The capital city of Dawnmara was alive with the vibrant energy of the Aruncahli Tournament, a prestigious event that had cultivators from all over the Land of the Rising Sun flocking to the kingdom’s capital. The city was buzzing with excitement as the festival drew near, and everywhere Arav went, he saw banners and billboards heralding the competition.

Arav walked down the bustling streets of Dawnmara, his eyes drawn to a large poster displayed in the town square. The words were boldly written across it:

“The Aruncahli Tournament of Warriors—Prove Your Strength, Earn Glory!”

The tournament offered a grand prize of Dhara Stones, rare treasures, and the personal recognition of King Tashi Khandu. Best of all, there was no participation fee. For Arav, who had been struggling with his dwindling Dhara Stones, this was the perfect opportunity.

“An open tournament?” Arav muttered to himself. “It’s my chance to earn some Dhara Stones... and get some real fighting experience.”

He was about to turn away and head toward the registration area when a voice called out from behind him.

“You thinking of entering?”

Arav turned to see Karma, the fiery-haired cultivator he’d met earlier. His grin was wide, filled with mischief.

“Yeah,” Arav answered, looking back at the poster. “Sounds like a good chance to make some money. And fighting experience, too.”

“Trust me, you’re gonna need both. There are some tough competitors this year,” Karma said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Especially the Yachang family disciples. I hear they’re coming in full force.”

Arav raised an eyebrow. “The Yachang family? From the Land of the Rising Sun?”

“Yep. One of the Eight Ancient Families. They’ve got a reputation for being skilled cultivators, and some of the younger members are already at the level of sect disciples.” Karma chuckled. “If you plan on competing, you better be ready. The stakes are high.”

Arav nodded. “I’ll manage.”

“Well, good luck to you,” Karma said, giving him a thumbs-up. “We’ll see how you do.”

Arav watched as Karma disappeared into the crowd, leaving him with thoughts of the upcoming tournament—and of the Yachang family. He had met Kimi Yachang, after all, and he knew from their brief interaction that she was no ordinary cultivator.

The tournament was being held just outside the capital, at a massive arena surrounded by towering stone walls. Spectators were already gathering in the stands, their energy palpable. Arav walked through the gates, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling tournament grounds.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon Kimi Yachang. She stood near the edge of the arena, her back straight, eyes scanning the crowd with her usual calm demeanor.

Kimi looked exactly as she had when he’d met her earlier—unassuming, but radiating an undeniable aura of power. Arav knew that she was far stronger than most cultivators at her age.

Their eyes met briefly, and Kimi gave him a small nod in acknowledgment.

He turned away, focusing on the tournament ahead. There was no time for distractions, and certainly no time to dwell on his encounter with Kimi.

The tournament began with the first round of elimination duels. Each competitor was paired against another.Arav stood in line, waiting for his turn. As he watched the first few matches, he saw a mix of styles—some cultivators wielding swords, others using elemental energy or martial arts. The variety was impressive.

When his name was called, Arav stepped into the arena, his mind focused and calm. His opponent was a bulky, muscular man with a large battle axe slung over his shoulder. The man smirked as he eyed Arav, sizing him up.

“You don’t look like much,” the man said, swinging the axe in his hand. “I’ll make quick work of you, boy.”

Arav didn’t respond. Instead, he settled into a fighting stance, prepared to let his actions speak louder than words.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the fight.

The man charged forward, his axe raised high. Arav easily sidestepped, letting the weapon swing harmlessly past him. He moved fluidly, his movements precise and calculated. His opponent, on the other hand, was slow, overextending with every swing.

Arav waited for the right moment, then struck. He grabbed the man’s arm, twisting it behind his back and forcing him to the ground. The crowd cheered as the man grunted in pain, unable to break free from Arav’s grip.

“Yield,” Arav said calmly, his voice even.

The man, struggling for breath, nodded. “I yield.”

The bell rang again, signaling the end of the match.

Arav stood up and offered a hand to his opponent, who took it begrudgingly. He had no words, but his defeat was evident in the way he lowered his head.

He glanced over at Kimi, who had been watching the match intently. She gave him another brief nod, though this time her expression was unreadable.

The tournament continued for hours, with competitors falling one by one. Arav stayed on the sidelines, preparing for his next round. Karma had told him about the Yachang family’s involvement, and he couldn’t help but feel the pressure mounting. He wasn’t just fighting for Dhara Stones anymore—he was fighting to prove himself.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Later, during a break between rounds, Arav found himself sitting on a bench near the edge of the arena, his mind racing. He was lost in thought when a familiar voice interrupted him.

“Impressive performance out there.”

Arav looked up to see Kimi Yachang standing before him. She looked as calm as ever, her gaze steady.

“Thanks,” Arav said with a smile. “You’ve been watching?”

Kimi nodded. “You fight well.” She paused, as if considering her next words carefully. “But the competition is only going to get tougher.”

Arav felt a small smile tug at his lips. “I’m ready for it.”

Kimi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “We’ll see. I’m sure we’ll meet in the later rounds.”

Arav raised an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”

She gave him a nod of acknowledgment and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Arav couldn’t help but feel a sense of resolve wash over him. Kimi wasn’t the only one in this tournament with something to prove.

The days of the Aruncahli Tournament had flown by in a blur of fights, challenges, and fierce competition. Arav had easily advanced from the initial rounds, his opponents falling one by one as he relied on his sharp instincts, precise techniques, and the training he had undergone over the past months. Now, he stood at the edge of the quarterfinals, a few victories away from glory.

The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena as the competitors for the quarterfinals were called.

“Arav Srivastava versus Rohan Dhingra!”

