The whirring blades of the massive Himalaya Nation aircraft slowed as it descended onto the wide landing strip of the Himalaya School's training grounds. Dust spiraled into the air, sunlight scattering across the sprawling compound where crowds had already gathered. Families of inheritors, teachers, and younger students stood behind safety barriers, craning their necks to see the inheritors return from their grueling mission.
The aircraft touched down with a heavy thud. Its engines let out one final roar before quieting, leaving behind an expectant silence. One after another, the side hatches opened, and the inheritors began stepping down in neat lines. Their uniforms bore battle marks, some carried bandages, others walked with a new kind of confidence. Parents cried out names, younger siblings waved flags, and officers saluted proudly.
But the anticipation shifted the moment Om, Dev, and Dawon appeared at the hatch.
The ground trembled slightly when the lion padded forward, its massive paws hitting the metal ramp with an echoing thump. The sun glinted off his golden mane, now thicker and more radiant than before. Dawon's body had filled out into a majestic form—muscular, broad-chested, his sheer presence exuding authority. Compared to the boy beside him, he was easily twice Om's size. His amber eyes scanned the crowd lazily, but that single gaze was enough to make soldiers stiffen and families gasp.
The cheers died.
Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Is that… a beast?"
"No… it's too large…"
"That boy brought it back?!"
Even the Principal Raghav, who stood in front to receive the inheritors, faltered for a moment. His usually calm, commanding expression slipped as his eyes widened. Beside him, Bhanu, broad-shouldered and always stern, clenched his jaw. Even Narad froze in disbelief.
The families of other inheritors instinctively took steps back, pulling their children behind them. Even the other inheritors themselves, made way for the beast and couldn't hide their unease. They had seen a weak version of Dawon asleep on the training grounds of the school and their journey to Chinese Authority… but here, standing awake in the heart of their homeland, he looked like a king among beasts.
"Good heavens…" Principal Raghav finally muttered under his breath.
Bhanu exhaled sharply and turned toward Om. "General Wu told me to expect a surprise… but this—" He shook his head, unable to mask his astonishment. "This is beyond anything I imagined."
Narad gave a half-smile, his eyes still fixed on Dawon's towering form. "I told him not to bond with you," he admitted aloud, his voice carrying for the inheritors and families nearby to hear. "I warned him against it. I thought it was meaningless. Waste of a priceless chance." His gaze flickered toward Om. "But… it seems your stubbornness was the right choice. I'm glad you didn't listen to me, Om."
Om lowered his head slightly, a faint blush touching his cheeks, though his lips curved in the smallest smile. Dawon, as if understanding the words, let out a low rumble of satisfaction, his mane bristling with pride.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder. Awe. Fear. Admiration. The sheer majesty of the lion seemed to press down on everyone. His fur shimmered under the light, his muscles coiled with restrained power. Every step he took radiated an unspoken truth—this was no ordinary beast. This was a being worthy of walking beside an inheritor.
Principal Raghav's lips finally curled into a smile. "Om," he said, his voice steady, firm. "I am proud. Many had no hopes for you. Many believed you'd remain in the shadow of others because of your… broken inheritance. But now—" His eyes swept over Dawon, then back to the boy. "Now, you stand here not weak, but strong. Strong enough to walk alongside the best of our inheritors."
Om's throat tightened. Those words—he hadn't realized how badly he needed to hear them.
Narad tilted his head curiously. "Tell me, Om," he asked, tone deceptively casual, "how many monsters did you kill during your mission?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Om's face turned slightly red. He hesitated, shifting on his feet, his hand brushing Dawon's mane. After a long pause, he answered quietly, "…A little more than five thousand."
The reaction was immediate.
Gasps rippled across the courtyard. Inheritors turned to stare at him in disbelief. Parents clutched at their children. Even Narad's eyes widened, his mouth falling open. Bhanu stiffened, his usual stern composure breaking for a fraction of a second. Principal Raghav looked as though he'd been struck silent.
Bhanu was the first to speak, his voice sharp. "I gave you the mission to kill five thousand monsters in two months. No one has ever managed to complete it. Not even the best of our trainees—nor those from other nations. And yet—" His eyes narrowed. "You're saying you completed it?"
Om scratched his cheek nervously. "It wasn't just me. It was a… joint effort between me and Dawon." He gestured to the lion. "Dawon awakened a new ability… the power to tame other beasts we defeated. With their help, we managed to complete the mission together."
The murmurs rose again, louder, heavier.
Narad, however, studied Om with an unreadable expression. "For the record," he said slowly, "no one calculates exact kill counts in that mission. It is meant only to strengthen new inheritors. Yet…" His gaze sharpened. "If you are telling the truth, then you are the first in history to achieve it."
Om let out a small breath, almost as if confessing. "…Actually, no. I wasn't the first." He turned his head toward Dev, who had been silently standing beside him all this time. "Dev killed five thousand monsters first. And in just one month."
A collective silence dropped over the grounds again.
All eyes snapped to Dev.
The boy's face went bright red, his posture shrinking slightly. "I… I'm not that good," he stammered, waving his hands. "Om is exaggerating."
Raghav's eyes narrowed. "Dev. Tell us truthfully. Is what Om says correct?"
Dev hesitated, then bowed his head. "…Yes. It's true. I did kill five thousand in one month. But…" His voice softened. "…Om and Dawon are superior in strength and control. I cannot compare to them."
The crowd reeled once more. Even Narad seemed at a loss for words. Bhanu's lips pressed into a thin line, but behind his eyes there was something else—an unwilling respect.
Narad cleared his throat finally, regaining his composure. "Both of you," he said, his voice regaining its edge. "Tell me honestly. In the upcoming trials, what level do you believe you can achieve?"
Dev stepped forward, his voice steady despite his reddened cheeks. "I believe I can achieve Rathi class without breaking a sweat."
Narad's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Confident."
Then his gaze turned to Om. "And you?"
Om rested a hand on Dawon's mane, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke. "With Dawon beside me… defeating six Rathis at once might be possible at my current level."
The silence that followed was suffocating. No one laughed. No one scoffed. The weight of his words crushed all doubt. Even those who wanted to dismiss him as arrogant felt their hearts tremble.
Because when they looked at Om standing beside the sleeping lion, they knew—this was not a boy to be underestimated any longer.