The morning sun of May 18th climbed over the horizon, marking the beginning of a countdown that none of them could afford to ignore. At precisely 9:00 AM, the mission officially commenced. While Allya remained safely at the house, Kirito and the rest of the team mobilized toward the Academy's workshop.
The logistics were simple but effective: they would utilize two vehicles—Kirito's car and Ansh's. The team split to cover more ground. Kirito, Reno, Asuna, and Lucky headed to the workshop to secure essential weaponry and supplies. Meanwhile, Ansh, Pragyanjali, David, and Lucius took charge of the essentials—procuring food supplies, first aid kits, and other vital field gear.
Inside the cool, metallic interior of the workshop, the air hummed with the sound of calibrating machinery. Kirito moved with practiced efficiency, pulling his gear from the shelves.
"I'll only need explosive rounds, a sidearm, and my sword," Kirito remarked, checking the weight of the blade. "Just a pinpoint sword for me," Asuna added, her eyes sharp and focused. Reno grabbed a long-range rifle and a handful of grenades. "I'm set with these," he said.
Lucky turned to the group, gesturing toward a row of high-tech devices. "What kind of specialized machinery are we looking at for this run?"
Kirito didn't hesitate. "Mana detectors, heat sensors, and spell-modems". They gathered the equipment, knowing these tools would be the thin line between success and failure once the mission reached its peak.
The two cars met at the highway junction, forming a small convoy as they headed toward Orchha. Orchha was no ordinary destination; it was a historical city steeped in legend, famous for its sprawling palaces and a temple where a divine idol had been established centuries ago.
The journey took three and a half hours. By the time the city's ancient spires came into view, the clock was already ticking. The mission clock had started at 6:00 AM; they had only 90 hours to complete their objective.
Mission Time Remaining: 86.30 Hours
Kirito pulled into the parking lot, followed closely by Ansh. As the team stepped out into the humid air, a sense of heavy anticipation settled over them.
"So, what's the move?" Kirito asked. "Complete the mission," David replied dryly. Kirito rolled his eyes. "I know that. I mean, where do we start?" "Guys, let's go pay our respects at the temple first," Ansh suggested. "A little prayer before we dive in". "I'm not Hindu, though," Lucius pointed out, hesitating at the edge of the lot. "It doesn't matter," Reno countered. "But you aren't either, right?" David asked, looking at Kirito and Reno. "Who said?" Kirito smirked. "Both Reno and I are Hindu".
Asuna stepped forward, cutting through the debate. "It doesn't matter who belongs to which religion. Let's just go".
They left their shoes in the cars and walked toward the temple grounds. As they approached the magnificent structure, Asuna looked up at the towering walls in confusion.
"Ansh, I have a question," she said. "Why was the idol never established in the grand temple? It took more than a decade to build, yet it stands empty".
Ansh smiled, recounting the local lore. "The Queen of Orchha had immense faith in Lord Ram. When she visited Ayodhya, she requested Him to come back with her. He agreed, but gave her His idol with a condition: wherever the idol was first set down, it would stay there for eternity".
He pointed toward the smaller, bustling structure nearby. "While she was away, the King built that massive temple for Him. But when the Queen returned, she mistakenly placed the idol in the palace kitchen. It became established there instantly. That's why the great temple remains empty to this day".
"So you're saying the modern temple... was actually a kitchen?" Kirito asked, impressed. "Exactly," Lucky nodded.
After praying for the success of their mission and snapping a few photos, they visited the "Empty Temple" the King had built.
"What's so special about this place?" Lucius asked, looking at the bare stone. "It looks like every other temple". "Watch this," Ansh said, leading them to a specific window. "The King and Queen designed the palace so they could see the idol of Lord Ram directly from their bedroom window. Look".
One by one, the team peered through the narrow opening. To their amazement, the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the distant kitchen temple was perfectly framed in the center of the window.
"This is amazing," Asuna whispered.
By 3:30 PM, the sightseeing ended, and the reality of their task returned. Pragyanjali and Asuna were still scrolling through their photos when Lucky called out, "Alright, models, let's move! Time to get to work".
They gathered by the cars to finalize the plan.
"We split into pairs," Kirito commanded. "Divide the area. If anyone needs help, contact the group via radio immediately".
The teams were set:
Ansh and Lucky: Scouring the dense forest areas.
Asuna and Pragyanjali: Investigating the market and the Maha Laxmi Temple.
David and Lucius: Securing the Fort and the Ram Raja Temple.
Kirito and Reno: Monitoring the riverside and the Chhatris (cenotaphs).
"Check your machinery and weapons," Lucky reminded them, his voice low. "Keep your weapons hidden in public. And whatever you do, do not use magic in front of civilians. Understood?"
"Yes," the team responded in unison.
Kirito checked his phone. The passes for their restricted access had been sent to the group chat. He handed his car keys to Asuna as they prepared to head toward the riverbank. On the other side of the square, David and Lucius moved toward the fort entrance while Lucky dropped Ansh off at the forest road.
"We're starting a bit late," Kirito said, looking at his watch one last time, "but we finish this on time. No excuses".
"Let's do it," Reno replied.
At 4:00 PM, Team 24 officially began their operation. Ten hours had already slipped away since the clock started.
Time Remaining: 86 Hours.