[23 August 2115]
BhattTech's branch In Kashi
Pratham : Arya, don't you think… it's the same as—
Arya : You're right. It could be him.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The air grew heavy, thick with an unspoken dread. A realization settled over them like an iron chain, tightening around their chests. They didn't need to say his name. They could already see the storm forming on the horizon—chaos, inevitable and merciless, was heading their way.
Raghavan Iyer : What are you two talking about? Do you recognize something in this pulse signal?
Pratham : Not exactly. But if our guess is right, we can predict the chaos before it starts.
Arya : Not this time, Pratham. If it really is him… I'm ending this before it begins.
Raghavan Iyer : I don't like where this is going. Tell me everything. Now.
[23 August 2115]
BhattTech's Private Hospital Parking, Chennai
The heroes were gearing up for their next raid in Nanmangalam Reserve Forest. The ship loomed before them, its engines humming softly.
Maharshi : This time, be careful. No unnecessary risks.
Hirak : Don't worry, boss.
Jay : Let's wrap this up quickly.
Zeel : Sana, ready?
Sana : Yeah… but I don't get it. Why are we going back to the same area?
Maharshi : There are still some Srapit Aatmas left. If we don't eliminate them, civilians could be in danger.
Sana : Fine, fine…
Hirak : Alright, get in the ship.
[23 August 2115]
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, Chennai
The team moved cautiously through the dense forest. Shadows stretched between the towering trees, and the ground was damp from last night's rain.
Maharshi : Stay alert. Something's coming.
Jay : Left side!
BANG! BANG!
Zeel reacted instantly, firing two precise shots. A pair of wolf-like Srapit Aatmas collapsed, their bodies dissolving into cursed energy.
Sana : These Srapit Aatmas… they're in animal form. That means they're not fully conscious yet, right?
Maharshi : It depends on time.
Jay : If a Srapit Aatma has existed for more than 10 years and reaches the level of Maha-Khatarnak Shreni, it has a high chance of developing consciousness.
Hirak (through communicator) : That's why even intermediate-tier Maha-Khatarnak Shreni Srapit Aatmas still can't match us.
Maharshi : Except one.
Sana : Huh? Who?
Jay : Better not to talk about it.
Sana : Wait… you guys fought an intermediate-tier Maha-Khatarnak Srapit Aatma?
Zeel : Yeah. And we couldn't defeat it.
Sana : What?! Then how did you survive?
Maharshi : Arya.
Sana : Of course. Why didn't I guess that? So, she can even take down an intermediate-tier Maha-Khatarnak?
Jay : Actually… no.
The group stopped walking. A sudden, uneasy silence filled the forest as they all turned to Jay.
Jay : The Srapit Aatma we recently fought—its power readings matched an intermediate-tier Maha-Khatarnak Shreni. The same as Mahito's. But… Mahito was way stronger. He fought like a top-tier Maha-Khatarnak Shreni. Maybe even higher.
Maharshi : That means our radars couldn't read his true power?
Jay : Looks like it.
Maharshi (through communicator) : Hirak, are you sure our radar system is working properly?
Hirak (through communicator) : I've double-checked. It's working perfectly.
Maharshi : Then… that means Srapit Aatmas have started hiding their true power.
Zeel : If that's true… and if all of them start doing this, then in future raids will be so risky.
Maharshi : We have to inform the higher-ups so they can at least take action against—
BOOM!
An energy blast exploded near them out of nowhere, sending dust and debris flying.
Maharshi : Alert! Everyone, take positions!
Hirak (through communicator) : Srapit Aatmas detected near your location! I'm picking up around 40–50 of them.
From the dense shadows of the forest, dozens of figures emerged—zombie-like creatures, staggering forward with unnatural movements. Their skin was cracked, their eyes glowing with a sickly light. In their hands, they clutched spheres of condensed Srapit Shakti, pulsing with unstable energy.
Without hesitation, they hurled the spheres toward the heroes.
Maharshi : SCATTER!
The team split in different directions as the energy balls exploded upon impact, shaking the ground with violent force.
Zeel : What the hell is this?!
Jay : Since when do these things use projectile attacks?!
Maharshi : Keep dodging! If those energy spheres detonate too close, we're finished!
The heroes kept their distance, narrowly evading the relentless barrage. The forest was now an inferno of energy blasts and dust clouds.
Sana : I've had enough of this! Time to counter!
A fierce determination flashed in Sana's eyes as she unleashed her Vajra Yantra.
Sana : "ओम् वज्राय विध्यमानं, विद्युत् शक्ति संचारय, यंत्रं प्रवर्तय!"
She slammed her fist into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. A dense fog of dust and static energy filled the battlefield, obscuring vision.
Zeel : Great work, Sana! I'm moving in too!
