When they woke up, they stretched under the cold morning light, their breaths turning to mist in the frozen air. Aditya rubbed his eyes and said, "Now where should we go? And what are the problems we're going to face?"
Ayaan stood up slowly, tightening his fists. "Yeah… one of the biggest problems is my robot version. And that big man…" His words lingered in the air, heavy like the frost around them.
Anshuman frowned, pacing. "That robot version of you was already enough trouble last time. If he's back again, it means he's stronger now."
Anant kicked at the snow. "And the big man… he's the one who rules this frozen place. If we don't beat him, we're stuck here forever."
Aditya smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Then it's simple. We smash them both. Problem solved."
A sudden cracking sound echoed across the ice. The frozen ground beneath them trembled, sharp fissures spreading outward. From the distance, a towering shadow appeared through the mist—a massive figure wrapped in frost armor, dragging a colossal axe across the ground. Beside him, glowing red eyes flickered in the mist… eyes that looked exactly like Ayaan's.
The giant's voice boomed like thunder. "So… you finally woke up. The North Star's Challenge begins now."
The robot stepped forward, his movements precise, his face a mirrored reflection of Ayaan's own. He smirked coldly. "I am what you could never be."
Aditya whispered, "Well… this just got interesting."
Ayaan took a deep breath. "This is The North Star's Challenge. We have to run toward the North Star Palace. Both my robot version and that big man will try to kill us before we get there."
Anshuman's eyes widened. "So it's a deadly race through this frozen wasteland?"
"Exactly," Ayaan nodded. "If we survive all their attacks and reach the North Star Palace, we'll be free. One wrong step… and it's over."
Anant flexed his fingers. "Then we just keep moving and fight anything that comes our way."
Aditya grinned. "Simple, except we're running against a giant frost monster and a robot version of Ayaan."
Aashi tightened her gloves. "Then let's not waste time. North Star Palace, here we come."
The North Palace was behind that jungle and when they entered the jungle they saw that robot Ayaan and that big man were coming to kill them. The robot's red eyes glowed and it said, "Target locked: a bunch of losers detected."
Aditya cracked his knuckles, "Losers? Bro, look at yourself, you're running on Windows 98."
The robot's voice glitched, "Error… insult detected… must eliminate."
The big man laughed loudly, shaking the ground, "Hahaha! You kids are going to be my breakfast."
Anshuman smirked, "Breakfast? Sorry uncle, but we are spicy food. You'll choke."
The robot charged first, swinging its glowing blade. Aditya blocked with both arms, sparks flying everywhere. "Damn, this thing hits like my dad when I forget homework!"
Anant shouted, "Then dodge instead of crying!" as he threw a rock at the robot's head. The rock bounced off harmlessly. The robot turned its head, "Nice try, pebble warrior."
The big man roared and rushed straight at Anshuman. Anshuman jumped aside, yelling, "Too slow, muscle mountain!" He kicked the big man's leg, but the giant didn't even move. Instead, the big man grabbed him and threw him like a football into the bushes.
From inside the bush, Anshuman's voice came, "I'm fine! Just checking for berries."
Aditya yelled, "We need to take down the robot first!"
The robot replied, "Correction: I will take you down first." It swung again, but Aditya ducked and shouted, "Missed me! My grandma swings faster than you."
The robot paused, "Your grandma… sounds dangerous."
Anant suddenly rushed at the big man with a stick. "Let's see how you like this!"
The big man looked at the stick, then at Anant, then laughed so hard he fell on one knee. "A STICK? HAHAHA!"
Anant shouted back, "Yeah, laugh now—this is a legendary jungle weapon passed down by monkeys!"
The battle raged on with the jungle shaking from every clash, the team dodging, attacking, and throwing jokes as the robot and the big man tried to crush them.
The first serious strike came fast: Ayaan dashed forward with blinding speed, slamming into the robot version of himself. Metal clashed against flesh, sparks flying as the real Ayaan's fist collided with the machine's armored chest. The robot staggered a step back but steadied, its red eyes glowing brighter.
Beside him, Aashi launched herself at the big man. She ducked under his massive swing and struck his ribs with a sharp kick, but the giant barely flinched. He roared and swatted at her like a beast, forcing her to flip back to avoid being crushed.
