A month had passed since the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur. The great capital had steadied itself after years of mourning and uncertainty, yet beneath the rhythm of daily life simmered unspoken tension. The palace walls whispered of rivalry. The corridors breathed comparison.
The five sons of Pandu had come home — their faces solemn, their mother Kunti smiling too perfectly for comfort. Though her tone was soft, her eyes kind, her words were laced with precision. In every conversation with her sons, she sowed the same subtle seeds: "You must never forget your birthright. The throne is yours by dharma."
Each word wrapped in love… each word dipped in poison.
It was through these carefully veiled suggestions that the Pandavas began to see the Kauravas not as brothers, but as rivals. Bheeshma and Vidura — noble, righteous — favored the Pandavas openly, believing them the more deserving heirs. In their righteousness, they failed to see how their affection created division among the young.
And amidst it all, Vasu watched.
The son of Radha and Adhiratha — but more than any soul born of this world — stood silently between chaos and fate. Though only eight years old, his presence carried the quiet gravity of a seasoned warrior. His mind had long surpassed mortal limitation; his body held the restraint of a god in disguise. The System Interface within him pulsed faintly, displaying unreadable power levels.
> [Power Output: 1% (Locked)]
[Current Status: Surpassing Maha-Maharathi Class | Hidden]
[Celestial Synchronization: 37%]
Even while teaching the Kauravas and Karna the art of archery near the forest's edge, Vasu maintained perfect calm. His aura radiated neither superiority nor weakness — just balance. His students adored him; his silence commanded more discipline than any shout could.
That morning, the sky was overcast, the forest wind thick with the scent of earth and leaves. As the boys loosed their arrows, Vasu noticed a movement behind the trees — hesitant, deliberate, and yet filled with longing.
"Who hides there?" he asked softly.
A boy stepped out — dark-skinned, lean, his clothes made of forest cloth. His eyes were sharp and deep, yet filled with fear.
"What is your name?" Vasu asked.
The boy bowed, voice trembling. "Eklavya… son of Hiranyadhanus of the Nishadas."
The name triggered something deep within Vasu's mind — a faint ringing, like an echo through eternity. The System Interface glowed to life.
> [Quest Triggered: Change the Fate of Eklavya]
[Task 1: Take Eklavya as a student.]
[Task 2: Teach him the art of archery.]
[Immediate Reward: Celestial Gauntlet of Infinity.]
[Final Reward: Granted upon completion — Destiny Alteration Authority (Partial).]
Vasu's expression softened. He looked at Eklavya, whose trembling hands betrayed his desire. "You wish to learn the bow?"
"I do," the boy said, "but… I am a Nishad, my lord. I cannot stand among princes. I only wish to watch, not to shame myself."
Vasu's heart stirred. He saw not a forest boy, but a soul burning with purpose. "Archery is not the right of kings," Vasu said gently. "It is the calling of the brave. If you wish to learn, then learn. The world bows to effort, not blood."
As the boy knelt, accepting the words like divine blessing, the System Interface shimmered again.
> Reward Unlocked: Celestial Gauntlet of Infinity
A silver bracelet materialized on Vasu's wrist — unassuming, yet alive. Its surface gleamed faintly, reflecting the forest light, yet no one sensed its true nature.
> [Celestial Gauntlet Linked to Host.]
[Power Access: 1% of Vasu's full potential.]
[Form Adaptation: Active | Concealed Form: Bracelet.]
Vasu flexed his hand slightly. The air bent. The ground beneath him hummed faintly before returning to stillness. None of the Kauravas noticed — except Karna, whose instinct as a born warrior made his eyes widen in momentary awe.
"Eklavya," Vasu said, kneeling before the boy, "your lessons begin with patience. You must see before you shoot, breathe before you draw, and trust before you strike."
That day marked the beginning of a bond that would alter the fabric of fate itself.
Weeks turned into months. Under Vasu's calm guidance, Eklavya's skill grew like wildfire. What began as uncertain trembling became precision. His arrows began to hum through the air with divine rhythm, splitting leaves mid-fall, striking moving targets with effortless grace.
Even the Kauravas, proud and strong, were stunned. One by one, Eklavya bested them in archery. Duryodhana's competitive spirit ignited, Karna's pride was challenged — yet both found respect in their hearts for the forest boy who carried himself with humility.
Only Vasu smiled quietly, watching them all.
"Do you see, Karna?" he said one afternoon as Eklavya struck five targets at once. "Power is not always born in palaces. Sometimes it blooms in silence, in dirt, in struggle."
Karna nodded, his eyes glinting with admiration. He too had been looked down upon for his birth. He understood Eklavya's pain like a mirror.
