Episode 05
Blood Moon
Sikandar subha uthta hai to uske samne aik hologram notification nazar aata hai, ye kal dekhe gaye daily quest ke baare mein hota hai.
<Daily Quest Failure, Sanity Decreases by 20%>
Ye dekh kar Sikandar kandhe uchkata hai aur kehta hai,
"Jesa mein ne socha tha, ye sirf aik game hai. Magar ye game keh raha hai ke mein half-blood hoon? Kya mazaak hai!"
Phir wo apne jism ki taraf dekhta hai aur halka sa hilta hai.
Sikandar apna haath uthata hai aur kuch martaba apne fists ko band karta hai, kisi qisam ka dard nahi hota, uski saari choton ka naam-o-nishaan nahi hota – ye kisi mo’jze se kam nahi.
Jab usse lagta hai ke uska jism poori tarah recover ho chuka hai, to wo decide karta hai ke aaj military hospital chhod de.
Uska bag bed ke side mein pada hota hai, Sikandar uthta hai, apna pyara necklace pehenta hai aur apna samaan pack karne lagta hai.
Sab kuch tayar hone ke baad, wo gehri saans leta hai aur kamre se bahar nikal jata hai.
Raaste mein wo us nurse se milta hai jo kal mila tha, uske baad doctor uska aik aakhri check-up karta hai sirf yaqeen hasil karne ke liye, aur jab check-up mukammal hota hai to Sikandar hospital se nikal jata hai.
"Ek baar phir, aap ki khidmat ka shukriya!", nurse haath hila kar kehti hai.
Sikandar bhi muskura kar haath hilaata hai aur phir mud kar chala jata hai.
Jaise hi wo hospital se bahar nikalta hai, tapta hua suraj uske chahre par girta hai. Nai recruits nazar aate hain jo barabar line mein bhaag rahe hote hain aur Barbie songs gaa rahe hote hain.
Ye manzar us ke liye nostalgia se bharpoor hota hai.
Sikandar hans padta hai, apne pehle din ka soch kar jab wo pehli baar military mein aaya tha – uski zindagi ka aik bhool-ne-na-wala din.
Wo military barracks jahan Sikandar hota hai, usay “Noob Box” kaha jata hai – yahan jaise jawan larkay aik saal ki sakht training lete hain pehle ke wo battlefield par Supernatural ke khilaaf lad sakein. Yehi wo jagah thi jahan Sikandar ne apni pehli military zindagi shuru ki thi.
Naye recruits theek lagte hain lekin...
Sirf unki training dekh kar hi pata chalta hai ke hawa mein tension kaise bhar gaya hai. Wo Supernatural ke khilaf pehli line mein ladne ja rahe hain – jo ke naye logon ke liye bohat hi darawna hota hai.
Tab bhi, jab Supernatural ke liye nafrat bohat thi, dar to phir bhi dil mein tha.
Supernatural ki laayi hui dahshat insan ke zehan mein hamesha ke liye asar kar jaati hai, bohat se veterans iss psychological trauma se guzarte hain.
Naye recruits ko dekh kar Sikandar sochta hai:
“Umeed hai ye tayar honge... battlefield itna meherban nahi hota.”
Noob Box ka chakkar lagane ke baad, Sikandar apna bag kandhe par daalta hai aur nikal padta hai – hospital se discharge hone ke baad ab wo aage ki training ke liye tayar hai.
Uska pehla mission kamyabi se mukammal hua tha, isliye usay behtar training ke liye release kar diya gaya.
Kal uski maa ne kaha tha ke ab wo aik university mein dakhil hoga jahan use mazeed tarbiyat milegi – military ka apne heroes ke liye shukriya ada karne ka tareeqa.
Jo mission Sikandar ne kiya tha, wo aik secret operation tha.
Military chahata to aur behtar soldiers bhej sakti thi, lekin Sikandar aur uske doston ko chuna gaya kyunke wo USR ka hissa the.
Sirf chand hi log USR ka hissa bante hain.
Aam tor par USR sabse talented soldiers ko chunta hai, lekin Sikandar, Kyle, aur Edward ko shuru se hi wahan training mili thi.
Isi wajah se wo teeno USR ka hissa the – operation ke liye khaas taur par tayar kiye gaye.
Jab Sikandar Noob Box ke exit ki taraf badhta hai, sab usay dekh kar celebrity ki tarah greet karte hain – kal ke ceremony ke baad wo hero ban gaya hai.
Kuch to usay apna role model bhi banate hain.
