Ayaan, Aditya, Anshuman, and Anant were sitting in class, chilling like legends. They laughed, cracked jokes, and acted like they owned the place. The girls in the class couldn't stop staring. Some whispered, some giggled, and one even dropped her pen just to get Ayaan's attention.
Then the door opened and the teacher entered. "Everyone, there's an announcement," she said. "Winter holidays will begin now. One month off."
The class burst into cheers—but the girls looked sad.
"No Ayaan for one week?"
"Ugh, what will we do without seeing them?"
"They're the only reason I come to school!"
The boys smirked, picked up their bags, and walked out together like a squad in slow motion. On the road, while talking and teasing each other, they passed by a familiar place—the game shop where it had all started.
They stopped. Looked at each other. Then walked in.
The dusty old shop looked the same… but something was glowing on the shelf.
Ayaan stepped closer and read the box aloud. "The Secret of Antarctica."
They looked at each other again. Anshuman said, "Should we...?"
Aditya grinned. "Obviously."
Anant nodded. "Let's take it."
They bought the game, went home to Ayaan's place, and opened the box. But this time, instead of jumping right in, they noticed something new inside.
A small note said:
"This game is not what it seems. Read the instructions first."
Ayaan unfolded the paper slowly.
"Alright," he said. "Let's see what this game really is."
Ayaan read the instructions out loud:
"There are no superpowers. No magic. No shortcuts. You must figure out the truth using your mind, teamwork, and instincts. Only by discovering the Secret of Antarctica… will you end the game."
The room went silent.
Aditya raised an eyebrow. "So… no powers this time?"
Anshuman sighed, "That means I can't punch a mountain again?"
Anant shrugged, "Kinda makes it cooler though. Like real-life survival."
They all looked at each other.
Ayaan smiled. "It'll be good."
They placed their hands on the game.
The screen flashed. The room turned white.
And then—everything changed.
When they entered the game, everything felt strangely real. Each of them—Ayaan, Aditya, Anshuman, and Anant—found themselves waking up inside separate wooden houses, scattered across a small, peaceful-looking village. The sky was bright blue, birds chirped, and a cool breeze moved through the trees. For a moment, it didn't feel like a dangerous game.
Ayaan stepped out first, stretching his arms. "What is this place?" he muttered.
From the other houses, Aditya, Anshuman, and Anant also came out, looking around in confusion.
"Is this some kind of starting village?" Anshuman asked.
"Looks like it," Aditya replied, cracking his knuckles. "But the real question is—what now?"
Before anyone could answer, a voice came from behind them.
"Umm... hey guys?"
They turned around, shocked.
Standing there was Affan, looking just as confused as them. He scratched his head. "What's happening? Where are we?"
"Affan?!" Ayaan blinked. "How did you get here?"
"When you were opening the game... I was standing nearby. And when you clicked it, I kind of… jumped in too." He grinned nervously. "And now I'm here."
The boys stared at him for a second, then Aditya laughed. "Well, looks like we got one more teammate."
"Yeah," Anant nodded. "That's actually good for us."
Anshuman smirked. "As long as you don't slow us down, Affan."
Affan raised an eyebrow. "Bro, I bet I'll outrun you."
Everyone laughed. The group was now five. Stronger. Louder. And ready.
But none of them knew—the peaceful village was just the beginning.
The group spread out across the small village, searching for any clues about what this world was or what they were supposed to do. Ayaan checked under a wooden bench, Aditya kicked open a barrel (expecting treasure, but finding only potatoes), Anant climbed on a roof for a better view, and Anshuman examined the ground like some detective.
Meanwhile, Affan stood near the well, patting his clothes. "There's nothing here, man," he muttered.
But just then—something crinkled in his shirt pocket.
"Wait… what's this?"
He pulled out a folded note, yellowed and old-looking, like it had been there forever.
"GUYS!" Affan shouted, waving it in the air. "I found something!"
Everyone rushed over, crowding around him.
"Read it!" Ayaan said.
