The training ground trembled.
Dust rose into the air as Arjun stood at the center, his hand raised, a dense sphere of shadow energy pulsing violently above his palm.
Across from him, Vikram narrowed his eyes.
For the first time—
He felt danger.
Real danger.
"This… isn't normal energy," Vikram muttered.
The elders watching from the high platform exchanged serious glances.
"That aura… it's unstable."
"No… it's something worse."
Below, Arjun's breathing grew heavier.
The power inside him surged uncontrollably, like a beast trying to break free.
The voice echoed again—
"Release it."
Arjun clenched his teeth.
"No… not yet."
But Vikram didn't wait.
With a sharp step forward, his aura exploded outward—bright, fierce, overwhelming.
"Let me see what you've become!"
He lunged.
In an instant, he was in front of Arjun.
His fist cut through the air like a blade.
Arjun reacted.
Shadow Step.
His body blurred—
Vanishing just before impact.
Vikram's punch hit the ground.
BOOM!
Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the stone.
Gasps echoed across the training ground.
"He dodged that?!"
"Impossible!"
But before anyone could react—
Arjun appeared behind Vikram.
The shadow sphere in his hand pulsed violently.
For a split second—
Everything went silent.
Then—
"Shadow Burst."
He thrust his palm forward.
The dark energy exploded.