Dwight City ki jang un kai jangon mein se aik thi jo Humanity aur Supernatural ke darmiyan chal rahi hain. Ye jang teen saal se chal rahi thi.
Dwight City mein hazaron faujiyon ka qatal hua – Supernatural ke ghoul soldiers ke haathon.
Ye Ghouls Supernatural ke frontline fighters hain, aur wo peechay se powerful Supernatural ko moqa dete hain ke wo apni powers use kar saken.
Isi wajah se wo operation jisme Sikandar ne hissa liya, aik saal pehle plan kiya gaya tha.
Sikandar aur uske doston ki wajah se hi Humanity Supernatural ko peeche dhakel payi. Isi liye UWO ne unke liye shukriya ka aik bara event rakha tha.
Sikandar filhaal Ratmawati City mein rehta hai.
Jab se Supernatural samne aaye hain, humanity ko peeche hatna para. Countries ne aik temporary alliance banaya jise Elpida Alliance kehte hain – insaniyat ka aakhri markaz.
Ratmawati City Elpida Alliance ka aik bara city hai, jahan sattar million log rehte hain.
Noob Box se bahar nikal kar, Sikandar guards ko aik halka sa sir hila kar salam karta hai, phir aik taxi bulata hai ke ghar ja sake.
Taxi mein baith kar uska phone bajta hai.
Uski rock ringtone puray taxi mein goonjti hai, wo phone dekhta hai – uski maa ka call hota hai.
"Hello, Mom?", Sikandar call receive karta hai.
Uski maa ka awaz doosri taraf se aata hai:
"Kahan ho tum? Kya tum theek ho? Hospital se aise hi discharge ho gaye?" – unka lehja fikr bhara hota hai.
"Mein theek hoon maa, abhi ghar ja raha hoon", Sikandar hans kar kehta hai.
Lamba arsa ho gaya tha maa ke aise fikr bhare alfaz sunay, military ki zindagi ne uska normal zindagi ka waqt cheen liya.
Lekin yehi uska raasta tha – usay apne asal walidain ka badla lena hai.
Mrs. Greene phir saans bharti hain, magar phir purjosh awaz mein kehti hain:
"Theek hai, ab tum bache nahi rahe... Tumhari marzi! Nokas Mall aa jao, tumhara discharge celebrate karte hain!"
Sikandar aik lamha rukta hai, sochta hai ke jaye ya nahi.
Phir wo kehta hai:
"Relax karne mein kya harj hai? Itne din baad chutti mili hai."
Usne maa ko kaha ke wo mall aa raha hai, phir call band kar di.
Sarakon par traffic bhara hota hai, kuch karne ko nahi hota is liye Sikandar apne phone ka news app kholta hai – jahan aik news uski nazar mein aati hai:
‘Appreciation for the Heroes of Dwight City’
Ye UWO ki taraf se Medal of Honour dene ki news hoti hai – jaisa ke kal nurse aur maa ne kaha tha. Ye uske liye shukriya ada karne ka tareeqa hai.
Comments section dekhte hue, Sikandar dekhta hai ke logon ne bohat pyare messages likhe hain – kisi ne duaein di hain to kisi ne Supernatural ko laanat bheji hai.
"Lagta hai nurse jese ache log ab bhi hain is duniya mein", Sikandar muskara ke sochta hai.
Thoda aur scroll karte hue usay aik aur news milti hai – "Grand Opening of Ochyra University"
Ochyra University ke tasaveer dekh kar Sikandar hiraan reh jata hai:
"Kya ye pagal ho gaye hain? Ye university hai ya koi Kingdom?", wo dil hi dil mein cheekhta hai.
Ye university Ratmawati City ke darmiyan mein hoti hai – lekin tasveer mein wo aik shandar qila lagti hai!
Ochyra University Ratmawati City ke bilkul beech mein واقع hai.
Is university ka size itna bara hai ke lagta hai jaise yahaan croreon students aaram se aa sakte hain! Sochna bhi hairaan kun hai ke ye sirf ek university hai.
Sikandar ne apne daayein taraf dekha aur usay herani hui ke university ka ooper ka hissa yahaan se bhi nazar aa raha tha,
Jabke woh is waqt Ratmawati City ke sector 3 ke outskirts mein tha, phir bhi usay university ka chhota sa hissa dikh raha tha — bas iski shiddat se andaza hota hai ke kitni badi jagah hai.
“Yeh to kuch naya hai,” Sikandar ne soch kar sir hilaaya.
