Uncoming Rewards
Arjun's hidden face betrayed no emotion as he faced the gang in the dimly lit warehouse.
Arjun quickly commanded Phoenix in his mind "inspector". The blue glow of Phoenix's information illuminated the opponents:
1. Thakur Singh (Gang Leader)
Age : 37
Strength: 6
Stamina: 5
Intelligence: 4
Agility: 5
Sense: 3
2. Rajesh "Raja" Kumar
Age : 31
Strength: 5
Stamina: 4
Intelligence: 5
Agility: 6
Sense: 4
3. Ananya "Ana" Kapoor
Age : 30
Strength: 4
Stamina: 5
Intelligence: 7
Agility: 8
Sense: 6
4. Vikram "Vicky" Sharma
Age : 27
Strength: 4
Stamina: 5
Intelligence: 6
Agility: 7
Sense: 5
5. Rohan "Rocky" Khanna (Senior Boy)
Age : 22
Strength: 5
Stamina: 4
Intelligence: 4
Agility: 7
Sense: 5
The first strike came from Thakur Singh, a powerful kick aimed at Arjun's midsection. Arjun deftly sidestepped, countering with a quick jab to Thakur's ribs, disrupting his balance.
Raja lunged with a series of rapid punches. Arjun skillfully blocked, then retaliated with a spinning kick that connected with Raja's thigh, momentarily staggering him.
Ana, the infiltrator, attempted a low sweep. Arjun leaped, avoiding the sweep and delivering a sweeping kick to Ana's side. She winced but managed to retreat.
Vicky, the street fighter, closed in, launching a barrage of punches. Arjun weaved through the onslaught, responding with a precise elbow strike to Vicky's chest.
Rocky, the senior boy, observed the chaos with a mix of surprise and recognition. Arjun noticed a momentary distraction in Rocky's gaze.
In the midst of the melee, Thakur Singh aimed a powerful roundhouse kick. Arjun blocked but felt a twinge in his side from a previous injury. Despite the discomfort, he pressed on.
Raja, recovering, attempted a high kick. Arjun ducked and countered with a swift uppercut to Raja's jaw.
As the skirmish continued, Ana made a stealthy approach. Arjun, relying on his heightened senses, anticipated her movement, delivering a precise knee strike to her abdomen.
Vicky, undeterred, aimed a final desperate punch. Arjun, drawing on his remaining strength, executed a spinning back kick, knocking Vicky to the ground.
The warehouse echoed with the thud of defeated gang members retreating. Arjun, nursing his minor injuries, stood alone in the aftermath, aware that Rocky had slipped away. The fight left him contemplative, pondering the enigmatic twists that lingered in the shadows.
Arjun clenched his fists, frustrated at his carelessness. He had let Rocky slip away, leaving him with unanswered questions. Regret gnawed at him as he pondered what might have been revealed.
The distant wail of a siren broke through his thoughts. Arjun recognized the sound and swiftly retreated from the warehouse, disappearing into the maze of streets. Unbeknownst to him, it was just a police patrol responding to reports of a disturbance.
As the police officers arrived at the scene, they found only the defeated gang members. Arjun, already on his way home, remained unseen. The timely arrival of the patrol averted any immediate confrontation with the law.
Back at home, Arjun reflected on the events. Despite the missed opportunity with Rocky, the rewards bestowed by Phoenix offered a glimmer of solace. The mysteries of his past and the unfolding connection with Phoenix fueled a determination to uncover the truth.
Meenakshi noticed Arjun returning empty-handed and inquired about the missing books. Arjun, crafting a quick excuse, claimed that the bookstore was closed, deflecting his mother's suspicion. He swiftly retreated to his room.
Once alone, Arjun commanded Phoenix, grateful for the support during the earlier confrontation. Phoenix responded, "Congratulations, master. You've earned 2000 experience points. You can now purchase anything within the shop."
Arjun's face lit up with gratitude as he thanked Phoenix. The virtual companion had proven invaluable in moments of need. Arjun, curious about the additional changes, glanced at his status window and discovered new entries—Punch Level 1 and Kick Level 1.
Excitement surged through him, fueled by the prospect of further honing his abilities. The unfolding partnership with Phoenix seemed to hold untapped potential, and Arjun eagerly contemplated the possibilities that lay ahead.
Arjun questioned Phoenix about the new entries in the status window. Phoenix explained, "Master, these represent your Punch and Kick levels. They can go up to level 10 with further upgrades."
Arjun swiftly commanded Phoenix to invest all his experience points into leveling up the Inspector skill. Following the order, Phoenix elevated the Inspector skill from level 1 to 5.
As notifications flooded in, Arjun, focused on his goal, paid them little attention. Instead, he navigated to the shop option, his eyes widening as he observed the prices of the skills.
The revelation left Arjun stunned, realizing the magnitude of the potential upgrades at his disposal. The unfolding possibilities fueled his determination to delve deeper into the symbiotic alliance with Phoenix.
End of the chapter