**Chapter 13: Unexpected Family Ties**
After leaving Arvind Rao's office, **Vivaan Sharma** pulled out his phone and tried calling his father, **Raj Sharma**. No matter how he turned the situation over in his mind, there was no logical reason he could have offended someone like **Veer Rathore**.
For someone of Veer's status to even *know* him—a mere high schooler from a small city like **Varuna City**—and then criticize him publicly by name, was simply baffling.
This time, the call connected. Raj's cheerful voice rang through the receiver, full of mischief as always.
"Son! Missing your dear dad already?"
Vivaan was used to his father's unserious tone. Without reacting, he asked bluntly, "Dad, do you know someone named **Veer Rathore**?"
"Veer? Of course!" Raj replied, then suddenly sounded surprised. "Wait—how do *you* know about him? I don't think I've ever introduced you to your elder brother!"
Vivaan froze. "My… elder brother?"
"That's right," Raj said casually, as if he'd just mentioned something trivial. "Veer is **Reva's** son. Since I'm marrying Reva, that makes him your stepbrother! Oh, and you also have a stepsister named **Reva Rathore**..."
Raj's voice faded into the background. Vivaan didn't even catch the rest. His mind had gone blank. The revelation hit him like a shockwave. His father—of all people—had somehow married *that* woman?
"Dad," Vivaan asked carefully, "how's your relationship with Veer Rathore?"
Raj chuckled, completely oblivious to Vivaan's inner turmoil. "Fantastic! Veer and Reva treat me with the utmost respect. We all get along perfectly."
Vivaan knew his father too well—Raj wasn't lying. That made the situation even harder to swallow.
If Veer and Reva truly had such a good relationship with him, then why were they targeting *Vivaan*? Could it be they disapproved of Raj's marriage and were taking it out on him instead?
Raj's excitement about his upcoming wedding was unmistakable. Vivaan didn't want to ruin it by bringing up his own troubles. If Veer and Reva really opposed the marriage, he refused to become the excuse that would give them satisfaction.
Even without meeting Veer in person, Vivaan already had a terrible impression of him.
*No matter how powerful the Rathore family is, it has nothing to do with me.*
*I don't want their help. But they've crossed the line.*
Even now that he understood the situation, it changed nothing. He couldn't exactly go around telling people that Veer Rathore hated him because his father had married Veer's mother. That would only make him look ridiculous—and weak.
And in truth, that was the core of it.
*Weakness.*
Reva Rathore had defeated him with a single strike.
Veer Rathore's one casual remark had almost destroyed his chance to take part in the combat test.
It wasn't fate—it was power.
If Vivaan were as strong as an Epic-tier cultivator, would they have dared to treat him this way?
He clenched his fists, forcing the bitterness down. He wasn't someone who wasted time complaining about life's unfairness. Instead, he pushed the thought aside and focused on what truly mattered—improvement.
It was time to grind again.
The former principal of **Guide High Institute** had once said Vivaan possessed the rarest of traits—absolute focus.
It sounded like a simple compliment, but few people understood how rare such focus truly was. Humans were full of distractions, temptations, emotions—all things that broke concentration. Even gods had faltered before desire. How could mortals possibly avoid it?
Most people found studying or training difficult because their minds wandered. They couldn't maintain full attention long enough to grow.
But Vivaan was different. No matter what he did or where he was, he could shut the world out completely, throwing himself into the task with unwavering intensity. It was this rare quality that had made him stand out long ago.
Now, inside the mysterious game on his phone, Vivaan summoned his **Companion Beast**—a **Mutated Vigor Ant**. It had the same Constitution score of 9 as he did, but its carapace was like armor, granting far higher defense.
The blood-colored avatar rode atop the ant's back, storming through the **Ant Nest**. Even when swarmed by dozens of enemies, he showed no fear.
The ant's front pincers crushed ordinary Vigor Ants with a single blow, its carapace gleaming under the dim light as they carved a path through the nest.
"If only I had a spear," Vivaan muttered. Riding atop the ant made it hard for his avatar to reach enemies near the ground. He often had to leap down to fight alongside his Companion Beast.
Ever since acquiring that mysterious crystal, Vivaan had never felt this unstoppable. Man and beast moved as one—slicing, smashing, tearing through everything in their path.
Where once he could only survive in the outer tunnels, dying before venturing too deep, he now charged fearlessly into unexplored territory.
Dimensional crystals occasionally dropped, though most were weak. Still, he absorbed them, replenishing a little of his Primordial Energy each time.
Then came the sound he'd been waiting for.
*Ding!*
After crushing another Mutated Vigor Ant, the game flashed—a **Vigor Ant Crystal, Rank 9**.
Vivaan's pulse quickened. The blood-colored avatar picked it up, and instantly, a surge of raw energy flooded through his body like a lightning bolt. His circulation ignited with power.
**Vigor Divine Fist**—ranked up from 7 to 9.
The improvement came with a price: the energy drain per use had increased. Each strike now consumed 5 Primordial Energy. With only 9 points total, he couldn't even unleash two strikes in quick succession.
Still, that didn't stop him. If anything, it spurred him on.
Man and ant continued their rampage, crushing everything in their way.
The deeper they went, the wider the tunnels became. After nearly two hours of relentless fighting, Vivaan finally saw the end of the nest. Ahead, the narrow passage expanded into a vast cavern—like a colossal underground chamber.
As they charged through another wave of ants, a silver glint flashed in the dark.
A chill ran through Vivaan's spine.
A **silver-winged ant** darted overhead, moving so fast his avatar barely saw the blur. The next instant—
The blood-colored avatar's head was sliced clean off.
The screen went black.
Vivaan exhaled sharply, staring at the dark reflection on his phone screen.
Whatever that thing was—it wasn't just another ant.
It was a boss.
And next time, he'd be ready.