Cittaja || Indian Historical Romance

60.

As the forces reached the border of Vijaygarh, adjoined by the forces of Saura, the sight shocked everyone. The fields, houses, and even public areas were on fire. The blood was splashed over the roads that common people used.

"What the hell is this??!!" Manas exclaimed in shock. He hadn't ever seen an army before that attacked villages or cities that were inhabited by common people.

Houses were on fire. "Put out the fire," Shakra ordered some of the soldiers. The sight of people wailing was unsettling to him. He often derived pleasure from his enemies wailing and crying, but common people crying was a sight that made him restless.

Shakra saw a temple that was covered in blood. He instantly got off, his heart rattling at that sight. He saw the temple priest lying dead in the doorway to the garba griha. He winced at the sight. Kalika's idol stood violated in the garba griha. The jewelry snatched at her. Her arms were broken. Someone gorged her eyes off the idol. Shakra closed his eyes at that, almost wincing in pain. They didn't even spare the mangalsutra around her neck.

"My beautiful Amma..." He sighed, touching her chin. He gripped his fists tightly. "I promise you, Amma, for every single blow they gave you, I will give them twice. For all the suffering they've caused and for all the bloodshed they have started. They want destruction; I will show them pralaya. I will avenge this disrespect, Amma. I will."

Shakra picked up the priest and took the body to the cremation ground. All the soldiers had begun to place the dead bodies there. The number of dead bodies in the cremation ground was mind-rattling. "Some of their bodies aren't even complete; their organs are missing," Manas whispered.

Shakra gripped his fists. "Manas, I will slaughter each one of those bastards." Shakra walked out and followed the path of destruction. The moment he saw the traces of the invading army, his blood boiled in rage.

"Let them go and face a man." Shakra roared. The soldier turned around and laughed at the sight of Shakra.

"You, pretty boy, will fight me?" They all started laughing. Shakra noticed they grabbed women.

"I want the women safe. Make sure there isn't a single scratch on them while you slaughter these pigs." Shakra ordered his soldiers. The enemy burned in anger at being called an animal. They rushed at Shakra.

One single blow of Shakra's sword chopped the head off the body. The single swipe action suddenly shocked the invader army. Shakra twirled his sword. "What happened? Not going to face this pretty boy? Come on, be brave; be a man." Shakra taunted them.

When they hesitated, Shakra himself rode in their direction. The next thing they saw was a spear piercing through them. Shakra's aim was immaculate. The movement of the sword was so hard that it could slit people in half. Shakra wasn't holding back at all. Seeing Shakra's slaughter of the army, his army got energized. That had turned into a whirlpool of death that sucked any soldier from the army of invaders. Shakra's army didn't really hold back, either.

Ameya wasn't far beyond his brothers in terms of his skills. The brothers shared one common trait with their father. It was his ability to slaughter enemies without remorse. It was knowing how much and how far the violence needed to be unleashed. All of the brothers took after their father's reputation for battle.

Ameya's sword enjoyed the taste of blood and went straight to the major organs.

The army did not expect the sudden onslaught that had begun. They started running, seeing the violence that was suddenly unleashed.

"I don't want them to escape," Shakra ordered the archers. The arrows rained over the ones who tried to run from the battlefield. The rules of war always declare that one shouldn't harm an enemy that is running away from the battlefield. But animals are hunted while they run away. These invaders weren't humans. They couldn't be classified as humans based on how they behaved with people. Temples, fields, marketplaces, hospitals, and resting areas were set on fire. The way they picked up women and threw them over their horses wasn't human in any way.