The voice echoed from the darkness.
Mysterious Voice (from drone):
"You think you can escape... but there's no way out for you."
Shanthan didn't hesitate. He raised his pistol and fired.
BLAM!
The drone shattered midair, sparks flying. But Kalai noticed something behind the bus.
Kalai (alerted):
"Shanthan... behind us!"
A swarm of drones approached in the distance, blinking red in the night sky.
Shanthan (grimacing):
"Damn it. Alright, I'll drive-Kalai, take care of those drones!"
Kalai nodded, gripping the pistol tightly. As the black bus surged forward, Kalai leaned out the side window and fired. One, two, three drones went down in flames.
Click.
Empty.
Kalai (urgent):
"Out of ammo! I need a new mag!"
Shanthan (tossing one):
"This is the last one. Make it count!"
Kalai caught the magazine in the air and reloaded just in time-
CRASH!
A drone smashed through the side of the bus.
Kalai (yelling):
"Damn it!"
He fired at the invading drone, blowing it apart, and turned to see two more entering from the rear gap. Thinking quickly, he grabbed one and smashed it against the bus railing, then used its broken remains to knock the other drone midair.
BLAM!
He shot the third one clean through.
Suddenly, the road ahead burst into flames-drones had blown up oil barrels on the bridge.
Shanthan (shouting):
"Hold on!"
The bus screeched and stopped just before the fire. Shanthan looked left-and spotted a Voidfang rifle beside the seat.
He grabbed it.
Kalai (shocked):
"Where are you going?!"
Shanthan (smirking):
"Time for the real show."
He jumped down from the bus and unleashed fury. The Voidfang roared with energy blasts, taking down every last drone in his path. Sparks and explosions lit up the burning road. Shanthan fought until the last bullet.
Then silence.
He dropped the Voidfang on the ground and exhaled.
Kalai (grinning):
"You really showed off there."
Shanthan (panting):
"Those damn drones pissed me off."
Kalai pointed ahead.
Kalai:
"Look. A tunnel... let's go."
They entered cautiously. Kalai held the pistol as they crept deeper into the shadows.
Suddenly-a sound. A violent crack. A body falling.
Shanthan (tense):
"Use this flashlight."
He handed it over. Kalai switched it on and aimed it forward.
The beam landed on a terrifying sight - a black masked soldier being violently stabbed by someone from behind. Blood sprayed as the attacker slammed the knife again and again.
The masked soldier fell.
The killer slowly turned, face shadowed, blood dripping from his hands and cheek.
Kalai (in disbelief): "It's him..."
Shanthan: "Who?"
Kalai: "That's Srrijesh."
And there he stood-blood dripping, knife in hand, shadows dancing across his face.
It wasn't just a reunion. It was a warning.
Srrijesh was back. And nothing would be the same again.
End of Chapter 3
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