Sudarshan Chakra spun ceaselessly, its golden radiance illuminating the battlefield like an unyielding sun.
A streak of divine light ripped through the void, moving with the force of the cosmos itself. It shot toward Madhu, aiming straight for his throat. Only to erupt into a cascade of shimmering sparks, scattering like the remnants of sundered stars.
Yet, despite the sheer force behind Vishnu's divine weapon, Madhu stood untouched. The Sudarshan Chakra's relentless rotation continued, but the Asura remained unmoved.
Kaitabha did not hesitate.
With both hands, he raised his colossal mace. A weapon of unfathomable weight, forged in the depths of primordial chaos. As he swung it downward, the sheer force tore through the fabric of reality itself, shattering layers of space, collapsing voids like fragile glass.
BOOM!
The devastating strike was aimed straight at Vishnu.
Yet Vishnu's expression remained unreadable, neither sorrowful nor wrathful. His form flickered briefly, vanishing in an instant, only to reappear behind Madhu and Kaitabha, untouched
Without pause, Gada, the divine mace of Vishnu, swung out once more.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The battlefield became a maelstrom of flashing silhouettes and intertwining shadows—weapons clashing in an earth-shattering struggle that sent tremors through the very fabric of existence.
Another impact thundered across the heavens.
Brahma had only just arrived in the starry expanse when his eyes widened in shock—the entire sky was swallowed by the shadows of titanic weapons, their celestial presence crushing and suffocating.
For a moment, he faltered. The sacred Kamandalu in his hands nearly slipped from his grasp.
With a hurried breath, he steadied himself, fingers tightening around the sacred vessel. Then, his figure shimmered, dissolving into the vastness of space.
A soft hum lingered in the air.
And in the next moment, Brahma was gone.
...
The Asura generals did not hesitate. The moment the darkness receded, they vanished into the void, retreating without a sound.
Among the stars, a gathering of Devas stood in tense anticipation. Rishi Brihaspati and Narada hovered at the edge of the battlefield, their gazes fixed on the fading remnants of shadow.
"The darkness is gone," Brihaspati murmured. "The Vedas have been reclaimed. But where is the King of Svarga?"
"I don't know!" Agni said, his expression tight. "None of us saw where he went."
Surya scanned the celestial expanse, his brow furrowed.
Vayu blinked as realization struck. "I saw him," he said. "He moved too fast for me to react. He must have gone after Hayagriva."
The Devas exchanged glances, their unease slowly giving way to something else: hope.
If the darkness had lifted, if the Vedas had truly returned, then there could be only one explanation. Indra had defeated Hayagriva.
"So where is he now?" Brihaspati demanded.
A golden radiance flashed through the void.
Brahma, the Creator, materialized among them, his divine glow illuminating the heavens.
"Pranam, Lord Brahma!"
The Devas bowed as Brahma acknowledged them with a serene nod.
"Indra has slain Hayagriva and retrieved the Vedas," he declared. "We need only wait."
His words settled over them. A silence stretched for a moment, then shattered.
"He broke the boon of Hayagriva?" Narada asked, his voice laced with disbelief. "How?"
"Finally!" Surya exhaled, divine light shimmering around him. "We can return to Svarga!"
"Yes!" Vayu's voice brimmed with exhilaration. "Svarga belongs to the Devas once again!"
Relief rippled through the gathering.
The battle raged on. Vishnu still clashed with Madhu and Kaitabha, their power shaking the very fabric of the cosmos. Yet somewhere in the midst of it all, Indra had triumphed. Their realm, their dominion, their throne in Svarga would soon be reclaimed.
And then, the void trembled. A thunderous boom exploded through existence.
The battlefield quaked beneath the clash of divine forces, as the war raged on.
The Devas flinched but did not move. They had considered assisting but witnessing the sheer ferocity of Vishnu's battle, they knew better. Against such overwhelming power, they would only be in the way.
Brahma, too, turned his gaze toward the battlefield. His eyes narrowed.
Madhu. Kaitabha.
A quiet sigh escaped him.
"At least these two are not my creations."
The thought sent a shiver down Brahma's spine. He had already seen the disastrous consequences of unchecked divine blessings.
Madhu and Kaitabha, born from Vishnu's earwax, manifestations of Tamas (ignorance) and Rajas (passion), had emerged from the primordial darkness of creation.
Yet, in their arrogance, they dared to challenge their Creator.
It was Mahadevi, the Supreme Goddess, who granted them a boon. A very troublesome one at that. They could not be slain unless they willed it themselves.
And so, they ran unchecked.
The result? Calamity.
They had stolen the Vedas, tearing the fabric of knowledge from existence.
They had plunged the cosmos into darkness, wrenching away the wisdom that upheld dharma.
Brahma's expression hardened.
Power without purpose and wisdom? He condemned it completely.
If it were him, he would never grant such a boon so freely. No—he would test, temper, and refine his creations.
A true son of his would be disciplined, devoted, and above all, would never rise against the one who gave him life.
Brahma's mind swirled with thoughts.
Tread. Tread. Tread.
A snow-white horse stepped through the void, its divine hooves echoing across the endless expanse. The sound rippled through layers of space, piercing the stillness of the starry sky.
At once, all eyes turned.
Brahma's gaze followed the disturbance. His white beard shifted slightly as a knowing smile spread across his face.
Indra.
"Indra!" he called, his voice carrying through the heavens.
A murmur swept through the assembled Devas.
"King of Svarga!"
"He's returned!"
"Asura King Hayagriva is finally dead!"
Their voices rang out in the void, echoing Brahma's exclamation. Figures stepped forward, their eyes lifting toward the approaching rider.
The white horse galloped closer, cutting through the celestial expanse like a comet.
Indra sat atop his steed, holding the brick-like weight of the Vedas in his grasp. Knowledge itself lay heavy in his hands. His eyes flickered between Brahma, standing in quiet majesty, and Vishnu, still locked in a fierce battle against Madhu and Kaitabha.
What a fight.
Madhu and Kaitabha had spent countless years in Svarga, training, biding their time. In the end, they had summoned Brahma with the sheer power of their penance and stolen the Vedas. And now—
Indra's gaze narrowed slightly. Brahma wouldn't give these two another blessing… would he?
The thought lingered only for a moment. Then, with a fluid motion, he swung himself off the horse, feet landing lightly on the celestial skies. Clutching the Vedas in both hands, he stepped forward.
"Pranam, Lord Brahma." His voice was steady, solemn. "Hayagriva is dead. The Vedas have been reclaimed."
Brahma's expression brightened, the relief evident in his ageless eyes. He raised a hand, and at once, the four Vedas shimmered, lifting into the air in a golden radiance.
Swish!
The scriptures flew toward him, settling gently into his grasp.
And in an instant, infinite golden light flooded the Triloka.
The cosmos resonated with the Vedas' return. The balance of creation was restored. The wisdom of all living beings, once stolen, had returned to them once more.
The Devas stood transfixed. Some rejoiced, others watched in stunned silence, expressions shifting between awe, relief, and disbelief.
Brahaspati folded his hands, shaking his head lightly, an almost wistful warmth in his gaze. The Vedas were home.
Indra's grip on his staff tightened slightly. His golden eyes flickered.
The Vedas.
Hayagriva had taken them in a desperate bid to transcend the cycles of destruction and rebirth, to survive the next great calamity.
A dangerous thought crept into Indra's mind.
"Maybe the Vedas hold something for me, too." A wry smile ghosted across his lips. "I only have a little over four billion years left to live. If I could outlast even that… would I take the chance?"
His fingers curled slightly around the divine knowledge in his hands. "I should study them more… when I have time."
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