Age of Asura [Progression, LitRPG, Apocalypse]

Uruvi turned her attention back towards her companions. She saw Rambha help Vishwas get back on his feet while Ashwin had bent over, resting his hands on his knees. “Oh god, Ashwin!” she cried out as she rushed to his aid.

“I am fine.” He stood up straight and took in a deep breath. “Nothing a little spell can’t fix.”

“You sure?” she asked as she examined the bruises on his arms. “You look pretty beaten up.”

“Yeah… I ain’t as resilient as you,” he said with a soft smile.

She twisted her lips into a smirk.

Rambha and Vishwas appeared beside them. The four exchanged glances, which were a mix of relief and disappointment.

“I guess we can officially declare this mission a failure,” said Rambha.

“Erm… yes and no,” said Uruvi. “It is a good thing we chose to come here. Else we would not have known that he was an Asura.”

“He is what?” Rambha exclaimed.

“Oh yeah. She doesn’t know…” said Vishwas. He quickly caught her up to speed on the events so far.

“So… does that mean Sana too was an Asura?” she asked.

“I think the official term is Asuri,” said Ashwin.

“He did seem to know who was responsible for all of this. But unfortunately, we couldn’t get him to open his mouth,” said Uruvi. She looked at what remained of her axe, debating whether to hold onto it or toss it away.

“Forgive me… but is that man gone?” asked a stranger.

Vishwas spun around and saw the teacher standing behind him. He looked meek, with sagging eyes and a bent back. “Oh, it is just you,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Yes. For now,” said Ashwin.

The teacher put his hand on his chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank the gods… No. Thank you for saving us.”

‘I guess he was not a part of the scam… or he is playing us…’

“Save you? It looked like you were working with that bastard,” said Vishwas.

“No! No! God forbid I do such a sin. I am just a poojari (priest). I live and take care of a temple here. I have no part in this!” he exclaimed.

“Then how did you end up here?” asked Uruvi.

“I was kidnapped! I don’t know why they chose me. His men appeared one day and forcibly brought me to him. Told me he was building a charitable trust. I knew it was a scam, so I said no. But… you saw him. I could not say no. So, he held me hostage and made me the great sage.”

The group fell silent, trying to decide whether to believe him or not.

“He does not look like someone who scams people,” said Rambha.

Suddenly a smile appeared on the priest’s face.

“I don’t know… scammers do look all innocent like him…” said Vishwas.

Ashwin quietly rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to the priest. “We trust you. But you must tell us everything you know.”

He nodded and began, “There isn’t a lot I can tell. He just told me what to tell. Never anything more. He brought me before his four gang members, made me tell them that the world was going to end soon. I thought I was just telling a lie and was thankful that his men didn’t believe him either. He had gathered people from around the city, parading me as some kind of healer. He forced me to peddle the same lie to them as well. I thought I would try and dissuade them by preaching nonsense to them. But the fools gobbled it, pretending like I was right, no matter what I said. But then, it happened, and I didn’t know what was right anymore…”

“Geez. That is depressing…” said Rambha.

“Did you sense anything different with Madhu?” asked Rambha.

He shook his head and said, “No… I didn’t even know he was an Asura until today.”

“Well, that is going to make things harder… Did you see anyone or hear anyone with whom he discussed his… plans?” she asked.

“Forgive me... but no…”

“Guruji! Guruji!” Suddenly, a man ran out through the gate and approached him. “You broke the penance! Are we all going to die?”

The priest clenched his teeth and delivered a tight slap across the man’s face, which made the gang gasp. “Fool! Have you ever even read one line of our Puranas?”

The man pressed his hand against his cheek. He looked completely flabbergasted. “But Guruji, we were only following your instructions.”

The priest let out a dull sigh, accepting defeat.

“We need to get them to a safe house,” said Uruvi, ignoring the drama.

“Yeah. They also said someone scarier is on the way. It is best we pack up before they arrive,” said Rambha.

“I have a feeling I know who they are talking about…” said Ashwin.

“Huh? Who is it?” asked Rambha.

