The voices had startled the group at first, but soon the source revealed itself.
Out of the shadows came four wolves, each radiating the aura of a 1st stage chakra(Mortal stage). Their blue eyes with brown skin , and behind them emerged four humans clad in red armor.
The sight was jarring. Every student knew that the government had only provided green armor to those who lacked their own equipment. Red armor had never been mentioned with flame symbol of the on armor , and yet here it was.
Arun's eyes widened as recognition struck him.
"Eternal Kingdom…"
The words fell like a curse.
Om, Ghato, and Rudra all tightened their grips on their weapons. Fear prickled at the edges of their minds, but none of them retreated. They stood tall, weapons raised, their resolve silently declaring: if death comes, we will face it with honor.
There were four enemies behind the wolves—three men and one woman. All carried the unmistakable aura of First Stage Chakra cultivators. But one man stood apart from the rest. His energy was heavier, sharper, pressing against the group like an invisible weight.
Ghato muttered, eyes narrowing, "He's at the Mortal stage peak ."
The man in question smirked, clearly amused.
"Well, well… someone can sense chakra stages. That makes you all the more interesting."
The Eternal Kingdom squad spread out, wolves snarling in formation. The students quickly realized they were surrounded.
Arun, trying to steady his breathing, demanded, "Why is the Eternal Kingdom interfering in the Dharma Kingdom's trial? You know the rules. If you're caught, execution will be merciful compared to what comes next. How did you even get here? Our forest entrance is leagues away from yours!"
The leader chuckled, his lips curling in a mocking grin.
"You needn't worry about that. It's covered. We shouldn't have crossed paths, true… but we didn't come through your entrance. We arrived here directly from ours."
Arun's eyes widened in disbelief. The distance between the two starting points was enormous. No team could have covered it in such little time—let alone set up traps on the way.
Something was very, very wrong.
Om, his patience fraying, snapped, "Why? Why are you doing this?"
The man gave a shallow bow, introducing himself with mocking pride.
"My name is Cerva. Captain of this squad. Soldier of the Eternal Kingdom. As for your question—allow me to explain. When we entered from our entry point, far opposite to yours, an eagle descended from above. Strange bird, that one. It gave us an offer— and told to capture your group, and in return, we'd be aided in the trial, shielded from detection, and rewarded with Second Stage stones. And already we have got many tresures while coming towards you"
Cerva's smirk widened. "These wolves were also provided by our mysterious benefactor."
The group's shock deepened. An eagle had orchestrated this? And an eagel is also talking in human language Their eyes instinctively turned to the tall tree nearby—where the same expressionless eagle that had been shadowing them since the beginning still perched, silent and unmoving.
The Eternal Kingdom soldiers drew their weapons. Their wolves growled, claws digging into the dirt.
Despite confusion gnawing at their minds, Om's team set their stances. Arun managed one last question, his voice grim:
"Why would an eagle want to capture us? And how is it even talking you do not say lies "
Cerva shrugged carelessly. "What we are saying is true and We only care for the hunt. "
With that, he whistled sharply. Wolves lunged forward, and Cerva himself charged in formation with his squad.
"Take one wolf and one human each!" Om roared. "I'll handle their leader!"
His words carried like thunder, snapping the team into action.
Om clashed swords with Cerva almost immediately. The difference in their raw power was clear—Om was pushed back with every strike, his arms trembling from the impact.
Cerva's movements were refined, his footwork elegant. Each slash of his blade shimmered faintly, coated in a metallic sheen. Om's eyes narrowed.
So that's it. He's a metal element user.
Their duel became a storm of sparks and steel. Om relied on his solid foundation and relentless instincts, while Cerva combined his elemental advantage with sharp, efficient strikes. The captain alternated between long-range slashes and sudden close-quarters bursts, forcing Om constantly on the defensive.
Om knew what Cerva was trying to do—wear him down.
But Om also knew he couldn't allow the battle to drag on.
Then his instincts screamed. He leapt aside just as the ground split open beneath him.
The wolf burst upward, its fangs glinting with saliva. Om was prepared. He steadied his stance even as his footing slipped, keeping his sword ready.
Their blades clashed again. Sparks flew.
Om's sharp eyes caught something mid-battle—a faint crack running along Cerva's blade. The Eternal Kingdom captain hadn't noticed yet. OM's heart thudded—this was their opening.
Meanwhile, the wolves pressed hard against the team.
Rudra's arrows flew with precision, forcing her opponent to dance in circles, each arrow shaving away stamina and space. She never let the wolf close the distance, striking, retreating, striking again, her rhythm like a game of deadly hide-and-seek. And her opponent was also playing hide and seek
Ghato's battle was brutal. His gada slammed again and again into his armored opponent. The Eternal Kingdom soldier was built like a tank, his defense art clearly in the Transcendent Stage, yet Ghato's sheer strength rattled him with every blow. Though the man had no visible wounds, his insides were turning to mush.
Even so, this squad was skilled. Elite. They fought with practiced coordination, making it clear why they had been chosen to represent the Eternal Kingdom.
Still—Om's group held firm.
Cerva, growing confident, pressed harder. Om feigned weakness, parrying without striking back.
Then, at the perfect moment, Om shifted. He forced his blade against Cerva's with all his strength. The Eternal Kingdom captain stumbled, his footing breaking as Om pushed him backward—straight toward the riverbank.
With a sudden kick, Om sent him flying into the water.
Cerva crashed beneath the surface, vanishing in a splash.
Om whirled instantly, rushing to aid his struggling teammates. With ruthless precision, he allowed one wolf to sink its teeth into his armor. The fangs couldn't pierce through, and in that moment of confusion, Om drove his elbow into its skull before slashing clean through its heart.
The wolf collapsed in a heap. Om became the first to slay his beast.
But the river churned.
Cerva emerged, drenched, fury blazing in his eyes. "You bastard!" he roared, charging with renewed aggression. His strikes came faster, sharper, but Om met them all, unwavering.
The battle raged. Blood sprayed. Sparks flew.
And then—
A piercing sound shattered the air.
High-pitched, shrill, it drilled straight into their skulls.
Everyone screamed. Wolves howled, soldiers clutched their heads, even Cerva collapsed to his knees.
Om's teammates cried out in agony, one by one falling unconscious—first Arun, then Rudra, then even mighty Ghato.
Om remained standing, though blood trickled from his ears and nose. His vision blurred, his body shook violently, but he refused to fall. His teeth sank into his lip until blood filled his mouth, keeping him awake by sheer willpower.
The sound seemed endless. Eternal.
But finally—it stopped.
Silence fell.
From the nearby tree, the eagle descended, landing before Om.
His blurred vision cleared just enough for him to see the impossible.
The eagle's form shimmered, feathers twisting, bones reshaping.
Before his eyes, the bird transformed into a man.