Jai Malhotra—a name that stirred the shadows of darkness upon hearing it. A man who had spent his entire life in pain and scorn. The cruelty of his childhood had poisoned his nature. To survive, he had taken every path that ordinary people couldn't e... Jai Malhotra—a name that stirred the shadows of darkness upon hearing it. A man who had spent his entire life in pain and scorn. The cruelty of his childhood had poisoned his nature. To survive, he had taken every path that ordinary people couldn't even imagine. And it was this struggle that had made him—DEVIL KING. A title reserved only for the most dangerous and evil individuals. "This world has taken everything from me... now I will take everything from this world." That's when five magicians conspired to eliminate Jai Malhotra. His last spark of life was about to be extinguished, but the Devil King still had one last gambit. A powerful spell that, once activated, would transport him to a new world—a world where mountains could be shattered with pure power. This world was of warriors, of martial arts. But even here, magic was still alive—and only Jai Malhotra knew this secret. Stay with me to find out what happens next in this story.<br />
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The sharp, biting wind tore ferociously across the rooftop of the tall building. An old man, his beard and hair scattering in the gale, squinted at the city lights illuminating the urban sprawl.
Jay Malhotra raised a hand to shield his eyes, attempting to ward off the wind’s biting gusts. “Why did I choose the rooftop for this damn ritual?” he grumbled.
His long hair fell over his eyes, which he irritably pushed back. “Magic can solve many problems in this world,” he muttered, “but not foolish decisions like these.”
His robes billowed and slapped against his body as he reached the center of the rooftop.
“If this wind wasn’t present, this ritual would have been completed by now.”
Multiple voices wailed in muffled agony—some nearly screaming.
Jay’s patience was wearing thin. “Quiet, all of you! What is it you have to say?”
Beneath him, etched into the rooftop, was a glowing circle, filled with intricate symbols and sigils. It pulsed with white light—emanating not from any external source, but from Jay’s own magical energy. Within the circle, five people were bound—their hands and feet tied with ropes. Their mouths were not gagged, but their screams had been reduced to mere whispers.
“If I allow one of you to speak, will the rest remain silent?” Jay asked, conjuring a symbol in the air. Purple light began to emanate from his fingers.
At his gesture, one of the prisoners—a middle-aged man—was able to speak again. He took a trembling breath and began to plead, tears streaming down his face, “Please, Devil King! Let me go. I’ll give you everything! Just don’t kill me!”
Jay moved closer, looming over him, “When that couple begged for their lives, what did you give them? Where are they now?”
The prisoner froze, his eyes wide with terror.
“How do you know?” he screamed.
Jay began to circle the ensnared prisoners, enumerating each of their sins— “Murdered your lover in a fit of rage upon seeing someone else. Framed those you hated with false accusations. Sold illicit substances to desperate mages, causing their cores to rupture.”
The prisoners finally understood—Jay was recounting their hidden depravity, the crimes they had escaped.
But as he reached the last prisoner, he paused. “And you,” he said with disdain, “a staunch journalist, who imposes his views on others. To be honest, I only chose you because I needed five people, and time was running short.”
More symbols began to emerge within the circle, their glow intensifying.
As Jay prepared for the next phase, one of the prisoners defiantly challenged, “So what! You judge us, but what are you, Devil King? How many lives have you taken? You are no better than us!”
Jay opened his mouth to retort, but a violent coughing fit wracked his body, splattering blood onto the ground. “You’re right,” he wheezed, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, “We should all die.”
Just then, a voice echoed from behind, “Not all, only you!”
Jay and the prisoners turned to see five figures clad in white robes descending from above.
“Grand Masters! They’ve come to save us!” one of the prisoners exclaimed.
These were the most powerful among mages, the 9-Star Masters, capable of reshaping entire nations. Their simultaneous appearance was shocking—even when pitted against the Devil King.
“So, you finally arrived,” Jay quipped. “Tiwari, is your wife still satisfied with your only toy?”
Tiwari’s face turned crimson with rage.
“Jay!”
A tall, golden-haired Grand Master stepped forward, radiating energy. “How could such a talented mage become this?”
“Silence!” Jay roared. “All of you—you have no right to say anything to me! You took my world from me! Especially you, Inder!”
Darkness began to gather around Jay, spilling out from his tattered robes.
Inder’s smile remained on his face.
“Did you think we wouldn’t know?” he said. “You were going to die anyway. But we won’t let you die like this. Devil King, the world’s greatest criminal—you must die by our hands.”
“Hahaha!” Jay guffawed. “Inder, Rajat, Rajveer, Karan, and Rakesh… this is my final warning to all of you.”
The magical circle below began to glow even faster.
Seeing this, the Grand Masters erected protective shields.
The prisoners within the circle felt pressure building in their heads… then—pop. Their heads exploded, and they all collapsed to the ground. Jay Malhotra, standing in the center, too.
The Grand Masters stepped forward. No life remained.
“Is he really dead?” Rajat asked.
“He’s dead. This is his body… what’s left of it,” Rajat replied.
The youngest Master, Karan, looked around, then smiled.
“Now I understand his final message.”
As everyone peered intently at the ground, the blood and symbols had coalesced to form a shape—a giant fist, with its middle finger raised.
“With Jay Malhotra confirmed dead,” Inder declared, raising a fireball. He began to fly, and the others followed.
The fireball struck the rooftop, engulfing the entire area in flames, including the corpses. The Masters flew away—leaving their past behind, with a deep sigh of relief.
---
‘I can’t believe I risked my life like this,’ Jay thought. ‘I gambled everything on that book I got from the portal. I don’t know if it’ll even work. I was dying anyway… I just needed a chance to get them back.
‘Those fake smiles! They call me evil, but they wouldn’t hesitate to snatch a candy from a child. And me? I’d just sneak a lick and give it back. Tell me, who’s worse?’
Memories of Jay’s life flashed before his eyes—especially the painful ones. Childhood, loss, everything that made him the Devil King.
But then other scenes began to appear—tall mountains, grand temples, greenery all around. A man, a woman, and a little girl—whom he had never seen before. All wore robes, and people were fighting with just their fists.
‘What is all this? These aren’t my memories! They don’t even look like my world!’
Familiar and unfamiliar memories flooded his mind at an alarming rate. Painfully, his eyes fluttered open again.
Memories surged within Jay Malhotra like a tidal wave—emotions he had suppressed for years. Every time he returned to those moments, he felt disgusted.
"When did it all begin? This horrific life of mine? Was it my father first? Who sold me to those people... every night? No, that wasn't what broke me. It was..."
But these sharp memories were soon overshadowed by something else: unfamiliar faces, strange places, and names he had never heard before.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, his vision somewhat blurry.
"Why... why am I in pain? My neck hurts, and it feels like... I can't breathe!"
As his vision cleared, the darkness also began to creep in. Then the eyes became clear—bulging, staring at him. He realized then, someone was strangling him.
"I've escaped death before, and now this? Someone's strangling me to death! Facing death again! If I had to die, I would never choose such a painful way! I won't die again!"
He could see his attacker—a man draped in black, his face covered, only his eyes visible—just like a ninja.
Struggling, Jay placed his hands on the man's stomach.
"Let's see how you feel when your insides burst!"
Jay exerted force, but nothing happened. No explosion, no reaction. The attacker tightened his grip on his neck further.
"Did all my magical power get used up in that spell? Damn it... I think I'm really going to die..."
Darkness began to seep in from the edges of his vision, and he felt himself losing consciousness. But then he felt the attacker's strength waning.
"Did some part of my spell work? This is my chance."
He spotted a shard of a broken plate in the corner, snatched it, and thrust it into the man's side. He groaned, his grip loosening.
Blood flowed from where the shard had pierced his hand, but the sky rendered the pain ineffective. Jay pulled out the shard and struck repeatedly until the attacker finally collapsed and fell on top of him.
"I can breathe!" Jay gasped, but his chest was still constricted. He waited a moment for his strength to return, then pushed the attacker away and barely stood up.
Exhausted, Jay was breathing heavily. After a few moments, the pain subsided, and he looked around.
The man in black had more wounds on his body, ones Jay hadn't inflicted. Jay had seen enough corpses to understand—he was dead.
"Ah!" A sharp pain shot through his head, and this time the memories came in even clearer. He looked at his hands—soft skin, opening and closing easily, without a scratch.
"The spell... it really worked. I've been reborn!"
His appearance suggested this body belonged to a teenager or a young boy. It was hard to tell without a mirror. "I doubted that book, but it worked!" Jay thought. "Thank God I got a young body. What if I had ended up old or helpless?"
But the first experience of this new life was almost death—not an auspicious beginning.
Surveying the room, Jay tried to understand the situation. Rotting wood on the floor and mold on the walls. Old wooden utensils and half-eaten food were remnants of a bygone era.
"Their food was still here," Jay observed.
Here, "their" meant—three more corpses: a man, a woman, and a teenage boy. All had fatal wounds on their bodies. From the memories, it seemed this was his new family. A pang struck his heart, but Jay suppressed it.
"They were killed, perhaps by the same man who tried to kill me. But why?"
The new memories were incomplete. Some names were remembered, but no experiences or relationships. Yet, one thing he remembered clearly—his name: Jay Malhotra.
"Perhaps it's a coincidence that this body also has the name Jay," he thought. "Or perhaps the spell ensured it. Whatever it is, I did it."
He clenched his fist and tried to summon magic. His eyes were fixed, his focus intense, his veins taut—but nothing happened. He began to look within himself. After a while, he began to understand.
'Now I understand why the spell failed earlier,' Jay thought. 'Because this boy has no Mana Core within him. And that means no magical specialty has been chosen yet!'
Initially, Jay was disappointed. Living in a body without the foundation of magic meant starting from zero. The years he had spent making himself a 9-star mage were erased in an instant. Everything started anew.
But as he thought more deeply, it felt like a blessing rather than a curse. If the body had a pre-existing Mana Core, it would also have some inherent magical specialty.
