Chapter 1 — The One Who Stood Up
High above the mortal world, in the silent realm of the gods, clouds drifted lazily across endless skies. Two gods sat on a balcony of marble, gazing at the world below.
"One has to admit," the first god sighed, propping his head on his palm, "things have gotten boring these days…"
The second god chuckled, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Boring? We have the competition for the next Indra coming soon."
The first waved dismissively.
"You mean the same competition with the same winner for the last few centuries? What fun is that?"
"True," the second conceded, "no one has surpassed the champion in ages. But still… isn't entertainment just entertainment?"
"Entertainment is meaningless when strength doesn't evolve." The bored god leaned back. "Unless some new power appears, the competition is pointless."
"Oh, but there is someone," the second god replied, his grin widening. "Someone who has never taken part."
The first god turned, eyes narrowing.
"Who? Hanuman?"
"Correct."
"He will never enter," the first god scoffed. "His power comes from Lord Shiva himself. Gods cannot take part — only humans who inherit divine power can. And Hanuman has never chosen anyone."
"Then we make someone inherit his powers."
The first god froze, expression sharpening.
"He will never allow that."
The second leaned back with a knowing smile.
"You just wait and watch."
The cloudy realm faded from sight.
Elsewhere — Hanuman's Premonition
In a tranquil, forest-like divine realm, Hanuman meditated beside a waterfall. The air was peaceful, untouched by conflict.
Until it wasn't.
His eyes opened in an instant — not frightened, but aware.
Far away, a dark aura pulsed… faint, ancient, and unmistakably forbidden.
"…so it has begun," he murmured.
Without a sound, he vanished.
Devi's Shrine
A realm glowing with the warmth of creation. Hanuman bowed deeply before Devi.
"I felt the disturbance," he said. "Have you?"
Devi's gentle expression shifted to something grave.
"Yes. The aura of the one who once shook the three worlds… Ravana's rebirth has begun."
Hanuman's voice remained steady.
"I came to request inheritance support for a successor."
Devi shook her head.
"If I had someone capable of withstanding that demon's return, I would give them immediately. But even my inheritance would not be enough."
Hanuman accepted the truth silently, without argument, and vanished again.
Temple of Bhairava
A realm wrapped in silence and spiritual pressure. Bhairava waited — as if he already knew.
"You came for inheritance," Bhairava stated.
"Yes."
"I also felt the aura. And if I push a human beyond their limit, they will die before the war begins. My inheritance cannot face Ravana."
Then his tone softened — surprising in its warmth.
"You already have someone in mind, don't you?"
Hanuman didn't answer — his eyes did.
Bhairava smiled faintly.
"Then trust your instinct. Destiny is not always chosen by gods… sometimes gods simply follow it."
Hanuman bowed once more and disappeared.
The Mortal World
Rudra laughed loudly with his friends outside a store, carefree and energetic. With others, he was always joking, bright, and confident.
But when he reached home and the door closed behind him, the smile faded.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling — no goals, no direction, nothing pulling him forward.
A good heart, a sharp mind, but no purpose. Only stillness.
And then… the world truly became still.
The clock stopped.
The wind outside stopped.
Even the soft hum of electricity disappeared.
Rudra sat up abruptly.
"…am I dreaming?" he whispered.
He walked to the balcony, confusion tightening in his chest — and froze.
Hanuman stood on the railing.
Massive presence. Calm eyes sharper than steel. More real than anything else in the frozen world.
Rudra stumbled back in shock.
Hanuman spoke gently, "You are not dreaming."
Rudra looked around again — every leaf, every sound, every motion frozen in time.
"Why… why is everything stopped? Am I dead?"
Hanuman shook his head slowly.
"No. You are alive. And I am very real."
He stepped forward, not with fists, but with truth.
"Something is happening in this world — something that should never have happened again. Ravana's rebirth has begun."
Rudra's breath caught, not because he fully understood mythology, but because the name alone carried weight.
"Someone has meddled in the gods' realm," Hanuman continued, frustration hidden beneath discipline. "Even the gods cannot see who triggered it."
He looked toward the silent sky.
"This world's spiritual environment is weak. My power cannot interfere directly. And Lord Ram does not walk this earth today."
Hanuman's eyes returned to Rudra.
"The only path left is inheritance."
Rudra took a step back, voice trembling.
"…why me? I'm no one. I don't have any powers."
Hanuman's response came with gentle certainty.
"You believe you are no one. But I have watched you longer than you realize. Inside you is a spirit that refuses to bow to suffering — even when you do not see it."
"You do not need power to be chosen. You need a heart capable of holding power without letting it corrupt."
"You are not here because you are special. You are special because you are here."
Rudra's chest tightened — not from fear, but from something he hadn't felt in years: belief.
The Gate
Hanuman raised his hand.
A glowing gate formed — seven steps leading inward, each radiating a different aura.
"A war is coming," Hanuman said. "Humans blessed by gods and demons will clash. A power has returned that even I cannot ignore."
He met Rudra's eyes.
"If you accept my inheritance… you will suffer, fight, and bleed. But you will have purpose."
Rudra swallowed hard, fear and trust inside him clashing.
"I… I don't know if I'm strong enough."
Hanuman's answer was simple:
"I do."
It was the first time Rudra had ever felt truly believed in.
He walked toward the gate.
The moment his foot stepped inside — the weight hit him. The pressure wasn't physical; it was every insecurity, every hidden wound pressing against him.
He climbed.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Breathing heavy, body trembling — but he continued.
On the fifth step, Rudra collapsed to his knees.
Not from pain — from memory.
Every moment of loneliness, every silent night pretending to be okay, every time he helped others but had no one to help him… they all surged back.
He whispered shakily:
"…maybe I'm not made for this…"
Hanuman did not help.
He watched — trusting.
Rudra's fists clenched. He forced air into his lungs.
"…Jai Hanuman…"
He pushed himself up — slow, shaky, but rising.
Sixth step.
Seventh step.
The pressure vanished.
The Realm Beyond
Peace.
Mist, waterfalls, white clouds reflecting golden sunlight.
A world that felt like strength and comfort at once.
Rudra exhaled — the first peaceful breath in years.
Hanuman stood beside him.
"You walked because you were afraid," he said. "That is true courage."
Rudra wiped his eyes and managed a small smile.
"So… training?"
Hanuman returned the smile — faint, but proud.
"It has already begun."
End of Chapter 1