Avir stood there with his eyes closed when suddenly, the loud rumbling of thunder and the crackling of lightning broke the silence. Hearing this, Avir opened his eyes but did not turn back. Instead, he witnessed the golden glow spreading across the entire sky.
At that moment, the examiner announced, "Anya! Level 9! You have the potential to become a great warrior. Well done!"
Hearing this, everyone rushed towards Anya, surrounding her with expressions of astonishment and excitement on their faces.
Meanwhile, Avir stood alone in the same spot, a faint smile on his face. Smiling, he quietly muttered to himself, "I'm so happy for you, Anya," and then began walking away.
As he moved forward, Avir suddenly felt another hand clasping his own. When he turned back, he saw Anya's innocent face, which brought a smile to his lips. Anya, with a sweet smile, said, "Where are you going, leaving me alone? What if someone kidnapped this pretty girl?"
Hearing this, Avir gave her a light tap and replied, "Stop your drama, or I'll send you to a theater troupe. And about kidnapping? Looking at your antics, no one would dare even think of it, let alone try."
Anya looked at him and said, "I've only learned from the best—meaning you."
On the other side, everyone was watching Avir and Anya. Among them, Naved was furious, seeing the two holding hands. He had feelings for Anya but despised how she was always praising Avir, to the extent that he even hated hearing Avir's name.
Meanwhile, Naira also observed the two but didn't seem affected. Her irritation stemmed from Anya outperforming her, not from anything related to Avir. She had agreed to a marriage contract with Avir three years ago at her family's insistence. At that time, Avir was very popular due to achieving Level 10 at a young age, something even the greatest struggled with. However, now he was no more than an ordinary young man in her eyes.
Everyone had gathered there for the power evaluation, which had already concluded. Six months later, there would be a strength showcase competition, with valuable rewards for the winners. The Central Ministry was organizing the event, and the top ten ranked participants would gain admission to the ministry's best academy, where the world's greatest warriors trained in combat and spiritual power.
A few days later, the Maurya Palace was abuzz as the family's senior members gathered to discuss Avir's poor performance in the spiritual power evaluation. The ministerial council decided that if Avir couldn't improve his spiritual power within six months, all his royal privileges and expenses would be revoked, and he would live as a commoner.
Outside the doors, Avir overheard everything, his face reflecting sadness. Just then, Anya placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and said, "Avir, believe in yourself. These words don't matter. Whether they believe in you or not, I have complete faith in you. One day, you will prove them all wrong."
Avir nodded silently but didn't look at her. His expression remained serious.
Inside, Prithviraj, the family patriarch, announced, "As the head of the Maurya family, I decide that if Avir does not improve his spiritual power level within six months, his royal privileges will be revoked. This is the family's final decision."
The doors of the assembly hall suddenly opened, and Avir entered, followed closely by Anya. Walking up to Prithviraj, Avir bowed and said, "Greetings to the head of the Maurya family and my father." Anya also bowed, and Prithviraj nodded in acknowledgment.
Avir then spoke firmly, addressing everyone, "I know none of you are happy with my performance. I admit I've brought shame to the Maurya family. That's why I've decided to leave the palace today. I will return only when I've developed my spiritual power to its fullest potential."
This declaration shocked almost everyone except a few.
Even Anya was taken aback, unaware of Avir's thoughts. Prithviraj, though saddened by his son's decision, was proud of his dedication to the family. Minister Hariram Maurya interjected, "Avir, my son, decisions driven by emotions are often unwise—"
Before he could finish, Prithviraj cut him off in a commanding voice, "Silence, all of you! Avir, you've decided to leave the palace and practice independently without using any royal resources?"
Avir responded firmly, "Yes."
Taking a deep breath, Prithviraj said, "Very well. I respect your decision. Until Avir succeeds, he will remain away from the palace. This is my final decision."
Hearing this, sadness washed over Anya's face. She turned to Prithviraj and pleaded, "Father, may I go with Avir?"
