The academy's 'three-bedroom suite' was wrapped in morning silence. In the center of the main hall sat that comfy sofa where mission plans often took shape, with the main exit door right in front.
Clock ticking..tick-tock... tick-tock
Veeru and Arav tiptoed toward Shiv's room. Shiv's room perfectly reflected his tastes. The window offered a great view outside. Walls were plastered with stunning anime posters from Before Again, Solo Living, and Dragon Ball Super. But the real standout was the Hanuman ji poster above his bed, symbolizing his strength and spiritual core. Nearby, a small library shelf held his clothes and a few essential books.
"Shiv! Get up, bro! We're late for class!" Veeru yelled, shaking him awake.
Shiv jolted up. "What? Class? I'm late again!" He sprang out of bed like lightning and dashed to the shared modern washroom connected to the hall for a shower.
Water splashing... shhhh..
A bit later, he emerged, went back to his room to change, then stepped out and spotted Veeru and Arav. "Let's go!"
Arav eyed him. "But go where?"
"To class, where else?" Shiv said, baffled. "Wait a sec, why are you guys in casual clothes instead of academy uniforms? These are your street outfits."
Veeru grinned. "Because the academy gave us a two-day break. Forgot?"
Shiv's jaw dropped. "Huh? What? I totally forgot."
Arav teased, "You're great in fights, but your memory's weak."
Veeru forcibly dressed Shiv in a gray jacket and blue jeans. Staring at him, Veeru said, "We might've made him too handsome. He wasn't this good-looking before, right Arav?"
Arav laughed. "What are you saying! Just admit he looks way better now—not just good, but really good."
Shiv checked himself in the mirror and smiled. "Do I really look good? This is awesome."
The three headed out of the suite. The corridor was dead quiet. Shiv asked, "Why's no one around?"
Veeru explained, "Everyone already left. Veer's busy with his grandpa, so he's not coming."
Shiv probed, "What about Kavya and Ritika?"
Veeru teased, "Why ask about them? Wait, are you—"
"Come on, hurry up. Stop wasting time," Arav cut in.
They reached the ground where students were boarding buses.
Bus engine rumbling... vroom-vroom..
Shiv asked, "Will the bus take us?"
Veeru joked, "You could walk."
Shiv shot back, "Who's the idiot walking when there's a bus?"
They headed to the bus, where Kavya and Ritika were waiting. As soon as Shiv arrived, the girls' eyes locked on him.
Kavya and Ritika stared in shock. One girl whispered, "Who's that? New transfer student?" Another replied, "No, it's Shiv! I knew the top student was handsome too."
Veeru made a grumpy, funny face. "This is why I told you, Arav—something's off."
Arav laughed. "What's off? Still jealous?"
Shiv approached Kavya. "You heading out too?"
Kavya and Ritika stammered, "Y-Yeah... yeah... no! I mean handsome... no, Shiv!"
Shiv blinked. "What's wrong with you two?"
Kavya composed herself. "Nothing, just a bit shocked. Come on, we're late." They boarded the bus.
As Shiv climbed on, the bus conductor held up a hand. "Money?"
Shiv said, "Money? I don't have any."
The conductor barked, "No money? Get off!"
Shiv glanced at Veeru and Arav, who stood there with cute puppy faces.
Shiv asked, "You two expect me to pay?"
They nodded innocently.
Veeru said, "You've got points, right? Pay with those. It'll just deduct a bit more."
Shiv asked glumly, "How many points?"
The conductor grinned. "Just 10,000!"
Shiv yelled, "What! 10,000? Are we going to Delhi or Kashmir?"
Veeru rushed him, and Arav clamped his mouth shut to stop more outbursts. Shiv paid reluctantly, and they boarded. It was the second bus, with Piya Agnihotri on the seat next to his.
Piya eyed him, thinking, Who's this handsome guy? Probably a new transfer student.
Shiv noticed. "What's up, Piya? Something wrong?"
Piya startled. "You know my name?"
Shiv nodded. "Yeah, we met in the waiting room. I'm Shiv Chandravanshi—the one standing near Kavya."
Piya froze. "Shiv? You did all that on purpose?"
Shiv frowned. "Did what?"
Piya turned to the window, fuming.
[SFX: Bus screeching to a halt... honk-honk...]
The bus stopped in Saket City, Delhi. The scene outside was magical—food stalls everywhere, yellow, pink, and red flowers blooming. The whole vibe was soaked in Valentine's Day festivities.
As Piya stepped off, her foot slipped.
[SFX: Slipping sound... whoosh!]
Shiv caught her in his arms just in time. "You okay?"
Piya opened her eyes, face flushed red. "Let me go!"
He released her; she nearly fell again, so he steadied her. Piya snapped, "This is all your fault!" and stormed off.
Veeru teased, "Rude much? Not even a thanks."
Shiv shrugged. "Whatever. So what now?"
Veeru and Arav said, "No idea."
Shiv punched Veeru's head. "Then why'd we come? I could've trained instead."
Arav mediated. "I read on history sites and social media. There's Champa Gali—famous for its Parisian vibe and fairy lights. Garden of Five Senses has a music concert, and Select Citywalk mall too."
