Two days whisked by like a monsoon breeze, Surya basking in the Anivron shack's humble glow—Nalini's soft humming as she kneaded atta, Rajesh's gravelly tales of army marches. He savored their nearness, the earthen walls a fortress of comfort.
Nights, he honed CT-1 in a thicket near the slums, the white yaksha darting faster yet predictable, its strikes now child's play to sidestep. He'd scouted the spot well—no prying eyes pierced the neem and banyan veil. Without ETC's Ether, though, his Sadhak level stagnated, the thrill of weary cells drinking prana a distant ache he craved.
The third dawn broke, and Surya rose with a spark in his chest. The system stirred at last:
[Development complete. Vayuroot Development Technique-VDT-1 crafted.
VDT-1: PAM-2's analysis of amassed data reveals: the vayuroot is the pineal gland, nestled between the brows—the "Third Eye" of Earth's lore, fabled to pierce veils mortal and mystic. All bear it at birth, yet growth calcifies it, shrouding its power. Some, with larger glands, resist this unconsciously, passing gurukul tests as "vayuroot-blessed." Truth holds—all possess it; only its awakening varies.
VDT-1 wields Ether-prana to decalcify and swell the gland, boosting mage potential. Host must procure Ether for absorption.
_Ding_
New mission: Decalcify the pineal gland for NAMAL entry.
Reward: 100 Exp
Accept?]
"Yes," Surya said, mind churning—Ether, how? A standard Ether-1 block cost ten gold Rupiyas, a fortune. High-grades needed two from Human-1 to 2; mid-grades, four; low-grades like him, eight. The ashram's ETC time had been a steal by compare.
As he wrestled with the riddle, the system chimed:
[System Suggestion: PAM-2 analysis yields a path. Hear it?]
"Yes," he replied, intrigued—suggestions were novel.
[System advises completing mission: "Locate the thieves' den." High-quality Ether traces were detected on the thieves during host's prior clash—unnoted then, lacking PAM-2.]
High-quality Ether on those alley rats? A deva-sent boon! Yet memory of that fight—knives glinting, a near-gutted end—dampened his brow. More foes might lurk. Strength was his shield now.
He turned to the glass trishul medallion, its warmth a promise deferred these past days. Mastering CT-1's basics—dodging the yaksha fully—had been his focus. Now, he gripped it.
[Interface detected. Download data?]
"Yes," he said, the trinket heating gently.
Five minutes ticked by, then:
["Trishul Prana"—first two stages analyzed. Later stages logged, unparsed due to system level. Extraneous data shed.
Secret Move: "Vishnu's Sting" integrable into CT-1. Recompile?]
Vishnu's Sting—Elenav's library flourish, no doubt. "Describe it," Surya urged.
[Vishnu's Sting: Harnesses instantaneous force reversal to plant prana bubbles on a foe. These burst after a set delay, timed by impact force. Mastery hinges on a seamless momentum shift—undetectable from a standard blow. Misstep risks self-harm.]
That was it—the cool swagger etched in his mind. Surya grinned, ready to weave it in.