Ayaan was sitting on the couch scrolling through random things on his phone.
The agency had been quiet for days.
No missions.
No villains.
Nothing.
Suddenly Anshuman walked into the room and dropped onto the couch beside him.
"Now what do we do?"
Ayaan shrugged.
"I don't know."
The two sat there for a few seconds.
Then all four watches suddenly started vibrating.
MARK CALLING...
Ayaan immediately answered.
"Looks like we have work."
A short while later, Ayaan, Anshuman, Emma, and Sara arrived at the agency.
Mark was waiting in the briefing room.
He looked serious.
"There is a mission for you four."
Anshuman leaned forward.
"What kind of mission?"
Mark pressed a button.
A picture appeared on the screen.
"You have to catch an agent."
The room became silent.
Anshuman blinked.
"We have to catch another agent?"
"Yes."
Mark nodded.
"But he is no ordinary agent."
The screen changed.
Dozens of achievements appeared.
Master strategist.
Expert infiltrator.
Master hacker.
Elite marksman.
Multilingual.
Disguise specialist.
Mark folded his arms.
"He is extremely talented in everything."
"He has escaped capture multiple times."
"And tonight he will be attending a party at a private villa."
Ayaan smiled.
"Now we're talking."
The mission officially began.
Ayaan immediately went to another room.
He pulled up the map of the villa.
Every entrance.
Every exit.
Every security route.
He studied everything.
Meanwhile Anshuman was already excited.
"A villa party mission?"
"Finally."
The four got ready.
Anshuman wore a black tuxedo.
Emma wore a stylish black bodycon dress.
Sara wore a dark blue bodycon dress.
Both looked elegant enough to blend into the party perfectly.
Ayaan looked at them.
Then looked at himself.
A driver's suit.
"Why do I have to become the driver?"
Sara laughed.
"Because if you go inside with them, every girl will be looking at you and Anshuman."
Emma nodded.
"And we'll immediately attract attention."
Ayaan stared at them.
"That's your reasoning?"
"Yes."
Anshuman nodded seriously.
"It makes sense."
Ayaan sighed.
"Fine."
They reached the garage.
Several luxury cars were available.
"Which one?" Anshuman asked.
Ayaan looked around.
Then smiled.
"How about an Aston Martin?"
Anshuman grinned.
"That's perfect."
Ayaan got behind the wheel.
The engine roared to life.
A few minutes later they were speeding toward the villa.
The city lights passed by as the mission began.
After some time, they reached the villa.
The place looked enormous.
Luxury cars filled the parking area.
Security guards stood at every entrance.
Rich guests were arriving one after another.
Ayaan parked the Aston Martin.
The three got out.
"You three go."
Ayaan leaned against the car.
Anshuman adjusted his tuxedo.
"Don't come inside."
"Otherwise we'll get caught."
Ayaan waved him off.
"Fine."
The three entered the villa.
Ayaan remained outside.
Watching.
Waiting.
A few minutes passed.
Then he noticed something.
A man dressed as a waiter appeared on a balcony above.
The man looked around carefully.
Then threw a suitcase off the balcony to somebody below.
Ayaan narrowed his eyes.
"That's suspicious."
The waiter immediately disappeared back inside.
Ayaan touched his earpiece.
"Anshuman."
"What happened?"
"I have a suspect."
Inside the villa, Anshuman stopped walking.
"Okay."
"How are you getting inside?"
Ayaan smiled.
"That's my problem."
He walked toward the entrance.
A security guard immediately stopped him.
"No invitation."
Ayaan looked around.
Then noticed a window high on the side of the villa.
He quietly picked up some dry wooden decorations near the garden.
Then took out a lighter.
FWOOSH!
Small flames appeared.
"FIRE!"
Several guards immediately rushed toward it.
Ayaan took a running start.
Jumped onto a wall.
Then another.
Then grabbed the window ledge.
A second later he slipped inside unnoticed.
The villa interior was even more luxurious.
Crystal chandeliers.
Live music.
Hundreds of wealthy guests.
Ayaan blended into the crowd.
Then from across the room—
He saw him.
The waiter.
The same man.
Ayaan immediately touched his earpiece.
"Anshuman."
"Yeah?"
"On your left."
