Episode 51
Wicked Plebe Trial
( Part 1)
“What’s with these kids!” shotgun pakṛay hue aadmi ne dair se socha, uski soch hairani se jhoom uthi.
Usne dekha ke Sikandar ne kis aasani se uske ek saathi ko maarr daala—jaise woh koi cheez tha hi nahin. Yeh manzar uske jism mein sardi ki lehr bhar gaya.
Sikandar ki raftaar… yeh to uske liye khauf ka doosra naam ban chuki thi.
Shotgun wala aadmi aik Wind Elementalist tha, aur speed uska faida hona chahiye tha—lekin phir bhi woh Sikandar ki harakat ko theek se dekh bhi nahi pa raha tha.
Wind users hamesha speed mein aage hotay hain…
Lekin unke liye sabse bura khwaab kya hota hai?
Aik aisa dushman jo unse bhi zyada tez ho.
Adhara ka jism purple aag se chamak uthta hai. Uski aankhein bhi bilkul shole ban jaati hain. Fire mana uske haathon mein jam‘a hota hai—
SWOOSH!!
Aag seedhi zameen par phat jaati hai, aur saamne kharay mercenary ko do hisson mein baant deti hai.
Purple flames ne teesre ko bhi lapet liya—teen ke teen aik lamhe mein khatam.
Adhara do early rank-4 Awakened se aik saath larr sakti thi, jabke Karan aik ko rokne ke liye kaafi tha. Dono ne baghair dair kiye apna muqaabla shuru kar diya.
Teenon mercenaries unpar itne focus ho gaye ke unko dusri side ka pata hi na chala—jahaan Sikandar ek mid-rank four Awakened se khel raha tha.
Sikandar un teenon Awakened ko dekh kar halka sa muskuraya.
“Shuru karne se pehle aik baat puchun? Kya tum logon ko Platchi ne bheja hai?”
Use already pata tha ke jawab ‘haan’ hi hoga, bas unki zubaan se sun’na chahta tha.
Shotgun wala aadmi aik qadam peeche hata, dara hua.
“Bachchon jaisi shakal aur rank four? Yeh mumkin hi nahi!”
Usay Sikandar ki body se nikalti hui woh khatarnak aura seedhi rooh tak mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Aisi umar mein rank four pohanchna rare tha—aur mid-rank four ko is tarah toys ki tarah ulat dena to bilkul hi na-mumkin.
Sikandar ne bina jawab diye apni speed se daayen taraf wale aadmi par hamla kiya.
Bechara hosh bhi na sambhal saka—
Sikandar ka mukka Force se imbue tha. Woh seedha uske pait ke andar ghoos gaya.
Jism aisay phat gaya jaise garam chaaku se makhhan kaat diya ho.
Shotgun wala aadmi aur dusra mercenary dar ke mare safed pad gaye.
Khoon wali mitti laal ho chuki thi… aur Sikandar ke chahre par lipta hua khoon usay kisi maut ke farishte ki tarah bana raha tha.
Sikandar ke dono haath safed roshni se chamak uthay.
“Force Beam!”
SWOOSH!!
Safed beam shotgun wale aadmi ki taraf goli ki raftaar se chali.
Aadmi kood kar bach gaya, beam ne ek gari ko uda kar deewar mein daal diya.
Lekin Sikandar aik dum uske peechay aa khara hua—jaise koi bhoot.
Wo fight khatam karne hi wala tha ke—
BAM!!
Shotgun ne uske seene par seedha shot maara aur Sikandar pichli taraf gir kar aik choray se building ke andar ja laga.
Sikandar hiran reh gaya.
‘Yeh karta kaise hai? Har dafa seedha seene par shot… kuch to extra ho raha hai.’
Flash Spell se bhi gaya to bhi seedha chest shot.
‘Zaroor koi cheez isko guide kar rahi hai… shotgun nahi. Nahi to doosra mercenary mujhe detect hi nahi kar sakta tha.’
Usne aas paas nazar daudai—
Phir uski nigah ruki.
Teesri manzil par aik mutated black bird thi—lambi nape wala, black fur se dhaka hua, shadeed aankhon jaisa laal glare… aur wings aik insaan se zyada spread.
‘Aha… yeh raha raaz.’
Lekin tabhi dusra mercenary Sikandar ko aag ka mukka mar deta hai.
Sikandar ne jaan-boojh kar hit liya—apna jism aise angle pe rakha ke woh seedha us black bird ki taraf uchhal gaya.
BAM!
Mercenaries ke chehre par muskuraahat aayi—
Jo aik pal baad dahshat mein badal gayi.
