While Nivyansh and Javed were fighting with each other, a sudden loud voice echoed through the hall. Both of them stopped for a moment and turned toward the source of the voice. Their eyes fell on a middle-aged man, and the sight of him instantly changed the color on all their faces. Everyone went completely silent.
The man started walking toward them, and seeing this, all the students present nervously stepped back to make way for him, whispering to each other as they did so.
"Ah, it's Teacher Chandramani! But what is he doing here?"
One of the other students whispered:
"I've heard he doesn't tolerate students who fight unnecessarily."
Another added:
"I think today Teacher Chandramani will surely punish all of them for disturbing the peace of the academy."
As they were discussing, the man, Chandramani, looked at the two and asked:
"Why are you two fighting here? Are you not aware of the rules of this academy? Fighting without reason is strictly forbidden. Breaking this rule can result in the harshest punishment." His face clearly displayed anger, showing his frustration.
Hearing this, the faces of all the students, already pale from fear, turned even more serious.
At that moment, Hrithik, having recovered from Nivyansh's attack, stepped forward and, before Nivyansh could speak, addressed Teacher Chandramani:
"Teacher Chandramani, it's not our fault. The root of this entire trouble is this boy, Nivyansh. He attacked us first. We were only trying to teach him a lesson so that he doesn't repeat such behavior."
By saying this, Hrithik placed all the blame on Nivyansh to prove himself innocent, knowing full well that if he stayed silent, he would have to face Teacher Chandramani's anger and punishment, which he wanted to avoid at all costs.
However, Teacher Chandramani remained silent after hearing Hrithik and looked at Nivyansh with surprise. Blood still trickled slightly from the corner of Nivyansh's lips.
Seeing Hrithik clearly lying and blaming himself, Nivyansh spoke to contradict him:
"No, Teacher Chandramani, he is lying. I didn't start any of this. I was just protecting my friend because the three of them together were brutally attacking Prashant. As a friend, I couldn't just watch him get beaten. If anyone else were in my place, they would have done the same. That's why I had to step in. Honestly, these people are trying to take revenge on us, which is why they acted this way."
Hearing Nivyansh, Teacher Chandramani's gaze fell on Prashant, who was still struggling to stand. The word "revenge" made him ask himself silently:
"Revenge… what kind of revenge?"
Nivyansh explained everything—how they were attacked, for which Bhupati had punished the two seniors, and how Prashant was beaten.
The three senior students' faces showed anger as they realized Nivyansh was revealing all the details, but with Teacher Chandramani present, they couldn't do anything to him.
Teacher Chandramani said: "The rest, you already know."
Chandramani, having heard all of Nivyansh's explanation, glared at the three seniors. Their faces instantly changed, and sweat appeared on their foreheads. Hrithik muttered under his breath:
"Teacher Chandramani, don't listen to this boy. He's just telling you a made-up story. You've already heard enough from the three of them. Do you really think I can't tell who's telling the truth?"
Meanwhile, Vinay, who had been secretly observing all this among the other students, clenched his fists in anger at Teacher Chandramani's intervention and thought: Did he really have to come now? If he had arrived a little later, what would have happened? At least I could have seen this garbage get beaten. Well, his luck is good today. He left his friends there and tried to sneak away without Nivyansh noticing. But Nivyansh had already seen him and was internally annoyed by his behavior.
Teacher Chandramani then said to everyone:
"If you all enjoy fighting so much, then go outside the academy to fight. There's no need for students here who cannot follow the rules of the academy."
Nivyansh, while apologizing, replied:
"Teacher Chandramani, we admit that we shouldn't have done this. But we had no other way. If our actions offended you, we apologize. Please believe me, I didn't do it intentionally."
