Chapter 9: The Brawl and Unrestrained Power
The academy was bustling with activity as recruits settled in after the orientation session. The wide courtyard was filled with groups of students chatting, laughter mingling with the sounds of sparring and training. Amidst this busy scene, Rudra stood alone by one of the tall pillars, his face betraying nothing as he observed the crowd. He wasn't interested in making friends or engaging in idle talk. To him, this was merely a place to grow stronger.
It wasn't long before Surpana, the daughter of a wealthy noble family, approached him. She was accompanied by a group of her friends, all dressed in pristine academy uniforms, their demeanor exuding arrogance. Surpana's eyes narrowed as she looked at Rudra, her lips curving into a condescending smile.
"Well, if it isn't the village brute," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. Her friends snickered behind her, their eyes fixed on Rudra. "What makes you think you belong here, dressed like... that?"
Rudra glanced at her, his eyes cold and indifferent. He was dressed simply, his worn-out tunic and pants standing in stark contrast to the finely embroidered uniforms of the noble recruits. His expression remained unchanged as he met Surpana's gaze.
"Is there a reason I should care about what you think?" Rudra replied, his tone flat and dismissive. He turned his attention away from her, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Surpana's smile faltered, and a flicker of irritation crossed her face. She wasn't used to being dismissed, especially not by someone of lower status. "You should show some respect," she snapped. "People like you don't belong here. This academy is for those of noble birth, those who have power. You're just... a stray dog."
Rudra's eyes flickered with something dangerous, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. He turned his gaze back to her, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made Surpana take an involuntary step back.
"If you think your birth makes you powerful," Rudra said, his voice laced with derision, "then you're more foolish than I thought. Power doesn't come from a title or fancy clothes. It's earned. And you—" He let his gaze linger on her disdainfully. "You have none."
Surpana's face flushed with anger, and before she could retort, her brother Manu stepped forward, his expression filled with fury. Manu was taller and broader, clearly someone who had trained extensively. He was used to being respected, feared even, and seeing his sister insulted by someone like Rudra was intolerable.
"You dare speak to my sister that way?" Manu growled, his voice rising. The surrounding recruits turned to watch, the tension in the air growing thicker.
Rudra barely spared Manu a glance. "I dare speak the truth. If you have a problem with that, it's your burden to bear."
Manu's face contorted with rage, and he lunged forward, shoving Rudra hard. Rudra stumbled slightly but regained his balance effortlessly, his eyes now filled with a glint of amusement.
"You really want to do this here?" Rudra asked, his voice calm, almost mocking.
Before Manu could respond, the academy guards intervened. Two guards stepped between them, their stern expressions making it clear that fighting was not tolerated in the academy grounds.
"That's enough," one of the guards said, his voice authoritative. "There will be no fighting here. If you have grievances, settle them during the trials."
Manu glared at Rudra, his chest heaving with anger. Rudra, on the other hand, remained relaxed, his eyes still carrying that hint of amusement. He knew this wasn't over, and from the look in Manu's eyes, he could tell that the noble wouldn't let this insult slide.
The guards escorted Manu and Surpana away, and the crowd began to disperse, though the air was still buzzing with whispers about the confrontation. Rudra turned away, indifferent to the attention. He wasn't here to make friends or to fit in. He was here for himself, and nothing else mattered.
Later that evening, Rudra found himself wandering near the outskirts of the academy grounds. The training areas were quieter here, away from the bustling main courtyard. He preferred it this way—less noise, fewer people. As he moved through the shaded path, he noticed something out of place. A group of figures was moving toward him, their steps deliberate and coordinated.
It was Manu, flanked by his allies—about fifteen of them. They surrounded Rudra, blocking any path of escape. Their faces were filled with smug confidence, as if they had finally cornered their prey.
Manu stepped forward, his expression twisted with a mixture of hatred and satisfaction. "There are no guards here to save you now," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "You think you can insult my sister and walk away unscathed? You're about to learn a lesson in respect."
Rudra scanned the circle of recruits surrounding him, his face betraying no emotion. He then looked back at Manu, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Fifteen against one? Seems a bit unfair... for you," he said, his tone mocking.
The recruits bristled at Rudra's words, their eyes narrowing. Manu let out an angry growl and signaled his allies to attack. The first recruit lunged at Rudra, swinging a wooden practice sword. Rudra moved with blinding speed, sidestepping the blow and countering with a swift punch to the recruit's stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground, gasping for air.
Another recruit charged at him, but Rudra grabbed his arm, twisting it until a sickening crack echoed through the quiet night. The recruit screamed in agony before Rudra threw him to the ground. He moved like a predator, each movement precise, his expression unflinching. He seemed almost detached, as if this was just another exercise for him.
Two more recruits tried to tackle him, but Rudra ducked low and swept one of them off his feet, driving his elbow hard into the other's back, sending him crashing face-first into the dirt. Blood stained the ground as one of them struggled to get back up, only for Rudra to deliver a brutal kick to his face.
The brutality was swift, efficient, and entirely devoid of hesitation. He grabbed another by the collar and slammed his forehead into the recruit's nose, the crack of bone audible even from a distance. The recruit collapsed, blood streaming from his face.
