The next morning, Mohit woke before his alarm.
His body felt heavy, but the warmth inside him was steadier than yesterday. The energy flowed slowly through his veins like a quiet river instead of chaotic sparks.
Small improvement… but improvement nonetheless.
At school, everything seemed normal on the surface — noisy corridors, sleepy classmates, teachers rushing between periods. But Mohit's senses kept scanning.
That scout's warning lingered in his mind.
During lunch break, he noticed something strange.
Near the old storage building behind the playground, the air shimmered faintly — almost invisible, like heat rising from concrete.
Energy density… higher than usual.
His heart accelerated.
This could be one of those natural convergence spots he had read about.
After classes ended, Mohit didn't go home. Instead, he walked calmly toward the storage building, pretending to scroll on his phone.
The moment he stepped closer, the warmth inside him reacted strongly.
A buzzing sensation filled his ears.
Behind the building, weeds grew wildly around cracked ground. The place was deserted.
Mohit crouched and placed his palm on the soil.
The energy surged.
But before he could absorb more—
A sharp sound sliced through the air.
Crack!
A stone exploded near his feet.
Mohit jumped back instantly.
From the shadows stepped a boy about his age, wearing a black hoodie and cold eyes.
"You sensed it too, didn't you?" the boy said. "This spot belongs to me."
Mohit straightened slowly. "I didn't know anyone owned air."
The boy smirked. "Smart mouth. But weak aura."
The pressure coming from him wasn't overwhelming — but it was sharper than Mohit expected.
An awakened student.
A real one.
Mohit's reverse cultivation stirred uncomfortably, limiting his output.
He had no choice.
This would be his first real test.
Mohit steadied his breathing and focused the warmth into his fists.
The air between them tightened.
Two young cultivators, standing in silence…
Seconds before collision.