As Manas stepped in front of his team, bruised and struggling to rise, the audience began murmuring.
"Look at him," someone whispered. "He has no vidyas and thinks he can protect them?"
"He's foolish," another scoffed. "The match is as good as over."
Captain Zara, seeing Manas standing in defiance, called down to him. "What do you think you're doing? Without any power, you stand no chance." She smirked, her flames swirling around her.
Manas, feeling the weight of everyone's disbelief, clenched his fists. He recalled his training with Lord Rudra, the countless hours, the promises he made to himself. He may not have vidyas, but he had something else—determination.
Captain Zara launched her flame wheel toward them. As it spun closer, the heat intense, Manas stayed firm, refusing to step back. The flames reached him, but he stood unwavering, protecting his team. The crowd gasped, stunned at his resilience, watching in awe as he shielded his friends with sheer courage alone.
Manas closed his eyes, letting the noise of the crowd and the battlefield fade away. He focused, remembering his training with Rudra—every grueling day in the forest, every test of strength and resilience. His mother's words echoed in his mind: "You're special, Manas. Never forget that."
As he opened his eyes, the flames from Zara's attack drew near. He steadied himself, inhaling deeply, and then shouted, "Solar Plexus Chakra... Manipura!"
Suddenly, his body began to glow with a fierce, yellow light emanating from his core. His Solar Plexus Chakra had activated, radiating energy from his stomach. The crowd watched in awe as he raised his hands, absorbing the entire flame wheel Zara had launched. The intense fire, instead of overwhelming him, was drawn into his chakra, merging with his inner strength.
Zara's smirk faded, replaced with shock. She hadn't anticipated this.
Manas stood there, unharmed, his body still glowing with the absorbed power.
As Manas stood in the arena, facing the intense battle, he recalled the voices that greeted him when he first entered the grounds. The murmurs, the mocking laughter, the jeers—they echoed in his mind.
"Why's he even here?"
"A boy with no Vidyas? He'll just drag his team down!"
"He's nothing but a burden!"
Those words stung, but Manas had swallowed his pride and held his head high. Now, as he stood with his Solar Plexus Chakra blazing, absorbing the very flames meant to defeat him, he felt those doubts melt away. He looked toward his fallen teammates, feeling their trust in him and the strength he'd been cultivating in silence.
Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists and declared, "I'm here to prove that strength isn't just about Vidyas. I won't be the burden they think I am!"
Fight Manas Fight !!
Captain Zara stared, wide-eyed, as the flames she sent were absorbed effortlessly into Manas's Solar Plexus Chakra. She couldn't believe it. How is this possible? No one has ever absorbed my flames!
Manas turned to his friends, his eyes filled with determination. "You all gave it your best. Now it's my turn. I'll fight for you—till my last breath if I have to."
The entire crowd was stunned. Murmurs filled the arena as everyone looked on in awe, including King Ayaan, who watched with a newfound respect. He leaned forward, intrigued. A boy with no known Vidyas, using such power? Remarkable.
Zara regained her composure, though she still felt a mixture of shock and admiration. Smiling slightly, she said, "Alright, Manas. I see you're confident. Let's find out how far that confidence takes you."
Manas steadied himself, looking back at Zara with unwavering resolve. "I respect your strength, Captain. But I can't stand back and let you hurt my friends. I'll show you the power that I've built, even if I lack a Vidya."
Zara's eyes narrowed, but a smirk played on her lips. "Come then, Manas. Show me what you've got."
As the crowd looked on, they noticed Manas standing tall, his upper body exposed from absorbing the intense flames. His skin was marked with deep scratches and scars, evidence of the grueling training he'd endured under Lord Shani. His physique, powerful and defined, radiated strength and resilience. The onlookers murmured in awe—this boy had gone through incredible hardships to reach this moment.
Zara's eyes narrowed with determination as she summoned her Flame Wheel, a blazing ring of fire that spun furiously in her hand. With a swift, forceful motion, she hurled it at Manas, her voice ringing out, "Flame Wheel!"
Manas quickly dodged to his left, his movements agile and precise. But the Flame Wheel wasn't so easily evaded; it followed him, spinning faster and trailing heat as it closed in. Manas moved again, diving to the side, yet the wheel turned sharply, relentless in its pursuit.
