“Commander, we got a new lead with these unusual events in Patna.” A soldier said and handed a phone, in which Henrik’s video was playing.
“Our experts had predicted this, but seeing with our own eyes makes it difficult to believe.” Commander replied in bewilderment and instructed. “Tell everyone to get ready; we have done enough camping for these last days. It’s time for some action.”
“Yes, sir,” the soldier replied promptly.
With his command, the whole group of armies who were surrounding the Patna from all directions became active and moved from their hidden spots. At the main camp, one helicopter flew in the air carrying the commander, one sniper, and two regular soldiers with a piolet.
“Do not try to obstruct them; let’s observe for now and gather intel.” Commander instructed while watching the live stream.
“Yes, Sir.” Everyone said it in unison.
Dhruv and Henrik fought with each other intensely, but in the end, Henrik lost to Anbu. At the same time, on the helicopter, one of the Dhruv’s ‘Star Clone’ flew stealthily. And went inside the sniper’s body.
“Now is the chance; fire that other fighter.” Commander order.
But to his surprise, the sniper didn’t shoot. Dhruv was copying his memories, but it took time. A moment later he replied.
“Obstruction in line of sight.” Sniper A replied in confidence.
Commander looked at him for a moment then ordered the Piolet, “Let’s get a little closer.”
They went above the mansion, and the sniper A took a shot at Mia. Bang!
“Good shot! Where is sniper B?” Commander praises and asks a soldier.
“He is not in place.” He replied.
“Hmm”
Shambu, hidden within the black cloud, saw this unexpected change and bloated with joy as he was still unsure how Henrik lost.
The stillness between Shambu and Mia was shattered, as a dark, ominous cloud began to seep through the gaps in the white clouds above, making its way ominously towards the ground where four individuals stood. Among them was Mia, just got shot from a sniper; Nico, who had rushed to her side to ensure her safety; Tara, focused on healing Dhruv, who was visibly battered, covered in bruises and blood staining his clothes.
Dhruv’s gaze flicked from Mia to the helicopter, then to the encroaching black cloud looming closer with each passing moment. Above all of this adding to the chaos, the ground soldiers had circled the area. The sense of foreboding was palpable as he assessed the chaotic scene. “This doesn’t look good at all,” he muttered under his breath. “Plans might seem solid in theory, but once you’re out here in the thick of it, it’s a whole different ball game. Huff, you can really feel the danger creeping up on us.” His voice was heavy with concern and the weight of their dire situation.
Taking charge, he called out to the group with authority. “Everyone, let’s get inside the house and huddle together around me. Tara, focus on healing Mia; I can move now.” His shout rang out, echoing against the damaged walls as he issued his orders.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the group sprang into action, moving toward the dilapidated house, its walls scarred from Henrik’s earlier fall. Just as they settled inside, the ominous black cloud drew nearer. Dhruv steeled himself, tapping into his ability ‘Soul Absorb’ at full strength. With a concentrated effort, he conjured a protective dome that enveloped everyone, creating a shield against the encroaching darkness. The cloud met the dome and began to dissipate rapidly, absorbed into the shimmering barrier.
Nico, taken aback by the intensity of Dhruv’s power, quickly redirected his focus back to Mia, who lay limply in his arms. Tara wasted no time, her hands glowing as she worked to heal Mia’s wounds. Slowly, Mia’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Nico’s concerned gaze. Tears glistened in his eyes, and he held her tightly. “You idiot, you’re squeezing me,” Mia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, a hint of irritation mixed with affection.
Nico released her, a smile breaking through his worry. Turning to Tara, he expressed his gratitude, “If it wasn’t for you, she might not have died.”
Mia shot a narrowed glance at Nico, annoyance curling her lips as she lightly punched his arm. “What do you mean, ‘might have died’? I’d just be leaving this world; don’t get all sentimental on me. We’re still not out of the woods yet.”