Ayaan kept his eyes locked on the waiter.
"He is the one."
Anshuman casually picked up a drink and turned slightly.
Without making it obvious.
Then he finally spotted the waiter.
"Copy that."
The hunt for the mysterious agent had begun.
Anshuman quietly followed the waiter through the crowd.
The man turned a corner.
Anshuman followed immediately.
But when he reached the hallway—
The waiter was gone.
"What?"
Anshuman looked around.
There was nowhere to hide.
No doors had opened.
No windows.
Nothing.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the villa, Ayaan suddenly spotted the same waiter again.
Walking calmly near another corridor.
"Anshuman."
Ayaan spoke into the earpiece.
"I can see him."
Anshuman froze.
"What?"
"That's impossible."
"He was just here."
Ayaan narrowed his eyes.
"Then how is he over here?"
The waiter disappeared around another corner.
Ayaan immediately chased after him.
But when he reached the corridor—
Nobody was there.
Ayaan clenched his fists.
"This guy is playing games."
Suddenly he bumped into Emma.
Emma looked surprised.
"Why are you inside?"
Ayaan shook his head.
"No time to talk."
Then he ran past her.
He contacted the others.
"Emma, where are you now?"
No response.
"Emma?"
Still nothing.
Ayaan immediately became serious.
"Sara, where are you?"
Sara answered.
"I'm at the main hall."
Ayaan changed direction.
Something felt wrong.
At the end of a hallway stood a large door.
Ayaan slowly opened it.
The moment the door opened—
BANG!
A gunshot echoed.
Ayaan's eyes widened.
Emma was on the floor.
"EMMA!"
He rushed toward her.
Emma was conscious but injured.
"What happened?"
Then—
BOOM!
A punch landed on Ayaan's back.
He stumbled forward.
A man stood behind him.
The waiter.
"So..."
The man smiled.
"You've been trying to find me."
Ayaan stood up.
"You're going to pay for this."
Before he could attack—
Another kick slammed into his leg.
Ayaan looked behind him.
Another identical man.
Same face.
Same clothes.
Same voice.
Ayaan frowned.
"There are two of you?"
The two men attacked simultaneously.
Ayaan blocked one punch.
Then another.
A kick landed in his side.
The second man swept his legs.
They were skilled.
Very skilled.
Every attack was coordinated.
Every movement synchronized.
Ayaan tried standing.
One kicked his shoulder.
The other punched his ribs.
Then suddenly—
BOOM!
Anshuman crashed into the room.
His punch sent one of the men flying into a table.
He cracked his knuckles.
"Two on one isn't fair."
Ayaan smirked.
"Took you long enough."
The fight became chaotic.
The twins attacked together.
Ayaan and Anshuman fought side by side.
Punches.
Kicks.
Throws.
Furniture shattered everywhere.
Then one of the men suddenly smiled.
"Time's up."
A small device appeared in his hand.
BEEP.
A red timer activated.
Ayaan's eyes widened.
"A bomb?"
The two men immediately ran.
Anshuman started after them.
But Ayaan stopped him.
"No."
"What?"
"You take Emma."
"Get everybody out."
Anshuman hesitated.
"Go!"
Anshuman nodded.
Then grabbed Emma.
Ayaan rushed toward the bomb.
The timer was counting down rapidly.
00:18
00:17
00:16
Ayaan opened the panel.
Hundreds of wires.
"You've got to be kidding me."
He began cutting wires.
Sweat rolled down his face.
00:05
00:04
00:03
One wire left.
Ayaan made a decision.
SNIP!
For one second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The entire villa exploded.
Fire erupted through the building.
Windows shattered.
The roof collapsed.
A massive fireball rose into the sky.
Minutes later.
Debris covered everything.
Smoke filled the air.
A hand emerged from the rubble.
Ayaan slowly stood up.
Covered in dust.
Bruised.
But alive.
His earpiece crackled.
"Ayaan!"
It was Anshuman.
"You alive?"
"Barely."
Anshuman sounded relieved.
Then his voice became serious.
"Look in front of you."
Ayaan raised his head.
Standing near the road was a man.
Watching him.
The same mysterious agent.
Ayaan smiled.
"Found you."
The man smiled back.
