King of Devas

Surya's chariot sped through the void, its wheels turning relentlessly as it carried the endless light of the sun. The chariot tore through layers of darkness, racing toward Svarga.

Whoosh!

The shining expanse of Svarga grew closer with every passing moment. Suddenly, the chariot lurched violently. The divine horses neighed in panic, their hooves striking the air with wild abandon. Aruna panicked, grabbed the reins, and pulled them tight, struggling to regain control of the frenzied steeds.

Surya and Narada Muni were thrown about by the sudden jolt. Both grasped the sides of the chariot to steady themselves.

"Who's ahead?" Surya demanded, his voice tinged with alarm. His eyes scanned the void ahead.

A dark presence emerged: a swarm of Asuras, heading straight toward Svarga. At the front of the horde stood Hiranyakashipu, his gaze sharp and menacing.

"Hiranyakashipu!" Surya gasped, his voice shaky. "Aruna, hurry!"

Aruna's hands tightened on the reins, urging the divine horses into action. With a sudden tug, the chariot veered, its golden wheels spinning faster as it surged toward Svarga.

Hiranyakashipu's eyes narrowed as he spotted the sun god's chariot in the distance. His voice rang out across the void. "That is Surya's chariot is ahead! After him!"

With a single command, the mighty Asura legions surged forward, their pursuit relentless.

"Faster Aruna faster!" Surya urged, looking back in terror as the Asuras closed in.

Narada Muni's eyes flickered with thought as he strummed his Veena. "Narayana Narayana. The other Devas are in Hiranyakashipu's grasp, Suryadev. Perhaps you should rescue them first."

Surya shook his head vehemently, his words a blur of urgency. "No! No! The Devas drank the Amrita. Hiranyakashipu can do nothing to them. We must find the King of Svarga and unite our strength to free them!" He turned to Aruna with determination. "Aruna, go straight towards Svarga!"

At Surya's command, Aruna yanked the reins with a sharp snap. The seven divine horses raised their heads, their manes flowing in the wind as they neighed loudly. In an instant, they transformed into blazing white light, accelerating with the speed of a celestial fire.

Narada Muni watched the spectacle, disappointment flickering in his eyes. This one is too cowardly, he thought.

Swish!

The distance between the two parties widened rapidly.

"Huh~" Surya exhaled deeply, his heart still racing. "They can't keep up with my divine horses!" He patted his chest in relief, a long sigh escaping his lips.

Swish!

The Sun God Chariot neared the edge of Svarga, its golden wheels cutting through the air. As it drew closer, the sunlight burst forth, painting the sky above Svarga with a pale, fish-belly white glow. The light pierced through the endless black clouds, bright and clear.

Huh?! In Svarga, Indra, sitting atop his throne, glanced to the side. His sharp gaze swept across the distance, where a gleam of light gradually reflected in the sky. His eyes widened with realization.

The sun was about to rise! Surya had returned!

With a swift motion, Indra hurled Nishumbha to the ground with a single hand, his expression hardening. The sea of clouds roiled beneath him. Nishumbha, blood staining his hands, slowly rose to his feet, his scarlet eyes burning with fury.

"You can't harm me!" he roared, his voice echoing like a cataclysmic earthquake, shaking the very sea of clouds around them. His massive body swelled once again, his hair writhing like cosmic ravines, a storm of energy swirling around him.

Indra stepped forward, his golden skin radiating a fiery brilliance as if forged from the molten core of a star. His eyes burned with divine resolve, and the very air around him seemed to hum with anticipation. Each breath he took charged the atmosphere, a harbinger of the storm to come.

With a deep breath, Indra drew his fists back to his waist. The skies reverberated with a sound like the awakening of the Sheshanaga—a guttural, otherworldly roar that silenced all else. The clouds above darkened, crackling with sparks of divine energy.

Then, with a sudden motion, Indra launched his fists forward.

Boom! Boom!