In his previous life, Jay's natural specialty was wind magic, in which he was proficient. But over time, he gravitated towards dark magic—a mysterious art, adopted by very few. He was the only 9-star mage proficient solely in dark magic. His name was spoken with fear and respect—the Dark Mage.
But due to his nature of wind, he could never become a complete master of dark magic. However, now, with a blank slate, he could rectify his old flaws.
He looked at the corpse lying beside him, and a crazed smile spread across his lips. Jay sat on the ground and entered a meditative posture. With the blood flowing from his palm, he created a magic sphere.
'For centuries, it was believed that one's magical specialty was determined by fate. Whenever someone formed their Mana Core, that core would glow with a specific color, indicating their specialty.'
'But it was later discovered that certain actions could guide the formation of the Mana Core—as long as the core was not yet formed. Spiced food could awaken fire, falling from heights could awaken wind. But for a dark specialty? There is a dark path for it... murder.'
"Ha ha ha!" Jay's laughter echoed in the air, wild, uncontrolled. "Is this fate's play? As if the universe itself is showing me the way!"
As he completed the magic sphere, his focus deepened. The surrounding energy began to swirl, like waves, wrapping around him, then merging into him.
He felt small drops of energy gathering near his heart—where the Mana Core is formed. This energy transformed into a powerful sphere.
It felt like hours, but finally, the process was complete. Now, within Jay, there was a deep black Mana Core, encircling his heart.
His eyes opened, and they held a triumphant glint.
"The Dark Mage has returned."
---
Jay's smile wouldn't stop. The thought of starting a new life, even with a dark attribute, meant he could reach much greater heights as a dark-level practitioner than he had ever imagined.
A mysterious energy, a mixture of deep purple, blue, and black, began to swirl around his finger. It was thick, like paint, yet also fluid, as parts of it flickered and disappeared with movement.
Jay pointed his finger at a plate placed before him. "Dark energy!" he exclaimed. The energy shot out like a beam and struck the plate directly, shattering it into pieces.
Just using one spell made his head ache slightly. Dark magic was powerful and destructive, but it consumed far more mana than other attributes.
Now that he had a dark core in his body, he would need to rely on magical items, crystals, herbs, and the like to strengthen his other attributes. It was possible for any level to learn all attributes, but learning something that conflicted with his core would be more difficult.
For example, it would be difficult for Jay to increase his strength in the light attribute because it was the opposite of his dark core, but not impossible. Jay understood things like a game, which made them seem easier.
If this were a game, having a dark core would mean starting with 10 points in the Darkness attribute. These could be increased with the help of special techniques or items. Due to his dark core, Jay's body could easily absorb things and increase his points.
Items related to the light attribute could also be absorbed, but it would require ten times more energy to increase a single point. Increasing other attributes was easier, but not as much as dark.
Furthermore, no other attribute could now be more powerful than his dark core, as it was the foundation of his body.
Slowly, his headache subsided, but another big problem presented itself.
'I'm only a one-star level right now,' Jay thought. 'I have limited mana. And because I only have the dark attribute, I can only cast one-star dark spells, which consume a lot of mana. I need to learn another attribute soon, perhaps wind?'
The rank of a level was determined by the amount of mana present in their core—ranging from one-star to nine-star. Jay had been a nine-star level in his previous body.
However, simply having more mana didn't indicate being more powerful. It allowed for the use of high-level skills, but that wasn't enough in battle, especially when you had multiple forces and attributes.
Jay had won many of his initial battles with the power of dark magic because people underestimated its strength.
He rubbed his hands together and couldn't suppress a smile, then burst out laughing.
'Haha! But I won't remain a one-star master for long! I wasn't entirely sure if this spell would work, so I hid all my items, herbs, and crystals in a secret vault! I just need to access it, and I'll be a nine-star master again!'
Jay was now envisioning his new life—a life where he wasn't a criminal, where Grand Masters weren't chasing him, and where he could become powerful even faster than before. With the experiments he had conducted and the experience he had gained, he would progress the fastest in this new life. People would call him a genius, and at the right time, he would definitely get his revenge.
Just then, loud banging sounds came from the door, as if someone was trying to break it down.
"Open the door!" a deep voice came from outside. Jay found the voice slightly strange, as if it had a different tone and accent, but he could still understand it clearly. "We are the Power of Arcana! We received reports of screams from this house! If the door is not opened, we will break it down!"
'Power of Arcana?' Jay thought, but he couldn't recall any such name. Perhaps it was a group? He was in a new body now and didn't know the names of all the master groups, so he had to be cautious.
'If they find out I'm practicing dark magic, they'll report me immediately!' Jay realized. A big reason for them to be searching for him was that practicing dark magic was forbidden.
The banging on the door continued, and eventually, they couldn't stop. The door burst open with a loud crash, detaching from its hinges and hitting the wall. Five men wearing red armor stormed inside.
Jay raised his hands and watched them cautiously.
'I hope these people don't consider me a murderer. Although being the only survivor doesn't bode well. I want to know what level these masters are.'
But as the men entered, Jay found something extremely strange. Firstly, they were all armored, not wearing light clothing. And their bodies were quite sturdy.
Some also had swords and other weapons.
'Is the Power of Arcana a magical weapon group? If so, this might be really difficult.'
The men spread out, and upon seeing the corpses, their expressions turned blank.
"What happened here…" one man said. "Was this a murder? Why would someone target the Sing family?"
Jay heard them talking but didn't understand one thing—'Sing'? His name was… he was Jay.
'Wait, am I only remembering his first name… does this mean I don't have a family name? But everyone here has family names. And these people… they are my family.'
A young boy entered, and as soon as he saw the blood-soaked scene, he covered his mouth. But his gaze quickly fell upon Jay.
"Jay!" the boy exclaimed. "What happened to you… your hair?"
'My hair… what's so special about my hair? Why would someone comment on hair? Well, at least he knows who I am. It's not right to stay quiet now.'
When Jay felt like someone knew him, he decided to put on a little act. He dropped to his knees and held his head, looking towards the ground.
"My family… they're all dead!" Jay said.
"Jay," the man said in a low voice.
"Ashok!" shouted the oldest member of the Power of Arcana, identifiable by his thick mustache, and the leader of the group. As he called the name, the young member looked up.
"Take this boy out of here, and make sure he's looked after. We will see what happened here. For now, he should rest."
"Yes, sir!" Ashok replied and moved towards Jay, but before he could support him, Jay stood up on his own and waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary.
"It's fine, I can walk myself," Jay said and walked out with Ashok. As he stepped outside, the bright sunlight dazzled his eyes, and after a moment, he could see where he was.
'Wait… what is all this? There's only dust on the ground. Houses seem just… pieced together… no skyscrapers, no lights visible, and just mountains as far as the eye can see?'
People were wearing strange clothes, most carrying weapons. They all looked normal, no special crystals, and one other thing was clearly visible—no one was using magic here.
'Hold on… is this… is this… another world!'
A completely new world had opened up before Jay Malhotra's eyes, sights he had never seen before. The market shops, adorned with fresh fruits and vegetables, lined the alleys, and people walked about with weapons strapped to their bodies. No building stood taller than three stories, each one closely packed alongside its neighbor. There were no vehicles in sight—completely different from his old world where cars flew through the air. Here, only hand-pulled or pushed carts filled with goods were visible. People transacted with coins and notes, not technology. It was clear that this world was not one Jay knew. As he followed Ashok, Jay observed every detail and pondered his situation. "Is this really another world? Or have I arrived in a place where society and technology are still in the old times? But then... why isn't there any magic here? This must be another world," Jay thought. "The book said I would be reborn in a new body, but it never told me where or how. I should have understood that a book demanding black magic would have nothing easy about it." Suddenly, Jay stopped in the middle of the road, his hand on his chest, as if a heavy truth had struck him. "My treasure!" he lamented silently. "If I am in another world, then everything I accumulated is gone... forever. How will I increase my power now?" Memories flooded his mind: the deadly trials he had endured, the battles against magical demons he had barely survived. All that effort seemed futile now. A tear was about to roll down when Ashok noticed the sadness on Jay's face. "Poor boy, he has just lost his entire family. Now, the reality must be sinking in," Ashok thought. "My things!!!" Jay forced himself to move forward, holding back his tears. But as he began to accept this loss, another thought occurred to him. "Wait... Grand Master! He isn't in this world. My purpose for being reborn was to take revenge. If those people aren't here, what is the meaning of my existence?" "Reincarnation must be a cheat code, right? Going to the Magic Academy, being called a prodigy at the age of five, defeating bullies who underestimated you, and silencing your critics?" His dream was crumbling before his eyes. "You stop, you thief!" A fat, bald man shouted, sweat dripping from his face as he chased after a small child, who looked about five years old. The child, wrapped in tattered clothes, with a body covered in bruises and dirt, ran past Jay. The man followed, appearing more energetic than the exhausted child. Jay touched his magic power and felt an energy surge in his finger. "Dark energy," he whispered. A faint ray of energy shot from his finger, nearly invisible in the sunlight, but it hit the man's leg, causing him to fall face-down on the ground. 'The man seemed well-fed, and the child was hungry—two meals could be spared.' People gathered around the fallen man—some laughed, others helped him up. But the child escaped, and no one noticed Jay's action. "No one should endure hunger," Jay thought and continued on. Finally, they reached their destination: a massive structure enclosed by walls, standing between two large red gates. Beyond the walls, the building exuded grandeur, with ancient tiles and dragon carvings on its roof. Supporting pillars had intricate carvings, like a sample of a lost art. Two stone lions stood before the gates—regal and guardian-like. Nearby, two guards in red uniforms, similar to Ashok's, stood motionless with spears. Above the gate, a board read: 'Power of Arcana'. The words and script were unfamiliar to Jay, yet he could read them. "This isn't my world. And what is this 'Arcana'? It's neither a guild nor an organization. What kind of world have I entered? If there's no magic here... will people consider me a god?" Jay found himself in a guest room of the Power of Arcana clan—a "building" that wouldn't do justice to the term, as it was a large complex with multiple structures and two spacious courtyards. People in red uniforms walked about everywhere. The sun had set, and many residents had already retired for the night. Jay was placed in a corner room, which was a distance from the largest building. The room was quite plain: a bed, a table, and an oil lamp. "It's very dark here. I can see with my magic, but it will cost me mana. The troubles of a one-star master begin again. I need to increase my mana. Dark magic is useless without sufficient mana."