Sikandar ne hawa mein us mutated bird ka gala pakar liya.
“Mil gaya,” woh grin karta hai—aur snap!
Bird taṛapta hua marr gaya.
Shotgun wala aadmi pagal ho gaya.
Wo ghusse se dair se garaja aur Sikandar ki taraf bhaga—
BAM!!
Sikandar ka mukka usay neeche gaad deta hai. Zameen toot jaati hai, aadmi khoon thook deta hai—uski aadhi hadiyan toot chuki hoti hain۔
Uske saathi ne aage badhne ki koshish ki, lekin jaise hi uski nazar Sikandar ki aankhon se takraayi… uski taange bilkul naram pad gayeen.
Sikandar ne Alpha Intimidation skill activate ki — hawa me ek siyah-surkh werewolf aura phail gaya.
Woh bechaara aadmi us bhari aura ke neeche jism tak hil bhi nahi saka.
Sikandar aaram se zameen par giray hue aadmi ki taraf chala.
Woh uske seenay par pair rakhta hai… dheere se pressure deta hai.
“Ughhh…!”
Aadmi dard se daant bhinch leta hai.
Sikandar halki muskurahat ke saath kehta hai,
“Goodbye.”
CRACK!!
Sikandar ke zor daar stomp ne aadmi ka seena phaad diya.
Uski aankhon me pachtawa bhar gaya — “kaash is mission pe kabhi na aata…”
Agar usse pata hota Sikandar itna taqatwar hai, to hazaar zindagiyaan bhi milti… woh kabhi is kaam ka naam na leta.
Sikandar apni khooni aankhon ke saath bache hue aik mercenary ki taraf dekh kar sochta hai:
“Chalo… iska bhi kaam tamaam karte hain.”
Woh us aadmi tak pohanchta hai aur uska chehra pakad kar uski garden kuchalna chahta hai.
Magar mercenary jhatka mar kar peeche ho jata hai — Sikandar ke naakhun uske chehre ko halkasa chhil dete hain.
Sikandar ne apne haath par aik bhurra chipchipa maada dekha.
Woh bhawen chadha kar mercenary ki taraf dekhta hai…
Uska chehra aik skin mask se dhaka hua tha — Sikandar ke chhilne se neeche ka asli chehra nazar aana shuru ho gaya.
Mercenary zameen par piche hat-te hue kaap raha tha.
Sikandar ne mask ko pakad kar zor se faad diya.
Asli chehra saamne aaya to Sikandar ki aankhen tang ho gayeen —
“Yeh… maine ise pehle dekha hai.”
Woh yaad karne lagta hai…
Aur phir aik dum se sab yaad aa jata hai:
“Ye to Sullivan family ka Hadwin hai…”
Sikandar ne Fireband Market wali detailed report apni spare time me padhi thi.
Wahan sari families — direct line, non-direct line, rishtedaar — sab listed thay.
Hadwin ka chehra usi report me tha.
“Kya mila hume yahan? Sullivan ka spy… yeh mercenary asal me kaun bhej raha hai? Sullivan? Ya Platchi?”
Sikandar ki soch tez ho gayi.
Woh aage badh kar thandi awaaz me poochta hai:
“Tum Hadwin ho… Sullivan Family se. Sahi?”
Hadwin ki aankhein shock me phail gayi.
“Tum… mera naam kaise jaante ho?”
Sikandar ne jawaab dene ki zarurat hi nahi samjhi.
Woh seedha poochta hai:
“Tumhein kisne bheja?”
Aur phir dubara Alpha Intimidation chala deta hai.
Hadwin ka gala sukh jata hai… aankhon me darr bhar jata hai.
“H-Hum… Platchi Family ne bheja hai!”
Sikandar ki shakhti ko dekh kar uska hosh udd chuka tha.
Lekin Sikandar ke dimagh me dusra sawal ghoom raha tha:
“Agar Platchi ne bheja hai… to Sullivan ka banda yahan kya kar raha hai?”
Sikandar ka aura aur tez ho gaya — chaaro taraf kali bijli chamakne lagi.
“Bolo! Yahan kyun aaye ho? Saaf saaf batao!”
Hadwin behaal tha, lekin abhi bhi sahi baat nahi bol raha tha.
To Sikandar dheere se muskuraya…
“Claire Hale… tumhari maa.”
Hadwin ka chehra zabardasti peela pad gaya.
Sikandar aage jhuk kar dheemi lekin khofnaak awaaz me kehta hai:
“Ab bolo. Sab batao.”
Hadwin ki himmat toot gayi.
Usne sab kuch ugal diya.
