"I already told you he's fixing the garden," Zoey said without looking up from her work.
Kayaa leaned against the wooden railing of the porch while staring out toward the yard, where the wind slowly pushed through the trees and scattered dry leaves across the ground.
The once green garden looked miserable now, with large patches of burned earth spreading across the field like dark stains.
Kayaa sighed softly while resting her chin on her hand.
"I wonder what he's doing right now."
Zoey calmly continued trimming a small plant with careful precision, shaping its leaves before placing the scissors down beside her.
"He already told you," she replied in a quiet voice.
Kayaa blinked and looked toward her.
Zoey lifted her hand and pointed toward the destroyed field outside.
"He's fixing the garden because you burned all the lovely grass there and turned the green land into black land overnight."
Kayaa scratched her cheek awkwardly while avoiding Zoey's gaze.
"…It wasn't that bad."
Zoey slowly raised an eyebrow as she looked at the charred soil.
Kayaa quickly looked away with an embarrassed smile.
"…Okay, maybe it was a little bad."
Zoey sighed gently before picking up the scissors again.
"You should actually be grateful that he didn't get angry."
Kayaa crossed her arms and leaned back against the railing.
"Hmph. That guy is always pretending to be calm anyway."
Zoey shook her head slightly while returning her attention to the plants.
"Still, he's the one fixing the damage."
In the garden, Amitesh pushed the shovel deep into the soil before flipping another patch of dirt over.
The dark earth rolled across the ground while dust scattered into the air, making the work feel slow and frustrating.
Beside him, Arjun leaned heavily on his shovel with a tired expression.
"Big brother, why are we even doing this when the grass will grow back on its own after some time?"
Amitesh continued digging while answering calmly.
"It's not really about whether the grass grows back or not. The point is whether we reflect on our actions after making a mistake."
Arjun let out a long sigh.
"But why do you have to drag me here for this punishment?"
Amitesh smirked slightly while turning another patch of soil.
"Because it was your girlfriend who caused this disaster, which means it is your responsibility as her boyfriend to help fix it."
He paused for a moment before adding casually,
"I still don't understand why you chose such an angry woman in the first place."
Arjun scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"Well… she's actually sweet sometimes."
He stopped speaking for a moment as a curious thought crossed his mind.
"Big brother, what kind of girls do you actually like?"
Amitesh paused his work and rested his hands on the shovel while thinking carefully about the question.
"Are you asking about physical appearance or personality?"
"Maybe both," Arjun replied with interest.
Amitesh rubbed his chin thoughtfully while looking toward the sky.
"Well, if we talk about appearance then I guess I prefer short hair and a sharp face, and if she has cold eyes that look a little intimidating then that would be perfect."
Arjun blinked in surprise.
"Alright… but what about personality?"
Amitesh smiled faintly before answering.
"I prefer someone who is very straightforward because I don't really like people who hide their thoughts. I also like girls who are strong enough to fight when necessary, and if she is a little strict then that might actually be nice."
Arjun stared at him for a moment before shaking his head.
"Your taste sounds weird and a little complicated."
Amitesh laughed softly while pushing the shovel back into the ground.
"You shouldn't think too much about it because those are only preferences, and it doesn't mean I would refuse to like someone who doesn't have those qualities."
He flipped another layer of soil before continuing in a calm voice.
"What attracts us today might not attract us in the future because people change all the time."
Arjun listened carefully while leaning on the shovel.
"Some people say that a person can completely change within three years, so if I choose a life partner only based on her appearance or her current personality then I should ask myself an important question."
Arjun looked at him curiously.
"What question?"
Amitesh rested both hands on the shovel while looking at the ruined garden.
"If that person changes in the future, will I still be able to love her the same way as before?"
The wind quietly moved across the empty field.
"If the answer is yes, then it doesn't matter what kind of person she becomes because I will still love her."
Arjun listened to every word carefully, and for the first time he felt as if he had learned something important about life and love from Amitesh's simple explanation.
Meanwhile, the ruined garden slowly began to take shape again as the soil was turned over one shovel at a time.
Kayaa POV:-
Kayaa suddenly froze.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head toward the garden.
