Chapter 5: The Thunderstorm Deity Awakens
In the quiet stillness of his dorm room, Rudra sat cross-legged, his eyes closed as he focused on the glowing orb before him—a pristine monster core he'd acquired through his system's latest upgrade. The air around him crackled with electricity, and he felt an intense energy coursing through him, deeper and stronger than before. This was the moment to evolve his talent to a level unheard of within Astha Academy.
His system interface flickered to life, illuminating his face in a pale blue light.
---
[System Upgrade Notification]
Talent Evolution Detected
Talent: Destruction Thunder → Thunderstorm Deity
Rank: A tier → Abnormal Phenomenon (Special Class)
Talent Effect:
As the Thunderstorm Deity, your body is empowered by the essence of storms. Attack power, speed, and energy levels vastly exceed ordinary talents. Gain access to Divine Thunderstrike and Heaven's Cleansing, abilities that cleanse and renew the body and spirit with each use. Special conditions activated for further talent evolution.
---
Rudra felt a surge of warmth and light filling his being, cleansing him from within as his talent underwent an intense transformation. His muscles strengthened, his mind sharpened, and his senses expanded. His skin began to shimmer faintly, as if imbued with the storm's radiance, and his aura pulsed with raw, untamed energy. His body felt lighter, his reflexes quicker—he was no longer just a student with a unique gift; he was the embodiment of a storm, a being of raw thunder and lightning.
Rudra clenched his fists, feeling the electrifying power coursing through him. He took a deep breath to steady himself, a small smile crossing his face. This was a gift he would keep hidden, even from his closest friends. The world would only see his abilities when it was absolutely necessary.
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The next morning, Rudra met up with Nand, Rhea, Arjun, and Kavi in the Academy's training ground. They were preparing for their first dungeon mission, an event for first-year students to gain real battle experience. The team was buzzing with excitement, though Nand couldn't help but glance at Rudra curiously.
"Rudra, you look… different," Nand said, raising an eyebrow. "It's like there's a glow around you."
Rudra laughed it off. "Just nerves, maybe? Or maybe it's the excitement of finally going into a dungeon. I feel ready for anything."
Rhea smirked. "Confidence suits you, Rudra. Let's hope it holds up in the dungeon."
As they entered the Hidden Rift Dungeon, an unease settled over the group. Unlike standard training areas, the Hidden Rift was a high-grade dungeon, known to throw unexpected challenges at those who entered.
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As they ventured deeper, the atmosphere shifted. The usual monsters were nowhere to be seen. Instead, strange markings covered the stone walls, glowing with a faint, eerie light. Suddenly, a rumbling echoed from the depths, and out of the shadows emerged a massive creature—an Abyssal Lynx. Its dark fur was streaked with luminescent lines, and its piercing yellow eyes glowed with malevolent intent.
"Stay alert!" Rhea shouted, gripping her weapon tightly. "This isn't an ordinary creature."
The lynx lunged, its claws slashing through the air toward them. Nand jumped forward, activating his Unmovable Mountain skill, shielding the group with a barrier that absorbed the initial impact.
"Arjun! Kavi! Hit it from the sides!" Rudra shouted, summoning a flash of lightning to draw the creature's attention. The lynx snarled, lunging at him, and he narrowly dodged, his new speed giving him a major edge.
But the lynx was faster and more resilient than anything they had faced before. Arjun's and Kavi's attacks barely left a scratch on it, and Nand's shield began to crack under the repeated strikes.
"Looks like I'll have to step it up." Rudra muttered. He focused, calling forth his newfound Thunderstorm Deity abilities.
"Divine Thunderstrike!"
In an instant, Rudra's entire form was engulfed in a swirling storm of lightning. He dashed toward the lynx, his movement a blur of flashing light, and struck with a powerful bolt. The air sizzled, and the lynx howled in pain, recoiling as the thunderous energy exploded across its form.
As the creature struggled to recover, Rudra activated Heaven's Cleansing, releasing a wave of calming energy over his teammates, refreshing their stamina and fortifying their defenses.
Arjun's jaw dropped. "What… was that? Rudra, you've been holding back!"
Rudra chuckled, feigning innocence. "Just a little surprise."
Nand grinned, eyes wide with admiration. "Bro, that was amazing! With you around, this dungeon's a breeze."
But just as they began to relax, a deep voice echoed through the dungeon, and another figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, imposing young man with a cold, calculating gaze. He wore the academy uniform, but his presence was unlike anyone they'd encountered.
"It seems I arrived just in time to witness something interesting," he said, his voice smooth but laced with authority. "That talent of yours… Thunderstorm Deity, was it?"
Rudra's pulse quickened. He kept his face calm as he addressed the stranger. "And you are?"
The young man smirked. "My name is Samarth, third-year student and the academy's top S-rank talent. My skill? World's End Blade—Apex level. No one in Astha has ever come close to matching me."
Rudra felt a spark of excitement and challenge stir within him, though he kept it well-hidden. Here was a true rival, someone who had already mastered their abilities. But Samarth's presence wasn't the only thing that concerned him. The other members of Samarth's group—each one bore the insignia of a different noble clan from Bharasvar, powerful families whose influence extended across Dhruvastra.
"Impressive skill you have," Samarth said, looking Rudra over with keen interest. "Perhaps we'll cross paths again. I'd love to see what else that Thunderstorm Deity talent is capable of."
With that, Samarth turned and led his group deeper into the dungeon, leaving Rudra and his friends in a mix of awe and wariness.
---
Later, back in their dorms, Nand and Rudra sat discussing the strange encounter.
"Samarth… he's not just anyone, is he?" Nand asked, still awestruck. "The World's End Blade talent… that's insane!"
Rudra nodded, a hint of determination in his eyes. "He's strong, no doubt. But we're just getting started, Nand. We'll get there too."
Suddenly, the system interface appeared before Rudra.
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[System Notification]
New Mission Available: Surpass Samarth
Mission Objective: Defeat Samarth in a head-to-head duel.
Rewards:
Artifact: Emperor's Thunder Medallion
Skill: Divine Surge
Status Boost: +10% Strength, Speed, and Stamina
Accept Mission? Yes/No
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Rudra's eyes gleamed. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for—to prove his strength and push beyond his limits. He hit Yes, feeling a surge of purpose.
"Ready to train, Nand?" Rudra asked, grinning.
"Always, bro. But this time, let's stay out of any surprise dungeons, yeah?" Nand chuckled, patting his friend on the back.
They laughed, but both knew there was a long, challenging road ahead. But with each other's support, they felt ready for whatever lay ahead—rivals, mysteries, and all the challenges the academy could throw at them.