Kailash stood in stunned silence, his fists still clenched, his knuckles aching from the impact of his last punch. He couldn't believe it Arjun was gone. He had been sure that his final attack would end everything, but somehow, that boy had escaped.
His remaining companions rushed toward him, their faces filled with concern. One of them reached out to help him stand, but Kailash shoved him away with a furious glare.
"Forget me! Go find him!" Kailash roared, his voice echoing through the empty streets. "I don't care how you do it just catch him! It's very important that he doesn't get away!"
His men didn't waste a second. They scattered in different directions, rushing into the alleys and streets, searching desperately for any sign of Arjun.
But Arjun was already ahead of them.
With his body still aching, he had forced himself to keep running until he reached the market. The crowded streets were his best chance at disappearing. Moving quickly, he weaved through the sea of people, lowering his head and blending into the chaos. The loud chatter of vendors, the scent of street food, and the constant movement of the crowd worked in his favor, making it nearly impossible for anyone to spot him.
After a while, Kailash's men returned, panting and empty-handed.
"We searched everywhere," one of them reported, his voice laced with frustration. "But he's gone. We lost him."
Kailash's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together in frustration. His chest heaved with deep, angry breaths, his entire body trembling with rage. He had been so close. So damn close.
For a moment, he felt the urge to punch something anything to release the fury burning inside him. But instead, a cold realization settled in.
If I tell that boy that Arjun got away…
A shiver ran down Kailash's spine. He knew exactly what kind of person he was dealing with. That boy had given him a simple task: take care of Arjun. If he failed, there would be consequences. Serious ones.
Kailash swallowed hard, his hands clenching into fists. He couldn't let fear control him but he also couldn't afford to fail again.
Meanwhile, Arjun had finally stopped running. Finding a quiet corner in the market, he opened his system inventory. His hands were shaking slightly from exhaustion, but he managed to pull out a shot and quickly put it on.
The moment he did, a screen appeared in front of his eyes.
"EMERGENCY QUEST TIMEOUT: 22H:38M:05S"
Arjun stared at the glowing text, his breathing still heavy. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized what it meant.
I still have 22 hours left…
This wasn't over. The emergency quest was still active. Which meant one thing danger was still coming for him.
His mind was in turmoil. "How did this emergency get activated?" He had no idea. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
But more than that, one question was bothering him "Who were those people?"
He had never seen them before. Yet, they knew him. They had specifically come after him. That meant someone had sent them. But who?
His mind immediately went to the person he had met this evening—Rio.
But the thought didn't sit right with him. No, Rio was desperate to get Arjun to work with him. He wouldn't try something like this. If anything, Rio needed Arjun, not the other way around. He quickly dismissed the thought.
Yet, something still felt wrong.
How did they even find me?*
The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. His mind was jumping from one possibility to another, but none of them made sense.
And then, one name kept repeating in his head— Karan.
His eyes narrowed. "Could Karan be behind all this?"
It was possible. A week ago, Arjun had completely destroyed Karan's pride and reputation. He had humiliated him in a way that Karan would never forget.
If anyone had a reason to send people after him, it was Karan.
But there was still doubt in his mind. "Would Karan really go this far?" Maybe. Maybe not.
Arjun clenched his fists. He needed to figure this out soon. Because if his suspicion was correct, then this was just the beginning.
The more Arjun thought about Karan, the more restless he became. His mind was clouded with unanswered questions, and the exhaustion from the fight only made it worse. Right now, he needed to go home. Staying out any longer was too risky if those people found him again, he wouldn't have the strength to fight back.
With that thought, he pulled up his hoodie and walked through the busy streets, blending into the crowd. His body ached with every step, but he forced himself to keep moving. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached home.
As he stepped inside, his mother, Meenakshi, noticed him. Her sharp eyes scanned him for any signs of trouble, but Arjun kept his head down, avoiding her gaze. Without saying a word, he went straight to his room.
The moment he shut the door behind him, he let out a deep breath. His body felt like it could collapse any second, but he wasn't done yet. He quickly grabbed a set of fresh clothes and headed for the bathroom.
The warm water washed away the dirt and blood, but it did nothing to clear the thoughts racing through his mind. Even after the fight, the chase, and the escape he still didn't know who was after him.
After his bath, he changed into comfortable clothes and sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind refused to rest.
What do I do next?
He had never felt this lost before. The people after him weren't ordinary thugs they were dangerous and powerful. He had barely survived today. If they came after him again… would he make it out alive?
Exhaustion finally overtook Arjun. His body, battered and drained, could fight no longer. His thoughts blurred into nothingness, and before he realized it, sleep claimed him.
Somewhere Else…
A dimly lit room buzzed with energy, filled with the heavy scent of alcohol and cigarette smoke. The loud, thumping music echoed against the dark walls, drowning out the chatter of the people inside. The place wasn't exactly a club, but it had the atmosphere of one a private hangout spot where rules didn't exist.
Empty beer bottles and half-eaten snacks cluttered the tables, and the air was thick with the unmistakable stench of burnt tobacco. Neon lights flickered lazily, casting eerie shadows across the room.