Shiv quipped, "Got it, but money?"
Arav smiled. "If Shiv wants..."
Shiv caught on. "You wanna spend my points? No way!"
Arav and Veeru just grinned as they wandered into Saket's beautiful lanes.
Arav pointed across the street to a park while crossing. "Champa Gali's that way."
As they walked, Shiv saw couples everywhere—flowers, balloons, hands intertwined. Scratching his head, he said, "Bro, it's all couples here."
Veeru pointed ahead. "Nah, look—some students over there."
Arav sighed. "Veeru, look closer. They're couples too."
They entered Champa Gali. It was enchanting—a narrow lane lined with cute cafes, guitar melodies floating in the air.
[SFX: Guitar strumming softly... ting-ting-tar...]
Shiv murmured, awestruck, "This place is amazing."
Then Veeru's 'habit' kicked in. He spotted a lone girl, strutted over stylishly. "Miss, you alone? Need help somewhere?"
Before she could reply, a 6-foot, buff guy appeared. He sized Veeru up and boomed, "Bro, I'm alone too. Help me out?"
Veeru sweated bullets. "Whoa, big bro! You're a genius. Go help your girl."
The girl huffed, "What? I'm not his!" and stomped off angrily.
The big guy clapped Veeru's shoulder. "Maybe you got it wrong, kid. No biggie." He walked away.
Veeru froze in shock. Shiv asked Arav, "What's wrong with him?"
Arav shrugged. "Leave him—he'll snap out of it."
As they moved on, Veeru ran up. "Hey! Where you going without me?"
Shiv laughed. "We didn't—you were going the wrong way."
Then Shiv spotted Piya in a cafe corner, deep in serious talk with an older guy.
Veeru yanked them back. "Stop! Hide here."
Shiv asked, "Why?"
Veeru whispered, "You wouldn't get it now. You'll understand when you're older. Just do what I say."
Veeru dragged them to the seat right behind Piya.
Arav said, "Probably her boyfriend. Who else?"
Veeru challenged, "Guarantee it? Let's watch."
Shiv suggested, "Why not just ask?"
They chorused, "She won't tell! Anyway, this is your training—'Secret Observation'."
Shiv relented. "Fine, it'll boost my mental power."
The waiter arrived.
[SFX: Clinking crockery... clink!]
"Sir, what'll it be?"
Veeru blurted, "Three coffees, that's it."
Shiv activated his T-Sense (Tracking Sense) to eavesdrop. Piya's voice trembled: "...they're expelling him from the academy."
Shiv's ears perked up. He told Veeru and Arav; they gaped. "Why?"
Piya and the guy stood to leave. The trio tailed them. Outside the lane, the guy boarded a bus and left; Piya walked alone.
Suddenly, the air turned icy. Shiv, Veeru, and Arav hid behind a pillar. A man lunged at Piya. She dodged nimbly, but two more attackers joined—three total.
Piya fought bravely, taking one down. But a masked man appeared at lightning speed, winding up a powerful punch to her face. Piya thought, He's too fast... Martial arts master level... I'm done!
[SFX: Heavy impact... boom!]
But no pain hit. Piya opened her eyes—Shiv had blocked the punch with his right hand. He slid in a kick, shoving the masked man back.
Piya yelled, "What are you doing here?"
Veeru rushed up. "Not the time—this guy's tough!"
The masked man faced Shiv. "You're strong, but I'm your opponent. You're done."
He punched at Shiv's face; Shiv dodged, slamming a powerful stomach punch that launched him airborne.
[SFX: Whooshing through air... whoosh!]
Shiv leaped, landing another kick. Veeru attacked from behind, but the man blocked and repelled them all. He blitzed Arav, punching him into a wall before he could react.
"You're weak," the man sneered.
Then a side kick hit his knee, dropping him—Shiv's doing.
The man rose. "Unbelievable—you took my punch and still kicked me. Impressive!"
Shiv demanded, "Who are you? Why target Piya?"
No answer—he attacked again. Shiv unleashed a Question Mark Kick, blocked. Arav hit from behind with his signature skill, a punch-kick combo. Veeru and Piya joined in.
Their combined assault floored him. Shiv sped up, smashing a brutal right side kick to his face. The man crashed into a wall.
"Nice! Everyone did great," Shiv panted.
Smoke cleared, revealing his torn sleeve—a snake tattoo on his right arm.
Piya paled. "You... you're from the White Snake Gang!"
The man growled cruelly, "Now the real fight begins."
He blurred forward, unstoppable—hurling Arav 20 meters into a wall, tossing Veeru skyward. He roundhouse-kicked Shiv, whose block barely held against the massive chakra; Shiv flew back.
Piya swung; he ducked, kicking her leg and sending her sprawling.
"Your signature skill just steals chakra," he taunted Piya. "But mine's way beyond yours."
Shiv rose. The man laughed. "Hit me!"
Suddenly, his chakra froze—Arav's skill from afar.
Shiv activated his signature skill, channeling full power into his right fist for a mega stomach strike.
[SFX: Massive explosion... crack!]
