The air inside the temple remained heavy, thick with an unseen force. Aryan’s heartbeat thundered in his ears as he steadied himself. The vision—the voice inside his head—still echoed in his mind.

"A part of you that has long been forgotten…"

He clenched his fists, still feeling the lingering sensation of that dark entity lurking within him.

Master Kiyoshi observed him silently, his golden eyes gleaming with interest.

"You saw it, didn’t you?" Kiyoshi asked.

Aryan swallowed hard and nodded. "Something… was there. I don’t know what it was, but it spoke to me. It said I had to ‘claim it.’"

Rohan crossed his arms, listening intently. "That sounds… ominous," he muttered.

Master Kiyoshi exhaled deeply and turned, walking towards a nearby shelf. He pulled out an aged, leather-bound book and flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

"There exists a power buried within certain individuals. Some call it fate. Some call it a curse," Kiyoshi explained. "But those who bear the mark you carry… are different. They are tied to something greater."

He pointed at Aryan’s forearm. The burned mark was still there, faintly glowing.

"That mark is proof that you are being watched, Aryan. Not just by your enemies… but by something far more ancient."

Aryan felt a chill crawl down his spine.

"What does that mean?"

Kiyoshi’s expression darkened. "It means your journey has only begun. But if you wish to survive, we must first test whether you are truly capable of wielding this power."

Rohan smirked. "Another test, huh? You love making people fight, Master."

Kiyoshi chuckled. "Fighting is the fastest way to understand one’s limits. And today, Aryan… you will fight Rohan."

The Trial: Aryan vs. Rohan

Aryan’s head snapped toward Rohan. "Wait, what?"

Rohan grinned and cracked his knuckles. "Well, this should be fun."

Kiyoshi gestured to the center of the temple’s training ground. The wooden floor, marked with years of battle scars, would soon bear witness to another clash.

"No holding back," Kiyoshi warned. "Aryan, if you want to control your power, you need to fight someone at their best. And Rohan is no ordinary fighter. He’s a national-level champion."

Aryan’s eyes widened. "You never told me that!"

Rohan shrugged. "Never needed to before." He dropped into a low stance, his muscles coiling with anticipation. "But don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you."

Aryan exhaled. No choice but to fight.

Kiyoshi raised his hand. "Begin."

The moment his hand dropped, Rohan vanished.

Aryan barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his stomach. The impact sent him skidding backward, his breath escaping in a painful gasp.

"Damn it—he’s fast!"

But Rohan didn’t stop. He pivoted, launching a roundhouse kick aimed at Aryan’s head.

Instinct took over.

Aryan ducked just in time, feeling the wind from the kick brush against his hair. He retaliated, throwing a punch toward Rohan’s ribs—but Rohan caught his wrist mid-air and twisted it, flipping Aryan onto the ground.

Aryan groaned in pain.

"You’re hesitating," Rohan said, stepping back. "That’s gonna get you killed."

Aryan gritted his teeth. He couldn’t rely on raw strength. He needed to use his instincts.

Rohan charged again, but this time—Aryan didn’t just dodge. He moved before the attack came, sidestepping at the perfect moment and countering with an elbow to Rohan’s shoulder.

The hit landed.

Rohan’s eyes widened in surprise as he staggered back. "Not bad."

Aryan felt it again—the same sensation as before. The same power that had awakened when he was attacked in the alley.

"Come on," Aryan muttered to himself. "Let me use it."

For a brief second, his vision sharpened. He could see Rohan’s movements clearer than before—the slight shifts in his stance, the way his muscles tensed before attacking.

"I can read him!"

Rohan lunged forward again, throwing a flurry of punches. But Aryan dodged—barely, weaving between the attacks. His body moved faster, lighter.

And then—

He struck.

A knee to Rohan’s ribs, followed by a palm strike to his chest.

Rohan gasped as he stumbled back, his balance momentarily thrown off.

Kiyoshi watched intently.

"He’s adapting," the master murmured. "Good."

But Rohan wasn’t done yet.

"Alright," Rohan smirked, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Time to get serious."

His stance changed. The air around him grew heavier.

Aryan barely had time to react before Rohan disappeared—and then reappeared behind him.

"Too slow."

A devastating blow slammed into Aryan’s back, sending him crashing into the floor. The impact left cracks in the wooden planks beneath him.

Pain shot through his body.

"Damn it…" Aryan gasped. "He’s too strong."

He struggled to push himself up, but Rohan was already there, looming over him.

"This is the difference between us," Rohan said. "But… you’re getting better."

Aryan clenched his fists. "I’m… not done yet."

A faint glow flickered across his mark.

Kiyoshi’s eyes widened. "It’s happening…"

Suddenly—Aryan felt it.

A surge of energy. His body moved before he even thought about it.

The moment Rohan struck again, Aryan countered with inhuman speed.

His hand caught Rohan’s fist mid-air. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the temple.

Rohan’s expression changed.

"What… the hell?"

Aryan’s grip tightened. He could feel **strength coursing through him—**an untapped force finally breaking free.

His eyes glowed faintly.

And then—he moved.

A powerful strike landed on Rohan’s stomach, sending him flying backward.

For the first time, Rohan lost his footing.

Silence filled the room.

Aryan panted, staring at his hands in shock. The power had come and gone in an instant… but it had been real.

Master Kiyoshi smiled.

"Now we’re getting somewhere."

After the Battle

Rohan sat up, rubbing his sore ribs. "Holy shit, dude. That last hit actually hurt."

Aryan exhaled. He felt drained, but something was different now.

Kiyoshi stepped forward. "Your power is awakening, Aryan. But it is still unstable. If you cannot control it, it will consume you."

Aryan nodded. He didn’t understand this power yet, but one thing was certain—

He needed to master it before his enemies found him again.

Rohan grinned. "Well, guess you’re officially my rival now, huh?"

Aryan smirked. "Guess so."

Master Kiyoshi chuckled. "Then let’s begin your real training."

As the night fell, Aryan knew—

This was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 7