Raj slowly pushed himself up from his knees.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
The first trial was over—
But the exhaustion in his body reminded him that none of it had been a dream.
He had truly survived a battle against death.
Around him, the ruined battlefield began to disappear.
The black broken ground…
The shattered stones…
The smoke-filled warzone…
Everything slowly faded away.
In their place, white light returned.
Within seconds, Raj found himself once again standing in that strange white space.
It was silent.
Calm.
Yet unnatural.
It looked like a room—
But had no walls.
No ceiling.
No doors.
Only endless white light.
Then—
A blue glow flashed before him.
A transparent screen appeared.
---
First Trial Complete
Status: Success
Reward Being Granted
---
Raj let out a tired breath.
"Well… at least dying here comes with rewards."
Suddenly—
A new voice replied.
"Oh? So you can joke too. Nice."
Raj instantly became alert.
"Who said that?"
Blue light gathered in front of him.
It slowly formed into the shape of a small floating girl.
She looked around ten or twelve years old.
Small body.
Bright glowing eyes.
Hair made of strands of blue light.
Her entire body shimmered with soft blue energy.
She floated in the air and looked Raj up and down.
Then she made a disappointed face.
"Hmmm… so this is the new Host?"
"Honestly, I expected better."
Raj stared at her.
"…What?"
She crossed her arms proudly.
"I am the Guide Assistant of the Heavenly Book System."
"You may call me Panna."
Raj blinked.
"My system comes with a free insulting fairy?"
Panna nodded proudly.
"Yes."
"Premium feature."
Raj laughed for the first time since arriving here.
"Great."
He shook his head.
"So what now?"
Panna spun in the air around him.
"Now begins your first training phase."
Raj frowned.
"Now? I'm barely alive."
"Perfect," Panna said.
"The best training happens when the trainee wants to run away."
Before Raj could protest—
The ground beneath him lit up.
Blue symbols formed under his feet.
Then the white world changed.
Within seconds—
A massive hall appeared around him.
Stone pillars rose into the air.
A high ceiling stretched overhead.
Ancient walls surrounded him.
Raj stared in shock.
"What is this?"
Panna smiled.
"Simulation Hall."
"You can train here without actually dying."
She paused.
"Usually."
Raj narrowed his eyes.
"Usually?"
"If you fail badly enough, the pain will feel real."
Raj sighed deeply.
"Wonderful."
A new screen appeared.
---
New Task: Learn Energy Control
Objective: Stabilize 10 Energy Points
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
---
Raj frowned.
"Energy points?"
Panna waved her hand.
Ten glowing blue orbs appeared before him.
They floated in the air, moving gently.
"Catch them."
"Stabilize them."
"Control them."
Raj reached for the first orb.
The moment he touched it—
POP!
It exploded and vanished.
Panna laughed.
"Wrong."
Raj tried again.
POP.
Another failed.
Then another.
Then another.
Five minutes later—
Raj groaned.
"This is impossible!"
Panna raised one finger.
"No."
"You're just terrible right now."
Raj glared at her.
"Helpful."
She floated in front of him.
"Listen carefully."
"Don't try to grab the energy."
"Feel it."
"Guide it."
"Don't force it."
Raj calmed himself.
He closed his eyes.
Slowly—
He began sensing the power inside his body.
The warmth.
The pulse.
The blue energy flowing through him.
He reached forward again.
This time—
He did not try to seize the orb.
He simply let his energy flow toward it.
The orb trembled.
Then stabilized.
---
1/10 Complete
---
Raj's eyes lit up.
"I did it!"
Panna smiled.
"Good."
"Now do the other nine."
For the next twenty minutes—
Raj trained without stopping.
He failed repeatedly.
Lost control multiple times.
At one point—
A small explosion threw him backward.
Panna laughed so hard she nearly fell from the air.
But slowly—
He improved.
His breathing steadied.
His focus sharpened.
His control deepened.
Finally—
---
10/10 Complete
Energy Control Level 1 Acquired
---
Raj exhaled heavily.
"Finally…"
Then—
The entire hall trembled.
Raj stiffened.
"What now?"
Panna's expression turned serious.
"Transport is starting."
Raj blinked.
"Transport?"
"Yes."
"You're being sent into the real world now."
Raj's heart skipped.
"So training is over?"
"Temporarily."
"Where am I going?"
Panna shrugged.
"You'll see."
Before Raj could ask more—
White light swallowed everything.
He felt that familiar pulling sensation again.
As if space itself was dragging him away.
His body became weightless.
His mind spun.
Then—
BAM!
Raj slammed onto hard ground.
"Agh!"
He groaned in pain and opened his eyes.
Above him—
A blue sky stretched endlessly.
Clouds drifted peacefully overhead.
Cool wind brushed against his face.
Grass swayed around him.
Raj lay there for several seconds.
Then whispered—
"…This is real?"
Panna appeared beside him.
"Yep."
"Welcome to your new world."
Raj slowly stood.
Then he froze.
In front of him—
Mountains stretched into the distance.
And atop a high cliff stood a massive stone structure.
A gigantic academy.
Tall towers.
Blue flags.
Long stairways leading upward.
Raj stared.
"What is this place?"
Panna answered—
"Glory Academy."
