"Huh? You joined them?"
Hameed reacted instantly the moment he heard the name Indian Group of Martial Artists.
"No wonder the Chief didn't invite you to Extreme Martial Hall…" he muttered under his breath.
That reaction immediately caught Rudra's attention.
"Instructor," Rudra asked, frowning slightly, "is something wrong? Is that organisation dangerous?"
"Ah—no, no. Not at all." Hameed waved his hand and denied it at once. "In fact, it's quite suitable for someone like you."
"Then what do you mean?" Rudra's curiosity only deepened.
"It seems you don't know much about them," Hameed said, then smiled faintly. "No worries. I'll explain."
"The Indian Group of Martial Artists—IGMA for short—is a military organisation directly under the Indian Government. Among all organisations in India, they possess the largest number of Martial Artists."
After saying that, Hameed paused. His expression subtly dimmed, and he let out a quiet sigh.
"Unfortunately… they don't have a single Outgunned God of War expert. Otherwise, they would've been the undisputed number one organisation in the country."
Outgunned God of War?
Rudra's heart stirred.
That's a Planetary-level expert… If I remember correctly, India only has one such person—Tripathi Singh, the 'Lion King'. But shouldn't someone like him belong to IGMA?
Before Rudra could voice his thoughts, Hameed continued.
"Although our country does have Tripathi Singh," Hameed said slowly, "he has been affiliated with the HR Alliance since the very beginning. Because of that, he can't join IGMA."
Another sigh escaped him, this one tinged with helplessness.
So that's how it is…
One doubt in Rudra's mind was finally cleared, though many others still lingered.
"Still," Hameed straightened his back, pride flashing in his eyes, "that didn't stop IGMA from growing. Through the combined efforts of several God of War experts, the organisation has reached its current strength."
Oh? Interesting… Rudra thought quietly.
"It's even rumoured," Hameed added with a knowing smile, "that IGMA has at least five Advanced God of War–level experts."
"And what do you think?" Rudra asked.
Hameed chuckled softly before replying, "Of course, those are nothing more than baseless rumours—stories spread among low-level warriors who like to exaggerate."
"Oh… is that so?" Rudra muttered under his breath.
A thought slowly took root in his mind.
If those rumours were even half true… then this organisation wouldn't just be strong—it would be terrifying.
Hameed's lips curved upward. Pride was no longer hidden in his eyes.
"The truth is…" he paused deliberately, letting the weight of his words sink in,
"IGMA has seven such experts."
Rudra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"They're known across the world as the Seven Star Brothers," Hameed continued, his voice firm and resonant. "Each one of them stands at the Advanced God of War level."
Before Rudra could fully digest that revelation, Hameed struck again.
"And that's not all. Beneath them are ten Intermediate and twelve Beginner God of War–level experts."
Silence fell.
Rudra froze, his breathing momentarily disrupted.
This… this is absurd.
Such a lineup was enough to rival even the most terrifying global organisations.
At that moment, a clear understanding dawned on him.
I didn't just make a good choice…
I made the right one.
Before Rudra could rejoice any further, Hameed let out a deep, weary sigh.
"Hah… what a pity."
The pride on his face faded, replaced by quiet frustration.
"Except for two Intermediate God of War–level experts and the Beginner-ranked ones, none of them are currently present in the organisation," Hameed said heavily. "The others are either in secluded cultivation or roaming the world, exploring the Ancient Ruins scattered across different parts of Earth."
He shook his head slowly.
"That's why, although IGMA stands at the very top in terms of raw strength, we fall behind in other aspects—especially in training and nurturing new members."
Hearing this, Rudra's excitement gradually cooled, replaced by a deeper, more realistic understanding.
That's true… Rudra reflected inwardly.
Even Luo Feng had guidance from countless experts before reaching the supreme stage.
Yet Hong and Lei Shen—despite their terrifying talent—had no proper teacher before leaving Earth. That was precisely why their growth eventually stalled.
Without guidance, Rudra concluded grimly,
even reaching the level of a Domain Lord is nearly impossible—forget Immortal.
Hameed's voice pulled him back to reality.
"But you don't need to worry about training," Hameed said, smiling reassuringly at Rudra. "If you can successfully become an Inner Member, the organisation will definitely arrange for you to enter the Basic Training Camp of Extreme Martial Hall."
Rudra's eyes flickered.
"There, you'll receive direct guidance from High-Level God of War experts."
Hameed suddenly paused, as if something had just occurred to him.
"Oh, you might not even know about the Basic Training Camp yet," he said with a chuckle. "Then again, it may not be necessary for you to understand it fully right now."
He continued more seriously, "Simply put, the Basic Training Camp is a place created by Extreme Martial Hall to nurture true geniuses. It doesn't restrict members of other organisations from entering."
"But," Hameed added, his gaze sharpening, "to step inside… you must prove yourself. Nothing there is handed out easily."
"I understand," Rudra replied without hesitation.
He straightened his back, his eyes burning with determination.
"Thank you, Instructor, for telling me all of this. I'll work hard—and reach my goals."
Hameed looked at Rudra and smiled.
...
...
...
After ending their small talk on IGMA, neither of them spoke again.
The conversation they had shared lingered quietly in the air, heavy with implications.
When they reached the Martial Club, Hameed finally broke the silence.
"If you ever need my help, call me," he said calmly. "I've sent you my contact information. Check your phone."
Rudra took out his phone. Sure enough, there was a new message from the Martial Club—his status had been updated to Quasi-Warrior, along with Instructor Hameed's personal contact details.
"Thank you, Instructor," Rudra said sincerely. "I'll contact you if I need help."
"Good." Hameed nodded. "Go back and rest for today. And don't forget to cultivate your Genetic Energy Technique. We'll discuss the rest tomorrow."
Once again, Rudra was reminded of the path ahead.
After giving his final instructions, Hameed got into his car and drove away.
Rudra turned in the opposite direction.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he headed home—
The road ahead was difficult, but for the first time, it felt clear.