A sharp wind swept across the desolate plain of stale earth and broken steel. At its center stood a lone figure: a young boy, Abhiraj, bloodied and weary, his torn garments clinging to cuts that glistened in the pale light. He surveyed the vast mountain of bodies before him—not his allies, but the remains of his enemies. Hundreds, perhaps hundreds of thousands, lay heaped together, their weapons shattered, their final battle now a silent monument to war.
Swords lay embedded in the soil, broken spears stuck like macabre totems, shields scattered like fallen emblems of honor. The air tasted of iron and ash; the stench of death and defeat was suffocating.
Abhiraj's breath came in ragged gasps. His heart pounded, memories rushing over him like thunder. "How long," he wondered softly, "can one human stand against such relentless violence?" He closed his eyes, wounded, shivering, yet alive.
He raised a trembling hand to his forehead. "What if I hadn't fought?" he murmured. "What would have become of me… of Lotus Nation?" A tight knot of regret and resolve coiled in his chest. "Did I ever have a choice?"
-- Flashback Begins --
Just a week ago, life had seemed ordinary. Abhiraj lived in Lotus Nation, in a quiet city where laughter filled classrooms and the scent of spices drifted through narrow streets. He attended school, studied diligently at his coaching institute, and dreamed of joining the armed forces—his father, a humble soldier, was his inspiration.
But one afternoon changed everything.
A brilliant beam of light tore through the sky. Phones, televisions, radios—every device blinked and rang simultaneously, broadcasting the same message:
"Residents of Blue Star: This is the Universal War System. From this moment on, Earth will participate in the War Trials."
The announcement had a strange authority, a resonance that silenced every voice.
The System declared new rules:
All modern warfare technology was nullified. Tanks, jets, and nuclear weapons—gone.
Instead, the System would supply cold weapons: horses, full armor, swords, shields, bows, and spears.
Daily life tools—transportation, trains, phones, and social media—would remain functional.
Nations were automatically registered as participants.
Three distinct forms of conflict were announced:
Nation vs. Nation Wars – Two nations could declare war. The victor would claim land, people, and resources while also gaining National Fortune—a mysterious metric that enhanced combat power, increased natural resources, boosted prosperity, extended life expectancy, and reduced natural disasters for that nation's people.
Planet vs. Planet Wars – Entire planets could challenge each other. The winner would gain control of the loser. To ensure fairness, the System had restrictions to prevent powerful planets from simply crushing weaker ones.
Race vs. Race Wars – Two races could fight under similar rules, with the victorious race gaining unique privileges and awakening supernatural powers known as Talents.
At first, Abhiraj and his classmates thought it was a prank. Laughter rippled through the room—"This must be some viral challenge, right?" But when every corner of the globe confirmed the same message, and headlines blazed across news platforms, reality struck.
Word spread quickly in Lotus Nation: military vehicles had turned into steeds. Bulletproof vests became gleaming armor. Firearms had become swords, shields, and lances.
Abhiraj sat frozen, absorbing his mother's calm voice as she said, "Yes, Abhiraj, it's true. Your father called. Everything has changed."
His father, a low-ranking soldier, had always spoken only of discipline and duty. Now he was preparing to ride into battles dictated by fate.
That evening, Abhiraj walked to his coaching institute, his mind clouded by shock and doubt. His grip tightened on the strap of his bag. Despite his fragile health and skinny frame, something within him hardened like forged steel. He would grow stronger—strong enough to protect Lotus Nation.
When Abhiraj entered the institute, his four closest friends—brothers in everything but blood—called out, "Hey, Abhiraj, over here!"
Abhiraj, with his tired eyes and frail body, walked to them. In contrast, his friends were fit and confident, their presence drawing attention.
"So… what now?" Abhiraj asked quietly.
Abhishek, the cheerful one, shrugged. "What can we do? The government says our current power is enough to defend our land. They don't need our help."
Lakshya, sharp-minded and serious, leaned forward. "That may be true for now, but don't forget—we live in one of the most volatile regions of Lotus Nation. We can't rely only on others to protect us. Our hands must become blades if the time comes."
Ansh, the joker of the group, laughed and said, "Blades? Look at you, Lakshya! With arms like those, even rotten scrap metal would be more useful in war!"
Lakshya glared while the others chuckled. Rudra, the wisest and most admired among them, finally spoke. "Enough jokes. Remember our history—countless lives have been sacrificed to protect this land. If the day comes, we'll do whatever it takes, just like the heroes before us."
Abhiraj opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the bell rang for the first class of the evening. He quietly took his seat, his mind still buzzing with uncertainty.