The sky above Kashi Gurukul was an ocean of gold and blue, with clouds shaped like sacred beasts floating lazily. The mountains echoed with drumbeats as students, masters, and dignitaries gathered around the Celestial Colosseum, a colossal structure carved into the spine of the Vindhya ranges.
This was the beginning of the Tournament of Celestial Bonding.
The stakes were higher than ever. The top cultivators of each division would not only rise in rank—they would earn access to the Heavenly Vaults, the ancient relics beneath the Gurukul, and a chance to become Guardians of Dominion.
Three Stages. One Fate.
Master Arvind's voice thundered across the arena.
"Stage One: The Arena Trials — tests of physical combat, teamwork, and beast harmony.
Stage Two: The Wild Gauntlet — survival in the Forest of Vritra, where cursed beasts and illusions roam.
Final Stage: The Divine Dais — one-on-one combat under celestial judgment."
Raghav and Nyra stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes scanning the competition. Over 200 participants filled the arena, each with their beasts. Some towered like giants; others glided on shadow and flame. They had trained for years—some since birth.
But none had endured what Raghav had.
A loud gong signaled the start of Stage One. Ten teams were drawn at random for a melee-style match. Raghav's name lit up on the hovering runic board.
"Match Five: Raghav Pandit and Nyra vs. Team Darpan and Suravi."
He stepped into the central ring. His opponents—a snake-tamer from Bengal wielding an ethereal cobra, and a flame-caller girl partnered with a magma lizard—nodded respectfully.
The moment the match began, chaos erupted.
Nyra pounced through fire and smoke, her red-gold fur blazing under the sunlight. Raghav weaved between attacks, staff spinning in fluid arcs, driving the cobra's illusions into disarray. With synchronized strikes, they overwhelmed their opponents in moments.
Victory.
Cheers erupted—but Raghav didn't smile. He looked up at the tower, where the top seeds watched silently.
Among them stood Vaikunth Varna, arms folded, gaze locked onto him.
The following rounds grew harder. Raghav faced twin sword tamers, illusionists, and a whisper mage who nearly broke his mind. But each time, his bond with Nyra deepened. They fought not as beast and master, but as halves of one spirit.
By the end of the week, only eight combatants remained.
The finalists.
The names appeared in the sky, burning with holy fire:
Raghav Pandit
Vaikunth Varna
Meera of the Mist
Raksh of Garuda Clan
Ilhan the Soul Binder
Riku and Sori (twin fusion tamers)
Soraya Nightfang
Yuvan, the Earth Howler
The final stage had arrived.
And Raghav's first opponent… was Vaikunth Varna.