The darkness that enveloped Rudra upon stepping into the sanctum of Kartavirya Arjun's trial was unlike anything he had ever felt. It was not physical darkness, but the void of isolation, where sound, time, and even thoughts seemed muted. As he blinked, the world shifted. He was no longer the boy who had roamed Bharatvarsha as Baal Rishi. Here, he was stripped of all the divine boons he once wielded.
All his boons—Supreme Velocity, Supreme Instrument Creation, Supreme Absorption, and even his Aura of Divinity—were nullified. This was the trial space, governed by Kartavirya Arjun's residual will, crafted to test the essence of a warrior, not his powers.
Rudra stood at the edge of a colossal mountain range under a stormy sky, his body wearing a simple dhoti, his hands empty. A disembodied voice—deep and ancient—rumbled through the air.
"Welcome, heir of Mahishmati. This is the domain of your trial. Only the blood of royalty can awaken the path, but only the worthy can walk it. You have entered alone. You will remain alone. Your mind and heart shall be weighed."
Thus began the Trial of the Will.
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First Trial: The Temptation of Power
Rudra awoke in a splendid palace, surrounded by beautiful maidens, mountains of treasure, and banners bearing his name. He was hailed as the emperor of the world, worshiped by kings and adored by the people.
It felt real. Too real. His heart wavered.
But deep within, a whisper from his soul echoed. "This is not your Dharma. This is not earned."
He closed his eyes and let go. The illusion shattered. He was back in the stormy mountains.
"You denied false greatness. You remember humility. You pass the first trial," the voice echoed.
---
Second Trial: The Abyss of Despair
He stood at the mouth of a deep ravine. Inside, echoes of screams, cries of loved ones dying, and images of his failure played before his eyes.
He saw Ishita being slain, his parents imprisoned, and his kingdom burning.
Fear gripped him, guilt crushed his chest.
But he grit his teeth and whispered, "This is not real. But the pain it shows is real. I accept this fear. I will not run."
The visions faded.
"You faced despair and chose to rise. You pass the second trial."
---
Third Trial: The Path of Sacrifice
A child appeared before him, crying for food. Then another, wounded. Then a mother holding her dead son.
He was presented with a choice—save one, or let all die. He tried everything, but there was no way to save them all. He cried, pleaded, even cut himself to give blood as nourishment.
When all seemed lost, the world collapsed.
"You embraced the pain of helplessness. True compassion is not saving all, but feeling their suffering. You pass the third trial."
---
Fourth Trial: The Mirror of the Self
Rudra was now face to face with another Rudra.
This Rudra had grown arrogant, used his powers to dominate, and become feared.
"You are me if you walk without Dharma," the dark Rudra said.
The battle that followed wasn't one of strength, but ideals. It ended when Rudra embraced his darker self and said, "You are my shadow. But I choose light."
"You accept your flaws. You pass the fourth trial."
---
Fifth Trial: The Silence of the Soul
He was thrown into a void. No light. No sound. No thoughts. Days passed. Maybe weeks. There was no hunger, no pain, but no stimulation either.
Only endless silence.
Most would go mad.
But Rudra meditated. He remembered his Dharma, his people, his sister, Ishita, and the smile of his mother. He held on.
Finally, a golden light emerged, and the mountain landscape returned.
"You conquered solitude. You pass the fifth and final trial."
---
When Rudra emerged from the final trial platform, he stood taller. His body was stronger, his mind sharper, but most of all, his soul—radiant.
Kartavirya Arjun's massive astral form descended from the heavens, his thousand arms folded in reverence.
"You have done what few could. You have passed my soul trial. You are worthy of my teachings."
Before Rudra could speak, the Karma & Dharma Return System rang in his mind.
[Ding! You have passed the Soul Trial of Kartavirya Arjun.]
[10000x Karma Reward Granted: Supreme Spiritual Maya]
Your mental strength, perception, and clarity have reached a divine level.
You can craft and control illusions so real they rival the Divine Realms.
You gain resistance against all illusions and mental attacks.
[Ding! You have earned 10000x Dharma Return for being chosen by Kartavirya Arjun.] [Title Gained: Thousand-Armed Asura]
You can increase your attack power (quality)/ attack count (quantity)/ or attack speed by 1000x at will.
Rudra knelt in gratitude, his heart trembling.
Kartavirya Arjun's voice thundered, yet gentle. "Rudra of Mahishmati. But remember—once you begin, there is no turning back. My teachings are not easy. You will suffer, but you will rise."
"I am ready," Rudra replied, eyes glowing with conviction.
He took a deep breath and whispered, "When, I return to the world. Let Dharma guide me."