As Krishna vanished into the stillness, time resumed.
Arrows flew, war cries pierced the sky—but I stood untouched, every sound muffled as if the world had placed me in a bubble. Then, it happened.
[System Booting...]
A translucent screen flickered before my eyes. Like a hologram, only visible to me.
> Welcome, Aryan.
System: Dharma Reconfiguration Interface (DRI)
User Type: Reincarnated Timeline Architect
Status: Active
Timeline Anchor: Dwapar Yuga — Year 1, Month 9, Kurukshetra
Authority Level: Infinite
System Currency: Karma Points (∞)
Inventory: Empty
Abilities Unlocked: [Chrono Shift], [Reality Override], [Fate Chain], [Karmic Insight]
I blinked.
Infinite Karma Points? That's like having God Mode in a mythological open world. My heart thudded.
A voice echoed in my mind again—it wasn't Krishna's this time, but the System Guide—smooth, calm, and oddly corporate.
> "Karma Points are the divine currency of action and consequence. As the Architect, you hold infinite reserves. Use wisely."
A menu opened with a thought.
---
[Main Menu]
1. Abilities
2. Inventory
3. Timeline Edit Mode
4. Character Profiles
5. Questline Interventions
6. Reality Store (Coming Soon)
7. System Log
---
I tapped "Abilities."
---
[Abilities Unlocked]
Chrono Shift: Rewind, pause, or fast-forward time in a localized zone.
Reality Override: Alter events, dialogues, or outcomes. (Warning: Excessive changes may destabilize Dharma.)
Fate Chain: View and manipulate the cause-effect web between characters.
Karmic Insight: Instantly see the moral, karmic, and spiritual weight of anyone's past actions.
---
I tapped "Timeline Edit Mode," and a holographic tree of events unfolded—millions of branches. I zoomed in. A label blinked:
> [Draupadi's Vastraharan – 27 days from now]
Another branch:
> [Karna's Death – 13 days into the war]
[Abhimanyu's Chakravyuh – 10 days into the war]
I felt a tremble in my chest. I could change this. I could save them.
> Would you like to make a change?
Cost: 0 Karma Points
Warning: Dharma Ripple Detected. Proceed?
I whispered, "Not yet…"
I wasn't ready to play God—not until I understood the weight of my choices.
Instead, I tapped "Character Profiles" and searched: Karna.
> Status: Alive
Loyalty: Duryodhana
Inner Conflict: 94%
Dharma Alignment: 78% (Hidden)
Hidden Lineage: True Son of Kunti
Changeable Fate: Yes
I smirked. "So even fate thinks he's worth saving."
Suddenly, a quest alert popped up.
---
[New Intervention Available]
Quest: The Sun-Born's Dilemma
Objective: Reveal Karna's true lineage before Day 5 of the War.
Reward: Unlock Unique Timeline Branch: The Golden Pandava
Optional Bonus: Convince Krishna to accept Karna as Arjuna's equal.
---
I closed the screen, heart pounding.
"Let's rewrite an epic."
And with that, I stepped into Kurukshetra—not just as a spectator, but as a force that could change gods, heroes, and history itself.