As Jin and Kael woke up, the fog of confusion still lingered from the previous night’s events. Jin rubbed his eyes and stretched with a satisfied groan. “You know,” he started, his voice still groggy, “for some reason, I feel pretty good. I mean, I was unconscious, sure, but it was like I got a full night's rest.”

Kael nodded slowly, still piecing together the remnants of the strange dream—or was it real? "Same here," he muttered. His brow furrowed, trying to recall the shadowy figure they’d encountered. "It’s weird though… something happened last night, but it feels like a dream."

Jin shrugged, already rising from the bed. “Guess it’s just another day in the academy.” He flashed Kael a grin. “C’mon, let’s see if Rudra’s got some new tricks for us today.”

They headed to the training grounds, where the sun had already climbed high in the sky. As they approached, they saw Tarek standing with her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing at them with an amused smile.

“Well, well,” Tarek teased, “look who finally decided to wake up. You two got knocked out cold, huh? I mean, I expected that from Jin—" she shot a playful glance at him—"but Kael? You're stronger than that, aren't you?”

Kael scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “Honestly? We don't even remember how we got knocked out.”

Jin snorted. “Oh, wait, yeah, we do. We were... asleep.” He mimed falling dramatically onto the ground.

Tarek rolled her eyes. “Sure, whatever you say.”

Before they could banter further, Rudra strode up to the group, arms crossed and a smirk plastered on his face. “Good to see you all still have your sense of humor. But let’s get serious. We've only got three days left before your real journey starts, and I don't plan on sending you off weak and unprepared.”

Jin raised an eyebrow, his smirk still in place. “What, so we just need a montage? One training session and we’ll be fine, right?”

Rudra chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. “I wish. But no, that’s not how it works.” His gaze turned toward the far side of the training field, where Darin sat under a tree, eyes closed in deep concentration. “Darin’s ahead of you all—he's already opened his second orbit. Unfortunately, he did it out of rage, not control, so he’s got to spend the next three days stabilizing it.”

Jin smirked, glancing between Daren and Tarek. “Rage? Ha! Tarek, did you know your boyfriend here got real angry when you were unconscious? He went full hero mode on us! You should’ve seen it.”

Tarek’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she stammered, “He’s not— I mean... I-I didn’t ask him to do that...”

She quickly looked away, trying to hide the growing smile tugging at her lips.

“Enough with the chit-chat while opening the second orbit is good but its dangerous if not opened right” Rudra replied, his tone more serious. “Opening a pathway or orbit through emotion isn’t the goal. You need control. You, on the other hand—” Rudra pointed at Jin and the others—“haven’t even opened your second orbit yet. And time’s running out.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed in determination. "What do we need to do?"

“Good question," Rudra said, stepping back and cracking his knuckles. "Today, you’ll work on pushing your Naadi to its limit. All three of you will attack me, together."

Jin’s jaw dropped in mock disbelief. “Wait, seriously? All three of us against you? Seems a little unfair—for you, I mean.”

Rudra just grinned. “We’ll see about that.”

Tarek stretched her arms, already limbering up. “Let’s do this!”

The three of them stood shoulder to shoulder, preparing themselves for the fight. Rudra remained calm, hands loose at his sides as he waited for them to make the first move.

Kael, Jin, and Tarek tightened their grip on their weapons as they faced Rudra. Kael held his sword with practiced precision, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. Jin spun his spear in a fluid motion, his stance light and ready. Tarek’s daggers shimmered in her hands, her eyes focused, calculating.

Rudra still stood there, seemingly unfazed by their readiness. His eyes shifted from one weapon to the next, taking in their fighting stances. He let out a small chuckle. "So, this is what I’m up against? A sword, a spear, and daggers. Should I be impressed?"

Kael lunged first, his sword slicing through the air with fierce determination. Rudra sidestepped effortlessly, his expression as casual as ever. Jin followed immediately, thrusting his spear in a flurry of attacks, each strike aimed to corner Rudra. But the man was like water, flowing between their strikes, never allowing them to land a hit.

Tarek watched for an opening, her daggers ready to strike. She darted in with quick, precise movements, aiming for Rudra’s exposed sides. Yet, every slash, every stab, met nothing but air as Rudra dodged with ease.

Just as Rudra was about to mock them again, his eyes caught a glimpse of something glowing on Tarek’s hand. His lighthearted smirk faded for the briefest of moments as he narrowed his gaze on the ring she wore.

He stopped dodging for a second, staring directly at her hand. "Wait… that ring…" His voice took on a sharper tone, no longer filled with the playful arrogance from earlier. "How did you get a Divya Shastra?"

Tarek blinked, momentarily confused. She glanced down at the simple-looking ring, her brow furrowing. "This? I don’t know. I’ve just always had it." She shrugged. "It's nothing special.

