The Sector 108 Command Centre housed more than just training chambers, it was a sprawling fortress of functionality. Alongside the combat zones, it contained state-of-the-art medical facilities, engineering labs, and research chambers, all working in silent synchronization.
But Manash, Suraj, and Bikram weren't taken to any of the usual places.
After being escorted to a private washroom, they showered and changed into fresh, attires provided to them. Once dressed, they found Rafik waiting outside. Without any word, he began walking, and the three followed, unsure of where he was leading them.
The long white corridor ahead stretched with purpose. As they walked, the trio looked around, curiosity growing with every step. Men and women in black tailored and streamlined lab coats moved swiftly through the halls, each seemingly locked into a specific duty. Soldiers in black tactical uniforms also passed them by.
As they walked through the sterile white corridor, they passed by numerous medical and equipment chambers. Doctors moved briskly through the facility, attending to patients or analyzing reports, while engineers and technicians in white coats busied themselves with machinery—repairing, calibrating, or testing the latest medical devices. The air hummed with quiet efficiency, a blend of purpose and precision echoing through the pristine halls.
"Where are we going, sir?" Manash asked, finally, unable to hide the uncertainty in his voice.
"There's someone," Rafik replied, still walking ahead, "who might be interested in observing your divine weapons."
That answer only deepened their confusion. But they didn't press him further.
Eventually, Rafik came to a halt in front of a metallic door with no visible handle. He placed his palm on a small glowing panel on the wall beside it. With a soft mechanical 'hum', the panel lit up, and the door cracked open slowly.
"What the…?" Rafik muttered, stepping in cautiously. He ran his hand along the wall, searching for the switch.
A faint 'click' echoed, and in an instant, the room burst into light.
Manash, Suraj, and Bikram stepped in behind him.
The room looked nothing like the pristine hallways they had just passed. It was a chaotic mess. Broken machines, scattered tools, severed wires, and unidentifiable parts were strewn across every inch of the floor. Shelves overflowed with rusted components. It looked like a garage—or more accurately, a storm-ravaged lab.
There was also a large, high-tech table at one side of the room, its smooth surface glowing with a soft, sterile white light. Several mechanical arms were mounted around its edges, poised with precision. Might be for delicate engineering tasks. A digital screen was also attached to the side of the table, an advanced workstation.
In the very centre of the room, an almost absurd pile of broken tech dismantled weapons, and mangled armour pieces sat like a throne of junk.
Manash, Bikram and Suraj stared at the massive pile in utter confusion.
'Why did Rafik bring us here?'
Rafik let out a frustrated sigh as he took in the chaotic mess that was supposed to be a lab. He rubbed his forehead, clearly trying to contain his irritation.
"Chishiki!" he called out loudly.
The name echoed through the room, and then something shifted in the massive pile of machinery.
Manash, Bikram, and Suraj instinctively tensed up, eyes fixed on the heap.
A moment later, a single hand emerged from the cluttered pile of mechanical parts and broken devices. The hand weakly waved, clearly signalling for help.
Rafik groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose like this was a regular ordeal. "Please… just help her out," he said, gesturing lazily toward the hand.
The three boys exchanged unsure glances. After a beat, Suraj sighed and stepped forward. He cautiously approached the pile, reached out, and grabbed the outstretched hand. Brushing aside some loose parts, he gave a gentle tug.
Out came a young girl, no older than them, wearing a comically oversized lab coat that nearly swallowed her entire frame. Her dishevelled hair was tied into a messy bun, and her wide eyes blinked as she stretched like a cat, still half-curled in Suraj's arms.
Suraj blinked.
'Is she Japanese?' he wondered, noting her features.
As she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Suraj's face, her entire expression lit up like fireworks.
"My hero!" she squealed, lunging toward him with surprising energy. Before Suraj could react, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much! You saved me! Oh, thank you, thank you!"
"Wha… Hey! What are you doing?" Suraj stammered, face flushed bright red as he awkwardly tried to back away. "Let go…"
From behind, Manash and Bikram could barely hold in their laughter, both clearly entertained by the scene unfolding.