Jay thought he could only perform five magic tricks quickly. The recent death of his new family still shook him. And no one knew anything about him; anyone could find him.
The Power of Arcana probably held some power in this world—at least, he was safe here for now.
As Jay headed towards the bathroom, he received another shock. There was no door to the bathroom; it was just a part of the room. And the toilet—it was just a hole in the ground.
'No... please, don't tell me the toilet is just a hole!' He took a deep breath. 'I've lived in worse places, but this is terrible.'
This realization strengthened his determination—if he had come into this world, there must be a way to return.
With an oil lamp, he looked at his new form in the mirror.
As he had thought, his skin was still smooth like youth, with no wrinkles on his face. He looked like a teenager. But his body was very thin.
His hair—a little straight and curled at the edges—was entirely white.
'My previous body had white hair too. I had done a forbidden process for 5-star magic. It worked, but my health deteriorated, and my hair turned white.'
He remembered how Ashok had reacted to seeing him.
'Wasn't the original owner of this body with white hair? Did my soul coming here cause this change?'
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Ashok entered.
"Sorry for the delay, Jay," Ashok said. "We understand you're worried and confused. If you can share any information, it will help us."
It was clear they weren't looking at him with suspicion, even though he was the only survivor. Jay chose this opportunity to tell half the truth.
He told them he woke up in the middle of a deadly attack and killed someone in self-defense. The people here carried weapons, so it wouldn't seem unusual.
Then Jay said he remembered nothing—neither about this world nor his age nor recognizing anyone. This excuse would serve as a shield for strange actions in the future.
"I can understand what you're going through," Ashok empathized. "Do you remember me?"
Jay shook his head. This body had only some vague memories.
"Alright, just a minute," Ashok went out and returned with a teenage girl. Her hair was thick and black, falling down to her shoulders.
Her outfit was the same as Jay's—a plain grey shirt and pants—but there were dark circles under her eyes.
As soon as Jay's eyes fell on her, a flood of emotions overwhelmed him, and he unconsciously smiled.
"Thank God," Ashok breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems you remember your sister Rashi."
'Wait... my sister? Did he just say... my sister?'
Suddenly, everything started connecting. Just like when he saw his parents. Old memories returned, and he recognized this girl.
"She was hiding in the wardrobe when the attack happened. When we searched the house, we found her trembling inside. It's a miracle that you both survived," Ashok explained. "Now you two can talk alone."
Ashok left. Rashi looked at her brother and smiled slightly. She seemed Jay's age, but he remembered she was two years younger.
She immediately ran to Jay and held his hand, resting her head on his shoulder. Jay's heart raced, and scenes flashed before his eyes.
"Don't touch me!" He shouted and jerked himself free, stepping back.
For a moment, their eyes met, then filled with tears. She sat behind a chair, as if about to fall to the ground.
Jay's breaths were quick. His reaction shook him to the core.
'This body... still reacts to it... and my emotions are completely messed up.'
He approached a trembling Rashi.
"I'm... sorry," he said. "My mind is a mess. I'm broken and panic when touched. Can you understand?"
Rashi nodded slowly.
'Great... his whole family died, and the only one left, he yells and scolds her. How difficult must this be for her?'
Slowly Rashi got up, and both of them were there...
Jay and Rashmi found themselves in a place the locals called the "temple" of the Power of Arcana. On Jay's home planet, Reether, it was known as the "orphanage."
This vast estate was perched halfway up a mountain, somewhat isolated from the city. In front lay a large, tiled open space and a wide building. Jay wondered how much it would cost to construct such a magnificent building on Reether.
With the newly arrived children, there were now twelve in total at the orphanage, each with their own reasons for being there. But this was no ordinary orphanage. Permission to stay was granted only if Mr. Tej approved. Mr. Tej—bald, dressed in monk-like robes, with a deep scar running from his chin to his forehead.
The children wore old, loose-fitting clothes. They ranged in age from five years old to teenagers like Jay, who had only recently learned he was fifteen.
Ashok had said that if he were a year older, he would have to live on the streets. Thinking about this, Jay remembered a hungry child—one who hadn't been taken into the temple. At the time, Jay hadn't understood Mr. Tej's rules.
Ashok had explained that there were certain criteria to stay there and then handed them over to Mr. Tej, saying they were safe now. Whether Ashok truly believed that or had said it to reassure them after the attack, Jay still didn't understand. But the events of the previous night had made him realize the importance of understanding the martial arts of this world.
Their first night, they were given a single room with only one bed. Jay silently offered the bed to Rashmi and slept on the floor himself. Rashmi gestured for him to share the bed, but Jay immediately reminded her of his "no touching" rule. Rashmi, disappointed, fell silent.
The next morning, ready to help at the temple, they reached the main hall and found a familiar face.
"Well, it seems you two slept soundly," Ashok said with a smile. "I told you I'd check on you the next morning. Now that I see you're alright, I'll be going."
"Wait!" Jay interrupted. "Actually, I have some questions for you."
While Rashmi went to learn her duties with Mr. Tej, Jay and Ashok went into a room—a spacious one, filled with high-quality books and furniture, much better than Jay's home.
Ashok sat on a single chair and asked Jay to sit on the sofa opposite.
"So, what do you want to ask?"
Jay couldn't recall many things about this world, especially regarding martial arts. In his own world, martial arts were just an exercise, not a combat skill. Punching through walls was just a figment of imagination for him.
"Oh, I see. You mean I should treat you like an alien?"
'Wouldn't that be the case? I am from another world,' Jay thought to himself.
What Ashok told him only increased Jay's curiosity. This world was not just a little different; it was completely alien.
Here, practitioners of martial arts were called Warriors, much like magicians were called mages. But there was a specific reason behind it.
Not everyone learned martial arts to the extent that Jay had witnessed. Warriors were a separate community, independent of the army or empire, with their own social rules. The general rule was that the community did not interfere in the affairs of others, and others were expected to stay away from them—though, according to Ashok, this was just an excuse. In reality, Warriors had more freedom, even the permission to kill. The state itself sometimes hired them and paid for their services.
"Now that you know about Warriors, understand that they are divided into three major factions. The entire continent is divided into three factions:
The 'Dark Faction', the 'Light Faction', and the 'Demon Faction'."
Ashok showed their territories on a map. Each territory contained several kingdoms and communities.
"Each faction has many families, and each family has its own distinct martial arts style that they teach their loyalists. For example, we are part of the Power of Arcana, the Dark Faction."
He also explained that being in the same faction did not imply friendship. Most clans operated independently.
The classification of factions was based on the source of their martial arts power. It wasn't necessarily true that the Light ones were good and the Dark ones were evil. It simply depended on the type of their energy.
Jay found this part very interesting, especially because his own power might be related to it. He was a mage, and research was his strength.
"Now, what I'm about to tell you is the most important," Ashok said gravely. "Warriors cultivate their powers, refine their techniques. There are even Masters among them who can destroy a city with a single punch."
This strength seemed equivalent to a 9-star Master.
Fighters were divided into three parts—
Beginner level: Rank 1 to 6,
Intermediate level: Rank 7 to 9,
Divine level: Rank 10 to 12.
If you ever become a Warrior, you will feel the enormity of these levels yourself. The difference in power between each rank is enormous. For now, it's enough for you to understand that if you ever hear the term 'Divine level', don't anger the person in front of you. No one will be able to save you."
As Ashok spoke, his voice and demeanor had completely changed. Jay was still a no-name—no clan, no ties to any empire.
If he had been born into the body of a powerful Warrior, things might have been different.
"So... what level are you?" Jay asked.
Ashok placed his hand on his chest and said, "I am a Rank 2 Warrior of the Beginner level."
Jay was quite impressed. If a Rank 2 Warrior was this powerful, what would a Divine level be like!
As he thought about this, something came to his mind.
"Wait, the people who attacked us... were they also Warriors?"
Ashok nodded.
"Then... if that's the case, why would Warriors target a no-name family like ours? And why did they come to kill us again?"
As far as Jay Malhotra had known, the members of the Yoddha generally did not interfere in human affairs. Only those sitting in high positions or those who were particularly troubled would intervene. This is why the recent attack surprised him.
"To be honest, I don't even know myself," Ashok said with a deep sigh. "There is a lot going on right now that we don't understand. Even though the Power of Arcana controls this area, it's hard to monitor everything."
"Look, I know you want answers, but don't even think about revenge. A common human's rank 1 warrior doesn't make sense. Remember, you have a sister to take care of."
'Revenge!' Jay thought. 'Why should I care about a family I have no connection or memory of? The ones I really want to take revenge from are those Grand Masters.'
Ashok had already crossed half the door and was in a hurry, so Jay didn't ask him any more questions. He could ask him next time they met or gather some information himself.
When he returned to Mr. Tej, Jay was introduced to the rest of the people living in the temple. Four of them were his age: three boys and one girl.
The first one who caught Jay's eye was a dark-skinned boy with curly hair, named Vinay, who always had a foolish but lovely smile on his face. He seemed really excited to meet new friends.
There were two other boys: one short, attractive, and strong, who only reached Jay's shoulder - named Raghav. He seemed annoyed at being called without reason.
Next to him were twin siblings - Ranveer and Raha. They looked exactly alike, except for the length of their hair. They introduced themselves politely but didn't seem very enthusiastic.
