The Announcement That Shook the Hall
A clang of the spirit-gong echoed across the courtyard, jolting students from meditation and meals alike.
"HEAR YE! HEAR YE!" bellowed a shrill voice. It belonged to Senior Disciple Vatsal, known for his lack of neck and surplus of spit when shouting.
"The Agnivardhan Junior Disciples Combat Trials begin… in three days!"
Groans, cheers, and a few "wait what!?"s erupted across the training grounds.
Suraj, who was mid-pose in teaching Chintu how to punch while holding a lollipop, froze.
"Guru ji... they didn't mention this in the welcome brochure."
"It's the classic bait-and-beat strategy. Surprise tournament, force the weak to quit, and make the strong show off. Cultivation version of reality TV."
"But we've barely begun training!"
"Correct. Which is why this will be hilarious."
"Class Zero Will Be Eliminated in Round One"
In the student mess hall that evening, Suraj found himself the topic of conversation yet again.
From the loud corner table, Raghav Varma — now mostly healed but still visibly bitter — raised a cup.
"To the fastest elimination in academy history!" he announced. "Class Zero! The garbage bin of disciples!"
Laughter echoed around him.
One of his friends snorted, "They've got a kid, a guy who faints at shadows, a girl who never talks, and a pair of twins who argue over which hand to punch with."
"And don't forget the instructor," added another, "whose greatest contribution to martial arts is comic relief."
Suraj walked past them with his tray of food, smiled, and said, "Appreciate the motivation, boys. We'll make sure to wave from the finals."
Unconventional Preparations
Back at the secluded training hall (more like a shed, honestly), Suraj clapped his hands.
"Alright, failures and future legends! We have three days to not get utterly humiliated. Let's begin Operation 'Shock and Survive'!"
Dhruv raised his hand. "Um, what's the plan?"
"Simple," said Suraj. "We don't outpower them. We outsmart them."
"Let's begin analyzing individual opponents for each student."
Dhruv's Training: The Dodger
His opponent: A musclehead who relied on brute strikes.
Guru ji's analysis: Slow reflexes. Flinches when opponent coughs loudly. Weak left ankle.
"Lesson 1," Suraj told Dhruv, "You'll be the academy's first dodger-style fighter."
"Like dodging everything?"
"Exactly. No need to fight back. Just make him hit air until he gets exhausted and cries."
"Simulated route: 17 dodges, one fake injury, and a dramatic sneeze for the win."
Vedika's Training: The Mirror Ghost
Her opponent: A wind cultivator who focused on agility and showy footwork.
Guru ji's suggestion: Counter-speed with prediction. Watch their feet, not their hands.
"Vedika, you're quiet. Use that. Become the opponent's mirror. Reflect their steps, then reverse them."
Vedika didn't speak — just nodded. Her cold eyes shimmered with strange intent.
Mannu's Training: The Panic Puncher
His opponent: An average-range cultivator with a flashy sword.
Mannu, however, had… nothing.
Except panic.
Guru ji whispered, "Use the panic. Channel it. Flail like a mad goat. Swing unpredictably. Confuse, terrify, overwhelm."
Suraj clapped. "Mannu, we'll weaponize your inner chaos."
"I-I don't have any—"
"Shhh. That's the chaos talking."
Sanya & Sagar: The Twin Switch
They were told to fight together — a 2-on-2 match.
Suraj gave them a simple rule: Confuse everyone, including each other.
"Swap names mid-fight. Yell wrong techniques. Pretend to switch sides. Absolute psychological warfare."
They agreed… a little too eagerly.
Chintu: The Distraction
No one expected anything from the seven-year-old.
So Suraj gave him a bell. That's it. A bell.
"Opponent is a self-serious disciple from noble bloodline. Weakness: cannot tolerate childish behavior."
"Just ring the bell and scream things like 'Your shoe's untied!' while dodging."
"Cool," Chintu nodded. "Can I also throw pebbles?"
"…Fine. But underhanded."
The Trials Begin
Day One. The Combat Arena.
Hundreds of disciples gathered, and the elders sat on floating platforms, sipping spirit tea while pretending to observe fairly.
Head Elder Harinandan yawned. "Any predictions?"
Another elder replied, "Class Zero will collapse by noon."
They were wrong.
Battle One: Dhruv vs Bruto Ram
Dhruv didn't land a single hit.
Instead, he dodged.
Left. Right. Duck. Spin.
At one point, he tripped and rolled under his opponent's legs.
By the end, Bruto Ram was red-faced, panting, and accidentally knocked himself out trying to body slam thin air.
The crowd was speechless.
"Winner… Dhruv of Class Zero!"
Battle Two: Vedika vs Windstep Rina
Rina's movements were dazzling — her robes fluttering, steps light.
Vedika was… still.
Too still.
Then suddenly — a twist.
Rina stepped forward, Vedika mirrored.
Rina faked left, Vedika faded right.
In seconds, Rina was flat on the ground, gasping, her foot tangled in her own robe.
Vedika bowed silently.
"Target eliminated via calculated symmetry."
Battle Three: Mannu vs Darpan Rai
Darpan smirked. "Try not to faint before—"
Mannu shrieked.
Loudly.
Then he ran in with swinging arms, random kicks, and a growl that sounded like a dying squirrel.
Darpan froze.
Then screamed.
And jumped out of the ring.
"...Winner?"
"Mannu," the announcer blinked. "I guess."
Battle Four: Sanya & Sagar vs House of Ash Twins
No one understood what happened.
At one point, Sanya was fighting Sagar.
Then both were on the same side.
Then they called each other "brother" and "sister" alternatively.
Their opponents? Confused. Defeated.
Battle Five: Chintu vs Noble Scion Prabodh
Chintu entered skipping.
Rang the bell.
"Oi! Your fly's open!"
Prabodh lost focus.
Chintu ducked under, rang the bell in his ears, and kicked his shin.
The elder laughed tea out of his nose.
"...Winner: Chintu?"
By the end of Day One, Class Zero had won every single match.
The crowd was no longer laughing.
A Private Meeting Under Moonlight
That evening, Suraj sat by the lake, legs dangling over the wooden pier, tossing pebbles into the spirit-glowing water.
"You planned all that?" a soft voice asked.
He turned.
Avi Manchanda, no veil tonight, stood by the tree. Moonlight made her eyes seem even more mysterious.
"I improvise masterfully," he replied. "Comedic chaos is an art."
She sat beside him.
"I see why you're dangerous."
"Flattered. Also slightly scared."
"You're changing the rhythm of the academy," she said. "Your Class Zero… they're misfits. But they're learning to fight like you."
"Is that good?"
"It's terrifying."
Suraj glanced at her. "So… why help me?"
She hesitated. "Because… I want to see if you can break the system. This world… Valorea... it was built on rigid lines. You don't belong to it."
"Neither do you," he said quietly.
She didn't deny it.
Then she looked up at the sky. "One day, someone must tear down the Seals."
Suraj raised a brow. "What seals?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she whispered, "Be careful who praises you. Praise builds walls you won't see until they trap you."
Then she stood and vanished.
Guru ji chimed in, "Well, that was deeply ominous and vaguely flirty."
"I like her."
"You would."