Embarrassed, Suraj gently unwrapped her arms and took a quick step back. "Seriously, what was that all about?" he asked, his voice a mixture of panic and confusion, while his cheeks still burned red.
She was still sitting on the floor… Her face twisted… disappointed at him, she looked sad. Sad, that Suraj retreated back from her… she extended her hand as asking for another hug…
Still sitting on the floor, the girl pouted dramatically. "Come on, my hero," she said, stretching out both arms like a child asking for a second hug. "Don't be like that…"
Just then, Rafik stepped forward, arms crossed and expression unamused. "That's enough, Chishiki. What kind of disaster have you turned this place into again?"
Behind him, Manash and Bikram quietly whispered in unison, "My hero~" teasing Suraj in sync.
"Shut up," Suraj muttered under his breath, glaring at them, but the redness in his cheeks only deepened.
Still pouting, Chishiki stood up, brushing dust off her coat. The sleeves were so long they drooped well past her hands. She straightened herself, then saluted Rafik with an exaggerated motion.
"General Rafik!" she said proudly, though her hands were completely swallowed by the sleeves.
"What happened here…?" Rafik asked, narrowing his eyes as he surveyed the wreckage.
"I was working late, sir. I finished another prototype," Chishiki replied, standing up straighter and trying to appear professional.
"Then why is this place a complete mess?" Rafik demanded, his tone sharp.
"I... don't know, sir," she replied with an awkward shrug.
Rafik sighed heavily, the kind of sigh that said he'd long given up trying to understand her. It was clear this wasn't the first time.
"Chishiki, these three are Devangsh... Manash, Bikram, and Suraj," Rafik said, gesturing toward them one by one.
When he introduced Suraj, he looked away, still clearly flustered from earlier. He avoided eye contact with Chishiki completely.
But Chishiki, her eyes turn bright and smiling, instantly closed the distance between her and Suraj.
"Ohhh! So you're Suraj, huh?" she said, grinning as she leaned in closer, her oversized sleeves nearly brushing his chest.
Suraj swallowed hard, eyes darting to her face, then away.
'She's too close—way too close,' Suraj had no idea how to handle it.
Meanwhile, Manash and Bikram stood in the background, thoroughly enjoying the scene. They exchanged knowing smirks, barely containing their laughter.
"You're totally handsome, you know that? My hero…" Chishiki said, inching even closer with a dreamy look.
Suraj took a quick step back, trying to create some distance.
"Hey, why are you backing away?" she asked, following him without hesitation.
Before she could get any closer, Rafik gave her a firm tap on the head with a chop.
"Ahh! What was that for?!" she cried out, rubbing her head as she turned toward him with a pout.
"We have work to do," Rafik said sternly, fixing her with a look that meant no more fooling around.
"Okay, okay…" she muttered, stepping away from Suraj, though she shot him one last playful smile.
"So, what do you need?"
"I want you to appraise their Divine Weapons," Rafik replied, pointing toward the boys.
"Ooooh, finally some real fun," she said with excitement, moving toward the large mechanical table that Manash and his friends had noticed earlier.
"Please summon your Divine Weapons," Rafik requested politely.
Bikram nodded and stepped forward. With a brief flash of golden light, he summoned his weapon, a gleaming golden Goda (mace), its massive head adorned with intricate carvings and a radiant aura pulsing along the shaft.
Chishiki's eyes lit up with childlike curiosity.
"Whoa… What is that? I've never seen a weapon like it before."
"It's an Indian Goda," Bikram replied, holding it firmly.
"Does it have a name?" she asked, inching closer to examine it from all angles.
"I call it Akhanda," Bikram answered proudly.
"Nice… Please place it on the table," Chishiki said, stepping back slightly to give space.
Bikram nodded and placed Akhanda gently on the platform. The moment it touched the surface, mechanical arms extended from beneath, surrounding the weapon with sensors and scanning instruments. A soft humming filled the room, and the screen on the side of the table lit up as Chishiki began rapidly pressing buttons, her fingers moving with practised speed.
A series of rhythmic beeps echoed through the lab as the machine analyzed the weapon. As the aura of the mace thickened, the air itself seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on everyone in the room.
