On one side—
Om stood calmly, watching the goons rushing toward him.
On the other—
Joseph and the short man watched with growing excitement.
Certain of victory.
But the very next moment—
Something happened.
Something no one expected.
Just as one of the men reached within two feet of Om—
THUD!
He dropped to the ground.
Unconscious.
Just like that.
Joseph and the short man froze.
Their bodies stiffened.
"What… just happened?"
They hadn't seen Om move.
Not even a step.
The rest of the men also stopped—
Confused.
Shocked.
Then—
Everyone's eyes fell on Om.
And what they saw next—
Sent a chill down their spines.
Om was no longer where he had been standing.
He was now—
Right behind the fallen man.
Without a sound.
Without a trace of movement.
The entire crowd went silent.
"How… how did you get there?"
Joseph asked, visibly shaken.
The short man stood there—
Still in deep shock.
Om just smiled faintly.
Didn't answer.
And then—
He took one step forward.
That was it.
One step—
And he vanished.
Not literally—
But to everyone present—
He was gone.
Within seconds—
Every man who had charged at him—
Started collapsing one by one.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Bodies hitting the ground.
No one could see him.
No one could track him.
It was as if—
They were being taken down by something invisible.
Joseph's confidence shattered.
The short man's throat went dry.
Before they could even process anything—
Om appeared again.
This time—
Right in front of Joseph.
So close—
That Joseph felt his soul shake.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Behind him—
The short man slowly stepped forward—
And looked at his men lying unconscious on the ground.
His eyes widened.
His breath stopped.
"Looks like… you'll have to do the job yourself now,"
Om said coldly.
"Your men… seem to have fallen asleep."
Joseph swallowed hard.
"T-You're messing with the wrong person,"
he stammered.
"If you even touch me… you'll regret it."
"Think carefully… and step back."
Om smiled slightly.
"You still think… you're in a position to threaten me?"
Before Joseph could respond—
The short man jumped in.
"Singhania won't spare you! You have no idea what kind of storm he is!"
Om looked at him—
And smiled.
"So… you came here on Singhania's orders?"
A pause.
"Looks like he didn't tell you… why he considers me his enemy."
Joseph tried to regain his composure.
"You're making a mistake. Pack your things and leave this place."
That was it.
Om stepped closer.
Locked eyes with him.
And spoke—
His voice now serious.
"Listen carefully."
"I'm here to do my work. If you like it—appreciate it. If not—mind your own business."
A pause.
"But don't ever try to interfere."
His gaze hardened.
"And about your boss…"
"Go tell him—I'm rising on my own strength."
"So fear?"
He smirked.
"That's not even a question."
"Whoever comes… however they come…"
His voice turned ice cold.
"They'll all go back the same way—"
"asleep."
That was enough.
Joseph and the short man—
Both felt a chill run through them.
Without saying another word—
They turned to leave.
Suddenly—Everything Changes
Out of nowhere—
A small boy rushed in—
Dragging a handcart.
A man lay on it—
Covered in blood.
The boy was crying desperately.
"Please… someone help my father! I don't know what happened to him!"
Joseph paused.
Closed his car door.
And walked back toward the scene.
Om immediately moved toward the child—
Kneeling beside him.
"What happened, son?"
he asked gently.
"How did your father end up like this?"
The boy cried as he spoke—
"We're very poor… I was hungry since morning…"
"So father went out to find food…"
"He didn't come back for a long time… so I went looking for him…"
His voice broke.
"I found him… vomiting blood…"
"And this fruit was near him…"
The boy took out a half-eaten black fruit from his pocket.
The moment Joseph saw it—
His expression changed.
"This… is poisonous. Nemos fruit."
He smirked coldly.
"Forget about your father, kid. There's no way he'll survive."
But Om didn't react.
Not even a second wasted.
He rushed to the man—
Tore open his shirt—
And examined his body.
Dark veins—
Spreading across his skin.
Clear signs of poisoning.
Joseph chuckled.
"You don't seriously think you can treat him, do you?"
He laughed, looking at the short man.
But Om—
Didn't even look at him.
"Still here?"
Om said coldly while working.
"Or do you want to get beaten before leaving?"
Joseph got irritated.
"Huh. Now I'm not leaving."
He crossed his arms.
"I want to see how you save him."
His tone turned mocking.
"Today everyone will find out what kind of fake doctor you are."
He pointed at the man.
"Cases of people surviving Nemos fruit poisoning are extremely rare… and you—a nobody—think you can cure him?"
He laughed again.
"Is this a joke?"