Deep within the dark folds of the jungle, birds chirped as if they hadn’t just witnessed aroyal kidnapping. ThePrincess Durdhara, unconscious from an expertly applied sleeping dart, lay on a silk cushion inside an elaborately carvedenchanted golden cage—because, of course, Raja couldn’t help but go dramatic.

Raja, now in hisShadow form, smirked as he adjusted the final lock on the cage.

"Perfect," he whispered. "Gilded confinement. Regal discomfort. And a story so twisted, even the royal bards will need therapy."

With a swirl of dark mist, Raja activated his most dramatic move—Eclipse Mirage: Perfect Clone Technique.

Moments later, the jungle was bustling with fake bandits. One looked like the notorious leader of theRakshak Rippers, complete with a red scar over his left eye and a voice like he gargled nails for breakfast. The others were a ragtag bunch of made-up goons with names like Snorty, Scarface, One-Tooth, and Steve.

As the sun began to rise, a very confused Princess Durdhara stirred in her cage. Groggy, grumpy, and with a minor leaf stuck to her royal cheek, she blinked.

Suddenly—SCREAMING.

"YOU IMBECILES!" shouted the fake Rippers’ leader (aka Raja). "Do you even know what you’ve done?"

Clone #1 (aka Steve): "What? I followed the map, boss! Third floor, east wing, second door on the right! I bagged the woman just like you said!"

"That wasn’t theentertainer Rani!" Raja roared, dramatically kicking a nearby coconut. "THAT WAS THEPRINCESS!"

The clones gasped, badly pretending to be shocked.

Steve, scratching his head, asked, "...Wait, so she’snotRani?"

"I—CAN’T—EVEN—WITH YOU!" Raja groaned theatrically. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF PUNISHMENT THIS BRINGS?! A DEATH SENTENCE!"

At this, Princess Durdhara shot up.

"Excuse me, did you just sayyou meant to kidnap Rani?" Her royal eyebrow raised so high it almost reached the sun. "Explain yourself, you villainous vegetable!"

Raja’s clone-leader laughed like an over-the-top villain in a traveling puppet show. "Don’t kid yourself, Princess. We were told to kidnap Rani byyour monster of a father.Ask himwhyhe wants her."

"What do youmean?" she snapped. "Explain yourself, mongrel!"

But Raja disappeared into the foliage with his clones, leaving a dumbfounded princess and a talking parrot behind, who simply said, "Awkward."

Early morning, the palace erupted in chaos asRani—Raja’s flamboyant persona—burst into the courtyard screaming bloody treason.

"The princess! The princess has been kidnapped!Behold this cursed note!"

She dramatically flung the note into the air. It read:

"For the Darkside. P.S. She snores a little."

Panic spread faster than free ladoos. EmperorDhana Nanda, who had just sat down for mangoes and murder plans, threw his mango at the nearest wall.

"Contain the news," he muttered.

But it wastoo late. Outside, the voice ofVishnuguptathundered from every alley, rooftop, and tea shop:

"THE PRINCESS IS TAKEN! A DEMON REAPS WHAT THE KING SOWS!"

The capital lost its collective mind. Trade stopped. Astrologers started offering discounts. One guy just spontaneously set his turban on fire.

Dhana Nanda sighed. "Fine. Announce a royal reward. Whoever finds the princess getsgold, glory... and maybe part of the princely state."

Rani strolled into the military barracks like drama queens at a fashion show.

"General Chandra!" Rani declared. "The kingdom needs your strength, your skill, yourextraordinarily heroic jawline."

Chandra blinked. "Did... did you just say jawline?"

"I saidbloodline." She winked.

They explained the situation. And while Chandra was still processing the part about the enchanted jungle cage and villainous kidnappers,Vishnugupta’s voiceechoed once again:

"A young general has taken up the cause! He seeks the princess! He seeks—her hand!"

Chandra choked on his own name.

"I never said that!!"

Chandra, now regretting every push-up that made him look like a worthy suitor, assembled his team:

Sharanya, the no-nonsense archer.Vikram, the loyal spearman.Agni, the edgy swordmaster who probably writes poetry.Ravi, the silent assassin.Kala, the hunter with a falcon named Kaka.

A mysterious crow from the sky—Raja’s crow informant, naturally—circled overhead and led them deep into the heart of the forest.

The jungle welcomed them with rustling trees, ominous howls, and an aggressive squirrel.

They crossed swamps where leeches formed boybands. They avoided poisonous frogs thatsang lullabies. Kala shot two bandits disguised as bushes. Ravi killed a snake who tried to steal Chandra’s belt.

At twilight, they found it—the Rakshak Rippers’ Den.

The den looked like an overgrown temple taken over by chaos: spiked gates, hanging skulls, and one very confused guard playing the flute.

Chandra signaled. "Now."

They charged.

Sharanyaloosed arrows that whistled through ears.

Agniflipped and sliced through the thugs like butter.

Vikramskewered three goons with one throw.

Ravijust appeared next to people and they fainted.

Kala’s falconwent for the eyes.

Then cameChandra.

The leader of the Rakshak Rippers charged, swinging twin axes.

"You’ll never take me alive!"

"I wasn’t planning to," Chandra muttered.

He dodged, punched, axe-flipped,andlaunched the man through a tree.

The other bandits stared in shock. "Wait... how did he find us?"

"WHO SNITCHED?!"

But it was too late.

Back in her cage, Durdhara could hear the chaos.

"HELLO?! ANYONE OUT THERE?! I’M A ROYAL! I AMWEARING A PRINCESS CAGE!" reversing the words with fear.

Chandra, hearing her voice, sprinted with the speed often stallions and a protein shake.

He found her, glowing in golden light like a goddess crossed with a trapped pigeon.

"Stand back," he growled.

And then—he grabbed the bars.

With a sound like thunder,he bent the enchanted cage with his bare hands.

Durdhara blinked. "Did... did you just arm-wrestle magical metal?"

"Yes," he said, heroic winds dramatically ruffling his hair.

"Oh no," she whispered, blushing. "Youarethe prophecy."

Chandra ride with princess on the horse (bridal style, because why not), and the team returned to the capital. Waiting for them were...clone gruntsdressed as villagers.

"Behold! The savior of the princess! The lion of Pataliputra! The man who tamed steel!"

They threw flower petals, sang songs, played drums, and—at one point—released a goat in celebration.

The crowd went wild.

Someone shouted, "HE’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT ROYAL HUSBAND!"

Even the guards began humming wedding hymns.

The heads of the Rakshak Rippers were piled in front of the palace. The stolen goods returned. Families wept. A dog howled in tune.

Durdhara quietly slipped Chandra her silk handkerchief.

Chandra blinked. "Do I... keep this?"

"Yes. For your muscles."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com