The moment Arjun finished speaking, the rooftop exploded into motion.
The hunter with the light blade vanished first.
Not fast.
Gone.
Instinct moved Arjun before thought could catch up. His body shifted sideways as a blade of pure light sliced through the space where his neck had been.
Air split with a sharp hiss.
Too close.
Kael shouted from behind.
Left!
Arjun turned just in time to block with his arm.
Light collided with his forearm — but instead of cutting, golden energy burst from the symbol on his hand, forming a faint barrier.
The impact threw both fighters apart.
The hunters paused.
Adaptive defense confirmed, the leader said calmly.
Mira stared.
He blocked that… barehanded.
Arjun himself looked shocked.
He hadn't planned it.
The power reacted on its own.
The second hunter raised his palm. Blue geometric patterns appeared in the air, locking into place around Arjun like a cage.
Containment field deployed.
Gravity suddenly multiplied.
Arjun dropped to one knee as invisible pressure crushed downward.
His breathing became heavy.
Move… move…
Lyra's voice cut through the chaos.
Do not fight the force. Redirect it.
Arjun focused.
The symbol burned hotter.
Instead of resisting, he pushed energy outward — not against the pressure, but through it.
Golden lines spread across the ground beneath him.
Crack.
The containment field shattered like glass.
Shock crossed the hunters' faces.
Impossible output for an untrained anomaly.
Kael laughed despite the danger.
Okay, now that was cool.
The blade hunter attacked again, faster this time. Strikes rained down — precise, calculated, lethal.
Arjun barely kept up, dodging instinctively.
Every movement felt guided, like invisible hands correcting his balance.
Still… he was losing ground.
A shallow cut opened across his shoulder.
Pain snapped through him.
Blood hit the rooftop.
The world slowed.
Sound faded again — just like during the Guardian trial.
His heartbeat echoed loudly.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Golden light pulsed from his chest.
The symbol expanded briefly across his arm.
The hunter swung again.
This time Arjun caught the blade.
With his hand.
Light and gold energy clashed violently.
Shockwaves blasted outward, shattering rooftop glass panels.
Everyone froze.
The hunter tried to pull back.
The blade wouldn't move.
Arjun looked up, eyes glowing faint gold.
You're not stronger than me… he said quietly.
You're just trained.
Energy surged from his grip.
The light blade cracked — then shattered into particles.
The hunter jumped back instantly.
Weapon destroyed, he reported.
Threat level rising rapidly.
The leader finally stepped forward.
Enough testing.
The air grew heavy.
Unlike the others, his presence felt overwhelming — controlled, disciplined power.
He removed his mask.
Cold eyes. Calm expression.
Name designation: Commander Raith.
He raised one hand.
Energy gathered above the rooftop, forming a massive spear of condensed blue light.
This ends now.
Mira shouted.
Arjun!
The spear descended.
Instinct screamed danger.
Arjun lifted his hand without thinking.
Golden energy erupted outward.
For a brief second, a massive translucent figure appeared behind him — a giant silhouette resembling the Guardian itself.
The spear collided with the golden force.
BOOM.
A shockwave blasted across the academy, clouds splitting overhead.
Dust cleared slowly.
Arjun stood at the center, breathing heavily but unharmed.
Commander Raith stared.
Guardian synchronization… partial manifestation.
Silence filled the rooftop.
Then Raith lowered his hand.
All hunters stand down.
The other two froze.
Mission status changed, he said calmly. Target is no longer capture priority.
Mira blinked.
You just tried to kill him!
Raith ignored her.
He looked directly at Arjun.
You are not an anomaly.
You are a catalyst.
He turned toward the sky fracture glowing faintly above the clouds.
And catalysts attract disasters.
Raith stepped back as blue light formed beneath the hunters.
We will meet again, Unwritten Bearer.
The hunters vanished instantly.
Silence returned.
Only broken concrete and shattered glass remained.
Kael exhaled loudly.
Okay… I officially miss normal school problems.
Mira grabbed Arjun's arm.
Are you okay?
Arjun looked at his glowing hand slowly fading back to normal.
Yeah… he said.
But inside, he knew something had changed again.
For a moment during the fight…
the power had felt alive.
And far beyond the cracked sky, something answered that awakening.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.