I Got My System Late, But I'll Become Beastgod
Chapter 79: Departure

Chapter 79: Departure

Ten days had passed.

Today was the day—the top twelve students of the university would finally leave for Valtania, the land of towers and steel, to represent Aryavarta in the long-awaited World Tournament.

Inside a dimly lit Private Training Room, the air was thick with heat and the scent of sweat. Magical energy pulsed faintly from the training dummies around the room, still smoking from repeated spell impacts.

Aamir and Seenu stood in the center, panting, their chests rising and falling as they caught their breath. Sweat glistened on their brows and soaked into their shirts.

Leaning casually against the wall, Haider Ali watched them silently, arms crossed. His sharp eyes reflected pride—but also warning.

"We leave today." His deep voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Both boys straightened at once.

Haider’s expression turned serious, his voice dropping lower.

"And one thing—remember this."

"You’re not allowed to kill anyone in the tournament."

"But if someone tries to kill you..." He let the silence hang for a moment. "Don’t hold back. Even if it means killing them. Understood?"

Aamir and Seenu exchanged a look, the weight of those words settling heavily in their chests. Then, together, they nodded.

"Yes, sir."

Haider pushed off the wall and stepped closer.

"This isn’t some school sparring event," he said, eyes narrowing. "The top twelve students of every major nation will be there—elite geniuses, some stronger than most soldiers. Don’t underestimate anyone. Not even for a second."

He turned to Aamir, his voice gaining an edge.

"And Aamir—bring Kunal with you. The King made a special request. I’ve made the arrangements."

Aamir blinked, genuinely surprised. "Kunal? Really?"

"Yes," Haider said simply. "The King sees potential in him. Don’t question it. Now go. Get ready. We leave in one hour. Assemble at the university courtyard, then we’ll head to the Runerail Station."

Aamir frowned. "Runerail Station? I thought we’d use a portal."

Haider let out a low chuckle. "Good question. Portals are only used for domestic travel. Crossing borders is a different story. If we want to reach Valtania, we use Runerails or ships. Inter-nation portals are restricted to high-ranking individuals—like the King, myself, or the Principal. And even we have to deal with heaps of paperwork."

Seenu raised a brow.

"So... where exactly is the tournament being held this year?"

"Valtania," Haider replied without pause.

Aamir’s eyes widened. "But Valtania’s thousands of miles away. How can we reach there in three days?"

Haider grinned. "Boy, have you ever traveled in a Superfast Runerail? Not the local ones—this one runs like lightning. You’ll see for yourself."

For a moment, excitement flickered in Aamir’s chest. Raised in Purushottampuri, his world had been small—portals, cities, forests. But Runerails? Those were part of stories. Technology and magic working together like clockwork.

"Now go," Haider ordered. "Dismissed."

Aamir and Seenu walked out into the corridor. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the near-empty halls as they split ways. Aamir made his way back to the dormitory building.

Pushing open the door, he found Kunal and Raj sprawled on the couch, playing a card game with magical projections.

"Hey guys, let’s get ready," Aamir said.

Kunal didn’t even look up. "For what?"

Aamir crossed his arms. "The World Tournament. We’re leaving today."

Kunal looked up, confused. "Wait... I’m going?"

"Yup," Aamir nodded. "Haider said the King made a personal request to bring you."

Kunal blinked, stunned. "I thought he was joking when he said, ’I’ll handle your preparations.’ Damn..."

Raj chuckled, brushing his hair back. "Well, that’s great. Now you can cheer for me and Aamir live."

Kunal smirked, stretching his arms. "We’ll see who ends up cheering for whom, Raj."

Aamir glanced at the clock. "Less than an hour. Let’s move."

After changing into their travel gear and packing their spell-scrolls, cloaks, and utility belts, the trio made their way across the campus grounds.

The university courtyard buzzed with tension and anticipation. Dozens of students had gathered to see them off—some were friends, others curious spectators. The twelve chosen stood apart, already marked by reputation and rank.

Aamir’s gaze found familiar faces: Meera, standing with arms crossed and eyes calm; Riya, bouncing on her toes with excitement; and Seenu, exhaling slowly, already slipping into battle focus.

He approached them with Kunal and Raj at his side.

"Ready to show the world what we’re made of?" Aamir grinned at Seenu.

Seenu cracked his knuckles.

"Why not? Let them see Aryavarta’s finest."

Meera stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "Hey, don’t forget about us. We’re part of the team too, remember?"

Aamir chuckled. "Wouldn’t dream of it. We show them what we’ve got—together."

