Aryan Apex Predators Corporation the massive gates of the Defense Corporation. Suddenly, a security guard steps in front of him and says sternly, "Show your invite card."
Aryan frantically pats his pockets and checks his wallet, but the card is nowhere to be found. He thinks to himself, "I should've come with Aditya. The card is with him!"
"Do you know Aditya?" Aryan asks the guard hopefully.
The guard shakes his head. "I'm a new security guard here, so I don't know anyone. Sorry, no card, no entry."
Just then, Aditya steps out from inside the Defense Corporation building. He glances toward the gate, spots Aryan standing there, and hurries over.
Aditya quickly shows his card to the security guard, who nods and waves Aryan through.
"Did I make it on time?" Aryan asks breathlessly.
"No worries," Aditya replies with a small smile. "The exam doesn't start for another hour."
"Why did you say 8 o'clock then?!" Aryan snaps, still fuming. "Do you have any idea what kind of trouble I went through to get here?"
Just then, Rohan rolls up on his bike, looking completely relaxed.
"Hey! How did your junkyard bike get fixed so fast?" Aryan asks, eyes wide in disbelief.
Rohan shrugs casually. "It was totally dead when we left it… but right after you jumped off, it just started working again."
"It's not your bike's fault," Aryan says sarcastically. "It's just my luck that's cursed!"
"You're absolutely right," Rohan replies, laughing.
Rohan, Aditya, and Aryan walk into the building together. They step into the elevator.
"Which floor?" Aryan asks.
"Seventh," Aditya answers.
Aryan presses the button for 7. The elevator hums upward and smoothly stops on the seventh floor. The doors slide open.
The three of them step out of the elevator and are greeted by a massive set of double doors right in front of them. Aditya, Aryan, and Rohan walk straight toward it and push the doors open.
The moment they step inside, Aryan freezes in shock. The huge hall is packed with people—business tycoons in sharp suits, high-level hunters decked out in sleek combat gear, and other powerful-looking figures. Most of them radiate wealth and authority; the atmosphere feels like a mix of a corporate gala and a secret society meeting.
The three of them keep walking deeper into the room. Rohan suddenly turns to Aryan and says quietly, "I've got something to take care of. I'll catch up with you later
Aditya suddenly says, "I've got something to handle too."
Aryan is left standing there all alone.
Just then, he notices a man in his fifties or sixties. He has white hair and a white beard, and he's wearing a plain black coat. The man is standing quietly in one corner.
Aryan walks up to him and asks casually, "Are you the security guard for the company owner?"
Aditya, who's still nearby, overhears and rushes over. He smacks Aryan on the head with a quick punch. "What kind of angle makes you think he's a security guard?!" he yells. "This is the owner of the company—Rudra Pratap!"
Aryan rubs his head and mutters, "Then why does he dress like a security guard?"
Rudra Pratap smiles warmly and says, "In our company, we don't discriminate—neither by clothes nor by anything else."
He turns to Aditya and asks, "So, who exactly is this boy?"
Aditya replies quickly, "This is my younger brother, Aryan. He's here to take the Awakening Exam. I'm really sorry for his mistake."
Rudra Pratap's tone turns stern. "Make sure it doesn't happen again."
"It won't," Aditya assures him.
He grabs Aryan by the arm and pulls him away.
Aryan yanks his arm free and snaps, "How dare you drag me like that?!"
Both brothers square up, fists clenched, ready to throw down right there in the middle of the hall.
Just then, Meena walks up to them. She's already dressed for the exam—simple T-shirt and pants, looking ready to go.
Rohan comes back at the same time and says with a grin, "You two are fighting like a couple of dogs. Meena, come on, I'll show you the other side of the company."
"You just called me a dog?!" Aryan snarls. He storms toward Rohan and slams a hard punch straight into his stomach.
"Next time, think ten times before you open your mouth and decide whether you're brave enough to say it to me!" Aryan warns, eyes blazing.
Aditya turns to Meena with a warm smile and says, "You're here. I know how hard you've trained. You're going to make an amazing hunter."
Meena's face lights up with a bright smile.
Rohan adds cheerfully, "You're going to awaken on your first try, no doubt. You won't have to come back a second time like Aryan did."
Aryan shoots Rohan a furious glare, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Meena turns and looks at Aryan, her smile softening a little as she meets his gaze.
Aryan starts walking away, then turns back and says coldly, "Anyway, I've told you a hundred times. Girls aren't strong enough. You can't beat monsters, and you definitely can't beat men. So stop wasting your energy and putting your life in danger."
Meena's face falls, her eyes filling with disappointment.
Rohan quickly grabs Aryan by the arm and drags him away from the scene.
Just then, Rudra Pratap steps forward with a microphone and announces in a calm, commanding voice:
"The Awakening Exam will be divided into two parts.
The first part will test how much knowledge you have about this world and its dangers.
The second part is the physical examination.
You must pass both sections in a single attempt.
Only then will you get the chance to place your hand on the Awakening Stone.
Doing so will increase your awakening success rate by 20%."
The entire hall erupts with excitement and determination. Everyone's eyes light up with hope.
Aryan and Meena exchange a glance, then both straighten up, ready for whatever comes next. They stand tall, fully prepared to take on the exam