The bells of Kashi Gurukul rang with a clarity that could split mountains.
From every tower and courtyard, students paused, listening. A golden phoenix soared above the Gurukul, trailing light in its wake. It circled the skies three times—an omen seen only once a generation.
The Tournament of Celestial Bonding had been declared.
Master Arvind stood atop the central dais, overlooking the great assembly grounds where hundreds of cultivators, tamers, and warriors gathered. Beast companions of all shapes and sizes stood beside them—horned lions, obsidian panthers, armored eagles, and more. This was no ordinary test. It was the rite of ascension—where potential bloomed or burned.
Raghav walked into the crowd, Nyra beside him. Whispers followed him.
"That's him—the Silverfang Tamer."
"He survived Shivraashi?"
"Is the mark on his chest real?"
But Raghav paid them no mind. His eyes were set on the massive ring at the heart of the arena, carved from white granite and encircled with runes. Here, the bond between tamer and beast would be tested—not just in strength, but in spirit.
Arvind raised his hand, and silence swept over the grounds.
"This tournament is not merely a contest. It is a convergence. The stars have aligned, and a shadow stirs in the realm of Dominion. The trials ahead will reveal not only the strongest—but the one destined to stand at the center of fate."
He paused, eyes scanning the students, then locked onto Raghav.
"Choose your allies wisely. For only one shall stand at the summit."
A scroll materialized in Arvind's hand, glowing with blue fire. It unraveled itself in the air, revealing the names of the participants. The crowd stirred in excitement. Familiar names. Nobles. Cultivation prodigies. And there—etched in silver flame—Raghav Pandit.
Raghav took a deep breath.
"This is it," he said softly.
Nyra's eyes glowed. "Then let them come. We've faced worse than prideful heirs."
And in the farthest corner of the arena, a hooded figure whispered, "So the beast child has finally arrived."