Chapter Ashborn 358: The Akh Nara’s Return

Chapter Ashborn 358: The Akh Nara’s Return

Vir hadn’t quite known how the crowd would react to his speech. He’d braced himself for all-out pandemonium, with magic being hurled his way from all directions.

As it turned out, everyone did as they were told and sat down. That was, everyone except the Chitran, most of whom steadily moved towards the commentator’s booth where he stood, despite the Bairans hard working to stop them.

Other than that, however, the stadium was eerily quiet. Vir suspected it was mostly out of fear, and winning against someone considered an invincible demigod likely reinforced the sentiment, but Vir could work with that. It was, at least, better than demons trampling over one another in frenzied panic.

Vir was under no delusion that this would end peacefully, however. He had a few more words to say, but after that, he would have to flee.

I wonder what will surprise them more? My speech? Or my exit. Vir smirked. Nobody said he couldn't flee in style, after all.

Together, this day ought to go down in demonic history. As for whether it will be remembered as the beginning of a failed rebellion, or the start of a new era of demonic history, remained to be seen.

The first group of angry-looking Chitran kothis were now only twenty paces away, having broken through the lines of Bairans trying to keep them at bay. The Bairans had a tough job, having to deal with the crowd in a nonlethal manner, and so Vir felt bad for putting them through this ordeal.

Let’s make things a little harder for them, shall we?

“Er... Samik, right? Would you mind if I borrowed this?” Vir asked the stricken commentator.

The Bairan stared back for a long moment, before finally realizing he’d been addressed, and nodded vigorously.

“Thanks,” Vir said with a wry smile. He wasn’t used to being a celebrity, and wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to the sensation, but he had to admit. It sure had its moments.

Exiting the booth, Vir Leaped out onto the arena floor, where Cirayus was being treated by a Panav.

Not just any Panav, it turned out.

“Tara?” Vir asked. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh! The Akh Nara blesses me with his attention!” Tara said, placing a hand on her forehead and stumbling. “Whatever should I do? Do I bow down? Do I strike him dead? How spicy!”

“How amusing,” Vir said, without a trace of a smile. “I take it Cirayus is patched up, then?”

“Good as new!” Tara replied.

While Vir couldn’t quite place where she stood on the Akh Nara spectrum, she seemed jovial enough for now. It would have to suffice.

Turning back to the crowd, Vir saw the Chitrans who’d nearly reached him at the booth change course and push their way down to the stadium. Considering how high in the stadium the booth was, they had quite the journey ahead of them.

That bought Vir a bit more time.

“Lad, you may come to regret this,” Cirayus said, walking up to Vir.

“I thought this was what you wanted,” Vir muttered, slightly irritated to be getting a lecture at this point.

Vir turned to find the giant beaming. “Oh, make no mistake, lad. I had hoped. I had dreamed of this outcome. A showdown at the finals with everything on the line. A glorious fight against a worthy foe at their full potential!”

Vir eyed the crowd. They were expecting him to continue, and he didn’t want to keep them waiting much longer. The main reason he was waiting was to allow Thaman’s forces to rally and organize. The more time he gave them, the more likely they would be to contain any outbreak that might ensue.

“Then why didn’t you say anything?” Vir asked, exasperated that his godfather hadn’t even breathed so much as a hint about his desires.

“This decision had to come from you, lad. If I planted the seed in your mind, however small, you would have forever questioned if this decision came from you, or if it were due to my meddling. I could not allow that. For better or for worse, nothing will be the same after this.”

Vir could see the logic in that. “That’s an awful lot of trust to put in me.”

“And was it not well-placed? But to think you said all you did! That declaration was beyond even my imagination!”

“Oh, er, that’s...” Vir felt stupid for thinking he was due for a lecture. This was Cirayus, after all. He wanted nothing more than to see the Garga restored. If Vir said they were storming the keep tomorrow, he’d happily oblige.

“I couldn’t be more proud of you right now, lad. I take it you have a plan?”

“The plan... Is to come up with a plan. Right now.”

Cirayus roared with laughter and clapped Vir’s shoulder. “Gah, I have missed this. This rush! This feeling of being alive!”



“Aye, t’would be a good thing indeed. There may yet be hope with the Iksana. If you can think as they do, and speak to them in earnest, perhaps. The Aindri, however, have been cowed by the Chitran. Weak-willed, that lot. Thoroughly domesticated at this point. Winning them over will be a tall order.”

“Brick by brick. Stone by stone,” Vir said, eyeing the crowd that had burst into chatter. “Everything one step at a time. For now, I’ve accomplished what I came here to do.”

“Aye, that you have, lad. Now, leave it to Thaman and me to escort you somewhere safe. You’ll no doubt be the talk of the land for some time to come. Not a bad idea to lie low for the time being.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Vir said, watching Ashani float over the barricade Thaman’s men had set up. “Besides, I have one last trick up my sleeve. One more message to send to the Rajas, so they know what they’re dealing with. “

The Bairan Guards began to panic, but Vir waved them off. “She’s a friend. Allow her to pass.”

Unbeknownst to the forty thousand demons, the only living being from the Age of Gods floated onto the stage, alighting gently next to Vir.

Thaman, who’d been speaking with his commander, turned. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure...”

“Ashani, and the pleasure is mine,” Ashani said, nodding to the Raja, who seemed at a loss for words.

Ashani, for her part, seemed to enjoy the dynamic, and smiled with what Vir was sure she thought was an amiable smile. In reality, it came across as terribly seductive.

“I, er... So, you are a friend of Sarvaak, then?” Thaman said stupidly. Vir decided to save the poor Raja before the situation devolved any further.

“Ashani? Would you mind creating a Gate to Cirayus’ home?”

“But of course,” Ashani said, extending a hand.

“Gate?” Thaman asked, but before he could say more, a shimmering oval portal rippled into existence just paces away, causing the Raja and all the Bairan guards who surrounded the group to jump away in panic.

They weren’t the only ones. The stadium had taken notice, and now, every projection showed the Gate, magnified for the world to see.

Good. Can’t have them missing this, after all, Vir thought.

“What in Janak’s name...” Thaman breathed.

Vir couldn’t help but appreciate the irony of the Raja uttering the name of the demon who’d destroyed the world.

Reaching his own hand out, Vir infused his Ash prana.

“The Gate’s stable, now, Ashani. Thank you, as always.”

“My pleasure!” Ashani replied, before walking through. “Oh, and again, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Y-you as well,” Thaman replied reflexively.

“Raja Thaman,” Vir said, bringing the giant’s attention back to him. “I expect arrangements will be made for the bequeathing of Balancer of Scales?”

“I, er... Yes. We will need time. A public ceremony will have to be conducted. But, Vaak, or Sarvaak... You are not the only one who can create Ash Gates?”

“Technically, I can’t. Only she can,” Vir said, nodding to Ashani on the other side. “I can only stabilize them. Working together, though, we can open and close Gates at will, across realms. Cirayus?”

“Right behind you, lad,” the giant replied.

Vir stepped through before Thaman could ask any more questions, but the Raja gripped Cirayus’ bicep, preventing him from following.

“Ravager... What is the meaning of this?” Thaman asked, his voice tinged with awe.

Cirayus’ grin grew even wider. “It means, old friend, that change is upon us,” he said as he stepped through. “And the Akh Nara will usher it.”

With eyes locked onto Thaman, Vir collapsed the Gate, leaving five Rajas with a mixture of awe, confusion, and most of all... Abject terror.

Thaman spoke for the realm when he uttered his next words...

“Don't you understand? This changes everything.”