Arjun's entire focus had been on controlling the overwhelming surge of power within him — so much so that he failed to notice the transformation occurring within his source core.
It was only much later, when he finally felt his powers settle into harmony, that he exhaled a sigh of relief. Slowly, he began to withdraw from his inner world. But just as his consciousness started to ascend, his gaze fell upon his source core — and what he saw left him stunned.
The core was glowing… but not with its usual light. It pulsed with a strange, otherworldly hue, unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Staring in disbelief, Arjun muttered under his breath, "My source core… why is it glowing like that?"
He had no answer. No theory. Nothing in his training or experience could explain this. For several long moments, he simply stood there, watching the vibrant, alien glow shimmer and twist within him.
Eventually, he sighed and reasoned, "Maybe… this is a result of becoming a Voidborn Warrior."
With that thought, he allowed himself to return to the realm outside.
As Arjun slowly opened his eyes, he was surprised to feel… good. Better than he had in years. In fact, there wasn't a single trace of pain or injury in his body. Every nerve, every muscle, felt refreshed — alive.
He sat up, then rose to his feet, stretching slightly. For a brief moment, he turned his head, taking in his surroundings — a small bamboo hut, quiet and humble, bathed in the soft light of dawn.
Then, his eyes were drawn to the window.
Beyond the wooden frame lay a wide, open field — vast and empty. But it wasn't the size of the field that caught Arjun's attention. It was what stood at its center: a sword, plunged deep into the earth, buried more than halfway into the ground. The very sight of it made his heart race.
Eyes wide, he stepped toward the window, breath catching in his throat.
"Chandrahās… here?"
His voice trembled in disbelief.
Arjun was left utterly stunned.
Chandrahaas.
The very sword he once wielded in his previous life. The same legendary blade Nitisha had gifted him — a mystical weapon said to amplify the powers of the one worthy enough to wield it.
As the memories surged back into his mind, Arjun couldn't contain himself. Without a second thought, he climbed out the window and rushed toward the sword. His breath caught the moment he laid eyes on it — lying on the ground, battered and tarnished.
He stared at the ruined weapon in disbelief.
"What happened to Chandrahaas?!" he gasped.
"I remember… Nitisha gave me this sword ten years in the future. Back then, it was flawless. But now… how is it in this condition?"
Arjun's thoughts raced, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. How could the Chandrahaas he had yet to receive already exist here — broken, worn, almost lifeless?
To uncover the truth, he stepped forward and slowly reached out, his fingers trembling as they approached the blade.
But just as he was about to touch it—
A harsh, furious voice rang out from behind him.
"You fool! How dare you lay your hands on this sacred sword?"
Startled, Arjun spun around toward the voice.
A young boy, no older than sixteen or seventeen, was storming toward him — his eyes ablaze with fury, fists clenched and glowing with power.
Arjun barely had time to process the stranger's presence when the boy began to channel energy into his hands. Before Arjun could utter a single word in his defense, a violent burst of power shot toward him like a thunderbolt.
The boy's attack carried enough power to shatter a mountain into dust. Arjun, sensing the incoming danger, immediately summoned his Voidborn powers and formed a defensive shield. But the moment the boy's strike collided with Arjun's shield, it shattered instantly, breaking apart like fragile glass. The force of the attack hit Arjun square in the chest.
A low explosion echoed as the impact sent Arjun flying backwards. He crashed hard into the ground, coughing violently, blood spilling from his lips.
The boy who had attacked him smirked and spoke with mocking arrogance,
"A weakling like you… A mere Voidborn-ranked warrior dares to lay hands on something this sacred? This is a Saint-grade weapon — far beyond your worth!"
In this world, weapons were classified into four tiers: Human, Earth, Sky, and Saint. While Human-grade weapons were considered common, Saint-grade weapons were incredibly rare — not only to wield but even to witness.
Arjun, still lying on the ground, heard the boy's words. His face turned crimson with rage. He glared at the boy and growled,
"So what if it's a Saint-grade weapon? It's still my sword. I can do whatever I want with it. Who are you to tell me whether I can touch it or not?"
His voice burned with fury.
The boy burst into laughter, openly ridiculing Arjun.
"Did you just say this sword is yours? Are you stupid or just plain insane to say something so ridiculous?"
Still laughing, he continued,
"Foolish brat. Do you even know whose sword this is? Keep babbling like that, and if the people of the Agni vansh Academy hear you, they'll make sure you don't live to see another day!"
The moment Arjun heard the name Agni Vansh Academy, his eyes widened in disbelief. It was the most revered academy on the entire planet of Mirage — the birthplace of its strongest warriors. Though surrounded on all sides by plundering clans and powerful empires, none dared to lay a finger on the academy.
