Chapter 135 - The Call Of Void

As soon as Ishit passed the 108th cycle of the powerful but simple Pranayam, something stirred between his eyes brows, as if a snake uncoiled and slithered away, unblocking the passage. Euphoria washed over his body. The head-splitting pain disappeared as if it was just an illusion. Then came the silence, the quietness of the sky. It descended upon him like a butterfly. The chaotic thoughts, which had been tormenting him since he returned Kirat, finally disappeared, leaving behind a limpid pool with no ripple. Ishit became a watcher, and he listened to a distant voice. Or if misery, suffering, and agony could speak, they would sound like that faint voice. Undisturbed, calm like a Himalayan Naga ( they live naked in an icy cave of the Himalaya) sage, Ishit heard the piteous voice. 

"O Paramaatma! Have you abandoned us all? Have we not suffered enough? O epitome of compassion! Have you decided to forsake his glorious name? O savior of armless! Where are you ? All Brahmins have vanished. All the yajna kundas had long gone cold. Now no one sings the hymns of Vedas. O ancestor of all! Pitra Loka has collapsed... " 

The voice might have said something more if someone hadn't shaken Ishit. 

"Wake up, you fool. They are calling for you." A furious voice said as Ishit came out of his trance. With his eyes vacant, his face expressionless, Ishit looked at the nuisance. 

"Have you gone dolt? Get up, it is your turn now.? " Karuvaki barked at him. Sure enough, the crier's voice was booming in the stadium. Guha and others were staring at him, wondering what the hell he was doing. 

The crier had already called for him twice. And if he didn't show up even after the third call, they would declare the Per-ankh, Academy's (Liongate academy) guy victor. Of course, they tried to send telepathic messages, but Ishit's shield blocked them all. 

Karuvaki grew worried when Ishit didn't show any emotion. He kept staring at her like a dimwit. 

"Boy, stoping acting. They are going to assume that you 've forfeited the match." She agitated him again. 

It was then Ishit frowned. His stilled eyes stirred as emotions flooded his gleaming black eyes. 

"What happened? Didn't I tell you not to disturb me? Can't you sit quietly?" said he. He was pissed off. 

"Don't you dare to shout at me. and you'd better run for the stadium the crier has already called out your name twice." snarled Karuvaki. 

"What! Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" With lightning speed, Ishit rose to his feet. 

"I tried, okey! But you slept like a pig. Now hurry off." Ishit gave the girl a look and ran off. He couldn't jump into the arena directly as it was shielded with a powerful array. So the only way he could enter it was two entrance doors. 

Ishit activated his spirit gait and dashed to the gate. 

Thanks, he was not too late. As he entered the stadium after showing his token to the keeper, Guha cheered. There were other few citizens Guruna who had come to know of his identity was shouting. 

Ishit gave his friend a nod while feeling guilty for not having been able to do the same. He was sure Guha wouldn't let him go off so quickly. 

He took a deep breath feeling grateful to the ancient sage Anand Giri for imparting such a miraculous breathing technique to Onish. His headache had gone away for good. The Pranayam had revitalized his exhausted brain and body. 

The discovery had made Ishit look forward to checking other techniques, too. But first, he had to win this match. 

"What the hell were you doing?" said the boy, his golden eyes staring at Ishit. His complexion was black as blackberry. His long thick hair intricately interweaved. He was from the ancient land of Vatsa, a land replete with natural treasures and magic. 

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had fallen asleep," replied Ishit casually as he took his place in the arena.

"Are all Garunians this much cocky? " said Nadir. His grip on his Vajra tightened. It was a strange weapon purely made of lightning essence and ethery mercury. 

Before Ishit could reply, the crier's voice commenced the battle. Nadir attacked him without wasting any word. 

The sky rumbled without any clouds. A volley of lightning arrows like blue serpents rained down on Ishit. 

Ishit hurriedly formed a shield, but his reaction was slow. One arrow bit him on his shoulder, setting it on fire. Ishit blood boiled up like. It was no ordinary lightning. Ishit face turned as he flew out of the air unceasing rain.

