"Where am I?" Anshul murmured, slowly sitting up on the bed. His gaze swept across the starkly furnished room: a single bed with plain linens, a modest table, one chair. The simplicity made the small space seem larger, yet undeniably empty. Shadows danced softly on the bare walls, cast by the dim light filtering through a small window. Taking a deep breath, Anshul tried to remember how he ended up in this austere, secluded place.

{Oh, you're awake! Since you're up, I've been dying to know—what happened back there? How did you manage to beat that guy?}

"Beat him? You must not have been paying attention. It was the other way around," Anshul retorted.

{Really? But you look fine to me.}

Memories flashed through Anshul's mind as he attempted to calm the storm within him. The last clear memory was of collapsing, utterly drained, followed by an unexpected twist—Ron turning against his allies to aid him.

"That man helped me? But why?" Anshul pondered aloud, his voice laced with confusion.

{Uhh, are you sure it was him? Maybe it was someone else?} the voice in his head interjected skeptically.

"I wasn't fully conscious, but I do faintly remember his assistance. Yet, the real question remains—why?" Anshul’s voice was tinged with frustration as he tried to piece together the fragmented memories and unclear motives.

{Maybe he’s after the power for himself?} the voice suggested, hinting at darker intentions.

"Perhaps... Oh, that reminds me! I might have found something about that power."

As Anshul’s thoughts raced, the door creaked open. Ron entered, balancing a plate of sandwiches and a glass of water, his movements fluid despite the complexity of their situation. He placed the items on the table and turned to face Anshul, their eyes meeting in a tense, uncertain camaraderie.

{Did he really save me?}

Driven by hunger, Anshul moved towards the table, his eyes on the sandwiches. But as he reached out, Ron picked up a sandwich and started eating, leaving Anshul staring in disbelief.

{Ha ha ha! You thought the sandwich was for you?}

CHEW CHEW

The room echoed with the sound of Ron chewing, the mundane sound strangely jarring in the silence that hung between them. Anshul's confusion was clear, prompting Ron to look up, amusement in his gaze.

"If you want some, make your own. Ingredients are in the kitchen," Ron said, his tone teasing.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Can I at least know where the kitchen is?" Anshul asked.

"No," Ron replied bluntly, his face expressionless.

"Excuse me?" Anshul's brows furrowed in confusion.

Ron’s smirk widened. "Haha, just messing with you, kid. Lighten up a bit. Just turn right after leaving this room, and you’ll find it," he advised, leaning back with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

{Yup, this guy gets more interesting by the minute.}

.............

Anshul stepped out of the room and headed toward the kitchen, where he began devouring everything in sight. After nearly emptying the kitchen, grabbing and consuming every item within reach—including raw vegetables—he finally returned to the room.

"Damn, I thought you would never stop eating," Ron commented, a hint of amusement in his voice as he watched Anshul wipe his mouth.

{Is he going to make us pay for the food?}

"I couldn't help it," Anshul replied, his voice filled with a mix of satisfaction and surprise. "It felt like I hadn't eaten in days."

"That's because you've been unconscious for three days," Ron revealed.

"Three days?" Anshul's voice betrayed his surprise.

{3 days? No wonder i felt something strange, when i woke up}

"Yeah," Ron confirmed. "Surprised? I was too, especially by how quickly you've recovered. Normally, someone would take about 10 to 12 days just to wake up, plus a month of bed rest."

"What?" Anshul's confusion deepened.

"It's pretty clear, isn't it? You tapped into a power you couldn't fully control to take on that idiot" Ron explained matter-of-factly.

{Is he talking about the POWER PUNCH}

Upon hearing Ron’s response, Anshul’s mind drifted back to the fight, to the moment his fist connected with a power he barely understood. He remembered how the voice had seized control, guiding his arm with a ferocious strength that was not entirely his own. The punch had left him drained, his energy sapped as though he had run for miles.

"What happened to that guy afterward?" Anshul asked, curiosity tinged with a hint of concern.

"He blew up," Ron said nonchalantly, as if describing an everyday occurrence.

Anshul paused, unsure whether it was the truth or just a joke. "Blew up? You mean, he died?"

Ron looked at him with a mysterious smile. "If that’s how you want it to say"

{This guy is funny but not safe}

The room fell silent as Anshul processed the possibility. His thoughts raced, and a feeling of unease settled over him. Should he run away? He glanced at Ron, then asked cautiously, "Can I leave this place?"

"Sure, if you want to die," Ron replied with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes.

Anshul's heart skipped a beat. "Are you planning to kill me then?"

{Nah I don't think so. He have done so earlier if he wanted to.}

Ron laughed, a sound that seemed more mocking than amused. "I don’t have to take the initiative. You’ll likely kill yourself soon enough."

The blunt statement sent a chill down Anshul’s spine. He recalled the danger of the VB, Dr Verma told him about and the necessity of collecting the VBs. "I just need to collect the VB fast" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ron's expression sobered. "It's useless to search for more VB now. Ataru and Aruna have already collected most of them, and they’re still collecting as we speak."

"Why would they do that?" Anshul pressed, needing to understand the larger game at play.

"That’s a secret" Ron responded curtly, his gaze deflecting any further inquiry.

Frustration flared within Anshul, but it was quickly replaced by a desperate need to learn more, to understand. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his tone earnest.

Ron's features softened slightly, hinting at a deeper, more complex agenda. "I will teach you everything you need to know about the future dangers," he offered, "but only if you agree to become my student."

"What?"