System: ⚠️ Alert
A Special-Class Mushroom is approaching—
Purpose: To challenge your authority.
Everyone froze.
Everyone: What?!
The air itself seemed to thicken, pressing down on their lungs as if the world had suddenly decided to hold its breath.
Zoey tightened her grip on the gun, knuckles whitening.
Zoey: "Challenge… authority? Since when do monsters care about that?"
Priyanka instinctively pulled the children closer, shielding them with her body. Her voice trembled, barely louder than a whisper.
Priyanka: "Amitesh… what did you do? What did you become?"
The system screen beside him flared brighter, its cold light slicing through the tension.
System: "Special-class entities operate under a hierarchy instinct.
You have unintentionally entered that hierarchy."
Amitesh swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.
Amitesh: "So it's not coming to kill me?"
System: "Incorrect.
It is coming to test you.
It will fight you until you die."
Amitesh scoffed, nerves snapping.
Amitesh: "That's the same thing, idiot."
Before anyone could react, Gauri stepped forward, placing herself squarely in front of Amitesh. Her weapon came up smoothly, eyes sharp and focused.
Gauri: "Everyone, defensive positions. Zoey—cover the east road. Priyanka, take the kids upstairs. Now."
Amitesh: "Gauri, wait—"
She didn't look back.
Gauri: "If this thing wants a challenge, it'll have to go through us first."
The system's voice interrupted, unusually calm.
System: "Wait. There is no need to rush.
It will come… but it will take time."
Far—far away.
Beyond the ruins, beyond the broken streets, a massive shadow slid into view.
The Special-Class Mushroom was unlike anything they had seen before.
Its cap was darker, layered like overlapping armor plates. Ash-colored skin clung tightly to its massive frame, veins of crimson light pulsing beneath the surface like a living heartbeat. And in its hands—
Flames.
Fire danced unnaturally along its fingers, bending as if alive, answering only to it.
For a moment, relief washed over the team.
Amitesh: "Thank god… I can't take anymore."
Before he could enjoy even a second of that peace, a sharp voice cut through him.
Gauri turned slowly.
Her eyes narrowed.
Gauri: "Amitesh… now I need to ask you some questions."
The air grew heavy once more—but this time, the pressure wasn't coming from the approaching monster.
It was coming from her.
"Why has my old friend suddenly become an interrogation officer?"
The words hung in the air.
Suddenly, a soft clap broke the silence.
Priyanka: "Let's relax for now. Amitesh must be exhausted. You shouldn't burn him out so much."
Her voice was gentle, deliberate—meant to cool the rising tension.
Priyanka didn't know what Amitesh had done.
She didn't know what he had become.
But she knew one thing for certain—
he had saved her children.
He had protected them, taken care of them, and brought them safely home. He hadn't demanded gratitude, control, or loyalty. He simply left once the job was done.
She couldn't be ungrateful to someone like that.
Gauri exhaled slowly.
Gauri: "Fine… okay."
Her gaze sharpened again.
"But don't think this means you're escaping, Amitesh."
He nodded quietly.
After dinner, Amitesh headed toward his room.
But the moment he stepped inside, he froze.
Gauri was already there—sitting on the window sill, legs swinging lazily, as if she owned the place.
Amitesh: "What are you doing here?"
His tone betrayed a hint of unease.
Gauri: "I can go wherever I want, can't I?"
She glanced around, amused.
"You really live well. A farm, steady resources—and on top of that, cows?.
She smirked.
"If I'm being honest, you might be the luckiest person I know."
Amitesh: "So you came all this way just to praise me?"
Gauri: "Of course not."
Her expression turned serious.
"You said you'd think about sharing resources. So—what did you decide?"
Amitesh rubbed his forehead, letting out a tired sigh.
Amitesh: "Alright. I'll do it… but I have conditions."
Gauri raised an eyebrow.
Gauri: "Conditions?"
Amitesh pull the map from his pocket and open it .
Red circles pulsed ominously across it.
Amitesh: "Before that—tell me."
He pointed at the markings.
"What exactly are these red circle?"
The room fell silent again.
And this time, Gauri didn't look playful at all.
Gauri tapped the map with her finger.
"These are the locations of the rescue camps."
Amitesh leaned closer, his eyes scanning the paper. Then he stopped and pointed.
"Then what's this large black circle?"
Gauri followed his finger. "That's the Red Zone."
Amitesh raised an eyebrow. "You circled the Red Zone with a black pen?"
"Yes," she snapped, folding her arms. "Do you have a problem with that? I lost my pen, okay?"
He lifted both hands in surrender, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Alright, alright. No need to get angry."
Gauri exhaled slowly, forcing her tone to calm.
"So, is that all you wanted to know?"
"For the most part."
He hesitated, the room falling quiet for a heartbeat. Then he straightened, his voice turning firm.
