Scene 1: Rajan Awasthi Takes Command
With Shivay Vijendra and Baku chi Nakamura gone, a hushed silence fell over the grand chamber.
The foreign academies' professors and commanders exchanged uneasy glances as Rajan Awasthi stepped forward, his calm and lazy demeanor unchanged.
Yet… something about him was unnerving.
He casually adjusted his layered robes, his hand resting on the hilt of his dual scimitars, as if he had already anticipated this moment.
From his position at the command platform, he smiled, his voice smooth and almost playful:
"Well now… looks like I'm in charge. I suppose that means we should get started, hmm?"
His carefree tone only made the tension worse.
Even among the seasoned warriors, there was an undercurrent of unease.
Because they knew—
Rajan Awasthi wasn't just a teacher.
He was the leader of Kit Sakti Academy's Elite Combat Division.
A top commander in the National Elite Keet Sakti Force.
And, most of all…
A man who had fought and survived against Kaiju Lords and the Fallen Hives.
If Shivay Vijendra was a god-like protector, then Rajan Awasthi was the blade that cut down those who threatened humanity.
He exhaled, scratching his beard.
"Alright, then. Let's move on to something more entertaining."
With a snap of his fingers, a massive digital screen appeared behind him, displaying a grand ranking board.
The State Ranking Tournament had officially begun.
Scene 2: The Tournament's Structure & The 1st-Year Rankings
The Elite Kit Force had structured the competition carefully, ensuring that only the strongest hybrid warriors could rise through the ranks.
Tournament Breakdown:
Phase 1: Academy Rankings – Each participating academy would rank their top three 1st-year students based on past performances, trials, and combat records.
Phase 2: Inter-Academy Battles – These ranked students would then fight against representatives from other academies in 1v1 matches.
Phase 3: The State Ranking Showdown – The finalists from each academy would compete for the State Champion title, with the Kit Force overseeing their battles.
The rankings flashed across the screen, and a murmur swept through the room.
Kit Sakti Academy – 1st Year Ranking
Rai – "The Lightning Phantom" (Speed-Type)
Tanmay "The Titan" Sharma (Power-Type)
Armaan – "The Phantom Wraith" (Hybrid Assassin-Type)
Their names shone brightly, marking them as India's strongest first-years.
Behind them, their fellow classmates—Neha, Alisha, Raghav, and Samrudh—stood watching, determined to prove themselves in the future.
Other academies soon followed, displaying their top three:
Vritra Dominion Academy (Japan )
Daichi "The Phantom Blade" Sakamoto (Speed & Precision)
Reiko "The Iron Fist" Kurogane (Power Combat)
Mayumi "The Mirage Dancer" Inoue (Illusion Combat)
Elysium Hybrid Academy (USA)
Leon "The War Titan" Graves (Brute Force Hybrid)
Ragos Valdir (Hybrid Tank-Type)
Jaxon "The Blitz Reaper" Hawthorne (Speed & Power)
Zephyr Vale Academy (UK )
Arthur "The Arc Knight" Blackwood (Energy Manipulation)
Victoria "Storm Tempest" Hart (Wind Elemental Hybrid)
Kaiser Valken (Mid-Range Specialist)
Imperial Scorpion Academy (Russia )
Sigmund "The Titan" Granheim
Yelena "The Blood Stalker" Volkov (Assassination Combat)
Boris "The Shadow Fang" Mikhailov (Stealth Hybrid)
Celestial Monarch Academy (China )
Wei "The Celestial Spear" Long (Chi Infusion Master)
Zhao "The Tranquil Fist" Feng (Pressure Point Specialist)
Li "The Silent Serpent" Huang (Poison Manipulation & Stealth)
As the names were finalized, the realization hit—
These were the strongest 1st-year fighters in the entire competition.
And now, they were about to clash.
Scene 3: The Clash Begins – First Match Announcement
With the final rankings set, Rajan Awasthi stretched his arms lazily.
"Alright, since we're all here, let's start the show."
He flicked a switch, and the screen shuffled, displaying the first official battle of the tournament.
MATCH 1: Rai (Kit Sakti Academy) vs. Daichi Sakamoto (Vritra Dominion Academy)
A shockwave of anticipation hit the room.
The fastest warrior from India vs. the most precise blade-user from Japan.
Rai smirked, stepping forward. "Guess I'll be the first to show them how we fight."
Daichi, standing across the arena, didn't flinch. His eyes were cold, calculating.
"This will be over quickly," he said, gripping the handle of his katana.
A silent tension filled the air.
This wasn't just a fight.
This was a declaration of war between two titans.
Rajan Awasthi grinned, watching from his seat.
"This… is going to be fun."