Inside the Woods –
Day 1, 1:00 PM...
The forest was alive—
Thick canopies blocked out much of the sunlight, casting a mix of golden rays and dancing shadows across the woodland floor.
Rudra moved with sharp focus, sweat glistening on his brow. His combat instincts kicked in at every step.
His eyes flicked from tree branches to disturbed soil patterns—
Each cue is a signal of dangerous traps hidden masterfully across the terrain.
Blades would spring from tree trunks.
Spike pits lay inches beneath seemingly safe patches of ground.
Swinging logs with metal tips were disguised behind layers of vines.
It was like a real-life death maze straight out of a horror-thriller movie.
Yet none of them touched him.
Thanks to his sharpened reflexes, his Nature's Son trait, and an unexpected companion, Rudra kept going.
"Rudra! Jump-jump-jump!"
chirped a squeaky voice beside him.
A flash of reddish-brown fur darted past, and Rudra immediately leapt back just in time as a camouflaged bear trap snapped where his foot would've landed.
"Nice save, Hammy."
Rudra muttered, catching his breath.
The hyperactive, sweet, and scatterbrained squirrel did a full somersault midair and landed on his shoulder.
Her beady eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Hammy? Who's Hammy?"
She squeaked, chattering rapidly.
"Wait—wait! That's my name now? Ohmygosh! I have a name!! Do you name all your forest friends? No—wait—don't answer, never mind, I LOVE IT!! I'm Hammy! I'm Hammy!!"
Rudra let out a laugh, wiping some dirt from his cheek.
"You remind me of this cartoon squirrel I saw when I was a kid. From a movie called Over the Hedge. You talk fast, jump faster, and think… not as fast."
Hammy gasped, mock-offended.
"Hey! I think plenty fast! I just—OH LOOK, A BEE!"
She zipped off and zipped back just as quickly.
"False alarm. It was a leaf. Okay, let's go again!"
Despite her chaotic energy, Hammy had saved Rudra from at least six deadly traps already.
Between his own sharp awareness and her alerts, they made a surprisingly effective duo.
Rudra is resting near a large root-covered rock.
The spot was tranquil, bathed in dappled light.
He reached into his satchel and pulled out some wrapped-up paratha, a few berries and forest fruits, and a Bottle's of water.
Hammy munched happily on an apple slice he shared.
He glanced at the sun's position—
It was already past 1 PM.
"It's been 7 hours… and I'm not even at the first checkpoint yet."
"Am I too slow?"
He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers.
The task had been unrelenting.
He hadn't been lazy—he was cautious, careful, and deliberate.
"But if I don't pick up the pace, I might not make it through all five checkpoints in time."
Hammy, now sitting inside his open bag with just her head sticking out, blinked at him.
"You're not slow. You're careful. And alive. And smart. That's more important."
Rudra smiled.
"Thanks, Hammy."
He stood up, tightening the straps on his satchel, eyes narrowing as he gazed into the trees ahead.
"Time to stop doubting. The Brahmastra won't wait."
With a confident stride and Hammy bouncing beside him, Rudra vanished into the foliage.
After arriving at the First Checkpoint – 6:35 PM
The forest had begun to change.
The warmth of the sun had faded, replaced by a gentle, golden hue that painted the trees in soft, dusky light.
Shadows lengthened.
The sounds of birds had quieted, giving way to the occasional hoot of an owl or the distant rustle of nocturnal life awakening.
Rudra stood before a tall stone pillar wrapped in ivy.
A green flag fluttered faintly from a wooden post nearby—
The sign marked the first checkpoint of the trial.
His chest rose and fell, his breathing heavy but steady.
He had made it.
"First one down,"
He muttered, wiping his brow.
Without hesitation, he untied the green flag, folded it carefully, and tucked it into his satchel.
He glanced at the darkening sky and made a decision.
"No point pushing in the dark. One misstep and it's over."
Rudra began scanning the area, eventually finding a small clearing beneath a thick canopy, partially shielded from wind and exposed sky.
