Chapter 6: The Next Step
"Hey!" Inferno shouted, arms crossed as Virat finished his last set of push-ups, soaked in sweat and mud. "I think I finally cracked it. Your power—it's not some fancy elemental stuff. It awakens through something stronger."
Virat, panting heavily, wiped his forehead. "Yeah? And what's that?"
"Willpower. Determination. You're like one of those old-school protagonists. The more you push yourself, the more power leaks out of you."
Virat's eyes sparkled. "So you'll train me then?"
Inferno smirked. "Ah… no."
Virat froze mid-stretch. "Wait… WHAT?! You literally said—!"
"I said I'll help you get trained," Inferno clarified, hands up. "Big difference."
"Oh come on!" Virat groaned.
"Look, kid. I'm the No.1 Hero. My schedule's tighter than spandex. But I can get someone else. The best planner. A master trainer. The No.4 Hero—"
"WAIT." Virat's eyes widened. "No.4?! You don't mean—"
"Yep." Inferno grinned. "Titan."
Virat practically exploded. "TITAAAAAAAN?! The guy who punched a Kaiju back to extinction??!"
"The very same. He'll train you. But here's the thing—he's based in the U.S.A., and your training will involve taking the international superhero entrance exam."
Virat blinked. "You mean the one with 1,000 students per round, law questions, and a simulated battlefield?"
"Bingo. And one more thing… you'll need your parents' consent."
Virat's heart dropped. "Seriously? You've seen how supportive my dad is."
"Well, you want to be a hero or not?" Inferno shrugged. "Oh, and before I forget—Titan's training schedule is brutal. He once made a kid do yoga in a volcano for heat adaptation."
Virat's jaw dropped.
"So yeah," Inferno added, scribbling on a note. "Here's my number. Get the consent, pack up, and meet me at the airport when you're ready."
That night, Virat sat alone on his bed. The rain tapped softly on the window, the kind that brings back childhood memories. He clenched his fists.
"I won't give up. Not now."
The next morning, before sunrise, he exploded out of bed. He washed up, ate a quick breakfast, threw on his tracksuit, and sprinted to the park.
This time, he trained like a man possessed. 1,000 push-ups. 1,000 sit-ups. 10 kilometers. Trees trembled under his punches. He even started practicing different martial arts he'd seen online—Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai. He made mistakes. He fell. He bled. But he kept going.
Because Titan was waiting.
But… so was his father's consent.
The Day Came.
It was monsoon season. Rain poured down like nature's own drama track. Virat stood before his dad, holding the consent form with trembling hands.
"I'm not becoming a neurosurgeon," he said firmly.
His dad looked up from his book, frowning. "Excuse me?"
"I'm going to the U.S.A. I'm going to take the superhero exam. I'll become the best. I'll be the hero this world needs."
His father slammed the book shut. "You think life is that simple?! What if you get hurt? Killed?!"
"If I don't do this, I'll die inside anyway."
Silence.
Then, softer, Virat added, "Don't you want to see your son become who he really is? Don't you want me to succeed in my own way?"
His dad looked at him long and hard. Then slowly, he reached for the form. "You can go. But if you end up in a hospital bed, I'm pulling you back. Understood?"
Virat nodded, trying to hide the smile.
Later That Day…
He packed his bag with care: track suits, books, gear, and even his childhood Titan action figure. As he zipped his suitcase shut, his mom hugged him tight.
"You better come back stronger, my little superhero."
Virat smiled. "Next time you see me… I'll be a better version of myself."
At the Airport.
The sun was setting in a golden blaze. Inferno stood near the departure gate. Beside him was a strange guy in an old 80s Japanese high school uniform, holding a metal bat and looking like he hadn't slept in 4 days.
Virat raised an eyebrow. "Uhh… who's Sleepy Samurai over there?"
Inferno grinned. "Don't ask. He's part of your journey."
Virat shrugged and walked toward the plane. One step closer to becoming the hero he always dreamed of.
[To be continued]