Chapter 11 : The first chakra

  The evening sky blanketed Alag in deep twilight, the twin moons hanging above like watchful eyes. Beneath the mighty canopy of the Great Tree, a soft breeze rustled the emerald leaves as golden lanterns flickered gently across the quiet training grounds.

  Joe stood there calmly, arms folded, the silhouette of a man shaped by war and wisdom. His eyes softened when he saw Max and Rure approaching side by side.

  “You’re late,” Rure called out, playful as always.

  “Warren had things to share,” Max replied with a shrug, joining them.

  Joe raised an eyebrow. “Graduation news?”

  “He's finally getting out of the academy,” Max said with pride. “And he’s aiming high — Galactic College of Interplanetary Law Enforcement.”

  “The GCILE?” Joe chuckled. “He’s got guts. One of the finest law colleges in the star systems. Not easy getting in.”

  Rure scoffed, pretending to flick imaginary dust from his shoulder. “I’ll beat him to becoming Director of Space Cops. You’ll see.”

  Max grinned. “Didn’t you and Warren already have that rivalry going?”

  “Oh, it's a blood feud now,” Rure teased.

  Joe shook his head, smiling. Then his expression shifted toward something more solemn. “Your father… Jason Amberdunk… by now, he and the fleet should be deep within the Heaven Bridge. That’s no place for the faint-hearted.”

  “You think he’ll make it?” Max asked, quieter now.

  “I do,” Joe answered without hesitation. “He carries the legacy of Verdalia… and the fire of a true leader.”

  There was a moment of silence before Max broke it. “Joe… what was it like? During the Universal Wars?”

  Joe glanced up at the stars peeking between the branches. “You’re ready for stories, huh?”

  The boys nodded.

  “Then listen well,” Joe began. “There was once a warrior like no other. His name was Helius.”

  Both Max and Rure straightened up.

  “He wasn’t just strong,” Joe said. “He was S+ class — a title so rare, only a handful in history have earned it. But what made Helius a legend… wasn’t his power.”

  Joe’s voice lowered with gravity. “It was his soul. He never killed. Not one person. Not even in war. But during Universal War II… he was betrayed by his own left-hand man — Mark. That betrayal… it shattered everything.”

  “Why did Mark do it?” Max asked.

  “No one truly knows. But that war…” Joe looked up at the stars again, voice distant, “it rewrote the fate of the universe. That was a time when new legends rose… and ancient evils awakened.”

  Rure and Max listened with awe. The leaves swayed softly above them as if the tree itself remembered.

  Joe continued, “And in his final moments, when everything was falling apart around him, Helius said something… something the stars themselves remember.”

  Max and Rure closed their eyes and said it together, voices filled with quiet fire:

  “The gods… they were never here to begin with. No gods are needed. Only warriors… warriors with the will to change.”“If there’s no hope... we must become it. If there’s no peace... we must forge it. And if there’s no future…”His golden eyes flickered one last time.“We must seize it with our own hands.”

  Joe didn’t speak for a moment.

  Then he nodded slowly. “Those words were carved into the hearts of many… especially those of us who survived the war.”

  Rure whispered, “Helius… he really was something else.”

  Max turned to Joe. “What about Lord Domain? He was part of that war, too, right?”

  Joe’s gaze narrowed. “Ah… Lord Domain. That tale’s even darker.”

  And under the quiet breath of the twin moons and the shelter of the Great Tree, a new story prepared to unfold — one that would take Max and Rure deeper into forgotten history, and closer to the truth of what they were meant to become.

  The air remained still around the Great Tree of Heavens. A soft hush had fallen over the training field, the kind of silence that only came after stories of giants and wars that shaped the stars. The moons above seemed to lean in closer, as if eager to hear what came next.

  Max sat cross-legged, eyes wide with curiosity. Rure leaned back on his elbows, thoughtful but still filled with energy. Joe looked between them with a rare seriousness carved into his features.

  “You asked about Lord Domain,” Joe said finally, breaking the stillness.

  Both boys leaned forward slightly.

  “Domain was… different from Helius,” Joe began. “He wasn’t born in a temple of warriors or blessed with noble blood. He came from an oppressed race — a people cast into the shadows by cruel empires, forced to live in silence while others shaped the galaxy.”

  Max’s eyes flickered with a mix of empathy and admiration. Rure listened with narrowed eyes.

  “But Domain… he didn’t let that define him. He trained, harder than anyone I’ve ever known. Where others gave up, he stood up. Where others followed, he carved his own path.” Joe's voice was filled with pride. “He rose — not just to become powerful — but to become one of the few to ever match Helius himself. S+ Class… like Helius.”

  Rure blinked. “He matched Helius?”

  Joe nodded. “He did. I’m a fan of Helius, always will be — the peace, the resolve, the legacy. But Domain... he earned everything with blood and fire. He didn’t just stand beside Helius in the Universal War II… they fought together.”

  “He fought with him?” Max asked.

