Location: A.W.A.K.E. Temporary Research Lab (Mumbai) / Rudra's Mansion
Date & Time: January 2, 2025 | 10:00 AM
An old hospital in the heart of Mumbai had been transformed into a high-security laboratory overnight. Outside, military vehicles patrolled the perimeter, and anyone obstructing their path was dealt with sternly. Inside, the new recruits of A.W.A.K.E.—mostly top-tier scientists clad in sterile hazmat suits—kept a watchful eye on the 'Awakened' individuals who had surrendered themselves out of sheer fear.
Inside a reinforced glass cabin, a twenty-five-year-old man was drenched in sweat. He was desperately trying to bend a thin iron rod. The veins in his arms were bulging dangerously, and the monitor above him showed a heart rate spiraling past 160 beats per minute.
"Monitor Subject 04's energy readings," a scientist noted coldly. "His physical strength has increased by roughly 1.5 times that of a normal human, but his skeletal structure can't handle the internal pressure. This is 'E-Rank' level strength, but his stamina is plummeting far too quickly."
There were no miracles happening in these labs. The scientists were merely observing how this new energy was stretching the human body to its absolute breaking point. To them, these people weren't superheroes; they were a puzzle that had to be solved for the sake of human survival.
Rudra's Mansion
In the heavy silence of his mansion, Rudra had spent the entire night awake. The energy he had devoured through [Gluttony] had cured his physical weakness, but it hadn't turned him into a god. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. The dark circles under his eyes were still faintly visible, and his lean body hadn't suddenly sprouted massive muscles. He still looked like the same eighteen-year-old boy, but his eyes now held a sharp, predatory alertness.
"How long do you plan to hide behind these expensive walls, Rudra?" Ruin Soul's deep voice echoed in his mind.
Rudra pulled down the zipper of his oversized hoodie slightly to look at the tattoo on his neck. "There's military outside... if I get caught, they'll lock me up in those labs too."
"And so you'll just sit here and wait for them?" Ruin Soul's voice turned harsh. "The government will raid every house suspected of harboring 'Mutants.' This mansion will be one of their first targets. Right now, you are nothing but 'molten iron'—you have the power and the heat, but you have no edge. Molten iron is useless until it is hammered and beaten into a 'Blade.' You must become the blade that cuts through death itself."
Rudra clenched his fist. "But I don't even know how to fight properly yet."
"Then start training," Ruin Soul commanded. "Visualize that red and blue fire. Let it flow into every corner of your body. Control it. Do not let it just explode."
Rudra closed his eyes. He focused on the energy coiled deep within his chest. Following Ruin Soul's guidance, he tried to channel that heat into his palms. He felt a faint, prickling tingling sensation in his hands. He looked at the old wooden table in front of him and threw a solid punch with all his might.
CRACK.
A small fissure appeared on the wooden surface, and the wood dented slightly. Rudra jerked his hand back, his knuckles turning bright red and throbbing with pain.
"Is that all?" Rudra panted, looking at his bruised hand.
"What did you expect? That you'd bring down a wall with one punch?" Ruin Soul remarked, almost mockingly. "You are currently only an 'E-Ranker.' Your strength is just enough to fight a common thug more effectively. But if a bullet hits you, you will die. Now, focus your senses."
Rudra did as he was told. [Primal Adaptation] triggered instantly. Suddenly, he could hear the individual raindrops hitting the grass in his garden. He could feel the distant vibration of a military truck's brakes on the main road. And then, he heard it—a faint, persistent buzzing sound hovering right above his mansion.
"A drone..." Rudra's eyes snapped open.
"Time is running out," Ruin Soul warned. "A.W.A.K.E.'s scanners are sweeping the city. If you don't leave now, you never will. You need to go where the system's eyes cannot reach."
Rudra took a final look at the photograph of his parents. His eyes reflected the lingering pain of loss, but a new, cold resolve had taken root. He grabbed a backpack, stuffed it with some cash and his parents' photo, and hid his bronze baseball bat inside an old guitar case to avoid suspicion. He pulled on a face mask and zipped up his high-neck hoodie to conceal both his face and the mark on his neck.
He decided to take the back exit of the mansion. The molten iron was leaving the forge, ready to face the hammer. He knew the world outside wouldn't be as comfortable as his home, but he also knew that leaving was now the only way to stay alive.
Chapter Summary
Date: 2 January 2025
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Location: A.W.A.K.E. Lab (Mumbai) / Rudra's Mansion
Protagonist Status: Rudra is now a confirmed 'E-Rank' Awakened. He is preparing to abandon his sanctuary and go underground.
The Training: Under Ruin Soul's guidance, Rudra realizes his limitations. He can channel energy for a physical boost, but it is still limited by his human body (punching wood still causes him pain).
The Threat: A.W.A.K.E. scientists are categorizing Awakened individuals by rank (starting with E-Rank). Surveillance drones are actively scanning for 'abnormal' energy signatures.
The Move: Realizing the mansion is a trap, Rudra packs light, conceals his weapon in a guitar case, and hides his identity to move through the city unnoticed.
Current Skills:
Primal Adaptation: Senses are 2x sharper; detected a drone before seeing it.
Energy Channeling: Basic physical reinforcement (E-rank level).
Ruin Soul: Acting as a blunt, realistic mentor to prevent Rudra from becoming overconfident.