The wind was stronger up there.
A steady current moved across the elevated ground, carrying the distant sounds of the city below. The place was quiet, isolated, perfect for something that wasn't meant to be seen.
Ishaan stood at the center of the open space.
The card was still fresh in his mind.
He wasn't alone.
Kabir and Aisha stood a short distance behind him, with Anaya beside them. No one had said it out loud, but none of them were going to let him come alone.
Kabir stretched his arms.
"So this is the place."
Aisha scanned the area carefully.
"Open ground. No cover. No distractions."
Anaya stayed silent, her eyes moving nervously across the empty space.
Then,
Footsteps.
Calm.
Unhurried.
A figure approached from the opposite side.
Reyansh.
He walked forward with the same composed expression, hands in his pockets, as if this was just another normal meeting.
His eyes landed on Ishaan.
Then shifted slightly to the others.
A faint smile appeared.
"…You brought them."
Kabir stepped forward slightly.
"Problem?"
Reyansh didn't respond to him.
His gaze returned to Ishaan.
"I said come alone."
Ishaan didn't move.
"They came on their own."
A brief silence followed.
Then Reyansh exhaled softly.
"…Doesn't matter."
He stepped closer.
The distance between them closed slowly.
"You've improved."
It wasn't a question.
Ishaan replied calmly.
"So have you."
A faint smirk appeared on Reyansh's face.
"Good."
For a moment, the air itself felt tense.
Heavy.
Like something was about to snap.
Kabir cracked his knuckles.
"Alright, enough talking."
Aisha didn't interrupt this time.
Even she could feel it.
This fight was inevitable.
Reyansh lifted his hand slightly.
Not fully.
Just enough.
Ishaan's body tensed instinctively.
He knew what was coming.
Control.
This time—
He was ready.
Their eyes locked.
The space between them felt like it disappeared.
Then—
A sound tore through the air.
A deep, monstrous roar.
Loud enough to shake the silence.
Everyone froze.
The sound didn't come from them.
It came from the city.
All heads turned instantly.
In the distance, beyond the slope of the hill, a thick cloud of smoke was rising into the sky.
Dark.
Heavy.
And growing.
Even from where they stood, faint screams could be heard.
Panic.
Chaos.
Kabir frowned.
"…That doesn't sound small."
Aisha's expression changed.
"That's not normal."
Anaya's voice trembled slightly.
"…People are there."
Silence fell for a brief second.
Then Ishaan moved.
He stepped forward.
Not toward Reyansh.
Toward the city.
"We're going."
Kabir didn't hesitate.
"Finally, something worth punching."
Aisha nodded once.
"Stay alert. This won't be like before."
Anaya followed, her expression determined despite the fear.
Reyansh stood still for a moment.
Watching them.
Then—
He smiled slightly.
"…Interesting."
Without another word, he turned and followed.
The tension between them wasn't gone.
Just delayed.
For now.
Ishaan looked ahead.
The smoke rising.
The distant chaos growing louder with every second.
His fist tightened.
This wasn't training anymore.
This was real.
"Move," he said.
And the next moment,
All of them started running.
Straight toward the chaos.