I. The Last Hour – A Desperate Struggle
The battlefield was a maelstrom of desperation.
From the relative safety of the Final Selection Arena's rim, Raj and the other warriors who had secured their place in the top 200 watched the chaotic struggle below. The air crackled with the raw energy of Astra, punctuated by the grunts of exertion and the sharp clang of steel on steel. Every warrior in the Elimination Zone fought tooth and nail, their movements fueled by a primal fear of failure.
The holographic countdown ticked relentlessly downward.
[60 Minutes → 45 Minutes → 30 Minutes]
Each passing second brought them closer to the precipice, the dividing line between advancement and oblivion.
Bruno, down in the thick of it, was locked in a brutal two-on-one struggle. Blood trickled from a split lip, his Astra-infused gloves sparking erratically, a testament to the strain he was under. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body pushed to its limits.
From above, Raj watched with a knot of tension in his stomach. "Come on, Bruno," he muttered, his voice barely audible above the din. "You have to win this."
II. Bruno's Last Stand
Bruno narrowly evaded the sweeping arc of Rank 207's axe, rolling aside just in time to deflect a searing energy blast from Rank 209. The force of the impact sent him stumbling backward, his boots skidding on the uneven ground.
Too many hits. I can't keep this up forever.
His opponents pressed their advantage, their voices taunting. "Give it up, Bruno. You're outnumbered. Save yourself the pain."
Bruno grinned, a defiant glint in his eyes as he wiped the blood from his chin. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you."
With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward, slipping past Rank 209's outstretched hand and delivering a vicious uppercut to his ribs. The impact lifted the warrior clean off his feet.
Before Rank 209 could recover, Bruno twisted mid-air, his leg a blur as he slammed a heel kick into his opponent's chest, sending him crashing into Rank 207.
A perfect counter, born of desperation and honed instinct.
The two warriors crumpled in a heap.
Bruno gasped for air, his chest heaving. One shot left. One last gamble.
His Astra gloves surged with raw power, overloading dangerously. He lunged forward, channeling every ounce of remaining strength into a single, devastating punch.
"Meteor Impact!"
The blow connected with Rank 207's armor, shattering it with a sickening crunch and sending the warrior flying backward into a pile of rubble.
The notification appeared instantly.
[Eliminated: Rank 209]
[Eliminated: Rank 207]
Bruno's rank surged upward—
[Rank 210 → Rank 199]
"YES!" he roared, collapsing to his knees, his body spent but his spirit triumphant.
From above, Raj allowed himself a small smile. "Barely made it, you crazy bastard."
But he had made it. Bruno had survived.
III. The Countdown Ends – The Final 200
The holographic display pulsed with an ominous red light as the countdown reached its final seconds.
[10… 9… 8…]
The remaining warriors in the Elimination Zone fought with renewed ferocity, each strike a desperate plea for survival.
"Last chance! If you're below Rank 200, you're done!"
[5… 4… 3…]
Raj watched as a spear-wielding warrior, his face contorted with effort, landed a final, decisive blow, his rank jumping two places just before the buzzer. He had made it. Others weren't so fortunate.
[2… 1… 0.]
The clock hit zero. The battlefield was engulfed in a blinding white flash.
A massive force field erupted from the ground, a shimmering barrier that separated the Final 200 from the rest. Those below Rank 200 simply vanished, their dreams of joining the EDF extinguished in an instant.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed across the arena.
"FINAL SELECTION COMPLETE. CONGRATULATIONS, WARRIORS. YOU HAVE PASSED THE FIRST MAJOR TRIAL OF THE EARTH DEFENSE EXAM."
IV. The Arena Gates Open
With a grinding rumble, the colossal gates of the Final Selection Arena swung open, revealing a vast coliseum-like structure, its interior lined with reinforced steel barriers.
Raj, Bruno, Gry, Ron, and the other 198 survivors stepped inside, their footsteps echoing in the sudden silence.
The battlefield had changed once again. The weak were gone, the desperate pretenders eliminated. These were the elite, the top 200 warriors, each one a force to be reckoned with.
And now, the true test awaited them.
Bruno limped towards Raj, his breath still coming in ragged gasps. "I hate this exam," he wheezed, a pained grin spreading across his face.
Raj chuckled. "But you survived, didn't you?"
Bruno groaned. "Barely. Remind me to punch you in the face later for getting me into this mess."
Ron, ever vigilant, adjusted his Astra blade, his golden eyes scanning the arena. "Don't get comfortable yet. We still don't know what's coming next."
Raj nodded, his gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar terrain. He's right. The hardest part is still ahead.
V. The True Purpose of the Exam is Revealed
As the last warrior entered the coliseum, the massive holographic screen above them flickered to life once more. Supreme Commander Rayan's image materialized, his expression stern and imposing.