The rest of the children were quite young, and Rashi and Jay greeted them with a smile, a wave, and a bow.
After the introductions, everyone went about their business. Rashi started cleaning the temple and sweeping outside. She was paired with the twin siblings for cleaning. Jay was asked to help prepare food and work with Vinay.
They entered the kitchen, which looked like a large canteen - big enough for hundreds of people. Vinay picked up a large basket of potatoes and slammed it on the table.
"Alright, just do like me, and I think you'll learn quickly!" Vinay said with a smile.
They started washing potatoes, then removed some roots with a knife, peeled them, and put them in another basket. Vinay kept an eye on Jay and seemed a bit surprised.
"Hey, you're peeling potatoes better than me! Where did you learn to use a knife?" Vinay asked.
"I've lived alone for some time and learned to cook myself. I've been doing this for a long time," Jay replied.
"A long time? You look like you're my age! Have you been peeling potatoes since you were three?" Vinay joked and continued his work.
Jay answered without thinking, and then realized he might have revealed too much. The children didn't know about his past life, and kids don't stop asking questions. Jay was supposed to be living with his family, not alone. He needed to be consistent with his story.
"Your life must have been tough too, right? Don't worry, everyone here has faced something. But don't think too much; we're in a good place," Vinay consoled him.
Jay remembered Ashok's words that they were safe here, and it was all because of Mr. Tej.
"Is all this because of Mr. Tej? Is he also a warrior?" Jay asked to understand his surroundings and assess potential dangers. With his current strength, he might not even win against a rank 1 warrior.
"Ha! It seems you haven't been told yet; you're new here, after all," Vinay laughed. He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "There are rumors that Mr. Tej used to teach at the Academy."
"Academy? Is there a Yoddha Academy?" Jay asked, raising his eyebrows. Ashok hadn't mentioned it, but it made sense since Jay wasn't originally a warrior.
Vinay was so surprised that he dropped the potato he was peeling. Before it fell, he kicked it up and caught it, but now it was covered in dirt.
"What rock have you been living under, bro? You don't know about the Academy?" Vinay said.
Jay pointed to his head.
"My memory... it's not very good. Something happened before I came here, and I don't remember anything," Jay made a face that looked like this subject was painful for him. This way, he could avoid further questions. "Can you explain the Academy to me?"
As soon as Vinay heard this topic, his face lit up. He put the potato and knife on the table and began to explain, waving his hands.
"The Yoddha Academy is a place every person who wants to make a name in the world wants to go," Vinay explained. "Every clan has an Academy, even the Dark clan. All clans run these schools together."
"Initially, these clans made them to train their promising warriors, and it was a success. Clans send their children, but this Academy is also open to people who are not from any clan - like us."
"After graduation, other clans want to recruit you themselves. You don't have to go to the Academy to become a warrior, but for people like us who have no clan and no training, it's the only way to become a warrior!"
"Yes, sir!" all the children replied in unison.
"Excellent. Raghav, start the warm-up!" Mr. Tej ordered.
Raghav bowed and began the warm-up—running laps around the entire courtyard. The other children started running behind him. Jay and his sister also began to run at a comfortable pace.
They kept circling a rectangular path until Jay felt his legs dragging, his lips dry, and his chest about to burst.
'What is happening?' Jay wondered as an eight-year-old child quickly ran past him, leaving him behind.
Everyone left him behind, even his sister.
'I know my old body wasn't very strong, but now I'm in a teenager's body. Why am I still lagging behind? Why is this body so weak?'
A worrying thought entered his mind—was all this because of that old magic? At that time, he had performed some forbidden magic to make his body withstand 9-star magic, which had turned his hair white. And now, even in this body, his hair is white... had that effect carried over here too?
At the same time, Jay stopped, placed his hands on his knees, and took a deep breath.
'Damn it, this is for sure—this body isn't made for martial arts. But that's okay, as long as I can do magic, everything is fine.'
Mr. Tej was keeping an eye on the two new children—Jay and his sister.
"Alright, Raghav, move to the next step. Jay, Rashmi, come to me."
Raghav kept the other children busy with basic warm-ups—push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.
Seeing them work so hard, Jay felt relieved that he didn't have to do all that.
"Eventually, you two will be able to do all this as well," Mr. Tej said. "But this is your first day, so don't tire yourselves out so much that you can't do anything the next day. Both of you, sit with your backs towards me."
The two did as they were told. After a while, they felt Mr. Tej place his palms on their backs.
"Neither of you has ever practiced martial arts before. What I am about to teach you will be the foundation of your practice—what we call 'Jeeva Shakti'.
"Jeeva Shakti is the internal energy that resides within your body. It comes from your Dantian, an invisible power center located around your abdomen. When we do anything—whether it's walking or breathing—we use this Jeeva Shakti.
"Therefore, strengthening the Dantian is essential. Think of it this way—the Dantian is the plate, and Jeeva Shakti is like the food placed on it. I will first teach you how to sense your Jeeva Shakti—the energy of the world, the power of plants, and how to fill it into your Dantian.
"These two things will grow together, and as they develop, you will reach higher levels as warriors. But it entirely depends on you."
Jay found all this very interesting—this Jeeva Shakti sounded just like 'mana'. The only difference was that mana was worldly energy, and someone's skill depended on how much mana they could control.
And it depended on the magical core near his heart, which adapted different types of energy to its liking.
"As you know, we are in the Dark Faction. What I am about to teach you is the basic cultivation technique of the Dark Faction—the Dark Essence Absorption Technique.
"This technique must be practiced daily so that your Dantian grows and you can use more Jeeva Shakti.
"But be warned—never push beyond your limits. If you draw too much energy, it can have a detrimental effect on your mental state and morality. And if you go mad... I will deal with you myself."
Internally, Jay was smiling. Was this the dark magic being taught to him? It was said about dark magic too—that it drove people mad. But had he ever gone mad? No... he had always been conscious, always known what he was doing.
If dark magic, considered the most dangerous, couldn't drive him mad... then this Dark Essence technique was most welcome.
'What an interesting teacher... threatening to kill new children. If it's so dangerous, why teach it? This world is truly becoming interesting.'
"Now, I begin!"
Mr. Tej instructed them to close their eyes and follow each step carefully. He first asked them to imagine a place of absolute darkness—as if they were sitting in a dark cave or a dense forest, where there was little to no light.
Once this image was perfectly clear in their minds, they were to focus by taking a deep breath through their nose and exhaling slowly through their mouth. They had to concentrate, forgetting all sounds and distractions around them.
'Both are following the instructions very well. I don't think they can even hear the sounds of children training nearby—now they are only listening to my voice,' Mr. Tej thought. 'If I didn't know better, I would assume they had done this procedure before.'
This was surprising to him, especially when he had seen Jay so weak in physical activities. But everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.
"Now, the next part is a bit difficult. In your mind, see this darkness as energy. Imagine you are absorbing this darkness as energy into yourself. When you inhale through your nose, let this energy flow down into your body."
"When you exhale, imagine you are expelling negative energy from your body."
This was why Mr. Tej had his hands on both of their backs. It was difficult to do this entirely alone, but he could help them feel their energy, by controlling the life force within their bodies.
When the life force entered, they would focus it in their (energy center below the navel) so it wouldn't disperse or break. They would repeat this process a few times until they learned to do it themselves.
This meditation technique, that is, creating life force, is the foundation of warrior martial arts. Although this technique could only help to a certain extent, and in the future, when obstacles arose, things like enchanted stones from powerful creatures or special elixirs made from rare herbs would be needed.
Mr. Tej's eyebrow suddenly twitched when he noticed something strange. Looking at Rashmi, everything seemed normal. The flow of energy was good, and a strong foundation was forming in her abdomen.
The energy in her body had already stabilized—she was truly talented. Though Mr. Tej wouldn't say this directly, as too much praise at a young age could hinder development.
But what surprised him was Jay. He could see energy flowing within him, but no impurities were coming out of his body.
Not only that, but he also sensed that no life force was entering his main dantian, the energy center below his navel.
'I feel energy entering him, but is his body absorbing it? And if so, where is that energy going?'
At this moment, something was happening that had never happened before in history; perhaps something that even Jay himself was unaware of.
Mr. Tej's suspicion was correct—Jay was using the meditation technique in a completely accurate way. This was because the technique closely matched the method of controlling energy as it was in Mana.
But when he was using this technique, the energy was not going into the core, but into his mana core, that is, his heart.
The Dark essence he was absorbing into himself was increasing his connection to his Dark magic—strengthening his Dark attribute.
'This... what kind of technique is this? Countless mages have explored many ways to increase their connection to a single type of magic.'
'Due to the lack of research on Dark magic, very limited methods existed—like using enchanted stones from powerful creatures or elixirs made from rare herbs, but this just looks like a simple meditation process.'
This was increasing the power of Jay's Dark techniques, but he could still control the same amount of mana as before. Both would have to grow in balance, and eventually, Jay would face a limit. But if this were entirely the world of magic, he would be one step ahead of everyone else.
"Alright, both of you remember this feeling well. From now on, we will repeat this process every day," Mr. Tej said.
When both opened their eyes, they saw that all the other students had left basic training and were sitting in a meditative state, focusing on their energy.
"Rashmi, may I speak with your brother alone for a while? If you wish, you can practice meditation with the other students, but only as much as feels comfortable," Mr. Tej said.
Normally, he wouldn't leave a student meditating for the first time alone, but Rashmi had complete control.
"I wanted to speak with you alone," Mr. Tej said. "I'll be direct—I don't think this Dark Essence meditation technique is suitable for you."
‘Not for me? This is absolutely perfect for me! I'm just strengthening my dark energy by meditating!’
"I don't want you to be disappointed," the teacher said with serious but gentle eyes. "It doesn't mean you can't learn martial arts, but perhaps I'm not the one who can help you in the best way."
"My guess is that your body already contains a large amount of Light energy."
‘What? What!!!’ Jay was utterly confused, but he let the teacher finish.
