That Time I Got Reincarnated With Gacha System In Mahabharata

[Aditya's POV]

"Do...You...Think...that you can defeat me so easily?" Ashvasena's voice trembled with a mix of rage and defiance as he struggled to lift his head. Despite his battered state, his eyes still burned with unyielding hatred, like a cornered beast refusing to surrender.

Hisssssss~

With a hissing roar, his form started to swell as new scales began to emerge, regenerating at an alarming rate. His burnt flesh started to heal, and the dark scales returned, even thicker and tougher than before.

Two...Three...Four...Five...Six!

Six heads!

Ashvasena's body surged with dark energy, his single serpentine head now splitting into seven. Each head was massive, covered in thick, obsidian-black scales, and their eyes gleamed with the same malevolent hunger. The once-weakened serpent had transformed into an even more fearsome creature, one that seemed impervious to the attacks I had unleashed so far.

"Seven heads? Really?" I muttered under my breath, tightening my grip on the Leviathan Axe. This was no ordinary foe; Ashvasena was drawing from some deep, ancient magic, possibly passed down from his lineage as the son of Takshaka, the Naag king.

Draupadi gasped behind me as she saw the transformation. "Aditya... What do we do?"

I glanced back at her briefly, my mind racing. The acid continued to spread, sizzling away at the earth, and now this multi-headed serpent was preparing for another attack. I couldn't afford to hold back any longer.

"Stay behind me and keep out of range of those heads," I ordered firmly. My focus returned to Ashvasena, whose seven heads hissed in unison, venom dripping from their fangs like a rain of death.

"I'll end this now!" I summoned all my energy, calling on the power of both the Apollo's template and the Leviathan Axe. The cold energy of the frost magic swirled around me, mixing with the searing heat of the sun's power. I had to strike hard and fast, before Ashvasena's regeneration made him invincible.

As I prepared to attack, Ashvasena lunged forward, all seven heads striking simultaneously like a storm of snakes. Each head moved with terrifying speed, aiming to overwhelm me from every direction.

"Leviathan Storm!" I roared, spinning the axe in a wide arc. A torrent of freezing winds and jagged ice shards erupted from the axe, forming a swirling blizzard around me. The frosty storm clashed with Ashvasena's heads, halting their advance as ice coated their scales, slowing their movements. But it wasn't enough to stop them completely.

One of the heads broke through, its venomous fangs bared and ready to strike. I dodged just in time, the venom splashing onto the ground where I had been standing, hissing and melting the earth. Another head followed quickly, and I barely managed to parry its bite with the Leviathan Axe.

This was getting dangerous. I couldn't keep defending like this forever.

"Time to finish this," I muttered, my voice low and resolute.

I raised Gandiva Dhanush again, infusing the bow with every ounce of divine energy I had left. The golden light of the Apollo's power flared to life, forming a single arrow of pure solar energy. This was my ultimate move—an attack that would either end the battle or leave me completely drained.

The seven heads hissed in fury, sensing the danger. They lunged at me simultaneously, their venomous fangs gleaming.

"Sun Strike: Deadly Radiance!"

I roared as I released the arrow, channelling all the divine energy I had into its form. The air itself seemed to tremble as the arrow shot forth like a blazing comet, trailing golden flames that seared through the night.

The arrow's radiant energy expanded in mid-air, transforming into a sphere of intense sunlight that blazed with the force of a miniature sun. It was a sight to behold, an orb of divine light that pulsed with the raw power of Apollo's essence.

The seven heads of Ashvasena hesitated for a split second, their eyes widening in terror at the sight of the approaching orb. But it was too late—the sphere exploded on impact, engulfing Ashvasena in a cataclysmic burst of solar energy.

The battlefield was illuminated with a blinding light, as if the day had suddenly broken in the dead of night. The heat from the explosion was so intense that it melted the ground beneath Ashvasena, turning the earth into molten lava. The serpent's agonized screams echoed through the air as the divine flames consumed his form, searing through his scales and flesh with relentless fury.

Each of Ashvasena's seven heads thrashed wildly, snapping and writhing in a desperate attempt to escape the burning radiance. But the Sun Strike's energy was too powerful, too overwhelming. It reduced the serpent's heads one by one, burning them to ash and scattering them into the wind.

As the light slowly faded, I stood there, breathing heavily, watching the aftermath of my attack. The once-mighty Ashvasena lay on the ground, his massive form reduced to charred remnants, his dark scales cracked and smoking. The seven heads that had once threatened to devour us were now nothing more than ashes drifting in the wind.

The poisonous acid that had threatened us earlier had been vaporized by the sheer heat of the Sun Strike. The battlefield was left scorched and barren, the earth still smouldering in the aftermath of the divine onslaught.

I willed Gandiva Dhanush away, and fall on my knees holding the Leviathan Axe tightly, feeling the weight of exhaustion press down on me. My heart raced, pounding in my chest as adrenaline coursed through my veins. The battle had taken everything I had, and now the aftermath lay before me, a grim reminder of the power I had just unleashed.

"Aditya!" Draupadi's voice broke through my daze, her urgency snapping me back to reality. She rushed over, her eyes wide with concern as she knelt beside me. "Are you alright?"

I nodded slowly, trying to catch my breath. "I'm fine… just a bit drained."

The truth was, I felt far from fine. Channelling that level of divine energy had left me feeling hollow, like an empty vessel. But I couldn't show weakness now. Not when the battle had turned in our favour.

