[Scene: Arena – Main Ring]
Dusk fell, but stadium lights blazed like day. Whispers buzzed through the crowd—murmur, murmur.
Spectator 1: "Look, that's the last heir of the Chandravanshi clan."
Spectator 2: "Aryaman Chandravanshi's son? Heard he's total noob. Sheeta'll chew him raw."
Center ring, Shiv and Sheeta Chaudhary locked eyes.
Sheeta: "So you're the last Chandravanshi heir? Let's see if you're like your father."
Shiv: "What? You know my dad?"
Sheeta: "What're you saying? Your dad had massive fan following—who doesn't? Enough talk—fight!"
Referee: "Fight!"
Shiv threw first punch—whoosh! Sheeta dodged lightning-fast, countered with gut strike—thud! Shiv blocked, spun into 'Right Side Kick'—swish! Sheeta ducked, swept him down with 'Sweep Kick'—crash!
Shiv (thinking): "She's insanely fast!"
[Scene: Back in Ring]
Shiv stood. "You're strong—but not that strong!"
He amped speed, rushed Sheeta, copying her 'Sweep Kick.'
Sheeta: "Copying me won't work!"
She dodged, but Shiv pushed harder, appearing face-close. Sheeta stunned. He switched to 'Question Mark Kick'—boom!
Dust and smoke billowed—poof! Crowd gasped in silence. Smoke cleared—Sheeta's hair and eyes pure white, blazing white aura erupting.
Shiv: "So that's your Signature Skill?"
Sheeta: "Yes, you guessed right. My 'Solar Form'! How's it feel?"
Shiv (thinking): "Weird... I can't sense her chakra. She's beyond my limits. Real fight starts now!"
Blink—Sheeta at Shiv's head, brutal kick—wham! Shiv flew 20m, crashed—thud! He rose—Sheeta behind, face punch—crack!—15m back. She kicked gut, launched him airborne—whoosh!—grabbed back, slammed ground—slam!
[Scene: Waiting Room No. 4]
Drup: "Shiv's done."
Piya Agnihotri: "Had to happen. Sheeta's karate/judo master—combats circles around Shiv."
Quiet Class-AA girl (to Krishna): "Match was unfair from start. How's a noob beat a combat master?"
Kavya smirked. Krishna stared—why's she smiling? What's Shiv hiding?
[Scene: Back in Ring – Final Moments]
Sheeta eyed downed Shiv. "You're weak. Didn't even use 60% power. Nothing like your father."
She turned to leave—Shiv rose, massive blue chakra surging.
Shiv: "Game's just starting!"
Sheeta shocked. "Mastery level? How's his chakra this huge?"
Sheeta went 100%. Red 'S' mark glowed on face. Lightning speed, head kick—swoosh! Shiv blocked right arm, countered 'Roundhouse Kick' to face—thwack!
Sheeta crashed 15m. "How? Caught my speed?"
Shiv activated Signature Skill 'Golden Tether'—golden chain gleamed—shing!
Sheeta poured all energy, attacked. Shiv evaded punches, grabbed hand, ducked, gut punch—oof!
Sheeta staggered 5m.
Sheeta: "How? How're you reading my attacks?"
Shiv silent—he wasn't seeing, T-Sense feeling. He blitzed behind, golden chain wrapped her body—clink!
Sheeta raged, straining full power—but chakra depleted.
Sheeta: "What? My chakra... this fast?"
Shiv slammed her down—boom! Sheeta out cold.
Referee: "Winner: Shiv Chandravanshi!"
Shiv returned. Kavya: "You've gotten strong—but not easy against me."
Drup: "What'd your chain skill do?"
Shiv: "Nothing special." (Kavya had whispered: don't tell anyone about your skill).
Match over—Shiv's first win.
Arena speakers boomed, electrifying the stadium—echo!
"Attention! Round 1 complete. From 200, only 12 warriors advance to semis! Semis in 2 days here. Warriors—48 hours to prepare. Break limits—semis, no one's safe!"
Crowd erupted—roar! Shiv breathed deep, limped out amid dispersing silence, students heading to dorms.
In his room, Arav and Viru snored deep. Moonlight through window lit Shiv's palms. New energy surged inside.
Shiv (thinking): "Mastery crossed... I feel it. Chakra at peak. Can unlock second chakra anytime. Must reach it before finals."
Despite exhaustion and wounds, Shiv smiled satisfied. He lay, eyes closed—deep sleep claimed him. In two days, a new Shiv would step into the arena.