Officer Arjun dodged Elenav's initial strike, but what followed was a whirlwind of punches and kicks that blurred in Surya's vision. Elenav's speed defied mortal limits, his movements a dance of Kalaripayattu—feints, sweeps, and strikes weaving a dizzying tapestry. Surya, pressed into the crowd near the library gates, could barely track the flurry.
Arjun parried most blows, his silver-buttoned uniform glinting under the sun. He countered with heavy fists, one missing Elenav and slamming into the ground with a thunderous *"BOOM!"* A fist-shaped crater, inches deep, scarred the stone pavement. Surya's jaw dropped—such raw power was unimaginable in his old life on Earth, where fists didn't shatter stone.
Elenav's missed strikes left him open; Arjun landed blows to his back and chest. Yet, the officer's tunic shimmered faintly, as if woven with protective mantras, absorbing the impacts. Elenav's speed dazzled, but his hits lacked the force to fell Arjun. Then, like a cobra striking from the reeds, Arjun's fist connected with Elenav's chest.
Elenav staggered back, clutching his stomach as he landed a few feet away. "A Vishisht Human-4 against a Siddha Human-8," he rasped, smirking through the pain. "And it took you *that* long to land a punch? Is this the might you boasted of?"
Arjun's face flushed, humiliated before the gawking crowd. "Results matter, not words," he snapped. "Come quietly to the guard post now."
"Sure," Elenav replied, raising a hand from his kneeling position. "Lend me a hand?"
Surya frowned. Elenav's tone and posture didn't match a man surrendering—there was a glint of defiance in his eyes. Arjun, puffing out his chest as if victorious, strode forward and grasped Elenav's arm, hauling him up.
Elenav grinned broadly, patting Arjun's shoulder. "Thanks. Now, get help fast—or don't blame me if you're crippled for life." With that cryptic warning, he turned and limped toward the crowd's edge, near where Surya stood.
The onlookers held their breath, expecting Arjun to pursue. Instead, he froze, rigid as a temple statue. A sickening *"PUCHI"* echoed as blood spurted from his nose, ears, and eyes, staining his uniform crimson. He collapsed, gasping, "Impossible… a Warrior's secret technique… you can't have mastered it!" before fainting in a scarlet pool.
Elenav didn't glance back, parting the awed crowd like a sage through devotees. Surya's heart pounded, his mind chanting: *"By the gods, that's incredible!"* The display of skill and power ignited something within him. Ignoring the throbbing in his scraped knee from his earlier expulsion, he darted after Elenav.
As Elenav slipped into an alley east of the library, Surya followed, only to find him slumped against the wall, panting. Blood trickled from his mouth, his saffron kurta stained dark. The invincible warrior from moments ago now looked frail.
"Are… are you alright?" Surya asked, concern overriding awe.
Elenav coughed, wincing. "Fine, kid. That punch cracked a rib. Facing a Siddha Human four stages above me isn't a jest. What do you want?"
"I want to fight like you!" Surya blurted, fueled by the system's prompt that had chimed as Elenav exited the crowd:
[_Ding_
New Mission: Earn an invitation to the "Trishul of Dharma" Training Ashram from Vishisht Human Elenav.
Mission Description: Per crowd whispers, this ashram trains warriors to oppose corrupt officials and unjust laws, championing the common folk. Triggered by the mission "Exact justice on the library's constable and clerk," this ashram may aid the host's path.
Mission Reward: 20 Exp Points. New point type may unlock.]
Surya fumbled in his torn pocket, pulling out a small roti his mother, Nalini, had packed for his library visit. He thrust it forward. "Please, take this!" His ragged dhoti and scrawny frame screamed poverty—this roti might be his only meal today—but he hoped it showed his sincerity.
Elenav eyed him curiously. Surya seized the pause. "System, what are these 'types of points'?"
[Host query: The system awards various point types. Exp Points are standard, versatile for multiple uses. Other types serve specific purposes, to be revealed as unlocked.]
Vague but promising. Surya's attention snapped back as Elenav took the roti, nibbling it thoughtfully. His sharp eyes, framed by a scar tracing his left cheek to his ear, studied Surya. "Thanks, lad. You've got a good heart. Want to join the Trishul of Dharma Ashram? We fight for justice—people like you, crushed by the powerful. Our guru bids us seek the worthy. If you're in, I'll take you there now."
Surya blinked. That simple? He'd braced for a gauntlet of tasks, not an instant offer. The system's missions varied wildly, it seemed.
[_Ding_
Mission Success: Invitation earned. 20 Exp Points awarded. Faction Points unlocked.
Faction Points enable purchases of specific boosts in the System Store. Store locked until host reaches Human-4.]
Faction Points? Like the RPGs from his old life—Surya's excitement surged. Elenav rose, grimacing, and scratched his head. "Name's Elenav, by the way. You in? And… could you help me with something?"
Bewildered—what could a 12-year-old do?—Surya nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
"Good. Lift my kurta from the back," Elenav said quickly, catching Surya's wary look. "Don't fret—just grab the pentagon-shaped thing tucked there."
Surya obeyed, revealing a fist-sized, pentagonal medallion—gold with crimson gems embedded at its points. As he touched it, it flared red, heat searing his fingers. "Quick, give it to me!" Elenav barked. Surya thrust it into his hand, and the glow shifted to a warm gold.
Elenav held it like a conch to his lips. "Elenav here, third alley east of the town library. Need extraction for me and a recruit. Send a vaidya—think my lung's pierced."
A punctured lung? How was he standing? Surya gaped as a gruff voice crackled from the medallion: "Understood. Hold position—help's there in a moment."