Chapter 2: The Cage of Lions
Scene: The sprawling Virat Academy campus, a hidden enclave in Delhi-NCR.
The academy loomed like a fortress. Advanced tech blended seamlessly with ancient wrestling pits everywhere. Vikram led Shiv toward a massive hall dominated by a giant leaderboard.
Vikram: "We have 1000 students here—not street brawlers, but the nation's elite 'Chakra' users. Your goal is to crack the top 10 here, so you can aim for the top 50 on the World Leaderboard."
A boy shoved through the crowd, blue lightning crackling around him with sharp zzzt-zzzt sparks. His name was Veer.
Veer: "So this is him? Aryaman's son? Looks like some ordinary street thug."
Vikram (in a low voice): "Shiv, stay sharp. This is Veer. His father was your dad's biggest rival, ranked #6 worldwide. Veer's the top student at Viraat Academy, with Body Core: Lightning."
Veer stepped right up to Shiv and whispered in his ear, "Your father's death robbed my dad of proving he was superior. But I'll crush you and settle the score. See you in class, 'Legacy' boy."
Shiv stayed silent, but a faint brown glow of 'Shen' flickered in his eyes with a soft hum. He realized survival here meant shattering limits—not just with martial arts.
Scene: High-tech Class A classroom.
No ordinary benches here—this was a semi-circular theater with holographic projectors and transparent digital screens at every seat. Twenty-seven students sat poised. Class A was elite; only Class AA ranked higher.
Whispers erupted as Shiv entered.
Student 1: "That's the 'Legacy' kid? Heard he skipped tests straight into Class A."
Student 2: "Just 'cause his dad was Aryaman Chandraavanshi. Total unfair."
Shiv slipped into quiet corner seats. A boy with his head down sat beside him.
Shiv: "Sorry, mind if I sit here?"
The boy looked up, eyes nervous.
Boy: "Y-yeah, sure! I'm Aarav Sharma. Promoted from Class B."
Teacher Miss Naina entered—strict and no-nonsense.
Miss Naina: "Settle down. We have a new student—Shiv Chandraavanshi, transferred directly to Class A. I expect you all to welcome him."
She dove into yesterday's 'Chakra-Theory' lesson. Two hours flew by. Shiv listened intently, realizing the energy he sensed was pure science.
Miss Naina: "Alright, class. Time for Martial Arts. Head to the grounds with your instructor."
She left. Veer, from another bench, smirked at Shiv.
Veer: "Finally, real action on the field, Chandraavanshi."
Aarav (to Shiv): "Something between you two?"
Shiv: "Dunno. Guess my being here bugs him."
Veer stormed off. Then a tall, athletic girl approached, eyes blazing.
Girl: "Guys like you waltz in on daddy's name. Top class without earning it... disgusting."
Shiv: "What're you getting at? I'm here to work hard."
Girl: "Can't even get it? You're clueless too!"
She stormed away. Aarav nudged Shiv.
Aarav: "Dude, we're late. That was Kavya—class topper, Core 'Z'. Let's hit the grounds."