Chapter 11: The Path of a Warrior

Chapter 11: The Path of a Warrior

For the next seven days, my life followed a strict routine—training under my father's watchful eyes. Each day was grueling, pushing my limits beyond what I had ever imagined.

At dawn, we would begin physical conditioning. Even though I had stepped into the Foundation Stage, my father insisted that I refine my fundamentals further.

"Power means nothing if your body can't support it," he had said on the first day.

My mornings were spent running long distances, performing agility drills, and strengthening my muscles through bodyweight exercises. The exercises seemed endless—push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and planks, all under the unforgiving Mumbai sun. My body, which had already reached the peak of human potential in the Body Training Stage, was now being molded into something even stronger.

But it wasn't just about strength. My father emphasized endurance, flexibility, and reaction speed. He would toss wooden daggers at me suddenly, forcing me to dodge with minimal movement. If I flinched too much, I had to restart the exercise from the beginning.

"A warrior does not waste energy on unnecessary movement. Efficiency is key," he reminded me again and again.

The Art of Combat

Afternoons were dedicated to combat training. My father, despite his injury, was still one of the most experienced warriors I had ever met. He drilled me on the importance of footwork, how to control the battlefield, and how to adapt to an enemy's fighting style.

Sparring against him was brutal. Even though he was injured, he still completely dominated me. His movements were precise, economical—every punch, every strike carried intent. I, on the other hand, still relied too much on raw power.

On the third day, after I was knocked down for the fifth time in a row, my father looked down at me and sighed.

"Your strength is good, but your battle instincts are still lacking," he said. "A real warrior doesn't just rely on brute force. He reads his enemy, adapts, and then strikes."

I wiped the sweat from my face and stood up again, determination burning in my eyes. I couldn't afford to stay weak.

From then on, I changed my approach. I started analyzing his movements, predicting patterns, and adjusting my attacks accordingly. By the sixth day, I managed to land my first clean hit on him. It wasn't enough to defeat him, but his approving nod told me that I was making progress.

"Now you're learning," he said with a small smile.

The Awakening of the Mind

While my body was being trained, I didn't neglect my mind. At night, I would sit in meditation, practicing the psychic breathing techniques that I had learned.

Though my psychic abilities hadn't fully awakened yet, I could feel something stirring deep within me—an energy waiting to be unleashed.

"Your mental strength will determine how far you go," my father told me one evening. "Even the strongest body is nothing if the mind is weak."

It was difficult. Maintaining deep concentration while suppressing all distractions was an entirely new kind of challenge. But I persisted, knowing that my efforts would pay off in the long run.

A Warrior's Decision

After a full week of relentless training, I finally stood before my father. My body had become more refined, my mind sharper, my instincts honed.

"Good," my father said with a rare smile. "You've improved significantly in just a week. Now, tell me, what is your next step?"

I took a deep breath, already knowing the answer. "I want to go outside the city. I need to hunt real monsters, not just the ones in controlled environments."

A silence followed. My mother, who had been listening nearby, frowned in concern. Siya, who had watched my training every day, tensed slightly.

My father, however, simply nodded. "It's dangerous out there, far beyond what you've faced so far. The wild is nothing like the hunting grounds in the city."

"I know," I said. "But I need to experience real combat. I can't just rely on training forever. I need to face life-and-death situations if I want to truly grow."

My father studied me for a long moment. Then, he sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I won't stop you," he finally said. "Experience is the best teacher. If you're truly prepared, then go."

Siya looked at me worriedly. "Are you sure about this, Veer?"

I turned to her and smiled reassuringly. "I have to do this, Siya. If I want to become strong enough to protect everyone, I need to face the real world."

She didn't say anything, but I could see the concern in her eyes.

As for my mother, she sighed and shook her head. "Just promise me one thing," she said. "Come back safely."

"I will," I promised.

With that, my decision was made.

I clenched my fists, determination burning in my heart. The time had come to step into the real battlefield.

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END OF CHAPTER 11...

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