“Who else do we know?” said Uruvi.

Rambha took a moment to ponder before her face lit up like a bulb. “Oh! Bhadra!”

Meanwhile, Vishwas and the priest looked at their faces, clueless, and hoped someone would fill them in.

The low rumble of an engine filled the night air before a pair of bright headlights appeared at the end of the street.

“Are you guys sure he is not dangerous?” asked Vishwas. He covered his eyes with his hand, protecting them from the harsh yellow light.

The massive car, a Mercedes G-Wagon, came to a stop a few paces before. The door to the backseat opened, and out of it stepped an ally who looked a little different. The Asura seemed to have shrunk in size and had replaced his chest plate with a clean navy blue shirt. He looked at them with the same intense gaze as when Uruvi first met him.

The driver’s seat opened, and an elderly man stepped out. Dressed in a white driver’s uniform, he wore his age on his face, which was covered with wrinkles and freckles, while short white hair covered his balding head. He had a gentle smile on his face as he leaned against the door and nodded at them.

“Seems like our paths have crossed once again,” he said as he approached them.

The priest’s jaw dropped to the ground as he watched the towering figure of Bhadra stand over them. He immediately fell on his knees and bowed.

“There is no need,” said the Asura.

The priest looked up. “No. No. A humble human must bow down before divinity!”

“I said, there is no need,” he repeated.

The priest quietly got back up on his feet and backed away.

“You look… smaller. And a little less divine,” said Uruvi.

“Well. I am adapting,” he said. A soft smile was painted across his face. He looked up at the mansion and asked, “I am guessing he isn’t there anymore.”

Vishwas leaned towards Rambha and whispered, “Hey, is he …?”

“You heard the name,” she replied in a soft hush.

“No way… Brother of Mahabali?” he asked.

He didn’t look as surprised as Rambha expected him to. “You don’t look that surprised?”

“At this point… nah.”

“If it is Madhu you are looking for, then yeah. He fled just a few minutes ago,” said Uruvi.

“How did you find your way here?” he asked.

The gang took their time to explain the events of the day. Bhadra fell quiet for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. “Hmm… Trying to track down the one who caused all this mess might be more difficult than I thought.”

“But why is he hiding in the first place? The Devas are not here anymore. Who does he fear? Why not show himself?” asked Uruvi.

“I don’t know. But I suspect he knows not all of us Asura are on his side. So much death and carnage, for what? To build a paradise for the forsaken? Seems drastic and honestly, unnecessary,” said Bhadra.

“Maybe he is trying to pick a bone with humanity itself. This whole game seemed to be rigged to torture us from the start,” said Ashwin.

“Yeah… creating a leaderboard, then adding the last rank rule, sending people into a frenzy,” said Rambha.

“Creating powerful weapons for people to fight over but no armor or other gear to even the odds,” Uruvi added.

“And seeing how Madhu was toying with his own men’s beliefs before any of this began…” said Vishwas.

“I don’t know who he or she is. But I swear I will kill them with my own hands,” Uruvi declared. All eyes turned to Uruvi; some looked surprised while others looked concerned. She quietly shook her head, regaining some of her lost composure.

“Seems like that kid was right…,” Bhadra mumbled, lost in deep thought.

They waited, but he gave them no answer. Uruvi asked, “Who is that?”

“Someone I met not too long ago,” said Bhadra. “We have a long road ahead of us. But right now, you must get to safety. The second convergence is coming, and I don’t think any of us know how to stop it. So, it is best to brace for whatever is to come.” He put his hand on Uruvi’s shoulders and gently nudged her. “You did well. You all did. You put your lives on the line to save thousands of lives. Maybe more than that.”

Her eyes turned misty, but she held her breath and the whirlpool of emotion in her chest. She quietly nodded in response.

Bhadra turned back to his driver and said, “Dhir, get someone to help these people get to a safe zone.”

Dhir nodded and replied, “Yes, Lord. I have already contacted them. They will be here soon.”

He looked back at the gang and said, “Till we meet again.” With that, he walked back to his car, and before long, they vanished into the darkness of the night.