Lambi aur thakaa dene wali traffic ke baad, Sikandar aakhirkaar Nokas Mall pohanch gaya.
Usne asmaan ki taraf dekha to maloom hua ke andhera chaa raha hai,
Yeh safar itna lamba nahi hona chahiye tha, lekin traffic ne waqt barbaad kar diya. Woh mall ke andar gaya taake apni maa, Mrs. Greene, se mall ke highest floor ke ek fancy restaurant mein mile.
Jab Sikandar table tak pohancha to dekha ke Mrs. Greene akeli nahi thi.
Unke saath teen log aur bhi thay,
Ek middle-aged aadmi jo ke formal suit aur tie mein tha, uske grey baal uski umar ka pata de rahe thay lekin uska confident body posture kisi jawan aadmi ka lag raha tha.
Uske saath ek aurat thi jo door se hi Sikandar ko dekh rahi thi,
Uski hazel aankhein roshni mein chamak rahi thi, lekin jo cheez Sikandar ka sabse zyada dhyan kheench rahi thi woh uske paas baithi ek khoobsurat larki thi.
Un dono mein shakal ki mushabihat dekh kar,
Sikandar ne andaza lagaya ke woh larki in dono ki beti hai. Uske brown curly baal uske collarbone tak latak rahe thay, aur uski saaf aur narm skin uske black gown ko aur bhi khubsurat bana rahi thi. Gown uski kamar ka aadha hissa dikhata tha jo uski pur-kashish shakal ko aur nikharta tha.
‘Ye log kaun hain? Maa ne to kabhi nahi bataya ke woh kisi dost ko bhi layengi,’ Sikandar ne socha.
Tabhi door se Mrs. Greene ne haath hilaaya, jis par Sikandar ne bhi haath hilaya aur table ki taraf chala gaya.
“Sikandar, main introduce karwati hoon, ye Acosta Family hai,” Mrs. Greene ne kaha aur phir middle-aged aadmi ki taraf dekha, “Acosta Family, milo mere bete Sikandar Silverstar se.”
Ye sun kar woh middle-aged aadmi uth gaya.
Woh halka jhuka aur haath barhaaya, “Khushi hui mil kar, Sikandar. Main tumhari maa ka purana dost hoon, Muji Reel Acosta. Tum mujhe bas Muji keh sakte ho.”
Sikandar ne uska haath dba kar milaya, “Khushi hui, Sir.”
“Lagta hai tum ek raat mein celebrity ban gaye ho, saari news mein tumhara naam araha hai Dwight City ke Hero ke taur par,” Muji ne kaha, aankhon mein ghurti nazar ke saath.
Lekin Sikandar ko kuch ajeeb sa mehsoos hua,
Muji ka haath milana kuch zyada hi tight tha, jaise woh kuch mehsoos kar raha ho. ‘Yeh mujhe test kar raha hai... lekin kyun?’ Sikandar ne socha.
Tabhi, ek hologram notification Muji ke paas chamak utha:
<Muji Reel Acosta>
Power: Rank 4 Awakened – Wind Elementalist
Mental: ??
Strength: ??
Agility: ??
Endurance: ??
Intelligence: ??
Sikandar hairaan reh gaya, ‘Ye kya? System mujhe Muji ka status dikhara hai? Ya yeh bas show off karne ke liye hai?’
Usne haath chhudaane ki koshish ki, lekin...
Muji ne haath zor se pakad rakha tha, uski grip aur bhi tight ho gayi.
Sikandar usay ghur kar dekh raha tha, dard hone laga lekin woh kuch nahi bola.
Phir Muji ne uska haath chhor diya aur apni biwi aur beti ki taraf dekha,
Un dono ki aankhon mein umeed thi, lekin Muji ne sir hila diya — jaise kuch pasand nahi aaya ho.
Sikandar ne ye notice kiya, ‘To ye log mujhe judge kar rahe thay... par kis base par?’
Muji ne phir kaha: “Yeh meri biwi Cinta hai, aur yeh meri beti Rosie,” usne dono ki taraf ishara kiya.
Dono ne muskara kar Sikandar ka salam liya, aur usne bhi jawab diya.
Sab log table par baith gaye, lekin Sikandar ne apni maa ko ek questioning look diya.
Mrs. Greene ne jawab diya, “Muji mera purana dost hai.”
“Kuch din pehle mujhse poocha ke Rosie ke liye koi achha rishta ho to milwao, to maine socha kyu na tum dono ko milwau.”
