The elders all exchanged looks of pure despair not knowing what to say about his habit of talking to himself, like a maniac or creating a chaos like a maniac.
The echo of thunder still lingered in the great hall of Nalanda.
The jungle trial was gone — erased like a dream — but its aftermath rippled through the entire academy. The Observation Hall still flickered with fading images: trees turned to ash, the heart of the formation collapsed, and at the center of it all stood a boy… smiling as though nothing had happened.
That boy now stood before the Principal of Nalanda.
The chamber was vast — circular, lined with floating scrolls that glowed like miniature suns. Each scroll hummed softly, containing centuries of sealed wisdom. The air itself shimmered with dense spiritual power. This was no ordinary office — this was the sanctum of Nalanda's strongest man.
Chakra Stage 7 — First Step.
Principal Devendra.
His calm gaze could silence storms, his aura could rewrite the flow of a mountain river. Yet even he hesitated now, staring at the six-year-old standing before him — barefoot, dusty, hair a complete mess, and still munching on a spirit stone like it was candy.
Aryan swallowed the last bite and patted his stomach. "Sooo… am I fired or promoted?"
The Principal blinked.
For a heartbeat, silence.
Then he asked, in a tone that could melt iron, "Who… are you, truly?"
Aryan grinned. "Oh, me? Just your friendly neighborhood… uh… professional chaos spreader?"
[System: Smooth. You sound like a rejected Marvel audition.]
Principal Devendra's gaze sharpened. "Your cultivation method— your control over chakra… I have never seen anything like it. The formation you shattered was built by six Grandmasters and powered by Nalanda's own leyline. And yet, you stand unscathed."
He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering.
"Tell me, child… what exactly are you?"
Aryan blinked, then remembered something he once heard in a game trailer.
He crossed his arms, trying to sound mysterious. "The path… doesn't choose the weak. It chooses the one who presses 'continue' even after dying fifty times."
System:
[Congratulations. You just gave a motivational speech for gamers to a headmaster.]
Principal Devendra's eyes widened, completely misunderstanding. "The one who rises again after death… resurrection comprehension at such a young age? Unbelievable!"
Aryan nodded solemnly. "Yeah, yeah, I resurrected at-least two times time."
[System: Stop. Talking.]
The Principal placed a hand under his chin. His mind raced — the boy's nonsensical words were too profound. Each sentence sounded like a layered riddle, the kind only ancient cultivators used to hide their true meaning.
"Tell me," Devendra continued, "what philosophy drives you to wield such unpredictable power?"
Aryan sat With his legs hanging Outside of the front of chair, dangling his legs freely like a bored toddler. Then, after a long pause, he pointed his thumb at his chest. "Simple. If life gives you monsters, punch first, ask later."
Devendra's eyes widened again — awe flashing across his usually stoic face.
"A philosophy of initiative! Direct confrontation of destiny itself! Remarkable!"
[System: He just called your idiocy a philosophy. We've reached enlightenment.]
Far above the heavens, watching this inside her mirror, Lady Luck, laughing like a Kid, who has done something naughty, Thinking how can a principal of such a profound university, be so dumb, forgetting that the boy is containing Max luck given by her only, And watching the scene, take place with delight.
The Principal stood, pacing slowly, his robes whispering against the marble floor. His voice grew reverent.
"Young one… you do not cultivate merely chakra, do you? You cultivate will. The purest form of intent — something even Grandmasters fail to touch."
Aryan tilted his head. "Y..yeah… sure Intent. Totally that."
[System: You don't even know what 'will' means, do you?]
Aryan Says nonchalantly,"Of course I do. It's like… when you really, really want snacks, and you will them into existence." Speaking to system, but speak out of his mouth instead, making it deliver to principal also making principles Spat blood from his mouth.
After Principal Devendra Composed himself and wiped his blood from his mouth, still he froze mid-step, eyes widening again. "Material manifestation of intent! You've achieved it?!"
The elders outside heard the Principal's voice and exchanged uneasy looks.
Inside the chamber, Devendra bowed deeply — a gesture no one in Nalanda had seen him give in decades.
