King of Devas

"I will not take this sacred tree from you without offering something in return. Why don't we discuss the terms?" Vishnu said, still smiling warmly as he held the sacred tree in his hand. His demeanor was calm and serene, as though the angry Hiranyaksha before him were no more than a mild inconvenience. A look of happiness and harmlessness.

"Ha! You want to negotiate terms?" Hiranyaksha retorted, his eyes flashing with fury. He opened his mouth wide and exhaled a blast of air like thunder, causing the very color of the world to shift. The ground trembled beneath him, and the roots of his teeth cracked as though an earthquake had struck deep underground. His fists clenched in rage.

He remembered it all too clearly. The last time someone had dared negotiate with him, it was Indra—and in the end, Indra had tricked him into discarding the Mandara Mountain. Now, Vishnu was here, trying the same thing. He truly thought Hiranyaksha was a fool.

Vishnu blinked, unfazed, his smile unwavering. "This Kalpavriksha is crucial for the balance of the universe," he said slowly. "As long as it is entrusted to the Devas, I will ensure it is shared fairly among you in my capacity as the protector of the Universe. The next treasure that emerges from the churning of the Kshira Sagara, however, will belong to the Asuras."

Hiranyaksha's expression darkened as he stared at Vishnu, suspicion and distrust in his eyes. He glanced down at the Milk Sea below, its surface rippling like sticky glue. It was clear that the churning was nearing its end—there wasn't much left to churn. Whatever emerged next would likely be the legendary Amrit, the nectar of immortality that could grant anyone who drinks it eternal life.

'Should he take a gamble?'

The Kalpavriksha was a valuable treasure, yes, but it paled in comparison to the Amrit. He and his brother, Hiranyakashipu, had worked tirelessly for strength and immortality. If he could obtain the Amrit, he would be invincible against the Devas for thousands of years, able to launch a full assault on Svarga. At that point, all the rare treasures and beautiful Apsaras in Svarga would be his.

As for the protector of the universe before him…

Hiranyaksha would never admit that he was afraid of Vishnu. His eyes narrowed with solemnity as he raised his hand and pointed directly at Vishnu, the protector of the world.

"Hmph! I can't trust the Devas," he said coldly. "I want you to make a promise right now—an oath that no Deva will dare disobey!"

"As you wish," Vishnu replied calmly. He gave a slight nod, raised his right hand, and turned toward Hiranyaksha with a smile.

"In the name of the protector of the universe," Vishnu began, "I vow to ensure a fair distribution for both the Devas and the Asuras. The Kalpavriksha before me will belong to the Devas..."

He paused for a moment, smiled, and then turned to address the assembled Devas.

"The next treasure to emerge from the Kshira Sagara will belong to the Asuras."

Vishnu's words echoed across the Kshira Sagara, spreading far and wide. Two beams of light appeared upon the surface, and the figures of Brahma and Shiva materialized, each nodding in acknowledgment of Vishnu's declaration, standing as witnesses to the oath.

Seeing this, Hiranyaksha felt a sense of reassurance. He exhaled deeply, slowly unclenching his fists. With Brahma and Shiva present, he knew that Vishnu's words carried weight—there was no way he could backtrack now.

On the other side, the Devas clasped their hands in reverence. After the Devas paid their respect and thanks to Vishnu, one by one, led by Surya, they tilted their heads and looked at Vishnu with expressions of grievance.

"Lord Vishnu, how can you help the Asuras?" they silently wondered. "What if the Amrit is taken by them?"

Vishnu smiled faintly but did not explain. He released his palm, and the wish-fulfilling tree descended slowly, bathed in golden light, finally landing before the Devas.

"King of Svarga, please accept this Kalpavriksha," Vishnu said with a smile.

Indra nodded, smiling as he clasped his hands and protected the tree before him. He then gave Vishnu a slight nod in gratitude.

Vishnu's smile widened as he transformed into golden light and disappeared with a soft whoosh.

Indra's face softened with emotion.

