"Sometimes, the trash they throw away... becomes the fire that burns the sky."
The DDA Guild Selection Ceremony — an event more watched than any royal coronation or IPL final — had arrived. The sky above the massive stadium shimmered with ancient magic, floating crests of the top 10 guilds rotating in the air like gods observing mortals.
Each emblem pulsed with mana — the proud lotus of Thunder Lotus, the savage jaws of Silver Fang, the haunting wings of Shadowborn, and the undying flame crest of Karna's own Inferno Guild.
Floating drones streamed the event live to every screen in the Bharat Union. Even villages without electricity were somehow watching. That's how big this was.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" the broadcaster's voice echoed with magical amplification, carrying across the enormous stadium.
"After the Trials of Might, Mind, and Magic… it's time. The time to welcome the NEXT generation of DDA warriors!"
The audience exploded into cheers.
On the main platform, guild masters sat high on floating thrones, each exuding an aura that bent space and sound. Titans among men. Eyes of judgment. They weren't just picking recruits. They were selecting legends.
Each participant stepped forward as holographic screens flickered to life, showing their Combat Rank, Magical Affinity, Final Scores, and even replay clips from the Trials.
The crowd roared with every high-ranking prodigy selected.
Guild masters would raise their hand when interested in a candidate. If multiple did, the participant got to choose. It was a dream come true for many.
Cheers. Hugs. Dramatic music swells. Some fell to their knees crying. A father in the crowd literally fainted when his daughter got picked by Flame Reign.
Everything felt like a cinematic festival of champions.
Until...
A strange pause.
A stuttering voice.
"U-Uh... and lastly… participant number 1313… Satya."
The screen blinked oddly before glitching to life.
Combat Rank: N/A
Magical Affinity: Error
Final Score: —
Remarks: Data Unavailable
A pause.
Then laughter.
"Who?"
"Did someone bring their younger cousin?"
"Ay! Bro's dressed like he came to sweep the arena, not join it!"
"This man's Aura is so low, my fridge has more spiritual energy."
Even the Inferno Guild — known for their outcast picks — remained silent.
Karna's eyes stayed unmoved. Basuki yawned. Agneyi swirled her tea, bored.
Not a single hand was raised.
Not one.
Satya stood on the platform. His chubby frame in that oddly tailored training robe. Dust still clung to his sleeves.
The broadcaster cleared his throat, trying to skip forward.
Satya didn't move. He looked at the crowd. Then at the guilds.
And then, he stepped forward.
He didn't shout. But his voice echoed across the arena like fate had paused to listen.
"I may not have a rank. I may not have stats, numbers, or fancy guild eyes on me."
He took another step.
"But I am Satya. The next future of DDA. The next President. And the solo Hell Gate destroyer."
Silence.
You could hear a pin drop in that magical colosseum.
Then — twin auras burst into the air.
KARNA stood.
And so did BASUKI.
The air thickened. The clouds inside the open roof twisted. Spectators gasped and some fell to their knees.
Karna's golden flames spread like a king's divine mantle. Basuki's dragon scales shimmered like the skin of the heavens themselves.
Karna: "You have... a glimpse. Just a flicker... of what it means to be DDA."
Basuki: "But right now... you're nothing but trash with delusions."
Oorja blinked into existence as a glowing ball above Satya's head.
Oorja: "Correction: Premium Trash. Eco-friendly. Recyclable. Can be used for self-roasting, too."
Satya: "Oye! Whose side are you on!?"
Agneyi, dressed in obsidian armor and sipping black coffee, leaned in toward Karna.
Agneyi: "You didn't select him? Regret already?"
Karna: "I don't regret breathing, Agneyi. And I sure as hell won't regret not picking this walking comedy special."
Satya took a deep breath. He smiled.
Satya: "It's okay… I'm garbage, right? Discounted. Laughed at. Rejected by your perfect little system.
But mark my words — I am the future. The next President. And the one who'll do what your entire DDA couldn't — walk solo into Hell… and come back with the gate's spine."
Suddenly.
Everything. Changed.
The President stood up.
The clouds inside the stadium cracked — literal lightning split the air.
The ground trembled.
The sky bled golden-blue energy.
People screamed. Cameras short-circuited. One poor guy fainted and fell off the audience stand.
Even the Guild Masters went quiet.
The President — a man who hadn't stood in 50 years.
Whose presence was more myth than man.
His aura bent the laws of physics. People couldn't breathe properly. Space itself curved.
Oorja: "The storm has a name… and it just looked our way."
President: "Fifty years ago… I spoke. That time, I named a storm after a child."
He stepped forward. His cloak didn't flutter — it commanded the wind.
President: "And now… you stand there, nameless, stat-less… calling yourself a Hell Gate destroyer?"
Satya stared up at him, trembling slightly… but didn't back down.
President: "Then prove it."
He lifted one finger. A projection of a 4-star Hell Gate appeared — swirling, pulsing, roaring like a mouth of demons.
President: "From this moment… you are banned from joining ANY guild. No help. No allies. No cheats."
"You, alone… will walk into the next Hell Gate."
"If you succeed… you will earn something far greater than any rank."
"If you die… your body will be left there. No funeral pyres. No flag. No memory. Only bones rotting in demon spit."
The crowd was frozen in place.
The sheer madness of the declaration was... divine.
Then—
Satya, ever so casually:
"…Can I at least get lunch before I go?"
Oorja: "How about a coffin-shaped tiffin box? Comes with free last rites."
Agneyi: "This guy is seriously going to be the death of me... or himself."
Karna: (sighing) "At least he's not boring."
The final panel:
Satya's eyes… glimmer. Just for a second. A flicker of Garuda fire — buried deep inside.
The arena watches in confusion, laughter, pity.
But none of them know — a storm is rising.
One the DDA has never seen before.
And its name… is Satya.