Bright finished his training and tucked into dinner at home. After he'd eaten, he slipped back to his room.
Bright slumped in his seat, the chrome edge of his desk cold against his elbow. The lecture droned on about advanced elemental theory, but his mind was anywhere but here. "Ugh, what a boring day," he muttered under his breath. "Where is everyone?"
He scanned the classroom, but only empty chairs stared back. Finally he pushed open the door and slipped into the corridor, heading straight for the canteen.
Halfway there, a familiar voice called, "Hey, Bright!"
Bright turned to see Vikash jogging up—one of his good friends from another section. "What's up, Vikash?" Bright asked.
"Have you seen the others?" Vikash shrugged. "No sign of them in class. Let's grab some food."
They entered the warm bustle of the canteen. Bright's steps faltered. At a long table by the window, Raj and Anu and Rahul sat surrounded by classmates, balloons, and a colorful cake. Everyone broke into a loud chorus of "Happy Birthday!"
Bright's heart leapt. "They remembered..." he realized, blinking back unexpected tears. He joined the circle, smiling wide as his friends handed him plates and birthday hats. The surprise made the day feel suddenly electric—more thrilling than any training drill.
After cake and laughter, the bell rang. They gathered up their cups and dishes, still teasing Bright about his "mid-year" birthday celebration.
Back in class, they slid into their usual seats just as the teacher arrived. A student raised a hand. "Sir, when does the district tournament start?"
The teacher glanced at the calendar projected on the screen. "Not too long now—just one month from today."
A ripple of excitement passed through the room. Bright's chest tightened. He looked at his friends, their eyes shining with anticipation.
One month, Bright thought, to get ready.
That afternoon, he returned to his training with renewed purpose. Every sunrise found him practicing meditation, thunder flow drills, and the Heaven's Vein techniques he had unlocked. Over the next weeks, he felt himself growing stronger—his thunder Aura more stable, his reflexes sharper, and his confidence higher than ever before.
Finally, the moment he'd been preparing for arrived. The sun rose on November 20th, casting long shadows across the academy grounds. Bright laced up his shoes, adjusted his training jacket, and took a steadying breath.
"Time to show them just how far I've come."
Bright stepped out of the house, his father walking beside him. Behind them, from the balcony, his big mom, mom, and sister waved with wide smiles, cheering loudly.
"Go win it, Bright!"
"Show them who you are!"
Bright smiled and waved back, feeling their love and support wrapping around him like armor.
On the way, his father clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Registration's done. And we've entered your nickname as Bright. So when the announcer calls for 'Bright', that's your signal, alright? They won't use your real name."
Bright nodded. "Okay, Papa."
They reached the tournament grounds—a huge arena buzzing with energy, filled with students from different academies. Everyone was in their uniforms, groups whispering strategies, warming up, or just sizing up the competition.
Suddenly, the stadium speakers came to life.
"Welcome to the District Tournament! Today's matchups are…"
Names and academies began to be announced.
Bright's eyes sharpened as he watched the holographic screen flicker with names. The moment he saw "Bright - Glory Academy", his gaze flared—burning with the fire of purpose.
---
[Scene Transition]
The screen fades in, showing dust swirling over a massive battlefield.
The District Tournament had passed—and Bright had conquered it.
He stood tall, the flag of Glory Academy fluttering behind him, sweat-drenched, clothes slightly torn, but victorious. Match after match, he had faced powerful opponents with unique abilities—but never once did he feel the same pressure that once used to shake his core.
Leveling up had changed everything.
His techniques were sharper. His mind calmer. His heart, stronger.
Now, as he waited for the announcement of his next battle—this time, on the grand stage of the Assam League, a bigger and more dangerous arena—he sat quietly, a soft smile on his lips.
One by one, students, teachers, and staff came by to congratulate him.
"Bright, you were amazing!"
"Our pride from Sivasagar!"
"You're gonna crush the League too!"
His family arrived too, eyes glowing with pride.
"We knew you had it in you," said his mom softly, hugging him.
Principal sir clapped him on the back. "Make us proud in the League. But remember—humility with strength, always."
And in that moment, surrounded by love, victory, and the dreams of the future, Bright whispered to himself:
"This is just the beginning."
After winning the district tournament, Bright officially became the Top Rank 1 of Sivasagar. His name had started to spread across the city—students, teachers, and even academy officials began recognizing him. Though he remained humble, the world around him had started to change.
A small interview was conducted by the local academy media.
The reporter smiled, adjusting his mic. "So Bright, do you think you can win the Assam League?"
Bright, sitting calmly with a confident smile, nodded. "Yes. I will definitely win it... and one day, I'll become the strongest in the world."
The camera zoomed in slightly on his determined eyes before the interview ended.
---
Back at home, Bright was resting in his room. Just then, the doorbell rang. He walked out to see his cousin, Arashi, standing there with a casual grin.
"Yo, Champion!" Arashi said, walking in and giving him a light punch on the shoulder. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks, bro," Bright chuckled. "But how come you're here all of a sudden? I didn't expect you today."
Arashi sat on the couch and laughed. "Man, you have no idea how many relatives are calling. You're famous now!"
Bright rolled his eyes with a smile. "Tell me about it... My phone's been ringing nonstop."
Arashi leaned back and added, "Anyway, Assam League is just around the corner, right?"
"Yeah," Bright nodded. "In February."
"Perfect," Arashi smirked. "I've taken a break from my academy for a few months. I'll help you with your training."
Bright's face lit up. "Seriously? That's awesome! Thanks, Bro!"
"But," Arashi raised a finger, "not today. We start tomorrow. So rest while you can."
"Deal," Bright grinned.
The two cousins sat together, chatting for a while. Laughter and excitement filled the room.
The next morning, the sky was painted with soft golden hues as the sun peeked over the trees. A cool breeze brushed against Bright's face as he stepped onto the training ground with Arashi by his side.
"Come, sit here," Arashi said, pointing toward a flat stone near the center of the field.
Bright raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Sit? Why?"
"I want to observe your flow," Arashi replied calmly, his voice firm. "I need to see how much you've improved since the district tournament."
Bright nodded and sat down cross-legged. "Alright. Watch carefully."
Arashi knelt behind him, placing his hand gently on Bright's back. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
Within seconds, he could feel the rhythm of Bright's energy—steady, powerful, and pulsing like thunder beneath the surface.
"Hmm... Good," Arashi muttered, opening his eyes. "Your base flow is solid now. You've done well. But—"
He stood up, his expression turning serious. "You still have a long way to go. You need to sharpen your powers, push them further."
Bright didn't reply with words. Instead, he pulled out a weathered scroll from his bag and handed it to Arashi.
"Then take a look at this."
Arashi blinked in surprise. "Wait… Is this the scroll you mentioned before?"
Bright nodded. "Yeah. The one I promised to show you."
Arashi carefully unrolled the scroll, his sharp eyes scanning every word, every symbol etched in ancient ink.
His expression shifted from curiosity to awe. "This... this is a Super Class Technique Scroll."
Bright stayed quiet, watching his cousin's reaction.
Arashi continued, "As expected, something of this level comes with conditions. You won't be able to learn it without preparation. But if you're serious… then why not train you for this technique itself?"
Bright's lips curved into a wide grin. Fire flickered in his eyes as he stood up with renewed energy.
"Why not?" he said with excitement. "Let's do this!"
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To be continued