Chapter 235

Jalandhara knew that if he acted directly, not only would Shiva resist, but even Kavia would stop him. Therefore, he planned to pretend that he understood and take his time to plan. However, Sati was very happy to see Jalandhara's attitude and told him a lot about her and Shiva.

Although Sati's incessant chatter annoyed Jalandhara, he remained outwardly smiling despite his deep disgust.

Ultimately, through Sati's account, Jalandhara learned that Shiva would continue Meditation after everything was over, so she hoped that Jalandhara would come here more often.

Sati may simply have wanted to show how much she and Shiva valued Jalandhara, but Jalandhara saw it differently. In his view, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once Shiva entered Meditation, he could seize the chance to kill him and take his place.

Thus, after bidding farewell to Shiva and his wife with Kavia, the Jalandhara, who was following behind Kavia, hesitated for a long time before using an illusion. The false version of himself continued to follow Kavia, while the real Jalandhara disguised himself as Shiva and returned to the Forest.

All of this was clearly seen by Vishnu, who resided in the Ocean of Milk. In the Upanishads, "Maya" means "illusion," and it is said, "Know that the true nature is Maya, Maya is the creator of Mahadeva, and his limbs are all beings, all of whom dwell throughout this world."

Therefore, Vishnu, as the lord of Maya, could only deal with this illusion, which was even at the level of Aspected God, by a factor of dimensional. However, Vishnu did not intervene because he knew that his friend Kavia could also see through it.

Indeed, Kavia had clearly seen through it. Although he was now only Aspected God in India, he still retained his past memories. He had also used methods like the Jalandhara's illusions to deceive people before.

However, even with Jalandhara's actions... Kavia still felt that he would eventually see the error of his ways, but unfortunately, Jalandhara did not take any action.

Therefore--

"There's nothing more to say, Jalandhara."

Kavia's usual smile vanished, replaced by a slightly melancholic expression. Then, she channeled her divine Divine Power, shattering the Jalandhara's illusions.

As the attack unfolded, a bridge of light appeared before them, a bridge unique to the Aspected God Age of Gods India.

Like the embodiment of the Himalayas Mountains, it surges relentlessly into the Forest, like the roar of the Himalayas Mountains.

A little earlier in time, in the Forest.

"... Lord Shiva?"

Sati gazed with curiosity at Shiva emerging from the deep jungle.

"Didn't you just go to Meditation?"

For some reason, Sati felt that Shiva was acting strangely, looking down at her with a cautious gaze.

"... Yes, I came to find you because something happened to you."

Shiva smiled, a flawless smile, like a mask.

"I never expected you to be like this, Lord Shiva... Is it because of the Jalandhara Defender?"

"Of course, Jalandhara is a very powerful person."

"Jalandhara is indeed a good child..."

"Hehe, good boy, isn't he? In that case, Sati, how about letting him take Shiva's place?"

The way Shiva speaks and the sound he makes are right before my eyes.

Sati had a strong sense of déjà vu, and the hairs on her body stood on end.

"You are not Lord Shiva! Who are you?!"

"Hehe... Ugh, how boring. Has it already been discovered?"

The Jalandhara, disguised as Shiva, looked utterly disgusted and clicked his tongue. "Anyway, I'm going to kill you first, then kill Shiva with your head on my back. There's no need to play this childish game with you."

Black lightning flowed from the Jalandhara body, exploding continuously and leaving countless scorch marks on the ground, indiscriminately burning everything around it.

Sati clenched her teeth.

"Why are you doing this, Jalandhara? Can't we just live a good life together? Didn't you just agree?"

Hehe, Jalandhara chuckled softly.

"Yes, that's right. I agreed, but I changed my mind? Is that not allowed? As the Lord of the Three Worlds, don't I even have this much privilege?"

"But..."

"How laughable, Sati, how pathetic! I will then kill you and Shiva and take his place."

"You... you..."

Knowing deep down that she had been tricked, Sati wasn't furious, but rather deeply saddened.

The fury of a part dominates the whole.

In fact, this is indeed possible; if a part kills the whole, it can take its place.

However, in Sati's eyes, Jalandhara was not a derivative of Shiva, but like her own child. For so many years, she had been looking forward to seeing Jalandhara, and even contacted the group of little Mice took care of Jalandhara, hoping to teach her what Jalandhara liked to eat.

"Go to hell and die a good death, Sati."

Jalandhara smiled slightly, his expression extremely serious, as calm as if he were doing something insignificant.

The dark Forest, seemingly untouched by time, is actually an illusion created by the Jalandhara to prevent others from disturbing it.

Then, a change occurred here, as if the world itself was gradually changing.

A dark wind surged forth from the gaps between countless trees, and the black dust that swirled around was visible to the naked eye. These destructive forces began to slowly move toward Sati.

The sky was dyed pitch black, not because a black cloud appeared out of nowhere, but because of a death torrent that almost completely covered the sky.

In that instant, Sati also suddenly lost all strength, her whole body like a lump of mud, unable to stand up.

While watching Sati being tortured with a smile, Jalandhara suddenly seemed to hear something, and rushed to Sati, intending to snap her neck.

Just now, Jalandhara realized that his illusionary body had been broken by Kavia, in other words, it had been seen through. Jalandhara couldn't even imagine what Kavia was feeling at this moment; only one thought grew stronger in his mind—

I must kill Sati and Shiva before Kavia arrives.

However, just as Jalandhara arrived before Sati, the illusionary realm he had constructed underwent an unexpected change that even Jalandhara, as its master, could not have foreseen.

"... This is..."