"…Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Zoey paused while trimming another leaf and looked at her calmly.
"Hear what?"
Kayaa slowly leaned forward against the railing, trying to listen more carefully to the voices drifting from the garden below.
"He's talking about something," she murmured.
Zoey sighed and walked closer to the edge of the porch.
The two of them quietly looked down toward the garden where Amitesh and Arjun were still digging the soil.
Arjun's curious voice drifted upward with the wind.
"Big brother, what kind of girls do you actually like?"
Kayaa blinked.
Zoey raised one eyebrow slightly.
The next moment Amitesh's calm voice answered.
"Well… I guess I like short hair and a sharp face, and if she has cold eyes that look a little intimidating then that would be perfect."
Kayaa's eyes widened.
Zoey slowly turned her head toward her.
Kayaa immediately looked away.
"That… that sounds like a weird taste,"
she muttered.
Zoey didn't respond, but a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Below them Arjun continued the conversation.
"Alright, but what about personality?"
Amitesh answered without hesitation.
"I prefer someone very straightforward because I don't like people who hide their thoughts, and I also like girls who aren't afraid to fight when necessary. If she is a little strict then that might actually be nice."
Kayaa stiffened.
Zoey folded her arms while glancing sideways at her.
"Strict, straightforward, and likes fighting," Zoey said slowly.
Kayaa crossed her arms defensively.
"So what? Plenty of girls are like that."
Zoey nodded calmly.
"Of course."
She paused before adding,
"Although that description sounds very familiar."
Kayaa's face immediately turned slightly red.
"That's ridiculous," she said quickly.
Zoey leaned against the railing and watched the garden again.
Below them Amitesh continued speaking calmly about how people change and how love should not depend only on appearance.
Kayaa listened quietly this time.
Her expression slowly softened.
"…That idiot," she muttered under her breath.
Zoey glanced at her.
Kayaa quickly turned away so her face wouldn't be visible but the small smile on her lips was impossible to hide.
Zoey noticed it immediately.
She didn't say anything.
She simply returned to trimming the plants while the quiet sound of the scissors echoed softly in the peaceful garden.
Their attention soon shifted again when Amitesh suddenly stopped working.
He leaned the shovel against the fence and stretched his back slowly after digging for so long.
Arjun looked at him with confusion.
"Big brother, what are you doing now?"
Instead of answering, Amitesh bent down and removed his shoes before placing them neatly beside the garden path.
From the porch above, Kayaa frowned.
"…Why is he taking off his shoes?"
Zoey followed her gaze.
In the garden, Amitesh rolled up his sleeves and began walking barefoot across the soil.
Arjun watched him suspiciously.
"Don't tell me you're tired already."
Amitesh ignored the comment and continued walking toward the tall coconut tree standing at the edge of the garden.
The tree towered above everything else, its long leaves swaying gently in the evening wind.
Arjun finally realized what Amitesh was planning.
His eyes widened.
"Wait… you're not seriously thinking about climbing that tree, are you?"
Amitesh stopped beneath the trunk and placed one hand against the rough bark while examining the height carefully.
"We've been working here for hours," he said calmly.
"So?"
"So we deserve a break."
Arjun stared at him in disbelief.
"You're taking a break by climbing a tree?"
Amitesh smirked slightly.
"Fresh coconut water is the best reward after hard work."
On the porch above, Kayaa leaned forward over the railing.
"…He's climbing the coconut tree?"
Zoey nodded quietly.
"Yes."
Kayaa blinked.
"…That idiot is going to fall."
Below them, Amitesh placed both hands on the trunk and pushed himself upward with surprising ease.
His movements were steady and controlled as he climbed higher along the tree.
Arjun stepped back and looked up nervously.
"Big brother, if you fall I'm not carrying you to the hospital."
Amitesh continued climbing without looking down.
"Then I guess I won't fall."
Kayaa watched the scene with growing interest while resting her arms on the railing.
"…He climbs pretty fast."
Zoey nodded slightly.
"Yes, he does."
The wind passed through the leaves again as Amitesh climbed higher and higher toward the cluster of coconuts hanging near the top.
