Aamir's consciousness slowly began to resurface. At first, everything felt like a blur—his body ached, and his mind struggled to grasp where he was. The last thing he remembered was the intense clash with Seenu, the explosion of power, and then… nothing.
His eyelids fluttered open, and the soft glow of a ceiling light filled his vision. The air was still, a stark contrast to the roaring battlefield he had left behind.
As his vision cleared, he turned his head slightly to the left and saw a familiar face smiling at him.
"Yo, so you finally woke up, huh?" Raj said, his voice laced with amusement.
Aamir blinked, his mind racing to make sense of everything. His heart began to pound as confusion set in.
"Wh-What happened? Where am I?" Aamir stammered, his breathing quickening. "Wasn't I in the arena? I was fighting Seenu—what am I doing here?"
Before he could spiral further, a voice from his right cut in.
"Calm down, man. Why are you panicking?" Kunal said, arms crossed, looking at Aamir with mild annoyance. "The fight is over. Don't you remember?"
Aamir froze. His mind started piecing things together. The moment of impact. The explosion. Seenu's words before everything went dark. Slowly, the memories flooded back.
Aamir let out a small laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh, right. I remember now. Man, that was one heck of a fight." His eyes gleamed with determination as he clenched his fists. "But just you wait, Seenu. I won't lose to you again!"
Riya, who had been sitting nearby, sighed in relief. "Aamir, you were amazing back there. You two were fighting on a completely different level."
"I'd say it was more like a battle between two monsters," Kunal added, shaking his head. "Seriously, the arena was almost destroyed because of you two."
Aamir chuckled but then turned to Raj. "So… how long was I out?"
Raj grinned. "Not long, actually. Just about three hours."
"Three hours?" Aamir repeated, surprised. "That's it?"
"Yeah," Raj said with a smirk. "Honestly, you woke up way too early. It's like you don't get tired at all. That's impressive." He leaned back in his chair. "But you should rest, man. Tomorrow is the closing ceremony of the tournament, and we all have to be there."
Aamir stretched his arms and sighed. "I don't really feel like sleeping. I think I'll meditate instead."
Kunal scoffed. "Oh, you freak. You just fought a battle that could have leveled half the stadium, and now you want to meditate? Typical Aamir."
Riya smiled warmly. "I'm just glad you're okay, Aamir. And I'm so happy that you became the second strongest student of Nalanda."
Aamir looked at her and nodded. "Yeah, but I won't stop here. I want to become the strongest in this world—strong enough to protect all of you, my friends, my mom… everyone I care about." His voice carried unwavering determination.
The room fell into a comfortable silence, each of them processing his words. Aamir wasn't just fighting for strength—he was fighting for something bigger.
As the night continued, his friends eventually drifted off to sleep, but Aamir remained seated, his breathing steady as he entered deep meditation. His mind was already set on the next step.
Because for him, this was only the beginning.
Aamir took a deep breath, allowing his energy to flow naturally through his body. As he focused inward, he suddenly felt something strange. His energy was moving faster, more smoothly than before. He concentrated harder, trying to sense the state of his meridians.
His eyes widened in shock.
Before the battle, he had unlocked 105 meridians. But now…
112?!
His breath caught in his throat. Did I… break through during the fight?
He clenched his fists, feeling a newfound power surging within him. The clash with Seenu hadn't just tested his limits—it had pushed him beyond them. He had unknowingly stepped into a new realm of strength.
Aamir steadied himself and began circulating his energy through all his unlocked meridians, strengthening them one by one. He had learned this technique from his uncle Navin—a defensive method called Skin Hardening.
By channeling energy through the meridians repeatedly, the body would gradually become tougher. At first, the skin would harden like rock. As control and power increased, it would become even stronger—like iron.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the flow. His energy pulsed through his meridians, reinforcing them, strengthening his body from within. He could feel the change happening, his very muscles adapting, becoming more resilient.
A faint smirk played on his lips.
I'm getting stronger. But this is still just the beginning.
He continued his meditation, allowing the power to settle within him, preparing for the journey ahead.
Because Aamir knew one thing for sure—his path to becoming the strongest had only just begun.
As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight stretched across the vast Nalanda University campus. The cool morning air carried a sense of excitement, and soon, the university grounds buzzed with movement. Students, teachers, and spectators poured out of their dorms and homes, making their way toward the grand stadium.
Inside the city, workers rushed to their duties, merchants opened their stalls, and the streets filled with conversation. But all eyes were on the arena—the heart of today's grand event.
Aamir and his friends were already prepared. Their uniforms crisp, their minds sharp. Today was not a battle, but in some ways, it was just as important. The closing ceremony of the tournament was a moment of recognition, a testament to the strength and growth of every competitor.
As they stepped out of their quarters, Aamir took a deep breath, feeling the warm sunlight on his face. He was still reflecting on his breakthrough from the night before. 112 meridians... I need to test my limits soon. But for now, the tournament's conclusion awaited.
They reached the grand stadium, its vast seats filling rapidly with excited students and spectators. The destruction from his battle with Seenu had been completely repaired, as if the chaos of that fight had never happened.
The group entered the stadium, but Kunal, who hadn't participated in the tournament, split off from them.
"I'll head to the spectator seats," Kunal said, giving Aamir a smirk. "You guys enjoy your moment of glory."
Aamir rolled his eyes, while Raj chuckled. "Don't be jealous now," he teased.
Kunal scoffed. "Please. I just don't want to stand in a line with you bunch of show-offs."
The rest of the group made their way to the main arena floor, where a new stage had been set up—not for battle, but for honor.
One by one, the contestants gathered in neat rows. The top twelve stood at the very front, the remaining competitors forming lines behind them. There was a mixture of pride, disappointment, and quiet determination in their expressions.
Aamir Riya And Raj stood among the top twelve, Seenu standing right next to him, his usual confident smirk in place. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, there was an unspoken promise. Next time.
The arena filled with applause as the final students arrived. Soon, the ceremony would begin. The tournament was over, but for Aamir, this was just another step toward his true goal—becoming the strongest