Rudra's eyes widened slightly, clearly taken aback. "Nothing special? You have no idea what you’re carrying, do you? A Divya Shastra isn’t something you just ‘have’. Only the top families , strongest and richest people possess them." His tone grew more serious. "Even I only have a Shastra—a mere fragment compared to that."

Tarek glanced at the ring again, perplexed. "I really don’t know. It’s just… been with me as long as I can remember."

Rudra shook his head in disbelief. "You can’t just have a Divya Shastra. Those weapons are legendary, imbued with celestial power. They're passed down through the generations. They aren’t things you stumble upon by accident."

Jin, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up, his tone light and joking despite the tense atmosphere. "Well, maybe Tarek's just lucky." He looked at the ring and then, with a grin, added, "Besides , I had one too." as if mocking Rudra.

Rudra’s head snapped toward Jin, his expression incredulous. "Had one? well you are from the Zoroki family so its not a big deal if you have it , where is it now?"

Jin shrugged casually, spinning his spear once before resting it on his shoulder." The family took it back." He said it so casually, as if discussing something trivial. Then, with a smirk, he added, "I'm not exactly part of that family anymore, you see. They didn’t think I was worthy enough to keep it."

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Rudra blinked, staring at Jin in disbelief before letting out a sharp laugh. "Unbelievable."

Jin gave a mock bow, his grin widening. "What can I say? I am different from you." He chuckled, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—an unspoken history that clearly carried weight.

Rudra’s gaze shifted between Jin and Tarek, his expression thoughtful. "Well, isn’t this interesting? A runaway heir and someone with no idea of the power they hold." He paused, his smirk returning. "Looks like this fight just got a little more entertaining."

Kael, gripping his sword tightly, glanced between his two friends, his brow furrowed. "You both have Divya Shastra? "

Jin shrugged again. "Not much to tell. Like I said, I don’t have mine anymore." He waggled his spear in front of Kael. "This thing does the job well enough."

Tarek gave Kael a confused look. "I didn’t even know what this was until just now. I thought it was just a ring."

Rudra, however, wasn’t done. "You may not understand it yet, but you will. The Divya Shastra are more than just weapons—they’re alive in their own way.. You don’t just happen upon one by chance. That means," he said, looking at Tarek with renewed interest, "someone—or something—chose you."

Tarek, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention, stared at the ring. "Chose me? I don’t understand."

Rudra’s smirk deepened. "You will."

The fight resumed, but Rudra’s tone had shifted. Though still toying with them, there was a flicker of respect in his eyes as he regarded Tarek’s ring and Jin’s revelation. The trio had yet to unlock the full potential of their weapons, but it was clear that the path ahead would reveal far more than any of them anticipated.

The fight resumed, and the atmosphere thickened with anticipation. Rudra’s earlier mockery had faded, replaced by a flicker of respect as he regarded Tarek’s ring and Jin’s revelation. The trio knew they were outmatched, but the thought of awakening Tarek’s Divya Shastra ignited a fierce determination within them.

Kael charged forward, his sword glinting as he aimed a powerful overhead strike at Rudra. The blade sliced through the air, but Rudra effortlessly sidestepped, his movements fluid and graceful. With a mocking laugh, he countered with a swift kick that sent Kael sprawling backward, the impact reverberating through the ground.

“Nice try, but you’ll have to do better than that!” Rudra taunted, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He pivoted to face Jin, who lunged next, his spear thrusting forward like a striking serpent. Jin’s attacks were sharp and precise, each thrust aimed at Rudra’s openings, but Rudra danced around him, weaving through Jin’s strikes with ease.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Jin shot back, determination coursing through him as he pressed forward with another thrust.

Tarek circled the two, her daggers glinting ominously in the light. She was quick and agile, searching for an opening as her heart raced with adrenaline. The ring on her finger felt warm but remained frustratingly dormant, as if it had a will of its own.

“sensei, you underestimate us!” she shouted, launching herself at him, her daggers aimed for his shoulders. Rudra merely chuckled, sidestepping her attack and twisting her wrist to send one of her daggers flying. The other barely grazed his side as he swiftly countered, but Tarek’s resolve only hardened.

“Nice try, but you can’t rely on speed alone!” he mocked, glancing at Tarek’s ring again, as if measuring her potential.

Frustrated but undeterred, Kael regrouped with Jin and Tarek. “We need to combine our strengths,” he urged, his voice steady. “Tarek, if you can channel the energy from your ring, we might be able to turn the tide!”

Tarek’s brow furrowed in concentration, but she shook her head. “I can’t control it! The ring works when it wants to.”

“Then let’s give it a reason to respond!” Rudra suggested, spinning his spear and taking a defensive stance. “We’ll draw out its power !”

The atmosphere shifted dramatically as Rudra’s playful demeanor evaporated. A serious glint sparked in his eyes as he spun his spear with practiced ease. “Do your best!” he declared, launching three fireballs, each hurtling toward Kael, Jin, and Tarek with deadly precision.

