The Ascendant Mortal: Beyond Divine Boundaries

Aamir's eyes would often gleam with a fierce determination as he recalled his father's tales of bravery. Karn, his father, had been an exceptional swordsman, renowned for his unwavering courage in the face of danger. Aamir's desire to emulate his father's prowess burned brighter with each passing day.

As a child, Aamir would listen with rapt attention as his father recounted the events of that fateful day, fifteen years ago. The day when beasts had descended upon five major cities, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake. Valtania's Wyndham, Kyokai's Katsur, Zhonghua's Shaanxi, and Valkoria's Valois had all been targeted. Aryavrata, too, had been affected, though the specifics of the attack remained shrouded in mystery.

Aamir's family had been living in Vedangiri at the time, but they had been forced to flee and settle in Purushottampuri. It was here that Aamir was born, and here that he would grow up, fueled by his desire to become a great swordsman like his father.

Karn had been a member of the Hunter's Guild, an esteemed organization dedicated to protecting the realm from the ever-present threat of beasts. Aamir's father had been part of a team tasked with eliminating the beasts that had been terrorizing travelers on the route between Purushottampuri and Vedic City. The jungles of Vedika were home to numerous beasts, including a Specter-level creature that had been wreaking havoc on unsuspecting travelers.

Aamir's father had devised a plan to distract the Specter-level beast while the rest of the team escaped. Though the plan had been successful, Karn had ultimately succumbed to his injuries, leaving Aamir's family to mourn the loss of a beloved husband and father.

As Aamir grew older, his desire to follow in his father's footsteps only intensified. He spent every spare moment practicing his swordplay, driven by his determination to surpass his father's skills and make him proud.

Aamir's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves. He turned to see Riya emerging from the underbrush, a look of concern etched on her face.

"Aamir, what's wrong?" she asked, noticing the faraway look in his eyes.

Aamir shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Nothing, Riya. Just thinking about my father."

Riya's expression softened. "You miss him, don't you?"

Aamir nodded, feeling a pang of sadness. "I do. But I know he'd want me to keep moving forward, to become the best swordsman I can be."

Riya smiled, her eyes shining with encouragement. "You will, Aamir. I have no doubt about it."

Aamir's face set in a determined expression. "I won't let you down, Riya. Or my father."

Together, the two friends stood there, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, their bond stronger than ever.

But their moment of tranquility was short-lived. A Specter-level beast emerged from the shadows, its eyes fixed on Riya. Aamir's instincts screamed at him to react, but before he could even move, the beast struck Riya with a swipe of its massive paw.

Riya's body crumpled to the ground, her limbs twisted at an unnatural angle. Aamir's mind went blank as he stared at Riya's broken form. His vision narrowed, focusing solely on the beast that had hurt Riya.

A strange, unsettling energy began to emanate from Aamir's body. His aura, once a gentle hum, began to grow and swirl around him like a maelstrom. The air seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly power, as if the very fabric of reality was being warped and distorted.

A strange, unsettling feeling began to spread through the air, like a cold wind blowing through the city. The atmosphere around Aamir grew heavy with an unspoken menace, like the moments before a storm breaks.

The beast, sensing the shift in Aamir's energy, took a step back, its eyes fixed on Aamir with a mixture of curiosity and fear. But it was too late. Aamir's power had already begun to surge out of control.

The city around them seemed to fade into the background as Aamir's aura grew, casting a dark, foreboding shadow over the streets. The beast, realizing too late that it was outmatched, let out a terrified roar as Aamir's power washed over it.

But Aamir's body was not strong enough to handle the sheer amount of power that was coursing through his veins. His muscles began to tremble, his vision blurring as his energy reached a critical point.

And then, in an instant, everything went blackAamir's body collapsed to the ground, his power fading away as quickly as it had appeared. The beast, realizing its chance, turned to flee, but it was too late. The damage had already been done.

Riya, still lying on the ground, looked up at Aamir's unconscious form, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and concern. What had just happened? What was the source of Aamir's incredible power? And what would happen when he awakened?

As she gazed at Aamir's still form, Riya noticed something strange. A faint, pulsating glow seemed to be emanating from Aamir's body, as if his very life force was struggling to break free.

Suddenly, the air around them was filled with the sound of rushing footsteps. A group of guards, alerted by the commotion, came running towards them, their swords drawn.

Riya quickly scrambled to her feet, her eyes fixed on Aamir's unconscious form. "Wait!" she cried out to the guards. "Don't hurt him! He's not a monster!"

The guards hesitated, unsure of what to do. One of them, clearly the leader, stepped forward. "What's going on here?" he demanded. "What happened to him?"

Riya took a deep breath, trying to explain. "A beast attacked us," she said. "Aamir tried to defend me, but...but something happened to him. He just collapsed."

The guard's expression turned skeptical. "Something happened to him?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"

Riya hesitated, unsure of how to explain. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I think it has something to do with his power. He's been having these...these episodes, where he loses control and...and does things he can't explain."

The guard's expression turned grave. "I see," he said. "Well, we'll need to take him in for questioning. We can't just let him roam free, not with that kind of power."

Riya's eyes widened in alarm. "No, you can't!" she cried out. "You don't understand! He's not a monster, I tell you! He's just...just confused."

The guard's expression turned sympathetic, but firm. "I'm sorry, miss," he said. "But we have to follow procedure. We'll take him in and...and figure out what to do with him."

As the guards closed in, Riya knew she had to act fast. She couldn't let them take Aamir away, not when she knew he was innocent. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

"I won't let you take him," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "I'll protect him, no matter what."

The guards paused, taken aback by Riya's bravery. For a moment, it seemed as though they might back down. But then, their leader nodded, his expression grim.

"I'm sorry, miss," he said. "But we have our orders. We'll take him in, no matter what."

And with that, the guards closed in, surrounding Aamir's unconscious form. Riya knew she was in for the fight of her life.