📌 Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, events, and locations are purely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or entities is purely coincidental.
The city of Mumbai was alive even at night. Neon lights glowed across the skyline, the hum of traffic merging with the occasional blaring horn. Yet beneath this modern facade, a secret world thrived.
Raunak Virk stood outside an old warehouse tucked away in a forgotten industrial district. It was near midnight, and the air smelled of rust and damp concrete. A digital keypad glowed faintly beside a large steel door.
Entry Code: 7342.
He keyed it in. The door slid open with a mechanical hiss.
The interior was dimly lit, revealing a wide underground facility. The atmosphere felt charged — heavy. A long hallway stretched ahead, illuminated by strips of pale-blue LED lights along the floor. Cameras tracked his every movement.
"No turning back now."
He walked forward, hearing faint echoes of distant voices. As he reached the end of the corridor, another door opened automatically, revealing a large underground arena.
The place was massive — a hollowed-out space easily the size of a stadium. Concrete bleachers lined the circular pit below. About fifty other people, both men and women, stood scattered across the floor. They varied in appearance — some wore simple training gear, others dressed in high-tech suits or martial arts uniforms.
Raunak scanned the crowd. Most of them looked older and stronger than him. Some whispered, others stood quietly, eyes focused, evaluating the competition.
Above them, a glass observation deck overlooked the arena. Behind its reinforced windows, shadowy figures watched silently.
A loudspeaker crackled to life.
"Welcome, Candidates. You have been selected for the preliminary evaluation of Project E.L.I.T.E. I am Agent Zero."
Raunak recognized the voice instantly.
"Tonight, your abilities will be tested. Failure may result in injury... or worse. Succeed, and you may be granted official Ranker status under one of our global factions. Your Systems will guide you. You may choose to leave now — but understand this: opportunities like this do not come twice."
No one moved.
"Very well. Prepare yourselves."
A new System notification appeared before Raunak.
[Emergency Quest Activated!]
Preliminary Test: Survival Round
Survive for 15 minutes
Opponents: Simulated Combat Drones
Bonus Objectives:
• Disable 3 or more drones (+EXP Bonus)
• Survive without injury (+Skill Bonus)
Failure Penalty:
System Lock for 48 Hours
Medical Penalty (Randomized)
Raunak felt a lump in his throat. This wasn't some simple tutorial anymore. This was real.
Suddenly, panels opened across the arena walls. Metallic shapes unfolded as multiple humanoid drones stepped out — sleek, black machines with glowing red eyes and high-speed servos. Each one was armed with retractable blades and batons.
A low hum filled the air as the drones activated.
The loudspeaker spoke one final time.
"Begin."
The drones charged instantly, splitting into small groups and targeting the candidates. The arena exploded into chaos.
Raunak barely sidestepped as a drone lunged at him. His body reacted faster than his mind could process.
[Passive Skill Activated: Reactive Instincts (Lv. 1)]
His heart pounded. The drone's baton swung horizontally — he ducked beneath it and kicked its leg joint. The impact caused the drone to stumble.
Fast, but not unbeatable.
Out of the corner of his eye, Raunak saw others battling fiercely. A tall Korean fighter flipped over a drone with parkour-like movements. A heavily muscled American simply smashed one apart with raw strength. A slender Japanese girl sliced a drone in half with a katana, her movements precise and deadly.
Raunak's opponent adjusted its stance and attacked again. This time, the baton came down vertically.
"Predict the angle... counter."
He shifted sideways, grabbing the baton with both hands. The drone's servos resisted, but Raunak twisted with all his might, using its own momentum to pull it off balance. The drone toppled forward. He stomped down hard on its head, crushing the sensor core.
[Drone Disabled — +10 EXP]
7 minutes remaining.
Sweat dripped from his forehead. His breathing was ragged, but adrenaline kept him moving. Another drone targeted him. Two this time.
"Damn."
