Patna.
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The city was alive.
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Traffic noise.
People rushing.
Markets buzzing.
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Everything felt normal.
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But Rahul—
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Walked through it like a shadow.
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Calm.
Silent.
Watching.
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He had returned.
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Not as the broken man who left.
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But as something else.
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Something far more dangerous.
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His eyes scanned everything.
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Every movement.
Every sound.
Every presence.
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And then—
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He felt it.
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A disturbance.
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Small.
But unnatural.
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Rahul stopped walking.
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In the middle of the crowd.
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"…There it is," he whispered.
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Not far.
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Hidden.
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But clear to him.
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Someone…
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Or something—
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Was watching him.
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Rahul didn't react outwardly.
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He kept walking.
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As if nothing had changed.
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But his senses—
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Locked onto it.
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---
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A narrow alley.
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Dark.
Quiet.
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The presence was there.
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Rahul stepped inside.
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The noise of the city faded instantly.
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Only silence remained.
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"…Come out," Rahul said calmly.
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No response.
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But the air shifted.
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Then—
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A voice.
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"You're sharp."
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Rahul didn't turn.
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"I know."
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A faint chuckle echoed.
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"You're different from the others."
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Rahul's eyes narrowed slightly.
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"…You've been watching me."
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A pause.
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"Yes."
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Rahul turned slowly.
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A man stood at the end of the alley.
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Tall.
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Calm.
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Smiling.
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But his eyes—
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Were dangerous.
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"…Who are you?" Rahul asked.
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The man stepped forward.
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"My name doesn't matter."
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A pause.
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"What matters…"
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"…is what you've become."
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Rahul remained silent.
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Studying him.
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This wasn't normal.
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The presence—
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Was strong.
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Not like a human.
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Not like anything ordinary.
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"…You felt it, didn't you?" the man said.
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Rahul replied calmly—
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"Yes."
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The man smiled wider.
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"Good."
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A pause.
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"Then you understand."
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Rahul took a step forward.
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"…You're like me."
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The man shook his head.
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"No."
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A pause.
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"I'm not like you."
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Rahul's eyes darkened.
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"…Then what are you?"
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The man stopped.
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And for a moment—
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The air around him changed.
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His presence expanded.
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Heavier.
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Darker.
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"I'm someone who survived."
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Silence.
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Rahul's expression didn't change.
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"…Survived what?"
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The man's smile faded slightly.
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"…What's coming."
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Before Rahul could respond—
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The man moved.
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In an instant—
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He appeared right in front of Rahul.
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A punch.
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BOOM.
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Rahul blocked.
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But the impact—
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Pushed him back.
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His feet slid across the ground.
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"…Not bad," Rahul said.
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The man tilted his head.
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"You're stronger than expected."
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Rahul smirked faintly.
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"You're weaker than I thought."
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Silence.
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Then—
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The man laughed.
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"I like you."
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The fight began.
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No warning.
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No buildup.
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Rahul attacked first.
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Fast.
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Precise.
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The man blocked.
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Countered instantly.
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Their movements—
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Blinding.
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To anyone watching—
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It would look like nothing.
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But the alley—
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Shook with every clash.
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Rahul increased his speed.
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Stronger strikes.
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Sharper attacks.
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The man adapted.
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Matching him.
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"…You've got control," the man said.
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Rahul didn't respond.
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He attacked again.
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This time—
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With more force.
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The man blocked—
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But stepped back slightly.
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"…And power," he added.
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Rahul stopped.
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For a moment.
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"…But?" he asked.
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The man smiled.
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"But you're inexperienced."
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In the next instant—
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He moved.
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Faster than before.
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Rahul barely reacted—
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A strike landed.
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BOOM.
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Rahul was thrown into the wall.
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Cracks spread instantly.
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He stood up.
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Wiping blood from his lip.
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"…Good."
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The man looked surprised.
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"Good?"
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Rahul stepped forward.
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His aura rising slightly.
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"I needed a real fight."
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The man's expression changed.
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More serious.
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"…Then I won't hold back."
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The air around them shifted again.
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The pressure increased.
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Rahul smiled.
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A dangerous smile.
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"Same."
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The battle intensified.
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Faster.
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Stronger.
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Rahul used everything he learned.
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Control.
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Acceptance.
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Dominion.
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But the man—
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Was different.
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He wasn't just strong.
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He was experienced.
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Every move—
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Calculated.
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Every attack—
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Efficient.
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Minutes passed.
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Neither side dominated.
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Then—
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Rahul changed.
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He stepped back.
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Calmed his breathing.
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Focused.
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"…Let's end this," he said.
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The man nodded.
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"Finally."
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Both moved.
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At the same time.
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Clash.
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BOOM.
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The alley exploded with force.
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Dust filled the air.
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When it cleared—
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Both stood still.
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Facing each other.
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Silence.
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Then—
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The man smiled.
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"…You win."
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Rahul's eyes narrowed.
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"…What?"
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The man stepped back.
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Raising his hands slightly.