Sikandar ne andar hi andar apna sir pakad liya, ‘To ye sab usi ka part tha... Muji ne mujhe test kiya ye jaan ne ke liye ke main Awakened hoon ya nahi. Lekin shayad usay ye samajh nahi aayi ke main sach mein Awakened hoon.’
Thodi der baatein karne ke baad,
Mrs. Greene ne suggest kiya, “Kyun na tum dono mall mein thoda walk karo, shaayad kuch spark ho jaaye.”
“Yahan hi baat kar lein to behtar hoga...” Cinta ne kaha.
Lekin Mrs. Greene ne uski baat kaat di, “Yahan hum bude log baithe hain, wo awkward hoga.” Aur usne Sikandar ko aankh mari.
Sikandar chhup kar muskara diya aur phir kaha, “Rosie, kya tum mere saath mall mein chalogi thodi der?”
Rosie ne parents ki taraf dekha aur phir haan keh diya.
Dono side-by-side restaurant se nikal gaye.
Ek taraf Sikandar ki casual T-shirt aur shorts, aur doosri taraf Rosie ka glamorous black gown — dono mein bohot contrast tha.
Rosie ne apni dress ko dekha aur thoda pareshan nazar aayi.
Sikandar ne pucha, “Agar tumhe kapray badalne hain to main wait kar leta hoon, ye gown shayad uncomfortable ho.”
“Main theek hoon,” Rosie ne thande lehje mein jawab diya.
Mall ke andar thodi der chalne ke baad,
Rosie ne dekha ke Sikandar baar baar ek hi jagah se ghoom raha hai. Usne gusse se pucha, “Toh... jaana kahan hai?”
“Oh? Tum abhi tak yahan ho?” Sikandar ne mazak mein kaha.
“Tumhare chehre se to lag raha tha ke tumhe pasand nahi aaya ke tumhe ek non-Awakened se milwaya gaya, to socha ke tum to pehle hi chakkar mein chali jaogi.”
“To tumhein samajh aa gaya?” Rosie ne kaha.
“Achha hai. Non-Awakened log kisi layak nahi hote. Main khud bhi Awakened hoon, aur tum mein mujhe koi dilchaspi nahi. Tumhara achievement tumhare level ke liye kaafi hai.”
Ye keh kar Rosie ne apne baal peeche kiye aur chal di.
Sikandar ne kandhe uchkaaye jaise usay koi farq nahi padta, lekin phir achanak...
Uska jism garam hone laga.
Ek aur notification saamne aya:
<Blood Moon will start in ten minutes>
<Checking Stats...>
<Adding Mental stats into user's Sanity>
<User's Sanity stats is still not sufficient to control the Blood Moon blessing>
Sikandar ghabra gaya. Uska jism itna garam ho raha tha ke uski saans tez hone lagi aur mooh se dhuwan nikal raha tha jaise sardi ho.
Woh mall ke bahar nikalne laga taake kisi tanha jagah pe jaa sake.
Rosie dheeme kadam chali — usne expect kiya tha ke Sikandar uska jawab dega, ya rukwaayega. Lekin...
Sikandar to seedha bhaag gaya tha, dard bhari shakal ke saath.
Rosie ne dekha ke uske jism se halka sa white steam nikal raha hai.
“Yeh uske saath kya ho raha hai...?” Rosie ne socha. “Shayad yeh koi aam banda nahi...”
Mall se bahar nikal kar, Sikandar ne asmaan ki taraf dekha.
Laal moon chamak raha tha.
“Ammi dekho! Chaand laal ho gaya!” ek bacha chillaaya.
Sikandar ne us bachay ki taraf dekha aur achanak uske andar ek khooni khwahish uthti hai — jaise woh us bachay ko phaad dale.
Usne apna sir pakad liya, apne aap se ladne laga.
Phir usne apne stats check kiye:
<Sikandar Silverstar>
Level: 1 (0/100)
Race: Half-Blood
Full-Moon: 01:47 minutes – Blood Moon
Berserk: 20%
Sanity: 27%
Mental: 2
Strength: 9
Agility: 7
Endurance: 6
Intelligence: 0
Aur niche likha tha:
<Average Human Adults have 5–7 points for each stat except for Intelligence>
Sikandar ne apne haath dekhe...
Unke andar ke bones hil rahe thay, baalon ne nikalna shuru kar diya tha.
“Yeh sach mein ho raha hai?!” usne socha.
Aur phir ek aur notification aayi:
<Unable to contain the effect of the Blood Moon, the user is overwhelmed with Bloodlust>
<Transformation will begin shortly>