Bright had stepped into a new phase of his life—one where dreams burned brighter than comfort. With Arashi now by his side, the air around him felt more determined, more intense. The day had barely begun when Arashi handed Bright a handwritten routine, neatly rolled and bound with a red thread.
"This," Arashi said seriously, tapping the scroll, "is your new life. If you want to learn the technique sealed within that scroll, you must follow this with absolute discipline. Even then, there's only a 20% chance you'll succeed."
Bright took the scroll and nodded, a fire in his eyes. "I'll take the 20%."
Arashi smiled faintly. "And don't forget, your exams are close. Daytime is for training. Nights are for studying. No excuses."
"Understood," Bright replied.
And so began the most brutal training Bright had ever faced. Mornings turned into sweat-drenched drills, afternoons filled with spiritual conditioning, and evenings dedicated to mastering the control of his flow. His body ached, his mind throbbed, and his spirit was pushed to its very edge.
At night, as the world slept, Bright sat hunched over his books. His eyelids drooped, but he resisted rest, remembering Arashi's words and his own dream—to be the strongest.
Arashi trained him from every angle—physically breaking down his muscles only to rebuild them stronger, spiritually guiding him to increase his inner capacity, and mentally challenging him to endure pressure. Flow sessions often left Bright gasping, barely standing, but every failure made him fiercer.
Then came the exam. Bright wasn't a top scorer, but he did enough to pass. He had done what was necessary, juggling swords and pens with balanced desperation.
Once exams ended, their routine evolved again. Full-day training began—no rest, no gaps. Bright embraced the hellish schedule like a madman chasing light in a tunnel. His body was bruised, his skin sun-burnt, but his eyes—his eyes only shone brighter.
Then came New Year's Eve.
They didn't have a grand party. No fireworks or loud music. Just the quiet warmth of family and friends. Bright's family decorated the house with lights, cooked a special meal, and gathered for a small celebration. Arashi raised a toast with a soda can, nudging Bright's shoulder.
"You've grown a lot, champ. 2125 was your start. 2126… will be your rise."
Bright smiled, holding his plate of sweets. "Let's make it count."
The next morning, training resumed, fiercer than ever.
And just like that, time flew.
February 2nd.
Two days before the Assam League tournament.
The scene opened to Bright standing alone on a hilltop near his training ground, staring into the horizon. His fists were clenched, his breathing slow, and the aura around him pulsed quietly like a storm waiting to erupt.
"I'm ready," he whispered.
Arashi was getting ready to leave for Japan. Bright stood nearby, slightly confused.
"You're leaving already? The tournament is about to start. Can't you stay to watch at least one match?" Bright asked.
Arashi shook his head. "No bro, my academy has called me back. It's urgent. I'm really sorry."
Bright sighed. "Alright, fine."
Arashi smiled. "Don't worry. I'll watch your match on TV—or through video call if I have to. Haha."
Bright gave a small nod. "Okay."
Just before leaving, Arashi turned serious. "Remember this—now that you've understood your powers, you can create your own techniques. Your limits are broken. You're far above a normal superhuman now."
Bright replied firmly, "I won't forget. I'll keep getting stronger."
"Good," Arashi said, giving a short wave. "Go win it, Bright. All of Sivasagar is watching."
With that, he left for the airport.
After Arashi left, Bright stood in silence for a moment. Then he smirked and muttered to himself,
"Don't worry… I'll win this for sure."
He headed back home. To his surprise, the principal of his academy, along with a few teachers, were already there waiting for him.
They all greeted him warmly.
"All the best, Bright," the principal said with a proud smile.
Bright smiled back. "Thank you. I'll give it my all and make sure to win."
The principal then took out a small, sealed container and handed it to Bright.
"This is the Pill of Blood," he said.
Bright looked at it, curious. "Pill of Blood?"
The principal nodded. "Yes. This pill will cleanse your body of any internal injuries, impurities, or lingering negative energy. It will also enhance your blood flow and make you stronger overall."
Bright was surprised but grateful. "Thank you, sir."
After a little more conversation, the teachers and principal gave him final words of encouragement and then left.
Later, Bright went to his room, sat down, and placed the pill in his mouth. He closed his eyes and began to cultivate.
As the pill dissolved, a dark, thick substance began to seep from his skin—like a black liquid. It carried the scent of rot and decay, all the negative remnants his body had held onto.
But soon, that darkness faded. His body began to glow slightly, his aura feeling lighter and stronger.
He felt refreshed, empowered.
"Whoa…" Bright whispered to himself. But then he caught the stench in the air.
"Damn, that smells awful," he chuckled.
He quickly got up and went to take a shower.
Bright was fully focused on the upcoming Assam League tournament. His training was complete, his mind was sharp, and his body had never felt better. With only a day left, he had entered a serious and focused mindset, avoiding distractions as much as possible.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
It was a call from an unknown number.
Bright answered. "Hello?"
A casual voice responded, "Hey, you've been added to the Assam League official WhatsApp group. The tournament match schedule has just been released, so check it out. You'll know who you're up against first."
Before Bright could say anything, the caller hung up.
Bright quickly opened WhatsApp and saw the new group notification:
"Assam League 2126 – Competitors Only"
He tapped into it and scrolled through the pinned message. A digital notice was attached with the schedule for the first round:
---
Assam League 2126 – Official Tournament Bracket (First Round Matchups)
(Note: All matches will take place over 4 days – one district battle per match)
1. Jorhat vs Guwahati
2. Sivasagar vs Dibrugarh
3. Tinsukia vs Nagaon
4. Dhemaji vs Tezpur
5. Barpeta vs Mangaldoi
6. Karbi Anglong vs Goalpara
---
Bright's eyes quickly locked onto the second match:
Sivasagar vs Dibrugarh
"That's my match," he whispered, a small fire lighting up in his gaze.
He closed his phone, stood up, and cracked his knuckles.
"This is it… The real battle begins now."
Bright stared at the district battle list on his phone screen, his eyes quickly scanning the matchups.
"Wait... what?" he muttered to himself. "Sivasagar's match is on the very first day?"
A small wave of nervousness ran through him. His chest felt heavy for a moment, but then a flicker of excitement sparked in his eyes.
"Well… it's a bit sudden, but maybe it's better this way," he whispered. "Let's face it head-on."
Without wasting a moment, Bright opened his browser and began searching for information about Dibrugarh's representative. After a few seconds of scrolling through forum posts and match records, a name popped up again and again.
Neelraj Gupta.
He clicked on a short profile:
> "Power: Rock and Lava. Known for his aggressive combat style and stone-hard defense. A natural at area control, Neelraj dominates the battlefield by turning it into a volcanic deathtrap. He has already gained attention in regional battles for his fierce strength and unpredictable molten attacks."
Bright read each line carefully, analyzing every detail.
"Rock and lava, huh? So, close-range power and field manipulation… seems dangerous."
He thought for a moment, letting the image of a burning battlefield play in his head. He could almost feel the heat, the tremors beneath his feet.
But instead of fear, something else took over—anticipation.
A genuine smile touched his lips, his eyes glowing with quiet determination.
"Alright, Neelraj… let's see what you've got."
He placed the phone down beside him and looked up at the ceiling, his voice quiet but filled with certainty.
"I'm ready."
His grin widened as his thoughts roared with a wild thrill.
The storm was coming.
And Bright was ready to stand right at its heart.
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To be continued...