The man crashed 50 meters away. Arav staggered up. "45 seconds up."
Shiv exhaled. "Arav, without your skill, we'd be toast."
Piya tried to run but collapsed. "Ow! Sprained my right ankle."
The man stirred behind. Veeru and Arav stayed to hold him off; Shiv scooped Piya up bridal-style.
Pushing his limits, Shiv bolted at lightning speed. Piya gawked, He's insanely fast!
He carried her under a safe bridge and set her down gently.
He touched her ankle. "Hurts a lot?"
Piya hesitated. "Stop... why'd you save me?"
Shiv said simply, "You were in danger."
Piya snapped, "So what? What if I died?"
Shiv gave her a light slap and said sternly, "Anyone there, I'd save. Enemy or friend, everyone gets a chance. You're my friend—how could I leave you? Now shut up; I'm fixing your pain."
Piya quieted. Softly, she asked, "Shiv... if it was Kavya instead?"
Shiv blurted without thinking, "I'd save her too."
Piya slapped his cheek!
Shiv reeled. "Ouch! What was that?"
Piya fumed, "Don't mention another girl in front of a girl! Idiot!"
Shiv rubbed his cheek. "Sorry... but you hit hard too."
Piya turned away. "You're a real idiot, Shiv."
Piya winced suddenly. "Ow! Are you fixing the pain or making it worse?"
Shiv grinned, popping her ankle back. "Bit of pain, but check now."
Piya moved her foot—no pain. She looked at Shiv, sweat-drenched but with that same innocent resolve in his eyes.
Piya sighed in relief. "Shiv, you really fixed it."
Shiv met her gaze seriously. "Not fully—just numbed it for now. Night's falling; we need a safe spot to hide from that guy."
They raced toward the academy bus for help. But as they neared—
[SFX: Massive blast... boom!]
A devastating punch slammed Shiv's chest, hurling him into the bus's metal frame.
"Shiv!" Piya screamed. Before she could act, the masked man (Vishu) grabbed her hair, slamming her down.
"You wasted my time!" Vishu lifted her by the throat.
Shiv spat blood, charging—but Vishu caught him mid-air and smashed him to the ground. Shiv saw Piya bleeding.
"I'll kill you!" Shiv roared.
Vishu laughed cruelly. "You're weak. Look behind."
Shiv turned—his blood ran cold. Veeru and Arav were captured by Vishu's men, bodies bloodied and unconscious.
"No! Veeru! Arav!" Shiv lunged toward them.
Vishu unleashed his true power. "Kshetra Vistar! Pressure of Gravity!"
[SFX: Echoing rumble... whoooosh!]
A 50-meter Kshetra vistar cloaked in black energy. Crushing gravity hit Shiv—hard to even step. Vishu kicked his head, half-burying his face in the ground.
Darkness clouded Shiv's vision. Blurrily, he saw Vishu about to slit his friends' throats. Shiv closed his eyes in defeat.
Vishu raised his sword. "Die!"
Then—
[SFX: Eerie silence... then crackling thunder!]
A terrifying, immense chakra surged through the Kshetra vistar. Vishu trembled, turning. Shiv stood—but not like Shiv. Purple energy radiated around him.
Vishu gaped. "What... what is this? Chakra's blue—this purple? And its power matches mine?"
Before he could process, Shiv blurred behind him, smashing a fist into the side of his head—crashing him into the Kshetra vistar walls.
Vishu roared, unleashing full power. "You can't beat me! This is my Kshetra vistar!"
Shiv's eyes flashed red. He unleashed aerial barrages on Vishu, who dodged futilely—Shiv's speed was like light.
The Kshetra Vistar warped—turning dark, nightmarish, blood-soaked. Vishu yelled, "How's my Kshetra vistar changing? Unless someone's way stronger..."
He peered at Shiv—eyes black and blood-congealed, intricate red lines on his chest.
Vishu shuddered. "You... you're not Shiv. Who are you?"
A sinister smile crept on Shiv's face. "I am... the Devil."
[SFX: Bones snapping horrifically... crack!]
In the next instant, Shiv ripped Vishu's right arm clean off. Vishu's screams pierced the sky, but the 'Devil' didn't stop—shredding him to pieces. Before Kshetra Vistar shattered, the 'Devil' eyed the chunks and murmured darkly, "Now that I'm awake... who'll save this world?"
[SFX: Kshetra vistar shattering like glass... crash!]
The Kshetra vistar broke; Shiv collapsed, spent. When he came to, he was with Piya, Veeru, and Arav.
"Shiv! You okay?" Veeru supported him.
Tears welled in Piya's eyes. "Good thing you're fine. I thought you'd all die because of me."
The guy from the cafe arrived. "Thanks, Shiv, for saving my sister."
Shiv blinked. "Sister?"
Veeru explained, "Yeah, bro—this is Yadu Agnihotri, Piya's big brother."
Yadu said gravely, "I know who that was—White Snake Gang's third commander, Vishu. But I won't ask how you beat him so brutally. Focus on your tournament and rest for now."
Shiv gazed at the sky. He remembered nothing from inside the Kshetra vistar, but a strange heaviness weighed inside him.