"Even if you didn't do it intentionally, you all have violated the rules of this academy. But this time, I will let you go considering it your first mistake. Next time, you will face punishment."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief because they knew that breaking academy rules could have resulted in expulsion. But Teacher Chandramani wasn't finished:
"If you still want to fight, then in the coming months, competitions between the four branches of the academy will begin. External students may also participate. If you want, you can release all your grievances during this competition."
Hearing this, all the students who had gathered to watch the chaos began leaving hurriedly. Nivyansh and his friends also moved toward their sections. Seeing this, Javed and the other two brothers clenched their teeth in anger, as their carefully made plan had failed due to Teacher Chandramani's intervention. They realized they couldn't harm Nivyansh inside the academy. Eventually, they also left, and Nivyansh breathed a sigh of relief.
Nivyansh, supporting Prashant along with Vyomesh, began moving toward the northern section. Teacher Chandramani watched them go with great seriousness, questions swirling in his mind.
As they walked, Vyomesh said:
"Brother Nivyansh, we barely got away today, but I still don't understand how you managed to injure senior Hrithik with a single attack."
Hearing this, Prashant looked at Nivyansh in surprise. Nivyansh paused for a moment, then smiled and replied:
"I won't tell you the answer so soon."
Vyomesh asked curiously:
"What's the big secret you're hiding from us?"
Nivyansh smiled mysteriously:
"Patience is sweet. When you both see it with your own eyes, you'll understand everything. But for that, you'll have to wait a little."
Prashant, listening to Nivyansh's cryptic words, scratched his head, looking at Vyomesh, who was equally confused.
Then, Prashant said seriously:
"Nivyansh brother, I don't think this matter will calm down so quickly. They will surely try to trouble us again. We barely survived today; next time, it may not be so easy."
Nivyansh, hearing this, apologized to both of them:
"Forgive me, friends. Because of me, you both got into trouble today. If I had given them the Rank 1 mystical stone that day, none of this would have happened."
Prashant replied:
"No, Nivyansh brother, there's no need to apologize. Whatever you did was absolutely right. And anyway, we both agreed on it together."
Vyomesh also supported him:
"Yes, Prashant brother. We can't keep fearing them forever. Sooner or later, someone has to raise their voice. That's why I'm with you both. And even if they try to trouble me, it won't happen so soon."
Hearing this, Nivyansh said:
"Thank you, my friends, for always standing by me."
Prashant, supporting him on his shoulder, joked:
"Nivyansh brother, since when have you become so polite?"
Nivyansh smiled.
The group continued talking as they entered the academy's main field, a huge area where students were training and refining their powers. Each student was testing techniques, striving to master their skills.
Nivyansh wondered:
Why is there so much activity here today?
The number of students was much higher than usual. Vyomesh explained:
"Brother, didn't you hear Teacher Chandramani? The competitions between branches are coming in a few months."
Nivyansh asked:
"Yes, but there's still plenty of time for that."
Vyomesh continued:
"Listen. Before that, at the end of this month, a competition will take place in the northern section among all students. Only the top fifty will be selected to participate in the upcoming competition against the strongest students from all three sections. The top five performers will get access to the Techniques Museum. I've heard the fourth-rank winner will receive the Golden Ash Bullet, which can increase a student's power level by one or two stars."
Hearing this, Nivyansh's eyes gleamed. But to participate, a student's power level must be at least the seventh star of Blood Circulation Rank.
Vyomesh added:
"Even though Teacher Chandramani said anyone can participate, students with lower power levels would lose badly. You've already experienced Javed's powers. He's only ranked eighteenth externally, so imagine how strong the top ten will be."
Nivyansh asked:
"Why are you telling me all this? Are you planning to participate?"
Vyomesh replied:
"If yes, forget that thought. You've just reached the Blood Circulation Rank. Focus on increasing your powers for now. You can participate next time."
But Nivyansh had already decided in his mind—he would definitely participate in this competition.
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So what will happen next? Will Nivyansh compete, and will Javed try to make things difficult for him again? Read the upcoming chapters to find out.
The Heartless Worrior.