  Joe smiled faintly. “They were an unstoppable force. While Helius brought hope, Domain brought justice. The kind that shook the foundations of the universe’s cruelest regimes. They dismantled empires, captured warlords, and broke chains — both literal and not.”

  Max was nearly breathless. “What happened to him?”

  “He retired,” Joe said softly. “After the war, he didn’t seek glory. He stepped away. Quietly. But before he left, he passed down something rare… the Legendary Lightious Arts — a sacred warrior discipline said to be born from the heart of a white star.”

  Joe’s voice was reverent now. “He taught them to his greatest student — a boy who would go on to become the Hero of the Universe… the Star of Hope… Ronaldo Vithathnam.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Wait,” Rure said, stunned. “That Ronaldo?”

  “The same,” Joe nodded. “The man who led the resistance against the Black Trident Empire. The boy who united half the universe before he was twenty-five. The one who stood on the edge of nothingness… and brought light back.”

  Max was silent. In his heart, something stirred — not fear, not ambition, but the quiet pulse of purpose.

  Rure whistled. “And we’re stuck doing chakra training while people like that once walked the stars…”

  Joe gave him a look. “Even the greatest started somewhere, Rure. Even Helius meditated. Even Domain cleaned floors. Their strength didn’t come from where they began. It came from never stopping.”

  The moons shimmered above them as if nodding in agreement.

  Max looked up, whispering almost to himself, “Then maybe… we can become something like that too.”

  Joe gave a knowing smile.

  “That's the whole point of training under the Great Tree, boys. This isn’t just about power. It’s about remembering who came before you… and becoming who you’re meant to be.”

  The Path Within

  “Stories apart,” Joe said, rising to his feet and stretching his arms toward the massive boughs of the Great Tree. The silver-blue glow of the moons dappled across his robes. “You two have a bigger challenge ahead — and not just the field trip to Verlan.”

  Rure tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

  Joe looked at them both. “Your real training starts now. We begin the journey into the first chakra: ‘Shudra’ — the Root Gate.”

  “Shudra?” Max repeated, tasting the ancient word like it held some distant echo.

  “It means ‘foundation’ in the old Verdalian tongue,” Joe explained. “The chakra that roots your spirit to the universe. The gate of survival, balance, and truth — without it, your energy remains scattered, untrained, and unfocused.”

  Rure punched his fists together, energized. “Finally! This is where things get real!”

  Joe chuckled. “Oh, it will. But not in the way you think, Rure. This isn't just physical. Opening a chakra means confronting your inner self… and you two come from very different worlds.”

  He stepped aside and motioned them to follow.

  Behind the Great Tree, nestled between spiraling roots and gentle waterfalls, was a clearing unlike any other. Crystalline stones floated mid-air, pulsating faintly with light. In the center stood a tri-circle formation engraved into the earth — glowing with energy. One ring was engraved with ancient Verdalian glyphs, the second with intricate energy patterns known only to humans, and the third was blank… as if waiting to adapt.

  They entered a mysterious chamber in the ancient temple

  Max blinked at the strange environment. “What is this place?”

  “This is the Chamber of Pulse,” Joe said proudly. “A place once used by Verdalian monks. The formation adapts to your race, your energy type, and your willpower. Rure, you’re Verdalian — your body is naturally infused with bio-synchrony. That means your chakra will respond more to rhythmic movement and natural resonance.”

  “So I gotta move… like dance?” Rure smirked.

  Joe smirked back. “Something like that. We’ll call it Flow Combat for now. You’ll be doing combat moves in sync with Verdalian music, while syncing your breath to the tree’s pulse.”

  Max raised a brow. “And me?”

  “You’re human, Max. Your kind isn't naturally synced with Verdalian bio-fields. So you’ll need to build a foundation first. You’ll meditate under the Rootfall — that waterfall flowing with life sap from the Great Tree. Your challenge is stillness. Breathing. Feeling. Listening. It will awaken the Shudra chakra in you if you let it.”

  Max nodded slowly. “So we train separately?”

  Joe shook his head. “You’ll train side by side. Two different paths, same goal. Both of you will activate Shudra together — or not at all. Understood?”

  Rure grinned. “I like that. Let’s make it a competition.”

  Max smirked. “You’re on.”

  “Good,” Joe said, stepping back. “You have one week. Then you go to Verlan.”

  Joe pointed toward it. “Max, sit beneath the Rootfall. Let the water flow over your spine. Breathe. Focus. The Root Gate responds to stillness and stability.”

  Max walked over slowly, placing himself beneath the stream. As the water soaked into his skin and shirt, he closed his eyes. He could feel it—not just the wetness, but a pulse… like the tree itself was alive, communicating with him.

  Meanwhile, Rure stepped onto the second circle where red energy shimmered slightly. From it, glowing illusions of combat dummies materialized. Rure’s eyes lit up.

  “Flow Combat?” he asked, grinning.