Raj repeated softly—
"Academy…"
Panna nodded.
"A place where people learn to fight."
"To survive."
"To become strong."
Raj looked up.
"So I'm a student?"
Panna smirked.
"If you survive long enough."
Raj began climbing the stairs.
With every step—
He felt something strange.
The air itself was different here.
Thicker.
Richer.
Filled with energy.
His Energy Vision activated automatically.
Blue light flashed in his eyes.
He could see streams of energy everywhere.
In the air.
In the stones.
In the trees.
In every breath of wind.
It was as if the entire world was alive.
Raj whispered in awe—
"This world…"
Panna smiled.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Raj nodded slowly.
Then continued climbing.
---
When he finally reached the academy gate—
A voice stopped him.
"Halt."
Two guards stood there in heavy armor.
Sharp eyes.
Strong auras.
One asked—
"Name?"
"Raj."
"Where are you from?"
Raj paused.
"…Far away."
The guard frowned.
"Be specific."
Raj answered quietly—
"I don't know myself."
The guards exchanged looks.
Then—
Another voice spoke behind them.
"Interesting."
Raj turned.
A tall man walked down the stairs.
He wore white and blue robes.
His face was calm.
But his eyes were sharp.
He stopped before Raj.
Studied him for several seconds.
Then said—
"Let him enter."
The guards immediately stepped aside.
Raj asked—
"Who are you?"
The man replied—
"Teacher Arvind."
Then added with a slight smile—
"And you…"
"Are quite unusual."
He turned.
"Follow me."
Raj obeyed.
---
Inside the academy—
His eyes widened.
Training grounds filled the campus.
Students sparred in open arenas.
Some practiced with weapons.
Some manipulated energy in the air.
Others meditated in silence.
Some flew short distances using strange movement techniques.
Raj looked around in disbelief.
"This is all real…"
Panna whispered—
"This is your life now."
---
Soon—
Arvind brought him into a registration hall.
Several tables lined the room.
Glowing crystals floated above them.
At the center sat an old man.
Long beard.
Calm face.
Heavy presence.
Arvind said—
"Master, new arrival."
The old man looked at Raj.
Just one glance—
And Raj felt completely seen through.
"Name?"
"Raj."
"Bloodline?"
Raj hesitated.
"I don't know."
Soft whispers spread through the room.
The old man pushed forward a crystal.
"Place your hand on it."
Raj obeyed.
The crystal glowed blue.
Then white.
Then gold.
Then suddenly—
FLASH!
Brilliant light filled the entire room.
Everyone stood up in shock.
Arvind's eyes widened.
Raj pulled his hand back.
Silence filled the hall.
The old man stared at him.
Then slowly said—
"…Interesting."
A moment later—
He returned to normal.
"External Student."
Everyone looked stunned.
Raj thought—
After all that, just External Student?
Panna whispered—
"Trust me."
"That's better than attracting too much attention."
The old man said—
"Send him to Dormitory C."
Arvind nodded.
---
A short while later—
Raj arrived at his dorm room.
It was simple.
Two beds.
One table.
One window.
And inside—
A chubby boy sat on one bed eating snacks.
He looked at Raj.
Paused mid-bite.
Then said—
"Oh."
"New roommate?"
Raj nodded.
"Looks like it."
The boy stood up.
"I'm Aman."
"Raj."
They shook hands.
Aman grinned.
"You look dangerous."
Raj raised an eyebrow.
"Because of my face?"
"No."
"Because of the glowing registration crystal thing."
"The whole academy is gossiping about you."
Raj groaned.
"Great."
Aman laughed.
"Relax."
"Something weird happens here every week."
Raj placed his belongings down.
"How long have you been here?"
"Three months."
"You strong?"
Aman puffed his chest proudly.
"Emotionally."
Raj laughed.
---
That evening—
The two talked for hours.
Aman was surprisingly funny.
A little lazy.
A little cowardly.
But smart.
As night fell—
Raj stood by the window.
Academy lights glowed below.
Stars filled the sky above.
For the first time—
He truly understood.
He was in another world now.
Then—
The system screen appeared.
---
New Mission Received
Find the First Local Mystery
Location Hint: Eastern Tower
---
Raj narrowed his eyes.
"Eastern Tower?"
Panna appeared beside him.
"Looks like trouble."
Raj sighed.
"Why is every mission dangerous?"
"Because boring missions don't get readers."
Raj glared.
"Stop breaking the fourth wall."
Behind him—
Aman asked—
"Who are you talking to?"
Raj froze.
"…Myself."
Aman nodded seriously.
"Yeah, everyone does that after coming here."
Raj sighed in relief.
Then—
He looked out the window.
Far in the distance—
The Eastern Tower stood alone beneath the moonlight.
Silent.
Still.
Yet somehow—
It felt ominous.
Raj narrowed his eyes.
A strange feeling rose in his chest.
As if something there…
Was waiting for him.
---
Far above the academy—
Within the highest tower—
Shivani stood before a window.
Her gaze fixed on Raj's dorm.
Her expression unreadable.
Then she whispered—
"So the Heavenly Book truly chose him…"
Her eyes turned toward the Eastern Tower.
"And it has already begun reacting."
---
End of Chapter 4