Chapter 440 - 408: Narayana Astra Becomes Brutal As Time Passes...

(A/N):

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The weapons emerging from its vortex were not limited to ordinary arrows and spears.

As the manifestation progressed, it could summon increasingly powerful astras, including divine weapons associated with the Devas themselves.

The commanders had only witnessed the opening portion of its arsenal.

The most formidable weapons had yet to appear.

And there was another problem that made their situation considerably worse.

Vrishasena’s own Narayana Astra was still active, but its attacks were being neutralised by Devara’s manifestation before they could accomplish their intended purpose.

The golden projectiles continued meeting the ocean-blue weapons in the sky, producing spectacular collisions that consumed both attacks.

Only a few managed to escape the interception and reach the allied formations, causing limited damage compared to the destruction Vrishasena had intended.

His weapon was still functioning, but its effectiveness had been severely restricted.

Meanwhile, Devara’s Narayana Astra continued fulfilling both parts of its command.

It intercepted the incoming golden weapons while directing its own arsenal against Vrishabhapura’s army.

The difference was becoming increasingly obvious to everyone watching the battlefield.

Vrishasena’s commanders could defend themselves against individual attacks, but they could not protect the entire army indefinitely.

A commander positioned near the right flank had successfully blocked a descending volley with a powerful shield of divine energy.

Yet before he could recover, another cluster of weapons emerged from the vortex and struck the formation behind him.

His soldiers scattered as the impact threw several men to the ground, while the commander hurriedly turned to reinforce the weakened section.

Elsewhere, a group of elite warriors managed to deflect a series of blazing discs using their own astras.

Their success lasted only a few moments before a fresh wave descended upon them.

One warrior invoked another defensive weapon, but the repeated expenditure of yogic energy began taking its toll.

His breathing grew heavier, and the radiance surrounding his weapon weakened.

The problem was no longer whether they could stop an incoming attack.

It was whether they could continue doing so for as long as Devara’s astra remained active.

Vrishasena watched the situation deteriorate, his earlier confidence replaced by mounting frustration.

He had believed that the divine weapon would provide an overwhelming advantage, but now his commanders were exhausting their own astras simply to prevent his army from being destroyed.

Every successful defence demanded more energy, while the enemy’s arsenal continued to pour from the heavens.

"How long can you maintain those barriers?"

he demanded of one of his senior commanders.

The man glanced towards the sky before answering.

"Maharaja, we can continue defending our formations for some time, but not indefinitely. The number of incoming weapons is simply too great. We are using our astras to stop individual attacks, while his weapon appears capable of producing another volley whenever one is intercepted."

Vrishasena looked upwards again.

The golden vortex above his army still shone brilliantly, but the ocean-blue formation above Devara had become the dominant presence in the heavens.

His own Narayana Astra was not powerless.

It continued releasing divine weapons, and a few of them still managed to slip past the interception.

However, most of its attacks were being neutralised before they could reach the allied soldiers.

The king’s jaw tightened.

He had expected Devara to defend against the astra, perhaps even to counter it with a weapon of comparable strength.

What he had not anticipated was that the opposing manifestation would effectively prevent his own weapon from performing its primary purpose while continuing to unleash an almost inexhaustible assault upon his army.

On the other side of the battlefield, Devara remained upon the Vajravyaghra Rath, his attention moving between the two vortices and the formations below.

His expression remained composed, but he was carefully monitoring the situation.

He could see the enemy commanders exhausting their astras in an attempt to defend their soldiers, and he understood that the battle was approaching a point where their individual efforts would no longer be sufficient.

Dronacharya, standing nearby, watched another group of Vrishabhapura warriors invoke their astras to intercept the incoming projectiles.

"They are beginning to understand the scale of the weapon," he remarked.

"But they have only seen a fraction of what it can summon."

Bhishma turned towards him.

"You believe there is more?"

Drona nodded gravely.