Zeel took aim, his rifle locking onto one of the creatures. But before he could fire—
CLANK!
Maharshi's sword deflected the shot, barely reaching in time.
Zeel : What the—?! Maharshi, what are you doing?!
Maharshi : WAIT! DON'T SHOOT!
Sana rushed forward, ready to strike one of the creatures with a decisive blow. But just as her fist was about to connect—
Maharshi lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-attack!
Sana (shocked) : Maharshi?!
Maharshi (urgent) : STOP! EVERYONE STOP! NOW!
The heroes froze, utterly confused by his sudden outburst.
Hirak (through communicator) : Maharshi, what the hell are you doing?! Why are you stopping our counterattack?!
Maharshi (panicked) : Nobody harm them! Just look at them closely—PLEASE!
Jay, Zeel, and Sana exchanged bewildered looks but hesitated. Jay stopped his chanting mid-way, Zeel lowered his rifle, and Sana stepped back.
Maharshi (breathing heavily) : They're not zombies.
Jay : What?!
Maharshi (grim) : They're humans.
A cold silence settled over the battlefield. The heroes' eyes widened as realization sank in.
Jay : Are you out of your mind?!
Maharshi : Look at their faces. They match the faces of people who were reported missing in this forest after being corrupted by Srapit Shakti.
The shock hit them like a tidal wave. These weren't mindless creatures. These were real people, twisted and enslaved by the very energy they were fighting against.
The battle had just become far more complicated.
Jay : What the...
Zeel : Oh my god!
Sana : For real?!
Hirak (through communicator) : This can't be… How the hell did they turn into zombies?!
Maharshi : I don't know. The only thing I do know is—they're the missing people.
Sana : But what do we do?! If we can't harm them, how do we stop them?!
Maharshi (through communicator) : Hirak, call BhattTech's Emergency Response Team—NOW!
Hirak : On it!
Maharshi : We need to hold them off until help arrives. Jay!
Jay : I know what to do, but I need time to focus!
Maharshi : Sana, Zeel, with me! We'll slow them down!
Sana, Zeel : Got it!
The three charged forward, dodging the explosions one by one. As Maharshi reached the nearest zombie, he slashed at the energy sphere in its hand—and it staggered!
Maharshi : Their power comes from those spheres! Destroy them, and they'll slow down!
Sana and Zeel didn't hesitate.
Sana exploded forward with rocket speed, her fists crashing into the orbs, shattering them on impact.
Zeel took precise aim, firing energy shots directly at the spheres. Each hit weakened the creatures, making them sluggish.
Suddenly, a group of zombies unleashed their energy spheres at Zeel all at once!
Maharshi : "अघ्न्या रक्ष! शक्ति कवचं संचारय!"
A surge of Aadhya Shakti burst from Maharshi's hands, forming a protective barrier just in time. The energy blasts slammed against the shield, dispersing harmlessly.
Sana didn't wait—she dashed in with incredible speed, smashing through the zombies' orbs before they could attack again.
Meanwhile, Jay stood firm, gripping his staff tightly with both hands. His voice echoed through the battlefield as he neared the end of his chant.
Jay : "शृंखला बंधनं! लोहपाश यंत्रं प्रवर्तय!"
A powerful energy surge erupted from his staff—iron chains shot out from the ground, wrapping around every zombie at once! The creatures struggled, their movements completely sealed.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment. The zombies were restrained. The heroes had succeeded—without harming them.
Sana : Haa… haaa… did we succeed?
Maharshi : For now.
Sana : Huh?
Jay gripped his staff tightly, his muscles tensed as he focused all his energy to maintain the iron chains.
Maharshi : Jay can't hold them for long.
Zeel : Then what do we do now?
Maharshi (through communicator) : Hirak, where is the emergency team?!
Hirak (through communicator) : They are on the way, just hold on a little longer!
Maharshi : Jay, please. Just hold this until we get backup.
Jay (struggling) : D-Don't worry… I w-won't let go…
Maharshi : Thanks.
Zeel : But how is this even possible?! How can humans turn into zombies? I thought this kind of thing only happens in movies!
Maharshi : I don't know… but if there's even a slight possibility to save them, to turn them back into humans… we have to try.
Jay (struggling) : M-Maharshi… i-is there any chance that… this is Vitrasur's doing?
A heavy silence fell. The mere mention of Vitrasur's name made the air feel thick with tension.
Maharshi's eyes narrowed—burning with anger.
Zeel : Vitrasur… if this is his work…
Maharshi : That evil monster… He has no feelings for living beings… He only knows destruction.
Sana : But why would he do this? Turning humans into… these things?
Jay (gritting his teeth) : T-To spread fear… to show his power… or maybe—
Maharshi : —to create an army.
