The Path of Awakening

The fighting arena remained eerily silent even after Arjun had left. It was as if the entire Gurukul was frozen in disbelief.

Jay Shetty, once a proud noble of the second year, was lying unconscious outside the ring. His body bore no severe injuries, but the humiliation of losing so decisively to a first-year civilian was worse than any physical wound.

The noble students gritted their teeth in anger.

"How is this possible?" one of them muttered.

"He broke through… in the middle of the fight?" another whispered. "That has never happened before in the history of the Gurukul!"

"That bastard!" A noble slammed his fist into a pillar. "He humiliated us all! This cannot stand!"

On the other hand, the civilian students were overjoyed.

"Did you see that?"

"Arjun broke through and defeated a fourth-realm cultivator with a single punch!"

"This is history in the making!"

"Finally, someone has put those arrogant nobles in their place!"

Cheers erupted among the civilian students, their voices filled with excitement and admiration. For years, they had been suppressed by the noble faction, forced to endure their arrogance and bullying. But now, Arjun had shown them that strength wasn't limited to nobility.

Among the onlookers, several teachers stood watching with serious expressions.

One of them, a white-robed elder with a long beard, turned to another instructor.

"Summon the headmaster," he said gravely. "This child… is no ordinary student."

Meanwhile, Arjun had already reached his dormitory.

Closing the door behind him, he sat down on his bed and took a deep breath. His heart was still racing from the battle, but it wasn't due to excitement—it was because of the mystery surrounding his breakthrough.

"What exactly happened to me?"

A normal breakthrough from the third to the fourth realm should have increased his strength slightly, but what he had experienced was completely different.

He hadn't just improved—he felt like he had undergone a complete transformation.

He clenched his fists and examined them closely.

"I feel so much stronger. Faster. My energy flows more smoothly. It's like my body has been reforged from the inside out."

He closed his eyes and focused on his inner energy. To his shock, his spiritual essence was denser and purer than before.

"This isn't just the Fourth Realm. This is something else… something beyond normal cultivation."

His mind was filled with questions, but for now, there was only one thing he could do—meditate and understand his newfound power.

Taking a deep breath, Arjun entered a deep meditative state.

As he meditated, he felt his consciousness being pulled into a strange space within himself.

It was dark, yet filled with an endless golden glow.

In the center of this space, a blazing golden symbol floated in mid-air. It pulsated with power, and as Arjun gazed at it, he felt an inexplicable connection to it.

"What… is this?"

Just as he reached out mentally toward the symbol, a deep voice echoed in his mind.

"You have begun your awakening."

Arjun's eyes snapped open, his breath quickening.

"Who said that?"

But no response came. The voice had disappeared, leaving behind only confusion.

"My awakening?" he thought. "What does that mean?"

His instincts told him that whatever this symbol was, it was the key to his transformation.

And if he wanted answers, he needed to push himself further—to uncover the hidden truth behind his power.

While Arjun meditated, the noble faction was in chaos.

Jay Shetty had regained consciousness, but his pride was shattered. He sat in silence, his fists clenched tightly, unable to comprehend how he had lost so easily.

In the noble dormitory, a group of second and third-year nobles gathered. Among them was a tall young man with piercing eyes and an aura of authority.

His name was Damien Veras, a third-year student in the Fifth Realm of Body Tempering. He was the strongest noble in the Gurukul among students and held considerable influence over the noble faction.

One of the nobles stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Senior Damien, we must do something about Arjun," he said. "If we let him continue unchecked, it will destroy the reputation of the noble families."

Another noble added, "He's just a civilian, yet he defeated Jay with one attack. If we don't crush him now, the other commoners will grow bolder."

Damien remained silent for a moment, then let out a small chuckle.

"You're all so easily shaken," he said. "One victory does not make a king."

"But Senior—"

Damien raised a hand, silencing them.

"This Arjun… he is interesting," Damien said. "A first-year breaking through mid-battle and defeating a fourth-realm opponent? That is not something that happens by chance."

His eyes gleamed with dangerous curiosity.

"I want to see for myself just how strong he truly is."

While the noble faction was plotting their next move, another powerful figure had taken notice of Arjun—the Headmaster of the Gurukul.

An old man with long white hair and a majestic presence sat in his study, reviewing a report about the battle. His fingers tapped against the wooden table as he read the details.

A small smile formed on his lips.

"A first-year civilian who can break through mid-battle and overpower a second-year noble? How fascinating."

Placing the report aside, he stood up and walked toward the window.

Beyond the vast fields of the Gurukul, he could see the distant mountains that stretched toward the sky.

"Perhaps the winds of fate have brought something truly remarkable to our Gurukul this year."

His eyes narrowed.

"I will be watching you closely, Arjun."

The next morning, Arjun stepped out of his dorm, feeling stronger than ever. His body felt lighter, faster, more powerful.

As he walked toward the training grounds, he noticed something strange.

Everyone was staring at him.

Some with admiration. Some with envy. And some with hostility.

He heard whispers all around him.

"That's him—Arjun, the one who defeated Jay Shetty!"

"I heard he broke through in the middle of the fight!"

"A genius among civilians… how terrifying."

Among the noble students, he saw hatred and resentment. They couldn't accept that a commoner had humiliated one of their own.

And among the civilian students, he saw hope.

For the first time, they had someone who could stand up to the nobles.

Arjun sighed.

"Looks like my peaceful days are over."

Just as he was about to enter the training hall, a figure stepped in front of him.

A tall young man with sharp eyes and a powerful aura.

Damien Veras.

Arjun narrowed his eyes.

"This guy… is dangerous."

Damien smirked.

"I've heard a lot about you, Arjun," he said. "You've made quite an impression."

Arjun remained silent, watching him carefully.

Damien leaned slightly forward, his eyes gleaming with challenge.

"How about we see if that strength of yours is the real deal?"

The students around them gasped.

Was another fight about to happen?

Arjun looked at Damien for a moment—then smiled.

"I don't mind," he said. "But be careful. You might end up just like Jay."

Damien's smirk widened.

"I look forward to it."

The tension in the air grew thicker.