Below, Arjun shaded his eyes while staring upward.
"Just make sure you throw two down!"
Amitesh's calm voice came from above.
"Three."
Arjun blinked.
"Why three?"
Amitesh paused for a moment before answering.
"One for you."
"One for me."
"And one for the two eavesdroppers on the porch."
Kayaa and Zoey immediately froze.
Arjun burst into laughter.
"You knew they were listening this whole time?"
High above them, Amitesh finally reached the coconuts and smiled faintly.
"Of course I did."
Amitesh reached the cluster of coconuts and wrapped one arm firmly around the trunk to steady himself.
With the other hand, he twisted the stems one by one.
Crack.
The first coconut snapped free.
He tossed it downward.
Thud.
Another followed.
Then another.
Soon five coconuts rolled across the ground beneath the tree.
Arjun stepped back quickly as the last one dropped beside his feet.
"Hey! Give a warning before you start bombing the ground!" he shouted while picking one up.
High above them, Amitesh leaned slightly against the trunk while looking down at his work.
For a moment everything felt peaceful.
Then he looked toward the ground.
His expression slowly froze.
The distance suddenly felt… much greater than before.
The garden looked far below, and the branches beneath him seemed thinner than he remembered.
A cold feeling ran through his chest.
…Huh.
Now how exactly am I supposed to get down?
Arjun noticed the silence and looked up.
"Big brother?"
Amitesh cleared his throat.
"Zoey… could you help me with something?"
Kayaa immediately leaned forward on the porch.
"What happened?"
Amitesh forced a calm tone.
"How exactly do I get down from here?"
Zoey's eyes widened slightly.
"You climbed up without thinking about that?"
Amitesh hesitated.
"…Possibly."
Arjun stared at him in disbelief.
"You mean the great strategist forgot about the most important step?"
Kayaa covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Zoey quickly stepped closer to the tree and looked up at him seriously.
"Alright, first calm down."
Amitesh tightened his grip on the trunk.
"Good advice."
"Take slow breaths," Zoey continued while raising her voice slightly so he could hear clearly.
"And whatever you do, don't look down."
Amitesh immediately looked down again.
"…That advice came a little late."
Arjun leaned against the fence while holding one of the coconuts.
"I can't believe this."
Kayaa finally burst into laughter from the porch.
"The man who lectures everyone about life is trapped on a tree!"
Amitesh closed his eyes for a moment while hugging the trunk.
"This is temporary."
Zoey crossed her arms and studied the tree carefully.
"Alright, listen carefully," she said.
"You climbed up using your arms and legs together, so you will go down the same way. Hold the trunk tightly with your legs and slide slowly while controlling your weight."
Amitesh opened one eye.
"…Slide?"
Zoey nodded.
"Yes."
Arjun grinned.
"This is going to be entertaining."
Amitesh sighed quietly before adjusting his grip on the trunk.
"Well… if I die today, at least we got the coconuts."
Kayaa laughed even harder from the porch while Zoey shook her head helplessly.
Amitesh tightened his arms around the rough trunk of the coconut tree.
The bark scratched against his skin, but he didn't dare loosen his grip.
Below him the ground looked much farther than it should he slowly closed his eyes.
Please… please don't fall.
Don't fall… don't fall…
The wind brushed through the leaves above him, making the entire tree sway slightly.
Amitesh immediately froze.
…This was a terrible idea.
Just then a familiar voice echoed inside his mind.
"Need help?"
Amitesh's eyes snapped open in surprise.
"Raktbeej?"
The voice sounded amused.
"Who else would be talking to you while you are hugging a tree like a frightened monkey?"
Amitesh didn't even bother arguing.
"Raktbeej, you are really good. You are incredibly handsome, brave, wise, and extremely reliable. Please help me."
There was a short pause.
Then the voice replied flatly.
"Shut up with those cheap lines, you idiot human."
Amitesh coughed awkwardly.
"…Worth a try."
Raktbeej sighed inside his mind.
"Just close your eyes slowly and let me handle the rest."
Amitesh immediately obeyed.
His grip tightened around the trunk as he shut his eyes again.