"I'm not entirely sure because I'm not a warrior doctor, but sometimes people are born with an abundance of Light or Dark energy in their bodies. Such people are often very ill and weak. They have many impurities in their bodies from birth. When we meditate, we get rid of these impurities. But when you were meditating, energy was entering, but impurities were not coming out."
"So, my guess is that the Light energy already present in your body was destroying this energy. Whereas a normal body is like an empty vessel."
Now Jay understood the teacher's line of thinking. But the energy wasn't actually being destroyed—it was being absorbed into his magic core.
"My advice is that you learn another meditation technique. There are some that incorporate not just Dark or Light energy, but much more. However, I don't know any other techniques at this time."
"Perhaps if you join the academy or travel elsewhere, you might learn another technique. But if you wish to remain in the Dark faction, I would like to warn you."
"All combat techniques taught by the Dark Clan are based on Dark energy and life force. You can use other energy if you wish, but perhaps you won't get the full power from these techniques."
"Dark energy is more destructive and spreads, while Light energy is direct and clear."
"One can perform combat techniques using other energy, but its effect will not be as powerful. I will continue to teach you fighting techniques, but I only know Dark Faction techniques, so if you develop another energy in the future, these may not be suitable for you."
After listening to everything, Jay bowed his head in thanks. He was truly grateful to the teacher. While this information could be disheartening for anyone, for Jay, it was news filled with hope.
‘Now I am forced to think... if I learn another meditation technique, will I be able to control the life force in my dantian? Because then that energy won't go into my magic core.’
‘Will I be able to do both martial arts and magic then?’
Even though Jay Malhotra didn't have a life force core, he was still called for the next part of the class training. All the students were standing in a line in the open courtyard, with a few meters of empty space left around each of them.
"A strong foundation for one's body is very important," Tej began, "and you build that when you strengthen your body with life force. You break muscles and let them become stronger, and physical exercise is also necessary. Now tell me, what is the next important step?"
Viren and a few other students raised their hands. Tej nodded and gestured to Viren.
"Fighting techniques!" Viren punched the air. It looked quite powerful, with air visibly flowing around his arm.
"Variety in techniques is important so that you can respond to every attack from the opponent," Tej said, "but what I am looking for is even more important than that."
Now Raghav raised his hand. This time, Tej chose him.
"Leg technique, sir. Without proper leg technique, no technique can be used to its full potential. And the basic of every fight is this—attack while staying alive yourself."
Tej smiled, happy with the answer.
"Exactly! That's why I'm teaching you all the basic two-step shift. It's the simplest leg technique, but by adding it to any technique, its power can be doubled."
Jay was watching everyone closely, and now he understood—Raghav was a two-faced boy. An ideal student in front of the teacher and someone who belittled everyone behind their back.
"I'll show you."
Tej took a deep breath through his nose, and letting the life force flow into his body, he punched the air forcefully. A loud explosion occurred right in front of them, as if the air had burst. Jay's heart started beating faster.
'This is it… this is the same power Ashoka had. The power to break stones with bare hands!'
"Now watch closely when I add the two-step shift," Tej said.
He went back into the same stance, but this time his legs were spread a little wider. First, he moved his front foot forward, then his back foot, and only then did he punch. Life force was used in every movement.
This time, the sound echoed four times louder—strong gusts of wind began to swirl around.
"Understood now? Two-step shift is one technique, and spiral punch is another. I used the same amount of life force both times, but the second punch was much more powerful. If you perfect your leg technique, you can generate tremendous power even without strong life force."
After this, Tej repeatedly demonstrated only the leg technique, and the students slowly repeated the steps. Tej went to each student, pointing out the correct points.
When the basic movements were correct, they started increasing the speed—and that's where most mistakes started happening. Finally, Tej asked them to punch by just stretching their arms—no special technique.
Everyone performed decently, but they themselves couldn't figure out whose technique was correct and whose wasn't.
After a while, Tej looked at Rashmi and said, "You're very good at copying instructions, aren't you?"
Rashmi gave a slight smile, and her cheeks turned red.
Now it was Jay Malhotra's turn. He was copying the steps, there were no mistakes, but there was no life in his movements. He looked more tired than before.
'Perhaps his body has less life force, or too many impurities,' Tej thought. 'It's a pity, because he follows instructions correctly.'
Jay caught the look that the teacher had cast on him. He had seen that look many times before—when people considered him a failure.
'They also thought the same, that I wouldn't be able to do anything… and then I became the world's most wanted man.'
Jay clenched his fists and kept doing the steps until his body gave out.
"Alright!" Tej clapped. "Now let's start the last part."
They moved towards a large pillar. But Jay immediately sensed—this was no ordinary pillar. Energy from the air was being drawn into the pillar.
'What is this thing? If Rhydar has such material, then perhaps I can even make an elixir from it that can improve this body's condition,' Jay thought.
Tej touched the pillar lightly—his energy merged into the pillar, and a faint number emerged: 50.
"Hope you remember your last score," Tej smiled.
The students, one by one, used the two-step and punch to hit the pillar. The pillar silently absorbed the power and displayed the number. An eight-year-old child scored 12—that was a good technique.
This clearly showed how much power Tej’s light touch held.
'Oh… so this is a measuring device. Students measure their progress with this.'
Most students jumped with joy—their scores were higher than last time. The scores were generally between 10 and 20.
Now it was Viren's turn. His face was anxious. He punched—14.
"The same again… how long will I be stuck at this number."
Now it was Raghav's turn—a confident smile on his face. The technique was perfect, the punch landed, and the number was:
[22]
"Yes! I did it! Finally broke twenty!"
Regardless, Raghav had talent.
"In the end, we have our newcomers: Rashmi and Jay Malhotra!" Tej announced loudly.
***
Far away, in the large base of the Power of Arcana—Ashoka entered a meeting room. A man wearing a red helmet was sitting on a chair, his face not turned towards Ashoka.
"How are the children?" the man asked.
"They are fine. With Mr. Tej, we don't need to worry about them. Only we know their location," Ashoka said.
"That's a relief," the man said. "We have to save them. They are the only two children who survived that attack. And people will do anything… to kill them."
"Good leg technique, sir. Without proper leg technique, no technique can be executed to its full potential. And the basics of every fight are to attack while defending yourself."
Tej smiled, pleased with the response.
"Absolutely right! That's why I'm teaching you all the basic two-step shift. It's the simplest leg technique, but it can double the power of any technique."
Jay observed everyone carefully and now understood that Raghava was a double-faced boy. A model student in front of the teacher and someone who looked down on everyone behind their back.
"I'll show you,"
Tej took a deep breath through his nose, allowing life energy to flow through his body, and struck a powerful punch in the air. A loud explosion occurred right in front of him, as if the air had burst. Jay's heart started pounding.
"This is it... This is the same power that Ashok had. The power to break stones with bare hands!"
"Now, watch closely as I add the two-step shift," Tej said.
He returned to the same stance, but this time his legs were slightly wider apart. He placed his front foot forward, then his back foot, and then punched. Life energy was used in every movement.
This time, the sound was four times louder, with strong gusts of wind swirling around.
"Now, do you understand? The two-step shift is one technique, and the spiral punch is another. I used life energy equally both times, but the second punch was much more powerful. If you perfect your leg technique, you can generate tremendous power without strong life energy."
Tej then repeatedly demonstrated only the leg technique, and the students slowly repeated the steps. Tej went to each student and provided feedback on the correct points.
When the basic movements were correct, they started to increase their speed, and that's when the most mistakes began to occur. Finally, Tej asked them to stretch their arms and punch without using any special technique.
Everyone performed reasonably well, but they couldn't assess whose technique was correct and whose wasn't.
A while later, Tej looked at Rashi and said, "You can copy instructions very well, can't you?"
Rashi smiled slightly, and her cheeks turned red.
Now, it was Jay Malhotra's turn. He was copying the steps; there were no mistakes, but his movements lacked vitality. He looked more exhausted than before.
"Perhaps his body has less life energy or too many impurities," Tej thought. "It's a pity because he follows instructions correctly."
Jay caught the gaze that the teacher had cast upon him. He had seen that look before - when people thought he was incapable.
"They thought that too... that I wouldn't be able to do anything... and then I became the most wanted man in the world."
Jay clenched his fists and continued with the steps until his body gave up.
"Alright!" Tej clapped his hands. "Now, let's move on to the final part."
They approached a large pillar. But Jay immediately sensed that it wasn't an ordinary pillar. Energy from the air was being drawn into the pillar.
"What is this? If there are materials like this in Redther, maybe I can create an elixir from it that can improve my body's condition," Jay thought.
Tej lightly touched the pillar, and its energy was absorbed, displaying a number: 50.
"I hope you remember your previous score," Tej smiled.
The students took turns using the two-step and punch techniques to hit the pillar. The pillar silently absorbed the power and displayed a number. An eight-year-old child scored 12 - his technique was good.
This clearly showed how much power was in Tej's gentle touch.
"Oh... so this is a measuring device. Students measure their progress with it."
Most students jumped with joy - their scores were higher than before. Scores usually ranged from 10 to 20.
Now, it was Viren's turn. His face was nervous; he punched - 14.
"Again, the same... how long will I be stuck at this number?"
Now, it was Raghava's turn - a confident smile on his face. The technique was precise, the punch landed, and the number appeared: 22.
"Yes! I did it! I finally crossed twenty!"
Regardless, Raghava had talent.
"And finally, we have our newcomers: Rashi and Jay Malhotra!" Tej announced loudly.
Far away, in the large base of Power of Arcana, Ashok entered a meeting room. A man wearing a red helmet sat on a chair, his face turned away from Ashok.
"How are the children?" the man asked.
"They're fine. We shouldn't worry about them with Mr. Tej. Only we know their location," Ashok replied.
"It brings some relief to know that," the man said. "We need to protect them. They're the only two who survived that attack. Others will do anything... to kill them."
