Chapter 163 - An Accident

Eight day of the Inna's Feast

The last two days went by without any major incidents. 

Inna's feast was approaching its end.

Just two more days and everything will be over. Ishit thought as he stepped in the stadium for his match.

If he won this duel, he would enter the list of top hundred champions. And according to his father, he would discover the secret behind Inna's feast. Why so many people from all over Varta had gathered here in Minaak. 

The crowd erupted into cheers seeing Ishit. He waved his hand, acknowledging their support. His eyes searched for Guha, but he was not with his guild mates. It seemed his friend hadn't gotten over the injuries he had received yesterday. 

The last day was an unfortunate one for Ishit. First Viswa got into a conflict with one of Tissa's men. 

The old man refused to utter a single word about what happened in Pushp Mahal hotel, where the crown prince was staying. 

Then this Guha, the boy, got a serious injury in his duel with an Okalian apprentice.

Ishit decided to pay him a visit after his match. 

Ding! 

The loud sound of the gong made Ishit snap out of his stupor.

He took a deep breath and took his position. Robert, an Atlantian student, was his opponent.

Ishit could see the scorn on his smooth face. The contempt in his blue eyes was clear as day. 

"Your path ends here, Ishit." said Robert.  " Without your astras you're nothing."

Yes! Ishit couldn't use his astra anymore. In his last combat, he had outshone himself. While fighting with Lupin, the apprentice of Golden Valley, Ishit got an inspiration.

Without giving it a second thought, he tried the new idea.

As soon as his sword collided with Lupin's sword, the both astras melted away , leaving behind nothing but a glowing mass of elements and energy. 

Ishit flicked his hand. Kalnemi, his sword appeared again, with upgraded powers. 

The uncanny occurrence startled the judges. They unanimously agreed on banning his astras, which had surpassed one or two star armaments. 

This incident was also the cause of Viswa's predicament. Tissa believed Viswa had forged these alien weapons. He summoned him for a private meeting. 

Proud master smith refused to comply, thus incurring the mad prince's wraith. 

***

"We will see, " Ishit didn't want to waste his words on him. 

"Be ready to go into another coma," said Robert with an evil grin. Clearly, he was not willing to drop the matter so easily. 

Ishit ignored the jibe. 

Suddenly his eyes caught something in the sky. It was blazing fire. The color drained from his face as he recognized what it was. 

It was his newly forged Astra, the ghaat. 

Ding! 

The second bell commenced the duel. But Ishit had frozen on his spot. What in the name of the devil was  Viswa doing? 

Ishit craned his neck to spot the deadly astra's target. 

Tissa, along with his mentor, was sitting in the high chair. Ishit's heart thudded as an ominous thought sprouted in him. 

"Save the prince!" Ishit yelled as he flew up to diffuse the ghaat.  Of course, no one paid any attention to him. 

Robert blocked his path. His spear pierced Ishit's shoulder. 

"Your little trick won't work on me."  Robert sneered. 

Ishit's cried out in pain. He hurriedly stepped back. The ghaat was moving like a meteor. There was no time to waste. 

" Move aside," Ishit threw a punch. The space shook as lightning, fire, wind and all destructive forces formed a blazing ball. 

Robert was ready for it. He weaved a shimmering shield.  The collision still pushed him away. 

Ishit didn't paid him any heed. His eyes were on the ghaat. 

"Father, save the prince. " Ishit's voice boomed out in the stadium as he flew in the sky.  Others had also noticed the blazing ball coming towards Tissa. 

Soon, the whole arena was in chaos. Tissa's Maharathis rushed to guard his master. 

"Please evacuate the arena!" Oman's voice thundered over all the cacophony. He didn't have to say it. The people were already fleeing in all directions, for they could sense the pressure and heat effusing from the frightening fire ball. 

Oman turned to Padma.

"It has begun. Go and take the girl with you," said he in a solemn tone. 

"But it is still two days before the appearance of the temple," said  Padma. She looked frightened. Her worried eyes looking for Ishit. 

"Yes, but it someone couldn't wait anymore. Now go," said he. 

Padma hesitated a little and flew off. 

Oman turned his attention to the coming missile.  He didn't know what it was. The sinister green flames were clearly ghost flames, but how come they had become so powerful?  The fire ball was still nearly half mile away, but Oman could feel the destructive ripples. 

