[24 August 2115 (5:00 pm)]
BhattTech Academy, Gymnasium
At evening Zeel came with Sana for their training for Mahayantra Tournament.
Sana: Thanks Zeel for picking me. But we aren't our academy's gymnasium stay behind?
Zeel: Huh? What do you mean? Oh, I understood now. Actually, we don't practice in our academy's public gymnasium—we train in our private gymnasium.
Sana (in shock): You guys have your private gymnasium!?
Zeel (grinning): Welcome to BhattTech's "Astra-Zone." Fully soundproof, shielded with anti-Srapit tech, and equipped with AI combat simulators. Don't worry, it'll only take a few weeks for your jaw to stop dropping.
They walk through an enormous metallic door that hisses open. Inside, the space is vast—multiple training zones, floating platforms, elemental chambers glowing with runes, even a central combat arena lined with energy barriers.
Sana (wide-eyed, whispering): Is that… a lightning-controlled sparring dome?
Zeel: Yep. And behind it, fire-pressure tunnels. Maharshi loves meditating inside those like a maniac.
Sana: This isn't a gym. This is a luxury war zone. I was out there training with broken dumbbells and cracked tiles…
Zeel (teasing): Welcome to the big leagues. Come on, the others are waiting. Let's start with warm-up duels.
Zeel and Sana changed into sleek BhattTech-branded training tracksuits. The fabric shimmered slightly—embedded with micro-shield tech for safe sparring. The warm lighting of Astra-Zone reflected off the polished combat floors. Sana stood at the edge of the sparring ring, still overwhelmed by the sheer scale of this place.
Zeel (stretching): Looks like the boys are running late. Probably arguing about who gets to spar first.
Sana: That sounds like Maharshi and Jay.
Zeel (laughs): Exactly. So, what do you say? You and me? A friendly warm-up duel?
Sana (smirks): I was hoping you'd ask.
They stepped into a mid-sized ring outlined with glowing blue runes. The floor recognized their presence and lit up. The display projected both their names and power readings above the ring.
[DUEL MODE – TRAINING PARAMETERS ENABLED]
ZEEL PRAJAPATI vs SANA
Zeel took a relaxed stance, fingers glowing with light-blue navigational energy. Sana's aura flickered around her—stable, steady, but with an underlying voltage of Vajra Shakti ready to rise.
Zeel: Don't go easy on me just because I look polite.
Sana: Don't worry. I've been waiting to punch something expensive since I entered this place.
With a smirk, Zeel launched first—a sharp series of shockwave pulses, meant to test reflexes. Sana dodged effortlessly, her footwork crisp. She countered with a faint Vajra ripple that cracked the floor between them, forcing Zeel to jump back.
Zeel (grinning): Okay, that's how it is!
He activated a navigation glyph mid-air—sending three energy panels orbiting Sana. She responded by clapping her hands and releasing a focused Vajra burst, shattering two of them. The last one tried to pin her in a light bind, but she flipped over it gracefully.
Sana: Don't trap me, Zeel. I'm used to fighting in corners.
Zeel (nods with respect): That's what makes you dangerous.
As their duel continued, the gymnasium doors finally hissed open. A swirl of energy entered as Maharshi, Jay, Hirak walked in together—each in their own zone, but all stopping as they noticed the match in progress.
Maharshi: Huh. Looks like we're late to the warm-up.
Jay (grinning): Or right on time for the show.
The heroes stood watching, mildly surprised by how well Sana held her own against Zeel. The match wasn't brutal—it was a respectful, controlled clash. But it was clear: Sana belonged in the room.
Sana again couter with Vajra kick, Zeel dodged and punch at her face at right time. With thay force sana throw away, she barely balanced herself.
Sana countered with a Vajra-infused spinning kick, the air around her foot crackling with thunder. Zeel ducked just in time, her eyes narrowing. In the blink of an eye, she stepped in with a precise palm strike—amplified with a kinetic glyph.
Zeel: Gotcha.
The impact connected clean against her jaw, and Sana was thrown backwards, sliding across the floor. She barely managed to dig her heel in and stop herself at the edge of the ring. The protective barrier flickered as she steadied her breath.
Jay (impressed): Damn, she landed it clean.
Maharshi (arms folded): But she didn't fall. That says enough.
Sana wiped a trail of blood from the corner of her lip—not out of pain, but irritation. Her eyes locked on Zeel with renewed fire. She straightened her stance, the Vajra aura around her intensifying like a brewing storm.
Sana: You always this gentle with your opponents?
Zeel (grinning): Only with people I respect.
She dashed forward again, this time quicker—each step launching with explosive momentum. Zeel set up defensive glyphs, but she weaved between them, closing the distance in a blink. Her elbow strike cracked against his shoulder-guard, sending sparks flying.
