In the Royal court of Mahishmati,
Mahendra questioned, "What is the information you have unearthed Sarvasainyadhipathi Kattappa?"

Kattappa displayed a few scrolls before the Raj Sabha, "When we started investigating about the hoarding of food grains, we intercepted a few of these scrolls. But....."

Maharaj Mahendra asked, "But what Kattappa?"

Kattappa, with a poignant voice, his whole face filled with sadness, "But none of my spies and informers who were working on this case have reached me alive. They have been killed in the cruelest manner possible and their bodies thrown to the crocodiles in the river. There is a reign of terror in those areas. The people and our officers are afraid to speak out for fear that they too would lose their lives."

The first scroll was addressed to Bijjaladeva. It ran like this:

"The crops have failed and there is scarcity of food grains. We have to utilize this situation. Use your contacts and negotiate with the leader of the merchant cartel to hoard and sell food grains at ten times the actual price- KALANEMI"

The second scroll was addressed to the Vijayamarthanda, the son of Marthanda's younger brother. His uncle, Marthanda used to be one of the allies of Mahishmati before he rebelled against the throne of Mahishmati. This mutiny had been quelled by Kattappa who was acting under the orders of the late Rajmata Sivagami. Marthanda's brother was announced as the next ruler of Ashwakootam. After his father's death, Vijayamarthanda had ascended the throne of Ashwakootam.

"The much anticipated moment is here. The conditions are favorable for us. Start building your troops to launch your offensive. We will continue weakening the enemy from within with our Asura Sena- KALANEMI"

Mahendra roared with anger and fury, "Such cruelty and sadism in my kingdom? If I do not make the heads of all these people roll on the ground, my name is not Mahendra Baahubali. I did not wage war on Vijayapuri all this while under the impression that a war would be detrimental to the interests of both Mahishmati and Vijayapuri. I was assured by Rani Shodasi Devi that neither Bijjaladeva nor she would interfere in the affairs of Mahishmati nor hatch plans against us. But now we have proof against them. And so do we have proof against that traitor Vijayamarthanda. Katappa prepare for war against Vijayapuri and Ashwakootam.

Rajmata Devasena cautioned, "Mahendra I feel you are being a bit hasty in declaring war. Firstly, we are not in a position to wage a war simultaneously with two powerful states like Vijayapuri and Ashwakootam when several parts of our own kingdom are drought-hit and a state of rebellion and mutiny is prevailing within. We can quell any opposition from outside if we are strong from within. Moreover, you are forgetting a most essential point. It is this Kalanemi who is dictating and pulling the strings while Bijjaladeva and Vijayamarthanda are merely following orders. And we are also in no position to ascertain if your aunt, Shodasi Devi is actually involved in all this plotting or not. I personally know Shodasi Devi while you have never had the opportunity to meet her in person. You wouldn't know about her the way I or Kattappa do. I give you my word of honor that you can trust her the same way you trust me. She had her differences with Bhallaladeva. She can never be a part of anything against Mahishmati. And what is this Asura Sena about which we have literally no idea? Sarvasainyadhipathi Kattappa do we have any inputs about this Kalanemi or this Asura Sena to which he is referring?

Kattappa replied, "I regret to inform that we have next to no information on Kalanemi. He is still an enigma, a question mark. We do not know who he is, or where he comes from, or the link between him and Bijjaladeva and Vijayamarthanda, or why he is against Mahishmati. All that we have been able to gather about him is that he hates Mahishmati and the ruling royal family. He can go to any lengths to cause harm to all of you.

Devasena: Does anybody know how he looks like?

Kattappa: None.....because no person who has actually seen him has survived. He could be here.......he could be there...he could be anywhere.....he could be even in our midst....

Mahendra thoughtfully, "What intrigues me extremely is why two powerful individuals like Bijjaladeva and Vijayamarthanda would listen and carry out the orders of a person who is literally nameless, faceless, and not allied to any particular kingdom?"

Kattappa: I have no answers to any of these questions.....I need some more time to carry out my investigation.....However, I concur with Rajmata Devasena's views that we are not ready for war with Vijayapuri and Ashwakootam at the present moment.

After deep thought, Maharaj Mahendra announced his final decision, "Our first and foremost consideration are our people. It is our duty to help them and alleviate their suffering. I accept the views of Rajmata Devasena and Sarvasainyadhipathi Katappa and withdraw my plans for war against Vijayapuri and Ashwakootam. We will not be the first to launch an offensive. But.....in case we are attacked.....we will not stay quiet. We will give them a fitting reply. Let arrangements be made for the dispatch of food grains and other supplies to the affected parts of Mahishmati. I also seek the advice of Pandits and religious scholars on the Pujas and propitiatory rituals that can be conducted to facilitate rainfall. Similarly, a council of ministers and officials will oversee the construction of canals to bring the water of Bhagiradhi to irrigate the western parts of Mahishmati. Katappa will be in charge of investigating against Kalanemi and his Asura Sena. He will personally report to me on further developments in this case."

"Maharaj I would like to leave immediately to conduct further investigations. Please permit me!" said Kattappa.

Mahendra permitted, "Yes, you may! The court is adjourned."
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In Avanthika's chamber,
Mahendra returned deep in thought. He did not observe anything or anybody around him. His forehead was writ with lines and creases caused by his cares and worries about his people and Mahismati. He did not even observe when Avanthika and Bhagiradhi had entered the chamber. Avanthika was unduly concerned by the state in which she found her husband, "Is everything alright, Mahendra? You know you can share your problems with me."

Mahendra shook his head as he said, "Nothing is. New enemies have cropped up. Old enemies have become more powerful. And our people are suffering. I feel as though everything is slipping from my hands. My head is splitting with headache."

Avanthika put her hands across on his face as she said, "Hush! Don't worry! Everything will be alright. If it isn't, we will make it together. Now lie down on my lap."

She continued stroking and caressing his head. He peacefully fell asleep without knowing when in her lap. Bhagiradhi too fell asleep beside her on a pillow. But she lay awake. She sent up a heartfelt prayer to the almighty above, "Protect us O Lord! I don't know what the future holds for all of us and Mahishmati. But I know you are the witness of everything. You are our protector and guide. Show us the right path."
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Two days later in a lonely cave,
Kattappa with perfect disbelief in his eyes, "I can't believe it's you?"

It was impossible not to recognize that face, those eyes, that sly, sarcastic and devilish grin. True; the skin color and texture of the hair were different. But the rest was all the same. How was it even possible. They had burnt him, hadn't they? How did the demon return? Or maybe, it was his......That explained why Bijjaladeva and Vijayamarthanda were supporting Kalanemi. He had to warn Mahendra that he had returned.

A slimy and ominous voice spoke in response, "Believe what you see with your own eyes, Kattappa! I knew I could not remain hidden from you any longer. You were bound to discover me. Yes. It's me, but you will not remain alive to warn them about it!"

It was a man wearing a black hood. He broke out into a demonic spell of laughter. With a quick inflection of the hand, he drove a sharp and deadly knife deep into Kattappa's breast. As the dying commander-in-chief writhed and broke into spasms trying to drag himself from the spot but found it unable to move even an inch, the man in front of him stood unmoved. Life soon ebbed away and Kattappa lay dead at his feet.

The hooded figure spoke, "I rose up from my own ashes. This is my new life. I am Kalanemi. I am His Son!
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