The ethereal blue world before Jalandhara's eyes was rendered with vibrant colors.

Countless points of light, emitting a hazy iridescent hue, emerged from the deep blue Forest.

Where the inky darkness meets the iridescent light, there are also hints of blue, as if the colors have blended together. Every second, the intensity of the colors seems to dance and change.

Countless points of light, endless colors, darkness and light blending with the Himalayas Mountains.

The scene before me was so magnificent it was breathtaking, so beautiful it took my breath away.

Then, the Jalandhara saw Kavia grasp the hand that was about to snap Sati's neck.

"... Kavia, the god--"

Just as Jalandhara was about to say something, he suddenly froze.

He had already heard the sound he heard when his illusionary body shattered, and for this reason, for the first time in his life, the Jalandhara showed disbelief.

"No, Kavia, you can't do this! You promised me, don't you remember!"

"Of course I remember, but Jalandhara, have you forgotten why you were Wrath with Indra?"

"Because I was born to kill him!"

"Jalandhara shouted."

"No."

Kavia shook his head. "It's because he ambushed you and almost killed your mother. And now, how is your behavior any different from Indra's? Jalandhara, you have betrayed my teachings and your former self."

Then he continued.

I will never stand by your side again.

"... Are you leaving me? No..."

Jalandhara was incredibly agitated, her face brimming with tears, yet her voice remained clear, "Are you going to betray my trust? You... you're going to destroy my Faith in you!"

"... Jalandhara, I still remember that day when you were born. I saw a helpless mother and a helpless child. I knew he was the embodiment of Shiva's Wrath, but his cries interrupted my thoughts. Looking at him, I felt that if possible, he could indeed replace Indra as the Heavenly Emperor. My initial purpose in protecting him was indeed because he was Shiva's Wrath, but my subsequent protection was because you are Jalandhara."

It doesn't matter whether it's a god or Asura.

Later, I saw that, under Shukra's guidance, you regained the dignity the Asura had lost, reclaimed their status, led them to prosperity, and defended their Future. My expectations had indeed come true, and your victory filled me with pride. But afterwards, your actions began to change, as if you had become a completely different person...

You've even forgotten the reason for your first outburst of Wrath as Jalandhara.

"No, Kavia, the god."

Jalandhara looked at Kavia with a panicked expression, even grabbing his hands and pleading incessantly.

"Don't leave me. I apologize for my wrongdoings. If you leave me, I... how can I live without you... All these mistakes, God Kavia, if you are unwilling to forgive your believer, then who will be...?"

Kavia looked at him without saying a word.

The smile on her face had long since vanished.

"No, Kavia, please don't leave, please forgive me--"

Even with Jalandhara's desperate pleas, Kavia released his grip on her hand.

Jalandhara's hands froze in mid-air; he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Then, Kavia gently stroked his head, just like when he was a child, which finally brought a smile to Jalandhara, and then—

"... Really? Jalandhara, you've admitted your mistake?"

"Of course, as long as you, God Kavia, forgive me—"

Jalandhara suddenly noticed a blue light hovering in the sky behind Kavia; it looked somewhat familiar.

It emitted a soft glow in the night sky, quietly watching over the Jalandhara.

"Your mother was almost killed, wasn't she? No one understands the pain of almost losing a loved one better than you."

In that instant, perhaps it was an illusion, Jalandhara saw his younger self in the blue light, speaking to himself.

And suddenly, the world seemed to consist only of the young Jalandhara and the present Jalandhara.

"Yes, you're right, that was the first pain in my life."

"So that's why you almost killed someone's mother."

"... No, Sati is not my mother, she has no children! She and Shiva are merely the ones who will cause my death!"

"You believe that everything you've done is right, right?"

"Without a doubt!"

"Then why are you still begging? Why don't you think about whether you did something wrong? Your mother almost died, which is unfair and unfortunate for you, but what about the god Kavia? He protected you, and he, along with the Number One and your mother, raised you. He allowed the Rishi Shukra to guide and support you. Deceiving him was your mistake. Sati and Shiva were so good to you, yet you wanted to kill them. Jalandhara, why won't you sincerely apologize?"

No! I wasn't the Culprit!

Jalandhara Spirit pointed at his younger self, "Everything I did was for the god Kavia, for myself, for my Kingdom! What did I do wrong?! I'm not a coward like you! I will decide my own Fate, and only I can!"

"You--"

"Shut up! I am immortal, invincible, and I will kill Shiva and replace Shiva! Do you hear me! Long live the omnipotent Jalandhara!"

Click---

The world around them shattered like a mirror, and Kavia's voice revived at that moment.

"There's nothing more to say between us, Lord of the Three Worlds."

"... ah..."

These words left Jalandhara speechless once again.

Gazing into Kavia's eyes, the shimmering light reflected there seemed to have erased the image of himself, the reflection of the Jalandhara.

In an instant, something swirled in Jalandhara's heart: Wrath at being abandoned, as well as Sorrow, respect, and indignation, all merging into one.

Hostility? No, that's not it.

Hate? No.

Wrath? No.

It has lost all color, becoming a pure, murky black that no light can penetrate.

"You just... abandoned me... for them... hahahaha!"

Jalandhara revealed a tyrannical smile, raised his head and laughed loudly, his black breath disappearing into the darkness, and his golden eyes beside him becoming somber.

The next moment he let out a furious roar, like Thunderbolt in a rage, which instantly resounded in all directions.

"You're fake! You must be an illusion created by that damned Great God, that Narayana!"

Jalandhara raised his hand towards Kavia, pointing at him.