Chapter 11 – The Cave of the Dead
As they passed through the market and streets, everything looked organized and beautiful.
Pallavi said in an amazed and cheerful tone,
"Wow!! It's so beautiful… and the sweet smell of gajra."
Pallavi closed her eyes and took a long breath to enjoy the fragrance.
Damni agreed,
"Yep, it is."
She looked around more.
Janvi's gaze moved toward the bangles and earrings. She smiled and tapped Damni's shoulder. Damni followed Janvi's gesture, and both became excited. Pallavi also followed their gaze and became excited.
As they moved forward, many citizens looked at them. Some showed curiosity, some excitement, and some had expressions of disbelief—as if they were seeing something they didn't want to accept.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Nikhil, Aditya, Janvi, Damni, Pallavi, Harsh, Janit, and Hemant looked around, trying to hear what the people were saying.
A middle-aged man stepped forward and approached Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu. He spoke in a joking tone but with respect.
"Hey, Commander Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu… I heard about the Candidates. But why are you taking girls into battle? Isn't this against society?"
From behind him, an old man added,
"Yeah… girls are weak. They can't help in battles. Yes, they can help in cooking and support from the back."
Many people laughed.
Damni, Janvi, and Pallavi felt their blood boil. Their expressions changed to irritation.
Nikhil, Aditya, Harsh, Janit, and Hemant also couldn't believe what they were hearing. Hemant's expression turned angry; he was about to speak—
But Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu spoke first in a strict tone.
"It doesn't matter. They are also Candidates. And it is the King's order."
Someone from the crowd shouted,
"So what? That doesn't change the fact that they are girls. Girls are weak. The battlefield is not for women."
Another voice added,
"Yes, yes! This is against tradition!"
Damni, Janvi, and Pallavi grew even angrier.
Janit and Hemant jumped down from their chariot, almost ready to attack.
But Nikhil stopped them, grabbing their shoulders firmly.
Everyone was surprised at Nikhil's strength.
Hemant said in disbelief and sarcasm,
"What are you doing, Nikhil? Did you hear what they're saying about our friends?"
Janit added,
"Yeah! You know in the modern world, girls and women work equally to men."
Nikhil replied calmly, though irritation was clear in his voice,
"I know. But we can't change uneducated people who don't understand the value of women. Get back in the chariot. We need to move forward."
Nikhil returned to his chariot.
Janit and Hemant clenched their fists but got back in as well.
The middle-aged man chuckled.
"Haha… kid, do you really think those girls can help you in battle? Of course not. They'll get injured and become trouble for your team."
Janvi and Pallavi pulled out their swords, but Damni stopped them.
Hemant replied sarcastically,
"None of your business."
They moved forward.
Behind them, people continued whispering.
"I bet they'll get injured, and those boys will have to handle them."
"Yeah, they'll probably cry like dolls."
"No, no—like babies! Hahaha."
Damni said to Nikhil in irritation and disbelief,
"Nikhil! Why didn't you say anything to them? They were too irritating."
Janvi and Pallavi remained silent, but anger was visible on their faces.
Nikhil replied calmly,
"Arguments, logic, and morals won't work on them. Prove them wrong through your success."
Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu's face remained hard, but a soft smile appeared.
---
Flashback – Real World (Janit)
Janit returned home after school. He changed his clothes, got on his scooter, and went to work at a café.
After finishing his shift, he rode back home.
He thought,
"Today feels so exhausting… I wish I were born into a rich family."
He returned home, took a bath, and sat down for dinner.
His mother asked sweetly,
"How was your day? I hope you're not skipping your classes."
Janit replied,
"Yeah, it was good. And I'm not skipping class. By the way, dinner was tasty. Thanks."
Later, he studied. At midnight, he played a car racing game.
He thought tiredly,
"Life is so boring… I don't have anything. I wish I were born rich. But it's fine. Life is tough. I'll try to become rich myself. I hope I can fulfill my dream of owning that car."
He looked at his phone wallpaper.
It was a BMW M5.
He placed the phone aside and slept.
He woke up and looked around.
This wasn't his room.
"What? Where am I? It feels so luxurious… Did I teleport to a parallel world?"
He stepped out and found Nikhil, Aditya, Janvi, Damni, Pallavi, Hemant, and Harsh in the hall.