"You have fought. You have survived. But survival is not enough." His voice resonated with an almost tangible power, filling the arena. "We are not looking for mere warriors. We are looking for legends."
The tension in the arena thickened, a palpable weight that pressed down on them.
"You will now face your final test before earning the right to claim an Astra."
The ground beneath them rumbled ominously. Pillars of pure energy erupted from the arena floor, forming glowing sigils that pulsed with an otherworldly light. Sigils in the shape of weapons, armor, mystical artifacts.
These were the Astras. The real Astras.
Raj's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it. This was what he had been fighting for.
"The next trial will determine who is worthy to wield them."
The screen zoomed in on Rayan's face, his eyes burning with intensity.
"Welcome to the Astra Selection."
VI. The Final Words Before War
The warriors around Raj shifted, their bodies tense, their gazes locked on the glowing Astras. The Exam had shifted. It was no longer about mere survival. It was about power. About ascension.
Bruno let out a shaky breath. "Guess we're not done yet."
Raj clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the shimmering Astra weapons. For the first time, he felt truly close to his goal. But the final hurdle, the most dangerous challenge, still lay before him.
"Let's end this," he murmured, a steely resolve hardening his gaze.
I. The Arena of Gods
The Final Selection Arena hummed with an almost tangible energy, a palpable tension hanging heavy in the air. Two hundred warriors stood in the vast circular coliseum, their gazes locked on the towering pillars of light that erupted from the ground, each one a conduit for unimaginable power.
These were not mere weapons. These were Astras—divine relics, imbued with celestial energy and the echoes of legendary warriors. The Vajra Astra, the lightning spear capable of summoning storms, its tip crackling with raw power. The Agneyastra, the fireblade, its edge shimmering with the essence of fire itself. The Vaayavyastra, the wind gauntlets, promising unimaginable speed and agility. The Brahmastra, the ultimate weapon, said to be capable of annihilating entire armies with a single blast. The Shakti Astra, a divine trident humming with destructive energy. The Meghastra, the celestial bow that commanded the very elements of rain and lightning.
Raj stood motionless, his heart pounding in his chest as he gazed upon these legendary artifacts. This was it. The culmination of all their struggles, the ultimate prize they had been fighting for. The Exam was no longer about mere survival. It was about proving their worth, their right to wield the power of the gods.
A holographic screen flickered to life above, revealing the stern visage of Supreme Commander Rayan.
"You have endured the first trial," his amplified voice boomed across the coliseum, each word resonating with an undeniable authority. "You have fought, adapted, and survived. But survival is not enough."
The warriors around Raj tensed, their eyes burning with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.
"The power of the Astras is not given. It is earned."
The hologram shifted, displaying a detailed list of the available Astras. Raj scanned the names, recognizing some from ancient Gurukul texts, his mind reeling with the possibilities, the weight of legends settling upon his shoulders.
Rayan's voice continued, "The final test is simple."
The arena trembled, the pillars of Astra energy intensifying, their light casting long, dancing shadows across the eager faces of the warriors.
"Claim an Astra… or fall to those who do."
II. The Challenge – Claiming an Astra
A sudden surge of energy erupted from the heart of the arena, throwing the warriors off balance. Raj shielded his eyes as the ground beneath them split open with a deafening roar, revealing elevated stone platforms where the Astras were embedded, each one pulsing with an otherworldly light.
The rules of the game had changed.
"The first rule of Astra Selection," Rayan's voice echoed, resonating with an undeniable authority. "If you reach an Astra, you must prove yourself to claim it."
The warriors reacted instantly.
Some, driven by a desperate hunger, rushed forward, their eyes fixed on the weapons they coveted, their bodies a blur of motion.
Others hesitated, calculating, their minds working furiously as they sought the opportune moment to strike, to seize their prize.
Raj remained still, his mind working furiously as he assessed the battlefield, a calm amidst the storm. Bruno and Ron stood nearby, their expressions mirroring his own cautious focus.
"It's a bloodbath already," Bruno muttered, his voice laced with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "They didn't waste any time."
Ron nodded, his golden eyes scanning the chaotic scene. "They're afraid. The ones who hesitate will be left with nothing."
Raj's fingers curled into a fist. He wasn't afraid. But he wasn't going to charge in blindly either. He would observe, analyze, and strike when the time was right.
III. The First Blood is Drawn
Chaos erupted across the arena.
A swordsman clashed with a spear-wielding warrior, their blades a whirlwind of steel as they battled for the Vajra Astra, the air crackling with the energy of their struggle. A twin-blade fighter, his movements a blur of deadly grace, was flung through the air with a pained cry, his body crumpling against a stone pillar as the Vaayavyastra rejected him. A monstrous brawler, his muscles bulging with unnatural strength, activated his Astra gauntlets, sending shockwaves rippling across the platforms, scattering those who dared to approach him.