Tarek stepped back instinctively, her heart racing. Jin stood firm, his spear poised defensively, while Kael leaped forward, sword drawn, ready to intercept the incoming threat. The fireballs roared towards them, the distance closing to a mere centimeter as the trio prepared to face the flames.

Just as the fireballs were about to strike, Tarek felt a surge of energy from her ring. It enveloped her in a shimmering green-black sphere, teleporting her away from the impending explosion. Kael and Jin, momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events, watched as the fireballs aimed at them wavered, their momentum faltering.

“It did that thing again!” Jin shouted, relieved but still on edge.

But Rudra was quick to adapt. He redirected the two fireballs heading toward Jin and Kael, changing their trajectory as the third fireball expanded menacingly, targeting Tarek’s new location with destructive intent. It swelled in size, a cataclysmic orb of flame that threatened to obliterate everything in its path.

Tarek’s eyes widened in horror, realizing that her ring had ceased to work. The glow coming from it flickered and vanished just as the fireball surged toward her. She braced herself, heart pounding, but there was no escape.

The fireball surged closer, its heat palpable in the air, radiating an intense wave that warped the surroundings. Tarek felt the scorching energy wash over her, a visceral reminder of the imminent destruction. Just as the blazing orb was about to make contact, it seemed to shimmer for a moment, the very fabric of reality bending around her.

In an astonishing twist, the fireball passed straight through Tarek without so much as a flicker of resistance. Time seemed to slow as her friends stared in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock. Kael and Jin stood frozen, their previous bravado evaporating as they processed what had just occurred.

“Did… did it just go through her?” Jin stammered, his usual lightheartedness replaced by confusion. The air was thick with tension as they all struggled to comprehend the phenomenon they had just witnessed.

“Looks like you’re in a bit of a pickle now, Tarek!” Rudra taunted, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You got scared, didn’t you? This is the power of my Shastra—it can create illusions. I can turn those illusions into reality once I fully awaken it.”

. “And as for your little ring,” he continued, “it seems to awaken only when you’re near death and it can only do it one time . Quite a unique feature you’ve got there! It explains why you couldn’t run away from Laura in the game.”

Jin couldn’t help but chuckle, despite the tense situation. “Did you want to help her, or were you just flexing your Shastra?” he quipped, his voice lighthearted even as he prepared to defend against the flames.

“Maybe the latter,” Rudra admitted with a mischievous grin, enjoying the banter even amid the chaos. “But you three are proving to be quite the entertaining challenge!”

As he spoke, the playful glint in his eyes shifted to something more serious. “However,” he continued, his tone dropping to a more instructive cadence, “entertainment alone won’t help you against true power. You need to understand your weapons, yourself especially if you want to stand a chance against others.”

He gestured toward Darin, still sitting under the tree. “Stabilizing your orbit is crucial. Without it, your chakra won’t flow properly, and you’ll never unlock your true strength.”

Jin sat up, still winded. “So, what’s the secret to stabilizing it?”

Rudra crossed his arms, his expression serious now. “It’s all about control. You have to make your chakra move through the orbit smoothly, without resistance. Rage, fear, excitement—they’ll open it temporarily, but it won’t last. You need focus.”

Darin, who had been silent under the tree, finally opening his eyes. “It’s harder than it sounds,” he muttered.

Rudra chuckled. “No one said it would be easy. But if you want to survive out there, you’ll need to master this.”

Kael, Jin, and Tarek nodded, their resolve strengthened. Rudra waved them over and sat down, motioning for them to join him. “Daren come now, let’s talk ranks.”

“Ranks?” Jin echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Rudra nodded. “There are five ranks based on how many Naadi pathways you’ve unlocked. Those who’ve unlocked one Naadi and completed at least one orbit are called Initiates. You all are low level Initiates , basic stuff. From there, it gets tougher.”

Tarek leaned forward, curious. “What about those who unlock three pathways?”

Rudra smirked. “They’re called striders. It’s not common, but some people can unlock the first three pathways quickly. But the real challenge begins with the fourth.”

Kael frowned. “Why’s that?”

“Because every pathway from the third on becomes more difficult. The energy flows are more complex, the challenges more dangerous. Unlocking the fourth makes you a Vanguard. I'm a high level vanguard Those who unlock up to six pathways are called Titans. Titans are rare.”

Jin whistled. “And what about the seventh pathway?”

Rudra’s smile widened. “Those who unlock the seventh Naadi are called Awakens. Few ever reach that level.”

Jin scratched his chin. “Sounds like it gets pretty lonely at the top.”

Rudra shrugged. “Maybe. But you’ve got a long way to go before you need to worry about that.”

As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the training field, the group fell into a thoughtful silence, their minds turning toward the journey ahead. Three days, and their real test would begin.