January 12, 2026 | 10:00 AM N.D.A.I. Temporary Headquarters, New Delhi
The winter in New Delhi was uncharacteristic today; there was a vibration in the air that could be felt deep within one's bones. Outside the building, thousands of Awakened individuals had gathered, yet the typical chaotic roar of a government office was nowhere to be found. Adiraj had set a simple, non-negotiable rule: "If you cannot control your mana, you cannot control my guild."
Within a 500-meter radius of the building, a heavy, eerie silence prevailed. People spoke in hushed whispers, acutely aware that inside those walls sat the man capable of erasing their existence at 200 m/s.
Adiraj sat in a vast conference hall, the morning sunlight catching his blue hair and creating sparks reminiscent of blue lightning. Before him lay the files of the nation's most 'Elite' candidates. These Rank-A and Rank-B individuals hadn't come for a mere interview; they had come to flaunt their power. But Adiraj was looking past their muscles and into their eyes. He was far more interested in their Vessel Intentions than their physical density.
Suddenly, a harsh, arrogant voice erupted from outside the hall. Siddharth, a Rank-B Flame-Wielder, was storming out in a fit of rage. Having just finished his interview, he felt his selection was a foregone conclusion. In his path was a Rank-D cleaner pushing a maintenance trolley. Siddharth, blinded by his own pride, didn't even give the man a chance to move and shoved him aside violently.
"Get out of the way, trash! You splashed dirty water on my designer shoes!" Siddharth barked, small sparks of flame dancing across his palms. The cleaner collapsed to the floor, his eyes filled with the same terror Adiraj had witnessed at Cross Maidan.
Inside the hall, Adiraj's crystalline blue eyes flashed. Siddharth had barely reached the exit when the air pressure around him suddenly dropped to zero. His body froze instantly—Zero-Friction Stasis.
"Stop," Adiraj's voice was soft, yet it shattered the silence of the hall like breaking glass.
Adiraj walked toward Siddharth with measured steps, the sound of static electricity crackling beneath his feet. He looked directly into Siddharth's eyes. "Power is meant for enemies, Siddharth. Not for your own people. In Garud Vajra, I need those who can be shields. Swords are already plenty against monsters."
"But sir... this Rank-D trash—" Siddharth tried to protest.
"That's enough. Your Rank-B status is nothing more than a scrap of paper to me if your heart is rotten. Get out. There is no place for you in Garud Vajra," Adiraj said with cold finality.
Siddharth's face drained of color. To be expelled from the country's first and only S-Rank guild meant social and professional annihilation. The arrogance of the remaining candidates vanished in an instant. They finally understood: Adiraj wanted an elite army, but he had zero tolerance for elite arrogance.
Military Hospital ICU, Mumbai
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Major Raghav lay in his bed, watching the updates from Delhi on the television. His hand was still in a cast, but his overall condition had improved. The ward door opened, and Commander Aryan entered, accompanied by a woman.
"Raghav, I've brought a gift for you," Aryan said. "This is Mira, the N.D.A.I.'s first Rank-B Healer. I had her flown in from Delhi specifically for your recovery."
Mira approached Raghav and placed her hands over his plaster cast. A soft, emerald-green aura began to flow from her palms, weaving into Raghav's vessel and mending the fractures at a molecular level. Raghav felt the dull ache in his bones dissolve as his mana-channels began to clear.
"Thank you, Sir," Raghav said quietly. His frustration was slowly hardening into a cold, focused fire. "I saw what Adiraj did in Delhi. He is changing the country. If I am to stand beside him, I must leave this bed and fully claim my Rank-A potential. 'The Ghost' may be dead, but there is more darkness in this world that needs to be purged."
Raghav's focus had shifted entirely. He was now preparing himself so that when he finally stepped onto the battlefield, the world would see the true form of the 'Beast of SARC.'
Parel Chawl Outskirts
Far from the political maneuvers in Delhi and Mumbai, a different kind of 'Vibration' hummed in the silence of Parel. Uncle, trembling with both fear and awe, pressed his ear against the trapdoor of the loft. From above, he heard a sound like the low humming of a heavy machine.
"Thump... Thump... Thump..."
Rudra's heartbeat had reached 25 Beats Per Minute. For a healthy human, this would be a sign of death, but for Rudra, it was the sound of his Vessel Re-awakening. His body had fully transitioned into its Dull Steel texture, becoming ten times denser than human skin.
The tenth day of hibernation was coming to an end. Rudra's sleep was no longer deep; it was becoming 'Light'—as if a predator were scanning the world behind closed eyelids just before waking. The mana flow in his veins had stabilized. He remained oblivious to the fact that his 'Guardian,' Adiraj, was currently building an army for him.
Adiraj had selected the first 50 members today—men and women he had tested personally. But the recruitment wasn't over. Garud Vajra still required more strength.
Adiraj stood by the window of the hall, staring at the Delhi skyline. He knew the rules of the world were changing. China had gone dark, America was arming itself, and India currently had only one Sovereign.
The Hell Gates? They would open. But Adiraj had resolved that when those doors tore apart, India's shield would be so formidable that even Death would have to ask for permission to enter.
📝 Chapter 25 Summary:
The Moral Code: Adiraj expels a Rank-B candidate for bullying a Rank-D cleaner, setting a high bar for character within Garud Vajra.
The Recovery: Mira (Rank-B Healer) begins mending Major Raghav's vessel. Raghav acknowledges Commander Aryan with respect and pivots his focus to his own Rank-A evolution.
Elite Selection: Adiraj selects the first 50 members, prioritizing protective instincts over raw power.
Biological Shift: Rudra's heartbeat hits 25 BPM; his Dull Steel vessel reaches 90% maturation in the Parel loft.