The first of the two new children stepped forward. Though some time had passed, Jai Malhotra still felt exhausted, and he wanted to strike the measuring pillar with all his might. At least he could gauge where he stood against the rest.
As Rashmi stepped forward, Raghav whispered to the twin brothers standing beside him, "Here comes the lame girl. Let's see the strength of an incomplete human."
Hearing this, the twin boys tried to stifle their giggles. They themselves had scored around 18 in the test, which was quite good compared to the other children. It was clear that the three of them were the best among the rest, and they knew how to make everyone realize that.
"I can't believe these children care about such trivial matters. When they step into the real world, they'll understand that none of this matters," Jai thought. "Who looks better, who is stronger—it's all pointless as long as there's food to eat and a roof over your head."
Rashmi stepped up confidently and nodded to Tej. She practiced the two-step movement. In Jai's eyes, her movement was flawless, at least compared to the teacher's.
And when she punched, a faint spark of energy emanated from her fist. Her punch struck the pillar, and the numbers began to change—
[22]
"Haha!" Tej couldn't hide his smile. "I knew you were different."
Jai glanced at Raghav, whose mouth hung open as if it would fall to the ground. How many years had he been in the temple, how hard had he trained to reach 22?
Now, someone who just arrived, received some instructions, and reached the same level—this is what true talent is.
Rashmi smiled with satisfaction and returned to her spot. It was Jai's turn now.
"Come on Jai!" Viren shouted. "If your little sister can do it, then there are great expectations from you!"
"Really?" Jai thought, stepping into position. "Hasn't anyone seen how weak this body is?"
There was an innocence in Viren's cheering. He was cheerful, and for an orphan, this was rare.
Ignoring these thoughts, Jai focused himself. "I've rested now, I want to do this properly."
He moved forward, recalling every movement—Tej's practice, and Rashmi's just now. His feet moved exactly as he had imagined.
He adopted the two-step movement and then punched—straight at the pillar, which absorbed the energy.
'A good strike... exactly like his sister,' Rashmi thought, as she saw the numbers—
[10]
'But his body is extremely weak, and it has no energy, or "life force." Sometimes I don't understand what to think of this boy. He performs every movement perfectly, is a master of imitation, but his body doesn't cooperate.'
Jai was panting, as if he had no breath left. Even though he had only made three movements—two steps and a punch. Such concentration and prior training had tired him out.
'Perhaps... if my attack was even half of others' strength, it's not bad.'
"What was that?" Raghav said again to the twin brothers. "I thought his sister was disabled, but maybe he himself is. If Mr. Tej wastes time teaching him, our time will also be wasted."
——
The day had ended. Jai felt he had learned a lot about this world that would strengthen his magical understanding. It was a good start, and he could say with certainty that he would surpass the strength of his previous life.
All the tired children returned to their rooms for the night. Jai was in the room with his sister, who was smiling on the bed.
'It seems she is also very happy... it's nice to see her smiling like this after losing her parents.' Then he suddenly froze—'What am I thinking?'
He clenched his fist and hit his thigh. Muttering in irritation, "This body is mixing up my emotions. Every time he sees that sister, it feels like—was that Jai there? How long will these feelings last? The old Jai is dead, now let me do what I want!"
Before sleeping, Jai adopted the meditation posture he had learned before. He began the dark element cultivation technique, drawing the surrounding energy towards his "dark core."
'This is good... but I don't understand how much progress I'm making. There were many places on Radhan where mana and dark energy strength could be measured.'
Then he suddenly remembered something. In this world too, there was a way to measure power.
The first ray of dawn broke, and Jay Malhotra was surprised himself at how soundly he had slept despite sleeping on the hard wooden floor. It had been a long time since he had felt such peace. There was no turmoil in his mind.
No worry that someone might be following him or attack him suddenly. His dreams were also filled with the hope of a brighter future. As he rubbed his eyes and got up, he was pleasantly surprised to find that Rashmi was already awake and sitting on the bed in a meditative pose.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"You seem quite diligent," Jay said. "Keep it up, you never know when the world might turn upside down, and maybe those people will come back to try and kill us."
Rashmi's focus was broken by his sudden words, and a slight moisture welled up in her eyes. Tears began to stream down her face as she thought of her parents' death.
"Oh... come on, man!" Jay protested. "It's been a few days since their death, haven't you recovered yet?"
Slightly irritated, Jay walked out of the room. As soon as he closed the door, a heaviness settled on his chest once again. Death and the loss of loved ones had now become a part of his life.
The only thing that could be done was to find a way forward.
'When you lose someone, all your energy has to be put into the next thing... and for me, that is getting rid of them.'
The day began as usual—each child was assigned a task. But this time Jay was present from the morning, so he had to help with making breakfast as well.
He and Viren were together again, and they were boiling some bones to make hot and fresh bone broth.
"Your sister did amazing with her moves yesterday, she's very talented," Viren said. "You'll have to work harder now to match her. When she grows up, who knows how many boys will be after her; you'll have to chase them away."
"Why would I need to do that?" Jay asked. "She's better than me, so she'll beat them herself."
"Oh man, that's what family is for!" Viren said, laughing. "It's not about strength; you're her elder brother."
"We're not that close," Jay replied, stirring the soup. "So she'll have to deal with all those things herself."
Viren was silent for a moment after hearing this, then said softly,
"Jay, be careful. You only realize someone's importance when they're gone. Cherish the time you spend with your family."
Jay had never seen Viren so serious; he always spoke in jest. So Jay didn't say anything, but the truth was that he felt like responding.
'No one understands this better than I do.'
As they were getting ready for the next step, Mr. Tej entered the room.
"Alright, I see you two are almost ready. Jay, can I talk to you alone for a while? Viren, you help the others clean the hall. We'll serve everyone breakfast when we return."
"Absolutely!" Viren said and looked back at Jay as he left.
'Something is wrong; why does Mr. Tej want to talk to Jay alone? Has he done something?'
Anyway, Viren moved on and reached the main hall. The hall was quite large, containing weapons that needed to be cleaned. There was also a large statue—of a legendary warrior of the Dark faction.
It was difficult to identify the statue's face as it was covered, but the leader was always depicted in this manner in every picture and statue. The hall floor was wooden.
Each child was assigned the responsibility of cleaning a specific area, and Viren noticed Rashmi diligently cleaning the floor.
'It's sometimes difficult to talk to Jay; if I could get closer to Rashmi and find out what's going on... but she can't speak. Still, for some reason, it feels like she's more approachable.'
Viren was about to go near her when he saw a bucket of water spill right where Rashmi had just finished cleaning. The water was dirty.
"Oh no!" Raghav shouted. "I dropped the bucket. Sorry, man, you cleaned it so hard. But what can we do now? You don't have a problem cleaning it again, do you?"
"
..
.. To know what happens next in this story, stay with me.
"I can clean it for you, but all you have to do is say, 'Can you clean it?'"
He finished speaking with a smile, and the twins Rajveer and Raha couldn't help but laugh. Everyone knew that Rashmi couldn't speak.
'Ugh... why did Raghav have to target her?' Viren thought.
Rashmi didn't say anything and quietly started cleaning. She understood everything but didn't react.
Then Rajveer and Raha looked at each other, and a new prank struck both their minds. They picked up their respective buckets of dirty water and ran towards Rashmi.
"Hey Raha, don't push me!"
"No, you don't push, Rajveer!"
Upon colliding, the buckets flew into the air and fell directly onto Rashmi. Dirty water splashed all over her. The other children saw and understood that this was done intentionally. The three of them had made Rashmi their target.
——
Jay reached Mr. Tej's study room. This was Jay's second visit there, but this time, instead of sitting on the sofa, he stood in front of the desk while Mr. Tej sat in his chair.
"I've thought a lot about yesterday's incident and my inability," Mr. Tej said. "After much consideration, I've made a decision." He pulled out a small box from behind and placed it on the table.
"You have talent, Jay, and it would be inhumane to leave you unprotected in this cruel world."
Mr. Tej opened the lid of the box, revealing a small red pill.
"This is the Essence Foundation Pill. Taking it will give you as much energy as ten years of cultivation. Given your body's structure, even if you don't receive the full energy, it could be enough to give your body a foundation."
Jay's gaze was fixed on the pill, but his interest wasn't in Mr. Tej's words. Rather, the energy emanating from the pill captivated him.
He was sensitive to sensing energy, and the power radiating from this pill was the same as that which came from an energy stone from another world.
'This pill... it has the same energy as the energy stones from that other world! Can I use it to... return to Redan? Can I go back to my world again?'
The energy was emanating from the pill in front of him, and it was something Jay Malhotra was well acquainted with. It was the same energy that came from the mythical creatures of his world—or more specifically, from the stones obtained after their death.
Jay was from a planet called Redan, a world where such mythical creatures were not found. But its mages, through their magical power, rigorous cultivation, and experiments, had achieved a revolutionary feat: the art of opening portals to other worlds or perhaps other planets—though the distinction between the two was not yet clear.
In these unknown places, mythical creatures roamed freely—powerful beasts that possessed power like mages. Stones were obtained only upon their death. These stones were a boon to mages—they could use them to create items that enhanced their abilities, become physically stronger to reach the next Star Stage, and even open portals themselves.
This era was considered the 'golden age' of magic, and even today, portals are continuously opened to hunt these creatures for stronger stones. Despite traveling to many planets and locations, there had been no sign of any other intelligent life—at least, not to Jay's knowledge.
'A high-level Star Mage, possessing knowledge of magical cycles, can open a portal from their own mana. But I am only a Star Mage, my mana is insufficient. But what if I use the power of the stone instead of my mana, or in this case, the power of this pill?'
No other form of human life had been found through the opened portals so far. The world Jay was currently in was beyond imagination, but it existed. Therefore, there was hope that perhaps a portal would return him to Redan.
'It's possible I won't succeed on the first try. Still, even if I arrive somewhere else, I can hunt creatures and collect more stones, which will strengthen my body and allow me to reach the next Star Stage!'