"Don't move," Raktbeej continued calmly.
A faint warmth suddenly spread through Amitesh's arms and legs.
It felt like something inside his body had awakened.
"Relax your muscles," Raktbeej instructed.
"Let your body follow the flow of energy."
Amitesh hesitated for a moment before slowly loosening his grip.
To his surprise, his body began sliding down the trunk smoothly while his feet found stable holds against the bark.
The movement felt controlled and almost effortless.
Below, Arjun suddenly stepped back.
"Hey… he's coming down!"
Kayaa leaned over the railing again.
"…Wait, he's actually doing it."
Zoey watched carefully as Amitesh descended the tree with steady movements.
Within a few seconds, his feet finally touched the ground.
Amitesh immediately stepped away from the tree and opened his eyes.
Arjun clapped sarcastically.
"Congratulations, big brother. You survived your heroic coconut mission."
Kayaa crossed her arms while trying not to laugh.
"You looked like a terrified cat up there."
Zoey walked closer and examined him briefly.
"At least you didn't fall."
Amitesh wiped his forehead and looked up at the tall tree again.
"…That was completely under control."
Inside his mind, Raktbeej snorted.
"Next time, genius, think about how to come down before climbing up."
Amitesh quietly picked up one of the coconuts.
"…Noted."
Amitesh stood silently for a second after touching the ground, as if confirming that the earth beneath his feet was truly stable.
Then suddenly he turned toward Arjun.
Before Arjun could react, Amitesh stepped forward and wrapped both arms around him tightly.
"Arjun… you don't know how scary that was."
Arjun froze.
His hands remained awkwardly in the air while Amitesh clung to him like someone who had just survived a life-threatening disaster.
"Big brother…"
Amitesh tightened the hug.
"I really thought I was going to fall."
Arjun's face slowly turned red as Kayaa and Zoey watched from the porch.
"Big brother… people are watching."
Amitesh didn't let go.
"That tree was too tall."
Arjun tried pushing him away.
"Haa… big brother, don't grab me like this."
He glanced nervously toward the porch.
"This is weird and embarrassing."
From above, Kayaa burst into laughter.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing."
Zoey covered her mouth to hide a small smile.
"The brave coconut warrior is traumatized."
Arjun finally managed to pry Amitesh's arms off him and stepped back quickly.
"Please keep your emotional moments to yourself."
Amitesh coughed awkwardly and brushed the dirt off his clothes as if nothing unusual had happened.
"…I was just testing your reaction speed."
Arjun stared at him.
"Sure."
Inside his mind, Raktbeej spoke again with obvious amusement.
"You hugged him like a frightened child."
Amitesh grabbed one of the coconuts from the ground.
"…Not a word about this to anyone."
Raktbeej laughed.
"Oh, I will remember this moment forever."
Amitesh picked up one of the coconuts from the ground and turned it slowly in his hands.
The thick green shell looked tough and stubborn.
Arjun grabbed another one and knocked on it with his knuckles.
Thok… thok.
Both of them went quiet for a moment.
Then Arjun looked at Amitesh.
"Big brother…"
Amitesh looked back.
"…Yes."
Arjun raised the coconut slightly.
"How exactly are we supposed to open this thing?"
Amitesh stared at the coconut in his hand as if expecting it to answer.
Silence fell between them.
From the porch above, Kayaa watched the scene with growing curiosity.
"…Don't tell me."
Zoey crossed her arms calmly.
"They didn't think about that either."
Below them Arjun tried again, hitting the coconut lightly against a stone.
Tok.
Nothing happened.
He hit it harder.
Tok!
Still nothing.
Arjun frowned.
"This thing is harder than I thought."
Amitesh inspected the shell carefully before trying to pry a small piece of the outer husk with his fingers.
It didn't move at all.
Arjun sighed.
"Let me guess."
He looked at Amitesh seriously.
"You climbed a fifteen-meter tree without thinking about how to come down…"
He lifted the coconut.
"And you also didn't think about how to open it."
Amitesh cleared his throat.
"…That may have happened."
Kayaa leaned over the railing again, unable to stop smiling.