Manu watched in shock as his allies fell one by one, groaning and writhing in pain. He had underestimated Rudra. This wasn't just a village brute—there was something terrifying about the way he fought, the lack of mercy in his eyes, as if he relished the violence.
Nearby, a young recruit named Alaka had been training in the secluded area. She was slender but well-built, her skin a warm caramel color that glistened in the fading light of the evening. Her long black hair was braided and fell over her shoulder. She had a fierce demeanor—her eyes sharp, always analyzing. She wore her academy uniform with a sense of pride, but there was something different about her. She wasn't one to stand with the crowd or to follow the norm—her rebellious streak was apparent in the way she carried herself.
Alaka had heard the commotion and rushed over to see what was happening. She arrived just in time to witness Rudra taking down the last of Manu's allies. Her eyes widened as she saw the raw power Rudra wielded, his movements fluid yet brutal. She had heard about Rudra, the new recruit who had no noble background, and the disdain many had for him. But witnessing his sheer strength firsthand left her stunned. There was something else too—something dark, a cold detachment that both fascinated and unsettled her.
Manu, now alone, took a step back, fear creeping into his eyes. He tried to regain his composure, raising his voice in a desperate attempt to assert control. "Y-you're breaking academy rules! If the guards find out, you'll be expelled!"
With a roar of anger, Manu thrust his hands forward, and suddenly, a wave of fire erupted from his palms. The flames roared as they raced toward Rudra, the heat scorching the air between them. Forbidden magic—it was strictly prohibited to use elemental attacks outside of designated trials or supervised training, but Manu was desperate.
The fire engulfed Rudra, the blaze blindingly bright for a moment. Alaka, watching from a distance, gasped, her heart skipping a beat. The other recruits, those who were still conscious, looked on in awe and disbelief.
But as the flames subsided, there stood Rudra, entirely unharmed. His eyes glowed with something akin to fury, his lips twisted into a smirk. He had deflected the fire with nothing but his bare hands, pushing the flames away as if they were nothing more than a gentle breeze.
"Is that all you've got?" Rudra asked, his voice dripping with disdain. He took a step forward, his gaze locked onto Manu, who was now trembling, his face pale with shock.
Without hesitation, Rudra moved in, grabbing Manu by the collar and pulling him forward. He slammed his forehead into Manu's face, a sickening crack echoing as Manu stumbled back, his nose bleeding.
Rudra didn't stop. He kicked Manu's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. He leaned down, grabbing Manu again and lifting him slightly off the ground.
"If I lose my place here, it won't matter," Rudra said, his voice barely more than a whisper, but filled with a chilling intensity. "Because the next time I see you, I'll make sure you don't walk away." He let go of Manu, who fell back to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.
But Rudra wasn't finished. He began to kick Manu repeatedly, each blow landing with cold precision. Manu cried out in pain, each kick driving the air from his lungs. His body curled defensively, but Rudra showed no mercy. He stomped on Manu's side, then his chest, his expression devoid of any emotion. The other recruits, the ones still conscious enough to watch, looked on with horror, realizing the depths of Rudra's brutality.
"You think you can touch me?" Rudra said, his voice low and filled with contempt. He kicked Manu again, his eyes cold and detached. "You... all of you... are nothing but bugs beneath my feet. You think you have power because of your status, but here, you're nothing."
Surpana, who had followed her brother, rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. She fell to her knees beside Manu, her hands trembling as she tried to protect him.
"Please... please stop," she begged, her voice cracking. She looked up at Rudra, her eyes filled with fear. "I'm begging you... just leave him alone."
Rudra looked down at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed as though he might walk away. Then he turned his gaze to Manu, who was still struggling on the ground. Without a word, Rudra raised his foot and stomped down on Manu's chest, causing him to cry out in pain. He kicked Manu again, and again, each blow landing with calculated precision.
Surpana sobbed, her voice breaking as she begged for her brother's life. She crawled forward, her hands trembling as she grabbed onto Rudra's leg, trying to stop him. Rudra paused, looking down at her with disdain. He pulled his leg free and kicked her in the side, sending her sprawling onto the ground beside her brother.
The silence that followed was deafening. Alaka, who had been watching from a distance, felt her heart pounding in her chest. She had heard stories of Rudra's strength, but seeing it firsthand was something entirely different. There was no hesitation, no mercy—only raw, unrestrained power. It was terrifying, and yet, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of admiration. There was something about his fearlessness, his refusal to be controlled by anyone, that drew her in.
Rudra glanced at Alaka, his eyes briefly meeting hers. He didn't say a word, but the look in his eyes was enough—cold, indifferent, and unapologetic. He turned and walked away, the light of the setting sun casting long shadows behind him.
Alaka remained where she was, her mind racing. She knew what she had just witnessed was cruel, even monstrous. But there was no denying the power that Rudra possessed. It wasn't just physical strength—it was the strength to defy, to dominate, to be unyielding. And in that moment, Alaka felt her determination toward Rudra grow even stronger. She wanted to understand that power, to be close to it, no matter the cost.