Affan unfolded the note. The handwriting was jagged, but clear:
To the one who arrived late but will make a big difference—
In your front pocket, you'll find gadgets. Use them wisely.
They are your team's key to survival in this strange world.
P.S. — They may look normal, but each has a hidden feature.
Aditya's eyes widened. "Wait. Gadgets?"
Affan quickly reached into his front pocket—it looked empty from outside, but somehow his hand went deep inside, like it was a bag with no bottom.
"What kind of Mary Poppins sorcery—" Anshuman began.
Affan pulled out five small gadgets, each shaped differently. One looked like a watch, another like a pen, one like glasses, a wristband, and a tiny cube.
"Whoa," Anant said. "What are these?"
They all stared in amazement. Ayaan slowly said, "These… might be the tools we need to survive. This game isn't just about fighting."
Aditya grabbed the cube and held it up. "Let's figure out what each one does. Who knows—these could save our lives."
Their journey had truly begun.
The boys sat inside one of the wooden houses, the gadgets spread out on the floor in front of them like mysterious treasures from another world.
Anshuman poked the cube with a stick. "What even is this stuff?"
Aditya picked up the wristband and tried to wear it backward. "Maybe it's a health tracker? Or a mosquito repellent?"
Affan, still curious, fiddled with the small door-shaped gadget he had pulled from his pocket earlier. It was smooth, about the size of a notebook, and looked like a mini door with a tiny handle.
"Guys, check this out." Affan placed the door against the wall.
It instantly grew in size—becoming a full-sized wooden door, standing tall and strange in the middle of the room.
Everyone jumped back.
"WHOA! What is that?" Anant shouted.
Affan slowly opened the door. On the other side…
Nothing. Just open air.
No light, no magic glow, no monsters—just an empty view, like someone had cut a door-shaped hole into reality.
"Maybe it's broken?" Anshuman said, peeking through. "Or it leads to disappointment."
But Ayaan narrowed his eyes. His brain clicked into detective mode.
He stared at the door… then at the gadgets… then at the empty space.
"Wait a second…" Ayaan stood up. "Is this… an Anywhere Door?"
The others looked at him.
"You mean like… we can go anywhere we want?" Aditya asked.
Ayaan nodded slowly. "Let's test it."
He closed his eyes, concentrated, and whispered,
"Take us to a mountain."
Then, he opened the door again—
And the other side showed a massive snow-covered mountain, wind howling, clouds drifting below their feet.
Their jaws dropped.
"No. Freakin'. Way," Anant said.
Affan screamed excitedly, "BROOOO WE HAVE A PORTAL!"
One by one, they stepped through—feeling cold air slap their faces. They stood on the edge of a massive mountain, with eagles flying above and icy rocks all around.
"THIS. IS. EPIC," Aditya shouted, arms in the air.
They stayed for a few minutes, amazed by the view, then Ayaan said, "Okay, let's not waste it. We should test more later. Back to the house!"
They turned around and walked back through the door—landing safely inside the warm house again.
They stared at each other in silence.
Affan smirked. "So… we've got gadgets, a door to anywhere, and no villains yet."
Anshuman grinned. "What do we do now?"
Aditya cracked his knuckles. "Whatever we want."
But little did they know…
The world outside was about to change.
After returning from the mountain, the group sat in a circle inside the house, still hyped from the test.
Ayaan stood up. "Alright. We're not here to chill around. We came to find the secret of this world and end the game."
Aditya nodded. "Let's go to Antarctica."
Everyone froze.
Anant blinked. "Bro… did you just say Antarctica?"
Affan smirked. "Easy. We've got the Anywhere Door. Just open it and step in, right?"
Without wasting time, Affan placed the door again, and Ayaan stepped forward, focusing hard.
"Take us… to Antarctica."
He opened the door.
WHOOSH!
A burst of freezing white wind exploded through the doorway. They could barely see anything—just snow, ice, and a never-ending blizzard.
Still, full of courage, they stepped forward...
BIG MISTAKE.
The moment they crossed the door, their bodies froze.
