Aryan clenched his fists as he charged into the clearing, heart pounding, adrenaline firing through every muscle.
There they were—seven of them. Cloaked figures. Magic users.
The fire from the forest danced around them, casting long shadows on the trees. The screams of animals still echoed in the night air.
One of the cloaked men turned.
"Who the hell—?"
But Aryan didn't wait.
He closed the gap fast.
The first guy raised a glowing red blade, flames curling around it. He swung, but Aryan ducked low, twisted, and slammed his elbow into the man's ribs. The man staggered back, groaning in shock.
The others noticed now.
"Get him!"
Two more charged. One shot a fireball—Aryan rolled beneath it, dirt and ash flying around him.
A punch came from the side—Aryan grabbed the attacker's wrist, spun, and slammed his knee into the guy's stomach.
Back on Earth, Aryan had trained in mixed martial arts. He wasn't some anime fanboy who only dreamed of fighting—he had actually fought. Real fights. Dirty ones. Against real people.
But this wasn't Earth.
This wasn't just fists and skill.
Suddenly, Aryan felt a chill run up his spine. Before he could react—
SPLASH.
Ice shot from behind, coiling around his legs.
CRACK.
He looked down in horror—his legs were completely frozen.
"What the—?!"
And then—
"Too slow, outsider!"
A cloaked man with blazing red eyes came running. His entire right arm turned into fire, and from that flame, he forged a blade of molten energy.
FWOOOSH!
Aryan could barely lift his arms before—
SLASH!
The fire blade tore across his chest.
"AGHH—!"
He was launched into the air like a ragdoll, landing ten feet away with a sickening thud.
Smoke rose from his burned clothes. His vision blurred. Pain surged through his ribs and chest.
Still…
He got up.
Wobbling, bleeding, gasping—but standing.
"I'm… not done…"
His eyes snapped toward the ice user
"That bastard."
Aryan pushed through the pain and charged straight for him. The ice user raised both hands, forming a glowing shield of frozen crystal.
But Aryan had already leapt into the air.
He screamed with everything he had left and brought his fist down.
CRASH!!
The ice shattered like glass.
Aryan's punch connected, full force, with the man's jaw.
WHAM!
The man spun in the air and hit the ground, out cold.
One down.
But he didn't have time to breathe.
The rest of the group surrounded him.
"End him!" one shouted.
Aryan backed away, chest heaving, arms shaky. His legs felt like lead. His wound burned like fire.
Then, someone stepped forward. Taller. Calm. His aura was heavy—too heavy.
Aryan narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The man raised a hand. His palm glowed with a strange black-purple light.
"My name is Kraven," the man said. His voice was cold. Controlled. "We're from BLADE. You're brave… but foolish."
Aryan stood his ground. "You're monsters. Burning forests, killing innocent creatures…"
"You're in our way," Kraven said.
And then he moved.
No spell chants. No fancy light shows.
Just gravity.
Aryan felt it instantly.
The air thickened. His knees buckled. His spine screamed.
"Wha—"
Kraven clenched his fist, and the very air around Aryan bent inward like it was being crushed.
BOOM!
A punch, surrounded by a ripple of gravitational force, collided with Aryan's gut.
"GRAHHH!"
Aryan flew backward—no, he was dragged downward.
The ground cracked as he hit it. His body couldn't move. Every muscle screamed. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't even twitch his fingers.
Kraven walked toward him slowly, towering above him.
"You're strong," Kraven said. "But you don't belong here. You're not one of us. You're not even worth killing."
Aryan gritted his teeth, eyes full of rage.
Kraven knelt beside him. "Next time, stay down. And remember this pain."
He stood, turning to his group.
"Finish it. Burn it all."
Aryan couldn't move. Couldn't fight. He watched as the flames spread. The smoke rose. The forest screamed with the cries of dying creatures.
He was just… lying there.
Useless.
Helpless. And in Next Morning
The sky above began to lighten with the first traces of dawn.
And then…
Footsteps.
Someone was coming.
Closer.
And closer.
Was this... the end? Or a new beginning?
To be continued.