With practised hands, he cleared fallen branches and rocks, making a small fire pit.
He struck flint against steel and soon a small campfire crackled, its warm glow offering a comforting cocoon in the encroaching night.
Hammy zipped in from a nearby bush, a tiny bundle of berries in her mouth. She dropped them near the fire with a grin.
"Snacks!"
Rudra laughed.
Hammy puffed out her chest with pride and curled up near the edge of the fire, tail twitching.
Rudra unrolled a compact sleeping mat, took off his jacket, and placed it as a pillow.
He leaned back, watching the flames dance and twist.
Despite the fatigue, he felt peaceful.
Stronger.
"One down, four to go…"
He murmured to himself.
His thoughts drifted toward his friends—
Amritha's worried eyes, Shiva's jokes, Sandeep's sword, and Junoo's sorrow.
And deeper still, he thought of Guru Arvind, the Brahmastra, and the weight that now sat quietly in his chest.
The forest around him whispered in low rustles.
Above, stars began to pierce through the darkness.
And as Rudra finally closed his eyes, letting his body rest and mind prepare for the coming day, a single thought passed through him—
'No matter how hard the test… I'm not backing down.'
Day Two, 6:00 AM...
The forest was wrapped in a quiet chill, dew clinging to every leaf, branch, and blade of grass.
Morning light filtered through the trees in golden streaks, soft and serene—
But Rudra could feel it.
The serenity was deceptive.
He had risen just before dawn.
After finishing his morning routine and nibbling on some homemade bread he'd packed for breakfast,
Rudra extinguished the remains of the fire and slung his satchel over his shoulder.
"Checkpoint Two… time to see what you've got."
The air grew heavier as he ventured deeper.
The trees here were taller and more ancient, their roots twisted and gnarled like the fingers of sleeping giants.
Silence ruled this part of the forest—
But not the peaceful kind.
Suddenly, a cold shiver crawled up his spine.
He froze mid-step, his instincts flaring.
"____"
From the dense underbrush on his left, two glowing yellow eyes locked onto him.
A massive black python, its body thick as a tree trunk, was coiled silently around a branch.
Its head slowly descended, tongue flicking as it measured its prey.
Hiss~ Hiss~
On the opposite side, from a break in the trees, emerged a small pack of wolves, their fur silver-grey and their eyes sharp with hunger.
They padded forward cautiously, muscles tense beneath their coats.
High above, a great horned owl, feathers dark and mottled, let out a warning screech.
It had been startled awake by Rudra's steps—
And it didn't appreciate the intrusion.
Rudra slowly raised his arms—
not in surrender, but in attunement.
He took a breath.
He put his bet on his Nature's Son trait.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone,"
He said softly, not expecting a response—
But knowing they could understand the intent behind his voice.
The python let out a low hiss but didn't strike.
Hiss~
One of the wolves growled, ears pinned back.
Hammy, hiding inside Rudra's jacket collar, poked her tiny head out, whispering in a panicked squeak:
"Uhh… big snake… bigger wolves… and an angry owl! Time to go?"
Rudra smiled slightly
. "No. Time to talk."
He closed his eyes for a second, grounding himself, reaching out—not with words but presence.
A connection.
The same way he spoke to the temple elephant or the dogs back at Gurukul.
Slowly, the tension began to shift.
The python stopped descending.
Its tongue flicked once, then again, and it coiled back lazily as if reassured.
The owl flapped once, letting out a hoot that almost sounded like reluctant respect before flying off.
But the wolves… still lingered.
One stepped forward, closer.
Rudra narrowed his eyes and crouched slightly, letting it sniff his outstretched hand.
The wolf paused… then gave a low huff.
They turned, padding away into the trees.
"That… was close,"
Hammy whispered, shaking in excitement.
"Can we avoid the next animal welcoming committee?"
Rudra chuckled, adjusting his bag.
"Only if you stop smelling like berries."
With the threat passed, Rudra pressed on, knowing this was just the beginning of the second checkpoint.
