the sward that chooses...

The wind moves differently today.

Aryan stands in an open training ground, casually swinging his sword—but something feels off. His movements are sharp as always, yet his focus keeps breaking.

He stops.

“…Why does it feel like I’m being watched?”

For a moment, everything goes silent.

Then—

a faint metallic whisper echoes.

Not around him.

From the ground beneath him.

Aryan frowns and looks down. The earth has a thin crack… glowing faintly.

Without thinking much, he kneels and brushes the dirt aside.

A strange black stone appears.

And inside it—

Something is sealed.

A blade.

The moment Aryan touches the stone—

A sharp cut appears on his finger.

He pulls back. “Tch—what the…?”

But instead of normal pain… something strange happens.

The drop of blood doesn’t fall.

It gets pulled into the stone.

The ground shakes.

Cracks spread rapidly, and the sealed blade begins to emerge slowly, like it’s waking up after centuries.

A deep, heavy voice echoes—

"Finally… someone worthy enough to bleed."

Aryan freezes.

“…Did that sword just talk?”

The stone shatters completely.

A dark blade reveals itself—covered in ancient patterns, glowing faintly with a deep red aura.

The air becomes heavy.

Dangerous.

"State your name, wielder."

Aryan smirks slightly despite the pressure.

“Aryan.”

A pause.

Then—

"Hmph… confidence. Good. But tell me… will you survive me?"

Before Aryan can respond—

A massive presence lands behind him.

A creature.

A giant fox-like beast with multiple tails, its body dark, eyes glowing with ancient awareness.

It has been guarding the blade.

And now—it sees Aryan.

"If you wish to wield that sword… you must prove your worth."

Aryan turns slowly… eyes sharpening.

Now he’s fully serious.

“…Finally. Something interesting.”

The beast attacks instantly—fast, powerful, overwhelming.

Aryan barely dodges, sliding across the ground. His normal sword feels… weak compared to the pressure in the air.

The creature strikes again.

Aryan blocks—but his sword cracks slightly.

“…Yeah. This is different.”

He grins.

Not fear.

Excitement.

He charges forward.

Each clash shakes the ground. The beast is stronger—but Aryan adapts quickly, reading its movements, pushing his limits.

During the fight—

His injured finger begins to glow faintly.

The same energy.

The same awakening.

Back with Prabhat…

the same power had risen.

Now—

It’s happening again.

Aryan jumps back, breathing heavily.

“…So that’s it.”

He looks at the dark blade.

Then at the beast.

“Fine. Let’s end this.”

He rushes forward one last time—

This time, faster.

Stronger.

More precise.

The beast lunges—

Aryan slips past it and strikes.

Silence.

The creature stops moving.

Then slowly… it steps back.

Not defeated.

Acknowledging him.

"You are worthy."

The pressure disappears.

The dark blade floats toward Aryan.

"I am Raktlubha… the blade of blood and will."

Aryan grabs it.

The moment he does—

A surge of power flows through him.

He exhales slowly…

“…Now THIS is what I was waiting for.”

Far away—

That unknown observer smiles faintly.

"The second has awakened."

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