The World of 48H

"This… is the World of 48H."

Even as Jaipa spoke, Rudra kept scanning his surroundings, as if trying to confirm that he truly existed within this place. It wasn’t disbelief—it was the overwhelming nature of the world itself.

He had just arrived, and already, the sheer vastness of it stretched before him like a dreamscape, too surreal to be real.

At the heart of a mist-covered jungle stood an enormous, ancient tree—its bark twisted and gnarled by centuries of wind and rain. Its towering branches reached for the sky, vanishing into the thick fog above, as if they were trying to grasp something beyond mortal reach.

A narrow stream wove through the jungle, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the vibrant green of the dense foliage. The ground was thick with broad-leaved plants, their surfaces glistening with dew. Flowers in an explosion of colors bloomed in the underbrush, their scent hanging heavy in the air.

There was something alive about this place. Not just in the plants or creatures hidden within the mist, but in the land itself. The air pulsed with an unseen energy—a whisper of something ancient, something waiting.

Beyond the jungle, jagged mountains rose from the fog like silent sentinels, their peaks lost in the mist. The valleys below them were a patchwork of deep greys, purples, and streaks of gold—as if something precious lay buried beneath the earth, just out of reach.

A worn, winding path snaked through the terrain, disappearing into the fog. Along the hillsides, trees—some massive, others sparse—stood like silent watchers. They were old, just like the colossal one at the heart of the land, their very existence etched with the weight of forgotten time.

Rudra stood still, his sharp eyes absorbing everything. He was alone in this moment—a silent observer of a world unfolding before him.

Then, at last, he turned to Jaipa and spoke, his voice flat and emotionless.

"It's quiet here. Where are we?"

Rudra stood still, watching.

The narrow stream twisted through the jungle like a silver thread, its surface smooth and undisturbed. The water reflected the towering trees above, their emerald leaves trembling under the weight of lingering dew. Flowers bloomed in reckless abundance, spilling over the underbrush in bursts of red, yellow, and violet. Everything pulsed—alive, shifting, ancient.

A breeze stirred the foliage, carrying with it a scent—earthy, rich, unfamiliar. Somewhere in the distance, something rustled. Rudra’s gaze flicked toward the sound, but he did not react. He simply took it in, like a hollow vessel filling with sights and sounds without truly holding onto them.

Jaipa let out a low whistle beside him. “This place…” He shook his head. “It’s like something out of a story isn't it ”

Rudra’s eyes moved to the jagged mountains rising beyond the jungle, their peaks swallowed by the mist. Valleys stretched beneath them, streaked with veins of gold and orange, as if something slumbered beneath the surface, waiting. He traced the winding path that cut through the hills, disappearing into the fog.

He spoke without looking at Jaipa. “Its feel good ”

Jaipa huffed a quiet said do you feel this good you mindless thing ,doesn’t you feel… like it’s watching us?”

Rudra tilted his head slightly, considering the thought. The land did seem aware in a way. But that wasn’t something he could feel—only something he could acknowledge.

Instead of answering, he turned his gaze toward the lone tree at the mountain’s peak. It stood apart from the rest, its gnarled branches reaching skyward, unmoving even as the wind passed through. The sight of it should have stirred something in him—wonder, curiosity, even unease.

But there was only silence inside him.

Jaipa exhaled sharply. “You’re not gonna say anything, huh?”

Rudra blinked once. “You are saying enough.”

Jaipa rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He glanced back at the path ahead and sighed. “Fine. Let’s just move from this place before this place decides to kill us ”

Rudra said nothing, only stepped forward, the world unfolding before him like a story he did not yet understand.

"It's quiet here... where are we?" Rudra asked, his voice uneasy.

Jaipa smirked, his eyes sharp and mocking. "Oh, now you pay attention when you have questions, huh? What am I to you, brat?"

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Rudra stayed silent, unsure how to respond. But before he could say anything, a scream came

Rudra stiffened, his breath hitching.

A scream tore through the air—high-pitched, unnatural, loud enough to rattle his bones. It wasn’t human. It couldn’t be.

His heart pounded as he whipped his head around, scanning his surroundings. Behind him, two towering stone pillars stood, cracked and barely holding together, as if they'd been standing for centuries too long. To his left, a cave yawned open, its darkness so deep it felt like it could swallow him whole. The air around it was thick—heavy, like something inside was waiting.

Then—something moved.

A shadow.

Massive. Impossible.

It stretched across the ground, swallowing half the field in darkness. His stomach twisted, his skin prickling with cold terror. Slowly—too slowly—he lifted his gaze.

His breath caught.

Above him, coiling through the storm-choked sky, , a colossal beast coils through the air, its vast form a living tempest of shimmering teal and gray-green scales. Wisps of silken fur or delicate feathers trail along its powerful wings and serpentine tail, catching the light in fleeting glimmers of silver and white , Emerald eyes gleam like fractured gemstones,

Rudra stood frozen, his gaze locked onto the sky, eyes wide with shock. His breath came in shallow, uneven gasps. The massive beast above loomed like a nightmare given form, its shimmering scales shifting like liquid metal against the stormy backdrop.

After what felt like an eternity, he forced himself to move. Slowly, carefully, he lowered his gaze—only to find Jaipa floating beside him.

His throat felt dry. His lips barely parted as he whispered, his voice trembling, "What… what is that?"

Jaipa turned to him, his expression unreadable, his eyes filled with something Rudra couldn't quite place. He studied him for a long moment before speaking.

"You’re not faking that face, are you?" Jaipa’s voice was low, almost amused, but there was something else beneath it—curiosity, maybe even expectation.

He paused.

"Can you really feel the fear?"

