Vyum raises the Remington 700 BDL.
The corridor falls into a strange, stretched silence—
Then—
CRACK!
The first shot tears through the air.
Vikram tilts his body just enough.
The bullet whistles past his head.
He doesn't stop walking.
A faint smirk forms on his lips.
Vyum's brows twitch.
Annoyance.
Disbelief.
He chambers another round.
CRACK!
Second shot.
Vikram tilts his neck to the right—calm, almost lazy.
The bullet misses again.
Closer now.
Closer than Vyum is comfortable with.
A third shot—
CRACK!
Vikram leans left this time.
The bullet slices past his ear.
Vyum takes a step back.
His fingers move faster, reloading.
But not fast enough.
Why is it taking so long?
A bead of sweat rolls down his temple.
Vikram is already within striking distance.
His shoulder rolls.
His fist tightens.
"Now my turn."
Vyum suddenly shakes his head, a sharp, mocking grin cutting across his face.
"No… you arrogant bastard."
CRACK!
A shot fires—
Point blank.
The bullet slams into the left side of Vikram's skull.
The impact jerks his head violently.
His body drops.
The world spins.
Sound dulls.
Vision blurs into fragments.
Vikram hits the ground hard.
For a moment—
Stillness.
Vyum and his men stare.
"…He's not dead?" one mutters, voice cracking.
Vikram's fingers twitch.
He groans.
Pushes himself up against the wall.
Barely.
Vyum's expression darkens.
He raises the rifle again.
Aims at the back of Vikram's head.
CRACK!
Another shot.
Vikram collapses again.
A low breath escapes him.
"It… really hurts…"
His voice is uneven now.
Dizzy.
Unstable.
Vyum fires again.
And again.
And again.
Bullets slam into Vikram's head—
But don't go through.
They flatten.
Deflect.
Drop.
Vyum's jaw tightens in frustration.
He steps forward—
And kicks Vikram hard.
"Let's see what happens now."
He grabs Vikram by the jaw.
Forces his mouth open.
Presses the cold barrel inside.
"Let's try this."
His finger tightens on the trigger—
—
BOOM!
An uppercut explodes into his chin.
Vyum is launched backward.
The rifle slips from his hands.
Clatters across the floor.
Vikram spits blood.
Kicks the weapon away.
Vyum's men charge.
Mid-air—
Vikram moves.
Two punches.
Simultaneous.
Both faces cave inward.
Bodies fly.
Glass shatters as they crash out of the window.
Vyum staggers back, grabbing whatever he can—
Chairs.
Metal trays.
Equipment.
He hurls them one after another.
Vikram weaves through everything.
Effortless.
Untouched.
"It's no use," Vikram says calmly. "Give up."
Vyum disappears behind a wall.
Breathing hard.
Then—
He smiles.
"As I said… you're arrogant."
He glances at the chaos behind Vikram.
Objects bouncing.
Rolling.
Scattering.
Then—
A metal pot hits the rifle.
It ricochets—
Slides—
Right into Vyum's hand.
He catches it instantly.
Steps out.
Aims—
CRACK!
The bullet hits Vikram dead center in the forehead.
For a split second—
Time freezes.
Then—
Vikram's neck snaps back violently.
Vyum lunges forward.
Drives into him.
The force sends Vikram flying—
Through the window.
Glass explodes outward.
—
Outside—
Vikram crashes onto the ground below.
Pain surges through his body.
His vision flickers.
Dark.
Light.
Dark again.
"I… underestimated him…"
He slowly gets up.
Unsteady.
Just as he takes a step—
An oxygen cylinder spins through the air—
THUD!
It smashes into his head.
Everything goes black.
Vikram collapses.
Unconscious.
—
Upstairs—
Vyum leans against the wall.
Breathing slows.
"Why didn't he die…?"
He closes his eyes.
Exhales.
Then straightens.
And walks.
—
Top floor.
Outside the operation theater—
His men stand guard.