The smith of the Vajra must have been adept in curses to fuse them so perfectly into the Astra. 

An ordinary master smith could curse only arrows, swords, or weapons that directly came in contact with an opponent. Mixing the mysterious power of spells into pure elemental energy required another kind of mastery over spells. 

Ishit's shield didn't last too long before the corrosive lightning. He soon realized he couldn't hide behind his shields anymore. His mind raced to find a counterattack. An idea flashed across his mind. 

He summoned his trident, and with a just thought of his mind, it turned into a metallic shield, covering him like a cage while also touching the earth. The crowd let out a loud gasp of surprise. "What was that?"

"Since when have first star astras started to change shape?"

"Are you sure it is a first star astra?"

"yes, just look at its aura?"

The crowd erupted into a frenzied talk. 

Sakuni frowned so did many of the judges and others at Ishit's unusual weapon. 

"Didn't Lucas tell the boy could only make ordinary one-star astras? What is  it then?" The black raven said. 

"Maybe Viswa forged it for the boy. "  Tissa replied, but his face showed he didn't believe what he was saying. If the old smith could really forge such advanced one-star astras he would have long made one. 

Sakuni gave him a side glance and nodded. Tissa knew the old fox hadn't accepted his explanation. 

The old man fell silent as they both watched the battle. 

The furious lightning snakes attacked the cages from all around. However, this time, as soon as they touched the shield they got absorbed into it. Their power dissipated. Of course, the evil curse couldn't be negated so easily. The mysterious power of the spell did try to corrode the cage. But the consciousness of Astra, though of insect grade, slowed its rate by gathering elemental energy from the surrounding in defense.

It gave Ishit a moment to think about the strategy to battle with Nadir, the apprentice of the Per-ankh academy. Spirit wielders of Vatsa were known for their mastery over natural forces, especially curses. 

And sure enough, when Nadir saw his attack was not inflicting much damage, he put away his power Vajra.

And Ishit dissolved the shield when he was about to attack he found himself studied rooted on the spot, like a statue, unable to move even his finger.  The wind sighed in his ears. Even the audience fell silent. 

Their shock was valid, for they had witnessed a mere apprentice using curses advanced curse wit so easy. 

*******

He summoned his trident, and with a just thought of his mind, it turned into a metallic shield, covering him like a cage while also touching the earth. The crowd let out a loud gasp of surprise. "What was that?"

"Since when have first star astras started to change shape?"

"Are you sure it is a first star astra?"

"yes, just look at its aura?"

The crowd erupted into a frenzied talk. 

Sakuni frowned so did many of the judges and others at Ishit's unusual weapon. 

"Didn't Lucas tell the boy could only make ordinary one-star astras? What is  it then?" The black raven said. 

"Maybe Viswa forged it for the boy. "  Tissa replied, but his face showed he didn't believe what he was saying. If the old smith could really forge such advanced one-star astras he would have long made one. 

Sakuni gave him a side glance and nodded. Tissa knew the old fox hadn't accepted his explanation. 

The old man fell silent as they both watched the battle. 

The furious lightning snakes attacked the cages from all around. However, this time, as soon as they touched the shield they got absorbed into it. Their power dissipated. Of course, the evil curse couldn't be negated so easily. The mysterious power of the spell did try to corrode the cage. But the consciousness of Astra, though of insect grade, slowed its rate by gathering elemental energy from the surrounding in defense.

It gave Ishit a moment to think about the strategy to battle with Nadir, the apprentice of the Per-ankh academy. Spirit wielders of Vatsa were known for their mastery over natural forces, especially curses. 

And sure enough, when Nadir saw his attack was not inflicting much damage, he put away his power Vajra.

And Ishit dissolved the shield when he was about to attack he found himself studied rooted on the spot, like a statue, unable to move even his finger.  The wind sighed in his ears. Even the audience fell silent. 

Their shock was valid, for they had witnessed a mere apprentice using curses advanced curse wit so easy.