The Awakening

The sun had barely begun to rise when Arjun opened his eyes. He had slept soundly, his body well-rested for the challenge ahead. Unlike the nervous tension that had gripped the Gurukul overnight, he felt calm and steady.

With a deep breath, he got out of bed and began his morning routine—a few stretches, deep breathing exercises, and a short meditation session. He didn't feel any different than usual, but something inside him stirred, as if a hidden force was waiting for the right moment to emerge.

After dressing in his Gurukul uniform, he stepped out of the dormitory, ready for the fight.

The moment he exited the door, two familiar figures were already waiting for him—Zhao Yufeng and Zhao Yufei.

Their faces were filled with worry.

"Arjun!" Yufeng called, stepping forward. "Are you sure about this? That guy is in the Fourth Realm of Body Tempering!"

Yufei nodded, her eyes filled with concern. "This isn't just about you anymore. Everyone in the Gurukul is watching. The noble faction won't stop if you lose."

Arjun smiled slightly. He appreciated their concern, but he wasn't afraid.

"I gave my word," he said simply. "I won't back down now."

Yufeng sighed. "At least be careful. Don't take him lightly."

Arjun nodded. "I won't."

With that, the three of them made their way toward the fighting arena.

By the time they arrived, the fighting arena was already packed.

Hundreds of students, both nobles and civilians, had gathered. Some stood on the high stone steps, while others leaned against the railings, eager to watch the match.

The nobles stood together in a large group, whispering and smirking amongst themselves. They were confident in Jay Shetty's victory. A second-year student at the Fourth Realm should have no problem defeating a first-year.

On the other side, the civilians stood together, nervously hopeful. Arjun was the first civilian in years to challenge the nobles so openly. If he won, it would be a huge victory for them.

At the center of the arena stood Jay Shetty.

He was tall and well-built, his arms crossed as he watched Arjun approach. A smirk formed on his lips.

"Not bad," Jay said. "At least you have the courage to show up. But it's still too late to back out."

Arjun didn't respond. He simply walked toward the registration desk to confirm his participation.

The referee, a senior instructor, stood between them.

"You both know the rules," he said. "No fatal attacks. The fight continues until one of you is unable to fight or is forced out of the ring. Understood?"

Both fighters nodded.

"Introduce yourselves," the referee commanded.

Jay took a step forward, his voice booming with confidence.

"Jay Shetty, Second-Year Student, Fourth Realm of Body Tempering!"

A wave of cheers erupted from the noble students.

Then, Arjun took a step forward. His voice was calm and steady.

"Arjun, First-Year Student, Third Realm of Body Tempering."

A hushed silence spread through the arena. Even though they already knew his strength, hearing it spoken out loud made it all the more real.

Jay let out a mocking laugh.

"A Third Realm trash thinks he can beat me? This will be over quickly!"

The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"

Jay didn't waste a second.

He lunged forward, his fist glowing with internal energy, and swung a powerful punch straight at Arjun's chest.

Arjun reacted quickly, stepping back just in time to avoid a direct hit. But the force of the punch still pushed him back a few steps.

Jay didn't let up. He charged again, throwing a barrage of attacks.

Left punch. Right punch. A sweeping kick.

Arjun was forced to stay on the defensive.

He blocked each hit, using his reflexes and body training to absorb the blows. But Jay's strength was undeniable. Each strike carried raw power, and Arjun could feel the pressure mounting.

"If this keeps up, I'll lose just by being overwhelmed," he thought.

But then—

Something stirred deep within him.

A dormant power, waiting to be awakened.

As Jay's fist came toward him once more, something inside Arjun exploded.

A rush of energy surged through his body, sending a shockwave through his veins. His muscles tightened, his bones felt stronger, and his entire body felt like it was being reforged by fire.

And then—

BOOM!

A massive aura erupted from his body, shaking the entire arena!

A Historic Breakthrough

The crowd gasped in shock.

Even the referee and teachers stood frozen.

"Did he just… breakthrough?"

"Impossible! No one in Gurukul history has ever broken through during battle!"

Arjun's body trembled with newfound power.

He had broken through—but this wasn't just an ordinary breakthrough.

It felt like he had transcended a simple level-up.

His muscles hardened like steel. His vision became sharper. His entire being felt like it had reached a completely new state of existence.

Jay, who had been confidently attacking, took a step back in shock.

"Y-You…" he stammered, eyes wide.

But before he could react further—

Arjun moved.

In the blink of an eye, Arjun closed the distance.

His fist, glowing with his new overwhelming power, shot forward.

BOOM!

Jay didn't even have time to react.

The force of the punch sent him flying out of the arena, his body crashing into the ground outside.

The entire arena fell silent.

Nobles stared in horror.

Civilians stood frozen in disbelief.

The referee was too stunned to even call the match.

No one could process what had just happened.

In a single moment, Arjun had gone from defending desperately to delivering an instant, absolute victory.

Even Arjun himself looked down at his own hands in disbelief.

"What… just happened?"

This wasn't just a normal breakthrough. It was something else entirely.

Something greater.

Without another word, Arjun turned around and walked away.

Ignoring the cheers, the whispers, and the stunned faces, he headed straight back to his dorm.

He needed to meditate.

He needed to understand what had just happened.

Because he knew, deep down—

This was only the beginning.