"These two geniuses went through all that trouble just to stare at coconuts."
Zoey calmly walked down from the porch while picking up a small metal gardening tool from the ground.
She stopped beside them and held out her hand.
"Give it to me."
Arjun handed her the coconut.
Zoey placed it on the ground, raised the tool, and struck the husk firmly.
Crack.
A second hit followed.
Crack.
Within seconds the thick shell split open and clear coconut water began spilling out.
Arjun blinked.
Amitesh stared.
Zoey calmly handed the opened coconut back to them.
"You climbed the tree."
She turned and started walking back toward the porch.
"I opened it."
Kayaa laughed loudly behind her.
"Next time, you two should invite Zoey before starting your heroic missions."
Arjun looked at the coconut, then at Amitesh.
"…Big brother."
Amitesh sighed.
"Yes."
Arjun shook his head while looking at the cracked coconuts scattered across the ground.
"Big brother, we really need to start planning things better."
Amitesh picked up one of the opened coconuts and shrugged lightly.
"Well, if you spend too much time planning, you might lose the chance to execute the plan."
Before Arjun could respond, Amitesh lifted the coconut to his mouth and began drinking the cool water inside.
The sweet liquid flowed down his throat as the evening breeze passed through the garden.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Ahh… this is really refreshing.
Arjun watched him with disbelief.
"You almost died five minutes ago and now you look like you're on vacation."
Amitesh finished the last drop and lowered the empty shell.
Then he turned toward Zoey again.
"Zoey, do you have a spoon?"
Zoey paused while walking back toward the porch and looked at him.
"A spoon?"
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Spoon for what?"
Amitesh held up the empty coconut shell.
"I want to eat the cream inside."
Arjun slowly turned his head toward him.
"You climbed a giant tree, nearly fell to your death, hugged me like a frightened child…"
He pointed at the coconut.
"And now your biggest concern is dessert?"
Kayaa leaned over the railing again and burst into laughter.
"I swear this man's priorities are completely broken."
Zoey sighed softly and shook her head.
"You two are unbelievable."
Still, she turned and walked inside the house.
A few moments later she returned holding a small spoon.
She tossed it toward Amitesh.
"Here."
Amitesh caught it easily.
"Thank you."
He carefully scooped the soft white coconut cream from the shell and tasted it.
His eyes brightened slightly.
"Arjun, you should try this."
Arjun stared at him for a moment before sighing.
"…Fine."
Kayaa watched them quietly from the porch.
For a brief moment the burned garden, the earlier embarrassment, and the constant teasing all faded away into a simple peaceful evening
---
Night slowly settled over the area as the last traces of daylight faded from the horizon. The sky turned deep and quiet, and soon the moon appeared, casting pale silver light across the dark landscape.
Amitesh stood at a distance from the warehouse used by the gang known as Fire Force. From where he was hiding, he could clearly see the dim lights around the compound and the silhouettes of guards walking back and forth near the entrance.
The entire place felt tense and heavily guarded.
Amitesh crouched behind a low patch of bushes while observing the patrol patterns carefully.
Two guards near the gate… one near the side wall… and another moving around the back.
He slowly exhaled.
"What should I do to distract the guards?"
His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for something useful.
Then his gaze stopped.
A large banyan tree stood not far from the warehouse wall. Its thick branches stretched outward, and several hanging vines almost touched the metal roof of the building.
Amitesh narrowed his eyes slightly while studying it.
That tree…
If he could reach those branches, he might be able to climb onto the roof.
But the guards nearby would definitely notice if he tried to move now.
He leaned against the tree trunk while thinking quietly.
Minutes passed as he calculated different possibilities in his mind.
Finally, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"I got an idea."
He stepped slightly away from the bushes and raised his hand toward the sky.
A small flame slowly formed above his palm.
Instead of aiming directly at the warehouse, Amitesh tilted his arm upward while adjusting the angle carefully.
Parabolic motion.
He remembered something from an old physics lesson.
"For maximum range… tilt it around forty-five degrees."
The fireball grew brighter as energy gathered inside it.
Amitesh focused his aim toward an empty area behind the warehouse, far enough to pull the guards away from their posts.