Zeel (winces): Whoa, that hurt. Did I hit a nerve?
Sana: Yeah—your price tag gym.
They traded a flurry of rapid blows—light bursts, electric discharges, shield pulses clashing mid-air. The boys outside the ring watched silently, even Hirak setting down his tablet to admire the duel.
Hirak: I've been analyzing their output. Zeel's navigation control is peaking at 82% accuracy. But Sana… she's adapting mid-fight like her system's rewriting itself.
Jay: That's what we saw in Chennai. She's not consistent—but when she clicks, it's wild.
Maharshi (eyes narrowed): Hmm.
Finally, the training ring beeped—a soft chime signaling the end of the friendly match. The system had to auto-trigger the cooldown timer to prevent overuse of combat reserves.
[DUEL ENDED – ENERGY LIMITS REACHED]
Both fighters stepped back, panting lightly but smiling.
Zeel (offering a fist bump): That was better than caffeine.
Sana (returning it): Next time I won't hold back.
Maharshi (stepping forward): Good. Because from now on, holding back's not allowed.
Jay (cracking his knuckles): My turn. Who's next?
He looked at Maharshi, then Hirak. A smirk formed.
Jay: Or should we start with the classic—me vs you?
Maharshi: Tch. Don't act like you can win, Jay.
As they stepped into the next ring, Sana took a seat beside Hirak, drinking water and watching as the real fireworks were about to begin. For the first time, she wasn't the one observing heroes—she was one of them.
Hirak : You fought well. But it is more like strength fight instead of Yantra fight. You have to more focus on your Yantra.
Sana : huh ? How do you know that ?
Hirak : Analysing your fight is my work. With this i can also train myself for Mahayantra Tournament.
Sana : What is the schemes for a navigator ?
Hirak (adjusting his specs): Navigators don't win with brute strength—we win with planning, coordination, and control. In the Mahayantra Tournament, we usually partner with a Srapit Jadugar in the team rounds. But there are solo trials for Navigators too—strategy-based duels, system hacks, trap-field escapes, Yantra control challenges...
Sana: So it's more of a mind game for you guys?
Hirak (nods): Exactly. Think of it like chess—only the pieces are explosive. I'll be tested on how well I deploy defense grids, boost allied Yantras, shut down enemy controls, and adapt under pressure. Pure calculation under chaos.
Sana (grinning): Sounds like you thrive in that chaos.
Hirak (smirks): I prepare for chaos. That's the difference.
Sana (thoughtfully): You're right. I relied too much on raw Vajra output today. It felt… instinctive. But not efficient.
Hirak: You have a power most people can't even dream of, Sana. But the Mahayantra Tournament isn't just about power. It's about control. Master your Vajra Yantra, and you'll stop reacting like a brawler—and start fighting like a warrior.
Maharshi and Jay took their positions and warming up for their practice dual.
As Zeel and Sana stepped out of the ring, the energy shields dimmed around them, and the lights shifted to illuminate the next zone.
Maharshi and Jay had already taken their positions in the opposite corners of the combat arena. Unlike before, the air now felt heavier—charged with competitive tension.
Jay (rotating his shoulders): You sure you wanna do this? I don't want you using "training match" as an excuse after I beat you.
Maharshi (tightening his gloves): I only use "training match" when I'm dealing with underdogs. For you, I'll use "reminder of your place."
Jay (grinning): You've been spending too much time with Arya.
Maharshi: No. Arya spends time with me to get better.
The system recognized their presence and initiated the combat grid. Energy walls surged up around the ring, and the AI voice activated:
[DUEL MODE: COMBAT PARAMETER SYNC – 90%]
Participants: Maharshi Bhatt vs Jay Gohil
Mode: 70% Power Cap | Real-Time Feedback | Elemental Feedback Active
Both began their warm-up routines.
Maharshi rolled his neck, raising one hand. A subtle hum vibrated through the ground as glowing glyphs formed beneath his feet—his Trikona Yantra activated. Runes spiraled around his arms like coiled snakes, awaiting command.
Jay bounced on his heels, then clapped his palms together. A bright crimson wave pulsed from his chest—a heat signature of his Agni Yantra. His veins glowed faintly with thermal flow as flames curled around his fingers.
Hirak (watching intensely): Maharshi is going with tri-point mobility glyphs. He's boosting lateral speed.
Sana: Jay's temperature spike is insane. His whole body's heating up like a volcano.
Zeel (leaning forward): This won't be a fight. This'll be a thunderclap in a box.
Back in the ring, both fighters dropped into stance.
Jay: Winner gets Zeel's energy bars.
Zeel (yelling): Hey!
Maharshi (smirking): Then I'll take the big one. You can have the broken pieces after I'm done with you.
