Balarama roared and swung his plough upward with all his strength, smashing many arrows apart.
But the Indrastra kept coming without mercy. Every lightning arrow that hit exploded with violent electrical force. Currents raced through Balarama's body again and again.
The first few hits only made him stagger.
Then more struck. And more. Lightning wrapped around his arms and legs. His muscles jerked and spasmed. Parts of his body froze for moments from the paralysis. Burns spread across his chest and arms. Fresh blood trickled from new wounds, and faint smoke rose from his skin.
Yet Balarama stayed on his feet.
*Graaaaaa*
Then he let out a monstrous roar — not just of anger, but something much deeper, ancient, and terrifying.
The sound shook the whole battlefield.
A huge divine aura burst out from his body, blowing dust and broken stones away in every direction. The sky behind him darkened strangely. An immense spiritual pressure fell across the plain.
Karna saw it then.
Behind Balarama, a giant illusion appeared — a thousand-headed serpent stretching across the heavens. Each massive hood glowed faintly, and countless red eyes stared down like ancient beings watching the world. The vision was not fully solid, but the power coming from it felt crushing.
"Shesha Naag? He has the blessings of Adi Shesha? No wonder he is unbeatable..."
Karna's face became serious at once. The pressure hit him like an invisible mountain. His knees almost buckled. The ground under his feet cracked. Breathing became hard for a moment.
He quickly drew divine energy from his armor, pushing the heavy pressure away. Golden light grew stronger around him as he steadied himself.
But then he noticed something even worse.
Balarama's injuries began to heal. The cuts slowly closed. Bruises faded. The bleeding stopped as divine radiance covered him like holy light from above.
Karna understood immediately. If things continued like this, he could not win with normal fighting. Not unless he killed Balarama.
And that was never his plan.
For a few moments, Karna stayed silent while the battlefield trembled under the aura of Shesha.
Then a memory came to him — the Samudra Nagas, the underwater kingdom, and the ancient weapon he had received after his marriage to Ratnaprabha.
The weapon granted to the Samudra Nagas by Mahadeva.
The weapon that can restrain even devas.
His eyes sharpened.
Without wasting time, he raised his hand and started chanting again.
"Om Anantaya Namah,
Adi-Nagarajaya Mahabalaya,
Vasuki-Takshaka-Karkotaka-Sammata,
Yasya Pashena Deva-Danava-Manavah Badhyante,
Yasya Sankalpat Trailokyam Kampate,
Mama Dharma-Sankalpam Grihana.
Mahanagapasha Divya-Shaktim Prabodhaya!
Ananta-Koti Bhujangan Samudbhavaya!
Sarva-Shatrun Avichchhinna-Pashair Bandhaya!
Na Devo Na Danavo Na Manavo Vimoktum Shaknuyat!
Om Mahanagapasham Mokshayami!
"Mahanagpaash."
The air around him made a faint hissing sound. A serpent-shaped arrow slowly formed between his fingers, glowing with an eerie emerald-golden light. The arrow looked almost alive, with faint scales shimmering on its surface.
Karna aimed carefully and released it.
The arrow shot forward like living lightning.
Halfway through the air, it transformed.
Dozens and dozens of massive glowing ethereal serpents burst out from the single arrow.
Their hoods flared wide, their eyes shining brightly. They twisted across the battlefield with terrifying speed, like divine predators set free from ancient times.
Balarama had only just recovered from the Indrastra's paralyzing effect.
And then the serpents struck at once.
They coiled around his arms, his legs, his chest, and his waist — layer after layer. The heavy divine plough slipped from his hands and crashed loudly onto the ground with a dull thud.
Balarama roared in fury as the glowing serpents tightened around him with crushing strength.
"You coward again!" Balarama thundered, his voice full of rage. "How dare you attack while I was recovering? Do you even have any sense of warrior conduct?"
Karna walked forward slowly through the dust-filled battlefield. His voice stayed calm even though he was exhausted.
"Even Lord Rama attacked Vali from behind a tree," he answered steadily. "Lord Vamana deceived King Bali and sent him to Patala. Narayana himself became Devi Mohini to trick the asuras and protect the Amrit."
Karna stopped a short distance in front of him.
