But to confirm his arrival, Shyam quickly looked to Tithira. But before he could even ask anything, Tithira fell to the ground. "Out of exhaustion?!" he hissed.
"Shyam, I finally found you! That voice… it was Sagar! We will handle this here, go and defeat him before he destroys this entire city to dust!"
A familiar voice reached his ear—it was Soktomanus, the one who had taught him everything about swords and stamina, all that he could.
"But—"
"There should be no buts! I get that you're scared—we all are. But it's only you who can defeat him!"
From the moment he first stepped onto the soil of this world, his fate had been tied to being the chosen one.
Everyone treated him like some noble figure, someone of great power. As if he knew more about this world than even its natural residents.
Why him? Why not someone else?
Why not Ravina? She had great potential. Was it because he had a stupid fairy system?
Or… was it because it had all been planned from the very beginning?
All he wanted was to follow the light, to adventure and explore. There was nothing else he wanted.
Or maybe there was… something!
★
"Are you really my dad?"
A strong whisper—so cold to hear, yet warm when felt.
A child sat beside a table, drinking green tea.
A man sat just across from her, a steaming hot cup of freshly brewed tea laid down before him.
"Ira, I—"
The child—Ira, Shyam's daughter—looked at him with wide eyes, her expression cold, as if she had just lost both parents and now lived for no one.
"My dad would never think of himself when thousands of others are in danger!" she said. As the words left her lips, sudden tears rolled down her cheeks, yet her voice didn't waver.
Ira, when alive, had been Shyam's only motivation to go to work and return home in one piece. Of course, Varnika was a reason too—after all, she was his wife.
She spoke the truth, probably…
There were times he had to choose between himself and others. Despite his great desire to run away and be alone, empty, he thought of others first—even if it meant danger for himself.
Then when was it… that he started thinking of fleeing whenever a hard task was laid before him?
When?
"Can I… try again, Ira?" he murmured, his half-closed eyes staring blankly at the wooden table.
"Who am I to decide that, Dad?"
Those were her last words, as his body was transported back to the world where his friends lived—Niścaya.
"I'll give it a try!" Shyam yelled as he dashed forward to the place where the shout began.
Leaving Tithira and the others far behind, he held his sword tightly, as if letting go meant death. And maybe it would. Right now, his only true friend was his perspective—and the sword he held so dear.
"I don't know the limits of this world, and I am not bound by them. I will break through this and soon return as an A-rank adventurer."
He ran. The further he went, the fewer beasts he saw. Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a magic circle spinning slowly above the ground—blue and glowing.
Ancient words were inscribed around its edge.
A man stood in the middle, eyes closed, hands moving.
A man of around thirty-five, with muscles and hair tied back in a ponytail. Calm—but like a storm preparing for disaster.
"Why are you doing this?" Shyam whispered.
His grip on the sword loosened, as if forgiveness crossed his mind. But his senses stayed sharp, waiting for a chance to strike.
Unlike the chaos in the city, this place was silent—like the ocean.
"Who are you, adventurer?" Sagar asked as he opened his eyes just slightly, glancing at the one who dared stand before him.
Deep blue eyes—like the ocean. Beautiful, but destructive. Just like… the sea itself.
"My name is Shyam. And I have come to stop you." Shyam raised his sword, pointing its tip at Sagar.
"Shyam, is it? Sounds auspicious. But I have a question for you before I kill you, Shyam," Sagar breathed.
"If you were to lose everything, and be blamed for it, would you still embrace peace over bloodshed?" he asked, still spinning the magic circle.
'Is he trying to stall for time? No… I don't think so. Still, I must eliminate him, or the innocent people of Vyomsetu will not see daylight tomorrow!'
A sudden thought. A quick decision. Shyam had never fought a man of such overwhelming power—where death seemed the only outcome for either side.
"I would still choose the lives of the innocent!" he shouted, gripping his sword as he dashed toward Sagar. 'If I catch him off guard, I can injure him! This is my chance!'
The world slowed. His sword moved sluggishly, every moment fragile, as if a single strike could shatter the peace around them.
"So be it. I shall behead you, then bring bloodshed to this city." Sagar's whisper was barely audible.
"Just one inch more!" Shyam yelled, pushing his sword forward with all his strength.
Suddenly—!
A spiral of water burst forth, pushing him back. The magic circle still spun, but Sagar was gone.
"Ways of Water, Eleventh Spell: Aquanostra!"
Sagar's voice roared through the forest, droplets of water floating upward as if the ground itself were raining to the sky.
"No way! Does he have the Ways of Hydra too?!" Shyam said in disbelief. Wasn't he the only one who possessed it? Then how did Sagar have one as well?
"No, Master. I think it's a replica of yours. It says Ways of Water, which must mean Sagar is a Water Path fighter," Raitha explained as she appeared in her fairy form.
"If that's the case… then maybe he isn't stronger than me!" Shyam muttered as he drew out his own copy of the Ways of Hydra.
"I still remember—she screamed for help! I still remember—they fought until their very end! And so, I will avenge their souls, and bring peace and justice to this unjust city!" Sagar shouted.
"Go!"
The water that boiled up from the ground suddenly turned and shot toward Shyam with extreme speed.
Their accuracy was unbelievable.
"Ways of Hydra, Sixth Spell: Aquam Vortexa!" Shyam roared, unleashing a burst of water darker and denser than Sagar's, forming a whirlpool that deflected every single droplet hurled at him.
"Unbelievable! How can you—? I don't care! You are still only a Tier Two, Sub-Stage Four fighter! I can defeat you with ease!"
---
Ch-50