"My respects, Honored One. To think someone of your realm would walk among us disguised as a youth. Truly, the heavens have not abandoned Nalanda."
Aryan panicked slightly. "Eh? Honored who?"
[System: Don't correct him. You've finally found someone who respects you.]
Aryan coughed, folding his arms and nodding like a wise old sage. "Ah, yes, yes. My realm… quite, uh, unfathomable indeed."
The Principal's aura calmed, yet his respect deepened further. His sharp eyes softened as he spoke:
"If you came here to test our students… then allow me to assist you. You have seen our arrogance, our weaknesses. Perhaps… your presence here is destiny itself."
Aryan blinked, unsure if this was still about him. "Uh, yeah. Destiny. Sure. I test people all the time. Daily quests, you know?"
[System: You're a walking embarrassment wrapped in divine misunderstanding, And if we are talking about daily quests, you can barely wash your own clothes.]
If Aryan could Touch system with his hands, he could have break him apart, thinking why this piece of shit floating screen keep insulting me, even if no one can listen it, but still it hurts.
Avoiding his face expressions that are changing by every minute, the Principal turned solemnly, gesturing toward a pedestal where an ancient mask rested — black as night, veins of silver etched across its surface. The air around it rippled faintly, like shadows alive.
"This mask," Devendra said softly, "was once worn by an instructor of the Crown Ranks — a being who walked the line between death and enlightenment. It conceals power, shields identity, and suppresses aura. It will fit you… perfectly."
Aryan's eyes sparkled. "Whoa. So like… a limited edition accessory?"
Devendra smiled faintly. "You may call it that, if you wish."
Aryan grabbed the mask, putting it on in a slow dramatic sweep. The runes glowed, merging with his cloak's fabric — the shadows rippling outward like black fire until his entire form became one seamless silhouette. His voice deepened slightly through the mask, echoing like a whisper of death.
Even Devendra — a Stage 7 cultivator — felt a shiver.
"Remarkable…" he murmured. "You truly resemble the Reaper of Death. A perfect visage for one who will test the future of our crown rank students."
Aryan looked at his reflection in the nearby crystal wall.
He tilted his masked head. "Not gonna lie… I look badass."
[System: Confirmed. You now have the aesthetic of a midlife crisis and an RPG boss combined.]
The Principal clasped his hands behind his back. "From this day forth, you will serve as the Instructor for the Crown Rank Trial. Only those who have reached the pinnacle of talent will face you. Your duty — to test their worth."
He added sternly, "Do not use those strange gauntlets of yours. The trial must remain fair."
Aryan gave a confident nod, trying to act serious. "Fear not. I'll hold back. A lot."
[System: That's the exact opposite of reassuring.]
Devendra exhaled deeply, half relieved, half nervous. He gestured to the door. "Then go, Master Aditya Raj. The instructors await your arrival."
Aryan hopped off the chair. "Alright, time to teach some kiddos!"
But as his feet touched the ground—
WHOOSH!
His skill 'Acceleration' Activate giving him 120% boost because their conversation lasted for 20 minutes or so, making his speed reach another level.
The air cracked open with a shockwave of wind. The chair flipped, scrolls flew off shelves, and Devendra's tea exploded mid-air. Aryan was gone vanished completely.
Not a trace of chakra left behind.
The Principal stood frozen, robes rustling in the silent chaos.
"…He disappeared," he whispered. "No ripple… no distortion. As if space itself allowed him passage."
This thing was done, just because principal gave him the Duskreaper Mask Which has a secret skill in it, that can only be opened by specific conditions as Aryan has system. It automatically told him how to turn on the feature and passing through efficiently through the wall without using any Chakra.
Outside, the elders felt a sudden blur rush past the corridor. One gasped.
"Did you see that shadow?"
Another muttered, trembling, "He didn't even use the door…"
Whispers filled the hall.
"The legendary instructor… has returned."
Back inside, Principal Devendra looked at the space where Aryan once stood.
For the first time in years, a faint smile touched his lips.
"Perhaps Nalanda's era… has just begun."
From afar, a mechanical voice, whispered in the halls of Nalanda.
[System: And perhaps the apocalypse, too.]