"Hmm… Maybe it's angry we're probing its power," Chishiki muttered with a smirk, her eyes flicking to the dense aura forming around the weapon.
After a moment, the scanning process ended with a soft chime.
"So, Bikram," she began, turning to face him, "your weapon holds an immeasurable amount of power. The system couldn't even produce a numeric readout… But I can tell you this—it doesn't have any elemental affinity. It's just raw, undiluted force. Like… cosmic power. It's like the kind that exists outside any natural laws."
Bikram gave a firm nod, clearly satisfied. He reached out, and Akhanda vanished in a shimmer of golden light.
Next, Manash stepped forward.
The moment he raised his arm to summon his weapon, crackles of lightning danced across his skin. The lights in the lab flickered violently, casting eerie shadows across the walls. It felt as though the very room was holding its breath, acknowledging the divine power being called upon.
Rafik and Chishiki both widened their eyes, taken aback. For a second, even Chishiki stopped fidgeting with her equipment. There was something… extreme about the power Manash wielded.
When the weapon fully manifested, the light stabilized. In Manash's hand was a pristine white spear, bolts of electricity still quietly humming across its surface like living veins of light. It was as if he held thunder itself.
"Damn… That's something else," Chishiki whispered, her voice just a little breathless. "What's its name?"
"Bajra…," Manash replied simply.
"Okay… please place it on the table," she said, still shaken but clearly intrigued as she readied the console again.
Manash stepped forward and raised his weapon. The tip of Bajra glowed with a concentrated blue energy, humming softly like a storm held in stasis.
As he moved to place it on the table, stray arcs of lightning flickered out from the spear, brief but potent, crackling against nearby equipment. One spark struck a mechanical arm, making it twitch as if startled.
Manash placed Bajra on the table. But the moment he withdrew his hand, a crackle of thunder erupted from the spear, a sharp arc of energy lashing out and grazing his fingertips. He instinctively stepped back, startled by the sudden surge.
"Okay... let me appraise it," Chishiki said calmly, stepping forward with measured caution as he approached the table.
She tapped the control panel. The mechanical arms reactivated, extending with a metallic hiss.
But before the scan could begin, the screen flashed, bright red.
The word ERROR began to blink across the interface.
Then again. And again.
ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.
Chishiki blinked, startled. "What…?" She began pressing buttons frantically, her expression shifting from confusion to frustration.
The mechanical arms began to move erratically, twitching and jerking as if overwhelmed by a sudden surge of extreme energy.
Meanwhile, the spear, Bajra, started to crackle violently, bolts of thunder bursting out from it in unpredictable directions. One bolt shot toward Rafik, who barely managed to dodge it, stumbling back in surprise.
Chishiki took a step back, her worry now evident. Sparks flew, as the machine's screens flickered wildly before a loud pop rang out.
Smoke erupted from the control panel.
The machine had fried.
"Okay… I think your spear is really pissed off," Chishiki said, waving her hand in front of her face to clear the smoke.
"What the hell was that?!" Rafik snapped, still reeling. "What just happened? Why did the machine burn out like that?"
"One thing is clear…" Chishiki muttered, looking at the still-glowing weapon. "Bajra's attribute is thunder, no doubt. But its power? That's something else. I understand 'immeasurable'… but burning the machine? That's not normal."
She turned her eyes to Manash, who had just stepped up beside the table, equally confused and concerned. The look on his face said it all, this wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"I'm not entirely sure…" Chishiki said slowly, narrowing her eyes. "But, Manash… you're not its original wielder, are you?"
Manash silently dematerialized the spear. It vanished into thin air, but his expression didn't lift. His eyes lowered, and his voice came out softer, slightly strained.
"No. It wasn't mine to begin with," he admitted. "I carry it… because it was her last wish."
Suraj and Bikram exchanged glances... sad, knowing ones. They knew the story behind Bajra.
Chishiki didn't press further. Instead, she spoke calmly. "Well… that explains a lot. This isn't just any divine weapon. You're not the first to make the machine short-circuit. Only two others have ever done it... and both are Rudrangsh now."
Her words fell into the room like a stone dropped in water.
Silence followed.