Then calmly walked toward a black car.
Ayaan immediately ran after him.
The agent got inside.
Ayaan jumped into another nearby car.
A second later Anshuman opened the passenger door and got in.
The engine roared.
Ayaan accelerated.
The chase began.
As they sped through the road, Ayaan glanced sideways.
"Why did you leave Emma and Sara?"
Anshuman buckled his seatbelt.
"Emma is safe."
"And Sara?"
"With Emma."
Ayaan focused on the road.
"Sara told me to go with you."
The black car suddenly accelerated ahead.
Anshuman pointed forward.
"Less talking."
"More catching him."
Ayaan grinned.
"Agreed."
The Aston Martin surged forward as the chase raced into the night.
Ayaan and Anshuman continued chasing the mysterious agent through the city.
The black car suddenly turned toward a private airfield.
"He's heading somewhere!" Ayaan shouted.
"I can see that!" Anshuman replied.
The Aston Martin roared forward.
They were getting closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Then suddenly the black car stopped.
The two immediately jumped out.
"Don't let him escape!"
They rushed toward the vehicle.
But when they reached it—
The driver seat was empty.
A loud engine sound came from above.
The two looked up.
A private jet was already taking off.
Standing near the door was the mysterious agent.
He looked down at them.
Then smiled.
"See you soon."
The jet lifted into the sky.
Within seconds it disappeared into the clouds.
Anshuman clenched his fists.
"We can't catch him this time."
Ayaan stared at the sky.
His expression was cold.
"He won't escape forever."
The scene shifted back to the agency.
The atmosphere felt strange.
Silent.
Heavy.
Sara was sitting beside Emma's hospital bed.
Emma hadn't woken up.
The poison was spreading through her body.
Doctors and agency scientists had tried everything.
Nothing worked.
The door opened.
Mark entered.
His face was serious.
Ayaan and Anshuman immediately stood up.
"What happened?" Ayaan asked.
Mark was silent for a few seconds.
Then he finally spoke.
"Emma is no more."
The room became completely silent.
Anshuman froze.
"What?"
Sara slowly looked toward Mark.
Her eyes widened.
"No..."
Mark lowered his head.
"The bullet contained a rare poison."
"It was killing her every second."
"We couldn't stop it."
Sara immediately broke down crying.
Tears rolled down her face.
"No..."
"No..."
She grabbed the bedsheet tightly.
Ayaan stood completely still.
His fists slowly clenched.
The room felt colder.
Mark continued.
"She fought until the very end."
Nobody answered.
Sara cried quietly beside the bed.
Anshuman looked away.
For the first time in a long time, he had nothing to say.
Then Ayaan finally spoke.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"That agent..."
Everyone looked toward him.
Ayaan's eyes were filled with anger.
"Will suffer more than anyone."
Anshuman stepped forward.
His fists were shaking.
"We will find him."
His voice grew colder.
"And when we do..."
"We'll make sure he pays for everything he has done."
The room became silent once again.
Outside, rain began falling against the agency windows.
And somewhere far away, the mysterious agent sat inside a dark room, completely unaware that he had just created three enemies who would never stop hunting him.
A few days passed.
The agency felt quieter without Emma.
The missions continued, but the mood had changed.
One morning, Ayaan, Anshuman, and Sara received a message.
REPORT TO THE BRIEFING ROOM.
The three entered.
Mark was standing in front of a large digital globe.
Various locations were displayed across it.
Ayaan folded his arms.
"You found something?"
Mark nodded.
"I found him."
Anshuman immediately stepped forward.
"Where is he?"
Mark zoomed the globe toward Asia.
Then one country lit up.
Japan.
The room became silent.
Mark looked at all three of them.
"He's there."
"We finally have a location."
Sara clenched her fists.
"So we can finally end this."
Mark nodded.
"I'll arrange everything."
"Transportation."
"Equipment."
"Clearance."
His expression became serious.
"No matter what happens..."
"Catch him."
A brief pause followed.
Then Mark added,
"Or kill him."
The three exchanged looks.
This wasn't an ordinary mission anymore.
A few hours later, they arrived at the airport.
The agency had prepared everything.
Tickets.
Passports.
Transportation.
Soon they boarded the plane.
