Mumbai, a city that never slept, glittered under the night sky. It was a place of wealth and dreams, home to the largest concentration of billionaires in India, and a magnet for people from all corners of the world. The fast-paced, relentless energy of the city echoed in every street, every alley. But behind the luxurious walls of the skyscrapers, not every life followed the typical narrative of fame and fortune. Some were stranger, more clandestine.
Inside one of these opulent buildings, on the 33rd floor, a man named Abhinav sat in his living room, having just stepped out of the shower. The soft glow of ambient lighting accentuated his sharp features—his well-built physique and perfectly styled dark hair made him look effortlessly handsome. A drink in his hand, he stared into the glass as if the swirling liquid could answer the thoughts spinning in his mind.
His peaceful contemplation was rudely interrupted by the sudden ring of the doorbell. Abhinav scowled at the clock—midnight. He cursed under his breath, "Who the hell could it be at this hour?"
With his enhanced senses, he didn't need to look through the peephole. A quick scan of the hallway revealed the identity of the visitor before he even reached the door. Without hesitation, he opened it.
Standing there was Tony, another resident of the building, living just a few doors down. Like Abhinav, Tony wasn't human—not in the way people on Earth would understand. His appearance was deceiving; at first glance, he seemed like a typical young man in his early 30s, lean and athletic with sharp eyes and neatly kept hair. But like Abhinav, he was far from ordinary.
Tony entered the apartment silently, not waiting for an invitation, and settled into a plush chair across from Abhinav. There was a heaviness to his presence, a quiet frustration that filled the room.
After what felt like an eternity, Abhinav broke the silence. "Tony, what happened that made you come to me at this late hour?"
Tony sighed, his eyes wandering around the room before landing on Abhinav. "Man, I don't know what bad karma we did in our past lives to end up on this worthless planet. Sometimes I think we're being punished by our higher-ups."
Abhinav raised an eyebrow, though Tony's complaint was one he shared. "This again? What's got you so worked up?"
Tony shook his head, as if the words couldn't come fast enough. "Look at our colleagues! They get sent to planets with advanced civilizations, or at least ones with some potential. And what do we get? Earth. A backwater, polluted, dying planet, full of primitive technology. We got stuck with the worst assignment."
Abhinav couldn't help but nod in agreement. He too had wondered what they had done to deserve such an exile. They were reconnaissance agents from a much more advanced civilization, sent to Earth to observe its progress. The mission was clear: determine whether this planet posed any future threat to their people. It was a routine assignment, but being assigned to Earth, of all places, felt like an insult.
"Let's face it," Abhinav said, "we weren't exactly top-tier students back home. We barely made it through the Academy. The only reason we're even on this mission is because no one else wanted to come here."
Tony clenched his fists. "Doesn't make it any less frustrating. We've been stuck at Half-Step Noble for years, Abhinav. And you know how much breaking through to the Noble level would change things for us. We could finally leave this place—get transferred to a more advanced planet. But no, here we are, stuck on this trash heap."
Abhinav leaned back, his expression softening. "I get it, Tony. We're both stuck. But what can we do? This planet is dying. They're nowhere near Type 1 civilization status. In fact, if they don't evolve soon, the planet's spiritual energy will be gone in a hundred years. And then it'll be game over for these people."
Tony sat up, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. "That's where you're wrong."
Abhinav frowned. "What do you mean?"
Tony grinned. "I found a place. A place where we can break through to the Noble level."
Abhinav blinked, unsure if he had heard Tony correctly. "A place on this planet? You've got to be kidding."
"No joke," Tony replied confidently. "The spiritual energy density there is insane—like nothing we've seen on this planet. It's comparable to the cultivation towers on our home world."
Abhinav was skeptical. "Tony, you know the air here is polluted, the environment trashed. For a place like that to exist, it would need to be pristine for hundreds of years. This planet hasn't been clean in centuries."
Tony simply nodded. "I get it. I didn't believe it myself when I first heard about it. But I went there. I recorded everything. The energy is real, and it's powerful."
He activated a small device, projecting a holographic video into the air. It showed the interior of a ruined palace, vines creeping up the walls, but the air inside seemed almost alive, shimmering with energy. It was an ancient place, forgotten by the people of Earth, but Tony's video captured the unmistakable aura of concentrated spiritual energy.
Abhinav's jaw dropped. "Holy... I can't believe this. You're telling me this place is in Pune? Just a few hours from here?"
Tony grinned. "That's right. And the best part? No one else knows about it."
Abhinav's excitement was palpable. "We have to go there. Now. If we can break through to the Noble level, we can finally leave this planet behind. We can go anywhere."
But Tony held up a hand, stopping Abhinav in his tracks. "Not so fast. We can't go just yet."
Abhinav frowned, his excitement deflating. "What are you talking about? Why not?"
Tony sighed. "There's a meeting. A mandatory one. We have to submit our report."
Abhinav groaned, slapping his forehead. "Oh, right. The damn meeting. Where is it again?"
"China," Tony replied. "We need to report to Lu Shen, the country head there. All of us—representatives from the EU, USA, Africa, India—we all need to submit our findings. After that, the higher-ups will decide if this planet poses any threat to us."
Abhinav scoffed. "What a joke. This planet? A threat to us? These people are so far behind it's laughable. They're years away from Type 1 civilization, and they'll probably wipe themselves out before they even get there. Artificial intelligence, nuclear wars—take your pick."
Tony chuckled. "I know. But we still have to go. The higher-ups need their data. Once the meeting's over, though, we'll head straight to Pune. We'll break through, reach Noble level, and then request a transfer to a better planet. We won't be stuck here much longer."
Abhinav nodded, his mind already racing ahead to the possibilities. For the first time in years, he felt a spark of hope. They had a chance—a real chance—to escape the miserable assignment they had been given. To rise beyond the Half-Step Noble level and reclaim their future.
"Alright, let's get this meeting over with," Abhinav said, his tone resolute. "And then we're going to that palace."
Tony smiled. "Deal. Just a little longer, and we're out of here."
As the two men sat back in their seats, the city outside continued to buzz with life. But inside the apartment, the mood had shifted. The frustration, the anger, the weariness—all of it had been replaced by a singular focus. They were no longer just waiting for time to pass, no longer simply enduring their fate on this planet.
Now, they had a plan. A way out. And nothing would stand in their way.