Woh asal me Sullivan ka spy tha — Platchi Family ke illegal kaam pakadne ke liye bheja gaya.
Usne bohot saboot jama kiye thay.
Aur kal hi, Platchi ka banda Leon ne Sikandar ko marwane ke liye mercenaries hire kiye.
Hadwin unke group me ghus aaya — info lenay ke liye.
Magar ab wo sabse zyada pachtata hai.
Sikandar ne poocha:
“Kya tumne yeh sab wapas Sullivan ko report kiya?”
Hadwin ne jhooth bolne ki koshish ki, lekin Sikandar ki aankhon ka pressure bardasht na kar saka.
“…Nahin. Main akela un tak pohanch sakta tha. Sullivan ko to yeh bhi nahi pata ke main zinda hoon.”
Sikandar muskuraya… uske chehre par aik shikari wali expression aa gayi.
“Agar tumhe Platchi ke illegal kaam ka pata hai… to tum Fireband Market se bhi waqif hoge, hai na?”
Hadwin ka saans ruk gaya.
Ek young boy ko Fireband Market ka pata ho — yeh uske liye hoslay ko hila dene wali baat thi.
Sikandar ne commandingly kaha:
“Sab batao. Saari locations. Saara network.”
Azaadi ki umeed me Hadwin ne ek aik baat Sikandar ko bata di.
Kuch hi dair baad Adhara aur Karan wapas aaye — tino rank-four ko maar kar.
Woh dono door se dekh rahe thay ke Sikandar kisi mercenary se baat kar raha hai.
Sikandar ki shakal serious thi…
Lekin achanak usne apne claws nikale — aur Hadwin ka gala ek hi slash me kaat diya.
Karan ne mooh pheer liya.
Use poochna tha “kyun?”
Lekin woh jaanta tha… yeh log marne aaye thay. Unhein chhorna bewaqoofi hoti.
Adhara ne pucha:
“Kya chal raha tha?”
Sikandar khoon apne chehre se saaf karta hua car ki taraf chalta hai:
“Kuch khaas nahi… sab theek hai.”
Uske chehre par ek mysterious muskurahat thi.
---
Werewolf Territory, Scarlet Banes Kingdom.
King Baralt apne takht par baitha tha. Chandni ka noor uske neele baldar jism ko chamka raha tha.
Uske paas do khoobsurat female werewolves maujood theen, jabke uske aas-paas bikhri haddiiyan uska takht aur bhi dehshatnaak bana rahi theen.
Hawa chalti to takht ke neeche bikhri haddiyan kar kar ki awaaz nikaalti—tabhi achanak darwaze par zor ki dastak hui۔
King Baralt ne halkasa garj kar naraazgi se kaha:
"Mujhe tang mat karo!"
Darwaze ke piche khara werewolf halkasa jhijhak kar bola:
"Maafi chahta hoon, Aap ki Shahan-e-Wala. Shapeshifter Kingdom ka ek messenger aaya hai. King Oddity ka zaroori paighaam laya hai."
King Oddity ka naam sunte hi Baralt ne haath hila diya.
Female werewolves foran haddiyan samet kar wahan se nikal gayeen۔
"Usay andar lao."
Darwaza khula—aur ek khaufnaak hasti saamne aayi۔
Woh mukammal siyah astral jism ka malik, saryaah armor me lapeta, kale robe me dulha hua.
Uske sar par teen-sar wala bull skull helmet tha, aur haath me ek siyah talwar.
Baralt ki aankhon me shikari chamak ubhri۔
"Aree… Windago. Conversion ka sab se taqatwar afrad me se ek. King Oddity ne tumhein bheja hai? Lagta hai baat waqai aham hai."
Windago aage badha, lekin dus kadam door ruk gaya۔
Baralt ki nigah us par padi—aur uski talwar bojhal ho kar haath se phisal gayi, zor se zameen me ghuss gayi۔
Windago ne halki si garaj se kaha:
"King Baralt… waqai overbearing hain aap."
Usay khud bhi pata tha ke talwar saath lana bemani tha—magar poora bharosa bhi nahi de sakta tha۔
Baralt ne sir ko apne haath par tikaya:
"Bolo. Kya khabar laye ho?"
Windago ne ek siyah scroll nikala, usse khola:
"Conversion ka ek member—Melion—jo Human Territory me Werewolf ki nigrani par bheja gaya tha—ek dilchasb khabar layaa hai."
Baralt ki aankhon me roshni chamki۔
Windago ne aage kaha:
"Wahan jo Werewolf hai… us ke paas King Mark maujood hai."
CRACK!!