Aditya and Anshuman rushed in together, backing Ayaan. The robot's blade shot out, narrowly missing Aditya's head, while Anshuman's lightning-fast reflexes allowed him to land a kick at its arm joint. The strike made the machine shudder for a moment, gears grinding, but it retaliated with a backhand that sent Anshuman flying into a tree.
Anant circled the fight, eyes scanning like a hunter. When the big man grabbed Aashi by the arm, Anant charged in, slashing across the giant's leg with a sharpened branch. The big man bellowed in pain, dropping Aashi, who immediately countered with a palm strike to his jaw.
"Don't stop!" Ayaan shouted as he blocked another heavy swing from the robot. Aditya leapt onto the machine's back, trying to hold it down, but the robot spun violently, throwing him off like a ragdoll.
The ground shook with every movement, the jungle echoing with roars, metal shrieks, and the relentless clash of strength against strength.
The big man and robot Ayaan laughed and their voices shook the jungle. "You are only humans," the giant growled, his teeth bared. "And we… we are beasts." The robot's metallic tone followed, "Beasts built to destroy."
Just as they stepped forward to finish it, a sudden hiss cut through the air. Smoke burst out, spreading fast and swallowing the battlefield in a thick grey cloud. The big man swung his arms wildly, confused, while the robot's sensors glitched in the haze.
From behind, a calm voice came, "Took you long enough to realize you can't win without me."
It was Affan. He closed the pocket in his hand, its strange smoke still curling out, masking every move. Within moments, Ayaan, Aashi, Aditya, Anshuman, and Anant vanished into the fog with him, their enemies roaring in frustration.
When the smoke finally thinned, they found themselves deeper in the jungle, away from the clash. Aditya coughed and looked at him. "Where were you, Affan?"
Affan smirked, sliding the pocket back into his coat. "Waiting for the right time."
After some days they reached the North Palace. The massive walls rose above them, covered in ancient carvings and heavy with silence. Together, they pushed open the towering gates, their echo rumbling through the empty halls. Inside, in the deepest chamber, stood a colossal sealed gate wrapped in glowing chains and runes.
As they stepped forward, awe and tension gripped them. Suddenly, the air grew colder, footsteps shaking the ground behind them. Robot Ayaan and the big man appeared from the shadows. In a flash too quick to stop, the robot snatched the glowing key straight from Aashi's hand.
The big man's booming laughter filled the chamber. "With this key… we will unleash Zathura, the destroyer of this world!"
Robot Ayaan's voice rang metallic and sharp, "Once awakened, no one will stand against us."
Aashi gasped, "No… they can't—"
But before panic could spread, Ayaan stepped forward, his eyes burning. "Not that easily."
Aditya clenched his fists. Anshuman cracked his neck. Anant drew closer, his eyes scanning every movement. Aashi steadied herself, fury in her gaze. From the back, Affan moved forward, his pocket already glowing faintly with smoke. He gave a sharp grin. "You thought you'd open that gate without me standing in your way? Think again."
The ground shook as both sides charged. The robot ignited its blades, the big man's fists thundered like hammers. Ayaan and his team surged forward together, Affan dropping smoke to break their sightlines.
The North Palace roared with chaos as the clash began—steel, fists, smoke, and power colliding in a deadly storm, the fate of Zathura's seal hanging in the balance.
The clash shook the North Palace, dust raining down from the ancient ceiling as steel met steel and fists shattered stone. Robot Ayaan's blades screeched against Aditya's blocks, while the big man swung wildly, forcing Aashi and Anshuman to dodge with everything they had.
In the middle of the chaos, Ayaan's voice cut sharp through the noise. "Affan! Take out your most powerful gadget!"
Affan's eyes narrowed. He slipped his hand into his coat and pulled out a small, black device glowing faintly with red lines. The air around it vibrated, a low hum rising as if the gadget itself was alive.
The big man froze for a moment, glaring. "What is that…?"
Robot Ayaan's sensors whirred, scanning the object. "Warning. Extreme energy source detected."
Affan smirked, holding it tight. "You wanted destruction? Let me show you real destruction."