The force of his thunderous strikes collided with Nishumbha's chest, shaking the skies themselves.

Nishumbha's massive body trembled violently as his flesh split open, a blinding light erupting from the wound. The agony was etched across his face, his features contorting in pain as sharp, ferocious fangs bared in a twisted snarl.

Staggering, Nishumbha gazed in disbelief at the damage. It hurts! he thought, shock and anger seething within him. I'm actually hurt!

Indra's cold, piercing voice cut through the air. "My fist is neither a Divine or Demonic Astra nor Shastra. Now tell me, do you have the strength to fight me in Svarga?"

With a steely gaze, Indra took a step forward, his movements calculated and powerful. He twisted his waist, drawing his right fist back, and in a flash, it shot forward.

Boom!

The punch struck Nishumbha's left shoulder with the force of a divine hammer. The shoulder exploded, sending shockwaves through the air. Nishumbha was hurled backward, struggling to maintain his footing.

The second punch followed instantly, the golden fist expanding to fill Nishumbha's vision.

Boom!

The impact shattered Nishumbha's consciousness. His body flew through the air like a comet, a burst of light trailing behind him as he crashed into the distant landscape of Svarga.

"It seems your boon's immunity was insufficient." Indra turned slowly, not bothering to look at the explosion behind him. He shook his head, a faint sigh escaping his lips.

KO!!!

Clang!

The wheels of Surya's chariot slammed onto the black clouds beneath, creating a resounding crash. The sky brightened with an endless surge of light, and the oppressive black clouds began to dissipate, revealing the clear, vibrant sky of Svarga once more.

But just as the scene seemed to settle, a shout echoed through the air.

"Indra, it's not good. Vayu and Agni have been captured by Hiranyakashipu!" Surya's urgent voice carried through the clearing sky.

As Indra turned, he saw Surya leap from the sun god's chariot with the fluid grace of a fish, soaring effortlessly toward him. Indra blinked in surprise, his brow furrowing slightly. He reached out and gave Surya a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"I've seen it too."

His gaze shifted, eyes narrowing as they scanned past Surya and out toward the distant Svarga. A powerful ripple stretched across the horizon, signaling the arrival of the Asura armies, who surged forth like a relentless tide.

Hiranyakashipu's eyes gleamed with sharp focus as he entered the heavenly realm. His gaze swept over Svarga, his vision cutting through the distance like a blade, allowing him to see the entire realm in a single glance.

In an instant, his pupils narrowed. He spotted the bodies of his two Asura generals, Nishumbha and Shumbha, lying motionless on the ground.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes locking onto the distant figure of the King of Svarga. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he murmured to himself, "The King of Svarga actually killed two of my generals in a row. No wonder you were able to defeat my eldest brother."

Suddenly, there was movement.

Shumbha, who had been lying motionless, shot to his feet as though revived from the dead. He fled toward Hiranyakashipu with the frantic speed of a cornered animal, his movements erratic and panicked.

"King!" Shumbha's voice rang out, a mix of shock and relief. He had narrowly escaped death, fortunate to have been kicked aside rather than pummeled into oblivion like Nishumbha.

Hiranyakashipu tilted his head, raising an eyebrow as he watched the general. His lips curled into a wry smile. This one pretended to be dead, he thought, his amusement evident. He waved his hand dismissively, signaling for Shumbha to retreat.

Hiranyakashipu's gaze shifted, eyes narrowing again as he spotted another figure on the horizon—another mountain of body blood flowing from his chest. This one, however, was eerily still, offering no sign of life.

Seems like he's truly dead, Hiranyakashipu mused.

With a dismissive grunt, he stepped forward, brushing past the still-uncertain Shumbha, his footsteps echoing with power. Each step seemed to warp the space around him as he moved with purpose toward Indra.

"You are strong," he said, his voice heavy with respect and challenge. "No wonder you were able to kill my eldest brother and Nishumbha. But you are no match for me. You see, my hard work far exceeds yours."

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