The city of Delhi thrummed with its usual chaos.
People rushed through the streets, horns blaring relentlessly, impatience etched on every face.
Some raced to offices, others were caught in household chores, and many were weighed down by the burdens of jobs and business.
Amid this ceaseless rush lived the hero of our story—Arjun.
An orphan, a boy who had learned to survive alone.
Life had been harsh, the path never easy, yet he never surrendered.
Through sheer perseverance, he finished his studies, graduated from one of Delhi's top universities, and finally landed a good job.
And today, like every other day, he was driving from Delhi to Gurugram for work.
No sooner had his car reached the highway than chaos erupted in a bus parked nearby.
Screams pierced the air, panic spread instantly, and the driver slammed the brakes in the middle of the highway.
Before Arjun could react—
BOOM.
A thunderous explosion shook the area.
Smoke and fire consumed the highway, mingling with terrified screams.
Arjun saw it all—
Flames surged from the bus, devouring nearby vehicles, racing straight toward him.
Anything in their path vanished in a heartbeat.
An elderly man in the car ahead—
engulfed by fire instantly.
His agonized screams echoed, but no one had a chance to help.
Time slowed for Arjun.
Everything moved in eerie slow motion.
His life flashed before him—
the lonely childhood, school days, the laughter of friends,
and faces he had once called family.
And then—
the monstrous flames lunged at him.
Fire seared his body.
Blinding pain, unbearable agony.
His screams were lost in the chaos around him.
Everything went black.
Suddenly—
Arjun's eyes snapped open.
No fire. No smoke.
No pain.
Arjun looked around, his heart pounding, utterly confused.
Before him stood a girl.
But she was not like any human he had ever seen.
A soft, steady light emanated from her, warm yet powerful, as if she herself was a living source of energy. Her long hair floated gently around her, though no wind stirred. Her eyes were sharp, calm, and deep, carrying a sense of ancient knowledge. Even the air around her seemed quieter, as if waiting.
She was beautiful—but not in a flashy way. It was the kind of beauty that felt… natural, commanding respect without demanding it.
Finally, she spoke. Her voice was calm, measured, and firm.
"Arjun," she said, "you've been chosen for something important."
Arjun's throat went dry. "Chosen… for what?"
"You've died," she said simply, with no malice, no fear. "The explosion… it took your life."
Arjun's knees weakened. "I… I'm dead?" he asked, voice trembling.
"Yes," she replied softly. "But your life, your choices, mattered. That is why you've been noticed."
He blinked, trying to process. "Who… who are you?"
She straightened slightly, her presence steady and calm. "I am the Goddess of Life and Death," she said, her voice calm but carrying weight. "I oversee life as it begins, and I guide it as it ends. Every soul, every being that lives or dies… exists within the balance I maintain."
Arjun swallowed hard. "A… goddess?"
She nodded, her expression kind but serious. "Yes. I am not here to punish or reward arbitrarily. I appear to those whose actions carry meaning, whose lives—though brief—can influence more than just themselves."
Arjun hesitated. "And… me?"
"You were chosen," she said. "Because of the choices you made, the life you lived. Out of millions of souls, yours has been selected for rebirth."
Arjun's voice was barely a whisper. "Rebirth… where?"
She looked at him for a long moment. "To another world. A world very different from yours. Here, science alone cannot explain everything. Magic flows through everything—through the land, the air, the water. Mountains and forests themselves hold power. Cities are built with both stone and enchantment. It is a world of opportunity, but also danger. Every being you meet could be friend… or threat."
Arjun swallowed hard. "And… I'll survive there?"
"You will," she said carefully. "But survival will not come easily. Every step will be a test—of your courage, your intelligence, and the powers I will grant you. Those powers will help you face the challenges ahead, but how you use them… that will be your choice."
He hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Powers… what kind of powers?"
"The ones you need to survive," she said simply. "Strength beyond what you have now. Abilities to sense danger, defend yourself, and grow stronger as you face it. But they will not do the work for you—you must act, decide, and learn."
Arjun swallowed again, voice low. "And… the name of this world?"
She spoke clearly, calmly. "Shauryalok."
Suddenly, a blinding white light enveloped Arjun.
It shone so intensely that all else vanished.
He felt himself grow lighter…
pulled inward by an invisible force.
In an instant—
the light consumed him completely.
And then…
Arjun disappeared.
Silence fell over the spot where he had stood.
The goddess gazed at the place for a moment, then spoke in a firm, calm voice—
"You are now the last hope of that planet."
Her words faded, and the divine light dimmed.
Elsewhere—
As the white light dissipated,
Arjun found himself in a new place.
A vast, lush green field stretched endlessly around him.
As he scanned his surroundings, a sudden blue screen appeared before him.
Information echoed in his mind:
Name: Arjun
Race: Human
Age: 17
Strength: 1
Agility: 1
Endurance: 1
Intelligence: 1
Internal Power: -1
Magic: -1
More data flooded his mind, causing a sharp pain in his head.
He yelled, "Silence!"
Instantly, all the voices vanished.
From a distance, a massive serpent perched on a tree turned toward him, drawn by his voice.
Unaware, Arjun struggled to comprehend what was happening.
Suddenly, another voice rang out—
"Danger! Danger! A threat is approaching!"
Arjun's gaze fell on a massive serpent slithering toward him.
At that moment, the system interface appeared, announcing:
Name: Shadow Serpent
Rank: 5
Abilities: Invisibility
At that moment, the serpent—no less than twenty feet long—let out a deafening screech, baring its massive fangs at Arjun.
With a sudden, violent sweep of its tail, it lunged toward him.
But somehow, Arjun dodged the attack, rolling to the side and narrowly escaping the deadly strike.
What will happen to Arjun now?
Will he survive the Shadow Serpent, its massive fangs and deadly tail striking with lethal precision?
Or will he fall immediately, his new life ending before it even begins?
Every second counts. Every move could mean life or death.
The battle is about to begin, and only time will tell if Arjun can rise to the challenge or be claimed by the dangers of this strange new world.
To find out, stay tuned for Conqueror of the Conquerors.