The Directorate facility had never felt this tense before.
Security personnel moved quickly through the corridors. Screens across the control room flashed with surveillance feeds from across the city.
Agent Arjun stood near one of the monitors, watching the data scroll across the screen.
"Any movement?" he asked.
A technician shook his head.
"Nothing confirmed yet."
Director Meera crossed her arms.
"They won't attack openly."
Arjun nodded.
"Dragon hunters never do."
Down in the training hall, Aadhya sat on a bench tying the straps of her training gloves.
Kabir was stretching nearby.
"So," he said casually, "your enemy woke up somewhere in the mountains."
Aadhya sighed.
"When you say it like that, it sounds even worse."
Sana leaned against the wall.
"You're taking it surprisingly well."
"I'm still hoping this is all a very weird dream."
Dev scoffed.
"Yeah, secret underground bases and ancient bloodlines. Totally normal dream."
Before Aadhya could reply—
The lights flickered.
For a brief moment, the entire hall went dark.
Then the emergency lights activated.
Red light filled the room.
Kabir frowned.
"That's not part of training."
A loud alarm suddenly echoed through the facility.
INTRUDER ALERT
Everyone froze.
Aadhya's stomach dropped.
"What just happened?"
Up in the control room, chaos erupted.
Multiple warning signals appeared on the screens.
"Director!" a technician shouted.
"Perimeter breach detected!"
Arjun stepped closer.
"Location?"
"North forest sector… near the outer boundary."
Meera's eyes narrowed.
"They're early."
Arjun's expression darkened.
"Dragon hunters."
Outside the facility…
The forest surrounding the hidden entrance was completely silent.
Snow-like ash drifted through the air.
Three dark figures moved between the trees.
Their movements were almost invisible.
Each of them wore black armor marked with a faint crimson dragon symbol.
One of them stopped and touched the ground.
A pulse of red energy spread across the soil.
"He's right," the hunter whispered.
"The serpent energy is here."
Another hunter looked toward the hidden entrance of the Directorate.
"Orders were clear."
The third hunter spoke quietly.
"Find the girl."
Their eyes glowed faintly red.
"Leave no witnesses."
Back inside the facility…
Arjun rushed into the training hall.
"All trainees stay here!"
Kabir immediately stood up.
"What's happening?"
Arjun didn't sugarcoat it.
"The Dragon Bloodline sent hunters."
Silence hit the room.
Dev muttered under his breath.
"Well… that escalated quickly."
Aadhya felt her serpent mark grow warm again.
"Are they here for me?"
Arjun looked directly at her.
"Yes."
Her heartbeat sped up.
Kabir tried to joke.
"Wow. First week here and you already have assassins."
"Not helping," Sana said.
The alarm kept echoing through the hall.
Director Meera's voice suddenly came through the speakers.
"All combat units to the perimeter."
Arjun turned toward the door.
"I have to go."
Aadhya immediately stood.
"I'm coming too."
"No."
"Yes."
Arjun shook his head.
"You're not ready for this."
Aadhya clenched her fists.
"And hiding here won't help either."
For a moment, Arjun hesitated.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
Kabir jumped up.
"Oh come on, you're not leaving us behind."
Dev cracked his knuckles.
"Finally something interesting."
Sana simply nodded.
Arjun looked at the four teenagers standing in front of him.
Then he muttered quietly,
"This is a terrible idea."
Outside the facility…
The three hunters stood on a hill overlooking the hidden entrance.
One of them tilted his head slightly.
"They're coming."
Below them, several Directorate soldiers moved into defensive positions.
The hunter smiled beneath his mask.
"Good."
Red energy slowly formed around his hands.
"Let's see if the Serpent Queen is worth the trouble."
Inside the forest path leading to the entrance…
Aadhya and the others followed Arjun through the dark trees.
The cold wind moved through the forest.
Everything felt too quiet.
Kabir whispered,
"This feels like a horror movie."
Dev responded,
"Then try not to die in the first scene."
Aadhya suddenly stopped walking.
Her serpent mark burned sharply.
"Wait."
Arjun turned.
"What is it?"
Aadhya slowly looked toward the trees.
"They're here."
A shadow moved between the branches.
Then another.
Three figures stepped out of the darkness.
Crimson symbols glowing faintly on their armor.
One of them tilted his head.
"So this is the Serpent Bloodline."
Aadhya felt a chill run through her body.
The hunter raised his hand slowly.
Red energy gathered in his palm.
"Lord Rudra sends his greetings."
Arjun stepped forward immediately.
"Run."
But it was already too late.
The hunter smiled.
"Let the hunt begin."
And the forest exploded into battle.