My Game begins Episode 3/Chapter 3: Arrival of the Shadow Lord — Battle Begins Part 7: Divine Sage Devarshi Narada and Srinivasulu's Life Is a Mask

My Game begins 

Episode 3/Chapter 3: Arrival of the Shadow Lord — Battle Begins

Part 7: Divine Sage Devarshi Narada and Srinivasulu's Life Is a Mask

Stepping away from the murmurs of the hallway, Srinivasulu slipped out through the heavy double doors and made his way up to the school's open rooftop. He checked left and right, ensuring the area was completely deserted before speaking into the open air.

"Devarshi Narada... I know you're here. I saw you."

A blinding flash of divine light erupted directly behind him. As the radiant glow faded, Devarshi Narada materialized, gently plucking the strings of his Mahathi veena.

"Narayana, Narayana," Narada said with a warm smile. "How fares your new life, Srinivasulu?"

Srinivasulu crossed his arms, his posture defensive.

"I'm doing just fine, Devarshi. But tell me—why on earth did you call me during class? And turning my phone's volume up to deafening levels like that... that was entirely your doing, wasn't it?"

"Oho! What else was I supposed to do when you were fast asleep?" Narada chuckled, gently strumming his veena.

"Your Acharya was expounding a vital lesson, yet you had drifted completely into the realm of dreams."

"That's beside the point," Srinivasulu pressed, his tone sharpening.

"Why are you really here? You don't appear out of nowhere without a reason. It is either connected to Dharma, a divine command, or some impending cosmic conflict. So, what brings you to me today? Did you come here to drag me back? If that's your intention, save your breath. I have absolutely no intention of returning."

Narada's smile softened, though his eyes retained a deep, profound gravity.

"Very well. Since you ask so directly, listen carefully. A monumental turning point is approaching in your life, Srinivasulu. You are about to face a terrible calamity.

"As for dragging you back? No, that is not why I came. Can a man pull someone out of the mud when that person has willingly sunk so deeply into it that he no longer wishes to escape?"

Srinivasulu—still wearing Ren's face and frame—scoffed.

"What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying my life isn't good? Let me tell you, my life right now is a thousand times better than it ever was before!

"And what danger are you even talking about? That shadow demon scheduled to attack on the night of the new moon? Let him come! I'll crush him like a bug beneath my heel!

"The powers I hold are no ordinary gifts, Devarshi!" Srinivasulu's voice rose, echoing across the concrete rooftop.

"The blazing fury of Ahobilam Narasimha Swamy! The boundless power of Tirupati Adi Varaha Swamy! The sacred might of Srikakulam Andhra Maha Vishnu! The great Andhra Vallabha and Gudimallam Parasurameswara Swamy!

"And above all—the supreme divine might of Srinivasa the Divine Hunter, granted directly to me by Lord Venkateswara Himself as a living blessing!

"Is there anyone in this world, or across the fourteen realms, capable of defeating these powers?

"To put it simply: I possess the power to destroy this world, the power to recreate it, the power to conquer everyone in existence and crown myself Emperor of this universe!

"Not just this world—the seven netherworlds and the seven heavens above! All fourteen realms would tremble before this might!

"To put it in plain words, I possess the raw, absolute power of the Supreme Paramatma Himself!

"Do you truly believe some pathetic little demon stands a chance against me?

"Have you forgotten what happened just three days ago in the forest, Devarshi? I toyed with Ren's forms, pushed him to his absolute limits, and defeated him in the most humiliating and devastating manner imaginable!

"The one who can conquer the powers granted to me by Lord Venkateswara does not exist—not in this world, and not in all fourteen realms!"

His voice echoed powerfully across the open terrace, vibrating through the wind.

"I am invincible," Srinivasulu declared, his eyes flashing with absolute conviction.

"I am omnipotent! I am the eternal, unmatched immortal!"

Narada listened in complete silence.

When the echoes finally faded, the divine sage let out a quiet, knowing sigh.

"There is a vast and unbridgeable chasm, Srinivasulu, between having confidence in your own strength and becoming blinded by the arrogance of believing that you are omnipotent," Narada said gently.

"What I see in you right now is not the courageous faith of one who is prepared to face an evil force. It is the blinding hubris of someone who believes he has become a god."

"I am telling you the truth!" Srinivasulu shot back.

"There is no power on earth that can rival mine. If that demon dares to appear before me this instant, he will be reduced to ash by the sheer radiance of my energy!"

"We shall see about that in due time," Narada replied calmly.

"Narayana, Narayana."

Srinivasulu glared at him, his patience wearing thin.

"And stop calling me Srinivasulu at every turn, Muniendra! The life of Srinivasulu is over. Finished. Done. I am Ren now.

"In this present moment and in every day to come, this is my life!"

"My past as Srinivasulu ended three days ago, burned to ashes in that forest fire. The moment that happened, I took on Ren's form.

