30) Chapter

Vishnu, now untied, squared his shoulders and stepped forward into the arena. He met the king's gaze, refusing to show fear despite the odds stacked against him.

Adithya, still bound at the pillar, whispered urgently.

"Vishnu, don't do this! This is madness!"

"Madness or not, Adithya, I have no choice. Better to kill with honor than to die begging."

The king unsheathed his sword, its gleaming edge catching the light. He twirled it in his hand, testing its weight before addressing Vishnu with a mocking grin.

"Come then, Chalukyan prince. Show me the strength of your bloodline—if there's any strength to speak of."

The duel began with a clash of steel. Vishnu moved with precision, dodging and parrying as the king tested him with quick, calculated strikes.

Despite the difference in experience, Vishnu held his own, his determination burning bright.

Bhaskar watched it with mild surprise

"Hmph. He's better than I expected. But it won't be enough."

Even Varuna, watching every move, felt a pang of unease. Though he hated Vishnu, he couldn't ignore the skill the prince displayed.

"What does he think he's proving? Mekala... you'd better not..."he whispered

The king pressed the attack, his strikes growing more aggressive.

Then Vishnu began to falter under the relentless assault, sweat dripping down his brow as he struggled to keep up.

Finally, the king disarmed him, sending Vishnu's sword clattering to the ground.

"Is that all, little prince? Is this the great Chalukyan pride? Perhaps your brother is the real warrior after all."

He pointed the tip of his blade at Vishnu's throat, his smile widening as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

Vishnu stood defiant, his chest heaving, but his eyes burned with a mixture of fury and resignation.

"Any last words before I end this farce?"King spelled with a smirk.

"Only this—no matter what you do, you'll never break the Chalukyan spirit. Others will rise."

The king laughed, raising his sword to strike. But before the blade could fall, a clear, commanding voice rang out.

"Father!"

The clash of swords echoed faintly in Mekala's ears as she entered the royal chamber.

She had hurried, her heart pounding, torn between loyalty to her father and the unfamiliar pull she felt for Vishnu.

As she stepped into the chamber, she took a moment to compose herself. The sight before her was harrowing: Vishnu stood disarmed, sweat-streaked, he didint saw her but defiant, with King Buddharaja's sword raised to deliver the final blow.

She bowed her head respectfully and spoke, her was voice measured yet urgent.

"Father. May I offer a word?"

The king paused mid-strike, clearly intrigued. He lowered his blade slightly and turned his head.

"Mekala. What an unexpected entrance. Speak quickly—this prince's time runs short." King smiled coldly.

Mekala kept her gaze low, not daring to meet her father's eyes as she approached.

"Father, killing him now would serve no purpose. The Chalukyan kingdom would simply mourn him as a martyr. His death, while dramatic, would not shake their resolve."  Mekala said with a composed, yet urgent tone.

The king looked at her with a raised brow, intrigued by her reasoning.

"And what would you have me do, Mekala? Let him go? After all he's done?"

"No. Let him live. Let the Chalukyan kingdom think their prince is dead. We can spread a rumor of his demise, and when they believe it, they will be vulnerable. This will be a blow to their morale, and we can use his capture to shake them from the inside." Mekala spelled carefully.

Bhaskar, who had been observing the exchange with a sharp eye, nodded in agreement.

"I must say, your daughter's plan has merit, my king. A false death is a powerful tool. We could use Vishnu as leverage—an unwitting pawn in our grand strategy."

Varuna stood in silence, but his eyes betrayed his displeasure.

"She's only protecting him. But why? What is it about this Chalukyan prince that she's so drawn to? "varuna spelled towards himself.

Vishnu, standing with his back to Mekala, couldn't see her, but he felt a strange sense of familiarity in her words.

"Who is this person...? Why does it feel like I know her?"

Something about the way she spoke, so calm yet so cunning, set his mind racing. A flash of recognition, perhaps, but he pushed it aside. He had no time for it.

Mekala's heart fluttered for a moment, but she quickly composed herself. She couldn't afford to show any sign of weakness or personal conflict in front of her father.

"Let him live, Father. We've captured him; his fate will be decided later. For now, we must keep him alive, but let the Chalukyan kingdom think otherwise. Let them mourn him, let them be distracted."

"I see your wisdom, Mekala. Very well. Your plan will be carried out." king said after a moment of contemplation, nodding.

He turned to his guards and gestured for them to take action. Vishnu and Adithya, still bound were blindfolded,  and were roughly grabbed by the soldiers. They didn't saw the dangerous gleam in the king's eyes or the growing tension in Varuna's expression.

"Varuna, Take them to the dungeons. Let them rot there for now. We will decide their fate in due time."

They were taken through the dark, twisting corridors of the palace, the weight of their impending doom heavy on their shoulders.

As the doors of kings chamber closed , the king turned to Bhaskar and Mekala.

"Our next step is clear. With Vishnu's fake death, we will launch our attack on Vatapi. While Ereya is away, the city will be vulnerable. We strike at the heart of the Chalukyan empire."

Bhaskar nodded approvingly, while Mekala remained silent, her face was betraying little emotion, though her mind raced with questions of what she had just done

"Let's see how the Chalukyas respond to this little... surprise." king spelled with cruel smile.