Jay: Let's dance.
[DUEL START – ENERGY SYNC COMPLETE]
And just like that, the Astra-Zone trembled as fire met geometry—Jay's aggressive, flowing style clashing with Maharshi's precise, disciplined form. Sparks exploded mid-air, and the room became a storm of elite combat.
Sana didn't blink.
This… this was the league she was now part of.
The moment the [DUEL START] signal chimed, the ring exploded into motion.
Jay sprinted forward like a blazing arrow, while Maharshi sidestepped with supernatural precision—his feet dancing across shifting glyphs beneath him.
Maharshi had chosen Trikon Yantra not to overpower, but to sharpen his speed and spatial control. Trikon Yantra wasn't destructive—it was geometric genius. In a real fight, he'd rely on brutal counters, but here, he wanted to perfect his mobility patterns, making his body flow like a blade.
Jay, on the other hand, chose Agni Yantra—a bold decision, considering it was his weakest Yantra type. His natural affinity lay in kinetic bursts and impact-based Yantras. But this was training—and he wanted to challenge his limits, to force the flames to obey him.
Jay (chanting aloud, fist igniting):
अग्नि यन्त्र! धर्मस्य दिव्यज्वाला प्रकटस्व, सर्वापदां दाहं कुरु!
(Agni Yantra! Flame of Dharma, reveal your divine blaze—burn away all adversity!)
A halo of fire exploded around him, trailing behind his fists. He launched a spinning kick engulfed in flame toward Maharshi.
Maharshi (calmly stepping back, raising fingers in a triangular formation):
त्रिकोण यन्त्र! गति-संयम, आयाम-विस्तार! त्वरितव्रजं समर्पय!
(Trikon Yantra! Command of motion, expansion of dimension—grant me rapid lightning!)
Three golden triangles shimmered in midair—rearranging like a moving maze. As Jay's foot closed in, Maharshi vanished from its path, reappearing to the side.
Sana (watching, stunned): He's bending his angles mid-dodge. That's not just speed—it's pre-calculated escape vectors!
Hirak (typing on tablet): Maharshi's Trikon system predicts trajectory and rewrites position data. He's training for high-pressure crowd control. Jay's forcing himself to stabilize Agni reactions—see how his flames are fluctuating?
Zeel (grinning): This isn't just a fight. It's a Yantra lab in motion.
Back in the ring, Jay slammed his palms together. A molten glyph formed behind him—a delayed burst trap.
Jay:
अग्नि यन्त्र! विकटोष्ण! प्रलयं वितर!
(Agni Yantra! Fierce Heat! Deliver annihilation!)
A heat wave surged forward like a rolling inferno. But Maharshi was already in the air, using a high-angle triangle glyph to vault above the wave.
Maharshi (chanting with precision):
त्रिकोण यन्त्र! अक्षसमन्वय च सर्वदृष्टि! संग्रामे प्रकाशः भवतु!
(Trikon Yantra! Axis alignment and omnivision—become light within battle!)
Dozens of miniature triangles formed around him like floating steps. He bounced between them, shifting angles unpredictably, before dropping down with a punch aimed directly at Jay's shoulder.
Jay blocked it—barely—but the impact forced him to slide back, steam rising from his arms.
Jay (panting): You moving like that's cheating, bro.
Maharshi: And your flames flicker when your emotions do. Control your breath, not just your fire.
Jay: That's the whole point of this, right?
Jay let out a short breath, eyes narrowing. He raised both hands and formed a wide-burning circle around the ring. The floor hissed.
Jay (deep voice):
अग्नि यन्त्र! महातेज! समग्रदाह समर्पय!
(Agni Yantra! Great Radiance! Deliver total incineration!)
A ring of controlled flames surged up—a test of his improved mastery. For a moment, even Maharshi paused, impressed.
Maharshi (thinking): He's actually stabilizing it… Good.
Maharshi (chanting softly):
त्रिकोण यन्त्र! विक्रान्तवेगः, दिशाचलनं अनुगच्छ!
(Trikon Yantra! Supreme velocity, obey my directional will!)
His triangle glyphs shimmered blue this time. With a sudden burst of torque, he blurred through the ring of fire, appearing behind Jay.
Jay turned—just in time to meet a palm against his back.
Maharshi:
Vastu Chhedan. (Displacement Severance.)
A harmless but sharp pressure wave knocked Jay forward and down, flames dissipating as the AI triggered the spar end.
[DUEL PAUSED – ENERGY SYNC AT CRITICAL 68%]
Jay groaned and sat up, laughing as steam curled off his arms.
Jay: Damn. I didn't burn the room down, though.
Maharshi (extending a hand): Then you're improving.
Jay (taking it): Yeah? You gonna say that with your usual smug tone or a rare smile?