Baralt ne apne takht ka hissa jor se pakra—lakda patthar ho ya haddi—uski ungliyon ne use choor kar diya۔
Phir—
BOOM!!
King Baralt ka aura phat kar bahar nikla۔
Neela, ghana, paharon jaisa dabao daalne wala aura—paani ki shaakhon ki tarah beh raha tha۔
Dark blue markings uske jism par chamak ne lagin, sab mil kar uske maa’thay par banay poorn neel chand ke naqsh se jaa miliं۔
Gravity bhaari ho gayi۔
Hawa ka wazan do guna۔
Ek kilometer ke daayre me jitne bhi werewolves the—sab zameen par gir gaye।
Khud Windago ghutnon pe aa gira۔
Baralt ne shikan-daaar muskurahat ke saath kaha:
"Woh King hai?! Hamare Origin ne usay kya qudrat di hogi…"
Windago mushkil se khara hota hua scroll padh kar bola:
"Us par jo King Mark hai… woh Blood Moon ka hai."
Baralt deewano ki tarah hans pada۔
Windago ka rang safed pad gaya۔
"Melion ke mutabiq, woh Werewolf abhi bhi aap jitna taqatwar nahi."
Baralt hansna band kar ke gehri saans leta hai۔
Windago ab khara ho paya۔
Baralt ne kaha:
"King Oddity ko batana—agar woh Werewolf yahan aaya… to usay main khud maaroonga."
Tabhi darwaza dobara khula۔
Ek laal-fur wala werewolf ghbaraahat me andar aaya۔
"Aap ki shahi khidmat me report hai!"
Baralt ne ishara kiya, woh bolne laga:
"King Solomon ko Demon Kingdom jaate dekha gaya hai. Kuch ghantay wahan guzare, phir Archdemon Lucius ke saath ek scroll lekar wapas nikla."
Windago aur Baralt dono ne aik dusre ki taraf dekha۔
Werewolf ne aage kaha:
"Aur uske baad… ek siyah makhlooq wahin se bahar aayi. Hamare scout kehte hain… uski maujoodgi ne unki rooh tak hila di. Woh takat me bilkul King Saruth jaisa tha."
Baralt ne bhainchaini se frown kiya:
"Aisa nahi ho sakta. King Saruth jaisa Demon wapas paida nahi ho sakta."
Windago ne dheemi awaaz me kaha:
"Ho sakta hai… unhone koi naya tareeqa dhoond liya ho."
Baralt ne gehri saans li:
"Theek hai. King Oddity ko keh do—agar Vampire ya Demon kuch karne ki koshish karein, Werewolves temporary alliance ke liye tayyar hain."
Windago ne sar jhuka kar jawab diya:
"King Oddity qabil-e-ihtiram farmate hain: Hum dono un par nigrani rakhte hain."
---
Aakhri chand dinon me Sikandar sector 3C me apne naye ghar me chala gaya tha۔
Darwaza khola—aur foran uski nazar us ghulaam bache par padi jo zanjeer se ek suti hui lohe ki sookhi dandi se bandha hua tha۔
Zanjeer par Enhancement Rune chamak raha tha۔
Bacha zameen par bejaan para tha۔
Aankhon me zindagi ki roshni mushkil se baqi thi۔
Sikandar, Adhara aur Karan andar aaye۔
Adhara aur Karan dono tasavvur se zyada shock me the۔
Wo foran bache ko utha kar deewar se tikaya۔
Bacha bohot kamzor tha, shayad dino se bhooka۔
Adhara cheekh uthi:
"Sikandar! Yeh ghulaam yahan kyun? Tum ne yeh kya kiya?!"
Karan ne bhi ghusse se Sikandar ko dekha۔
Usse yaqeen nahi tha ke Sikandar aisa kuch karega۔
Sikandar ne dono ke ghusse par haath utha kar kaha:
"Do wajah hain jis liye main ne isay liya. Pehle poora sun lo."
Phir us ne sab kuch detail se bataya—
Platchi Family, unka illegal network, uski infiltration, sab kuch۔
Adhara ko pehli baar pata chala ke Sikandar ne uske baghair kitna kuch kiya tha۔
Wo heraan thi۔
Sikandar ne aakhir me kaha:
"Agar main kuch na khareedta aur sirf unka paisa udata… to woh shak karte.
Doosri wajah—mujhe zyada log chahiye. Aur yeh bacha bech diya jata kisi janwar ko. So samajh lo ke main isay bachakar laaya hoon."
Adhara ne gehri saans li۔
Karan ne bhi apna ghussa kam kiya۔
Lekin andar hi andar Adhara soch rahi thi—
"Sikandar… abhi bhi mujhse sab kuch share nahi karta. Mujhe uske saath zyada khulna ho gah."