Rudra trod carefully through the dense undergrowth, each step deliberate, his eyes scanning every movement in the trees, bushes, and sky.
Though he was deep inside territory most wouldn't dare enter, there was something strange—
almost serene—
about the way the forest responded to him.
He noticed venomous snakes coiled beneath thick roots, their beady eyes following his movements.
Brightly coloured dart frogs croaked nearby, their toxic skin glistening.
Even the trees buzzed with swarms of stinger wasps, and the occasional jungle scorpion clung to bark like living shadows.
Yet none of them attacked.
They watched, observed, and acknowledged his presence—
But didn't strike.
'They're all alert… but they're not hostile,'
Rudra thought, gently stepping around a nest of fire ants.
'They sense something. Or maybe… they sense me.'
He wasn't foolish.
Attacking first would've been the action of a reckless fool.
He wasn't here to dominate nature—
He was part of it.
And that understanding, more than any weapon or skill, was his shield.
Even Hammy, peeking out of his collar like a fuzzy red scout, seemed calmer now.
"Hehe… they're all staring like you're a walking fruit basket,"
She chattered playfully,
"But nobody's biting! You got some forest charm spell or something?"
"Maybe it's just mutual respect,"
Rudra replied with a small smile, brushing aside a hanging vine.
And then, without warning, the trees parted.
A large stone pillar, overgrown with moss, stood in a clearing.
Draped over it was a green cloth flag, the marker of the Second Checkpoint. Rudra blinked in disbelief for a moment, then exhaled in satisfaction.
"That's it? Already?"
It had been less than five hours since he'd begun the second leg.
He looked back at the dense trees, the watchful eyes in the shadows.
The danger was real, no doubt—
But it never crossed the line into conflict.
The animals, like silent sentinels, had simply tested his presence—
and judged him not a threat.
He reached the flag, untied it, and tucked it securely into his bag.
A quiet hum of wind passed through the trees, almost like an acknowledgement.
"Second stage… complete."
Rudra stood there for a moment longer, staring into the woods, then turned with purpose toward the path leading deeper into the jungle—
The third checkpoint awaited.
Hammy bounced on his shoulder.
"Okay, mister forest whisperer, if the next one is anything like this, I vote we bring some peanut butter and make it a picnic."
Rudra chuckled, cracking his neck as he moved forward.
Chuckle~
"Let's not jinx it, Hammy."
After walking for a while, Rudra and Hammy arrived at a wide clearing—
Sunlight poured down through the canopy above.
In the middle stood a stone battle platform, slightly cracked with age and moss growing around its base.
It was built for only one purpose: combat.
Sitting around the edges were five men, all armed and armoured.
Swords, axes, daggers, spears—
Each weapon gleamed under the light.
Their eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on Rudra the moment he appeared.
"So this is the third checkpoint..."
Rudra muttered, tossing a few freshly gathered fruits to Hammy, who gleefully squeaked and began nibbling.
The men finished their lunch without speaking.
No intimidation.
No theatrics.
Just calm, focused silence.
They were professionals—
trained warriors.
They knew Rudra would come, and now it was time.
One of them, the leanest, stepped forward.
Twin daggers glinted in his hands as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
The others stepped back, forming a semi-circle.
A small bell rang somewhere behind the trees, marking the start.
Rudra exhaled slowly, placed Hammy safely on a nearby rock, and stepped barefoot onto the stage.
"Let's go, then."
The dagger-wielder lunged forward without warning, slicing in an X-formation—
fast, precise, deadly.
Rudra leaned back, one blade slicing a strand of hair, the other missing by inches.
He didn't counter right away.
He moved.
Duck, dodge, sidestep—
His instincts and combat training flowed like water.
The man moved with the sharpness of a snake strike, but Rudra was fluid and unpredictable.
He kept his balance, watching the rhythm, and reading the patterns.
Then the dagger came for his neck—
a clean, lethal arc.
In a flash, Rudra caught the man's wrist mid-swing, twisted it hard with a crack, and sent a powerful kick straight to his ribs.