---
Present Time – Dense Forest
Janit stood at the edge of the forest, excitement shining in his eyes, though irritation from earlier still lingered.
His body felt light.
Alive.
"This… this feels unreal."
A system window appeared before him.
[Status – Janit]
Speed: D+
Attack Power: E+++
Endurance: B
Intelligence: A+
Potential: S
Weapon Mastery: F
Janit clenched his fist.
"I'm not weak."
"I can fight."
---
Flashback – Harsh
Harsh was in his room. He closed his Biology notebook and started watching a Kabaddi match.
He thought,
"I wish I could play at the national level."
He looked at the clock.
It was almost midnight.
"Oh no… it's late again."
He went to bed.
In his sleep, he felt something strange—as if half his soul was being pulled away.
He woke up.
The room looked ancient.
"Where am I?"
He stepped outside and saw Nikhil, Aditya, Janvi, Damni, Pallavi, Janit, and Hemant.
--- Present Time – Harsh
Harsh's expression remained calm.
No excitement.
No fear.
Only focus.
[Status – Harsh]
Speed: A
Attack Power: C+++
Endurance: B+++
Intelligence: A
Potential: S+
Weapon Mastery: F
"So this is real combat."
"I can't panic."
---
Flashback – Hemant
Hemant was in his room, writing in his Physics notebook.
"Why is this so hard… Why did I take Biology stream?"
His eyes grew heavy. His head dropped onto the table.
He looked at a photo of his parents—who were no longer in this world.
A tear fell from his eye.
He fell asleep.
Suddenly he woke up in panic.
"Mom! Dad!"
He breathed heavily, his body covered in sweat.
He looked around.
He was no longer in his room.
"Am I dreaming?"
He squeezed his arm tightly.
It hurt.
This was real.
He stepped out and found Nikhil, Aditya, Janvi, Harsh, Damni, Janit, and Pallavi.
---
Present Time – Hemant
Hemant stood quietly.
Shorter than the others, but solid.
His face showed no emotion.
[Status – Hemant]
Speed: D
Attack Power: E
Endurance: B
Intelligence: A++
Potential: S
Weapon Mastery: F
"Endurance… that's my strength."
"But I still can't believe what they said."
---
Dense Forest – After Several Hours
The chariots stopped.
The forest here felt different.
Thick trees blocked the sunlight.
The air smelled rotten.
No birds.
No insects.
Silence.
A system map appeared.
[Zombie Presence Detected]
Location: Cave System – Ahead
Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu stepped down first.
His hand rested on his weapon.
"Stay alert. Caves are death traps."
They moved forward.
---
Inside the Cave
Dark.
Cold.
The walls were wet, covered in strange black moss.
Bones lay scattered across the ground.
Some human.
Some… not.
A foul smell filled the air.
Damni swallowed hard.
"This place is horrible…"
Janvi tightened her grip on her weapon.
"Stay close. Don't separate."
They moved deeper.
---
Sudden Attack
A growl echoed.
Then—
Movement.
Rotting figures rushed from the darkness.
Zombies.
Broken bodies.
Twisted limbs.
Glowing dead eyes.
"Here they come!" Aditya shouted.
Pemmasani moved first.
One swing.
Two zombies fell—heads crushed like clay.
"Strike the head!"
Nikhil reacted instantly.
His sword slashed downward.
A zombie collapsed.
Janit charged forward.
"Don't freeze!"
He stabbed again and again.
Harsh moved with precision, cutting cleanly.
Hemant blocked a zombie's attack, pushed it back, and finished it.
Pallavi screamed—
Then struck.
Damni and Janvi fought side by side, covering each other.
The cave echoed with screams, metal clashes, and growls.
--- SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
[Sub Mission Complete]
Kill 10 Zombies
Reward Granted:
+5 Speed Points
Breathing heavily, Nikhil looked around.
"We got what we came for."
"This cave… it's not safe."
Aditya nodded.
"Let's get out."
They turned—
--- Something Moved
Heavy footsteps.
The ground shook.
A massive shadow passed across the cave wall.
A deep growl echoed—
Low.
Slow.
Terrifying.
They couldn't see it.
But they felt it.
Every instinct screamed danger.
The air grew heavier.
Pemmasani stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"…That's not a normal zombie."
The growl echoed again.
Closer.
---
End of Chapter