Sikandar halki si muskurahat ke saath Adhara ke qareeb jakar dheemi awaaz mein phusphusaya:
“Adhara… aaj se jab bhi main kisi se baat-chit ya muzakira karun, tumhara kaam hoga unki emotion aura mujhe batana. Samjhi?”
Adhara ne seedhi seedhi gardan hila di. Usay pehle hi andaza tha ke Sikandar ek na ek din us se yehi kaam lene wala hai۔
Slave bachay ki haalat abhi bhi bohot nazuk thi. Adhara foran bahar nikli aur us ke liye paani aur kuchh halka phulka khanay ka samaan laayi۔
Sikandar chah raha tha ke bachay se kuch sawal kare, lekin pehle usay hosh mein lana zaroori tha۔
Adhara ne aaraam se usay khana aur paani diya۔
Kuch lamhon baad us larke ki aankhein theek se khulne lagin۔
Woh do teen dafa palkein jhapakta raha, jaise apne nayi soorat-e-haal ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha ho۔
Phir aik lamha aisa aaya jahan uski aankh ek jhatke ke saath phail gayi…
Magar agle hi second us ki nazar aik thandi, beparwah sard type andaz mein jam gayi۔
Woh Sikandar aur baqi sab ko aise dekh raha tha jaise jo marzi kar lo, use farq nahi padta۔
Sikandar ne pehla seedha sa sawal kiya:
“Tumhara naam kya hai?”
Ye aam sawal tha, lekin Sikandar ke liye sab se important.
Usay dekhna tha ke yeh bacha sach bolega ya lafz chupega۔
Larka halki si saans le kar bola:
“Alma… Ryze.”
Awaz bohot khurduri, pani na peene ki wajah se gehri aur sukhi ho chuki thi۔
Sikandar ke honthon par halki si muskurahat ubhar aayi۔
“Tum pakray kaise gaye… aur Market tak kaise pohanchay?”
Ryze kuch der sochta raha… phir bhunwain chura kar jawab diya:
“Humein kuch logon ne bulaya tha. Kehte thay agar hum unke saath chalein to woh humein sirf 20,000 dollar mein Ratmawati City ke andar ghusa denge…”
Sikandar ne turant Karan ko map lane bheja،
aur jab woh wapas aaya، to sawal jawab ka silsila phir se shuru hua۔
“Tum kis sheher se aaye ho?”
Ryze ruka… phir dheere se bola:
“Level Four… Eimsey City.”
Adhara ne foran map par jagah mark kar di۔
Ye bhi ek door ka ilaqa tha—bilkul Wedron City ki tarah۔
Adhara ne emotion aura dekha aur sikandar ko dheeme se bata diya:
“Sare jawab… sach hain.”
Kuch dair aur guzarne ke baad، Sikandar ne pooch guch rok di۔
Woh Ryze ke paas jaa kar bola:
“Yahan tum bilkul mehfooz ho. Karan ke saath reh sakte ho. Kuch majboori nahi, koi dabbav nahi.”
Asal mein Sikandar ka maqsad usay yeh ehsaas dilana tha ke woh usey ikhtiyar de raha hai…
Taake jab waqt aaye to Ryze uska ehsaan-mand ho aur usay Werewolf banane ka rasta hamaawar ho۔
Ryze aur Karan baat karte karte aise dost ban gaye jaise saalon se milay hon۔
Sikandar aur Adhara dusre kamre ki taraf chale gaye۔
Wahan pohanch kar Sikandar ne seedhi baat ki:
“Main wapas jaa kar aur ghulaam khareedne ka soch raha hoon.”
Adhara shock mein usay dekh kar boli:
“Sikandar! Tumhein pata hai ye ghalat kaam hai. Aise logon ka sauda lena sahi nahi hota!”
Sikandar ne gehri saans li aur uski aankhon mein dekh kar bola:
“Sunno… agar hum slave market se log nikaal kar unse maloomat lein… hum pata laga sakte hain ke Platchi log kahan se itne log utha rahe hain۔ Unka pura illegal network hum tod sakte hain۔ Adhara… ye sab bachane ke liye hi karna hoga.”
Woh theek keh raha tha۔
Platchi log kisi tarah bhi ghulaam ki yaadein poori tarah nahi mita sakte۔
Yani har banda ek zinda saboot tha۔
Adhara ne ungli mubham si bite ki… bohot pareshan nazar aayi۔
Kuch seconds ke liye khamoshi ho gai.
