(From Chapter 6: End of his Life Part 1)

Parav: I am Parav Jaspal, commander of the second division east New Delhi. Are you Atharv Dayal? (He looks at Atharv curiously, as if trying to figure something out)

Atharv: (Hesitating) Yes.

Parav: You have been sentenced to death for assaulting and causing serious permanent damage to three prospective first tiers.

***

Two Weeks Later

In a classroom-like facility with multiple chairs and tables and a whiteboard in front, Atharv is sleeping peacefully on one of the tables with his head resting on his arms.

A lady, quite tall in height enters the classroom-like facility. She is wearing a white lab-coat-like garment that looks more like armour, adorned with many subtle engravings. In her hand, she's carrying a black vest-like object, which seems to be padded.

Observing the sleeping Atharv, her face contorts making an annoyed expression with a glimmer of kindness. Throwing the garment next to Atharv's table, she calls for him in a soft voice waking him up. Atharv immediately wakes up, looking startled as if he was trapped in a trance. He looks at his newly appointed teacher with embarrassed eyes. The lady in white turns around and moves to where the white-board is.

"It's you're second day here and you're already sleeping when you should be working your ass off," Kashvi speaks coherently.

Atharv looking quite startled, wiping his eyes apologises sincerely, "I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to."

A smile appears on Kashvi's face, as she arranges the desk in front of her. "It's fine, I'm messing with you, the weakness you feel is due to your awakening. The body will gradually adjust to it. Put that on (Pointing to the black outfit) and come outside quickly."

***

Atharv steps out of the facility wearing the matte black armour with a core-like circular fragment attached near the chest and the left shoulder. He walks out adjusting the armour while trying to figure out why he is wearing it. Stepping out into the huge courtyard just outside the facility with the sun shining over his head, he finds his newly appointed teacher in front of him, a few feet apart wearing a similar armour but in white with a table next to her holding some equipment on display, which he couldn't make out at first.

As he tries to get a closer look, Kashvi stops him.

"It looks good on you." She speaks loudly.

Atharv simply nods with a polite smile.

"Now, let's get back to learning. So what are the four types of Kusokans ability-wise?"

"Strength Type, Speed Type, Particle Emitter, and Energy Emitter"

"Good." She speaks with a genuine smile, after a pause, she turns to the table and picks up a small pistol.

"Is that a gun? I've never seen one before. Weren't they obso...."

Before he could complete Kashvi fires four rounds at him hitting him on his body, causing Atharv to lose balance and fall.

Letting out a groan with an exasperated expression, "Why did you do that? Are you insane!" He exclaims while lying on the floor.

"You're wearing a 'Nguyen Armour', a bullet won't kill you." Kashvi bends to the ground and then slides the gun to Atharv. "Pick it up."

Atharv picks up the gun as he gets up, still groaning and breathing heavily because of the impact. He dusts himself looking at his teacher.

Kashvi extends her right arm, almost making a fist. At the edge of her contracted fingers, a small orange glow is visible. She then places her palm covered with the orange aura on the core of the armour which suddenly lights up. After a few seconds, it emits a small orange round-shaped particle beaming with light, which would be slightly bigger than a firefly. That particle then starts revolving around Kashvi.

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Looking straight at Atharv she remarks, "I hope you've understood how to pull the trigger. Now fire the gun at me and don't shoot me in the face, please. Don't worry, nothing bad will happen. The recoil is also balanced, firing it won't throw you off." She speaks slyly.

Making a confused expression, Atharv had a hundred questions in his head but it was always easy for him to follow instructions. "Okay..." He answers without a shred of confidence but decides to follows his teacher's instructions.

He aims the gun carefully, taking his time to aim he fires two shots at his teacher, the recoil causes his hands to shiver and he takes a few steps back.

The bullets moving at Kashvi are suddenly stopped by the little orange sphere which was revolving around her. The orange sphere deflects the bullets causing them to the ground just a few centimeters before they could make contact with Kashvi's body.

