A Small Payment

The sun rose. In the city, it was so bright that everything around it vanished into dust. Before the people could process or appreciate the beauty, they were gone. People near the city started to burn. Their skin. Their eyes. Their lungs. Everything was burning. And this burn spread to the capital. 

The Ministers rushed Bahubali into a nuclear bunker and treated him for any possible trace of the radioactive substance. "What is happening?" he asked his council.

"Alexander has nuked the nearby city Maharaja as a sign of invasion," one of the ministers replied. "We are safe in this bunker."

"What? Doesn't he know nuclear weapons would make the place inhabitable, even for him?" Bahubali said.

"He doesn't care Maharaja. All he wants is to rule the world," the minister explained.

"Whom would he rule? Dust?" Bahubali said. "We can't stay here while he destroys our country. Kill our people. Do you have a plan?"

"What can we do Maharaja?" the minister asked.

"Can you send a message to Alexander?" Bahubali asked.

The minister called Alexander. Bahubali told him that he wanted to bend the knee. Alexander invited him to his capital and declare it in front of his council. Bahubali asked one of his ministers to stay in his capital and left with other ministers for Alexander's capital.

"I heard you were the strongest, Bahubali," Alexander said as Bahubali entered his hall. "But guess it was wrong, you're the smartest."

"I guess so," Bahubali said sarcastically.

"Now declare your defeat to the capital and bend your knee," Alexander demanded.

"My dear people, we all have to pay to enjoy luxury. Freedom is the biggest luxury. So here's a little payment for-" Bahubali said and the sun again rose. This time in Alexander's capital. Everything turned into dust. 

Bahubali too. His ministers too. Alexander too. His pride too.