The entire hall sat in stunned silence.
Gasps had faded into disbelief, replaced by a suffocating stillness as the results of Arun's test were broadcast across the grand monitors. A single word echoed in the minds of students, instructors, and officials alike:
Darkness.
The element most feared—and most revered.
Even the Chief Examiner had been rendered speechless. His eyes were glued to the screen, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. As if that wasn't enough, another shimmer appeared within the orb.
A second color began forming—Brown.
Earth.
Two elements. Darkness and Earth.
The display updated.
Darkness Affinity: 20%
The hall practically vibrated from the collective shock.
Om, still in line, exhaled a soft breath.
Twenty percent. That meant Arun had already completed 20% resonance with the Darkness element. Once he reached 100%, he would officially awaken into the First Chakra Stage. But the real shock was not just in the numbers.
It was the fact that the last recorded Darkness user had been discovered seven years ago—and even then, that person had started with just 2%. That same person now controlled an entire military sector, fighting on the frontline against the Eternal Kingdom.
And here stood a teenage boy, freshly awakened, beginning at ten times that strength.
In the VVIP observation lounge, the atmosphere had changed completely.
The murmurs ceased. Attention sharpened like drawn swords.
Guarav, head of the Ayudha Clan and proud father of Aren and Aria, could barely keep his mask from slipping. His eyes were wide for just a second—then narrowed as he forced himself back into composure.
Beside him, Bharat, the Clan Chief of the Bhargava Clan, raised one eyebrow slightly. A subtle gesture, but to those who knew him, it said volumes.
Guarav turned slightly and whispered to his butler, "Find out who that boy is. Send him a recruitment offer immediately. Do it quietly. I don't want the news spreading before we secure him."
The butler bowed and stepped back.
But Bharat chuckled softly and sipped from his Yesti alcohol.
"It won't be that easy," Bharat said without looking away from the screen.
Guarav frowned. "What do you mean?"
"If he's truly awakened Darkness," Bharat replied, "then the Gurukul will come looking for him. Whether you like it or not, they'll take him."
Guarav stiffened. "I thought Gurukul only recruited by invitation. Not by force."
Bharat finally turned toward him, amused. "That's what they want people to believe. But when someone awakens a God-Tier element, the Gurukul claims them. End of story."
Guarav clenched his fists under the table. All the plans he had spun in his mind crumbled in an instant.
"But," Bharat added, "if we act fast, we could still keep him connected to the family. Through marriage. Or by inducting him as an Inner Disciple before the Gurukul steps in."
Guarav nodded slowly, but he couldn't help stealing another glance at Bharat.
Was this the reason you came here? he wondered. Was it for this boy? Arun?
But Bharat's gaze hadn't moved. He continued watching the screen, calm and unreadable.
Back in the exam hall, Arun emerged from the chamber, smiling.
He didn't flaunt his result. He didn't raise his hands or shout in joy. But there was a light in his eyes, the kind that only came from realization.
The badge on his chest—awarded only to those who passed—gleamed under the lights.
At first, the other students didn't notice. But then someone spotted the symbol and called out, "He passed!"
The cheers began slowly. Then more joined. Before long, the entire hall echoed with the same chant:
"Arun! Arun! Arun!"
The students from his batch stared at him, confused. They had taken the test with him and didn't know what had happened. But the badge, the reaction—it said everything.
Even the Chief Examiner snapped out of his stupor and finally announced, "Congratulations to student Arun—for awakening Darkness and Earth affinity."
The fifth batch froze mid-step.
Some dropped the bags in their hands.
A few instinctively stepped back, as if the very word "Darkness" was too heavy to carry.
And yet, before they could even fully absorb the announcement, Arun had already left the hall.
Om watched the entire scene quietly, a slight smile on his lips.
He did it.
Now it's my turn.
Time passed.
One batch after another, the test continued.
Out of nearly 200 students, only 15 had passed.
Just like Arun predicted.
And now—Batch 20.
The final group.
Om stepped forward.
His number—196—lit up on the screen. He walked toward the designated door, calm and composed. As he entered the chamber, he saw the examiner waiting for him.
Shreya.
They both grinned.
"What are the odds?" Om said. "My sister's the one overseeing my test."
Shreya chuckled. "Yeah, feels like fate, doesn't it? Now, tell me—do you want your test to be broadcast?"
Om didn't hesitate. "Yes. If I pass, I want the world to see it."
Shreya gave an approving nod. "Good choice. You're confident. Let's get started."
She tapped her earpiece, activating a tattoo behind her ear that glowed faintly with golden runes.
"Contestant 196 has given consent. Begin live telecast," she announced.
The cameras blinked red.
The entire crowd—students, families, even the VVIP lounge—turned their eyes toward the screen.
Om stepped forward.
The affinity orb sat silently on the pedestal. The surface shimmered faintly, ready to absorb.
Om picked up the pin, pricked his finger, and dropped a single bead of blood onto the orb.
At first—nothing.
A minute passed.
The orb remained still.
Then—
Light.
A single shimmer. Then a second. And a third.
Red. Blue. Brown. Green. Light Blue. Purple.
One by one, colors flickered across the orb's surface.
Red for Fire.
Blue for Water.
Brown for Earth.
Green for Nature.
Light Blue for Wind.
Purple for Lightning.
Each and every color appeared shimmered, appeared, then faded—replaced by the next.
Then—Black.
The orb trembled.
The air in the room shifted.
Black.
And then…
A final pulse.
The orb shook violently—and exploded.
A flash of light filled the room as the orb shattered into a thousand fragments.