"Guru," Eklavya said one day, his bow raised under the golden sun, "when will I be equal to you?"
Vasu smiled faintly. "When you stop asking the question."
The System Interface flashed again.
> [Progress: Task 1 Complete.]
[Sub-reward: Gauntlet Enhancement Unlocked – Divine Channel Mode.]
The silver bracelet pulsed once, as though alive, then fell silent again.
Weeks passed, and under Vasu's quiet gaze, Eklavya bloomed. His arrows flew like whispers of wind. His focus could split raindrops mid-fall.
Even the Kauravas began to respect him.
Duryodhana found in him a friend who never flattered. Karna saw a mirror of his own life — another soul judged for birth, not worth.
Vasu trained them all as equals. He stood by the rule that a warrior's worth came from their heart, not the name they carried.
And for that, the Kauravas loved him like an elder brother — their calm in every storm.
The System Interface hummed gently again.
> [Task 2: 83% Complete]
[Divine Energy Stabilized — Training Efficiency 300%]
One evening, as Eklavya loosed an arrow that split three wooden targets in one motion, Vasu nodded approvingly. "The hand obeys you now. Soon, the wind will too."
Eklavya smiled faintly. "I will never fail your teaching, Guru."
Meanwhile, tensions in the palace continued to rise. The Pandavas, observing from a distance, mocked Eklavya's origins, whispering about his low-caste status and Karna's loyalty to the Kauravas. But each time, a single cold gaze from Vasu silenced them. The air seemed to stiffen around him, his calm authority quelling the youngest prince's bravado. Even Yudhishthira, whose moral compass was held above all else, felt the unspoken warning: challenge Vasu's judgment, and the consequences would be immediate and undeniable.
Vasu's system quietly tracked his hidden power: "Strength used: 1% of total. Concealed potential: 100%. Daily growth rate: +1%." Though he allowed only a fraction of his ability to manifest, the aura around him already hinted at something divine. The Kauravas, under his tutelage, grew in skill and confidence, knowing that Vasu's shield would protect them from injustice, both subtle and overt.
One year later, Dronacharya finally arrived at Hastinapur, accompanied by the weight of his own legacy and ambition. The famed guru, brother-in-law of Kripacharya, had been summoned to train the princes in martial and divine arts. The atmosphere was tense, the hallways of the palace charged with anticipation.
As customary, each prince could only have one teacher, and Drona's eyes swept the assembly with an authority that demanded respect. The Kauravas and Karna bowed with practiced deference, but when Dronacharya's gaze fell upon Eklavya, his expression hardened.
"You will not study under me," Dronacharya said, his voice firm and cold. "Your blood is not princely. Your place is not here."
A murmur ran through the hall, but Vasu stepped forward, silver eyes fixed on Dronacharya.
"He is my student," Vasu stated evenly. "If he cannot remain, neither will I. Eklavya's path is not yours to dictate."
The room fell silent. Even the Kauravas, normally bold and confrontational, held their tongues. They knew the boy's power, honed under Vasu's guidance, and they understood the futility of challenging him. Dronacharya's jaw tightened as he realized the child before him carried strength beyond his perception, and yet, he could not act against the will of Vasu, the elder brother and guiding force of the Kauravas.
Thus, Eklavya remained, a secret student of Vasu, learning in ways Dronacharya could never sanction. With each passing day, his archery, tactics, and understanding of weaponry surpassed that of the princes under the official guru's instruction. Vasu's hidden power, though restrained at 1%, provided subtle guidance through the Celestial Gauntlet of Infinity. The system noted his growth continually, preparing both teacher and student for future challenges that would shake Hastinapur and beyond.
Finally, the day arrived when Dronacharya formally took the Kauravas and Karna to his gurukul. Eklavya followed under Vasu's supervision, a silent testament to the boy's skill and dedication. The Pandavas, observing the procession, felt the sting of rivalry sharpen further, their resentment growing as they realized that the balance of power in the kingdom had shifted subtly, yet irrevocably.
As they departed for the gurukul, Vasu remained calm, exuding authority that belied his age. His shield over the Kauravas, his guidance of Eklavya, and his silent control over the unfolding destinies set the stage for the next era of warriors — an era where the will of the Silver Superman and the hidden hand of destiny would intertwine.
The first chapter of the Kauravas' true defense and Eklavya's rise was complete. In the days to come, their skills would grow, the Pandavas' envy would simmer, and Vasu's concealed power would quietly ascend, awaiting the moment to reveal its full potential.
System Interface Update:
Eklavya Fate Mission: Complete.
Reward: Celestial Gauntlet of Infinity + Brahma's War Mind subskill integrated.