Sure enough, Vishnu remained as reliable as ever!

If he remembered correctly, the only treasures left in the Kshira Sagara were Halahala and Amrit—one of them granting instant death, and the other granting immortality.

"Halahala might be a blessing in disguise!" Indra thought, storing the wish-fulfilling tree away safely. His fingers instinctively grazed the surface of his divine armor.

The Sahasrakavacha, his divine armor, was tough yet emanated a gentle warmth that comforted his fingertips. He was prepared to use the first layer of his divine armor to absorb Halahala.

Hope began to blossom in Indra's heart. He turned around to reassure the worried Devas. Surya and the others were anxious, fearing that the next treasure from the Kshira Sagara would fall into the hands of the Asuras.

"Do not worry!" Indra said confidently. "Would the Lord Vishnu harm us? You are not pious enough to warrant that fear. The main event comes next!"

Surya's eyes brightened at his words. He turned slightly and asked quietly, "King Svarga, did Lord Vishnu say something to you?"

Indra shook his head, a gentle smile on his lips. He moved toward Vasuki, the great serpent, and embraced its tail with both hands, feeling reassured and ready for what was to come.

When Surya witnessed this scene, a flash of realization swept across his mind, and the sun's rays flickered in his eyes.

"Lord Vishnu and the King must have shared something we don't know," Surya thought. "Do not worry!" he reassured the Devas.

Hearing Surya's words, the Devas finally relaxed and returned to their respective places.

In the distance, Garuda, who had been assisting the Devas by pulling the snake's tail, suddenly tilted his head. His eyes widened in confusion, a mix of unwillingness, grief, anger, and grievance washing over him.

"Did the Lord tell the King of Svarga something?" he wondered. "I am the Lord's mount—why didn't he tell me?"

"Why does the lord favor the King of Svarga more than me?!"

Garuda, his proud form momentarily hunched, drooped his wings in frustration, unable to understand the situation.

Before he could make sense of it, the Gandharvas around him began to move. They were already pulling Vasuki's snake tail, starting the effort to drag it. Garuda, though still troubled, had no choice but to channel his grief and anger into strength and assist in the task.

Rumble!

With the support of the spirit turtle, the colossal body of the serpent king, Vasuki, shifted once again, rubbing against Mount Mandara with a deep, resonating sound.

Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

Steam billowed from the Sea, and bubbles erupted from its thick, sticky surface, bursting like a volcanic eruption.

"It's spinning so fast! It seems like everyone is putting in maximum effort!" Indra remarked, watching Mount Mandara spin like a gyroscope. He sighed and gripped Vasuki's serpent body, straining with all his might.

The Asuras were also fully engaged.

Rolling flames and venom spewed from the countless heads of Vasuki, forcing the Asuras to use their divine power to fend off the attacks while pulling with all their strength. In the distance, Hiranyaksha's voice rang out.

"It's the final moment!"

"The protector of the Devas, Vishnu, has promised that the next treasure will belong to the Asuras. The Amrit will be ours, and immortality is within our reach!"

"Quick! Faster!" Hiranyaksha commanded, turning to the Asuras behind him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the forces from both sides continued to churn, the vibrations beneath Mount Mandara grew louder, like the sound of countless planets exploding. The sky and the Patalaloka seemed to crack open, while the Sea of Milk surged with a massive wave.

Boom!

A colossal wave erupted in the Kshira Sagara, forming a swirling vortex.

Hiranyaksha released the serpent head he had been holding, took two eager steps forward, and gazed excitedly at the Sea. Raising his hands high, he shouted with triumph.

"It's here! Our treasure is emerging!"

---

Enjoyed the chapter? You can read 30 chapters ahead and get exclusive access to more content on my P*treon!

For commission requests and similar early access, check out my Ko-fi.

✨ P*treon: P*treon.c*m/Marioni

✨ Ko-fi: Ko-fi.c*m/Marioni37

Thank you for your support, and I can't wait to share more with you!