The sky was tinged with gray when Mohit arrived at the training area with Arjun, Meera, and Siya. The wind whispered through the overgrown paths, carrying faint currents of spiritual energy. It was calm… almost deceptively calm.
Mohit's reverse cultivation defect still pulled at him, but he had learned to manage it better, keeping his energy flowing without exhausting himself too quickly. Today, he had a different mission: guide Siya further and strengthen the team's coordination.
"Remember," Mohit said, "it's not just about raw power. Control and awareness matter more than strength. Don't push beyond your limits."
Arjun nodded, hands glowing faintly as he adjusted his stance. "Understood. Let's make sure Siya can handle a challenge if one appears unexpectedly."
Meera glanced toward Siya, who fidgeted nervously. "Siya, focus. Trust your flow. Don't let panic control you."
The girl swallowed hard but nodded, centering herself. Mohit could feel her energy pulse in rhythm with his guidance — uneven, but slowly steadying.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet.
All four froze. The subtle energy ripple they had sensed earlier now surged violently, like water overflowing its banks.
From the shadows of the nearby ruins, a figure stepped forward — taller than any of them, with jagged, black energy crackling around his body. His aura radiated raw hostility, and the air around him seemed to bend slightly under the pressure.
"I've been looking for new awakenings," the man said, his voice cold, metallic, and heavy. "You four… are tempting fate."
Mohit's pulse accelerated. This was no practice fight. This was the first real threat — an awakened individual far stronger than Kiran. His reverse cultivation defect tugged sharply at his energy, warning him not to overextend.
Arjun's stance tightened. "He's strong… very strong. But he's exposed himself."
Meera's fingers flexed, flames of energy sparking at her hands. "We need to coordinate. Strike together, not alone."
Mohit nodded. He felt Siya tense beside him. Her raw energy pulsed wildly, unpredictable, but there was potential in that chaos.
The black-aura man grinned, taking a step forward. "Don't try to run. You can't hide your energy from me."
With a surge of anticipation, Mohit guided the warmth inside him, stabilizing his core. He focused on control over raw output, readying his senses. The reverse cultivation defect nagged, but he ignored it — for now, precision mattered more than brute strength.
The first clash happened in an instant.
The black-aura man lunged with explosive speed, striking the ground near Mohit. The shockwave sent dirt and debris flying. Arjun intercepted, energy shielding him from the worst impact, while Meera moved like lightning to flank the attacker.
Siya's hands flared instinctively, creating bursts of raw energy that disrupted the black-aura man's rhythm.
For a moment, it seemed like chaos — four energies colliding against a single, powerful flow. But Mohit stayed calm. He adjusted his energy rhythm, sensing the attacker's pattern, anticipating movements, and guiding his allies subtly.
The black-aura man paused briefly, sensing Mohit's influence. "Hmph… clever."
Mohit seized the opening, directing a focused strike that pushed the attacker back slightly. The team's combined effort wasn't enough to defeat him, but it proved that coordinated strategy could rival raw power.
The man's grin faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "Interesting… you're stronger than I thought. But this isn't over."
With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a crackling residue of unstable energy.
Silence fell over the group. Dust swirled in the air, settling slowly around them.
Mohit's chest heaved, sweat dripping down his face. The warmth in his core pulsed faintly, recovering from the strain of exertion. Siya looked at him, wide-eyed, her energy still trembling but calmer than before.
Arjun exhaled sharply. "That was too close. Next time… we can't afford hesitation."
Meera nodded. "And we need to understand that these threats won't wait for us to be ready. We train, or we fall behind."
Mohit looked toward the ruins where the attacker had vanished, a silent determination settling in his eyes. This was the real beginning — not just learning to control energy, but learning to survive in a world where every awakened individual could be a threat.
He clenched his fists.
We'll grow. Together. And we won't be caught off guard again.
The first real challenge had arrived — and the team had survived. But Mohit knew deep down that this was only the start.
The world of awakenings was far larger and far more dangerous than any of them had imagined.