Episode 1 – The Awakening
The neon-lit skyline of Noctis-4 pulsed like a living organism. Holographic billboards flickered across the city's endless towers, advertising cybernetic upgrades, Shakti-infused weapons, and starship tours to distant worlds. Beneath the shimmering surface of the metropolis, however, something far more dangerous stirred—an ancient force hidden for centuries, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
At the heart of the chaos was a young man named Shreyank Raheja. Unlike the thousands of citizens roaming Noctis-4, Shreyank had always felt… different. His instincts were sharper, his reflexes unnaturally fast, and his dreams were haunted by visions of alien landscapes he had never visited.
On a rain-drenched night, those visions became reality.
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The Call
Shreyank stood on the rooftop of his apartment, the cold rain soaking through his jacket. His younger brother, Parth Raheja, called from below.
"Shreyank! You'll catch a fever if you keep standing in the rain. What are you even looking for?"
Shreyank didn't answer at first. His gaze was fixed on the clouds. They weren't normal clouds tonight—violet streaks of lightning crawled across the sky, converging above the central plaza of Noctis-4.
"I can feel it, Parth," Shreyank finally replied. "Something's calling to me."
Before Parth could argue, the lightning exploded into a radiant beam that struck the plaza. The ground trembled. Glass shattered across blocks. People screamed and scattered.
Shreyank's eyes widened. This is it. The beginning.
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The Encounter
Drawn by an instinct he couldn't explain, Shreyank rushed toward the plaza with Parth close behind. The streets were chaos—drones malfunctioned, streetlights flickered, and hovering vehicles crashed into buildings. At the epicenter of the destruction lay a massive crater, glowing with pulsating blue light.
Inside the crater, a Shakti Crystal floated in mid-air, rotating slowly as if alive. Its energy was overwhelming, each pulse shaking the air around it.
Parth whispered, "What… what is that?"
Before Shreyank could reply, the crystal split open, releasing a wave of energy that threw both brothers to the ground. The shockwave activated something inside Shreyank's body. His veins glowed faintly with silver light, his heartbeat echoing like a drum inside his head.
Suddenly, a voice whispered in his mind:
"You are chosen. Awaken."
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The First Trial
The Shakti Crystal's energy didn't vanish—it took shape. Out of the glowing fragments emerged a towering alien creature, its body covered in jagged crystalline armor, eyes burning with red fire. The crowd around them panicked, scattering in fear.
Parth grabbed Shreyank's arm. "We need to run!"
But Shreyank shook his head. His instincts told him otherwise. "No. This thing isn't just here by chance. It's here… for me."
The alien roared and charged. Shreyank's body moved on its own—dodging, weaving, striking. His reflexes were sharper than ever before. When the alien swung its crystalline claws, Shreyank countered with a strike he didn't even know he was capable of. His palm glowed silver, releasing a blast of energy that sent the alien stumbling back.
Parth's jaw dropped. "You… you just—what the hell was that?!"
Shreyank didn't have an answer. All he knew was that he wasn't the same anymore.
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Arrival of Ritika and Rehanshika
Just when it seemed the alien might overwhelm Shreyank, two figures entered the battlefield.
One was Ritika, a skilled archer whose arrows pulsed with Shakti energy. Each shot struck the alien with precision, slowing its movements.
The other was Rehanshika, a close-combat fighter with unmatched agility. She darted around the alien like lightning, her strikes perfectly timed with Ritika's arrows.
Shreyank recognized them—two warriors whispered about in the underground networks of Noctis-4, fighters who had survived trials no ordinary human could.
Ritika called out, "If you want to survive, fight with us, not against us!"
Shreyank nodded instinctively. For the first time, their paths aligned.
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The First Kill
Together, the four of them launched a coordinated assault. Ritika's arrows pinned the alien down. Rehanshika struck its weak points with surgical precision. Parth, though inexperienced, provided cover with stolen plasma grenades from a fallen drone.
Shreyank felt the energy inside him building, guiding his movements. He leaped high into the air, his palm glowing brighter than ever.
"Celestial Strike!"
The blast of energy ripped through the alien's chest, shattering it into fragments of glowing crystal. The battlefield fell silent.
And then…
A notification appeared before Shreyank's eyes, projected by some unknown system:
[Bronze Star Acquired: +1]
The words glowed in front of him, unseen by anyone else. His heart raced. Stars? Levels? What is happening to me?
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Aftermath
The alien's fragments dissolved into the air, leaving behind a small shard of Shakti Crystal. Shreyank picked it up, feeling its energy merge with his own.
Ritika approached, her eyes sharp. "You… you're not ordinary. No one survives a first encounter like that."
Rehanshika crossed her arms. "And no one kills a Shakti-born creature on their first fight. Who are you?"
Before Shreyank could answer, Parth stepped forward. "He's my brother. And whatever this is, we're in it together."
Ritika's gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained serious. "Then you'd better be ready. That was just a Bronze-tier alien. There are Silver, Gold, and even Celestial-tier creatures out there. And if what I think is true… you've just been chosen for something far bigger than you realize."
Shreyank looked at the shard in his hand. The word Bronze Star burned in his vision. A strange excitement filled him, mixed with dread.
This is only the beginning.
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Foreshadowing
Far away, in the shadowed depths of Noctis-4's central tower, a cloaked figure watched the entire battle through holographic feeds. His eyes glowed faint silver as he muttered:
"So… the Raheja bloodline has awakened again. The prophecy was right. The stars have chosen him. But will he rise… or will he fall like the others?"
The screen faded to black.
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End of Episode 1 – The Awakening