Nico, his brow furrowed in concern, turned to Dhruv, seeking direction. “So, what’s our next move? What do we do now?” The urgency in his voice reflected the gravity of their situation, with the looming black cloud serving as a constant reminder of the threat they faced.
“This is three-way battle now. We and Black Souls are on stalemate and can’t defend against the sniper’s bullet. It will depend on what the army in the helicopter is thinking, but I’m not a person who leaves his life on chance, we will wait for a bit then try to escape from here.” Dhruv explained the next plan of action and everyone agreed.
“Is there someone on the black cloud?” The Commander squinted, straining his eyes to pierce through the haze.
“Yes, I caught a brief glimpse of him when the clouds shifted,” Sniper A replied, his voice steady but laced with tension.
“They can even fly, and here we are stuck with this noisy junk,” a frustrated soldier muttered, gesturing toward their helicopter.
Stolen novel; please report.
“At least our weapons are effective; otherwise, we’d be the ones on the chopping block,” another soldier interjected, trying to bolster morale amidst the mounting anxiety.
“Okay, enough chatter. Relay my orders to the ground units; they need to head towards that broken house and leave no survivors. Both snipers, focus on that flyer in the air and bring him down,” the Commander commanded, a smirk creeping across his face, his confidence surfacing amidst chaos.
Sniper A took the shot, sending three bullets flying towards the ominous black cloud, but none struck their target. Anbu, sensing the impending danger, quickly transmitted to Shambu. “Get back now!” he ordered with urgency.
Shambu halted his aggressive advance towards the four figures, realising the gravity of their predicament as the black cloud ominously shifted direction, now seemingly intent on the mansion. The Commander’s expression shifted from amusement to bewilderment. “Is he attacking us? Increase our altitude immediately!” he barked, but the black cloud interposed itself between the mansion and their helicopter, then vanished into thin air.
Dumbfounded, the Commander barely processed the situation before a gunshot rang out. “Bang!” Sniper A’s voice pierced the silence. “An individual just jumped and entered the mansion. Shot connected to his left arm.”
“Good!” The Commander’s amusement returned, his earlier frustration evaporating. “Split the ground units and encircle this small mountain. Let’s deal with the occupants of that broken house first.”
“Yes, Sir,” came the prompt reply from a soldier, but Sniper A frowned, lost in thought. ‘The main body shares all of our senses, but his mind is heavily occupied with maintaining four ‘Star Clones’ at once. Hopefully, he is seeing what I’m seeing; we need to develop a more efficient communication method instead of this one-sided sense sharing.’
Meanwhile, Dhruv noticed the black cloud’s movement and instinctively stepped out onto the street to escape, his heart racing as he realised their options were rapidly dwindling. Soldiers were closing in, assault rifles in their hand. He turned to Tara, lowering his voice to a whisper, “I don’t think we can make it out.”
“What are we supposed to do now? We’re surrounded. Is this the end of our mission? How did we let those Black Souls get the upper hand?” Nico’s frustration bubbled over.
“I reckon they planned this as well. With one swift action, they managed to take us all out despite suffering losses themselves,” Mia added, echoing Nico’s sentiments.
“If we’re going to die anyway, let’s take them down with us by following our original plan,” Dhruv declared, determination igniting within him. He pivoted and sprinted towards the mansion, 150 meters away; the others, sharing his newfound conviction, quickly followed suit. Bullets whizzed past them; some strayed wide, but others found their mark. With Mia’s skills they got away—she was not fully recovered but still quick on her feet—they ran as if their lives depended on it.
“Are they immune to bullets?” a soldier wondered aloud; confusion etched on his face.
“No, they seem to have some sort of healing technique that’s allowing them to recover rapidly,” Sniper A responded, his focus unwavering.
“Whatever it is, judging by how desperately they’re fleeing, we have an opportunity to capture them. Order our men to try to make them surrender, if possible,” the Commander commanded, his voice firm.
