Score — @15: 8 — @11: 11
Timer — 3:00
---
Team @11—
Was watching Viraj.
No one took him seriously.
"This guy? He's the last one left? Not muscular. Not flashy. What is he even going to do?"
---
Viraj stood near the line.
His entire team was out.
He was alone.
"Kabaddi… Kabaddi… Kabaddi…"
He moved toward Amit—right side—applying pressure—
Since Shubham and Roshan were out, Amit had come in.
Viraj cut left—toward Varun—
Varun stepped aside.
Viraj thought—
Damn. Their corners are strong. Their middle is solid too. Where do I even touch? It feels like I'm alone, trying to break through a fortress wall.
A second passed.
No. I'll score.
---
Viran—
"What's wrong, dog? Feels like you crawled out of a gutter. You stink."
Viraj—
Didn't even look at him.
Viran—
Silenced.
---
Viraj moved again toward Varun—
Varun was sharp.
Not giving any easy opening.
---
Amit covered from the other side.
But inside him—
Something was happening—
I haven't completed a single proper raid this entire match. My dream—to surpass Varun—won't be fulfilled like this. I have to go beyond him. I have to become the number one… alone.
And with that thought—
Something began to rise within him.
An aura.
Amit's eyes locked onto Viraj—
And—
Weak point.
He could see it clearly.
Like a map—
Grab here. Minimum effort. Minimum time. Perfect lock.
Amit charged—
Straight for Viraj's left arm.
Grabbed it—
"Got you—"
Then—
Viraj turned back—
And said—
"No."
A pause.
"My weak spot isn't my left… it's my right arm. You fool."
And in that single moment—
He used Amit's own body as leverage—
And tagged Varun as well.
---
Viraj thought—
Now… I can reach the line—
Then—
His left arm—
Was grabbed.
Varun.
"You fool. Who told you? You never reveal your weakness."
---
Viraj was trapped.
He tried to break free—once—twice—
But—
Varun and Amit together.
Whistle.
Viraj — out.
---
Score — @15: 8 — @11: 15
Timer — 2:00
---
Team @15—
The one they thought would become their hope—
That hope—
Shattered.
Everyone was out.
Even Viraj.
---
The court reset.
Both teams came back in—
Full @15 team inside again.
---
Viraj—
Was disappointed.
From within.
I couldn't do anything. Nothing different. Nothing at all.
---
Somewhere far—
Tane was watching the screen.
An AI bot asked—
"Why did you choose Viraj? He plays so poorly."
Tane—
Didn't take his eyes off the screen.
Didn't reply.
He just—
Watched.
---
— Chapter 18 End —