Blood had a way of speaking long after screams ended.
Arya learned this on the road back to Mahismati.
The conclave at Hastinapura had ended without chains, without alliances, without declarations—but it had accomplished something far more dangerous.
It had drawn lines.
Invisible.
Unforgiving.
---
The caravan moved quietly through the forest pass.
No banners.
No escorts beyond necessity.
Arya preferred it this way.
Attention was a currency, and he had spent enough.
---
> [Threat Assessment – Active]
> Probability of Ambush: Rising
> Source: Non-State Actors (Proxy Forces)
> Recommendation:
> Heightened Awareness
Arya's hand rested lightly on the hilt at his side.
"I know," he murmured.
---
The attack came at dusk.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
An arrow buried itself into the throat of the lead rider.
Then another.
Then fire.
---
Bandits poured from the trees wearing mismatched armor—Kuru steel, Anga leather, Chedi insignias sewn crudely together.
False flags.
Again.
---
"Protect the prince!"
Steel rang.
Horses screamed.
Arya did not shout.
He moved.
---
> [Combat Mode – Engaged]
> Combat Efficiency Scaling: Enabled
> Passive: Sovereign of Consequence – Active
---
Arya stepped into the chaos with terrifying calm.
A blade rose toward him—
He turned his wrist.
Bone cracked.
The man fell without a sound.
---
This was not a battle.
This was extermination.
Arya did not chase.
He did not rage.
He ended.
---
One attacker hesitated.
Dropped his sword.
"I surrender!" the man cried.
Arya stopped.
The system paused.
---
> [Moral Decision Point]
> Spare – Risk Narrative Weakness
> Execute – Risk Humanity Erosion
Arya looked at the man.
At the blood.
At the symbols stitched to deceive.
He spoke softly.
"Who sent you?"
The man sobbed.
"I don't know! We were paid—through three hands!"
Arya nodded.
Then—
He struck.
Clean.
Final.
---
> [Choice Registered]
> Mercy Declined
> Humanity Stability: -1
> Authority Reinforced
---
Silence followed.
Bodies littered the ground.
Arya wiped his blade.
"This ends," he said quietly.
---
The survivors ran.
Arya did not pursue.
He didn't need to.
The message would travel.
---
In Anga, Karna received the report that night.
"Ambush failed," the messenger whispered. "All dead."
Karna's jaw clenched.
"Who ordered it?"
"No seal," the man said. "But the gold came from Kuru channels."
Karna closed his eyes.
Duryodhana.
Of course.
---
Karna dismissed the messenger and stood alone.
His hands trembled—not with fear.
With anger.
---
"So this is your war," he whispered.
A war fought through cowards.
Through lies.
Through burned villages.
---
In Mahismati, Arya reached the capital by dawn.
The people had heard.
They always did.
Eyes followed him.
Not with love.
Not with fear.
With expectation.
---
The king waited.
"You were attacked," he said quietly.
"Yes."
"And?"
Arya met his gaze.
"I ended it."
The king searched his face.
"You killed men who surrendered."
Arya did not deny it.
The king exhaled.
"Then the world will call you a tyrant."
Arya's voice was steady.
"Let it."
---
> [Reputation Shift]
> Mahismati: Protector → Enforcer
> Passive Effect:
> Internal Stability Increased
> External Fear Amplified
---
That night, the system activated unbidden.
---
> [Divine Observation Detected]
> Source: Shiva
Arya stood still.
"You walk closer to my shadow," Shiva's voice echoed.
"I know," Arya replied.
"And yet you do not turn away."
"I cannot."
Silence followed.
Then—
"You are becoming what this age requires," Shiva said. "Not what it deserves."
---
In Hastinapura, Duryodhana laughed when he heard the news.
"See?" he said mockingly. "The mask slips."
But Karna did not smile.
"He was attacked," Karna said coldly.
"And he responded," Duryodhana shrugged. "That is power."
Karna turned sharply.
"No," he said. "That is warning."
---
Karna left the hall.
For the first time—
Without permission.
---
> [Karna – Defiance Triggered]
> Loyalty to Kauravas: Fracturing
---
Arya stood alone on Mahismati's walls.
Blood had spoken.
Not loudly.
But clearly.
---
> [Narrative Acceleration]
> Proxy Wars → Direct Engagement Imminent
> Next Phase:
> First Irreversible Clash
Arya closed his eyes.
"Come," he whispered to destiny.
"I'm done waiting."
---
Far away, Karna stared at the same sky.
And for the first time in his life—
He wondered if justice and loyalty could no longer coexist.
---
End of Chapter 14