Suryaputra Karna: 10 Million Dharma Critical hits-Chapter 84 - 82: The Strike That Reveals
The clearing went quiet in a way that felt almost unnatural.
Not the usual quiet of a forest—but the kind where people are holding their breath without realizing it.
Even the birds seemed to stop for a moment.
All eyes were on the two boys standing in front of each other.
No one looked away.
On one side stood Duryodhana.
The prince of Hastinapura.
He carried himself like someone who had never had to doubt his place in the world.
His shoulders were firm, his chin slightly raised.
There was confidence in him—but also eagerness.
He wasn’t here just to win.
He wanted to prove something.
On the other side stood Karna.
No royal marks.
No special clothes.
Just a simple boy, standing quietly.
But there was something about the way he stood—steady, grounded—that didn’t match his appearance.
He didn’t look nervous.
He didn’t even look alert in the usual way.
Just... calm.
The wind moved softly through the trees.
A few dry leaves skittered across the ground.
Some boys shifted their feet behind Duryodhana, but no one spoke.
Duryodhana adjusted his grip on the mace.
He rolled his wrist once, feeling the weight.
His stance lowered slightly.
Not perfect—his balance leaned a bit too forward—but strong enough.
His eyes stayed locked on Karna.
There was curiosity there now.
And a bit of excitement.
"Don’t worry," he said, with a small smile.
"I won’t hold back."
It sounded like confidence.
Maybe even a little teasing.
Karna didn’t reply.
He didn’t nod.
Didn’t react at all.
He just stood there.
That silence did something unexpected.
It didn’t annoy Duryodhana.
It made him more interested.
Without warning—
He moved.
Fast.
The mace came forward in a solid swing.
Not wild.
Not careless.
He knew how to use it.
The air made a sharp sound as the weapon cut through it.
A couple of boys flinched slightly, expecting the hit.
But—
Karna moved.
Just a small step to the side.
Barely noticeable.
No rush.
No panic.
The mace passed right by him.
Missed completely.
There was no clash.
No impact.
Just empty air.
Duryodhana blinked.
Not shocked.
But surprised enough to notice.
That shouldn’t have missed so cleanly.
Karna hadn’t blocked.
Hadn’t even tried to.
He just... wasn’t there anymore.
Duryodhana pulled the mace back quickly.
The smile on his face faded.
Now he was paying attention.
Really paying attention.
He stepped in again.
This time faster.
The swing came lower, aiming at the legs.
A smarter attack.
Harder to dodge.
But again—
Karna moved.
A small shift backward.
His foot slid just enough.
The timing was exact.
The mace hit nothing.
A dull thud followed as it struck the ground.
Dust lifted slightly.
Duryodhana didn’t stop.
He swung again.
And again.
Each strike a little stronger.
A little sharper.
He adjusted angles.
Changed rhythm.
Tried to catch him off guard.
But nothing worked.
Every time—
Karna slipped away.
Not jumping.
Not scrambling.
Just moving at the right moment.
Like he already knew where the strike would go.
The boys watching started whispering.
"How is he doing that?"
"He’s not even fighting..."
One of them frowned.
"He’s not scared... is he?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
No one had an answer.
Duryodhana finally stopped.
He exhaled slowly.
Not tired—but thinking.
He lowered the mace slightly and looked at Karna more carefully.
"You’re not just dodging," he said.
His voice was quieter now.
More serious.
"You’re reading me."
Karna met his eyes.
"There’s nothing to read."
Duryodhana frowned.
That didn’t make sense to him.
"What do you mean?"
Karna spoke simply.
"You show it before you do it."
"Your body tells everything."
Duryodhana tightened his grip a little.
No one had said that to him before.
Not like this.
Not so directly.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Duryodhana gave a short smile.
Different from before.
Less pride.
More respect.
"Fine," he said.
He lifted the mace again.
"Then don’t move this time."
It sounded like a challenge.
But also like he genuinely wanted to understand.
The boys around them stepped back a little more.
Giving space.
Waiting.
Karna didn’t argue.
He didn’t prepare either.
He just stood still.
Completely still.
Duryodhana walked forward slowly.
He didn’t attack right away.
He watched.
Carefully.
Trying to catch something.
A twitch.
A shift.
Any sign.
But Karna gave him nothing.
And that made it harder.
After a moment—
Duryodhana struck.
Straight.
No tricks.
Just a direct, powerful swing.
The mace came down toward Karna.
And this time—
Karna didn’t move away.
He didn’t step aside.
He raised his hand.
Calmly.
At the last moment—
The mace met his palm.
But the impact didn’t sound right.
There was no loud crack.
No jolt.
It felt... softer.
Like the force had been slowed down somehow.
The direction shifted slightly.
The energy didn’t hit fully.
It spread.
Duryodhana felt it through the handle.
His strike—strong as it was—just... faded.
The mace stopped.
Right before reaching Karna fully.
Duryodhana’s eyes widened a little.
Not shocked.
But he understood something important had just happened.
Karna hadn’t stopped the attack with strength.
He hadn’t pushed back.
He had just... handled it differently.
Karna lowered his hand.
Simple.
Normal.
Like it was nothing special.
The mace dipped slightly in Duryodhana’s grip.
Neither of them moved for a second.
The clearing was completely silent again.
The boys stared.
Some confused.
Some impressed.
None of them fully understood.
But Duryodhana did.
At least a part of it.
He looked at Karna again.
This time, there was no doubt in his eyes.
No judgment.
Just recognition.
He nodded once, slowly.
"You’re strong."
It wasn’t loud.
But it meant more than anything he had said before.
Karna didn’t respond.
But he didn’t deny it either.
He just stood there.
Calm as always.
The fight had ended.
But something else had started.
Not friendship.
Not yet.
Just respect.
And a quiet curiosity.
The first step.
Author Note
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First interaction complete—no instant friendship, only respect and curiosity. Their bond will grow slowly through shared experiences, challenges, and time.
