Ch. 3. Volume 0

  Suddenly, I remembered my second racial ability: [Chakra Tattoo Resonance]

  The moment I activated it, I felt a familiar mental tug—the Astra was asking which Chakra tattoo I wished to resonate with. I picked up a Fire--Astra and focused my intent on the yellow tattoo etched into the silver riser of my bow. I willed my Prana of Human to flow into the mark.

  The tattoo acted like a vacuum, greedily drinking in my Prana before channeling it back into the nocked arrow with amplified force. The heat radiating from the shaft intensified until the air around it began to shimmer and distort. When I finally released the string, the explosion was cataclysmic. This wasn't just a 20% power boost; it was a total transformation of the projectile's destructive potential.

  [Prana of Human Remaining: 98%]

  I quickly did the math. Channeling enough Prana to gain a 20% power boost consumed 2% of my Prana of Human. That meant if I were to push the resonance to its absolute limit—a 120% increase in power—it would drain 12% of my human reserves in a single shot. It was a staggering cost, but for that level of devastation, it was a price I was more than willing to pay.

  I decided to go all out. I nocked a Tier 2 Fire -Astra and willed every drop of my Prana of Human into the resonance. My astra reacted instantly; the six tattoos on the silver riser began to glow with a predatory light, drinking in my Prana like starving ghosts. The prana swirled through the weapon before converging into the Fire Tattoo, which began to spin so violently it became a blur of golden-yellow light.

  The astra began to vibrate in my hands, a low, powerful thrum that made my bones ache. The sheer amount of raw heat being pumped into the projectile distorted the very atmosphere around me. Waves of shimmering heat rolled off the astra as I pulled the string to its absolute limit. When I released it, the world seemed to scream.

  The astra struck the ground fifty meters away, and for a split second, there was silence—followed by a cataclysmic explosion. The shockwave nearly knocked me off my feet. A wall of searing heat rushed back toward me, and the earth itself trembled as if an earthquake had struck. I stood there, breathless, staring at the smoldering crater where my arrow had landed.

  [Prana of Human Remaining: 86%]

  I realized then that I wasn't just firing astra anymore; I was wielding the power of a tactical missile. I decided to call this my Ultimate Tier 2 Fire -Astra.

  Hungry for more, I nocked a Tier 2 Air-Astra and pushed it to its 120% limit. Once again, the tattoos drained my Prana, funneling everything into the green Air tattoo. The air around my astra began to warp and tremble, drawn toward the arrow's tip like a vacuum. It felt as if the atmosphere itself were afraid of the projectile I was holding.

  I fired. I didn’t even see the arrow leave the string. A thunderous sonic boom echoed across the plains, and a moment later, a massive tornado erupted at the impact site. The storm was so fierce it churned the soil and sent debris flying hundreds of feet into the air. Strong gusts of wind whipped past me, nearly tearing my clothes.

  [Prana of Human Remaining: 74%]

  Finally, I tested the Ultimate Tier 2 Water -Astra. Upon impact, it didn't just burst—it exploded into a high-pressure deluge. An immense wall of water and vapor surged outward, saturating the area so completely that the sky was momentarily obscured by thick, heavy mist. In seconds, the impact zone had been transformed into a temporary lake.

  [Prana of Human Remaining: 62%]

  I stood in the center of the destruction I had created, my heart hammering against my ribs.

  When I released the Ultimate Tier 2 Earth -Astra at 120% power, the result was cataclysmic. A three-meter-wide crater blasted into the earth, and the entire Training Zone trembled under the force of the impact. I stood there, stunned into silence; I had no idea my potential for destruction was this vast.

  [Prana of Human Remaining: 50%]

  Watching my reserves dwindle, I immediately tried to enter a meditative state to recover my Prana of Human. However, I quickly realized that unlike the Prana of Petals, this prana did not respond to active cultivation. It was a passive resource that replenished itself slowly over time.

  Undeterred, I spent the remaining time in the zone perfecting my form and focus. Just before the session expired, the final golden light of the tutorial washed over me.

  I decided to invest my final Free Point into the Third Eye Chakra. I had a gut feeling that in the chaos of a real battlefield, my intuition and perception would be the difference between life and death.

  Once I began to train my skills.

  By the end of the training session, my Total Human Prana and Prana of Petals had reached a value of 10. My attributes for Space, Air, Fire, and Earth stood at 6, while my Water attribute was at 5. My offensive potential was now balanced with my defensive capabilities, and my reflexes were sharper than ever before.