Before Prithviraj could respond, Avir immediately said, "No."
Anya glared at him angrily, and seeing her pout, Avir couldn't help but smile because she looked adorable.
Prithviraj intervened, "Anya, let Avir go alone. He needs to work hard by himself."
Despite wanting to join Avir, Anya didn't wish to disrespect Prithviraj's authority, so she nodded reluctantly
Three Months Later
The forest echoed with the sounds of animals, and amidst the dense foliage stood a creature resembling a bull. Its golden horns gleamed, and it had four tails. The beast's skin was black, glowing faintly with a green light. Wounded and in pain, the creature let out a furious roar that reverberated across the skies. It glared at a boy with rage, pawing the ground with its hooves, preparing to charge.
As the bull-like beast charged toward the boy, just as it was about to collide with him, the boy swiftly moved aside. His reflexes were lightning-fast, and in an instant, he perched himself on a tree branch. The bull slammed into a rock, letting out an ear-splitting roar of frustration before charging at the boy again.
That boy was none other than Avir. His condition wasn't much better than the beast's—his body was marked with wounds, and his clothes were torn. Placing a hand on his bruised face, Avir remarked in a mocking tone, "Oh, you wretched bull! You've dared to scar this handsome face? You're headed straight to hell!"
The bull rammed into the tree Avir was on, toppling it. But Avir was no longer there. He had already moved to another tree, whistling to taunt the beast and lure it toward him. Enraged, the bull charged after him. Avir leapt skillfully from one tree to another, evading its attacks.
At one point, Avir grabbed a branch, swung himself around, and launched onto the beast's back. In his hand was a dagger, which he plunged straight into the beast's head. The creature let out a blood-curdling scream, its agony echoing through the forest and shaking the ground.
Moments later, the beast's body fell still. Avir collapsed to the ground, exhausted and gasping for air. His face showed the toll of the battle, and though his injuries weren't life-threatening, his body bore the scars of a fierce struggle. He had spent every ounce of his strength and spiritual energy to defeat the creature.
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes watched him from afar.
Gathering his strength, Avir rose and approached the beast. Retrieving his dagger, he used it to slice open the creature's golden horns and head, extracting a glowing green orb from within.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, in a small marketplace near the forest, the air buzzed with activity. The streets were lined with stalls selling weapons, medicines, and rare animal products, bustling with buyers and sellers.
Suddenly, the marketplace was disrupted by the sound of pleading and shouting. A man standing outside a medicine shop looked toward the commotion with disgust and muttered, "These people won't let anyone live in peace. They're always causing trouble."
The shopkeeper, visibly alarmed, hushed him. "Quiet! They're from the Central Authority. If they hear you, both our heads will roll."
Hearing this, the man outside the shop turned pale with fear.
In the middle of the street, a group of men from the Central Authority mocked and harassed an elderly herb seller. The old man, frail and malnourished, was on his knees, trembling as he pleaded, "Masters, please let me go. I only bring herbs from the mountains to sell here. Even that barely gets me two meals a day. I'm a poor man; I have nothing to give you."
One of the Central Authority men kicked the old man and bellowed, "How dare you set up shop here without our permission? And now you're arguing with us?" With another kick, the old man was knocked to the ground.
Avir watched from a distance, his eyes blazing with anger. His fists clenched as he saw the cruelty inflicted on the helpless old man. When he noticed one of the men drawing a weapon to behead the elder, Avir began to step forward.
Before he could act, the man from the Central Authority was suddenly hurled into the air and crashed to the ground far away. Shocked, Avir turned to see a masked figure standing near the old man. The figure's face was hidden, with only their glowing blue eyes visible.
Avir was stunned. The masked figure hadn't even moved yet had managed to fling the man away effortlessly.
Who is this mysterious masked figure? And will Avir succeed in raising his spiritual power level within six months? Stay tuned to find out...