Gauri closed her eyes as she slipped deep into her memories.
Date: 26/02/2027
Time: 10:45 A.M.
A massive military truck tore through the long, empty road at full speed. Its bulky frame was covered in spikes and layers of heavy armor, built more for war than transport.
Zoey sat in the driver's seat, her hands tight on the wheel, eyes locked on the road ahead. Every muscle in her body was tense—one mistake here could mean death.
"We've reached the border of the Red Zone," Gauri said, her voice calm but calculating. "But I don't see a single mushroom head. That's strange."
Zoey frowned. "Maybe they're following a special zombie."
Dr. Priyanka's expression hardened. "Even so, we can't let our guard down."
Her gaze shifted to the twins—Priya and Diya—sitting quietly behind her. For a moment, the battlefield around her faded, replaced by the image of her own children waiting at the rescue base.
Are they okay?
Did they eat properly?
How will they survive without me… when their father is already gone?
Her chest tightened with a thousand unspoken worries.
System: Alert.
"Everyone, get ready," Gauri said instantly.
Without warning, the truck jolted violently—not from the front, but from behind.
Zoey slammed the accelerator, pushing the engine harder.
The vehicle shook violently, metal groaning under the impact. As if sensing danger, Priyanka's necklace began to glow faintly.
Her heart sank into a dark void. Her mind filled with terrifying possibilities—scenes she didn't want to imagine. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Suddenly, several storage boxes slid open from the impact.
Two small figures tumbled out.
"Rohan! Riya!"
Relief washed over Priyanka when she saw them unharmed—but it quickly turned into fury.
Smack.
She slapped Rohan across the face.
"You idiot!" she shouted, her voice shaking. "I told you to stay there and protect your sister! Why—why did you come with us? Do you even understand what you've done?"
Tears streamed down her face as the thought hit her—her children back at the base were now unprotected.
She pulled Rohan into a tight embrace and broke down.
Seeing their mother cry, the children began to cry too.
"M-Mom… I'm sorry…" Rohan sobbed. "I was just worried… please don't cry. I won't do it again. I promise I'll listen to you."
Gauri and Zoey felt a deep ache in their hearts—but this wasn't the time for emotions.
A far greater danger loomed.
BOOM.
A giant mushroom head appeared in front of the truck and punched it with terrifying force. The blow didn't destroy the vehicle, but it was enough to bring it to a screeching halt.
Before anyone could react—
BOOM.
Another punch.
This time, the truck rolled over violently before slamming back upright.
Zoey twisted the keys frantically. "The engine's dead! If we stay here, we won't survive. We have to get out!"
"But with Rohan and Riya…" Gauri hesitated. "It's too risky."
System: Just run. I'll guide you.
Gauri looked at the people inside the truck—then at the floating system screen.
She exhaled slowly.
"Alright," she said. "Let's go."
She slammed the door open.
One by one, they jumped out and ran at full speed.
Zoey fired her weapon, deliberately drawing the giant mushroom head's attention in the opposite direction. The creature roared and chased the sound.
System: Turn right. Now.
They ran.
System: Right again.
Their lungs burned.
System: Left—then straight ahead.
Everyone except Zoey was breathing heavily, on the verge of collapse.
Just as they thought they had escaped—
They were surrounded.
Mushroom heads emerged from all directions.
There was no escape.
They formed a tight circle around Rohan and Riya.
"Damn it, System!" Gauri yelled. "You said we'd be safe! What is this?!"
System: Look to your left. Second-floor window.
Gauri turned.
In the broken window of an old building, a figure stood silently.
A man.
System: Ask him for help.
"I won't," Gauri said. "I won't put his life in danger."
System: Relax. He's strong. Just shout—really shout. Piss him off if you have to.
Gauri clenched her fists.
"Well," she muttered, "I'm already pissed."
She cupped her hands and yelled at the figure with everything she had.
"Hey, idiot! Are you going to help us, or are you planning to stand there and watch us get eaten by zombies?!"
.
.
.
At present—
The walkie-talkie, once declared dead, crackled back to life.
