-------------🙏"Namaste"🙏-------------
Shiven and Nikhil arrived at the Elite Force building, where Anshuman awaited them. As they walked through the halls towards the duel Ground, an unsettling silence pervaded the air. Shiven noticed the wary glances of the people they passed, seemingly fixated on his demonic aura. No one dared to speak or approach him, leaving Shiven with an eerie feeling of thoughts "These people sure are quiet."
Then a cheerful voice broke the silence as a grown woman ran towards Anshuman, embracing him tightly with unbridled joy. She effortlessly lifted her off the ground, her legs dangling in the air. Anshuman was lazy enough to not bring out his hand out of his pocket, but his face betrayed a glimmer of happiness."It's nice to see you again." The unexpected display of affection surprised both Shiven and Nikhil.
As the girl released Anshuman, she questioned him, "Why didn't you come for so long? It's been two to three months since you last visited."
Anshuman, adopting a friendly tone yet somewhat defensive, "I was busy lately, you know new session, new class and blah blah! "
It was the most shocking moment for Nikhil in his whole life, even Shiven smiled after observing him and questioned some things in his mind. Anshuman, aware of their presence, introduced her, "Here, meet Neha Guruvedi, the head of the Elite force."
Neha, radiating authority and strength, greeted Shiven and Nikhil warmly. They could sense the immense responsibility she carried as the head of this esteemed organization. Nikhil, still surprised by Neha's friendly nature, responded enthusiastically "Pranam! It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Nikhil Vyomik, and this is Shiven." He gestured towards his companion, introducing themselves.
Neha playfully pinched Nikhil's cheek, causing a slight blush to spread across his face. Teasingly, she called him cute. Turning to Shiven, she playfully attempted to touch his cheek as well, but he gently turned his face, prompting Neha to pat his head instead.
With a warm smile, Neha expressed her curiosity, asking the reason for their visit. Nikhil, gathering his thoughts, replied sincerely that they had come with the intention of joining the Elite force. Standing before Neha, both Nikhil and Shiven were resolute in their decision. Intrigued by their young age, Neha questioned their motivation, curious to understand their aspirations.
Without hesitation, Shiven responded, "We seek to earn money while never losing sight of our ultimate goal—to become Knights." His words were direct and to the point, leaving no room for further questions.
Neha, instead of delving further, asked who would vouch for them. Shiven and Nikhil looked at Anshuman, confused Neha shifted his gaze too. Overhearing Neha's question, "Yeah! It's going to be me." Anshuman declared.
Neha raised her eyebrows in disbelief, with that they proceeded to the battle ground. Where Neha summoned a boy and a girl, approximately 14 and 12 years old, respectively.
Capturing his opponent's image in his mind. Shiven made up his mind to face the boy in combat. Shiven, curious about the opponents' levels, inquired about their knight ranks. Neha informed him that the boy named Ravi had completed C-rank missions, while a girl named Kamna was currently a D-rank knight. Kamna interjected, revealing that her last mission was C-rank. Impressed by her progress, Neha praised her, and shifted her attention to Nikhil and Shiven, "and what about both of you? What have you learned?"
Shiven glared at Anshuman, silently urging him to respond. Anshuman immediately comprehended the unspoken request, and he effortlessly explained, "Both of them possess impressive fighting skills, and I have also taught them about nama energy 2 days ago. They are currently in the midst of training to activate their nama energy. They show exceptional promise in certain aspects."
Neha was perplexed by Anshuman's explanation, and the summoned knights shared her confusion. Without further delay, she swiftly initiated the entrance test, signaling everyone to take their positions.
As the boy from the summoned team stepped out for the battle, Nikhil stepped forward, but Shiven interrupted and urged for going first. Ravi, the opposing knight, accepted Shiven's challenge and positioned himself on the battlefield.
As the fight commenced, both Shiven and Ravi engaged in a flurry of blows. Shiven found himself initially overwhelmed by his opponent's strength, but he compensated with his remarkable agility. They exchanged various kicks, punches, and blocks, each showcasing their martial prowess. Shiven's skills were extraordinary, especially considering his young age. It was evident that he had received guidance from one of the world's top fighters.