Then he released it.
The fireball shot into the sky in a smooth arc, glowing like a small comet as it crossed the dark night.
For a few seconds, the compound remained silent.
Then—
BOOM.
A loud explosion echoed behind the warehouse, followed by a sudden flash of fire.
"Hey! What was that?" one guard shouted.
Another guard immediately turned toward the sound.
"Check it out!"
Several of them rushed toward the back of the compound to investigate the explosion.
Amitesh watched carefully as their
positions shifted.
The path near the banyan tree was now clear.
He didn't waste a second.
Moving quickly and quietly, Amitesh dashed toward the tree and grabbed one of the hanging vines. With a firm pull, he began climbing upward toward the thick branches that stretched toward the warehouse roof.
Amitesh climbed quickly, gripping the hanging banyan vines and pulling himself up onto a thick branch. The rough bark scraped against his palms as he moved slowly and carefully toward the part of the branch that leaned closest to the warehouse roof.
Below him the compound was still in chaos.
Guards were shouting to each other while several of them rushed toward the explosion site behind the building.
"Spread out! Someone might be there!"
Amitesh crouched low on the branch and remained completely still for a few moments, making sure no one was looking in his direction.
The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting faint shadows over the metal roof.
He slowly looked toward the warehouse and measured the distance from the branch to the edge of the roof.
Not too far… but one mistake and I'll fall straight down.
Amitesh steadied his breathing and shifted his feet slightly to get a better position.
How should I jump this…
He inhaled deeply.
Inside his body, energy began circulating rapidly.
Twenty meridians… activate.
A faint surge of strength spread through his limbs as the meridians opened, sharpening his balance and control.
Amitesh bent his knees slightly and focused on the roof ahead.
Then he jumped.
His body shot forward through the air, clearing the gap between the tree and the warehouse.
For a brief moment, it felt as if time slowed down.
Then—
His boots hit the metal roof.
The surface was smooth and slightly dusty, causing his foot to slide the moment he landed.
"—!"
Amitesh's body tilted dangerously toward the edge.
Instinctively he dropped low and pressed one hand against the roof, using the momentum to stabilize himself before he slipped completely.
After a tense second, he finally regained his balance.
He slowly exhaled.
Phuff… that was close.
Below him the guards were still distracted, their attention focused entirely on the explosion behind the compound.
Amitesh remained crouched against the metal roof, carefully listening to the sounds below.
The first step of the infiltration had worked.
Now he only needed to find a way inside the warehouse without alerting the remaining guards.
Raktbeej let out a quiet sigh inside Amitesh's mind.
"Thank God you didn't fall," he muttered. "Otherwise you would already be dead."
Amitesh frowned slightly as he carefully moved across the narrow steel truss.
"Wait… why would I die from a fall?" he whispered back in irritation. "I survived a bullet through my head, and you're telling me a simple fall could kill me?"
Raktbeej suddenly laughed.
The sound echoed faintly in Amitesh's consciousness.
"Oh… you really don't understand anything about your own survival, do you?"
Amitesh rolled his eyes while gripping the cold metal beam.
"Then explain it."
Raktbeej's tone became calmer.
"Tell me first. Why do you think people die when they fall from great heights?"
Amitesh thought for a moment before answering.
"Because their body hits the ground with a huge shock."
"That is one reason," Raktbeej replied. "But it is not the most dangerous one."
Amitesh narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Then what is?"
Raktbeej spoke slowly, as if explaining something obvious.
"Blood loss."
"When people fall from great heights, their bones break and their skull often cracks open. Internal bleeding starts immediately, and sometimes arteries rupture. Most victims don't die from the impact itself… they die because they lose too much blood before help arrives."
Amitesh stayed silent for a moment.
Raktbeej continued.
"You survived that bullet because I healed the damage immediately. I repaired the tissue and stopped the bleeding before your body collapsed."
His voice turned serious.
"But if you fall from this height and smash into the ground, your bones will shatter and your body may start bleeding in multiple places at once."
Amitesh slowly looked down toward the warehouse floor far below.
The distance suddenly felt much greater.
Raktbeej finished calmly.
