Aboard theChaos Rider, parked invisibly above the Mauryan capital, Rudra D. Raja Wyllt pored over reports from his shadow warriors and clones. The holographic table glowed, detailing the Chola Empire’s defenses, trade routes, and noble factions. His SSS+ intellect churned, crafting a battle plan to conquer the south with minimal bloodshed."Red Queen, compile this,"he said, scribbling notes."We’re uniting Bharat, not turning it into a barbecue."

MAYA’s voice hummed. "Battle plan’s cute, Master. But you’re still a chai-sipping warlord."

Raja grinned, introducing eco-friendly paper to the Mauryan era, credited to Vishnugupta."Sustainable conquest, baby."He sent the plan to Emperor Chandragupta and Vishnugupta, outlining a strategy to absorb the Chola, Pandya, Chera, and Satavahana empires as vassal states under Mauryan rules, with fair taxes."Kings keep their thrones, but they bow to Akhand Bharat,"Raja muttered.

Chandra, embracing the plan, dispatched an envoy to the Chola emperor with a bold ultimatum: full war or a gladiator match."I’ll fight your 100 strongest warriors in Tirupati,"Chandra declared."If I win, your empires become my vassals under Akhand Bharat. If I lose, I’ll never touch the south again and pay a mountain of gold."

The southern kings, greedy for gold and skeptical of one man defeating 100, agreed, setting the stage for a grand spectacle.

Tirupati buzzed with nobles, princes, and commoners packed into the massive arena.

Chandra arrived, flanked by Vishnugupta and 100 black-clad, masked warriors—Raja’s clones in Assassin’s Creed-style gear, armed with bows, swords and Akhand Bharath Flags (comment).

Even Chandra and Vishnugupta didn’t know their true nature; Raja had called them his"kill squad." "Don’t ask, just vibe,"he’d told Chandra, winking.

The match began. The southern kings—Chola, Pandya, Chera, Satavahana—each sent 25 elite warriors, wielding spears, swords, axes, and maces. Chandra strode into the arena, peeling off his armor to reveal a 6’5" god-of-war physique, battle scars gleaming on his Chromosome-24-enhanced body. Clad only in shorts, he looked like Indra incarnate. The crowd roared, southern warriors exchanging nervous glances.

The arena thundered with cheers as Chandra faced 100 warriors, hisThunder Breathing: Storm-Forged Stylecrackling with lightning chi. The southern fighters, a mix of grizzled veterans and agile prodigies, charged, their weapons gleaming. Chandra’s eyes blazed, his superhuman strength and reflexes primed.

He opened withFlash Knuckle, a lightning-fast jab that struck a Chola spearman’s chest, sending him skidding back with a thunderclap. The crowd gasped. A Pandya swordsman swung; Chandra countered withRolling Thunder Elbow, spinning to deliver a crackling elbow that knocked the man out cold."One down, 99 to go!"Chandra roared, grinning.

Five Chera axemen encircled him. Chandra unleashedRumble Cage, his fists and feet a blur, creating a storm-like barrier of electrified punches. Axes bounced off, their wielders shocked into stumbling. He leaped,Sky Fang Descentcrashing his knee onto a Satavahana mace-wielder’s shoulder, grounding him with a paralyzing surge."Stay down, buddy,"Chandra quipped.

A Chola archer fired from afar. Chandra’sCrackling Palmshot forward, a palm thrust disabling the archer’s arm with a lightning jolt. Ten warriors rushed, swords flashing. Chandra grappled a Pandya captain withThunder Whorl Grapple, spinning him mid-air and slamming him down with a spinal shock."Night-night!"he laughed.

The arena became a lightning storm as Chandra unleashedChainflash Strikes, six rapid punches hammering a Chera spearman, each hit louder, faster, crackling with energy. The man collapsed, dazed.

A Satavahana giant swung a warhammer; Chandra’s Tempest Guard blocked, shocks repelling the blow and numbing the giant’s arms. "Strike me, strike yourself!" Chandra taunted.