The audience became captivated by the intense battle unfolding before them. Anshuman, fulfilling his role as a teacher, keenly observed every move made by both combatants, analyzing their techniques and strategies.
Suddenly, the fight took an unexpected turn as Ravi reached for his Shuriken, catching Shiven off guard. However, Shiven's agility proved crucial as he deftly evaded the incoming projectiles. Nikhil, watching the fight intently, felt a twinge of sympathy for Shiven. Aware of their limited financial resources, he knew that acquiring throwing weapons was beyond their means, making the situation more challenging for his friend.
As the intensity of the fight escalated with the exchange of weapons, Shiven recognized the disadvantage of his short-range sword against Ravi's spear. However, he quickly adjusted his strategy, closing the distance between them and unsheathing his own sword. The clash of blades intensified the ferocity of their battle.
With his superior strength, Ravi launched a powerful strike that sent Shiven's sword flying effortlessly to a corner. Shiven, undeterred, managed to disrupt Ravi's balance with a well-timed kick, allowing him to make a quick dash towards his weapon. As Ravi regained his composure, he targeted Shiven with his spear, launching swift and accurate throw. Shiven barely evaded the attack, but in doing so, he found himself off balance and ended up on the ground near his sword.
Seizing the opportunity, Ravi conjured a clone and commanded it to attack Shiven with a Kunai, intending to finish the fight. Observing the perilous situation, Kamna and Neha recognized Shiven's slim chances of victory. Nikhil, however, remained composed and unwavering in his faith in Shiven's abilities.
As the clone reached close to Shiven, Shiven crushed a smoke bomb in his hand, instantly filling the surroundings with thick smoke. The sudden turn of events left Nikhil and Anshuman speechless, their astonishment evident.
Anshuman couldn't contain his curiosity and broke his silence, questioning "Nikhil, what exactly did Shiven do when I wasn't at the training ground today?"
Nikhil visualized the sequence of events and summarized, "First, he used a clone that charged at him. Then he utilized a smoke bomb to defeat the clone. However, the defeated clone threw a clone bomb, creating another clone. When the smoke cleared, another clone appeared to strike at Shiven. But he swiftly used another smoke bomb to defeat that clone as well."
Anshuman comprehended the situation and expressed his admiration, remarking, "Impressive! Shiven managed to deploy his clone in the form of smoke, showcasing exceptional visualization skills." His mind started calculating, just as Nikhil also pondered which clone had successfully deployed as the smoke.
Meanwhile, Ravi found himself in a relatively even situation, despite not having his actual weapon. All eyes were fixed on Shiven as he stood like a shadow in the smoke, raising his sword high in the air, attempting to activate its energy. Ravi's mind was filled with a whirlwind of questions, struggling to comprehend the extraordinary display before him. How could Shiven unlock the energy within his sword in such a short time? The idea seemed implausible because people take seven to ten days, yet there it was, unfolding right before his eyes.
Shiven's mastery over the activation of his sword's energy was remarkable, surpassing any expectations. A faint light blue hue radiated from the blade, casting an ethereal glow that mesmerized the audience. It was no ordinary display of power, the energy flowed from Shiven's sword as if Shiven possessed an endless reservoir within him.
Amidst the spectacle, uncertainty clouded Ravi's mind. Could there be a slight chance for him to emerge victorious? His hand instinctively reached for a dagger infused with nama energy, a desperate attempt to counter Shiven's impending assault. Gripping the weapon tightly, he felt a mixture of awe and trepidation.
Reacting swiftly, Just as he prepared to strike, With a burst of speed, Shiven emerged from the dissipating smoke, his determination etched on his face. Ravi's senses heightened, his focus laser-sharp as he evaded the first blow and countered the second with his own strike. Despite his best efforts, the sight of Shiven's unwavering intention to win and the intensity in his widened eyes disturbed Ravi's equilibrium. Doubt began to creep in, but he pushed it aside, relying on his instincts to guide him forward.
Meanwhile Neha's attention shifted from the intense duel to something else. To get a clear view she focused her gaze on his Ajna chakra, commonly referred to as the third eye, Neha's gaze locked onto Shiven, her focus narrowing on his presence. As she sensed the unmistakable presence of a demonic aura emanating from him, a peculiar sensation washed over her. A tingling chill crawled up her spine, and her instincts screamed at her to be cautious. It was as if an invisible force had wrapped itself around her, pulling her attention towards the enigmatic figure before her.