With a click, the gadget unfolded, blades of light extending out, arcs of energy crackling across the palace floor. The entire chamber trembled as if Zathura itself stirred behind the sealed gate.
Ayaan clenched his fists, eyes blazing. "Now… let's end this fight!"
The team surged forward as Affan unleashed the power of his deadliest weapon, the battle exploding into its most dangerous stage yet.
They said, "Who will handle this weapon?"
Before anyone could answer, Ayaan stepped forward. His eyes burned with determination as he grabbed the deadly gadget straight from Affan's hands. "I will," he said firmly, the weight of the weapon humming with unstable power in his grip.
But in that very moment, the big man and Robot Ayaan rushed past, slamming the key into the colossal sealed gate. The glowing chains shattered one by one, the ground splitting beneath their feet.
With a thunderous roar, the gate creaked open. Darkness poured out like a living storm, swallowing the chamber in shadows. Everyone squinted into the abyss, trying to see what was inside—then it came.
Zathura.
The destroyer.
A monstrous figure stepped out, its sheer size blotting out the faint light, eyes glowing like burning suns. Its roar ripped through the air, shaking the heavens. And in a single blink, it lashed out.
The palace was torn apart instantly, walls crumbling like sand. The shockwave hurled Ayaan, Aashi, Aditya, Anshuman, Anant, and Affan miles away, their bodies crashing into a distant village.
Back at the ruins, Robot Ayaan and the big man tried to stand, but Zathura's massive hand came down with merciless force. Bones cracked, metal shattered. In an instant, both were crushed under the monster's might, erased without a trace.
The world had just met its destroyer.
When they finally opened their eyes, the sun was glaring down at them. Their bodies ached, clothes torn, dust still clinging to their faces. Around them were small huts, chickens running, and villagers staring wide-eyed. They had been thrown so far, straight into a village.
Aditya groaned, holding his back. "Ow… I think my spine just retired."
Anshuman rubbed his head, "Retired? Bro, my whole body applied for leave."
Aashi sat up slowly, glaring at them. "Shut up, both of you. We just saw a monster turn a palace into powder."
Anant pointed at the broken bench nearby. "Let's at least sit before we talk about dying."
They all collapsed onto the bench, still panting. The silence hung heavy for a moment until Affan broke it with a smirk. "Well… on the bright side, we survived. On the not-so-bright side, the world's destroyer is walking free."
Aditya leaned back, exhaling sharply. "So what do we do now? Zathura's here, but thankfully he's far away."
Anshuman cracked a tired grin. "Yeah, far away for now. Knowing our luck, he'll probably show up tomorrow at breakfast."
Ayaan clenched his fists, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "He won't wait forever. He can come anytime… and when he does, we have to be ready."
Aashi crossed her arms. "Ready? Against something that crushed a robot and a beast like toys? You call that ready?"
Aditya smirked despite the fear. "Hey, if we're going to die, at least we'll die looking cool."
Affan rolled his eyes. "Cool? Bro, you fainted before the palace even finished collapsing."
Anant sighed deeply, staring at the sky. "This is it… training, planning, fighting… whatever it takes. Because if Zathura reaches here, the whole world's finished."
Ayaan stood from the bench, his voice deadly serious. "Then we prepare. No excuses. No running. When Zathura comes, we'll be waiting."
The others exchanged glances—scared, tired, but a spark of fire lit in each of their eyes. The village around them buzzed quietly, unaware of the storm that was coming.
Ayaan stood up from the bench, fire burning in his eyes. "Affan, take out all your gadgets. Every single one. I have to assemble them… maybe I can make something strong enough to destroy Zathura."
Affan raised an eyebrow, pulling his pocket open slowly. "You mean… all of them? Even the one that almost blew my eyebrows off last time?"
Ayaan smirked. "Especially that one."
Before Affan could lay them out, a shaky voice came from behind. "Hey, kids… want to hear a story?"
They turned to see an old man, hunched with age, leaning on a wooden staff. His wrinkled face carried a strange smile.
Aditya groaned, waving him away. "Old man, we don't have time for your bedtime tales. Go tell it to the chickens."