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"I didn't come to kill you."
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A pause.
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"I came to confirm something."
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Rahul didn't lower his guard.
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"…What?"
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The man looked directly at him.
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"…That you're the one."
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Silence.
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Rahul's expression hardened.
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"…Explain."
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The man turned away.
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Walking toward the exit of the alley.
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"You'll find out soon."
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A pause.
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"And when you do…"
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He stopped.
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"…don't hesitate."
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Then—
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He disappeared.
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Gone.
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Silence returned.
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Rahul stood there.
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Thinking.
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"…The one?"
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For the first time—
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There was uncertainty.
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Not fear.
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But curiosity.
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Because now—
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It wasn't just about power.
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It was about something bigger.
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Something coming.
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And whatever it was—
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Rahul was already involved.
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Whether he wanted to be—
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Or not.
The alley fell silent again.
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But Rahul didn't move.
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He stood there—
Still.
Thinking.
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"…The one."
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Those words echoed in his mind.
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Not as a question.
But as a warning.
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Rahul stepped out of the alley.
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The city noise returned instantly.
Cars.
Voices.
Chaos.
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Everything normal.
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But now—
He knew better.
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Someone had found him.
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Which meant—
Others could too.
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Rahul walked calmly through the street.
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Blending in.
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But his senses—
Were wide open.
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Watching.
Listening.
Feeling.
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And then—
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He noticed it.
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Not one.
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Not two.
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Multiple.
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Different presences.
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Hidden.
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Scattered across the area.
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"…So it begins," Rahul whispered.
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They weren't attacking.
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They were observing.
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Measuring him.
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Rahul smiled faintly.
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"…Cowards."
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He didn't stop walking.
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Instead—
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He changed direction.
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A quiet road.
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Less crowded.
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Perfect.
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He stopped.
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"…If you're going to watch…"
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He turned slowly.
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"…at least show yourselves."
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Silence.
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Then—
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The air shifted.
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One presence appeared.
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Then another.
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And another.
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Three figures stood in front of him.
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Different from the man before.
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These—
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Felt weaker.
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But dangerous.
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"…You're him," one of them said.
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Rahul didn't reply.
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"…The one who awakened."
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Rahul's eyes narrowed.
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"…Everyone seems to know about me."
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The second figure stepped forward.
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"You made sure of that."
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A pause.
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"That kind of power…"
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"…can't stay hidden."
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Rahul smirked faintly.
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"…And you came to stop me?"
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The third one shook his head.
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"No."
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A pause.
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"We came to test you."
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Silence.
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Rahul looked at all three.
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Then—
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He sighed.
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"…Everyone wants a test."
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He stepped forward.
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"Fine."
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His aura rose slightly.
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Not fully.
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Just enough.
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"Come."
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They attacked.
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All three at once.
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Fast.
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Coordinated.
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Rahul didn't move immediately.
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He watched.
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Analyzed.
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First attack—
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Blocked.
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Second—
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Dodged.
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Third—
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Countered.
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BOOM.
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One of them was thrown back instantly.
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Rahul moved.
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Now faster.
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He appeared behind the second.
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A strike.
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BOOM.
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The second one crashed to the ground.
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The third attacked again.
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Rahul turned—
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Caught his arm—
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And twisted.
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CRACK.
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The man screamed.
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Rahul released him.
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Stepping back.
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"…Too slow," Rahul said calmly.
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The first one stood up again.
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Wiping blood from his mouth.
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"…You're strong."
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Rahul didn't reply.
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The second one struggled to stand.
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"…Stronger than expected."
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The third stepped back.
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Fear visible in his eyes.
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"…He's not like the others."
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Rahul's gaze turned cold.
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"…You're done?"
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Silence.
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They looked at each other.
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Then—
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They nodded.
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"…Yes."
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Rahul frowned slightly.
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"…That's it?"
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The first one smiled faintly.
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"For now."
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Rahul's eyes darkened.
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"…Explain."
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The man shook his head.
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"You'll understand soon."
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Rahul stepped forward.
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But before he could move further—
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They disappeared.
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Gone.
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Silence returned.
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---
Rahul stood there.
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His expression unreadable.
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"…Annoying."
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---
---
He looked around.
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The presences—
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Gone.
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---
But not completely.
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He could still feel them.
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Watching.
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Waiting.
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"…So this is how it's going to be."
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A faint smile appeared.
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"…Good."
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---
---
He turned.
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Walking away again.
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But this time—
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He wasn't just exploring.
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He was preparing.
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---
Because now—
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It was clear.
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This wasn't random.
---
---
This wasn't coincidence.
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---
---
Someone—
---
Or something—
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Was gathering them.
---
---
Testing them.
---
---
Watching him.
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---
---
And sooner or later—
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They would come.
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---
Not to test.
---
---
But to fight.
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---
---
Rahul looked ahead.
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His eyes calm.
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Cold.
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"…Let them."
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Because this time—
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He wasn't the one being hunted.
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He was the one waiting.