Oman didn't act immediately. He decided to wait for the event to unfold.  Vela had hinted something during his last meeting. 

" Bewarned, the abandoned son of Navazo will betray Shoolin's trust." 

Oman rewind the warning in his mind, while sweeping his glance over the fleeing crowd.  Suddenly his eyes caught Ishit's figure. 

What were the boys doing?  Why were they not fleeing? 

"Our duel is not over!" Rober shouted as he summoned his bow. The two star astra let out powerful ripples as the apprentic pulled its glowing sting to his ear.  A blazing arrow materailized. Oman could hear frightning roars coming out of it.  Robert's lips quivered as he shot the sinsiter arrow. 

The arrow chased Ishi who was flying upward, seemingly unaware of his oppponent's attack. 

Oman grew worried, as the arrow closed in on the boy, who was flying towards the blazing ball. 

What the damn  was the lad planning to do? Oman decided to intervene.  He looked around to see if any body paying him any attention. 

It was then, Ishit suddenly twisted his body. What followed after that left Oman dumfounded.  For the second time, he felt he didn't know his own son. 

Gaint flames erupted from the lad's body. In a blink, he turned into a baby fire giant.  His eyes turned upward. A frightning  trident condensed of lightning appeared in his hand. Spirit rushed towars him in torrents. Blood seemed to ooze out of his ruddy face. 

"I warned you to  not obstruct my path! " His gruff voice echoed in the collesium as he swang his triedent. The space split apart, the ether wind  caught the arrow like a fowler catches a dove.  Destruvtive energy took a form of giant snake and rushed for the appaled Atlantian. 

Ishit again flew for the blazing ball which now just few dandha high. The color of Oman's face derained. As he shouted,

"Activate the shield." 

The keepers ,who was already on the task, followed his command. And a golden sheild flickered as it came alive. Ishit collided with the shimmering shield. 

Oman hurridely towards Robert. Ishit attack had sent the boy flying. Blood was dripping out his mouth.  Apparently, he was not in the fighting condition anymore. 

As for Ishit, his collison with the shield had givine him serious injueries. After all it was not an ordinary shield. Only a Maharathi could break it. 

The keepers rushed for the boys. Just then, the blazing ball crashed into the shield. To everyone surprised the shield crumbled like paper. 

Maharathi face turned grim. 

"Gaurd the prince." They yelled. They divided into two groups. One group encircled Tissa and Sakuni, while the other braced them self to face the ball. The horrifiyng green flames melted away the stone stairs and seats. 

Everything happened within few moments. 

Maharathis split apart space like cotton cloth. The astral wind rushed in through the tear.

It was really a good move. And it didn't disappointed the warriors. The tear sucked the ball into void. Maharathis repaired the tear hurridely.  Oman let out a long breath, so did the gaurdians of Tissa. 

Alas! They had understimated the ghaat. Suddenly, Tissa's face turned white.  He screamed in agony.  Maharathi turned to him. 

Magicaly, the blazing ball appeared  just behind him. Maharathi rushed to save their prince. However they were too late. 

The ball crashed into Tissa and exploded. The shock waves sent the warriors flying like ragged dolls.  A giant, devilish face made of green fire appeared.  All the ten direction wailed as it devoured stupefied Tissa, whose eyes wide in horror. 

The incident had caught everyone off gaurd. Only Sakuni, the raven,  threw himself in the giant mouth. 

Alarms bell began to chime in all direction.  Oman rushed for Ishit, who had fainted.  He looked for the wizard. 

Where the hell did he go?    Didn't he promise to take care of the lad? 

The entire collesium was in mess. Maharathis rushed again towards the fire gaint, who was laughing menacingly. 

None of them what they were facing. The frightning green flames were spreading in all direction, devouring everything in their wake. 

The keepers, who was maintaining shield, fled abandoning thier duties. 

"Bhadra!" Oman shouted as he flew up taking fainted Ishit in his arm. 

Suddenly, Bhadra appeared in the air like a ghost. 

"Take care of him, " Oman took a deep breath as he handed over Ishit to him.  Bhadra nodded. 

"Do you know  what this thing was?" Oman asked. 

"wrath of Viswa." replied the wizard. 

"Brace yourslef, the awaited calamity has come!!!"