Anshuman added, "Yeah, unless your story comes with a free monster-killing weapon, not interested."
The old man chuckled. "Ah, so you don't wish to hear the story of… Zathura the Destroyer?"
At that, everyone froze.
Aashi's eyes widened. "Wait… what did you say?"
The old man turned, pretending to walk away. "No matter, I'll tell it to someone else…"
"WAIT!" they all shouted at once, jumping from the bench. Aditya even grabbed the old man's sleeve. "Tell us! Please, tell us the story!"
Anant bowed slightly, "We need it… it might be the only way."
Even Affan sighed, "Fine, sit down, grandpa. But if this turns out to be about goats and farms, I'm leaving."
The old man's smile grew. He settled on a nearby stone, his eyes glowing faintly with wisdom.
"Very well… let me tell you the story of Zathura the Destroyer… the monster this world has feared for thousands of years."
The group leaned in, hearts pounding, as the old man began his tale.
The old man's voice grew deeper as the story poured out.
"Zathura was not born… he was made. Forged from the rage of a thousand fallen beasts, cursed by the gods themselves. When he came, he burned oceans, broke mountains, and swallowed entire kingdoms in shadow. The world trembled under his roar."
They sat in silence, the weight of every word pressing on their chests.
"But," the old man continued, his eyes narrowing, "he was stopped. Not by armies. Not by gods. But by five legendary heroes… warriors chosen by fate. They sealed Zathura beneath the North Palace, sacrificing their lives to bind him. And now… if you wish to stop him again, you must become those five heroes reborn."
Aditya leaned forward, his voice low. "And how exactly do we do that?"
The old man stood, leaning on his staff. "Come with me."
He led them through winding paths of the village until they reached an overgrown temple, half-broken by time. Inside, the air was heavy, ancient. At the center stood five towering statues of warriors, weapons raised, their faces fierce. Each statue glowed faintly, carved words running across their bases in an ancient language none of them could read.
The old man's voice echoed softly. "These are the heroes. Their power… waits for those who are worthy."
They stared at the statues, awe and unease mixing in their hearts.
After a long silence, they returned to the bench outside. The sun was dipping, the village quiet. They sat there, looking at each other, the reality of the old man's words sinking in.
Aditya broke the silence with a shaky laugh. "So… we have to be ancient heroes now? Great. No pressure."
Ayaan clenched his fists. "If that's what it takes to stop Zathura, then that's what we'll become."
They were all sitting on the old wooden bench, the village quiet except for the sound of crickets. The statues of the five legendary heroes still fresh in their minds, glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Aditya broke the silence, stretching his arms with a yawn:
Aditya: "Man… my body feels like it was used as a football. That Zathura thing kicks harder than my mom's slipper."
Anshuman laughed, but winced, holding his ribs:
Anshuman: "Forget slipper, bro… it was like ten trucks drove over me and then reversed for fun."
Anant shook his head, serious but tired:
Anant: "We can joke all we want, but tomorrow… it's life or death. If Zathura finds us unprepared, we're done."
Affan was fiddling with a half-broken gadget, sparks popping:
Affan: "Well, good news is… half my gadgets are crushed. Bad news is… the other half are on fire."
Everyone looked at Ayaan. He leaned back on the bench, staring at the moon like a commander planning war.
Ayaan: "Tomorrow… no matter what it takes, we fight. But for tonight… we rest. Even warriors need sleep."
Aditya: "Yeah, great idea. But who's taking the first watch? I don't want to wake up as monster breakfast."
Anshuman: "Bro, if he comes, we won't even know. One blink and boom—we're in another village."
They all chuckled weakly, though the fear was real. The old man's words echoed in their heads—five legendary heroes, chosen to stand against Zathura.
Finally, Ayaan stood, his voice calm but firm:
Ayaan: "Listen. We'll figure out the statues, the heroes, and the plan tomorrow. For now… let's sleep. Tomorrow… we become legends, or we die trying."
The group nodded silently. They laid down on the rough mats the villagers had given them. One by one, their eyes closed under the quiet night sky.
And for the first time in a long while, the team allowed themselves to rest—knowing the storm called Zathura could arrive any moment.