"This pill is extremely rare, Jai," Tej said. "For people like us, acquiring something like this can take a lifetime. For warriors, who are of intermediate or divine level, it might be common—but we are not those people. Don't tell the other students anything about me. It would be better if you took it stealthily tonight. It will take a few hours for your body to assimilate all the energy." Tej winked.
Jai was surprised by Tej's generosity. He suspected there was a hidden motive behind it. Still, for now, he didn't intend to think too much about it—because he wasn't going to use the pill as Tej had said.
After this, their meeting concluded and they returned for breakfast with the other students. As soon as they entered the hall, they saw Rashmi drenched, water dripping from her body.
"What happened?" Tej asked.
"Sir, it was us!" Raha confessed and bowed. "I and my brother got careless while playing and made a mistake. We'll clean it up now!"
"Alright," Tej assured. "Rashmi, dry yourself, change your clothes, and then join for breakfast. The rest of you don't worry, I'll handle it."
Everyone obeyed and started preparing for breakfast. Raghav had a wide smile on Rajveer and Raha's faces.
Breakfast was normal. Rashmi joined a little later and everyone ate. Then there was a short rest and everyone returned to their tasks.
Since Viren liked Jai's cooking skills, they both started working in the kitchen together—to prepare lunch and dinner. While cutting vegetables, Viren couldn't stop himself.
"Brother, I don't know if your sister was going to tell you, but what happened to her this morning was no accident," Viren said.
"You mean her getting drenched?" Jai asked.
"Yes, brother. Look, I've seen this happen before. These boys don't want anyone else to take their place. They are proud of being Tej's special students. If anyone surpasses them, they try to bring them down. Think about it, why is my scoring in practice always so low?"
"Because you're useless?" Jai retorted quickly.
Viren felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart, but he tried to ignore it—because there was some truth in it.
"Hey, I'm serious. This will escalate further. The last time they did this, that boy ran away from the temple. They have gotten away with it before, and they will again."
Jai took a deep breath—he understood Viren's point.
"You yourself are saying this happened before and will happen again. That means it won't stop unless someone brings about a change. If I intervene, nothing will change. Rashmi will have to stand up for herself.
"The outside world is full of such people. The next time this happens and no one is with her, will she cry again? Will a prince on a white horse come to save her?"
Viren blushed with shame.
"And what can I do anyway? She is stronger than me. I am just a weak boy who will get injured himself," Jai said, continuing to cut carrots.
"But she is your sister—"
"Enough!" Jai interrupted in a sharp tone. This was the first time he had shown such anger towards Viren.
There was something in this conversation that pricked Jai from within. When he saw Rashmi in the morning, he felt like running to hug her.
But Jai knew that just because someone is family, it doesn't mean they will always treat you well. In fact, those closest to you can hurt you the most.
Therefore, it was important for Rashmi to become strong.
---
Outside, some children were cleaning the ground. Rashmi was near the stairs leading to the temple, while Raghav and the twin brothers were in the vast courtyard. They occasionally looked back at Rashmi.
"What you did today was very clever," Rajveer laughed.
"How long do you think it will last?" Raha asked.
"I don't know, maybe it will last a while because her brother is with her."
"Yes, but he is weak, he can't do anything. Why don't we target him too? Then she will leave quickly, both siblings will flee."
"No," Raghav interrupted. "Leave his brother alone. He seems indifferent to what's happening. I don't think there's a special relationship between the two, and besides, as you said, he is weak—nothing to worry about."
Although Raghav said this, something else was going on in his mind. He felt something strange about Jai.
'I don't know if this was my imagination or reality, but when he came out with Tej and saw his sister... just for a moment... his eyes. I don't know why, whenever I recall that moment, my whole body shivers.'
As dusk began to settle, just like the previous evening, their afternoon training was set to commence. Jay Malhotra, who was once again engaged in physical exercises, was struggling just as he did the last time, but this time he pushed himself a little further.
"I think I lasted 3 minutes and 25 seconds this time. If I keep this up, I might improve incrementally. Alas, there are no magic potions here... but if Enhancement Pills (Meditation Potions) were available, I might be able to find some solution," Jay mused.
He deemed the thought too risky. The temple was secluded, far from the main city, and only warriors possessed useful enhancement tools. Unless he took a risk, he would have to find his own way to progress.
"With my current strength, I might not even be able to return before sunrise."
As they ran, Rashmi was in the lead, with Raghav right behind her. Seeing this, Raghav increased his pace. The other students began to fall behind, but Rashmi's face held a killer smile as she maintained her speed.
Seeing this, Raghav thought with a hint of annoyance, "What is she trying to prove? Outrun me? What does she think of herself?"
With a sudden move, Raghav deliberately lifted his foot and placed it on Rashmi's ankle at the right moment, causing her to stumble and fall. Due to the high speed, she fell hard, scraping her hands on the ground.
Witnessing the mishap, Tej immediately ordered everyone to stop and proceeded to the next stage. Meanwhile, Viren glanced at Raghav and the twin brothers with displeasure, and occasionally at Jay.
"Does he really not care about his sister?" Viren wondered.
Next was the session to concentrate meditation and life force. Jay loved this part, feeling an increase in his Dark Core's power. Soon they reached the practical education part.
"Now that you've learned the Two-Step Shift, I'll teach you about distance control in a real situation," Tej announced.
"Pair up with a partner who has a similar skill set. Touch your fist to your opponent's nose, take two steps back, then return to your position using the Two-Step Shift. Your partner will only focus on the incoming fist, but not blink. Increase speed gradually. If there's a chance of injury, evade only when you see it coming."
The students began pairing up, and Viren approached Jay. "Look, I know I'm ahead of you in this, but first, perhaps I'm the only one who talks to you, and second, pitting you against younger kids? That's clearly unfair."
Jay simply shrugged. Viren started throwing punches without steps. Jay remained unfazed. When Viren used the Two-Step Shift, Jay remained perfectly still, as if bored.
"Isn't this really scary?" Viren asked. "Do you really want me to punch you?"
He soon regretted his question, as Jay playfully threw a punch towards him, and Viren flinched back in surprise.
"How were you so calm? I couldn't even keep my eyes open!" Viren asked in astonishment.
Jay thought, 'As a sorcerer, I've faced countless magical constructs. A punch is the least of my worries.' He pondered what it would be like to face a real warrior.
Meanwhile, Rashmi was looking for a partner. She spotted her brother, her eyes lit up, and she headed towards him, but Raghav blocked her path.
"Our pillar test scores were the same, and we're of the same stature. No one else's score came close to ours, so we should be partners, right?"
Rashmi was caught off guard by Raghav's words and couldn't retort. She gestured her assent.
"Alright, I'll start!" Raghav said and launched his fist.
With excitement, he threw a punch, which landed on Rashmi's nose. Blood gushed out, and Rashmi fell in a daze.
"I'm sorry! I misjudged the distance! I should have listened to Tej," Raghav said, offering a hand to help and bowing repeatedly.
Rashmi, filled with emotion and on the verge of tears, brushed his hand away and stood up. Her family's support was gone, and her brother didn't care about her either. She felt completely alone.
When Tej had praised her art and martial skills, she thought she could immerse herself in it. But now she had to face such behavior. Why?
Viren took a step forward but stopped and looked at the ground.
'I really want to help,' Viren thought. 'It's clear these people are doing this intentionally. If I complain to Mr. Tej, they will only scold them, not expel them from the temple. They are very talented. Then they will target me, and if that happens, I won't be able to bear it. If I leave the temple, my dream of becoming a warrior will be broken.'
Due to these unfortunate events, Tej changed everyone's pairings, and the night training soon ended.
Returning to her room, Rashmi gently touched her nose. It hurt, but it wasn't broken. She was stronger than she thought, or perhaps Raghav wasn't as strong as he looked. Still, she couldn't sleep.
"As I always say, don't tell anyone what I'm doing," Jay said, sliding the door open. But he didn't go out; he just stood there and then closed the door again.
"If you are sad, angry, upset, or whatever you are feeling, if you don't do anything now, you will feel worse later. A piece of advice – you should fight back."
Opening the door, Jay left.
This time he didn't go towards the courtyard; he was looking for a more secluded place. The temple was built on a hillside and surrounded by trees.
It was easy to get out of the temple, and when he had gone far enough and reached a clear spot, he stopped, breathing heavily, tired.
'Did Tej think I would leave the temple? He asked me to take the pills away from others' sight, perhaps even from my sister.'
Jay picked up a twig and began to draw a circle on the ground. After drawing the circle, he made several marks inside it.
'The markings of a magic circle direct energy to be used in a specific way. In the life of an outcast, I couldn't use all the things other mages did, so I had to memorize all the magic circles.'
'I am quite sure this is the same magic circle that will take me to the creatures I need. But I am on a different planet now, so these markings might take me somewhere else entirely. For now, I should avoid experimenting and do what I know.'
Jay picked up the twig and was satisfied with the design he had made. Now there was only one last step left. He took the pill out of the box and dropped it in the center of the circle.
Then he went to the edge of the circle and touched the circle with his finger, drawing out dark magic.
Immediately, the magic circle began to glow with a faint purple color. Its lines slowly began to fill. When all the lines were filled, energy began to emanate from the pill.
'I wanted to know what happens when you eat the pill, but this way is much safer,' Jay had a big smile on his face as a huge glowing portal was in front of him.
It looked like a giant floating mirror, but it had no reflection – just a mysterious, radiant power that illuminated the entire forest.
"It worked," Jay said to himself and stepped into the portal without hesitation. "Let's get stronger... then we'll deal with this martial arts world."
Passing through the portal was always a strange experience. It felt as if one lost their grip on existence for a few moments – completely transparent and almost void. Only upon reaching the other side did things like the gentle rustling of the air gradually begin to be felt again.
No matter how many times this experience occurred, that momentary void never felt normal.