Twenty warriors coordinated a pincer attack. Chandra vanished in aWhitebolt Mirage, his feint leaving them slashing air. He reappeared, backhanding a Chola swordsman into the dirt."Faster than fear!"he shouted. The crowd roared, women swooning, men chanting his name.

Fifty warriors remained, their morale shaken. Chandra’sThunder Breathingsurged, his body a conduit for lightning.

A Pandya lancer charged; Chandra sidestepped,Flash Knuckledropping him.

A Chera dual-wielder attacked;Rolling Thunder Elbowsent him spinning.

Chandra weaved through a dozen foes withRumble Cage, fists sparking, knocking out three with precise jabs.

A Satavahana javelineer leaped;Sky Fang Descentcrushed him mid-air.

A Chola assassin tried a stealth strike. Chandra’sCrackling Palmparalyzed his dagger arm."No sneaky-sneaky,"he grinned.

He grappled a Pandya berserker withThunder Whorl Grapple, hurling him into a cluster of Chera archers, all collapsing in a shocked heap.Chainflash Strikesfelled five more, Chandra’s fists a blur of lightning.

A Satavahana captain’s mace metTempest Guard, the recoil frying his nerves.

Thirty warriors left, desperation setting in. Chandra’sWhitebolt Miragebaffled them, his backhands dropping two Cholas. A Pandya commander rallied ten men; Chandra’sRumble Cagerepelled their charge, fists sparking. He leaped,Sky Fang Descentgrounding their leader. "Heavens say hi!"he called.

The final twenty formed a shield wall. Chandra’sChainflash Strikesbroke their line, six punches felling four men.

A Chera swordsman lunged;Crackling Palmnumbed his legs. Chandra grappled a Satavahana giant withThunder Whorl Grapple, slamming him down."Big guy, small nap!"he chuckled.

With ten warriors standing, Chandra sensed the climax."Time to end this,"he growled, charging his ultimate move. He sprinted, static building with each step, the arena trembling.Heaven-Splitter Blowerupted—a punch unleashing a deafening boom, lightning exploding outward. The blast subdued the remaining warriors, their bodies collapsing in a stunned heap, unharmed but unconscious.

The arena shook, dust settling as Chandra stood, unscathed, lightning fading.

Vishnugupta leaped to his feet, roaring,"Jai Bhavani! Namah Parvati Pataye Har Har Mahadev!"Raja’s clones, still masked, echoed the chant, their voices shaking the stands. From the cloakedChaos Rider, Raja cast a thunder spell, a bolt splitting the sky.

The crowd, nobles, and kings joined the chant, convinced Chandra was heaven-blessed."Jai Bhavani!"they roared, pride swelling.

Raja, lounging in the cockpit, grinned."MAYA, if this had Salaar’s interval soundtrack, it’d be pure cinema."

MAYA sighed."You’re such a nerd."

The southern kings, awestruck, pledged fealty, their empires vassal states under the Mauryan flag. Chandra, gracious, spared their warriors, cementing his benevolent image.

Raja’s clones vanished into the crowd, their job done.

Back in the capital, Raja orchestrated the integration. He ensured Vishnugupta’s eco-friendly paper spread, revolutionizing record-keeping.

Chandra enforced Mauryan laws, while Raja’s spy crows monitored compliance.

Rebel nobles faced shadow soldiers—Raja’sShadow Extractioncreations—whispering threats until they knelt.

Chandra trained the national army, emphasizing unity over varna.

Vishnugupta’s syllabus rolled out, teaching Sanskrit, math, Vedas, and self-defense, forging loyal citizens.

Raja’s chai shops doubled as intel hubs, his cover as a quirky tea vendor intact. "Best gig ever," he told Durdhara, now queen and his sister-in-law, who laughed at his antics.

Five years later, the Maurya Empire was a juggernaut. Chandra and Nandini’s son, Bindusara, toddled about, a mini-warrior.

Raja, aboard theChaos Rider, eyed the southern map, his clones and shadow bandits sipping chai. "South’s ours,"he smirked. "Akhand Bharat’s flag flies high, now let’s create worlds deadliest Navy and Army."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com