As the door swung open, Shiv was met with a shimmering golden glow. This wasn't just a hotel room; it was a King's Imperial Suite. The floor, crafted from deep, polished teak, was partially covered by a soft, traditional Tatami carpet.
A floor-to-ceiling glass wall offered a breathtaking panorama of the Tokyo skyline, where the iconic Tokyo Tower glowed like a neon beacon in the distance. The walls were draped in gold-silk wallpaper, and deep crimson curtains hung from the ceiling, lending the room the silent, imposing majesty of a 'Royal Tomb.' Right in the center sat a minimalist black desk, where the Mysterious Silver Case gleamed like a piece of forbidden treasure.
Shiv approached the case in silence. Flicking it open, he squinted against the sudden brilliance. Inside lay two crystal bottles, their surfaces etched with intricate silver craftsmanship that sparkled under the light. One bottle held a thick, crimson liquid that simmered like boiling lava.
"Enhancing Elixir..." Shiv whispered. "So, Vikram sir actually sent it?"
He noticed a letter tucked inside the case from the Principal. The red bottle was indeed the 'Enhancing Elixir' for a power boost. Setting it aside, Shiv picked up the second bottle—a cold, blue crystal filled with a pure golden liquid.
This was a Medium Grade Support Elixir. In this world, they were ranked in four tiers:
1. Low (Basic Potion): For minor fatigue and recovery.
2. Medium: Heals deep wounds and bone cracks with minimal side effects.
3. High: Completely repairs organ damage and purges deadly toxins.
4. Rare: Makes the 'Impossible' possible—regrowing lost limbs or snatching someone back from the brink of death.
Without wasting a second, Shiv yanked off his T-shirt and tossed it onto the desk. Dropping into a meditative pose on the bed, he downed the golden elixir in one gulp.
Within five minutes, Shiv's body began to sizzle. Sweat erupted from his forehead, racing down his chest. A Golden Sign began to glow intensely on his stomach, pulsating with raw power.
His eyes strained, flickering with pain as if a red-hot iron rod was being twisted through his veins. He exhaled a sharp, searing breath through his nose and snapped his eyes open.
"I feel... better. That stinging agony in my pathways has finally dulled," he sighed in relief. Standing up, he glanced at the Enhancing Elixir. "I'll save this for the match."
Suddenly, Shiv's body went rigid. He sensed a presence. He spun around and ripped the door open—standing there was Aarav, his eyes clouded with a strange gravity.
"I found out your pathways are damaged," Aarav said, his voice flat.
Shiv grabbed Aarav by the arm, jerked him inside, and slammed the door shut, locking it. "How the hell do you know that?!"
"Veeru," Aarav replied simply.
"I'm going to kill that guy later!" Shiv's face flushed with rage.
Aarav cut him off. "Forget him. Tell me, why are you even here if you're falling apart? You should be in a hospital."
Shiv took a heavy breath. "Vikram sir said this kind of damage can only be fixed by top-tier doctors or the rarest Elixirs."
A faint, mocking smile touched Aarav's lips. "Is that so? Because the Academy has no shortage of such Elixirs."
The color drained from Shiv's face.
"What...?"
"Vikram sir lied to you, and you fell for it like an idiot," Aarav said, turning away. "I'm out."
"Wait! What are you doing in my room this late anyway? You're wide awake... which means you just got back from a mission, didn't you?" Shiv asked, narrowing his eyes.
Aarav gave a cryptic smile. "Seriously, you're a total moron." He stepped out and closed the door.
Exhausted, Shiv collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
But the real game was unfolding in another room. In Aarav's quarters, there was a deathly silence.
In the corner, a spy was shivering violently. His hands were bound behind his back, and a cloth was stuffed into his mouth. The tears streaming down his face hadn't frozen from the cold—they were frozen in sheer terror.
Aarav remained silent. He pressed the edge of a razor-sharp knife against the soft skin of the man's throat.
Thump-thump... Thump-thump...
The man's heart was hammering so hard it felt like it would burst through his ribs. Every time he flinched, the blade sank a fraction deeper. A thin, crimson bead of blood began to trickle down his neck.
The spy pleaded with his eyes, but only muffled, desperate whimpers escaped his throat.
Aarav applied a bit more pressure. His face was a mask of cold indifference, but his eyes gleamed like a hungry wolf.
"Next time..." Aarav's voice was as cold as a winter grave, "...don't keep an eye on the wrong door."
The next morning, sunlight piercing through the window woke Shiv. As he sat up, he noticed another letter lying on the desk.
It was from Kashmir—from Grandmaster Vima. Shiv's face lit up as he read:
"Shiv, I heard you're in Japan. Since your pathways are damaged, go find an old friend of mine in Chiyoda City—he'll fix you up. Also, a message from your 'Wife' (Waifu): 'Don't act like a brat, and do exactly what my Grandfather says, or you're in big trouble!'"
Caught up in the excitement, Shiv threw the letter aside and lunged into the corridor.
"Aarav! I found a cu—"
The words died in his throat. It wasn't Aarav standing there. It was Kavya.
"AHHHHH!" Kavya's scream shattered the morning silence.
Instantly, two doors flew open. Seeing Shiv standing there in nothing but his underwear, Veeru exploded into laughter, while Aarav just took a slow breath and gave a solemn thumbs-up.
"Get it, Tiger!" Veeru winked, and both of them slammed their doors shut.
Ritika chimed in from the side, enjoying the chaos. "Oh... bad timing. Carry on, guys!"
Kavya's face was now a burning shade of crimson fury. She channeled every ounce of her strength into her left hand.
'CHAAAK!'
The impact sounded like a bomb going off.
Shiv's head spun as he was sent crashing back against his own door. Five bright red finger marks appeared on his cheek, and a thin trail of blood leaked from his lip.
"Shameless!" Kavya roared, slamming her door so hard that Suresh woke up in the next room—"What happened?! Was that an earthquake?!"
Shiv lay on the floor, clutching his face and muttering, "I'll find death... long before I find a cure."
He slowly crawled back into his room.