The lion did not even have the time to roar.
Its head fell before its body understood death.
For a moment, the cave stood frozen in silence.
Then—
Om laughed.
A loud, unrestrained laugh echoed through the cavern, bouncing against the stone walls like a madman's cry. It was not relief. It was not victory.
It was something far more dangerous.
Excitement.
His body trembled—not from weakness, but from exhilaration. Blood dripped from his abdomen, his wound still open and flowing, yet he paid it no attention. His cracked skin continued to glow faintly, white light leaking from within like a vessel unable to contain its own power.
Then—
He heard it.
The distant sound of battle.
Clashes. Roars. Screams.
Om's smile widened.
Without hesitation, he began running toward the sound.
The tunnels stretched endlessly before him, but Om moved like a streak of light, his speed terrifying even in his injured state. As he rushed through the cave corridors, the scene ahead unfolded.
The battlefield had already begun.
Beasts had breached the cave.
The shield… was down.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of creatures filled the tunnels, fighting against the Eaglemen forces. Blood stained the ground, bodies littered the pathways, and the air vibrated with chaos.
Om stopped for a single second.
Then he stepped forward.
And the massacre began.
His sword moved like a storm.
Every swing carried white flames.
Every step brought death.
Mortal-stage beasts fell like grass before him. Even Essence Stage creatures—those who could dominate ordinary warriors—were cut down without resistance. His blade did not slow. It did not hesitate.
Blood splattered across his face, his body, his already torn clothes.
But Om did not care.
His wound continued to bleed.
His body continued to crack.
Yet his movements only became faster.
Stronger.
More precise.
The battlefield shifted.
Wherever Om moved—
Death followed.
The commanders noticed.
Among the beasts were Transcendent Stage leaders—creatures that ruled over the battlefield with absolute authority. They had been directing the attack, ensuring victory.
But now—
Their attention shifted.
A single human…
Was slaughtering their forces.
And his power…
Was rising.
Rapidly.
One of the commanders stepped forward.
A massive bear—over twenty feet tall.
Its body barely fit within the tunnels, scraping against the stone walls as it moved. Each step shook the ground beneath it.
Its eyes locked onto Om.
It did not sense the true nature of his power.
It only saw prey.
With a roar, it charged.
Om had just finished killing his tenth bear when he noticed it.
The tunnel darkened as the giant beast approached.
The commander's claws glowed red, burning with destructive force. It rushed forward, tearing through the cave with brute strength.
Om smiled.
His sword ignited.
White flames surged across the blade.
Without hesitation—
He stepped forward.
"Slash."
The word left his lips like a whisper.
But the result—
Was absolute destruction.
A wave of white fire erupted from his sword.
It moved faster than sound.
The bear's instincts screamed.
Death.
It tried to turn.
But it was too late.
The white flame touched its body—
And erased it.
Cut cleanly.
Effortlessly.
The massive commander was split apart in an instant.
But the attack did not stop.
The slash continued forward.
It tore through the cave.
Walls collapsed.
Stone vaporized.
The entire tunnel trembled as the attack carved its path, destroying everything in its way.
Then—
It reached the mountain's surface.
And broke through.
Outside—
The battlefield froze.
A line of white flame cut across the sky.
Warriors stopped.
Beasts halted.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
High above—
Two figures stood locked in battle.
Vyasa.
And Sampati.
They both turned.
Their eyes widened.
The white flame cut through another Transcendent beast mid-air before finally dissipating.
Silence followed.
Sampati, wounded yet standing, stared at the direction of the attack.
Shock filled his face.
"That… power…"
Vyasa's expression darkened.
The attack had reached the Initial Demigod State.
Even for beings like them—
It was dangerous.
"This is impossible…" Vyasa muttered.
"There is no one here who should possess such power."
Below them—
Chaos erupted.
Beasts began retreating.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Even Essence and Transcendent creatures fled the cave.
Then—
He appeared.
A boy stepped out from the shattered entrance.
His Gurukul uniform was torn, burned, and stained with blood. White flames flickered faintly across his sword, which rested casually on his shoulder.
Om.
He stood atop a broken rock, one leg raised, looking down at the fleeing beasts.
His presence—
Was overwhelming.
Even peak Transcendent beings felt chills run down their spines.
Om tilted his head upward, looking at the sky.
His smile faded slightly.
"Why did you stop all the fun…?"
From another entrance—
Ghato, Arun, and Rudra emerged.
They had been fighting inside the cave alongside the Eaglemen.
But now—
They stood frozen.
"What… is that?" Rudra whispered.
"That's… not Om…" Arun muttered.
Cracks covered his body.
Light leaked from within.
His aura—
Was monstrous.
Vyasa descended.
With a flash, he appeared before Om.
His eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice heavy with power.
"You cannot be a student."
Om looked at him.
Without fear.
Without hesitation.
Without emotion.
Then—
He raised his sword.
Vyasa's instincts screamed.
He vanished instantly, retreating high into the sky, near the source of his power—the stars.
"This one…" he muttered, "is not here to talk."
Energy gathered around him.
A Demigod Art formed.
But before he could release it—
Sampati rushed forward.
"Stop!" he shouted.
"You'll destroy the entire mountain! That is your student!"
Vyasa hesitated.
Just for a moment.
And that moment—
Was enough.
Om looked up.
His chakra surged.
More cracks formed across his body.
More light escaped.
He raised his sword again.
"Slash."
This one—
Was stronger.
Vyasa reacted instantly.
"Meteor Strike."
The sky exploded.
The two attacks collided.
Light and flame clashed with cosmic force.
Thunder roared across the battlefield.
Lightning struck the ground below, killing countless beasts instantly. Even ancient creatures of Soul Stage fell under the residual energy.
A ten-meter radius turned to nothingness wherever the lightning struck.
For a moment—
Vyasa's attack pushed forward.
But his expression changed.
"This… quality…"
It was different.
Unknown.
Unnatural.
The white flame surged.
It pushed back.
Faster.
Stronger.
Relentless.
Vyasa raised his hand to stop it.
The moment he touched it—
His hand burned.
White flames spread across his arm.
For the first time in ages—
He felt pain.
Not physical.
But in his soul.
Shock filled the battlefield.
Vyasa—
Was struggling.
Then—
A new presence appeared.
Behind Om—
A figure moved.
A sword struck toward his head.
Clang!
Om blocked it without turning.
Effortlessly.
"STOP IT, OM!"
The voice echoed.
Om's eyes contracted.
Slowly—
He turned.
Mark stood there.
Sword in hand.
Breathing heavily.
And for the first time—
Om's expression changed.