"Hello… Gauri. Hello?"
The voice wavered beneath a veil of static. "Gauri, are you there? Please respond—copy."
Only silence answered.
The hiss of static grew louder, harsher, as if mocking the plea.
"Please respond—copy."
His fingers tightened around the walkie-talkie, knuckles whitening. The cold metal pressed into his palm, suddenly heavier than before, as though it carried more than just a voice—perhaps hope, or perhaps something far worse.
He gripped the walkie-talkie tightly, bringing it level with his face.
"Hello?" Amitesh said.
Static hissed for a second before a frantic voice broke through. "Hello? Hello! Who is this? How did you get this radio? Are the people in the truck safe?"
"My name is Amitesh," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "And yes, the people in the truck are safe."
There was a pause, and then the voice on the other end shifted. The frantic tone was replaced by a dry, gravelly voice that carried the weight of command.
"This is Captain Singh, Commanding Officer of Rescue Base 023. Is Gauri alright? Is she with you, Amitesh?"
"She's fine," Amitesh said, glancing back toward the road. "But they aren't with me right now."
"Take this radio to Gauri. Immediately," Singh barked.
Amitesh bristled at the tone. "Fine. But it's going to take me two hours to get back to them, so you'll have to wait."
"Do it quickly! That is an order!"
Amitesh's eyes narrowed. "What? Hey, old man, do you think I'm one of your soldiers? Keep your mouth shut and find some patience, or I'll leave this device right here in the dirt."
There was a heavy silence on the other end. When the Captain spoke again, his voice was humbled. "Forgive me... an old habit. Take your time. Just... please, get us to them."
Amitesh let out a sharp exhale, his thumb hovering over the talk button. The plastic casing of the radio was warm from the Captain's shouting, but the silence that followed felt even heavier.
He looked out over the rugged terrain—two hours was an optimistic estimate, and the sun was already beginning to dip.
"I'm moving now," Amitesh muttered, his voice dropping the edge of anger. "Stay on this frequency, but keep the chatter down. I need my ears open."
"Understood," Singh replied, the bravado completely gone. "We'll be waiting."
Amitesh clipped the walkie-talkie to his belt, the metallic click echoing in the quiet air. He began the trek back toward the hidden ravine where he had left the group. Every snap of a dry twig under his boots sounded like a gunshot.
He couldn't shake the Captain's desperation—if a man of that rank was losing his composure, the situation at Rescue Base 023 was likely worse than they were letting on.
He slowly started waking up.
System: So… have you decided to share the resources?
Amitesh let out a long sigh.
"I think… yes. But I need all the details before I do anything."
System: You really are an overthinking person.
Amitesh: Well… yes, I am.
He reached out, grabbed another bottle of water, and drank it in one go. Then he stretched his hand for another—
Amitesh: Hey… where did my water bottle go?
System: I think you dropped it while fighting.
Amitesh: Damn it. I need to wash my face. I can't go home with blood all over me.
System: Stop panicking. Why don't you create water yourself? You see Priyanka how to do it, didn't you?
Amitesh paused.
"…Can I really do it?"
System: Yes.
He stopped walking. Closing his eyes, he brought his hands close together and focused.
A yellow-orange energy slowly wrapped around his palms. Tiny droplets of water formed between his hands—then suddenly began to grow.
Amitesh opened his eyes, his breathing uneven.
Amitesh: I did it… but why am I so tired?
System: Because you learned and tried something new.
He splashed the water onto his face and wiped it clean. Then he looked at his reflection in the side mirror of a nearby car.
Amitesh: …Okay. Let's go.
Two hours later.
He reached the building.
Zoey stood by the window, fully alert, a large gun resting against her shoulder. When she saw him, he waved. She nodded.
The moment he stepped inside, Gauri rushed forward and threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.
Gauri: I'm glad you're okay…
She pulled back slightly and looked up at him.
Gauri: Did you find a special mushroom?
Amitesh: No.
He didn't want to tell her the truth—he didn't want her to worry.
What he didn't know… was that she already knew everything.
Her grip around him tightened.