  ...........

  As my vision cleared, I looked down the hill toward my brother and friends. They were still there, but I could sense a profound change in them, much like the one I had undergone. When I turned to my side, I saw Maya. Her transformation was even more striking than before; she looked taller, her physique radiating a newfound strength. She had surged from six feet to nearly six-and-a-half feet in height. I realized then that I had grown as well, matching her stature.

  Her clothes were straining against her frame, much like mine. I could see the discomfort and panic in her eyes as the fabric threatened to give way. As our gazes met, a silent understanding passed between us—we had shared the same experience. Without a word, I pulled off my shirt and handed it to her. Her own clothes were barely covering her, and she quickly took my shirt, wrapping it around herself to cover what was visible.

  Suddenly, a boisterous shout erupted from the base of the hill.

  "You guys won't believe the power I have now! I feel like I could smash this entire hill to pieces!" It was Ankit. He was cheering and waving a heavy spear in the air. I immediately recognized the weapon; he had chosen the [Spear Warrior] class.

  I looked at Maya and nodded. "Let’s head down."

  I activated both my Strength and Agility attributes. The descent was effortless. I felt like I was gliding over the jagged rocks, my feet barely touching the ground as I raced down the slope. Beside me, Maya was just as impressive, leaping from boulder to boulder with a grace that made the treacherous terrain look like a playground.

  As soon as we reached the bottom, Maya turned to me, her curiosity burning. "What class did you choose, Amit? Tell me, I have to know!"

  Instead of answering with words, I reached into my Space Chakra. During my training, I had discovered that my space Chakra could act as a specialized quiver and armory, though it was currently limited to my weapons and arrows. With a thought, I manifested my Silver Astra.

  "I’m an Archer," I said, the bow shimmering in my grip. "What about you?"

  Maya didn't answer. Instead, she held out her hands, and I watched as the air began to ripple. She was drawing her weapon from her own Space Chakra. When her Astra finally solidified, I stood there, absolutely speechless. I couldn't believe the class she had chosen.

  The weapon in Maya’s hands was a Gada—a heavy mace famously rooted in Indian legend. Standing nearly six feet tall, its head was a massive, 12-inch spherical orb etched with the symbols of the six Chakras. It looked impossibly heavy. Unlike a war hammer, which is designed for two-sided strikes, the Gada was a weapon of omnidirectional destruction; it could crush targets from any angle—above, below, or sideways.

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  I stared at Maya, wondering how she planned to wield such a beastly instrument, but then I reminded myself: in this new world, strength was no longer bound by old logic.

  "What are you staring at?" she asked, pouting as if she had read the doubt in my mind. "I liked it, so I chose it."

  "Nothing, nothing... it's great," I stammered. What else could I say? It was her choice, after all.

  I turned my gaze toward my brother, Ajit. He was equipped with Gauntlets featuring four protruding claws, each nearly 30 centimeters long and wickedly sharp. He wore matching silver-colored boots, also fitted with retractable claws. It was clear he had chosen the [Claw Warrior] class.

  Then there was Rocky. In one hand, he held a shield roughly a meter in diameter. In the other was a traditional Indian Talwar—a curved sword with a protective handguard to ensure it wouldn't slip during the heat of battle. He was our [Sword and Shield Warrior].

  As the five of us stood there admiring our new Astras, Rocky spoke up. "Let me show you what I can do."

  We were still at the base of the hill. Rocky walked a short distance away, positioning himself in front of a massive boulder.

  "When I activate my racial ability to infuse Fire Prana into my astra, the sword heats up instantly," he explained. "But it doesn’t just cut. Upon impact, it generates a focused destructive force. Watch!"

  Rocky swung his Talwar with a roar. I expected the blade to slice through the rock, but the result was far more violent. Instead of a clean cut, the boulder shattered into a thousand fragments upon contact, as if the sword had released a concentrated shockwave. It was a terrifying display of a Tier-1 skills.

  When I infuse Space Prana into my blade," Rocky continued, his eyes glowing with focus, "its sharpness reaches an entirely different level." To demonstrate, he swung at another boulder. This time, there was no explosion. Instead, the sword glided through the solid rock as if it were a ripe apple. We watched in stunned silence as the two halves of the stone slid apart, revealing a surface so smooth it looked polished. This was the precision of a Tier-1 Space-Infused Blade.