"My conditions are simple," he said. "I'll keep one-fifth of the rations. I want a separate place to live, and two bodyguards to make sure my food stays safe."
Gauri watched him closely as he continued.
"You can keep everything else," Amitesh added, glancing at the crates nearby. "And the alcohol—keep that for yourselves."
Silence settled in the room after his words, thick and uneasy.
Gauri studied Amitesh carefully—not his demands, but the man himself. One-fifth of the rations. A separate place. Bodyguards. None of it was unreasonable. And yet… the calm way he stated it unsettled her. Too controlled. As if the decision had already been made long before this conversation.
"You don't trust us," Gauri said at last, her voice low.
Amitesh didn't argue. He met her gaze steadily.
"I do," he said quietly. "I just want to be safe in this broken world."
She let out a short, humorless laugh. "You save people. You protect children. You fight monsters like they're nothing—yet you talk like this?"
"Tell me something," Amitesh said instead. "How do you distribute food in the rescue camp?"
Gauri paused, thinking.
"At the beginning, we had four meals a day. Everyone got equal portions. Now it's three meals. Some people started farming, so they get a little extra."
He shook his head. "No. I mean the process."
She frowned. "We line people up. Give food one by one."
"Exactly," Amitesh said. "That's my problem. I don't want to stand in a line for food I collected over an entire year."
The words hit harder than she expected.
She wanted to argue. Wanted to say it was necessary. That rules kept order. But the words never came. Something in his eyes told her this wasn't arrogance.
It was truth.
"And the bodyguards?" she asked softly. "You think someone would steal from you?"
"I think hunger changes people," Amitesh replied calmly. "And I don't want to find out who I'll become if that happens."
Another silence followed—longer this time.
Finally, Gauri nodded once. "Fine. Your conditions are accepted."
Amitesh blinked. "Huh? You can't decide that alone. Am I right?"
"I can," she said casually. "I'm the second-in-command."
"What the hell—"
His eyes widened in shock.
She nodded, clearly enjoying his reaction.
"When?" he demanded.
"Ten months ago," she replied. "Long story."
She yawned, stretched, and dropped onto the bedsheet spread across the floor.
"Anyway, I'll talk to them in the morning."
"Hey," Amitesh said, irritated. "That's my place to sleep."
Her voice came drowsy. "Let me have it today."
He exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'm leaving."
"Wait," she murmured.
"What now?" he snapped.
"I can't sleep," she said lazily. "Sing me a lori."
(Lori-A soft, calming song or music, often with a rhythmic melody, used to soothe a baby to sleep.)
He stared at her. "First you take my bed. Now you want me to make you sleep? Do you know how spoiled you are?"
"Sing," she said with a mischievous smile, "or I'll smoke and fill your room with it."
"That's cheating," he protested. "You can't use my weakness."
"I can," she replied sweetly.
He groaned. "Fine."
He sat beside her, rubbing his face.
"I'm not a singer. Don't expect much."
The system's voice chimed in cheerfully.
"Don't worry. I'll provide background music."
Amitesh muttered, "Fuck you."
He cleared his throat, closed his eyes, and began.
His voice was low, rough around the edges—but honest.
I got you carved deep in my soul,
I got you carved deep in my heart tonight.
I got you carved deep in my soul,
I got you carved deep in my heart tonight.
We may have two bodies, but we have the same soul.
We may walk separate paths, but we have the same goal.
The room seemed to slow.
I got you carved deep in my eyes.
I got you carved deep in my dreams tonight.
I got you carved deep in my mind.
I got you carved deep in my thoughts tonight.
Gauri's breathing softened.
I want to die and live with you.
But now I just want to spend this time with you tonight.
If the world has something to offer me,
I want the world to offer you to me tonight.
I got you carved deep in my soul.
I got you carved deep in my heart tonight.
By the time he reached the last lines—
—her eyes were already closed.
Amitesh opened his eyes and looked at her.
Asleep.
For the first time that night, his expression softened.
Gauri's eyes fluttered open.
"That was… really good," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Where did you hear it?"
Amitesh froze for half a second. Then he replied simply,
"I created it."
She turned her head toward him, a faint smile forming.
"Then sing it again."
He didn't even think about it.
"Never."
Her smile widened.
He slipped out of the room quickly, not daring to look back.
He had no idea what demand she might come up with next—and he wasn't ready to find out.
The corridor was dim and quiet, shadows stretching along cracked walls as he walked. His footsteps echoed softly against the concrete.
As he moved through the building, he spotted Zoey patrolling the area, her movements alert, eyes constantly scanning corners and windows.
He raised a hand in a brief wave as he passed closer to her.
Zoey noticed, nodded once in return, and kept walking—ever watchful.
For Amitesh, the night wasn't over yet.
( Author:- for the song search James_Rock_Heart on yt i will aploud the song soon)