Aamir and Seenu stood side by side, hearts pounding, eyes locked on Haider Ali, the towering Guild Leader. His presence alone felt like a mountain pressing down on them, but they couldn't afford to hesitate. This was their chance to prove themselves.
With a sharp breath, they launched forward, fists clenched and glowing with energy. Their punches, fueled by every ounce of strength they could muster, shot toward Haider Ali's chest.
But just as their blows were about to connect, he vanished.
Aamir's eyes widened in disbelief. In the blink of an eye, Haider Ali reappeared at their side, his voice calm but piercing.
"What are you trying to hit, kids?" he asked, a small smirk playing on his lips, as if their efforts were nothing more than a warm-up.
Seenu didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, he drew his sword, flames dancing along the blade. With a fierce yell, he launched a fire slash, the heat rippling through the air toward Haider Ali.
But Haider barely blinked. With effortless grace, he sidestepped the attack, the fiery slash searing the ground where he once stood.
Aamir gritted his teeth and unsheathed his own sword. He darted toward Haider Ali, his blade flashing as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. His movements were fast—faster than he'd ever been before. But no matter how hard he swung, Haider Ali dodged with ease, his body moving as if Aamir's attacks were in slow motion.
Frustration boiled inside Aamir. How is he this fast? He poured more energy into his strikes, but it was like trying to catch the wind.
After a few more moments of their futile assault, Haider Ali raised a hand.
"Okay, that's enough," he said, his tone final. "We don't have all day."
Breathing heavily, Aamir and Seenu stepped back, both drenched in sweat, their muscles already aching. But the real challenge hadn't even begun.
Haider Ali's eyes gleamed with a mixture of authority and amusement. "Now," he said, "let's start your real training."
Aamir's heart raced with anticipation. "Are we going to fight monsters, sir?" he asked eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement.
Haider chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Monsters? No, not yet." He crossed his arms and leaned forward slightly. "You're going to do something much harder."
Aamir and Seenu exchanged confused glances.
Haider Ali's voice dropped into a serious tone. "From today, you will follow the training my teacher gave me." He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words settle over them.
Aamir leaned in, eyes wide. "What is it, sir? Please tell us."
Haider's smirk widened. "It's simple. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10 kilometers of running. Every. Single. Day."
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then Aamir and Seenu's jaws dropped simultaneously. "WHAT?!" they shouted in unison.
Aamir blinked in disbelief. "Sir, that's… that's just a regular workout!"
Seenu nodded, equally shocked. "Yeah, we thought it'd be something intense, like fighting beasts or learning secret techniques."
But before they could protest further, Haider Ali raised a finger. "Ah, but there's a catch."
Both boys froze.
Haider's expression darkened slightly, and with a snap of his fingers, the air around them began to shift. "You'll be doing this workout under forty times normal gravity."
Before Aamir could even process the words, a crushing force slammed down on his shoulders. His knees buckled instantly, and he collapsed onto the ground. Beside him, Seenu groaned, his hands digging into the rocky terrain as he struggled to stay upright.
The pressure was unbearable. It felt like the very air was trying to crush their bones.
Haider Ali chuckled, watching them struggle. "Not bad. I thought your faces would be flat against the ground by now."
Aamir gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he forced himself onto one knee. His muscles screamed in protest, but deep inside, a fire ignited. If this is what it takes to become stronger… I'll do it.
Seenu, breathing heavily, managed to lift his head. "This… is insane," he muttered, but there was determination in his eyes.
Haider Ali's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Strength isn't just about power, kids. It's about discipline, endurance, and the will to keep going when everything feels impossible." Haider's eyes darkened for a brief moment, as if recalling his own battles. "I've seen many with raw talent fall because they lacked that will. Don't be one of them."
As Haider Ali and Aafreen watched from a distance, Aamir and Seenu began their first push-ups, their bodies trembling under the weight of the intense gravity.
And though the task seemed impossible, one thing was clear: this was just the beginning.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Haider Ali turned to Aamir and Seenu, who were still struggling with their push-ups.
"From now on, you'll do this every day until you can move easily under this gravity," Haider said before walking away, leaving them to their grueling task.
Aamir's arms trembled violently, but he pushed through the pain. I can't let this beat me. By the time the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, they had managed to finish their 100 push-ups.
Aafreen, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, finally spoke. "That's enough, boys. You can go for now, but be here early tomorrow."
As soon as the gravity returned to normal, both Aamir and Seenu collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. The sudden release from the crushing weight left their bodies feeling like jelly.
After a few minutes, they mustered enough strength to stand. Limbs aching, they trudged back to their dorms. The moment Aamir hit his bed, he passed out, exhaustion swallowing him whole.
The next seven days followed the same brutal routine. Each day, they returned to the training room, bodies still sore from the previous session, but determination burning stronger with each passing moment.
What was surprising, even to them, was how quickly they adapted. By the seventh day, they could walk under the gravity's weight, though running remained a challenge.
Aamir's legs felt like lead as he tried to keep pace with Seenu, who was already pushing himself to run. His breath came in ragged gasps, his vision blurring. No… I can't give up now.
As if fueled by sheer will, a sudden surge of energy coursed through Aamir. His body felt lighter, the crushing weight easing as if something inside him had shifted. He'd had a breakthrough.
Without realizing it, Aamir picked up speed, catching up to Seenu.
Seenu glanced over, eyes widening when he saw Aamir beside him. "Oh no, you're not passing me!" he shouted, pushing himself harder.
Aamir grinned through the strain. "I won't lose to you either!"
The two raced neck and neck, sweat pouring from their bodies, muscles burning. But just as Aamir surged ahead, the gravity suddenly switched back to normal.
The crushing weight vanished in an instant, and Aamir felt like a cannonball launched from a slingshot. His legs, used to resisting forty times normal gravity, shot forward uncontrollably, and before he could even process what was happening—BAM—he collided with the pile of rocks.
"Ah man, what just happened?" he muttered, trying to brush off the dust and ignore the stinging scratches.
Haider Ali's laughter echoed through the training hall. "Enough! You're ready now."
Aamir groaned, pulling himself to his feet. "You could've told us you were going to change the gravity, sir!"
Haider chuckled, his arms crossed over his chest. "My bad. But listen carefully—your training is on hold starting today."
Aamir and Seenu exchanged confused glances. "Why?" Seenu asked, still catching his breath.
Haider's expression grew serious. "Because it's time for your first assessment. Get ready. This will be your first taste of the front lines."