Their seats were together.
Ayaan by the window.
Sara in the middle.
Anshuman beside the aisle.
The flight took off.
The city slowly disappeared beneath the clouds.
For a while nobody spoke.
Then Sara yawned.
A very long yawn.
Anshuman immediately noticed.
"Someone's tired."
Sara rubbed her eyes.
"A little."
"A little?"
"You've yawned six times."
Sara ignored him.
A few minutes later she looked even sleepier.
"I think I'm going to fall asleep."
Before anyone could answer, she grabbed Ayaan's hand.
Then leaned against his shoulder.
Within moments she was asleep.
Ayaan looked down.
Then at Anshuman.
Anshuman immediately grinned.
"Bro."
"What?"
"Give me some tips."
Ayaan blinked.
"For what?"
Anshuman stared at him.
"You know."
"I don't."
"Yes you do."
"No I don't."
Anshuman pointed at the sleeping Sara.
Ayaan looked.
Then looked back.
"Oh."
"OH?"
"That's what you meant?"
Anshuman almost facepalmed.
"What else would I mean?"
Ayaan shrugged.
"I don't know."
"You're hopeless."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
Ayaan smiled.
Anshuman lowered his voice.
"So seriously."
"How?"
"How what?"
"How does every girl end up trusting you?"
Ayaan thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"I have no idea."
Anshuman stared at him.
"That's the worst answer possible."
"It's the truth."
"You're impossible."
Ayaan smirked.
"You ask impossible questions."
The argument continued for almost twenty minutes.
Quietly.
So they wouldn't wake Sara.
Eventually Sara shifted slightly in her sleep.
Still holding Ayaan's hand.
Anshuman looked at them.
Then shook his head.
"You know..."
"What?"
"When we catch that agent..."
"We should take a vacation."
Ayaan nodded.
"Agreed."
Neither of them noticed that Sara had opened one eye for a second.
And heard part of their conversation.
A small smile appeared on her face before she fell asleep again.
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in Japan, the mysterious agent known as Phantom was already waiting.
After several hours, the plane finally landed in Japan.
The three stepped out of the airport and immediately noticed two motorcycles waiting for them.
The agency had already arranged transportation.
Anshuman walked toward them and grinned.
"Now we're talking."
One bike was black.
The other was red.
Ayaan looked at the keys.
Then at Sara.
"So..."
"Who are you going with?"
Before Sara could answer, Anshuman laughed.
"I already know the answer."
Ayaan shook his head.
"Do you?"
"Of course."
Anshuman threw one set of keys to Ayaan.
Then climbed onto the other bike.
"See you later, bro."
Without waiting for a reply, he started the engine.
Sara blinked.
"Wait."
"How does he know who I'm going with?"
Ayaan smiled.
"He's my brother."
"So?"
"He knows almost everything about me."
Sara laughed.
"That's actually scary."
"A little."
The black bike's engine started.
Sara climbed onto the back seat.
Ayaan adjusted his gloves.
"Ready?"
Sara looked at the powerful motorcycle.
Then at the road ahead.
Then back at Ayaan.
"Not really."
Ayaan laughed.
A second later—
VROOOOM!
The bike accelerated.
"AAYAAAN!"
Sara immediately grabbed his jacket.
"WHAT?!"
"DON'T GO FAST!"
Ayaan couldn't stop laughing.
"We're barely moving!"
"We are definitely not barely moving!"
The speed increased slightly.
Sara held on tighter.
"I SWEAR I'LL CRY!"
From farther ahead, Anshuman's voice came through the earpiece.
"She's definitely crying."
"I'm not!"
"You sound like it."
"I'm warning both of you!"
Ayaan and Anshuman burst out laughing.
The roads of Japan stretched ahead of them as the two bikes raced toward their destination.
For the first time since Emma's death, the team felt a little lighter.
But none of them knew that Phantom was already watching their arrival through a security camera several blocks away.
And unlike before...
This time, he wasn't planning to run.
The two bikes sped through the streets of Japan.
Traffic lights flashed past.
Buildings blurred on both sides.
Suddenly—
SNAP!
A thin cable stretched across the road.
Anshuman didn't see it in time.
His bike lost balance and he was thrown onto the pavement.