Zeel : Shit… if that's true, then this is just the beginning.
Suddenly, a crackling sound echoed through the forest. The iron chains binding the zombies trembled.
Jay (struggling) : Something's wrong! They're… they're getting stronger!
Maharshi : What?!
Sana : Look at their eyes! They're glowing even more!
The zombies started convulsing, their bodies twitching unnaturally, and then—one of them roared. A deep, distorted sound that made the ground tremble.
Hirak (through communicator) : Guys! Srapit Shakti levels just SPIKED! It's off the charts!
Zeel : You gotta be kidding me!
Sana : Are they… evolving?!
Jay's body shook violently as his staff vibrated with energy. The iron chains began to crack.
Jay : N-No! I can't… hold… much longer!
Maharshi : Damn it! We need another plan!
Before he could think further, one of the zombies broke free, launching itself at Jay!
Maharshi : JAY! MOVE!
But it was too late. The creature's claws were inches away from Jay's throat.
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the air.
The zombie's head snapped back, and its body collapsed—a bullet hole between its glowing eyes.
???: Tch. Looks like you guys are struggling.
A man stepped out of the shadows, his long coat swaying with the wind. He reloaded his large-caliber revolver, eyes gleaming under the dim forest light.
Zeel : Wait a second… YOU?!
Maharshi : What the hell are YOU doing here?!
Sana (confused) : Who is he?
The man smirked, spinning his revolver before holstering it.
???: Name's Mohit. Heard you needed some real backup.
Sana : Mohit? Who the hell is he?
Mohit : Huh? You don't know me? Guess the academy doesn't teach new students about legends anymore.
Zeel : Oh shut up, Mohit. This isn't the time for your drama!
Mohit : Tch, ungrateful as always, Zeel.
Maharshi : What are you doing here, Mohit? This isn't your mission.
Mohit smirked, resting his hand on his gun.
Mohit : I was nearby, saw the mess you guys were making, and figured you'd need some real skill to clean it up. And looks like I was right. You're all struggling against some half-dead weaklings.
Sana : Weaklings?! Do you have any idea what's going on? These aren't just Srapit Aatmas—they're people!
Mohit raised an eyebrow, finally taking a proper look at the struggling zombies. His usual cocky expression flickered for a second.
Mohit : …Huh. That's new. So what, you guys planning to 'save' them?
Maharshi : Yes. That's why don't go shooting your damn gun at them!
Mohit : Tch. What a pain. So what's the plan then? Stand around and wait for them to rip you apart?
Jay (struggling) : Aghh… t-they're breaking free again!
The chains around the zombies shattered into fragments, and suddenly, the creatures charged at the heroes all at once!
Maharshi : Damn it—Zeel, Sana, fall back!
Mohit : Tch. Enough talk then. Let's deal with this.
In a split second, Mohit vanished from his spot and reappeared mid-air, his revolver spinning in his hand.
Mohit : "अग्नि बाणः – भस्मं कुरु!"
He fired a single glowing bullet, and the moment it hit the ground—BOOM!
A massive ring of golden flames erupted, forming a barrier like flames between the zombies and the heroes. The creatures were trapped, unable to move forward.
Sana (shocked) : What the hell was that?!
Mohit blew off the smoke from his gun.
Mohit : Just a little trick I picked up. This flame won't kill them, but it'll keep them in check for a while. Now, care to tell me exactly what the hell we're dealing with here?
Maharshi : We don't have much time. The emergency team is on the way, but these things are changing fast. If we don't stop them, they could completely transform into Srapit Aatmas!
Zeel : Then how do we stop them without hurting them?
Mohit sighed, rolling his eyes.
Mohit : Always the hard way with you people.
Maharshi glanced at Jay, who was panting heavily, barely able to stand after his failed attempt to contain the creatures.
Maharshi : We need to purify them before it's too late. But we'll need time.
Mohit smirked, reloading his revolver.
Mohit : Then you better get started, 'cause my flames won't hold forever.
Maharshi : Why you always come up this half solutions ?
Mohit : Half solution? Oh, I'm sorry, did you want them wrapped up in a gift box too?
Maharshi : Tch. Just focus! Everyone, stay alert! Something's off.
Zeel : The flames should've weakened them, but…
Sana : They're still moving…
Inside the fire barrier, the zombies convulsed violently, their bodies twisting in unnatural angles.
Jay (weakly) : T-This energy… it's changing… Something else is inside them!
Suddenly, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the forest, shaking the ground beneath them.
Mohit : Oi… tell me that was just the wind.
The flames flickered wildly, as if something was draining their strength.
From the center of the horde, a towering figure rose, its body covered in jagged, pulsating black veins—its eyes burning with a sinister glow.
To be continue