  Joe nodded. “This will teach you how to fight using your internal rhythm. It's less about power, more about channeling.”

  Rure dropped into a stance and started weaving between the dummies as they moved unpredictably. His strikes were light but precise, guided by a rhythm the circle seemed to enhance.

  Back at the Rootfall, Max's mind began to drift… then center. The warmth, the sounds of flowing water, and the deep-rooted hum of the chamber slowly connected something inside him. He wasn’t sure what, but it felt… ancient.

  Joe watched quietly, a faint smile on his face. “Good. Both of you are syncing already.”

  Rure ducked, spun, and exhaled sharply. “Joe! Is this what it feels like to be in the pulse?”

  Joe chuckled. “That’s the beginning. Once your chakra opens, you'll feel it in every limb.”

  Max opened his eyes slightly, water dripping down his nose. “Joe… is this the energy we felt when we first meditated by the idol?”

  Joe nodded. “Yes. The Great Tree amplifies the planet’s lifeforce. This is why only those born in Verdalia—or those strong enough to tune into it—can awaken the Shudra chakra here.”

  Rure, panting, wiped his brow. “So how long till we open it?”

  Joe scratched his chin. “It varies. Could be hours, days, even weeks. But don’t rush it. This is not just power—it’s your connection to the universe.”

  Max took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, a faint glow began to emit from his back. The water of the Rootfall shimmered around him.

  Rure blinked. “Whoa… hey Joe, is he—?”

  Joe held up a hand. “Let him be.”

  And so, the two students—one Verdalian, one human—continued their journey within the sacred chamber, footsteps echoing against stone, souls syncing with the pulse of a world much older than them.

  The chamber had grown quieter now. The flickering runes dimmed slightly as the sun fully dipped beneath Verdalia’s twin moons, casting soft blue light through the slits in the temple walls above.

  Rure slowed his movements. The glowing combat illusions had faded, and now only the low hum of the chamber remained.

  “Joe,” Rure said, walking toward the master while rubbing his shoulder, “it’s like the dummies… they weren’t just reacting. They were learning. Like they knew what I was thinking next.”

  Joe nodded thoughtfully. “Exactly. That’s the pulse of the chamber reading your intention. Once you open your chakra, you won’t just fight better—you’ll feel everything better. Timing, emotion, energy.”

  Rure leaned against a pillar, eyes wide. “This place is something else…”

  A sudden gust swept through the chamber—not wind, but a subtle energy—enough to rustle Rure’s white training robe and stir the glowing water droplets around Max. Still seated under the Rootfall, Max's body pulsed faintly, his chest rising and falling in perfect rhythm. The red light at the base of his spine glowed slightly now, matching the shimmer of the falling water.

  Then he opened his eyes.

  “Joe…” he whispered. “I… saw something.”

  Joe’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”

  Max stood, shaking his head slightly. “Not clearly. Just… a moment. A vision, maybe. There were two figures—one in white light and the other in shadow—and something in the middle. A tree… but not this one. Bigger. Way bigger. Floating in space.”

  Joe folded his arms. “The Cosmic Root Tree… only a handful ever see it during chakra awakening. That’s rare, Max.”

  Rure’s jaw dropped. “Wait, what?! The Cosmic Root Tree? That’s from the Book of Ages! You’re telling me Max saw that?”

  Joe smirked. “Seems like he did. The Rootfall has shown him something very few have witnessed in meditation.” He turned back to Max. “That’s a good sign. Your chakra is close to opening.”

  Max looked down at his wet hands, still glowing faintly. “So... I’m doing it right?”

  Joe chuckled. “You’re doing more than right, kid. But stay grounded. This is only the first gate. Seven more to go.”

  Max nodded, determination growing behind his tired eyes.

  Rure walked up beside him, giving him a light slap on the back. “Not bad, dream boy. But I’m not letting you leave me behind.”

  Max grinned. “You’re already behind, Rure.”

  They both laughed, their rivalry as fiery as ever, but something new pulsed between them now—something deeper. Mutual respect, and the silent knowledge that this training was more than just preparing for combat or glory.

  It was the beginning of a journey neither of them could quite see the end of yet.

  Joe clapped his hands together. “Alright, that’s enough for today. Get some rest, both of you. Tomorrow, we keep going.”

  As they walked up the stone steps out of the chamber, moonlight bathing their backs, Rure turned and asked, “Hey Joe… when we unlock all seven chakras, what happens?”

  Joe paused, halfway up the steps. “You’ll know,” he said, eyes glinting. “Because by then… you won’t be the same people who stepped into this chamber.”

  Max looked up toward the stars visible through the cracked ceiling.

  “I don’t know where this path will take us,” he murmured, “but I think I’ve found what I want.”

  Rure smirked. “You mean, to beat me?”

  Max laughed. “No, Rure. I mean... to become someone worthy of my father’s legacy.”

  The two of them exited the chamber, their shadows fading into the temple light—warriors in the making.