Amitesh: O-ouch! Hey—what was that for?
She pushed him away and crossed her arms.
Gauri: Because you lied.
She glared at him.
Gauri: The system told me everything.
A system screen appeared in front of him.
Amitesh gave it a sharp "Really, bro?" look.
System: …Sorry. My bad.
Gauri: I have many questions.
Oh no… I'm finished today, he thought.
Suddenly—
The walkie-talkie burst to life with a loud voice.
"Gauri! Are you okay? This is Captain Singh!"
Gauri's eyebrow twitched as she heard the voice.
Amitesh quickly handed the walkie-talkie to her.
Thank God… I'm safe now, he thought—
relieved… yet slightly annoyed.
The room fell silent the moment Gauri took the walkie-talkie.
Static crackled, sharp and restless.
Gauri: Captain Singh… I'm safe.
A brief pause.
Then the captain's voice returned, heavy with relief.
Captain Singh: Thank God. We lost your signal two hours ago. Report your status.
Gauri glanced at Amitesh—just for a second—before answering.
Gauri: We've secured an abandoned building. No casualties. Minimal injuries.
Amitesh leaned against the wall, arms folded, pretending not to listen… but every word carved itself into his mind.
Captain Singh: And the special mushroom?
The question hit like a bullet.
The air tightened.
Gauri's fingers curled around the device.
Gauri: …Neutralized.
Amitesh's eyes widened.
He turned sharply toward her.
She lied.
For me.
Captain Singh: Confirmed kill?
Gauri: Yes. One special. Multiple normal variants eliminated.
Another pause. Longer this time.
Captain Singh: Understood.
Reinforcements will move toward your coordinates at dawn. Hold position until then.
Gauri: Copy that.
The walkie-talkie clicked off.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Zoey slowly lowered her gun.
Priyanka peeked out from behind the staircase, the children clinging to her legs.
Amitesh finally broke the silence.
Amitesh: …You didn't have to do that.
Gauri turned to him.
Her eyes were calm—but sharp, like a blade hidden under water.
Gauri: Yes, I did.
She stepped closer.
Gauri: If the army finds out you killed a special mushroom alone, they won't call you a survivor.
She jabbed a finger into his chest.
Gauri: They'll call you a weapon.
Amitesh clenched his jaw.
The system screen flickered to life beside him.
System: She's right. Probability of forced recruitment: 78%.
Probability of containment or experimentation: 41%.
Amitesh exhaled slowly.
Amitesh: …Great. So I'm officially dangerous now.
Zoey walked over, arms crossed.
Zoey: You always were. You just didn't know it.
Priyanka joined them, her voice softer.
Priyanka: The kids feel safer because of you.
Amitesh looked away.
I didn't ask for this, he thought.
I just didn't want to die.
Suddenly—
The system screen expanded, glowing brighter than before.
System Alert
Hidden Condition Fulfilled
First Special-Class Kill (Solo)
Everyone froze.
Gauri: …System?
System: Reward recalculating.
Golden symbols flooded the air.
New Trait Unlocked:
Anomaly Body – Phase 1
– Rapid adaptation to cultivation radiation.
– Reduced energy cost for all devore ability.
– Mushroom hostility reduced further
Amitesh stared at the screen.
Amitesh: "Reduced further"…?
The system hesitated.
System: …Yes.
Gauri's expression darkened.
Gauri: What does that mean?
Amitesh swallowed.
Amitesh: It means…
His voice dropped.
Amitesh: The mushrooms don't attack me or just don't ignore me anymore.
The room went cold.
Outside the broken window, far down the road—
A distant mushroom head turned.
Its hollow eyes locked onto the building.
And instead of attacking—
It slowly bowed.
Zoey: …That's not normal.
The system issued one final line.
System:
Warning: Your existence is beginning to destabilize the ecosystem.
Amitesh closed his eyes.
Looks like… I won't be normal ever again.
System: ⚠️ Alert
A Special-Class Mushroom is approaching—
Purpose: To challenge your authority.
Everyone froze.
Everyone: What?!