  "And when I channel Air Prana," he added, "the velocity of my strikes increases exponentially. It generates a massive amount of Kinetic Force." Rocky stepped toward a smaller rock and flicked his wrist. The moment the Talwar connected, a sharp crack echoed through the air. The stone didn't just break; it was launched backward like a cannonball, hurtling through the tall grass before finally shattering against a distant tree.

  "My defense works similarly," Rocky explained, raising his shield. "By infusing Earth Prana into my shield, I gain absolute stability. It absorbs the impact of any blow, ensuring that I don't get pushed back or injured easily. It’s like standing against a mountain."

  Then, he took a deep breath. "Now, witness a Tier-2 Fusion."

  Rocky began to channel both Fire Prana and Air Prana simultaneously into his Talwar. The destructive power of fire combined with the sheer kinetic velocity of air created a terrifying aura around the blade. He turned toward the largest boulder in the area and unleashed a full-power strike.

  The collision was cataclysmic. The combined forces erupted in a localized explosion—a thunderous boom that pulverized the rock into fine dust. A cloud of thick grey smoke enveloped the area, and when it cleared, nothing remained of the boulder. I stood there, utterly amazed by the sheer synergy of his elements.

  I’m not done yet," Rocky shouted, his excitement reaching a fever pitch. "When I combine Space Prana with Air Prana, I can unleash a ranged attack—a Air Slash. The Space element compresses the Air into a razor-thin crescent, and upon impact... it erupts."

  He stepped back ten meters, his body tensing as he channeled both energies into his Talwar. With a violent horizontal swing, a crescent beam of shimmering azure light tore through the air. It struck a distant boulder with a high-pitched whistle. The rock didn't just break; it was sliced clean and then launched backward by the kinetic force of the Gale.

  "This is my Tier-2 Wind-Space Slash," he explained, breathing heavily. "I can do the same with Fire. A Fire Slash won't just hit hard; it will incinerate everything in its path, leaving a [Burning] debuff on any enemy it touches. While the Air Slash focuses on kinetic knockback, the Fire Slash is pure destructive carnage."

  He then raised his shield, his expression turning grimly determined. "And for my ultimate defense, I fuse Space and Earth into my shield. Watch."

  As he channeled the dual Pranas, the one-meter shield began to hum. Suddenly, a translucent azure barrier manifested, expanding to a 1.5-meter radius around the physical shield. The Space Prana stabilized the perimeter while the Earth Prana infused it with the density of a mountain.

  "This Composite Shield can absorb massive impacts," he said, the blue barrier now glowing with a faint crimson undertone of Earth energy. "It doesn't just block; it anchors me to reality. Nothing moves me when this is active."

  He lowered his guard and grinned at us. "And that’s just my basic Tier-2. If I activate my Racial Resonance and push these to 120% power... I could probably level this entire hill in a matter of minutes. But I’m spent for now. Your turn! Show me what you’ve got!”

  Next, Ankit stepped forward. He wielded a seven-foot silver spear, its tip stretching nearly seventy centimeters—a wicked, gleaming blade that looked capable of piercing through anything.

  "My Tier-1 skills are built on versatility," Ankit explained, spinning the spear with practiced ease. "Infusing Space Prana doesn’t just sharpen the tip; it enhances the 'Slashing' and 'Cleaving' properties of the entire spearhead. If I switch to Air Prana, the spear’s velocity skyrockets, generating a Kinetic Impact that knocks enemies back. Fire Prana, obviously, adds pure destructive force to every thrust."

  He adjusted his grip, demonstrating a defensive stance. "The interesting parts are Water and Earth. Water Prana grants the weapon Fluidity—I can slide or parry incoming high-speed attacks effortlessly. If I use Earth Prana, the spear gains massive structural stability. Normally, I couldn't block a heavy blow from Rocky without being blown back, but with Earth Prana, the weapon itself absorbs the impact. It anchors me."

  "Now," he said, his eyes narrowing, "witness Tier-2 Fusion."

  "By combining Earth and Water Prana, I can create the [Torrential Bastion]."

  Ankit began to spin the spear with breathtaking speed. As the two elements fused, a swirling vortex of water and dust erupted around the weapon. It looked like a miniature hurricane made of high-pressure mist, acting as an absolute defensive barrier. "This absorbs and dissipates incoming damage," he shouted over the sound of the rushing water.

  "And for offense? I fuse Fire and Air. The fire provides the raw, explosive destruction, while the air grants the kinetic velocity. Together, they create a strike that is faster and more devastating than any single element.”

