The Divine Hall lay bathed in golden light, its marble walls inscribed with ancient runes glowing as if the very structure recognized the importance of this moment. Satya stood still, drenched in sweat and dust, bruises lining his arms like war tattoos. His breath was heavy but filled with resolve. Before him, the System's massive crystalline interface flickered to life.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: REPORT CARD UPDATE — INITIATING…
Lines of divine code streamed across the ethereal screen, wrapping around Satya like flames of judgment.
🔥SYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT - SATYA🔥
Strength: D ➝ C
Agility: D ➝ B
Magic Power: C ➝ B
IQ: A- (Stable)
Combat: D+ ➝ B
Satya's eyes widened. He clenched his fists and whispered, "I'm getting stronger… finally."
The System wasn't done.
REWARDING: DIVINE WEAPON UNLOCKED. KRANTIVAAL – EMBODIMENT OF RESISTANCE.
A circle of runes flared in the center of the hall. Flames burst upward, whirling around each other like serpents. From this inferno emerged a sword—massive, elegant, and radiating sovereign energy.
It was wrapped in saffron energy, the hilt forged from meteorite-black metal etched with the ancient Devanagari script. The blade hummed with spiritual fire. On its guard, a ruby glowed like the Eye of Truth.
Satya approached it with reverence. He reached out slowly, and as his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a shockwave of divine energy blasted through the chamber.
His breath caught.
"Krantivaal…" he murmured. "Shivaji Maharaj's spirit… lives on in this?"
Behind him, Vayunanda chuckled, arms crossed. "That sword doesn't just cut flesh—it cuts fate."
Satya turned. "So it's time, isn't it?"
Vayunanda nodded, walking forward. "Yes. Time to leave Bharat."
With a wave of his palm, he summoned a portal. Not just any portal—but one older than time itself. A Divine Rift. It shimmered like liquid starlight, humming with the sound of galaxies. The smell of ozone, fire, and something darker wafted through it.
Before stepping through, Satya glanced at Oorja's glowing form near the edge of the hall.
Oorja's voice echoed in their minds. Calm. Measured.
"What you see outside will change you forever."
Satya looked down at his feet, then forward. "I'm ready to change."
"Then walk," Vayunanda said. "And let me tell you what awaits us."
They walked into a world scorched in twilight. A wasteland stretched endlessly—skies of crimson, winds that carried the echoes of forgotten screams. The Divine Rift had brought them to the edge of the Demon Territories—lands that had never known peace.
As they trudged forward, Satya asked, "How bad is it… really?"
Vayunanda's eyes darkened. "Bad doesn't even begin to cover it. The world beyond the Gates is chaos incarnate."
He paused, knelt, and touched the scorched ground. "Let me teach you what no scroll ever can."
"There are seven known ranks of Hell Gates," Vayunanda began. "But the truth is… we barely understand even the sixth. The seventh? A nightmare."
1-Star Gates: "These are your entry-level deathtraps. Monsters with basic intelligence. Fire wolves. Bone beetles. Flesh-eating trees. They kill untrained warriors, sure—but can be wiped by elite squads."
2-Star Gates: "Enhanced versions. Now monsters have coordinated attacks, elemental resistances. You'll face ogres, mutated elementals, and shadows that steal your memories."
3-Star Gates: "These start to play tricks. Environmental hazards. Illusions. Time loops. Poison mists. Monsters like Whispering Serpents that can speak in your mother's voice to distract you."
4-Star Gates: "Territory-based. The Gates bend reality. A jungle where every leaf cuts, a cave that resets time if you bleed on its stones. Monsters gain leadership—mini-bosses, generals, sorcerers."
5-Star Gates: "Monsters with magic now. Elemental variants. Strategy-based packs. Some monsters heal. Some even possess corpses. Vampires, cursed knights, beasts with divine seals on them."
6-Star Gates: "These kill nations. Only monarchs, avatars, or chosen ones even stand a chance. Monsters like Devourers of Stars. Wyrms made from forgotten sins. They adapt, they learn."
7-Star Gates: "The system classifies these as 'Anomalies.' They can bend rules—resurrect fallen enemies, create clones, trap time. One Gate wiped out 12 monarch-level warriors and is still active."
Satya felt a chill. "And we're heading into these?"
Vayunanda nodded. "To close them. To survive. To prepare."
"There are seven primal magics," Vayunanda continued, "but dozens of hybrids. You must understand them."
Fire – Aggressive. Destructive. Evolved users can manipulate combustion, explosions, even heat signatures.
Water – Flow-based. Can heal or drown. Experts learn blood control and memory alteration.
Air – Speed, stealth, flight. Can sharpen to blades or silence sound itself.
Earth – Defense and control. Golem summoning. Ground manipulation. Seismic magic.
Light – Illusion and purification. Used to blind, shield, or destroy dark constructs.
Darkness – Manipulation, shadows, curse. Can sap energy, bind souls, or corrupt objects.
Ether (Divine) – Pure energy. Usually reserved for divine beings. Satya's Phoenix soul grants partial access.
"Chakras," Vayunanda added, "act as spiritual circuits. Unlocking them allows your body to handle more than one element."
Satya furrowed his brow. "So the goal is to master all?"
"No," Vayunanda replied. "The goal is to master yourself."
As they continued across the desolate path, the horizon cracked open with lightning. A beast roared in the distance—a silhouette the size of a mountain.
Satya paused. "And you've faced all this… alone?"
Vayunanda gave a wistful smile. "No one faces Hell alone. They either die, or become it."
He turned, eyes focused, his voice lower now. "You need to know—these Gates? They don't just test strength. They test soul. Your regrets, your weaknesses, your lies—they'll become enemies."
Satya's grip on Krantivaal tightened.
"I'll be ready."
"You better be," Vayunanda said. "Because once we step into the first Gate… there's no turning back."
They reached the cliffside. Below them, the first Gate shimmered—an obsidian maw pulsing like a heart. Its aura was suffocating.
SYSTEM DETECTED: HELL GATE [5-STAR RANK] ACTIVATED.
Oorja's voice returned.
"Satya… remember. Power without purpose is destruction. But power with discipline… becomes destiny."
Satya stepped forward. His eyes glowed faintly—his Phoenix spark now pulsing stronger.
He turned back to Vayunanda. "Let's take the first step, Master."
And they jumped.