Raj watched the unfolding battles with a keen eye, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each warrior, the unique properties of each Astra.
These weren't just weapons; they were sentient entities, imbued with a will of their own. They would only yield to those they deemed worthy.
A small smirk played on Raj's lips. "Good. That means no one is guaranteed victory."
Bruno cracked his knuckles, his usual bravado returning. "So, what's the plan, strategist?"
Raj's eyes locked onto a specific Astra—the Vaayavyastra, the Wind Gauntlets. If he could claim them, his agility and combat speed would become unmatched, a whirlwind of devastation on the battlefield.
Ron followed his gaze. "You're going for those?"
Raj nodded, his resolve solidifying.
Bruno whistled. "Alright then. Let's get you there."
IV. The Battle for the Astra Begins
Raj sprang into action, weaving between the chaotic skirmishes, his eyes fixed on the elevated platform where the Vaayavyastra pulsed with an alluring energy.
But he wasn't alone in his desire.
"STOP HIM!" a voice roared, filled with a desperate fury.
A hulking warrior wielding a massive axe lunged towards Raj, his face contorted with a ferocious determination.
Raj ducked under the axe's arc, his counterattack a blur of motion. A sharp strike to the knee, followed by a palm thrust to the chest, sent the attacker stumbling backward, his attack thwarted.
Bruno, close behind, intercepted another challenger, his fists colliding with reinforced armor in a shower of sparks, a testament to his own raw strength and resilience.
Raj leaped onto the first platform, narrowly avoiding a blade strike that whistled past his ear, its edge singing a song of death. The Vaayavyastra was within reach.
But just as he reached for it—
A figure dropped down in front of him, blocking his path.
"Not so fast, Gurukul boy."
Raj's eyes narrowed.
Gry.
The heiress of the Techno-Elites stood before him, her violet eyes burning with a competitive fire. Her arms were encased in high-tech exosuit gauntlets, their sleek design hinting at both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Raj exhaled. Of course. It had to be her.
Gry smirked, a predatory glint in her eyes. "You want that Astra? You'll have to go through me first."
Raj smirked back, his own determination solidifying. "I was hoping you'd say that."
V. Raj vs. Gry – The Clash of Rivals
The moment Gry moved, Raj reacted.
Her first strike was a feint—a deceptive thrust with her left fist designed to test his reflexes, to draw him into a premature counter.
Raj didn't fall for it. He sidestepped the attack, his body shifting effortlessly to prepare for a counter, his years of training ingrained in his very being.
But Gry was already adapting. She twisted mid-motion, using the momentum of her feint to launch a lightning-fast high kick, her leg a blur of motion.
Raj barely managed to block the blow, his arms vibrating from the force as he slid backward.
"You're stronger than before," he acknowledged, his voice laced with respect.
Gry smirked, her confidence unwavering. "And you're still too slow."
She pressed her attack, her enhanced gauntlets delivering a relentless barrage of strikes, each one aimed with deadly precision.
Raj dodged, deflected, and countered, his movements a symphony of precision and control, his body a finely tuned instrument honed by years of relentless training.
But Gry was relentless, her attacks increasing in speed and ferocity.
"You don't even have an Astra yet," she taunted, her voice laced with a hint of arrogance. She launched a devastating spinning punch, its force rippling through the air, forcing Raj further onto the defensive. "How long do you think you can keep this up?"
Raj exhaled, his gaze unwavering. "Long enough to win."
He changed his tactics. Instead of simply dodging, he stepped towards her attack, closing the distance, disrupting her rhythm.
Gry's eyes widened in surprise. What—?!
Raj capitalized on her momentary hesitation, seizing her wrist and pivoting, using her own momentum to throw her off balance. With a fluid sweep of his leg, he sent her stumbling backward, her surprise evident in her widened eyes.
For the first time, a flicker of doubt crossed Gry's face.
Raj smirked, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. "You said I was slow?" He took another step towards the Astra, his voice laced with a quiet confidence. "Then watch me move."
VI. The Final Moment – Claiming the Astra
Raj reached for the Vaayavyastra, the Wind Gauntlets, his fingers trembling with anticipation.
The instant his fingers brushed against the energy field, a shockwave erupted, engulfing him in a miniature storm of swirling wind and crackling energy. The air crackled and roared, the very ground beneath him vibrating with the unleashed power.
A voice echoed in his mind, ancient and powerful, resonating with the weight of a thousand battles. Are you worthy?
Raj didn't hesitate. "I will be."