"ANSHUMAN!"
Ayaan immediately slammed the brakes.
The bike skidded to a stop.
Sara nearly fell off but quickly regained balance.
Ayaan ran toward his brother.
Anshuman was conscious but hurt from the fall.
"Still alive?" Ayaan asked.
Anshuman winced.
"Barely."
Ayaan quickly wrapped a cloth around his neck to stop the bleeding from a minor cut.
Sara knelt beside Anshuman.
"Don't move too much."
Then a slow clap echoed through the street.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Ayaan looked up.
Standing in the middle of the road was a man.
Alone.
Calm.
Fearless.
The mysterious agent.
He slowly walked toward them.
His hands were in his pockets.
As if he wasn't facing three agents.
"You still don't understand."
His voice was calm.
Ayaan stood up.
His eyes locked onto him.
The agent smiled.
"You can't kill me."
He stopped a few meters away.
"I'm better than all of you combined."
The street became silent.
"You are just insects in front of me."
Sara clenched her fists.
Anshuman tried to stand.
But Ayaan was already moving.
He rushed forward at full speed.
"AYAAN!" Sara shouted.
Ayaan threw a powerful punch.
Straight at the agent's face.
But before it connected—
The agent casually caught his fist.
Ayaan's eyes widened.
The agent didn't even move.
Then—
BOOM!
A single strike sent Ayaan backward.
He crashed into a parked car.
The agent looked completely relaxed.
"Too slow."
Ayaan stood up again.
Breathing heavily.
The agent smiled.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly."
He removed his sunglasses.
"My name..."
He looked directly into Ayaan's eyes.
"...is Sam."
He spread his arms.
"Agent 069."
Sara froze.
"069?"
Anshuman's eyes widened.
"That's impossible."
Sam laughed.
"Looks like Mark didn't tell you everything."
The wind blew through the empty street.
Ayaan stepped forward again.
This time more carefully.
Sam's smile disappeared.
"Good."
"Now you're starting to understand."
For the first time since arriving in Japan, Ayaan realized something.
Sam wasn't running anymore.
He had wanted them to find him.
And now that they had...
The real game was about to begin.
Sam stood calmly in the middle of the street.
The traffic around them had stopped.
People were keeping their distance.
Even the air felt tense.
Ayaan slowly got back to his feet.
Sara helped Anshuman stand beside him.
The three faced Sam together.
Sam looked at them for a moment.
Then he laughed.
Not a crazy laugh.
A bitter one.
"You know..."
"I was once an agent too."
The three remained silent.
Sam looked toward the sky.
As if remembering something.
"Mark and I trained together."
"We ate together."
"We completed missions together."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"We were friends."
Then the smile disappeared.
"Best friends."
The street became quiet.
Sam clenched his fists.
"One mission changed everything."
His eyes became colder.
"We were sent into a dangerous operation."
"Everything went wrong."
"There were civilians trapped."
"There were agents trapped."
"And there was me."
Sam looked directly at Ayaan.
"Mark had a choice."
The memory clearly still hurt him.
"He could save me."
"Or save the others."
Sam laughed again.
A painful laugh.
"And without even holding my hand..."
"He ran toward the others."
His voice became quieter.
"I was left alone."
Sara lowered her head.
Sam continued.
"I survived."
"Barely."
"But while recovering..."
"I realized something."
His eyes sharpened.
"The agency wasn't threatened by my sacrifice."
"They accepted it."
"They moved on."
"As if I was just another expendable agent."
Anshuman frowned.
"So you decided to destroy everything?"
Sam nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
"The agency created me."
"Now I'll be the one to destroy it."
The wind blew across the street.
Sam stepped forward.
"You still don't understand who you're fighting."
His gaze locked onto Ayaan.
"Mark was once stronger than me."
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"But not anymore."
He spread his arms.
"Now..."
His voice echoed through the street.
"I am stronger than Mark."
"And if I'm stronger than Mark..."
He looked at all three of them.
"What chance do you think you have?"
Ayaan remained silent.
Sam smiled.
"You can't beat me."
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Ayaan took a step forward.
"Maybe."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe we're weaker."
Ayaan looked at Anshuman.
Then Sara.
"But we're not alone."
