I raised both my hands instinctively to defend myself—not something I had planned, but an automatic reaction to the threat. My eyes squeezed shut in fear. And then I felt it… a soft gust of wind brushing against my face. Hesitantly, I opened my eyes and saw the zombie being lifted as if struck by an invisible force. My gaze immediately shifted to Krush of the Adventure Department. He was a devoted believer in the God of Wind—so this had to be his doing. Behind him, Andrew and Vishu were rushing in, each preparing their own assault.
"Krush! Take Nishant and get out of the creature's range!" Kontas shouted, nearly recovered from the previous attack, as he charged forward.
Without hesitation, Krush scooped me up and sprinted away with unbelievable speed. Meanwhile, Kontas stood his ground, his hands weaving in complex motions. Water materialized from thin air beneath the creature's feet, causing it to slip and stagger with every attempt to move. Andrew joined him, reinforcing the watery trap, while Vishu ignited his left fists in flames and struck the creature repeatedly in the face.
Krush carefully set me down at a safe distance, then, in a blur, appeared behind the creature and landed a powerful punch. The combined assaults sent it crashing to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Kontas and Andrew pinned the creature's hands, immobilizing it completely. Krush then summoned a violent series of wind strikes against its back, preventing any chance of escape.
Finally, Vishu delivered the finishing blow. First, he pummeled the creature's face with fiery fists. Then, he whispered a word—"Blossom." The creature's head erupted in flames, its movements slowing until it finally collapsed.
What was that… monster, creature… zombie? I couldn't comprehend it.
"Are you guys okay?" I asked, genuine concern evident in my voice.
"We're fine. It's just another day on the job," Vishu replied, brushing off his clothes. "Soon, you'll get used to it too, Mr. Trump Card."
"Trump Card?" I repeated, confusion creeping in. Before I could ask, my eyes found Kontas, who had taken the brunt of the attack.
"You okay, leader?" I asked as he approached. He reached into the inner pocket of his shirt and pulled out a small glass container holding a blue liquid. "Not particularly… but"—he broke the seal and drank it—"now I'll be fine."
"Since everyone's okay, let's check the nearby houses one last time. After that, I think we're good to leave. Am I right, leader?" Krush asked.
"Yes," Kontas confirmed.
---
After a brief search to ensure nothing suspicious remained, we returned to the same cart we had arrived in. As we started moving, Kontas began preparing a report of the mission. Once he finished, I asked, "Can I see it?"
"Of course," he replied, handing me the bundle of papers.
The first page bore the symbol of the Elites: a golden crown atop a gleaming iron sword, encircled three times, with the letter "E" engraved on it.
I paused. Wait… how do they know this letter? Do they even use human language? My mind raced with questions.
"How do you guys know this letter?" I asked, pointing at the "E."
Vishu shrugged. "We don't know it ourselves. The symbol was originally created by a human. The Elites adopted it as an honor."
I nodded slowly and continued reading.
The second page contained the mission report:
"Date: 27, 9th Matra, 2312 Satra"
"Mission Number: 793"
"Details: A man named John Arya lost control during a failed attempt to become a Diviner. He was not part of the Elites squad nor did he have a contract with them. His illegal attempt caused him to lose control, and he was neutralized to protect nearby civilians."
"Mission Members: Kontas Kroti (leader), Andrew David, Vishu Dubov, Krush Cami, and Nishant (special visitor)."
"Signature of Team Leader: Kontas Kroti"
I returned the report to Kontas and settled into the cart, gazing out the window to break the silence.
"So… how's your experience here? Enjoying it?" Vishu asked, a teasing note in his voice.
"Everything's fine… except—" I began, but hesitated.
"Except?" Kontas pressed eagerly.
"Except Miss Khushi," I admitted. "She's always so irritated with me. She's harsh, especially during training. I don't understand why."
Krush spoke up, breaking the moment. "Her behavior has a reason. Before you were brought into this world, someone else was. That person needed purification by an Eternian. Miss Khushi had an elder brother, a proud man willing to sacrifice everything for his nation. He volunteered, knowing half-humans are stronger in battle. He served his nation in his way. But, unfortunately, the purification failed, and both perished."
Kontas' words carried a somber weight. "They may not say it directly, but brother… you carry a lot of responsibility."
I let that sink in as the cart rolled on. By the time we reached headquarters, exhaustion had taken over. I changed clothes, lay on my bed, and let the events of the day wash over me. My mind buzzed with everything that had happened—too much to process in a single day. Sleep came quickly, pulling me into oblivion.