Keet Shakti Academy

The days blurred together. Every morning Armaan woke up with soreness in his muscles, the aftermath of his grueling training sessions with Dhruv. His body had grown stronger, more responsive, but still, the doubt lingered. He could feel it—a power just out of reach, something waiting to be unlocked. But no matter how much he trained, it was like hitting a wall, always just a few steps away from breaking through.

Armaan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the pouch of cigarettes Dhruv had given him. The promise of unlocking something hidden within him gnawed at him. Could these be the key? Or was it just another distraction?

"Are you ready?"

Rai's voice broke through Armaan's thoughts. The quiet but firm words always seemed to have a way of making him focus when his mind wandered. Rai, Tanmay, and the rest of the first-year students had been pushing themselves just as hard, but Armaan knew that he was falling behind. While they trained their hybrid powers, he was still relying on martial arts, still waiting for something to spark within him.

He stood up, walking to the window. The academy grounds stretched out before him, the cool evening breeze flowing through the trees. He turned back toward his bag, where the pouch sat.

"You're doing this, right?" Rai's voice had a slight edge to it now, as if he were reading the hesitation in Armaan's eyes.

Armaan turned to face his friend. His jaw tightened. "I don't know. What if it's not the answer? What if I just… never unlock it?"

Rai stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You won't know unless you try, Armaan. We're all counting on you. And even if you don't get it right away… we'll be here to help."

A wave of gratitude washed over Armaan, but it was quickly replaced by an overwhelming urge to prove himself. He grabbed the pouch from the table and stared at it for a moment, as if contemplating the unknown. He had spent so long running away from his own weaknesses, always questioning his worth. But today, that had to change.

Without a word, Armaan tore open the pouch, pulling out one of the cigarettes. He held it in his hand for a moment, noticing how absurd it seemed. A piece of rolled tobacco, something that seemed so simple, but yet so pivotal to unlocking the potential he knew was inside him. He took a deep breath, the weight of the moment sinking in.

"I'm ready."

Armaan lit the cigarette and took the first inhale.

The World Shifted

At first, there was nothing. Just the feeling of the smoke entering his lungs, filling him with a strange warmth. But then, his body jolted—his hands shaking uncontrollably. His heart raced as he felt something stir within him. It was as though a dam had broken open, flooding his mind with energy, ideas, and sensations. A tingling sensation crawled through his body, and his vision blurred.

The next thing he knew, the world around him seemed sharper, more alive. Colors intensified, and sounds echoed louder. The air itself felt different, more charged. He could hear his own heartbeat, but not just that—he could hear the rustling of leaves from the distant trees, the faint crack of a twig breaking. He felt the vibrations beneath his feet as though the ground itself were alive.

It was all too much.

He stumbled back, gasping, his mind reeling from the overload of sensory input. But amidst the chaos, one thing became clear—he had unlocked it. The power he had been waiting for was no longer a distant dream. It was real, and it was inside him.

A small, unnerving grin tugged at his lips as he exhaled another cloud of smoke. He felt the air around him shift, and with it, he realized something else—the smoke was following his will. Not just around him, but through him.

The special cigarettes Dhruv had given him were working—they were amplifying his power. Each drag felt like it was sending him further into uncharted territory. The smoke was more than just an extension of his hybrid form—it was his weapon. The more nicotine he consumed, the faster he could move, the stronger his abilities became.

Master Dhruv's Observation

The training courtyard was quiet, except for the sound of distant birds. Dhruv stood just beyond the perimeter of the clearing, his eyes fixed on Armaan. He had been watching for a while now, not showing any sign of surprise.

Armaan, still standing with the cigarette between his fingers, felt a shift in the air. Something powerful had been unlocked within him. He didn't fully understand it, but he could feel the change deep in his bones. He tried to summon more of the smoke, pushing the feeling, trying to control it.

It worked.

The smoke began to form shapes, twisting and swirling around him, but it wasn't wild. It was like he was shaping it—controlling it. The air was thick with it, swirling like a cloud of shadows. He reached out with his hand and watched in awe as the smoke stretched toward him, solidifying into something almost tangible. A form.

A silhouette took shape before him—a shadowy figure, half-formed, but real enough to feel. His heart raced, and a thrill ran down his spine. This was it.

But then, it vanished.

Armaan's hand dropped to his side as he caught his breath. The power was overwhelming, but at the same time, it felt natural, like an extension of himself.

Dhruv stepped forward, breaking the silence.

"Well, kid… looks like you're finally catching up. I didn't think it'd be this fast," he said with a slight chuckle.

Armaan, still processing what had just happened, turned to Dhruv. "Was that… was that what you were talking about?"

Dhruv nodded slowly. "It's only the beginning. The hybrid powers you have aren't like anyone else's. Your smoke is your weapon—but don't think for a second it'll be easy to control. You'll need to master it. And that's not going to happen overnight. You'll have to put in the work, like you did with the martial arts."

Armaan nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I will."

Dhruv grinned, raising his gourd in a mock toast. "Good. Let's see how far you can go."

The Special Cigarettes

Dhruv watched Armaan closely, noticing the change in his demeanor. "You feel it now, don't you? The power coursing through your veins?"

Armaan nodded. "Yeah... It's incredible. I can... feel it. The smoke, it moves with me. It feels... more than just smoke."

Dhruv smirked. "Well, that's because it is more. You just unlocked a small fraction of your potential. But don't get too excited. You're still at the beginning."

Armaan's heart sank slightly. "How do I control it? How do I… make it work in combat?"

"Control comes with time," Dhruv replied, his tone serious. "But first, you need to understand the tool you're wielding. These cigarettes are not just for power—they're also a way to sharpen your senses. You can only use them a limited number of times a day, but they're potent. Four cigarettes a day—don't waste them."

Armaan looked down at the pouch in his hand, the gravity of Dhruv's words sinking in.

"You see," Dhruv continued, "the more nicotine you consume, the more it boosts your power—speed, strength, everything. But it comes with a price. Your stamina will be drained, and your energy will take a toll. You'll need to pace yourself. The more you use, the higher the cost."

Armaan nodded, understanding the balance he had to strike. "So, if I push too hard, I could burn out?"

"Exactly. But there's another thing, kid." Dhruv's voice dropped lower, almost like a secret. "There are... special types of cigarettes. Not just the basic ones. You'll need to be ready for those. When you're ready, I'll introduce you to a new type—the Firecracker Cigarette. But that's for another time."

Armaan felt the excitement bubbling within him, but he also knew that he had a long way to go. This was only the beginning.

"Now," Dhruv grinned, "let's get back to work."