"I can heal broken bones."
"But if you lose a large amount of blood in a short time… even I may not be able to save us."
Amitesh swallowed quietly.
"…Good to know."
He tightened his grip on the steel truss.
"Then let's make sure I don't fall tonight."
Amitesh slowly crawled along the narrow steel truss, carefully placing one hand in front of the other. The metal beam was cold beneath his palms, and every small movement echoed faintly through the hollow structure of the warehouse roof.
Ahead of him, a rectangular skylight window was built into the metal roof panels. Pale moonlight leaked through the dusty glass, forming a dim patch of light across the trusses.
Amitesh's eyes locked onto it.
Please… it should be open.
He carefully shifted his body closer, making sure his boots didn't scrape against the metal beam. Once he reached the frame, he steadied himself and slowly reached upward.
His fingers touched the metal edge of the skylight.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then he gently pushed.
The window resisted slightly before moving.
Creak.
Amitesh immediately froze.
His heart skipped a beat as the faint metallic sound echoed in the quiet warehouse. He waited a few seconds, listening carefully for any reaction from below.
Distant footsteps continued across the floor.
Voices of guards could still be heard arguing near the far side of the building.
No one looked up.
Amitesh exhaled slowly.
He lifted the skylight further.
The window slid open.
A cool stream of night air flowed into the warehouse.
Amitesh carefully peeked through the opening and looked down.
Below him, the massive interior of the warehouse stretched out under bright industrial lights. Steel pillars supported the roof, and rows of wooden crates and metal containers were stacked across the concrete floor.
A few guards were still patrolling between them.
Amitesh narrowed his eyes.
Looks like I found the way inside.
Amitesh quietly stepped onto one of the steel roof trusses, carefully balancing himself on the narrow metal beam while looking down at the warehouse floor far below.
He steadied his breathing and crouched slightly to keep his balance.
From this height, the entire warehouse stretched beneath him like a giant metal cavern. Bright industrial lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating stacks of crates, metal containers, and scattered equipment across the concrete floor.
Amitesh slowly scanned the area.
His eyes soon stopped on a group of four people standing together in a loose circle near the center of the warehouse.
They looked like they were in the middle of a serious discussion.
His gaze first settled on a man with long red hair tied loosely behind his head.
The man's posture looked relaxed, but there was a sharpness in his eyes.
(Jon – 25 years old.
Red hair. Brown eyes.)
The man was leaning against a crate while speaking calmly to the others.
But what truly surprised Amitesh was the three people standing with him.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
No way…
(The first one had short blue hair and a long dark coat flowing behind him.
Even while standing still, there was something strangely composed about him.
Leon Vortex – 22 years old.)
(Next to him stood a tall young man with brown hair and sharp brown eyes, wearing a simple black shirt. His arms were crossed as he listened quietly.
Rex Carter – 21 years old.)
And then there was the third one.
Amitesh's gaze stopped on him.
(Spiky hair. Sleeveless shirt. Black sunglasses even at night.
A single earring hanging from his right ear.
The man's posture was lazy, almost bored, but there was a faint crackling sound of electricity occasionally flickering around his fingers.
Kai Mercer – 22 years old.)
The three of them together formed the infamous Thunder Thorn.
Amitesh felt a chill run down his spine.
Why are they here…?
Captain Singh's information said this warehouse belonged to the Fire Force gang.
But if Thunder Thorn was involved too, then this operation was much bigger than anyone expected.
Amitesh slowly lowered himself closer to the metal beam, making sure his shadow didn't fall into the light below.
Something big is happening here.
And he had just walked straight into the middle of it.
Amitesh carefully moved across the steel truss until he spotted a thick iron chain hanging beside a pulley system.
It swayed slightly in the air, probably used for lifting heavy cargo.
Perfect.
He wrapped both hands around the cold metal links and slowly lowered himself down. The chain slid through his palms as he controlled his descent carefully.
Creak.
The faint metallic sound echoed inside the quiet warehouse.
Amitesh froze instantly.
Footsteps echoed across the concrete floor somewhere nearby.
Someone was walking past.
