamed with malevolence, fixed upon us with hunger and intent. This was no ordinary serpent; it was a creature of nightmares, summoned by dark magic and malice.

"Ah~ Finallyssss I found youssss, Last member of that wretched royal Sindhussss~" The serpent's voice slithered through the air, deep and resonant, echoing with ancient power. Its massive form coiled in the dust, dark scales shimmering like obsidian under the dim light. I could feel Draupadi tense beside me, her breath quickening in fear as she stared at the monstrous creature.

Then it clicked in my mind!

The entire royal family of Sindhu Kingdom was killed or poisoned by Takshaka for some reason, but I know the one in front of me isn't Takshaka.

"Who are you?"

The serpent's eyes narrowed, glinting with an unearthly intelligence as it regarded me. "You dare question me, wretched prince? I Ashvasena, Son of great Takshaka, am the one who has come to claim your life. If you want to blame someone then blame that fool Jayadratha who killed my mother, the great Naag Rani. Your bloodline shall fall before me, just as my mother did at the hands of your kin!"

A rush of anger surged through me as I processed Ashvasena's words. This serpent was not merely an attacker; he was a direct descendant of the one responsible for the atrocities committed against my family. The weight of his hatred bore down upon me like a heavy shroud.

'Its time to get serious!'

I released the Leviathan axe from hands as it fall on the ground with thud! and summoned Gandiva Dhanush to my grasp. The bow felt light and familiar, a weapon that resonated with my very soul. The strings pulsed with an energy of their own, ready to unleash a torrent of arrows imbued with my will. I drew it back, the tension building as I aimed at Ashvasena, my focus unwavering.

Swish!

A volly of golden arrows arced through the air, each one shimmering with divine light as they soared toward the serpent. The power of the Apollo's template coursed through me, enhancing my strength and precision. I could feel the energy of the arrows amplifying, ready to strike true.

With a swift and practiced motion, the volley of golden arrows arced through the air, shimmering with divine light as they closed the distance towards Ashvasena. Each arrow hummed with potent energy, their tips glowing brightly as they sought their target.

Ashvasena, the serpent of malice, moved with uncanny speed and agility. Despite his massive size, he dodged and weaved through the barrage of arrows with supernatural grace. Some arrows glanced off his scales, while others he deflected with a flick of his tail, sending them spiraling harmlessly into the ground.

"You think these petty tricks can harm me, royal whelp?" Ashvasena's voice echoed with disdain as he mocked my efforts. His eyes gleamed with amusement, a dark smile twisting his serpentine features. "Your arrows are nothing against the might of a true Naag!"

The frustration built within me, but I focused, drawing upon the reserves of strength and determination. The Apollo's template lent its power, enhancing my agility and accuracy, but Ashvasena proved a formidable opponent. His movements were calculated, anticipating my every shot with eerie precision.

As the last arrow flew from Gandiva Dhanush, Ashvasena seized the opportunity. With a lightning-fast strike, he lunged forward, jaws agape, aiming to ensnare me in his deadly embrace. His fangs dripped with venom, poised to inject their lethal payload into my veins.

Reacting swiftly, I summoned Leviathan Axe back into my hand. With a swift motion, I intercepted Ashvasena's attack, bringing the axe down with all my strength. The axe's frosty blade clashed against the serpent's scales, sending sparks flying as the impact reverberated through the battlefield.

The Leviathan Axe's magic surged through the serpent's body, causing him to recoil momentarily. The frost magic disrupted his attack, freezing the venom dripping from his fangs and slowing his movements. It bought me precious seconds to evade his deadly embrace.

"River of Knives!"

The Leviathan Axe hummed with power as I slammed it into the ground, invoking the River of Knives runic attack. Ice shards erupted from the earth in a devastating wave, slicing through the air towards Ashvasena with lethal precision. The serpent twisted and writhed, attempting to evade the onslaught, but the ice shards found their mark, tearing through his scales and sending him reeling back with a roar of pain.

The battlefield trembled as the ice shards continued their relentless assault, creating a barrier between us and the serpent. Ashvasena thrashed wildly, his form shrouded in frost as he struggled to break free from the icy prison encasing him. But the River of Knives held firm, its magical assault keeping him at bay for the moment.

"Draupadi, stay back!" I shouted over the din, my voice carrying a note of urgency as I gestured for her to retreat further from the serpent's reach. She nodded, eyes wide with fear but filled with trust in my ability to protect her.

With Ashvasena momentarily contained, I seized the opportunity to assess our surroundings. The acid poison continued to spread, its noxious fumes lingering in the air and threatening to engulf us if we didn't act swiftly. We needed a plan to defeat Ashvasena once and for all, and to neutralize the threat of the poison before it overcame us.

Drawing upon the Apollo's template once more, I focused my thoughts, seeking a strategy that would turn the tide in our favor. The serpent of malice was a formidable foe, but I was determined to avenge my family and protect Draupadi from harm.

As Ashvasena's struggles against the River of Knives intensified, I prepared to unleash another barrage of attacks. With Gandiva Dhanush at the ready, I pulled the strings with all my might bending the golden energy into a single, powerful arrow, infused with the essence of my resolve. This arrow would be different embedded with tiny divinity of sun I had after assimilation increased to 70% after defeating Arjuna.

"Sun Strike: Solar Eclipse !"

The arrow enveloped in black flames as I released it with a fierce determination, the air crackling with energy. It shot forth like a comet, a radiant explosion of golden light trailing behind it. The very essence of the sun seemed to pulse within it, amplifying its power beyond comprehension.

Swish!

Whoosh~

The air screamed with pain, the earth blackend from heat so intense, trees caught fire just from the heat radiating from the arrow as it soared through the air, frozen ice evaporated in an instant, the sound of the hissing acid drowned out by the roar of my Solar Eclipse arrow. It soared towards Ashvasena, illuminating the battlefield with an otherworldly glow that seemed to momentarily banish the shadows surrounding us.

"NOOOO!" Ashvasena bellowed, his serpentine form twisting in a desperate attempt to evade the oncoming blast. But there was no escape; the arrow struck true, colliding with the serpent's scales in a brilliant explosion of light and energy.

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and for a brief moment, I could see the silhouette of Ashvasena outlined in the golden brilliance of the Solar Eclipse. The dark scales of the serpent shimmered under the intense light, the very fabric of the battlefield seeming to bend and warp around us.

As the explosion subsided, a thick cloud of smoke and debris filled the air. I squinted through the haze, desperately searching for any sign of the serpent.

When the smoke cleared, the sight before me was both satisfying and alarming. Ashvasena lay coiled on the ground, its dark scales melted away leaving only sizzling and brunt flesh, revealing the raw, exposed flesh beneath. The serpent writhed in agony, its once-mighty form now weakened, but the glint of malevolence remained in its eyes, flickering like dying embers.

"You... you will pay for this," Ashvasena spat, the words laced with venomous fury, even as it struggled to rise. "This is far from over, little prince."

My heart raced as I watched the serpent's persistence. It was clear this fight wouldn't end easily, and I needed to finish it before it could recover. The poisonous acid was still creeping closer, and I had no time to waste.

"You're right; it's time to end this," I said, steeling myself for the final confrontation. I could feel the power of the Apollo's template surging within me, the golden energy of the sun coursing through my veins, amplifying my determination.

With a fierce resolve, I summoned the Leviathan Axe once more, its frosty blade gleaming in the dim light. The air crackled with energy as I prepared to unleash the full might of my abilities against Ashvasena.

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[To Be Continue]

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