The crowd erupted into cheers. Arav’s gaze narrowed as he stepped forward. He had heard of Rohan Dhingra—a noble cultivator from a neighboring kingdom, Rivana, known for his mastery of Fire Prana. Rivana was a prosperous kingdom, and its nobles were well known for their aggressive, powerful combat style. This was going to be Arav’s toughest fight yet.

Rohan was already waiting in the center of the arena, his posture regal and confident. He was tall, with an aura of fiery energy surrounding him. His eyes locked onto Arav’s with a smirk that exuded both arrogance and excitement.

“You’re the one they’re calling the mystic,” Rohan sneered, his voice carrying across the arena. “A boy with no family, no lineage, but still here. Let’s see how far your luck takes you.”

Arav didn’t reply. There was no need to waste words on empty boasts. He simply stepped into the arena, his eyes locked onto Rohan’s, as the bell rang.

Rohan wasted no time, charging forward with a burst of flame that erupted from his palm. The air around him shimmered with heat as he sent a fireball streaking toward Arav. The crowd gasped in awe at the display of power, but Arav wasn’t fazed. He effortlessly dodged to the side, the fireball whizzing past him and hitting the ground, where it exploded in a burst of scorching light.

Arav’s heart rate slowed, his focus sharpening. His opponent was powerful, but predictable. Rohan was relying heavily on his Fire Prana, launching wave after wave of fiery attacks. Arav was dodging, weaving, and using his agility to stay out of range, but he knew he couldn’t keep this up forever. He needed to end it quickly.

With a sudden shift in his posture, Arav drew on his inner power. The crowd fell silent, sensing the change in the air as Arav focused his energy. His aura began to shift, and for the first time in the tournament, Arav revealed what he had kept hidden until now—his Prana Form, his Aakasha.

A soft, ethereal glow surrounded him, and the temperature in the arena seemed to drop. The energy around Arav distorted, as if reality itself were bending at his will. His eyes flared with an unnatural light, and the atmosphere crackled with the power of Space Prana. The spectators stared in shock, their gasps echoing through the stands.

“Aakasha?” someone whispered in disbelief.

Arav’s Prana Form—a manifestation of his unique connection to space itself—was rare, even among the greatest cultivators. It was a terrifying power, one that bent the fabric of reality and defied conventional understanding. And Arav was about to show just how deadly it could be.

Rohan, seeing Arav’s transformation, narrowed his eyes. “So, you do have some tricks up your sleeve, huh?” he taunted, his voice filled with both curiosity and caution.

With a deep breath, Arav stepped forward, his movements fluid. He launched into a series of devastating attacks, using his mastery over Aakasha. The first move was Void Step (Shunya Pada)—a sudden shift in space that allowed Arav to dodge Rohan’s fiery barrage effortlessly. He moved like a shadow, impossible to pin down.

Rohan’s fire blasts collided with the ground, leaving smoldering craters in the arena, but Arav was always one step ahead, dancing around the flames with perfect grace.

The next move, Star Burst (Nakshatra Prabhava), saw Arav sending a concentrated blast of Space Energy towards Rohan, who barely managed to raise a shield of fire in time to deflect it. But the force of the explosion sent him stumbling back, his footing unsteady for a brief moment.

Arav didn’t give him a chance to recover. He moved in close, using Nebula Grasp (Mandakini Pash) to extend tendrils of space energy from his hands, wrapping them around Rohan’s body and constricting him with suffocating force. Rohan struggled, his body beginning to burn with the effort of resisting Arav’s spatial binds.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Rohan growled, his Fire Prana flaring up again as he broke free, launching a massive Agni Ulka(Fire Meteorite)

Arav’s heart beat faster, his breath steady despite the intensity of the battle. He couldn’t afford to let Rohan’s fire consume him. Drawing on all his power, Arav summoned Astral Push (Antariksha Dhakka), a shockwave of space energy that slammed into the meteor, splitting it apart and dissipating the fire into the air.

The crowd gasped once more, witnessing Arav’s control over his Aakasha in full force. The arena seemed to bend and shift with the chaotic dance of fire and space.

Arav was now standing face to face with Rohan, who was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his brow. His body was covered in burns, his fire seemingly flickering out of control as exhaustion set in. The fight had taken a toll on both of them, but it was clear who was winning.

“You’re strong,” Rohan said, his voice grating with frustration. “But you’re not invincible.”

Arav didn’t respond. Instead, he gathered his remaining energy, preparing for his final attack.

With a quick motion, Arav activated Dimensional Shift (Ayama Parivartan), disappearing from Rohan’s view in an instant. Rohan turned, eyes wide, but before he could react, Arav reappeared behind him.

In one smooth motion, Arav unleashed Galactic Bind (Akasha Bandhana), sending a surge of Space Energy that wrapped around Rohan’s body and held him in place, immobilizing him completely.

Rohan’s fire sputtered out, his body unable to move or react.

“Yield,” Arav said softly, his voice steady and calm.

Rohan’s lips curled into a grimace, but he had no choice. “I yield.”

The bell rang, signaling the end of the match. The arena exploded in cheers, the crowd on their feet in astonishment. They had just witnessed something truly incredible—Arav’s full power, unleashed in a single battle.

Arav stood tall in the center of the arena, panting from the effort, but victorious. His Aakasha was not just a rare power; it was a devastating force in the right hands.

As the crowd continued to cheer, Arav glanced around and saw familiar faces in the crowd. Kimi Yachang stood in the front row, her expression unreadable as always, but her eyes were locked onto him, acknowledging his strength.

Arav nodded to her, but there was no time for conversation. He had won, but the real challenge was just beginning.