Chapter 25: The Library of Frozen Breath
The alarms of Lanka were no longer just bells; they were a rhythmic, pulsating scream of the city's collective Ahankara. Vikram felt the vibration in his teeth. He knew that with the Pillar of Ego and the Pillar of Delusion shattered, he had blinded two of Ravana's twenty eyes.
But the price was high. The lab levels were swarming with elite Rakshasa battalions.
"System," Vikram whispered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the rubble. "That signature in the library... it's not just a Rishi. It's a Vedic Anchor."
The Scholar's Dive
Vikram ignored the sound of boots echoing in the corridors above. He chose the path of knowledge. He dove into the hidden passage, his L11 Speed making him a blur of silver-violet light. He bypassed the traps of the hallway—swinging Vajra-axes and pressure-plates of molten lead—by simply vibrating his molecules through the Kaala-Gati (Time-Stop).
He reached a massive circular door made of Saraswati-Stone—a white, translucent marble that pulsed with the sound of a thousand whispered prayers.
[ SYSTEM ANALYSIS ]
Object: The Seal of Eternal Silence.
Lock Mechanism: Requires a Sattvic Resonance of 100%.
Status: Only your Charm (L10-MAX) can unlock this.
Vikram placed his hand on the cool stone. He didn't use force. He projected the purity of his intent. The door didn't creak open; it dissolved into a mist of white light.
The Prisoner of Time
Inside, the air was still and smelled of ancient parchment and dried sandalwood. Shelves upon shelves of golden scrolls lined the walls, stretching into the darkness. In the center of the room, suspended in a sphere of frozen air, sat an ancient Rishi. His beard was as long as his body, and his skin was like parchment, but his aura was a blinding, crystalline white.
[ TARGET IDENTIFIED ]
Name: Rishi Markandeya (Echo-Projection).
Condition: [Karmic Stasis] — He is holding the memory of the world's creation to prevent Ravana from rewriting history.
"You have come at last, Blacksmith," the Rishi's voice echoed directly in Vikram's mind. He didn't open his eyes. "The ten crowns are falling, but the tenth head is not made of flesh. It is made of Infinite Time."
Vikram knelt. "Great Sage, tell me. How do I strike a head that is not there?"
"The Tenth Head is the Kala-Chakra (The Wheel of Time) itself," the Rishi explained. "Ravana has harnessed the power of the Eclipse to ensure that even if he dies today, he is reborn yesterday. It is a loop of sin. To break it, you must find the Original Sin—the First Pillar."
The Ambush: Meghanada's Vengeance
Suddenly, the library walls exploded.
Meghanada descended through the ceiling, flanked by fifty Astra-Snipers. These weren't normal soldiers; they were elite marksmen holding Surya-Dhanush (Solar Bows) that fired beams of concentrated heat.
"Enough riddles, old man!" Meghanada roared. He looked worse for wear—his skin was pale and his Maya-core was clearly leaking—but his eyes were full of a cornered animal's madness. "Vikram! You have taken my pride and my General. Now, I take your future!"
[ COMBAT ALERT ]
Enemies: 50 Astra-Snipers + Meghanada (Weakened).
Tactical Advantage: The Snipers are targeting the Rishi's Stasis Sphere.
Note: If the Rishi is disturbed, the 'History' of the world will glitch, potentially erasing your parents and your village from existence.
The Ultimate Calculation
Vikram stood between the Snipers and the Rishi. He had 100,005 Punya. His Speed was back. His Strength was Transcendent.
"You want my future, Prince?" Vikram's Whisper of Kalindi (Rank B) roared into life, the silver light extending three feet from the blade. "I've already forged it. And you aren't in it."
The Snipers are drawing their bows. Meghanada is preparing a 'Chaos-Mantra' to shatter the library.
The Time-Freeze Blitz: Use Kaala-Gati to kill all 50 snipers in the 5 seconds of stopped time, but leave yourself at 0 Prana for Meghanada.The Karmic Shield: Spend 50,000 Punya to buy the [Kshanti-Mandala] (The Circle of Patience), a shield that reflects all projectiles and protects the Rishi while you duel the Prince.The Library Hack: Use Mantra-Hacker (L2) to turn the ancient golden scrolls into an Animated Army of Paper, using the knowledge of the past to fight the warriors of the present.
The fate of history is on the line. What is the Iron Sage's move?