Anshuman smiled.
"That's the difference."
Sara nodded.
"You lost your friends."
"We still have ours."
For the first time, Sam's smile faded slightly.
The three stood together.
Side by side.
And Sam slowly realized that no matter how strong he had become...
The thing standing in front of him wasn't three separate agents.
It was a team.
The moment Ayaan finished speaking, the three of them moved.
Ayaan attacked from the front.
Anshuman rushed from the right.
Sara came from the left.
Sam didn't even change his expression.
He simply stood there.
Watching them approach.
"That's your plan?"
Sam asked.
Ayaan threw the first punch.
Fast.
Direct.
Sam tilted his head slightly.
The punch missed.
Before Ayaan could react, Sam grabbed his wrist and threw him across the street.
BOOM!
Ayaan crashed into a parked car.
At the same moment, Anshuman attacked.
A powerful kick aimed at Sam's ribs.
Sam blocked it with one arm.
Then punched Anshuman in the stomach.
THUD!
Anshuman staggered backward.
Struggling to breathe.
Sara attacked next.
She grabbed a metal pipe from the ground and swung it.
Sam ducked.
The pipe flew over his head.
Then he swept Sara's legs from beneath her.
She hit the ground hard.
The entire fight had lasted less than ten seconds.
Sam looked disappointed.
"Three against one."
"And this is all you've got?"
Ayaan stood up again.
Blood trickled from his lip.
Anshuman cracked his neck.
Sara wiped dust from her face.
The three attacked together again.
This time their movements were coordinated.
Ayaan aimed high.
Anshuman attacked low.
Sara moved behind him.
For a brief moment it looked perfect.
Then Sam moved.
Like water.
Effortlessly.
He avoided Ayaan.
Blocked Anshuman.
And countered Sara.
All in one motion.
Ayaan felt a punch hit his ribs.
Anshuman took an elbow to the jaw.
Sara was thrown several meters away.
Sam didn't even look tired.
In fact...
He looked bored.
"You know what Mark's biggest mistake was?"
The three remained silent.
"He always believed teamwork could overcome talent."
Sam adjusted his gloves.
"I proved him wrong."
Ayaan rushed forward again.
Anger flashed in his eyes.
Sam sighed.
"Still trying?"
The next second Sam vanished.
Ayaan's eyes widened.
He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
Sam was standing behind him.
"Too slow."
BOOM!
Ayaan was knocked into the pavement.
Cracks spread across the road.
Anshuman shouted and charged.
Sam grabbed him by the collar.
Lifted him effortlessly.
Then threw him into a streetlight.
The pole bent from the impact.
Sara tried helping.
Sam caught her punch.
Then gently pushed her backward.
Not even a serious attack.
Just enough to knock her down.
The difference in skill was overwhelming.
The three agents were breathing heavily.
Meanwhile Sam stood perfectly still.
Not a scratch on him.
"Do you understand now?"
His voice was calm.
"You aren't fighting a criminal."
"You aren't fighting an ordinary agent."
He looked toward the sky.
"For years I've trained."
"For years I've prepared."
Then his eyes returned to them.
"And you're still nowhere near my level."
Ayaan slowly stood again.
His body hurt.
Anshuman looked exhausted.
Sara was struggling to stay on her feet.
Yet none of them backed away.
Sam noticed.
For the first time, a small smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting."
"Most people would've run by now."
The wind blew through the empty street.
The battle wasn't over.
But one thing was clear.
Sam still wasn't taking them seriously.
Sam looked at the three of them and smiled.
It wasn't a normal smile.
It was the smile of someone trying to hurt them.
"You know..."
Sam adjusted his gloves.
"When I shot your friend..."
The three froze.
Sam continued.
"I was enjoying your reactions."
The street became silent.
Sara's eyes widened.
Anshuman clenched his fists.
Ayaan's expression completely changed.
Emma.
Sam was talking about Emma.
The memory came rushing back.
The hospital.
The poison.
The helpless feeling.
Everything.
Sam laughed.
"I still remember it."
"The panic."
"The fear."
"The sadness."
His smile grew wider.
"It was entertaining."
For a moment nobody moved.
Then—
BOOM!
Sam's fist shot toward Ayaan's face.