Phir usne dheere se kaha:
“…Theek hai. Chalo karte hain.”
Sikandar ne halki si triumphant muskurahat chhupai۔
Plan ab shuru hona tha۔
Lekan Adhara ke itne kareeb hone se pir se Sikandar ko bechani hone lagi..
Sikandar ke dil ki darkan taz ho gai. Wo apne aap hi Adhara ki traf juk gaya.
Sikandar ke honth bilkol Adhara ke honthon ke kareeb ah gaye.
Adhara be is baar peeche nahi hati.
Adhara be Sikandar ke kareeb ho gai.
Adhara ki eyes close ho gai. Dono ke honth milne hi wale the k...
Achanik Sikandar hosh mai ahta hai, aur Adhara ko SORRY bolta howa jaldi se room se bahir nikal jata hai..
---
Sikandar is waqt SCO meeting ke designated location ki taraf ja raha tha.
Wo apni wohi purani car chala raha tha jo kaafi arsay se parking mein sar rahi thi.
Raat ki thandi hawa shishe se andar aa rahi thi, aur woh relaxed tareeqe se drive kar raha tha.
Sikandar ka dimaag abhi bhi us din Adhara ke saath ki baat mein uljha hua tha—
Woh din jab us ne us se akelay mein aur zyada khule andaz mai slaves khareedne ke bare mein baat ki thi…
Aur phir… woh lamha jab us ne Adhara ko dobara kiss karne ki koshish ki.
Yeh jazba acaanak kyun jag gaya, usay khud bhi samajh nahi aayi.
Aur hairat ki baat ye ke Adhara ne bhi peeche nahi hatti… us ne apni jagah se hilay baghair Sikandar ki qurbat ko seh lia.
Khush-qismati se Sikandar ne apne aap ko zyada aagay badhne se rok liya.
Lekin masla yeh tha ke Adhara ki khushboo roz ba roz aur zyada nashay-jaisi lag rahi thi.
Woh ajeeb si attraction—jaise us par kisi jadoo ka asar ho.
‘System… mere saath yeh kyun ho raha hai?’
Sikandar ne andar hi andar poocha, lekin system ki taraf se koi jawab nahi aaya.
Yeh khamoshi usay aur bechain kar gayi.
Use mehsoos ho raha tha ke agar yeh haal raha toh zyada dair tak woh Adhara ke qareeb reh kar apne jazbaat ko control nahi kar payega.
Akhri waqt tak zaroorat hoti tabhi hoti thi—but jab wo dono akelay hotay…
Sikandar ko hamesha ek ajeeb si, gehri si khwahish mehsoos hoti thi, jo roz badh rahi thi.
Wo jhatka le kar sar hilaata hai, phir dobara road par tawajjo deta hai.
Meeting midnight par thi,
Ghadi par 11 baj chuke thay, aur wo jagah bus thodi hi door thi.
Drive karte hue Sikandar ne apna phone uthaya aur Suraj ko call kiya.
Phone kuch der tak bajta raha, phir utha:
“Yo, kya scene hai bhai?”
Suraj ki awaz piche se aane wali cheekhon aur awaazon mein dubi hui thi—wo yaqeenan university mein nahi tha.
Sikandar bhonwain charhate hue poochta hai,
“Kahan ho? Raat ko ghoomne nikle ho kya?”
Suraj hansi dabate hue bola,
“Haan bhai, mission se lautay kuch dost mil gaye. Batao kya kaam hai?”
Wo shor se door kisi calm jagah chala gaya.
Sikandar ne thoda ruk kar saans li, phir bola:
“Ek favor chahiye… mujhe ek bacha mila hai. Chahata hoon ke tum usey USR wali training sikhao.”
Suraj aik dam hansa:
“Bacha!? Bro… condoms use kiya karo!”
Sikandar ne gaali rok kar jawab diya,
“Oye gadhe! Agar koi aisi harkat ki hoti toh kya main tumse us baby ko USR sikhanay ko kehta?”
Suraj cheekhi hansi chhod deta hai,
“Theek hai theek hai… phir bache ko USR ki kya zaroorat?”
Sikandar ka tone serious ho gaya:
“Lambi kahani hai… buss itna samajh lo ke woh Platchi ke khilaf ladna chahta hai. Aur tum par bharosa hai… is liye tumhein phone kiya.”
Yeh sunkar Suraj ne akhirkaar hans kar haan kar di,
“Theek hai, Sikandar. Main sambhal loonga.”
Sikandar ko ehsaas bhi na hua aur wo meeting point par pohanch gaya.
