Chapter 12: The Training Begins

Rishi barely had time to process the shocking truths about his past. There was no space for grief, no time for hesitation. If he wanted revenge—if he wanted to survive—he had to become stronger.

And that meant training.

---

The Three Masters

His teachers, however, were far from conventional.

Kaviraj, the disciplined warrior, focused on precision and control.

Devdhar, the mysterious strategist, taught him the history and deeper mysteries of the Smace.

Rakhtastra, the sarcastic ancient king trapped in the weapon, pushed him to his limits—and beyond.

For the first time, Rishi realized how little he knew about the Smace. It wasn’t just a weapon.

It was alive.

"The Smace isn’t just about brute force," Devdhar explained as he watched Rishi struggle to lift it. "It responds to will. If you master it, it will move as if it’s an extension of your body."

"Like a sword?" Rishi grunted.

Devdhar smirked. "No. Like a limb. Watch."

He gestured, and the Smace in Rishi’s hands suddenly shrunk, its massive form compressing until it was no bigger than a dagger.

Rishi’s eyes widened.

"This… this is the same thing that happened when I ambushed those men!"

"Exactly," Devdhar nodded. "In your moment of instinct, the Smace adjusted. You can manipulate its size consciously. If you master this, you can fight in ways your enemies won’t expect."

Rishi’s mind raced. If he could control this ability… the possibilities were endless.

---

The Truth About His Bloodline

Kaviraj, always the serious one, stepped forward.

"You’re not the first to wield the Smace in recent times."

Rishi looked up. "You mean my father?"

Kaviraj hesitated. Then, he shook his head. "No. Your mother."

Silence.

Rishi’s heart skipped a beat. "What?"

"Your mother was the last person to wield the Smace before you. She was the twentieth-generation warrior of this bloodline. But unlike you, she only unlocked its first form."

Rishi’s mind reeled. He had never thought about his parents beyond the pain of losing them. But now—he had an image of his mother, wielding the very weapon he now held.

"Why her?" he asked quietly.

Kaviraj exhaled. "Because she was the only one with the bloodline."

Rishi’s breath hitched. "You mean… my father wasn’t—?"

"No." Kaviraj’s voice was firm. "Your father was a brave man. But he was an outsider to the lineage. The Smace never accepted him because the bloodline runs through your mother."

Devdhar nodded. "The warriors who wield the Smace are chosen through blood inheritance. Your mother carried this power as the twentieth successor. But she died before she could master it."

Rishi clenched his fists.

"And me…?"

"You," Devdhar said, "are the blessed twenty-first."

The air grew heavier.

"Your blood carries the legacy of twenty generations before you. That is why the Smace is stronger in your hands than it ever was before. You are its final wielder, Rishi. The one destined to awaken its true power."

Rishi’s hands trembled. His mother had been the chosen one. The rightful wielder.

And now, the ones who murdered her were coming for him.

---

Rakhtastra’s Insult

As Rishi absorbed the weight of his past, a deep, amused voice rumbled in his mind.

"I can't believe it. After all this time, I finally get a wielder... and he turns out to be a damn sexist."

Rishi blinked. "What?"

"Oh, come on!" Rakhtastra scoffed. "Your mother was the last wielder, and your first reaction was to ask about your father? TYPICAL."

Rishi turned red. "I—THAT'S NOT—"

"Face it, brat," Rakhtastra continued smugly. "You automatically assumed the man had to be stronger. Tsk, tsk. Your mother would have smacked you with the Smace for that."

Kaviraj and Devdhar exchanged amused glances as Rishi sputtered.

"I WAS JUST SURPRISED, OKAY?!"

Rakhtastra chuckled darkly. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, sexist."

Rishi groaned. This was going to be a long training session.

---

Next Chapter Teaser:

Rishi starts unlocking new forms of the Smace.

Rakhtastra pushes him into a dangerous battle simulation.

Rishi discovers a hidden power within himself.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***