The door closed with a soft click, but the silence it left behind felt heavier than any sound.
Shivay didn't move immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the spot where the man had been standing just moments ago. The air still felt… dense, as if something unseen lingered even after his departure.
"…Not normal," Shivay muttered under his breath.
Then again—nothing about today had been normal.
A car crash that should have killed him.
A strange void where he met something that called itself a God King.
Powers that defied logic.
And now… a man who spoke like the world itself was a lie.
Shivay exhaled slowly and stood up from the bed.
His body responded instantly—smooth, precise, perfectly balanced.
No hesitation. No weakness.
It felt… natural.
Too natural.
He walked toward the window again, his steps silent against the tiled floor.
Outside, Mumbai continued its endless rhythm. Cars moved. Lights flickered. Rain tapped softly against the glass.
A normal city.
A normal world.
"…A fake one," Shivay said quietly.
He raised his hand again, this time more deliberately.
No distractions. No hesitation.
Just focus.
He closed his eyes.
At first, there was nothing.
Then… slowly…
That same presence returned.
Like a hidden current beneath still water.
Shivay's breathing slowed.
His awareness sharpened.
And then—
It happened.
The world shifted.
Not physically.
But perceptually.
Suddenly, everything around him changed.
The air wasn't empty anymore.
It was filled with something.
Energy.
Threads of it flowed through the room like invisible streams.
Some faint. Some dense.
The walls emitted a dull, steady presence.
The machines pulsed weakly.
Even the city outside… shimmered faintly beneath the rain.
"…So this is real," Shivay whispered.
He extended his hand slightly.
The moment he did—
The energy reacted.
A faint spark formed.
Then—
CRACKLE.
Electricity danced across his fingers.
This time, it didn't flicker uncontrollably.
It moved with intent.
With structure.
"…Better."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing harder.
The sparks grew stronger.
Denser.
For a moment, it almost formed a stable arc.
Then—
It collapsed.
The energy dispersed instantly.
Shivay opened his eyes, his expression unchanged.
"…Still unstable."
He wasn't disappointed.
If anything—
He looked more interested.
"…Good."
He tried again.
This time—
Not lightning.
Heat.
A slow warmth built in his palm.
Then—
A flame appeared.
🔥
Unlike before, this one was larger.
More stable.
It flickered gently, responding to his subtle movements.
Shivay tilted his hand slightly.
The flame shifted accordingly.
"…Control is improving."
He clenched his fist.
The flame compressed instantly—
Then vanished.
Silence returned.
"…Lightning. Fire."
He paused.
"…And something else."
That feeling.
That deeper presence.
It hadn't revealed itself yet.
But it was there.
Waiting.
"You're adapting faster than expected."
The voice came from behind him.
Shivay didn't turn immediately.
"…You really don't like leaving properly, do you?"
The man stepped into the room again.
Same calm expression.
Same unreadable eyes.
But now—
Shivay could see it.
The energy around him.
Dense.
Heavy.
Controlled.
"…So that's what you are," Shivay said quietly.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"…And what is that?"
Shivay turned slowly.
"A cultivator."
Silence.
Then—
The man smiled faintly.
"…Correct."
The air between them shifted.
This wasn't a normal conversation anymore.
It was an evaluation.
Two beings measuring each other.
"You felt it," the man said.
"…The energy."
Shivay nodded.
"It's everywhere."
The man's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…And you can already perceive it clearly."
"…Seems useful."
The man chuckled softly.
"Useful?"
"That energy…"
His voice turned slightly heavier.
"…is what separates the weak from the powerful."
"…And the dead from the living."
Shivay's expression didn't change.
"…Sounds dramatic."
"…It's reality."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Shivay spoke again—
"…You said there are two worlds."
The man nodded.
"Yes."
"The one you've been living in…"
He gestured around.
"…is just the surface."
"And beneath it…"
"…exists the real world."
"A world where power isn't hidden."
"…but cultivated."
Shivay crossed his arms.
"…Cultivators."
"Yes."
"People who manipulate energy."
"Refine it."
"Control it."
"And eventually…"
"…transcend human limits."
Shivay's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And me?"
The man didn't hesitate.
"…You've already stepped into that world."
"…Whether you like it or not."
A brief silence followed.
"…Good."
The man paused.
"…You're not surprised."
Shivay shrugged.
"I died. Came back. Got powers."
"…This is actually the least surprising part."
The man stared at him for a moment.
Then—
"…You're either extremely adaptable…"
"…or completely insane."
Shivay smirked slightly.
"…Why not both?"
The man laughed softly.
"…I like you."
A pause.
Then—
His tone shifted.
"…But others won't."
The room grew colder.
"Your awakening…"
"…has been noticed."
"…By people far more dangerous than me."
Shivay's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Enemies?"
"…Potentially."
"…And allies?"
The man smiled faintly.
"…That depends on you."
Silence.
Then—
The man reached into his coat.
And pulled out an envelope.
Black.
Simple.
But—
Powerful.
He placed it on the table.
"This…"
"…is your next step."
Shivay glanced at it.
"…An invitation?"
The man nodded.
"…To Astra Dominion Academy."
"…A place where people like you are trained."
"Where power is understood."
"…and sharpened."
Shivay picked up the envelope.
The moment his fingers touched it—
A faint surge of energy passed through him.
"…Not ordinary."
"…Of course not."
Shivay opened it slowly.
Inside—
A black card.
Elegant.
Minimal.
ASTRA DOMINION ACADEMY
Below it—
"Only the chosen may enter."
Shivay's lips curved slightly.
"…Chosen."
He looked up.
"…And if I refuse?"
The man's eyes locked onto his.
"…You won't."
"…Confident."
"…Certain."
Silence.
Shivay held the card between his fingers.
"…When?"
"…Tomorrow."
A pause.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on Shivay's face.
"…Good."
He looked out the window again.
At the city.
At the world he thought he knew.
"…Guess it's time to see what's really out there."
The man turned toward the door.
"…Be careful, Shivay."
"…This world…"
"…is not kind to those who rise too fast."
Shivay didn't respond.
Instead—
He smiled.
"…Then I'll just rise faster."
Silence.
For a brief moment—
The man stopped.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…As expected."
He walked out.
The door closed.
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Not empty.
Alive.
Shivay stood there.
Holding the invitation.
A new world awaited him.
And deep inside—
Something awakened.
Not power.
Not ambition.
Something far more dangerous.
Desire.
"…Let's see how far this goes."