Kailash lay quiet behind him, a sacred shadow in the misty morning light. Rudra Pratap walked alone, his white tiger cub Sumeru bounding beside him, tail swaying like a banner of joy. The path ahead wound down through silver meadows and divine woods, but Rudra's heart was full, still echoing with the voices of his divine family.
For the first time in a long while, his soul felt calm.
But just as he reached the edge of Kailash's domain, a soft chime echoed in his mind. Familiar. Mechanical. Faintly nostalgic.
DING!
> [SYSTEM NOTICE]
Mission Completed. Final Integration Initiated.
Rudra froze.
The system—the strange voice that had guided, rewarded, trained, and sometimes irritated him—was back. After all this time.
> "Rudra," the voice said, gentle now, more human than it had ever been. "You have fulfilled the mission you were created for. You found your Dharma. You understood your Karma. You chose your own path—not because of the system, but because of your heart."
Rudra's chest tightened.
> "Now, it is time. I will leave. I was never meant to stay forever. Just… to help you remember who you are. And you have."
He sat on a boulder, the air suddenly too quiet. Sumeru nuzzled his leg.
"You're leaving?" Rudra whispered.
> "Yes. But before I go… I will return to you what was sealed: the original essence of your godhood—your true gift."
> [SYSTEM INTEGRATION COMPLETE]
Divine Trait Restored: Amplification of Anything x10,000
A wave of energy pulsed through him, warm and ancient. He felt it in his breath, his skin, his bones. His godhood—untainted, restored. The ability to amplify anything—force, speed, energy, emotion—ten-thousandfold.
But instead of joy, Rudra felt a lump in his throat.
"You've been with me since day one... through battles, decisions, pain, laughter... How do I walk on without you now?"
The voice gave a soft chuckle.
> "By living, Rudra. Not as a weapon. Not as a system's host. But as a son, a brother, a king. I was your crutch. Now you can fly."
> Goodbye, Rudra. Live well.
And just like that, silence.
Rudra sat motionless. He closed his eyes, letting the tears fall freely. "Goodbye... and thank you."
---
The Return Journey Begins
Rudra took one last look at Kailash and whispered his farewell to his Maa and Paa, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Each hug was long, each goodbye laced with warmth and the weight of unspoken emotion.
Parvati held his face in her hands. "Come back whenever you need your Maa. My door is open, always."
Shiva nodded with that quiet, thunderous presence. "Remember—Niyati flows through you now. Walk proud."
Kartikeya thumped his back. "Train harder. I'll be waiting for a rematch."
Ganesha, already sniffling, tucked a box of modaks into Rudra's satchel. "Don't cry. That's my job today."
Rudra laughed through the tears and bowed. "Thank you… for everything."
And then, he walked.
---
On his way back, Rudra's heart stirred again—this time with guilt.
"I didn't bring them anything... not even a gift," he murmured.
But he wasn't the same man anymore. Now, he held within him the ability to amplify anything.
He sat by a serene waterfall and focused.
First: Two sarees—one for Maa Bela, one for Kaaki Sumitra. He envisioned a fabric made from the essence of sunrise and moonlight, amplified ten-thousandfold. Sarees so light they floated, yet shimmered with divine radiance.
Second: A weapon for Pitaji—from an asteroid core, he forged Gambudh, a divine mace that could conjure and control sharp, massive earth spikes with every strike. A symbol of power and grounded protection.
Third: For Grandfather Vijay Raj, he created the divine axe Sahastra-Bhaar—capable of weighing thousands of kilograms in an instant without burdening the user. A perfect match for the old lion of Mahishmati.
Lastly: For Veer Kaaka, he crafted a divine ring to complement his Agneya Dhanush. The ring doubled the power of each attack, amplifying every arrow with searing precision.
"These are not just gifts," Rudra whispered. "They're apologies. They're love in material form."
Sumeru purred approvingly.
---
Mahishmati – The Homecoming
The city of Mahishmati had not changed—but Rudra had.
He walked through the gates with Sumeru at his side, the guards blinking in disbelief. The sun caught his smile—a rare sight that turned whispers into gasps.
"The King… he's smiling?"
His family waited in the royal courtyard. Suresh Pratap stood tall, Bela beside him, Ishita tapping her foot impatiently. Kaaka, Kaaki, and Grandpa Vijay Raj stood near the steps.
Rudra paused at the entrance, heart thudding. He had planned a speech, a poetic apology, maybe even a dramatic bow. But when he looked into their eyes—his parents, his sister, his blood—his throat closed up.
He walked forward and stood in front of his parents.
One word escaped him.
"Sorry."
Just that.
And silence followed.
No one spoke.
But something ancient and sacred moved in that silence.
Tears welled in Bela's eyes. Suresh's jaw clenched. Ishita bit her lip.
Silence fell, a sacred hush. Bela's eyes filled with tears, her hand trembling as she reached for Rudra's.
Suresh's stoic face cracked, a tear tracing his cheek. Rudra's own tears fell, his heart laid bare.
No words were needed—parents know their children's hearts, especially in an era where bonds were iron-strong.
Bela pulled him into a hug, Suresh's arms enveloping them.
Ishita, sniffling, barreled in, muttering, "Stupid Bhaiya, making us cry!"
Veer and Sumitra smiled, their eyes misty, while Vijay Raj nodded, pride in his gaze.
Rudra pulled back, wiping his eyes, and grinned. "I brought gifts—better late than never."
He presented the sarees to Bela and Sumitra, who gasped at their beauty.
Suresh hefted Gambudh, its spikes humming, a rare smile breaking through.
Vijay Raj gripped Sahastra-Bhaar, its weight shifting effortlessly, his eyes twinkling.
Veer slipped on the ring, his fiery aura flaring. "Nephew, you're a legend!"
For Ishita, Rudra placed the Crown of Eternal Ice on her head, its crystals glowing. "For my Frost Queen, so your ice never breaks."
Ishita's eyes widened, then softened. "Bhaiya… it's perfect."
She hugged him, Sumeru yipping between them.
As the family laughed, Sumeru bounded into Ishita's arms, sparking more squeals.
Rudra closed his eyes, holding them tight.
"I'm back," he whispered.
And this time, he meant it—not as a king, not as a warrior, but as their son.