The roar of the waterfall thundered through the valley.
White water crashed down from the cliffs above, exploding into mist as it struck the rocks below. The air was cool and heavy with moisture, every breath carrying the scent of stone and flowing water. Sunlight filtered through the spray, creating faint rainbows that shimmered and vanished with the wind.
At the edge of the falls stood four figures.
Skanda.
Lioran.
Sharin.
Aishwarya.
"So," Skanda said, turning slowly to face them, "before we begin your training… there are things you must understand about Narvans."
His voice cut cleanly through the roar of the waterfall.
"Tell me," he continued, eyes settling on Sharin, "what is Vargh?"
Sharin straightened immediately.
"Vargh is a numerical value," he said. "It represents how strong a Narvan is. The higher the number, the stronger the Narvan."
Skanda nodded.
"Correct."
He took a step forward, boots crunching against wet stone.
"And based on Vargh," Skanda continued, "Narvans are classified into three distinct types."
"Three types?" Lioran asked, brows knitting. "What are they?"
Skanda raised three fingers.
"Bhool.
Kroor.
Tamrak."
"Bhool!" Sharin repeated.
"Kroor!" Aishwarya said, jaw tightening.
"Tamrak…" Lioran whispered.
Skanda's gaze hardened.
"Until now," he said, "every Narvan you fought belonged to the Bhool class. Their Vargh stays between 50 to 17,000."
A heavy pause followed.
"But the one you fought recently…" Skanda said quietly, "…was not a Bhool."
The mist seemed to thicken.
"That Narvan," Skanda continued, "was a Kroor."
Lioran clenched his fists.
"Kroor-class Narvans," Skanda said, "exist above Bhools. Their Vargh ranges from 17,001 to 63,500."
Aishwarya swallowed.
Sharin's jaw tightened.
"The Kroor you fought," Skanda said calmly, "had a Vargh of 27,573."
Silence.
The memories struck them instantly.
The paralysis.
The fear.
The way it toyed with them.
"That explains it…" Sharin muttered. "Why it overpowered us so easily…"
Lioran stared at the ground.
"Until now," he said slowly, "I thought my power was enough to stop Narvans."
He raised his artificial hand slightly.
"But now… I understand."
His voice hardened.
"This strength is not enough."
Skanda smiled faintly.
"That's why," he said, "I will train all of you."
He walked toward a massive boulder near the waterfall—at least three times his height, embedded deep into the rock bed.
Without hesitation—
Skanda placed one hand beneath it.
GRRRRRNNN—
Stone cracked.
The boulder rose.
One hand.
Everyone froze.
"How…?" Sharin whispered. "He lifted that with one hand…"
"So," Skanda said casually, turning back toward them, "the first part of your training is simple."
He hurled the boulder toward them.
WHOOOOOOOOOM—!!
The massive rock tore through the air, shadow swallowing them whole.
"You three have to fight with me." Skanda said.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Aishwarya shouted.
Before the boulder could crush them—
FWOOOOOSH—!!
Aishwarya stepped forward, her fist blazing.
"FLAME IMPACT!!"
KRAAASH—!!
The boulder exploded into molten fragments, raining sparks and debris.
Sharin and Lioran launched forward instantly.
"PRĀṆA PUNCH!!"
"PRĀṆA FIST!!"
Their attacks collided with Skanda—
But—
TINK—
He stopped both attacks.
With two fingers.
"What—?!" Lioran gasped.
Skanda grabbed both of them by the wrists.
WHOOSH—!!
He threw them aside like dolls.
They skidded across wet stone, barely regaining balance.
Behind him—
"FLAME BALL!!" Aishwarya shouted.
The blazing sphere struck Skanda squarely.
He waved his hand.
FWIP—
The flames vanished.
Aishwarya froze. "He… wiped it away… with his bare hand?"
Lioran's eyes narrowed.
He activated Prāṇa Vision.
Golden light flooded his eyes.
Skanda's body was covered in a thin Prāṇa cloak—almost invisible, yet terrifyingly sharp.
"It's thin…" Lioran murmured. "But different. So sharp it cuts through our techniques."
He inhaled deeply.
"Then we change tactics."
He took a stance.
Golden Prāṇa surged.
"GOLDEN BURST!!"
He struck.
Skanda caught the fist.
"You stopped the first impact," Lioran said, teeth clenched, "but what about the second?!"
The hidden shockwave erupted—
But—
It stopped.
Blocked.
Lioran's eyes widened. "How—?!"
"I saw it!" Sharin shouted. "He densified his Prāṇa cloak—changed its flow so the second impact couldn't pass through!"
Skanda released Lioran and slammed him into the ground.
THUUD—!!
"I can't believe it…" Sharin whispered. "Changing the property of Prāṇa… How long did he train for this…?"
Skanda vanished.
"Where did he go?!" Sharin shouted.
FWOOOMP—
Skanda appeared behind him.
"Too slow."
BOOOM—!!
A compressed Prāṇa fist slammed into Sharin's stomach.
Sharin coughed violently.
HACK—!!
"I compressed the force," Skanda said calmly, "so you wouldn't be blown back. The damage stays inside."
Sharin collapsed to one knee.
Aishwarya appeared behind Skanda.
"FLAME IMPACT!!"
Her punch connected.
"VARSHIELD." Skanda said.
BOOOOM—!!
Flames erupted.
Smoke filled the air.
When it cleared—
Everyone froze.
A transparent purple shield floated before Skanda.
"No way…" Aishwarya whispered.
"The impact isn't gone," Skanda said. "It's stored."
The shield pulsed.
KRRRRAAA—!!
All the force exploded outward.
Aishwarya was thrown back violently.
Skanda lowered his hand.
"I think," he said calmly, "you have only that much."
The waterfall roared louder.
Their training—
Had only begun.
TO BE CONTINUED…