The blue bus emblazoned with 'FlexStudio' in bold letters sped along Rajasthan's winding roads. Tall mountains and roadside shacks zipped by. Inside, 27-year-old Krishna stared out the window.
"You seem down today, Krishna?" 28-year-old Pia asked, sliding up beside him.
Krishna gave a faint smile. "Nothing like that, Pia. Just a bit tired."
From the back seat, 24-year-old Shiv laughed. "That's just how he is, Pia! Too many comics and anime. He's got his own world running in his head."
Pia smiled and moved to the front seat. Shiv whispered in Krishna's ear, "Bro, even after being your ex, she still likes you. Pay attention!"
The bus stopped, and everyone gazed at the ancient Rajasthan temple. Shiv ordered the team to start work. Krishna felt uneasy. "We have to hurry—before nightfall."
Dusk had fallen. As everyone split up for tasks, a group of thugs entered the temple. When they misbehaved with Pia, Shiv shoved the leader (age 43) away. Pia called the police, and they fled.
As the team prepared to leave, Pia and Krishna were alone in a room filled with Ganesh idols. The thugs returned.
"Who's gonna save you now?" the leader sneered, grabbing Pia's hand.
Krishna yanked the leader's hand away and punched him. The thug fell, but his buddies piled on Krishna.
Outside, Shiv and the team were loading tools into the bus when a gunshot rang out from inside. "Call the police!" Shiv yelled, rushing in.
The leader was about to fire again. Shiv swiftly grabbed a stone and smashed it into the leader's hand. The bullet hit the spot instead, and the gun flew free.
Shiv and the team fought off the thugs. Krishna knocked one out cold. Pia rushed out.
Hearing police sirens, the thugs tried to flee, but an earthquake hit the temple. The ceiling cracked. Shiv and the others escaped.
Inside, Krishna's leg got trapped under stones. The temple collapsed. "Krishna!" Pia screamed.
Krishna's soul slipped from his crushed body and entered a portal. He opened his eyes in a lavish room. "Where am I?"
His head throbbed with memories of his past life. He had become Vasu Singh Yadav.
A beautiful maid, Riya, entered. "Master! Are you okay? You collapsed."
Vasu (Krishna) steadied himself. "I'm fine, Riya. Just tired. Get me a glass of water."
As Riya left, Vasu checked the system inventory. He found a 'Detox Potion' and drank it, cleansing 5% of his body's impurities and toxic drugs.
The system flashed a new skill:
[Permanent Skill Acquired: 'Holy Proctoring' (Passive)]
Effect: Power Growth 2x faster. 80% extra damage on every attack.
Vasu smiled, sipped the water, and thought, "From now on, I'll live as Vasu Singh Yadav and become the mightiest warrior in this empire."