"Kimna, I've come to negotiate terms with you!"
Indra hovered high in the air, staring directly at Kimna and raising his hand.
Hearing this, Kimna paused, then his expression shifted dramatically, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Do you really think you can negotiate with me?"
His laughter was like the vibration of stars, his enormous mouth like a white hole, spewing forth a storm that seemed to herald the end of the universe, transforming into an immense, overwhelming wind.
"Vayu! It's your turn, hold it off!"
Indra took three steps back, positioning the wind god Vayu in front of him and pointing forward.
"Huh?"
Vayu, seeing the oncoming tempest, was taken aback, a look of horror crossing his face.
He was indeed the wind god!
But now, with his diminished divine power, even the wind god could be blown away by such a gale!
"You must hold it off!"
"Varuna, Agni, Surya, let's channel our divine power to him!"
As Indra spoke, he clasped his hands together, offering praise to the wind god, and a golden light flashed.
"Praise the wind god Vayu!"
"Praise the wind god Vayu!"
The water god Varuna, the fire god Agni, and the sun god Surya immediately responded, offering their praise to Vayu, infusing him with a steady stream of powerful divine energy.
Four healers empowering one tank with their blessings.
"Wind god, you can't be blown away by the wind, or your reputation will be ruined!"
Indra urged.
"I'm filled with power now, don't worry!"
Vayu's gaze turned steely.
He wasn't to be underestimated!
As the wind god, he was a warrior among the gods, the vanguard in their battles.
Vayu raised his hand, and his divine power transformed.
The raging wind coalesced, whinnying incessantly, taking the shape of ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine white horses before the gods. The wind horses neighed incessantly, their iron hooves pounding as they charged forward.
Neigh~
The cries of nearly a hundred thousand white horses, like the halting of a fierce storm, tore through the atmosphere, creating a path through the tempest emitted from Kimna's mouth.
Kimna was slightly taken aback and began to regard the gods with more seriousness.
These guys still had considerable power!
"What do you want?"
Kimna's voice boomed like thunder.
Indra took a step forward, speaking calmly, "I want to challenge you to a fight. If you win, we will leave."
Hearing this, Kimna seemed to hear a joke of cosmic proportions. He sneered, looking at Indra with mockery.
"Just you!"
"Indra, what makes you think you can challenge me?!"
Kimna scoffed, the airwaves rolling, causing the churned sea of milk to surge anew.
"Are you afraid?"
Indra countered.
Kimna's golden eyes widened, his anger rising.
Afraid?
Would he, Kimna, ever be afraid?
Fury welled up within Kimna.
But remembering the sage Sukracharya's instructions to hold steady the Mandara Mountain, he suppressed his anger.
"Hmph! You are not worthy of challenging me right now!"
Kimna snorted coldly, a smile playing on his lips.
Indra took two steps forward, his eyes twinkling as he spoke in a deep voice, "I heard that a calf born in a sheep pen grows up behaving like a sheep. You, living in the underworld, use your ears and eyes frequently but have lost the spirit to fight. Is that reasonable?"
Kimna shook his head at Indra's pretentious words.
"What are you talking about?"
Kimna roared.
"I'm saying you are unworthy to be an Asura!"
Indra's expression remained calm.
Kimna's brows twitched, his face darkening as he glared at Indra.
"Unworthy?!"
"My power can overturn the earth, pluck stars from the sky, and you, in your current state, are not worthy to fight me!"
Kimna roared furiously.
His black hair billowed, displaying his wild spirit. His shout sent fierce winds howling, causing the sea of milk to surge with towering waves, emanating a ferocious aura that shook the world.
"Haha!"
"No!"
Indra smiled faintly, standing with his feet together, his left hand supporting his head, and his right hand pointing directly at Kimna as he chuckled.
"You are the challenger!"
As his words fell, silence enveloped the surroundings.
Sun god Surya opened his mouth, taking a deep breath, his dark face filled with astonishment.
"So arrogant! So conceited!"
Wind god Vayu muttered to himself.
Fire god Agni and water god Varuna swallowed hard, impressed by Indra's confident declaration that reversed the roles.
Guardian god Vishnu reclined on his serpent couch.
He watched the Asura king Kimna, a slight smile forming at his lips.
"Now this is the proud Indra of old. Without divine power, he wouldn't dare speak like this."
"But Kimna is already provoked!"
...
Brahmaloka.
"Such arrogant words!"
Brahma also observed the events unfolding on the Sea of Milk. He had been curious about how Indra would provoke Kimna into action, but he didn't expect such straightforward provocations.
At this moment, Brahma felt a tickle in his neck.
He turned his head, glancing at the Vedas in his hands, which emitted a faint golden glow.
Years ago, his fifth head had been removed by Shiva for its excessive arrogance and constant insults directed at the Vedas.
"Indeed, one must choose their words wisely!"
Brahma thought to himself.
...
In Kailasa.
Mahadeva Shiva remained motionless, his expression calm, his eyes like deep water, reflecting the events on the Sea of Milk.
"It seems Indra has gained a lot of insight during his penance. He has learned how to stir up people's agitated nature!"
Mahadeva Shiva murmured.
Agitation!
It refers to the nature of excitement, impatience, and anxiety.
Nandi, the divine bull, looked on curiously.
"Asuras are prone to anger and fighting. With their agitation now heightened, Kimna will surely act."
Mahadeva Shiva explained.
...
At this moment, the Asura king Kimna was ablaze with fury.
His golden eyes, like two pillars of light, illuminated all directions.
Never before had he been so belittled. These gods, despite their lost divine power, dared to tell him, blessed with immense power, that he was the challenger.
"Then let me prove it!"
Kimna roared in anger, releasing the Mandara Mountain he had been holding. The massive mountain plummeted into the sea of milk.
As the mountain sank, the sea's waves rose in colossal surges around it.
At this moment, the three realms trembled!
"Well fought!"
"I surrender!"
Knowing that the plan had succeeded, Indra didn't waste any time. He shouted, then turned to flee.
"???"
The surrounding gods exchanged bewildered glances, then Vayu, realizing the ruse, quickly followed Indra.
The other gods soon followed suit, chasing after Indra.
Kimna's eyes widened, his anger turning his golden eyes blood-red, his killing intent soaring.
"How dare you trick me!"
Kimna bellowed, his voice like thunder. He swung his massive hand, stirring up countless storm clouds as he struck towards Indra and the others.
The world darkened, all colors fading to black.
Indra looked up, seeing the storming clouds and roaring winds, a colossal hand descending upon them.
So big!
Kimna was truly formidable!
Luckily, Indra had someone above him!
Steadying himself, Indra cleared his throat and called out loudly.
"Great Lord!"
"If not now, when?"
(End of this chapter)