The sun blazed high above the Yuddhāgni Maṇḍala—the sacred fire arena—casting molten streaks of heat across the stone floor. Crowds from every elemental house had gathered. Students murmured, whispering predictions and mocking the underdog.
"Maarun? Against Yaman? That's a joke."
"Poor guy won't last two minutes."
The murmurs echoed as Maarun stepped into the arena, a thin line of sweat forming on his brow. He could hear only three voices cheering for him—Dev, Roshan, and Rajyashrī. The rest had already written him off.
From the opposite end, Yaman strode confidently into the circle. Bulkier, more seasoned, already holding a B1 rank. The Nirṇāyakaḥ, the official referee clad in grey flame-stitched robes, raised his hand.
"Let the trial begin."
No sooner had the words fallen than Yaman launched forward with shocking speed, delivering a heavy punch straight to Maarun's stomach. The air left Maarun's lungs with a gasp as he stumbled back, stunned. He tried to strike back, swinging a punch toward Yaman's side, but it was easily deflected. Yaman responded with a brutal series of punches and a high kick that knocked Maarun off balance.
Before Maarun could recover, Yaman lifted him and slammed him hard against the stone floor. Dust clouded up. Gasps echoed.
"He's done," someone whispered.
Roshan's face dropped. Dev leaned forward, fists clenched. Rajyashrī looked tense, her brows furrowed.
Yaman turned to the referee, smirking. "Check him. He's not moving. This match is over."
The Nirṇāyakaḥ stepped toward Maarun's crumpled figure. For a second, there was only silence. Then—
A deep inhale.
Maarun pushed himself up, coughing. Bruised, bloodied, but not broken. He whispered to himself, "Even if I lose, I won't walk out without giving it everything."
Slowly, painfully, he pulled out his Dviprakāsha.
"Oh, now you want to fight?" Yaman sneered. "Need your little toy to light a spark?"
Yaman rubbed his palm in a circular motion and summoned a glowing flame from his fingers. "Let me show you how it's really done."
They clashed. Fire surged from both sides—Maarun's flames lit with Dviprakāsha, flickering but full of heart. Yaman's fire tore through the air with heat and weight, snuffing Maarun's flames out like candles.
Maarun ducked, rolled, threw a desperate arc of flame—only for it to be dissolved mid-air. Yaman's power was overwhelming.
"You think this is enough?" Yaman roared. "Then let me show you real fire!"
He slammed his fists together and summoned the Agni Chakravyūh—a spinning circle of fire that trapped Maarun inside. From all sides, small jets of fire pelted inward. Maarun cried out as flames struck his shoulder.
Smoke and heat filled the ring. The crowd screamed in awe and horror.
Tejodhāra frowned. "That's too much for a rank trial…"
Rajyashrī stood up. "He's going to dislocate his arm!"
Inside the inferno, Maarun screamed in pain. His right shoulder twisted unnaturally. He collapsed, dust and blood caking his skin.
Yaman walked slowly toward him. "I told you to give up."
But as he raised his hand for the final blow—
A low rumble.
Maarun stood.
Covered in ash, his right arm limp, eyes glowing faintly with fire. He raised his left hand—and with no Dviprakāsha—summoned a ball of flame.
Gasps exploded across the arena.
"He did it—without the lighter!"
Aksharā stood up, stunned.
Maarun hurled the fireball straight at Yaman, knocking him off his feet. The crowd gasped. Maarun charged forward, unleashing a barrage of fire bolts. One struck Yaman square in the chest. He growled, rising to form another Chakravyūh.
Maarun spotted his fallen Dviprakāsha. He grabbed it with his left hand, and as Yaman raised the next circle—Maarun hurled the Dviprakāsha at his face. The twin crystals inside began to glow wildly with friction.
Just before contact, Maarun launched another fireball.
The crystal device burst upon impact—igniting the fireball mid-air into a massive explosion.
The entire arena filled with smoke and flame. Students screamed. The Nirṇāyakaḥ rushed forward. Silence fell.
As the smoke cleared, Yaman lay unconscious on the ground.
And in the center of the fire-ring stood Maarun—eyes closed, flames dancing around his feet—before he too collapsed.
The arena was silent.
Even Principal Mahasthana had stood from his seat.
Aksharā whispered under her breath, "Impossible…"
Dev was yelling. Roshan stared in awe. Rajyashrī had tears in her eyes.
Maarun had done it.
And everything was about to change.