"AAAHH—MY NOSE!" Anshuman yelled.
"M-MY EYEBROWS JUST TURNED INTO ICE!" Aditya shouted, already jumping back through the door.
Affan slipped and fell face-first into snow, then crawled back in like a seal escaping doom.
Even Ayaan, always calm, had ice forming on his eyelashes. "Retreat! RETREAT!!"
They all rushed back into the house, slamming the door behind them, shivering like penguins who'd seen a ghost.
Anant wrapped himself in a carpet. "Never. Doing. That. Again."
Ayaan panted. "Okay. Lesson learned. Antarctica is… actually cold."
After a long minute of recovering and warming up, Aditya stood up.
"We need supplies. Jackets. Gloves. Boots. Maybe hot soup. And sunglasses. I want to look awesome in Antarctica."
They all nodded. The preparation began.
— They found thick jackets inside one of the rooms. — Affan discovered a pair of thermal goggles. — Anshuman found a box labeled "Snow Gear: Style + Warmth". — Ayaan took a black and red coat that made him look like a serious explorer. — Aditya wore an all-white winter suit and said, "Now I blend in. Like a deadly snow ninja."
Once they were geared up, they stood in front of the Anywhere Door again.
Affan grinned. "Now we're ready."
Ayaan: "Let's find the secret of Antarctica… and end this game."
He opened the door—snow blasted in again, but this time, they were ready.
One by one, they stepped into the frozen white wasteland, looking like a team of legendary adventurers.
The game had truly begun.
And Antarctica… was waiting.
They trudged through the icy wilderness, their boots crunching in the snow. The biting wind stung their faces, but their warm gear kept them moving forward.
Ayaan glanced back at Affan, who was carefully folding the Anywhere Door into a small flat square, slipping it safely into his pocket.
"Affan, keep that door with you," Ayaan said firmly. "We might need a quick escape."
Affan nodded, gripping the pocket tightly.
After a long, cold walk, Ayaan stopped and looked around. "I don't think we'll find anything out here on the surface."
The others murmured agreement, shivering as they scanned the white horizon.
"Then what now?" Anant asked, rubbing his hands together.
Affan smiled and pulled out a strange, glowing beam device from his jacket. "I think this can cut through ice."
They followed Affan as he raised the beam and began slicing through a thick sheet of ice. The beam hummed and glowed bright blue as it carved through the frozen wall.
Suddenly, the ice gave way beneath their feet.
They tumbled down into a huge, cavernous room lit by soft blue lights.
In the center, encased in a thick block of ice, was a small cat—quiet, peaceful, and frozen in place.
Ayaan carefully warmed the ice with the beam until it cracked and melted away.
The cat's body shimmered and expanded—suddenly transforming into a giant mechanical beast with glowing red eyes, towering over them.
Everyone froze.
"What do we do?" Anant whispered.
Aditya squared his shoulders, cracked his knuckles, and stepped forward.
"I'll handle this."
He swung a powerful punch at the machine's leg.
CRASH! His hand slammed hard against cold metal—but the force bounced back, sending a sharp pain shooting through his wrist.
"Ahh! My hand—It hurts!" Aditya grimaced, clutching it.
The others couldn't help but laugh.
Anshuman teased, "In this world, no superpowers—our superhero's hurting already!"
Aditya scowled but shot back, "Hey, first I gotta defeat it before you laugh, alright?"
They all grinned, readying themselves.
This fight was going to be harder than they thought.
Affan reached into his jacket and pulled out a small but heavy-looking device — a mini cannon, sleek and compact with glowing blue accents humming softly.
"Who wants to try this?" Affan asked, holding it out like a challenge.
The mini cannon felt surprisingly solid in his hands, cold metal mixed with mysterious energy.
Ayaan studied it carefully. "This might pack a punch strong enough to take down that machine."
Aditya flexed his injured hand but nodded. "I'm in, but someone else better cover me."
Anshuman cracked his neck, stepping closer. "If that thing gets near me, I'll distract it."