Us ne gaadi roki aur bhonwain sikor lenay par majboor ho gaya…
Meeting ki jagah aik purana sa bookstore tha—wo bhi raat 12 bajay tak khula.
Aas paas ki dukaanain band thi, iss liye jagah kaafi weraan lag rahi thi.
Sikandar car se utar kar idhar udhar dekhta raha…
Koi nazar nahi aaya.
Wo intezaar karte hue phone par news scroll karne laga.
Ek khabar ne us ki tawajjo pakar li—
Ratmawati City mein UWO ke president Sebrof Mosk ka speech.
Khabar mein likha tha ke kai choti choti cities bilkul tanha chhor di gayi hain.
Sebrof ne sab guilds ko tayyar rehne ka hukm diya hai,
Aur ye bhi kaha ke “Awakened hamesha insaniyat ke heroes thay… aur rahenge.”
Sikandar hansi se zyada tanz se scoff karta hai.
Time guzarta gaya…
Ghadi barah ke qareeb thi.
Achanak bookstore ka purana darwaza karraaah ki awaaz se khula.
Sikandar bina dekhay hi mehsoos kar sakta tha—
yeh kisi ajnabi ka presence nahi tha… yeh koi purana, bahut purana chehra tha.
Aik aadmi piche ki taraf se halki si jump maar kar bilkul us ke saamne utar aaya.
Us ke gale mein chamakti hui sone ki chain chand ki roshni mein chamak rahi thi.
Woh muskura kar bola—
“Kya haal hain, Sikandar?”
Larke ke peechay ek aurat chal rahi thi, uski chamakti hui dark-blue aankhen foran hi Sikandar ki nazar ko kheench leti hain.
Sikandar halka sa muskura kar dono ko greet karta hai,
"Main theek hoon… tum dono kuch alag lag rahe ho."
Woh dono asal mein Devan aur Liliya thay.
Is dafa woh dono pichli baar jaisi black uniform mein nahi thay—balkeh apne normal kapron mein, bilkul apni asal shakal ki tarah.
Devan ek ameer, saaf-suthra businessman lag raha tha—uski luxury car dekh kar yeh andaaza lagana mushkil nahi tha ke woh gold-wali lifestyle hi enjoy karta hoga.
Lekin Liliya, uske bilkul ulat.
Woh phir se wohi phate-puraane shabby kapre pehne hue thi. Thaki hui… jaise kayi dinon se sahi se soti bhi na ho.
Sikandar ne aankhen tang ki.
“Yeh itni ghareeb kaise ho sakti hai? Rank Five hoke bhi?”
Devan halka sa hansa, jabke Liliya hamesha ki tarah khamosh rahi,
"Bhai, mission par nahi hain isliye aaj casual hain," woh muskuraya.
Sikandar ne aas paas dekha,
"To ab hum sab aa gaye... kaha jana hai? Raat ke 12 baj chuke aur yahan koi aur dikh nahi raha."
Devan ne seedha jawab nahi diya—sirf haath se ishara kiya ke unke peeche aao.
“Theek hai… in dono ne SCO hideout pehle bhi dekha tha.”
Is soch ke saath Sikandar un dono ke saath bookstore ke andar ghus gaya.
Bookstore bilkul purani, old-fashioned aur seedhi-saadhi lag rahi thi.
Counter par aik boora aadmi kitab par jhuk kar poray sukoon se parhta ja raha tha—jaise unke aane ka use hosh hi na ho.
Devan us boore aadmi ke peechay se guzra, seedha deewar ke kareeb. Liliya bhi uske peeche.
Sikandar ko samajh nahi aayi lekin woh bhi unke saath lean ho kar deewar ke pass khara ho gaya.
Phir Devan ne deewar ke ek chhote hisson ko dabaaya.
Click!
Bzzzt!
Puray bookstore ka scene palak jhapakte hi badal gaya.
Woh boora aadmi… bookshelf… flooring… sab kuch hologram nikla.
Unke aas paas ab ek metal se bana hua room tha, kone mein ek CCTV camera chamak raha tha.
Aik aadmi black mask pehne unhe ghur raha tha, uski chest par Black Crow ka badge chamak raha tha.
Uske baghal mein ek mazboot darwaza.
Devan aur Liliya us aadmi ke paas gaye aur apni Black Crow tattoo dikhayi.
Masked man ka haath siyah roshni se chamka, woh unke tattoo par phiraaya—tattoo ne hari roshni se reply diya aur phir dono energies gaib ho gayi.
Verify karne ke baad woh unhe andar jaane deta hai.
Phir uski thandi nazar Sikandar par padti hai.
Sikandar bhi apna tattoo dikhata hai.