Rudra swallowed hard, his thoughts tangled. He met Jaipa’s gaze, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Should he answer? Should he even acknowledge what he was feeling?

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then, he made his choice.

"Jaipa," Rudra spoke in a quiet voice, his tone cold as ice yet soft as a drifting petal. He continued,

"I don't consider fear an emotion. Fear is an instinct—something far greater than emotions themselves."

Jaipa sighed, shaking his head.

"Weird kid, huh?" he muttered, tilting his head slightly to the side. Then, after a brief pause, he added,

"If I remember correctly, this place is called..."

He let the words linger for a moment before finishing,

"The Forest of Absolute."

Rudra barely reacted, his gaze slowly drifting back upward, searching for the massive creature that had just passed over them. But in mere seconds, its shadow had already moved beyond his field of vision, swallowed by the stormy sky.

Still, the question burned in his mind. Without shifting his eyes, he asked again, his voice as small as before,

"What was that?"

Jaipa, however, was still watching the creature’s distant form, his expression unreadable. To the beast, they were nothing—mere ants beneath its gaze. It hadn't even noticed them.

After a long silence, Jaipa finally turned his eyes to Rudra, studying him. Then, in a calm voice, he spoke.

"That… is a Protector of the Land of the Absolute."

His gaze darkened slightly before he added,

"People call their kind… Mukashs."

Rudra didn't hesitate. He immediately asked, "Those species… are there many of them?"

Jaipa didn’t answer right away. Instead, he ascended high into the sky, circling as if lost in thought. Minutes passed before he finally descended, landing close to Rudra.

"Those species, huh?" Jaipa murmured.

He paused before continuing.

"There are thirteen special kinds of Mukashs."

Rudra repeated his words, as if testing their weight. "Thirteen kinds…"

Jaipa nodded. After a brief silence, he resumed his explanation.

"Yes, there are thirteen kinds. But that’s not what truly matters."

He fell into thought, his expression shifting. Rudra, however, simply stared at him—his dead eyes unreadable.

Jaipa sighed before continuing.

"The real concern isn’t just the Mukashs. It’s the other species." He took a moment, running through his thoughts before adding,

"They live across most of the land in the world of 48H. Their intelligence surpasses that of normal humans, and their physical abilities far exceed humans"

He hesitated, his voice lowering slightly.

"A single one of them could take down hundreds of humans alone. That’s how dangerous they are."

Jaipa paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

Rudra, outwardly, was simply standing there—silent, listening. But in reality, his mind was already at work, planning his next move.

Meanwhile, Jaipa kept talking… unaware of what was truly running through Rudra’s mind.

In the world of 48H, there exists a species that rules above all others. They are known as the “Holy Blood.”

They are not just rulers; they are the foundation upon which power itself is measured. Their hierarchy is absolute, their ranks a testament to strength and supremacy.

The Ranks of Holy Blood

Caa Rank – The lowest tier, the weakest among their kind.

Icaa Rank – A step above, but still beneath true power.

Ticaa Rank – The middle ground, where true potential begins to emerge.

Isticaa Rank – A high-ranking force, feared and respected.

Asticaa Rank – The peak of the ordinary, a level only the elite reach.

But beyond these… exist the untouchable.

Divticaa Rank – A realm beyond comprehension, where only a rare few ascend.

The 11 Gaticaa Rank – A rank not of mortals, but of gods.

The 11 Gaticaa – Beyond the Heavens

The 11 Gaticaa Rank is not just a status—it is a divine truth.

In the vast history of 48H, across uncountable centuries, only eleven beings have ever reached this rank. They are beyond rulers, beyond kings. Their strength defies reason. Their presence alone can shift the balance of existence.

To stand before one is to feel the weight of eternity.

To challenge one… is to embrace oblivion.

With a final, measured breath, Jaipa continued,

"When I said that a single ‘Holy Blood’ could take on hundreds of humans alone… I was referring to the lowest of them—the Caa rank."

The words hung in the air like a weight.

Rudra’s face remained expressionless, flat and unreadable. But beneath that blank exterior, his mind was racing. The flood of information poured into him, and he let it settle—piece by piece, absorbing it slowly, savoring every detail. There was no need to rush.

A minute passed.

Then, in a flat, almost detached tone, Rudra spoke.

But before he could ask his question, something gnawed at the edges of his thoughts. A particular curiosity, one that refused to be ignored:

"What will they think when they see me?"

That question lingered in his mind.

"Do they look human? Or are they something entirely different?"

For a brief moment, he debated whether to dwell on it further—whether to try and answer it himself.

But why waste time speculating?

He would just ask Jaipa.

In his usual flat tone, Rudra asked,

"These beings… the ones called ‘Holy Blood’—do they look like humans?"

After speaking, he fell silent again, as if the question meant nothing to him.

Jaipa stared at him, amused. What kind of kid behaves like this?

Even in this situation—where any sane person would be overwhelmed with fear or at least curiosity—Rudra remained utterly indifferent. His demeanor wasn’t normal. In fact, it was far from it. No concern, no hesitation.

It was almost unnatural.

"Even a grown man would be questioning everything right now, worrying about his life. But this kid... he doesn't even acknowledge the danger around him. It's as if he believes he's in the safest place in the world."

Rudra, however, wasn’t paying Jaipa any attention. His gaze remained fixed on the two ancient pillars behind him, lost in thought.

"Does he even realize what he's gotten himself into?"

Jaipa was about to call his name when—

Krrrrrrrr…

A low, guttural sound rumbled from the brush nearby.

Jaipa’s eyes widened. Instinct took over as he rushed toward Rudra.

"Wait… that can’t be it…"

A flicker of unease crept into his voice.

"It can’t be here.....it can't be...."Impossible."