Chapter 26: Breakthrough and Consequences

Chapter 26: Breakthrough and Consequences Aamir sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, his breathing steady and focused. The dim light filtering through the curtains illuminated his glowing veins as he channeled his adrenaline energy. The orange hue of the energy coursed through his meridians, lighting his veins with an intense glow. One by one, the energy flowed until it reached the 63rd meridian—then abruptly stopped. Aamir frowned, frustration seeping into his concentration. He pushed harder, trying to break through the block, but his efforts were met with resistance. His energy stubbornly refused to move forward. Then, out of nowhere, pain shot through his chest. His heart raced wildly, each beat reverberating in his ears. His energy began to shift, the vibrant orange darkening to a deep, ominous red. His veins throbbed violently, threatening to burst, while his aura swelled, filling the room with an oppressive force. Kunal, immersed in his book as always, felt the shift immediately. He looked up, his face contorted with concern. "Something's not right," he muttered. Raj, deep in meditation, opened his eyes abruptly, sensing the dangerous energy emanating from Aamir. "What the hell is wrong with him?" Raj said, his voice tinged with worry. Neither dared to approach Aamir, the fear of his unstable energy holding them back. His aura grew more menacing, its color darkening further until it was almost black. The pressure in the room was suffocating, the energy pulsating wildly as though it might explode. Then, just as suddenly as it had escalated, Aamir's aura began to recede. The red energy shifted back toward orange, his veins settling beneath his skin. The pain subsided, replaced by a strange calmness. Aamir felt the energy flowing once again, but now, it moved freely. It surged past the 63rd meridian, quickly breaking through to the 64th, 65th, and beyond. It didn't stop there—it continued at a rapid pace: 71, 72... and on it went. Finally, at the 90th meridian, the flow ceased, and his energy began to stabilize. Aamir opened his eyes, his expression a mix of amazement and confusion. He felt different—stronger, yet unsure of how this transformation had occurred. Across the room, Kunal and Raj stared at him, their eyes wide with shock. "Ah!" Aamir screamed, startled by their intense gazes. The two screamed back in unison. "What the hell, man? Why are you staring at me like that?" Aamir demanded, his voice tinged with panic. Raj pointed at him, still wide-eyed. "What the hell was that? What just happened to you?" "I... I don't know," Aamir stammered, genuinely baffled. Kunal let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "You're seriously creeping us out. What was that? You went all... crazy for a second." "Crazy? That was awesome!" Aamir said, flashing a thumbs-up. "Awesome?" Raj exclaimed. "That felt like death walking into the room!" "Okay, okay, maybe it was a little intense," Aamir admitted, scratching his head. "But I feel amazing now. I think I broke through!" Kunal's curiosity overtook his nerves. "What level are you now?" Aamir took a moment to sense his energy. "I'm at the 90th meridian." Kunal's jaw dropped. "No way! That means you're an Advanced-level Master Class energy controller!" Aamir grinned. "Yeah... I guess I am." Raj crossed his arms, his lips curling into a smirk. "Well, looks like you're ready for the tournament now." "I've been ready," Aamir shot back confidently. "But don't think I'll go easy on you, Raj." Raj chuckled. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it. Just don't cry when I beat you." Kunal raised a hand. "I'll pass. Fighting isn't my thing, but you two lunatics knock yourselves out—literally." As they bantered, far from the dormitory, Haider Ali sat in his office, reviewing the profiles of promising students for the upcoming tournament. A glowing magical screen displayed various candidates. His attention rested on a boy with white hair tied in a ponytail, wielding a katana and a small blade. "Seenu... self-taught with his own fighting style. Impressive," Haider mused. Suddenly, a suffocating presence washed over him. He stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he tried to pinpoint its source. The deadly aura was unlike anything he'd felt before—it radiated from the direction of the boys' dormitory. But as quickly as it came, it disappeared. "What the hell was that?" Haider muttered, rising from his seat. "A guild leader losing control? No... that's impossible. A beast attack?" He shook his head. "No beast could enter this campus..." Despite his rationalizations, the unease lingered. Something extraordinary—or dangerous—had just occurred. Back in the dormitory, Aamir, Kunal, and Raj continued their conversation, unaware of the commotion their energy surge had caused. But in the back of Aamir's mind, one question remained: What just happened to me? The morning sunlight streamed into the dormitory as Aamir stepped outside, stretching his arms. He felt refreshed, his energy flowing effortlessly within him—a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous night. Kunal and Raj followed closely behind, their expressions casual, but their glances at Aamir betrayed their unease. Near the main path, a group of instructors roamed the campus grounds, their eyes sharp and alert. They were accompanied by a few students, their expressions laced with concern. "What's going on?" Aamir whispered, nodding toward the group. Just then, a boy passing by stopped near them. "You don't know?" he asked, his tone filled with excitement and a hint of fear. "They say a beast entered the campus last night!" "A beast?" Kunal repeated, feigning shock. "Yeah, it must've been strong too! I sensed its energy—it was terrifying." The boy shivered at the memory. "The instructors are looking for it now. If it's still roaming around, we could be in serious trouble." Aamir, Kunal, and Raj exchanged quick, knowing glances. None of them said a word, but the truth was clear to them. The energy that had shaken the entire campus wasn't from a beast—it was from Aamir. But they played along. "That's... unsettling," Raj said, rubbing the back of his neck. "A beast loose in the university? That's bad news." "Really bad," Kunal added, nodding earnestly. "I hope they find it soon." The boy agreed, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Yeah, but I've never felt anything like that before. It didn't feel like a regular beast—it felt... unnatural." Aamir forced a laugh, trying to keep his tone light. "Well, good thing we didn't run into it." The boy nodded and continued on his way, leaving the three of them standing there. "Unnatural, huh?" Raj muttered, smirking as he glanced at Aamir. "Shut up," Aamir said under his breath. Kunal chuckled nervously. "Seriously, though. Do you think the instructors will figure it out? That it wasn't a beast?" Aamir shook his head. "How could they? I mean, they probably wouldn't believe it was me unless they saw it themselves. Let's just stay quiet." "Yeah, quiet," Raj said with a grin. "Until your energy flares up again, and they come knocking on our door." Aamir groaned. "I'll keep it under control, okay? It won't happen again." "Better not," Kunal muttered. "I'm not getting blamed for whatever crazy thing you do next." As the instructors continued their search, Aamir and his friends walked away, doing their best to blend in. But deep down, Aamir couldn't shake the feeling that his breakthrough was just the beginning—and that the consequences of his newfound power were far from over. New novel chapters are published on f(r)eewebn(o)vel.com