CHAPTER 12

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In the grand halls of the Daitya Palace, Diti stood proudly before her son Ajashakti as she praised him for uniting the Danavas, Rakshasas, and Daityas under one banner.

Her eyes gleamed with admiration as she spoke, "My son, you have achieved what no other has dared to dream. You have united the three great races under one banner."

Her words were met with thunderous applause and cheers. The assembled warriors, their faces painted with war-like hues, roared their approval. Ajashakti bowed his head, a humble gesture belied by the triumphant glint in his eyes.

"Together, we will shake the very foundations of the Devas and shall conquer all who dare to oppose us, and our reign shall be unmatched in its glory," she proclaims, her words ringing with certainty.

Amidst the clamoring applause and fervent cheers, Vakrang stood in a shadowed corner of the grand hall. His eyes, once filled with the fire of leadership, now held a smoldering resentment. The once proud king of the Daityas, now reduced to a mere spectator, watched as his mother, Diti, showered Ajashakti with praise. His grip tightened around his mace. A bitter taste rose in his mouth as he listened to the crowd's adoration for the usurper.

Pralayant stepped forward from the throng of Danavas, "Aunt Diti, we have united our forces under the banner of Asur-raj Ajashakti. Our strength is unparalleled. Now is the time to strike. Let us conquer Swarglok and claim the divine realms as our own."

A surge of excitement rippled through the crowd. The prospect of war against the Devas ignited a fervor in their hearts. Diti's eyes gleamed with a predatory light. Her voice, a command echoing through the hall, confirmed their course, "Pralayant, you speak the truth. The time for conquest is upon us. We shall march on Swarglok and claim it as our own."

"Do not dare to proceed," A voice boomed, carrying an authority that silenced the clamor.

All eyes turned towards the massive, ornate doors at the far end of the hall. There stood an old man, his figure shrouded in an aura of mystery. His appearance was striking. His skin was etched with lines of wisdom, and his eyes, though veiled by age, held a depth of knowledge that seemed to pierce through the souls of those present.

With a deliberate step, he entered the hall, his presence commanding attention. His gait was slow, supported by a gnarled wooden staff, yet there was an unmistakable aura of authority in his bearing. Despite the apparent frailty suggested by his reliance on the staff, his physique was surprisingly robust.

"Lest you all desire your own destruction." He stated calmly.

Ajashakti's gaze locked onto the sage, a frown deepening the lines on his brow. There was an unsettling aura about the old man. There was something about him that stirred an unfamiliar sensation within him. A flicker of recognition, a ghost of a memory, danced at the edge of his consciousness. It was as if he had seen this man before, in a life or realm far removed from his current reality.

Pralayant broke the tense silence. His voice, sharp and demanding, echoed through the hall. "Who are you ? And what gives you the audacity to question our resolve ?"

His words were met with a chorus of agreement from the assembled Daityas, Danavas, and Rakshasas. Ajashakti, shaken from his reverie by Pralayant's question, found himself drawn back to the present.

"They call me Subramanyam." The sage's voice held a serene tranquility as he responded, "And I have come here to ensure the welfare of the Asuras."

Ketunemi, the Rakshasa king, his eyes narrowed with suspicion, broke the silence. "How are we to know if you truly are a well-wisher of our kind ?"

Subramanyam's lips curved into a serene smile. His eyes held a depth of wisdom that seemed to penetrate the skepticism of the crowd. "I am a well-wisher of all creatures, be they Devas, Asuras, or humans.'

"Are you here to prevent us from conquering Swarglok ?" Diti asked.

Subramanyam's gaze met Diti's with unwavering calm. "It is not my purpose to hinder your ambitions," he replied evenly. "I am here to warn you, not to stop you. If you attack now, you might as well build your own funeral pyres."

"Then tell us, wise one," Diti demanded, her voice laced with a hint of desperation, "when is the opportune moment to strike ?"

"Before you embark on this path of conquest," He began, "you must first conduct a great yagna. Purify yourselves through sacred fire, and seek the blessings of the divine."

A collective murmur rippled through the crowd of Asuras. Their eyes darted between each other, confusion and disbelief etched on their faces. Ajashakti's gaze was fixed on Diti, his expression a mask of impassivity. He could sense the undercurrent of dissent brewing among his followers. Diti stood motionless, her mind racing, trying to reconcile the sage's advice with her own ambitions.

"Fine." Diti, after a moment of contemplation, finally nodded in agreement. If this sage was indeed a well-wisher, as he claimed, then perhaps his advice could be a strategic advantage.

Subramanyam's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Prepare for the yagna, everything should be ready by the full-moon." he instructed.

With those words, he turned and walked towards the grand doors, his figure slowly disappearing from view. As the sage vanished from sight, Ajashakti's gaze remained fixed on the spot where he had stood. A sense of unease gnawed at him. There was something profoundly unsettling about the old man, something that went beyond his enigmatic words and wise demeanor.

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A/N

Arrey Subrahmanyam aur koi nahi, apetu humare Subrahmanyam Kartikeya ji hai 🌝✨

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