Two Months Later
The echoes of Gang Nagas downfall still lingered in the shadows of Walaysia's underworld. But for Vasanthan's family, life had changed in ways they never imagined.
A sprawling estate. Tall security walls. A lifestyle that once felt foreign.
Vasanthan sat in the vast living hall, staring at the grand chandelier above him. Just months ago, they lived in a modest home—now, they resided in a mansion fit for the elite.
Archana set down a tray of tea in front of him. "You're thinking again," she said softly.
Vasanthan exhaled. "Everything that's happened… still feels surreal."
Archana smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I feel the same."
Their daughter, Dhiviya, had adapted the fastest. She threw herself into work, focusing on the new company she was building. She refused to let the past define her future. She wanted to be worthy of being Athavan's wife.
Guna, however, struggled. Public opinion had hit him hard, especially at university. The incident with his professor and a senior officer—who were both sentenced to prison for harming him—made people either distance themselves from him or treat him differently. Some feared him. Others saw him as someone with power.
That gaze unsettled him.
Even though Athavan gifted him a brand-new BMW 5 Series, Guna still preferred his simple Kancil. It was his way of staying grounded. The only unexpected upside was his growing bond with Athavan. Over the past two months, Athavan personally guided him through his final-year project, and for that, Guna had begrudgingly grown closer to him.
But he still resented Athavan for forcing him into a strict vegetarian diet. He lost his freedom. He was no longer allowed to go out whenever he wanted for safety reasons. Archana grounded him due to her growing insecurity. He missed his late-night Mamak food sessions, drinking parties with his friends, and his weekly futsal events. Some even labeled him as a show-off due to his family's sudden change in status.
"I'm losing my freedom," Guna muttered one night as he stood outside, staring at the armed guards at the gate. "This isn't security—it's just another kind of prison."
But deep down, they all knew—without Athavan's silent protection, they wouldn't even be alive.
The old Vasanthan was gone.
He no longer walked with uncertainty. No longer carried the weight of self-doubt. The past two months had hardened him.
Late at night, he sat in his private study, poring over classified documents—reports sent by his most trusted friend in India.
For the first time in 29 years, he was looking into the family he had severed ties with.
"Know your enemy before striking back."
His instincts screamed at him. This wasn't over.
Raja Sekaran's mother wouldn't stay silent.
Gang Nagas might have fallen, but new threats would emerge.
And this time… he wouldn't be caught unprepared.
The destruction of Raja Sekaran's network had left a power vacuum in Walaysia's corporate world.
Many feared chaos would spread. Instead, something else was rising.
The Ad Tech Project had taken center stage—a government-backed initiative promising Walaysia's entrance into the world of advanced technology.
But behind the curtains, Athavan's unseen influence ensured the project remained untouched by corruption.
Joseph watched the developments closely.
"Everything is moving too smoothly. Too perfectly."
His instincts told him—Athavan wasn't done.
This was just the beginning of something bigger.
He had only met Athavan once in the past two months. Joseph was constantly monitored by Department Zero, but he still managed to visit Dhiviya's family to check on them.
During that visit, he confronted Athavan about the 600 missing Gang Nagas members.
Athavan's only response was, "They'll be back. And when they return… they'll help you change this world."
Joseph felt sick just thinking about it. The stupidly vague and unconvincing answer made his stomach twist every time he thought about it.
The pressure on the police force was immense.
So many families were demanding answers.
Some believed the police had killed them. Others were protesting, accusing the government of covering up a mass execution.
The truth?
Joseph wasn't even sure he wanted to know.
He gazed out of his office window, lost in thought.
"Athavan, what is your plan exactly? Why did you come to Walaysia? What is your position in the Devil Liberation Army?"
'Far from Walaysia, in Ramanathapuram, India, Athavan sat by the temple lake, performing the final rituals for his mother's one-year death anniversary.
His grandfather, Nheru Veera Ganapathy, stood silently behind him, watching as he released the sacrificial rice balls into the water.
The moment the ritual was complete, Athavan submerged himself into the lake—holding his breath, as if letting go of something deep inside.
When he finally emerged, his grandfather's voice greeted him.
"This marks the end of your mourning," Nheru spoke slowly as they walked side by side. "With this, you have shed much of your bloodthirsty aura. The monster you became after her death… is fading."
Athavan nodded silently.
"I have been tracking all your actions in Walaysia," Nheru continued. "Despite the humiliation, the betrayals, the frustration—you maintained absolute clarity. You never sought mindless violence. You used your intelligence."
He placed a firm hand on Athavan's shoulder. "The original you is returning. I'm proud of you."
Athavan closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled. "Thank you, Tata."
Nheru's voice dropped into a whisper. "But this is not the time for you to resurface yet. The council must believe you are still secluded in practice. Once Phase 3 of our plan is in motion, you must not take control too soon."
Athavan gave a small smirk. "Understood."
On a distant hill, a shadowy figure lowered his binoculars. He pulled out a secure phone and dialed a number.
"General, I have confirmed the Supreme Commander is still here in India. He hasn't gone anywhere. He and the Old Commander just completed the ritual for his mother. From the looks of it, they are heading back to the seclusion temple area."
A long pause. Then, a deep, rough voice finally responded.
"I see. Killing over 300,000 people and purging such monstrous karma is not easy. If my calculations are correct, the old man will force him into seclusion for another two years."
The spy vanished into the forest.
Back at the temple grounds, Athavan turned toward the hill the spy had been watching from.
A knowing smirk played on his lips.
"Wait for my return… because when I come back, whether you are angels or demons, you will all tremble before me."
Hindu Mythological / Cultural / Belief References – Chapter 36
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Ritual of Tarpanam (Final Death Anniversary Rites)Reference:Sanatana Dharma – Śrāddha Vidhi & Tarpanam Practices
Athavan performs a sacred ritual near a temple lake by offering rice balls (Pinda Daan) into the water—a practice known as Tarpanam, meant to honor and liberate the soul of a deceased parent or ancestor.
The act of submerging himself in the lake symbolizes purification, letting go of grief, and preparing for spiritual transformation.
In many traditions, such acts are not only for the dead but also for the living to release karmic burdens.
Symbolism: Athavan is reborn through this ritual—his bloodlust diminishes, and the cold strategist within begins to reawaken. This mirrors the death of a past self and the resurrection of a new purpose.
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Seclusion & Tapasya (Austerity)Reference:Hindu Monkhood & Warrior Ascetic Traditions
The "seclusion temple" is a nod to ancient gurukul or ashram systems, where warriors and sages practiced deep tapasyā (austerity/penance) to gain higher wisdom or burn karmic residues.
Athavan's forced retreat echoes the ancient belief that even the mightiest must retreat from the world to control their inner fire before returning with divine clarity and detachment.
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"Know Your Enemy Before Striking"Reference:Mahabharata – Krishna's Counsel to Arjuna
Vasanthan's shift into strategic preparation evokes Arjuna's transition from emotion to divine strategy, guided by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.
This marks Vasanthan's rebirth from a passive father to an active force, drawing inspiration from dharmic warfare ideologies—never strike blindly, always understand the darkness first.