As Jay Malhotra's boot hit the solid ground, the portal behind him closed with a crackle of energy.
Looking around, a storm of questions erupted in his mind.
"Where am I?" Jay thought. "This place doesn't look like Redhan. I used the same magic circle. So how did I end up here?"
A giant red moon shone in the sky above, bathing everything in redness. Beneath his feet was a stone road, and all around lay rotten boxes, tarnished silver, and broken belongings.
But what truly caught his eye was a colossal building—similar to the ancient architecture of Jai's old world. It appeared to be a museum, yet the ravages of time were evident.
There was no sign of life—no plants, no animals. An eerie silence permeated the atmosphere. Seeing the magical circle he had drawn on the ground, Jai quickly erased it with his foot and committed the location to memory.
"The spot between the overturned chariot and those trees twisted into heart shapes," he recalled the location.
The residual energy of the portal would last for a few days. As long as Jai recreated the same magical circle and infused it with his power, a new gateway would open to his current home. But he didn't want anyone else to open it, so erasing the symbol was crucial.
For now, the demo was his only option.
Were there any records of this place in Radhan? Through the portal service, mages had traveled to many different worlds, each unique in its own way. Some held treasures precious even to seasoned mages—like the book from which Jai had obtained the transportation spell.
Although no intelligent life had been found yet, remnants of life were present everywhere.
Drawn by the museum's grandeur, Jai began to ascend its steps. Something resembling a city was visible in the distance, but this colossal structure had now become his priority.
Suddenly, a fierce growl echoed from the right.
Jai turned—three glowing eyes flickered behind an overturned carriage.
"Growling at me won't do you any good," Jai warned, as waves of dark energy began to emanate from his hand.
Suddenly, the creature leaped from the carriage's shadow. The size of an elephant, but far more terrifying—three eyes, spikes on its back, and glowing red skin.
As it lunged at Jai, he shouted, "Dark Pulse!" moving forward.
A wave of dark shadow shot from his hand and struck the creature squarely in the gut. The beast stumbled forward, but Jai agilely rolled away, dodging its jaws. As he regained his footing, he saw that the creature, despite being severely wounded, remained a threat.
He raised his palm and unleashed another focused "Dark Pulse" towards its head—this time, it dropped on the spot.
---
'Ugh, my leg feels like it's broken… maybe a two-stage transition would have been better. Why didn't I trust my intuition?'
After being defeated, a mysterious black mist began to emanate from the creature's body. The mist floated in the air and seeped directly into Jai's skin, as if drawn from his Dark Core.
'That power of Dark Magic, which my previous body never had access to.'
A smile spread across Jai's face. 'With every life taken, the dark element grows stronger. This is why it's called forbidden and cursed. Before, my Wind Core suppressed it—not anymore.'
His gaze fell on the dead creature.
'The attack was strong, but the mana yield is low… three more Dark Pulses are possible, even without casting anything else.'
Then, without hesitation, he began to tear into the creature—drops of blood splattered and flesh separated. Finally, he found it—a stone.
'Ha. This is what I came for.'
A spark ignited in his eyes.
The stone glowed with a faint yellow aura. It was the stone of a common creature—precious to ordinary people, but mediocre to high-level mages. But for a 1-star mage—like Jai—everything mattered.
Pocketing the stone, he peered into some nearby wooden crates. Soon, he found a ring. Sitting on level ground, he began to draw a new magical circle.
'In my previous life, my status held me back. I barely scraped by selling magical gear and potions. Items made with Dark Magic were superior—if not for their... drawbacks.'
Once the circle was complete, he placed the stone and the ring within it. Garments made with Dark Magic could reach a 3-star level. With a swift magical gesture, he activated the circle.
The silver ring had now transformed into a majestic purple color.
"State the ring's powers," Jai commanded. A whispered voice echoed—
[Cursed Dark Ring]
[This item is bound to a single person.]
[If removed, it will be destroyed, and upon destruction, the holder's Dark Power will decrease by 10%.]
[Whoever wears this ring will have a portion of their mana restored whenever they take a life using Dark Magic.]
'This is it! This is the 3-star advantage I needed!'
Jai slipped the ring onto his middle finger. A jolt, a feeling of connection to his core… and then—peace.
'Now the hunt will be much easier.'
He started heading back towards the museum.
Just then, a scream echoed from the distance—"Ah!"
His steps faltered.
"Is that… a human?"
The direction the sound came from was towards the massive building on his right—the very place he was supposed to go to initially.
"Only a fool would go there after hearing such a scream," Jay Malhotra thought. "This is like inviting death. This isn't a horror movie. So it's better I stay away from it."
With this thought, Jay continued to move along the outer strip on the side of the large building. But that strange sound was bothering him—for several reasons.
One, because this portal led to another planet, teeming with creatures just like those he had seen on Redhan. But they had never encountered another human there until today.
"So has another Mantra Loka warrior come here to hunt? These creatures don't seem very powerful, perhaps two-star level at most. Or could it be a native of this planet?"
As he was thinking, Jay had to stop midway, because the same terrifying creature emerged from behind a crate, growling, and stared at him with its piercing gaze.
"I understand how you feel. I killed your friend earlier, didn't I? She was your aunt, or maybe brother? Look, let's make a deal—if you don't attack me, I won't attack you, okay?"
But as soon as he said these words, the monster leaped into the air again and lunged at him. Monsters from other planets often attacked in a similar style.
Moreover, they almost always behaved antagonistically—either kill or be killed. These very attacks led to the discovery of enchanted stones.
This time, instead of rolling, Jay waited for the right moment, keeping his stance as taught in martial arts training. Then, lifting his back foot off the ground, he moved forward and threw a punch. A dark aura emanated from that punch.
"Dark Pulse!"
A surge of energy from the punch blew off half the head of the dog-like creature. Death in one strike. It collapsed on the ground.
"When a punch is thrown with a two-step move, the power of Dark Pulse increases. Even without direct contact, the strike is extremely effective."
Dark energy once again flowed from the dead creature towards Jay and merged with his Dark Core. The ring on his finger also glowed.
[16/250 Dark Energy Absorbed]
Another effect of the ring was that, by connecting with the Dark Core, it allowed him to monitor the power of the dark element. Now, whenever he absorbed dark energy through meditation techniques or killed creatures, he got an estimate of his power's progress.
At this time, the power limit was fixed, but as he increased his rank as a Star Meditation Warrior, this limit would also increase.
[Your vital energy has been slightly restored]
The second effect of the ring also started working—it allowed him to use Dark Pulse again. But one thing was still not fully restored—his stamina.
"The two-step move is taking a toll on this weak body. If I use it with Dark Pulse, the effect will gradually decrease. Perhaps it won't be possible to use it properly more than three times. Anyway, let's give these skills names—Dark Pulse and Dark Strike."
For a meditation warrior, chanting spells is extremely important. When they chant a spell, they have to form a clear image of its magical form in their mind.
Adding a word for each spell makes it easier to remember that image. This allows for faster and more accurate use of the skill.
Another enchanted stone had been obtained, and this time it belonged solely to Jay. He could use it to increase his power rather than investing it in crafting an item.
Kneeling, Jay gazed at the stone, a radiant smile on his face.
"Stop right there!" a sharp, girlish voice called from behind.
"What a joke... I decided to go out to avoid encountering anyone."
"You are not permitted to be here. Who are you? State your name and origin!" the voice commanded.
"Not permitted?" Jay said, standing up and turning to look behind him. He wanted to know who was so audacious as to question him.
"Are you the owner of this place? Who are you to ask me?" Jay's voice was tinged with annoyance. She seemed like those arrogant meditation warriors who belittled others.
Those two-faced people sitting in the tower, who preached one thing and did another.
Jay was surprised to see her—a young, incredibly beautiful girl stood before him. Her straight black hair was tied in a ponytail, falling slightly from her forehead.
Her skin also seemed to glow in this light, but it wasn't her beauty that surprised Jay. He had seen many beautiful meditation warriors—who changed their looks with magic—sometimes plump lips, sometimes large hips, and at one point, even large knees were the trend!
The real surprise was his attire. She was dressed in white and gold clothes—tight at the chest and waist, while slightly loose at the arms. And in her hand was a sword, pointed directly at Jay.
"She doesn't look like a magician... she looks like..." Jay thought to himself.
"You must answer!" the girl said again. "This area falls under the Donblade Squad! Which squad do you belong to? If you don't answer, I will end you right here, I swear by Ananya Varma!"
It was clear now—Jay was completely convinced, this young woman was from his world—not the world of magic, but the world of martial arts! Had he teleported to another region?
No, looking at the color of the moon, he knew it was another planet. So why was a warrior maiden here?
Jay was wondering if he should mention the Power of Arcana squad or if it would be better not to say anything, as he wasn't technically a member. He also had no idea about the warrior's power.
Finally, Jay decided to take a risk.
"I am from this planet," Jay replied.
"From this planet? Then you are a monster hiding as a human! You must die!" Ananya thrust her sword forward, her speed so great that it was clear she was using vital energy. Her being a warrior maiden was confirmed.
"I can't survive... this body is too slow..." Jay had no speed skills, nor any other magic. He did what was possible—moved forward in a two-step maneuver.
"So this is a warrior maiden!" Ananya thought. "But what's the point of such an ordinary move in this situation?"
"Dark Strike!" Jay shouted, throwing a punch and gathering his power.
The movement was very ordinary—so much so that Ananya easily dodged the attack and pushed her sword, filled with vital energy, towards Jay's chest.
"I knew you would do this—attack directly at the chest. Now I have no choice—all my power will be used, but I must survive!"
"Attack Heart!"
The sword struck Jay's chest, and his entire body was flung into the air, crashing through the massive building next to him. He was now out of Ananya's sight.
"That felt strange," Ananya thought. The sword was fine, but there was some movement in her own shoulder. The punch hadn't landed, but some other power had definitely clashed.
"Which squad was he from?"