Riya all but bounced in place.

"I’m so excited! I can’t believe it’s actually happening!"

Before Aamir could reply, a voice rang out—sharp, commanding, unmistakable.

"Hello, everyone."

Silence fell over the crowd instantly.

Haider Ali stood at the front of the courtyard, arms folded. The sun glinted off his dark coat, and the magical runes etched across his sleeves shimmered faintly.

"The day has come."

"Today, we leave for the World Tournament. The twelve best of Aryavarta—all present. All prepared."

He scanned the group with a proud look in his eyes.

"As per the rules, only the top twelve and I will be going."

"The rest of you—train harder. Next year, it could be your turn. Earn it."

Behind him, a large, circular portal buzzed to life. Its edges glowed with rotating glyphs, and the air rippled around it with raw magical force.

"Now—let’s not waste any more time."

Without another word, Haider stepped into the portal.

One by one, the chosen followed—Aamir, Seenu, Meera, Riya, Raj, Kunal—each passing through the shimmering gate.

The moment Aamir stepped through the portal, a rush of warm air and a chorus of voices met him.

He blinked, adjusting to the sudden brightness. The group had arrived in the Central Runerail Nexus—a massive open-air terminal brimming with activity. Marble floors gleamed under enchanted lanterns, and towering arches of stone and steel reached into the sky, each one etched with glowing glyphs. The space buzzed with life—merchants, travelers, and guardians patrolled every direction. Magical constructs hovered overhead, announcing schedules in shifting runes.

Dozens of Runerails lined the vast terminal, each glowing with a unique magical hue. Families waited on benches shaped from living stone. Couriers zipped past on rune-gliders. It was like stepping into another world.

"Whoa..." Riya whispered, awestruck.

Aamir’s gaze locked onto the largest Runerail nearby—a colossal, blacksteel vessel covered in luminous glyphs. It floated inches above the track, hovering with a low, pulsing hum. Its runes pulsed like a heartbeat, and the magic-infused plating made it look like a slumbering beast.

"So this is what carries people across nations," Riya said, her eyes wide with wonder.

Haider Ali chuckled softly from behind. "That one? Impressive, sure. But that’s not ours."

He pointed to a far section of the station, where a sleeker, sharper vessel waited. Its front was curved and narrow, the body leaner than the others—its black-and-silver surface gleamed like obsidian, and a crown-shaped sigil floated just above the head carriage.

"That," Haider said, his voice brimming with pride, "is a Superfast Runerail. Special clearance, minimal stops, and designed to cut through mana currents at speeds others can’t handle."

Aamir squinted at it. "No wonder it looks so light compared to that monster. It’s built for speed, not cargo."

Haider nodded.

"Speed, and silence. You won’t even feel the wind."

The group began to move, making their way through the crowd toward the platform.

Just as they passed a glowing fountain shaped like a levitating dragon, a voice called out from behind.

"Wait a minute!" A boy from another class stepped forward, frowning. "Sir, you said only twelve students are allowed for the tournament. But if I count right... that’s thirteen of us."

Another student chimed in, pointing at Kunal. "Yeah, what’s he doing here? He wasn’t in the rankings."

The group slowed, some murmuring. Kunal, unbothered, just raised an eyebrow.

Haider’s expression didn’t change. He faced them calmly.

"He’s here because someone made a special request for him to be included."

"Who?" the first boy asked, pressing the issue.

Haider’s tone turned cold. "That’s none of your concern. Worry about your own path."

The students fell silent.

Kunal smirked, adjusting his satchel. "Guess I’m just lucky."

Raj grinned. "Oh yes, you are so lucky, my liege," he teased Kunal. Aamir chuckled at Raj’s comment.

The group climbed a glowing stairway made of floating platforms that rose up to the private boarding level. As they reached the edge of the platform, the Superfast Runerail opened its entrance silently—a circular doorway unfolding like the petals of a metallic flower, revealing a softly glowing interior lined with enchanted seats, floating storage orbs, and viewing mirrors that shimmered with distant landscapes.

The floor beneath their feet vibrated subtly with magic.

Aamir took a step forward, feeling the hum beneath his boots—the thrumming of runes, the heartbeat of arcane engineering.

Haider turned, glancing back at the group.

"This is it. Once we board, there’s no turning back until Valtania."

Aamir exhaled slowly, eyes locked on the glowing doorway.

And with that, they stepped aboard the Runerail—toward a journey that would decide their fate, and perhaps the fate of nations.

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