Summoning her courage, she finally mustered the words to voice her concern. "Why did you even bring him to the entrance exam?" Her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. Anshuman, ever calm and composed, responded "I thought he merely possessed exceptional fighting skills." he explained. "And What you're sensing now is his normal aura, nothing more."
Neha's curiosity battled against the flicker of fear within her. The enigmatic nature of Shiven's demonic aura left her yearning for answers. She had encountered countless individuals with unique abilities throughout her time in the Elite Force, but this was something different—a darkness that both fascinated and unsettled her.
On the other hand dodging Shiven's third attack, a chilling realization struck Ravi—he had no choice but to act ruthlessly to save himself. In a split second, he made a decision. Closing his eyes briefly, he shut out the distractions and uncertainties that plagued his mind. In that moment of clarity, he lunged forward, his dagger finding its mark as it ruthlessly penetrated Shiven.
Silence enveloped the duel ground as time seemed to stand still. The impact of Ravi's action reverberated through the air, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. Kamna's heart sank, a sense of sorrow washing over her. Nikhil was in disbelief and worried about something.
Anshuman's voice cut through the tension, carrying a hint of amusement and intrigue. "Neha, You know what? You don't even know the whole plot."
Meanwhile, Ravi collected himself, his earlier confusion giving way to a sense of regret. But as he witnessed Shiven disintegrate into particles of light, leaving only his sword behind.His eyes widened with realization that it had been a mere clone all along. Before he could fully process the situation, a kunai emerged from the dissipating smoke, hurtling toward him. Desperation gripped Ravi as he attempted to counter the unexpected attack, but he found himself overwhelmed and tumbling to the ground.
In that fleeting moment of disorientation, before Ravi could make sense of what was happening, Shiven charged at him, wielding Ravi's own spear. The air crackled with intensity as Shiven stood there, spear pointed at the neck, his determination palpable.
Neha took a step closer to Shiven, her voice filled with admiration. "Welcome to the Elite force. You have successfully passed the entrance exam."
Kamna stood there, stunned by the rapid turn of events, while Nikhil's mind was busy unraveling the mystery of Shiven's strategic moves. He couldn't help but wonder how Shiven managed to save each type of bomb.
The teacher, Anshuman, overheard Nikhil's ponderings and decided to shed some light on the matter. "You see, Shiven used a combination of a single clone bomb and a smoke bomb. After that, the bomb you saw flying towards the bush was merely a decoy. What you witnessed after the first smoke cleared was the first Clone and real Shiven was hiding in the bushes. He cleverly made his entrance seem like it was the second clone, while the first clone took the opportunity to deploy himself as smoke, making it appear as if there were two smoke bombs used."
Nikhil nodded, beginning to grasp the intricacy of Shiven's plan. "But it all seemed so natural and seamless," he remarked.
"That's because Shiven had planned every detail with precision," Anshuman replied. "And it wasn't just the smoke and clone bombs. If you recall, when we met the opponents, Shiven showed an unusual interest in their ranks. It wasn't to assess their strength, but rather to convey his own."
"Exactly," Nikhil chimed in, a newfound understanding shining in his eyes. "That's why Shiven urged you to answer when Miss Neha asked about our abilities.
"And I told them as He wanted them to know that he was in the midst of activation training and that he possessed extraordinary skills. It was a psychological tactic, Those words were carefully chosen to rattle Ravi mentally, as he witnessed Shiven's clone wielding a sword brimming extraordinarily with overwhelming energy."
Nikhil's eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. "So, the energy we saw was simply an illusion created by the clone bomb."
Meanwhile, Shiven dropped his spear and picked up his sword, making his way towards Nikhil. Neha extended her hand to Ravi, acknowledging his efforts. "You did well."
As Ravi replayed the fight in his mind, he realized that he had merely been a participant in Shiven's meticulously choreographed dance. Shiven's strategic planning and precise execution became evident, leaving Ravi in awe of his opponent's prowess.
----: End of the Chapter:----
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