  "When I fuse Earth and Air Prana and throw this spear, the damage is catastrophic. Watch."

  Ankit infused the dual prana into the silver shaft and launched it toward the hillside. The spear tore through the atmosphere with such velocity that it became a blur. Upon impact, a thunderous explosion echoed through the valley, as if a high-grade missile had struck the mountain. Dust and debris filled the air, and massive boulders began to tumble down the slope, loosened by the raw kinetic shock.

  "Similaly, combining Earth and Fire increases the destructive yield even further," Ankit added. "Upon impact, it ignites the surrounding area—my primary Area-of-Effect (AoE) attack."

  Then, he extended his hand toward the distant hill. To our amazement, the spear dislodged itself from the rock and began to fly back through the air, vibrating with a low hum. Ankit caught it effortlessly in mid-air.

  "The best part?" he grinned. "No matter how far I throw it, I can always recall my Astra back to my hand. I will never be unarmed.”

  Then, it was Maya’s turn. She stepped forward, her expression fierce. "My attacks are lethal," she warned, "so I’ll demonstrate on the ground instead of near you. When I infuse Earth Prana into my Gada, its effective weight multiplies. The impact doesn't just break bones; it causes 'Internal Damage,' pulverizing the target's organs through sheer vibration."

  To demonstrate, she slammed the mace into the earth. The ground groaned under the weight, a visible crater forming instantly as meter-long fissures spiderwebbed out from the point of impact.

  "If I switch to Fire Prana," she continued, "the destructive power escalates." She infused the weapon with a burning glow and struck again. This time, the collision resulted in a violent explosion. The earth shattered, leaving a half-meter deep pit and cracking the ground for two meters in every direction.

  "Finally, with Air Prana, the weapon’s cumbersome weight is offset by increased agility. The infusion generates massive Kinetic Energy, allowing me to swing this behemoth with terrifying speed and even greater impact. These are just my Tier-1 abilities.

  My Tier-2 skills follow the same logic," Maya explained. "When I fuse Earth and Fire Prana, the Earth increases the mass and density of the mace, while Fire adds raw, explosive volatility."

  She stepped away from us and, with surprising agility, slammed her weapon into the ground before leaping back. A deafening roar followed. Heat shimmered from the point of impact as a cloud of debris filled the air. When we investigated, we found a two-meter-wide crater nearly a meter deep. We were speechless.

  "And if I combine Fire and Air," she continued, "the destructive force of the flames is accelerated by kinetic energy."

  She charged forward again, striking the earth with even greater velocity. The resulting blast was cataclysmic—a swirling vortex of dust and fire erupted from the ground. A 2.5-meter radius was scorched black, leaving a jagged pit in the earth.

  But she wasn't done. "By fusing Earth and Air, I can use this Gada as a long-range projectile."

  She spun in place, channeling both prana, and hurled the massive mace toward the hillside. Thanks to the Air Prana, it traveled with terrifying speed, while the Earth Prana maximized its structural density. When it struck the mountain, it felt like an earthquake. Boulders shattered and tumbled down the slope instantly.

  Maya ran to retrieve her weapon. "I can't recall it like Ankit; I have to go get it myself," she noted.

  I was floored by her raw power. like me, she had no defensive utility; her entire build was dedicated to pure, unadulterated destruction.

  Alright, I'm done," Maya said, catching her breath. "Your turn, Amit. Show us what you've got."

  I stepped forward and began my display. As I demonstrated my mastery over all five elements one by one, the group stood in stunned silence. They couldn't believe that I could already manipulate five different types of Prana. However, they soon realized my primary drawback—unlike them, I lacked a direct, stationary defensive skill. My build was entirely focused on long-range lethality and destructive precision.

  I also shared a crucial discovery regarding my limitations. "I've realized that I can't fuse two elements into a manifested astra as easily as you guys do with your weapons. If I try to force Fire and Air into a standard astra simultaneously, the projectile can't handle the conflicting pressures and explodes before I can even release the string."

  I continued, "That's why I use Space Prana as a stabilizing base. Only after the astra is anchored in Space can I infuse a second element. I suspect that as my level increases or my Resonance evolves, I’ll be able to overcome this. For now, it seems even the best of us are capped at fusing two Pranas at a time. Multi-elemental fusion is likely a peak-tier skill for the future.”

  We turned our gaze toward my brother, Ajit. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, the silver claws on his gauntlets glinting in the morning light.