But this time—
Ayaan blocked it.
The impact echoed through the street.
Sam's eyes widened slightly.
For the first time in the battle—
Ayaan had stopped him.
The two stared at each other.
Ayaan's voice was cold.
"Don't."
The next second—
BANG!
Anshuman's fist slammed into Sam's jaw.
Sam staggered backward.
The smile disappeared from his face.
Anshuman stepped forward.
"You can insult me."
Another punch.
"You can insult Ayaan."
A kick.
"But don't ever talk about Emma."
Sam slid backward across the pavement.
For the first time...
He looked serious.
Ayaan rushed forward.
His punch connected.
Then another.
And another.
Sam blocked most of them.
But not all.
The fight had changed.
Before, the three were fighting to complete a mission.
Now...
It was personal.
Sara joined the attack.
She swung a metal rod from the side.
Sam barely dodged.
Ayaan immediately followed with a kick.
Anshuman attacked from behind.
The coordination was much better now.
Sam was actually being pushed back.
He blocked Ayaan.
Dodged Sara.
Countered Anshuman.
But unlike before—
He wasn't dominating anymore.
The three attacked relentlessly.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Throw.
The battle moved through the street.
Cars were damaged.
Streetlights shattered.
Windows cracked.
Sam finally jumped backward.
Breathing slightly harder.
Ayaan noticed it.
"So you can get tired."
Sam wiped a small drop of blood from his lip.
Then looked at it.
For the first time since they met—
He had been injured.
A small smile returned to his face.
But this time it was different.
"Good."
He looked at all three of them.
"Now this is a fight."
The four stood facing each other in the middle of the destroyed street.
Ayaan cracked his knuckles.
Anshuman stepped beside him.
Sara stood on the other side.
And for the first time...
Sam was taking them seriously.
Sam's calm expression was gone.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
"You've improved."
His voice was colder than before.
"But you're still not enough."
Before anyone could react—
Sam exploded forward.
BOOM!
His fist slammed into Ayaan's stomach.
Ayaan was launched backward.
Anshuman rushed in.
Sam blocked his punch.
Then hit him with an elbow.
CRACK!
Anshuman crashed into a parked car.
Sara tried attacking from behind.
Sam spun around.
A powerful kick knocked her off her feet.
The three hit the ground hard.
Sam stood in the middle of the street.
Breathing heavily.
His anger was obvious now.
"You think teamwork is enough?"
He looked at Ayaan.
"You think friendship makes you strong?"
Then he looked at all three of them.
"It doesn't."
The sound of police sirens suddenly echoed through the city.
WEE-OOO WEE-OOO
Sam glanced toward the end of the street.
More sirens were approaching.
Police vehicles were getting closer.
Sam clicked his tongue.
"Looks like our time is up."
Ayaan tried standing.
"Don't run."
Sam laughed.
"Run?"
He stepped backward.
"The fight isn't over."
His eyes locked onto Ayaan's.
"When we meet again..."
"Be stronger."
Then he disappeared into a nearby alley.
By the time the police arrived—
He was gone.
The three stood silently.
Another chance lost.
Hours later, they returned to their apartment.
The atmosphere was quiet.
Sara sat on the couch.
Exhausted.
Anshuman dropped into a chair.
His entire body hurt.
Ayaan stood near the window.
Looking out at the city lights.
Several minutes passed.
Nobody spoke.
Then Ayaan finally broke the silence.
"Anshuman."
"Yeah?"
Ayaan turned around.
His expression was serious.
"We have to train."
Anshuman immediately understood.
"To beat Sam."
Ayaan nodded.
"He was stronger."
Sara looked up.
"Not just stronger."
"He was on another level."
Ayaan clenched his fist.
"The next time we fight him..."
"We can't lose."
Anshuman stood up.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
"I was getting bored anyway."
Sara laughed despite being tired.
"Only you would hear 'extreme training' and get excited."
Anshuman pointed at himself proudly.
"That's because I'm amazing."
"That's because you're crazy," Sara replied.
Ayaan smiled slightly.
The first smile he'd had all day.
Tomorrow, the training would begin.
And somewhere in Japan, Sam was preparing too.
Because he knew one thing.
The next time they met...
None of them would be the same.