The reason? Its former disciples — scattered across every corner of Mirage — were fiercely loyal. If anyone so much as attempted an attack, the academy would summon all its warriors back, launching a swift and brutal counterstrike that left no trace of the enemy empire behind. Over time, the message became clear: touch the academy, and perish.
Seeing Arjun's stunned expression, the boy standing before him let out a mocking laugh and said,
"You clueless idiot. Don't you even know? That sword you're gawking at once belonged to the founder of Agni Vansh Academy — the legendary warrior-saint, Mahasant Agni Veer himself! He buried it here before his death."
He paused for a moment, then added with a smirk,
"You might've mouthed off to me, but listen carefully — don't you dare say such things in front of an actual student of the academy. They'll kill you on the spot without a second thought. Got it?"
After taking a deep breath, the boy continued,
"And from the looks of you, it's obvious — you're not just unworthy of being a student of that academy, you're not even worthy of standing near that sacred sword. So shut your nonsense and step away before my next strike isn't just a warning. I won't go easy again."
His threat made Arjun's face flush red with rage. Rising to his feet, Arjun snapped,
"Forget me — after watching your First Flame powers, it's clear you're not worthy of stepping into that academy either. So stop barking and let me do what I came here to do!"
The boy's expression twisted in fury.
"How dare you speak to me like that, you weakling? Let's see what I do to you now!" he shouted, as energy began to gather once more in his hands, crackling and surging with raw power.
He charged at Arjun with fierce speed.
Watching him rush forward, Arjun muttered under his breath with a cold smile,
"Perfect. I needed someone to test my new powers on. And if you're so eager to fight, then so be it."
Arjun clenched his fists and muttered to himself, summoning the last vestiges of his Voidborn Powers. Across the battlefield, the mysterious boy had already gathered an immense amount of energy into his fists and now stood directly in front of Arjun. Without a moment's hesitation, he launched another devastating energy-charged punch toward him.
But this time, Arjun was ready.
He released his Voidborn Powers in a sharp burst, clashing his own energy against the boy's incoming strike.
The collision of their attacks erupted in a blinding shockwave, shaking the ground beneath them. Dust spiraled into the air, and the surrounding leaves were torn from branches, scattering far and wide. A small explosion echoed through the battlefield.
The impact hit Arjun like a sledgehammer. He was hurled nearly a hundred steps back, his breath ragged, chest heaving as he struggled to remain on his feet. Meanwhile, the boy was only pushed back a single step. Yet, that minor displacement was enough to infuriate him — his pride had been wounded, and his glare toward Arjun grew even more venomous.
Arjun wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and narrowed his eyes. His heart sank.
"He's too strong… I can't beat him with Voidborn Powers alone," Arjun thought grimly. "If I had Chandrhaas with me, this fight would've been over already. But I can't summon it now — he'll strike me the moment I let my guard down. One mistake, and I'm finished."
His thoughts raced for a strategy, a way to outmaneuver this overwhelming strength. But before he could form a plan, the boy was already standing in front of him again — fast, precise, merciless.
Power flared around his fists once more as he looked at Arjun with a twisted smile and snarled:
"You talk too much, don't you, boy? Today, I'll beat you so badly you won't even recognize your own face in the mirror!"
As he spoke, the boy began gathering the Ember in the Dark energies once more into his palms, molding them into a fearsome attack. With a sinister grin, he aimed it straight at Arjun and roared, "The Demon Fist!"
The moment the words left his lips, a devastating force erupted from his monstrous fist — a power so immense, it could reduce a mountain to mere dust.
Seeing the attack surging toward him, Arjun's face twisted with concern. Without wasting a second, he summoned every ounce of strength from his body, forging it into a protective barrier — a shimmering armor of pure energy.
But as the monstrous fist drew closer, the strain on his shield intensified. The impact of the incoming power was overwhelming. Bit by bit, Arjun's defense began to fracture. And when the attack was just five meters away, the barrier shattered completely — disintegrating into a thousand flickering fragments.
Watching his armor crumble so easily, panic flashed across Arjun's face.
On the other side, the boy — the one unleashing this cataclysmic blow — let out a cruel, mocking laugh. His eyes gleamed with merciless delight as he sneered,
"Now you'll understand the price of challenging me, boy! You've made the greatest mistake of your life — and I'll crush you into the ground with this Demon Fist!"
As the devastating attack reached Arjun, its sheer force sent chills down his spine. He could feel the air itself tremble, the ground shiver beneath his feet. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go. No time to escape. No space to hide.
He knew — if this attack connected, he would be torn apart.
And yet… there was no other choice.
"When destiny is stolen and the sword lies broken… the true battle is fought by the soul alone."
Accepting his fate, Arjun closed his eyes. His body tensed, bracing for the unimaginable pain that was about to follow. He drew in a sharp breath and prepared himself — for agony, for impact, for everything that would come next.