In the dark world they have stepped into, survival wasn't about strength alone.
It was about knowing who stood beside you..., who stood against you and who could stab you the moment you turned away.
That was exactly why the Braves made the first move.
At the Braves Headquarters.
The room was quiet-- too quiet
Only the soft hum of holographic screens filled the air as four glowing crowns roatated slowly in the centre.
QUEENS
"They replied faster then expected," Agni said, adjusting the projection
His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp." No negotiation, no delay."
Purav leaned back in his chair, fingers interlocked behind his head." Either They're insanely confident... or they already know us."
Veer cracked his knuckles once." Both are dangerous."
Jai stood away from them, gaze fixed on the crown lazily moving in front of him. His jaw was tight.
He hadn't slept properly since that night.
Wine.Chaos.Blood.
And her.
The girl who laughed like the world hadn't taught her fear.
The girl who had leaned into him without hesitation during the attack.
" The restaurant girls..." Purav muttered half to himself. " They were..."
Jai cut in sharply. " Stop, right now focus on the Queens not these girls. Queens are more important."
Agni leaned close to Purav," Well, we have right to focus on our queens too not only these Queens but they had made Jai crazy after all he hadn't lost a race from a girl."
Purav whispered back." He was telling himself to focus. Well we met our queens in restaurant but Jai is lucky."
Agni asked," How ?"
Purav already laughing," He has two queens, one is that purple beast girl and other one is that who was in the restaurant."
They both laughed.
Jai replied," enough."
They both replied together," Yes Boss."
Veer asked Jai," Why these Queens accepted our collaboration proposal, they are new in this game and in this world they should have more precautions ?"
Jai replied," Well, Braves are the once who lost to them on their first match even if unofficially, they are underestimating us and well let them think they won easily that night."
Agni smiled slightly. "Of course, someone helped them. But Jai, why did you make those comments like racing is not for girls as far as I know your sister also drives racing cars and you support her and respect all women?"
Jai looked towards him."I always tease my opponents cause when you tease them they become reckless and chances of mistakes increases but she was different her all moves were measured."
Purav mockingly. " Agni look someone who said focus on Queens is talking about his own queen."
Jai looked towards him." Purav."
"What? Facts.I know you are confused but its alright." Purav didn't hesitate.
Veer, " confused about what?"
Purav ready to explain." Actually our leader can't decide between..."
Jai looked at Purav and he stopped mid sentence.
Jai looked at the big screen." We'll be meeting these Queens.Tommorow morning and figure out who the hell are these queens."
At the same time, at Queens headqurters.
" They approached us."
Saraswati sprawled across the couch like a bored queen, boots kicked onto the table.
" Straight. No games. I respect that."
Durga stood beside her, holding the dumbells." Or they want to measure us."
" They already have," Sia said quietly, eyes on her tablet.
Radhika remained near the window, city lights reflecting in her eyes. Her expression was composed, unreadable.
" They saved us," Saraswati continued.
Durga snorted," Heroes save everyone so, that doesn't make us something special to them."
Saraswati asked " What should we do about our competitors? Are we going to always hide from them?"
Radhika finally spoke, voice calm but firm." Knowing your competitors doesn't mean trusting them. It means you don't walk blind into a war."
Sia looked at Radhika and smiled. "You're saying we meet them."
" I'm saying," Radhika replied, turning slowly, "this world doesn't allow isolation. If we don't know the players, we become targets."
Saraswati looked at Sia." You agreed that we can be friends to Braves."
Durga laughed." Honestly? I want to see their faces of realisation."
Saraswati smirked." Same."
Then Sia nodded." Neutral ground. Controlled environment."
Radhika closed the file." We accept."
Because survival sometimes meant stepping closer to danger---
just enough to understand it.
The next morning, the meeting.
The space was dimly lit, reinforced walls humming softly. No cameras. No external feeds.
Neutral territory.
The Braves arrived first.
Veer instinctively positioned himself slightly ahead of Jai. Agni scanned exits. Purav tapped into the local network.
Veer looked at Purav," Why are you dressed so well and its too much?"
Purav replied," Come on, I'm meeting the Queens and want to make a good impression, especially for that hacker who hacked all my systems."
Veer smiled." But weren't you committed to the restaurant girl."
Purav and Agni passed a smile." Well that doesn't mean we stop trying and I don't know anything about the girl at restaurant, I didn't even know if we will meet again or not."Purav replied.
Jai was smiling already listening to them.
Then---
The door slid open.
Four women walked in.
No masks.
No disguised.
No weapon visible.
But power radiated from them like a warning.
Purav's breath hitched.
Agni stiffened.
Veer straightened instinctively.
And Jai --
Jai felt like the floor had shifted under his feet.
Because the woman at the centre --
Relaxed posture.Sharp smile. Eyes gleaming with amusement--
Was the same girl who had been drunk in his arms.
Saraswati.
She stopped a few steps away, gaze flicking over all four men before settling on him.
"Well," she said lightly," this is awkward."
Silence crashed down.
"You--" Jai started, then stopped, disbelief tightening his chest.
Radhika inclined her head politely. "We've met. Briefly."