"If the purpose is to protect dharma, Prince Balarama," he said quietly, "then even methods that seem cowardly can become righteous."
Balarama struggled violently against the serpents. The glowing bindings tightened even more. Veins bulged on his powerful arms. The ground beneath his knees cracked from the enormous force he was using to try to break free.
But nothing worked. The serpents did not loosen.
Karna continued speaking.
"You are an invincible warrior, Yuvraj," he admitted honestly. "Perhaps on this earth, only my Gurudev, Lord Parashurama, can defeat you completely." He shook his head slightly. "I cannot defeat you without killing you. And killing you was never my intention, because despite everything… you yourself are a righteous man."
"Stop your nonsense, Karna!" Balarama roared furiously.
He struggled again. The bindings held firm. The more strength he used, the tighter they became.
Karna spoke one last time, dismissing the bow.
"Breaking this Mahanagpaash is difficult for even devas, Yuvraj. However powerful you are… you still remain mortal."
For the first time since the battle started, exhaustion finally caught up with Balarama. His legendary stamina began to fail. His breathing turned ragged. Strength slowly left his limbs while the glowing serpents kept coiling tighter.
Then, slowly, the mighty Yadava prince dropped onto one knee.
He was still conscious. Still glaring with fury. Still full of anger.
But he could not move anymore.
The battlefield finally fell silent.
Karna looked down at him quietly for several long moments.
Then he turned toward the distant fortified city of Dvarika. The sea wind gently moved through his hair and armor.
In a calm, steady voice, he said, "Now… I shall go and claim my bride."
*
The battlefield outside Dvarika stayed wrapped in an eerie silence as Karna stepped back onto his divine chariot.
The unconscious Yadava soldiers, horses, and elephants still lay scattered across the torn-up plains, like waves that had suddenly frozen in place after a big storm.
However, not a single dead body could be seen on the field.
Behind him, Balarama remained bound on one knee under the glowing coils of the Mahanagpaash. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. Anger still burned bright in his eyes, but even he could not deny what had happened.
The battle was over.
Without saying another word, Karna picked up the reins. The seven divine horses neighed loudly. Golden light burst out from under the chariot wheels as it rose once more into the sky and flew straight toward the fortified city of Dvarika.
And all across the city, fear spread quickly.
People standing on balconies, palace towers, temple steps, and defensive walls watched the divine chariot coming closer through the sky.
Their faces turned pale, and they held their breath.
Mothers pulled their children tightly against them.
Merchants rushed to shut their wooden doors, even though they knew it would make no difference if Karna really wanted to enter by force.
Unlike with Mathura years ago, Karna didn't use Sammohana Astra on the entire city. He only used it on the soldiers stationed at the city gates for the war. Hence, the cities and the soldiers stationed to protect the palace were still unaffected.
However, as hours had already passed… by now, the stories had spread everywhere in the city, despite everyone mostly staying indoors. One man. One chariot. No army behind him. Yet he had defeated more than a hundred and forty thousand soldiers and four great Maharathis of Dvarika.
To the common people, Karna no longer looked like just a king. He looked like Kala Bhairav himself — a calamity that had come to their shores.
The divine chariot finally came down gently in front of the royal palace.
The giant palace gates stayed tightly shut. Nervous soldiers lined the upper walls, holding their bows with hands that trembled visibly. Sweat rolled down many of their faces even though the cool sea breeze kept blowing through the city.
Karna stood tall on the chariot and raised his voice.
"Maharaj Vasudev!" he called out.
His clear voice carried across the palace grounds like rolling thunder.
"Your army has been defeated, and so have the Maharathis of Dvarika. Once again, I request you… surrender my bride and give us your blessings."
The whole city seemed to hold its breath.
Karna's golden armor glowed under the afternoon sunlight. His eyes stayed fixed on the closed palace entrance.
"I hold no enmity toward Dvarika," he continued in a calm tone, "and I have not taken a single life to show my respect for this kingdom. Therefore, come to the path of dharma and free the princess."
His voice softened a little at the end.
"Maharaj Vasudev… this is my final call."
Silence answered him.
The wind rustled the palace banners. Far away, waves crashed gently against the harbor walls.
Still, no reply came.
Several long moments passed.
Just as Karna decided to summon the Vijaya Dhanush, the palace gates opened slowly.