He stayed completely still, hanging in mid-air, barely breathing. After a few tense seconds the footsteps continued past him without stopping.
That was close.
Amitesh quickly finished the descent and dropped the last short distance to the ground.
The moment his boots touched the floor, he moved quickly toward the nearest door along the wall and slipped inside.
He quietly shut it behind him.
The room was small, dimly lit, and packed with stacked wooden crates.
Amitesh lifted the lid of one of the boxes.
Inside were rows of rifles and ammunition magazines.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"So this is where they store the guns."
He looked around at the piles of weapon crates.
"Nice… very nice."
Amitesh opened a box of ammunition and pulled out a handful of bullets. Holding one between his fingers, he began twisting the bullet heads slightly using his enhanced grip.
The metal bent with ease.
"Well… cultivation powers are really convenient."
He tossed the ruined bullet aside and grabbed another.
"You don't even need tools or pliers."
One by one he began damaging the ammunition so the guns would misfire or fail when used.
But as he reached for another magazine—
Something cold suddenly touched the back of his neck.
The unmistakable pressure of a gun barrel.
A voice spoke quietly behind him.
"Don't move."
The tone was calm, but deadly serious.
"Or I'll shoot you."
Amitesh slowly raised both of his hands.
The cold pressure of the gun barrel remained fixed against him as he carefully turned around.
When he finally faced the person behind him, he blinked in surprise.
Standing there was a young girl with short hair, holding the gun firmly with both hands. Her stance was steady, and her eyes were sharp and alert.
(Agrata — 19.3 years old.)
For a brief moment Amitesh simply stared at her.
Then he spoke casually.
"Oh… it's just a boy."
Agrata's eyebrow twitched.
Her grip tightened as she pulled the bolt of the gun, loading it with a sharp metallic click.
"Who are you calling a boy?" she snapped. "Just because I have short hair doesn't mean I'm a boy."
Amitesh tilted his head slightly while observing her again.
"But you really do look like a boy."
He gestured lazily toward the door.
"So… boy, can you please leave and let me finish my work?"
Agrata's eye twitched again.
The barrel of the gun moved a little closer to his chest.
"Are you serious right now?"
Her voice turned colder.
"You broke into a gang warehouse… got caught… and you're still joking?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you not scared you might die?"
Amitesh looked at the gun for a second.
Then he slowly lifted his gaze back to her face.
"Honestly?"
He shrugged.
"Not really."
Agrata frowned.
Amitesh casually pointed toward the damaged ammunition scattered across the crate beside him.
"You should be more worried about your bullets."
Her eyes flicked toward the crate.
For the first time, confusion crossed her face.
Agrata's finger rested firmly on the trigger as she stared at him with cold eyes.
"If you say anything else," she said slowly, "I will shoot you in the head."
Amitesh lifted both hands a little higher in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright."
Then he tilted his head slightly while studying her expression.
"You're really loyal, aren't you?"
Agrata didn't answer, but her grip on the gun didn't loosen either.
Amitesh continued calmly.
"How about you join me instead?"
For a second the room fell silent.
Then Agrata stared at him like he had just said the most ridiculous thing possible.
"You just said I'm loyal," she replied flatly.
"Do you really think I would join you?"
Amitesh thought about it for a moment.
Then he nodded slowly.
"That's a fair point."
Agrata's eyes narrowed even further.
"You broke into our warehouse, sabotaged our ammunition, and now you're trying to recruit me?"
Her voice carried a mixture of disbelief and irritation.
"Either you're very brave…"
The gun barrel pressed a little harder against his forehead.
"…or very stupid."
Amitesh looked completely calm.
"Sometimes those two look the same."
For a brief moment Agrata didn't know whether to laugh or pull the trigger.
Then footsteps echoed faintly from the corridor outside the room.
Someone was coming closer.
Agrata's attention suddenly shifted for a split second as she glanced toward the corridor outside the room. The faint sound of footsteps echoed somewhere in the warehouse.
That tiny distraction was enough.
Amitesh moved.
It was only a slight shift of his shoulder, but Agrata's reflexes were faster than his movement.
Her finger tightened on the trigger.
Bang!!