It was nearly dawn. The aircraft glided above the snow-covered Himalaya Nation like a silent predator frozen in time. The sky was painted in soft hues of violet and gold as sunlight spilled over the white peaks, illuminating the landscape below.
From above, the cities shimmered with a gentle golden glow, their snow-covered trees and rooftops reflecting the early rays like scattered gemstones. The streets below lay quiet, empty—almost dreamlike.
The aircraft finally descended, landing with a smooth hum on the school's massive assembly grounds. The long night of travel had left everyone utterly drained.
The principal stirred first. He gently nudged the adults awake, and together they went about rousing the students.
Bleary-eyed and disheveled, the teens stumbled out of the aircraft like zombies. Yawns echoed. Slumped shoulders and messy hair were the uniform of the moment.
A yellow school bus, empty, stood waiting for them outside the landing zone.
"Kids, this will drop you at your homes," the principal announced.
Om, red-eyed and half-asleep, nudged Raj.
"Hey… how are we going? That bus doesn't go to where we live."
Raj rubbed his eyes and yawned. "If you're asking me, then who am I supposed to ask?"
One by one, the adults helped the students onto the bus. Soon, only Raj, Om, and Raghav remained behind.
"Oh, almost forgot," Raghav said, turning back. "You two—this aircraft will take you home. It's property of the facility."
Raj blinked. "Wait, what? You… know where we live?"
The principal smirked. "Of course. And tell Mr. Narad I said hello."
Without another word, he boarded the bus, leaving Raj standing in stunned silence.
He looked like someone had just told him gravity was optional.
Om, barely conscious, slumped against Raj's shoulder, already back in deep sleep.
Raj frowned at the sealed aircraft. "Where's the pilot?"
He looked around in confusion. They'd just spent hours in this thing, but hadn't seen a single crew member.
After a moment of awkward pacing, Raj pulled out his phone and called the only person he could think of.
Ring. Ring.
"Hello," came Narad's calm voice.
"Mr. Narad, we're stuck at school. The aircraft pilot isn't responding. And… I don't even know how to open the door."
"It's an AI-operated craft, Raj," Narad replied. "Just stand near the entrance."
"…That's it?"
"That's it."
Before Raj could finish his thanks, the call disconnected.
Grumbling, Raj picked up Om's bag, then hoisted Om onto his back.
He marched up to the aircraft door and tried to maintain his dignity.
"Alright… let's try this."
He struck a dramatic pose and whispered to the locked door:
"Door, oh door, please open up the door!"
Nothing.
A gust of cold wind hit him in the face. His nose turned red, and he sneezed—loud and ungraceful.
Beep.
The aircraft's entrance hissed open.
Raj blinked. "Ha! Knew it."
Without hesitation, he slipped inside like a ninja escaping embarrassment.
11:00 a.m. – Narad's Facility
Raj and Om lay in deep sleep, completely undisturbed.
Elsewhere, Bhanu stood in Narad's office alongside Sara. He placed a thick report folder on the table.
"This contains the full inheritance report. Not just for Himalaya Nation—but other allied and rival nations too."
Narad flipped through the pages with practiced speed.
"This year… we gained more than anyone else. Two god-level inheritances in our custody. Finally, we can stand on equal footing with the other superpowers."
He leaned back, voice heavy with conviction.
"Soon, we'll reclaim what should've always been ours. With our strength alone."
Bhanu nodded but hesitated before speaking. "Sir… what about Master Om?"
Narad paused, then said with a faint smile, "Leave him be. He's stronger than he looks. He'll find his own path."
"Understood," Bhanu said, bowing slightly before taking his leave.
Once the door closed, Sara stepped forward.
"Sir… how do you plan to train them?"
Narad raised a finger and snapped.
A glowing blue screen appeared in mid-air.
"How may I assist you, Mr. Narad?" a crisp, AI-like male voice asked.
"Search all historical records in the W.I.A. database," Narad said. "I need information on God King Indra and Death God Yama."
After a few seconds, the AI responded: "No data available. There are no records of any inheritor having received those entities."
Narad's expression hardened. "Which means… we're dealing with something unprecedented. No history. No references. And no one to match."
He turned to Sara.
"Contact Mr. Kashyapa. Schedule a meeting. Tell him to bring Ronnie. I want to see what these godly inheritors can really do."
4:00 p.m. – Narad's Facility
Raj and Om were still fast asleep when their phones exploded with sound.
RING RING! RING RING!
Both answered groggily.
"Hello?" they said in unison.
Sara's voice cut in, sharp and to the point. "Reception. Now."
Beep.
Call disconnected.
"What happened now?" Om groaned, burying his face in his pillow.
Raj, suddenly alert, sat upright. "Sara called me. I have her number now. This must be serious… or maybe—wait. Is this a date?"
Inside the lift.
Om glared at Raj, unimpressed. "Seriously?"
They dressed quickly and took the elevator down. Om looked like he was still halfway in a dream. Raj, on the other hand, radiated nervous excitement.
The moment they reached the reception area, both stopped in their tracks.
Their eyes widened.
The room was filled with people: Narad, Sara, Mr. Kashyapa, Bhanu… Ronnie… and armed soldiers.
Raj's dreams of a romantic date crumbled into dust.
Om felt his pulse spike.
Ronnie. Here?
They stepped forward cautiously.
"Hello everyone," Raj said, masking his discomfort.
Kashyapa gave a warm nod toward Om. "How are you, Master Om?"
It was the first time Kashyapa had addressed him directly.
Om blinked. "I… I'm figuring things out. But thank you for asking. I hope you're well too."
Kashyapa let out a thunderous laugh that echoed across the hall.
"Haha! Just like his grandfather—dignified and sharp."
The comment made Om, Raj, and even Ronnie glance at each other in surprise.
Narad stepped in. "Mr. Kashyapa and Ronnie are here for something important. A match."
"A match?" Raj tilted his head. "But he's just a kid."
He tried to reason his way out. "If I go full force, I could seriously hurt him. I don't want to battle a child."
But Ronnie was already grinning.
"Hey! Old man, are you chickening out?"
Raj blinked, taken aback. "What did you just call me?"
"Old. Man." Ronnie smirked, lightning crackling in his irises.
A burst of dark golden energy erupted from Raj, black mist coiling around his limbs like vipers.
"You wanna test my patience, brat?"
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
Ronnie responded in kind. A radiant golden-white aura flared around him, sparks of thunder dancing along his skin.
"Did I hit a nerve?" he said, smug and unbothered. "Old man."