"From that exact second onward, I became Ren. I will always be Ren.

"So address me as Ren, Devarshi."

Narada chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"How foolish you are, Srinivasulu.

"Even an actor performing a play upon a grand stage must wear a mask. But he wears that mask only until the play comes to an end.

"The play will reach its final curtain. And when it does, the actor himself must remove the mask he wore.

"If he refuses to remove it—if he foolishly believes that he is the fictional character and attempts to live his real life behind that mask—then that is nothing short of utter delusion, Srinivasulu."

Narada stepped closer, his gaze piercing straight through him.

"Think deeply, with a pure heart, and tell me yourself: Are you Srinivasulu, or are you Ren?

"Ren is merely a mask you have placed upon your face.

"You were Srinivasulu in the past. You are Srinivasulu now. And you will forever remain Srinivasulu beneath every mask you choose to wear.

"But above all else, you are neither Srinivasulu nor Ren. You are a soul separated from the Supreme Paramatma, and eventually, you must return to Him."

"How long do you intend to keep playing this game, Srinivasulu?

"Remember this: one day, the play upon this stage will end.

"And when it does, either you will remove the mask with your own hands, or it will tear itself away from your face.

"Truth is like fire, Srinivasulu. Just as the light of a flame always pierces through darkness, truth always shines.

"No matter how hard you try to hide it in the shadows, its brilliance will eventually break through.

"The same is true of reality. The truth will eventually reveal itself. And when that day comes, you will finally understand everything.

"Narayana, Narayana."

Srinivasulu clenched his fists, refusing to yield.

"None of what you're saying will happen! My life right now is wonderful. It's going to stay wonderful. I have a purpose, I will achieve my goals, and I will live happily.

"That is the only reality that matters."

Narada smiled faintly and raised a hand in a gentle gesture.

"A fly that finally spreads its wings and takes flight, intoxicated by the joy of soaring, suddenly plunges into an open jar of water.

"No matter how desperately it tries to flap its wings again, its wings are completely soaked, making flight impossible.

"Poor thing. A foolish thought then crosses its mind:

'Well, I am floating safely, aren't I? And the water is wonderfully cool. What reason is there for me to escape? I might as well float here peacefully and drink this water for the rest of my days.'

"So, driven by that deluded thought, it does nothing—even though an opportunity to escape still remains.

"But suddenly... the water begins to warm.

"The temperature rises higher and higher. Bubbles begin to form. The water starts to boil and churn.

"Why?

"Because someone carried that jar over and placed it upon a blazing stove!

"No matter how desperately the fly struggles to save itself from the boiling water, it is powerless.

"Its wings are soaked, and the water around it becomes hotter with every passing moment.

"I hardly need to explain what becomes of its fate, do I?

"Narayana, Narayana."

Srinivasulu's breath hitched slightly.

"Are you... are you saying my life is going to end up like that?"

Narada slowly raised his hand.

With a calm, knowing expression, he placed his pointed index finger gently against the bridge of his nose and over his lips, as though silencing the question for a moment.

He remained perfectly still.

Then, with a faint smile, he softly said:

"Narayana, Narayana..."

Narada lowered his hand.

"What words are these, Srinivasulu?"

His voice was gentle, almost compassionate.

"I am one who wishes for your ultimate well-being, not your destruction.

"That is precisely why I traveled this far—to awaken you.

"If you were to live a life of true joy and peace, and eventually find your way back to the Supreme Lord Venkateswara, the one who would rejoice above all others—even more than your own parents—would be none other than myself, Srinivasulu."

Narada gently raised both hands in a traditional blessing gesture, his palms facing Srinivasulu as a serene divine radiance surrounded him.

"Chiranjeeva, Chiranjeeva. Sukhee Bhava, Sukhee Bhava."

"May peace and prosperity be yours.

"And may Lord Venkateswara always protect you.

"Live joyfully, just as your heart desires, and reach the Lord.

"Narayana, Narayana."

The brilliant divine light flared once more, and Devarshi Narada vanished into the ether.

Left alone on the quiet rooftop, the weight of Narada's words crashed down upon Srinivasulu.

The fiery arrogance drained from his face, replaced by sudden and overwhelming remorse.

His legs trembled.

Slowly, Srinivasulu fell to his knees.

He lowered his head toward the place where Narada had stood, his voice trembling with shame.

"O great sage... you are Devarshi Narada, one of the divine manifestations of the Supreme Lord Himself. Please forgive the arrogance of this foolish being. In my pride, I forgot whom I was speaking to."

He pressed his hands together in deep remorse.

"Please forgive me, Devarshi Narada..."

A few moments passed in silence.

"I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. In that brief moment, I lost myself to my own arrogance..."

Tears of regret gathered in his eyes.

"Srinivasa Govinda... Sri Venkatesa Govinda..."

(End of Episode 3/Chapter 3 — Part 7)