THUD!
The man was launched off the platform, crashing to the forest floor with a grunt.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Silence.
Even Hammy dropped her fruit, eyes wide, tail stiff.
"WHAA—did you see that?! I blinked and he was flying!!"
Rudra exhaled again, calm and focused.
His eyes moved to the remaining four men, now standing with their weapons drawn.
Their expressions changed—
still disciplined, but now with a tinge of respect… and caution.
He cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck.
"One down."
The dust settled as the first opponent lay unconscious on the forest floor.
Rudra didn't celebrate—
He turned his gaze to the next challenger, already stepping up with a grunt that echoed like thunder.
The man was a giant, almost seven feet tall, his upper body built like a mountain.
In his hand was a massive gada (mace), its spiked head leaving small cracks on the stone as he dragged it forward.
"Strength, huh?"
Rudra muttered, rotating his shoulder.
"Alright."
With a roar, the warrior charged—
mace lifted high—
and slammed it down where Rudra had just stood.
The stone shattered, dust and pebbles flying.
Rudra's speed saved him by a hair.
The man swung wide. Rudra ducked.
Another vertical strike—Rudra rolled sideways.
He couldn't trade blows.
Not directly.
Waiting for a chance, Rudra used the enemy's momentum.
THUD. BANG.
As the giant lifted his mace for another overhead smash, Rudra slid in low, jabbed his knee into the warrior's thigh, and punched his ribs with rapid force, disrupting his stance.
The giant staggered.
Rudra leapt up and landed a spinning kick to the jaw, followed by a palm strike to the chest, sending the warrior stumbling backwards and off the platform.
Two down.
Rudra's breathing was calm but alert.
Sweat beaded on his brow, but his eyes were sharp.
He glanced at Hammy, who was now furiously clapping with her tiny paws.
"That's my forest, buddy!"
She chirped.
The next fighter stepped in silently, wielding a long spear with deadly finesse.
Unlike the last two, this one didn't charge.
He circled Rudra, keeping his distance, jabbing fast and retreating.
Each strike came like a serpent bite—
quick, precise, and hard to predict.
Rudra dodged and weaved, slowly closing the distance.
The spear scraped his side once, leaving a shallow wound.
The moment the fighter lunged forward with a powerful thrust,
Rudra sidestepped, caught the shaft of the spear mid-thrust, twisted his hips, and yanked it from the warrior's grip in one smooth motion.
Now disarmed, the spearman tried to retreat,
But Rudra tossed the spear aside, surged forward, and landed a one-two combo punch, followed by a jumping knee to the chest.
The warrior crumpled to the ground, gasping.
Three down.
The final challenger stepped forward—
His presence alone was suffocating.
He carried both a short sword and a battle axe, each deadly in close range.
His body was lean but muscular, his stance low and perfect.
A true duelist.
"Let's end this."
Rudra muttered, taking his stance, he had taken the daggers from the earlier duel.
This fight was different.
The dual-wielder came in fast, blades flashing, forcing Rudra into a defensive dance.
Sparks flew as steel clashed against skin and near-misses whooshed past.
Rudra used his peak reflexes, ducking, dodging, and using the daggers to parry the strikes.
He was fast.
But so was his opponent.
The axe grazed Rudra's shoulder.
The sword nearly took a piece of his hair.
But Rudra never stopped moving.
Then—
an opening.
The warrior tried a high axe swing while stabbing low with his sword.
Rudra jumped forward, deflecting the stab with one dagger, stepped into the warrior's space, and headbutted him square in the face.
Stunned, the warrior staggered.
Rudra swept his legs and mounted him, landing two clean strikes to the temple before kicking the axe and sword away.
Rudra stood up, breathing hard but still steady.
He walked over to Hammy, who had both paws on her cheeks in awe.
"That… THAT was awesome! You punched him like—BOOM—and then kicked him like—WHAM!"
Rudra smiled, wiping blood from his shoulder where the axe had grazed.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone!!!
Which will motivate me more?