Ashwatthama said,
"Each Chakra contained 9 Stars.
And every set of 9 Stars was divided into three ranks:
1. Lower Rank – Stars 1, 2, 3
2. Middle Rank – Stars 4, 5, 6
3. Pinnacle Rank – Stars 7, 8, 9
Especially the first stage of the Chakra, which served as the foundation, was particularly complex.
We called it the 'Root Chakra.' At this stage, a Rakshak (guardian) focused on strengthening their physical body."
Lower Rank:
"At this level, a human could break rocks with a single hand and attain superhuman speed — which depended on their martial arts style."
Middle Rank:
"Here, the Rakshak began to tune into the Earth's element. They drew power from nature and enhanced their mental strength."
Pinnacle Rank:
"This was the level where one broke through their physical limits. Traveling at the speed of sound or breaking a mountain with a single punch — all became possible."
"And beyond that, power depended on just one thing — Willpower.
If your will was strong enough, at the pinnacle of the Root Chakra, you could shake the Earth itself."
All the kids were stunned. Then Asha asked,
"Master... if we became this powerful just at the first stage... what happened in the later stages? Wouldn't our power destroy the Earth?"
Ashwatthama smiled.
"Don't worry. Just like you're cultivating, the Earth is cultivating too.
The world is evolving alongside you. You're not alone — the world has its own levels as well."
Yash quickly asked,
"So Earth wasn't the only world where Aura and humans existed?"
Ashwatthama looked at him deeply.
"Not at all. Earth was just a small part of this grand creation.
But there was a time when Earth was a secret Mortal Realm —
And back then, the mortals of Earth... were the strongest among all mortals.
Earth was a legend in those days.
But ever since Aura vanished, its rank kept falling.
With time, you'd learn everything.
For now, I've only told you about the Root Chakra.
There were still 6 more stages ahead."
Ishan's eyes widened.
"So... no one had ever reached the 7th stage?"
Ashwatthama's thunderous voice echoed:
"No. So far, humans had only reached up to the Middle Rank of the 5th stage...
And even that — only two people.
The Legendary Emperors of Creation."
Everyone fell silent. Then Kavir asked,
"Master... were you also at the 5th stage?
And... was anyone still alive at that level?"
Ashwatthama, with a deep secret in his eyes, replied,
"I was not at the 5th stage.
But yes, there were still some people alive in this world who were.
We called them — Rakshaks.
And you all... had also set out to become Rakshaks yourselves."
Asha asked,
"But how did we become Rakshaks?"
Ashwatthama replied,
"There were two paths to becoming a Rakshak —
The Demonic Path and the Rights Path."
Yash looked nervous.
"Master... those who took the Demonic Path, did they turn evil later?"
Ashwatthama took a deep breath and said,
"Not necessarily.
But the Demon would always try to dominate you.
Cultivation on the Demonic Path depended on your desires.
The more you wanted something...
The more powerful you became."
"And awakening the Demonic Path began when you activated any one of your seven senses."
"From tomorrow onwards, you all would begin your training to reach Star 1 of your Root Chakra."
"Asha, listen – show Yash and Ishan their living quarters."
Asha: "Okay, Master."
Then Asha looked at Yash and Ishan with a smile and said,
"Brothers, come on!"
Yash: "Yeah, let's go."
Asha started walking ahead, with Yash and Ishan following her.
Suddenly, Yash looked back — Kavir, who had stood up, was walking toward the jungle. Seeing this, Yash asked Asha,
"Asha, wasn't Kavir coming with us?"
Hearing this, Ishan also looked back.
Asha replied a bit sadly,
"Kavir bhaiya used to talk nicely with everyone before, but his past had changed him. He blamed himself for the death of his parents. He only wanted revenge on their killer now."
Yash: "But... this had happened with all of us too..."
Asha: "The ones who killed Kavir bhaiya's parents were his own allies, people he trusted."
Yash: "WHAT!?"
By now, Asha had tears in her eyes. Wiping them away, she said,
"Nothing… you two just follow me, I'll show you your living quarters."
Yash: "But..."
Just then, Ishan placed his hand on Yash's shoulder and signaled with his head for him not to ask anything more.
Yash understood the seriousness of the situation and silently followed Asha.
---
Near a river
The wind was calm, and the moon was glowing brightly overhead.
But a voice echoed in the silence…
"Nooooo!" – Louder this time…
Kavir: "This rock is so hard!"
His hands were bleeding.
"I had to become stronger..."
Suddenly, a scream echoed in his mind — a woman laying on the ground, drenched in blood, saying,
"Kavir! Run away... don't worry about us!"
And the very next moment, someone slit her throat...
Kavir clutched his head tightly and sat on the ground.
"If only... if only I had never shown them mercy..."
Tears began to stream from his eyes.
Suddenly, he felt a presence.
Kavir: "Master, you're here?"
He quickly wiped his tears.
Ashwatthama: "Your senses had become sharper. Your training was working. From tomorrow, you'd learn to absorb urja (energy) and use it to strengthen your physical body."
Then he looked at Kavir, who was still trying to hide his tears.
Seeing this, Ashwatthama said again:
"Look, Kavir... your past may have been terrifying... but don't let it take over your future."
Kavir: "Yes, Master."
Hearing this, Ashwatthama looked at Kavir once more and then disappeared from the spot.
Kavir stood up, walked silently to the rock, and punched it hard.
His face was moist with tears, his eyes slightly teary, and his hands bleeding — but the rock didn't even get a scratch.
Seeing this, Kavir lowered his head and walked back toward his Kotiyaart.
As he left, the atmosphere became completely silent again.
Suddenly, Ashwatthama reappeared, looking at the same rock.
A sound was heard —
Crack…
He looked toward the rock — surprised.
The rock, which was completely untouched before, now had cracks… and the next moment — it shattered into pieces.
Ashwatthama, stunned for a moment, suddenly gave a soft smile and looked toward the moon.
"Seems like the world still had hope."
---
Other side — Yash and Ishan
Both were lying down together.
Yash: "Brother... so many things had changed so quickly."
Ishan: "Yeah, just yesterday we were in a different place... and now, here."
Yash: "The world was on the way to destruction..."
Ishan: "We had to become strong."
Yash: "Just watch... I'd be the first to reach the First Star of the Root Chakra!"
Ishan: "From tomorrow, our lives would change... again."
"Let's sleep for now."
Yash: "Good night."
Ishan: "Good night."
To be continued…