Anant grinned. "And I'll watch your backs."
Affan handed the mini cannon to Aditya, who lifted it like a pro.
"Alright," Aditya said, wincing a little but focused, "time to show this machine what we've got."
The giant mechanical beast's red eyes locked on them, gears grinding, ready to strike.
"Let's finish this," Ayaan said, voice steady.
Aditya aimed the mini cannon carefully and fired — a burst of bright energy shot out, slamming into the machine's leg with a thunderous boom.
The cavern shook.
The battle was on.
Smoke filled the frozen chamber as Aditya's blast hit the machine's leg—but not quite where he wanted. It left a dent, but the mechanical beast roared and stomped forward, its red eyes flashing brighter.
Aditya stepped back, shaking the cannon. "Ugh! My aim sucks! Who's got the best aim here?!"
The group paused… then all eyes slowly turned toward one person.
Ayaan.
Affan pointed. "Bro, we all know it's you."
Anshuman nodded. "You once hit a mango from the school rooftop with a stone."
Anant added, "And you knocked out the lights during exams by throwing a chalk. That was legendary."
Aditya quickly handed the mini cannon to Ayaan. "Alright, sharpshooter. It's all you now."
Ayaan took the cannon calmly, adjusting the grip like he'd held it forever. The others stepped aside.
The machine roared, charging toward them with thundering footsteps. Its metal claws sparked, slicing through the ice beneath.
But Ayaan didn't flinch.
He focused…
Breathed in…
Locked onto the glowing red core in the machine's chest—its weak spot.
"Gotcha."
BOOM!
Ayaan fired.
The blast of energy flew straight, clean, and perfect—slamming right into the core.
A massive explosion lit up the cavern, followed by a mechanical scream as the beast stumbled back, shaking violently.
Then—it collapsed.
Sparks flew. The red eyes dimmed. Silence.
They had won.
Everyone stared in shock, then burst into cheers.
"THAT. WAS. EPIC!" Affan shouted.
Anshuman high-fived Ayaan. "Bro, you just destroyed a killer robo-cat with style!"
Aditya smirked, holding his hand. "Okay, next time you use the cannon first."
Ayaan just smiled.
One machine down.
But Antarctica still held many more secrets.
The cavern was silent now, only the faint hiss of steam rising from the broken remains of the mechanical beast. The boys spread out, scanning every corner of the icy room.
Nothing. No treasure. No hidden passage. Just cold walls of ice.
They gathered in the center, the echo of their footsteps fading.
"So… that's it?" Anant asked. "We fight a giant robot cat for nothing?"
Affan shrugged. "Maybe the real reward was the friends we made along the—"
"Don't even finish that," Aditya cut in.
Ayaan paced slowly, his breath visible in the freezing air. "If this room has nothing, then maybe… the answers were never here in the present."
The others looked at him, curious.
Anshuman tilted his head. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying…" Ayaan stopped, glancing at the icy walls, "what if we have to see Antarctica the way it was before all this?"
Affan's eyes widened. "You mean… go back in time?"
Aditya crossed his arms. "Sounds cool, but… how many years back? And how do we even do that?"
The question hung in the cold air.
Somewhere deep in the ice… something gave a faint, mysterious crack.
Aditya's breath fogged in the freezing air as he turned to Affan. "Check your pocket again. You keep pulling out crazy stuff—maybe you've got something for time travel too."
Affan raised an eyebrow, but reached into his pocket. His hand went deep—much deeper than the pocket should allow—and he began pulling things out one by one.
First, a folded map.
Then, a glowing crystal.
Then—five strange belts made of sleek black metal, each with a slot on the side.
He placed them on the icy floor, and along with them, ten glowing batteries, each pulsing faintly with blue light.
The group stared.
Ayaan picked up one of the belts, turning it in his hands. "These… they're not normal. I think they're for… time travel."
Affan blinked. "Time travel? Seriously? How do you even know that?"
