Chapter 6: The Bloodline's Curse

Rishi clutched the Smace, its weight oddly familiar in his grip. The once-golden weapon now pulsed with a deep crimson glow, as if alive, as if… breathing. His hands trembled, not with fear, but with the overwhelming power surging through him.

Across from him, Kaviraj stared in disbelief.

"It… changed." The old warrior whispered, taking a cautious step forward. His voice, usually steady, now carried a trace of awe and fear.

Rishi’s head still pounded from the visions of Rajveer, his ancestor—the king who had once wielded this weapon. His voice still echoed in his mind:

"Your blood has awakened me. And now… we fight as one."

What did that even mean?

He exhaled sharply. "Tell me the truth, Kaviraj," he said, gripping the Smace tightly. "What is this weapon? Why did it change when I touched it?"

Kaviraj hesitated. Then, in a low voice, he spoke:

"This is no ordinary weapon, Rishi. The Smace of Rajveer was forged in the fires of war and bound by blood. It was meant to serve only its rightful heir. For centuries, it remained golden, waiting for its next true master. But the moment it tasted your blood—"

His gaze shifted to the dried cut on Rishi’s palm.

"—it revealed its true form. The Bloody Smace."

The Curse of the Smace

Rishi frowned. "Why does it matter if it changed?"

Kaviraj’s expression darkened. "Because, for over a thousand years, this form has been sealed away. The last time it appeared, entire kingdoms fell."

Rishi’s stomach twisted.

Kaviraj continued. "When Rajveer, your ancestor, wielded it in its bloody form, he was unstoppable. But with that power came a terrible curse. The more he fought, the more the Smace fed on his rage, turning him into something else—something… inhuman."

Rishi’s fingers tightened around the handle. A cold shiver ran down his spine.

"Is that what’s happening to me?"

As if responding to his thoughts, the Smace pulsed, sending a strange warmth up his arm. His vision blurred, and for a brief moment, he wasn’t in the cave anymore.

He was standing on a battlefield.

Bodies lay scattered around him, their armor shattered, their faces frozen in terror. Blood soaked the ground. And at the center of it all stood a warrior—his face identical to Rishi’s, but his eyes burned like fire.

The Smace in his hand dripped with fresh blood.

"This… this is me?"

His heart pounded as the vision faded. He staggered back, gasping for air.

Kaviraj caught him before he collapsed.

"You saw it, didn’t you?" the old warrior murmured.

Rishi nodded, his breath unsteady.

"That wasn’t just a vision." He realized with dread. "It was a warning."

The Hunt Begins

Before Rishi could say another word, a deep rumble shook the cave. Dust rained down from the ceiling, and a distant roar echoed through the tunnels.

Kaviraj’s eyes narrowed. "They found us."

Rishi’s pulse quickened. "Who?"

Kaviraj drew his sword. "The ones who have been hunting your bloodline for generations. The moment the Smace changed, they must have sensed it."