Thinking quickly, Manas leaped over a fallen column, using it as a barrier. But the Flame Wheel curved around it, homing in on him. It won't stop following me, he realized, sweat trickling down his brow. The intense heat pressed in, but Manas kept his calm.
With a determined look, he whispered to himself, "If I can't outrun it, I'll face it head-on." He planted his feet firmly, turned to the oncoming flames, and took a deep breath, focusing on the heat building in his Solar Plexus Chakra. His body began to glow faintly with a golden aura, the chakra's energy gathering in his core.
As the wheel closed in, Manas raised his hands, summoning the power from within. With a surge of energy, he absorbed the flames, drawing them into his chakra as he'd trained under Rudra's guidance. The crowd gasped, watching the fiery ring vanish into Manas's body, leaving only the glowing golden light surrounding him.
Zara was speechless, a flicker of doubt crossing her confident expression. "This boy… he's more than I expected," she muttered, impressed yet challenged.
Manas looked up, locking eyes with her. "Your power is strong, Captain. But my will… it's unbreakable."
Manas First Move!!
Manas felt an overwhelming surge of power pulsing through his body, yet the pain from absorbing such intense energy weighed him down. His knees buckled, and he clutched his chest, realizing he couldn't withstand another onslaught like that. Determined to end the fight quickly, he pushed himself back up, gritting his teeth.
Breathing heavily, Manas shouted, "Solar Strike!" His voice echoed, and he summoned the energy of his Solar Plexus Chakra. This time, his movements were faster, fueled by the energy he had absorbed from Captain Zara's fiery attacks. Flames flickered around him as he accelerated, disappearing for a moment and leaving a burning trail behind him.
With a fierce look, he charged at Captain Zara. Zara, noticing Manas's speed and power, quickly flew into the air to evade him. But Manas was prepared; he struck the ground with a powerful kick, propelling himself upward in a spiraling motion. Flames swirled around him as he closed in on Zara, who was caught off guard.
Zara quickly surrounded herself with a protective wall of flames, hoping it would keep Manas at bay. Manas, undeterred, threw a barrage of rapid punches and kicks at the flaming barrier, moving so fast that the crowd could only see flashes of fire as they clashed in midair. The impact shook the arena as he attacked with relentless determination, each strike aimed at breaking Zara's defense.
Despite his effort, the protective flames around Zara held strong. Exhausted, Manas's strength began to wane, and his chakra energy faded. His vision blurred, and he felt his power slipping away as he finally lost consciousness, falling back toward the ground.
Just then, a figure leaped up from the arena—a tall man with a calm, intense gaze. It was Captain Jax, the captain from Aethera, the town of Chakras. In one swift motion, he caught Manas with one arm, looking down at the ground as he gently descended. The crowd gasped at the dramatic turn, and whispers spread through the audience.
Back on the ground, Jax lowered Manas carefully, glancing over him with an approving smile. "Impressive spirit, kid," he murmured under his breath.
Fight Finish.
As Manas lay on the ground, breathing heavily after the intense fight, he felt his strength slipping away. His friends—Arin, Mira, Kai, and Rian—rushed over, their faces filled with concern and admiration. Arin knelt beside him, his voice trembling with emotion. "Manas, that was incredible! I don't know how you did it, but…you stood up to Captain Zara."
Mira placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her eyes shining with respect. "You fought with everything you had, Manas. No one's ever challenged a captain like that before."
Around them, whispers spread through the crowd. The spectators, who'd once looked at him with doubt or scorn, now regarded him with newfound respect. Some even nodded in approval, murmuring about his bravery and resilience. Even the other captains and King Rajendra Varma watched Manas with a quiet admiration. It was clear that he had gained their attention—not just for his strength, but for his unwavering spirit.
Manas, still struggling to catch his breath, managed a weak smile as he looked at his friends. "I couldn't have done it without you all. We're a team. And together…we can do anything."
The captain Zara approached, her expression no longer dismissive, but respectful. She extended a hand to help him up. "You've got spirit, Manas. Today, you've shown us all something we didn't expect. Keep training, and maybe one day…you'll surpass even me."
The crowd erupted into applause, and as Manas rose with the support of his friends, he felt a surge of pride. He knew this was just the beginning of his journey, but now, he felt ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.