Purav let out a low laugh, running a hand through his hair." No way."
Agni murmered, stunned," The restaurant ..."
Durga's gaze flickered to Veer." You fight well."
Veer swallowed." You didn't need saving."
Sia stood slightly behind, observant, eyes guarded.
Jai finally found his voice." You were drunk."
Saraswati tilted her head, amused." You were wrong."
Understanding slammed into him.
" The Purple Beast," he whispered.
Her smile sharpened." Took you long enough."
Jai laughed once -- short, disbelieving. "You played us."
Saraswati shrugged." You underestimated us."
Radhika's voice cut in, calm and commanding.
" We knew who you were. You didn't know who we were. That imbalance is now corrected."
Purav nodded.
Agni nodded slowly." So this meeting..."
"Is about survival," Sia finished."Not trust."
Silence.
Jai broke the silence first.
" Now when we know who you are."
Saraswati's fingers twitched slightly, but her smile stayed lazy.
" Congratulations. You have eyes."
Jai ignored the jab. His gaze lingered, just for a second too long, before returning to business.
" You're powerful. Smart. And currently... targets."
Durga crossed her arms." So are you."
Agni stepped forward, voice steady." We're not here to challenge you. We're here to collaborate."
Sia finally spoke, tone cold and precise.
" In this world, alliance don't come without cost."
Jai nodded," We're willing to pay it."
Silence stretched.
Then Radhika said quietly,
" Fine. But understand this - we don't follow. We work together."
Veer smiled.
" That's exactly what we want."
This was not just a meeting, it was the first time when Braves met Queens officially. Both the sides knew each other, this time no masks, no hiding but one team meeting the other.
They shake their hands. And then the heroes and the queens started working together, helping each other but trust.... trust was still a heavy word to be approved.
Working together.
The first mission them working together was chaos.
Gunfire echoed through an abandoned industrial zone as alarms screamed overhead.
" Left flank -- now!" Agni shouted.
Durga moved instantly, dropping two enemies with brutal precision.
Veer watched her from the corner of his eyes.
"You don't hesitate."
She smirked mid- fight.
" Neither should you."
They moved back to back, seamless, instinctive- two warriors who didn't need
instructions.
Across the field, Saraswati vaulted over a barricade, laughing breathlessly.
" Jai! You are slow today."
Jai fired, covering her blind spot.
"You're reckless everyday."
She grinned.
"That's why you keep watching me."
He scoffed- but didn't deny it.
Inside the control room, Purav cursed under his breath.
"This firewall's nasty."
Radhika stepped beside him, eyes sharp."You're thinking in layers. Think in
patterns."
Purav froze.
" You saw that already?"
She nodded.
" I trust your speed. You trust my instinct."
Their eyes met - brief intense. Sia noticed but didn't said anything.
Outside, Sia guarded the perimeter , senses alert.
Agni approached carefully.
"You don't talk much during missions."
" I don't waste words," she replied.
He smiled faintly.
"Efficient."
She glanced at him once -- then looked away.
Still guarded. Still distant.
But not dismissive.
After the Missions
They sat on crates later, adrenaline slowly fading.
Saraswati leaned back dramatically.
" Admit it -- we make a good team."
Jai handed her a bottle of water.
"You make chaos. We clean it."
She took it, fingers brushing his.
" You'd miss my chaos."
He met her gaze.
"Don't flatter yourself."
She laughed.
"Too late."
Veer stretched
"Durga... your footwork. Who trained you?"
"No one," she said calmly.
" Survival does."
Something shifted in his eyes.
Radhika closed her device.
"Mission accomplished."
Purav hesitated.
" You could've done this alone."
She looked at him.
"But we didn't."
And for some reason, that mattered.
Then---
That night, every screen flickered.
NOTICE :
All missions and competitive games suspended for one week.
But braves received a different message.
(Braves reassigned to an external operation.)
Saraswati groaned.
" You're kidding."
Sia asked Jai if they got the same message.
Jai showed them the message. After all trust was supposed to be formed.
Durga frowned.
" External?"
Agni's expression hardened.
" Far and dangerous."
Sia asked," Far? But none of the other three teams got this message."
Jai and other braves laughed.
Agni replied," three ? There are more than 10 teams only in this city. This is a big game not only this city every city has about 8 to 10 teams now just imagine how many are there in this whole country but yes only 5 are on top right now in our city we are the second then you guys then beasts and the Knights. We can consider as competition"
Sia looked at Radhika all surprised. Radhika nodded her head. Sia felt relieved that Radhika knew it.
Saraswati and Durga not knowing about that still defending themselves.
"Ya...ya we knew that." Saraswati all confused.
Sia looked at Agni," What about the first rankers? Do you know anything about them?"
Agni hesitated then replied." No, we never met them."
Complete silence.
Jai exhaled slowly.
" We leave at dawn."
Silence followed.
Not fear.
Something heavier.
And somewhere between unspoken words and unfinished thoughts,
something fragile had already begun to take shape.
Something that distance would test.
Somewhere far away in a dark room, the mystery man made his another move but no one knew about it. The players were being played. But now something big and exciting was about to happen that will turn the tables.