Ayaan glanced at the frozen walls around them, running his fingers over the thick layers of ice. "This ice… it's ancient. Thousands of years old at least. If we want to see what really happened here, we need to go back far enough."
Anshuman frowned. "How far exactly?"
Ayaan's voice was calm but firm. "A million years."
Everyone froze.
Aditya's eyes widened. "A million? Bro, that's not just risky—that's insane!"
Anant looked at the glowing belts nervously. "If we mess up… we might not come back."
The icy cavern suddenly felt colder than before.
And yet… curiosity burned in all of them.
One by one, they strapped the black metal belts around their waists, the cold surface pressing against their jackets. Each belt had a small circular dial glowing faint blue, with numbers that could be adjusted.
Ayaan twisted his dial slowly, the numbers spinning until it stopped at 1,000,000. The others followed, their belts humming faintly as the batteries clicked into place.
The soft hum grew louder.
"We have to take the risk," Ayaan said, his eyes serious. "If we don't, we'll never get back to the real world."
They all exchanged a quick, nervous glance—then nodded.
"Let's do it," Aditya said.
In an instant, the belts glowed blindingly bright.
The cold cavern faded into pure white light—
Their bodies felt weightless—
And then—nothing.
Next scene.
A gentle breeze brushed across their faces.
The sound of flowing water and distant birds filled the air.
Ayaan's eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times… and froze.
They weren't in an icy wasteland anymore. Instead, they stood on lush green ground, with towering mountains in the distance. A wide, glittering river cut through the land, and strange, colorful plants swayed under a golden sun.
The air was warm, fresh, and alive.
All five of them turned slowly, taking in the view.
Affan's jaw dropped. "Wait… this is Antarctica?!"
Anant's voice was almost a whisper. "It's… beautiful."
Aditya just stared. "Bro… we really went a million years back."
And somewhere far away, a deep, rumbling roar echoed across the land.
The group followed a winding dirt path that led them under the shade of massive trees, eventually reaching what looked like an ancient village—but not like anything they had ever seen before. The huts were made of giant leaves and carved stones, and massive wooden bridges connected the upper levels of the settlement high in the trees.
As they stepped forward, the sound of frantic footsteps echoed from the far side of the village.
From between two huts, a girl came sprinting toward them, her long hair flying wildly in the wind. She looked terrified, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds.
Chasing her were six mini robots, each the size of a dog, with glowing red eyes and thin, spider-like legs scraping against the ground. Their movements were fast, jerky, and dangerous.
"We have to help her!" Anshuman shouted.
They charged forward without hesitation. Aditya grabbed a thick wooden branch from the ground and swung it hard, smashing one robot into pieces. Affan used his beam cutter, slicing another in half with a shower of sparks. Anant spotted a rope tied between two poles and yanked it down, tripping one robot and shattering its legs. Ayaan, calm and focused, picked up the mini cannon and took out the last three with precise, powerful blasts.
The girl slowed down, breathing hard as she stopped a few feet away. The sunlight broke through the tree cover and lit up her face—she was stunningly cute, her wide, bright eyes full of relief.
For a second, they all just stared. But Ayaan, as usual, stayed quiet. He had always avoided talking to girls… but since meeting Rhea, something in him had changed. For the first time, instead of looking away, he stepped forward and spoke.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
The girl blinked, surprised by his voice, then smiled softly. "Yes… thanks to you."
She straightened herself, brushing leaves from her clothes. "My name is Aashi. I'm 14 years old. I'm from a hidden village deep inside ancient Antarctica—well… what used to be Antarctica before the ice came. My family… they're gone now." Her voice softened for a moment, but she quickly continued. "I've been running for days."
The group exchanged glances.
Elira reached into a small pouch tied at her side and pulled out something small but glowing—a blue crystal key with strange runes carved into it.
"This," she said, holding it up so the light caught its edges, "is called the Key of the Frozen Seal. With it… someone could unleash Zathura—the most feared monster from the ancient times."
Everyone's expressions turned serious.
