The Ascendant Mortal: Beyond Divine Boundaries

The sun shone brightly over the sprawling campus as Aamir, Kunal, and Raj made their way toward the training grounds. The vibrant energy of the academy was palpable, with the air filled with laughter, chatter, and the occasional clash of weapons from nearby sparring matches. Students moved with purpose, some heading to classes, others to hone their skills in the vast training areas.

Aamir walked ahead of his friends, his expression contemplative. His thoughts swirled with the faces of those stronger than him—warriors whose skills made his own seem insignificant in comparison. The gap was undeniable, and it gnawed at him.

As they turned a corner, a group of boys in casual academy uniforms stood in their path, their voices carrying over the buzz of the crowd. Aamir intended to pass without paying much attention until a snippet of their conversation stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey, did you hear? The Trivnal Tower is open now," one of the boys said, his tone laced with excitement.

"Yeah, but no way am I stepping in there," another replied, shaking his head. "I'm not suicidal."

"Same here. That place is for maniacs," a third boy chimed in with a nervous chuckle.

Aamir was about to brush it off when one of the boys turned and spotted him. His eyes widened in recognition. "Hey, Aamir!" he called out, a grin spreading across his face. "I've seen you fight before. You've got some real skills! If anyone can handle the Trivnal Tower, it's you."

Aamir stopped, raising an eyebrow at the unexpected compliment. "Oh, you think so?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'll consider it."

The boys nodded enthusiastically before moving along, leaving Aamir standing with Kunal and Raj. Aamir turned to his friends, his curiosity piqued. "What's the Trivnal Tower?"

Kunal stopped mid-step, staring at Aamir as if he'd just asked what air was. "Are you serious? You've never heard of it?"

Aamir frowned at his friend's incredulous tone. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking, would I?"

Raj chuckled, stepping in to explain. "The Trivnal Tower is one of the academy's most renowned training grounds. It's a massive structure filled with concentrated spiritual energy, and it's said to enhance your adrenaline energy. Just being inside the tower can make you stronger. But..."

"But what?" Aamir pressed, his curiosity deepening.

Raj's expression turned serious. "The tower isn't for everyone. It has seven floors, and each floor is harder than the last. The higher you go, the purer the spiritual energy gets, but the conditions also become far more grueling. Gravity increases, the air thickens, and the energy pressure feels like it's crushing you. Most students can barely make it past the second floor."

"And if you can?" Aamir asked, his intrigue growing.

"Then you face the Master Spirits," Raj replied.

"Master Spirits?" Aamir tilted his head, confused.

Kunal grinned, clearly enjoying Aamir's ignorance. "You really are clueless. How do you even survive here?"

"Keep talking, Kunal, and I'll show you just how much I've learned in a sparring match," Aamir said, his tone light but with an edge of warning.

Raj ignored the banter, continuing. "Master Spirits are ancient warriors who reached the pinnacle of adrenaline energy mastery. They chose to spend their final moments in the Trivnal Tower, merging their life force with the tower's spiritual energy. Now, they guard each floor. If you want to ascend, you have to defeat them. And trust me, they're no ordinary opponents."

"How strong are they?" Aamir asked, his tone skeptical but intrigued.

"Stronger than anything you've faced so far," Raj said gravely. "Each battle with a Master Spirit is a test of your strength, skill, and willpower. They don't hold back. If you're not careful, they'll kill you."

Aamir's lips curled into a small smile. "So, it's a place to push yourself to the limit. Sounds perfect."

"Perfect?" Kunal said, shaking his head. "More like insane. Don't get any ideas about going there alone, Aamir. You're good, but this is way out of your league."

"We'll see," Aamir replied, his tone nonchalant but his mind already made up.

They continued walking, their conversation turning to lighter topics. However, Aamir's thoughts remained on the Trivnal Tower. A place where he could grow stronger, test his limits, and prove himself—it was exactly what he needed.

As they approached the training grounds, they noticed a lone figure at the far end of the field. The boy had white hair tied into a ponytail, with a single black strand hanging over his forehead. He moved with precision, his katana blazing with intense flames.

The boy stepped forward, his fiery blade leaving scorch marks on the ground. A massive stone lay in his path. With a single slash, the katana cut through it effortlessly, splitting it in half. The sheer heat radiating from the blade had melted the stone's edges, leaving behind a glowing red hue.

"Who's that?" Aamir asked, his eyes fixed on the boy.

"That's Seenu," Kunal replied, his tone filled with respect. "A second-year student. He's a legend around here. They say he created his own Adreno Art for sword fighting. That fire? It's not magic—it's the heat generated by his own body. No one knows how he does it."

Aamir's gaze didn't waver, his mind racing with thoughts of what it would take to match someone like Seenu.

As they watched, Seenu sheathed his katana, his movements deliberate and controlled. He turned, his piercing eyes scanning the field. For a brief moment, they locked eyes with Aamir.

"Looks like he noticed you," Raj muttered, his tone uneasy.

Seenu approached them, his steps calm but commanding. He stopped a few feet away, his gaze lingering on Aamir. "You're new," he said, his voice steady and measured.

Aamir nodded, meeting Seenu's gaze without flinching. "Yeah. I've heard about you."

Seenu smirked faintly. "And I've heard about you. The first-year who held his own against upperclassmen in the trials."

Aamir shrugged. "I got lucky."

Seenu's smirk widened slightly. "Luck won't get you far here. If you want to survive, you'll need more than that."

Aamir's fists clenched, a spark of determination igniting in his eyes. "I'm not here to just survive. I'm here to grow stronger."

Seenu nodded approvingly. "Good. Then maybe we'll face each other one day. Until then, train hard."

With that, Seenu turned and walked away, leaving Aamir and his friends in silence.

Kunal let out a low whistle. "Well, that was intense."

Aamir's lips curved into a small smile. The Trivnal Tower, Master Spirits, and warriors like Seenu—this academy was proving to be far more challenging than he'd ever imagined. But instead of fear, he felt a burning excitement.

The journey ahead would be tough, but Aamir was ready to face whatever came his way.