Both charged simultaneously. Raunak sprinted backwards, barely dodging the dual strikes. His mind screamed at him to retreat, but the System flashed again.
[Optional Objective Available: Disable 3 Drones (2/3 Complete)]
He couldn't quit now.
The first drone lunged with a thrust — he sidestepped. The second followed immediately, swinging horizontally. Raunak dropped to the ground, rolling between them. As he came up, his hand found a loose baton discarded by a fallen candidate.
Time to fight back.
He gripped the weapon tightly, charging at the first drone. He swung low, smashing the baton into its knee joint. Sparks flew as the joint gave out. Raunak followed up with a second strike to the head, disabling it instantly.
[Drone Disabled — +10 EXP]
[Optional Objective Completed — Bonus EXP Awarded]
The second drone adjusted its stance, targeting him again.
"One left."
3 minutes remaining.
This one moved faster — its servos humming louder, its programming adapting.
Raunak circled cautiously. The drone lunged again with a sweeping kick. He blocked with his baton, absorbing the impact but nearly losing his balance.
[Reflex Check Passed]
[Reactive Instincts: Slight Improvement Noted.]
His System was learning — evolving alongside him.
"Use that."
He baited the drone into another attack, stepping just outside its range. As the drone extended, Raunak threw the baton like a spear, striking its sensor directly.
The drone twitched, short-circuited, and collapsed.
[Drone Disabled — +10 EXP]
[Skill Proficiency Increased.]
Time Remaining: 0:00
[Survival Quest Completed!]
[Total EXP Gained: 50]
[Level Up: 3]
[Skill: Reactive Instincts (Lv. 2)]
Raunak stood panting in the middle of the arena. All around him, other candidates had either succeeded or failed. Several lay injured, being carried away by medics. The remaining survivors — roughly twenty — stood silently, their Systems displaying similar notifications.
The loudspeaker activated again.
"Phase One: Complete. Congratulations to our survivors."
A large section of the arena floor shifted, revealing a rising platform. The remaining candidates were instructed to step onto it.
Raunak followed.
As the platform ascended, he caught glances from others. Some looked curious. Others looked hostile.
A tall man with short silver-dyed hair approached him, smirking.
"Not bad, rookie," the man said in lightly accented English. "You're fast for a first-timer."
Raunak hesitated. "Thanks... I guess."
The man extended his hand. "Name's Kenji. Japan."
Raunak shook his hand cautiously. "Raunak. India."
Kenji smiled. "We'll see if you can keep up in Phase Two."
Before Raunak could reply, another voice chimed in from behind.
"Don't get cocky, Kenji."
A tall woman with short black hair and sharp green eyes stepped forward. She wore tight combat gear and carried a pair of high-tech gauntlets.
"Name's Alexa. USA. You both better keep your heads down."
Kenji raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. We're all friends until the real fight starts, right?"
Raunak said nothing but kept his guard up. Clearly, everyone here was ambitious — and dangerous.
The platform reached a higher floor — a sleek, modern facility with glowing screens and agents in black suits. Behind thick bulletproof glass, several figures watched them intently.
Agent Zero's voice once again echoed through the room.
"Phase One was merely survival. Phase Two will test your ability to adapt, strategize, and work as a team."
The candidates exchanged glances.
"You will be divided into teams of five. Each team will face an unknown scenario generated by the System. Your survival — and your ability to complete the mission — will determine whether you advance."
Raunak's System pinged again.
[Team Assignment Complete]
Team 7 Members:
Raunak Virk (India)
Kenji Takeda (Japan)
Alexa Morgan (USA)
Min-Joon Lee (Korea)
Elena Kuznetsov (Russia)
Raunak studied his teammates as their names appeared. This was no random group. Each of them had already proven themselves.
Agent Zero continued.
"You have five minutes to prepare. The simulation will begin shortly. May the strongest rise."
The countdown timer appeared:
Preparation Time Remaining: 04:59
Raunak exhaled slowly.
This is only the beginning.
End of Chapter 3