Chapter 23: Contingency Beta
The next morning dawned gray and heavy, as if the city itself sensed the storm brewing. Aanya woke to the system's urgent chime echoing in her ears.
[Warning!]
Contingency Beta Initiated.
Target: Arjun Mehra.
Objective: Eliminate or Neutralize Key Ally.
Estimated Time to Impact: 12 Hours.
Her chest tightened. "No."
She shot out of bed, pulling up the system's alert map. A red dot pulsed near South Mumbai — moving fast.
Arjun.
Without hesitation, she rushed into the living room. Arjun was already awake, crouched over a disassembled handgun, cleaning it with methodical precision. He looked up at her urgency, reading the fear in her eyes instantly.
"What happened?"
"They're coming for you." Her voice trembled with fury. "Rajiv's activated something called Contingency Beta."
Arjun's hands stilled. "So he finally realized I'm not just your shadow."
"Don't joke about this!" she snapped, panic breaking through her steel. "If they get to you, I—"
He stood, steady as ever, and set his hand gently on her shoulder. "Then they won't. We'll stop them before they stop me."
The system chimed.
[Emergency Quest: Protect the Key Ally]
Objective: Prevent Arjun Mehra's capture or assassination.
Time Limit: 12 Hours.
Failure Penalty: Permanent Loss of Battle Synchrony.
Aanya's fingers curled into fists. I won't lose him. Not now. Not ever.
They left Verma's penthouse within the hour, slipping into a black SUV provided by Meera. She drove, her eyes hard. "Intel says Rajiv hired foreign mercenaries. Not street thugs — professionals. If Beta is in play, Arjun's not their only target. They'll come for you too."
Arjun leaned back, calm in the storm. "Then let them try."
Aanya shot him a glare. "Stop pretending you're unbreakable."
He smirked faintly. "I'm not pretending. I just know where my limits end… and where my training begins."
She swallowed hard, torn between admiration and terror.
At a warehouse near the docks, the three of them set up temporary surveillance. Screens lit the dim interior, showing camera feeds of the surrounding streets.
Meera pointed at one feed. A convoy of three SUVs moved toward their sector. "ETA, twenty minutes."
Arjun rolled his shoulders, loosening muscles with fluid precision. The calm before the fight.
Aanya stepped close, her voice low. "You don't have to do this alone."
He met her gaze, intense and unwavering. "I know. But if it comes down to a choice between you and me—"
"Don't." Her voice cracked. "Don't you dare say it."
The system chimed softly.
[Trust Bond with Arjun Mehra: 60%]
Emotional Anchor Ability Unlocked:
Effect: Boosts Mental Fortitude for Both Users When Together.
Her chest ached with something fierce and unshakable.
The convoy arrived. Shadows spilled from the SUVs — men in black tactical gear, weapons gleaming under the dim streetlights.
Arjun's eyes narrowed. "Ex‑military. Professional formation."
Meera whispered, "They're not here for negotiations."
The system chimed.
[Combat Event Triggered!]
Enemy Force: 12 Elite Mercenaries.
Danger Level: Critical.
Recommended Strategy: Divide and Isolate.
Aanya felt her stomach twist. She wasn't a fighter. But she wasn't helpless anymore.
She activated the system.
[Skill Activated: Analytical Foresight (Tier 2)]
Effect: Predicts enemy movements within a 5‑second window.
Her vision shifted — faint red outlines tracing the mercenaries' routes.
"Three entering from the east, five circling back to cut us off," she whispered urgently. "Four… no, two snipers on the rooftop."
Arjun grinned, unsheathing a hidden blade from his boot. "Perfect."
The next few minutes blurred into chaos.
Arjun moved like a shadow unleashed, striking with precision. Two mercenaries went down silently before their comrades even realized the fight had begun.
Aanya, heart racing, called out enemy positions from her foresight. "Left side, low angle! Incoming!"
Arjun ducked, twisting to disarm a rifle and slam the butt into his attacker's jaw.
Meera fired from cover, sharp and controlled. One rooftop sniper fell, the other retreating under pressure.
But the mercenaries adapted fast, tightening formation, pushing toward Aanya.
Her pulse spiked. They want me as leverage.
The system chimed.
[Emergency Trigger!]
New Skill Unlocked: Aura of Command (Tier 1).
Effect: 30% morale debuff for enemies within 20 meters.
She focused, and suddenly, the mercenaries hesitated, their movements faltering as if an invisible weight pressed on them.
Arjun seized the moment, his blade flashing in the dim light, felling two more.
But a mercenary broke through, grabbing Aanya from behind, cold steel pressing against her throat.
"Drop it!" the man barked at Arjun.
Arjun froze, fury blazing in his eyes.
The system chimed.
[Critical Choice!]
Option A: Sacrifice System Energy to Disarm Attacker.
Option B: Signal Arjun to act — High risk of injury.
Her breath came fast. She met Arjun's gaze, trusting him without hesitation. "Now!"
Arjun moved like lightning. The blade left his hand and buried itself in the mercenary's arm. Aanya tore free as Arjun slammed the man against the wall.
Her knees trembled, but she stood tall.
Minutes later, silence fell. The last mercenary hit the ground.
Arjun wiped blood from his cheek, breathing hard. "You okay?"
Aanya's throat tightened. She wanted to scream at him for risking his life, to cry from relief, to… She just nodded. "Because of you."
The system chimed.
[Emergency Quest Completed]
Reward: Skill Upgrade — Battle Synchrony (Tier 2).
Effect: 50% Efficiency Boost When Paired with Arjun Mehra.
Meera exhaled shakily, lowering her weapon. "They'll be back. Beta isn't over."
Aanya's eyes hardened. "Then we make sure it ends on our terms."
But in the shadows, unnoticed, a tiny blinking drone recorded every moment of the fight — sending the footage to Rajiv's desk.
Rajiv watched it hours later, his smirk sharp as a blade. Beside him, the woman with the calm voice leaned closer.
"She chose him. That's her weakness."
Rajiv's smile widened. "Then let's rip it open."