"Brother, he locked it from inside. If we push, he'll shoot."
Vyum doesn't respond.
He simply raises the rifle.
Aims at the keyhole.
—
Inside—
Ansh stands ready.
Gun raised.
Sweat dripping.
Heart pounding.
—
CRACK!
The door explodes inward.
Wood splinters.
Furniture flies.
The shockwave throws Ansh backward.
Air leaves his lungs in a harsh gasp.
He crashes onto the floor.
Vyum steps in.
Eyes scanning.
Then—
A faint smirk.
"That monster survived… interesting."
Ansh forces himself up.
Raises his gun—
CRACK!
Vyum fires first.
The bullet hits the gun.
It explodes in Ansh's hand.
"AAGHH!"
He screams, clutching his bleeding palm.
Vyum crouches beside him.
Calm.
Cold.
"I didn't plan to kill you."
He gestures at the bodies.
"But you killed my surgeons."
A pause.
"Why?"
Ansh grits his teeth.
"I was desperate…"
His voice shakes.
"My sister was dying… I didn't have money…"
He breathes heavily.
"So I used your network."
Tears mix with anger.
"I told SP Samradh it was a sting operation… took government funds…"
His voice cracks.
"I said the deal would happen tomorrow…"
A hollow laugh escapes him.
"But I made it today."
Vyum claps slowly.
"Beautiful."
Mocking.
"Truly emotional."
He leans closer.
"You thought you'd save her today… and become a hero tomorrow."
His eyes harden.
"But we don't fear law anymore."
He grabs Ansh's hair.
Pulls him up.
"We have Anna."
A whisper.
"He sliced a building in one swing."
Ansh stares back.
"…Don't touch her."
His voice is steady now.
"Take anyone else's heart. I'll give you anything."
Vyum smiles faintly.
"Tempting."
Then—
His expression turns cold.
"But that's my brother's heart."
He punches Ansh.
Hard.
"I won't forgive betrayal."
He lifts him again.
"Trust matters more than contracts."
A pause.
"And you broke it."
Ansh grabs his wrist.
Eyes burning.
"Don't go near her."
Vyum smirks.
Kicks him away.
Raises the rifle—
But—
Ansh lunges.
Grabs the barrel.
Pulls.
Kicks Vyum in the gut.
Vyum stumbles back.
Four men rush in.
Ansh moves like a cornered animal.
Knife flashes—
He slashes their legs.
One by one—
He finishes them.
Fast.
Brutal.
Vyum recovers.
Drives his knee into Ansh's back.
Ansh spins—
Swings—
Vyum catches his arm.
Lifts him.
Slams him to the ground.
Then kicks his face.
Air bursts from Ansh's lungs.
He gasps.
Still tries to rise—
Tackles Vyum.
Vyum counters—
Elbow to the spine.
Ansh collapses again.
Heavy.
Broken.
Vyum looks down at him.
"You're strong."
A pause.
"But…"
He pulls out a glowing, dark Soldier Mudra.
"I'm beyond human now."
Ansh clings to his leg.
Refusing to let go.
Vyum raises his foot—
"Pathetic."
—
Before it lands—
A blur crashes in.
A knee slams into Vyum's face.
His head snaps back.
His body flies across the room.
Crashes inside.
Vyum stumbles up.
Blood dripping.
Reaches for the rifle—
—
A foot stomps down on it.
Crushing it.
Vikram stands there.
Breathing heavy.
Eyes sharp.
"This is for shooting me."
A golden aura ignites around his fist.
It hums.
Vibrates.
Then—
He punches.
The impact detonates across Vyum's face.
His body is launched—
Through the window.
—
Outside—
Vyum crashes onto a parked car.
Metal caves under him.
Glass shatters.
He coughs.
Blood spills from his mouth.
"I feel like… a truck hit me…"
He tries to stand—
Fails.
Rolls off the car.
His vision fades.
Darkness closes in.
Vyum goes still.
Unconscious.