In the elevator.
"Mr. Narad, do you feel that?" Om's tone was casual, but his eyes scanned the corner of the ceiling.
Narad's gaze flickered, a hint of fascination in his voice.
"Hoo… so you noticed too."
Om's lips curled into a faint smirk.
"I have a rough idea. But I'd rather wait for him to make the first move."
Narad mirrored the smirk, though his eyes carried a glint of calculation.
"I say we let him do whatever he wants. He might serve as bait… to lure out a bigger fish."
Om leaned back slightly, confidence bleeding into his words.
"You know… we'd make a pretty good duo."
Before Narad could reply, the presence they'd both been tracking simply—vanished.
One thought surfaced in both their minds at the same time.
So, he left.
The elevator reached its destination.
After leaving the elevator.
Narad slowed his steps, turning to Om.
"Well… since your battle didn't happen because of all this, I'll still settle the end of our bet."
Om's eyes lit with a trace of excitement.
"When?"
Narad's smile was easy, almost teasing.
"If you want… right now works just fine."
Om didn't hesitate. He nodded.
Both return back to the elevator.
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Hidden Sector – The Forest
The elevator doors closed behind them with a soft thunk. Narad didn't speak; he simply gestured for Om to follow.
They moved through a narrow service corridor lined with reinforced steel doors. The air smelled faintly metallic, the hum of hidden machinery pulsing through the walls. Om caught the faintest whiff of damp earth — strange, in such a sterile environment.
After a few minutes, Narad stopped before a security gate. He pressed his palm against a scanner. A series of locks disengaged one by one with muffled clacks, and the gate slid open to reveal a descending stone passage lit by faint bioluminescent strips.
Om raised an eyebrow.
"This doesn't look like part of the Facility's official tour."
Narad smirked. "It isn't. Only a handful of people even know this exists. And most of them wouldn't dare come here without a good reason."
"Why bring me then?"
"You'll see."
The deeper they went, the more the air changed. It grew heavier, warmer, and filled with the scent of greenery and wet soil. The hum of machinery faded into the distant chirr of unseen insects and the faint rustle of leaves.
They emerged into a cavernous dome — a hidden forest stretching as far as the eye could see under an artificial sky. Sunlight streamed down in warm golden shafts, but Om knew it was nothing more than a carefully engineered projection. The illusion, however, was flawless.
The ground was uneven, tangled with roots. Thick-trunked trees rose high into the canopy, their leaves whispering in a faint breeze. A winding stream cut through the clearing, its water sparkling unnaturally bright. The air was alive with sound — low growls, distant howls, the flutter of wings.
Om stopped in his tracks. "This is… inside the Facility?"
Narad stepped forward, letting the light fall across his face. "Yes. But it's more than just a habitat. It's a sanctuary."
Om followed his gaze and finally noticed the figures moving between the shadows — beasts of every shape and size.
A stag with antlers like polished silver, its hide gleaming faintly with an inner light.
A wolf with fur as black as obsidian, eyes like burning coals.
A bird large enough to blot out the sun overhead, its feathers sparking with crackles of electricity.
Scaled creatures with too many eyes. Feline predators with fur that shimmered between colors as they moved.
Om's eyes widened. "I've never seen… anything like this."
Narad's voice took on a subtle reverence.
"They are refugees, in a way. All of them came from our forbidden zone — one of the seven sealed regions created after the Catastrophe."
Om turned to him sharply. "Then how are they here?"
"They escaped. But they didn't flee out of greed or hunger. Something far more dangerous is moving in that zone, forcing even apex predators to abandon their territory." Narad's gaze darkened for a moment. "We don't yet know what it is. And that alone should worry you."
Om tilted his head. "And instead of… eliminating them, the Himalaya Nation decided to—"
"—give them sanctuary," Narad finished. "We protect them. Train them. Some are allowed to bond with chosen warriors. It's a mutually beneficial pact — they gain safety, and we gain allies who can fight beside us."
Om crossed his arms. "And I'm guessing this is where I come in."
Narad nodded. "Exactly. Bonding with a beast is more than a tool in battle — it's a connection of spirit. Some people never find a match. Others… well, sometimes the beast chooses you before you even realize it."
