Silence ruled the martial stage.
Kartik's body lay broken at the edge of the platform, unconscious, his prana in complete disarray. The once-arrogant genius of the Yadav family ranked third in the Genius Class had been defeated publicly, decisively, and without mercy.
For several breaths, no one spoke.
Then
The entire arena erupted.
Shouts, gasps, disbelief waves of sound crashed through the stands. Elders rose from their seats. Disciples stared at Siddharth as if looking at a monster wearing human skin.
"He… he's only Sadhak Rank 2!" "Kartik was Rank 4!" "That fist art no, that movement, was that Rishi-level?" "How is this possible?!"
Siddharth stood alone at the center of the stage, calm and composed, his breathing steady. The pain from his breakthrough still lingered faintly in his bones, but his posture was upright, unshaken.
He looked down at Kartik.
"I warned you," Siddharth said quietly.
"Run, or die like a coward."
There was no triumph in his voice.
Only fact.
An elder finally stepped forward, his expression grim.
"The duel is decided," he announced. "By the laws of Ayodhya Gurukul, the victor stands."
A wave of murmurs followed.
Then, like wildfire, another realization spread
Kartik had said the words himself.
If I lose, I will serve you till death.
Faces turned pale.
Members of the Yadav family, seated among the honored guests, clenched their fists. Rage burned in their eyes but none dared step forward.
Because this duel was fair.
Because Kartik had agreed.
And because Siddharth had won.
Moments later, Kartik was carried away by healers.
Siddharth turned and walked off the stage without another glance.
But the moment his foot touched the ground
A presence descended.
Heavy. Vast. Suffocating.
An Acharya realm aura swept across the martial grounds, freezing everyone in place.
Gasps echoed.
From the elders' stand, a tall, middle-aged man stepped forward, his eyes sharp as blades.
Veerendra Yadav.
An Acharya realm expert.
And Kartik's father.
"Young man," Veerendra Yadav said coldly, his gaze locked onto Siddharth.
"You have crippled my son's future."
The pressure intensified.
Several disciples collapsed to their knees.
Yet
Siddharth did not bend.
He raised his head, meeting the Acharya's gaze without fear.
"He challenged me," Siddharth replied calmly.
"He lost."
Veerendra Yadav's eyes narrowed.
"Do you think the rules will protect you forever?"
Before Siddharth could answer
Another aura rose.
Equally vast.
Equally overwhelming.
The crushing pressure vanished instantly.
An old figure stepped between them, his presence calm but immovable.
Drona.
"Enough," Drona said lightly.
"This is Ayodhya Gurukul, not the Yadav ancestral hall."
Veerendra Yadav's expression darkened.
"You would protect him?"
Drona smiled faintly.
"I protect the rules."
The two Acharyas stared at each other.
Then Veerendra Yadav snorted and withdrew his aura.
"This isn't over," he said coldly, glancing once at Siddharth.
"Enjoy your time while you can."
With that, he turned and left.
The crowd slowly dispersed, but Siddharth knew
Nothing would be the same again.
By defeating Kartik, he had not only shattered a genius.
He had stepped directly into the sight of ancient families.
That night, back in his room, Siddharth sat cross-legged, eyes closed.
Kailash's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"You've stirred a hornet's nest."
Siddharth opened his eyes.
"Good," he said calmly.
"That means I'm finally worth killing."
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"But next time," he added,
"I won't rely on protection."
Outside, the moon hung high over Ayodhya Gurukul.
And somewhere in the shadows
Eyes were watching.
The shockwave of Kartik Yadav's defeat did not stop at the martial stage.
By nightfall, the entire Ayodhya Gurukul knew.
A Shishya who had risen from obscurity. A newly advanced Sadhak Rank 2. A decisive victory over the third-ranked genius of the Yadav family.
And worse
A public humiliation.
Inside a secluded courtyard of the Yadav residence, an atmosphere of suffocating pressure reigned.
Kartik lay on a jade bed, his face pale, prana circulating sluggishly through damaged meridians. Though his life was not in danger, his foundation had suffered a severe blow.
Beside the bed stood Veerendra Yadav, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Father…" Kartik whispered weakly. "Kill him."
Veerendra Yadav did not answer immediately.
After a long silence, he spoke coldly.
"You lost because you underestimated him."
Kartik's eyes widened. "He humiliated me! In front of everyone!"
"And you handed him the knife yourself," Veerendra Yadav replied sharply.
"You agreed to that duel. You bound yourself with your own arrogance."
Kartik clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms.
Veerendra Yadav turned away.
"For now, you will cultivate. You will rebuild your foundation even if it takes years."
"Then what about Siddharth?" Kartik asked through gritted teeth.
A dangerous glint flashed in Veerendra Yadav's eyes.
"He has entered the board," he said quietly.
"Which means… he will be tested."
At the same time, within the inner halls of Ayodhya Gurukul, the elders were gathered.
Low voices echoed between ancient pillars.
"A Sadhak Rank 2 defeating Kartik Yadav… this is unprecedented." "His foundation is terrifying." "And those martial arts there's no doubt. Rishi-level."
Several elders exchanged uneasy glances.
One of them frowned. "Should we investigate his background?"
Before anyone could answer, Drona spoke.
"There is no need," he said calmly.
All eyes turned toward him.
"He entered through proper channels. He followed Gurukul rules. He fought openly and won openly."
Drona's gaze hardened slightly.
"If you dig into every disciple with talent, you will only strangle the future of Ayodhya."
Silence followed.
Finally, the head elder nodded.
"Very well. But from this moment on Siddharth will be classified as a core observation disciple."
Drona smiled faintly.
That was not a restriction.
It was recognition.
Back in his room, Siddharth sat alone, refining his prana.
His recent breakthrough had stabilized, but he could feel it clearly now
The gap between Sadhak realms was far greater than the Shishya realm.
Even so…
With my current foundation, he thought calmly,
I can already fight above my rank.
Kailash stirred within his robe.
"You've attracted too much attention," the serpent said softly.
"Ancient families do not forget humiliation."
"I don't need them to forget," Siddharth replied.
"I only need to grow faster than they can react."
He opened his eyes.
"In the Gurukul, I'm protected by rules," he continued.
"But outside…"
Kailash chuckled. "You'll be hunted."
Siddharth's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Then it's time to leave again."
The next morning, a notice spread quietly through the Expert and Genius Classes.
Special mission access granted. Danger level: High. Rewards: Exceptional.
Siddharth stood before the mission board, eyes scanning the listings.
The safest place was no longer Ayodhya Gurukul.
The most dangerous places
Were where he would grow the fastest.
He reached out and tore a mission slip from the board.
The name at the top made several nearby disciples inhale sharply.
Forbidden Valley Inner Region.
Siddharth folded the slip calmly.
"Let them scheme," he murmured.
"By the time they move…"
He turned away, eyes sharp and resolute.
"I'll already be beyond their reach."