At the center, a boy lounged on a large, luxurious sofa, his posture relaxed yet commanding. A cigarette rested between his fingers, glowing faintly in the dim light as he took a slow drag. Smoke curled from his lips, disappearing into the haze above.
On either side of him sat two girls in school uniforms, their expressions unreadable. One of them leaned closer, whispering something in his ear, but he didn't react his attention remained elsewhere. The other girl, with long hair cascading down her back, lazily held a cigarette between her fingers, exhaling a thin trail of smoke. The dim lighting hid most of her face, leaving only her sharp, observant eyes visible through the haze.
Across the room, Kailashknelt on the cold floor, his body tense. His face was partially covered with a bandage, evidence of his brutal encounter with Arjun. His breath was uneven, his hands clenched into fists on his thighs.
The boy on the sofa finally turned his gaze toward Kailash, his expression unreadable. He didn't need to say anything his presence alone was enough to send a chill down Kailash's spine.
Kailash knew better than anyone this wasn't just some rich, spoiled schoolboy. This was someone far more dangerous.
Kailash kept his head low, trying to steady his breath. His heart pounded in his chest, but he clenched his fists, forcing himself to think straight.
"He's just a spoiled rich kid... just a brat with too much money and power handed to him by his father. I shouldn't be afraid of him."
But no matter how many times he repeated those words in his head, the fear wouldn't leave him. His body betrayed him, a cold sweat forming on his forehead.
The boy on the sofa had been staring at him in silence, his cigarette burning between his fingers. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, letting the dim light reveal just a hint of his sharp, calculating eyes.
Kailash felt his stomach drop. A shiver ran down his spine. "Why the hell did I come here"?
The boy finally spoke, his voice calm yet cutting.
"I gave you a small job, Kailash," he said, rolling a peanut between his fingers. "Just a simple task. And you failed."
Kailash swallowed hard. He opened his mouth to say something, but the boy continued, not giving him a chance to speak.
"I told you to use your brain, not your fists." He flicked the peanut toward the table, watching it bounce before rolling off the edge. "But instead, you acted like a brainless brute."
His tone was almost amused, but Kailash could feel the hidden menace behind his words.
Before he could gather the courage to respond, a voice came from the other side of the room.
"Heh… I think you already know now who you're talking about, right?"
Kailash's head snapped toward the source of the voice. A boy sat on a single-seater sofa, directly facing the one who had been speaking. His lips curled into a smirk.
"Rio."
The moment that name was spoken, the air in the room changed.
The boy on the large sofa went completely still. The cigarette in his fingers burned down slightly, the ashes falling onto the table. His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening.
Then, in a low, cold voice, he spoke.
"Don't ever say that motherfucker's name with your filthy mouth."
His fingers clenched around the edge of the sofa, his knuckles turning white. A dangerous fire burned in his eyes as his rage simmered beneath the surface.
"That bastard… I will not let him go."
Before Kailash could react, the boy suddenly shoved the girls aside with a sharp push of his hands. They stumbled back, startled, but they didn't dare protest.
The boy stood up and walked toward Kailash, his steps slow, deliberate. His presence alone was enough to send a wave of fear through the room.
Before Kailash could even process what was happening, a rough hand grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head back.
"Aahh! " Kailash let out a sharp gasp, his hands instinctively reaching up to free himself.
But before he could even think of resisting, he saw the glowing tip of the cigarette approaching his face.
Ssshhh…!
The burning ember touched his skin, pressing into his cheek.
"AAAHHHH! " Kailash screamed as an unbearable burning sensation shot through his face. His body jerked violently, but the boy didn't let go.
Instead, he pressed the cigarette harder, letting it sear into Kailash's skin before pulling it away only to bring it back again.
Ssshhh…!
Another burn. Another scream. Kailash writhed, his body trembling uncontrollably. His breathing turned ragged, and his mind spiraled into a frenzy.
His skin reeked of burnt flesh. His face throbbed with unbearable pain. His thoughts raced—Why?! Why is he doing this?! What did I do wrong?!
The girls in the room froze, their faces pale. They had seen this boy angry before, but this… this was something else.
Even the boys who had come with him tensed up, exchanging uneasy glances. They knew his temper well, but they hadn't expected this level of cruelty.
One of them leaned toward the boy sitting on the right side of the sofa, whispering, "He's gone too far today. Normally, he stays quiet, but today… this is insane."
The other boy barely spared him a glance before muttering, "Shut up." His gaze remained fixed on the scene before him.
Meanwhile, Kailash continued to scream, his body thrashing in pain. He couldn't believe this was happening. Over such a small matter…!
The boy finally let go of his hair, letting Kailash collapse onto the floor, panting and whimpering in agony.
Towering over him, the boy's expression remained cold and merciless.
"I told you before…" His voice was eerily calm, almost mocking. "I don't tolerate even a single mistake."
He took a step closer, looking down at Kailash with nothing but disgust.
"And yet, you fucked up again."
His lips curled into a cruel smirk.
"That's why you're getting punished, you fucking bastard."
End of the chapter