Anbu looked at the four and cursed, “Huh! Trying to make me board your sinking ship, and think I’ll just sit silently.”
After Anbu murmured a few words under his breath, he raised his hand with a decisive gesture. Instantly, twenty conscious puppets emerged into the brothers’ view, each armed with handguns that glinted menacingly in the low light. “Shambu,” he commanded, his voice cutting through the tension, “surround the entire mansion with your black fog. We’re throwing down the gauntlet—it’s an all-out war now.”
Shambu hesitated for a moment; his brow furrowed with doubt. “You only have eight puppets left,” he reminded Anbu, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Anbu replied without a hint of worry, “Yeah, I know! Just do as I say; it’s their last moment anyway. Henrik left me with a gift, you will see soon.” His confidence radiated, a stark contrast to the grim reality they faced.
Nico, shouted happily, “Come on, we’ve only got 50 meters left. We’ve got to move now.”
As the he said that, the entire mansion swiftly became engulfed in a thick blanket of black fog; group of four and nearly 50 soldiers halted their steps. They were caught off-guard by this unexpected turn of events. From inside, guns started firing bullets that were aimed at everybody.
Fifteen soldiers fell, lifeless on the ground, leaving the rest scrambling for cover behind the trees that dotted the estate. Amidst the turmoil, Dhruv and Nico instinctively moved to protect Tara and Mia, respectively. They took the brunt of the bullets that whizzed through the air, each one a harrowing reminder of their perilous situation. Struggling to maintain their footing under the onslaught, they found refuge behind a large tree nearby, taking a moment to breathe while assessing the scene.
From the smoke, emerged twenty civilians, they were all expressionless as they clutched guns in their hands. “These puppets again, and so many of them,” Nico spat, frustration evident in his voice.
“They’re your problem to handle; my skill isn’t long-range,” Dhruv said, shifting his focus as they prepared for the next wave of combat.
A renewed battle erupted, with Nico and the soldiers launching their offensive against the puppets. Chaos reigned as bullets flew in all directions, spears pierced through the air, and the ground was stained with blood from both sides. The once-beautiful mansion, with its elegant facade, was now marked by the devastating impact of rifle shots, its walls shattering under the relentless fire. The once-fresh scent of neatly mowed grass morphed into the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood, filling the air with an ominous reminder of the violence that unfolded.
As the battle raged on, Nico found himself riddled with bullet wounds; exhaustion threatened to overtake him, yet he pushed himself to persevere. In a moment of desperation, Mia unleashed her powerful healing skill, ‘Harmony,’ enveloping Nico and the remaining soldiers in a soothing wave of restoration.
Initially, a look of confusion swept across the soldiers’ faces, soon replaced by expressions of gratitude mixed with disquiet. “We were attacking them just a moment ago, and now we’re receiving healing. It’s shameful,” one soldier muttered, grappling with the irony of their situation.
With renewed determination, the sounds of gunfire erupted again, the rapid ‘pew’ of shots echoing through the fog. Yet, this time, Nico remained on the sidelines, taking a moment to recover alongside his comrades.
Slowly, the remaining five puppets began to fall, one by one, with no losses on the soldiers’ side. They approached the lifeless bodies cautiously to ensure they were truly defeated. With meticulous intent, their attention shifted toward the large tree. Soldiers moved in formation, a testament to their training and urgency, as they approached the tree, one of them shouting, “Come out with your hands in the air!”
“Idiots! They’re on the other side of the mansion! Move, now!” The shout of the commander crackled through the receiver, urgency lacing his tone.
All soldiers quickly redirected their efforts and witnessed the figures disappearing into the mansion through the thick layer of black fog. One soldier, cautious yet curious, reached out to touch the opaque curtain of smoke, only to emit a startled cry. “Ahhhhh! Do not approach.” And asked, “Commander! What should we do now? We can’t enter!”