Manash was still lost in thought, torn between grief and guilt. Rafik looked at him carefully, his thoughts hard to read.
'Such power… in the hands of him?'
But the silence didn't last long. Chishiki clapped her hands and smiled faintly. "Well, what's done is done."
She turned to Suraj. "Sorry, my hero… we couldn't scan your divine weapon."
Suraj shrugged. "It's okay. I don't have one."
Chishiki blinked. "Wait… What?"
"You're a Devangsh," she said, brows furrowing. "Don't you should also have a divine weapon?"
Suraj shook his head. Though he kept a soft smile, there was a glimmer of disappointment, and something like resentment in his eyes. Toward himself.
Chishiki didn't say anything at first. Instead, she walked closer to him, studying his face with a quiet intensity.
Then, gently, without warning, she placed both hands on his cheeks.
"Oh, my hero…" she whispered, her voice unexpectedly tender. "I have the perfect thing for you."
Her eyes sparkled, not with flirtation, but with a strange mix of genuine care and certainty, like she saw something in him that even he didn't.
Suraj, however, was completely stunned. His eyes widened, face turning red in an instant as he backed away awkwardly.
Chishiki laughed softly at his reaction. "You're really so shy…" she said with a teasing grin. "But that's honestly kind of cute."
Suraj's face turned an even deeper shade of red at Chishiki calling him cute.
Chishiki giggled, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction. Then, without another word, she turned to a large mechanical chest near the wall. She tapped a few numbers on the panel embedded on its surface.
'Click'
With a hiss of air, the crate slowly opened. Something like mist spilt out, white and dense, pouring down like fog as the interior revealed itself.
Chishiki reached into the crate and pulled something out.
At first glance, it looked like a thick, dark purple rod... silent and still. But no... maybe it was a sword.
Suraj watched with a furrowed brow, clearly confused.
'Is that a sword?' he thought.
'It's slightly curved... but it doesn't look like a talwar. It's sheathed, but the entire thing is a deep, almost black, shade of purple.'
Chishiki turned back to him, her expression unreadable, and walked forward with calm steps.
"Take this," she said, offering the weapon to him.
Suraj frowned slightly, eyebrows drawn together in uncertainty.
"What is it?" he asked, not moving to take it just yet.
"It's a katana," Chishiki answered simply.
"Okay… I get that. But I don't need an ordinary weapon. If the weapon isn't divine, I don't think it won't survive a real fight. It will be useless compared to a Divine weapon."
Chishiki just smiled.
"It's not ordinary," she said, her voice calm, but with a subtle edge of something else. Something deeper. Something that made Suraj pause.
"This," she continued, "is what we call a Synthetic Divine Weapon. In short, we're calling them 'Nexus'"
Suraj blinked. "What?"
Manash and Bikram had also stepped closer, now staring at the weapon with curiosity. Even they were trying to make sense of what she was holding.
Chishiki giggled softly and raised a hand. "Calm down, my heroes. Let me explain."
She stepped aside and began to pace slightly, her tone becoming almost like a teacher's, but with a playful glint in her eye.
"Nexuses are a new category of weapons we're developing, designed for human warriors. You see, just like Devangsh can channel their life energy into their divine weapons, materializing and dematerializing them at will… or use the Mrityunjay Mantra to direct energy for healing and enhancement or increased the target's life force…"
"We know that," Manash interrupted gently. "But what does that have to do with this katana?"
Chishiki stopped and turned toward him, grinning wider.
"Nexuses are designed to draw on the wielder's life energy, amplifying it, enhancing the weapon's innate properties based on that energy flow."
Suraj tilted his head slightly. "Enhancing… what exactly?"
"Principles," Chishiki said with emphasis. "Endurance. Strength. Even sharpness. This particular katana… when attuned to your life energy, channels it directly to the blade's edge, making it sharper than any regular sword. Not just sharp, it's like precision-forged by your soul."
Suraj looked at her, trying to process it all. Her confidence in the weapon was striking like she knew it would stand against any divine weapon. He glanced down at the katana in her hand again, something unspoken stirring in his chest.
"It's not as strong as an actual Divine Weapon," Chishiki admitted, glancing at Manash and Bikram. "But it's made with the highest possible imitation of one."