Do lamhon ke liye masked man usay ghurta rehta hai… phir woh haath uthata hai aur wahi black-light verification karta hai.
Tattoo green glow karta hai, aur woh side ho kar raasta de deta hai.
---
Darwaza andar se pura kaala tha.
Sikandar ki raat ki nazar bohot achhi thi… lekin yeh andhera kuch aur hi tha.
Bilkul… be-noor. Be-rahem.
Usay ek inch bhi nazar nahi aa raha tha.
Achanak zameen hilli.
Sikandar ne haath phaila kar kuch pakadne ki koshish ki, tab pata chala ke yeh ek chhota sa cramped elevator-like chamber hai jisme woh theek se khara bhi nahi ho sakta.
Chamber kabhi upar, kabhi neeche, kabhi ek taraf—jaise anday jaise hilaaya ja raha ho.
Uske pet mein halki si bechaini uthti—nashta jo kuch ghanton pehle kiya tha, ab hilne laga.
ZoooM!
Peechay ka wall khul gaya aur tezz roshni uski aankhon mein ghusi.
Do teen dafa palkein jhapka kar jab uski nazar saaf hui—Sikandar thand se jam gaya.
Uske saamne zair-e-zameen ek poora shehar basa hua tha.
Pathriley cliffs, tedhi-medhi raaste, ghar jo peeli roshni se chamakte hue.
Upar… kahin door se chaand ki roshni neeche gir rahi thi.
“Yeh mumkin kaise hai… yeh sab Ratmawati City ke neeche banaya gaya hai.”
Aur shehar ke beechon-beech ek asmani jaisa bara qila tha—puray zameen ka bada hissa ghairay hue.
“Wahi hogi SCO ki central branch,” Sikandar ne zehen mein kaha.
Devan aur Liliya uske liye cliff ke kinare baith kar intezar kar rahe thay.
Sikandar unke paas aaya,
"To yeh hai SCO ka hideout? Main soch raha tha yeh Ratmawati se bahar hoga. Yeh to bilkul neeche chhupa hua hai."
Devan hans para,
"Mujhe bhi pehli dafa shock laga tha. Bilkul aam nazron ke neeche chhupa hua. Kabhi kabhi behtareen hideout woh hota hai jo bilkul saamne ho."
Teeno phir castle ki taraf chalte chale gaye.
Devan aur Liliya ne raste mein green rang ka choga (green robe) pehna—Sikandar ko thoda odd feel huya.
Castle ke andar sab kuch soona, golden, royal tha—bilkul ulta jaisa underground city ka raw stone theme.
Sikandar ne idhar-udhar ghoor kar kaha,
“Yeh sab… kaafi zyada royal lag raha hai.”
Devan ne hass kar kaha,
"Bilkul wahi reaction tha mera bhi."
Phir woh west wing ki taraf gaye jahan alag-alag rangon ke bade bade darwaze thay.
Har darwaze ke peeche cheekhain, dahshat bhari sadayen… kisi ko bhi pareshan kar dene wali awaazain aa rahi thi.
"Yeh sab normal hai?" Sikandar ne poocha.
Dono ne sar hila diya.
“Nahi. Hume bhi nahi pata… aaj kuch alag ho raha hai.”
Liliya bol uthi,
"Green Messenger ne kaha tha aaj recruits ka ‘Swear of Loyalty aur Secret Promise’ hoga. Lagta hai humari test ka time aa gaya."
Sikandar ne halki si saans li.
“Wahi hona tha…”
---
Teeno ek bara Green darwaza ke saamne rukay—upar likha tha: GREEN RECRUIT.
Darwaze ke neeche se hara dhuaan nikal raha tha—zehri ilaaka mehsoos hota tha.
Sikandar ne haath badha kar darwaza kholna chaha…
Lekin darwaza khud-ba-khud khul gaya.
Andar Green Messenger unka intezar kar raha tha.
Uska crow mask hara dhuan chhor raha tha.
Room ke center mein teen khaali kursiyaan.
Messenger ne dheeme, gehrey lehje mein kaha:
"Khush aamdeed… yahan shuru hota hai Wicked Plebe Trial."
---
Aaj ke liye itnah hi. I hope ye update be aap sub ko pasind ahe gah.
Wese to ye trial aj hi end kar deta lekan time ki kami ki waja se ni kar saka.
Koi nah next update mai sai.
Baki apne reviewa zaror dena aur koi suggestion ho to wo be.
Likes target same 50 nahi to 13 December ko.
Bane rahiye sath milte hai next episode mai tab tak ke liye.
Thanks Bye and Good Night.