Elira took a breath and began explaining, her voice carrying the weight of an old legend. "Zathura had power beyond anything you can imagine. When he opened his mouth, he could breathe storms so cold that entire valleys froze solid in seconds. He destroyed cities… until one day, a great hero fought him. The battle lasted for days, and in the end, Zathura was sealed deep beneath Antarctica. This key… is the only thing that can break that seal."
She looked down at the key in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. "And now… there are people who want to find him. People who want to set him free."
The air in the village was warm, but the story sent a cold shiver through all of them—colder than the Antarctica they had seen before.
They all looked at each other, catching their breath after the fight.
Aashi said, "You can go with me."
The group nodded and followed her deeper into the village, moving quickly before night fell.
She explained, "During the day, the temperature is normal, but at night this place becomes the coldest on earth, dropping far below zero."
They reached a large wooden gate carved with ancient symbols.
Aashi pushed it open and warmth greeted them inside.
"This is where I live," she said. "We must stay inside at night, or we risk freezing."
They entered the warm room and settled down, preparing for the cold night ahead.
They all sat inside the warm room, the fire casting flickering shadows on the walls.
Ayaan leaned against the window frame, looking out at the darkening village.
Aashi broke the silence. "Tell me about yourselves. Who are you all?"
One by one, they began sharing their stories—their names, where they came from, and why they ended up in this strange game world.
The room grew quiet again, but the bond between them grew stronger.
They all looked around, curiosity mixed with a bit of awkwardness.
"So… who's going to sleep with whom?" Anshuman asked, trying to keep his tone casual but clearly curious.
Aashi smiled gently. "There are three rooms—each can fit two people comfortably."
Affan scratched his head. "Well, that means one room will have just one person?"
Ayaan stayed quiet, glancing toward the others.
Aditya grinned, nudging Anshuman. "Looks like we'll have to figure this out fast."
Anant laughed nervously. "I'm fine with whoever. As long as I don't get the coldest room!"
Aashi stepped forward, her eyes scanning each of them thoughtfully. "I'll take one room myself. The rest of you can decide."
The group exchanged looks, quietly debating who would pair up.
After a few moments, Aditya spoke up, "Alright, how about this—Ayaan and Aashi share a room since he seems the calmest, and the rest of us split into pairs?"
Ayaan shifted but didn't object.
Anshuman nodded. "Works for me."
Anant smiled. "Same here."
Affan laughed, "Looks like it's settled."
The room filled with a lighter mood as they prepared to rest, knowing they'd need their strength for whatever lay ahead.
Aashi suddenly laughed, teasing, "Wait—what? I have to sleep with him?" she said, glancing at Ayaan with mock disbelief.
The others burst out laughing.
Aditya grinned, "Alright, then! Looks like we need to settle this fairly."
Anshuman raised his hand. "Rock, paper, scissors—best two out of three. The winner gets to sleep with Aashi!"
Everyone cheered, the tension breaking into playful energy.
They gathered in a circle, ready for the game that would decide their sleeping arrangements—and who'd get the closest spot to Aashi that night.
Ayaan stood up and said, "I'll take a bath first."
The others nodded. "Okay, we'll play the game while you're gone."
While Ayaan went to freshen up, the others gathered and started their playful rock-paper-scissors match.
Minutes later, Ayaan returned from the bath — but everyone froze, mouths dropping open.
His body was noticeably more muscular, his skin glowing from the warm water.
"Whoa, Ayaan! How long have you been training like this?" Affan asked, eyes wide.
Ayaan shrugged casually. "I don't train seriously."
Aditya smirked. "Well, you're looking really handsome right now."
Just then, Aashi appeared quietly behind them.
She smiled, teasing, "Okay, okay—I take my words back."
Then, with a playful grin, she added, "I can sleep with Ayaan."
As the fire crackled softly, one by one they settled down in their rooms.
Before turning in, Ayaan spoke quietly, "Tomorrow, we'll figure out what to do next."
The others nodded in agreement, their faces tired but determined.
With that, the village grew silent, everyone drifting into sleep, ready for the challenges the next day would bring.