Echoes of the Fallen Gods: The Astra System

Name: ???

Race: Neo-Human

Class: Assassin

Title: ???

Divine core: Not detected.

Elemental core: Detected

Rank: Tier-7

Status: Awakened

*

Agastya didn't need Yami's analysis to realize how stronger the other party was. He spent enough time with hunters and adventurers to gauge her strength.

He could feel the lightning element dancing inside her body.

Agastya's expression further darkened the moment he learnt she is a Tier-7. In comparison, the Nova guild elite, Vaelin was also in the same rank. Hence, it is fair to say that she isn't someone he can just offend and live. Moreover, the fact that he is alive in a cave at a nearby river, which isn't the location he was stabbed, tells that atleast she is not an enemy. Nevertheless, he had to be wary of her.

Kiara smirked as she twirled another dagger between her fingers. "Not bad," she said, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and challenge. "You actually sensed the attack before it landed. A second slower, and your wrist should have been pierced instead."

Agastya didn't respond immediately. He yanked the dagger out of his arm with a sharp exhale, blood staining his sleeve. The wound stung, but he ignored the pain. Instead, he locked eyes with her.

"…Who are you?" He asked.

Kiara tilted her head, her smirk widening. "You're the one using a devastating divine weapon, and you're asking me that?" She flipped her dagger effortlessly before pointing it at him. "Where did you attain the knowledge of Bhargavastra? The divine astra can only be obtained from the one who possesses and has mastered it." Kiara stated, stepping closer. Her voice suddenly became smooth—too smooth. It seeped into his mind like a gentle melody. "Who are you? How did you get it?"

Agastya opened his mouth, his lips moving on their own. "I… woke up in a cave. There was a voice. It said I was the last hope of the Devas. Then I got the Astra System…" His brows furrowed as he spoke, confusion flickering in his mind.

Why was he telling her this?

Why was he revealing everything?

A faint smirk touched Kiara's lips as she took another step forward, her obsidian eyes flickering with an unnatural glow.

"Hypnosis."

His mind screamed the realization, but his body refused to move.

Agastya was completely under her spell.

"Damn it."

Kiara was no ordinary Exalt. She had a unique ocular ability—one that allowed her to manipulate the minds of those who locked eyes with her.

And right now, he was her puppet.

"Tell me…" Kiara murmured, tilting her head. "Who else knows about your abilities?"

"Possibly my cousin, Vibhav. He was the one who handed me the locket, through which I gained this ability," Agastya answered mechanically, his eyes distant. "But he was captured… by Nova Guild… I was supposed to save him…"

Kiara's smirk widened. "Interesting." She tapped her chin, contemplating her next question. "And what do you intend to do now?"

Agastya's jaw clenched. Deep inside, his consciousness was screaming.

Break free! Move, damn it!

But her voice was like a lullaby, keeping him in a trance. His lips parted to answer her, but suddenly—

A pulse.

Something deep inside him stirred. The Divine Core hummed as if it was woken up.

For the first time, Agastya felt it pulse inside him like a second heart. His mind cleared in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, he snapped out of Kiara's hypnosis.

His pupils sharpened.

His hands moved before his thoughts could catch up.

In one swift motion, he raised Sharanga and fired an arrow—not at her, but at the ground beneath her feet. The impact exploded, sending dust and debris flying everywhere, forcing Kiara to jump back.

When the dust settled, Agastya was standing there, his aura completely different. His golden eyes gleamed with newfound clarity. His stance was firm, unwavering.

Kiara's smirk faded. "Oh?" She narrowed her eyes, this time in curiosity. "You broke free. Impressive."

Agastya exhaled slowly. His heartbeat was steady, his mind sharp. He met her gaze without fear this time, his willpower burning brighter than ever.

"You tried to control me," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Kiara chuckled. "You can't blame a girl for being cautious."

But Agastya wasn't amused. "Who are you, miss? What do you want with me?"

Kiara shrugged. "The name's Kiara. A rebel."

"Kiara?" Agastya certainly felt like he heard the name before. After taking another look at the beauty, it suddenly hit him. He saw it on the television. "That Kiara? The criminal with a bounty of 4.8 million Earth credits?"

Kiara frowned at his comment. "I'm a rebel, not a criminal." She corrected him.

She was part of a rebel organization that aimed to overthrow the Duke of Terra—the corrupt tyrant ruling Earth, hoarding wealth, enslaving commoners, and crushing opposition under his iron fist.

Agastya's mind whirled. If she was part of the rebellion, then that meant—

"You're fighting against the Duke, aren't you?" he asked, lowering his bow slightly.

