The dim glow of lanterns flickered in the old dojo as Aryan and Rohan stood before Master Kiyoshi. His aged yet imposing presence filled the room with an aura of authority. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, scanned both of them before he finally spoke.

“Strength is meaningless without control,” Master Kiyoshi said, his voice carrying the weight of countless battles.

Aryan stood rigid, still trying to grasp everything that had happened in the last few days. Rohan, as usual, had an easygoing smirk on his face, though Aryan knew he took training just as seriously as any warrior would.

“Let’s see what you two are capable of.”

Master Kiyoshi gestured for both of them to step forward onto the wooden floor.

Aryan vs. Rohan - The Training Fight

Rohan took his stance first, bouncing on his feet with a relaxed demeanor. His movements were calculated, smooth—true to his national-level fighter status. Aryan, on the other hand, took a more cautious stance, unsure of how to properly counter a trained fighter like Rohan.

Master Kiyoshi stood in between them and raised his hand.

“Begin.”

Rohan wasted no time, launching forward with a quick feint before delivering a sharp low kick. Aryan barely dodged, stumbling slightly. The momentary hesitation was all Rohan needed—he closed the distance and threw a jab at Aryan’s face.

A sharp pain exploded in Aryan’s jaw. He staggered back, shaking his head.

“Bro, focus,” Rohan grinned. “You’re not gonna beat me by standing around.”

Aryan clenched his fists. He needed to retaliate. He charged forward, throwing a punch aimed at Rohan’s ribs, but his friend effortlessly dodged and countered with a spinning back kick that sent Aryan skidding backward.

Master Kiyoshi watched silently, observing Aryan’s every move.

Panting, Aryan wiped the sweat from his forehead. He felt something deep inside—a flicker of something new. A raw surge of energy pulsed in his veins. It was different from before. His senses heightened, his body felt lighter.

Rohan noticed the change. “Whoa… What’s with that look?”

Aryan didn’t respond. He just moved. His body reacted before his mind could process it. He ducked under Rohan’s punch, twisting his body and sweeping Rohan’s legs out from under him.

Thud!

Rohan hit the floor, stunned.

Master Kiyoshi stepped forward immediately. “Enough.”

Aryan stopped, breathing heavily. He hadn’t even realized what had happened. It was as if something inside him had taken over.

Master Kiyoshi studied him. “If you fight without mastering yourself, you will be consumed by your own power.”

Aryan nodded, still shaken by what he had just done.

Rohan’s Secret – The Underground Tournament

After training, the two of them walked to a quiet rooftop to cool down. The city stretched below them, bathed in the warm hues of sunset.

Rohan sat on the edge, stretching. “Man, I wasn’t expecting that. You’re getting scary, bro.”

Aryan chuckled weakly. “I don’t even know what happened.”

Rohan smirked before his expression turned serious. “I need to tell you something.”

Aryan leaned against the railing. “What is it?”

Rohan hesitated for a moment, then spoke. “I have a match coming up in an underground battle tournament.”

Aryan’s eyes widened. “Wait, you’re fighting illegal matches?”

“Shh! Not so loud.” Rohan glanced around before continuing. “Master doesn’t know about this, and I plan to keep it that way.”

Aryan shook his head. “Are you insane? Those fights can get people killed.”

Rohan shrugged. “That’s why I want you to join.”

Aryan stared at him. “You can’t be serious.”

“Listen,” Rohan leaned in, “you need real experience. The people coming after you? They won’t play fair. In this tournament, you’ll fight against real killers, real beasts. If you want to be strong, you have to fight like your life depends on it.”

Aryan clenched his fists. The thought of fighting in such an environment was terrifying… but he couldn’t deny that Rohan had a point.

“Fine,” Aryan finally said. “I’ll do it.”

Rohan grinned. “Good. But we need to train like hell first.”

A Mysterious Figure Watching Them…

As they left the rooftop, neither of them noticed the figure hidden in the shadows, observing them through narrowed eyes.

A masked man pulled out a communication device and whispered, “They’re preparing for the tournament. Should we intervene?”

A distorted voice responded from the other end. “No… Let them grow stronger. It’ll be more fun that way.”

The masked figure smirked before vanishing into the darkness.