Atharv looks at her with a surprised and stiff expression.

"Even though the 'Nguyen armour' is essentially bulletproof there is a limit to that capacity without the use of the core. What do you think I fused the core with?"

Stuttering Atharv speaks, "A 'Zega particle'?"

"Precisely, but not one 'Zega particle'. The core is fused with a cluster of Zega particles. The 'Nguyen Armour' was built during 'The Lull' to fight against the humans. No matter the ability a Kusokan had, in front of the human firepower they didn't stand a chance. Long-distance combat is extremely disadvantageous for Kusokans, especially for an 'Enhancement type'."

Atharv felt weird based on how his new teacher addressed humans as if they were a totally different race.

"How does it work?" Atharv asks with a rather forced relaxed face.

"It is made on the principle of how an Energy Emitter uses his/her abilities. As I taught you yesterday Zega particles constantly react with our immediate surroundings. This is primarily because of the unique brain wave signature a Kusokan has, Even though every Ability-type uses the particles in a different way the basics are the same. When you fuse the collected 'Zega particles with the core, the core, in turn, acts as a generator creating the 'Revolver' which you can see buzzing around me."

"So that small thing creates a force-field around you to stop the bullets?"

"Not just bullets any form of matter cannot pass through it, come closer." She authoritatively commands Atharv.

He moves closer to his teacher

"Punch me as hard as you can."

"You sure? " Atharv asks changing his stance.

Kashvi nods

Atharv then moves in to punch her but before his fist could get close to her body it is stopped a few centimetres before he could make contact by the Revolver. He immediately lets out a cry holding his wrist as he tries to subdue the pain with his other hand

Kashvi again turns to the desk and picks up a sword this time.

"Take this." Handing the sword to Atharv. "Now swing that at me."

Letting out a sigh, he swings the sword at her slowly so that recoil won't hurt him. As he expected the sword couldn't even touch Kashvi. It was deflected by the Revolver.

"Good, now switch the slide-button of the sword on and swing it at me again."

He looks at the sword, finding a small scroll-up button he switches it on. The sword then suddenly becomes a bit heavier with the edges of the blades of the sword covered with blue electricity. Letting out a static sound the sword glows slightly. Atharv looks at it with amazement as it beautifully glows in his hand.

"Stop gawking at it and swing it at me."

Composing himself Atharv swings the sword again at his teacher but this time he was surprised. Instead of facing the brunt of whatever was thrown at her, this time his teacher blocked the blade with a small dagger of hers. The revolver did not protect her.

"Unfortunately, when matter is fused with energy the revolver cannot differentiate between it and lets it pass. While it stops anything that is pure matter it cannot stop an energy attack. So the person wearing this suit is still vulnerable to these 'Galvanic swords', fire or any form of energy attack."

"What about Laser guns?" Atharv enquires looking clearly impressed with the Nguyen Armour and the Galvanic Sword.

Kashvi breaks into a light chuckle, "Where did you learn about that?"

Atharv embarrassed, scratches his head. "From a friend, his mother is first-tier. She told him about these guns mentioned in the records of the First Paradigm."

Still laughing and clearly, excited Kashvi speaks coyly "Well you see, a handheld laser gun is not possible. At least not in our world. In a world dependent on solar energy, storing that kind of energy in a battery for combat is practically impossible."

Atharv nods implying he understands when in actuality he was just trying to get done with the topic as fast as possible.

"Your objective now is to get comfortable with controlling 'Zega Particles'. Once you're able to do that, we can then start working on your ability control."

Atharv's breathing intensifies; he feels a strong pain in his head. Losing his balance for a moment he uses the table to gain support. Kashvi moves in to hold him.

Holding Atharv, she speaks gently, "I know I've told you that we don't have time but you need to tell me when you're not being able to take it. We're proceeding at a break-neck speed here but your health takes priority." Atharv nods looking extremely tired. "Let's get you inside."

Story By: Four Eighty One

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