Kiara's eyes gleamed with amusement. "And if I am?"

"Nothing. I just want to say that you are doing the right thing." Agastya commented, taking a pause and adding, "I hate those nobles who just dictate the fates of the poor and weak as if their lives don't matter."

"Hmm… that's a good attitude." Kiara's lips curled into a smile as she nodded. She then asked. "What do you want to do now?"

Agastya looked at her into the eyes and said. "I'll have to save my brother as fast as possible. I'm going to visit Moon to save my brother. The teleportation channels to the moon will only last for a week." He looked quite determined to make this work.

Kiara, however, was unimpressed by his determination. Sparks of lightning suddenly danced on her skin and she turned into a blur in the next second. Agastya didn't even have the time to react before his abdomen was punched by her.

It was an instant knockout. The bow disappeared and Agastya collapsed to the floor.

A few hours later;

Agastya groaned, his head pounding as he forced his eyes open. His vision was blurry at first, the dim glow of torches flickering around him. The stone beneath his back was cold, rough, and unfamiliar. He wasn't in the cave anymore.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he became aware of his surroundings.

He was lying inside what appeared to be a vast underground temple, the air thick with the scent of burning incense. Towering stone pillars, etched with intricate runes, stretched toward a ceiling lost in the shadows.

The only source of light came from large, enchanted torches mounted along the walls, their flames burning with an eerie bluish hue.

And then he saw it.

Right before him stood a massive statue, carved from an obsidian-like material. It depicted a warrior—no, a deity—holding a colossal bow in one hand and an axe in the other. His eyes gleamed with an ethereal light, and his expression was one of unwavering resolve. There was no plaque, no inscription, so, Agastya had no idea who this person was, although he felt quite familiar.

As if understanding his thoughts, Yami gave him the info with a soft ding.

The holographic screen floated in front of his eyes, depicting the information of the statue.

Bhargava Rama—the Ancient Sage, one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu—the very first rebellious human warrior and the deity to all those rebels who worship the Hindu pantheon. He is also the creator of Bhargavastra, the very one Agastya received the knowledge of astra from Yami.

His breath caught in his throat as realization hit him. This was no ordinary temple.

He tried to push himself up, but a sharp pain shot through his ribs. With a grunt, he fell back against the cold floor, his limbs sluggish and weak. He clenched his teeth. Kiara.

He remembered their last conversation. He had told her he needed to save his brother. And she… she had knocked him out without a second thought.

"That little—"

"You're finally awake."

A voice echoed through the chamber.

Agastya turned his head sharply to see Kiara standing near the base of the statue, arms crossed, her obsidian black eyes watching him with an unreadable expression. She was still clad in the same dark leather outfit, her dagger resting lightly against her hip.

Agastya glared at her. "You knocked me out."

"You were being stupid," Kiara replied flatly. "Suicidal. If you had any common sense, you'd be thanking me."

Agastya gritted his teeth. "My brother is out there—probably suffering on the moon—and you expect me to just sit here and thank you?"

Kiara exhaled, shaking her head. "You really don't get it, do you?" She gestured toward the towering statue behind her. "Look where you are, Agastya. This place—this temple—has been hidden for centuries. No outsider has ever stepped foot here. And yet, here you are, lying at the feet of Bhargava himself. That bow in your hand? The moment I saw it, I knew exactly that you are someone rebels need."

Agastya narrowed his eyes. "And what if I don't want to side with you guys?"

Kiara studied him for a moment before speaking. "Your bow alone marks you for death. You have no choice but to stay hidden all your life. But side with us, we will provide you the help you need to become stronger. And if you truly want to save your brother, you need more power anyways."

Agastya clenched his fists. He wanted to argue. He wanted to tell her that he didn't care about their stupid fight against the system. He only wanted to keep his brother safe and live peacefully on the moon in luxury. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore her warnings either. Possessing a celestial bow is akin to facing death. Moreover, he was also angry at the wealthy noble and the Nova guild.

What good was his anger if he didn't have the strength to act on it?

Kiara must have sensed his turmoil because her voice softened slightly. "Listen. You have two choices. One, you leave right now, go after whoever you want, and die within a day because you're not ready. Or two, you stay here, train, and actually stand a chance. Perhaps, one day, you might even be able to command rebel forces." She crossed her arms. "Your call and your fate, Agastya."

Silence filled the chamber.

Agastya turned his gaze back to the statue of Bhargava. The warrior's face was stoic, unwavering—a reminder that true strength wasn't just about power, but the will to wield it.

Finally, Agastya exhaled.

"…How long will it take?"

Kiara smirked. "Depends. How fast can you learn?"