Daily Strength Growth: +1% of total hidden potential.
Current Power Usage: 1%
Status: Preparing for next phase — Gurukul training.
The stage was set. The guardians had risen. The battle for destiny had begun.
As the day approached for the princes to leave for Dronacharya's gurukul, Vasu stood at the edge of the forest, his silver eyes reflecting the morning sun. The twins' training, the countless hours with the Kauravas and Karna, and the meticulous lessons for Eklavya had brought him to a point of strength that few mortals could even comprehend.
The system interface quietly measured his hidden potential: Current Power Usage: 1% | Potential Full Strength: 100% | Approximate Mortal Comparison: King of Gods Indra.
Vasu allowed himself a rare moment of reflection. In his concealed mind, he knew that if he unleashed even a fraction more, he could operate at semi-Trimurti level—a tier of power so vast that the very heavens would quake at his presence. Every muscle, every sinew, every thought resonated with divine energy, yet he restrained himself.
He had promised Gandhari and Dhritarashtra that he would guide the Kauravas, not overshadow them. He had pledged that he would shield them from injustice, but he would not dominate them with raw force. Every glance he gave, every word he spoke, subtly conveyed authority without exposing the terrifying scale of his strength.
Vasu's silver aura, though barely noticeable to ordinary mortals, emanated power that commanded respect. Karna, feeling the subtle energy radiating from his elder brother, straightened instinctively, sensing the invisible barrier that would protect him from both rivals and fate itself. The Kauravas, young as they were, instinctively followed his guidance, knowing that Vasu's presence was both a shield and a standard.
Even Eklavya, standing nearby, felt the quiet pull of his teacher's energy. Though Vasu had trained him diligently, the aura surrounding him was a constant reminder: while the boy had potential to rival princes, his teacher's restraint was the true source of balance in their world.
In his mind, Vasu contemplated the implications. The Pandavas had been favored by Bheeshma and Vidura, enjoying moral and martial guidance that elevated them far beyond ordinary children. But Vasu knew the deeper truth: skill without guidance, power without restraint, would lead to imbalance. And while he operated at merely 1% of his total capacity, even that fraction was sufficient to ensure the Kauravas would never falter in the face of insult or aggression.
A soft breeze stirred the forest, rustling the leaves as if whispering in approval. The system interface flickered quietly: Hidden Potential Integration: 99% locked. Active Monitoring: Kauravas & Karna. Environmental Awareness: 100% | Predicted Conflict Scenarios: 87%.
Vasu smiled faintly to himself. The world believed him a child, a mere mortal, yet within him simmered the force of demi-gods. He had already trained the Kauravas, honed Karna's skills, and prepared Eklavya for a life where his caste would no longer define his destiny. And now, with the imminent gurukul departure, he would position his students in a way that destiny itself could not ignore.
As he gathered the Kauravas and Karna to escort them toward the waiting carriages, his thoughts drifted momentarily to the heavens. If he ever chose to unleash his full strength, he could challenge even the semi-Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in their manifested avatars. Yet restraint was his mantra; he would only reveal his full might when the wheel of fate demanded it.
The Pandavas, watching from a distance, whispered among themselves. Their words were sharp with envy, their observations filled with judgment. But even their keen eyes could not perceive the layers of power and strategy Vasu held. A single glance from him, calm and measured, was enough to silence their murmurs. They had learned, perhaps unwillingly, that in this child lay authority that rivaled the elders of Hastinapur.
As the twins and the Kauravas stepped onto the path leading to Dronacharya's gurukul, Vasu walked slightly ahead, his presence a shield and a signal. The Celestial Gauntlet of Infinity glimmered faintly on Eklavya's wrist, and the boy's heart raced with anticipation, unaware that the man guiding him had already attained strength near that of Indra himself.
Vasu's mind remained focused, not on glory, but on promise. He would protect, he would guide, and he would ensure that injustice met with the force of destiny. One day, he might reveal even a fraction more of his power, but for now, the subtle balance he maintained was enough to shape the future.
With a final glance toward the palace of Hastinapur, where Gandhari and Dhritarashtra observed his departure with quiet pride and relief, Vasu whispered to himself: "The world will test them… and I will be their shield. Not yet, not now. But when the time comes… they will know the Silver Flame."
Thus, the guardians embarked on their journey to the gurukul, the hidden forces of fate quietly bending around their steps. The stage was set for the next chapter in the saga — the training under Dronacharya, the trials of loyalty and skill, and the quiet, omnipotent presence of Vasu, whose strength rested just below the threshold of godhood, waiting for the moment destiny demanded his full emergence.