Surya stands frozen for a moment, feeling the warmth spreading through his hand. The glow intensifies, and with each passing second, it feels like his body is resonating with a power he hasn't felt before. It's unlike anything he's experienced. His fingers twitch as energy courses through his veins.
Pushkar's twisted grin falters, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the glowing hand. "Ah, so the ceremony isn't even necessary for you to awaken, huh?" he snarls. "I'll kill you before you can figure out how to use it!"
With a sudden burst of speed, Pushkar lunges forward, his blade aimed directly at Surya's heart. The air crackles with dark energy, and Raja, struggling on the ground, shouts, "Surya! MOVE!"
But Surya doesn't need to move. His instincts kick in, and without thinking, he raises his glowing hand. Just as Pushkar's blade is about to pierce him, Surya's hand catches the sword, stopping it mid-air. The impact causes a shockwave, sending dust and debris flying around them.
Pushkar's eyes widen in disbelief. "W-What?!"
Surya's hand burns brighter, and then, with a surge of force, he pushes the sword away. The energy from his hand wraps around Pushkar's weapon, disintegrating it into nothingness.
Surya steps forward, his voice low but steady, "I don't need a ceremony to realize my power."
For the first time, Pushkar's smug demeanor is replaced with fear. "You... how could you—?!" he stammers, but before he can finish, Surya's eyes blaze with newfound determination.
"I don't know how this works yet... but I'll figure it out," Surya says, his voice cold. The air around him hums with raw energy, and the glow from his hand begins to take shape—a bright, fiery aura wrapping around his body, pulsating with power.
Pushkar stumbles back, trying to regain his composure, but it's too late. Surya's power has already begun to manifest. His hand transforms, glowing like molten metal, and with a single motion, he slams it into the ground. The earth beneath them trembles as fiery cracks shoot across the schoolyard, forming a circle around Pushkar.
Raja, who's been watching in shock, finally manages to stand, his eyes wide. "S-Surya, what the hell...?"
Pushkar, now trapped in the circle of molten energy, lets out a growl of frustration. "You... brat!" He tries to summon another weapon, but the energy surrounding him is too strong. The flames lick at his feet, and he can feel his power draining away.
Surya's gaze is focused and unyielding. "I don't know why you're after me, Pushkar. But if you think I'm going to let you harm anyone here, you're wrong."
Pushkar's face twists in anger, and he screams, "You think you can stop me?! I've spent *years* perfecting my Pathway! You're just a child—"
Before he can finish, the ground beneath him erupts in a column of fire, consuming him completely. His screams are drowned out by the roar of the flames as they engulf his body, burning away his existence.
As the flames die down, all that's left of Pushkar is a pile of ashes, slowly being carried away by the wind. The molten energy in the ground fades, leaving the schoolyard cracked and scorched. Surya stands amidst the destruction, panting slightly as the glow from his hand finally dims.
Raja approaches cautiously, still in disbelief. "Surya... how... how did you do that?"
Surya looks at his hand, flexing his fingers. "I don't know. It just... happened."
Raja swallows hard. "That wasn't just any normal power. That was something way beyond what any of us should be able to do before the ceremony."
Surya frowns, his mind racing. "Whatever it is, it saved us... but I don't understand it either."
Before they can speak further, a voice echoes from the shadows.
"Impressive. It seems you're even more of a threat than we thought."
Both Surya and Raja spin around, startled. Stepping out of the shadows is a figure dressed in black—a man with a cold, calculating look in his eyes. The same man who had warned Raja earlier. He surveys the scene, his gaze briefly flickering over the pile of ashes that was once Pushkar.
"Who are you?" Surya demands, his voice tense.
The man smiles slightly, though it doesn't reach his eyes. "That's not important right now. What matters is that the Gate family knows who you are, Surya. They'll come for you. And when they do, you'd better be ready."
Surya narrows his eyes. "Why would the Gate family care about me?"
The man takes a step forward, his tone low and threatening. "Because the power you just used isn't ordinary. You didn't just awaken a simple Pathway, Surya. You're connected to something far greater. Something that could either destroy this world... or reshape it."
Surya and Raja exchange a tense glance, the weight of the man's words sinking in. Surya clenches his fist, feeling the remnants of the power still lingering beneath his skin.
"What do you want from me?" Surya asks.
The man's smile fades. "To see if you're worth the trouble. The Gate family doesn't tolerate threats, and right now, you've made yourself a very big one. But if you want to survive, you're going to need more than just raw power. You'll need allies, training, and... to understand the true nature of your Pathway."
He turns to leave but pauses, glancing over his shoulder one last time. "Get ready, Surya. The game has just begun."
With that, the man disappears into the shadows, leaving Surya and Raja standing in the scorched schoolyard, the weight of what's to come settling heavily over them.
The next day arrives, and the ceremony is set to begin. Students gather in the assembly hall, excited whispers filling the air as everyone prepares to receive their pathways. But for Surya, everything feels different. The memory of yesterday's battle and the mysterious man's warning lingers in his mind.
As the headmaster steps forward to announce the beginning of the ceremony, Surya's gaze hardens.
*If the Gate family is coming for me... I'll be ready.*
He glances at Raja, who gives him a subtle nod of support. Together, they brace for whatever comes next, knowing that their lives have just been thrust into a much larger, more dangerous game. The world of pathways, power, and destiny awaits—and Surya's path is only just beginning.