Draupadi's gaze shifted to the remnants of Ashvasena scattered around us. "Is he… gone?"

"Completely," I said, forcing a chuckle despite the heaviness in my heart. "It seems even the mightiest can fall." But even as I said the words, a sense of foreboding crept into my mind. This victory felt too easy, as if the fight had merely been a prelude to something far worse.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath us, a deep rumble that reverberated through the air. The charred earth shook, and I scrambled to my feet, instinctively raising the Leviathan Axe as I scanned the horizon.

"What's happening?" Draupadi asked, her voice trembling with fear.

"Get ready," I warned, my senses heightened. "Something's not right."

With a deafening crack, the remnants of Ashvasena's body began to shift and pulse as dark energy surged from the ashes. I watched in horror as shadows coalesced and twisted, taking form once more. The remains of the serpent glowed with an eerie light, and before our eyes, a new shape emerged from the shadows.

The figure that stood before us was unlike anything I had ever seen. A colossal serpent, but now it had twisted into a ghastly amalgamation of scales and darkness, each head far more grotesque than the last. Where once there had been seven fierce heads, now there were nine, each adorned with glowing red eyes that burned with unholy fire.

"Ashvasena's true form," I realized, dread pooling in my stomach. "He's drawing on deeper magic… something ancient."

Draupadi looked at me, her fear evident, but there was also a flicker of determination in her eyes. "We can still stop him, right? We can fight!"

I hesitated. This creature was more powerful than the last, and the energy it radiated was suffocating. I felt my connection to Apollo flicker at the edges, as if his divine presence was being overshadowed by the darkness. "I don't know if I have enough left in me," I admitted.

But before I could ponder further, the creature let out a bone-chilling roar, sending ripples of dark energy surging toward us. The ground split apart, forming jagged fissures that spewed forth poisonous fumes and acid.

"Draupadi, get back!" I shouted, throwing up a protective barrier of light just in time to absorb the brunt of the dark energy. The force of it pushed me back, and I staggered, feeling the last remnants of my strength waver.

'System, claim task's rewards and spin all five draws right now!'

[Rewards: 5 Fate Points]

[Rewards Claimed!]

[5 Fate Points have been spent.]

A series of mystical symbols cascaded down the interface before culminating in a triumphant chime. The screen flashed, and a new window opened, five cards floated in the screen.

[Item Card: Ring Of Aegis]

[Template Card: Vali—The Mighty Son Of Indra]

[Item Card: Mana Potions x100]

[Item Card: Pudding x100]

[Skill Card: Mutilation]

The cards hovered before me, shimmering with promise. I quickly assessed each one, my mind racing as the creature's dark energy continued to swirl around us, threatening to overwhelm us.

The first card, Ring of Aegis, caught my eye. Draupadi needs protection now more than ever, and the ring's ability to form a barrier could be crucial. Without hesitation, I took the ring out of system storage and threw it in Draupadi's hands.

"Wear that ring now!" Draupadi caught the Ring of Aegis as it fell into her palm, her eyes widening in surprise. "What does it do?" she asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

"It'll create a protective barrier around you," I explained quickly, focusing on the creature before us. "Just put it on and stay behind it! We can't afford to lose you now."

She nodded and slid the ring onto her finger, a faint glow radiating from it as the barrier formed around her. I felt a surge of relief knowing she was at least somewhat protected.

The creature roared again, its nine heads writhing in frustration as they surveyed the battlefield. They were angry, and that anger directed toward us was palpable. The dark energy radiating from its form coiled like a storm, and I knew that this was no longer just a fight for survival; it was a test of my very essence.

I turned my attention back to the cards that floated before me. The template card, Vali—The Mighty Son of Indra, shone brightly, that's what I need right now.

'System, Assimilate the template and skill now!'

[Assimilating Template: Vali—The Mighty Son of Indra, and Skill: Mutilation...]

The process was instantaneous. A rush of power surged through me as I absorbed the essence of Vali, the mighty warrior known for his unparalleled strength and valor. My muscles expanded, tingling with newfound energy. I felt the divine aura of Indra envelop me, enhancing my connection to the heavens.

The essence of Vali brought with it the strength of storms, the agility of a celestial beast, and a fierce determination that burned brightly in my core. I could feel the weight of my old limitations lift away as I became one with the warrior's spirit.

The moment I activated the Vali template, a surge of energy enveloped me. I felt the weight of the world lifting as new strength coursed through my veins. Memories and powers of the mighty son of Indra flooded into me, merging with my own essence. I felt invincible, the spirit of the ancient warrior igniting my resolve.

The transformation was instantaneous. My physical form rippled with power, shimmering with golden light. The Leviathan Axe felt lighter in my grasp, and a new sense of purpose filled my heart.

[Assimilation of Skill: Mutilation Completed!]

[Name: Mutilation]

[Description: The user's attacks will become more efficient. You are able to find your opponent's vital points and inflict critical damage.]

I could feel the new energy coursing through me, sharp and electric, as I stood ready to face the monstrosity before me. Ashvasena's nine heads writhed in fury, the glowing red eyes filled with a primal hatred that echoed through the battlefield. This was no longer a mere fight; it was a battle of divine wills, a clash of ancient powers that would determine our fates.

As the creature lunged forward, each head snapping with deadly precision, I unleashed the most powerful ability of Vali—The monkey king of Kishkindha and The son of Indra had a powerful boon from Brahma Dev that he would gain half of his opponents' strength whomever he got into a duel with.

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[To Be Continue]

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