Then she turned back to Suraj.
"So, Chishiki," Suraj called her name, voice calm but curious.
Chishiki's eyes lit up when he said her name, her smile widened, a genuine happiness blooming on her face.
"Why haven't we seen any human using a Nexus before?" he asked.
Chishiki's smile faded slightly, replaced by a trace of disappointment. "Because… the life force it requires is far beyond what an average human possesses. Every time someone has tried to wield it, they barely managed a single strike before collapsing. Their life force was drained to dangerous levels in moments."
"So… it's not quite ready yet," Suraj said slowly. "Then why do you want me to use it?"
Chishiki stepped closer, her voice softer now. "Devangsh have far more life force than any human. And since you don't have a Divine Weapon yet… I thought maybe you could…"
Suraj narrowed his eyes slightly. "Am I just a test subject?"
"No!" she said instantly, her voice firm. "You're not. I want to help you, my hero."
She held his gaze. "I know I don't have the right to ask for your trust—we've only just met. But please… at least, give it a try."
She extended the katana toward him again.
Suraj looked at her, then at the weapon. Still uncertain. The katana was longer than any sword he had trained with.
'I've never used a katana before… but what if she's right? If I can wield it, I'll finally have a weapon of my own.'
"Fine," he said at last and took the katana in his hand.
Chishiki's face lit up. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice warm. Unintentionally, she reached out and placed a hand gently on his cheek.
Suraj stiffened, his face flushing again as he quickly stepped back.
"Sorry," Chishiki said quickly, a bit embarrassed and disappointed.
"Now… pull out the blade," she said, stepping back to give him space.
Suraj took a deep breath, gripping the handle firmly. Then, in one smooth motion, he pulled out the sword from its Scabbard.
The dark purple colour of the blade… reflects the light at Suraj's face as to greet its new master…
A faint shimmer ran across the blade as the light caught it, dark purple from edge to spine, but the edge itself was a shade lighter, like tempered dusk. The sharpness was unmistakable; even a glance was enough to know this weapon could cut with terrifying precision.
Suraj stepped back, adjusting his stance, giving himself space.
Holding the katana in his right hand, he readied himself.
Then, he swung.
Whoooosh!
The air vibrated with the force of the strike.
Even without a Divine Weapon until now, Suraj's mastery of the sword was something else entirely.
Suraj felt it.
The weight in his hand… the way the blade cut through the air, as it belonged there, as if the sword had filled something missing inside him. A strange sense of wholeness washed over him.
He stared at the katana, amazed and quietly satisfied. That was when he noticed something, etched into the blade, in a language he didn't understand.
'超えて神と魔を'
His eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of the symbols.
Just then, Chishiki's voice broke through his thoughts. "Do you like it?"
Snapping out of his trance, Suraj asked, "What's written on the blade?"
Chishiki smiled as if she'd been waiting for that question. "It says 'Koete kami to ma wo'... it means 'Beyond Gods and Demons.'"
Suraj's lips curled into a slow smile. The words echoed in his mind.
"Koete kami to ma wo…" he murmured to himself, tasting the weight of the phrase. It wasn't just a line, it felt like a challenge. A declaration.
"So… does it have a name?"
"For now, I just call it 'Murasaki'," Chishiki replied casually.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Purple."
Suraj let out a small chuckle. "That's… so simple."
"Hey! You try naming a prototype weapon after building it from scratch," Chishiki pouted, crossing her arms.
Suraj grinned. "Fair enough."
Then he turned to Manash, eyes gleaming with renewed confidence. "So… how do I actually use it?"
"Ah, yes. Just channel your life energy through the blade," Chishiki instructed, her voice turning serious again.
"Alright…" Suraj said, rolling his shoulders before glancing at Manash with a sly grin.
"Hey, bro… how about we give it a little test run?"
His tone was light, but the challenge in his eyes was unmistakable.
Manash met his gaze, a knowing smile spreading across his face.
Friendly tension sparked between them, the kind only warriors understood.
Two Devangsh, brothers not by blood but by fate, were now ready to test steel and their spirit alike.