Raj's curiosity deepened. "A GADA? god's weapon that would make sense with the power I felt from it. But there's something else that's been bothering me. In my status panel, I noticed a change in my bloodline value after consuming the divine fruit."
Hearing this, Samba's eyes widened. "What? A change in your bloodline? That's highly unusual. I've never heard of a divine fruit affecting a bloodline like that. If it could, its grade would be far higher than we thought."
Sruthi, appearing deep in thought added, "It might be linked to the God or Demon who is destined to bless you. The Gada you saw could belong to a particular God's or Demon's weapon, I've heard rumors that some high-ranking Gods or Demons can send traces of their power or will to individuals before the actual blessing. This could be one of those rare cases."
Raj felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. "So, the visions and bloodline change might be a high-ranking God or Demon going to bless me."
Sruthi's gaze softened as she continued, "It might not be 100% certain, but what we do know is that the gods or demons showing interest in you is a kind of investment. If you don't maintain your standards, they might lose that interest. That's why the uniqueness of the rift that your dad and I discovered is important."
Raj furrowed his brows in confusion. "What do my visions have to do with this rift?"
"It's not directly connected to your visions," Sruthi explained, noticing the puzzled look on Raj's face. She paused for a moment, thinking of a way to make it clearer. "Think of it like this: it's as if you're taking a separate exam, the one that will be shown to all gods and demons. They'll have their eyes on your performance, evaluating you individually, rather then you taking the same test as everyone else."
Raj's face lit up in understanding. "Oh! So it's like I'm taking a private exam alongside the public one."
Sruthi nodded with a smile. "Exactly, Raj. This rift is like your private exam a way for you to stand out. Most people go through the regular process of gaining blessings, but this unique opportunity gives you a stage to showcase your abilities directly to the gods and demons. It's an investment on their part, so they'll be watching closely to see if you're worthy of their attention."
Raj, now grasping the concept, felt a new sense of responsibility. "So this rift is more than just about the rewards it's also about me proving myself before the actual blessing happens."
"Now we have more time to prepare for your first rift," Samba began, his voice steady but his frustration evident. "Even though we had to compromise with the Union and give up some of our rights, we did gather useful information. When your mom and I first explored it, all we knew was that the rift had three tests."
His expression darkened. "But now, with the Union's help, we've learned the name of the first test- '99 steps to heaven.' We need to make sure you're ready to pass at least 50 steps. That'll be enough to clear the rift."
Raj intrigued but also confused, raised a question. "Wait, I just need to pass 50 steps in the first test to clear the entire rift?"
Samba nodded, sensing Raj's unease. "Yes, like amma said, This rift isn't just a trail; it's a stage. You showing your potential to gods and demons. In most rifts, the goal is to meet the minimum conditions, not to do everything. Do you think everyone would risk their life if they had to complete every single task? The key is passing the threshold."
Raj was silent for a moment, digesting the explanation, as Samba continued. "For this test, each set of 11 steps is different. From what we've learned, the first four sets will test your body with elemental challenges—Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. We believe the remaining steps will test your will."
Sruthi's voice was calm but firm as she added, "We're preparing you to pass at least 50 steps, but if you want to aim higher, the rewards will be greater. Just don't push yourself too far. This is about showing your strength, not risking your life. We don't know much about the second test yet, but we do know the name—'Three Questions.' Until then, you'll have to focus on training in prana_world."
With a swift command, she spoke, "Prana, grant Raj access to prana_world."
A holographic screen flickered into view in front of Raj, the words glowing in bold:
"ACCESS TO PRANA_WORLD GRANTED"
Raj exhaled slowly, still trying to wrap his mind around everything. "I'll be ready, Mom. I won't waste this chance."
Sruthi smiled softly, her expression warm but filled with caution. "We know you'll do well, Raj. Just remember, this path isn't easy, but you don't have to walk it alone. We're here when you need us."
As soon as Raj left the room, both Samba and Sruthi could no longer contain their laughter, their faces beaming with pride.
Samba slammed his hand on the tabletop, grinning widely. "I can't wait to see the looks on those old fools at the Council now! They had the nerve to say we were exaggerating about the rift, claiming our son wasn't talented because he couldn't raise his attributes before. And they had the audacity to question us, and you saying it wasn't '100% certain' a god or demon would invest in him? Even if one lost interest, others would be lining up to bless him!"
Sruthi, though smiling just as proudly, spoke with a touch of caution in her voice. "I just don't want our son blinded by pride because of his talent. He's gifted, but I want him to stay grounded." She paused, her eyes softening. "Pride can be dangerous."
Despite her words, even Sruthi couldn't help but feel the immense satisfaction welling up inside her.