Chapter 12: The Birth of Will
The golden rays of the sun bathed the city of Hastinapura as Karna sat quietly, lost in deep thought. A strange warmth pulsed in his chest—not from the sun outside, but from the awakening inside him.
His sealed memories had returned.
> So… this is it. Everything I once knew. It's all coming back.
---
[System Notification]
> Memory seal removed successfully.
Due to the earlier memory seal, all Creation Seed opportunities were preserved.
You now have 3 chances to create unique techniques unknown to this world.
Karna took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and connected with his inner world.
---
First Technique: Armament Haki
> "Let my spirit become armor."
His skin tightened. His soul pushed outward, coating his limbs with invisible strength. It was power made solid—will turned into defense.
> Armament Haki created – Harden your body or weapons with spirit to protect and strike.
---
Second Technique: Observation Haki
> "Let my mind extend beyond sight."
Suddenly, he could feel. The palace guard shifting his weight at the door, the bird's wings fluttering outside, even a servant's nervous steps down the corridor.
> Observation Haki created – Heightened senses to detect presence, danger, and emotion.
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Third Technique: Conqueror's Haki
> "Let my soul rise above others."
A force burst silently from his body, echoing into the air. If someone weak-willed stood nearby, they would have collapsed. It was a roar with no sound.
> Conqueror's Haki created – Use your will to dominate or inspire others.
---
Karna opened his eyes. Calm. Focused.
> "This world… it's not exactly the same as the one I remember."
Indeed, things were different. In the Mahabharata he knew, King Pandu had ruled—but here, Dhritarashtra sat on the throne. And instead of Vidura becoming Mahamantri first, it was Dhritarashtra's coronation that came before anything else.
That wasn't all. In his second year of life, Karna remembered hearing that Pandu had married Kunti, but he soon left the capital for war. On the battlefield, he married another woman—Madri. Since then, he hadn't returned. Karna had no personal memory of Pandu, but he remembered his name and now understood how the events had quietly unfolded.
---
Then came the news:
Queen Gandhari was pregnant.
The palace buzzed softly. Only a few were told—close ministers, royal attendants, and Karna's family. Karna often visited the king and queen, who had grown fond of him, treating him like their own nephew.
Over time, Karna saw their hearts. Dhritarashtra was a just man, blind in sight but trying to lead with strength. Gandhari was sharp, silent, and kind in her own way.
Karna watched Dhritarashtra closely.
> "If only he could see…"
That night, Karna meditated deeply. In his dream, he connected to Dhritarashtra's sleeping consciousness and shared his newly formed Observation Haki.
> "A gift for you… to see the world in your own way."
From that night onward, Dhritarashtra began to feel the world more clearly—reading air currents, voices, moods. Though blind, he no longer felt lost.
---
Months passed.
Then it happened.
Queen Gandhari gave birth—not to a baby, but a lump of flesh.
A soft gasp ran through the palace. Shakuni looked pale. The king stood firm, holding his wife's hand.
> "Do not fear. We will try again. You are strong. We will have more children."
They prepared to bury the flesh respectfully. But before the task could begin, a voice halted them.
> "Do not destroy that which you do not understand."
It was Vyasa Maharshi.
He stepped forward, his eyes glowing with calm power.
> "This is not a curse. This is life misunderstood."
He took the lifeless flesh and cut it into 101 equal pieces, placing each into a clay pot filled with ghee.
> "Wait. In a year's time, they shall be born."
---
A year passed.
And then, the first pot broke.
From it emerged a baby boy. He cried loud and strong.
And then… so did the animals in the forests.
Wolves howled. Birds scattered. Deer fled. Servants panicked.
> "Is this a bad omen?" one whispered. "The animals cry for his birth…"
But only two people in all of Hastinapura understood the truth.
Karna, sitting in the garden, looked up at the distant sky.
> "The animals cry not for Duryodhana's birth… but for the other one born today."
In a forest far from the city, Kunti had used Durvasa's mantra, calling on the wind god.
The second son of Pandu—Bheema—was born.
---
The second man who knew was Vidura.
The wise minister had always kept in touch with Pandu through messengers and letters. He knew of Pandu's first son. And he knew today would be the second's birth.
Vidura watched the royal court with quiet eyes.
He didn't want Dhritarashtra to be king—not because of fate, but because he believed a blind man should not rule a kingdom that demands sight in every sense.
But his voice was ignored.
Still, he remained loyal. Always watching.