They walked deeper into the clearing until they reached its center — a flat, sun-dappled patch of grass surrounded by a semicircle of massive stones. Narad stopped and faced Om.
"Stand here. Wait. If any beast feels drawn to you, it will approach. Don't chase them. Don't call out. Let them decide."
Om arched a brow. "So I'm just… bait?"
Narad's lips twitched. "Something like that. But the kind of bait that can bite back."
Om gave a dry chuckle but obeyed, stepping into the center.
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The Waiting
At first, it was quiet save for the rustle of leaves. Then movement stirred in the shadows.
From the left, a great feline padded into view — muscles coiled under sleek, dark fur. Its golden eyes fixed on Om for a moment, its tail twitching… and then it turned away, vanishing into the brush.
From the right, a serpent as thick as Om's torso slithered closer, its scales a rippling pattern of emerald and black. It raised its head, forked tongue tasting the air — then slid away without a sound.
One by one, beasts appeared — curious, cautious — and one by one, they turned their backs.
Om's posture stiffened, his jaw tightening. So… none of them want me?
He glanced toward Narad, who stood with arms crossed, watching silently. The older man's expression was unreadable.
"Is this normal?" Om finally called.
"Depends on the person," Narad replied evenly. "Some attract many. Some, none at all."
Om's lips pressed into a thin line. "And I'm guessing you've already decided which category I fall into."
Narad didn't answer.
Om was on the verge of giving up when a small, uneven movement caught his eye.
From between two moss-covered boulders emerged a lion — but unlike the regal predators he'd imagined, this one was… frail.
Its mane was thin and patchy, its steps slow, as if each one cost it effort. A fresh scar ran down its left flank, and its ribs showed faintly beneath its fur. Its fur was dull, matted in places, and its tail had a slight limp sway.
It didn't have the aura of the other beasts — no sparks, no shimmer, no unnatural glow. Just a tired, battered animal.
Om frowned. "A lion? Here?"
Narad's voice was flat. "Lions are rare. Not because they're powerful… but because they're one of the weakest creatures found in any forbidden zone. They're carnivorous, slow to adapt, and poor at defending themselves against stronger predators. Honestly, it's a miracle they haven't gone extinct."
Om raised a brow. "So you're telling me this is basically… the bottom of the food chain?"
"Exactly. And that one…" Narad tilted his head, "is worse than most I've seen. No elemental affinity. No unique ability. No perk that would make it worth the risk. If anything, it will slow you down in a fight."
The lion stared at Om for a long moment, its golden eyes sharp yet… tired. Om crouched slowly, holding its gaze.
Narad stepped closer, his voice calm but firm.
"Don't choose it. Wait a month. A new batch will arrive — stronger, faster, healthier. You'd be a fool to waste your one of five chances bonding on that."
Om's hand hovered in the air. He remembered the way people had looked past him, just as these beasts had today. The countless times he'd been dismissed as too weak.
"This one…" Om said quietly, "I understand him."
Narad shook his head. "Understanding won't keep you alive during battles."
Om rose to his feet, voice steady. "Maybe not. But sometimes strength isn't about what you can do right now. It's about what you can grow into."
Narad's eyes narrowed. "You're saying you'll gamble your life on that lion?"
Om smirked faintly. "I've gambled on worse odds."
Without waiting for permission, he knelt and extended his hand. The lion hesitated, then stepped forward, pressing its scarred forehead against his palm.
A faint warmth spread from the point of contact — not a surge of power, but a steady, quiet presence.
Narad smirked and sighed, rubbing his temple.
"You're either a fool… or you know something I don't."
Om glanced at him over his shoulder. "Maybe both."
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Aftermath
They walked back toward the facility gates, the lion trailing at Om's side. It moved slowly, stopping often to catch its breath.
Narad gave it a sidelong glance. "It doesn't even have the stamina to make it to the other side of the clearing without pausing. You've really made my week harder."
Om shrugged. "You said this is a sanctuary, right? Then let's see how far a sanctuary and some effort can take him."
Narad's eyes lingered on him for a moment.
"Effort alone won't change what it is. You'll have to give it something it's never had before."
"What's that?" Om asked.
"A reason to fight."
The lion's ears flicked slightly, as if it understood.
Om reached down, brushing his hand against its mane. "Then I'll give him one."