Maharshi: That was my smile.
Zeel (clapping): Both of you need to chill. That was like watching two hurricanes flirt.
Sana (quietly, inspired): So that's how they grow. Not by winning. By fighting their flaws.
Hirak: Yes, for training purpose Jay didn't use his staff to amplify his power. Otherwise, the result could've been different. And Trikon Yantra is the foundation of all Yantras. If Maharshi masters it this deeply, he could have an advantage even against Mohit.
Maharshi (smirking): Oh? So you figured it out?
Hirak: Yes.
Jay (dusting himself off): Wait—this was a Mohit simulation?! Bro, you made me your lab rat again?
Maharshi: Not a lab rat. A pressure test.
Zeel: Damn, if you two keep getting smarter, we might not need Arya back.
Sana (smiling): She'll still roast everyone the moment she returns.
Jay: Better roast than toast. That fire ring nearly cooked me.
Hirak: Your fire was still unstable on the third chant. You hesitated for half a second.
Jay: Yeah. But next time, I won't.
Zeel : So who is next ?
Sana : I'm ready.
Maharshi : I still have some stamina let's go-
Suddenly-
The massive Astra-Zone door hissed open again, breaking the tension with a sharp mechanical whirr. Everyone turned toward the entrance.
A figure stepped through the bright threshold, backlit by the corridor lights. Sleek ponytail, deep crimson BhattTech coat, and a cold, analytical gaze.
Jay : Wait she is..?
Zeel : She is her ! Ananya sharma one of the probable winner list. She is at #7.
Ananya : Hello guys can i practice with you ?
Maharshi : Why you want to practice with us ?
Ananya (glancing around the room, eyes settling on Sana): I've been observing you, Sana. You've made an impression, and it's clear there's more to you than meets the eye.
Sana (squinting): And what makes you think I'll fight you?
Ananya (smiling coldly, stepping closer): I'm in the top 10 for the Mahayantra Tournament from BhattTech Academy Pune. I don't just "fight." I test. And you, Sana, need to be tested. If you're serious about this, let's see if you can keep up with the real contenders.
Zeel (raising an eyebrow): Now this is getting interesting.
Maharshi (narrowing his eyes): Ananya Sharma... top-ranked, notorious for her precision. This won't be a walk in the park, Sana.
Sana (clenching her fists): Well, I'm not here for a walk. Let's see if you can handle my Vajra.
Ananya smirks, clearly amused. The air around her hums with an undeniable energy as she activates her Yantra.
Ananya (chanting softly):
"अग्नि यन्त्र! धर्मस्य दिव्यज्वाला प्रकटस्व, सर्वापदां दाहं कुरु!"
The room shifts as Ananya's Agni Yantra activates, her hands glowing with the intense orange flames of divine fire. The temperature in the Astra-Zone rises slightly, and the ground beneath their feet begins to vibrate with the heat of her power.
Sana (eyes narrowing, stepping into stance): You're going to need more than flames to put me down.
Sana raises her hands, and her Vajra Yantra begins to flicker into life, the air around her crackling with electric energy.
Sana (whispering her mantra):
"वज्र यन्त्र! इन्द्रप्रेरितं, विद्युत्वर्धनं प्रकटस्व!"
The space between them crackles with intense voltage as Sana's Vajra Yantra builds, her aura a storm of lightning that threatens to consume the air around her. Ananya doesn't flinch.
Ananya: Let's see what you've got.
The sparring begins. Ananya charges first, her Agni Yantra forming a wall of flames that lashes out toward Sana. With a swift motion, Sana summons a lightning bolt from her Vajra, striking it head-on. The flames splinter around her, but Ananya doesn't relent. She shifts, weaving around the energy and closing the gap between them, her body moving with precision.
Ananya (smirking): Nice reflexes. But let's see how you handle sustained pressure.
Ananya's hands flicker, and she releases a concentrated wave of fire toward Sana, this time expanding into a sweeping arc meant to overwhelm her opponent.
Sana (grinning): You'll have to try harder than that.
In a burst of speed, Sana dodges and retaliates, launching a series of rapid lightning strikes toward Ananya. The intensity of the battle builds as both Yantras clash.
Jay (watching intently): Damn, this is a different level. Ananya's precise—she's not just fighting, she's dissecting Sana's every move.
Maharshi (focused): It's more than that. Ananya's playing the long game. She wants to see how Sana adapts under fire. This isn't about winning for her—this is a test of endurance and adaptability.
Zeel (grinning): I like her style. No mercy. But Sana's not backing down either. This is going to be fun.
The fight intensifies, both Yantras colliding in the center of the ring. Fire meets lightning, the ground quakes, and the air crackles with the energy from both sides.
To be continue