Chapter 6: Enter the Beast Arena
Rudra felt his heartbeat quicken as he entered the Beast Arena, a massive open coliseum where the academy's students were trained in live combat against captured monsters. Rows of stone seats surrounded the battlefield, filled with students eager to watch the matchups and assess each other's strengths.
Instructors and high-ranking students stood by with intense looks, ready to guide the students or jump in if things got out of hand. Overseeing the whole session was Principal Devraj, a stoic man in his sixties with a presence that commanded both respect and quiet fear. Beside him was Vice Principal Meera, known for her sharp gaze and unmatched strategic mind.
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Principal Devraj addressed the crowd with a booming voice, his eyes scanning each student. "Today, you'll face challenges meant to bring out your raw potential. Do not let fear control you. Grow stronger and prove yourselves. And remember, in two years, we will have the National Combat Trials, where only the best of Astha Academy will represent us."
The students murmured with excitement, and Rudra exchanged glances with his friends. He felt a surge of anticipation and determination—this was the perfect opportunity to push his limits and explore the extent of his abilities. But he'd also keep his Thunderstorm Deity talent hidden; the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
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[System Activation]
Appraisal Mode ON
With his system's appraisal skill, Rudra could now view the stats, skills, and levels of anyone or anything within his line of sight. He looked around, focusing first on the Principal and Vice Principal.
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Principal Devraj
Talent: Titan's Wrath (Special Class)
Level: 85
Rank: Commander
Skills: Earthquake Slam, Iron Wall Defense, Wrath of Titans
Strength: 950
Agility: 600
Stamina: 1000
Intelligence: 800
Vice Principal Meera
Talent: Queen of Shadows (Strategic Class)
Level: 83
Rank: Strategist
Skills: Shadow Command, Veil of Illusions, Cloak of Night
Strength: 500
Agility: 850
Stamina: 750
Intelligence: 950
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Rudra's eyes widened. These two were on another level, a reminder of the gap between first-year students and the true elites of Astha Academy.
Next, Rudra glanced around at his classmates, picking out the status of his friends.
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Nand
Talent: Unmovable Mountain (Defensive Class)
Level: 16
Skills: Rock Shield, Fortified Stance, Barrier of Iron
Strength: 250
Agility: 140
Stamina: 500
Intelligence: 200
Rhea
Talent: Fire Dancer (Offensive Class)
Level: 15
Skills: Blaze Burst, Flame Twirl, Scorching Spear
Strength: 180
Agility: 300
Stamina: 220
Intelligence: 250
Arjun
Talent: Steel Claws (Offensive Class)
Level: 14
Skills: Iron Swipe, Steel Fortress, Vicious Slash
Strength: 320
Agility: 210
Stamina: 180
Intelligence: 150
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After scanning his friends, Rudra shifted his focus to the teachers observing the matchups.
Instructor Raghav
Talent: Wind King (Elemental Class)
Level: 60
Skills: Tempest Control, Air Blade, Cyclone Shield
Strength: 650
Agility: 900
Stamina: 800
Intelligence: 650
Instructor Anika
Talent: Frost Queen (Elemental Class)
Level: 58
Skills: Ice Barricade, Snowstorm Veil, Crystal Spears
Strength: 500
Agility: 700
Stamina: 750
Intelligence: 820
Rudra grinned. With talents like these as teachers, there was no shortage of powerful examples to learn from.
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As the matches began, a loud growl echoed from one of the cages, and a fierce beast emerged—the Iron-Hide Rhino. Its massive body was covered in thick, spiked armor, and its eyes glowed with a fierce determination.
[Appraisal]
Beast: Iron-Hide Rhino
Level: 30
Skills: Iron Charge, Stone Skin, Ground Quake
Strength: 500
Agility: 150
Stamina: 700
Intelligence: 50
Rudra whistled, impressed by the creature's stats. This would be a tough challenge for any first-year, but he could already feel his competitive side kicking in.
The first student to face the beast was a tall, serious boy named Mihir, who had an A-rank talent, Lightning Archer.
Mihir squared his shoulders and called forth a storm of crackling energy, his Thunder Arrow skill shimmering in his hand. With focused precision, he loosed the arrow, and it struck the rhino's flank, causing the beast to stumble briefly. But the rhino shook off the attack, charging at him with terrifying force.
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Rudra, Nand, and Rhea watched from the sidelines, whispering to each other.
"Whoa, that rhino is insane," Nand said, eyes wide. "Imagine facing that thing in a real battle."
"Guess it's a good thing we're here to train," Rhea replied. "Besides, we've got Rudra with his mysterious power. I bet he could take down that rhino with ease."
Rudra chuckled, keeping his abilities hidden. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We're all here to get stronger."
But just as the match continued, a familiar sneering voice sounded from behind them. Rudra turned to see Shivam, the academy bully, with his cronies.
"Well, well, look who's acting like a big shot," Shivam smirked. "Think you're some kind of prodigy, don't you, Rudra?"
Rudra met his gaze calmly, his smile unwavering. "Just here to learn, like everyone else."
Shivam laughed. "We'll see how long that attitude lasts. In two years, you'll be facing me in the National Combat Trials, and I'll crush any illusion you have of being special."
"Good luck with that," Rhea shot back, crossing her arms. "If anything, Rudra's the one who'll be doing the crushing."
Shivam scowled, but before he could retort, Principal Devraj's voice boomed again.
"Silence in the arena! All students will respect each other, or they'll be removed from the grounds."
Shivam muttered something under his breath, shooting a glare at Rudra before walking off with his group.
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The rest of the session went smoothly, with students taking turns facing different beasts to test their skills. Finally, Rudra's turn arrived, and he stepped forward, facing an imposing Shadow Hound, a beast known for its speed and agility.
[Appraisal]
Beast: Shadow Hound
Level: 28
Skills: Shadow Step, Razor Fangs, Night Vision
Strength: 220
Agility: 400
Stamina: 300
Intelligence: 70
Rudra took a deep breath, feeling the storm energy within him hum in anticipation. This time, he would reveal just enough to show his talent but keep his true abilities hidden.
He summoned his Thunderstrike, feeling lightning crackle in his hands, and lunged forward, unleashing a powerful bolt that hit the Shadow Hound squarely. The hound yelped, momentarily stunned, and Rudra took the chance to follow up with a well-aimed kick, sending it crashing to the ground.
The arena burst into applause, and Rudra allowed himself a small smile.
Principal Devraj nodded approvingly. "Well done, Rudra. Your potential continues to grow."
Vice Principal Meera gave him a shrewd look, her eyes filled with curiosity. "You're a quick learner, Rudra. I look forward to seeing how you fare in the National Combat Trials."
As he left the arena with Nand and Rhea, Rudra couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. With every match, every beast, and every rival he encountered, he was one step closer to uncovering the true depths of his power. And though he kept his abilities under wraps, he knew the day would come when he'd have to reveal everything.