"Much more. The Narayana Astra is not an ordinary collection of celestial projectiles. Its arsenal can summon weapons of extraordinary power, including astras associated with the Devas. What we are witnessing now is only the beginning of its manifestation."

"If Devara continues the invocation, the weapons that appear later may be far more difficult to withstand."

Karna glanced towards Devara.

"Then Vrishasena has placed his entire army in a very dangerous position. His commanders are already spending their strength defending against the opening attacks. What will happen when the more powerful astras begin to appear?"

Ashwatthama watched the opposing formations, where several commanders were struggling to maintain their defensive barriers.

"They will either have to find a way to stop the weapon itself or continue exhausting themselves until they can no longer defend their soldiers."

Drona did not immediately respond.

His attention remained fixed upon the enormous vortex above Devara.

The ocean-blue clouds continued to rotate, and their radiance grew brighter with every passing moment.

Deep within the spiralling formation, new shapes were beginning to emerge, their outlines far larger and more elaborate than the weapons that had descended earlier.

The Narayana Astra’s arsenal was only beginning to reveal itself.

On Vrishasena’s side, the commanders continued invoking their own astras, desperately trying to protect their formations from the relentless assault.

Their efforts were preventing an immediate collapse, but the cost was becoming increasingly apparent.

Their soldiers were still being struck, their defensive barriers were weakening, and the king’s own weapon was accomplishing far less than he had intended.

Vrishasena looked towards Devara once more.

The king of Trivenivrata had not even left his chariot.

And that was perhaps the most unsettling part of the entire spectacle.

Meanwhile, at the Vrishabhapura camp, far away from the front lines, the young crown prince was having a considerably less exciting morning than he had imagined when he had first decided to accompany his father’s army.

He was sitting inside one of the royal tents, his legs crossed upon a cushioned seat while two armed guards stood near the entrance, keeping a close watch over him.

A small table had been placed before him with fruits, sweets, and refreshments, but the boy had barely touched any of them.

His attention kept wandering towards the entrance, beyond which the sounds of the distant battlefield occasionally reached the camp.

He had already attempted to sneak out once that morning.

After being confined to the royal section of the camp following his earlier unauthorised journey from the palace, the prince had initially behaved himself.

However, as the sounds of conches and war drums announced the beginning of the battle, his curiosity had eventually overcome his father’s instructions.

He had waited until the attendants became occupied with their duties, then quietly slipped out through a gap between the tents, hoping to reach the area where the soldiers were gathering.

Unfortunately for him, the royal guards had anticipated precisely such an attempt.

He had barely managed to cross the next row of tents before two soldiers recognised him and hurriedly intercepted him.

The boy had tried to convince them that he was merely taking a walk, but the fact that he was heading directly towards the battlefield made that explanation rather unconvincing.

They had immediately escorted him back to the royal tent and informed their commanding officer.

The result had been another stern warning from his father, delivered through a messenger who had been sent from the battlefield.

The message had been brief.

The prince was to remain inside the designated camp area, under the supervision of two guards, until further instructions.

If he attempted to leave again, the guards were authorised to restrain him and inform the king immediately.

The prince had not appreciated that last part.

"This is ridiculous,"

he muttered, picking up a fruit before putting it down again.

"I am not going to run away. I only wanted to see what was happening. Father is fighting in the war, and everyone else is doing something important. Why am I the only one who has to sit here?"

One of the guards exchanged a brief glance with his companion before answering carefully.

"Your Highness, we are only following the Maharaja’s orders. He specifically instructed us to ensure that you remain here. We cannot allow you to go towards the battlefield."

"But I am the crown prince!" the boy protested.

"I should at least be allowed to watch the battle from somewhere safe. I am not asking you to give me a sword and send me into the middle of the fighting."

"Even watching from a distance is not safe today, Your Highness," the second guard replied.

"The battlefield is not as predictable as you might imagine. Chariots move, soldiers retreat, and weapons can reach places that commanders never intended them to. Our duty is to protect you, and we intend to fulfil it."

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(Author note:)

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